Happy 1 Month Suriname-versary!!

I can't believe it's almost been a month since I have left what was familiar and comfortable for an adventure. I am so thankful I am here. God has placed me in the right place with the right people. I grow more confident in that every day.

I have met my whole class this week - all five students. I adore them.  They all feed off of different love languages I have decided. I have a hugger, storyteller, encourager, and deep thinker. But I have yet to find the gift giver! :)  I feel blessed to love on and learn from these kids.  They got me so off track the other day...we were studying plants and their climates and all of a sudden we are talking how tornadoes can lift houses.  Such inquisitive (and sneaky) kiddos!!! :)  I would like to meet their teacher last year because she did a GREAT job...so much carry over too! :)  One of the students wants to pray for a new country everyday so that the people may know Jesus. That made my heart melt. We are actually going to be studying a country/week and pray for that country. I hope to have a flag from each country we study hanging on the wall as a reminder. 

I don't think have mentioned b-fit. It is the "gym" here.  It feels like hot yoga. They do group classes all without air-co. I have done the easy aerobics class here. It is not too bad until the 20 min ab/push up shenanigans start. I am sliding all over my mat and the floor because I am sweating so much! Take that Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels! :)

Friday night was kick-off night for youth group. It is a ministry for middle and high school students from our school.  We played games - volleyball, basketball, and board games.  It is still true. I was born for the stage, not the court. But everyone was nice and encouraging even when I shot the ball WAY off court! :) Before I leave Suriname I want to be a baller... :) I think Dusty and Tiffany will help me...(They are teachers from GA!)

Yesterday I did my first Suriname 5k. It was hot. And crowded. There was a group of teachers that did it and within that group we had a wogging (walking/jogging) group.  The warm up started at 4:30, but it was still hot. Terri and I gave our water bottles to Sherry to carry in her backpack (sweet of us, huh?).  Well we were all gonna wog together but we lost Sherry.  At mile marker ????? (they don't post that info - kinda torturous!) we were DYING for water. But we ran across the finish line and were given a water bottle and popsicle. It was melting before I could enjoy it completely.  I look forward to more of these shenanigans.

This morning while making my coffee and breakfast the power went out.  But not all over the house...just on my half of the house.  There was no water, air-co, or lights. But in other parts of the house it worked. I was puzzled and checking the breaker did nothing. I told myself it was not going to break me, but when I got home from service and it was hot and I still couldn't shower I felt my frustrations start to compound. Then I realized we had a wonderful porch! The breeze was nce and it gave me time to escape the discomfort. Thankfully, my roommate was able to call Navin (he is head maintenance man at our school) and he told her to flip a switch outside. All was well again! :)

I think I am still in the honeymoon stage of this journey. I am feeling more independent within the city. I have a bike that is CUTE, stops when needed, and is not too tall! :)  My friend, Tiffany, has a birthday coming in a few weeks and she likes themed parties. I am thinking we are going to get along just fine!!  It is hard not having everyone on speed dial but I am thankful for the Skype dates I have been able to have.  I think it is important for me to write the blog so everyone stays informed on all the happening south of the equator, but I want to hear what is going on in your life - a two way friendship, please!

I am SO THANKFUL for the cards, encouragement, and financial gifts you guys have given me. I may not be able to express how much it means. Thank you for investing yourselves in my journey here.  Happy one month! Let's see what the Lord shows me next!

Beyond blessed,
Megan XOXO

Cue the Sad Music

So I thought that I had finally gotten the perfect bike. It is not too tall, brakes work, and has a basket.  But other day I was biking home from school (by myself) while the dark clouds were looming over me. I asked the guard at our school if he thought I could make it home before it downpoured and he seemed to think so... Unfotunately that was not the case. In the midst of it starting to rain, my chain comes off of my bike. I am not even halfway home yet. Can you hear the sad music that is played during a pivotally sad point in the main character's life?? I felt like I could hear the music.  I called my roommate, Carmen, who has a car and she came and helped me. She brought the rainjack and took my backpack that had my electronics.  Thankfully, they were just fine. :)  She tried to fix the problem, but the chain came off again.  It was a teachable moment: 1. always carry a rainjacket  2. bring along a plastic bag to cover expensive things  3. have Carmen on speed dial.

But the evening did get better. A group of us hit up McDonald's for dinner and then went to go see the Bourne movie. (It was a REALLY nice theater!!! AND only about $6 for an evening movie!) Be jealous all of you Americans!

On the way out, we ran into the Smileys - well the parents. This is a family that is from Arkansas that just moved to Suriname about two weeks ago. They were having date night, but it was nice to meet someone that I had met via email. They will be going into the jungle for a time so I am not sure how much time we will get to see one another, but it is nice to at least to have met them.

Thats all for now, my friends!!! Be blessed!

