So the last month has been very busy for me, actually, my life/work here is starting to pick up. I have been working with the O.M.M (or Women's office with the Mayor) to host bi-weekly women's groups in 2 of my aldeas. Also, I have been giving lots of charlas (health talks) in the community. You know, things I am here to do. Finally it seems that people know what I am here for (well a lot of people, but definitely not all). I am really starting to get to know my community and let them get to know me.
One of the best ways to get to know my community is through house visits. And thus, in the last few weeks of house visits, I've developed a love/hate relationship....
I LOVE getting to meet new people. It's great to tell people why I am here and that I'm here to help their community over the next 2 years. I like seeing the confusion on people's face when I walk up to their homes (not alone of course, I go with leaders in the community) and then the relaxation once I tell them my purpose for being there! It's great...
I HATE being ignored, mostly by the kids, but some adults too... I mean how hard is it to say Buenos Dias back, not hard.. B-u-e-n-o-s D-i-a-s... Seee you can do it too! Anyway, that drives me absolutely crazy, I don't know why, but it does!
I LOVE the scenery... my town is absolutely amazing, and while I'm hiking up and down the western highlands of my town, I can look across and see lots of other mountains filled with towns! Its great!!!
I HATE being barked at and chased by dogs... oh my goodness, these dogs are relentless! They decide they don't want you on their property and that's a wrap! This one time I was walking, which is very hard to do, but that will be my next hate...and this dog came up behind me and scared the crap out of me barking...my life literally flashed before my eyes! I for sure thought he had bitten a chunk of my leg off...it was really scary..so scary that I almost fell back on this pig pen...well I did, but the lamina on top stopped me, thank God! Ohh...I have got to do something about those dogs!
I LOVE getting my work done....!?!?!?
I HATE the walking paths...I don't know how they do it here...and they don't even wear secure shoes...here I am with boots and the whole nine and I'm slipping and sliding everywhere. For one, most of my walking path is dirt as there is not a lot of paved roads here. And, being that we are in the rainy season, most of my walking path is mud! Not fun at all...I've decided that it has to be the fact that my feet are so big that its hard for me to walk..that's the only explanation there could be..You definitely have to experience it to understand! Imagine walking down and up muddy hills with a short (width wise) walk way, and to your side is a long drop off... not fun right... kinda scary actually, but hey, it's Peace Corps right?
I suppose you have a pretty good idea of my love/hate relationship with House Visits... the ultimate part is that here we have people that are so nice, they love to offer you a snack or lemonade or something for your trouble! I think its wonderful how hospitable some people can be here...even if they barely have, they are willing to offer something for their visitors! Well, that part i LOVE about them... however, what i HATE is that that same snack can lead to my next bout of parasites and I'm scared every time I take a sip or a bite of something that was offered to me... However, I wouldn't dare say No! That's the ultimate sign of disrespect and will definitely make me integrating into the community much harder! So...I eat, and I drink, and pray that this isn't contaminated! lol... but as I said before, Hey, this is Peace Corps right? and that I LOVE!!!!
