Namaacha: Quick Update #2

Hello, all! I am back on the grid, but only via smartphone for now, so this will be quick, probably full of typos and - most unfortunately - without pictures. First off, everything is great here. I am living in a lovely house in the vila of Namaacha, a border town of about 30,000 people. My host mother couldn't be nicer. She has already hosted 7 Peace Corps trainees, so she knows the whole process and is used to American quirks. She has 3 children and 10 grandkids who all live in the capital, so she likes having someone else in the house. The food has been great. She has a huge garden at the house, full of fruit trees, manioc, peanuts, avocados and garlic. Unfortunately, things have been very dry and much of the garden is withering. But every meal is still full of fresh veggies along with potatoes, rice, bread or xima - a local corn meal staple - and chicken or beef. One particularly delicious dish is couve, or collard greens, prepared in a peanut and coconut sauce. Very popular with all the trainees. Days have been very busy with language and technical classes almost every day from 730 to 500. These classes are with other people who will be teaching the same subject. For Portuguese classes, we are split into subgroups of 5 or 6 and then all 11 math teachers come together for tech classes on teaching methods and math-specific language. Small groups meet in students houses on a rotating basis while tech sessions occur in our hub - a pretty house surrounded by winding paths through fruit trees and a pig pen full of piles. Adorable but smelly. There are a lot of fantastic people in the training group. I happen to think the math folks are particularly awesome. We have had a few cultural exchange activities, including the Dia da Paz celebration of 20 years of peace in Mozambique, dancing, singing and art presentations. We have a day of cooking with our host moms coming up this week, as well as a trip to see the site were Mozambique's first president's plane crashed in South Africa on Friday. So far, the people in this town have been fantastic. They have welcomed us all into them homes, communities and families. They have been teaching us all how to run a home without many of the conveniences we are all used to. They are unbelievably patient with our broken Portuguese. I have learned so much in 2 weeks that it feels like i have been here so much longer. I have so much more to write, but now it is time for Sunday chores and then a hike. Now that i have a connection, I will go back through my journal and try to fill you all in on some more of what has been going on here. I miss you all and cannot wait to hear what has been going on with you.