Life in the village has been going well since my semi-long absence due to trainings for Peace Corps, and other general merriment (sand-bar-that-only-comes-out-in-low-tide to reveal turquoise water in tanga for the 4th of July? Why, yes I did, complete with smores, sparkler birthday candles, and loud, off key americans singing patriotic tunes. Upon my return, I have been teaching (or attempting to teach.. you know kids of any nationality around break time aren't exactly into school..) and teaching and helping at the clinic as per usual. Decided to be super motivated and bought seeds to begin the Perma-garden I said I was going to start when i got to site (seven months ago), but now at least the seeds are sitting on my coffee table, so its a start. The Zinduka (youth soccer-teaching-about-AIDS/HIV-program) plan is getting underway, and my two, amazing, motivated coaches are excited as well. Still feel like I am behind or should be doing a HUGE grant or project like many of my fellow PCV's, but for right now, i'm still sticking to the small scale. I have a little time left, right?
In other news, I will have a "shadower" soon! Don't worry, not a stalker. Just Peace Corps lingo for a trainee (like I was my first two months) to come stay with me for a week to learn about living in the village. The poor sap (and future sitemate of mine!) stuck with me won't find the domestic, bread-baking jiko-loving goddess, but I can teach them to make a mean batch of popcorn, and the proper way to drop in on your neighbors at meal times. It will be fun to have another "Mzungu" (white person...being called this generally gets on my nerves... i do know i stand out, don't need 20 Tanzanian children yelling this to me! :)) It will be a bit different, but should be a new challenge as well.
Wish i had a better, wittier, more exciting post for all of the lovely Americans reading this, wondering what I'm doing in the African bush. The village has been lovely, cool (too cold for my neighbors who complain about the beautiful weather I am enjoying), but it will soon be over, and the obsessive heat will return. As for now, I'm enjoying the lovely weather, trying to brush up on my swahilli after being gone and around Americans at trainings, and of course, playing with and being peed on by an assortment of babies. Some days it seems like this whole adventure is flyinggggggggggg by! and others seem to drag on. But, this is life! :) Still, the love/good vibes/prayers/etc that are continually being sent my way are greatly apprecitated. Really couldn't do this without the best support staff ever.
Until next time, my lovies!
p.s. realllllly love snail mail. write me, and perhaps you'll recieve a really cool letter with a tanzanian stamp (proabably of a grasshopper..they usually are). and of course, love and fuzzies from me.
