September 21st

 I'm finally on the internet for the first time. I traveled in the back of a pickup truck for $1 to get here. Well it's been two weeks and it feels like it's been 2 months. Everything is so different in good and bad ways. I am missing home but I'm also happy to be here in Fiji. I am currently taking antibiotics because I had bad stomach cramping and diarrhea for 5 days. The good news is, my healthcare here is awesome. I texted my Peace Corps doctor my symptoms, she told me to call her, then sh asked me more questions over the phone. The next day she had someone bring me the medication. I am feeling 100 times better now. I have been in 8 hours of intense training monday through friday. 4 hours of language lessons and 4 hours of technical sessions. We get informed about safety and security every friday by our safety and security coordinator. He is also awesome. They have really amped up their safety and security measures within the last year. It sounds like everything will be taken care of for me if there is ever an incident. He is also informing us of a bunch of preventative measures to take. The PC (peace corps) Fiji  has an awesome support network for us and so far I am totally impressed with all of the staff. I feel like I am in really good hands. It also sounds like most of us will be stationed in government housing in Suva since we will be working for hospitals and only a couple people will actually live in villages.

 

Needless to say, I am still completely in culture shock. We didn't have water for three days, so that was interesting. And the ants are eating holes into all of my clothes. I'm not talking about 20 aunts, I'm talking about like 1000 ants. Plus I have giant cockroaches in my room and the house, giant spiders, toads, lizards, fleas, and I'm sure even more things that I don't even know about. I am covered in red bumps from mosquito bites. But other than that and the diarrhea, my health has been pretty good. I am always exhausted and I wake up every morning thinking I am at home. It's also an adjustment being sweaty all the time... yuck. But overall things are good. I just gave a presentation on Protein Energy Malnutrition (partly in Fijian) and it went pretty well. We are starting garbage pickup Mondays and Wednesdays in the village with the children. I have learned how to start the fire and how to cut vegetables with a giant knife. It's amazing I didn't chop off a finger with my lack of coordination and skill in the kitchen!