My first point of business here today is to once again apologize for not having posted anything in over a month. I'm currently contending with a broken computer keyboard which makes updating my blog a rather impossible process even though I now have wireless internet at my house. Fortunately for me, Chris has wonderfully offered to bring me some sort of computer down when he visits, so that problem will have been remedied in the next couple months. In the meantime, I have to come into town to type with any satisfactory speed on the computer in the Peace Corps Volunteer Lounge. I can, however, Skype all I want so if I don't have your Skype name, let me know what it is! Mine is christa.elliott.
There are only two days left until my group, EC-82 swears in as official Peace Corps Volunteers. The last 2 months have flown by and it makes me wonder if the next two years are going to follow suit. I have a feeling that they very well may given the accounts of current volunteers and the reality of constant summer. I don't know about everyone at home, but I know for me warm weather months always seem to go much more quickly than do their frigid counterparts, and without the cold weather to slow everything down, what's to stop the cosmic gas pedal from being perpetually pushed to the floor?
I think that everyone in my group is very excited to be embarking on what will be our projects for the next 2 years. I know that I'm thrilled to escape Pre-Service Training and actually have the time to focus on the library and literacy work that will be my primary projects. We were given a day long training in remedial literacy work, and it was certainly helpful. Prior Pre-Service Trainings have not included this component, and through the complaints and suggestions of previous groups, we were the first guinea pigs, for which I'm very glad. It would have been very hard to start from scratch without any materials or instruction and the small amount we have received will serve as a platform from which to jump.
The weather continues to be incredibly hot, but I also continue to acclimate. I've been trying out various strategies to keep my house cool during the day, and the most effective attempt has been the tried and true method of keeping the windows open and the curtains closed.
And this brings me to the next big news in my life in the Peace Corps: I now live in my own apartment!
It's a two bedroom apartment with a bathroom between the bedrooms and a large room that serves as a living room/kitchen. My house came fully furnished including a television and cablebox. My landlady, Sandra, is absolutely wonderful. She lives in the upstairs of the house with her two children Synez (age 10) and Ty (almost 8). They've essentially welcomed me into their family in much the same way that Ms Davis did as my homestay mother and they bring me with them when they go various places.
Last night we all went to a harvest celebration at their church. The first couple hours involved members of the church performing in various capacities and afterward everyone was able to purchase food ranging from fruits to cakes as a fund-raiser for the church. I bought oranges (which are green here) and passionfruit juice which came in a lovely glass bottle that I have plans to reuse for something, although that something has yet to be determined. Afterward, we all went to the Mespo area where Sandra needed to pick up a couple of large pots from her mother's house. We limed (hung out on the street) for awhile before heading back home.
As I try to get settled in my new home/life here, there are costantly things that I realize that I took for granted back at home but have to start from scratch purchasing here: casserole dishes, cookie sheets, bread pans, spices, etc. Today is one of those days that I'm going to spend buying many of those things. I also need to buy a basin in which I'll be handwashing all my clothing. This is something I'm really not looking forward to but is, alas, a necessity. Ah well.
On a more positive consumer note, I'm going to purchase a hammock! I have a lovely patio space where I'm going to conduct dance classes for some of the children here which can also double as hammock space. It'll be wonderful to lie out there during the day and evenings! I haven't even priced hammocks, and I imagine that they're a bit expensive, but I figure that one household splurge won't completely break the bank!
I hope everyone at home is well as the cold-weather continues to approach and that everyone is avoiding colds and such (I have not been so fortunate here and have been suffering from the flu/colds for the last month). I'm starting to get letters into the mail, and I expect everyone to write back! :)
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