So we had a day off to come to the capitol and buy things (like me new internet phone!) and we stopped at a internet cafe. So I figured I could send the stuff I've been writing since I got here. Sorry, it's kind of long. Now that I have my phone I can probably send shorter emails but more often.
:-)
October 3, 2010
So I'm just finishing up my first weekend with my host family. I'm not going to lie, the first day kind of blew. Everything is so different, and I was totally overwhelmed. I barely spoke at all (which you all know is just WEIRD), but I didn't know how to say anything and no one was understanding me anyway. It was just so... I don't even know the right word. Not having anyone be able to understand basic questions (like how exactly to use a toilet when there is no running water) is extremely frustrating. It would be embarrassing to have to ask questions about how to bathe, cook, and clean when I know perfectly well how to do all those things back home, but you're so desperate to know these things and have such a hard time communicating that thankfully the embarrassment gets left behind.
Anyway, after making friends with the maid, who is 17, I feel so much better. She and I talk a lot (with lots of pointing and gesturing) and while I still have a long way to go, I feel like I can ask her the basic questions I need to know about food, water, etc. necessary for survival. I guess it will all come from there.
This morning I went to a Catholic mass that lasted over 3 hours. Now, I'm not one for church at the best of times, but when I haven't slept well (due to such new surroundings, a lumpy bed, and an over-stuffed useless pillow) and can't understand a single word the priest is saying? Yeah, it was kind of excruciating. Most of the time I could barely stay awake. But when people sang, it was AMAZING. There was no choir, everyone just sang the songs while one lady in the front directed. And so many voices filling up a church with so much happiness and joy in a country that has so little was pretty incredible. I didn't understand the words, but it didn't matter. The sound was completely spiritual and heavenly. Probably enough to get me to go back at least a few more times.
Then this afternoon, Fina (the maid) and I went for a meandering/wandering walk (a distinct verb in Portugese, passear, which is different from the verb for walk, which is caminar) and we ended up at an awesome park with a pool and spent a few hours hanging out with other kids as well as some of the other members of my Peace Corps group whose families had taken them to the park as well. It was really nice to see the other volunteers to remember I am not going through this alone.
Well, school starts bright and early at 7:30 tomorrow, so I'm going to sleep now. But hopefully I'll have more time to write in the next few days...
October 6, 2010
So I saw my first car accident today. It wasn't too bad; no one was really hurt, except the car. Some guy was driving down the road and my language class was meeting on the porch of one of the student's houses so we could see him easily. He drove by going faster than most people drive because the roads here are really bad and rocky, and he either almost hit something or hit a weird bump and totally rolled his pickup over. People all rushed over and helped him out to make sure he was okay and flipped the car back over, but then all the mothers started yelling at him for showing off and driving fast down the road when there are kids all around. It was crazy. But apparently that happens all the time.
So lesson for today: bad roads + bad drivers trying to show off that they have a car = BAD NEWS. But like I said, luckily no one was hurt and while his windshield was totally cracked and broken and the car wouldn't run, no harm was really done. Other than that, my Portuguese classes are going well, and there are some really awesome people in my Peace Corps group here.
Okay, I guess that's all for now. I have to send a couple more emails and then we head back to the training city, Namaacha. I have my internet phone now thought so hopefully I can send shorter emails a little more often to be less overwhelming.
I LOVE YOU ALL.
~Alissa
**Side note for my crew people: I woke up on the first day of classes to find that my crew necklace (one of the EB ones that I haven't taken off in probably a year) had broken, which totally was NOT cool and not helpful when I was already stressed. I thought at first maybe it was some kind of sign. You know, it's a new part of my life and maybe I should think about letting go some of the old. But after spending the next two days constantly rubbing at my neck and missing it, I instead went to the mercado and bought super glue and super glued it back on. LOL. So I guess now it really won't come off for awhile, right? I miss you ladies so much. Hope all is well on the Connecticut River (and wherever else you are).... *hugs*
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