Life after month number one!

I've been in Cape Verde for a month now!  Sometimes it feels like I've been here for an eternity and other times I feel like the time has flown by.  I'm starting to feel comfortable in my temporary home, and have been trying to adapt to my host family's lifestyle.  Every morning I get up around 6:15, heat water up for my bucket bath, eat a large breakfast that my host mom prepares for me, and then head off to school.  Learning 2 languages at one time is quite the challenge, but I'm trying!  Kriolu is the language spoken by the people here, but the official language is Portuguese.  Since I am an education volunteer I am required to study both, because Portuguese is used in the schools.  I found out that I will be placed on the island of Fogo for the next two years starting at the end of September!  It's one of the southern islands and is the only island with an active volcano on it!  If you come visit we will definitely be climbing to the top!  Knowing where I will be for the next couple years has definitely been a great motivator!  I'm looking forward to getting to site and starting my new life as an English teacher at the high school, crazy I know!  

In Cape Verde!

Hi everyone!  I've been in Cape Verde, or how they say it here Cabo Verde, for a week now and its been wonderful!  People here are very kind and extremely generous.  I couldn't have asked for a better host family, they are patient with me when I don't understand something (which is the majority of the time) and help me with everything.  I am learning Kriolu and hope to know more than just simple phrases soon!  The town I'm living in is a fairly small community but very beautiful.  Everyone says in a couple weeks everything will be turning green, because the rainy season has started.  Life here is simple, and people don't waste what they have.  I'm learning to take a bucket bath with as little water as possible!  Loving my experience so far but miss all of you back home.  I will try to post about once or twice a week.  Txau!    

Boston!

Hi everyone! I'm in Boston for staging and I'm loving it so far.  Just met my roomate at the hotel and she actually went to school at Wash U in STL.  It's comforting to have something in common with one of the volunteers already!  Tonight I will be meeting the other volunteers, or as Rachel likes to say, my family for the next two years.  I'm extremely excited for what's ahead of me and can't wait to take off for Cape Verde tomorrow night!  Thank you Mom and dad for helping me prepare for this trip and thanks to everyone for all of the wonderful goodbye wishes!