The Faculty… I mean Family

Leaving my Hasty family was probably one of the hardest parts of leaving the States. They are an incredible crew of people who I miss daily. (And any of y’all reading this that want to send me teaching tips will be cherished even more – if possible!) HOWEVER, God is good. I have a staff that is taking care of me as if I was one of their own.  Listen to this! A high school teacher here, Mr. Gee, has a son that I graduated college with.  Mr. Gee and his wife have a house in the Jackson area.  It is small world, y’all! Each person has been equipped to help us newbies in different ways. They pick up slack when they see someone needs it. Service over self. They truly care about the whole person.  It was hard to not fall in love with all of them instantly!

And….we even have a running club! Now…I am still trying to learn streets and how to ride a bike so running club was an adventure. But to counteract all this fried food that is served me, I am forcing myself to run twice a week at 5:30 in the jungle climate. J We put this GA humidity to SHAME!!

Church

Sunday services look different here! There are two English speaking churches that the teachers mainly go to. So part of the newbies were taken to the outside church. A group of maybe 20 people meet in a garage at someone’s house, pull songs from YouTube, and someone shares from the Word.  We were welcomed (and obviously stood out that we were visitors) from the moment we walked up.  They played songs from the Maranatha Singers- takes me back to my childhood! It was a very humbling experience to take away all the production that sometimes our American churches can get caught up in.  It made me realize (and have a grateful heart) that while God has called me here, He is along with me with this journey – every step.  We also did communion which was a treasured experience.

Last week we attended Berea - the indoor, Dutch speaking church. We wore headsets and had the announcements and preaching translated into English. Apparently it was a guest preacher and so we were encouraged to try it again.  Everyone was so nice.  It was a larger congregation and we were asked to introduce ourselves.  We had to do it...we stick out! What impresses me about these churches is how long the greeting time is...you really could talk to everyone at the service!

I haven't decided yet where I will be attending, but as soon as the Lord shows me I will pass along this information.  Be blessed, my friends!

Yummy, Yummy in my Tummy!

I have been trying new dishes. I have had a roti roll. It couldn’t tell you what’s in it, but it’s DELISH!  I have had some Javanese soup and chicken and noodle dish. We were taken to McDonald’s and it did taste pretty good. Nice and fattening comfort food!  I have tried a Dutch pancake. It is not at all what you think of when you hear the word pancake. Jennifer (a fellow teacher) and I shared a cookie pancake and a Gladiator pancake. Gladiator was an array of meats and super yummy, but the cookie pancake was gross. A picture of the McNasty dish is included! Don’t worry though…there are 100+ others for us to try. Now if I could only remember how we got there…

The cookie pancake....not so good!

Jennifer and I...we be HUNGRY!

Shane and his son, Townsend.

From L to R: Terri, Jennifer, Kya, Allison, Stephanie, and Anna Brielle eating the table. :)

Where Shopping is a Pleasure??? :)

I miss Wal-Mart and Target. While lines are sooooo loooooooong here and sometimes soooooo slooooooow everyone is pretty patient. We waited in line at Popeye’s for 30 minutes just to order…taking the fast out of fast food. In America, you would hear huffing and puffing and complaints galore but here it is just a way of life.

The school supplies that are available is interesting. Other teachers have said it has improved around Suriname, but I am still trying to find 3m hooks and 3-ring (with pockets) folders.  We went to the office store (at the mall) and I was willing to shell out some money for a 3 whole punch…come to find out it is 100 US dollars!!! I wouldn’t even pay that with my last teaching salary! A three whole punch is now on my list to get at Christmas. J

Grocery shopping has been fun. We have been taken to the grocery stores that carry American brands, but you pay some pretty pennies (or SRDs) for it! Cereal is about $7 a box and hair/shampoo/body wash around $10 for the brands you want.  The other teachers have given suggestions at what to go local on compared to indulging in what’s familiar.   It is harder to eat healthy. Period.  It is more expensive…like in the States.   But I will not give up on my quest to try new things while not being carb central!! :)

Four Wheelin’ to Two Wheelin’

Well….I thought I knew how to ride a bike. I have been proven wrong. The teachers that left also left their bikes - which ideally is a money-saver. However, I can’t seem to find one that fits. I am like Goldilocks waiting for a bike to be just right. The answer may be at a bike store.

Bike #1: too tall. It was quite humorous to see me try to get on this thing. We get off to walk across the busy streets...well I had a hard time getting started again. It’s hard to get your balance when you can’t really touch the ground. This bike was equipped with a bell AND basket. Perfection! Outside of the fact that safety is more important that vanity that bike would have been the one.

Bike #2 No brakes. The next bike was better because I could touch the ground, however, needing to stop suddenly was out of the question-which on these roads…is a necessary skill.  Also, I don’t know what gear that bike was set on (because that was broken). I had to channel my inner Lance Armstrong to even go on a flat street. Alas, no bell or basket, so this bike was a no go.

