Sunday, January 30, 2011

Brief Updates from Chelsea


Project Updates: Chelsea and Sara completed the Be Safe! Training with 22 nurses and teachers. They collected their work plans and passed out the materials. The facilitators should start delivering the program in the classrooms next week. Chelsea and Sara also are halfway through recording the next episode for Health Watch TV. The topic is nutrition and a balanced diet. Tim is still looking for funding for prizes for the author's fair but everything else is all organized. He has even begun to get some applications in from students!

Mental/Emotional Health: Right now we are really happy! Time has been flying by since we have been so busy. Even though we are really looking forward to our vacation home we are happy here. When we first came to Guyana we were let down but the seeming lack of 'culture' but after being here almost a year we have come to see the beautiful uniqueness of this country. Some things that used to annoy us like taking minibus rides, listening to Soca music, and drinking watery Banks beer, now amuse us and provide color and life to this experience.

Physical Health: Although we are both fighting off a pesky staph infection, which never seems to go away no matter how many antibiotics we take, we consider ourselves healthy. The perpetual exhaustion and sweatiness that comes with living 4 degrees latitude north of the equator has also become standard and cope-with-able. So, not to worry Moms, we are doing great!

Rasta Kitty: Rasta has been a little despondent lately. I think maybe it is because we gave her baby away to another PCV. It could also be that a huge jerk of a black cat from the neighborhood keeps sneaking into our house when we are away or asleep to eat Rasta's food. She had a weird wound on her leg (maybe from fighting said asshole cat) that is now healing nicely, without any treatment from us. She still likes to snuggle on our bed and chase lizards outside.

Number of books read in country: Tim has read 57. Chelsea has read 38. Tim goes crazy and reads like a manic here.

Things we are thankful for right now: New music to listen to, courtesy of Sara. New TV shows, courtesy of a iTunes gift card from Dad and Lisa. Our site in Linden. The luxuries in our house (running water, electricity, internet). Each other. Our friendships with other PCVS.

Things we are looking forward to this year: Celebrating our 1 year in Guyana anniversary at an Alter Ego Party at Megan J's house. Meeting the new group of PCVs in 3 weeks. Our trip home in April (seeing family and friends, meeting Baby Evelyn, Mexican food, wine and beer, Marini's, In-n-Out, visiting law schools, going to the beach, watching a movie in a theater). Dad and Lisa's wedding later this year.

Things we are looking forward to Post-Peace Corps: Our adventure throughout South America (we are thinking Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, and Peru for a month before coming home). Road trip around the Western United States (Utah, Zion, Yellowstone) and meeting up to travel with the Quinlivans. Buying a car. Going to law school and grad school. Getting a permanent teaching job. Living in the Bay area? Starting our family?

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