Despite the fact that I was working for most of it...I had a fantastic weekend.
Friday night the power went out after I huge thunderblot struck so I spent most of the evening at my neighbor's house, gossiping, and eating and just hanging out with her family. Saturday morning I woke up and headed to Las Brisas and Jocomico [the 2 communities where we are working in the Olla Comun project] and spent the morning cooking with the mothers which is always fun. I washed some clothes at home and then spent the rest of the evening at Shawn's mom's house which was so fun...his entire family was there so it was quite a full house. I adore all of them so much...between them and Reina's family, I feel so blessed to know all these people who treat me like family :)
Then yesterday I spent the entire day helping with the fundraiser for the Nutritional Center which was such a great time...I got to hang out with Los Rebeldes and all the girls that work at the Center...we raised a lot of money, ate yummy food and just goofed off which was so fun.
Today I went to the communities for Olla Comun again and I was asked to be the godmother [madrina] for 2 different women's daughters. I was so touched by them asking...that I said yes right away. I never knew it would be so possible to feel so at home in another country where I have a completely different culture and background from everyone else.
I've said it before and I'll say it again...life is so beautiful and I am so blessed and happy to be here.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
reconnect
I have -so- much to write about...I don't even know where to start.
Life is good...life is beautiful and wonderful and I am so blessed to be here and be having this experience and to have people cross my path and influence my life.
Work is busy busy and I am completely enjoying the projects that I am working on right now...mainly I am working with my youth group who is slowly but surely preparing to give HIV charlas in the high school and also I am working on a project called Olla Comun [Common Pot basically] where we are teaching groups of mothers with children who are underweight how to cook more nutricious.
[That last sentence was probably awful English...I swear the longer I am here, the worse my English gets. Haha.]
Last week when I went up to Santa Lucia to weigh kids under 5 for the monthly AIN-C meeting [basically its monitoring kids under 2 years old in communities but in SL there are a lot of problems so we weigh all kids under 5] and where the mothers recieve a nutricious snack and nutrition counseling. In May, one of the girls had lost weight because she had been sick and I gave the mom some tips for nutrition and foods to give the girl. Well this month the girl put on weight and was in the appropiate category again for her age and the mom told me that she started giving the girl eggs to eat because I had told her that they were good for her. And she thanked me for the advice and said it was so helpful.
I can honestly say that that one experience is more than enough to have me be completely satisfied with my service. :)
I think for a bit of time I allowed myself to get really consumed with minute issues and was so concerned with things that, in the big picture, don't matter at all. I forgot -why- I am here and sort of lost my way. I feel competely on track now and refocused which is a great feeling. I am genuinely happy...despite all the frustrations and everything else, I absoutely -love- my job and I couldn't be happier about my decision to join PC.
Life is good...life is beautiful and wonderful and I am so blessed to be here and be having this experience and to have people cross my path and influence my life.
Work is busy busy and I am completely enjoying the projects that I am working on right now...mainly I am working with my youth group who is slowly but surely preparing to give HIV charlas in the high school and also I am working on a project called Olla Comun [Common Pot basically] where we are teaching groups of mothers with children who are underweight how to cook more nutricious.
[That last sentence was probably awful English...I swear the longer I am here, the worse my English gets. Haha.]
Last week when I went up to Santa Lucia to weigh kids under 5 for the monthly AIN-C meeting [basically its monitoring kids under 2 years old in communities but in SL there are a lot of problems so we weigh all kids under 5] and where the mothers recieve a nutricious snack and nutrition counseling. In May, one of the girls had lost weight because she had been sick and I gave the mom some tips for nutrition and foods to give the girl. Well this month the girl put on weight and was in the appropiate category again for her age and the mom told me that she started giving the girl eggs to eat because I had told her that they were good for her. And she thanked me for the advice and said it was so helpful.
I can honestly say that that one experience is more than enough to have me be completely satisfied with my service. :)
I think for a bit of time I allowed myself to get really consumed with minute issues and was so concerned with things that, in the big picture, don't matter at all. I forgot -why- I am here and sort of lost my way. I feel competely on track now and refocused which is a great feeling. I am genuinely happy...despite all the frustrations and everything else, I absoutely -love- my job and I couldn't be happier about my decision to join PC.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Earthquake!
