tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313581450442850632024-02-21T02:34:38.350-05:00BompuBompu: Ordinary Zen, free from philosophical or religious contents, and is practiced for the sole purpose of improving one's physical and mental being.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-52006401141967504542013-02-26T19:22:00.001-05:002013-02-26T19:22:16.719-05:002 Year UpdateWell, it has been a year since I last posted here. While it may seem as though I was lost in the bush, I am alive and very well. So much has happened: I've traveled to a few countries, participated in amazing projects, met new people, tried new foods and have thoroughly enjoyed myself. Everyone is so right when they say that second year flies by. My journey through the Peace Corps Time Warp is almost finished.<br />
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So with 42 days left in country, I'm packing up my two suitcases and a backpack, giving away possessions, finalizing projects, completing 101 tasks for PC and saying my good-byes to community members, friends, and students. I'm taking back thousands of photographs, Guyanese clothes, shoes, music and food, gifts from friends, a few things I came with and countless precious memories.<br />
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Saying good-bye isn't easy or fun, but I am eager to get back
home and start a new adventure.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janelle and me in the library</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Many more posts and pictures to come... just now. :)Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-60760574405031186072012-02-14T12:59:00.001-05:002012-02-20T14:28:40.312-05:001 year updateWhile walking home from school yesterday, in the blazing sun, with students on either side holding my hands- to keep them safe from a huge cow in our path, I had some great thoughts. I was thinking how much I love my village and people in it. How much of an impact I have made in the lives of community members. How much I have learned. How much time has passed. How much time I have left. And how much this place really feels like home. I have had those thoughts before, but on the day before the eve of the 1 year anniversary of my arrival in Guyana, the thoughts were accompanied by strong emotions-mainly gratitude and happiness.<br />
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I am in a great place in my service right now. December was an extremely overwhelming month with challenges piled on top of challenges which were literally weighing me down. But somehow between then and now things have dramatically changed. Scratch that. *I* have dramatically changed. I have changed my thoughts about challenges, struggles, triumphs, successes, and failures. I now do my very best to turn seemingly negative situations into positive ones. I read an article about happiness and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) that was truly inspiring. It really isn't my environment that required changing to fit my preferences-it was MY view of it. The AWESOME three weeks I spent in America helped greatly. I was able to gush all about my experiences and this great country while viewing everything from a different perspective- from a continent away actually. Being in a comfortable familiar environment sharing stories with my family and friends was extremely cathartic.<br />
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I can remember the apprehension, anticipation, nervousness and excitement I felt in the year leading up to my arrival in this amazing country. When I finally got here everything was so new and different...and overwhelming at times. I was appalled at some things, frightened by others and delighted by even more. I spend 9 incredible weeks with my fabulous host family and learned a great deal about Guyanese culture. In April I swore in as a PCV and began the count up to two years of service.<br />
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I look back on the photographs I took in past 12 months which tell many stories. I can see a physical and emotional transformation in myself. My priorities have shifted and my outlook has brightened. As seconds turn to minutes, minutes to hours, hours to days, as days turn to weeks, weeks to months and now months have become a year- I appreciate all of my time here. I have taught a few things, but have learned even more. It's funny how normal life feels even though it is totally different from the environment in which I spent the previous 28 years of my life. Cows, chicken, goats, sheep, dogs, birds, and horses roaming about making lots of noise-that's 'normal' now. Mud, rain, sunshine, coconut palms, fresh vegetables, crazy bites, Creolese speaking brown and black people, kids in uniforms, prepaid credit, blackouts, just now time, weekly bouncy squished travels to the market 45 minutes away, being called 'the white girl', hearing "Miss" 8,000 times a day, saying "good morning, day, and afternoon" a million times a week...all that is just normal life in Black Bush Polder, no big.<br />
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My routine is pretty great now. I love my PVC life. :) I finally have a house to call my own (bats, rats, mosquitoes, beetles, roaches, lizards, fire flies, ants, unknown insects, marabuntas and my puppy Dharma call it home too). Even though the roof has major leaks, the yard and bottom house flood like crazy, neighbors apparently watch my every movement and the extremely loud obnoxious neighbor is downwind, I LOVE my house. I was gifted an amazing fridge which supplies me with ice cold happiness. I am almost finished painting the inside. And the best part is that it is my sanctuary. I have a place to be alone, to unwind, to just be. Not only is my home life super great, but work is too! My school schedule is full, but rewarding. Guyanese teachers and friends are supportive and amazing.<br />
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I know that I will eventually succumb to the downturn of this emotional roller coaster called Peace Corps, but for now I am smiling and appreciating the great view from a very high peak which took an entire year to reach. I am SO looking forward to my second year of service! Everyone says it goes by quickly. So to combat the radical shift in time perception that a PCV's second year bestows, I am dedicated to practicing mindfulness-and not just on the cushion (I mean -in the hammock), but during everyday tasks too. Some days are crazy fast, others are downright long.<br />
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This Valentine's day has actually been a day of rest and reflection on account of the intense rain this morning. It was the worst rain I've encountered in Guyana (in the year that I've been here!). It sounded like all the water on earth was being dumped on my village for a few hours. My yard and entire 'street' are flooded. My HM told me to "stay home and dry" today. I couldn't have asked for a better anniversary: limin' at home in my hammock, enjoying the cool breeze, reading, cooking, cleaning and communicating electronically with people I love. Aaaaaahhhhhhh the hardships of being a PCV-it's rough sometimes. ;)Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-46912133557691275402011-12-10T22:32:00.000-05:002011-12-10T22:32:56.938-05:00Flip This House Peace Corps Guyana Style - Stage 3 November 2011 OnwardSo my house is still a work in progress. I still need a fence, water to the toilet and oh yeah...the bats in the roof need to be exterminated. Work continues slowly, but now that I am living in my "mansion" I am SUPER happy!! I love my walk to work, the almost constant easterly breeze, the quiet sounds of my village and, of course, my dog Dharma.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mHO1RlOQHKfsGrf22IrwHXE2yJR-P3A280cpNCMVvyPvrJqvMOhpouSuMrCWayc7zyExDsfL23QHesaNFolONni9s8DQtb6VPTtguFwJwWlBpVxOBc8zUspfYnCJP0PlfqB6POtdsks/s1600/IMG00829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mHO1RlOQHKfsGrf22IrwHXE2yJR-P3A280cpNCMVvyPvrJqvMOhpouSuMrCWayc7zyExDsfL23QHesaNFolONni9s8DQtb6VPTtguFwJwWlBpVxOBc8zUspfYnCJP0PlfqB6POtdsks/s320/IMG00829.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No electricity...only for 9 days and no bed for the first night. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoEkYgmkQKHabp5kSYBZgtL_6NMnog5bDcMBZmBXyDRIiLemVgv1Kj5PKv0UBj-tAtrglvONKmEDQ3SDYYE0Vem5MTN0VHLuPxd8OKGb427Ub1xPZzaHfz4Cq2NOk7OZeJSL3__boE1U/s1600/IMG00878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoEkYgmkQKHabp5kSYBZgtL_6NMnog5bDcMBZmBXyDRIiLemVgv1Kj5PKv0UBj-tAtrglvONKmEDQ3SDYYE0Vem5MTN0VHLuPxd8OKGb427Ub1xPZzaHfz4Cq2NOk7OZeJSL3__boE1U/s320/IMG00878.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea Shaw made this for me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsw2E9NNbhuOZiO6a6WEFWf_IRLKCyY6e1PoLPsxjrskOY_UoHH-nPXO1y3PcHeaRe0naUpoCmu1FUkgjnVR8gJuCpiBM6s7StF4PJ1vyHCqH2uDsDnPv3AIJkNvDFGTXC53qm7JGIMc/s1600/IMG01012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsw2E9NNbhuOZiO6a6WEFWf_IRLKCyY6e1PoLPsxjrskOY_UoHH-nPXO1y3PcHeaRe0naUpoCmu1FUkgjnVR8gJuCpiBM6s7StF4PJ1vyHCqH2uDsDnPv3AIJkNvDFGTXC53qm7JGIMc/s320/IMG01012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LIGHTS!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyxfr-OXxXFZcVwmWJjM1xChV2pLqBGI_0X752rEpthglDNzshn4WJJF7sNz5OsxraYoqWJcm5HeRJXaoUsuefVwCICaXVf02AubDpMEZAHpYd1Tfq-3jQTfQH8hE4VBbBr17frB1fMM/s1600/IMG01085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyxfr-OXxXFZcVwmWJjM1xChV2pLqBGI_0X752rEpthglDNzshn4WJJF7sNz5OsxraYoqWJcm5HeRJXaoUsuefVwCICaXVf02AubDpMEZAHpYd1Tfq-3jQTfQH8hE4VBbBr17frB1fMM/s320/IMG01085.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dharma staring down a goat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgYjwvQgSliyUNafiHXug-qjUEty1QuuE6YZQxx6sZjDbUUOFb6vWcuQmbKNjpmwIUEbdsIcEDAW_oqMn8v7rnOGwsdNdQJ4LQOg5iflmwmAuY-Db4mzzG6Lij2SkGpNfdfJxFqb5I5M/s1600/IMG01114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgYjwvQgSliyUNafiHXug-qjUEty1QuuE6YZQxx6sZjDbUUOFb6vWcuQmbKNjpmwIUEbdsIcEDAW_oqMn8v7rnOGwsdNdQJ4LQOg5iflmwmAuY-Db4mzzG6Lij2SkGpNfdfJxFqb5I5M/s200/IMG01114.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing a great job of chasing the animals away. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1zmonXYS1XJeNBLRreUShu8D_WmiKRRxrBFwsJTUUbgi4Ax7rIchFSao3hYgzw089MbeFTPjkTdwMJwUudEtQAnbQohaTJtW6Fb7jP0olGUL_x-UpKvdikS5gz2KD167LLK2iQOczwg/s1600/IMG01121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1zmonXYS1XJeNBLRreUShu8D_WmiKRRxrBFwsJTUUbgi4Ax7rIchFSao3hYgzw089MbeFTPjkTdwMJwUudEtQAnbQohaTJtW6Fb7jP0olGUL_x-UpKvdikS5gz2KD167LLK2iQOczwg/s200/IMG01121.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Refrigerator!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rp-SoiNsYUh5_NnEWziMNqmf5S-x4r9NPdchdZ2EGk8vP0GjyLIHbmNWB3Fgiyt0uH8FNO6Gjeo01qbzAEz6jf_kZu9uQ3zgthsUVFNtp0HNTRq34APFv1BMkRhHWiz0i6O24FN_DUQ/s1600/IMG01126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rp-SoiNsYUh5_NnEWziMNqmf5S-x4r9NPdchdZ2EGk8vP0GjyLIHbmNWB3Fgiyt0uH8FNO6Gjeo01qbzAEz6jf_kZu9uQ3zgthsUVFNtp0HNTRq34APFv1BMkRhHWiz0i6O24FN_DUQ/s200/IMG01126.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice cold happiness.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFe-Vfc5KNbh_iDUggBLRy0wRnuv0iDbrcBGnxakDuhW81JzID7ZZ1QoORyeGBzuNpW90TlROXukyW2Ol8WFfC0eCBE9eSLQSpXCSjpuG_EwuoGuHAnq5YdUfjqbAwjmN1LIFF9JdEq4/s1600/IMG01142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFe-Vfc5KNbh_iDUggBLRy0wRnuv0iDbrcBGnxakDuhW81JzID7ZZ1QoORyeGBzuNpW90TlROXukyW2Ol8WFfC0eCBE9eSLQSpXCSjpuG_EwuoGuHAnq5YdUfjqbAwjmN1LIFF9JdEq4/s320/IMG01142.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My amazing kitchen. I don't have curtains, but I did have an extra hammock-so I just threw that up. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSb-FiHtIv0U-9JJIqVUEZHq-qE2D0T2mRbPlJ8rNTzoe-N8DJSIhXmxDxKgLhB1ovbTLbG3eu3k8Tza65snL1P3et1QOMlEjBCSjtUjhHp-G8On38oj8fxEQyTsSzHs-gp5bR1wFmRI/s1600/IMG01143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSb-FiHtIv0U-9JJIqVUEZHq-qE2D0T2mRbPlJ8rNTzoe-N8DJSIhXmxDxKgLhB1ovbTLbG3eu3k8Tza65snL1P3et1QOMlEjBCSjtUjhHp-G8On38oj8fxEQyTsSzHs-gp5bR1wFmRI/s320/IMG01143.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I LOVE cooking in my kitchen on my 4 burner stove.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyH67mQGjH030ltAqLrsnSbucAxriKGgYIuiUuLxNFu8YzvFewxvNGAqIAoaCSU7SDKdwGV0D62g98_M2AHX9WICC_teqPy5-sCp0eG1pExLUuFoNSNmyp_Sz9TdNV4OqWWqyHVXwGpE/s1600/IMG01150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyH67mQGjH030ltAqLrsnSbucAxriKGgYIuiUuLxNFu8YzvFewxvNGAqIAoaCSU7SDKdwGV0D62g98_M2AHX9WICC_teqPy5-sCp0eG1pExLUuFoNSNmyp_Sz9TdNV4OqWWqyHVXwGpE/s320/IMG01150.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fairy lights for reading at night.