Happy 4th of July, America!

I’ve been putting off writing a new blog post because I just couldn’t think of anything to write about. Nothing new has been going on in Nacuxa…I have been keeping busy with my classes, the library and our new English theater group. Today is the last day of classes for me until July 28^th. I’m doing some final grading and then my two-week break starts! In just 12 days I’m off to Malawi to meet some of my best friends for vacation! I cannot wait to see them, travel to Lake Malawi and go to the safari park! I will be sure to take lots of pictures and update my blog when I come back from the trip in the beginning of August.

We got out final COS (Close of service) dates June 23 and I’m very excited about them! I’ll become an RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer) on November 14^th and then will be back home by November 16^th! I’m so happy that I’ll be home for Thanksgiving this year. I know I still have about 5 months left but I think it’s going to go really fast. I’m so very excited to be going home and seeing all my family and friends and having the comforts of home again—but I know I’ll miss some things from Nacuxa and my life as a PCV. It will be nice not having crianças knock on my door at all hours wanting to color or play cards with me but at the same time I’m going to miss the hugs and smiles from them. I know the time will fly so I’m enjoying every day and trying to soak it all in before November.

When I come back from vacation, life is going to get a little crazy. In August we have our graduation ceremony, another training for our library volunteers and many English theater practices. In September we have our COS conference, English Theater Competition and (hopefully) a lot of successful library programs. In October, I need to get the library handed over to my counterpart and our volunteers (so it can run smoothly when I go back home) and have to prepare to leave Mozambique. Then in November I will be finishing up my classes and packing to get ready to COS. Five months is going to speed by!

Happy 4^th of July, America! Have a cook out and eat some s’mores for me :) 

Our New and Improved Library!

Last week, my counterpart and I decided that waiting for the classrooms to be finished building was going to take a very long time. Instead we are using the small room that was our first library space last year since the roof is fixed. (Once the classrooms are finished we will move into the bigger space and redecorate but for now we like our small space.) We moved everything in there and got all the books and supplies organized last Tuesday and our first day open was on Thursday. We only had a few students in the library reading on our first day but they actually knew how to read and enjoyed the books! We still have tutoring every Tuesday and Thursday but now we have a space for everything and have activities for those kids who are not participating in tutoring. I'm hoping this week we get more students in to read the books and have fun! My goal is to get kids into the library, reading books and learning how fun it can be to sit down with a good book! Wish us luck! Here are some pictures from our first day open in the new space :) 

Our New Library!

The mat kids use to sit and read--with fleece pillows my mom and grandma made. The blue alphabet sign should be on the wall but we're waiting on nails...

Look at all of our books! 

All of our extra supplies donated from the Bergan Mercy Auxiliary 

My favorite nun and good friend, Irma Rita

Some girls from 6th grade reading and enjoying the pillows

Everyone loves the Macaco Danado book :) 

:) 

Students from the 1st grade coloring after their tutoring session

Irma Rita and I after a successful day at the new Library! 

Just another weekend at the beach...

Last weekend I went to Ilha again for a PC party...PCVs from all over the North as well as some in the central and south were able to come for the weekend. I saw a lot of new PCVs from the Moz 21 group that I hadn't met before as well as people from my group who I hadn't seen since January. It was a fun and relaxin weekend on the beach hanging out with my friends and eating good seaweed matapa! I was happy I got out of site for the weekend :) Here are some pictures from the weekend.

The view of the 3km bride to the island from our backpackers (It was a gorgeous walk at sunset.)

Just another weekend at a beautiful beach :) 

Jennea and I showing off our shirts for our provinces 

Anna, Hannah and I reunited again after 5 months

Anna, Lisa and Helen 

Jamie and Elizabeth 

These are the Moz 19ers that came to Ilha for our annual beer olympics weekend

This weekend I stayed home because I've been gone the last 2 weekends and wanted to relax at home. I made a long to-do list Thursday and have finished almost everything! I washed my clothes, got the bathroom light fixed, went food shopping in Nacala, cleaned and organized my room, lesson planned for the week, watched a new movie and was able to catch up with some of my family and friends back home! I feel so productive and ready to start a new week of classes. Last week I finished teaching 4 of my turmas (classes) and calculated their grades. This week we are finally starting our EGRA tutoring back up again (after the school's break) and I'm hoping both the tutors and kids show up Tuesday afternoon. No other big plans or news to share this week but I'll be taking pictures of my 4 classes that I finished teaching and will be sure to put them on my blog next weekend. 

