Já esquecí como falar em inglês.

(I've already forgot how to speak in English.) Not really, but a little.

So this week started out a bit rocky. I think it's because I'm starting to get sick of training. A part of me is just ready to just be thrown into the mix and the other part is terrified of leaving the comfort of 70 other trainees. It makes such a big difference just being able to speak to someone in English.   But anyways, this week we learned about cyclones and landmines. Don't worry folks, cyclones are equivalent to hurricanes stateside and landmines… well Mozambique has been fighting for decades so they're to be expected? They're finding and removing 'new' ones everyday! Ha, I'm not sure if that's a good thing, but honestly it's nothing I'm terribly concerned about. I just need to stay on established paths and be on the look out for rock piles. Apparently piles of rocks can indicate potential landmine sites. How does one differentiate a pile of life saving rocks from the normal pile of rocks along the road? Eh, I'm not sure.

However, one thing I'm incredibly excited about is permagardening ! Peter Jensen (I don't know if he talked to PC Mali Amy) is here and probably gave one of the most exciting presentations I've attended so far. I left believing that permagardens and permaculture can save the world from all its problems. Well not really, but almost. It is absolutely amazing what double digging can do to crop yield. I cannot wait to have my own garden at site. I would love to get seeds sent to me (all herbs! Fruits!), but really anything. Jiemin this is a special request from me to you for herb seeds, curry powder, and cayenne pepper.

The LPIs (Language Proficiency Interviews)  have started this week. We have to be at a certain level before we can swear in, so this is our "midterm" assessment. I'm not quite sure about the implications, but I've been reassured that even if I don't place high enough they won't send me home. Some have already had their LPIs and have relayed positive messages.

Also, today I felt somewhat comfortable talking with my family. I'm still learning don't get me wrong, but I no longer feel completely like a toddler. We sat outside and talked. The temperatures are getting hotter and hotter, and the only escape is outside. Yeah, that's when you know you're in Africa. There's a nice breeze outside and fresh air and shade! But  I did get into trouble today though with my mom. I went to cart water with a neighbor and we stayed there pretty late. It was kind of stupid of me not to return before dark, but I was enjoying talking to the children there. Apparently, snakes like eating frogs. Frogs like being near water. I was at a water source. I could have been bitten by snakes. Então, no carting water "far" from home when its starting to get dark. Life lesson learned.

Side story: The girls I was talking to at the water source said that cats are horrible and you have to kill them. Cats kill humans. True story. Spiders hide on cats. Cats come into your house, and the spiders get into your house. The spiders then suffocate you when you ingest them while sleeping. I asked them about dogs carrying spiders, and just the spiders themselves… Their reply: Não mana Jennifer, mata todos os gatos. Os gatos não sao bom. (No sister (term of endearment) Jennifer, kill all cats. Cats are evil. Period.

But they eat rats, and I know which is the greater evil.  I'm sure my dog will keep my cat in line.

Another anecdote: My perception of speed has changed greatly. In the states we drive. I drive fast. Very fast. But here I walk everywhere and top out at maybe 5 mph. So I was in a car on the way to the Swaziland boarder and was scared to death. I didn't understand why we were driving so fast. I was seriously worried that we would crash or just something bad would happen. I looked at the speedometer, and we were going a whopping 50 km/hr. That's not even 30 mph. Oh man. The pace sure is different here.  Man I can't wait to see my reaction to rollercoasters when I get back to the states.