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqI7uIDWaSk0tluJSZRpLmKbRLJXy6Xcb6de81IdLODGK0qgb6M6nf68K9hFDYEJDhn8utrw4ZXO_OMbEJ83ouxK2K6nu1ihopa4WEq6xg3VRtp5yhdDw28-WiVHY2hYVKysVW6Ifuuc/s1600/IMG01177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqI7uIDWaSk0tluJSZRpLmKbRLJXy6Xcb6de81IdLODGK0qgb6M6nf68K9hFDYEJDhn8utrw4ZXO_OMbEJ83ouxK2K6nu1ihopa4WEq6xg3VRtp5yhdDw28-WiVHY2hYVKysVW6Ifuuc/s200/IMG01177.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing her job of keeping other animals out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9HR0zLM-uOYK42-7A45tqccty3m8Uiv8WhohaKz4n4xQndaDaYSukLvgb533BSBWwM62se0lyfL3x6d-5EuKSjEku2vLxolJD44RLA0Y7VOg8KxJu9IaBIZeVe7_gxdaDCxOHX-x88Y/s1600/IMG01190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9HR0zLM-uOYK42-7A45tqccty3m8Uiv8WhohaKz4n4xQndaDaYSukLvgb533BSBWwM62se0lyfL3x6d-5EuKSjEku2vLxolJD44RLA0Y7VOg8KxJu9IaBIZeVe7_gxdaDCxOHX-x88Y/s200/IMG01190.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big big big</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4F7181ngwKgfjdtVdZFuXYilGxzxo_dR2ueQj6ynHPkTDSpgACVdVqIOot9v7R1US0hxGlxUHIsEdWIJ1T5ZzXxp0xRueVgd6Dme54vhUT2rVB_m63VavM6N-q5H1n5k0IoOC7a8EjB8/s1600/IMG_0002+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4F7181ngwKgfjdtVdZFuXYilGxzxo_dR2ueQj6ynHPkTDSpgACVdVqIOot9v7R1US0hxGlxUHIsEdWIJ1T5ZzXxp0xRueVgd6Dme54vhUT2rVB_m63VavM6N-q5H1n5k0IoOC7a8EjB8/s320/IMG_0002+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My landlord Singh spraying the bats with Baygon. For the record, it does not work. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2CyXsR85Br6a6Eyfzpks-loJSzXVSOM9T62R-P8Rl23TAkGED4F8TjlYeP85Zm7jEf5I67xjjft3lPZxgPS7gwlsoq7R2YXC0x-Rnc7K6wbj1q8Phyphenhyphen9qu1FQ5pXFLCUCSLDUqLVnra4/s1600/IMG_0002+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2CyXsR85Br6a6Eyfzpks-loJSzXVSOM9T62R-P8Rl23TAkGED4F8TjlYeP85Zm7jEf5I67xjjft3lPZxgPS7gwlsoq7R2YXC0x-Rnc7K6wbj1q8Phyphenhyphen9qu1FQ5pXFLCUCSLDUqLVnra4/s320/IMG_0002+%25286%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing with Dharma one last time before I went to New Amsterdam for the election relocation. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4kmQB6ESZK-d4U3pUoR1V7-taB5bM6mGbri_LaTvSNlirFIcvY8wR1bK_wO8szkOMBqWTi5mK6qqBIDDxFygOYdoT0GfMYRxDrt0FfkYghpnt600r5o006AKlGYKoSIt55QEDUqcZz8/s1600/IMG_0003+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4kmQB6ESZK-d4U3pUoR1V7-taB5bM6mGbri_LaTvSNlirFIcvY8wR1bK_wO8szkOMBqWTi5mK6qqBIDDxFygOYdoT0GfMYRxDrt0FfkYghpnt600r5o006AKlGYKoSIt55QEDUqcZz8/s320/IMG_0003+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coolest spot in the house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsjrPVTkh4UP9mupN8vHllOmc0nhoVCTXEkpYEx78MBL_GJUHJpLbxkbHo68Dn28cA2Gl5IZcwPumE3x7l12P9ngmklRx-di1fj0n2IEhLCPYuFEbF1kxHGtGtypkWWnmKQ8tp6NoZ5s/s1600/IMG_0004+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsjrPVTkh4UP9mupN8vHllOmc0nhoVCTXEkpYEx78MBL_GJUHJpLbxkbHo68Dn28cA2Gl5IZcwPumE3x7l12P9ngmklRx-di1fj0n2IEhLCPYuFEbF1kxHGtGtypkWWnmKQ8tp6NoZ5s/s320/IMG_0004+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of room to play.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOH1xyyFbTe3lnE1ysqOAsiO_7yTdomjJQoeNWp4NNJoUwOfCyfmnuKR0h8UDnEcvniBmLZJkr1VP9QMDEEWpBYiejMy93tXN-hZYJtOqzDLZhSZsiLc5uRziJxIwwn_bDrozWYkXtEY/s1600/IMG_0004+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOH1xyyFbTe3lnE1ysqOAsiO_7yTdomjJQoeNWp4NNJoUwOfCyfmnuKR0h8UDnEcvniBmLZJkr1VP9QMDEEWpBYiejMy93tXN-hZYJtOqzDLZhSZsiLc5uRziJxIwwn_bDrozWYkXtEY/s320/IMG_0004+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My adorable puppy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkRsI_1bdu-zr9xglgZFiTGsE_3pIiRNMqGFqHFBj6ecmwWs6BhkHSXQgboAhmwXKEWgFQOC-5_h6YlXjorVZ0Baz3e8L3lXEhE1z69N6-T5G-Afp4IWnPXO50umZ3zGWexBjoeIThMc/s1600/IMG_0005+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkRsI_1bdu-zr9xglgZFiTGsE_3pIiRNMqGFqHFBj6ecmwWs6BhkHSXQgboAhmwXKEWgFQOC-5_h6YlXjorVZ0Baz3e8L3lXEhE1z69N6-T5G-Afp4IWnPXO50umZ3zGWexBjoeIThMc/s320/IMG_0005+%25284%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sink in the hallway.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQbpRcRYEOrGPx4QnR1cseknHJogbLjMt0cEfILIbDbb6dJpQ2zWMnVWN_Fw6UuJd3GJSqH_8Tph291wSeuQFUxEYSASr4V625UuqyT0AHBfAPUNZxC03mU37CBVwaTuqFoETv3MIcoE/s1600/IMG_0007+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQbpRcRYEOrGPx4QnR1cseknHJogbLjMt0cEfILIbDbb6dJpQ2zWMnVWN_Fw6UuJd3GJSqH_8Tph291wSeuQFUxEYSASr4V625UuqyT0AHBfAPUNZxC03mU37CBVwaTuqFoETv3MIcoE/s320/IMG_0007+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chill out/ relaxation room. That thing on the wall is my prepaid meter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi580jU9QxQDvH1yPBKO60p3rdPBod53tl-3wlJmqNsht9NhERVeYQ_3ipbHsQFXoFblFL-DE29pb1kopt-qBfxN_ahLe9i91iXv-dsFgbshhyphenhyphenuD57jrnSVINCJH4-12jcCRtsTaIzQgVw/s1600/IMG_0010+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi580jU9QxQDvH1yPBKO60p3rdPBod53tl-3wlJmqNsht9NhERVeYQ_3ipbHsQFXoFblFL-DE29pb1kopt-qBfxN_ahLe9i91iXv-dsFgbshhyphenhyphenuD57jrnSVINCJH4-12jcCRtsTaIzQgVw/s320/IMG_0010+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink bedroom. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Hw34qevjkxSui_UJQFVkb1J6HGhPo5P6ypkgR5T2QZtJbX0OY6JVgLF7ppy5nK6uhebXJExXv4IJWqdHYiqGD6EJDK5ZEu__gKJ-qBC-TWAnEqysJxKR6RlJghmsVDYT42vnfVA4hrM/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Hw34qevjkxSui_UJQFVkb1J6HGhPo5P6ypkgR5T2QZtJbX0OY6JVgLF7ppy5nK6uhebXJExXv4IJWqdHYiqGD6EJDK5ZEu__gKJ-qBC-TWAnEqysJxKR6RlJghmsVDYT42vnfVA4hrM/s320/IMG_0014.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a happy day! I love seeing that wire.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_azgYKaqE5l7pMULe5N-qR6X5BlF2ejHGf3Q7VhENBvpjMueweKsdbsRhH-SDum4EuSImk4dqy78XejtCTrHFgUvz0BE_tFNPpPP5t7WozBpPp5DqERXSK8K8SEtvlHX_sfRD61iVxjg/s1600/IMG_0017+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_azgYKaqE5l7pMULe5N-qR6X5BlF2ejHGf3Q7VhENBvpjMueweKsdbsRhH-SDum4EuSImk4dqy78XejtCTrHFgUvz0BE_tFNPpPP5t7WozBpPp5DqERXSK8K8SEtvlHX_sfRD61iVxjg/s320/IMG_0017+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dharma's stupidey ear is cute.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYQbt4XTLWsmzxaCj1-NLLUaAda_dsaW94r_ex3rQSj4w_tsCZ1SxpSJ_nHFVIsySgKpXziHygFpCZBJtAve5an0xxnWjA2GbHzTSGB_dAgOP7lPp_4QMJazGEVYFo4Y-igbSagL-hYc/s1600/IMG_0024+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYQbt4XTLWsmzxaCj1-NLLUaAda_dsaW94r_ex3rQSj4w_tsCZ1SxpSJ_nHFVIsySgKpXziHygFpCZBJtAve5an0xxnWjA2GbHzTSGB_dAgOP7lPp_4QMJazGEVYFo4Y-igbSagL-hYc/s320/IMG_0024+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My AMAZING shower head.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjIMCYEkjdLuvEvEfD2Lsy5L9TdYrwF6Fsz1F6hRozNACsBP8qm1AVN6x5rwUAGhPMGIzxuAyaThb16pIqnJyRTQpEDAL9aaTfS2T9Is9VVU15nuapVJEDmEg_XE-vw6YetyDnns7ZDY/s1600/IMGj_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjIMCYEkjdLuvEvEfD2Lsy5L9TdYrwF6Fsz1F6hRozNACsBP8qm1AVN6x5rwUAGhPMGIzxuAyaThb16pIqnJyRTQpEDAL9aaTfS2T9Is9VVU15nuapVJEDmEg_XE-vw6YetyDnns7ZDY/s320/IMGj_0006.JPG" width="320" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muddy path to school.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-66773207002492234752011-12-10T12:09:00.001-05:002011-12-10T12:15:13.603-05:00Flip This House Peace Corps Guyana Style- Step 2 August-November 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwIpU0Z9E6AW7hqCTHQAWgmr97m2_s29h5Jif1lkwSFc1FPUzszvfl900NglQS9Jzeij0bBqjNgC1Ah-rhCm09jB6U2DBAWiDGP0hk8-RsKgCmvk_7Db0vjIf_I6ZcOEfM2zkKBK1S_c/s1600/IMG00086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwIpU0Z9E6AW7hqCTHQAWgmr97m2_s29h5Jif1lkwSFc1FPUzszvfl900NglQS9Jzeij0bBqjNgC1Ah-rhCm09jB6U2DBAWiDGP0hk8-RsKgCmvk_7Db0vjIf_I6ZcOEfM2zkKBK1S_c/s320/IMG00086.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="goog_1396454481">I did all of the wall painting myself! With a little help from June. :)</span></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-47795639176558093432011-12-06T14:33:00.003-05:002011-12-10T11:50:27.682-05:00Flip This House Peace Corps Guyana Style- Stage 1 (June -August 2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mS548xzxadiXl7t_pS5vkJCntm6hBapHVJIAt-jm6C1ccb2hhZTaTPVXnh49v25jibMbIjjc66cMh91FnNVCLtwneyfS8H-xObTuoRhlFJaySdfr0_Be6lM5AVfktJHVXqrN-zQbwAE/s1600/IMG_0159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mS548xzxadiXl7t_pS5vkJCntm6hBapHVJIAt-jm6C1ccb2hhZTaTPVXnh49v25jibMbIjjc66cMh91FnNVCLtwneyfS8H-xObTuoRhlFJaySdfr0_Be6lM5AVfktJHVXqrN-zQbwAE/s200/IMG_0159.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uLS8hoD9S2nr9pfyLwpOi_0xm9gyBBm5johoJUqdultUljrWu9ZPso87yTEPdQ0_ur5xQddLNKkqu6kXP25ArjdHYMH0EliFg1TIiQlCXj_4pb7Rhnw_DEIFthttIdcAmFzW366yJeI/s1600/IMG_0156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uLS8hoD9S2nr9pfyLwpOi_0xm9gyBBm5johoJUqdultUljrWu9ZPso87yTEPdQ0_ur5xQddLNKkqu6kXP25ArjdHYMH0EliFg1TIiQlCXj_4pb7Rhnw_DEIFthttIdcAmFzW366yJeI/s200/IMG_0156.JPG" width="200px" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is what the outside of the house looked like. Complete with plank step.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even with great preparation, I got stung on three separate occasions, playing exterminator.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PtGFIfZbcRDCpb26-Z78FAXrfy_pAt0H2fAiojhtcTG6wlsJKHWCPj5WwQVSIX51lCC4tZ-zS4zG4U5gpKlQQMhjT6wWKk-nJ7PSXmzu4ybLMqPVH6CjEVExM4k3sHwOYp92FKx9ur0/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZTz9XvUF78rCOtSTf9dWIxyTPgQrrg_ZDNryywbDK1-KTdX-dILNBH-shAxLrmXsUzQrG4zG4Boe2EQg04x8bxOzGnIb7PvUMZ-sSVznvcDS68Q4lFodkaYB5jffzlnh6_u7OHD1O1M/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZTz9XvUF78rCOtSTf9dWIxyTPgQrrg_ZDNryywbDK1-KTdX-dILNBH-shAxLrmXsUzQrG4zG4Boe2EQg04x8bxOzGnIb7PvUMZ-sSVznvcDS68Q4lFodkaYB5jffzlnh6_u7OHD1O1M/s200/IMG_0005.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJEvtnqBldRq5MbkYBDhTttcNRIMZ_u3BDYGg0YQiRbEAG4AkHj-l66c-j3ymRjMS34DWGzgxmloiTp9K7n22uJp_Dn-io16lBJnU6cf-38q4_HPnS8E__R5AuBBpHIS5N2zqNF7M71s/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJEvtnqBldRq5MbkYBDhTttcNRIMZ_u3BDYGg0YQiRbEAG4AkHj-l66c-j3ymRjMS34DWGzgxmloiTp9K7n22uJp_Dn-io16lBJnU6cf-38q4_HPnS8E__R5AuBBpHIS5N2zqNF7M71s/s200/IMG_0004.JPG" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQN1hSm1obMXysRVxv9lnZij8vsNPCpxr3sqvlAEPooilpnaIhyRlUcraA7-RNd_36_RFF0Af_SvcZUsZI5z7WzFcwGimPR4eLXQahSa6-bmaiTueTm3rKBNY1nKDPyaW4oNzHO4D_hY/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQN1hSm1obMXysRVxv9lnZij8vsNPCpxr3sqvlAEPooilpnaIhyRlUcraA7-RNd_36_RFF0Af_SvcZUsZI5z7WzFcwGimPR4eLXQahSa6-bmaiTueTm3rKBNY1nKDPyaW4oNzHO4D_hY/s200/IMG_0007.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><span id="goog_1644993739"></span><span id="goog_1644993740"></span>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-4724380558512026162011-09-19T14:56:00.012-04:002011-09-19T15:06:52.586-04:00Region 9!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; 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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvG4wv8MrE-LRzJ-wuDmUQHujv9LffXh-SDyICzupgRqS_DfCRjvJiF_YzAAq9k8NyOj_gUCfiYvWxJr1O137bmYG39eFtPZK-Wz4gj145aEdqeovRyi1rxDH8zPu4UuypDVswxuRgbM/s1600/MapofGuyana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvG4wv8MrE-LRzJ-wuDmUQHujv9LffXh-SDyICzupgRqS_DfCRjvJiF_YzAAq9k8NyOj_gUCfiYvWxJr1O137bmYG39eFtPZK-Wz4gj145aEdqeovRyi1rxDH8zPu4UuypDVswxuRgbM/s640/MapofGuyana.jpg" width="508px" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Cassie's house</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So, I just spent the 19 amazing days in Wowetta, Annai, North Rupununi, Region 9 (I live in near Rose Hall, Region 6). It is an amazing place. I felt like I was in another country! The reason for my visit was to collaborate with another Volunteer on a week long camp for girls in the village. The first weekend I used to adjust to life in the bush, bond with Cassie's host family and just enjoy the area. As it turned out there was a football game (that's soccer by the way) happening in Surama. Surama is another village in Annai but is quite far away- we had to ride in a trailer pulled by a tractor. We were so cramped that I couldn’t see anything but the people squished around me. Oh yeah...and it was raining, so there was a tarp over all of us. Good times. After about an hour we made it and enjoyed the rest of the day. The football game was fun, but the best part was the food. I had the most delicious bbq chicken ever and homemade corn wine. <br />
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White I was there I also ate corn porage, beans and farine, laba (!), casava bread, homemade bread, instant coffee, hot coco and so so much more! I bathed and washed clothes in a bash (pool of running water from the bush) which was about 1/2 mile from the house. Limed with the 18 members of Cassie's family over the weekend and the first week and planned for the Girls' Gathering. I washed wares (dishes) out of a bucket, went to bed with the sun, got up with the sun, told time by the sun, spend SO much time with the kids, watched an old man weave fans, baskets, matapis and other fancy things. I learned the entire casava process and even drank the local "strong drink" made from casava. I had my hair braided by a local and taught a few horseback riding lessons. I had a roach crawl out of my shorts AFTER I put them on, bats in the thatched roof, HUGE spiders everywhere, fish in the bash, bitrish on my belly and other random bugs. Oh yeah, AND MOSQUITOES!!! I was able to share a bit about American culture and learned SO MUCH about Amerindian culture. <br />
