Things I love about Cape Verde

1. As previously stated, the food.
2. That EVERYONE greets you with a kiss on either side of the cheek
3. That there are no drying machines here and everyone has a colorful array of clothing hanging up outside to dry
4. How fashion and style hold no importance. If you clothes don´t match, who cares! No one knows or cares about designer jeans, expensive shoes, and looking the best.
5. No one wears makeup.
6. In general, everyone is incredibly kind.
7. Everyone is humble.
8. The students in my classes have a strong desire to learn. They write down everything I say and write on the board.
9. It is required in the public schools that everyone learns French AND English. These kids come out of highschool being fluent in Portuguese and Creole, and also knowing some French and English. That is incredible to me.
10. That James and Karina consider me family.
11. That most of the students stay after class to joke around with each other.
12. That taxi´s always only cost 150 (about 2 dollars) escudos no matter where you go (as long as it´s in the main city) and 180 escudos at night.
13. The bus system. I don´t know why, but I love it.
14. That the other night a random young man gave up his seat on the bus to me so that I wouldn´t have to stand.
15. That there are breath taking views no matter where you are.
16. The COLORS! Everyone paints their house or building a vibrant color. It is beautiful! Bright blues, purples, oranges, greens, pinks, and reds everywhere!
17. The importance people place on healthy life style. I go to the city beach 95 percent of the people are either swimming laps in the ocean or playing soccer on the beach. I go out in the evening and 50 percent of the people are on a walk or on a run. You look at the soccer fields and there is either a game, practice, or people doing their own exercise on the field. It´s very motivating.
18. That James and Karina are related to about 60 percent of the city and they aren´t actually related to half of them by blood. Just by love or respect.

more to come.