land of flip flops

i have found my home here in the land of flip flops -- i have not yet seen anyone wearing shoes. they have stores dedicated only to flip flops, it is pretty amazing. this is as close to being famous as i will ever come, everyone stares and yells to you "hey joe" and "hey cano" but in a very friendly way. everyone knows your name and whether or not you are married. if you aren't married they are trying to marry you off. kind of like panama city. a few volunteers took a trip into the city yesterday, on the way back we couldn't find a jeepney -- but motorcylcles with sidecars are everywhere (tiny motorcycles) -- so 6 of us piled into the sidecar, and rode a few miles. it was the scariest thing ever, but so much fun -- i have never felt closer to 5 people, literally!!! I love the transportation here, price is always negotiable and it's always an adventure. the fruit here is amazing, i am in the mango capital of the world -- they serve fresh mango juice with every meal, it's very thick and sweet -- i water it down. they also serve alot of watermelon -- they are the small round ones, but it's so nice to have something familiar. i can not eat another bite of rice!!!!! I have been putting ketchup on my rice, they think that's wierd, and maybe it is, but they make their ketchup with banannas here, so it is very sweet. tonight at dinner we had cabbage rolls, and what was rolled in them you ask -- oatmeal, i don't know who thought to put oatmeal in cabbage, it was not wonderful -- i miss american food. i am going to come back so skinny. I move in with my family tomorrow, so going to go and get lots of sleep.