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The second week was amazing. The girls LOVED the gathering that we held. We had tremendous community support and involvement! It was great to see such a small village (600 people) come together for the girls. We did self esteem games, exercises, had speakers from the community and a local counterpart to assist every day. We made nut butter oatmeal cookies on Thursday. Then on Friday we walked an hour out to the BIG bash to swim and fish. We roasted and ate the fish we caught on a fire next to the road. It was great! (I caught and ate 2 tiny fish.)<br />
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So the day I had to leave was pretty sad. I said goodbye to the entire family and arranged transportation and headed off to the airstrip (40 minute ride)...only to be informed that there was no flight that day. OK, well luckily the internet worked so they were able to coordinate a pickup with the airline. So I said goodbye to Cassie and headed to the departure benab. I could hear the plane descending, then coming in to land OH wait NOPE. The pilot didn't touch down. OK, well maybe he overshot it...NOPE. He circled 4 times and never landed. The airline employee (also the Post Office worker) said that the plane would not be coming back that day. I was out of cash to arrange another ride back to Wowetta and Cassie already had a second passenger on her bicycle, so I made the decision to stay the night at the AMAZING resort at Rock View (because I could use my debit card). After a great swim in the pool, a cold refreshing shower, and 32 ounces of COLD water I limed in the hammock for the afternoon. Oh by the way, I still didn't have conformation that I would be on the next day's flight. Eh no sweat, this is Rock View. So The next morning I was informed that I would be on the afternoon flight AND a guide was available to take me on a hike of the mountain. (I had asked about 10 people to go on a hike while I was staying in Wowetta, but no one wanted to go.) YAY So after a morning swim I grabbed some water and set off to hike an awesome mountain. It was A-MA-ZING!!! AND when I got back I was informed that my room was paid for by the airline becuase it was their fault the plane didn't land. OH I never said why...haha there was a DONKEY on the airstrip who slipped through a hole in the fence. HA. <br />
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Luckily the plane landed on Tuesday and I was able to hop aboard (they didn't shut down the engine on the Cessna Caravan). I had to climb behind the pilot. We stopped in Lethem to unload passengers and pick up more. I was offered right seat in the cockpit-HECK YES, THANK YOU. It was great! <br />
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So the next day I made it home to Region 6 and met my new puppy...YES I have a puppy! I will write about her just now. :) In the meantime, here are some pictures from my trip<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the flight in.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tally.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids helped to make bread...they actually started the fire.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sleeping quarters-I slept on the mattress Cassie always sleeps in her hammock.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The airstrip.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Walking" trees</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite flower!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzENMkarmwlcZ8J2mWt2ws-SQizGCk-rY0GLNLOALbpa9eFlZByGvm9weBB7m8ApsS2oysy8PkMZhhGcf6ow_AWQPZIxnozXSKFcFziTSbMmVPDKE-K0keJRd0vuhuz4fM72ENE0B-mQ/s1600/IMG_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzENMkarmwlcZ8J2mWt2ws-SQizGCk-rY0GLNLOALbpa9eFlZByGvm9weBB7m8ApsS2oysy8PkMZhhGcf6ow_AWQPZIxnozXSKFcFziTSbMmVPDKE-K0keJRd0vuhuz4fM72ENE0B-mQ/s400/IMG_0033.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looks brown, but the water is really clean. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmMUrCVqY2DckRsJ9QOhpheLCvWTX2lzlzCJRsS1nVoOSTR7Xy9whGVXjxMpW99WBwsYS6wB8RN3uon8BgTaLZ1izpyeps5NITINxAMkmF9krsnAhLa8XA6rgsfJvCFvu1_vQJsSHrJo/s400/IMG_0004.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400px" /></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The bash where we bathed and did laundry.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmMUrCVqY2DckRsJ9QOhpheLCvWTX2lzlzCJRsS1nVoOSTR7Xy9whGVXjxMpW99WBwsYS6wB8RN3uon8BgTaLZ1izpyeps5NITINxAMkmF9krsnAhLa8XA6rgsfJvCFvu1_vQJsSHrJo/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span id="goog_1779155068"></span><span id="goog_1779155069"></span></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZQvHqPk0pxk24tsA07LJ3oJKQOIVYYQ9qzNDbE_HKrOyTrkF2IE31u5RU3VTN6RzDCcKx4Acgc4lHLsDy0fwSHocE5lKos9i7wrk0Ly-oabSqNMu3NIUoEJHcf9Aw6H42g09VeqGq8w/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZQvHqPk0pxk24tsA07LJ3oJKQOIVYYQ9qzNDbE_HKrOyTrkF2IE31u5RU3VTN6RzDCcKx4Acgc4lHLsDy0fwSHocE5lKos9i7wrk0Ly-oabSqNMu3NIUoEJHcf9Aw6H42g09VeqGq8w/s400/IMG_0008.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Also where I sunbathed :)</div></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEp5vcaGwNI541qgcT3NEeWDexsgehXFNigtFevcrzFJWgB7DY-PylIw79sL8M4qag9Ec1mlPbNYQxUl5BQ2P6NXMy6BXRiiqii4or_tv_9a8AjdCqjUhfvGdKqQ5B6kjpLMusY3aGbD4/s1600/IMG_0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEp5vcaGwNI541qgcT3NEeWDexsgehXFNigtFevcrzFJWgB7DY-PylIw79sL8M4qag9Ec1mlPbNYQxUl5BQ2P6NXMy6BXRiiqii4or_tv_9a8AjdCqjUhfvGdKqQ5B6kjpLMusY3aGbD4/s400/IMG_0062.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scorpion in the water bucket int he kitchen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBZnA3vm8orFY04RU8Sjv-dB1kd2xQ7pR7N-HBiF4yTLsiRC7_QEJ1QGtDoulNX94ml6oLOl20dtlu5Ro7qn0iPmVdnjrPLu9DBnR2bQs9YzZKkj5pAb157fLqbTtLKf_lb47lddt3CA/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBZnA3vm8orFY04RU8Sjv-dB1kd2xQ7pR7N-HBiF4yTLsiRC7_QEJ1QGtDoulNX94ml6oLOl20dtlu5Ro7qn0iPmVdnjrPLu9DBnR2bQs9YzZKkj5pAb157fLqbTtLKf_lb47lddt3CA/s400/IMG_0107.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh ginger picked just for me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBSy37uW9e7G1dRj94Dl542dH4hsktnV7JSy-Qq7aGi-p9uhGm-q6r2IWx8I9uQmfAfsIYdVmrlc79_utHipt8DlEe324VQi2PvuEPuW6EgES_aBaMWdHsB2nAQlOsTSs9_MK8U0T8sc/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBSy37uW9e7G1dRj94Dl542dH4hsktnV7JSy-Qq7aGi-p9uhGm-q6r2IWx8I9uQmfAfsIYdVmrlc79_utHipt8DlEe324VQi2PvuEPuW6EgES_aBaMWdHsB2nAQlOsTSs9_MK8U0T8sc/s400/IMG_0116.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun at the bash.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWX3mv5rI9qFK9SQyho7duiB9iGe9Fj9hU5e4l1e4coMNm8uM1g_gCfpy3xIXFkyxI38DlFRArPupN-Va47YvEQgOvZVga3t5GrDPdBiUD-Q9NDc7lR-g0ejIK2s1D0Jz9ujLQ4dCJJOE/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWX3mv5rI9qFK9SQyho7duiB9iGe9Fj9hU5e4l1e4coMNm8uM1g_gCfpy3xIXFkyxI38DlFRArPupN-Va47YvEQgOvZVga3t5GrDPdBiUD-Q9NDc7lR-g0ejIK2s1D0Jz9ujLQ4dCJJOE/s400/IMG_0127.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting checked for louse by Tally.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrieCB9tdE9ifxAw3hvp7zhaxXJgTshTSSMPT3AVSyW86OoQAFEhi4VhVOhBPWy_XlcgOnb4OOqdJm0MuCAW1TjdnC47_AcAJOIKcouFKX0WJ1loYK12EpDWKLEOvFhyB_S2GRgEM8Ao/s1600/IMG_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrieCB9tdE9ifxAw3hvp7zhaxXJgTshTSSMPT3AVSyW86OoQAFEhi4VhVOhBPWy_XlcgOnb4OOqdJm0MuCAW1TjdnC47_AcAJOIKcouFKX0WJ1loYK12EpDWKLEOvFhyB_S2GRgEM8Ao/s400/IMG_0011.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun at the big bash with the girls.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeS6QbssbHkpKCmztGT15xl1E6EqeT9qYCp3s_cvwLJqcr1CHCeFqtm6nlZ0pGa1s5ImYWpn1VvI6dcsfDf4zp3-g0WGHg4rFEjMXlyiFBBk4hvj9viboaBqGC7vebWyQQS-IIpxFMQs/s1600/IMG_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeS6QbssbHkpKCmztGT15xl1E6EqeT9qYCp3s_cvwLJqcr1CHCeFqtm6nlZ0pGa1s5ImYWpn1VvI6dcsfDf4zp3-g0WGHg4rFEjMXlyiFBBk4hvj9viboaBqGC7vebWyQQS-IIpxFMQs/s400/IMG_0035.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top of the 700' mountain I climbed.<br />
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</tbody></table>More pictures are on my bookface page! :) More to come just now about my puppy and my house!Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-38394082745869882502011-08-03T09:35:00.001-04:002011-08-03T09:35:27.331-04:00Four months at site!Ok, so now that I have been at my site for almost four months (!) you may be wondering what I have been doing. Well, the short answer is A LOT. Here are a few examples....more to follow just now.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zgLkAmWxdZO-ow7Xu5uAJwZA-95TQix6Ut8OHmzrqzUO8xlbEwrduid5zh1VKUcv7ZBaNEY5mtnA8dcKrxB3DEBPhZJ6-cqYezKRKE4ePtd_3kJGZRszy1XvKtaSFyvPi8JWr1qxfcg/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zgLkAmWxdZO-ow7Xu5uAJwZA-95TQix6Ut8OHmzrqzUO8xlbEwrduid5zh1VKUcv7ZBaNEY5mtnA8dcKrxB3DEBPhZJ6-cqYezKRKE4ePtd_3kJGZRszy1XvKtaSFyvPi8JWr1qxfcg/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Cooking on a two burner gas stove.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJePDvk4WMgZMFi1O1OnD5TuAvlhCAko4vCnamSooXx7mMWnWRfWgKLMV8dcjMtKtX9Ys6eQOoZZMJKddJWTrCE0HuWynJdjfVt2vK2CNUbYsf5GBC8h-JUYPAFMsshL3XX0vOHFSsmM/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJePDvk4WMgZMFi1O1OnD5TuAvlhCAko4vCnamSooXx7mMWnWRfWgKLMV8dcjMtKtX9Ys6eQOoZZMJKddJWTrCE0HuWynJdjfVt2vK2CNUbYsf5GBC8h-JUYPAFMsshL3XX0vOHFSsmM/s320/IMG_0001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Buying fresh locally produced fruits and vegetables from the market.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJYqL5P6I6cwShlMfupgjMTZtP8mm0mZLl5TGFgDHpZRpFieHHisTj1eScuV6ou9EnDRozb2BTPkKzAgfxoQOkkCQ0tdsO-dzfxccyBgD7B43uE4IcignnyODktvq55n75g3bC0Jckok/s1600/IMG_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJYqL5P6I6cwShlMfupgjMTZtP8mm0mZLl5TGFgDHpZRpFieHHisTj1eScuV6ou9EnDRozb2BTPkKzAgfxoQOkkCQ0tdsO-dzfxccyBgD7B43uE4IcignnyODktvq55n75g3bC0Jckok/s320/IMG_0131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Buying a new bed and hammock!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfpBJ52fKXPcbWzrj9DFzIJJBKQ_quwCJUxsjE5pOsUbCTlTx2YgNiF1UrEVAvwaIGvo00S1QdveaRfNpdVxGLsMEOUx_0EgugaE-zjZiQaK6Z2y9wc7FgiDTrJQtCpe-1AwW-QZBSrQ/s1600/IMG_0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfpBJ52fKXPcbWzrj9DFzIJJBKQ_quwCJUxsjE5pOsUbCTlTx2YgNiF1UrEVAvwaIGvo00S1QdveaRfNpdVxGLsMEOUx_0EgugaE-zjZiQaK6Z2y9wc7FgiDTrJQtCpe-1AwW-QZBSrQ/s320/IMG_0042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Hanging out with students at 63 Beach on Easter Monday.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaBfUnHBfN88SWrrvoq-bZwFvgQ_Zd1ZUwQRBUF_y9nac50poN9f20aPwpLpCB9nPMBh7vZvWNziOaavIwuuyjt8MgqfcWjhnImzHT_0c2LbkfvErE6U7BhgGB2sSc4e_goEPnkTgw_U/s1600/IMG_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Getting stung by marabuntas! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBIsLER6UPfF0vOpkNeT2kbdwD1E5lObW2qf-5WW6CSqqq0ISCdw0vc3WLE4RXqPguaJSZUs1SmDhgAK9qflQuEfrOCJm_fAwNr9OvHDuybMXLbNgMfIApXUvdgISgrfykoiXwsH-hRY/s1600/IMG_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBIsLER6UPfF0vOpkNeT2kbdwD1E5lObW2qf-5WW6CSqqq0ISCdw0vc3WLE4RXqPguaJSZUs1SmDhgAK9qflQuEfrOCJm_fAwNr9OvHDuybMXLbNgMfIApXUvdgISgrfykoiXwsH-hRY/s200/IMG_0024.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWi6R0vXScR2PFTFGVa8WO5nMECn4JYi23xcy0pTaqFD27NkGw2BpXHit7mcyfQf8BQ3lsX5tE3S6rzlPSjTA3kZ55no9TGnl4kGSMKxSl-PJ5CchLmpQJhrdRtOewaGvplyI8r1UAV6s/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWi6R0vXScR2PFTFGVa8WO5nMECn4JYi23xcy0pTaqFD27NkGw2BpXHit7mcyfQf8BQ3lsX5tE3S6rzlPSjTA3kZ55no9TGnl4kGSMKxSl-PJ5CchLmpQJhrdRtOewaGvplyI8r1UAV6s/s200/IMG_0006.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYHXiWxS-oZB7rjoC7Zzxo0268sL4OfzDjAKJVKJ9T6eaWyi5yefJ9Zd0uH0w3BEP22HJOYeTokr1ECrCMw-8h4iqFT1T6iwBGz3Dku7Yej5XQgu1rv5uXGmlaq00NpMrfTctv7gWW9Y/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYHXiWxS-oZB7rjoC7Zzxo0268sL4OfzDjAKJVKJ9T6eaWyi5yefJ9Zd0uH0w3BEP22HJOYeTokr1ECrCMw-8h4iqFT1T6iwBGz3Dku7Yej5XQgu1rv5uXGmlaq00NpMrfTctv7gWW9Y/s200/IMG_0006.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Getting a shot so my face didn't blow up any worse from marabunta sting.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0Wuygz3PNqL7q7MJBaT_161dZhYGHjrbckxUXA8wB-EmHxP5EP1L-erm_hefg5lGqfYJl0eAeOX3NGR7vKepKhvCZFPeHg-gi1EkY0d5YIkStnr965f9ajTAeDbv9P27Gy45sG1-uDM/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" width="240" />Making pine 'juice'.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cooking during a blackout at Andrea Shaw's house <img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvg05HRbaFJJqdoOeLvw3FlBXnmPN_-u5vEis7N6mij8a_vGm_1aeHlThxUEnP_6zDbfGOGd28Lotq5NqXMHgK-03Q5KhKlAh8gTIR9u_SW1sElEkVBuCuvy5maL2LIH9mANOMNMc2334/s320/IMG_0019.JPG" width="320" /></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRl_SY-EWEK6RmOqAsXpLIb4lwb31gJsjS192YgbFgNX3ZbdHZRWlakcfjkksLFVAiAN9-nH6vdr4vnTZMtVU5LJTWa3w4kMf_V-cbrBnCz2TU5plYsYvuGizabfJcXeOGAdGiVEQLTIw/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" width="240" />Bucket bathing during a blackout.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cleaning and organizing the library!!!!!</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Watching kids enjoy the clean library! </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tb__Y327DNjAScWFzFYS5gq8ULd8C2jz5u2WszUho1465rctg7AN_RRLC-G6F5_hRbOHv3YYrUO8HtjMdJSRJW5l8PHpRy75bHNkhgykK1vWO19t-XS5m6OOpq9m6qdKkOJbnBHZaqs/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tb__Y327DNjAScWFzFYS5gq8ULd8C2jz5u2WszUho1465rctg7AN_RRLC-G6F5_hRbOHv3YYrUO8HtjMdJSRJW5l8PHpRy75bHNkhgykK1vWO19t-XS5m6OOpq9m6qdKkOJbnBHZaqs/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have SO so much more to share. I will do that JUST NOW. Internet is a bit challenging to get access to, so just be patient. :) </div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-72872245548288636562011-06-10T08:27:00.001-04:002011-06-11T06:48:46.534-04:00My site!<div class="" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWYfkrBqlJthnWLS1yRiy05hB0TeIQdGwJVaovaol2bZlbkKCLcHcOyO7FqQYxapUPN6Yw5MA9gBcOZuptQKHnrKDUCDJ1LDxy-HVeYGJxkmBML5-ksq_OC3X_5t_VP450AF3fJIk65Q/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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So, I realize it has been quite sometime since I posted anything. For that I apologize. It hasn't been for lack of something to say, but actually quite the opposite. I will do my best to catch up.<br />
