Dirty Jobs

If you all have not figured it out by now, we do not have running water in our village. We collect rain water in a Durotank off the zinc roof of our wash house. This is our Durotank on its side:

What you cannot tell in the above picture is that Ryan is inside of our Durotank. Yep. For proper maintenance, you are supposed to clean out Durotanks once a year. It actually was not as dirty as we anticipated, but I am glad that job is done. Reason #468 for joining the Peace Corps as a married couple. I love you, honey!

Village Party!

The Birthday Girl and I

One of our teachers and a basia of the village (an official leader) turned 50 this year and threw the first big party in Pokigron since we've lived here. She picked out the party material at a local shop. Most of the women in my village bought it and then it was up to us how we wanted to sew it. The other teachers really went to town. You can tell that they are all from Paramaribo and not the interior. :)

All of the school teachers singing for the birthday girl.

Since we live in a church village, the party started off with some hymns (acapella) and a short message about God and the birthday girl. After that different people sang for her and gave speeches about her. Bami, soup, fried rice, soda and cake were served to everyone attending. There was a band who played music way too loud (I swear most of this country will be deaf in 10 years) and I saw some of my villagers dance for the first time (though mostly kids and men).

My friend Solaia and I. She braided my hair!

Ryan and I headed to bed a little after 1AM but I heard the party kept going until 6AM. Saramaccans do not need sleep! I don't know how they do it but I am very jealous!

Ryan was content holding this little guy who would have rather been in bed!