Bike #3 and #4 are what I am trying next but the concern with them already is height. I will keep you posted and I am sure post pictures.

Also…the street names in Dutch only make it that much more complicated for me to find my way home. I thought I could do it today, but then I got all kinds of confused. Stephanie is a great wingwoman for the biking adventures. She laughs at my crazy!

The driving here makes a little more sense although I still think it’s more complicated than what I am accustomed to. The honking is not as intense as I thought it was going to be, but biking next to cars is nerve racking. They are more afraid of hitting us, then we are of hitting them. Still..I prefer more personal spaces than is usually extended my way.

Da House

Simply put I love my house. It is cute and big. (Don’t worry…I have included pictures!)  I have two roommates…Carmen and Stephanie.  Carmen is an amazing cook and has a car! She is from Louisiana and teaches Bible and Art at school.  I think she leaves at the crack of dawn and returns well after the sun sets.  Stephanie is my biking instructor and is a constant encouragement.  She is from the Memphis, TN area and has a BFF that I went to Union with. She will be educating 10 little kindergarteners this year.

When I arrived to my house my air-co (air conditioning) was already running and bed was made. That was a huge blessing since it was about 3am! I have an attached bathroom which is a blessing. I am not sure we have decided about a housekeeper. It is culturally accepted, but the roommates are discussing it. I support cultural roles. J  I still am waiting for my shipment of stuff so I don’t have that homey feel yet. No “after” pictures of my room…yet!!

We do have some unwanted house guests – cockroaches. They are called cock-a-lock-a here. (I am picking up the important phrases here and there.) I have killed 6 family members. One is currently playing hide and seek in my clothing closet. We also house a gecko family.

Our neighbors keep to themselves but their pets do not.  Our next door neighbor has (I am guessing) three dogs.  I think they are trying to beat the rooster across the street by barking in the wee hours of the morning. I wanted to open my window and yell some English phrases at them, but since they probably only understand Dutch I didn’t do such a thing. Our neighbor (with the rooster) works for the Dutch embassy and has a guard 24/7. It makes my street feel important…ok…I feel high class. J

The commute to school is the longest compared to the rest of the houses the rest of the teachers are living at. As of now, the plan is to have all the girls move into another house around Christmas, but I think we are secretly hoping we don’t have to mess with that hassle. Not to mention that our house has a dryer…that is a big deal here! The dryer is on speed or something because it takes 20 minutes to dry a large load and doesn’t ever turn off. Maybe I can pack the dryer with me….

My room! (not cute...yet)

From my bed - bathroom on left/door to house right

speaks for itself i'd say!

love the shower! I just need to work on the shower curtain not invading my space while I bathe!

Entering the bathroom...

 A perfect closet size for this diva. :)

Are We There Yet???

(First off…let me apologize that I have not updated my blog. We only have internet at school right now, and when I am at school I am preoccupied with my job – imagine that! We were supposed to have internet about a week ago, but timelines mean different things here. Once I have internet at the house I will be ready to SKYPE!!!! SO as a way to make amends I have several posts for your reading delight. ENJOY!)

After a wonderful send off from my dear friends, I boarded the plane in Atl with two large (and heavy) carry-ons. I arrived in Miami late Saturday night and felt like I was already out of the US! After only getting a measly three hours of sleep at the Doubletree it was time to board the second flight to Port of Spain.  That morning I met up with Terri (a fellow teacher – teaching first grade). We got to “Spain” and went through customs like pros. However, we didn’t know that we had to get our luggage out of customs. We were told at our original check-ins that our luggage would go all the way to Suriname. Well…they lied.  We had to nervously wait for an American Airlines employee to show up so we could get our luggage. We needed them to show up before our flight began boarding. It was a nail biter. We waited for hours. I didn’t think the employee was going to show! But God provided the employee to arrive before we departed…and I am pretty sure I hugged a few people because I was so happy. J

Once we got to our gate, we met up with Jennifer (teaching 3/4/5 various subjects). We ate “dinner” (picture included) and had a few laughs. By 9:30pm we were boarding for Suriname. We landed shortly after and had to go through customs…again. This was short and sweet…besides having to wait in line. After a looooooooong and emotional traveling adventure it was nice to see the sweet faces of Stephanie and Carmen. We trekked the 45 minute ride back to our houses and called it a night. My bed never felt so WONDERFUL!

"Dinner"

They were hungry and excited about food!

Here we be!

The money Dixie gave me...what am I gonna buy?

Right outside of the airport at Trinidad and Tobago.




What I purchased with Dixie's money...notice I am wearing long sleeves and a scarf (not pictured rainboots)...I was HOT!And getting some strange looks, but it also could be because I am white.