We've arrived in Suriname and are doing well!

We were greeted at the airport by Peace Corps (PC) staff giving us beautiful flowers. We were then welcomed to the Peace Corps training camp by many current Peace Corps volunteers who traveled into the city just for us (okay, probably also for food and to speak English). Each current volunteer put a pangi around us (which I can use later as a skirt, it is just a bright piece of fabric) and helped carry our luggage to our rooms where there were welcome baskets full of fruit, our medical kits, things to wash our clothes, prepared beds complete with mosquito nets, etc. That was around 1am Thursday morning. Since then, we have been in orientation sessions most of the time, getting to know the PC staff and other trainees (we are not PC volunteers until we swear in around July 20th), and trying to get used to the heat.

Ryan with his pangi showing you our room with our double bed mosquito net. There have not been many mosquitos though!

It is HOT here. It is during the rainy season so it drizzles throughout the day (and sometimes pours), which is a relief from the sun...until the moisture just makes it even more humid. Supposedly, this is the cool time of the year, though, so we'll see how much hotter we can stand it.

Our two welcome baskets and two buckets and scrub basins to handwash our clothes! We have not attempted this yet...

We've been able to get to town just a couple quick times to use the nice (and air conditioned!) internet cafe. It is strange to not know ANY of the language. Even when I was in Argentina and I did not know any of the Argentine slang or understand the accent, I still knew some Spanish. So I could get my point across, read most of the signs and understand a word or two. Most people start to speak to us in Dutch (at least I am assuming that is what it is). Some people know English, like the guy who works at the internet cafe (thank goodness!).

The sun setting behind our training camp

The PC staff is kind and the food has been very good, although repetitive. There is A LOT of chicken and rice in our future, which, luckily, we both like. We are supposed to find out which village we will be permanently placed in and get our cell phones on Monday. However, we're having trouble buying a SIM card for the phone as the little phone store cannot handle the demand of all 24 trainees. Hopefully it will be sorted soon.

I miss everyone back home and look forward to hearing from all of you. We've only been here for about 3 days, but it feels like a lot longer! We will be at the training site until Thursday, then move in with our host family and the real adventure begins!

2 Days 'Til I Leave the Country!

I absolutely cannot believe it. Ryan and I started the Peace Corps process so long ago and every step of the way has been so….unsure... that I do not really believe we are actually starting our adventure in 2 days. Well, 1 day really, as our adventure starts in Miami tomorrow (5/4). I don’t think it will sink in until after we have been in Suriname for awhile.

Our LONG “to do” list is finally checked off and we have been enjoying time with family and friends. We are SO thankful for all the love and support that we have been shown and realize how lucky we are. We have loved every minute of our send-off from CA to MS.

A few days with the Joiner Fam in San Jacinto, CA:

In San Diego for Mexican food and Mulvaney's (my country bar):

A few days in Austin, TX with the BIL & SIL:

Yes, Anne and I rented a giant swan. Be jealous.

And finally a few days in Gulfport, MS and New Orleans, LA with the rest of the Dapremont Fam:

Hmmm warm beignets while we escape the thunderstorm!

My first crawfish boil at the Havers!

I'm just missing pics of the 3 generations of Dapremont men from when we visited Gramps with Doctor Dapremont! Doc or Moks, please send!

Prayers for safe travels are appreciated! Love y'all.