We No Speak Americano

My first week back at site after my month long medical mystery was successful. I had to go at in alone since Mona got the dreaded malaria and spent the week in Chimoio doped up on meds, but I think I handled it quite well. Don’t get me wrong, I am by no means actually alone in the mato.  My fellow teachers are always around, trying to stuff me full of rice and xima and random vegetables, and the students are around all day, but I had to go about the day-to-day household activities by myself. Even when there we were together, Mona and I rarely fired up the carvão more than once a day, but it’s frustrating when you just can’t seem to get it lit and you can’t pass it off for the other person to try. I will forever be grateful for the people who invented the electric and gas stoves. Carvão sucks. But I made food, I planned my lessons, wrote a test for next week, went to the market, swept the house, worked with the painters to get my side of the house painted (it’s done!!), fixed the make shift mosquito net on the back window every night, killed some bugs (Dad, you would be proud of this spider killing machine!), read 3 books in as many days and even taught an English lesson. It was a productive week. And I learned some valuable lessons: I can and will kill spiders if there’s no one else around, I am really glad I’m not an English teacher and I’m lucky to have a roommate because I would not want to do this whole tour alone!

On a completely different topic, I want to thank everyone again who has sent me care packages so far. It’s impossible to truly describe how wonderful it is to come to Chimoio after weeks at site or weeks away on medical stuff and see so many things waiting for me! I used one of the three big bags of Starbursts I got as prizes for the winning team during a label-the-cell review game I did this week. They were a hit. I actually had kids trying to sneak into my later classes to try and get candy again! I am loving the American snacks and candies and foods. Oh and my dad and Mary sent me some clothes I requested and I can’t tell you how amazing they smelled – just like dryer sheets! I almost don’t want to wear them so they won’t lose that washer-drier cleanness. And Jean and Charlie’s sweet solar flashlight makes my electricity-less house a little brighter each night! You guys are all amazing!

Next on my agenda is to start moving into my new house and getting some furniture made. I’m looking forward to eventually having an actual bed frame. It’s the little things in lifeJ

We No Speak Americano - Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP (No particular significance to this one. I hear it atleast 3 times a day and just love it! You should all check it out. It's rather addictive.)