Hello!!!

Hello everyone! Sorry it has been so long since I have updated. Things have been pretty hectic lately in the village and the city. Luckily I have been managing to get some things done. The most exciting news is the funding of the Durotank Project that I have been talking about on here for months. The village was able to raise $10K through the donation of 8 individuals and a corporation back home via the Peace Corps Partnership Program. I want to thank those of you who donated, who all but one I have yet to even meet. Uncle Marty and Aunt Rosemary thank you so much for your help on the project! Everyone else who maybe was interested in helping but the project was already funded- the village appreciates your interest and we all know your support is there! I am truly grateful for all the types of support we’ve received from back home, whether it be moral or financial!! We’re hoping to have the project completed by October. There are still some major steps (setting up a bank account- (which is harder than it would seem due to it being a village account. Village meetings, petitions, and other tedious steps are involved), multiple trips to the city to purchase materials, arranging transportations, trainings dealing with water sanitation, among other steps) that need to be done before it will be completed. The hard work is yet to be done, as there will be so much planning and organizing necessary to complete the project. But I am definitely feeling optimistic since we have received the funding. I will be sure to update you on the status!

There has been a lot of commotion in the village lately. The Bishop made his first visit to the river in 4 years. I regularly attend Mass in the village (one hour on most Sundays). Sometimes I am able to pick out the tunes of songs or recognize a bit of the readings (done in Dutch and Saramaccan). There has never been a communion service while I have been there, and I had been a bit curious about when the last time they received communion was. The day the Bishop came, I learned the answer- 4 years ago. There were tons of kids of all ages dressed in white who had their First Communion that day. It was interested to see the way the villages (mine and a neighboring village took part) and the Bishop greeted each other- villagers sang and the few (maybe 3) who have cameras took pictures, while the Bishop listened and took their picture in return. The service was about 3 hours long and was filled with villagers ‘taking the stage’ and performing for the visitor. I’ve found that it’s interesting when the village will and will not hold service. For instance, Pentecost is a big enough holiday in the villages to warrant school being cancelled for a long weekend, but no one aside from me seemed concerned that we weren’t having services that day. I was surprised when I had walked the 10 minutes to church, carrying my plastic chair (you’ve got to provide your own seating!) and the church (picture a covered picnic shelter) was empty.

There has been a new addition to the village- a little boy named Teddy. My neighbor finally had her baby! I noticed she seemed a bit worn down one Wednesday and asked her when she thought she was going to finally have the baby. She wearily said she didn’t know. The next day, little Teddy had arrived and the whole village was coming by to see him. His name was chosen from a list I had given them of names of friends and family back home (Scott and Elgin were also at the top of her list. Maybe next time!) Since he now has the name as my Grandpa back home, I gave her a picture of him so he will know someone else who has his same name. It was interesting and surprising to see the way the women of the village treat someone’s newborn. When the baby arrives, a handful of women, whoever happens to be at the house, will wash him in a plastic tub filled with water and leaves. The older respected women of the village bury its umbilical cord and placenta. I walked over to where they were digging a small hole behind the hut and noticed something odd looking sticking out of the hole. Then I realized I was looking at the umbilical cord. Trying not to appear shocked (bc why wouldn’t I have seen this before?), I asked what they were burying, and my neighbor explained it was the ‘tie’ and ‘sac’ the baby had come with. They then blessed it by the traditional method of spitting Palm Rum (the strongest alcohol in the world (or so it tastes!!!)) on the mound. I think that this is the ‘newest’ newborn that I have been around, so I was definitely a bit nervous when my friend kept handing him to me. It’s a bit shocking to see the way villagers handle babies here. They are much rougher and not as concerned with all the protection and coddling you will find in America. But, the babies are fine and seem used to all the jostling. I spend time with Teddy and his big brother Herman (who I think maybe has a small case of sibling rivalry!) and am just amazed how he is growing and changing. His mom has dubbed him my ‘little man’.

The garden I had planted is taking a turn for the worst. Unfortunately, I planted it in a ‘flood plain’, so the plants are not looking very good. I have had a few ‘harvests’ of cospanti (string beans), but everything else is still growing, or at least trying to. I tried to import some dirt to solve the problem, but because the rains have come – and heavily I might add – it just washes the soil away. I do enjoy doing the gardening, as it give me something to do and will hopefully save me from having to transport canned veggies from the city. Also, when people tell me I have to go to their gardens (there’s really no asking here- it’s telling you what to do), I can tell them I have a garden right behind my house so I have my own work to do! Hopefully I can come up with a solution!

I spent a bit of time in the city trying to get my smaller projects going. They are coming along slowly, but I am hoping to have the Welcome Sign Project I put together completed within a few months. We’re also still working on the rice mill, life vests, and we have added soccer equipment for the kids to the project list. During the time I’ve been in I’ve been trying to put together meetings, letters, proposals, anything I can to generate some interest in them with the organizations here. Unfortunately, a lot of the orgs. have already doled out their money for the rest of the year, so the rice mill may have to wait a bit. I was also able to spend a lot of time with the other volunteers, a lot who came in for the 4th of July. The Ambassador has a BBQ (and I sure do miss BBQs!) for all the volunteers and staff. It gives us all a chance to get together and chat, including the new group, my group who’s been here a year, and the group who will be leaving by the 6th of July for home. Unfortunately, not everyone from our group was able to be there, including Joe who had gone fly back to site. I was very sad to see him go!

Anyhow- I think that by now you should all be updated! I hope you are all well and please let me know how everything is going. I will see a lot of you when I am home for a visit in less than 2 months (just a tad excited!). Nic I hope you have a super fun time at your showers and you know I will be there in spirit!! I hope all you girls have a fun time together!!! Happy b-days Grandma, Aunt Rosemary and (late) Aunt Cathy. And Emily!! 26!!! Thanks to everyone for your interest in what I am doing here- and I hope you all enjoyed the article in the News Press. I was a bit nervous about it, but I think it turned out well. Mom- thanks for all the help with it! I’m hoping to be in again around my birthday, so I will let you all know how everything is going then! Oh- to Catherine Cook’s dad- I apologize for not updating sooner!! She told me you were a bit disappointed we were all a bit behind on our blogs! And she’s doing really well here! We all love her!