Searchy, the eighth dwarf.

So we're just sitting in that in-between time that all travellers exist in at some point, when it's everyone else has gone to bed, but there's no point in us sleeping because we leave for the airport in 45 minutes. It's quarter to three here in Paramaribo while we wait to be taken from our host house and then out of the country.

We've really enjoyed our last week here in Suriname, we have spent our time experiencing - we have been doing a lot of intake. Maybe I'll work backwards, cuz that's always fun, and see how far I get before we have to jet. This evening we experienced a 15 year old's birthday party, right at our host house. Birthday are done entirely differently here in Suriname than we do them up north. There was live music (the youth worship band from church),  a sermon, prayer and a blessing for the birthday girl, and lots of people, food, and dancing.

(On the topic of birthdays, we were also very pleased to be invited (although in Suriname, 'invited' is a very loose term, you just kind of show up to birthday parties) to a 50th. The karaoke was off the wall, in both the most ridiculous, and amazing, ways ever.)

Our Fridaywas spent perusing the boutiques and the wares of downtown Paramaribo, eating (which is a popular thing to do in Suriname. It seems like people have at least eight meals a day. Or at least they try to feed us Canadians eight meals a day) and tying up last minute ends before we leave. It has rained, we've heard, more in the three weeks we have been than any other three weeks that anyone can remember, and today was an adventure. Steven got a facefull of puddle dealt by a passing car as we drove, windows open, down a flooded street. But more rain means cooler weather, which we cannot argue with. We are just  getting used to the heat here.

Thursday night Lucrecia and Martin treated us to dinner at a warung (eethuis, or 'eat house'). We had a smorgasbord of Javanese food. The people here are very proud of the food, and it is delicious. We were asked countless times how we liked this food or that, and if we hadn't tried it yet, they'd say 'Oh! We'll make some and bring it to you!'. And it always came. Lots and lots of food.

Well, our ride is here, time to fly away. See you!