Concrete meet Forest Surviving in the Jungles

50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps

2011-03-03T07:24:00.000-08:00

Presidential Proclamation--50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PEACE CORPS

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed an Executive Order establishing the Peace Corps, forever changing the way America sees the world and the world sees us. Today, one of President Kennedy's most enduring legacies can be found in the over 200,000 current and returned Peace Corps Volunteers who have collectively given over a half century of service to the cause of peace. On its 50th anniversary, the United States Peace Corps remains an enduring symbol of our Nation's commitment to encouraging progress, creating opportunity, and fostering mutual respect and understanding throughout the world.

Over the past five decades, Peace Corps Volunteers have served in nearly 140 countries, bringing a wealth of practical assistance to those working to build better lives for themselves and their communities. From the first group of volunteers to arrive in Ghana and Tanzania in August 1961, they have been emissaries of hope and goodwill to the far corners of our world, strengthening the ties of friendship between the people of the United States and those of other countries. Living and working alongside those they serve, volunteers help address changing and complex global needs in education, health and HIV/AIDS, business and information technology, agriculture, environmental protection, and youth development. With each village that now has access to clean water, each young woman who has received an education, and each family empowered to prevent disease because of the service of a Peace Corps Volunteer, President Kennedy's noble vision lives on.

In our increasingly interconnected world, the mission of the Peace Corps is more relevant today than ever. Returned volunteers, enriched by their experiences overseas, bring a deeper understanding of other cultures and traditions back to their home communities in the United States. The lasting accomplishments of the Peace Corps continue to strengthen partnerships with leaders and countries around the world. This year, we also mourn the loss and pay tribute to the extraordinary life of Sargent Shriver, the founding director of the Peace Corps. The impact of his decades of public service will echo forever in countless places across the globe that have been touched by the Peace Corps.

On this anniversary, we honor the men and women from across the country who have carried forward our Nation's finest tradition of service, and we rededicate ourselves to fulfilling the dream and continuing the work of all those who aspire and yearn for peace.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 1, 2011, as the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that honor the Peace Corps and its volunteers, past and present, for their many contributions to the cause of global peace and friendship.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

Institutionalizing of First Lady a hot topic

2011-01-18T06:34:00.000-08:00

I find this to be most inappropriate! In a country that needs better schools, health care and basic living ammenities - this makes me very sad..

Institutionalizing of First Lady a hot topic

PARAMARIBO, Suriname–A decision last week by President Desi Bouterse to introduce a decree through which his wife Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring receives compensation for her tasks as First Lady, has kicked up quite some dust in Paramaribo.
Even an explanation by the President’s chief of Staff, Jurist Armand van der San, that the compensation was legal and just, didn’t suffice, especially when former President Ronald Venetiaan –revered as integer- resolutely said that his wife would not accept the retroactive payment of moneys that she is now owed by Government under the new decree. “Let’s be clear on that: she will not take the money,” Venetiaan told De West daily newspaper on Saturday.
Under the new resolution, Mrs. Bouterse will receive 8,742 Surinamese dollars SRD (almost US$ 4,000) per month, which is considered controversial and reeking of favouritism, as Bouterse’s wife is the first First Lady to receive such. Van der San explained though that the new decree actually brings structure into a situation that had never been formally arranged. “Former First Lady Mrs. Liesbeth Venetiaan-Vanenburg, a Civil Servant, resorted under the Cabinet of the President, but formally and budget wise her tasks were never set,” Van der San wrote in a press release issued Saturday. Apparantly, Mrs. Venetiaan continued to collect her Civil Servant salary, while working “free of charge” for the Cabinet of the President
“This financial, legal and administrative mistake had went on for ten years. That our decision to now right this chaotic wrong is kicking up so much dust in the community -and in particular the National Assembly- is regrettable,” Van der San said. “A lot of thought has gone into the decree; it is politically justifiable and definitely not unethical. It would have been unethical to only arrange this for the current First Lady,” he said.
He explained that during discussions about the budget of the Cabinet, it proved necessary to shed light on the First Lady’s expenses and institutionalize the position of “First Lady”. Under the new decree the First Lady is formally more than a ribbon cuttopr. She is officially tasked with executing social projects. ”It seems as if you cannot do right,” Van der San commented.
The Opposition Factions in Parliament roared last week when the decree became public. Mrs. Venetiaan-Vanenburg then stated in the press that she would not collect the retroactive payment of close to 100,000 Euros that she is now due for First Lady services during her husband’s ten year tenure.
While GFC News subsequently quoted “political analysts” who said she would have made a better political point if she had donated the payment to needy social institutions, her husband –Former President Venetiaan- publicly backed his wife. “Mi frow no e go teki a moni. A frow no wani a moni,” he said in Surinamese (the woman will not take the money; the woman does not want the money.”

Holidays In the Tropics

2010-12-27T09:21:00.000-08:00

Fireworks. Food. Heat. Humidity.
HOLDIAYS IN SURINAME!

This is the third Chirstmas spent in the warmth of Suriname.
This year I moved into a cute little house in the city - luckily still under a huge mango tree. The part of town I live, really is enjoying this time of year. The last few evening have been spend watching firework displays - so close the it sounds like we are under siege!

Monks the Chirstmas Monkey is now part of the family! I simply adore this little guy, and for the last couple of days we have been getting to know each other. I've discovered his love of cucumbers and cashews!

(he's definitely got personality!)

The Holland crew has made their arrive for the holidays. It's been an exciting last few weeks, full of adventures, laugher and as always - FOOD! Christmas this year included over 30 people seated together at one long table, outside under the canopy of twinkle lights. Everyone brought something to share - and we ate and ate! There was a theme this year 'the Suriname Flag'. Everyone was to dress in the colors of the Suriname Flag (Red, Green, Yellow, White) It was as fun as it sounds! I wore my Suriname belt, flip-flops and white/red tank top. Raoul cooked cow stomach (not kidding) and I contibuted 40 deviled eggs to the party.

Kendila is in town, and has promised to visit and cook with me. I'm looking forward to this! She makes one mean ginger beer! I'm make sure to take some photos of this event!

Wished my friends in Wan Hati Switi Kristneti - they all are doing well! Sa and Corvina are both pregnant!! I'm so looking forward to visiting them and seeing the new babies!

Gabbie's birthday was December 1st - she turned 9 yrs old. I can't even believe it. When I first met that girl she was just 6. Where has the time gone? I miss seeing her and the rest of the crew. It's truly amazing how fast the time goes - looking forward to seeing them again soon!

I do really miss home this season. My family all got together at Nina and Kevin's to celebrate Alex's first Christmas. I wasn't able to call early enough to catch them all together, but talking with Nina, Suzy and Dad, really made me 'hungry' to be home. Next year we will be together.

Trisha will make her second visit to Suriname on Wendsday! I'm definitely looking forward to seeing her and I'm sure we'll chat the days away! She'll be here for End of Year, and I promise it will be like no other she's experienced!

Here's to a Bright, Happy and Safe New Year! xoxo

Happy Holidays

2010-12-20T10:50:00.001-08:00

Customize your own digital greeting

Dance and Trance

2010-09-08T06:42:00.000-07:00

Suriname is full of different culture and traditions. I have been blessed to have lived in Wan Hati and experience the Maroon culture and tradition. Learning so much about their way of life, and why they hold ceremonies.

I am also lucky to be able to experience some of the culture of the Javanese here in Suriname. I have now experienced Dyaran Kepang twice - and I would go again!

Across the Suriname River from Paramaribo, is the town of Nieuw Amsterdam. On festival days, one can watch and be mesmerized, as the Javanese enact their traditional Dyaran Kepang ceremony--a trance dance where the performers take on the spirit of a horse, monkey, or tiger as they fall under the spell of rhythmic, monotonous gamelan.

The gamelan begins and the men come out riding decorated stick horses. They preform a dance to the ancestors. There is a medicine man that leads them into the trance. He puts water with a sort of perfume on them - there is prayers and the spirits are summoned. He then leads them gently into trance.

When the dancers are in trance there bodies take over their minds and become transformed into another living being. The dancers start with the horse.

They gallop around - sometime turning violent and kicking one another. Each time I've witnessed them they tend to have a lot of rage, and are slightly frightening. The eat sharp and fibrous elephant grass, rose petals and drink out of buckets of water.

If the medicine man sprinkles them again with the water - he can lead them into transformation of monkeys.

The monkey spirit beats on his check and tears a coconut apart with his teeth! They are usual playful - and I enjoy watching them. They will attempt to steal things out of your purse. The last time we watch them - they were transfixed on a balloon, one took his sash and tied it to a coconut in attempt to make his own. They roll around and hop as a monkey would in the wild. They are curious and come right up to you - when you look at them you can tell by their face/eyes that they are completely consumed in the spirit.

I have never witnessed the tiger-spirit but have been told they have been known to tear the heads off of live chickens.

The medicine man uses a sort of powder and chants in their ear to lead them out of trance. This can be hard to watch - sometimes they struggle and yell. They tend to wake up dazed and looking confused as the spirits leave them.

Researchers have investigated the stomach contents of the dancers and mysteriously not found any trace of what they have ingested.

I continue to love and learn and be amazed here in Suriname.

Tough Truck Challenge and HIV/AIDS

2010-08-30T11:23:00.000-07:00

That's what my Sunday held in store for me!

Woke up early and headed out to watch Motorsur - very exciting (and very hot!)
Basically what is was - two tracks were dug up in the middle of a pasture area. Big holes, muddy, bumpy - tough. Trucks lined at the start side-by-side and raced each other through the track.

There was a DJ playing really fun, old-school music and Parbo to drink - Ula held our huge umbrella for shade. We had a nice day out!

I had been struggling with writing a project plan for our hiv/aids awareness - TTC program. I made myself sit and finish most of the plan. It's been hard to get into that kind of groove of writing. I feel like I need a constant spell and grammar checker and wordsmith with me! I'm doing the best I can, and learning constantly!

Sunday night we went over to another PCV's house for a potluck. He's got the most adorable puppy - the puppy is going to America soon (his girlfriend is visiting and the dog is going home with her) so he had a going away party for the dog. I of course loved this!

Oliva called me today - I miss her and her family! I hope to see them before I leave to visit home!

17 days!!!

Lazy Saturday - much enjoyed!

2010-08-28T15:30:00.001-07:00

Being back at the 5-day a week work grind has been hard on me -- but when things start to come together, it feels really good!

I have been working on a really cool program that we hope to launch soon in targeted areas of Suriname. Yesterday I presented this information to the Sur 15s at their Mid-Service Conference.

WHAT IS TEXT TO CHANGE?
Text to Change (TTC) is a non-profit organization, founded in 2007. It uses state of the art mobile phone technology to collect and disseminate health information. TTC has been one of the pioneers in using mobile phones for health monitoring and advocacy in Uganda reaching out to the general public at a large scale. TTC work is demand driven and sets up complete programs with local and international partners. The aim of TTC is to make life saving knowledge easily available to the general public and to community and family level caregivers. TTC is specialized in interactive and incentive based SMS programs addressing a wide range of health issues such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Reproductive Health. The website for TTC is http://www.texttochange.org/

TEXT TO CHANGE AND UNICEF SURINAME:
UNICEF and TTC are working to launch an HIV/AIDS awareness quiz for youth age range of 14- 30 in Suriname. This program will run for four months – beginning in September and ending in December, in alignment with World AIDS Day (December 1st). Each month participates will receive a number of multiple choice questions via text message. They then respond back via text. Correct answers are rewarded with a top-off. If a participate responds with an incorrect answer, they will receive the correct answer back via text message. Participates that complete the 4 month long program will be rewarded with free airtime. All text messaging is free to the participants.

As this moves along - I'll be sure to updated you all on the progess.

Today was hot, so I napped and then around 5 (when it cooled off) went off to fly my new kite! Enjoyed a nice easy day. xoxo

Political update - (8/13/010)

2010-08-27T06:27:00.000-07:00

BBC Caribbean.com
13 August, 2010 - Published 12:51 GMT

Bouterse gets down to business

Suriname's new leader Desi Bouterse has begun duties for the first time as a democratically-elected leader of this Caricom nation after taking the oath of office on Thursday.

He first came to power in February 1980, when he led a coup that suspended Suriname's constitution and dissolved the Parliament five years after the former Dutch colony gained independence.

He seized power once again in 1990 after leading another coup and has remained a powerful force on the country's political landscape, even after he stopped serving as military chief in 1992.
Mr Bouterse, a convicted drug smuggler, was elected by parliament last month after his Mega Combination coalition won 23 of the 51 seats in the May election.
In his inaugural address, he called for national unity, saying that service and sacrifice will be the base of his work.

Hear BBC Caribbean Report coverage of the inauguration
"The opposition are not our opponents. We see them as co-operation partners to accomplish policy together," he said.

Caricom absence
There was a noticeable absence of his Caribbean Community (Caricom) colleagues at Thursday's inauguration.
Guyana's Prime Minister Sam Hinds was the only high level Caricom government representative present.
Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, the only head of state to say he would attend the ceremony, cancelled at the last minute.

Charges
But while Mr Bouterse has been appealing for national unity, not everyone has forgotten his past.
The international journalists group, Reporters Without Borders, commenting on Mr Bouterse's installation, said it cannot forget that he continues to be charged with the murders of five journalists in 1982, while he was dictator.

The organisation said in a statement that even if legal proceedings are suspended for the duration of Mr Bouterse's presidency, it would be unacceptable if the murders were to go unpunished indefinitely.

The former military ruler is on trial for his alleged role in the abduction and summary execution 15 people, all suspected enemies of his regime.

Mr Bouterse has always denied being directly involved in their deaths.
The victims were rounded up in the night, taken to a military base and executed.
Mr Bouterse has also been convicted by the Netherlands - Suriname's former colonial power - of cocaine trafficking and there is a warrant out for his arrest.

___________________________________________________

Suriname ex-dictator back as elected president
AP
Friday, August 13, 2010

PARAMARIBO, Suriname (AP) — A former coup leader, convicted drug trafficker and accused murderer swore to uphold the country's laws at his inauguration Thursday without mentioning concerns in Suriname and abroad about his return to power — this time through the democratic process.

President Desi Bouterse pledged in a speech to fight corruption and help impoverished communities in the vast rain forest hinterland of South America's smallest nation. He also said he would strengthen the resource-dependent economy and further distance the former Dutch colony from the Netherlands while forging closer ties with other nations.

But in a ceremony that was avoided by the hemisphere's leaders, Bouterse did not address his history as Suriname's two-time dictator — a past that made his election last month by Parliament uncomfortable for the international community.

