ALMOST THERE!!!

My experience has really taken off here. I feel like I have been here for so long. Alot has happened since the last time I was on here. Training is extremely stressfull, long, and full days. Everyday seems like a week because we just pack them with so much.

So the whole week before Easter is called "Semana Santa" and it is a BIG deal here. We got out of having class on Thursday and Friday because of it. Everything shuts down. On Saturday there was a huge processional with 14 stations to stop at. I went and walked the town of La Paz for 3 1/2 hours. I wanted to experience this event to its fullest. I have met some friends here and they are a great outlet to vent and just get away. I will be posting pictures from the processional when the computers here decide to download them for me. The week of Semana Santa was good. We went up into the mountains and learned how to work with health workers that monitor the weight of babies within a community. Mothers walk for hours every month to get their babies weighed to gage if the child is healthy and if not to find out what needs to be done. In a lot of communities it is utilized because the parents do not have the money to take the children to the doctors or the means to get them there. Another day we went back to the mountains and learned how to build improved stoves with mud and bricks. It was one of the coolest things for me so far, I want to add one to my house here when I get it. And we also learned how to make gardens.

This past week we worked with parteras (midwives) and gave charlas over hemorraging. So many things we take for granted in the states as common sense are what the people here need the most help. There will be some photos of me on a table looking like I'm pregnant soon, it is from the session with the parteras, I was the demonstration! It was a good time and really opened my eyes. During last week we also learned more on communication skills and support groups for people living with HIV. The reality is that alot of us in my group will be working with people living with the disease so we need to be prepared and equipped for that type of work.

I also met with the PCMO's ( peace corps medical officers) the other day. Of course I have problems. I had to go to a local clinique the other day because I have a urinary tract infection ( not fun). And then with the pcmo's i had to get my allergy medicine changed b/c mine is not strong enough here. My allergies are ridiculous, I think alot of it is because of the dust. And finally I have bug bites all over my legs and they are really red. They have been there since we arrived in La Paz and refuse to heal, so they told me it is because of my allergies and they gave me cream. I can't go anywhere with out having some sort of problem I have realized!

Last week I had my third technical interview. It went well, I was able to give some input on the work that I would like to do in the next 2 years and things that I would like to get from my site assignment. Next monday, April 23 we get our site announcements!!!! During the interview we also talked about my spanish and how I am doing during other training sessions. I got really positive feedback which was great and is helping me stay positive. My spanish is improving slowly but surely. People have commented on my improvement but I think it is easier for other people to notice than it is for myself. One of my boss's told me that I am a perfectionist and that he has noticed that I am way to hard on myself. I think he is probably right. I have pushed myself so much and just want to do the best job possible.

The other day they had mail call and of course I did not have anything once again. GUYS you need to get on that. I want to get some fun stuff too!!!!

Everyone take care and continue to send me emails. I am going to try and do a better job of writing things down as they happen so I can remember when it comes time for me to write them on here. If anyone wants my phone number to call me just email me. I would rather not post it on this.

This past weekend one of the girls in our group was robbed. She was on the front stoop of her boyfriends house here and as I understand it 2 men approached her with machetes and made her give them everything she had. Now I know that machetes sound horrible and they are but its not like an uncommon thing here like it would be in the states. In saying all of this I do not know many other details, but I have decided that I will not be out after dark here anymore. She was pretty shook up and I feel really bad for her. Although what I just explained sounds horrible everything with me is great. I just wanted everyone to be aware of all sides of my life here. I did not tell anyone this to worry them.

I love and miss you all!!