Moustache Competition: The Contest

I'm dissapointed that I've only recieved two votes, especially because I know that 43 of you looked at the blog yesterday. But, maybe you need more information before you make your final decision? If that's the case, you're in luck. We made each of the contestants do a presentation that represented the essence of his moustache. Costumes, music, props and audience participation were encouraged:
Brad's wearing my size 26 skinny jeans from college. He won major creep points for his presentation.
Eric channeling Gene Simmons.
Andy can really bust a move
Joel showed off his barriga, also earning major creep points
Joe shaved himself a mullet and ran around the room letting everyone stroke and admire it up close
Josh will never reveal his secret recipie.
Didn't I tell you he always looks creepy? He doesn't even have to try.
Todd enlisted two ladies to hang on his arm all night, winning major style points and totally pulling off the 70's night club manager look
Adam didn't start growing his moustache until a week before the competition. When asked why he said, "Because I only needed a week."
Frank don't dance. But someone at the party did throw one of her undergarments at him during his presentation, which just proves that like Frank says, the honies love him.




Some of the more savvy readers may have noticed that one of the Adams is missing. That's because he hid in the elevator most of the night.

Moustache Competition: The Contestants

Before I post the full results of the Gringo Stache contest I thought I would let the readers have a say. Vote for your favorite.

Adam

Big Adam

Randy Andy

Tom

New Ulm's Finest: Eric Torgerson

Frank the Skank

Joe Dirt

Joel, The White Mr. T

Josh, spawn of Kernel Sanders

Todd Norman, stayin' alive

William, always this creepy

moustache competition

Brad got second in last night's moustache competition, I have lots and lots of pictures but we're off to the Batalla de Flores, so I'll post later. I just had to update for those of you who were wringing your hands, anxiously awaiting the results.

a note from my maid, translated

Senora Sarah,
I couldn't find black beans, I got these instead.
Senora Sarah, forgive me, but I have the impression that with these you are going to interrupt your diet, remember that you want to look skinny on your wedding day and you must be careful not to get fat and take care of your silhouette.

Santo Tomas

On Saturday we went to Santo Tomas, a small town south of Barranquilla for their Carnaval parade. I don't have any pictures of that because, as usual, part of our camera wasn't working. Somewhere we lost the battery charger for the small camera, and we didn't want to bring the new one, so...let's see.
It was dusty and hot. And like any Carnaval celebration there was a lot of corn flour and foam for throwing and spraying: two main Carnaval activities.
I also recall many meat carts. I'm going to be sure to take a picture of one of these meat carts before we leave. I think my dad told me once that people use every part of the pig except the snouts and the buttholes, but here I'm pretty sure I've seen both.
At one point in the day I went off in search of a bathroom. I must have looked lost because a man asked me if I needed directions. When I told him what I was looking for he pulled me across the street, knocked on the door in front of us and asked the people inside if I could use their toilet. Inside the house there were two toilets and probably 20 chickens. I had a nice chat with the owners, asked them about their chickens, (What do they use them for? Eggs and meat. Silly gringa.) and then made my way back to the parade.
After the parade was over everyone gathered in front of the church for more craziness. Around 8 pm Brad and I both realized we hadn't eaten anything all day. We daringly purchased two hotdogs from a nearby stand and plopped down on the sidewalk to eat.
Not long after dinner we headed back to Barranquilla where we were finally able to scrub off five hours of sweat, foam and flour. Just four short days before we get to do it all over again.

for Dan

to my students

Dear,
Fernando, Cristina, Fernando, Alberto, Sofia, Jorge, Daniel, Jose, Maria Camila, Daniella, Maria Paula, Maria Silena, Maria Fernanda, Michelle, Veronica, Juan Manuel, Shadi, Daniela, Juan Carlos, Camilo, Tary Ann, Samuel, David, Mariana, Valeria, Maria Camila, Valentina, Gabriel, Valeria, Edgar, Daniela, Felipe, Ernesto, John, Paola, Camila, Alejandro, Isabella, Odette, Andres, Maria Isabel, Andrea, Danielle, Maria Alejandra, Silvana, Michelle, Santiago, Nicholas, Carolina, Juan David, Alberto, David, Isabella, Stephanie, William, Daniella, Juan, Natalia, Andres, Jorge, Juan, Taisir, Alejandra, Paul, Juan, Valentina, Luis, Jaime, Laura, Daniella, Andrea, Laura, Helder, Maria, Eduardo, Enrique, Daniel, Odette, Karli, Maria, Sebastian, Carlos, Jose, Marcela, Alvaro, Saskia, Angela, Nicole, Maria, Jean Claude, Carolina, Francisco, Fauzi, Maria Paula, Paola, Maria, Michelle, Mariana, Mariah, Sheryn, Isabella, Roberto, Ricardo, Manuel and Maria

You know it is my goal in life to get you kids to read, so I'm happy that you have so thoroughly read this blog. But because the year is almost up and you still have many things to learn, we won't be able to spend class time discussing Ms. League's relationships, Mr. Paul's moustache or my ability to build large structures out of rootbeer bottles.

Furthermore, I hope you understand that any stories you might read about yourselves were written purely out of love.

Also, right now you should probably be doing your homework.

Love,
Ms. Straw

Hello!

I've been a bad blogger. But I think you'll understand why when I tell you what I've been up to:

Planning: A wedding in Jamaica and a move to India. This takes up about 90% of my brainpower and leaves me with no sympathy for the students who also claim to have busy lives. "You think this is too much homework? I'll show you too much homework."

Gossiping: For a while Brad and I weren't the only ones looking for jobs. The gringos here are all abuzz about who's staying and who's moving on. So far only the people that we came here with two years ago are leaving. Eric and Sue are going back to Minnesota, Amber just got a job in Bogota and Jenny went to the job fair in Waterloo and came back with a job in Morocco.

Dieting: The other day a student offered me a piece of candy and when I said no thanks she tilted her head, eyes all big and asked, "Why not Missis? You're not fat." A few hours later the high school secretary asked me if I was pregnant.