sorry for my absence, it's been a busy week. And since I don't have much internet time left, today's post will be in summary form. Bear in mind that I am also typing on the world's smallest keyboard, it has no shift key on the right hand side (but my brain keeps forgetting this) and so I have colons where there should be apostrophes, sorry.

This week's LOWS:
* my computer crashing. Of course, the nearest technician is in Manila and there's no point in me trekking up to Manila to get it fixed when I'm leaving so soon. I'm trying not to dwell on the fact that I've probably lost everything on the hard drive. Everything includes my photos from the last two months, all my documents and reports from my time here, and even the littler things like my huge bookmark collection that was so nicely sorted into folders. I've lost 3 years of internet bookmarks!! (let this be a lesson to you all! if you've been postponing backing up your data, go and do it NOW!)

* not even getting shortlisted for a job I really really really wanted. My skills matched those they were looking for, everything about the job seemed like I could fill the position well. I know that me not getting the job is more about there being a more qualified candidate, but it still hurt. And if you're on Facebook, you would've seen my lament about the lack of suitable comfort food here on Tablas Island.

* training day stress (and there was lots!) Missing participants, brown-out, opening speaker pulling out at the last minute, no chairs ....

This week's HIGHS:
* watching SDM training finally happen. After months of emails and planning, Mitos arrived from Manila and trained 36 barangay health care workers. I felt so proud of the ladies!

*emailing out a request for training day funding and receiving enough to cover training day costs, buy more CycleBead necklaces, and also more Cue Cards for the BHWs.

* Rita brought me back Toblerone from Boracay

* Avocadoes everywhere! It's avocado season, and guess how much they are? If you love avocadoes, perhaps you should skip this because you're going to be very jealous. TEN CENTS EACH!! (and often free, as people in the village often just give them to me as I'm walking down the street - I love living in a small village!)

Now that I have a concrete date for leaving Sugod, (aug 11 - gotta allow a few days for travel, just in case the boat gets postponed due to a cylcone) the fact that I am leaving is sinking in. August has always been so far away, but now it's just around the corner - eek! It's very weird to think that i am soon leaving. Actually, i'd rather not think about it because I know leaving is going to be difficult. How could it not? I've been living with the most amazing host family for over 4 months. They treat me like a family member, and I feel like one. I know most people here in the village, I know the road into town by heart, I swim in the beautiful beach almost every day, kids run up to me on the street to say hi .... I will miss all of this.

The next 2 weeks will fly by. I have lots of work to do to prepare the health centers and workers for receiving clients. We are STILL trying to meet with the local diocese so that we can make sure SDM is included in their family training counselling. I must also organise 6 information mornings - one in each barangay.