The closest Bouterse came to touching on such concerns was his vow to respect the views of others.

"I want to assure you that we will never abandon the principles of consultation and cooperation or make arrogant use of our majority," he said. "The opposition is not our enemy."

Bouterse's return to power in the ethnically diverse country of 500,000 has many wondering whether it will mean a return to a dark past when human rights were trampled and isolated Suriname was a major launching pad for drugs bound for the United States and Europe.
No foreign heads of state attended yesterday's inauguration at a sports arena. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had been expected to attend but cancelled at the last minute.

Bouterse, 64, has loomed over Surinamese politics for three decades. He first came to power in 1980, when he led a coup that saw the constitution suspended and Parliament dissolved just five years after independence. Under international pressure he allowed the return of civilian rule in 1987, only to launch a second coup in 1990. Even after stepping down as army chief in 1992, he has remained a powerful force.

He also has been dogged by allegations of corruption. Convicted of drug trafficking in absentia in 1999 in the Netherlands -- prosecutors said he was the leader of the "Suri Cartel" -- he was sentenced to 11 years. He avoided that punishment because Suriname doesn't have an extradition treaty with its former colonial ruler, and now he enjoys immunity as head of state during his five-year term.

"Has he changed? I hope so," said Henri Behr, whose younger brother, a journalist and violinist in Suriname's symphony orchestra, was among the 15 opposition leaders abducted and executed by soldiers in 1982. "I'd like to think he will be different, but perhaps that's being naive."
In the past, Bouterse has accepted "political responsibility" for the so-called December killings while denying a direct role in them. As president he is not required to testify, and if convicted, he could potentially engineer a pardon and avoid a 20-year sentence. Some fear he could interfere directly with the trial if testimony gets too uncomfortable.

So far there is no concrete indication that the new president will try to interfere, and his only reference to the judiciary yesterday was to a desire to reform it so that it is no longer based on the Dutch system.

Bouterse has shrugged off his conviction in the Dutch court and the criticism of his record while strengthening his political machine.

His aides declined requests for an interview, and his large security detail discouraged attempts to speak with him as he held a long meeting over drinks before the inauguration.
His son insisted the country has nothing to worry about.

"I know he will be a good president because I know what kind of man he is," Dino Bouterse said. "He will be the best."

It's the little things

2010-08-26T14:43:00.000-07:00

Today I felt SO proud of myself!

There is a public bus system in place here. Unfortuntely it is completely unorganized and drives me crazy!

In the mornings it's pretty simple - I stand on the street and flag down any bus that's heading toward town. I can handle that one.

It's the getting from work BACK home that has caused me to take many detours and to see a lot of town!

One day I rode the PKS bus into work, I got out at the 'end' and took note of where it was parked. After work that day I went back to the exact location, the same line number 3 was on the bus. I got on, waited for the bus to full - then we were off. 10 minutes in I realized this was NOT the bus I was suppose to be in....I ended up on the 'highway' scared to get off cuz I would be totally lost. 2 hours later I had ridden the bus all the way back into town - then got in a 'taxi' to take me home! I apparently was on Line 3. Line 3 goes to Paran. PKS can have any line number on it it wants...cuz no one looks for that. Eessh.

Since that experience I've been taking the bus that I know will drop me by the Peace Corps office, and walking it home. I'm was a little gun sky of this bus stuff.

Today I sucessfully found the PKS waiting area. (Again first I rode til the end of the line. Ironically a different location then the previous time...) After work, I went back to that area- got on the PKS bus - even asked the driver 'are you the PKS, going by Choi' - 'yes ' he replies. I get in the bus. There is just one lady in it with me. After 15 minutes of sitting there alone....the driver starts talking to me in Dutch. I explain I don't understand Dutch. 5 more minutes later the lady turns to me - she talks in Saran tongo - asks me what I'm doing on the bus. I say I'm waiting for it to take me home - and I tell here where I'm going. She replies that I am in fact on the right bus. BUT....this bus is not going anymore today. She was the wife of the driver. She tells me that if I want to take the PKS bus thats running I have to walk over to the market - look for the Line 5 (but don't get on Line 5) infront of Line 5 I will see the PKS bus. Those are the buses that are running.

I thanked her -walked over to the market, saw the Line 5's walked in front of them. And just like she said there was a PKS bus almost ready to go! I took a seat only waiting a few minutes for the rest of the bus to fill...off we went.

A huge smile crossed my face as I saw Choi, pressed the button - and got off exactly where I wanted....success!

Suriname Version 3.0

2010-08-25T10:04:00.000-07:00

I know, I'm probably the worst blogger there is...

As I'm sure you can imagine - there is so much that has happened since my last update over 7 months ago. So a really brief recap - and forward on!

Suzy came to visit for three weeks toward the end of my two-years. We had a blast and did lots of fun, silly sister things together. The village loves her, and she loved the village! I'll try to get some photos posted of her vist (there's an album if your on fb)

My two-years came to end in Wan Hati. I moved out of the bush on July 15th and into the city. I extended my peace corps service for a third year! I just love it here that much! I took a position working 5 days a week with UNICEF. It was hard to leave all my friends and the kids in the WH, but I'm so happy that I have another year here to visit them! (I've already been back once!)

I'm working with Innovations for UNICEF. It's exciting, challenging and an office chalked full of fun people. I've been here a little over a month now, and so far so good!

I hope to keep up my posts now that I'm more accessable to a computer.

Can't wait to see a lot of you when I come home in 20(ish) days! It'll be almost 2 1/2 years that I haven't seen friends or Chicago!

Short and sweet for now - but with promises of more soon.

xoxo

January 10th

2010-01-23T10:26:00.000-08:00

6:00pm today five year old Fabine asked me if I had a car. I told her no. (slow to realize that she wanted a toy car...) I told her I don't have any money to buy a car. I work for free.
Rosanda her 11 year old sister looked at me and said 'white people are richer then black people.'

I asked her if she had ever heard of Oprah.

How could she have, she doesn't have t.v. Part of the three goals of peace corps is to help provide an understanding of American culture. I explained as much as I could of Oprah's fame and ever expanding empire. I told her how I was even lucky enough to go to one of her shows, that is really hard to get tickets, Rosanda just looked at me more confused then interested.

I think a wonderful activity will be to have a few days here were the kids and I discuss famous, history making Black Americans. Maybe I'll wait til I can get into the city and download some images and bio's so that there are visuals and stories to share -- make it a celebration kind of learning.

Today in general was a long one. It started with waking too early to a dream that felt to real. Dream involved previous snake making a home inside my pillow case. Basi A annoyed me by asking where he's suppose to poop (since the latrine funding is taking awhile) in front of my new visiting neighbors, and before 7:30am I hadn't even had my coffee yet. I just grumbled at him.

Gabbie came over at 8:00am wanting to play with playdough - I told her we would play later, that I was going to church. She laughed right in my face. (I usually don't go to church) I locked her out the house. She came back and had brought me a mango.

After playing with playdough until 10:00am she left.

I cooked mac and tuna, ate all of it at one sitting...then took a walk.

Hot.

Headed to Kendilia's house. She made me fold laundry, wash Sofie and take out all (at least 20) of Alisha's little tiny braids. Then she shoved food and cake at me to eat.

Armondo and Danka (both 15yrs old) come over and sang 'I love your sexy body' on repeat--finally followed by Armondo saying 'I want to eat food in a barn'.

I told him tomorrow 4:00 English lesson. We've skipped to many (apparently!)

Danka asked me if I had any condoms, I asked why - do you want one? Kendila screamed 'Don't give him any!!' He disappeared for about five minutes. (I thought out of embarassment) NO.

He had filled a condom he DID have with water and threw it at the porch where we were all sitting.

Kendila yelled and screamed.

Sofie and Alisha started crying.

Armondo laughed his head off.

I was just relieved to know why he was so eager for condoms. All that made me tired and a little cranky, so I headed home. On my way back home, Captian and his wife stopped me. They had a handful of people sitting around and visiting. Captian's wife starts telling the group how yesterday, in front of her house, one of the worker guys told me he didn't have a woman. I said, So? I already have a man in America.'
'You don't have a man here, I'll be your man', he replied.
Me, 'Why would I want you?!'

Luckily everyone errupted into laugher and I fled the scene before he could answer. So today as she retold the story, they all laughed again and told me I was tough and a smart mouth. Claudia asked me what my boyfriends name was, I answered Jonny Depp.

Before I could make it to my hammock, Olivia and Ande called me over. Olivia is due next month and Sister Anna is rumored to not be returning for another five months. I told them I had heard the same news, but I hadn't spoken directly to Sister Anna. They nodded and we chatted for a minute more. Back home washed my dishes, lazed around, finished my book. Then ran into Fabine.

Happy Birthday Mom!

2010-01-17T05:14:00.000-08:00

You let me know you love me
in so many different ways
You make me feel important
with encouragement and praise

You're always there when I need you
to comfort and to care
I know I'm in your thoughts
your love follows me everywhere

Thank you for all you've done
and given so generously
I love you my wonderful mom
for setting me straight and then setting me free

You're the best mom you can be.

The Visitor

2010-01-15T12:57:00.001-08:00

Jan. 5th 2010

The lanti boat is still broke, luckily staff was heading out to visit AT, so I caught a ride out with them today. We headed out bright and early this morning and made it to AT's site before lunch time. It was great to see AT's house and village. His garden hosts the largest pumpkins I have ever seen in my life! He gave us a tour - it was a short one, his village is so tiny! After waiting out a few rain showers, Jono drove me to Wan Hati.

I don't know if it's the travelling, the fresh air or the change in scenery, but I always am so tired when I first get back (maybe it's the thought of having to clean up my house and unpack that drains all my motivation)

Before I can even get all my bags in the house, Jeni is in the front yard smiling at me and just chatting away. Next, Olivia is heading over - as usual she walks right in and takes a seat. We talk about our New Years and how much fun we had during the holidays. She then asks if she could borrow one of my gasbombs. I have two, but one is empty and unfortunately the second is about to be! Since the lanti boat isn't running its hard to get someone to take and fill the gasbombs in Moengo. I made sure to include lots of snacks during my shopping - just incase I have to go a few days without being about to cook. Olivia heads out and I head to take a nap.

Around 5pm the sound of something rustling around wakes me up, I try to ignore it - but it's really irratating me! I battle with a mouse problem in the house, and they keep me up at all hours. I can't take the noise anymore and get up to investigate. The noise is coming from behind my backpack. I peer over it and see a SNAKE! It's head is up and bobbing from side to side. Something compels me to grab my can of Raid and spray its face.

It jumps - I leap onto my bed.

It spews out a slimy fully intacted mouse. Mouse goes airborne landing by the base of my bed.

I'm horrified.

The snake is HUGE. Easily the full length of my room. Huge.

I watch as it slithers it's way into one of my bags. I don't want to leave to get help for fear it will move somewhere else in my house and we won't be able to find it. I see all the guys out on the soccer area and figure I'll wait til they walk by my house then get one of them to help me.

Sometimes I really wonder what I'm thinking...

As I'm standing on my bed - the snake starts to wriggle it's head out of my bag. I grab my broom and jump back up on my bed. Then knowing full well I shouldn't - I wack my pack with the broomstick.

Snake is pissed and bolts out of the bag.

The sound of the snake on my floor freaks me out , and he heads straight for under my bed.

I race into the other room and stand on the table, broomstick and Raid in hand. I look out the window, the guys are still playing soccer - it's starting to get dark.

No sooner do I look back at my bed - I see the snake's head and half it's body on the top of my mosquito net! The rest of him is dangling down the side of the net.

Now addrenaline is coursing through me. Fast as a flash I slide under the netting (opposite side from snake) I take my can of Raid - and fire full on at it's face. As I know from earlier snake doesn't like Raid.

He flies off the top of the netting back onto the floor and into my wash area.

He's big and mad and knocking over all my bottles. I trade my can of Raid for my machete. There's a drain hole in the side of the wash area, big enough for him to fit through--if I can get him to do it.

I have a big pink plastic tub I use as a shield and descide to trade back to my Raid bottle. (machete is long, but not long enough for my confort!)

I'm wacking the area like a crazy women with the broomstick trying to scare him to the drain hole - holding my pink tub in front of me like a warrior incase he comes to close to me.

Somehow now he worked his way to the ceiling and is dangling his head down at me.

I aim and spray - at the same time backing up to stand ontop of my table again.

Snake hates me.

He's back on the ground. I reach out and poke him with the broomstick - he's close to the drain hole. I wack him again and he darts out of the hole!!

I watch from my window as he heads out into the bush.

It's pretty dark as I take the dead mouse outside. The guys are walking past my house - finished playing soccer.

Sleep well, they call out.

Happy New Year

2010-01-02T06:59:00.001-08:00

---How Anansi got his stories ---

Once there were no stories in the world. The Sky-God, Nyame, had them all. Anansi went to Nyame and asked how much they would cost to buy.
Nyame set a high price: Anansi must bring back Onini the Python, Osebo the Leopard, the Mmoboro Hornets, and Mmoatia, the dwarf.
Anansi set about capturing these. First he went to where Python lived and debated out loud whether Python was really longer than the palm branch or not as his wife Aso says. Python overheard and, when Anansi explained the debate, agreed to lie along the palm branch. Because he cannot easily make himself completely straight a true impression of his actual length is difficult to obtain, so Python agreed to be tied to the branch. When he was completely tied, Anansi took him to Nyame.
To catch the leopard, Anansi dug a deep hole in the ground. When the leopard fell in the hole Anansi offered to help him out with his webs. Once the leopard was out of the hole though he was bound in Anansi's webs and was carried away.
To catch the hornets, Anansi filled a calabash with water and poured some over a banana leaf he held over his head and some over the nest, calling out that it was raining. He suggested the hornets get into the empty calabash and, when they obliged, quickly sealed the opening.
To catch the dwarf he made a doll and covered it with sticky gum. He placed the doll under the odum tree where the dwarfs play and put some yam in a bowl in front of it. When the dwarf came and ate the yam she thanked the doll which of course did not reply. Annoyed at its bad manners she struck it, first with one hand then the other. Anansi captured her.
Anansi handed his captives over to Nyame who rewards him with the stories, which now become known as Anansi stories.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

The kids love to share and tell anansi (anansi is a cunning trickster in spider form) stories. I love listening and sharing with them.

Here's to a year full of stories and adventures!

More news on Albina

2009-12-30T09:32:00.000-08:00

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/americas/2009/12/27/christmas-violence-suriname

This is just such a sad and terrible event.

