Sooo, I suppose I do miss America...

Soooo, like I said, I suppose I do miss America... never thought I would say that... but it's true. Let me explain why... here's a couple stories... My first one is called: "my purse got stolen", ha... I was actually just walking down the street with a girlfriend like in broad daylight and these two dudes on a motorcycle were coming towards us on the street, and the one just hopped off when they got close to us and just walked right up to me and grabbed my bag. For about 30 seconds I held onto it as we wrestled to have it there on the street. I felt like I was 5 again fighting over a toy with my sister… but it was much scarier than that. Ha. Anyway, then as I started processing everything… that is, that the two guys could definitely beat my friend and I up, I finally let go of my purse and started crying. I was so bummed… my cell phone, favorite earings and purse were stolen! Fortunately tho, (again, God is good)… I only had about $5 worth of pesos and no identification. But still, now I am so scared walking on the street always assuming the worst. It’s a horrible way to live, and I hate it. Anyway, I was thinking that day about America, and how if something like that had happened I could call the police and they would be there in like 5 min and maybe they wouldn’t be able to get my purse back, but they would make me feel a whole lot better at least. Here, if I called the police they’d probably laugh at me. And if they actually did come, I’d probably get harassed because I’m a young American girl. Guys can be so gross. Anyway, situations like that have certainly colored my experience here… and I am super on guard now.
Now my second story... this is called: "Riding Taxi's Alone": The other day I was taking a taxi, and I was by myself (as stated previously in my title, ha) and while we were on our way, the taxi driver pulled over and called out this other man… so I asked him like “what is going on”… (normally the taxi drivers always drive like they are in a hurry and now this one is stopping to chat with a friend?) anyway, he got out of the car and went up to this other man and they were both talking and I was just like “ohh gosh, these men are going to kidnap me and there is nothing I can do” my heart was pounding so hard. Then he tells me to get out of the car and takes me to the other man and to get in his car. I was like WHAT!? Who is this man? They were trying to explain to me what was going on but I didn’t understand them cuz they talked so fast and I was so scared. Well I asked the man if he was an Apollo taxi too, and he said he was, and showed me his Apollo sign, and I really didn’t know what else to do, so I just got in the car with him. Then over their little walkie talkie thing I kept hearing comments about how the American that they are taking to Merador Norte (which is the town where I live) but still I was soo scared. Ha, but it turned out okay tho… the man just took me to my appt… and I am still alive and able to write this blog. ha. but let me tell you, I hate feeling so incapable here. Like I'm always so worried.
Anyway, today I gave a formal letter to the school explaining my plans for next year… which is not to return. The reasons really are not for what I explained above tho…. I really want to get my masters and I do need to pay back loans… I just don’t know how it’ll be done if I stay here… and my best friend from High School just invited me to move to El Paso Texas with her. She goes to West Point and that is where she’ll be stationed next year. Anyway, I looked up some teaching jobs in El Paso online the other day and a normal salary is about $40 – 45,000 (I could buy a CAR with that kind of money... and pay back my loans!) ha (WOOHOO!) sooo anyway, that’s the plan right now… I’ll return home and live with the fam for the summer and then hopefully get a teaching job and move to TEXAS! (I'll keep you posted on how that goes ;-) )
But anyway, for the record, God is so good and I'm so happy that I am here right now. I have made so many friends and grown in ways I never would have in America, and for that I am so thankful. I know that my eyes have been open to so many things I was so sheltered to and also, most importantly, feel that I have grown to a new level in my relationship with the Lord. So, for that I am so thankful... even if I do have to get a little paranoid here... God really is soo good, and I trust him that He's got this all in control, my life is in His hands and I can't stop thanking Him for taking care of me. :)