Sunday, July 29, 2007

Almost at the 6 month mark!!!

It's been about a month since I last updated this site. Honestly alot has happened in a month so I will do my best to give a brief overview.

In the beginning of July I moved into my own place, which was wonderful! Its a cute little house with 2 bedrooms a bathroom, kitchen, dining area and living room.... definately not the exact thought of a peace corps volunteers life. Slowly but surely I have been filling it with the necesities. There is a lot more to go, but I will get there.

This month I also started working with a 5th grade class in one of the aldeas near by. I am giving classes once a week for an hour about self esteem, good decision making, sex education. A few weeks ago proved to be quite a challenge.... funny story: the teacher decided since I was there he would be able to go to the doctors, well he left me with 50 fifth graders and lets just say as soon as he left all hell broke loose. They all started going crazy. Between the fighting, screaming, running, etc... I thought I was going to have a nervous break down. I began screaming and when that had no affect I tried the opposite, I told them I would wait for everyone to quite down before we started.. well that never happened either, so I dismissed everyone early and I returned to Morazan to cool down. This was not an experience I hope to relive in the near future.

Another project that I have started helping with is distributing medical supplies in the local aldeas with one of the ladies I work with. This has proven to be very rewarding as well as sad. I have been able to see first hand a little of the poverty in this country and the amount of help that is truly needed. Many children are malnurished ( not sure if I spelled that right) and deprived of the basic necesities.. we see alot of childeren with skin problems from bathing in the rivers, the little things that each one of us takes for granted is what is most needed here.

English classes have begun.. :( I put it off as long as possible but it was inevitable. I have only had one class but it is going to be a once a week project.

Last weekend I got sick and ended up in the hospital for 2 nights. Turns out I had a bacterial infections. Not fun at all... puking uncontrollably on top of diarrhea (spell check). I am better at this point.

I have also had a security scare. A man got into my house and was hiding in my kitchen. Still don't know how he got in or how long he was there for. Apparently he is known in the town as the peeping Tom. I screamed when I saw him and he took off running. I called friends and they came to my rescue along with neighbors. And that brings us to the present. I am in Teguc (the capital) and have talked with the country director along with head of security, who also came to my site for two days to go over everything. I was given many options and have decided to stay in my site because I have truly grown to call it home. I plan on changing houses just for the sake of not having to reenact the event every time I enter the house. Peace Corps has been absolutely wonderful through everything. I do not want anyone to worry, I know that is a hard thing to do, but I really am well and am just thankful that nothing else happened.

I will be coming home Aug 7-14 so if anyone wants to see me let me know because I want to do as much as possible in this short period.

I believe you are all filled in on my life thus far!!!