Well, Ive survived the first week and a half at my site. Thigs are going very well and I have not had any trouble filling my time. My host family is great and very understanding because they hosted the previous volunteer. They dont seem to think Im too strange and have been helpful but not over-protective. This is a picture of the village; there are aprox 100 households and 700 people.
So what have I done? The first night I arrived back at my site alone some kids showed me how to get to my house, even though Ive been there many times before. You all know me and shouldnt be suprised to know I needed help, but I started making a map of the village so hopefully I wont get lost anymore. It is only 100 households but its confusing! This is a picture of one of the many pools to swim in below the falls. You can slide down the one on the left. I'll be taking reservations for my couch starting in Aug if you want to visit. Everyone is welcome!
I went to the nearby town for the weekley market and visited the local authorities. I also had to go to a not so nearby town to process my official ID card. Otherwise I would be illegal on the 4th of June. I have had some successful conversations, and many where I could only say 'I dont know, I dont understand, and I only speak a little berber.' But it will come with time, and tutoring, which I start next week. Aside from that....reading lots of inforamation left by the pervious volunteers, and information that peace corps has given me. Just trying to get some ideas in my head so I can hit the ground running as soon as possible.
I have two important points to make on this post. Number one, well maybe this isnt really a point but something I learned/ decided. I got henna this week, which I had been resisting. I had resisted because I didnt like the traditional berber henna, only the pretty designs. Traditionally the henna is smeared all over the inside palms of you hands and on the top side only on your fingernails. But I have come to a realization. If I want to truly integrate I have to do so on the terms of my village. One volunteer reminded us that 'We are in their house, and we have to follow their rules.' And only if I am truly intergrated in my community will I be able to do my best work and achieve all 3 goals of the peace corps. What makes the peace corps unique is the opportunity to truly integrate into the local community and work with them on their terms. I feel like this is an important turining point and now Im not sure why I was resisting. I think I was afraid to lose me, but I think I can just be a different me. A me who follows the rules of the house Im in, and hopefully be a better me in the end.
Ok enough of that, now on to point two. I love watermelon! When I get my own place, and my little dorm fridge, it will be filled with watermelon all summer. No doubts about that. I will buy one at the market every week and eat it everyday. Its the simple pleasures really. I am also going to learn to cut it with a pearing knife. This is really the only size available here and if the berbers can do it, so can I! To heck with thoes big knives, I dont need it.
Well thats about all for this week. Talk to you all next thursday.