So no worries everyone...I was in Tegus when the earthquake hit and I slept right through it. Thanks to everyone that called to make sure I am okay, it is much appreciated!
Last week was spent traveling. Shawn and I went up to La Ceiba for Carnaval [their fair which is quite famous and well-known for being crazy fun.] He has some siblings that live up there so we stayed with his brother which was a lot of fun. It's always better when you stay at a house as opposed to a hotel. We saw the parade on Saturday and then went out to dinner and dancing with some volunteers that night. Shopping, trips to the beach, and playing with Shawn's nieces filled the rest of my trip, which was much needed.
Then I headed to Tegus for Midterm Meds aka trip to the doctor for all the health volunteers in my group. I am happy to say that I am 100% healthy...no parasites, cavitives, etc. Yay! It was good to see other volunteers and some Honduran friends that live in Tegus. I got to do some shopping which is always fun, even on my PC budget!
Today is my first day back at work in a week, so it feels good but I also feel lost, so much happened while I was gone [like usual.] Doris is starting a nutrition recuperation project in 6 different communities and I told her that I am more than available and willing to help so I am looking forward to that. I also have my youth group that meets every Tuesday, we are slowly but surely working to give an HIV charla in the high school. My PC boss also asked me to help with 2 big projects while I was in Tegus.
1] I am now the point person for the HIV training that takes place with each group of volunteers during training. This means I will be responsible for coordinating the logistics for training as well as working on editing and improving the manual.
2] I have been asked to assist on a new project called "Quality of Life" which will basically cover a variety of topics related to Maternal/Child Health such as Hygiene, Family Gardens, Nutrition, Weighing Children, etc. The PC Health project wants to put together a workshop in the end of September so I will be helping with that.
I am really excited about both projects because I think given my experience here, I have a lot of offer and contribute. It's nice when your skills are recognized!
Today is JUNE 1st which I almost can't believe. I -know- I still have a year left [less now, 11 months!!] but I always think about my service only being til the end of 2009 because really the last 4 months in 2010 are going to -fly- by.
Who ever knew 2 years could flash before your eyes?
Last week was spent traveling. Shawn and I went up to La Ceiba for Carnaval [their fair which is quite famous and well-known for being crazy fun.] He has some siblings that live up there so we stayed with his brother which was a lot of fun. It's always better when you stay at a house as opposed to a hotel. We saw the parade on Saturday and then went out to dinner and dancing with some volunteers that night. Shopping, trips to the beach, and playing with Shawn's nieces filled the rest of my trip, which was much needed.
Then I headed to Tegus for Midterm Meds aka trip to the doctor for all the health volunteers in my group. I am happy to say that I am 100% healthy...no parasites, cavitives, etc. Yay! It was good to see other volunteers and some Honduran friends that live in Tegus. I got to do some shopping which is always fun, even on my PC budget!
Today is my first day back at work in a week, so it feels good but I also feel lost, so much happened while I was gone [like usual.] Doris is starting a nutrition recuperation project in 6 different communities and I told her that I am more than available and willing to help so I am looking forward to that. I also have my youth group that meets every Tuesday, we are slowly but surely working to give an HIV charla in the high school. My PC boss also asked me to help with 2 big projects while I was in Tegus.
1] I am now the point person for the HIV training that takes place with each group of volunteers during training. This means I will be responsible for coordinating the logistics for training as well as working on editing and improving the manual.
2] I have been asked to assist on a new project called "Quality of Life" which will basically cover a variety of topics related to Maternal/Child Health such as Hygiene, Family Gardens, Nutrition, Weighing Children, etc. The PC Health project wants to put together a workshop in the end of September so I will be helping with that.
I am really excited about both projects because I think given my experience here, I have a lot of offer and contribute. It's nice when your skills are recognized!
Today is JUNE 1st which I almost can't believe. I -know- I still have a year left [less now, 11 months!!] but I always think about my service only being til the end of 2009 because really the last 4 months in 2010 are going to -fly- by.
Who ever knew 2 years could flash before your eyes?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
