Cacao Plantation (Amanda)

Good evening to all, Amandoo the Grasshopper speaking.  To whoever said Heaven didn’t exist on Earth, it’s time for you to visit a chocolate plantation.  And while you’re at it why don’t you make your own super dark chocolate from the cacao beans too.  That is how we spent a glorious and delicious afternoon.   Might I add that I was very pleased to be off of sewing duty this morning, and I have discovered that football is a much more promising sport than volleyball, to Yaritza’s dismay.  (Just kidding, I already knew that.)  We will be going inner-tubing tomorrow (!) and I can’t wait.  But of course, let’s get back to everybody’s favorite topic: chocolate.  That’s all we really care about.  We visited an organic chocolate plantation, and the best part was watching Jamie being carried across the stream so as to avoid getting her ankle brace wet.  I was lucky enough to experience tasting a cacao bean fresh from the tree, and I have to say, its resemblance to alien brains must be more than a coincidence. I loved it anyway.  (Julia didn’t.)  We made our own Mayan chocolate, which is much more difficult than it seems.  It involved much grinding, mushing, and stirring.  But the result was definitely the highlight of my day; that and teaching young children the joys of American football.  I’m having the time of my life down here, although I’m pretty sure everyone’s getting tired of my Gollum impersonations.  Oh well, not much can be done about that, what do you think, precioussssss?  The bugs are pretty annoying, but the food makes up for it.  I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m actually looking forward to getting up in the morning for the first time in my life.  I can’t wait to go back to the school and see those amazing kids.  Well, I better go, it’s past Julia’s bedtime.  Bye everybody!  ~Amandoo