These three pics are from the one and only shin-dig that ALL 9 of us Fogo-ians had.
Me and Dina
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Pics
These three pics are from the one and only shin-dig that ALL 9 of us Fogo-ians had.
Me and Dina
They're closing what?
Ahhhhh, the joys of long hot years without airconditioning....there are less than two weeks to go in July. The new group of trainees is here and I assume learning the great lessons of being in the Peace Corps from their new homestay families...these lessons include, but are not limited to 1) learning how to take a cold bucket bath and wash your clothes by hand, 2) "older" people who are missing a few teeth are REALLY hard to understand (no matter how advanced your language skills are) but they will just keep talking at you till you nod even though you still don't understand and 3) Cape Verdean families will make you eat till you pop! Thinking about all those newbies brings back so many of my own homestay memories (and the fact that my host mom might kill me because i have not visited since february, yes i am ingrato). That the new group is here doesn't just mean that I have now arrived as a coveted "2nd year" volunteer, but it means that the volunteers that came the group before me are finishing up and leaving....well maybe.
Have I ever told y'all that it is oh so much fun being a volunteer in an island nation. My good friends Sam and Mel are leaving Fogo next Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, to COS (close of service) in Praia and then fly home. However all this excitement for them comes wrapped in rumors of the airport here in Fogo closing so they can make the runway longer. We have already been downgraded to only being able to fly inter-island on 19 seat jumpers. Now, the airline has been putting it out there that the airport will be closed during the month of August. They don't have an exact time frame, ie. the whole month, the beginning of the month, the end of the month...but they keep telling everyone making reservations to stand-bye for more information. It looks like Mel and Sam will get out of here, but there are two more volunteers COS-ing mid-august and Sarah (who is extending for a 3rd year) and Sean and Dave (from my group) are supposed to be traveling between islands this month. We'll see if eveyone makes it or not! On top of all this, even if the small planes are flying when eveyone goes they can only take 15 kilos of luggage. So the COS-ing volunteers have to ship their stuff to Praia by boat and then collect it when they get there...and y'all read that blog about the quality of boat service here! I'll keep you all posted!
As for me personally, nothing much is new. I am finishing up an English class and trying to get some HIV/AIDS projects funded and running. You know, same ol' same ol'. This weekend, Katxupa and I will be traveling up to Cha to attend the dispidida (going away party) for Sam and Mel. Katuxupa loves it up there cause she can run around all day and night and I don't have to worry about her too much; only that one day she might actually get one of those chickens she likes to chase. We were up there two weeks ago and the day we got home, Katxupa slept for the ENTIRE day.
Have I ever told y'all that it is oh so much fun being a volunteer in an island nation. My good friends Sam and Mel are leaving Fogo next Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, to COS (close of service) in Praia and then fly home. However all this excitement for them comes wrapped in rumors of the airport here in Fogo closing so they can make the runway longer. We have already been downgraded to only being able to fly inter-island on 19 seat jumpers. Now, the airline has been putting it out there that the airport will be closed during the month of August. They don't have an exact time frame, ie. the whole month, the beginning of the month, the end of the month...but they keep telling everyone making reservations to stand-bye for more information. It looks like Mel and Sam will get out of here, but there are two more volunteers COS-ing mid-august and Sarah (who is extending for a 3rd year) and Sean and Dave (from my group) are supposed to be traveling between islands this month. We'll see if eveyone makes it or not! On top of all this, even if the small planes are flying when eveyone goes they can only take 15 kilos of luggage. So the COS-ing volunteers have to ship their stuff to Praia by boat and then collect it when they get there...and y'all read that blog about the quality of boat service here! I'll keep you all posted!
As for me personally, nothing much is new. I am finishing up an English class and trying to get some HIV/AIDS projects funded and running. You know, same ol' same ol'. This weekend, Katxupa and I will be traveling up to Cha to attend the dispidida (going away party) for Sam and Mel. Katuxupa loves it up there cause she can run around all day and night and I don't have to worry about her too much; only that one day she might actually get one of those chickens she likes to chase. We were up there two weeks ago and the day we got home, Katxupa slept for the ENTIRE day.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
It's all in the family
Sorry for the long delay everyone!
So, one year in country has come and past! I only have 13 months of service left! Wow, how the time has flown by. Really, it seems like 3 months ago that i left, not 12. I am still extremely happy that i chose to join the peace corps and am learning so much about myself and the world by being here. Sometimes, however, I do wish that i could just push the pause button on the rest of the world so i don't miss all the important things happening in your lives. This blog might be a little boring for those of you not in the Blas family, but maybe it will inspire you to go out and hug your family!