Friendly International Show Jumping Competition!

2009-12-30T08:14:00.000-08:00

While we were driving somewhere - I saw a banner strung between two trees. 'Friendly International Show Jumping Competition' it read. There was a photo of a horse mid-jump and the rider doning a proper hard hat and red show jumping jacket. I gasped with delight when I saw that we hadn't missed the dates of the show and told Raoul -'we MUST go!'

We went - and it was so fantastic! I got really nostaglic. There was even a guy walking around with a rat terrier! Teams from Suriname, French Guyana, Guadelupe and Martinigue were competing. The show was extremely well run with big sponsors - Mc. Donalds, Bergandal and other big guys from here in Suriname.

The show was two days - and we attended both - it was full of thrills, spills and excitement. The food was good too!

I never would have guessed there would be a show jumping competition here, but was so glad there was -- I cheered for the Suriname team and was so happy to see representing Suriname was the youngest competitor - all 13 yrs of him. He had a rocket pony, and my heart melted and I cheer and clapped as loud as I could for him. He placed 4th.

Suriname just never seizes to amaze me with all it offers here.

www.ponderosasuriname.com/?lang=EN

This is the website to the Equestian Center that hosted the event.

Tension in the area

2009-12-26T18:28:00.000-08:00

Suriname sends troops to Albina Radio Netherlands Worldwide:

"The Surinamese government has sent soldiers to the restive border town of Albina in order to seal off a number of neighbourhoods.

The military is conducting house-to-house searches for goods stolen during Thursday evening's looting. The neighbourhoods have been sealed off and people are not allowed to enter or leave until searches had been completed.

Paramaribo sent soldiers in after fighting between the local Marron population and Brazilian and Chinese migrants, most of whom are searching for gold. On Thursday hundreds of people were involved in fighting after a Marron man died after an argument with a Brazilian national. At least 13 people injured and 20 foreign women say they were raped.

Tensions between the foreign gold diggers and the local population have been growing for some time but this is the worst outbreak of violence. The Marron community say migrants have bribed the police in Albina in order to break the law with impunity.

The Surinamese police have evacuated around 100 victims of the violence".

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T21:45:00.000-08:00

Nothing like wintertime in the tropics! I woke to a warm, balmy, slightly breezy Christmas Day. Ula woke me by saying Merry Christmas, then rolling over to go back to sleep. I also went back to sleep, finally rising around 10am. It's kinda loud here at nite- Suriname being so diverse in cultures and ethnic groups there are many traditions. One around this time of year is fireworks. All of last nite I was awake listening to - booom, booom - fireworks nextdoor, clang, clang on the steel gate (the two dogs scared out of their mind trying to get into the house!) I was slightly cranky and in need of coffee this morning!

Once I was finally aware of the day around me (three cups of coffee in) we were relaxing on the couch, and discussing what to eat. Who doesn't love fish fritters for lunch! One of my visiting the city stables. We're off to the store.

As we're out we pick up a few dvd's and phone calling cards. I also treated myself to a brownie ;)

Ula, the wonderful cook starts frying up the fritters and I finally descide it's time to change out of my pj's. It's 1:30pm.

We eat our fish fritters and pop in the movie Ula picked. Avatar. (again love the no anti-piracy laws here!!) Never in a zillion years would I have guess I would love that type of movie so much. Great movie. Definitely a good pick!

All nite the previous nite the neighbors set off the fireworks. So after watching the movie I crashed out on the couch. I woke to 'Mariah, get up it's time to get ready - we're late for dinner.'

Crap.

I'm tired, cranky, not showered and need to repaint my toenails.

'Ula can you do me a favor and re-heat me a cup of coffee? It's already made and in the machine.'

'Ya, no problem'.

I'm freshly showered and the paint on my nails is drying - I go to grab my re-heated coffee.

Ula, bless his heart. He had poured the brewed coffee back INTO the machine, turned the machine on and remade the already made coffee. (Double brewing it cuz I was to lazy to throw out the used grounds earlier today.)

Who cares, I live in Wan Hati. I drank it anyways. I am my father's daughter. To that fact, my mothers too. Waste not, want not -- and whatever it's already made.

Off to dinner at Robby and Jenny's house. They moved back to Suriname from Holland about a year and 1/2 ago. We spent last Christmas dinner with them. Although last year, no one told me it was a dressy affair so I wore jean and a t-shirt, they all were decked out in dresses and slacks. This year I wore my black dress, and pretty jewels - they wore, jeans and t-shirts.
Again, who cares - they made a fantastic dinner and I ate mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, gravy with mushrooms, 4 different meat options on the table and all the booze you could possibly want.

Jenny's daughter is visiting from Holland. Her husband is an extreme fighter (the kind that don't use gloves or have any rules other then the tap out rule. Tap out rule being, you tap on the ground three times if you want out of the damn fight!) He sat across from me and I ate my dinner having conversation about fights and motivation - trying to not stare at his swollen eye. Yes, he did win the match -- even got an impressive trophy!

Back home (1/2 bottle of Borgoe and who knows how many glasses of wine!) to feed the dogs.

I have been trying to reach my mom all day. The curse of phonecards, land-lines, new locations and cell phones. Finally able to reach her 1:00am my time. 11:00pm her time. Phew, still Christmas on her side.

Soo lovely to hear my mom's voice and share stories. As you would guess, the phone card was eaten up to quickly - and left me mid-sentence to my mom as it cut out. I sent her a follow-up email ;)

Connected with my sisters and my dad via email to wish them happy and safe Christmas. I can NOT wait to talk with them tomorrow! So much to say, I'm going to have to get a few phone cards for this call.

Not shocking to anyone I'm sure - I just raided the fridge for leftovers as Raoul sleeps. I have prepared myself for when he asks me 'what happened to all the food?' I will say, 'um, dude - you totally got up in the middle of the nite and you were gone for over an hour. I don't know what you did!' :)

I'm thinking back on the previous year and all the wonderful, crazy and truly amazing adventures and experiences I have had - it's been a great year and I'm so thankful.

Next year will be a white one (hopefully) for me. I look forward to spending it with all my family and friends that I haven't seen in so, soo long. But for now - I'm as content as can be, and full! I just need to turn that a/c down in the bedroom before I can fall asleep, and put my ear plugs in for the ever-lasting fireworks!

Merry Christmas to all - I love and miss each and every one of you!

Hippo, Chicken and Tucan!

2009-12-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

The Wan Hati Watermelons

(Rosanda, Gabbie and Patrick)

present to you: Merry Christmas - Happy New Year!

Some moments in December

2009-12-21T07:53:00.000-08:00

clop-clop
CLop-CLop
CLOP-CLOP!!!!

It's Bella....BELLA! I want to come in. I know your in there. CLOP-CLOP!!!! Moraya! (Bella speak for Mariah) Mona just hit me...lllllet me in! (giggling, those two little squirts)

No afternoon nap for me today. Once that door opens is a titlewave of kids. It's mango season and I live under the mango tree.

Dec. 7th
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Due in Febuary

Me: Who is bigger? Jenni, Eva or Olivia?
Kendila: Eva
Me: Maybe she'll have twins
Kendila: She can't, she's a twin and twins don't have twins
Me: Huh, Maybe she'll have triplets (smiling)
Kendila: My god! (look of horror)

Dec 8th
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Lost your Hammer

Around 9am -Basi Amsoi just came by to tell me that he has looked all over, but doesn't know where he put the hammer that he borrowed from me. He has lost it. He's slightly distraunt looking about this, I tell him not to worry - it's okay. I didn't use it to much anyways. He again says how sorry he is, just feels awful.

Around 4pm Basi's wife is coming back from ground. She swing by my house and tells me that she forgot to stop by this morning on her way out. 'Here's your hammer' she says. 'I grabbed it on my way out this morning to return to you, then forgot til I was heading back.'

Someone should tell Basi ;)

Dec 8th
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Lend Me Your Shoes

'O Weki Mariah!' I hear through my closed windows and shut door. It's 6:30am.
'O Weki O' - I reply to the voice I know belongs to Olivia.

Before she can even ask I call out - 'you come for water?' Even though the pump is working and it rained all nite, my sweet neighbor Olivia would like to fill her bucket from my durotank. ' It's open' I say, I don't even lift my head off my pillow.

Rainy Season is back.

I haven't been sleeping as soundly as usual. It's my own fault. When I was in the city Ula and I watched the moive'Paranormal Activity'. It didn't scare me there (I do admit I sleep with a nite lite in the bedroom -- a habit I've had since as long as I can remember) But here in good old Wan Hati - without electricity as usual I'm freaked out of my mind and quickly running out of candles!!

My morning is slow moving.
I rolled out of bed around 8. The village was already at full throttle. Kids off to school, men chatting and swinging their machetes at the weeds, women gathering and waiting for friends to head of to ground. Me. Just heading outside to greet the day with my first cup of coffee. Who do I see heading over? Olivia. Luckily she assumes I was up at 6:30am, that I've washed and cooked for the day and that I am now resting for a minute. She heads into my house, takes a seat.

She's 7 months pregnant and just getting round and adorable! (She's the mother of the infamous crew: Gabbie, Bella, Jenni and Patrick) She's 24. Olivia loves red licorice (a girl after my own heart), getting her photo taken, bright colors and she has the ability to make you feel good. Today she would like me to go to ground with her. To pull and clean ginger. Let's do it. I slam my now lukewarm coffee-eat a spoonful of peanut butter and grab my 'ground gear' bag. We're off.

She like almost everyone here has multipule grounds. Today, of course, we're heading to the one furtest away. We chat during the 45 minute walk. She and I are obviously confortable with each other and have been good friends for awhile now. As we walk we talk about the holidays. She wants to pull her ginger today and take it to the city tomorrow or Friday to sell so she can get money to take the family into visit relatives in the city for the holidays. 2 kilos of gingers gets her around 15-20 srd. We walk pass the ground that she just cleared ths season and she points out where Gabbie planted tayer. We both laugh. I ask her how old before you teach your kids to work ground? She says around 11 is when they usually drop out of school to help all day at ground. (Gabbie turned 8 this month) Then she looked over her shoulder at me - we're walking single file..and she says ' Gabbie told me she wats to go to school and learn how to make pretty pictures to sell for a living. But on the weekends she said she'll help at ground.'
Go Gabbie!!

We arrive at the final destination and start our work. During a water break as we are sitting to clean ginger Olivia asks witch place is bigger Suriname or America. We talk about cities and what we eat on the holidays. Yes, I even said gobble, gobble while trying to explain what a turkey is...she taught me the Alcun work for it.

As we're chatting we hear something come crashing through the bush. It's Kendila. Quite the wirlwind as always. She greets Olivia, then looks at me and says - I thought we were going to have lessons this morning. Smarty Pants. I correct her that it's Wendsday, the day she goes to ground. She laughs- I'm onto her tricks! Last time I fell for her telling me that Shannon had twin boys - I took my camera to Shannon's house (a little sad that she never told me she was pregnant...) to find Kendila was playing a joke on me. I got back to confront Kendila and she just laughed so much that I started laughing. Then she said - 'Well Shannon did get pretty fat!'

She sits and conplains about how far Olivia's ground is - and starts scolding Olivia that she (Olivia) shouldn't be at ground so much, being 7 months pregnant. I admit, she's got a point. Olivia is a workhorse though and you just can not stop that lady! You can help carry things and such, but she wants to work.

2 hoes and three of us now.
'Mariah, lend me your shoes.'

Kendila didn't bring her boots. LUCKY ME! I'm going to be the cleaner of ginger, they are going to pull it. I will be safe in my flip-flops sitting under the banana tree while it rains.

As I'm cleaning I think back to when I would ask someone to borrow their shoes. Usually it was for a dressy nite out on the town. Now it's so that you don't wack your toe off or get scratchs up and down your legs from high grass and weeds.

'Mariah - COME, come look!' They are giggling like naughty school girls. I'm expecting a dance off of some sort. Not the case. Olivia just sliced the head off of a HUGE like, 6 foot long snake. They work together to bury it. I look under and around and up above before I sit back down on my log.

I like when the three of us go to ground. Lots of gossip, girl talk, and Kendila always keeping an eye out for me. (even though today, she borrowed MY boots!) Sister Anna is visiting the States and is coming back next month. The three of us talk about what would happen if she's not there when Olivia goes into labor. I tell them I have a great book--full of photos explaining what to do to deliver a baby, and say that Olivia's already had three so she's an old pro -- Kendila and I could totally deliver the baby no sweat ;) Honestly though. Moengo or the city is really the only other options. Although Olivia mentioned that if she had the baby in French Guyana she could get some money from the government (I think they offer welfare there, Suriname's government doesn't not give any money for things like welfare) We all really hope Sister Anna is back in time.

We talk for a long time about Kendila's fight. Last Sunday there was a soccer game in Moengo. Botja her man is the captian of the team. Wan Hati lost. Kendila is sassy and has a bit of a mouth on her. Rosa (she lives in Wan Hati) told Kendila to shut up (or something to that affect). Kendila is a fighter. She has words back with Rosa. Next thing you know Rosa is throwing her pepper water from the food she was eating at Kendila's face. Kendila saw it coming and was able to move out of the way in time. But then all hell broke loose. She grabbed Rosa and threw her on the ground, sat on her stomach and just started swinging at her! People had to pull her off Rosa. I just kept thinking 'thank GOD she is my friend and not my enemy!' She had to go straight to Captian's house and explain and then appolize to Rosa. I've seen her get mad and instigate fights with guys three times her size. She is fearless my Wan Hati Sister.

We then talk about my family and if they will visit/come back to visit. If I miss home and what my sisters, brother and mom and dad are doing for the holidays. We talk about Santa Claus and if we could get something from him what we would want. Olivia - clothes for her kids for when they go to Moengo or the city and red licorice, Kendila - to get a job working for the government so she doesn't have to work ground--ha haa! Me-I don't want or desire anything. I miss my friends and family but I'm loving this moment and time in my life. There is nothing that could make it better.

Dec 9th
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The Porch

I never knew my mom's parents. My grandmother on my dads side I have fond, but few, slight memories. Taking a borrowed van on a family trip, with parents, kids, and two dogs in crates up to visit her in PA. I remember crying in all the photos. (I must have been a brat that trip!)

Her kitchen smelled of sugar cookies. She was kind and gentle. Her house was warm and full of people bussling around.

It's been a year and almost 8 months for me now living in Suriname. I met - a little over a year and 2 months agao - Raoul and was instantly consumed in the love and graciousness of his family.