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I have officially been a Volunteer for 8 weeks as of 2 days ago. I have learned so much in the past two months living in my village. I have finally begun to adjust to the slower pace of life in Black Bush. I think that is why I haven't written anything...I kept thinking "just now". <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfclFMCUrIqsR7R4NTIai3sinJr8noOtIwZhglMYbsPa7Ifk-i719mZX1kPzR_KZaAo5CMwCvhiTq3CpfbVFNSEcv6FMJOSGu0zso3S7b4Y3Wo_Q7XxpY7Y2cXXPY8GJR5Lp4-mZf6rHY/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfclFMCUrIqsR7R4NTIai3sinJr8noOtIwZhglMYbsPa7Ifk-i719mZX1kPzR_KZaAo5CMwCvhiTq3CpfbVFNSEcv6FMJOSGu0zso3S7b4Y3Wo_Q7XxpY7Y2cXXPY8GJR5Lp4-mZf6rHY/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>On a typical morning, I wake up before 6 and lie in bed listening to the beautiful music of the hundreds of birds that arrive outside my window every morning (I think they watch the sunrise as they are always facing east). <br />
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The view from my window is beautiful. That's my school! Also, between these two mini-trenches is the future home of Andrea's garden (I will help her with this one and make my own when I move).<br />
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At night I can see stars from my bed. <br />
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To the east we have a huge field where goats and cows sometimes graze. The white fenced area is the community cricket/ sports field. I haven't seen it used yet, but maybe one day someone will cut the weeds. I planned to keep my horse there, but I am still waiting on a decision from PC- they might pay for one! <br />
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I see a lot of random things in my village!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWYfkrBqlJthnWLS1yRiy05hB0TeIQdGwJVaovaol2bZlbkKCLcHcOyO7FqQYxapUPN6Yw5MA9gBcOZuptQKHnrKDUCDJ1LDxy-HVeYGJxkmBML5-ksq_OC3X_5t_VP450AF3fJIk65Q/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWYfkrBqlJthnWLS1yRiy05hB0TeIQdGwJVaovaol2bZlbkKCLcHcOyO7FqQYxapUPN6Yw5MA9gBcOZuptQKHnrKDUCDJ1LDxy-HVeYGJxkmBML5-ksq_OC3X_5t_VP450AF3fJIk65Q/s400/IMG_0002.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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Yes, that is a tractor pulling a house!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZ5tDhGKS_b0SY-6mFd-LZ01JMwJcmm8v9dixs8brWhaY5xsB0scll7u9_UrCR1yDqFS96oPmqunef-n_lnKl3Bh9_m5mmYXbYe7JKGRMfXekoENAFP2zT0D0mhngTvksjSIlPvHVaj4/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZ5tDhGKS_b0SY-6mFd-LZ01JMwJcmm8v9dixs8brWhaY5xsB0scll7u9_UrCR1yDqFS96oPmqunef-n_lnKl3Bh9_m5mmYXbYe7JKGRMfXekoENAFP2zT0D0mhngTvksjSIlPvHVaj4/s400/IMG_0048.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Yes, that is a horse and 3 cows crossing/ standing in the road which is under construction. But notice the poles? We have current! Sometimes...more on that later<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHlPGEXoCa6ZNx-X4j-_-T-HvRjqYBs_4fkI7Zoave-a7XuIeUiuTJzuy0mF8R7Am3h5Esyg-ycAwwcB4mhisn8s7ssrzST9gRUAor9VyCq-rNPm0vZk-w6OqduRrT3XJnzgTlyDIUs4/s1600/IMG_0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHlPGEXoCa6ZNx-X4j-_-T-HvRjqYBs_4fkI7Zoave-a7XuIeUiuTJzuy0mF8R7Am3h5Esyg-ycAwwcB4mhisn8s7ssrzST9gRUAor9VyCq-rNPm0vZk-w6OqduRrT3XJnzgTlyDIUs4/s400/IMG_0091.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
YUP! A tractor stuck in the field. Luckily Singh and I came to the rescue. We pulled them out of there and went on our merry way...for an hour to Singh's rice field.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I was scared that we would get stuck because of all of the mud, but we didn't! :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpT9pYpKhHILAbTpYqQndMrZmD9aUQy9My7PD8RbW8rfQjw4aVpOkfWpSavcyRAun7xk_o9afqC6onNLsYDggJmAZ4hgL3KnTvyOdT8ZrKwWVCD2w6EQ8eTwB9F2Iv0h8DBxLr_xlcV4/s1600/IMG_0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpT9pYpKhHILAbTpYqQndMrZmD9aUQy9My7PD8RbW8rfQjw4aVpOkfWpSavcyRAun7xk_o9afqC6onNLsYDggJmAZ4hgL3KnTvyOdT8ZrKwWVCD2w6EQ8eTwB9F2Iv0h8DBxLr_xlcV4/s640/IMG_0130.JPG" width="640" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you didn't guess by now, Black Bush is a rural farming community. Rice and cash crops are grown here and sold all over the coast. The drive in takes between 20 and 50 minutes depending on who is driving/ what type of vehicle I am in/ how many stops we have to make. Because my community is off of the main road it is much quieter and slower paced than the training site. The only thing I asked for during placement was a quiet site. I GOT IT and I LOVE IT! I can go an entire day without being sipped at- unless the construction people come through, we can tell who is 'from the road' and who is from Black Bush. Everyone says "Good Morning", "Good Day", "Good Afternoon", "Good Evening", "Aright" or nods their head when passing each other. Everyone is so friendly here. Already in two months I have been to a wedding, a jandi, a 9 day celebration for a baby, lunch with some of my students and their mom, and dinner SO many times it is hard to keep track. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will write so much more just now!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are some more pictures of my AMAZING site!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span id="goog_1548736953"></span><span id="goog_1548736954"></span>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-74265964976344116372011-04-29T16:06:00.000-04:002011-04-29T16:06:03.355-04:00Swearing inWow..it has been two weeks since swearing in! I can't believe it. I spend a few days in Georgetown enjoying the company of all of my fellow GUY23 peeps then on Wednesday April 13th we officially swore in as Peace Corps Volunteers! The ceremony was pretty...ceremonial. :) The party afterward was fabulous; it was great to celebrate! The next morning was a bit emotion with everyone saying their goodbyes. We spent 9 weeks seeing each other almost every day at training, then as soon as we became PCVs we were separated. It is exciting to plan travel to other regions to see other sites, but also very exciting to move to to my community.<br />
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I will post all about it just now. I don't have internet at my site, but I found a fabulous restaurant with free WiFi! It is sad to say how long I have spent here today...so I wont. This fabulous place is about a 40 minute ride out of "the bush".<br />
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Here are some pictures of swearing in and my site- ENJOY!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRI3LXotLCYp1ndHJWm0whhjDtpXr794Df8VGW36DFcKOlF3Veon9T3wI3zVJz3ZHkcd_2OXG8v78_3ENYqtkhILTKaSLI3JFNsCtX0XRr2XxZFxUHm7wsYUzzqeSMCzkRIrrkYlpYG3w/s1600/IMG_0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRI3LXotLCYp1ndHJWm0whhjDtpXr794Df8VGW36DFcKOlF3Veon9T3wI3zVJz3ZHkcd_2OXG8v78_3ENYqtkhILTKaSLI3JFNsCtX0XRr2XxZFxUHm7wsYUzzqeSMCzkRIrrkYlpYG3w/s640/IMG_0118.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-46317540676435829422011-04-01T12:11:00.000-04:002011-04-01T12:11:45.523-04:007 Weeks already!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">I have learned so much about my new home, Guyana, in just 7 short weeks. I am writing this during a blackout. In America when the power goes out, it is a big deal-here it is almost a daily occurrence. It is one of the many things that have now become familiar. Seeing cows, goats, dogs, cats, horses, and chicken wandering the streets is normal; smelling burning garbage on a daily basis- also normal. I am getting accustomed to the weather and understanding more and more of the language every day</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706175" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbFgEIDFLpt0zX0Nps2fr6w7D4y3cHcCt8RMa_OXL1Py4Vs9B3hdveli_1hqFcZv7piQw8JP2Duvog2K-2i8XCnPUh2JvFxe4FjySXLcEyPYH5yly7s_xLWc7_NcoOHwfN-jkoziNq98/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> Horses chillin in the shade </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706175"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706175" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGn8DWDS5_qcSCicu_pVTqdGT0T-u-7WQsbMhioeoCQe7l555hWYvqaAc8JSVd2haodAHKwDj9aFsk3IeXP-QKzAfRB7f4EtP3EnHotanc4lT4xtdNxkkSJULLOOK1Ks4sajQPSYnS_Yk/s320/IMG00324.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> A cow hanging out by the school…</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br />
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</a></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">More horses by the road</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">The ocean is brown and cold. This beach is called Bushy Park; my host mom Sally had never been there even though it is only about 30 minutes from our house.</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706175" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCYmwJbo8n6mxsCkQaHBQw0YDXjuosCyZ582yc4q1YZXqKQ6lganFIIDLeV9-xZlczkou8f8DumNjcdb6mejhZhGiNeDQxBWlGp0i3jJ29ce9OorB1qD6IdTywJ7n9YZhIs_DHhOgpOk/s400/IMG_0046.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706292"><br />
</a>Another shot of me and my host mom Sally and another place she had never been: the Parika back dam. The plan was to swim in the black water, but the conservancy dam was open. <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The land is fertile and the weather is perfect for growing things. Here is a cabbage patch and a plantain tree. I cannot wait to start my own garden!<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGzsBl4069QmO8da4wKFGqTeYVWdaZZqkBtTsVZQbjDK1NL5GRtoScRQtElrnk6MZjGJclCj9p67IOdccCDYyBA1lFaBI5jvq2OKTdJ8ff00183pEVUvh2GnmkPvzGlof4TXtg-QSNOY/s640/IMG_0031.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706175"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh Guyanese mud. Last week we had the amazing opportunity to visit our permanent sites for a few days. This is Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder- MY SITE!! SO much mud… There is a paved (sort of) road for cars, motorcycles, horses, bicycles and people and then there is this muddy path for tractors and people. I didn’t have any long boots ( that’s what rubber boots are called here) so I trecked through barefoot. The day before this stroll I had a dirtier adventure through wetter stuff which was about 6 inches deep. I really appreciated my bucket bath that day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706175"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKG9W13ol0anjA4ox9zEB2tEUzUoyB_ey9SeYBSjazF5rqqwRWnBPKR4X248eSlXLPLnamymjS5JnJu0gm-doR7djNzTtjx-ybGG5nIZtkBIHmI1to1dexcIZoXlJUeUPxar0o2cDHgG0/s400/DSCN1161.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706175" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutVrqb_ToX9g9b9I4uO-ySZIiIDYwLeLvGSjoyQqswvt8hhCwOdbvvTEGHYUZa4XRicxgBujrFio-1XQlsW5V4worVtOsSysIDlYlcKUdxpEdCS1q2q6wqfjwETHN4hbb2WILICxKlEE/s320/DSCN1168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706175" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNE0fHS6gofyaTnSQW-HpQyWxdHvTrziDNG6LQDlNxU0rGXrbqMSuTgd_zZ2zYGnev65_dK8lGJDKXN6oHVQoDuXRRHVehXaugNhwzoWu5d9eDB_zK7g07cAQ2nBuzGpQxlTXxMc0xrmw/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Oh, Phagwah. Glitter, powder, paint, water: smeared, thrown, dabbed and dumped all over everyone- what fun! I had two days of fun. The first day I was not prepared! Just walking through the market (my first day in Black Bush) I was shot in the side with paint by a kid with a very powerful squirt gun. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706281"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">Hindu half wedding. So I didn’t get a full answer of what exactly a half wedding is, but I do know that it is a three day ceremony of great importance. People dress up, tons of food is made and eaten, and <b><u>loud</u></b> music is danced to throughout all hours of the night. The best part about weddings? 7 CURRY! It is 7 different types of curry eaten out of a Pori leaf. I am not accustomed to eating with my hands, but it is mandatory with 7 curry. The hardest part is getting the dholl to scoop up with the rice. </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706328"><br />
