The Task Ahead

In 1994 the government of Suriname formally invited Peace Corps to establish a rural community development program designed to assist its Amerindian and Maroon communities in the country's rural interior. Today, more than 300 volunteers have served in the country, including the 40 presently serving.

In February 2011 I too was invited to serve as a volunteer in Suriname. I was assigned to the Community Economic Development (CED) program, which strives to promote participatory community development, children and youth skills development and sustainable business practices. I hope to use this blog to inform family and friends about my activities, adventures and mishaps. Enjoy!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Almost There!

This is the last week before the Sur17s will be (officially) sworn in as Peace Corps volunteers. We’ve just returned from our second and final home stay in the greater Brookopondo area and, while I admit that I’m happy to enjoy comforts like running water, air conditioning and Western-style food in the capital, I will miss my host family.

On our last night in Company Creek, Suzie Kay and I prepared burritos, guacamole and chocolate cake for our respective host families and their friends. Much to our surprise, the food was well-liked—apart from the guacamole, which we were happy to eat ourselves :) That night my host mother and grandmother presented me with gifts: a beautiful embroidered pangi with crochet detail on the edges and a plaid ruffled skirt that they had made.  That night I felt a real connection with them as we put on music, danced and laughed.  I truly hope that they will come to Ricanaumoffo to visit Suzie Kay and I once we have time to get settled in.

In other news, we had our unofficial swearing in ceremony on July 7th at the Ambassador’s residence in Paramaribo.  700 guests attended including President Bouterse and several members of his cabinet. We had the opportunity to shake the President’s had and speak with him briefly after his speech. If you aren’t familiar with the President and his role in Suriname’s history, I invite you to do a Google search for some interesting factoids. 

Yesterday we had the opportunity to paint several rooms in a school for special needs students in the greater Lelydorp area.  Despite running short on time, the project was successful and we hope to return to the school to do some more work in October.  After our work at the school, we gorged ourselves on omelets and crepes at a restaurant in the tourist section of the city—quite the treat after a week of sampling pig’s tail and tapir at home stay!

Today we will attend another event at Ambassador Nay’s home in (belated) celebration of the 4th of July. I’m very much hoping that there are hot dogs and hamburgers involved…

Depending on the quality of internet connection I can access in the next few days, I plan to post more pictures from the last few weeks. Whether or not that is actually feasible—soso Gadu sabi (only God knows).

Stay tuned!

For anyone that is feeling especially generous or philanthropic at present, my roommate and I would be forever grateful for any of the following items:

  • American magazines (i.e. People, Life, National Geographic, Vogue, The New Yorker)
  • Books (fiction or nonfiction, any Pulitzer Prize winners, poetry, classics, foreign language books—in French or Spanish, etc.)
  • Beef jerky
  • Lara bars
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Ground coffee
  • Raisins and/or granola
  • Taco seasoning
  • Pesto
  • Watercolors/Sharpie markers/art supplies in general
Posted by sullikat at 9:47 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)