It has been awhile since I have added anything to my blog, and that is because I have been staying pretty busy. I also have not responded to emails (Sorry) I will get to them soon. The begining of my adventure was a two week training with the PeaceCorps. It was called out In-Service Training. I was nervous to come back together with all the volunteers who I spent two months with then was separated. It was so nice to see everyone and hear about the good and the bad times people were having. It all closely resembled eachother. For the first week we talked alot about the issues we have been having in our villages, how to write grants, we all presented our analysis of the village, and had some updates on various teaching skills. For the second half of the training we were able to bring one of our villagers. I brought my neighbor how is 20 years old, and he got so much out of the training. He was able to recieve some training on health issues, also learned what made Americans act the way they do, and various skills to help him and me work better together. I am so glad he was able to come, I think he took alot from the experience and will use it for the rest of his life.
After training I had to go back to the capitol city to get a check up on my tooth. The guy took an x-ray and all is well. He said as long as I am not in pain, he doesn't see anything wrong. That made my day and allowed me to be alittle more relaxed going into Christmas vacation.
A group of us decided to spend our Christmas on Mafia island. If you look it up on the internet you will find a resort that costs lots of money. Don't be fooled, we did not stay there. We were trying to save money and still have a good time so we stayed on the no developed side. In order to get to the island we had to take a small van for 4 hours than hop on a ferry for another 4.5 hours before we arrived in "paradise". We were staying at a hotel that was old and kind of beat up, cracks in the walls you know the type. It was cheap. We soon found out that they shut the electricty off at 7am in the morning (that means no vacation naps under a fan) and for most of the days shut the water off to, so no showers until late at night. It was paradise because we were living in a village and were able to get cheap deals on almost everything. I loved that part! One of the days we decided to go swimming with the whale sharks. I think most of you have heard the story, but we decided to go with a man who claimed to have worked with the coral reef conservation or something. He gave us a good deal so once again I had a big smile on my face. We are getting on the boat then he tells us he is not coming out his workers will take good care of us. We all load into a small boat push off to go board the bigger boat. At this time the tide is starting to rise because they HAD to have tea and bread before they left. We get in the bigget boat maybe a 30ft boat for the 13 of us. The guys start setting up the awning, and other things on the boat while the tide is still rising. They finally start the boat then one gets out to push. The boat is stuck. Again the tide is still rising. They tell us to hop back in the small boat so they can puch easier. We decide that there is no way they are going to be able to do this by themselves so we all get out and help push, finally the boat is loose and we are off.
We get out to see and within 15 mins the guy spots one. We all get super excited and start putting on goggles, snorkels, flippers. Our hearts are racing a mile a minute. The guy gets up close and says jump in. I am one of the first to jump and half into the water I realize what I am doing. I am jumping into the middle of the ocean to swim with a 20ft wild shark. The water is murky so I cant get a good look. I am freaking out and keep trying to find it, but also am super afraid. I get back into the boat and let others try. Eventually after about 6 jumps in a I get a real good one. I am able to swim right over the shark for about 30 seconds. I was on the surface and it was about 3 feet down. It was one of the most surreal and pristine moments of my life. I was also able to swim next to it for about 15 seconds. Such an amazing experience. I would recommend it to anyone who has the oppurtunity.
The rest of the trip we relaxed on the INDIAN OCEAN, played cards, read, napped, ate lots of seafood for so cheap. I got a whole octopus for like 60 cents american. On Christmas we had a nice lunch with a couple from England who we have been sharing our time with. They had fruit cake sent in for Christmas and they shared it with us. I was apprehensive, but it was delicous.
Now I am on my way back to my village to get started on my projects.
First holiday season away was hard, but I am glad I stayed so busy. Made the time go by fast, and made it not really feel like I missed Christmas.
I love and miss you all