</a></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">This was actually my second helping. I ate a huge portion at the weeding then had my host mom go back to get more for me…It was THAT good!</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">So we had a cooking ‘test’. Peace Corps wants to make sure we won’t starve for the next two years- apparently being able to cook one meal is sufficient. Anyway, I made dholl, swell roti, fried fish and fried plantains. It was actually really good. It is one of my favorite meals here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706175" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixf4gpyWo2x3tvbzZzpLuJPXIexTC0LXWSZ06kfX1EMBrFDklhXwxfQLQrBC9k1zKZrJhTllHqJDFn5Or0TqhawVihguZR6GHljFrai3mAy10AEJR5ryn7jZZwwfVjVwHzCucSZcAZfzE/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br />
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</a></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">Step 1 – Rinse the dholl (split peas)</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br />
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</a></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">Step 2- Put dholl (and tons of Guyanese spices) into pressure pot. After about 30 minutes of listening to the pressure pot whistle, procedure to step 3.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKx2N89kXJldpLuUjuZdWae9jROGYY6liuvUpmBmwltdIS8m-ezXta18D4f5xmm_wBy9x_QXmRF_9ep0VUAY8YCXsO8wPZpv-LI02AmDfjjmBzztzJRLNMCbkI8Qa6nf08nR7rVKiLvv0/s1600/IMG_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKx2N89kXJldpLuUjuZdWae9jROGYY6liuvUpmBmwltdIS8m-ezXta18D4f5xmm_wBy9x_QXmRF_9ep0VUAY8YCXsO8wPZpv-LI02AmDfjjmBzztzJRLNMCbkI8Qa6nf08nR7rVKiLvv0/s320/IMG_0035.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706175"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">Step 3- Swizzle the dholl until no longer chunky</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUuo50SzUUlRCYjYKThE9tK6U8-kBSDmen7IaqZ86gxIxas9F5VjrspBeTLPdGpgOTGtkETZPKppEUfw7KwAtSeWmqLXHYf3EhAjIZTVQxw9_ng6vTKPoiobemYvDxio1CJUiS7iSAHlc/s1600/IMG_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUuo50SzUUlRCYjYKThE9tK6U8-kBSDmen7IaqZ86gxIxas9F5VjrspBeTLPdGpgOTGtkETZPKppEUfw7KwAtSeWmqLXHYf3EhAjIZTVQxw9_ng6vTKPoiobemYvDxio1CJUiS7iSAHlc/s400/IMG_0011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Roti balls<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLtrhl9dVgk5YKHbzCi2cH43Cu5YQLdHBgEk_VKAQ0PhrY7EwVcQmz-_sdA_iYb4BmNriO09QhEzlbe5ALiLLlDC1HsxGRgAwxBuk-PPUNr2_fjnwzHIOAaJHc7PeYgG96c0LDt9OKwg/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLtrhl9dVgk5YKHbzCi2cH43Cu5YQLdHBgEk_VKAQ0PhrY7EwVcQmz-_sdA_iYb4BmNriO09QhEzlbe5ALiLLlDC1HsxGRgAwxBuk-PPUNr2_fjnwzHIOAaJHc7PeYgG96c0LDt9OKwg/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706175"><br />
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</a></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">Roti on tawa</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br />
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</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last step- ENJOY! These two gentlemen where the judges- I PASSED! <img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4s1m0lNmyP4BqD_IuCE28lsSyiTquaaImJbuecdVAmH7A8nbRqtvGt4LvZWce3ZJZQsTrr4yFZeMTmw2fEg59mkrsEOrd1B59eMQcJu036jZ9wLmWH7a2j5D76uMoZWAwENGV-omT24/s320/IMG_0043.JPG" width="320" /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706175"><br />
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</a></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">While I am talking about food- here is a typical breakfast: clap aka oil roti, and pumpkin curry with a hunk of beef. I much prefer an apple with peanut butter or the oh so fantastic bowl of cereal and soymilk!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQLg_4ktScWseiLLONG2sdpIuz5yLNOa9tqD40DCt9g5Pz4IEYnhlZ1_48hfOe-ZRq0FkGkiJ_CEmzsaab6Gzj_8rRTbW56C-zhgaKeJT-rtiVLbwapCU2aDs17i3NhNDUZkS9bJlEF4/s1600/IMG_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQLg_4ktScWseiLLONG2sdpIuz5yLNOa9tqD40DCt9g5Pz4IEYnhlZ1_48hfOe-ZRq0FkGkiJ_CEmzsaab6Gzj_8rRTbW56C-zhgaKeJT-rtiVLbwapCU2aDs17i3NhNDUZkS9bJlEF4/s320/IMG_0020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706175"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">My ABSOLUTE favorite product here is Guava Pineapple Fruta. It is amazing. A-MA-Zing! It is made in Trinidad & Tobago, so it is a bit pricey, but SO worth it. Oh yeah…it is actually only 20% juice, but I think that is why it tastes so good. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9d1XIFXqDLWjm5kGyXQs2hU-QHv5fjlgGNYHmrMTGrIliI4nAAjOcgsmAeAKhtBvKtcphlKJPYnMdorIwuPEk6Jf1DyChQDqSgvbtG0H0APFIu_xxyYYDs3dT9c4sVH8TOi4mhY0oLk/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9d1XIFXqDLWjm5kGyXQs2hU-QHv5fjlgGNYHmrMTGrIliI4nAAjOcgsmAeAKhtBvKtcphlKJPYnMdorIwuPEk6Jf1DyChQDqSgvbtG0H0APFIu_xxyYYDs3dT9c4sVH8TOi4mhY0oLk/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_943706175"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> I will write so much more later. It took forever to upload these pictures, so I am going to post this while I can. </div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">If you would like me to write you, please write me first- I don't have addresses!</div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-87299348721182550652011-02-27T16:43:00.000-05:002011-02-27T16:43:56.209-05:00Staging and Training Weeks 1 & 2<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">Sunday February 13<sup>th</sup>- February 14<sup>th</sup>: Staging. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I met three other trainees on the shuttle to the hotel. I was exhausted from the traveling that day, but so excited to meet everyone. We all registered and officially became Peace Corps property. <span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span>J</span></span> The next day we did some skits, learned a few things and packed our bags for the airport. The bus ride to JFK was long, but comfortable. We commented on how we would miss plush American transportation. Wow how SO right we were. (I will explain our current mode of transportation later.) </div><div class="MsoNormal">Once we got there we all trudged up the long uphill path to the Delta International counter. Most of us had two suitcases and a backpack or other bag. We must have been a sight: 37 Americans with 2 years of belongings in tow! Oh yeah, and it was cold… Aaahhhhhh cold, how I miss you already.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaVeXlS_XF5G1lL166RiSG4BguaJPL1zB1l2mcLpyw0lq5C8pVmHwaosCNvcfPTlUdMbMIpK39m30T4_z165SqB0PttJQcjQVGY529_484IRm3EK1C1Nm7dcU2uTTsqAOeYkr-e08sJY/s1600/at+airport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaVeXlS_XF5G1lL166RiSG4BguaJPL1zB1l2mcLpyw0lq5C8pVmHwaosCNvcfPTlUdMbMIpK39m30T4_z165SqB0PttJQcjQVGY529_484IRm3EK1C1Nm7dcU2uTTsqAOeYkr-e08sJY/s320/at+airport.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Security was surprisingly easy. We arrived at the airport around 9pm and our flight was not scheduled to leave until 1am. Cool, so we had plenty of time to hang out, grab a super expensive bite, hang out some more, and wait. Well our flight was delayed by about 40 minutes. By this time I was pretty sleepy. I thought this would work to my advantage- sleep on the plane right? HA, good one. Luckily fellow PCT Alicia switched seats with me so I could have the window. Our 6 hour flight was soooooooo long. It wasn’t until about 2 hours out that I realized they had current television shows available. I watched 30 Rock, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I filled out the insanely ambiguous immigration form after consulting with my buddies. Our first glimpse of Guyana was that of a beautiful sunrise than the lush greenery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRYa3wg2aFobOjLBhe4bSlMlwg2UAxqhWSqP9lhndMLOa7QxyOkGaNLb6NKFldQZk12dQOc4xfAnnaR_q30UY5vRy2mzi3AVa79zPhTYRjDD47nGAoCcCamdpDS4ORVQEieZt4C-ypv0/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRYa3wg2aFobOjLBhe4bSlMlwg2UAxqhWSqP9lhndMLOa7QxyOkGaNLb6NKFldQZk12dQOc4xfAnnaR_q30UY5vRy2mzi3AVa79zPhTYRjDD47nGAoCcCamdpDS4ORVQEieZt4C-ypv0/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday February 15<sup>th</sup>- Thursday February 17<sup>th</sup> –Training Week 1.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>When I stepped off of the aircraft onto the stairs, I felt the heat and humidity. It was 8am and already super hot. After standing in the immigration line, for what felt like forever, I finally located my luggage and was sent over to customs. This was the part I was dreading. I envisioned having to open my meticulously packed bags, show the contents to a customs official then try to shove everything back in with a huge line of people waiting behind me. Thankfully none of this happened. I rolled my bags up to the podium, the nice lady checked my passport and that was it! I was greeted outside by numerous current PCVs. I was then escorted across the parking lot to more PCVs with ice cold coconuts with straws. MMMMmmm nothing like fresh cold coconut water! I was given a tag for my bags which designated the training group I would be in. Urban! <span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span>J</span></span> I would have been happy with Remote too, but electricity and running water is oh SO nice. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I said goodbye to my bags yet again. PC took them to my host family’s house that day while we were whisked off to a hotel in Georgetown. The ride took a little less than an hour and thank goodness for Tony, a current PCV. He was so informative! Once at the hotel, we all had to meet for our first training session. Honestly I cannot remember anything from that day; we were all SO tired. I do remember being fed rice and chicken after being given a painful Yellow Fever shot. My first night in Guyana was surprisingly restful- I woke up early the next morning for yoga and was eager to start learning! We had so many sessions that first week and were on lockdown in the hotel. We did get out Tuesday to a ‘water park’ of sorts. We all took a swim test in black water- yummy yummy black water. NOT. The kayak portion of the test was fun. I raced Laura O. and nearly beat her…even though she had about a two minute head start. The rest of the week was filled with rice, chicken, fish, juice and training sessions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6iJ7yI1p0OVAImjH4d0I-vNZpgNYcDrvsKy2-pux5pQ9S8ohS15JIiHNyHa6bxdxRCc9_E3-1QdNzN53KTojpmE7_IHUR1naO1tuuUSEKC7brVobvwpmNn03b5LCSGHmBbSUgls4Yzk/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6iJ7yI1p0OVAImjH4d0I-vNZpgNYcDrvsKy2-pux5pQ9S8ohS15JIiHNyHa6bxdxRCc9_E3-1QdNzN53KTojpmE7_IHUR1naO1tuuUSEKC7brVobvwpmNn03b5LCSGHmBbSUgls4Yzk/s320/IMG_0019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday February 18<sup>th</sup>: Meet Host Family Day.</div><div class="MsoNormal">We were driven to our training site where at least one member of nearly each host family was waiting for us. I walked around the group and introduced myself to everyone. As I was nearing the end I kept thinking “Are you my mother?” (just like your book Kate). But when I got to the last one I was pretty disappointed- no one claimed me. Other trainees were claimed, but then most of us were not. So then the families were given different fruits (mostly strange Guyanese fruits which we had never hear of). I was given a slip of paper with “Star Apple” written on it. Hhhmmmm ok star apple- any hints please? I walked around until my host mom Sally smiled and I was told she was my host mom. She is so lovely! The first few minutes were a bit awkward, but then we caught a minibus together and I felt more comfortable. We got off at our stop and had to wait a long time to cross the busy street. WOW people drive fast here! </div><div class="MsoNormal">Sally walked me to our house and led me in. I met my Host dad and brother. They were so nice and welcoming. My room is so nice- I have a new mattress, a great mosquito net and a beautiful new wardrobe. I didn’t want to unpack anything that night because I was so tired. We watched a movie then I went to bed. </div><div class="MsoNormal">The next morning I was up at 5am. So, here in my neck of the woods in Guyana there are about 30 roosters roaming around. Some are enclosed in the neighbor’s yard, but a lot of them wander around the streets. Yeah, they start making noise at 4am! Every morning like clockwork- 4 am. Why they begin crowing before the sun comes up? I have NO idea. They actually do not stop until about 6pm. Want to sleep in? Too bad!