Little Saramaccan Lindsay

This is my friend Zuslien:

She lives close to us but is planning on moving to Paramaribo in August. In this recent picture, she is pregnant with her sixth child. I think she's around 29 years old. A couple of months ago she informed us that if she has a boy, she will name him Ryan and if she has a girl, she will name her Lindsay. We were excited, although, I wasn't sure if she would follow through with it or if our name would be the kid's first name, or second middle name like little Rachel Josina Lindsay Smit from our homestay family (look here). 

Well, the day finally came and she had a little girl! I was in the city at the time but my friend who is the nurse called me to say that Zuslien gave birth to a little girl and she was taking my name as her first name! Here's the thing about names in Saramaaka. Everyone has a birth name that is used in school but usually no one uses that name outside of school. Everyone has one or two nicknames that they go by. In fact, I've talked to some new mothers who do not even remember their baby's real name because they don't plan on ever using it except for school. Anyways, when I came to visit little Lindsay, Zuslien and her five other children were all calling her Lindsay already, so I think they will actually use it outside of school! 

Here she is in an outfit I bought for her!

Me, Zuslien, baby Lindsay and her big sister Sepora

Zuslien, little Lindsay, Sepora and John, Zuslien husband

A New Road, Emancipation Day, etc.

Seriously? No one commented on my last post about Ryan climbing inside of our Durotank?

Here is an update in pictures from June through July 1st, which is Emancipation Day in Suriname. You'll find jungle animals, rainbows, Saramaccan party attire, adorable children and a bulldozer making its way through our village. Never a dull moment in Saramaaka.

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!

Random adorable baby picture: this is an updated picture of Julius, my friend Isa's baby. She was pregnant when I first moved to Pokigron and  I ended up on a boat with her while she was in labor- we have a special bond.

Things have been busy lately. The new group of Peace Corps Suriname trainees have arrived and Ryan and I are both helping give trainings and act as guides as they transition into this fascinating country. The big rainy season started right on time on May Basket Day (May 1st, also known as Valoria and Brian Jones' wedding anniversary!) so we are enjoying rain showers daily. We are just starting to dive into several different projects in our village, so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We are willing (although learning as we go) but our villagers have to be willing every step of the way, as well. We'll see how things go.

In the meantime, we are continuing to make improvements on our little hut. I do not remember if I posted pictures of Ryan cutting vent holes into both the front and back walls. He did it awhile ago and it has really helped to allow the heat to escape the house. We are also in the process of making the porch that we wanted since before we moved to site (you see how slowly things happen here?). Here are pictures of these exciting changes.

We went back to visit our homestay family before one of the new Peace Corps trainees moves in with them. They were thrilled to see us and it was really nice to see them. If you remember, our host mom gave birth to a little girl while we lived with them. She is so big now and beautiful! Click here to see pictures of the kids, as well as Ryan and I teaching English and a monkey because, well, we live in the jungle.

We miss you all and America quite a bit. Send us an email, letter, package or give us a call via phone or skype. We love to hear from friends and family.

Happy Mother’s Day!

As is true with all children, as I grow older I come to understand and appreciate just how challenging and all-consuming motherhood is for a woman. My own mother has never wavered in her love and support for me even in times that I doubted it in my childishness or no matter where I ventured off in the world. I know she is proud of me and will always be there for me no matter what happens, which are two of the most empowering gifts a mother can give her child. I just want her to know that I realize many children are not fortunate enough to have a mom as wonderful as she is and I appreciate her greatly. I love you Mamuschuka!!!

Not only do I have a wonderful birth mom but I am lucky enough to have found an incredible mother-in-law.  She loves me like her own daughter and I cannot express how thankful I am for that. My amazing husband is living proof of her expert mom skills. Happy Mother’s Day, Cecile! I love you!

I would also like to send a special shout out to some new and amazing mothers who are celebrating their very first Mother’s Day- Alysha, Kirstin, Jayme and Rachel. Congratulations all of you! I cannot wait to meet the new additions to the family when I come home.

A Nice, Varied Photo Update

Click here to check out some recent pictures from my life. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!