It's a hot one!

I just realized how much I had to say about rainy season

and now I'm going to tell you all about:

Dry Season.

Since the water pump is up and running it's been great to see the village using the water to wash dishes, clothes and for drinking. Since there are no rainwater catchers (Durotanks) throught the village the pump is great!

The only downside to this has been when everyone tries to pull water at the same time. The

pump goes dry -- or just kinda trinkles water. But still, much of an improvement over taking water from the river and or creeks for consumption.

All of you are aware of my continues battle with the mosquitoes. I am just a magnet for them, I donate a lotta blood! Now they have infiltrated my Durotank! I went to get some water for a lady heading out to ground...and at the top of the bucket were pesty little mosquito larva swimming around. Yuk! I guess it's time for some durotank cleaning!

House has been holding up well, infact I spent a good chunk of time out at site working on house projects. Bats also like me, and my ceiling! I got a bottle of this foaming spray stuff -- basically you spray it in the hole and it expans --it took a couple filling spots to get the feel for it, but I have notices a definate decline of bats in the house. I can hear them outside though -- swirling around out there trying to find their way in, they are kinda like homing piegons. They liked their home.

Slagball team is going strong. Despite more losses then wins - spirits are still up and girls are still motivated. We are looking to hold a fundraising dance to raise some money for uniforms and transportation costs.

Kids are on vactation from school. Since it's the dry season I'm not lasting to long out at ground. It's me and the kids now in the mornings. Usually they're over early looking for games, coloring or any kinda activies we can do in the shade. I found an online free coloring book site, that has pictures of animals and such relating to the alphabet. (A - a picture of an Ant to draw...)

Afternoons I find my way to the shade of the mango tree - where everyone not at ground sits around and eats...you guessed it WATERMELON! I was soo happy to see the first crop of watermelon make it's way from ground to my house! We sit under the tree, chat and eat and try to stay cool.

Evenings are still filled with slagball practice and darkness rolls in around 7. We are still without oil but as always I'm not overly sad about that. Although I did 'accidently' start a blaze in the house.

I use candles to light my way during these dark nights. I also use them to read by once inside my bed. As i was reading one nite I moved to adjust my head rest, and knocked my candle over. Before I could catch it, it lite up my mosquitoe netting. I bolted out of bed and put out the flames.

I now use my headlamp for all reading purposes.

The Women's Organization and I headed into the city to attend a workshop as well as a 'meet the funders' presentation and lunch. The group had to present their ideas as well as the reasons they want the funding for the project. As we were gathering Moengolina pulled me aside and got the group around me. As usual in these situtations I had no idea what was going to happen next.

They were all taking and bustling around with a bag, next thing I knew there was one lady putting a pangi on me, one putting a headwrap on me and Moengolina explaining that I am now a member of the Women's Organization. "'Uma sa do' is one member stronger now" she was saying to me. Roughly translated the name of the women's group (uma sa do) is Women can do.

This is up there with one of my proudest moments here in Suriname.

A shot of the group doing their presentation:

The latrine project is completed and now awaiting funding. I hope the money arrives quickly so we can get started on the hole digging and construction.

City news. Ula moved into an amazing new apartment. And he bought himself his own housewarmning present. A 50' flatscreen. I plan on watching a lot of movies the next few days!

Unforunate and really sad news that I don't want to write to much about - Pepper.

She passed away a few weeks ago. She was doing great, puppies were weined and given to loving homes. Then she stopped eating for two days, and passed away in the nite. I'm heartbroken over this and really, really miss her.

We just completed our mid-service training so the gang was back! I'm always excited to see everyone and here what they have been up too! Now a few fifteens are in as well and it's nice to be hanging out all together.

As always more to come - love to everyone back home and a big shout out to Bevin and Brogan for having brithdays! I wish I could have been there to celebrate.

xoxox

mk

a glimps into a day here

Hey guys!

First some quick updates. Our Slagball team was in a rut. Lossing the first three games. BUT coming back last nite and pulling off a win!! I unfortanetly was unable to witness, on the way into the city. But I got the call and hooted and hollered with the team!

Mongeolina has returned! I am SOO greatful. I have missed my Wan Hati Mom. She came straight over to talk with me (telling me I need to clean outside my house, the weeds were embarssing) then we talked and talked. Just like old times. She's well and back on track and keeping me on my toes again! She also came into the city with me - coming that morning at 4:30am to make sure I was up. Then I helped to carry her bags, hold her money, find her phone...and laugh and tell stories the whole way in. I love her!!

