a christmas eve well spent

This morning, on the Eve of Christmas Eve, I was invited to deliver clothing to some people in need. My student Sandra is a teacher at the Basic English School here in Mindelo. The Basic English School is run by a Nazarene Church, Bom Pastor. At this school, young kids take English in their free time, which is pretty cool!

Sandra and another one of my students, Auxiliadora collected clothing and taught the kids “We wish you a Merry Christmas” in English. Before giving out the clothes, the television crew came and filmed us singing our Christmas carol and a few other songs. The kids spent some time exchanging their own gifts too.

We went to what Sandra had described as a “very poor” part of the city. She said the houses were made of “lata,” which means metal cans. So, I was expecting poverty, but not like what I saw. The houses were about 15X15 and houses families of people. The house was made of metal and pieced together by nails and wire. I was devastated when I got there. I know that people out in the countryside are poor, but they have the land to live off of. These people are living in the city and have nothing. They were running up to us from all sides trying to get things. They were kind and gracious, but so very sad. No one had shoes. It was like a lost group of people. They were out of town by just enough to be forgotten. There is not water there, no electricity, nothing.

Thankfully, Cape Verde doesn’t have a winter. If we did, there would be no way for these people to survive. Cape Verde often times seems to have just enough money to make things look pretty on the outside. Even the poorest people here are able to dress nicely and cover up their poverty. However when you go to people’s homes like these, it makes you realize how much we don’t see on a daily basis.

Later in the day, I was invited to two different Christmas Eve dinners. So, needless to say, I was completely stuffed when I finally got home at 2 am! People eat very, very late here to welcome in Christmas Day. I was so fortunate to spend my time with two great families!

Then, the next morning, I woke up alone for the 2nd year in a row on Christmas. It was sad, but not as sad as last year! My Christmas day was spent with Dave and Darrell, the two other PC volunteers. We cooked a dinner and shared a little time together. Then I just spent some time alone! It was a relaxing day.

INTERVIEW

HELLO! I have an interview with the University of Southern Mississippi! YEAH! I just spoke with their Department Chair. We scheduled the 1st and 2nd of February for the interview! I am SOOOO excited. Please wish me luck. Send me good vibes and prayers!

Santa Luzia de terra

On Sunday, I got to hike to a new spot on the island! The place is in a valley behind the town of Calhau. We hiked over a ridge and started to head up the valley. On the way, it was sprinkling! It was crazy that just a few minutes up and out of town, we felt raindrops. Further up the valley, we encountered greenery! There were some big trees, Mangoes and such. There was a HUGE almond tree! That's right, an almond tree. So, we collected a ton of them. I didn't know that almonds look like figs when they are on the tree. Then you can eat the sweet outside and get to the shell. Then you can crack the shell and eat the almond!

So, we sat and used rocks to beat the almond shells open (very hunter-gatherer of us). And we hit the ripe ones out of the trees with sticks. I got them all home and decided to make "doce" out of the outer part. Doce means jam, basically. So, I boiled the fruit, got the sweet part, then cooked it down with sugar and added fresh lemon and orange juices. It tastes wonderful! It was my first time making any sort of jam. It's great. I have more to make and give away as Christmas gifts! I am sooo excited.

Well, my friend Ceasar (the one who saved my life), took some pictures. Once he gets them to me, I'll post them! Since my camera was stolen, I am pretty bummed that I can't get great photos anymore! Boo! :(

seriously, seriously

This is an installment in the completely insane life of Casey Maugh. It's always something. Never anything major, but always something completely unexpected and annoying. This time it was a break in. A man came into our house this morning at about 4:30. I went to bed early and Elizabeth was still up and on the phone, so I didn't think to shut the back door on the porch, neither did Elizabeth. We always lock that door at night, but of course, last night we didn't.

Elizabeth woke up at about 5 when she heard a noise and saw a flashlight. She thought it was me and that the power was out or something. Then she went to the bathroom, then woke me up. She asked me if I were walking around. I said no! Then she said, I think our computers are gone. GREAT! A man had entered the house, stolen Elizabeth's computer which was in the living room. Then he started to search the house. The drawers to my desk had been removed and the contents carefully inspected. Elizabeth's purse was in the office and money had been taken, but the kind thief left everything else. Unfortunately, Elizabeth's camera was also in her purse, so that's gone. We looked around the house to see if anything else was missing. We talked for a while, then I went to my room and realized that my ipod and camera were gone. That means the man came into my room and took those things! OHMYGOSH! Then I was completely freaked out, seriously freaked. I was fortunate enough to have been watching a film in my room last night and placed the computer underneath my bed, so the guy was apparently not brave enough to take that!

What a horrible way to wake up in the morning. We just feel so violated. I am now fearful that he knows there is another computer in the house and will return. I am hopeful that he's not that bold, but he did steal things from right next to me when I was sleeping! We will certainly be more vigilant about the doors and windows from now on. Unfortunately, this is the same time of year that my wallet was stolen last year. Near Christmas time, crimes really, really rise. People get desperate for money for the holidays and do crazy things. Let's just hope that things calm down in my life here in Cape Verde. I've never had such excitement in my life before. And to be honest, I don't like it.