We've been living with a host family for the last four weeks as part of what Peace Corps calls community based training. We have our own small two room house in a cluster of houses where various members of our extended family live. It's a good situation (except for the food...more later). We had heard from previous volunteers that "home stay" could be very difficult, but it has been great for us. There are lots of kids around all the time and we really enjoy playing with them. We are quite a novelty (they especially like David's arm hair!) so they love getting attention from us. We also brought a frisbee they can't get enough of.
We spend four hours in language class each morning and afternoons, we work at basic activities, like doing dishes and washing clothes (it's a lot harder than it sounds). Christine does most of this while David has been helping with less regular chores like cleaning drainage ditches, fixing fences, fixing gutters, etc. Our hosts are very appreciative of the work David has been doing, but the routine housework is expected of Christine. Sometimes we also have formal Peace Corps training in the afternoon.
In the evening, we hang out with our family, eat dinner and blunder through basic conversations in Aucan. Everyone is very patient with us (...including the 3 year old), although they can get a little insistent about pronunciation and some of the ritualized greetings. Christine is sewing a lot with the women in the evenings as well. She has sewn 2 pangi's (traditional Maroon wrap skirts) which she now wears almost exclusively. The food is a bit challenging. Almost everything has salt, soy sauce and chicken bouillion cubes (Maggi) in it in large quantities. Hypertension has become a serious health issue here.
The culture shock has been quite pronounced, but our hosts are very gracious and we feel welcome in our family and the village as a whole. Our lack of language (we're learning, but it's slow) is a real impediment as far as understanding what's going on in the village, but it hasn't stopped us from feeling close to the people here.
Tomorrow we are going to the village where we will be living once we complete training and swearing in. We will be staying five days to check things out and meet people there. We're a little nervous (...language) but also excited. More when we can.
David and Christine
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Thanks again for the updates. Ew to salt on top of salt. I'm proud of all of your hard work. I wouldn't have the stones to do it.
ReplyDeletecheers,
Eden
Wow, it sounds very interesting. Although all that housework in the afternoons sounds like a drag. When you are on your own in your own village will that be quite different? Good luck with learning the language. Keep writing...I want to hear a bit more about the acculturation process.
ReplyDeleteMissing you. Birthday celebrations coming up...what will you do for that Christine? Cake with soy sauce perhaps?
Thinking of you,
Shelley
Enjoying your updates. I really admire your willingness to do this. Yes, language is a challenge even when you speak the same one. Christine, we are missing you here, especially Jelly Belly Boy (even though Lisa pays him a lot of attention).
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to more updates (nothing like living vicariously).
Janet