We are official Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs)!

Ryan and I have made it through almost three months of in-country training and officially taken an oath to the U.S. Peace Corps. We will be leaving for the jungle tomorrow morning bright and early with all of our stuff to set up our new house for the next 2 years. The past few days have been pretty stressful as we've been trying to think of everything we will need, buy it, and haul it either to our hostel or the PC office. We are anticipating doing quite a bit of work once we arrive to site on our small house built by a PC volunteer about 15 years ago, so the next few days and weeks will probably continue to be slightly stressful. On a side note, we will not have internet until we come back into the city. We are not sure when that will be, but probably not for a few months. You can always reach us via cell phone.

Our swearing in ceremony was hosted at the U.S. ambassador to Suriname's home for the first time, which was very gracious of him and his wife. Their house is, of course, BEAUTIFUL and the ceremony was very nice. We are closing the first chapter of our PC adventure and moving into the next with excitement and nervousness! Our language is coming along, but 7 weeks learning a new language doesn't make anyone an expert, so that will be our biggest challenge once we get to site. I pray that we will have patient and kind neighbors to help move it along quickly. We are looking forward to having our own space and cooking for ourselves but are sadly saying goodbye to the running water and flush toilet at our homestay house. Subsequently, we are saying hello to a brand new latrine and outside wash house with a choice to either haul water from a community sink (better than the river!) or our durotanks, which are just huge plastic containers that catch rainwater. Also, Suriname is heading into its 3 month dry season which means no rain to cool of the days. I can not imagine it becoming even hotter than it has been, but apparently it is going to happen. :)

We miss you all very much and look forward to hearing from you. Click Here to look at a few pictures from our swearing in ceremony and following celebration.

SUR 16

I realized that I have not posted many pictures of our PC group, so here are a couple from a few brief nights out in the city: http://picasaweb.google.com/101047715207299927751/MyFellowPCTraineesSoonToBePCVolunteers#. I need to take more pics in order to make sure to get the whole group represented. We are called SUR 16, meaning the 16th Peace Corps group to come to Suriname (one comes every year). Enjoy!

A Few More Pictures from Homestay

Ok, I think a Picasa web album is the best way for me to upload pictures for all of you, so..........check out this link for more pictures from our homestay adventure: http://picasaweb.google.com/101047715207299927751/AFewMorePicturesFromCBT#. This way the captions work so you'll know what you're looking at!

P.S.

Be sure to check out Ryan's blog: http://backfromhello.com/. My adorable photographer husband has some amazing pictures of our experience here.

Special thanks from Suriname to............... my wonderful parents, my super in-laws, my amazing sister, my Clairebear, my Lor, Miss Meggers, my Aunt Marly, my rockin' SILS and BILS, my diligent grandfather and my sweet friend Jody for your letters, packages, calls and especially love! We love hearing what is going on in your exciting lives and just news of the outside world in general. ;) Summer and my parents have our address and phone numbers if you need them. You are welcome to email us, but our response will be a long time coming. The only immediate way to reach us is via cell phone. xoxo

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures!

Our host mom showed me how to cook "Bami", a Javanese noodle dish that is very popular here. From left to right: Denzel, our host brother, Brigita, our host mom, me, Oozlen, our host sister (well, cousin, technically), and Diosa, our host sister.

 A side view of our host family's house. The front area surrounded by shutters is a porch. The back green window that is closed is to our room. The handsome boy posing in his towel is our host brother Denzel.  Our home for the last 2 months and only two weeks more. The structure on the front right is the gangasa, or outdoor cookhouse.

Our host mom is teaching me how to use her sewing machine to hem my new koosus (the cloth material that Saramaacan women wrap around their waists as skirts). I will be wearing these everyday in my village. Once I get there it will just be sewing by hand if I buy any more.

 Family picture! Back: Ryan, Josef, our host dad, Oozlen, our host cousin, Brigita, our host mom, Justin, our host brother Front: Janeeghel, host cousin, Diosa, host sister, Denzel, host brother, Denielson, host brother

 A sweet picture I took of my host sister Diosa in the mirror of our host dad's motorcycle.

Our host family on Emancipation Day! Adults, left to right: Rai, our host cousin, Josef, our host dad, Oozlen, our host cousin, me, Ryan, Brigita, our host mom. Kids, left to right: Diosa, our host sister, Denzel, our host brother, Janeghaal, our host sister, Denielson, our host brother, and Justin, our host brother, who is about to dash out of the picture to kick his soccer ball.

Other Wildlife

Per one of my best friend Jason's request, I am trying to get a picture of all the random animals and insects that I come across here. Here's what I have so far, Jay.

I saw three toucans flying around the other day and a crocodile, but I didn't have my camera with me. Oh, and I saw three little monkeys jumping through the trees outside of language class one day. That was awesome, but alas, no camera then either. No colorful frogs yet, but I promise not to touch any.

Rachel Josina Lindsay Smit

Our adorable host mom finally gave birth to a beautiful little girl! In case you haven't figured it out from this post title, if nothing else, I will be leaving behind a namesake in this mysterious and beautiful country. I am, of course, thrilled! Ryan and I have been extremely blessed to live with such a wonderfully kind family for our home-stay experience. Do not get me wrong, the numerous children have been more than challenging at times, but I have felt safe and welcomed here, especially by our host mom, who always gets a kick out of me. Rachel is pronounced “Raquel”, Josina is pronounced “Yoseena” and Lindsay is, of course, Lindsay. :) Our household is now perfectly even: 6 boys/men and 6 girls/women.

My Husband is Turning Black

Some of you might find that title slightly abrasive. However, being a bi-racial couple, Ryan and I are becoming more and more blunt with what color we are. I would say that is mostly a result of other people's reactions to us, rather than who we inherently are. Some of you might be thinking, “wait, isn't Ryan already black?” I should start writing down a list of all the ethnicities that random people assume Ryan is. Talk about entertainment. I will leave that question to him. Anyways, here is a picture of Ryan in California before we left and here is a recent picture of him. It is truly amazing to me how quickly he tans. After just a few short hours in the sun, he moves like 5 shades down the color scale.

In case any of you are wondering, I am developing a nice, golden tan at a much slower rate with a bazillion new freckles. Sunscreen (next to bug repellent) is my constant companion.