</div><div class="MsoNormal">Saturday February 19<sup>th</sup>: Market day.</div><div class="MsoNormal">It rained for about 4 days straight. This is the hot season isn’t it? Climate change rears its ugly head even near the equator….So the market was muddy and gross. Sally led me through pretty quickly. I saw so many crazy things: meat being chopped up, cows everywhere, chocolate soy milk, odd fruits and veggies, kids being excellent salesmen and so many other things. We spent two hours there which was apparently a short trip. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I found out that a fellow trainee Carissa lives in my neighborhood. She came over for lunch then I went to her house for a bit. Her family includes a bunch of cute little kids and 7 puppies. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGXE_Ux6zOgiKRMrBtQxXn5kpfsApTvPsp7BmhP78P31gULudTYWKOpMrog5lDZBSaWHp9tjWcyzHhkPXK_c9OiXNhDlI6GFQx9qQkeX20CWXQzwjIKM8oGmvGkZ1RB1Mu2k41nseSX4/s1600/IMG_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGXE_Ux6zOgiKRMrBtQxXn5kpfsApTvPsp7BmhP78P31gULudTYWKOpMrog5lDZBSaWHp9tjWcyzHhkPXK_c9OiXNhDlI6GFQx9qQkeX20CWXQzwjIKM8oGmvGkZ1RB1Mu2k41nseSX4/s320/IMG_0020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sunday February 20<sup>th</sup> – Saturday February 26<sup>th</sup>: Training Week 2</div><div class="MsoNormal">Language- I haven’t mentioned it. Oh my, Creolese is hard to describe. I will work on explaining that later when I can understand more of it. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Laundry- by hand. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be- maybe that is because my host mom Sally did a lot of it. As it was hanging to dry Carissa, my host brother Arif and I went for a walk to the sea wall. I didn’t realize how close we were to the ocean- maybe 100 yards. Awesome right? Well, it would be if there were sand and the water was blue. <span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span>J</span></span> As you can see there is a cement wall and because of the tides, no sand- oh yeah, and the water is brown. (The color is due to all of the plant matter which falls into the many rivers and streams which flow to the ocean.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-DYhqBhvZdYmi8Hb7IHKRep25M4JMauN3LCxeXSZ-AOfBRMjQK_cu7R8rho3kpShwsEZgkIvr11BgCzwM37ufogjIpWtQHZVFPXbSFwi2dhVst4kf4e5LL65bcI3Szcvj83camiOPkk/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-DYhqBhvZdYmi8Hb7IHKRep25M4JMauN3LCxeXSZ-AOfBRMjQK_cu7R8rho3kpShwsEZgkIvr11BgCzwM37ufogjIpWtQHZVFPXbSFwi2dhVst4kf4e5LL65bcI3Szcvj83camiOPkk/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Bucket bath- YUP! I cannot believe how much water I used to use just to clean my body and hair. By using a bucket I only use about 2 gallons or less for the entire process. It is freezing cold water; I guess that also helps cut down the amount I use… </div><div class="MsoNormal">Food- So different. My host mom makes one big meal in the morning and that is what we eat for breakfast and lunch. They don’t really eat dinner, so it isn’t a big deal to only cook once a day. The breakfast food takes a bit of getting used to as it usually contains rice, roti, vegetables and some sort of meat or fish. We have curry a lot. Not the curry you may be thinking of- pretty much anything can be called curry, cook up or stew. There are also different names for common vegetables. More on that later.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Karate- Carissa and I take Karate classes on Tuesdays and Fridays. The kids are learning respect and getting a workout. What a shock it was to work out here. The heat intensifies every physical activity, so it felt like a Bikram class! Even at 8:00 at night, it is HOT. </div><div class="MsoNormal">School- I visited the school in my community during lunch on Thursday. I encountered great culture shock. I won’t go into it now, but I will say that the grade 2 kids (which I will be teaching during training) have a BLAST during their 1.5 hour lunch break.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Carissa’s birthday party was super fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkM9GOHvoT-AF5EwAoSPB7hf6bGypVIgurGP78hw01pdZPKP3FN1BzvnToJwOp4oUlfs4Fz2mdpVk3jYt5MERtYMzU6JIMEy-lNDUJvT_9zFjC1raxejGelS8M-9HcKU41x8kwNx2bN3o/s1600/IMG00318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkM9GOHvoT-AF5EwAoSPB7hf6bGypVIgurGP78hw01pdZPKP3FN1BzvnToJwOp4oUlfs4Fz2mdpVk3jYt5MERtYMzU6JIMEy-lNDUJvT_9zFjC1raxejGelS8M-9HcKU41x8kwNx2bN3o/s320/IMG00318.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am looking forward to Training Week 3!</div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-21647042145114062292011-02-11T20:17:00.001-05:002011-02-11T21:05:49.607-05:00Space and Time<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">This is the last weekday I will spend at home. WOW. The last one. I woke up early this morning thinking about that. After months and months of waiting for the day I will leave to start my Peace Corps service, it is finally <i>almost</i> here. Sunday I will fly to Philadelphia for staging and then Monday night we leave for the airport. South America here we come!<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">As a PC Trainee (and soon a Volunteer), I am expected to do certain things. There are 10 Core Expectations for Peace Corps Volunteers. The main one that I have been focusing on is this: Prepare your personal and professional life to make a commitment to serve abroad for a full term of 27 months. Before clicking the APPLY button, I made a commitment. I have been focusing on this goal since December 2009. After my interview, nomination, medical stuff, placement, and another interview I am <b>ready</b> to get to it. It feels like I have been preparing forever. Some people say that one can over prepare, but I do not subscribe to that thought; I think the opposite is true. Because I have been ‘packing’ since January, I know what exactly I want to take, what I can wait for and what I can live without. Before leaving Florida I reduced my belongings by a solid 50%. Then I went through my stuff again…bye bye 10%. Now when I look at the things I actually have, I am amazed by how much there still is. I am also surprised by how much ‘stuff’ I think I need to take with me to Guyana. I had an issue with clothes in the beginning, but then a mood hit me and I decided to eliminate non-essential items. (I put a few more things back in after confirming with PC that we can take up to 100 pounds.) Then yesterday I had a mini-meltdown. I unpacked and repacked my luggage, removing nonessential items (6 to be exact). OK, great I got everything back in, but now does each bag weigh less than 50 pounds? <u>NOPE!</u> GGGGRRRRRrrrr time to rearrange. Rearranging complete, weight again- NOPE! 6 pounds over in one bag, 13 pounds under on the other. I felt like the scale was laughing at me. I spent <b>3</b> hours total working on the puzzle that is packing my life away into two suitcases. What about my carry-on bag you say? HA! It can only be 45 linear inches total. My backpack can be filled to about 60 inches, so that is an entire other story.Yeah, 100 pounds. Can you imagine shoving your life into two suitcases and a backpack? Given that Guyana has everything I would <i>need</i> to survive, I feel a bit gluttonous bringing so much with me. Then I think again…the things that I surround myself with right now are important to me. In time those things may lose value, but at this time I have a desire for them. The other factor in packing besides weight is space. I was given certain dimensional parameters that I am required to adhere to. Whatever I can fit in that space is what I can take. I also shipped myself a ‘care package’. It is so strange to put this extra stuff in a box and pay to have it shipped to me in Guyana before I even get there. I had an issue with the customs form...I had to list everything that was in the box. Well, I forgot everything I put in there. I hope in 2- 4 weeks when I am reunited with said package I will still want the items it contains. I am also hoping that it contains all of the items I put in it!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSzpYutKpwyk1yU5lmErJ1DBmX37iTbZaZM0qA4YoifsrgOMiVVc71e6QOKN18ge8R6JdZpV8gDo9AbbElue8Yl0kmM_xMFbWRldQ17Kq5cR9nWpHZcFyNOd6idSvlUb4A8rbZewque8/s1600/Luggage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSzpYutKpwyk1yU5lmErJ1DBmX37iTbZaZM0qA4YoifsrgOMiVVc71e6QOKN18ge8R6JdZpV8gDo9AbbElue8Yl0kmM_xMFbWRldQ17Kq5cR9nWpHZcFyNOd6idSvlUb4A8rbZewque8/s200/Luggage.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>As much as packing is difficult and frustrating, I’m sure it is NOTHING compared to what I will soon encounter. I can only deal with what is in front of me, so I have been focusing on wrapping up my life. I cannot wait to get rid of my car. Bye Bye crappy car! You have served me well for 8 years, now GEEEEeeeeeT OUT. (Oh yeah Alicia, it’s still funny!) Other than packing things away and completing all of the other tasks moving to another country requires, I have been doing the things I love. These past 6 weeks have been amazing… OK, the past 6 months actually. <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span> It feels like I have been counting down and getting in all the fun before this thing happens. Eating great food I enjoy, being around the people I love, doing the things I want to do, etc. Why didn’t I live like this before? (Maybe not having a job for the past few months is a major reason- I had the time.) But really, why is it that when I have a countdown to a time when I won’t be here anymore it seems more important to spend the time any differently? Now that I know the feeling I will make an effort to live the same way in the future-to not put things off, do the things I love, spend time with people, and enjoy each day.<br />
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</div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-24073843191962880762010-11-05T12:40:00.000-04:002010-11-05T12:40:44.893-04:00More vacation photosI had a blast with my sister Ariel!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkuzBhdfKm5y9uc_7Nu8EGImjyiDtA2sY9InsBz3if2KpX5vUhFI3dm8l0r5jljrr18W56y3t5tf2xf8-eS-OHpQRmr6TWEHU0AcJmuBPnd6u3SYJADFEWBwmeiVn6NtjTRE4SoJikMM/s1600/IMG_6352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkuzBhdfKm5y9uc_7Nu8EGImjyiDtA2sY9InsBz3if2KpX5vUhFI3dm8l0r5jljrr18W56y3t5tf2xf8-eS-OHpQRmr6TWEHU0AcJmuBPnd6u3SYJADFEWBwmeiVn6NtjTRE4SoJikMM/s320/IMG_6352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-36662957262476652822010-11-02T10:31:00.001-04:002010-11-03T17:02:19.504-04:00Vacation Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Costa Maya, Mexico</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Costa Maya, Mexico</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6oJJeFrHSoNi3vAPgoghV6FLRazt1aLNP58JSxWVw_ugEyZBuM1CQ47wYuY64MxeHNLfIw7f1fVkUZVgiDjMlWjG4wRT4YUpWe5h4o-O9y93ttV9QmKW_wtypIWcSbrF8zq6WyRS4mg/s1600/IMG_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6oJJeFrHSoNi3vAPgoghV6FLRazt1aLNP58JSxWVw_ugEyZBuM1CQ47wYuY64MxeHNLfIw7f1fVkUZVgiDjMlWjG4wRT4YUpWe5h4o-O9y93ttV9QmKW_wtypIWcSbrF8zq6WyRS4mg/s320/IMG_0094.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cozumel, Mexico</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isla Roatan, Honduras</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isla Roatan, Honduras </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honduran rain</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gulf of Mexico</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isla Roatan, Honduras</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhqhfJkdjvOcCL0rGKXC7KjMpnwXlY_taxIruWhZbVLCpwTXPn2VBfD96Uq8eKDTvwkWmQ15FM_YUAXJQT4ODyj_gguJyrlDc2t-k5lMLNMnDnJowxgw6WJP3PvozhC9YPTL_L25WCCA/s320/IMG_0004+%283%29.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neat painting</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhqhfJkdjvOcCL0rGKXC7KjMpnwXlY_taxIruWhZbVLCpwTXPn2VBfD96Uq8eKDTvwkWmQ15FM_YUAXJQT4ODyj_gguJyrlDc2t-k5lMLNMnDnJowxgw6WJP3PvozhC9YPTL_L25WCCA/s1600/IMG_0004+%283%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkz235wfCnDFO5oCtVhtRxEUCIe8CK7s_rAFljTDhWeLpoMoyy1LX_CaNWAqjzSWYwB9UisDy76QA7ZFS9i0yrOeh9oYH-cpZGU5CkHMwjdZJfIecMa-WQK1v-k6C67llU8svFqutR1zE/s1600/IMG_6441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXdHP4yEJ3yxMU97w492e01Fby2oe6pKXuLECp58ak_VXYImFr82SuyfZYSygWVrGXPNVQmJVxkyPrWHPiKVhWjsvo591eBs5LENmVvmKZ6E94KlZdVpDII-KL05wC7iTWbarYWLHLQQ/s320/IMG_0049.