Five Month Update

I came back into the city on September 28, so I have been here about two weeks. I came in a little before EST (Early Service Training) to go to a birthday party for one of the ladies in SUR 16. She and her husband live in an Amerindian site, and she invited all of the volunteers to help her celebrate her 60th birthday. We all hung hammocks and slept outside in a pavilion. We danced, ate, and spent a lot of time hanging out in our hammocks. It was great to relax and be with friends while visiting other volunteers' site.

EST began on October 4. My group shared presentations with each other about our different sites, and met with our Program Managers to discuss how things are going at site and project work that we are interested in. The past week has consisted of sessions concerning how to write project proposals, as well as lots of information on how to present ideas to our communities and work with youth through sports. 

The past couple of days consisted of all of the volunteers in country playing soccer, relay races, and capture the flag to develop ways to work with the youth in our villages. My body is completely exhausted and sore. BUT I did score a goal in soccer and eliminate a player in dodgeball. These two things have never happened. Exciting stuff. 

I am starting to think a lot about what projects I am interested in and what I have to offer Malobi, as well as what I can help them accomplish. I am thinking a lot about HIV/AIDS prevention education and youth development work. 

The first week in November, some of the Saramaccan volunteers on the river are holding a girls leadership camp. We are going to put on a boys camp the first week in December. The camps will be for sixth grade students (ages 12-15) and will focus on leadership and empowerment. I truly believe that these camps will make a difference in their lives, and that they will be able to take what they've learned and pass it on to their friends that do not attend. Volunteers have already held a few camps for girls, but this will be the first time one has been held for the boys. I am thrilled for the kids that will be attending, and super excited to see how the camps operate. 

We will finish up EST in the next couple of days, and I will head back to site in about a week. 

A few days ago, one of my closest friends in Peace Corps went back to America. He decided that he had given all he could to his job here, and that it was time for him to go. While I supported his decision and knew it was the best decision for him, it was still really hard to watch him go. It rarely occurs to me that I have only known my friends here for about five months. It was hard to leave friends and family in America, but I think it was harder to watch one of my friends here leave. I know that my friends and family in America support me completely and will be waiting with open arms when I return (and I will be so ready for that), but they may never fully understand all that I am experiencing in Suriname. I need my new friends to stick with me for the next twenty-one months. I need friends in this country that understand what I am going through. I need friends in this country that can help me get rid of my latest bat infestation and that I can laugh with because we have to share our houses with bats. I would have to make a serious argument for myself to leave here. I am content and feel like I am where I belong for now, but Suriname is a tough country. I do not know how I would make it though the rest of my service without my friends here. 

On a more exciting note, before I left Malobi, I successfully carried my dishes to and from the river on my head with zero support from my hands. It's about a five minute walk each way. I was so excited, and I am so proud of myself. It's a good feeling when I do something to fit in a little more with my new community. 

I received lots of letters a couple of days ago. I cannot say "Thanks" enough. I truly believe that I am going to continue to be blown away and overwhelmed in the next couple of years by the love and support surrounding my life and my decision to serve in the Peace Corps. And I am completely okay with it. 

Kids

I wasn't as excited as I wanted to be to go back to site. I was not dreading it, I just felt very neutral and indifferent. After a long day of travel I finally reached Malobi. A lot of the ladies that live around me were away knocking rice. I walked over to meet them, and I was greeted with lots of hugs and yells of excitement for my return. That definitely helped my mood. That same night I was sitting at a neighbor's house with her and some of the kids I hang out with. I was showing them what I've always been told is, "how a horse eats a pumpkin." I was tickling their knees and they thought it was the funniest thing ever. They kept sticking their knees out to me and falling out laughing. Their laughter was infections, and I had to stop myself from crying at the preciousness of it all. I wish I could bottle their laughter up to listen to when days are hard. I have never spent this much time being around children and holding babies. It is strange that I am this attached to them.

My new best friends at site started school today. They are six. I am so upset that I am not there to see them get on the boat or to take a picture of them in their new school uniforms. I wanted to be there when they got home from school with popcorn and juice for them. I am overwhelmed with excitement for these children as they begin their education.

I arrived in the city this past Wednesday after only spending about a week at site. I will be here until the middle of October for Early Service Training. I am really excited to be in the city with all of the other volunteers.

On my way in to the city, I was in Atjoni, waiting for a bus to take me to the city. This little girl was sitting beside me, and insisted on braiding my hair. Aaah the things that happen in my life these days. How many times have you been sitting anywhere and a child that you do not know asked to braid your hair? Hilarious.

There were also eighteen people in my van to the city, but that's another story. I am looking forward to enjoying my time in the city with fast food, and being more excited to return to Malobi in mid-October.