To the Blas Family-
You know, growing up, I don't think it dawned on the cousins of my generation just why it was so important we continue to get together. The first generation cousins had basically grown up together, but for us who only saw each other once a year, it was my thought that the Blas family was just the sea of people I had to sift through every christmas to get my presents from "santa". But through our reunions, especially the last one, all of that changed. I realized why we do it; i realized why we all gather every Christams Eve and every 5 years at the reunions... we do it because although our family is large, loud and even a little crazy, it is such a special thing that we are able reconnect with everyone; to be there to meet new husbands/wives and new babies and to be there for each other through the losses and the hard times. I hope we all realize how unique our family is. Being here in Cape Verde has shown me that. Most Americans think of their family as Grandma, Grandpa, aunts and uncles, but i am blessed to know my great aunts and uncles, first, second and third cousins and how the rest of us are related i can't even say correctly! I know that when it is time for the Blas family to get together, there are over 100 people that I can't wait to see! So, to wrap up my sappy homage to you all, my wonderful family, who will be together without me in less than one week, i have only one more thing to say...be crazy, be loud, be family. I love you and will be thinking of you all!
To my second family-
Keeping on the family note, I have to say welcome to the world to Chance Michael Chishom who was born July 10th, 2008! Katie and Matt, i am so happy that you two have a beautiful healthy baby boy! I wish I could be there to give you all a big hug and kiss. I can't believe I won't meet him for another year. Tell Chance to expect a lot of love from his auntie dottie when she gets home!
So, one year in country has come and past! I only have 13 months of service left! Wow, how the time has flown by. Really, it seems like 3 months ago that i left, not 12. I am still extremely happy that i chose to join the peace corps and am learning so much about myself and the world by being here. Sometimes, however, I do wish that i could just push the pause button on the rest of the world so i don't miss all the important things happening in your lives. This blog might be a little boring for those of you not in the Blas family, but maybe it will inspire you to go out and hug your family!
To the Blas Family-
You know, growing up, I don't think it dawned on the cousins of my generation just why it was so important we continue to get together. The first generation cousins had basically grown up together, but for us who only saw each other once a year, it was my thought that the Blas family was just the sea of people I had to sift through every christmas to get my presents from "santa". But through our reunions, especially the last one, all of that changed. I realized why we do it; i realized why we all gather every Christams Eve and every 5 years at the reunions... we do it because although our family is large, loud and even a little crazy, it is such a special thing that we are able reconnect with everyone; to be there to meet new husbands/wives and new babies and to be there for each other through the losses and the hard times. I hope we all realize how unique our family is. Being here in Cape Verde has shown me that. Most Americans think of their family as Grandma, Grandpa, aunts and uncles, but i am blessed to know my great aunts and uncles, first, second and third cousins and how the rest of us are related i can't even say correctly! I know that when it is time for the Blas family to get together, there are over 100 people that I can't wait to see! So, to wrap up my sappy homage to you all, my wonderful family, who will be together without me in less than one week, i have only one more thing to say...be crazy, be loud, be family. I love you and will be thinking of you all!
To my second family-
Keeping on the family note, I have to say welcome to the world to Chance Michael Chishom who was born July 10th, 2008! Katie and Matt, i am so happy that you two have a beautiful healthy baby boy! I wish I could be there to give you all a big hug and kiss. I can't believe I won't meet him for another year. Tell Chance to expect a lot of love from his auntie dottie when she gets home!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Emily is here!!!!!!
If you didn't look at the title, I will say it one more time; Emily is here!!!!! She got in last wednesday on the direct flight from Praia and we have been nonstop vacationing ever since! She is here for three weeks so i took some time off so we could travel to different islands. The day after she got here we met Mel at the airport and flew out to Boa Vista. Boa Vista is gorgeous and hasn't gotten too bruised and battered from the tourist industry. We stayed with Leland, the volunteer there, and got to watch him do a little windsurfing while we girls hung out in hammocks and drank beer at the wind club. We were supposed to only be there for three nights, but good 'ol TACV moved our flight up an hour and a half so we missed it. The next day, on time and checked in, we took off for Sal. If you have done any research for Cape Verde, Sal is probably what comes up most for building and tourism. Beuatiful white sand beaches are being overtaken by foreign compainies building hotels, condos, restaurants and golf courses. There is no doubt it is beautiful here but I hope the industry can keep the integrity of this island as they expand to build more. Some cool things we have done though include: visiting the salt mines here in Sal (Sal=Salt) and we floated around in the water!! It was so neat...you completely float but word to the wise, cuts hurt in ultra-salty water as well as eye balls if your head gets wet!
We leave for Praia tomorrow before making the final jump to Fogo. Sal and Boa Vista have been a great time but i keep trying to warn Em that Praia and Fogo are a different world. Here we they have Indian restaurants, Tapas Bars and Italian Pizzarias... that lifestyle all comes to an end when we get one the plane tonight!! More later!
