Six Months in Suriname

Things have been going well out at site. Some days are full of nothing; some days are full, full, full. Most days start of reading in my hammock and then take me wherever my villagers invite me. This has included cutting rice, making cassava bread, breaking palm fruit seeds for oil, going to the health clinic, and being introduced to people.




One of the interesting things that happened since I have been out at site was the visit from some American missionaries in the village next to me. They brought out a doctor and a dentist to treat people and they asked me to help translate for the dentist. It was really interesting to see my villagers interact with other American’s and here some of the questions that they had about them. It also helped me meet people from some of the neighboring villages and talk to them about Peace Corps. It was a little intense with some of the evangelization, but the group was only there on a two-week tour treating people, pulling teeth, and building a house for the couple that was moving out. They now live there (which has been great) and it’s nice to have someone to go talk to and take a little break from Saramaccan.

Another fun thing was working with the radio station in a nearby village. The station, Radio Maife, has been up for about 10 years and was established by the government. They have a really nice setup there and I got to go talk about the Peace Corps and our HIV awareness activities that are going on. Granted my language skills were a little subpar, but it at least had my villagers starting to ask me a few questions.







It's hard to believe six months has already gone by. When I think about how many more months I have left it's not quite as significant, but it still seems crazy. December looks to be a busy month. I am helping out in Semoisie (another village on the river about 15 minutes away on boat) celebrating World AIDS Day December 1st. Then December 11-14 the Peace Corps volunteers on our river will be hosting Camp GLOW (Girl Leading Our World). And to add to the craziness, my parents and my two six-foot tall brothers are going to be visiting me for Christmas! I cannot express how excited I am to show them my life here in Suriname and to meet my entire village.