I'm at an internet cafe in city that is relatively close to my site. The internet here is frustratingly slow, and is paid by the hour so I'll have to keep this relatively short. I actually have internet access at my site through the cell phone network and my laptop. It's great for keeping in touch via email. It's too expensive to receive pictures and browse the web though. This might not exactly sound like roughing it in the Peace Corps, but I'm not intentionally going to go avoid available conveniences. I'm here to teach, not live two years of isolation and meditation.
So I'm now all finished with training and am an official Peace Corps volunteer. School will be starting in about 1.5 weeks, so I've been using the free time to get settled in. I'm planning on doing some painting and organizing. I also got a gas stove. I was using a coal pot which works quite well once it's hot. I've really enjoyed having the gas stove for breakfast in the mornings, or for heating up some water for a bucket bath. I'll still use the coal pot for making dinners that require a lot of boiling and simmering time. The coal is quite reasonably priced.
Aside from that, I've still been working on learning the local language. All of the villagers speak the language, so I have practice everyday.
Things are going well right now, and I'm just waiting to get started with the teaching. Right now it feels like I'm just sitting around on vacation, but the teaching will give me that purpose for being here.
I have a lot of pictures that I'll be posting soon, complete with illustrative captions.
Take care...
Stephen