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Cave tubing in Belize</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOLpOINk7VdV_EveqQoZwIMnpzhg9kow-gv2Jr8ua18R_yrmDm24sXYWCdic4j5WXaBwXkYamrfGhdB56vAopFhbXViwFpof-qLf6FzCVKvg868Jj7zQjram5oYSFTHDd-Doof-2zJZ0/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOLpOINk7VdV_EveqQoZwIMnpzhg9kow-gv2Jr8ua18R_yrmDm24sXYWCdic4j5WXaBwXkYamrfGhdB56vAopFhbXViwFpof-qLf6FzCVKvg868Jj7zQjram5oYSFTHDd-Doof-2zJZ0/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" width="320" /></a> <img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjge1MNCfJNQ4E_vlaT9RCuPOIhTkw2Tc7rxUx4UX4zgikfRssf1bQg6cxwaDxF5hmWPAh_znRoVWGdP_uZslgWxsr3VhdedbP73XR1g3GVwGNyUc0L2u_1jVAlUhl2C89ELWMXjDPdWqc/s320/IMG_0072.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zip lining in Belize</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-4991705875033973932010-10-29T10:43:00.000-04:002010-10-29T10:43:14.351-04:00Dear Reader,<span style="font-size: large;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As the format of my life is changing, so too will the content of the postings on this lovely webpage you have stumbled upon on your computer or other internet capable device. Before today, I have been mostly speaking to PC applicants who look to the blogs on peacecorpsjournals.com for support and inspiration (like I did for many months). I will now turn to a more personal and descriptive prose chronicling my journey through Guyana as a Volunteer in the United States Peace Corps. Thank you for paying your taxes so that I may serve in South America for 26 months! I will update you with stories of my travels, things I learn, reflections and other fun stuff (like pictures). I just wanted to make a bit of a statement regarding the change in direction. So, if you are interested in going on a fun adventure vicariously through me while learning all about Guyana and the rich culture of the people, the internet will allow you to do just that. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know I haven’t even left yet, but I will start today with a reminder that all PCVs love mail. I know typing is way easier than writing something down on paper, putting it in an envelope (or a package with goodies) and taking in to the post office, but for some PCVs a trip to get mail is an all day affair, so… it is kind of a big deal. Mail is awesome! And internet access may not be readily available. :) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8mcfHN2GEpfXCatBLCC_rAHPDUN0QPgfFNz8UMvo1sR1QGnksOcbkretfJDjgOpeks5P9x8LJzOkWm17ntyo79536DfKzWqfkaYIJ3CnjWjGCGJykSljgrDL3anKPpJJp6ePnXvqIjY/s1600/theshallows_custom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8mcfHN2GEpfXCatBLCC_rAHPDUN0QPgfFNz8UMvo1sR1QGnksOcbkretfJDjgOpeks5P9x8LJzOkWm17ntyo79536DfKzWqfkaYIJ3CnjWjGCGJykSljgrDL3anKPpJJp6ePnXvqIjY/s200/theshallows_custom.jpg" width="132" /></a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am currently reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shallows-What-Internet-Doing-Brains/dp/0393072223"><i>The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains</i> by Nicholas Carr</a>. It is fascinating. If you are at all curious as to what the internet is doing to our brains and what that means for the future of neuroscience or human evolution, pick it up and read it. Reading has become a problem in America- people don’t do it the way they used to. Just a warning to those of you who are interesting in reading the things I have to say, there will be many words that you will be required to read in succession. For some of us, that simple task has become difficult (thank you Internet). I will write a synopsis of it soon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My current status: I am in the beginning stages of overcoming a mild case of R.A.S. Some PC applicants suffer more than others; it is the first syndrome that almost every hopeful future PCV gets in the first 6 months after applying. What is this crazy illness I speak of? Restless Applicant Syndrome –I have a unique tale to tell about my journey with this strange affliction. Just to reiterate, my case was very mild. I believe I was able to use the natural self healing properties that all humans have to decrease the severity of my symptoms. I was hopeful, patient, and drum roll please…..flexible. I know I have said it before, but get used to it because it is the PC mantra: “Patience and Flexibility”. My Buddhist practice has awarded me with an abundance of those fabulous qualities, so I was able to handle my R.A.S. very well. It all started in December 2009, I asked myself: “Self, after you graduate what you like to do?” I answered myself: “Peace Corps!” Isn’t it funny how we can think of ourselves? I am so fascinated by the brain -it is the only organ that can learn about itself. As many of you know, I really like being single; I especially love the mobility and ease of decision making. For PC, not only did I have to be mobile, I also had to be willing and able to put my personal and professional life on hold for 26 months. So, after I decided I could do that, I dove head first into the application process. MMMMuuuaaahhh hhhaaaaa hhhhhhaaaa. I though the waters were warm, oh what I didn’t know. The Peace Corps application process is a marathon job interview. Your competitors are all over the US and some are in the same position you are- just graduating and wanting to give back by volunteering for two years. Ok, so I decided to join PC great, now what? Now you make yourself as competitive as possible and then wait. I completed about 200 volunteer hours just to qualify for service...They wanted 30 over 3 months HA! Oh, I also graduated with honors and I worked at a 4H camp all summer as a Senior Counselor. So while I was working my way through the maze of the application process, I did stuff that I should have been doing anyway. I am currently spending time with family, reconnecting with friends, reflecting on things I have learned and generally enjoying my life. I know that the healing method I chose for dealing with my R.A.S. is not appropriate for everyone. Side effects have included but are not limited to: learning to live a more fulfilling life with less, increased appreciation for people and things, increased enjoyment of life, increased awareness and perception, and excitement which may result in a scream out loud. I actually screamed out loud just after hanging up the phone following the interview with my Placement Officer. (Hang up the phone, good one. We don’t actually “hang up” phones anymore. I am waiting for our vocabulary to change. “Rewind” is another term I discussed recently. We don’t actually rewind anything anymore, but we still use the term….) Google, tweet, bookface- all new terms that will be obsolete in a decade or two. So, remember on the office when Jim wrote the word book on his face for Halloween? Well, I didn’t get it and kept saying “book face” because I saw book on his face which is on top so I though should have been said first…anyway when I refer to facebook, I will use the term bookface. Thanks to bookface I have been able to connect with long lost friends and future colleagues (PC GUY23!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I received my invitation, know where and when I am going and am now left with more waiting. February 15<sup>th</sup>, where for art thou so far away? Packing should be on my mind, but I am still decompressing from my crazy fun vacation including a cruise to Mexico, Belize and Honduras! You can see some pictures on bookface for now. I will post the underwater photos at a later date. </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading; I hope I sustained your attention. :) </span></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-45754743377987577342010-09-30T17:10:00.000-04:002010-09-30T17:10:41.963-04:00Guyana!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe5XrCh54ie4BHOPA5XVumEiAQgJ3WA69PG-1ETayCZcWPXXEs6Nm4sTVgRnuPLTaPD7Cl0ymvzTRvp5Bu15YuEt4Z3uziIVR_DB0qzPjdi1S321S-9Y6ohfJGySa6rXnMkGAiPZMZ2k/s1600/IMG_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe5XrCh54ie4BHOPA5XVumEiAQgJ3WA69PG-1ETayCZcWPXXEs6Nm4sTVgRnuPLTaPD7Cl0ymvzTRvp5Bu15YuEt4Z3uziIVR_DB0qzPjdi1S321S-9Y6ohfJGySa6rXnMkGAiPZMZ2k/s320/IMG_0010.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: magenta; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta;">I am moving to Guyana in February! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta;">More paperwork and tons of research to do...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-ZBAWsQU8NYoOyu8Xx8O7djD_1yZlgfdPV6TsciDQ20SveNWAXPEpKXjRQ4_ZkYlI4MiBy0JHOI4lfjY6rQWB6yD95dv4vrbH97S0HFZdLiYX5Hd1sZp_iusME3tSTvdrAtRmzlElww/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-ZBAWsQU8NYoOyu8Xx8O7djD_1yZlgfdPV6TsciDQ20SveNWAXPEpKXjRQ4_ZkYlI4MiBy0JHOI4lfjY6rQWB6yD95dv4vrbH97S0HFZdLiYX5Hd1sZp_iusME3tSTvdrAtRmzlElww/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-9933661794784051162010-09-28T08:32:00.001-04:002010-09-30T12:41:59.089-04:00Invited!<h2><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Congratulations! You have been invited to become a Peace Corps Volunteer.</b></span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLe2Ux2yUKNJoDcwDpU6MJCvN82XIZ4HjY83ngHkG48tdOK8VYw9-UeahqR8eke8COBOJL7TySVzcd9SXuv5UJ89TXiye8tWXevO_5TZ1DQZ37seykbDlIoajmbUS7cybrLuE1FXBCJI/s1600/Invitation+tool+kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLe2Ux2yUKNJoDcwDpU6MJCvN82XIZ4HjY83ngHkG48tdOK8VYw9-UeahqR8eke8COBOJL7TySVzcd9SXuv5UJ89TXiye8tWXevO_5TZ1DQZ37seykbDlIoajmbUS7cybrLuE1FXBCJI/s400/Invitation+tool+kit.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><h2><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></h2><h2 style="color: #c27ba0;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-weight: normal;">What?! WHAT?! Yup, it's official- 9 months after submitting my application, I have been sent an invitation. I am anxiously awaiting that big brown UPS truck carrying my very important package. I don't think that it has actually hit me yet. Maybe when I tear open that beautiful blue package and dive through the paperwork... I will be departing early next year, but finally knowing what country I will be serving in will be a great relief. I can start researching the language and culture- oh yeah and start gathering my 80 lbs of belongings to take with me. </span></span></b></h2><h2 style="color: #c27ba0;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-weight: normal;">To celebrate my graduation from UCF and my invitation to PC, I am going on a cruise to Mexico, Belize and Honduras. What a way to start my new life- traveling to the area of the world I will be living in for 2.25 years. The region changed because I missed my original nomination, but I am actually happy about it. The PC application process really is training for service. I know now after doing everything I had to do to get to this point (and handling it with patience and flexibility) that I have been prepped for what I will encounter in country. </span></span></b></h2><h2 style="color: #c27ba0;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-weight: normal;"> As I have stated before, this process is long and arduous. For those hopeful applicants reading this, I say stick with it and appreciate that you have already begun training. </span></span></b></h2>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-42599824487356748592010-08-23T12:12:00.001-04:002010-09-30T12:46:08.136-04:00Medical Clearance<div style="background-color: black; color: #cfe2f3;"> I received this cryptic message on my toolkit on Friday:</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #cfe2f3;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="background-color: black; clear: both; color: #cfe2f3; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJt5D_aObYNOiufikKvEsbw6dI5N3yt3lsSQEc9LvuprIMMdwKIYDThNxfvX1nn8CViY4wKvDx3Jfnrm7aB-Aq61QavuDjRzwuPcV0YJ3ZpjyKVhNjI42Z8904w7rI7_-qxikyLviwe6o/s1600/Medical+Complete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJt5D_aObYNOiufikKvEsbw6dI5N3yt3lsSQEc9LvuprIMMdwKIYDThNxfvX1nn8CViY4wKvDx3Jfnrm7aB-Aq61QavuDjRzwuPcV0YJ3ZpjyKVhNjI42Z8904w7rI7_-qxikyLviwe6o/s400/Medical+Complete.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="background-color: black; color: #cfe2f3;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #cfe2f3;"> Wait for a letter?? What! What does that mean...A decision has been made. Why didn't they just give me a nice gray check mark? Am I not qualified? Am I deferred? WHY PC WHY??? So I tapped into my patience and decided to enjoy the wait. I would stroll out to the mailbox on Monday and check...