One Year Anniversary!

Hello all! Sorry it’s been awhile since the last update- I have been at my site for the past five weeks. I was definitely ready to come to the city this time around – it’s my group’s one year anniversary! Not only am I excited to see Joe after this long stint (too long!) but almost all the volunteers from my group and those remaining (10 of 25) from the group ahead of me will be in. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been away for a year; it has definitely gone by fast over all but had its slow points. The new group of volunteers is arriving on the 16th of May (Happy Birthday NJB!) and we’ll be waiting to greet them. I know we are all eager to meet the new group, but we are also very excited to celebrate this mile marker! It really does seem like just yesterday that I was saying goodbye to you all and hello to this new place! When I think of everything that has happened in the last year, it is hard to believe that it has only been that long. I’ve heard the second year goes by even faster – which means I’ll be back for good before you know it! I was sitting in my hammock one day and noticed a tarantula right above my head, just sitting. So, I kept on reading and napping. I realized how accustomed I have become to things here in just a year when I can sleep beneath something that before would have sent me screaming the other way. I came into the city a few days earlier than planned due to medical; I’ve been under the weather for 2 weeks due to some other mystery illness that I’m hoping the doctor can diagnose for me. Being sick in this weather is tough – it’s really hard to keep yourself hydrated when you are not only sick but sweating 24/7. I’m having an allergic reaction to something which has left me red, itchy, and swollen. So, I decided to head to the city and get in the air conditioning!

The past 5 weeks at site have been pretty slow. I did receive good news from my boss that the Duro Tank Water Project that I have been hard at work on finally got posted online. If anyone is interested in helping the link to the project is: www.peacecorps.gov/contribute . Search by last name (Smith) and then State (MO). The project is titled ‘Durotank Clean Drinking Water Project’. I also have a PDF and informative letter that I would be happy to send to you. It tells a bit about the village and more about the project. Email me at smith.cristin.e@gmail.com and I will send it to you as soon as I get the chance. I am still working on trying to come up with funds to provide the village with a welcome sign; a neighboring village and other PCV have decided to do the project together since we are right across the river from each other. Another project the village is looking at is possibly building a kindergarten. The village is Traditional and Catholic. Currently the kindergarten is Catholic and we are talking about possibly trying to find a sister parish to work with on the project. I have a lot of research to do when I am in the city this trip!

To keep myself busy (and to provide some nutrients) I started a garden. It’s my first attempt at a green thumb, but I do have some sprouts. Clearing the ground was quite a bit of work due to the fact it’s covered in never-ending vines, roots, and red ants not to mention a swarm of wasps seemed to think I was invading their territory – luckily there were no stings. I’ve got three plots going in which pumpkin, cucumbers, okra and cospanti (similar to string beans) are growing. Weeding them by hand every few days keeps my mornings busy, yet after a good rain it seems like I haven’t weeded at all. They just keep coming! This garden really has been a group effort. One women helped me hoe my yard and clean out vines, another hacked down vines with her machete (while being 8 months pregnant – I’m accustomed to seeing things like this now), another gave me tips on how to make the beds. Two women brought me seeds. An older woman came by to make sure I was making the holes for the seeds correctly and then we proceed to poke all the holes. A few of the kids have helped me pull weeds. One boy brought me wood from the jungle for supports for my copsanti (the vines need something to climb up.) So, as you can see, I can’t take all the credit for these vegetables. There was a training in which one of the volunteers had mentioned putting urine on her plants to help them grow. Evidently I missed the part of the conversation in which it needs to be mixed with water and sit for awhile. I just tossed it on one of the beds and I’m wondering if that’s why my tomatoes aren’t coming up. (I guess I should explain – there’s no toilets here obviously. A few including myself have latrines, but using these for urine is not recommended- it fills up too quickly and the smell is even worse. The villagers go wherever but most of the female volunteers use kalinkis or chamber pots. We’re not very comfortable standing in the middle of the village and having a conversation while we go like the villagers are! I was pretty shocked the first time when I was talking to a neighbor and then realized she was multitasking!)

As I mentioned before, the village is still a Traditional one. I attended a ceremony in which the villagers made an offering of sorts. The majority of the crowd was elders and younger people, as the middle aged were busy working at their grounds. (People are busy getting their gardens ready since the long rainy season is starting. It actually gets a bit cool (T-shirt appropriate) at times which is such a nice change!) Everyone gathered around as one of the heads of the village made the offering of leaves, spices, etc. The kids were dancing and singing while the elders (and I) watched. It was only after about an hour that I looked down and realized I was standing next to a bound chicken. Later on, it was sacrificed. All of this is held in a small coffin like container made of sticks and it is tied to a board. Some of the boys the attempt to carry the coffin past the elder into the jungle, yet he gives it a small push backwards. They then stumble through the crowd moving haphazardly and attempt again. Rejection. This part went on for over an hour until they were finally allowed to pass. The kids enjoy themselves by running away from the coffin as the boys near them. It was interesting and insightful. One of the kids filmed a bit of it for me and I will try and put it up somehow/somewhere if I can – it cuts off right when they pull the chicken out.

My favorite girl that I mentioned before is 8 months pregnant; I finally got her to admit that she wants a little girl. She asked me to come up with a list of names for her so I made a list of friends and family names from back home. We’ll see if she picks any of them. I was asking her about the birth and if she would be going to the clinic (a 10 minute boat ride) to have it. She just laughed and said no, she would be having it at her house which is right across from mine. She said I would hear her when the time came. She already had one little boy who is so fun and always greets me in the mornings. He loves to come and look at the pictures of my dog and he’s finally got here name (Dixie) memorized so when I ask him her name he excitedly shouts it. For his birthday we had a water fight and then I gave him a bunch of bubble gum. Birthdays aren’t really celebrated here which is unfortunate. I am a firm believer in days of celebration – the Birthday Week!

Well this is getting lengthy – so I’ll talk to you all again soon. Nic and Beth thanks so much for the Easter cards! I did go to church that morning in a newly sewn kosu (not quite a new Easter dress) and then made an Easter dinner of Spam and ramen noodles. A kid helped me cook a vegetable, sopropo, which did not make the cut. It is the most bitter vegetable ever – it’s just awful and even the villagers admit they don’t really like it! Not quite ham and green bean casserole. I am coming back this August for my best friend’s wedding and can’t wait! I will be booking my plane ticket this trip in the city – and am so excited to see many of you! It’s been too long! NJB congrats on the graduation – I hope you got your flowers! And happy 25th – I wish I was there to celebrate with you and take you to Kona myself! Grandma Teeny I hope that you are feeling better- you have been on my mind! Grandma Smith – happy belated birthday – I’m so glad that I got to talk to you on the big day! Lindsey congrats on your Pinning and I hope your clinical go well! I’m glad to hear everyone got their Mother’s day cards! Ok Anywho, miss you and love you! Hope all is well!