Hoya-Hoya

Hoya-Hoya!
Week 1: complete! A week ago we were greeted with this phrase “hoya-hoya” (which means welcome!) and a crowd of Mozambican families singing to us. It was such an amazing feeling to be welcomed into their community with open arms and smiling faces. It has been a whirlwind of a week with language classes and adapting to life in Africa. I can’t believe it’s already Sunday! Let me give you a run down of the week…

So far we’ve had three all day language classes and I think I’m getting better “pouco a pouco” (little by little). There are only 5 people in our language group and our instructor is really nice. We had a little outing to the market on Friday to practice buying things and asking for discounts. That was a fun experience!

My host family is nice and their house is really modern and nicer compared to some other house around here. There are two older sisters (in their 20s) and their 3 kids who are my nephews (10, 5, and 1). The 10 year old and I do homework together and he also helped me practice my flashcards! We have an indoor toilet and bathtub but not always running water. The toilet doesn’t flush unless you pour a bucket of water down it (but I’m not complaining because I could be using a latrine). I actually have gotten used to taking 2 bucket baths a day (Shocker, I know!) but it’s actually not bad. Plus it has already gotten pretty hot here so by the end of the day you really need another bath. I can’t imagine what summer will feel like when it has already gotten into the high 90s and it’s their spring!

This week has been full of learning experiences. I washed my laundry yesterday for the first time. It wasn’t too hard just took a lot longer than if you had a washing machine. I was really glad my host irm„ (sister) and her friend helped me do it. I’ll put a picture up too so you can see how they dry. I have eaten lots of new food…and even tried the Ketchup they have here…it’s definitely not Heinz J The food has been pretty good-I helped cut up some vegetable today that grows on trees and tasted kind of like potatoes…I can’t remember the name but it was really good! In class this week we learned how to ask for prices of items and how to ask for discounts. I also have been trying to get used to hearing the roosters crow at 3am and going all day. It is definitely my alarm clock most mornings.

All of the other PCVs (peace corps volunteers) are really nice and helpful…and so are the Mozambicans! The second night I was here I went walking around with some other PCVs and could not find my way back home…we practically walked over to Swaziland looking for it. That was by far my most embarrassing moment so far. Thankfully a Mozambican walked me home once we figured out where I lived. Haha, oh boy directions here are VERY different than back home.

The view here is amazing…Namaacha is in the mountains and on the way to my house you can see the Swaziland border. Apparently there are some waterfalls here too..I think maybe next weekend we’ll all go out and find them. It gets dark here by 6pm and there are no lights so the stars and moon are amazing. I’ve never seen a clearer sky-it’s beautiful!

I have a phone here and was able to talk to my mom and sister this last week which was really nice! I didn’t think I’d have Internet here so it’s nice that there is a place that has one working computer and it only cost 1 mets (metacais) per minute. To get a feel for how much American money that would be 28 mets is equal to $1. I won’t be using the internet that much but hopefully I can go at least once a week to keep posting for everyone to see!

This week we start having our “tech” sessions (About how to teach, the Mozambican school systems, etc) and of course more language sessions. We are meeting the country director this Thursday-that will be exciting! Next weekend we’re going to Maputo for the day with our language classes to help with our Portuguese.

P.S. I just wanted to tell my family and friends thank you for all the cards and pictures that you sent with me! I look at them everyday and I love being able to have a part of you all here with me. Miss you!!
Counting the weeks down until I’ve successfully completed PST…8 more Sundays!

Random tidbits/Portuguese phrases I have learned:
-I saw a girl carrying a dead chicken as I was leaving my house and I’m pretty sure that is the chicken we ate for dinner that night.
-did my laundry for the first time yesterday…it went pretty well actually (well thanks to my host family helping me)
-Really miss using napkins at meals
-Ice water is a luxury I miss at times
-I’m excited to get some mail soon with my Peanut Butter and hand sanitizer! (Some of the families over here don’t use soap much at all in their houses so I’m definitely going to be jumping up and down when I get some hand sanitizer!)
-I just noticed the other day that I have random cuts on my legs…I think I must be walking by some sharp plants or something. My host sister keeps asking what I’ve been doing but I honestly have no idea.
-Posso ajudar?       Can I help?
-Tenho que estudar.    I have to study.
-Como se diz…?    How do you say…?
-Estou confuso.    I’m confused.
-Nao sei.     I don’t know.