We have now been in our training site for a full week and we are settling in to our new routines for the next 2 months. I (Janet) am surprised by how gnerall relaxed and happy I have been since we arrived, having expected more stress and adjustments. It already feels like home here!
Our homestay in wonderful! 'Nossa mae' is an amazing Portuguese teacher, she is so considerate and warm, we feel like royal guests. We wake up around 6 and I take my bath first. Mae brings a teapot of hot water into the bathtub (we have a full 'wester' bathroom but no running water). Breakfast has been getting larger everyday, with eggs, sausage, yogurt fruit and bread. In general the food is fabulous and not terribly exotic bcause our family is quite WEstern and middle class, an exception to the norm.
After breakfast we walk to our Portuguese classes, which are groups of 5. We both placed into 'Avancao' classes and are actually speaking quite well already or at least understanding (Luc is still speaking Spanish!) Next is usually classes on teaching, which we have together under a big tree. It's been cool so far, but the rain and heat will be here soon. After lunch at home (rice, chicken, soup, green veggies) we have more Portuguese, but 'applied' meaning trips to the 'mercado' or greeting people in our 'bairro'. We meet at home to 'tomar cha' then Luc and I usually take a 'paseo' around town before it gets dark.
At dinner we watch the news on TV and chat with our mae. Sometimes her son is home from high school in the capital or her little granddaughter is there playing .We finish up with some Portuguese homework and call it a night by 9pm. Our group of volunteers is a great bunch, including 3 other married coupesl our ages! Everyone is adjusting quite well, although many are jealous of our homestay becuase it's possibly the fanciest one! Yesterday we had a rainy field trip to Maputo, where we bought a cell phone (number to come in an email) and ate piza. There are a few internet places here in town, so we should be able to check in on most weekends. Send us news from home! We miss you and hope all is well!
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