She can't work her ground just yet - she has to continue to take it easy for awhile. So in the mean time I'm willing to lend a free hand to help whomever.

working Basi Amsoi's ground - it's brand new. so the dirt has to be turned.

Back to the Slagball team. It takes a lot of money to get transportation to Moengo where we play. Most of us (myself included) don't have lots of money.

The team descided to work grounds for people - in a fundraising sort of way. To pull money for transportation. I'm in the city now looking to collect donations, sponorship hopefully(!) I haven't met such a dedicationed group of young women (all in the early to mid 20's) working so hard for what they want. Wan Hati Girls -- the team name. But last week, we all went to ground and helped work grounds.

I have the BEST time making these films and think they reprsent what my workdays are now like. Gone are the days of dressing well, taking the bus, sitting behind a computer - to only have the occasional coffee/potty break. I LOVE all friends at SMS...don't get me wrong. I just want to share with you - what my work day entails now....

We'll begin with an into: my friends, co-workers, slagball team, family (all the same group):



(they are talking to the sponsor about what they are doing and why they need $$)

now replace your coffee break with a 'sexy' dance off...don't worry about pee breaks, just walk over behind a tree - and do your thing.

BACK TO WORK LADIES!

It's sooo hot they we usually work in bra's and pangis.

It stormed that day - they take care of me....made me a rain house to sit in while it came down in buckets.

After a full day of work - I returned that nite to find Gabbie waiting for me. She had lost a tooth! She's 6yrs so it's about time for that to happen. I asked if she knew of the tooth fairy. She didn't. I expained the tooth fairy is something that comes when you sleep, and if you put your tooth under your pillow she will come and take it and leave you something in return. I then went to wash .

this is what I came back to....

She's lying in my bed waiting for the tooth fairy! (I did tell her to close her eyes, I laid down next to her slid my hand under the pillow and left a quarter...taking the tooth) We waited a little longer---told some stories. Then she checked. WOW, OH MY WOW!! (I was acting just as suprised!) That nite I went to tell her mom about it...she agreed she would place a quarter under the pillow and take the tooth if it happened again. I just created a satainable Tooth Fairy!! HAA HAAA HA!

Lots of good stuff going on lately. The latrine project is underway - a reason that I'm in the city. I'm adding the final touches to the proposal and off it will go to find a loving sponsor/donor. The pump works somedays, then somedays doesn't. I have to make a few calls back to the contact person and see if we can get it running smoothly!

More soon. Love to everyone!

Clean water - let's play ball!

Everyday now at 5:20 the old gang, and some new faces head down to the sand field to resume our games of slagball! We are lead by Captians Candilia and Shannon through our running drills (consisting of barefoot sprints in the sand with our hands waving above our heads), catching drills and batting drills. All drills start with the shrill of Candilia's new whistle - and end with us laying in the sand panting for breath!

I still have yet to fully understand all of the rules and have been told on more then one occasion that I play tyobo tyobo. (dirty, dirty) We have all made donations to get matching shirts and came up with enough money to get ourselves to Moengo this Friday. We will be competing with teams up and down the river - the tourny will be held in Moengo. I'm super pumped - we'll have a good time! Here's a picture of the team, we borrowed the matching shirts from a team of soccer plays...our shirts are teal (way prettier in my opinion!) If anyone wants to sponosor us - we are pretty much amazing! :)

From left to right -back row- Sa, Olivia (she's Gabbie's mom) Capt. Candilia, Capt. Shannon and Cortisa -front row - Kinisha, Baby and Moeina

Candilia's English is coming along GREAT. She is now able to sound out simple words. It's such a proud feeling I get when she struggles a little, but doesn't give up until she's got it right.

THE WATER PUMP IS FIXED!! This is huge, huge, huge!! The technician came and changed all the water spicket heads, cleaned out the rust in the pump and we now have CLEAN WATER! I have a training scheduled for the middle of July for 6-9 people in WH to go through tech training incase the pump should break again. CLEAN WATER!!!

