Estou pedir....

Soooooo...estou pedir...what a lovely phrase...NOT! Estou pedir...means I am asking for blah blah blah. We get this a lot. We get asked for water, money, food, paper, soccer balls, pencil, pens, notebooks, markers, clothes, etc. etc. etc. You name it and it has probably been asked for. It gets irritating. The people here don't realize that we don't get paid for what we do. We get allowance that allows us to buy food and other necessities but that is it. A peace corps volunteer literally works 24/7 and we do not get paid to do it. We do it because we want to help and make a difference. I am by no means complaining about not getting paid. I love what I do and I love the opportunities this experience is providing and will provide for me. I am learning a lot about myself and a lot of life in general.

School news...teaching English is getting a little better. It is still frustrating but I am working through the frustration. I gave my first quiz this week. Some kids did great and others not so great. It bothers me when the kids I know try hard and pay attention don't do well. I hope they take advantage of all the opportunities that I give them to improve their grades. I want them to talk more but they are so scared to do it. I try and talk to them more in Portuguese to show them that I am trying a different language and the only way I will get better is if I talk. Oh Portuguese! I feel like I am losing my Portuguese just because I have to speak more English. I still speak it with colleagues and what not but a majority of the time I am talking to kids so I am speaking English. I think I might get a tutor or go back to studying at home.

Orphanage/Center for Kids news...I had another meeting last night with my colleague. I think a lot of things are going to start happening in the next few weeks so check back here for updates. I got some lovely care packages from back home that I will be donating to the center. I have decided to focus on this project and hopefully I will be able to expand this project into my kids club project. The potential is there so we shall see.

Lenny news...Lenny thought it would be nice to have some cuddle time last night. The bugs were really bad last night so I went to hide under my net early and as I am getting a movie ready to be watched I see movement at the end of my bed. It was Lenny saying hello. I screamed for my roommate and she came in valiantly with a bucket and got him out of my hair. Needless to say, I tucked my net in extra tight last night.

I hope everyone is doing well wherever you are and I really appreciate all of your support and encouragement!