Some people from group before us, GUY23, met us at the airport with a giant Peace Corps banner with much yelling and hoopla. As I was going around the corner, where I couldn't see them yet one of the guys who works at the airport told me to "just smile." I had no idea what he was talking about, but I did, and I was glad for it. Even without that heads-up it would have been impossible not to smile with such an enthusiastic greeting. They were loud enough to actually get us into the local newspaper, or, at least, that's the rumor.
At the airport in Guyana
The first few days at Splashmins were a whirlwind and I'm pretty sure we were just about all in that really-tired but to excited to sleep mode so we were all just a little crazy. A big group of us played a giant game of volleyball on the riverbank which was good fun. Later we went on a boat ride into some jungle-ish area which was really pretty cool to see. Overall it was a pretty amazing time, got the group bonding, and were provided with some good info from the staff as well as current PCV's who were amazing in answering all our questions!
One the boat tour
We had a scavenger hunt to find out if we would be remote/not-remote.
We had to find our name and people with pink
paper are remote and yellow is not-remote.
My host family is awesome! My host-mom, Maria, is Cuban, and admitted right away to being a little crazy, but in a good way. And coming from my family, is totally normal :-) My host-dad is currently working the bush and I probably wont meet him at all, but his 15 year-old son, Tito, is here. He's always doing something, but he's cool. He's spent time in the US and speaks American English to me which means I can actually understand him which is nice. Though, I do need to master Creolese eventually. We have another man from Cuba, Jorge, who lives here also, and he is also pretty awesome. He's been here longer than my host-mom and so speaks better English, though Maria's is also good. We have a nice system worked out where Jorge speaks Spanish with me so I can practice and I speak English with Maria so she can practice. And Maria makes some amazing Cuban food, including some absolutely delicious flan.
I also live right next to 2 current volunteers and within walking distance of another 3 girls from my group. Overall, its a pretty ideal situation!
Monday was a holiday, that have something like 14 here, so our week didn't begin until Tuesday. We met at the training site, had some sessions together and some separated by sector: health and education. The next few weeks are going consist of a lot of training, school visits, and general orientating. Tomorrow is the first visit to the school I will be at for the next couple of weeks, so that should be interesting. We don't find out our permanent sites for another couple of weeks, and I'm nervous, but can't wait!
Also, on the side and below I've added my current mailing address. Packages and/or letters would be awesome! If any of you decide to send a package it would be most welcome and it's recommended to put a picture of Jesus or write something like "God is watching" on the box.
The address is:
[My Name]
U.S. Embassy
c/o Peace Corps
100 Duke and Young Streets
Kingston, Georgetown
Guyana, South America
And be sure to add South America or it could end up going to Ghana :)
So far I'm loving it here, but I do miss you all at home!
P.S. If you send a package candy, like Ghiradelli milk-chocolate caramel, and cheez-its are always delicious :-)
P.P.S I think I've gotten more mosquito bites in the last week than I have in the last 7 yrs :-/