I can't believe it's the middle of May already! Less than 60 days until I go to Malawi with two of my best friends from high school. Time is already flying but I think when I come back from Malawi time is going to pass by in the blink of an eye. I'm excited that I'm on the home stretch but it still doesn't feel like that. Trying to soak everything in each day (the language, the hugs from my favorite crianças, my students--even the ones who push my buttons every single day, the food, and the hospitality and kindness). 

I want to leave you with a Bible passage that I found last week...(I'm still trying to finish my plan to read the Bible in a year..it's going to take me 2 years, but I'm almost finished!) 

"For I am the Lord, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'" Isaiah 41:13

I opened this letter at the beginning of May from my friend Melissa and thought it was too beautiful not to share. I feel so happy and blessed that I have amazing friends who inspire me, encourage me and show me how to be a better person! #marianfriends #missingmybesties

It took me forever...but I have pictures!

I haven't updated my blog at all this month and this week has been crazy trying to finish grades for some of my classes and write exams for the end of May. Instead of having a long post I decided I'd upload pictures from the last few weeks. Enjoy and more pictures to come later this week :) 

Anu (one of my favorite criancas) comes over everyday at least 3 times wanting to sweep, color, get a sticker, or just take pictures. Here's one of us a few weeks ago.

Some of the neighbor girls came over a few weeks ago to paint nails-they had a good time but I don't think their nail polish lasted for too long :) 

The finished product 

Anna and Stephen enjoying the views from Ilha de Mocambique (Mozambique Island)

A picture from outside the 500 year old portuguese fort

And another...

Here's a church inside the fort. We were in there taking pictures and exploring but then we surprised some bats in a side room an they started flying and swooping. You can just imagine how we reacted...we ran out all different doors and didn't go back inside again. :)

Taking selfies on the roof of the fort

Stephen relaxing on top of an old cannon. They had a cannon at each look out point on the fort's roof.

Anna on top of the roof

The view from the rooftop overlooking the ocean

A view from the roof looking into the fort.

The fort had a little room that was probably used as a lookout--it had two windows and the views from each were beautiful. This is the first--looking over the ocean.

The other side looks towards the church outside of the fort and the ocean

I was pretty proud of myself for getting up on the roof this high..I didn't go up another level with Anna though because I was starting to have a fear of heights. It was quite high!

We just had take a "jail" picture :) 

Anna and I in the front of the old church

Stephen, Anna and I taking a picture before we had the run-in with the bats

Another picture of all 3 of us in front of the church. It was really interesting going inside the fort and seeing all the old buildings/rooms. Besides getting forced outside by some bats we had a really fun time exploring the fort and taking pictures

After a long, hot morning exploring the Portuguese fort we went and got ourselves seaweed matapa for lunch. By far my favorite Mozambican dish...I had it 3 times within the last 2 weeks and I'm already craving it again! 

Stephen and Anna enjoying "slushies" and pizza :) 

The pier on Ilha

We ran into 3 big dogs that were from America and played with them.

The big golden retriever was our favorite :)

Inside the backpackers where we stayed on the island. They had this room between the kitchen and dorm rooms. It's beautiful but the only downside is there is not roof.

The bar and lounge area 

The stairs leading up to their rooftop garden and lounge area.

The rooftop garden/terrace--they had chairs, a rope bed and tables so you could star gaze or just relax on the rood. The trees did bring a lot of bats at night though. :)

The past 2 weekends I went to Mozambique Island to visit friends and go to a Peace Corps party. It's been a fun couple of weekends but I am back at site now and preparing for the end of the semester. Four out of my nine classes are finishing this week so we are having one final oral test and I'm trying to get their grades finished to turn in. 

The library and tutoring program are still on hold but we're starting back up next week! I'm also hoping to find a counterpart to help me start an English Theater group. There is a competition in September and I wasn't sure about having a group but I'm hoping we can start one soon since my students keep asking me. I'm meeting with an English teacher from the secondary school this Friday and am hoping he can be in charge of the group. Then it will be easier for him to continue to lead the group next year when there are new PCVs in Nacuxa. 

More pictures to come from last weekend!