Happy New Year!!

How is it already 2009? When Eric and I think back on what we've done this year, we realize that we have done a lot. And we are blown away to think that things that seem so recent actually happened months or even a year ago! So we are looking back on a good year, and looking forward as well to finishing up our service and moving on with our lives. Not that we are racing to get out of here or anything- in fact, sometimes I get anxious that I won't have enough time to finish the things I want to do here. But it is nice to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and know that in eight or nine months we will be back home (meaning, the US- where "home" will really be, we don't know yet).
We hope everyone had a good Christmas/Channukah and New Year's holiday season. Eric and I had a much better time than we did last year. For me, I think it made all the difference knowing that next year I will be home with family for the holidays. Not to mention that last year we were new here and felt lonely in the community, whereas this year we have a few friends and feel more comfortable. Not that we really did anything with those friends for the holidays- besides visiting one of Eric's colleagues, making cornbread for the neighbors, and greeting our acquaintances around town, we sat in our house, relaxing, watching TV on our computer, and made nice meals. Everyone else in our community went to church or sat at home. Yes, people go to church for new years. I didn't realize there was any religious significance but it's a big day for people here to get dressed up in their finest and go to church all day, and sometimes all night. Eric and I were invited to a four day church extravaganza by one of his colleagues, promising to enlighten us on the secrets of wealth and happiness as achieved by devotion to Jesus Christ. Thanks but no thanks. A lot of Eric's colleagues are really into converting us to evangelist Christianity. Telling them we don't believe in god as a way of opting out of this doesn't really work, so we are continually fending of such offers.
I haven't got much else to write about as I have had little work due to the holidays. We're having our first visitor arrive on Sunday morning- Eric's brother! Eric and I have pampered ourselves by renting a room in a fancy hotel for a night. This was mostly out of a need to use their airport shuttle service, but being able to eat good pizza and swim in their pool doesn't hurt. I think we deserve a little luxury for the holidays!
Thanks to everyone who called/emailed/wrote for the holidays. It was nice to hear from you all! And thanks to those of you who expressed interest in my library project. The holidays interrupted the grant-writing process, but as soon as I get approved I'll let you know.
No new pictures today. I've been lazy with the camera. Maybe next week, when we drop of Eric's brother!