Saturday, June 21, 2008

Week 7 is over!

We are done with charlas! Alleluia! These past two weeks were ridiculously hard, probably the hardest weeks since we've been here. We had to plan and give two charlas about HIV/AIDS to some people in the health center and the school and plan and give a taller (workshop) about how to give a charla to some women who wanted to become health promoters. During this past week I had to travel down to Dueñas after my 4-5 hour spanish class to work on my charla. The trip is two hours both ways so by the end of the day Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday I was exhausted. Ashlee and Jane both had to travel to Pastores and San Luis (respectively), small communities on the way to Antigua, for their Taller for promoters. Needless to say we are all exhausted and ready to receive our site assignments this coming Wednesday. For that, I'll be going down to Dueñas at around 7 in the morning to meet with their group and receive a packet that details our site. Then, the week after, we are going to travel to our site and try to find a place to live, meet our health promoters, and start recording information and materials needed for the next two years.

To be honest, I feel that this stressful and incredibly hard process has prepared me for the coming two years. I can't believe I've given four charlas in a different language! This past week didn't even feel real we were all so busy. I can't wait until we can get to our site and do absolutely nothing for a week. And have freedom. And be together. Heh.

Thanks for all of the support in the past two weeks! I think today is the first day when I thought, "Okay, I can do this...".

3 comments:

Mamacita Jo said...

And now you know what we have known! We're all proud of you, too. Things may even calm down a little once you're actually "working."

Geebs said...

Congratulations! It sounds like all that work has paid off. I can't wait to hear where you'll be stationed (you'll both be together then, yes?). I miss you both, especially now that I'm in a new city and don't know anyone and am learning an entirely new skill set. Doing this and knowing how difficult and exhausting it feels really makes me wonder how you two have done what you have. Heck, I'm not even contending with a new language and I feel lost!
Love,
Shelly

Aunt Kath said...

Michelle and Mamacita Jo have said it all, almost. Not only are we all proud of you but know that we all love you, too. Way to go.
Love,
Aunt Kath'