They are a traditional family. They have a large area of land with two houses on the property. One housing his mom, dad and sister. A stones throw away, in the other - his grandma and grandpa.

Not long after I started dating Ula, he wanted to drop something off for his mom. I was going to meet the family! I remember being nervous, what do they think of him dating a white American? I don't understand Dutch - how will we communicate? What if I do something or say something that offends them? I'm not wearing clean clothes and my hair is a mess. I was scared!

But this family - oh this family!

His dad marched right up and greeted me hello in English. He shook my hand and told me he used to manage a fishing fleet and that he spoke English with the Koreans. Of course this confused me so I laughed and smiled.

His sister lookat at me with curious eyes and a sly smile. She said hello and then was off to school.

Raoul's mom appeared and all the nervousness vanished. She made some jokes about Raoul, his facial hair I agreed was a little out of control. We sat and talked, converstation was easy.

As we were getting into the car to leave - the cutest thing happened. An old Javanese nam - tall and lanky, wearing a hat to go to the mosque was peddling a big Dutch style bicycle passed the car. He lifted his hand and gave a wave.

Raoul told me that was his grandpa, coming back from the mosque. As I looked in front of me - at the porch of his grandparents house his grandma was sitting outside. She threw me a huge grin and waved at me with as much excitement as 5yr old Bella does when I come back to site.

Time flies and now Abby (his sister) lends me her dresses when I need to look pretty, and we gossip about t.v shows and celebrities. Raoul's mom shares stories about traditional culture and spirits, and we chatter on like hens in a henhouse.

Opa - Raoul's grandfather. I think is the most adorable person. He loves working in his garden and wears a big Indonisian style hat, slashing stuff with his machete and alwasy happy to let me eat all the sugar cane. He and Oma (Grandmom) sit on the porch most late afternoons and evenings. Sitting with them we talk in Saran Tongo and I don't know who laughs harder! Oma always has trouble pronouncing my name. Opa corrects her. Raoul corrects him! They like to talk about what life is like in the bush. Mostly - bush meat and if I eat it. Did I eat any monkey is the first question they usually ask on my returns in. Oma is always quick to offer me something to drink and a smile never, ever leaves her face. She has a calming relaxed nature. Always a smile. Ula's mom and sister almost always spend the evening on the porch visiting and sharing stories. Some evenings we just sit quietly. There is never a rush or something more important to do. It's a special time of the day.

Today Oma passed away, she was battling breast cancer and chose to end treatments. She wanted to be at home with her family, not in a hospital. I wish I could there for all of them, bu it's impossible to get out of Wan Hati. I'm so grateful that Oma entered my life and that I got to spend some special evenings on the porch with her.

Dec 5th

Catch Up!

2009-12-21T03:31:00.000-08:00

Wow, the last time I wrote was the end of August! Where does the time go? I swear it's starting to fly by for me. I'll give a brief recap of the last couple of months here and then post some of my journal entries that I've written at site. We have still been without power, not shocking I know, so it makes for early to bed and early to rise for me!

Quickly the last three months:

September:

I recieved a check from Bill to help get the Slagball girls their uniforms!! We were all so excited to get this gift, the shirts are made and they will begin the new season in Jan! I'll make sure to post some photos of everyone in their new clothes! Thanks Bill from all the team, you did something really special for them.

Raoul had a birthday! I came into celebrate with him, we went out to eat a a fancy Italian resturant near the house. His cousin and Aunt came from Holland to visit so I got to meet more of the family. They brought treats, chocolate, yum! It was a really nice time, dinner was great, I gave him a bottle of Chivas so after dinner we had some cocktails and good converstation.

I was able to get a handle on the bat situation!! Can you believe that I exterminated the WHOLE house and brought those suckers down! It was gross, a little sad, very smelly -- but I have been enjoying a mostly bat free house now! There was one unfortunate (well not too totally unfortunate) occurance due to my spraying. I think some of the exterior of my house got some of the spray. I walk out to find the rooster that likes to sit behind my house and crow at all hours of the early morning - death. Whoops.

This was my set up to spray the varmits! Pretty professional.

I'm not gonna lie, it was pretty gross, they just kinda dropped onto my floor - dead.

I felt a little guilty about this one - but man do I sleep a lot better thru the morning hours!

October:

We had a big Broko Day in Wan Hati. Broko Day again - is a celebration of someone who has passed away. Women wear celebration pangies, and everyone dances, sings and parties well into the nite. Kendila made us matching pangies to wear to the festivities, but a sad thing occured the morning of Broko Day, she got word that her father passed away. She left to go be with her mom up river. Broko Day wasn't as fun without her. Although Corvina did make bamie and peanut sauce chicken, and she Sa, Olivia and Vanessa and I danced the night away. I still missed my sis Kendila.

My Ma Moengolina - love this crazy lady!
All dressed up and ready to go to Broko Day Sa and her baby Prai with her two sisters. Made me miss my two sisters! We danced like crazy the three of us!

The boat about ready to do down river.

The little girls and I gathered flowers and made princess crowns! It was the cutest project, everyone looked like little storybook princesses!

Mona has her princess crown on!

Michael came to visit. He stayed for two months. I came in to greet him and spent a few days with him, getting him settled into an apartment and just hanging out and catching up. He stayed in the city when I went back to site in Oct.

I got an amazing birthday package from my mom with all kinds of great things! Lots of arts and craft things - I love it cuz it gives me and the kids something productive and fun and creative to do together. The kids had a blast with jacks, clay, oil pastels, making muppets - she also send beef jerky that Ula enjoyed and that I also gave some to Power the boat guy - he loves it and is always extra helpful to me when I have loads to take on the boat! It was also a treat cuz I got to enjoy Ice Cream sandwiches for my birthday at site. She sent Astronaunt packaged ones. So smart that mom of mine! Thanks again mom - the village all loves you and tells me that anytime you want to come visit, they'll make sure you have a wonderful expierence!

My birthday was reall fun! I came in and Ula and I went to the zoo, where we ran into Michael. We hung around then Ula and I went to dinner. This time it was dinner at the fancy resturant where we had our first date! Cute huh? I just got into the city that day so it was a nice relaxing day.

The next day I went to Paran where the Sur 15's were taking some trainings. I did a presentation on how to handle the kids at site.

November:

The ladies of Wan Hati got an awesome, awesome gift. Three ladies came from Holland (funded through their government) and stayed for three weeks to teach the art of bead, glass, silver jewerly making! The project allowed for all the materials and tools to be donated to Wan Hati. It was a huge thing and a great success! I women (myself included) had so much fun learning and being creative. After the women left the women decided to make Fridays and Sundays official work days. So far they have stuck to it! I brought some of their completed jewerly into the city with me around Thanksgiving and almost every piece sold! The Embassy had an art fair and between that and other volunteers most of the pieces were sold! That same nite of the art fair I met up with Ula at a meeting conference he had for work. They were finished and having a cocktail hour. His boss bought a bracelete for his wife. It was such a sucess. The women make around $200 SRD and when they saw the money - it really helped to motivated and make more to sell. The money will go into the Women Organizations bank account and be used for more supplies, and things that the community needs or that the village would benefit from getting. There are a few giftshops in the city that are also interested in buying the jewerly so once we get more to sell I will come in with Tanta Wilma and we will go together to some places to sell the jewerly.

Michael came out and spent about 10days out at site with me. We had a good time. Went hiking, played in the river, cooked and looked at the amazing stars everynite.

Guest lodge underway. Wan Hati is building a guest lodge - funded by the Ministry of Regional Development. It's in the process of being constructed now, they have cleared the area and between the rainy days are working to get the building up. Along with the guest lodge, the Mististry also funded the making of the market! So all that work put into the market - was I guess practice for the next proposal that we do. They have not started construction just yet, but are clearing the area now. This will also be a great place to sell the jewerly ;)

Clearing the path into the bush where they are going to clear an area for the guest lodge.

The area was bulldozed to make the area for the guest lodge.

Peace corps staff came out to visit and dropped off cement for me to make a deck in the front of my house. Currently it's sand and with all the kids that come over, it would be cleaner for them if we had a cement area for playing and extra room for project that we can do outside instead of in the house. I tried to get some guys from the village to help me - everyone agrees to help, but they have a hard time remembering to show up ;) The deck is still not complete. Although they did make a new concrete stand for my durotank. Hopefully we get the deck done before I leave ;)

Thanksgiving time! I came in for the holiday. Ula and I had a filled up week, lots of activities! The 25th is Independence Day here too. We went to some bbq's then to all the events down in the city. They had a culture fair (pic are posted on my facebook) it was really cool. The Amer- Indians, Idonisians and the Marrons participated and shared a bit of their culture traditions. I got to get dressed up and go to a wedding for one of Ula's friends. Partys here are so fun, and wedding are a riot - they usually have wedding bands, I get a kick out of the bands. The day before I went back to site we took a road trip to Nikerie. I go East to site, so we went West to where all the rice is produced. It was a really nice day out.

That's a quick recap of the bigger events that happened over the last few months. I've been out at site for the last three weeks and time is just going so quickly!

It's a hot one!

2009-08-31T09:21:00.000-07:00

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

a glimps into a day here

2009-07-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-06-16T05:13:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-05-14T07:23:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-04-07T05:44:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

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!)

Back to Blogging

2009-02-24T09:15:00.000-08:00

Wow - so my last post was in November! Where has the time gone!

I'll start off with a quick update from the last few months.

December:

1. Headed back from Thanksgiving in the city to find our generator had broken. It has not been fixed - and probably won't for a really long time. No power at nite now. I read and write by candlelight!

2. I got the cutest puppy for Christmas! Her name is Pepper - Ms. Pepree if your Alcun. She's pretty tough - and lets the kids know she's not messing around! She is afraid of the river.

3. I came down with giardia (again) and heat stroke. This prompted a rescue mission by my friends to come and get me and take me back to the city. Where I was nursed back to health. I got skinny! While I was laying in misery I sang to myself...

'Hello Giardia my old friend
you have come to visit me again'
'To and from the latrine I go
will I make it I don't know'

'Hello Giardia my old friend
you have come to visit me again'
'You make one heck of a weight lose plan
my stomach cringes and my legs are weak'
'Giardia please go away this week!'

4. Rachel came for a visit!! It was a fantasitc time - as she spent End of Year here in Suriname and visited Wan Hati for a week. It was great to see her and the village loved her!

5. Don't worry I gained back all of my lost weight over the holidays.

Jan:

1. Rachel's visted ended and it was sad to see her go!

2.Nina and Kevin came in for a two week visit. What a blast we all had. Kevin went hunting, Nina taught some English lessons. We worked at ground together. We headed out to an old rice plantation that was flooded and made 'swamplike' and went caymen hunting!

3. One of Wan Hati's Captians that currently lives in Holland came back to WH for a visit. He is also Moengolina's brother. So many stories on this one - that I will probably revisit this topic often.

And that's the skinny on the last few months.

Currently I'm in to finish up taxes, get some more supplies and see if I can get Pepper spade when in the city. Time is has been fun - Ula and I went to a Carnival Party and danced the nite away. Pepper is loving being with his parents - she barks and his mom feeds her. (Like mother like son, I just have to mention that I'm slightly hungry, or could start to think about what I want for dinner -- boom there's food infront of me!) Pepper is getting fat and is really happy!

Backing it up to the last few weeks at site....

It's been rainy season here - and ground has been full of toko toko (mud). This does make it good for pulling weeds though! Mongoelina and I have been out pulling weeds and killing mila (ants). We finished planting all the bannana trees and she has informed me that the corner 'over there...see there? That is for you!' There is a section of ground in the area that she planted last year that is cleared out. She is letting me have it to plant with it what I will. Of course she will help. (she better!) I decided that it's going to be peanuts and watermelon! The top two favorite things for me to eat at site. I have to admit I'm pretty excited about this!

Kids are all doing well. Gabbie is growing like a weed! She is forming sentences now in English and continues to be my sidekick at site. It's not uncommon for her to be singing to Pepper outside my door waiting for me to wake up from a nap. She feeds Pepper when I'm away, but has told me that 'Pepper a no bun - she bali pey u gwe'. Pepper barks constantly when I'm not at the house or if I leave her on the chain. Gabbie is not a fan of the barking dog.

Jenni has taking to waving good morning and good nite to me from her window. She uses both of her little 2 yr old hands -shakes them and shakes them screaming 'Moriya...MORIYA ooo wakie!' Adorable.

There was a Broko Day about three weeks ago. Unfortunately it rained and our generator is out of commission. But it was interesting to see how the ceromony is performed. It is a celebration held 6 weeks after a person has died. The body is put in the 'dead house' and the village goes to mourn and pay respects. On Broko Day it's an all day and all nite party. Drinking, dancing and celebrating in the honor of the one who has past. I lasted until around 2:00am then had to head home and put myself to sleep.

I have a new English student that comes for private lessons. She doesn't want the kids to see her and make fun of her. She is 25 and is not able to read or write in Dutch or Alcun. We have been learning the ABC's and singing easy songs to help with memorization. I love this challenge and am so excited each time she comes! She tries hard and is really motived to learn!

The water pump is an issue. CDFS helped construct the pump, and they have since gone caba (no longer in business). I'm finding it hard to get someone to come and acess what we need to do to fix the pump - I've heard that since there are batteries involved that haven't been used in over two years- that we will need new ones. These alone could cost upward of $5,000 US. I continue to try to get this figured out!

In March we will begin proposal writing and looking to begin work on starting the market! Now I am still laying the foundation - getting an idea of how much materials are going to cost, how much labor (if Wan Hati wants to do all or if we need outside help) how to get all materials to Wan Hati. I also am inquiring about getting lessons in basic bookkeeping and general business skills set up in a workshop format ...so anyone in the village can come and learn more about credit, bookkeeping...inventory - etc. There are a few Surinamese Women's Groups that come into villages and give presentations in the native tongue. This I think is a definate must!

There is so much more, but as always my time on the computer is running short. I hope all of you are well - and I'll be posting more soon!

xoxox

You are my Pikin and I am your Wan Hati Mom

2008-11-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

It's been hard work in Wan Hati lately. The head of the women's organization visted my house and asked me why I never come and sit with her. I felt awful and said I would visit tomorrow. That next morning I heard 'Wakie, Mariah wakie!' she was outside my window holding her machete and hoe.

We went to ground together.

Ground - it takes a good walk to get to ground, as it's in the middle of the bush. Ground is massive Sa Mongoeanla's is 4 acres. Each family get's a 'plot' if you will...some close together some a good distance down the trail.

