Hey! How is everyone? I know you all just had a Fall Break -- while you were enjoying your break, I was having my own little mini Fall Break with some friends, here in Mexico. We went to Puerto Vallarta, sorry I have to rub it in. It was heaven on earth, the best 2 days I've spent since I arrived (I mean Mexico, in general, is pretty cool, but Guanajuato is in the dead center and the nearest beach is 10 hours away, so I was beyond happy to see the ocean).

Well I have 6 weeks left in the G-T-O it's amazing to think about that considering I arrived on July 27 and started classes in the beginning of August. Some of my classes are finished in November --- beyond excited! It's bittersweet though, as much as Guanajuato has changed me for the absolute best I do miss home, miss the little things. Like I posted in my first entry, you walk everywhere here, yeah there's public transportation but the majority of the locals walk walk and walk. And so do I. Therefore, it's obvious to say that I miss the luxury of having my car. And some days I just want to throw in the towel (no not from walking) but I always pull myself together, cry on the inside or vent to a friend and move on. Besides, it's not perminent, I will return to the great US of A. And once I do calm down, breathe in the air and look around, I can't help to think how LUCKY I am to be abroad, to experience and see all the wonderful things Guanajuato has to offer. This experience has been absolutely life changing!

I have a quick little story about my work site, I would love to share. First the convent is far from my house, so the days I go, I miss comida (lunch) with my host family and eat around 4 (meals here are at really weird times, 7:30 breakfast, 3:00 lunch and 9 pm dinner) by that time I'm starving. ANYWAYS ... once I get to my work site, I'm so happy. I love hearing the girls say my name, some of them can't say Meghan instead they say Maggie. They're excited to see all of us and I'm excited to see them. They brighten my day! Well one day, I met a girl there we started talking and sharing basically our dreams and passions. I told her how I was a student at the Unviersity of Guanajuato and she went on telling me how she sits on the steps of the university and dreams about the day when she's an university student. Of course, me being very sentimental had to swallow and hold back the tears. But I couldn't help but think how this 15 year old girl in front of me, who does not have the financial means or family support to go onto college sharing her ultimate goal in life with ME ... a complete stranger. At the end of the day, she wrote me a letter which basically said how much she enjoyed our conversation and how she's never met anyone who cares about HER. I did not write this story to brag but simply to make all of you realize that you could be the most important person in someone's life, even if its just for a minute! And I truly believe our organization is the epidome of what mentors and leaders should be. I hope and pray that she finds away to get to college.

I hope all is well in good 'ol Deland.

BONNER LOVE SIEMPRE
-Meghan