January 27th (?), 2004 - Wednesday
9:08pm - Homestay
So as much as I complain about my host family, I really do like them. I think a lot of me feeling like they don't give me any freedom was my being scared to offend them. Last night my dad was really cool about me going to Liz's and I realize that he's the only one who really seems to care anyway. But I think the novelty of me is wearing off for him, thank god, because he has been less in my face the past few days.
I really don't like taking that malaria medication. Last night, after taking it at lunch, I was all sorts of paranoid. There were bugs in my room and I was severely overreacting. It was weird, because I knew I was overreacting because of the medication, but at the same time, there was nothing I could do to stop how I was feeling. I freaked out and woke up my host family and everything because I thought it was a mouse. Boy did I feel stupid when it was only two little bugs. They were very nice about it, though, and today we all just laughed about it. I had a hard time sleeping as well because I just felt very anxious all night long. So it was hard for me today to tell if I was tired because of the lack of sleep or because of the malaria meds. It sucks, but I guess the symptoms are supposed to get better. I also might start taking it in the mornings so it has more time to process before I sleep. I guess all of these side effects are better than getting malaria, though?
Today I got my first mail. Boy was that unexpected! I got a package and a letter from my mom that had only been sent on the 12th! I still think it's a small miracle that it got here this fast and in one piece. There was sooo much candy, so I am very excited to eat it for Valentine's Day! I can't wait to email my mom on Saturday and tell her I got it all in one peice. I'm also really excited knowing my family is hopefully going to receive my package soon. Relying completely on the kindness of strangers for that one [I had sent a package home to be hand carried by an American heading back to the US].
So I'm feeling better about my French. Although I hate having four hours in a row of French class in the morning, my teacher, Passy, is great and very patient and we learn very useful things. Talking with my host family every night is great practice for what I've learned that day and I already feel more confident in my speaking and I know I am learning things and getting better, I can see it everyday. So that is nice/exciting. I also got the first sense today that I might actually be able to do this. I was talking with Albert and Ismael while doing my homework and basically decided to try and do my TDA [does anyone remember what this stands for?] right then and there. We actually had a comprehensive, informative and productive convesation about health related issues and I could see myself doing this at site with boys of that age who I've gotten to know, and who know me and just teaching them things through casual conversation. It was great feeling this way knowing that I don't even have all of the necessary language skills yet. I'm very excited to do these things once I have all of the language skills as well.
The current Peace Corps Volunteers made us banana bread today and damn was it good! I cannot wait to cook for myself. The health PCVs are going to cook dinner for us on Friday and I cannot WAIT!! I'm so hungry all the time that I've taken to living off cookies. Ugh. Again, can't wait to cook for myself. Well, I'm very tired, so I'm going to try and go to bed with no paranoid thoughts now. More later.
9:08pm - Homestay
So as much as I complain about my host family, I really do like them. I think a lot of me feeling like they don't give me any freedom was my being scared to offend them. Last night my dad was really cool about me going to Liz's and I realize that he's the only one who really seems to care anyway. But I think the novelty of me is wearing off for him, thank god, because he has been less in my face the past few days.
I really don't like taking that malaria medication. Last night, after taking it at lunch, I was all sorts of paranoid. There were bugs in my room and I was severely overreacting. It was weird, because I knew I was overreacting because of the medication, but at the same time, there was nothing I could do to stop how I was feeling. I freaked out and woke up my host family and everything because I thought it was a mouse. Boy did I feel stupid when it was only two little bugs. They were very nice about it, though, and today we all just laughed about it. I had a hard time sleeping as well because I just felt very anxious all night long. So it was hard for me today to tell if I was tired because of the lack of sleep or because of the malaria meds. It sucks, but I guess the symptoms are supposed to get better. I also might start taking it in the mornings so it has more time to process before I sleep. I guess all of these side effects are better than getting malaria, though?
Today I got my first mail. Boy was that unexpected! I got a package and a letter from my mom that had only been sent on the 12th! I still think it's a small miracle that it got here this fast and in one piece. There was sooo much candy, so I am very excited to eat it for Valentine's Day! I can't wait to email my mom on Saturday and tell her I got it all in one peice. I'm also really excited knowing my family is hopefully going to receive my package soon. Relying completely on the kindness of strangers for that one [I had sent a package home to be hand carried by an American heading back to the US].
So I'm feeling better about my French. Although I hate having four hours in a row of French class in the morning, my teacher, Passy, is great and very patient and we learn very useful things. Talking with my host family every night is great practice for what I've learned that day and I already feel more confident in my speaking and I know I am learning things and getting better, I can see it everyday. So that is nice/exciting. I also got the first sense today that I might actually be able to do this. I was talking with Albert and Ismael while doing my homework and basically decided to try and do my TDA [does anyone remember what this stands for?] right then and there. We actually had a comprehensive, informative and productive convesation about health related issues and I could see myself doing this at site with boys of that age who I've gotten to know, and who know me and just teaching them things through casual conversation. It was great feeling this way knowing that I don't even have all of the necessary language skills yet. I'm very excited to do these things once I have all of the language skills as well.
The current Peace Corps Volunteers made us banana bread today and damn was it good! I cannot wait to cook for myself. The health PCVs are going to cook dinner for us on Friday and I cannot WAIT!! I'm so hungry all the time that I've taken to living off cookies. Ugh. Again, can't wait to cook for myself. Well, I'm very tired, so I'm going to try and go to bed with no paranoid thoughts now. More later.
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