Moengolina is still in the hosptial (going on over a month now) she is suffering from high blood pressure and stomach issues with digestion. She is getting better now, and should be heading back out this week. Everyone is pitching in to help pull her taya, ginger and maintain her ground while she is out. Wan Hati is one big family, everyone watchs out for everyone.

Basi Amsoi has expressed some interest in getting new latrines in the village. I've started to get some of the info on what laterines would be best for certian areas. I'm happy that he has voiced interest and is motivated for this project. The market proposal is all written and ready to go, but Thomas has seemed to lost luster for doing his part, and I am waiting on him to provide the blueprint of the market. So close.....

Kids are all doing great. We've been playing outside a lot lately, as it's raining in short bursts, cools it out and the flowers are starting to florious like crazy!

Pretty in Pink!

Pepper is doing...she now has three puppies! I know, I tried to get her spayed a handful of times when we were in the city. She had the puppies about a week ago! They are adorable and staying at Ula's house (so I don't get to attached and try to keep them all) Two male, one female. One has no tail, one half a tail - the other a full tail.

I need to say thank you to Nina for sending me the requested vetwrap. Lot's of people here get cuts or open wounds on feet, arms..etc where it's hard to keep a band-aid in place. Vetwrap sticks on itself. Unfortunately I was the first to bust it open. I lost my toenail...eeewe I know. Seeka heaven - so thanks Nina!

As always things are happening and we're keeping it busy. Wish us luck this Friday! I'll let you know how our team does, I'm sure we're going to have a blast!

Love to all - and here's to CLEAN WATER! :)

What Fun We've Been Having!

Trisha has come and gone - what a great time!
It was a dose of home that I needed -- with all the rain causing cabin fever...an old friends
face was a real treat!

Lots of random things occurred during her stay:

Like...

1. The boat ride out to Wan Hati was soo full, that we were almost denied rides, had we really understood how badly the boat was sinking....I think we would have waited. Power, we love you for helping us out, and he did say ' Mariah if you die, YOU wanted to get on the boat...it's not my fault'.

2. We had fire at nite! (for three of the four nites...and it hasn't gone back on since!)

3. All the kids were away for vacation time, as well as most of the adults. So the usual supspects were not around to roust up trouble.

4. A new face appeared on the scence - Conswellia...what a riot. Right now I don't even has words for this one. I'm meeting up with her later today for chats. ;)

5. Moengolina didn't work us hard at all during our work day at ground. This was SHOCKING.

6. We set out a trap for a (singlular) mouse. We caught 5! (how naive are we thinking it was only one little guy)

7. Trisha learned how to do the Aculn dance. Moengolina almost wet her pangi (literally) laughing.

8. Together we never could leave a bottle open... ;)

9. We learned how many people can fit in a hammock...ha haa HA!!

10. Hitchhiking has become a new passion! That and a little bit of begging....we can go anywhere and do anything!

11. Uno - oh how I have missed that game. 'Damn it, who's turn it it? Is that blue or green...?'

That's my friends is just a sampling of the fun....

Thanks Trisha for making the journey, playing rumbie with me, laughing and bringing back old memories as well as creating new ones! WHOOOP---WHOOOP!

Once Trisha left I was back out to site - without Pepper. She stayed in the city cuz I didn't have a dog crate to transport her with...it got really lonely without all the company. Good thing Gabbie and Crew came back from vacation - it's always a trip with them.

Things we do for fun:

We color and learn the alphabet.

We sing and dance:

I get by with a little help from my friends. How awesome is Gabbie for killing the GIANT, poisonous toad. Pretty damn awesome if you ask me!

Then we had a burial.

We keep on keeping on out here!

xoxoxox

Expectations

Some days, doing 'the best we can' may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn't perfect-on any front-and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect of ourselves or anyone else.

I guess it's why they call it the rainforest!

Rainforest:
a tropical forest, usually of tall, densely growing, broad-leaved evergreen trees in an area of high annual rainfall.

Rain.

Rain, rain...and then more rain. Downpours....soft misty rain -- hard pelleting rain.

Two weeks ago it begain to rain - it was nice in the beginning, I usually enjoy when it rains during the nite - makes for good sleep. This time it didn't stop. It rained through the next morning - into the afternoon...and carried on through the nite. Just to wake up to it continuing on. A full two weeks of non-stop full out thundering and gloomy RAIN.

