7 Months to make the most

Hello everyone! I figured it would be appropriate to make my first “real” blog post about the most dramatic news in my life lately: that I will be transferring to Peace Corps Mozambique in September. After 24 years of service in Cape Verde, Peace Corps headquarters has decided to graduate Cape Verde as a Peace Corps post. This decision is the result of Cape Verde’s recent and rapid development and  lack of funding for what is a very expensive post to maintain.  Although I understand this reasoning and am excited to embark on yet another adventure in Mozambique, my parting from Fogo, the volcano I have called home for this year, will be bittersweet. However, I feel honored to have been a part in the final step of Peace Corps aid in Cape Verde. As I listen to stories from my older neighbors about how they lived in “tempo bedju”, (the old days), the recent developmental accomplishments of the country become apparent and I am grateful to have been a part of this beautiful country’s journey to where it stands today.  There are currently many newly trained teachers searching for work, and to know that one of these very capable and empowered Cape Verdeans will be taking over my job brings happiness to my transition.

                As I look back upon my service here, not one, but hundreds of moments come to mind which inspire me to continue my service in Mozambique. Talking and laughing as the sun rises over the mountain during our climb to harvest beans with the women of my community or holding a grieving widow’s hand as she wails for her recently deceased husband, but smiles at me because she appreciates my hand of support. Knowing that my neighbors, by now my Cape Verdean family, care to teach me their ways and protect me or talking with my students about their futures and dreams as we create works of art. The way that a student’s eyes light up as they finally understand a concept or hearing their gradual yet rewarding progress in their attempts to speak English with me on my porch. The way the women who taught me to carry 50 pound sacks of beans or buckets of water down the mountain on my head used to laugh with love when the water or beans slipped from my unaccustomed head, and how they would always have the time, if not at the moment, to appreciate and encourage my efforts to integrate into their way of life. The way my community would bombard me with home -made remedies when I was sick or teaching my host mother, one of the strongest and most inspirational women I have ever met, how to swim, helping her to conquer what seemed to be her only fear, the waves of the ocean.  These moments along with countless others with my host family, community members, and fellow volunteers and dear Cape Verdean friends have made my time as an English teacher in Cape Verde one of the most interesting, inspiring, and memorable periods of my life, and although I will miss and never forget these experiences, I am excited to make new memories in Mozambique.  Although the moment of departure will be tear –filled upon leaving my community, I knew that Peace Corps would involve the unexpected and am ready to embrace this moment as part of the adventure.

                I am grateful for the next six months that I have to complete my service in Cape Verde before transferring to Mozambique. I will not be leaving Cape Verde until the end of September and as of now, the volunteers on Fogo have many exciting projects in the works!  We are working on a leadership  and sports camps for local youth, on establishing volunteer groups to continue our legacy of service, on creating murals in our communities, on material and resource development to leave for those Cape Verdean teachers who will replace us, and on countless other activities before be leave! As we will be the last memory of Peace Corps in Cape Verde, I am preparing to make a tremendous push these next six months to leave the best and brightest impression of our service on my community, my island, and for Cape Verde as a whole. Thanks for reading! More updates later, and love to you all!   Oh and the picture is of another volunteer and great freind of mine Mi-Mi, and our wonderful host siblings during training!