utila

well as always since ive been traveling, everything worked itself out again. its amazing how it happens every time. granted this one took a bit more work and i somehow ended up getting the approval of the top diving and cardiologist expert of the world, but still. long story short, i got cleared to dive, completed my course, and am 100% certified! super highlights: 4 foot wide sting ray, swimming with a turtle, swimming with huge schools of fish, iridescent coral, huge brain coral, looking up at the surface and seeing 60 ft of water and the sun above me. other recent funsies: snorkeling and seeing a 5 ft long barracuda and a white sea urchin; going spelunking in a cave and crawling through mud and stalagmites and talactites to an underground pool that i swam in (that was a crazy moment, thinking how bizarre it was to be swimming in a pool in a cave in honduras); hiking to the highest point of the island and getting an awesome view of everything; being super tan again (my butt is so white!). low point: being at least a little sick this whole week. i want my room and bathroom and tap water i can safely drink. i think im doing 2 last dives tomorrow and then we'll move on. ever onward as ms engstrom would say! tomorrow is my birthday and i wish i could have a bowling party like the good old days. im not sure quite how i feel about turning 19. its kind of a boring number im not sure i feel very much one way or the other. BUT, from tomorrow i have exactly 2 months left, which seems like very little and very much at the same time. i hope this finds everyone in good health. talk soon.

gus