Slow and steady

Well wow, I guess i didnt realize that it has really been a long time since my last post. I am really starting get into this lifestyle and culture. Its kinda neat to know that I have been here for almost 2 months. I have learned so much already about myself and about other people. I feel like this is why they encourage students to study abroad. You can really only learn so much in a classroom. But to be thrown into a brand new culture with a language you dont really know and with no one you know is a humbling experience. I already feel different on the inside and am sure that it is for the better. But anyways, what have i been up to?
Earlier this week, my roommate adam and another buddy and I decided to go to a venezuelan casino. Everything was pretty much the same there except for one major thing....all the games were automated. There were no actual tables or dealers there. I sat at a blackjack table for a while that was an old sega game. too crazy. all video poker and slots. even roulette was automated. The wonderful thing about that place though is that they give you a bunch of free food and drinks. Its a cool feeling sitting playing bingo while eating hot soup and drinking some fruit juice. Free beer, soup, juice, even cake. Anyways, i ended up loosing only 20 dollars but was a great night overall.
Another thing I did this weekend was go on a super cool day hike. Classes on wednesday were cancelled because American supervisors of the program were here evaluating everything. So, me and some friends decided to make the long hike up the mountain to the first teleferico station. The teleferico is the longest cable car system in the world...but I am in venezuela so of course it is broken. Something like one time the car fell and everyone died. But anyways, there are something like four stops on the route before reaching some really high elevation near the top of this mountain. We kind of just wanted to see how long it would take to get to the first station. Its something like a 1000 meter walk total. The walk was strenuous and in the heat, it was no easy task. We made it something like 3/4 of the way there but decided to take a different route that led down to a river. This was a great decision because it was a great time there. We all climbed up this river, scaling rock faces and trailblazing the whole time. we found a series of waterfalls, soaked in a mountain spring, and found really cool walking sticks (the insects). Overall a great way to spend a day off.
Anyways thats it for now, but I will post again really soon.