Has it really been only two weeks?

Greetings all,

It is hard to believe that it has only been two weeks. The range of emotions, sights, people and training in the past 14 days has literally and figuratively spaned the oceans. From our departure from people and places that we love and cherish to a spartan atmosphere of mosquito nets, hand washing of laundry, walking to town for basic necessities [up hill both ways], studying for tests that we must score 100% and endless conversations about the program, Jamaica and our own lives is quite the span.

We are glad we made the decision and are looking forward to our time on site. This is not to say however that it the process has been error free. Some of the logistics the PC manages have been somewhat less than smooth or well thought out. For example, everyone is eager to know where they will be staying and especially for the married couples [ok me in particular] whether or not we will have our own space. The Peace Corps changed their program so that most will be living with their host families for two years and not in their own space as had been the case in prior years. For us, married 34 years and living together for 36, being a 'guest' for two years feels not right. However, I was reassured that they took that into consideration when making the assignments. Now 5 days prior to our departure they tell us that they have not yet made up their mind yet on where we are to be assigned. Maaslows heirarchy would seem to say that the most basic needs must be taken care of first and to have 52 people asking this question with no answer seems a bit disorganized.

Be that as it may, it is all about rolling with the punches and I think we are doing that amazingly well. We study, we laugh, we have a few beers, we walk to town and watch the antics of the 25 year olds as they act like puppies in a china shop in the evenings. And this adventure is doing one of the things that what we set out to do - to see each other in a new way. It is wonderful to see Karen from across the room energetically engaging on some topic or other with a group of people.

Our flatmates, Gary and Maraget have been a blessing. Good humored, easy, low maintenance and intelligent, we could not have found a better situation in this regard.

Under the catagory of odd quirks, we came back from the soical outing yesterday to find that several people had been locked out of their rooms by the maids who used the previously unused deadbolts on their doors...to which no one had a key. Refreshed my skills at picking a lock...
Others include: We are sharing the campus with a VERY evangelistic church group who are full of the fire and brimstone. Well into the evening you can hear the sermons from every corner as the ministers compete for the prize of describing the worst possible outcome for humanity. Combine this with the fact that their dorm is 50 feet from these rowdy, sometime 'casually' dressed and VERY hopeful and optimistic young Americans, it makes for a bit of a head twist how we all came from the same 'Lucy' in Africa so many years ago.
Kare has hers to add so I will end mine here for now. Please write. We need to stay connected.
Love to all,
Matt