Loose Marbles... Amanda from London, Ontario...

Hello! Things here continue to be incredibly amazing! Of course, there are bad days....but up until now they are far out numbered by the good ones. I am reminded of a magnet on the fridge at my parent's house in Ontario....."Show me a day the world wasn't new". Isn't that appropriate for me now...eh..kind of shines a positive light on new experiences. Being pleasant or not at the time...they are new....and you will learn from them. New...isn't always good or bad but most often it is or becomes a positive experience.

Neither DIs that were being sent home actually left. There are pros and cons to this...but all in all, the new program is slowly working out it's quirks. This new Danish woman, Inger, has really got things rolling here. Some people were starting to say that Cidadela had become a little to laid back....or "African"...but now with Inger at the top.... things are changing for the better. I just hope it lasts. I am so grateful to be here when all this change is taking place and to have the opportunity to work with Inger here.

It has been unusually cool here the past week or so. We have had a few crazy hot days ...but the really intense heat doesnt last long...just from about 12pm-3pm then it cools off quickly...thank GOD! I cannot imagine being inland and not having the seabreeze. I feel for the DIs at inland projects. Beach trips are a huge part of the program here. I am so happy to have chosen this project...I can't emphasize that enough. The food situation has improved....or maybe I have just adjusted. I eat almost everything they serve here now..except for the chicken feet and beans. I don't think that will ever change. Ick. Still am not touching the corn dish they call "shima".....nor the "papinha". Both local staples made from corn.....empty calories...but the kids devour it. We, the DIs, are all regular Ricoffy drinkers and look forward to a cup of that instant bliss every morning. It takes so little to make us extra happy.

Along with Inger's new program, the staff has begun eating meals in the same mess hall as the children. Many problems have disappeared due to this engenius change! Some of the older boys were sending the smaller ones back up to ask for more food or just taking the little ones' food altogether. This doesn't happen anymore and their is difference in portions anymore....all get the same amount of food all the time. One day last week, we ran out of food. It wasn't good. A lot of the older kids gave their food to the little ones. This was really beautiful to see. The people here are so beautiful. So much that I don't think the work beautiful does them justice.

And it is beauty that is undescribable nor can you catch it in a photo or video. I can't even explain it now. It is just such a strong feeling of equality no matter what the situation....no matter what the circumstances. That is all I can really say about that.

The other day...I thought I would be smart and do like the kids do and play kickball barefoot. Well, after only about 20 minutes, I ended up getting this big blister right on the ball of my foot that really slowed me down for a couple days. It was from a combination of running on scorching hot concrete and wearing really crummy flip flops for the whole day prior. Anyways....I am still recovering but was good enough to take the 3km walk to the beach last night to enjoy the crystal clear night sky and the empty shores of Pescardore. That has become my favourite place. Pescadore. What a neat place it is and to have it so close by is really nice. I try to go once daily...if not more. The fishing boats coming in and out...all the women selling their men's catch along with other local produce.....all types and sorts of seafood...some of which I had never seen before......the chappas going to and from town and Costa do Sol....all on the shores of red RED sand. I plan to have a batik made of exactly that scene. I really like our location here. We are about a 4.5 hour walk from the city and about 45minutes from Costa do Sul's beaches. We can see the city on the horizon from the school but we can't feel it.

I have started seeing things differently. The critical eye is shut now. It took a couple weeks, but now I see the beauty in everything here.

Tomorrow I am returning to a small village about 5km to the north of us to attend a day long celebration at a friend's church. I went last month and really enjoyed it and they invited me back for this one. It is a Catholic Church .....but nothing at all is done in the way that I know it...so it may as well be a totally different religion. I will take some photos and send them along in the next email.

Oh yeah...the portuguese. It frustruates me to death some times when I cannot even convey the simplest of ideas but at the same time I am pleased with my progress. In another months time....I will be better, I continue to study alone and with others. I am teaching english to one of the older boys here and in return he teaches me portuguese...and some Shangana too. That language sounds so African...you can't help but just stop talking and listen when people converse in that language. It has such a unusual rhythm. Everything here is so interesting.

Our student whom was suspected of having TB ended up having some other type of strange but serious problem. He has been on a potent cocktail of pills since last week and his arm seems to be healing now. Other illnesses here....just the usual. Skin, eye infections.....but I think Malaria will start being a problem now that the rains are here. Last week, we got rain like I have never seen before. It just poured and poured and poured. The school and streets were under water for days. I knew the rainy season here was pretty intense but ....even in hurricanes in the islands and in storms at sea...I have never ever seen anything close to what I saw last week. WOW! And then the frogs.....holy!!! So loud..it was crazy!

I do have a mailing address. It is recommended that DHL is used for shipping so it would be rather expensive. The address is not to here..but to Machava. I go there for one night every week for a DI dinner and meeting...stay the night and return the following morning. A DI here has received mail to that address recently so maybe it would work.

I will send it to you if you want it but I do not have it with me right now.

I hope this email finds you all as happy and as healthy as I am right now.

Love,

Amanda Hatchard