So, I have offically finished one week of training. 8 hours a day of language, lectures and other fun stuff. One day was full of telling us about health issues we will proably face- giardia, dengue, cicia, botfly (where a fly actaully lays a egg sack under your skin. o m g), yoou know, fun stuff. And then the afternoon was all about bugs and snakes and animals to watch out for. Exciting stuff!! Last week was very busy and long, and finished it off on Saturday with our first visit to the capital, Paramaribo. Walking through the market was an experience, we certainly got some looks, and plenty of people asked if we were Dutch (they were early settlers here). Felt sick (shocking- it takes quite a while to get adjusted to everthing here- thinking it was dehydration) and fell asleep with some others on the deck of a restuarant, woke up pink from the sun- it really is a lot hotter here! It's nice to get a little color though- everyone kept saying how white my legs were( if only I had my Mystic)- thanks!
Tomorrow we leave for a site vist where we will be until Friday. We get to practice our language, mine is Saramaccan. What- you haven't heard of it? Thinking I'll be pretty limited on using that when I get back. And unfortunately, I'm not picking it up very quickly. Found out were I will be in August, village of 150-300 called Gangestone.
We've all been getting to know each other, and have all bonded as a whole. But I still miss my bffs from back home. Atl least I've got everyone's picture in my scrap book! It's been supper fun- like summer camp, until now. We kinda break up a bit starting tomorrow, but will get together every Friday the rest of the summer to go over stuff.
It only took 3 days to get tired of the food. Meals consist of hod dog buns and maybe cheese and PB for breakfast, and the chicken and rice for lunch and dinner. Every day. Chicken and rice. But I'm not talking chicken breasts- it's random pieces of meat on a bbone and kind of possible fried ( I'm not sure about that). I have never had so much chicken and rice. UGH! Needless to say I have been eating granola bars after almost every meal bc I'm still hungry.
Grandma you will be glad to know that we get to have our own gardens here- if only I had a little elf to help me!
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
PICS
To view the pictures on the Kodak site (see below) you need the following info: email: smith.cristin.e@gmail.com password--suriname
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
NEW Pics of CS in Suriname!
About Me
- Cristin Smith
- I am moving to Suriname, South America in May of 2008. I will be working as a Business Advisor for 27 months and can't wait! I'm ready for a jungle adventure!
Disclaimer!
Please note that the contents of this blog in no way represent the opinions or statements of the United Sates Peace Corps or U.S goverment.
14 comments:
Wow, you will be able to know how to fix chicken and rice almost 1460different ways. We love you, and are praying for you. Watch out for the poison frogs. I can't wait to see you in a pongi; I bet they are comfortable.. We can't wait to hear more. We love you.
Mom and Frank
Cristin-
Congratulations on one week down! Only 108 weeks to go. Seriously sounds like a real adventure! While you are enjoying the chicken and rice, I was kind of thinking the peanut butter on a hot dog bun for breakfast sounded good. (Been there, done that. It has to be chunky Jif though and bagles are better than hotdod buns.)
We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. Don't know if I mentioned it earlier, but we are "vanless" for the first time in over 20 years. We traded the van off and got a new Toyota Camry. It's Notre Dame Blue! (Go Irish!)
Be safe, thanks for keeping us posted. We'll catch you soon.
Love, Uncle Marty & Aunt Rosemary
(LUMAR)
Wow, the diseases and animals kinda freak me out, but I guess that's just part of the fun of the Peace Corps. :) I'm almost done with my application (just one more letter of rec to track down) so hopefully I'll be in a similar situation soon enough!
Chicken and rice does sound a little monotonous, but maybe when you get to your village you'll have a little more liberty in what you cook for yourself...? And maybe with the garden you can spice it up a little bit!
I'm glad to hear you're doing well! Keep us posted!
-Miranda
Hey babe!! Sounds like quite the adventure! Guess when you get back, Sunday night dinners should be SANS CHICKEN!! How about tacos??!!
We love you and are sooooo proud of you!!
Ixnay on the fly larvae!!! OMG!!
Love ya! Sharon & Rich
I hope you're doing well. The food thing does sound kind of boring. It was pretty hot here last Saturday, but I was thinking "man, it's hot here, but I wonder how much hotter Cristin is right now..." I hope the bugs aren't biting you too much.
Elgin
Cristin,
It sounds like things are going well for you. The bugs I don't know if I could handle. But I do have some other news for you, you will have 2 nieces or nephews waiting to meet you when you get back in 108 weeks. Dylan is going to be a big brother! Have fun
Rachel
Hi Cristin,
I hope all is going well on your south American adventure!!
Your mom, aunt Rosemary and I were having dinner the other night when you called. (Geno's) It was great to hear your voice, if only for a few moments. It's amazing talking to someone half-a-world away.
You are in our thoughts and prayers. Please let us know if you need anything.
Love, Uncle Marty & Aunt Rosemary
(LUMAR)
Hey Cristin,
I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying yourself despite the food and the bugs and such. It sounds like it would be quite the adventure to travel so far away and make a difference.
How cool is it that Leseana and Rachel are BOTH pregnant?
I hope things are still going well since your post.
-Amanda
Hello, Cristin!
Glad to hear that you are off to a good start on your new journey. I'm sure there is a lot to learn and many adjustments to make. This new adventure will be very rewarding & a great learning experience for you.
The blog is a wonderful idea- thanks for sharing!
Take care of yourself and be safe.
Love & Prayers,
"Your cousin" Elizabeth
Cristin-
Wow....sounds like this is definately an experience of a lifetime!! I'm not so sure some of the experiences will be good ones (i.e., health concerns, chicken & rice), but they will all make you grow as an individual. I'm very proud of you!! Hang in there and thanks so much for keeping us all updated.
Love,
Tina
My dearest international niece !!! The southern part of the world is now the lucky part with you there. Your adventures (or is saying 'your life') are really something. I hope you and the insect world are getting along better === at least tolerable. Grandma has a printout of your blog thus far and probably has it almost memorized. I am definitely in awe of what you are doing. This simply proves the special one we have always known you ARE!!! I just never imagined you in Suriname when you were spider baby crawling up and over my shoulder. I think the sign was there when you scrambled the path less traveled up my neck --- you cutie. I am sure the people you are meeting find you are wonderful and hopeful that you are finding the same. You have given me a new appreciation of what hot & humid and mosquitoes are. You, my sweetie, are always in my thoughts and prayers. May the good God keep you whole and well. I love you (Gma Teeny and Gpa Teddy -- too.). May all good an peace be yours, honey. Love from Aunt Cathy
Hi, Sweetie, With Sharon's help, I hope I can leave you a message. It was so good to hear your voice when you called your Dad on Father's Day. Expect things get more intresting every day. We had pizza and salad with your Dad, Sharon,Rachel, Joe & Dylan tonight. Good!!!
Love you, Grandpa & Grandma
Hey Cristin,
We've now officially passed into Summer, and I know you probably wouldn't have realized it if I hadn't told you. That's okay, cause that's my job. Yes, now that it's summer we can look forward to those nice warm days, filled with outdoor activities and adventures. It gives us a chance to wear that summer attire, tee's shorts, flip flops and also savor in the vitamin A which the sun provides. Wait a minute... I think that's what you've been doing. LoL
Hope everything is going well for you. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Uncle Marty & Aunt Rosemary
Cristin, It is very exciting to read about your adventure in Suriname. Thanks for keeping us updated, this way we will be able to learn along with you, but don't actually have to be there. Be safe and my prayers are with you and your new friends. Your mom's ex-co-worker @ amfam, Sharon Miller.
Post a Comment