Thank you so much everyone for your interest and support, emails and comments! It´s awesome to feel so connected! Thanks!
Jesse and I are still happy and learning a lot.
Namaacha is a relatively large town and we´ve explored its corners now. Jesse had sprained his ankle with a basketball foul but now it´s good enough to walk on again. Last weekend we went on a beautiful hike. Here´s a photo of our first hike in Africa!
Jesse and I eat dinner and chat with our host father each evening. After dinner we like to watch TV with the family – the news in Portuguese, a Brazilian game show, or rap music videos. My host mother has taught me to crochet. It´s pretty surreal to be crocheting in Africa to SnoopDog.
We´ve been learning Portuguese as fast as we can ... which doesn´t seem that fast in the moment. The first five weeks of training are focused on Portuguese. After next week, we´ll start more technical training about how to teach. Week 7 we´ll visit a site of a current volunteer, and then we´ll practice teaching during a couple weeks of model school. Peace Corps bribes kids in the community with cookies to attend our classes during their school break so that we can practice teaching to classes of 60 or more high school students.
Our brother, Mito, had a baby last week. Our host father asked me and Jesse to make a long list of possible names. Barack Obama is up there. More ideas? Here´s a photo of the baby that I took when I visited his mom at the hospital - one day old!
Rainy season is starting, so the yard is sticky mud now. Who knew that we would get chilly in Africa! Our little sisters, Fina and Vina, love playing in the yard.
Our host mother and Deanora fixed up Jesse´s dreadlocks. The finishing touch was pouring a bottle of CocaCola over his head!
One fun cross-cultural family activity is exchanging recipes. Here´s a photo of Jesse´s language group trying to make grilled cheese and onion rings for their mothers. My group shared recipies for breakfast burritos, applesauce, brushetta, and banana pancakes. What a treat! We´re enjoying Mozambican food as well. Usually for dinner we have a dish of cooked greens served over rice or xima (corn flour with water).
Hope all of you are doing well! Thanks again for reading!
4 comments:
Can't wait to see how the dreads develop!
You are in our thoughts and prayers. I love to read about your adventures.
May God continue to strengthen you as you learn and grow!
Deaconess DeboRAH
Hey Jesse- where were the puerogis in the cross-culture recipe sharing?!
It's such fun seeing the pictures and learning more about your expereinces. I know the twins won your hearts long ago. (How long did they manage to keep those dresses white?!) And I imagine finishing off your newly styled dreds with coca cola works more effectively than bees wax!
A suggested same for your new nephew... Martin Luther...
Your lives sound so full and good. Gods continued blessings upon you and all you meet.
Love,
Mom R.
What up animals!
I'm glad to hear all is well across the pond. I have a few name suggestions...
1. Philip the Great
2. Mister (It would be funny if everyone always had to call him Mr. ______. That way he'd always get respect)
3. Slayer, Slay-city, Suffer-mania, Domination-central, Lance Armstrong etc (these names would ensure he becomes a champion cyclist)
4. You could name him after a rapper (Snoop Dogg, Fitty Cent, etc)
5. Aiden, Luke, Elliot
and randomly, my favorite joke of the day. Why does Snoop Dogg carry an umbrella? - - - In case it DRIZZLES!
Phil
Jesse and Emily,
I've enjoyed visiting your blog whenever I get to a computer. Keep the interesting posts coming!
I'm so happy that you seem to be enjoying your training host family and settling into life in Mozambique. I have some idea what you mean about the crocheting to SnoopDog in Africa ... there are so many things here in El Salvador from America that seem incongruent with the surroundings too. Although I must say I was happy when Cheerios made it to El Sal last year!
Will lutefisk from St. Olaf be among your recipes shared? If not, I COMPLETELY understand!
I look forward to hearing more about the wonderful work you will be doing. Que Dios les bendiga. (How do you say, "May God bless you" in Portugese?)
Blessings and peace,
Megan
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