7 months

Well, it is almost the 7 month anniversary of arriving in Guyana and I honestly can't believe it. It feels like just yesterday I was getting on the plane at JFK and now suddenly, not only am I in South America but I LIVE here, this is my home. I have an apartment and a job and a cat and I get to say to people "No I'm not on vacation, I really live here". It blows my mind.

Now that I've been in Guyana for 7 months and living at my permanent site for 4 months, my life has taken on a routine, which is probably why I forget sometimes that I'm not just living in South America but actually in the Peace Corps. During the week I wake up, go to work, come home, cook dinner and then watch a movie or read a book before I head to bed. The other volunteers and I talk about this a lot, that we don't actually feel like we're in the Peace Corps cause everything is so normal for us now. Our houses, our villages, our jobs, it's all just our lives now. I like that though, I think it's a true sign of integration, when you feel like any other person who lives here with a house and a job and a life.

My job is still going well; I am at the maternal and child health clinic at the regional hospital. I only work with pregnant women and children under 5 which I really really like. I get to interact not only with the health care workers and nurses at the clinic but with the patients as well. I do health talks about various topics such as nutrition and breastfeeding (FYI, I am now a breastfeeding expert I've given so many freaking health talks on it lol). I like being able to talk with people one on one and really do grassroots outreach and education. That being said, the schedule is pretty light compared to what I was used to back in DC, with my 12 hour double bar shifts and full class schedule. I definitely have plenty of free time to lay in my hammock and read :)

As much as I am enjoying my time here in Guyana, I am also very excited to come back home for a visit in December. I bought my ticket and will be arriving in the Land of Plenty on December 20th. I may or may not have a panic attack when I walk out of the airport and it's less than 80 degrees but I think the best solution to that is to get me into the nearest sports bar and force feed me fried food and beer :) I have a list of things I want to do when I'm home, both in Allentown and DC, and 99% of them involve food and/or alcohol. And seeing my family and friends of course :) So let the countdown begin....(less than 4 months to go....)