</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #cfe2f3;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #cfe2f3;">WELL...my patience escaped me so I did a quick search for "A decision has been made regarding your medical clearance" and found blogs of actual volunteers- which means they were CLEARED! I kept reading that they received an e-mail from placement. Well, if I am qualified, where is my e-mail? My thoughts raced as I contemplated my life after being denied medical clearance. AmeriCorps? Graduate school?</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #cfe2f3;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #cfe2f3;">THEN not two minutes later I check my e-mail AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! <span style="background-color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">"Greetings from the Assessment & Placement Office at Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC!" </span> It's official, I have received medical clearance!!</div><div class="separator" style="background-color: black; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOwZXU4T1OHDfQ-CGEccF1CQDtjnFAO5AaKmkU-PEPWwt09rCBA46d6d-HYeA1aNt0jiSN_B_H7pl84D2ilMgxFDLbxjLEBmlMP89917Nc5yLjrzDNcvU41P7dLpaANVh-LVPUhpTzAI/s1600/YES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOwZXU4T1OHDfQ-CGEccF1CQDtjnFAO5AaKmkU-PEPWwt09rCBA46d6d-HYeA1aNt0jiSN_B_H7pl84D2ilMgxFDLbxjLEBmlMP89917Nc5yLjrzDNcvU41P7dLpaANVh-LVPUhpTzAI/s400/YES.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="background-color: black; color: #cfe2f3;">So, now I must submit an updated resume and my updated transcript. Oh, BTW, I graduated! My final GPA is 3.94...not as high as I hoped, but high enough! Now that I am officially in the 'placement' phase of this process, I looked up staging dates. (peacecorpswiki.com has so much info) I read about someone who received an invitation to Burkina Faso departing October 13th...I would have to receive my invitation by September 6th in order to go there....AH I need to submit everything TODAY! I know my dad won't like it, but it looks like Africa is where I'll be headed. I JUST missed the dates for Samoa and Tonga. :-( Sad... I was really hoping for the Pacific Islands, but wherever I go I know I will learn a lot and make a positive impact.</div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-77044280390483882982010-05-22T09:59:00.003-04:002010-10-01T09:21:17.504-04:00Medical Process<div style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So here is the general process in a fun flow chart:</span></div><div style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSqcHJPprGq098-sc1bmgdq0O0RMRHT-4cCvb1zagK6OGE7DFOV8wlEJjjV_R7GBqKSEwrzp2KmkO4J-h_vPU5TefG5luhV8xgueflOOWgi_RKTj5TVHlDJhrSXe5hCooLT8McuxckzY/s400/General+PC+Timeline.png" width="400" /></span></div><div style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am still going through the medical process- I am one month in and almost done! After many visits with specialists, a dentist, an optometrist, the health department (polio booster), and a gp, I only have one more appointment to attend, 3 personal statements to write and who knows how many pages of records to obtain.</span></div><div style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One tip in the packet: be your own advocate. I am responsible for ensuring that everything is filled out correctly. I had to ask the examining physician to give me a moment to look everything over- sure enough she missed something. Because I read the packet over and over I knew what was required and was able to assist her. After about 45 minutes she was anxious to be rid of me. She said was concerned about her other patients and their wait time. She asked that I leave forms with her to fill out later. After a minute of pleading and convincing that the rest wouldn't take long and that I was the source of the information she needed, she obliged. A good 15 minutes later, she verbally expressed her annoyance with the forms. I apologized and also mentioned that I was told I would have an hour... (Why is scheduling such a problem with doctors?)</span></div><div style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I called my medical service contact with a question- she answered on my first try! Her advice was to be very detailed in my personal statements and include all information available. I only get one shot with one nurse to be cleared. If I am deferred or not qualified, I have one chance to appeal, but I must submit 'new information'. With that in mind, I think it is best to include everything the first time. I would rather take more time now to make sure I have included as much detail as possible instead of just submitting something only to have them sit on it then finally realize that they need more paperwork/ blood work etc. It is repeated over and over in the packet that missing forms are the #1 cause of delays. I can't afford a delay! I was nominated to leave in October. It is May already. October seems like sometime far far in the future, but at the same time so very close.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGJ61W9UsdbZmWZkMgySwSjvm1o5RkHBrkvKTwAXNc7dZnvhpA2wGHzjd2BUtc2pk3Imac8RfP2jhfHjSybdYuXGO3SXTv8N9UiLFz4SuHarV4JUfEArNrs4Xri4NydHcIX7byYvHGs4/s1600/4_Patience.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGJ61W9UsdbZmWZkMgySwSjvm1o5RkHBrkvKTwAXNc7dZnvhpA2wGHzjd2BUtc2pk3Imac8RfP2jhfHjSybdYuXGO3SXTv8N9UiLFz4SuHarV4JUfEArNrs4Xri4NydHcIX7byYvHGs4/s400/4_Patience.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-57692939623967920252010-04-13T08:57:00.001-04:002010-09-30T12:46:33.961-04:00Congratulations! You have been nominated to serve in the Peace Corps<div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">YAY!! I am officially a Nominee! Instead of Eastern Europe as I was originally expecting, my recruiter has nominated me for a Secondary English Teaching position in Africa. Flexibility and patience, remember? I am totally willing to go wherever PC wants to send me and now I just need to wait. The medical packet will be arriving in the mail in the next 'couple of weeks'. </span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am a NOMINEE!!!!! </span></span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBMKqDRBwGyak2RBd4W36tUgF2UaaPqet2ta5LHxkXpHYprNxvwNDxP4rylIqMRmYYFrSi_xAnd6HmL1-Q5zsfUfDkJlGUAvG18NGsWC3O2YbnKBhOJnSlifVNF_VfgGhxwqSsFMnEj0/s1600/falcor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBMKqDRBwGyak2RBd4W36tUgF2UaaPqet2ta5LHxkXpHYprNxvwNDxP4rylIqMRmYYFrSi_xAnd6HmL1-Q5zsfUfDkJlGUAvG18NGsWC3O2YbnKBhOJnSlifVNF_VfgGhxwqSsFMnEj0/s400/falcor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-14753240699830272602010-04-11T22:05:00.003-04:002010-09-30T12:48:18.820-04:00The process<div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Following is a bit of what I have learned about the process.</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjRllNdZkktRkyabnYmqia2f3ePo15Xa3pMOMKoHWM9yppRJ6N_O3DR-uyrqidgkk_9Q2zR_qqLq8nMefAk6Xfr676cdisQd_N5NaaVgGhpCdOY6G9VsiaGsmKia7LyMWYO3lsltJ7jE/s1600/labyrinth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjRllNdZkktRkyabnYmqia2f3ePo15Xa3pMOMKoHWM9yppRJ6N_O3DR-uyrqidgkk_9Q2zR_qqLq8nMefAk6Xfr676cdisQd_N5NaaVgGhpCdOY6G9VsiaGsmKia7LyMWYO3lsltJ7jE/s200/labyrinth.jpg" width="170" /></a>The Peace Corps application process is just that- a process. Not only is there an application, but essays, references, health questionnaires, interviews, fingerprints, background checks, medical evaluations, and more. You must wait wait wait and wait some more. Don't forget about patience, that comes in handy from day 1. If you are sure that this is something you want to do, go for it. Do not give up. Prepare yourself and BE FLEXIBLE. You may not get to go where you want or even where you are told you will go. Everything can change, so flexibility and patience are imperative. </div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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You will receive different labels which indicate your progress through the process:</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. <b>Applicant </b>- After many hours spent on the application, you will be proud to call yourself an applicant.<br />
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</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. <b>Nominee</b>- After you have met with a recruiter, usually a RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer) [get used to acronyms!] and have been selected for a specific program. This is the longest stage as you must WAIT after being nominated for your medical evaluation. The medical process takes time and money. Once you receive word from your recruiter, you will be proud to call yourself a nominee. </div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. <b>Trainee</b> <b>(PCT)</b> - After receiving an invitation (!) and accepting your assignment, you will be given 4-6 weeks to wrap up your life in America and embark on your journey. For the first three months of service, you will be in training. You will live with a host family (your host family will not speak English) while you receive cultural, language, safety and technical training. You will be proud to be a trainee.</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4. <b>Volunteer (PCV)</b>- If you make it through training, you will 'graduate' to volunteer status. Another proud moment... finally after months of planning and waiting. Get ready to begin "the toughest job you will ever love". While being away from friends, family and modern conveniences, you will have the adventure of a lifetime. There will be good days and bad days, but most of the time you will be proud to be a volunteer.</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. <b>Returned Volunteer (RPCV)</b> - Wow, after 27 months of service, traveling, meeting new people, learning a new language, getting involved and making a difference, it is time to come home. You will forever be labeled a RPCV. After service there are so many opportunities open to you. Get ready to talk about your experience! This is when the pride beams brightest. </div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Good luck!<br />
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</div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631358145044285063.post-90778425696218064722010-04-10T22:36:00.006-04:002010-09-30T12:49:13.044-04:00The call<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Le1q81mZ3YHxf1_8sUQg_mDPbBmox5C6cdAPJWRyoLxDBwWT51HKPvZHvt8p9_riNifJ9IWrRFr18sSPH6rzFUxIerDXcR2FRrd1dDL71Qj0qL4E8kI8hCcWacQTpP-VmY6goeAey3M/s1600/phone-call.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Le1q81mZ3YHxf1_8sUQg_mDPbBmox5C6cdAPJWRyoLxDBwWT51HKPvZHvt8p9_riNifJ9IWrRFr18sSPH6rzFUxIerDXcR2FRrd1dDL71Qj0qL4E8kI8hCcWacQTpP-VmY6goeAey3M/s320/phone-call.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Life is calling... It isn't calling very loudly, so you must be alert and listen for it. One must also be patient as life may call, but it will also put you on hold. I first heard the ring about a year ago. College graduation was still far away, but graduate applications were oh so close. I never had a doubt that I would attend graduate school and one day become a psychologist. It just always seemed so far away. Well, the application time line approached rapidly. Before I knew it, it was time to make a decision- apply to graduate school or figure out something else. If something doesn’t feel right, I usually don’t do it. While I know graduate school is something I want to do, I just couldn’t apply. Not yet.</span></div><div style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have found something to do with my time that will make a difference. Instead of working to feed the consumerist society we live in, I decided to remove myself from it to devote at least 27 months of my life to meaningful service. What better way to do that than through Peace Corps. Although 27 months may seem like a long time, it is but a minuscule blip in the scope of the universe and time itself. Next month will mark the 27<sup>th</sup> anniversary of my birth. For 27 years my entire focus has been on myself. I am grateful for the opportunity to take a break from my egocentric life and focus my attention on the betterment of others. I hope to be nominated as a Secondary English Teacher, somewhere. That's part of the fun- not knowing where you will serve.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div style="color: #ead1dc;"><span style="font-size: small;">First lesson learned- Be Patient. The Peace Corps application process is quite laborious. I'm sure it is designed to weed out those who are not serious about service, but if you are passionate about giving up your privileged American life to for at least 27 months to do some meaningful work, learn patience. More on the process later.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01871744545044461556noreply@blogger.com0