It's pretty quite when the weather is so nasty - usually everyone stays in their house...those that do venture out are running as quick as possible from point A to point B. Myself? I've got a village of kids...and a house with crayons and paper. When it rains...it pours kids!

Thomas and I completed WASH training last week. (water and sanitation hygiene) It was a training for trainers type of workshop. From Saturday until Tuesday we learned about the different ways to build latrines...how sicknesses occur because of poor water -- how to prevent and educate others. The style of the training was that the pcv and counterpart learn lessons and present back to the group. Thomas and I did a play - (I had to recurit others that day as Thomas was mysterously missing the day of our presentation...) The play involved a family living in the bush that used river water for drinking and washing....virus, worm and bacteria (preformed by the trainers) lived in the river and made the family sick. It was a cute play with a high impact for understanding. It was fun to learn how to teach without using 'big' words and 'long' explanations.

Moengolina and Thomas came into the city with me yesterday as we had the next round of meeting for the eco-tourism project. I'm pretty excited about this, as everyone involved is excited and motivated -- and there is a TIMELINE! ;) So far there has been a great structure and communication of duties and responsiblities for this...it's exciting! We head back out to Wan Hati tomorrow.

'Aids a Na Mie Matie' - (the youth group in WH) is making me proud! The completed making some posters to display transmission and some myths about contracting HIV/AIDS. They work well together and are starting to organize a 'training' they are going to present to the other kids!

Water Pump - finally found the right contact person...hopefully we can see some movement with this before much longer!

My private english student can now sing the complete alphabet song and write all the letters!!! I'm so happy for her I could burst. In return for lessons she makes me lunch....it's a GREAT opportunity to give some lessons on clean water ;)

That about wraps it up for me here! I'm heading out early tomorrow, but will be back in next week to pick up Trisha from the airport!! We're going to head straight back to site...and then up to see some sea turtles nesting (it's the season) or maybe hit some waterfalls. I'm excited to see her!

Stay well you guys and make sure to wash your hands (get between your fingers and your don't forget your thumbs!) before you eat, before you cook and after you poopie!

muchluv!
mk

HIV/AIDS Training

Hey guys!

I'm in for a really quick visit, but an exciting one none the less!
I was contacted by a organization that wants to help build tourism in the hinterlands. Wan Hati was chosen as one out of five areas for a pilot program! It's wonderful news for us! Thomas - my counterpart, Mongoelina and Captain were also invited to hear the overview of the project. The contact speaks Takie Takie so we were all able to understand. (Mongoelina only fell asleep once during the presentation...impressive!) The next step for us is to form a group in WH who want to be involved in developing this program. I'll keep you updated on our progress.

Last week Peace Corps came out along with Pepsur (Suriname's ogranization that preforms entertianing ways of teaching about HIV/AIDS)

This was the first big training that I've been involved with hosting in WH. Lots of kinks were worked out as the day progressed....it was chaos I'm going to admit. Wan Hati was host to three other villages, each village particiapating had 5 kids aged 12-18 to be educated as a HIV/AIDS leader. (they are trained to to teach others) The PCV of that village, and their counterpart.

My whole village wanted to participate. There was no control. I was near tears trying to get adults and screaming babies, kids that weren't part of the WH five away from the training area. Training was provided to a small number again so the kids can educate others, and adults are not asked to participate due the topic....kids may not feel confortable speaking freely infront of adults and heads of the Village. ( Everyone is welcome at my house for education on health. )

I learned a lot on how to try to keep control. (I only lost my temper once, as a rock whizzed by my face - thrown by a boy that was not included in the group)

Pepsur was amazing -- they educated through skits, songs, group participation. My kids engaged and I feel really learned some important and NEEDED information about HIV/AIDS. The pre-test and post-test results were shocking!

We now have a youth group 'HIV/AIDS A NA MEI MATI' (HIV/AIDS is not my friend) I'm proud of them and they are enthusiastic and full of questions!

Later that nite Basi Amsio and I were talking and we were discussing AIDS -- he was shocked to learn that you can NOT transmit through wearing the same clothes. I sat with him and a few of the older ladies late into the nite dicussing transmission. I'm grateful for the training as it sparked a lot of converstations and let everyone know it's okay to ask questions.

The next training is in two weeks on latrine buildling and clean water. Hopefully I can implement what I've learned on crowd control! (Or I'll take a valuim beforehand!)