We leave for Praia tomorrow before making the final jump to Fogo. Sal and Boa Vista have been a great time but i keep trying to warn Em that Praia and Fogo are a different world. Here we they have Indian restaurants, Tapas Bars and Italian Pizzarias... that lifestyle all comes to an end when we get one the plane tonight!! More later!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
More Pics
Youth group event...look at all the Peace Corps support!
What's left of the youth group...at least we got one event organized!
Pics from the festa!
Pre- festa
Another one bites the dust...
Yesterday the boat connecting Fogo, Brava and Praia sank. It was the second such incident in about as many months. That’s right, a different boat sank a little more than a month ago when it ran up on some rocks leaving Fogo. This most recent sinking was of the boat named “Mosteiros”. It was the boat that Mel, Sarah and I just took to and from Brava. And what is really scary is there was a Peace Corps volunteer on board on her way here to visit. Her account of the incident goes as follows: The boat left Praia around midnight on its way to pick up and drop off people in Brava (this includes Sam, who is currently vacationing on Brava), before coming here to Fogo. Well she says that about 3 a.m. the boat is leaning to one side and they turn around and head back to Praia. They don’t quite make it…at about 6 am the reach a little fishing cove close to Praia and by this time the boat is leaning so far to the side that people are starting to jump off the boat into the water. Luckily, the fishermen had been alerted and were out in their row boats rescuing the passengers. By 10 am the boat was completely underwater. I guess that is why Peace Corps gives us life vests (and I guess that is why I really will start taking mine with me when I travel by boat). Anyways, all the passengers were rescued but everything else is at the bottom of the ocean; ncluding 3 large trucks full of the food and supplies to be delivered to Brava and Fogo and all the passengers’ belongings. We’ll see how this affects our food shortages here on the island. So to sum up the experience, the PCV is not coming to visit, Sam is stuck in Brava until further notice (there is no airport there and after the sinking(s) there is only one other boat that services these islands and there schedule is shifty) and Emily and I are now officially flying between islands when she comes to visit!!
In other news, last week was the festival of São Filipe. Man-o-man my body was not ready for 5 nights of partying. Basically, Monday thru Friday there were festivities starting in the afternoon after work and going through the night into the next morning. Every night, starting at around 11pm, there were big name Cape Verdean groups. Music ended around 3 or 4 in the morning with the party then moving to whichever bar was less crowded. I don’t know how people here do it. They party hard all night then are up bright and early for work the next day. I was dragging by the second night, but continued to muster up the strength to party until Wendnesday because that was the big night. Calypso came and played in Cape Verde!!!!!!!!!!! Ricardo, I really hope that as a Brazilian you know who Calypso is, if not you are letting me down. For those of you who are not into popular Brazilian music, Calypso is the famous equivalent to someone like Madonna or Michael Jackson in the states. People go crazy for them and that has rubbed off on the Cape Verdeans. Everyone here was soooooooooooo excited, dressed to the nines (including ourselves) and ready watch the lead singer dance her booty off and flip her hair around like a champion (that is literally all she does). Anyways, we had a blast all 4 nights that we were there and it was the first time we have all the volunteers on the island in the same place at the same time. All I know for sure though, is that I will have to practice ahead of time because my body just can’t take it. I was sick by the end and slept for the entire weekend!!
In other news, last week was the festival of São Filipe. Man-o-man my body was not ready for 5 nights of partying. Basically, Monday thru Friday there were festivities starting in the afternoon after work and going through the night into the next morning. Every night, starting at around 11pm, there were big name Cape Verdean groups. Music ended around 3 or 4 in the morning with the party then moving to whichever bar was less crowded. I don’t know how people here do it. They party hard all night then are up bright and early for work the next day. I was dragging by the second night, but continued to muster up the strength to party until Wendnesday because that was the big night. Calypso came and played in Cape Verde!!!!!!!!!!! Ricardo, I really hope that as a Brazilian you know who Calypso is, if not you are letting me down. For those of you who are not into popular Brazilian music, Calypso is the famous equivalent to someone like Madonna or Michael Jackson in the states. People go crazy for them and that has rubbed off on the Cape Verdeans. Everyone here was soooooooooooo excited, dressed to the nines (including ourselves) and ready watch the lead singer dance her booty off and flip her hair around like a champion (that is literally all she does). Anyways, we had a blast all 4 nights that we were there and it was the first time we have all the volunteers on the island in the same place at the same time. All I know for sure though, is that I will have to practice ahead of time because my body just can’t take it. I was sick by the end and slept for the entire weekend!!
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