I thought how hard can this be - Sa Mongoeanla is 76 yrs old. I will be able to keep up. That lady is amazing - I've never seen anything like it! (Mom she is to me - you're Ruby Homequest) She had me bending, squating, pulling, carrying, digging. They only tools they use at ground are a machete and a hoe. ALL DAY LONG. We worked until 5:30 that evening. I walked back to my house swaggering like Captian Jack Sparrow. I stopped by Basi Amiso to say good evening - he slapped his leg laughing -- you BLACKA Mariah, you blacka!!! You one of us! (I was cover in mud, sweat and a few new battle scars.) A bath in the river and I fell fast asleep.

We go together everyday now - I've adjusted to the heat and the intense phyical labor. I've also learned to keep an eye on where Sa Mongoeanla puts things ;) sometimes as we work, she leaves the bag of ginger here, the hoe there....the machete. You get the point. She and I make a good team and I'm learning so much from her out there in ground. We share stories about our family, the history of Wan Hati...the things that we have in the states. She tells me to call her moma - and it's an honor to do so..

The kids are back in school now so I don't see them as much as I did before. Now it's nightime or the weekends when they visit. (I go to ground on Saturday) Sunday I have taken-up going to the church. I don't understand fully what's being said, but I enjoy singing along with everyone. And doing this helps me intergreate into the community.

Since I don't see the kids as often I have started two youth groups. One ages 7-11 and the other 12-16. We'll see how long they remain seperate as the kids have to work hard during their free time. But I am hoping to teach English and Life Skills (hiv/aids, working together, conflict resolution...etc) as well as use them as a tool to start cleaning Wan Hati. I think the first project I will interduce when I go back tomorrow is composting. WE ALL CAN BENEFIT frm composting and this is something that you can do in your apartment, house...anywhere. It's great for the enviroment and I definitely encourage you all to look into it. If you can get the kids interested and motived to learn something it's the key to getting to the adults.

I've learned some really cool things lately...if your ankle or wrist cramps up, you can rub the juice of an orange on it and it will relieve the pain. I've finally learned to clean fish! I've learned to 'clean' tire, ginger, kasaba. The women at ground eat watermelon not just because it's delisious but also to rehydrate themsleves because there is such a lack of clean water. (I've also learned to eat watermelon like a native...slurp, suck, then bite)

Bringing up lack of clean water - one of the bigger projects I'm doing is helping to get the pump fixed. They have a pump in WH that takes from the river and stores in Durotanks -- then when you turn the spiket on, boom water. This doesn't mean there will be running water in houses, but accessable water from the spicket outside and around the village.

The village is revved up and very motivated to build a market. I'm doing research and starting the motions to get the market materials priced out. Also figure out the land area and who will be the key players on the 'board'. It's interesting the way things are working so far....I offered my idea on where I thought the market should be located and the reply 'we love what you love'.

So we're keeping it busy in the WH.

Unfortunately we haven't been playing a lot of slogball. I think I'll try to get that back in motion. I really liked playing!! (but not sure how much energy I'll have for it after my all day long ground time!)

I feel I'm really ineregreating as just the day before I left I got a knock on the door. There was a lady standing there with a really sick baby. The baby was struggling to breathe. It looked to me like a bad case of ashma. She asked me what to do. (I had no idea!) I referenced a book, and it seems it could be ashma or bronchisitc. We descided to take the baby up river three villages to where a missionary nurse stays. The baby had bronchitis and was treated and is I'm sure just fine now.

Things are moving right along at site, and I'm enjoying my time and really working hard! Not even that big tralancula that visits at nite scares me anymore!

Hope all of you are well and I look forward to letters!:) Next post I'll show you some pictures, I forgot my camera this go around.

xoxoxo - mk

Only the Shadow knows...

2008-10-28T06:43:00.000-07:00

And Gabbie ALWAYS knows what I'm up too...

She's my 6yr old sidekick at site. She wakes me up in the morning and I make us both some 'quaker oats'. She takes a lot of sugar in her tea. I take my coffee black.

I can count on her to be the last to leave the house. Sometimes I have to carry her out - yup, my house is really THAT much fun! :)

English lessons with her are..well, they're going ;) as you can tell she tends to just agree with me when she doesn't understand.

Note she is asking for chocolate. (I still have stashed away for special days a lot of M&M's so don't let her sweet face make you think she's not getting snoop.)

And some new photos of the place!

this is the magic talking stick. In order for me to get a slight signal I have to put my phone in the bottle on the stick...then pray that I catch a signal strong enough to send a text. Sometimes this takes a good hour.

A few of the crew in all their glory.

Every single day Bella (in yellow), Gabbie (sitting on the chair), and Sardirea (on the right) are over to learn English and terrorize my house. I love them.

Working on their fitness!

Jennie mesmorized by bubbles (unfortnately you can't see the bubbles...but I promise there were bubbles) As much as she's a handful - I have to admit...she's dang cute!

The tree we hang out under everday...it's nice and shady.

Gabbie and her jump rope, she loves that thing!

The 'new' house.

Happy Birthday Dad!

2008-10-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

Monday fast approaching

2008-09-20T07:44:00.000-07:00

Monday is to be the last day in the city for me - then it's back to WH for a spell. So happy! I miss my friends out there. I'm excited to see everyone - especially the slogball women and the kids! The kids - I can't wait to see the kids!!

A handful of us (pcv's) got asked to come in the first weekend of October for a meeting with the PC big guy from Washington who is coming for a visit. So I'll spend that weekend back in the city to meet him and I think there is a dinner party with the Ambassador. I will also get to check my mail that day - on pins and needles for a certain package to arrive! (Love you Kir!) After that I'm not coming into the city for a long, long time. I will still get my mail though - so please send letters - I love getting updates from everyone!

I'm excited to get back out to site - the house is finished!! Con's has been living there and building me a safe and clean home. I'm told that my wash-house is connected to my house. Talk about luxury. I can take a bucket bath now - instead of heading to the river to bathe! I will still wash dishes and clothes in the river. The latrine is across the path from the house -- but I'll take it! I actually prefer it like that, ya know?

Some final shots I had from my last visit to the house.

I will make sure to post shots of the new, improved and updated living quarters. It'll be fun to see what they turned this pile of timber into!

The tarantula was on the floor of the house - scary!

These birds are all over here. They are like our robins - but yellow chested, and they sing. (Bamboo tree)

Babysitting

2008-09-18T08:42:00.000-07:00

I haven't babysat since I was 14. Hain had some arrands to run so Raoul and I watched the boys....I don't speak Dutch. They all speak Dutch. It was chaos in that house.

I made pasta for dinner - the boys didn't like it, made faces at me even...told me they wanted pancakes. I gave that a whirl (even had to call a pcv friend to tell me what I need in order to MAKE pancakes.) They told me it needed more sugar. I told them - eat it or go hungry....they laughed at me again. Hain finally came home and amazingly they were charming little angels.

Johnathon laughing about something spoken in Dutch.

Givoney telling Johnathon something apparently REALLY funny in Dutch.

Boys will be boys - and these guys are to cute for their own good. I do love them.

Hanging and eating with my boys...

2008-09-14T12:24:00.001-07:00

A typical afternoon eating with my guys at Hain's house. Raoul cooks (he will even call me and tell me that food is ready and he's on the way to get me) - all of you that have asked me if the food is good here... I've had a change of heart now that I've got my Raoul. I am trying to convince him to move to WH with me so he can be my boilman. He's almost convinced...

Scandal (aka - Raoul) teaching me the ways of the kitchen. And chicken feet soup.

Energy Soup.

I bow down to him in the kitchen - my bowl if you will notice - he didn't serve me any chicken feet. What a guy! Hain the very descriptive food critic.

Tonite's menu includes bamie by special request (Raoul is Javanese) my mouth is already watering.

my new digs..

2008-09-14T12:03:00.001-07:00

Back together with Con's at WH on Friday to fix the NEW house. Yes guys - this is really true!

are you still red like a turkey?

2008-09-10T08:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I woke--more awoken, then woke.... at 7:00am (this is extremely early for me) and headed off for a day of fishing with Hain. Apparently I now need to contribute. I am family. ;) Since I don't cook - I catch.

Deal.

Hain's took me out to learn to fish. Starting with what to wear -- eesh and thank god. He gave me a long sleeve shirt (first I was confused...then once that sun beat on me - I understood. A hat - and told me to wear long pants) This paired with my cool-girl white sunglasses...I looked like a a rockstar...or a streetwalker. I perfer to think I looked like a rockstar.

I helped to 'launch the boat.' And first lesson of the day - how to put the bait on the hook. I needed MORE clarification on how to just get the bait out of the bucket!! He uses live shrimp - they are squirmy. So now I am well versed in the bait catching and apply to hook process....He shows me how to 'cast' this takes me a while - as it tends to go 'thunk' right infront of the boat. A handful of tried later...I'm getting the swing of this fishing thing.

You guessed it - I caught the FIRST fish of the day - the LAST fish of the day...and the BIGGEST fish of the day. No! - not all the same fish. ;)

Luckily Hain caught the MOST fish of the day...

The day ended with 40 Snook (They are like trout I think) flopping around in the ice cooler. 40 fish - that's a lot of fish you guys! Hain believes he caught 25 so that leaves me having caught 15. I like fishing.

Even after my creative wardrobe my whole face and chest turned a really nice shade of pink and hot to the touch. After we got back in from the day out on the water - I took a shower and chilled out due to exhaustion and watched 'Wanted'. Rodney and Raul stopped by to see the fish (they were not convinced that we caught that many) and also to laugh at how pink I had turned. I told them - you just wait tomorrow I am going to be golden brown again. (I infact AM golden brown again....nice huh?) It was then off to my hotel to sleep. I have a curfew there where they literally lock the gate at 11:00pm.

Having some lunch with my girl Michelle today - she got a kitten and I'm soo excited for her. She continues to crack me up with her stories. I miss having her as my roommate when I'm here. Lonely sometimes without her here as my roomie!

Caroline and I desperately need to catch-up as well. This girls lost some pounds! Looks good, but she needs to make sure and eat! Cristin is hanging in there - she's got a handful more days in the city...love that girl! Everyone is doing okay for the most part ;)

Today - I'm off to a soccer game with my guys. Hopefully Suriname fans don't throw bags of urine, like the Mexican fans. I'm sure I'll have some more stories for you...never a dull moment!

'I don't have'...no problem - you are my sister!

2008-09-08T15:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend I learned a whole new side of Suriname and it sure has been an funfilled experience! Since I seem to have defaulted into a city girl here - I've made myself a handful of really nice friends to hang out with and you guys would love them!

I get the call Friday from Raul that it's his birthday and a cab is on the way to pick me up at my hotel. As I tried to explain to him that I don't have cash on me (that day I also walked around the whole city looking for an ATM that had money in it to despense. The end of the month and the end of the week...ala sani a na bum when it come to ATM withdrawels) he tells me it's a black waggie, the driver's name is Winston - and he know's where he's going. Completely ignoring my money concern. Yes, I compeletely trust this situation ...Hains is actually a policeman. These guys have become pretty much 'my guys' if you well....(Raul has informed me that 'Pink is the new Gansta'. And he's serious....everytime I see him, he's in pink.)

I arrive at my destination - Hains is outside - tells me 'this is no problem...you are my sister!' We have a crazy birthday celebration for Raul and Winston comes back to take me home that nite.

I get a call the next morning - 'what are you doing - we are fishing and bbqing' when can we pick you up...Witney is also with (she is my new girl partner in crime here...she's Hain's niece) We have all veggies for you and watermelon...you come eat. We know you don't cook. Someone is on the way now to pick you up. It's no problem...no problem.

These guys can COOK! Good stuff.

That nite the boys and I went OUT on the town....I crawled (as I've crawled many times in my life before) up the stairs to room number 8 and to bed at 4:30am. My guys continued on to 'one more place'. That nite I did learn to salsa, how to tell who is 'for sale' (prostitution is legal here) where the best food to eat at 3:00am in the city is....and how lucky I am for A/C and cold water the next day.

A bunch of my pcv friends came in last nite - sooo good to see all of them. Sharing stories and getting caught up with everyone. Jack's lost a ton of weight - but everyone is happy and in good spirits.

Tonite I think I may just decide to eat some fresh caught fish and go for a late nite swim.

When in Suriname.....

Muah!

Things that go bump in the nite....

2008-09-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!

I've been back in the city now for exactly a week - it's been an interesting week. Infact just this morning, I was just finished showering and walking back to my room...this lady stopped me and asked if she could borrow my shampoo. Sure, right - why not? She knocks on my door to return it - picks up a letter with a photo on it - tells me 'you and your man will make beautiful children.'

The photo was of Johnny Depp! (thank you Jen!) All I could do was smile and said 'thank you - I look forward to making babies with him...when I get back home.' She nodded and told me I shouldn't wait to long.

I've been having a blast in WH! It took me two full days (we're talking 7:00am-8:00pm full days!) to clean the place! I bleached all the walls...the whole sha-bam! I will admit it's a cute little house - all girlie in pinks and purples. I put the kids drawing on the walls, and sheet of words translated from Aculn to English.

Still have a handful of bat roomates - I evicted most, but there are a few that refuse to give up their home. I'm coming to find them oddly cute...fangs and all.

The women made quick work of taking me right under their wings - invloving me in games of Slogball, going to grounds/gardening, random chats (they LOVE to ask me about my man back home, and what I'm cooking...cuz I don't cook!) not one single day went by that Shannon and Kendila didn't call me over to a group of people and tell me to dance. Yes, I danced EVERY time. They laugh - it's entertaining for all. ;)

Some of my favorite quotes in my first three weeks:

'Good morning Mariah, put on the red harness and get up here - weathers great!' - (Wendel, who was building a cell tower - daily tried to get me to climb with him)

'I am very, very tired. I want to eat something and go to my bed - my dear.' (Shannon praticing her English)

'Mariah, it's you, it's you!!' (two girls looking at a Vouge magazine and coming across a picture of some model in a "priceless add')

'You find god - you wino!' (telsur worker....what he was saying... once I understood the alcun and heavy accent.....you have a bodygaurd - yes?)

'I heard you scream, but it was a different langauge so I thought I was dreaming...and went back to sleep' (Linda the morning after I screamed my head off in the middle of the nite)

'You have a nice system - let's get married.' (old man in my village)

'You're rich - I know because you have nice toliet paper.' (kid in the village that used my latrine - toliet paper was compliments of Ilya's care package)

Some really cool things that I got to experience in my first three weeks:

I took a two-hour walk and saw monkey's by the dozens jump from tree to tree.

There is a hummingbird that frequents the tree outside my front door.

