Notes from Arno

I think I have actually got people interested in exercising here! I started being really good about exercising (on a need basis) about a little while ago and some of the kids are actually being religious about it with me! JuneJune, Michael, and Jeramin all go running with me every day – and they are the ones pressing me to get off my butt and go. They always come looking for me around 5 – which is when we usually go – and are ready to go. Michael asks me about it all day in school and JuneJune and Jeramin (who are my age) make sure in the morning that we will go at night. I start the week at 25 minutes and ad 5 minutes every day so I run for 50 minutes the last day – and they do it all with me! I was actually really surprised that they would last the whole time – especially since they are running in sandals or without any shoes at all. We carry big rocks or coconuts for parts of the run and really just make the whole thing fun. When we get back from our run we go to the beach and do sit ups, push-ups and other various arm and leg workout stuff. I think having them do it with me really helps me to stay motivated and as much as I though it would just be a joke – it is really awesome. They get really into it, take it seriously, and just make it fun! It’s awesome.

Aside from my new exercise routine, there really isn’t much different going on in Lukoj. Billy and Karen from DSAP should be coming with our supplies this week, but we aren’t sure what day they will be coming.

- I am still horrible at doing my laundry and my clothes still get dirtier.
- Rice and tuna still make up at least one of my meals every day – and eating papaya is probably more delicious than eating chocolate.
- My 4 kittens still like under my bed, and I still haven’t figured out where they go to the bathroom…seeing how they can barely walk.
- I still love living like a rimajel but their constant fixation with my every action still annoys me.
- I still use a coconut in some form or another at least 5 times a day and drink one at every meal
- My showers are still freezing and the first dump of the bucket always takes my breath away (That is ok though since it is the only cold thing on this island)
- I still have yet to want to go home…I love it here.