Oct 15 2010

Internet is not as easy access as I thought. Internet cafés are not exactly on every corner here like in Costa Rica. Then the town internet access was down and no one really knows how to fix it…but it’s back up now (or at least when I post this it will be J ). Just going with the flow. I actually enjoy being a little removed from everything. I have no idea what is going on in reality tv or with Hollywood and still feel completely normal. And I watch the news every night so I see all the important stuff (like the Chilean mine worker rescue).

            Just want everyone out there to know that I think I have the best host mom anyone could ask for. She is willing to sit with me and explain things slowly, makes me talk at home by telling her what I did all day and correcting me, and is hell-bent on teaching me all things Mozambican and getting me as independent as possible as soon as possible. She always says “do you know how to do this?” and my typical response is “In the U.S. yes but in Africa probably not.” She knows how to do everything and if you don’t do it like her you’re not doing it right. She even pointed out a better way that I should paint my toenails. Seriously, she knows everything. I’ve been painting my toes for probably 15 years and never once thought that it made more sense to do it another way. Unbelievable J.

            I get a lot of questions about what I eat everyday so here’s an average: Breakfast is usually bread with cheese or peanut butter or jam and tea. Then I have to bring a snack to class with me usually of a juice box and bread with peanut butter or cookies. Lunch usually has a salad and rice with beans or some sort of meat to go with. Then I come home after classes at 6 p.m. and have some tea and bread or cookies. Then dinner is usually at 8 p.m. with pasta or a rice dish with salad and more bread and papaya for dessert. For those of you thinking I’m going to come back skinny, so far no good. Many times I don’t want to eat at all, but my Portuguese is not quite up to the level that I can explain that to her without her thinking that I don’t like what she cooked. One of my favorite moments: she caught me blowing on my soup (it was hot and I didn’t want to burn my mouth) and says “Minha filha!! (My daughter!!) Why didn’t you tell me you don’t like food really hot?? All you have to do is say, I don’t like food really hot and I won’t heat it up as much” and then I got room temperature food for about a week until I explained to her that it’s not that I don’t like hot, I just don’t like to burn my mouth. Now I’m very careful to not blow on things or only blow when she’s not looking.

Just know that internet here isn’t the most reliable and many of you that send emails or facebook posts know that I can usually read them but by the time I go to respond the internet is down again but I do see them. Keep me updated--Love and miss you all!!