I'm the only girl to return to NAKS, and I have come to think of it as the Hilton of Suriname. A FLUSH toliet, cold shower, and bed with thin - short cushion, how I've missed you!
Homestay. The Hinderland. Homestay Family. Culture. Cultural traditions. Food. Laterines. Things I never in a million years would image I would do....
Boslanti is where I hang my hammack - and it's been a wild, crazy ride. I don't even really know where to begin - I guess the begining is a good a start as any...
We climbed aboard our trusty waggie and headed out bright eyed, and anxious to see our new homes and families - we were all getting dropped at our locations, I knew I was heading to Boslanti with the older married couple Lynn and Wayne.
I can't even tell you the value of the shock when it came to drop off the first group at their site. As much as we've been told, it's true - seeing is believing. The waggie pulled over on the side of the road, and we had our first view of the village lives we would be living....fear had struck.
A good portion of time later it was my turn to exit the waggie, last stop. The three of us are the only one's across the river. We unloaded our goods, and headed to the riverside. A man in a dugout canoe was crossing over to get us. It honestly was surreal. We loaded our gear and headed across the river (already I was put to work, using a cut-out milk jug to bail water out)
We pull into the otherside, women standing and washing, cleaning dishes, cleaning clothes - we just cruise right up into them. Climb out of the canoe - bombarded by childern! They grab my bags - and are all eyes on us - touching, talking....following.
We get to my new home. It's a hut honestly the all totalling the size of my Chicago livingroom. Three rooms, one is mine, one contains both kichen and livingroom, the other where everyone else sleeps.
I could go on and on about my host family, but feel I should just keep it brief. Basically I have a mom Ceclia and she has 5 kid. All under the age of 10. I'll give more details on her....later.
I set up my hammock - put together my water filter, came out of my room (the door is only a sheet) and got the first look at them all. They got their first look at me. We tried to communicate. I think the first thing that came out of my mouth was - a miti oo da. (good evening dad) It was 10:00am. She replied with something, soo crazy sounding, and with such speed....I just smiled at her. The oldest child made a jesture of taking a photo. We kinda still do function in a daily ritual of gestures.
The village life and my daily routine:
Kids are naked 24/7. Yes, you just get used to it. Women wear pangis - usually coming up just beneath their boobs.
I wake around 5:00am It's impossible not too - as rosters begin to call, and my family wakes then. (The wall between us doesn't go all the way up to the ceiling, and there is a hole where I can kinda see them (and them me) if you turn just right.
6:00am - wash in the river
6:30am - breakfast of tea and bread with peanut butter
8:00am - language class
noon - end of class
12:30 - lunch
2:00pm - wash again, this time including dishes
2-6:00pm misc stuff, there is ALWAYS something to do....(Tuesday and Thursday we cross the river for training and Friday's we spend the whole day across with more training)
7:00pm - dinner
8:00pm - hut get's locked
Village life.
Everyone greets (giving odie) there is a greeting for morning, afternoon and evening. Translated it's really a pretty thing.
Good morning mam'.
Good morning to you...How did you wake?
I woke beautiful....how did you wake?
I woke beautiful.
Iya. (I think this just means 'yes')
Iya!
Afternoon and evening is the same - and again you ask how they woke.
If you don't greet, you are considered rude and WILL be talked about at the river. (liba) Always greet.
The village has more kids then adults and teenagers combined.
Kids run the village - and it's now a 'normal' thing for me to look out the door and have a kid wave or say hi to me...while doing number two. Yup!
I've been able to stick to my veggie diet, as rice is the staple, and they live off of the land. They use a lot of salt and a lot of sugar though, imagine two bullion cubes mashed into a small portion of fish, then salt to top it off. ;)
The people are wonderful and curious and friendly. We sing a lot of cultural songs...half the time the all stop and laugh at me. I seem to always be doing or saying something that entertians them! My village is stunningly goergous! At dusk the mist sets on the river, and it's breathe taking. Palm trees, with pineapple growing randomly, plucking fruit from the tree....it's unreal how primative and wonderful it is....
Homestay itself is treat I'll have for the next post...as I'm running out of time.
I still need to give you the updates on pee pots, laterines....and details on my family. It's all such good stuff.....I'll make sure and get to it on the next post.
Training:
We dug a 7 foot hole for the beginnings of the latrine we are constructing as a project....make kaka osu. (make pop house)
Learning the laungage
learning how to develop sastainable business and projects
We also when on a fieldtrip to a fantastically amazing place with waterfalls and crazy animals....
times up.....peace out and more soon. WRITE ME!
Love ya!
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