Slogball - there are no words for this game....it's random and silly. I love it!

Teaching the women yoga - this is one of my favortie memories! A good 15 women and children in the sand mimicking me and laughing as they fall over. It was a very effective first lesson ;)

Making friends with Mr. French who brought me a book of Suriname birds (after I pointed to a huge bird and asked what it was....he told me with a laugh, a vulture) He comes daily to check on me and talk about history. He's good stuff!

To date - the village has been so gracious with me. I have received 11 watermelon, 1 papaya, 3 oranges, bags of cassava chips and snacks, one raw egg, a used sticker.....drinks. There's even a man that likes to bring me plates of food for dinner.

Men aren't allowed into my hut (ground rules of my counterpart) so they stand outside and chat with me or I go outside to join them. The women just walk themsleves right on it -- bouncing babies and talking so fast I can't understand them half the time!

Unforunately I had a incident that brought me back into the city for awhile....

Last week Friday 1:00am I was almost asleep when I hear my name being called - urgently. So I open my eyes, as they are adjusting to the dark - I see a HAND pulling down my window shutter thing. Then a bright light - (flashlight) being shone in my eyes! He's still calling my name as he makes quick work of tearing down my window (so forceful that he took it off the top hinge) He's at the window by the side of my bed. He got his foot up on the window - and at this point, I took my yoga book and chucked it at his head. It didn't detour him to much, and I didn't want to touch him...so I took my pillow and started to wack and wack him. Luckily he was stuck between the wall and my mosquito netting around my bed. I was able to push him back out the window. He ran. I pulled the window thing back closed (this took some time as I didn't want to go outside...) I turned on every single flashlight I had and lantern...and candles. Since there is still bats in my walls - I was freaking out cuz I couldn't tell if it was the man or the bats rustling around....so I sat by my front door and waited for my friend Waotto to walk by on his way to the bush. (he goes at 4:30am) once I saw his flashlight I called out to him...he helped calm me down and get in contact with P.Corps. They came and took me back to the city. I'm still here, as they are securing my house, and holding meetings on what to do to make it safe for me and see if they can figure out who the man is that did this. I do want to go back to WH, the women and everyone I've met are amazing, and I really like my house and village. I just want a safe home -- ya know?

Luckily some of my friends are coming in on Sunday so it'll be good to see everyone and get caught up with how they are doing at site.

Hopefully I'm back at site by Wens of next week ;)

Love ya all - and hope everyone is doing well!

Third times a charm

2008-08-11T09:06:00.000-07:00

It's go time again!

This is HOPEFULLY the last you'll hear from me for at least a month - maybe three! :)

Water is being filled into huge containers to head out to site with me.

There was massive amounts of yellow butterflies swarming around the last few days...this means apparently that it's going to be one hot and dry - dry season. Thank god for huge containers of water - and being close to the river!

I'm heading to the bathroom and to gear myself up for the ride!

Love ya like RedVines.

xoxox!

'Sorry!' - For whaaa..Ouchhh! - 'For THAT'

2008-08-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

My stomach is still trying to relocate itself back where it belongs after the ride back from site yesterday. Good news, Con's (the driver) beat his best time on the drive. So...that's super exciting ;) After a watch check - we high fived the accomplishment. Hand's down the bumpiest path EVER driven. I was like popcorn in that seat!

House Update:

132 bats, a dozen coackroachs, five more toads...and 2 seckas later. The house is finished!
Honestly I watched from the sidelines as 132 bats, flew single file out of just ONE side of the house yesterday. ( I didn't count the day before's amount.....that's probably a good things as I was told yesterday's was nothing compared to the day before)

Water Update:

Tomas the counterpart is on a task. I'm to call him tonite at 5. He should be somewhere with reception at that time. He is talking to someone from the Ministry about getting the Durotank filled, and will fill me in tonite. (fill used twice in one sentence...nice!)

Con's (or as I politely call him - Speed Racer) came up with a great solution. We were driving behind a Daf truck (for all of 2 second before passing them) and they had these HUGE plastic containers full of diesel fuel. Lightbulb - get some of those huge containers and fill them with water in the city.....transport out to WH and fill the Durotank. I looked at him with admiration and wondered why I didn't think of that....

Con's rocks. He even....after a full day of house teardown, and re-build... took my Durotank and cleaned it inside with bleach water...(I helped with this part...until I brought out a scrub brush, he laughed and smiled and instructed me to get a broom...'it'll be much quicker') Speed. That man doesn't mess around!

So I'm back til tomorrow or maybe Tuesday as I wait to know what Tomas will say about the pump issue.

At least one more nite of air conditioned sleep!
Ala Sani Bum.

The House

2008-08-09T04:47:00.000-07:00

Someone send me booze, fast and lots of it.

I went out to site yesterday to help do some repairs (...who are we kidding...I stood there and chatted with the villagers while the guys worked) and that house is OHMYGOD.

My job of taking photos of the issues had me literally RUN out of the hut, with the workmen hot on my heels....bats FLYING at us, and cockroachs spilling from the inside of the walls they were tearing down. I just started laughing and was like -- seriously?! You're all kidding right?

As I was sweeping - I moved a piece of wood and three toads hopped out -- swept those guys right out the door.

So I will be commuting to work - if you will.....

Most of the house stuff is repaired - they made quick work of tearing down, SPRAYING and then putting new walls up for me. The inside of the house is done (I even got a little new concrete on the floor, the laterine is build, the shed/wash house has new concrete) and one side of the outside is completed....I'd say it's 90% done. I would just stay in the city til Monday (due to all the spraying of insectide and the concrete...I can't be there with the fumes) BUT...

Enter the new issue - the Durotank (rain water collector) had dead bats and worms in it...so the village dumped it. That is AWESOME, expect we are in dry season and that leaves me with no way to get water. So today I go back to talk to my counterpart about what to do -- honestly, what do I do!? Anyone? Ideas? So far I've come up with lugging it bucket by bucket from the river -- I'll be one buff lady by the end of dry season that's for sure. But river water is really not good to be cooking or drinking - even after a really good filter.

Peace Corps the toughtest job you'll ever love.

I'll update tonite as I will be going to site and returning to the city again today.

Luckily the driver knows 'a faster way' (a back road - literally the width of a deer path....and the bumpiest ride yet - this is saying A LOT, roads here are pretty bumpy....he's also the fastest driver I have EVER driven with too....so send hair dye as I'm going gray!) to make it there within 4 hours driving. Thank god for Land Rovers, 4 wheel drive...and seat belts!

Love,
your jungle job commuter

Tama it really is...serious this time.

2008-08-07T13:52:00.000-07:00

I had a surreal day today....I have become accustom to being in the city ;) it'll be slightly sad to go to site. But I have to say - I'm ready!! I found this in my binder and really it sums up pretty much all of my feelings as of late.

...................................................

Be greatful for the freedom
To see others dreams
Bless your loneliness as much as you drank
Of your former companisonships.

All that you are experiencing now
Will become moods of future joys
So bless it all
Do not think your way superior
To another's
Do not venture to judge
But see things with fresh and open eyes
Do not condemn
But praise when you can
And when you can't, be silent.

Time now is a gift for you
A gift of freedom
To think and remember and understand
The ever perlexing past
And to recreate yourself anew
In order to transform time.

Live while you are alive
Learn the ways of silence and wisdom
Learn to act, learn a new speech
Learn to be what you are in the seed of your spirit.

Learn to free yourself from all the things
That have moulded you
And which limit your secret and undiscovered road.

Remember that all things which happen
To you are raw materials
Endlessly yielding of thoughts that could change your life
And go on doing so forever.

Never forget to pray and be thankful
For all things good or bad on the rich road
For everything is changeable
So long as you live while you are alive.

Fear not, but be full of light and love
Fear not, but be alert and receptive
Fear not, but act decisively when you should
Fear not, but know when to stop
Fear not, for you are loved by me
Fear not, for death is not the real terror,
But life-magically-is.

Be joyful in your silence
Be strong in your patience
Do not try to wrestle with the universe
But be sometimes like water or air
Sometimes like fire
And constant like earth.

Live slowly, think slowly, for time is a mystery.
Never forget that love
Requires always that you be
The greatest person you are capable of being
Self-regenerating and strong and gentle
Your own hero and star.

Love demands the best in us
To always and in time overcome the worst
And lowest in our souls
Love the world wisely.

It is love alone that is the greatest weapon
And the deepest and hardest secret.

So fear not
The darkest is gentler than you think
Be grateful for the manifold
Dreams of creation
And the many ways of the unnumbered peoples.

Be grateful for life as you live it
And may a wonderful light
Always guide you on the unfolding road.
.....................................................................

xoxoxoxo always.
mk

Gone Batty

2008-08-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

Well as most of you have figured out via Facebook....I'm not at site! :)

Bats have chosen to nest (do bats nest?) inside the walls of my hut - for this reason, I'm on-hold in the city for awhile! I guess it's like a serious bat cave -- and the village people have tried to get rid of them....in the process of de-battin' -- the house walls are in shambles. (?!) I don't really understand either.

I don't mind hanging out for awhile in AC and munchin on ice in my drinks...

It's quiet with everyone gone and I'm not quite sure what to do with myself. I ran around like and got all my shopping done earlier, so I've just been kinda chilling out here.

Drama did unfold this morning though...as the last 5 set off this morning for site. Helping load up and getting all their gear go-to-go.....

I realize that my bedframe was missing!! Mattress is there - with my name on it, but the rest has vanished!

Seriously. I dropped like all my spending allowance (well almost all of it) on a bed. I don't think I could do a hammock for two years. Some people can - and I envy then...but I need a bed.

Carolina just called me from her site - she's rockin' the hammock, and does a-okay with it. Ms. Carolina is doing fine, washing in the river, getting to know her village and people. She was calling to wish me happy travels, but alas - I'm still in the city! ;) She did not appricate hearing that I'm eating someone elses cooking and drink cold drinks. Big love to her today!! (I got sssh'd by a lady to not talk on the phone and then she mutter something in Dutch to me....yipes!)

Hopefully the bed thing get's straightened out - not to overly worried at this point.

Swear-in was amazing. They televised it here - and my counterpart Thomas came to see me get my pin. We had a really nice group dinner after and a late nite out ;) Bamie is my favorite dish here, it's pasta-ish....spicy, and yum in the tum. I think it's actually Indonesian...but whatevas it's my favorite here.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080105044203AAUKKPr

The recipe has meat in it - I don't usually see it with meat here (sometimes chicken...but never pork)

Wow - this lady is getting mad, another phone call! :) I'm gonna get out of here now...

Later taters!

Peacing out...

2008-08-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEVO!!! YEAHH!! I wish I was there to celebrate with you - I'm totally thinking of you today ;)

Chris - when I say city for the next two years...I mean the capital of Suriname NOT Chicago. Way to funny ;)

We swear-in this evening and head out before it's light out tomorrow. This is it for the next three months guys!

I wish I had more to report, but it's been lots of shopping, and running around still.

Í find it odd here - there is no place to buy posters, or things to hang on the walls.....I guess I'll have to get creative ;)

I bought a LOT of purple buckets and tubs. Tupperware is another things in high demand here. I will be writing my name on all of mine...hot commodity in the interior villages!

Short and sweet and jetting out now....will have some good stories for you in the coming months!

xoxoxox

madness today...

2008-07-31T08:28:00.000-07:00

Today has been craziness and it's not even noon yet!

Shopping for the hut began.

Yesterday I spent almost $700 SRD on a bed. (this is a lot for me...I know it sounds silly, but that's more then half my spending budget) I think you all pretty much know my love of sleeping - and as much as I love my purple hammack. I'm super pumped to have a bed!

Today - I woke at 6:30am to hop in the shower and hoof it to the office for a meeting (there were just 4 of us from the group going, so no transport there) BUT I did stop for an expensive cup of REAL coffee. In fact it was a 'Red Eye'(for those non coffee drinkers that a cup of coffee with a shot of esspreso in it) Slice of heaven!

Last nite our CD invited us over for a truly amazing dinner. It was so relaxing to be in a ''home" and her decorating style is right up my alley. Beautiful home. I finished the nite with a big piece of Apple Pie. Then back to the room to watch Adventures in Babysitting on Kristin's computer. Good times!

Shopping for hut items today - you guys it's a riot. Buying 'meat buckets' to hold my food (to keep safe from rats and kakaaka...cockroachs) plastic chairs and pots and pans. I wonder if I can find a martini shaker here ;)

So it's a short one today as I have to get back to it...I do need to find a dress as well. Forgot to pack one for swear-in and I don't think they would appricate me showing up in my tank top and ripped pants. I'm really, really, REALLY missing my wardrobe from home this week.

Love ya all - and thanks for all the well wishs. I'll try to check in tomorrow, but it's crunch time here. xoxoxox!

today....

2008-07-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

not feeling so great....love you all, more tama.

xoxoxo

Bittersweet - more sweet then bitter....

2008-07-28T13:42:00.000-07:00

'Suria - Alucan tongo namo!!!' (speak alucan only) I will not cry over leaving the piercing voice and commanding presence that is Ceclia! Who- by the way, I found out is pregnant! Number six to debut this November!

Boslanti - I do admit having grown found of....

Little things - like 4 yr old Lillia holding my hand and sliently walking every morning with me to class. Watching Chaco grow at an alarming rate! 2 new teeth and walking now! Allentan counting...1,2,6,7,3 - his pronunciation PERFECT, now if we can just get the order straight we're in business! Raqwell, serious Raqwell, I'll miss catching the glimpies of her being a 10 yr old...when she's not cooking or cleaning - and allowed to just play cat's cradle with me. Jonsue - I think I may just miss being chased all over the village by a 6 yr old with a bugger, or snake or worm in hand. Begorbee, sweet little Begorbee....I'll miss his fabulous hugs and his nightly saranade of 'Suria - you a de tha Hokie Pokie andy u shake ite all over...' coming through the wall as we retire for the nite.

I feel prepared and ready to move forward on this adventure they call Peace Corps!

Although last week was our final language test - and due to a lingering cold I developed larangites (lost my voice for 6 days!) RIGHT before testing! So soon we'll see how prepared my tester things I am... ;) Losing the voice was a test in pacience. As I've mentioned many times before not greeting is considered extremely rude. SO I had to whisper ' mi siki aini mi neki' to the whole village for 6 days. Everyone there was excited for me when I got my voice back! I was elated to get it back - as my hearing was honestly about to go! Seems people here think because I couldn't talk, they should compensate and talk LOUDER to me. Especially our beloved, already amazingly strong voiced - Celcia.

