IT IS SO HOT HERE. Today it was around 110 more or less and we had an event at one of the smaller universities here in Merida. We did HIV testing along with pre and post test counseling, we were there from about 11-3 and it was a pretty typical day of testing from what I understand. This students were a lot of fun to work with. The event was hosted by a group called Merida Joven. It is a group that is government funded and supported, they organize events and then invite nonprofits to come. They even took us out to lunch today, so techinically I had lunch on the Mayor of Merida today.  I have never attended an event here but I have in the US, from what I have experienced it is much more relaxed here. I thought I was just going to be handing out paperwork and processing paperwork after it was handed back, but I ended up doing testing instead. They all probably thought I was some 12 year old kid doing HIV tests on people, I am sure that was reassuring. I heard we had way less people do tests than usual, I hope it wasn't my fault...Over all the event was a huge success, we were even on the news here and the President of the board, Dr. Crofoot,  was invited to the Mayors office to meet with some officials there and from what I understand they have the utmost respect for him. Getting the Government on board with projects like this is so important and hasn't always been the easiest thing. 

Anyway, back to lunch. We ate at this amazing traditional Yucatecan restaurant that had iguanas and other giant reptilians walking around freely.  As some of you already know, I recently had a lizard stow away in my pants, so initially I had a little bit of anxiety of the giant reptiles crawling around but I am happy to say it did not last long. The restaurant was an open air building, so no walls or anything just a thatched roof, and they had all different kinds of fruit and nut trees. They even had a cashew tree. I had no idea they grew in the way they do. Since I knew I wouldnt be able to describe it I took a picture.

It is raining now so hopefully it will cool things down here. I hope it doesnt rain to much now because I can already see the water coming in under the door and I dont want my apartment to flood.