Pre training training and other fun things

Things have been crazy here with our first few days of training and field trips and whatnot so today is going to be another muy largo post so bear with me...

Day 1 of training:
All of the women get pulled aside to get blood tested to check and see if any of us are preggo... this would have been the most mortifying way to find out- like oops sorry mom and dad I'm home early from the Peace Corps because I didn't know I was pregnant.... GOOD THING I'M NOT!! and for whatever reason the nurse thought it was a great idea to puncture all of the surrounding veins as well creating a lovely little bruise as shown right somewhere on this blog below. Then we went over a bunch of safety nonsense until we all started to show signs of cabin fever and then we headed to dinner. A bunch of us went meandering around the military compound enjoying the beautiful weather and trying to take in as much of this view as we can since we would be leaving in a few days.

Day 2: Getting our Spanish classes! I was placed in the most advanced class which was super exciting and also kind of nerve wracking since I didn't think that I was really that strong but I am pleased nonetheless it will serve as an awesome challenge and that is exciting. We also got some more vaccines yay Hep-A?? Whatever, it wasn't so bad the worst was getting all of our first aid kits and mosquito netting that I swear weighs nearly 5 pounds... I question you this peace corps: how do you expect us to add that stuff to our already ridiculous allotment of crap?? I am currently procrastinating and refusing to pack up my things as a pointless act of defiance...

Oh yea and we went to the Mall- this was HORRIFYINGLY OVERWHELMING I thought we had big malls in the DC metro area but this place was surreal they had dance crew in the food court as well as a light show and bungee jumping it was too much... but I got a cell phone! Woo

Today: FIELD TRIP TO SANTA RITA de Antón
We met up with a current PCV in Santa Rita Jasmine so she could show us around her school and her host mom and current homes it was an amazing day! The heat is apparently worse in Feb/March here and it honestly wasn't unbearable it is pretty much all a mental game, if you pretend it isn't hot it won't feel so hot. Her town was absolutely beautiful!! I will get some photos added as well but her host family was so amazingly kind and the home was spectacular and her school actually liked having her there!! Wild... she only worked with two co-teachers and worked at two schools which I think would be awesome. The home she lives in now actually has electricity and a toilet AND a shower... though no running water right now so kinda makes it pointless but still glamorous.

The secondary school she works at is currently involved in some eco-friendly projects that are being supported by the First Lady, which I think is fantastic, they are doing some work trying to save the iguanas and growing their own fruits and veggies in the lot in back of the school- potential ideas for us in our sites perhaps??