Some of my favorite events that occured in the last 3 weeks:

1. After a full day of langauge - crossing the river for tech training....missing both breakfast and lunch...I returned to a wonderful, steaming hot bowl of chicken feet!! (Peter Pan is magical and having him stashed away has really saved me here!)

2. While visiting my girls in Drapoda..Partner-in Crime Kate with me...At around midnite.
Climbing through the window of Joesy's locked hut (she was at another village that nite) navagating our way around in the dark, finding her flashlight - but NOT the bag of M&M's we were treasure hunting for!

3. Organizing and witnessing the kids (40 of them) play Cat and Dog. (It's Duck, Duck, Goose but I didn't know the word in Aulcan for Goose)

4. Sucessfully pulling off a health day for the village kids. (some adults showed up too!) Where Lynn, Wayne and I each did a demo/presentation. Mine was handwashing, Lynn tooth care, Wayne minor wound treatment. Kids love the smell of soap!

5. When 6..10-15 yr old boys were playing noisely in the area we take class....watching calm, cool, easy going Lynn - JUMP out of her seat, lose it and chase the kids screaming in English -- SHUT UP AND GET OUT!!

6. Sneaking out my window late at nite to go dancing to the beat of the drums.

7. Waking up in sheer panic, thinking I wet my hammack. (Note: wind pants do NOT make good sleeping pants...they tend to make you sweaty.) No hammack wetting - just sweating!

This is the naked city - nothing goes unseen. So yes - I did get repremanded for number 6. 'Suria me a whippie U!' Ceclia the protective host mom---with a vicious bark. I just smile at her and give her cookies as peace offerings!

So Sur 14 BACK together again-- all 24 strong and in the city till the 1st! This is the last time our group will be united for a while now...as we swear-in on the 1st then off to our perm sites. Bittersweet my friends...bittersweet.

Love-hugs and kisses to you all. I'll update ya tomorrow on the fun of the city!!

xoxoxoxo always!

Happy 4th of July a day late!

2008-07-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!

So it's the 5th here and we are heading over to the Ambassator's place for an afternoon of bbq'ing swimming, music and partying. I'm excited to get in that pool! We've met her before, and she's a really cool lady....so we should have a good time and celebrate the 4th! I don't think there will be fireworks ;) but a POOL is sounding really nice!

We head back out for the remaining of our training tomorrow, the dreaded return to homestay ;)and I'm kinda bummed to leave the city (and all the peace corps people!) We've definitely been having a blast here. I will request knowledge on cleaning fish AND Ms. Ilya I learned that raw gutted fish can sit out for a good 6 hours before it spoils. If cooked it can probably make it overnite...without refridgeration. Eggs don't need to be in the fridge...and tofu can last awhile as well. And never fear -- there is ALWAYS peanut butter! I have a new respect for peanut butter. I have also realizedwhat a luxury ice-cubes and COLD liquids are in the city.

I've been rooming with Michelle, and this morning she was kind enough to pluck my eyebrows...not a bad job! I borrowed some earrings and will apply makeup today, I got a good look in the mirror the other day. I no longer have red hair, infact it's almost blondish (I cut it before I left so it's cropped right above my shoulders) I'm insanely tan except for the tops of my legs ;) and red were the bug bits are on me. There's been a few people that have gotten staff infections - damn, that stuff is nasty looking! We're a tough group!

We had laungage for a few hours this morning, and learned the Suriname Anthem, I think we have to sing it (and the Star Spangled Banner) at swear in. I swear in on Bevin's Birthday! (August 1st!) So Bevo - I'll be thinking of you as I belt those out in my amazing singing voice!

We've all been having a great time running around the city - and last nite we sat at the waterfront and listened to I'm not lying....Greatest Wedding Songs of All Times....and shared drinks and laughs with all the PCV's left in Suriname. Sur 12 has started to head home...so everyone is in the city.

I learned today that if I drop Moth Balls down the tiny holes in my house that the bats fly in and out...that they will leave and not return. Apparently moth balls replies bats, squirrels (Ilya again...for your deck area, if you don't mind the smell of moth balls!) and all those critters.

There are also going to smoke bomb my house for the creepy crawlies. So I should be a-okay by move-in!

I grabbed a quick tuna sandwich here - and realized that this country puts ketchup on everything....this has been noted for further eating experiences! ;)

Kinda random post today - but I it's been a lot of hanging out with PCV's and doing random stuff...I love you all and will write hopefully next month.

ps - I could use a yoga book of poses.

Peace out my loves!!

Wait...timeout - what day is it again?

2008-07-03T11:38:00.001-07:00

I have completely lost all concept of days of the week lately! I returned from my site visit yesterday and am back in the city until Sunday morning.

After meeting my counterpart at NAKS we headed out for a 5 day site visit.

My counterpart let me know that he held a village meeting and if any man in the village tries to proposition me in anyway, they would be delt with harshly, with the threat of being kicked out of the village! Protective Tomas.

Wanhatti is unbelievable!

It's a 3hour bumpy bus ride to the boat (it's got an outboard motor, but plank seats that honestly really hurt my butt!) :) the boat ride is about another 3 hours. It was a crazy journey (shocking...) out to site. It had rained pretty hard again, so the bus was slower moving, and the lady sitting in front of me had a case of the cha cha cha's so we stopped frequently to let her off and back on again....once we got on the boat (Tomas my counterpart made sure that I wore my bright red lifevest...safety mariah, you put on water shirt!) the heaven's opened and it poured and poured on us. They use umbrella's as shields and hide behind them and huddle under them. It's kinda fun, as you're smooshed next to each other trying not to get drenched. I played patty cake with the girl sitting across from me ;)

We arrived at Wanhatti around 5:00pm and got off the boat just steps from my house to be! Honestly it'll take your breathe away the view from my front door. It's straight up river and jungle. The pathway to the village is slightly away from the front of the house so people are walking by, but not close enough that they are in my 'space' if you will.

House:
It's an actual houselike house. Concrete floors, and wooden walls.
The radio station (it's one room) shares an area of the house. Tiny but I'm use to tiny.
Electricity CAN come on sometimes from 7-11pm
I have a bedroom!! So I can get a bed and not have to sleep in my hammack! (someone send me some sheets -- this made me sooo happy!! I have room for a bed!!) Bedroom is about the size of my bathroom in Chicago, but I'm SOO excited!
Currently there are bats living in the walls of the house, and wasps were making a hive in the corner...cockroachs the size of my plam were running a round, and a toad hopped in a few times ;)

The village and the people:

There are about 200 people total. Everyone works in the bush, they are huge gardeners. Watermelon is a favorite crop. Everyone's plots are huge, each family has at least one plot. No smaller then the size of a football field. Plots are set back in the jungle and you MUST wear boots and carry your machette. They are extremely hard workers. The men also do a lot of net fishing. It's the most traditional village on the river. Heathens is what the missionary called most of the Maroon people, I about wet my pants when I heard that. There is the Moon house and spirit strings on children. I met one pregnant lady who was covered in a healing wash (she smelled of rum and herbs and had a cracked egg on her head)
There is also a 'dead house' where they place the body of the person who has died - (they embalm them) and they party and play music and celebrate their spirit. There are things called Wintees. You 'catch' a wintee and it causes you to shake uncontrolably, talk in tongues, and basically freak the f-out. You are considered posessed by evil spirits, and have to go to the medicane man if this happens.

Mi kissie fishie fu yu!

The next morning of my stay the captian (he's the the highest of high to repect in the village - nothing happens in the villlage without his consent, kinda in a premative way of a major) came knocked on my door....I opened it and he shoved a plate with three LIVE fish, still gasping for breathe at me. You have to accept gives like this, especially from the CAPTIAN. So I took them and thanked him a bunch. I promptly put those fish in a bucket and filled it with water.

I had no idea what to do with those guys!

Next up a 12 yr old girl came to give odie. She sat down and we spoke in my limited langauge - I love that girl (I can't remember her name for the life of me) but she's awesome. (she would follow me through the village carrying a chair, everytime I stopped she would put down the chair for me to sit in....I felt strangely worshipped...) She asked me for the fish that the captian gave me, You don't even want to know how much she laughed til she cried when I showed her the bucket. She was completely confused. I did my standard response, smiled and laughed. We grabbed them out of the bucket and she took them away.

She came back 10 mins later, and they were cleaned and gutted. She hands them back to me again. Then she ran off to do her chores.

Geezz, now what do I do with them!? I don't have a fridge (or electricity) so I was like 'Thank you soo much for cleaning the fish!' It was 9:30am and I have raw dead fish in my house. I put another plate to cover them, and promptly left the house to visit with the village!

I got up to the group of women who are kinda like the leaders of the womens group. They are laughing at me. (shocking again) and have me sit down, and want me to braid their hair. Me braiding hair is usually always a disaster, but it helps to intergrate...we all get a kick out of it.

Then they lead me over to help them make cassava bread. Again there is a ton of laughter and then are loving the fact that I'm trying to flip (baaka baaka) the bread on the hot iron covering the wood fire. It was sooo hot, and smoke got in my eyes, my nose started running...it was a wonderful mess. I love these ladies! They just smile at me and cheered for me, as I flipped the bread and it went everywhere ;)

Rain came - and I headed over to meet Sa Besty. Instantly I knew I would love her. She's over 90 yrs old and cynial. She has a pet parrot named Maria. Sa Betsy -- while I was visiting her a Chinese man came on a motor scooter (I'm still trying to figure out how he got there) to sell clothes. She calls out to him, and actually did buy a blouse - as he's leaving he did something she didn't like (I think he squashed a plant with his bike) and she screams out 'you chinese dog! You're mom's a pumpkin!

Sa Betsy is fiesty!

There is a girl also named Mariah in the village. The midwife named her, the village calls her Yolanda though..so there shouldn't be any confusion.

I spent July 1st there - it was the 145 year of Masipasi, (Suriname's independance day) It's a huge celebrating, everyone hands out sweets, kids have the day off of school, and there is dancing.

One of the women came to get me, and handed me a gift - a pangi! I got gifts of sweets and they dressed me traditionally for dancing that day.

I went to church first, where they sung songs, and celebrated - then outside we sat and ate.....Wanhatti has a band (Come Back Boys) and they pounded on those drums and sangs...and we danced and danced!! Our fearless Captian was all dressed up for the occassion. (He was wearing a Sea Captian's Hat.....ya, I'm serious) He likes the rum, and got himself hammered! His wife took him, and his chair home. It was a wonderful site to see.

Wanhatti and I are going to do just fine.

Last nite we partied our butts of here in the city - karoke and fun with the Sur 12's and 13's as the 12's are heading back home this month.

As always much more to tell you - but I'm running out of time.
If you guys think about it - I would LOVE deep conditioning conditioner, leave-in conditioner, a speaker for my ipod, Secret deorderant, more flip flops. Big Red or Flare gum, pepperment patties....and nail polish for my toes. ;)

Love and kisses!! More hopefully soon before I head out to finish homestay!

Today I held eyeliner in my hand for the first time in over a month, I looked at it and just laughed!

2008-06-26T13:59:00.000-07:00

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!

It's time for the next chapter

2008-05-31T15:38:00.000-07:00

So tomorrow bright and early we head off to our homestays!

I'm nervous. I will be staying in a small village across the river from where we will be meeting once a week as a group. Far away from everyone, with a new family and lifestyle. I will have a host mom, dad and five new sisters and brothers in my new home. I just repacked everything (again) and feel slightly under prepared. Netting and hammock and making sure to pack my 'piss pot'...yup. How do you really prepare for this, ya know?

I hope you guys will practice your penmanship and write me often! I will not have computer access for at least the next month. Send pictures too guys! The address is the Peace Corps office in Suriname - Attention: Mariah Klekner (I don't know it off the top of my head, but I'm sure you guys can figure it out!)

Just throwing this out there - there is no Big Red or Flare gum here. It's all tropcial flavors ;) Also I've been craving a cup of strong tea. The coffee here is instant, and I've adjusted okay to that...not the place to be a coffee snob ;)

Soon I will be learning to catch and gut fish (kill and pluck chicken also....if I wanted) cook on a wood fire (build a wood fire) construct and row a dugout cannoe, thatch a hut roof, wash everything PROPERLY in the river, including myself....I'm going into a traditional home, so all the pagan rituals will be practiced, I'm looking forward to that definitely! Garden and planting (Nina, my perm cite is huge on growing watermelon!! I totally thought of you!) eggplant, and peppers, coconuts, pineapples....and things I have no idea what to call or prepare. I'm excited to learn to cook here. Also plucking fruit straight off the tree is such a treat! The land will fast become my provider (and my toliet!) What a grand adventure! ;)

Okay...I'm still nervous!! All my love to you guys - and I look forward to getting your letters!

xoxoxo - muah!

PCV Visit

2008-05-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

What an adventure!

Just returned back from PCV visit. I was at Shai's cite along with KC. It's all starting to become very real now. I spent the nites sleeping in the hammock, rising and resting with the sun. It's sooo intensely, fiercely hot out, that there is not much you can do during the peak hours other then try to stay out of the sun. We arrived early afternoon on cite. And met the Basitgon (village second in command, Captian is the first in command, but he wasn't in the village) The Basitgon at Shai's cite is 81 years old and completely functioning and with it. We took a bottle of rum over to him as an offering. He performed a ceromony for us and passed along a shot. Seriously, I can usually drink with the best of them.....that rum burned my throat on up to my ears, I couldn't speak for two minutes! We stayed with him for awhile as he told us stories and Shai translated.

Women wash in the river (clothes, dishs, bodies...) and are traditional and modest. Men wash either before the women, or after -- never during the same time. The village pop was about 100 or less.

The river was breathe taking. (the bugs and their biting.....I wanted to cry!) It's a lush tropical rainforest. Everywhere you looked it was goregous.

We met ALL the childern, as they were the first to come and greet us. They swarmed in and climbed all over us....bringing us fruit right off the trees. My red hair was a hit, they loved to braid. The children spoke a slight amount of English, (due to Shai's English classes) and I feel in my village will be a great source of help learning Alcwan.

The people are bueatiful. Everyone is curious and welcoming - it's rude in their culture if you don't greet. When you do greet it recieves a full on converstational reply. Something I think is slightly lacking in the States.

We spent a lot of time yesterday with a family across the creek. The husband is Alcwan, the wife Dutch. He has an amazing garden (he chopped down coconuts for us to drink the water straight from...delicious!) he takes the fruits and veggies to the neighboring city by bike - to sell. She teachs at the boarding school up the street. She was able to speak broken English, and while he strummed the gutiar she told us about the civil war in the 80's (with some translation help) What an amazing story, the history of Suriname is something I look forward to learning more about.

