Infierno and desert storm

(there should be a large hill behind those houses and other smaller hills. a complete whiteout)

So, I underestimated the wind a bit in my last entry. I have now personally entcountered the beast that is "The Santa Ana winds" (that don't normally come in Oct). The wind has been steadily blowing between 20-40 miles and hour with large gusts even stronger since yesterday. Yesterday during the noon mass we lost power to the tv/radio station and last night and today the lights flicker off and on. It's not quite disco, but the same idea. The air is filled with sand. The schools are closed and people are staying in doors. The noise from the contantly clanging rebar on top of the convent is driving me crazy and the windows rattle and everything is covered with a fine layer of sand. That is just here, imagine the house that are constructed of much less here. With huge gaps, soft wood. It would feel like it was going to collapse on you.

It's not like in the US where you have everything inside and great weather stripping. Now there are horrible fires in San Diego, which of course adds to the terrible air. It's dangerous for those with health conditions etc. (I'm doing fine mom). I don't know what's going on, but I can't wait for it to stop. It's tiresome. Anyway, I'm going to go offer my first English class to local kids. M. Blanca has been teaching them, but she wants me to fill in while I'm here. I've been giving classes on various tasks to the sisters at night too. The class I took is already in use. It's good. I wish I'd brought the books with me, but I remember enough to make it work. I also started classes for the sisters. It's been fun and they are learning rapidly and practicing as best they can.