Week 3...

Hello again! This time I am writing from Maputo. We are on a field trip to the capital so that we can learn how to get around when we need to come here from site. I definitely prefer the rural community of Namaacha...it's scary walking around here. I've been clutching my bag the whole time. I got to ride in a chapa (taxi like service) for the first time as well...we smashed 24 people into a van that wasn't supposed to hold more than 16. I sat facing the opposite direction with my legs jammed against the person in front of me. Not my favorite way to travel. The drivers here are incredibly dangerous, so it's best to avoid riding in cars as much as possible. There are no stop lights or signs and I still haven't seen a speed limit sign...
The good news is that I survived week 3! I have to congratulate myself every time I make it through a week. This week proved to be a reality check for many volunteers...lots of random bouts of crying...the honeymoon period (if there ever really was one) is definitely over. My language group (we have all our Portuguese language sessions together, 6 times a week) had a slight breakdown this week, which I guess is pretty common. We found it was resolved by getting out of the 105 degree weather and into a barraca (bar) and drinking some cold fanta. All is well.
I have been kind of sick the whole time I've been here and I decided to talk to the medical officers about it yesterday...turns out I have giardia! About 90% of volunteers get it at some point during their service. It's a water parasite that makes life unpleasant. I'm getting medication for it on Monday. I must say, I miss the days when waking up at 6:40 wasn't sleeping in, I didn't think condensed milk was a treat, and getting giardia wasn't common...but I'm still doing OK.
Things with the host family are about the same...luckily I'll only be living with them for another 7 weeks. I definitely made some mistakes this week asking why women didn't get to eat inside...I was told it was because they didn't like eating with the men, and I was given an awkward long stare afterwards. I went to bed quite soon after that. I spoke with a PC officer, and he said it's best to aim those weird cultural questions at him...will do.
I'm getting super pumped for site visits! They happen in about 2 weeks and we get to go to actual sites and "shadow" current volunteers for 5 days. After that we do more indepth interviews with PC officers to find out where we should be placed in December. Also, after site visits, we start preparing for "model school." Each volunteer will teach a class for a week and be evaluated. As of now, that idea is really daunting because the tech sessions we've had have been a joke thus far. All of us trainees are feeling frustrated with the inefficiency of time and such. I'm the "chefe" (boss) for my language group, so I got to voice some complaints to the main people. We are hoping to see some change soon.
Everything else is going OK...still have to take it day by day. Some days are definitely better than others, but I'm sticking it out. I miss you guys all a lot. Please let me know what's going on in your lives and with the election!!! I still haven't gotten any mail...A girl received a package but it had been broken into. It was really sad...clothes and an ipod charger were stolen from it. Again, for safety precautions, if you want to send something do the following:
1. Use US Mail. It's the cheapest.
2. Within the main box, put things in tampon boxes. It makes it less likely they will search through it if they just open it and see feminine hygiene products.
3. Write "irma" before my name...they might think I'm a nun.
4. Try to send small boxes.
I guess that's it! Many hugs and kisses to all!