Every nite a young guy (I thought at first he was 14, but was told he's at least 20) would stop over and bring us treats from the bush. Forms of work and getting money are soo different. He wakes up early (around 5-6ish) heads into the bush to gather fruits, nuts - plant leaves....sells them on the road or in the closest town - and saves that money to get into the capital.

We head out to our homestays on Sunday - so this is the last of cold showers (changing those over to bucket, river washing) and any form of computer access. I'm excited to hear how everyone else's cite visits went. This is the last of our time together....as homestays we all live seperately.

More soon. Sleepie mooie!

Purple Hammock and a Chamber Pot

2008-05-26T12:31:00.000-07:00

Yup - how good is my fortune. (Actually my ablity to sway a trade, red for purple)

Today there is a huge thunder and lighting storm here. We had language class in the morning followed by shots (yellow fever and heb B round 2) discussion on what to do in case of burns, cuts, broken limbs --- our book title 'Where there is no Doctor' covers all this wonderful info! ;) (page 6 informs us that killing the witch woman will not save us) Also got our med kits today.

This afternoon some current pcv's came to share stories on intergrating into their communities and the challanges they faced the first couple months. One guy informed us that he locked himself in his hut for the first month cuz he was intimated by it all -- solid! :)

We leave tomorrow to visit some pcv cites. I'm traveling 3 hour bus to 5 hour boat, we're staying for four days. Trying to pack tonite and see what all I need for the few days there. Once we get back on Saturday we pack again and are off to our homestay/training. Once there - no internet connection.

I sewed a hem for the first time yesterday!! I've never used a needle to sew before in my entire life! My hem is pretty funny looking, but hey - who would have thought! It was a lazy day here yesterday as Saturday we rose early to go to the capital, from 9a-9:30pm we were walking around and checking out how to shop, where to go, buying some stuff (pangis) and then had a history tour - and dinner. 5 of us used our negotiation skills to take a cab back home instead of the bus. (Yes Michael....we Sarah Jessica Parker'ed it!) money is TIGHT, I really have to budget and am not to overly use to this - but it's a good lesson for me to learn.

Sunday was a welcome break to the activities. Slept in, ate, did the hem thing, landury, braided hair -- typical summer camp day again. Jolted back again to reality today though. Trap hunting warning pamplet and shots will do that to you!

Peace out!

Wan Hati

2008-05-22T13:12:00.000-07:00

We just washed our clothes (one bucket with soap - one without) in the front of our rooms - the sun is hot today, and I'm changing colors!

We got our CITE LOCATIONS TODAY!

Wan Hati- it's an Aucan village located approximately 200 km South of Paramaribo. It's at the Cottica River in the District of Marowujni. The travel time to and from Wan Hati and Paramaribo is approximately 3-4 hours by van or bus or boat. It's a traditional village, which can be recognized by their landing jetty along the river with an 'entrance' made up of hanging palm leaves that serve to protect the village from evil spirits from the outside. The village has a traditional meeting place, a central sacrificial area (whoo....ee) and a special hut (Moon Hut) where the local women have to stay a few days during thier monthly period. Maroons typically live in complex societies and thier economies are diverse, typically featuring some combination of the following: agriculture, mining, hunting, fishing, trading and woodcarving. There is no running water - and electricity system operates through a generator daily between 7p,-11pm. The village consists of approximately 300 people and is managed by a Dorpsbeturr (village management) actually headed by a captian.

So there it is! Eco-tourism - developing the gardens (flowers, fruit, veggies) that the women have been tending to turn into a tourist attraction as well as conservation. I will have my job assignment in more full details tomorrow.

YESTERDAY we started the day with a health class about all the 'great' things that happen in the Hinderland. (Interior) You don't even want me to begin to list the great bugs, spiders, snakes, cats, bats....that will be surounding us! :) We also had a 'girl' hour to go over the expectations of women in the tribes. The Moon Hut and washing our 'facie' also men tend to have more then one wife/girlfriend. Doc came again today with more 411 on health. It's beginning to overwhelm.

Jeff and I were talking about it - 'here's all the bugs,(stuff) that will kill you, you don't know the launguage - miles from another volunteer - not sure of what your projects actually are - oh and you don't have electricity or running water. And take your malaria pills tonite - they can cause wicked bad dreams.' :)

We did get to eat lunch with the Ambassitor of Suriname. She's amazing and totally not what I would have expected. In the sense that she's younger, laid back and easy to be around. I admire her, and am inspired by her stories. I look forward to getting to know more about her.

Summer Camp here in Lillydorp is about to end my friends. The realities of it all are starting to hit. As safey, health, bugs and creepy crawlies, tribal cultures...are being discussed now in more detail.

I'm heading for a beer....peace out-be good.

Ku Morgu - and a blast from last week

2008-05-20T11:53:00.001-07:00

Ohmigod!

Thanks Brent soo much for the picture link!! I about wet myself here in the computer lab!

http://picasaweb.google.com/brett.sandusky/MariahSPartyAtFizzBar

Thanks again to everyone that came out to see me off! That was really great of you guys, and I felt soo loved, and well...um, drunk! :)

I have the best group of friends ever!

The rain continues to fall today in Suriname. But it was pointed out to me that in our backyard there is a cashew TREE ( I didn't know that cashews grew on trees....) a pepper, mango, papya, cherry and some other random green fruit. And the banana's are the best!

My goal to lose weight here - ya...hum ;) I think that will happen once we get to our sites.
We find that out on Thursday - and I'm very excited to know my exact project and where I will be spending my time for the next two year.

We've been kept so busy - yet nothing overwhelming. It still feels like summer camp. Except I get a little frustrated that I can't find the post office here. (and it' a small city!)

Once on cite - (we go next week for homestays) there will be no electricity - and now we only have cold water. People here rise with the sun and rest with the sun. I do get a little ansy and have been teaching yoga at nite to a group of people to pass the time. OKAY, and the occasional pavo beer gets shared as well. ;)

We started to learn our launguages (there are three tribal and Dutch) I have a memory of a nat, so it's fun to sit next to me in class. Classes are broken down to 4 to a group. Michelle is in my group - so at least she doesn't laugh to hard and is very kind when I continue to mispronounce the same word.

Fa-waka?

I go bum.

Rain rain and more rain - makes it hard to do laundry, as things have to line dry here. Jack's clean underwear are now midew smelling in the hallway. (where he set them to dry)

I look forward to hearing from you guys - so keep me posted on what you're doing! More news soon...

MUAH!

Just lean back - it should be okay!

2008-05-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

Suriname - we have arrived!

All 25 of us have made it safely and are two days into our training. We got into the airport around 1:00am to find out bags and be greeted by the PVC volunteer HQ Director. Once everyone had their stuff we headed out to the transportation area.

Two bus/vans pull up. One for the luggage - one for us. Seriously, this was one of the funniest moments we had shared. On the bus, there is one side that had two seats, the other has one (by the window) then there is a FLIP seat that going into the alleyway. We were crammed in there like a bunch of sardines! In the dark of the early morning, and down the dusty dirt road we went!

About 45 mins later, we turned into the driveway - to hear cheers, laughing, yeahs!! The bus/van pulls up, and we are bombarded happily by the current volunteers!! It was sooo amazing the energy that they gave us!! They made a quick job of unloading our luagage and then helped us settle into our rooms. (Cirsten, Michelle and I are again roommates) and off they went!

We rose the next day LATE.....slept in til 9:30 and had to run to grab some toast and coffee. The food here is well.... ;) Class that day was easy, nice and that nite the current PCV's stopped back over to fill us in on how life is like in post. Then we headed out to grab a drink with them.....

Jack - all 60+ years of him --- plays a mean game of flippy cup! :) I also meet Jennifer Kleckner! She's serving now with her husband Levi. She and I made fast friends, and everyone just got along SOO well. It's a great group of Sur 14'ers --- and I really feel like the current PCV are pretty cool.

Yesterday we had the day to take a field trip into the interior and go swimming. The bus/van was insane!! Bumpy roads, red dirt --- stops on the side of the road to wet....all good fun!

It's good times here - but starting to get a little more indept with our programs and what we'll be doing for the next 2 years. I think now we're just getting settled in and they are letting us adjust a little.

I did teach my group a small yoga session last nite. Kelly the director is also a yogi (way better then myself!)

More later --- xoxoxo!!

I stalked you on Facebook

2008-05-15T22:11:00.000-07:00

Quote of the nite:

'So Mariah - this may be a personal question, I think you're soooo super fun, red hair and all-I could totally be into you...but do you dig woman? I totally stalked you on facebook and you are always with a haired blue eyed hottie. Honeslty...what's the deal?'

Yes my friends...I just sang kareko 'Jack and Diane' with my new PCV Pete...who thought that Nina and I were romantic lovers....just wanted to share the laughter.

Love you all.

Miami and a new Roomie

2008-05-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

Made it safely to Miami - after a full day of travel!

5 hours of training yesterday...no make-up and pictures ;) Awesome.

I couldn't NOT have been partnered with a more compatible roommate..Michelle.
She's from Philly and we share a love of the vino...and chats. We stayed up pretty
late last nite -after about 6 of us headed to dinner - we did a walking tour of each others packs and gear. Both Michelle and I are unprepared (shocking) but at least she brought as many tampons as me! :)

There's 25 of us heading out to Suriname tomorrow - we leave pretty early in the morning
and get there around midnite. I guess the temp there is like if you were to go in the bathroom, turn the shower on as hot as it gets...walk out and close the door. Go back in in 20 mins. (steamy and h-o-t)

It's a really great group of people - age ranges from 23 to a man in his late 50's. Two married couples and a good % of male to female.

I just learned there is some kind of poisionous snail??? Lots of learning going on here.

No tears yet.....but I'm sure they'll happen when I'm out of the conforts of my surroundings.

I miss everyone - and will post some pictures later of my new group of people I'm kickin' it with here.

Muah and much love! Vissa - boom, boom!!

Green Tops

2008-05-06T16:48:00.000-07:00

I just had a funny thought - I bought this condo cuz it's the top level and all the windows are surrounded with trees.

I DO like treehouses.

Queen of Procrastination

2008-04-28T22:33:00.000-07:00

Trisha you will be so proud of me - I knocked out three more boxes and almost all dishes and glasses are wrapped and boxed. ;)

I broke the last of the silver trimmed wine glasses...shocking I know...right?

You would think I would use the less pretty wine glasses - I have full sets of those still. Well at least for now.

Hopefully in Suriname I will not be placed in charge of anything breakable!

Jungle to Jungle

2008-04-27T18:08:00.000-07:00

Chicago Facts and Trivia
1. The first Aquarium opened in Chicago, 1893.
2. The world's first Skyscraper was built in Chicago, 1885.
3. The Sears Tower, Chicago is the tallest building on the North American continent.
4. Illinois was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery.
5. On December 2, 1942, Enrico Fermi and a small band of scientists and engineers demonstrated that a simple construction of graphite bricks and uranium lumps could produce controlled heat. The space chosen for the first nuclear fission reactor was a squash court under the football stadium at the University of Chicago.
6. Chicago is home to the Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station, the only buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire.
7. The ice cream "sundae" was named in Evanston. The piety of the town resented the dissipating influences of the soda fountain on Sunday and the good town fathers, yielding to this churchly influence, passed an ordinance prohibiting the retailing of ice cream sodas on Sunday. Ingenious confectioners and drug store operators obeying the law, served ice cream with the syrup of your choice without the soda. Objections then was made to christening a dish after the Sabbath. So the spelling of "sunday" was changed. It became an established dish and an established word and finally the "sundae".
8. Illinois has more units of government than any other state (i.e., city, county, township, etc.). Over six thousand. One contributing reason may be the township governments, which are generally six miles square.
9. Illinois boasts the highest number of personalized license plates, more than any other state.
10. The University of Illinois Conservatory is 37 feet high at its apex.
11. Chicago's Mercantile Exchange building was built entirely without an internal steel skeleton, as most skyscrapers; it depends on its thick walls to keep itself up
12. The trains that pass through Chicago's underground freight tunnels daily would extend over ten miles total in length.
13. The first animal purchased for the Lincoln Park Zoo was a bear cub, bought for $10 on June 1st, 1874
14. The University of Chicago opened on October 1, 1892 with an enrollment of 594 and a faculty of 103.
15. New York Sun editor Charles Dana, tired of hearing Chicagoans boast of the world's Columbian Exposition, dubbed Chicago the "Windy City."
16. Comedy showcase "Second City" was founded on North Wells Street in a former Chinese laundry in 1959
17. Chicago's first African American mayor, Harold Washington, took office in 1983
18. The 4 stars on the Chicago flag represent Fort Dearborn, the Chicago Fire, the World's Columbian Exposition, and the Century of Progress Exposition.
19. The Chicago Public Library is the world's largest public library with a collection of more than 2 million books.
20. The Chicago Post Office at 433 West Van Buren is the only postal facility in the world you can drive a car through.
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Suriname Facts and Triva
1. The highest point in the Republic of Suriname is Juliana Top (1,230 m).
2. Eighty percent of Suriname is covered with tropical rainforest.
3. The Central Suriname Nature Reserve is a World Heritage site.
4. Early inhabitants of Suriname included the Arawak and the Carib people.
5. Christopher Columbus, in the service of Spain, sighted the coast of present-day Suriname in 1498.
6. Suriname was claimed by the Spanish in 1593. British colonists settled in Suriname in the first half of the seventeenth century. In 1667, the British exchanged their colony in Suriname for the Dutch possession of New Amsterdam (later named New York).
7. Suriname was formerly known as Dutch Guiana.
8. The Historic Inner City of Paramaribo is a World Heritage site. Paramaribo dates back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
9. Jodensavanne, in the Para district, was a plantation founded by European Jews in the seventeenth century. It was abandoned after a fire in 1832.
10. African slaves were brought to Suriname to work on the coffee and sugar plantations. Slaves who escaped from the plantations formed settlements. These people were known as Maroons.
11. Slavery was abolished in 1863. Indentured labour from China, India, and Indonesia replaced slave labour.
12. Bauxite was discovered in Suriname at the beginning of the century.
13. The Aluminium Company of America started mining operations in Suriname in 1916.
14. Surinamers gained internal government in 1954.
15. Suriname achieved full independence from the Netherlands in 1975.
16. Following Suriname's independence, thousands of workers migrated to the Netherlands.
17. Floods in Suriname left over twenty thousand people homeless in May 2006.
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