August 3, 2009
Sorry it’s been awhile, but I have been busy!! And chances to get to the internet have been few and far between.
Training- things are going well, I am getting to know the people in my sector really well and the training is pretty basic right now so not all that interesting, but it will hopefully get better!
French- my French is improving a lot! But I feel really lucky that I started with a strong background in French before I got here because I don’t really struggle to communicate with my family at all, as long as they don’t speak too quickly.
Health- Doing well, a few minor things, but it will all come out in the end.
My Host Family- is really, really nice! I have my parents, a sister who just graduated from college, and 3 brothers ages 15, 11, and 7 and a plethora of extended family members who are always stopping by to say “Bonjour” (and to check out the Yovo).
Being a Yovo- it’s weird, being the minority. It seems like every time I am not at home or with all the Peace Corps kids (and even sometimes then), that I get pointed at and called “Yovo” on the streets, the little kids have this pretty annoying song that they sing “Yovo, Yovo, bon sois…”. It’s just difficult to give up any and all anonymity that I have at home, not to mention that you have to bargain at the market twice as much as anyone else because everyone thinks you are rich.
My first weekend- was very eventful. Saturday was Independence Day here and then on Sunday there was a big party at my house for my sister’s graduation. Saturday we stuck pretty close to home because my mama, sister, mama’s sister’s “woman” and another hired woman worked for two days to cook a whole goat, a turkey, two rabbits and countless potatoes, rice, bananas, tomatoes, and I don’t know what all. Independence Day here is pretty much the same as the 4th at home, but less commercialized and there are no fireworks. But there is a military parade and a bad-ass soccer game on hard packed red clay. Sunday my host sister had a graduation party and it was crazy!
1 comment:
Hi Honey, Sounds like you are settling in to your new way of life. Exciting times. Love you, Dad
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