7.28.08 Can it get any hotter?

Seriously…when I came to site in May and was dying of heat everyone kept telling me ‘’Oh Andrea, no se preocupe…ya va a bajar la temperatura’’

LIES…I tell you…its almost August and it is perhaps hotter now than it was in May. Ugh. I’ve come to the conclusion that it is going to be this way the entire year (except maybe December and January) so I might as well just get used to it. I really need to go shopping for new clothes because my jeans and collared shirts aren’t really cutting it.

Donations happily accepted. J

Hummm…what else? Work is going well…definitely been having my fair share of frustrations but then again, Peace Corps is supposed to be the ‘’toughest job you’ll ever love’’ or something like that and I can definitely attest to it. I am frantically trying to finish a grant to solicit funds for an Exposida we are planning for September. (An Exposida is like an HIV fair where there are educational games, food for sale, HIV related art and poems, etc.) I am really looking forward to it, I think its going to be a great event, I am just a little worried about getting the funds on time and everything. We’ll see…I am working with La Red (the youth group) to train them to be the leaders of the educational games and activities.

I went to Valle de Angeles for a workshop on the Abstinence initiative last week which was very interesting. Normally, I am pretty against abstinence education but this program, which is called Yo Merezco (literally, I deserve) is designed for girls only between the ages of 10-14. It focuses on more than just abstinence; there are chapters on self-esteem, anatomy, domestic violence and much more. I think it is a great program to implement in such a machista country, it helps empower young girls to realize they do have the right to make decisions and say no until they are ready to be sexually active. I am looking forward to implementing the class with 6th grade at the girl’s school.

Also, I have a visitor this week…his name is Nathan. He just finished a 10 week study abroad program through Purdue University (where he studies in the States) at the agricultural school outside of Tegus. The last week included an option to spend a week with a PCV so my boss asked me if it was okay if he came with me. He is staying at my host family’s house and they love him. I feel bad because there is a strike this week so my work at the schools has been cancelled. But hopefully he is getting an idea of what the ‘real’ PC experience is like.

In other exciting news…I finally moved into my house a few weeks ago…it’s magnificent but also a lot of work. There is all the sweeping and washing clothes and cleaning and finding someone to cut my lawn and getting my lights turned off (long story) etc. etc. But overall I love it and wouldn’t trade it for anything. I went and retrieved my puppy on Sunday. Her name is Miel…she is the offspring of Reina’s dog. She is only 7 months old and is absolutely adorable...but she is being a bit of a pain in the ass right now…won’t eat her dog food…cries when I leave the house…etc. I know it is going to take some time for her to get adjusted to being at with me so I understand.

Well I hope that is a good enough update for now…I promise to post pics of my house soon…or you guys could just come visit and see it in person. ;)

7.1.08 July?

Another month has passed and suddenly, we are half way through 2008. How on earth did that happen? Sometimes it seems like just yesterday I was celebrating NYE with Paul at Downtown Disney, but other times it seems like staging in DC was a million years ago. How strange…

With each passing day, my English seems to be getting worse and worse so I apologize if this as well as future blogs are confusing and make no sense. Maybe I should start writing these in Spanish…

Given my linguistic difficulties, I believe I shall provide a brief list of current highlights:

• Stomach is a-ok…even after consuming lots of straight from the cow milk (which is delicious I must say) and huevo de toro (yes, that would be bull testicle.) Cultural experience right? :)
• The fundraiser for the Nutritional Center was a smashing success, I sold my tasty cookies and got totally sunburnt while trekking around town asking for money. We raised almost 80,000 limperas which is awesome.
• Attended a gringo get-together in Yorito, hosted by the 2 volunteers that live there. Got to meet the rest of the PCV’s in my department and eat pollo y tajadas. Yummy.
• Work is insanely busy as usual…I gave HIV charlas to 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th grade in San Jose, an aldea 30 minutes outside of Negrito. It was a lot of fun and I can’t wait to go back
• Also work related…I started giving health charlas to 5^th and 6^th grade at the girls school which is more the fulfilling, the girls are absolutely adorable.
• I was a judge at the lip-syncing festival last Friday which, of course, was so fun. The 11 participants were from different schools in the area and all were decked out in costumes and had some pretty sweet dance moves.
• I am moving into my house this week, just in time for the beginning of the feria, which from what I have heard, is the best in the department. Woohoo!