Holiday

This week was full of dancing, music, hugging, and gifting. I celebrated with the staff at the health center and with my dance group on Monday. Tuesday was the graduation of the high school. I danced with the directors, professors, and students alike. It was very fun to see so many kids completing this chapter of their lives and moving on to hopefully something bigger and better. I could not help but think about all of our graduation parties past. The difference is that everyone parties together instead of having individual parties. Wednesday and Thursday I participated in these events where you visit a smaller poorer community and give toys, hot chocolate, and fruit cake. Play with the kids or put on a little show about Christmas. Then there was Christmas Eve which during the day has no celebration until midnight. We put the baby Jesus in his crib and then everyone hugs and kisses. Followed by a turkey dinner (Which I saw killed earlier in the morning and lived in my backyard) and we gave gifts. I went to a baptism party and danced until the wee hours of the morning. Christmas day I passed working with my garden and took a trip with some family to the river nearby. I helped teach some girls how to swim. It was so relaxing laying in the ebb and flow of the current. At night another secret santa party with a youth group. Today I decided to return to the river to be one with nature and get in touch with the flow of my life. The pressure is so much less when you ride with the current than when you ride against it. It was definately a challenge spending my first Christmas away from my family. But all difficult times pass and we have to remember that the challenges contribute to our character and are necessary to reach joy. I can only hope that you all had a lovely holiday with your near and dear. I am so grateful to have all of you in my life. Your support keeps me going through the tough and rough. Even though we are far apart you are all still a major part of my life. With love.

GRowth

This past week I finished with the improved cooking stoves project. Thank goodness because it was almost the death of me. Very physically demanding and a pain to coordinate. The community garden is completing its planting today. I think it is just in the knick of time. The raining season is definately coming. On an exciting note the first plants are already popping up. I love when you can see progress. I have being interviewing the authorities and members of my community to try to determine what the main issues are here. Looks like malnutrition, diabetes, alcoholism, domestic violence, unplanned pregnancy, and unemployment. Some of these I feel qualified to conquer the others I suppose everyone will learn together. I also started teaching yoga this week which is great because my practice has been sort of inconsistent. There appears to be a decent amount of interest. This week will be all about christmas. I have a bunch of secret santa parties. I think that it will be a rather enjoyable holiday it appears that everything is the same as in the states except there is no snow and that something similiar to fruit cake is not only very popular but desirable. I am working on finding friendships and solidifying my work here. I found out today that I am apparently much more socialable than the previous volunteer but there will likely be down falls to that. I have to be careful on the differences in gender roles and how friendships function here. This is definately a conservative society and we are just a bunch of crazy liberals in the states. Things that I would never have thought about are a big deal. So I keep dancing and keep planting seeds literally and figuratively. Mostly about how women can do things too, that punctuality is important, that it is possible to set and achieve goals in the future, and the hard work and planning pays off. I will write again to tell stories about the holiday week of adventures. I love you all and merry chirstmas.

Bah

Is not just the sound that a sheep makes but also one that I make as well. Every other day is good, I do feel like there is a great amount of difference to be made if only in opening up opportunities for the youth that have completed their education but do not have a lot of job options. I am going to try to help with small business development.I have lost 8 lbs or probably more now. Combination of stress, physical labor, using my body as a means of transportation, and constant sweating. I have been sick again with quicker recovery time. I am going to perform in a parade tomorrow in the captial city with the dance group. I am excited and scared but in the good rollercoaster way. I think that my celebrity is decreasing which makes living here much easier. I have had a few really educated and encouraging conversations with members of my community in which I think I have some allies. This is an incredible opportunity. Immensely challenging but I suppose that I would not have it any other way. I am going to try these upcoming weeks to solidify some friendships though I rarely feel alone here. It is great because somehow I am communicating on a deeper level or maybe I have just gotten completely shameless. But there are definately some serious discussions about cultures, values, and beliefs going on. I am not sure if anyone has it right but I strongly believe that we are just creatures of our upbringing and if you can rebel against that then you are truely unique. And it is impossible to know you are unique within your own culture. And no one can know they are unique until they are seperated from their own society or an outsider comes in with a fresh perspective. Off to go plant some seeds, hopefully it is symbolic of growth and prosperity in the future.

Oh My God!

Well I have been a busy bee. My site is attempting to kill me I think. The constant stress and sweating has resulted in an eight pound weight loss. I can't see it so it is probably just water. But not the less very impressive. I organized a World's AIDS day parade in which about 60 kids frolicked about the streets one dressed as a condom the rest had signs with sweet phrases. I had them all wearing the red ribbon. It was fun but a little too hot. Then I gave a talk about the mechanism of HIV within the body. I got another box of books for the library. I built two improved cooking stoves. Started a community garden and performed dance show at another town's anniversary party. My head is spinning and sometimes I feel incredibly overwhelmed and other times I think that it is very impressive I have made such progress. I realize that some people just want to learn English from me. Which is not a problem but also does not feel like a priority for me either. I am frequently riding around on my bike like a mad woman. I love zeek. Let's see I giggle because the traffic in my town is a combination of sheep, cows, goats, and dogs. People are learning that women are equal to men in strength, construction ability, and management. If I do nothing else I hope to demonstrate this fact. That women can do hard labor or physical things. That not all women need to be treated like we are delicate. I feel my work really happens in the time that I pass with people and the conversations I have. My family is still lovely they keep telling me that I need to slow down and rest. I am in agreement but we all know that my workaholic attitude tends to get the best of me. I joined a dance team and will continue performing with them in the future. I am certainly learning that stage fright is ridiculous. Everyone calls me doll. I suppose dollface has always been a nickname. It appears there are big and exciting things happening in every one's lives. Please keep me updated I love knowing what is going on and celebrating your successes. With love.