tudo bem

wow.

i can´t believe i´ve only been here for a few short weeks. so much has changed. i´ll try to update everything i can in the short time i have. also let me know if you want to be on my email list (courtney.alev at gmail) and i´ll add you, those might be a little more candid!

ON COMMUNICATION

it´s hard here. internet is very slow and unreliable at best and only available at one place, so it´s doubtful i´ll be able to get on even once a week. please write letters. it would seriously mean the world to me because i miss everyone. i also have a cell and can receive calls! skype is really cheap, and i can also text. that´s the easiest way to get a hold of me, and please do call, it would mean a lot.

ON ROUTINE

my bucket baths have gotten a lot better. i´m not shivering quite as much, and i´m able to actually wash my whole head of hair now with a cup and about two inches of water! i really do miss running water though. the idea of washing my hands in a sink is simply amazing, but i´m doing okay without. i also do not own a mirror, and makeup is too difficult here, so i´m looking like a different variety of trash each day--but at least there´s no mirror to prove it! :) being here involves developing a new type of self esteem to say the least.

during the day i attend a variety of classes and am learning portuguese and more about health care system and health care workers in mozambique. it´s very eye opening and exciting and also very tiring, trying to learn a new language. but i hope that i master it soon... or can at least function. haha.

it´s usually quite hot here, as it is headed into summer, crazy enough--southern hemisphere! although there are occasional cold spots and it occasionally rains, which is very welcome.

being in africa is amazing and it´s so different. my life has fundamentally changed so much, in ways that a blog fails to describe. but i am doing well.

i participated in my first killing of a chicken. that will be a blog to come later when i can more easily access internet.

things are good--i´ve been waiting 2 housr to get on the internet and now that i finally did, i can´t think of any cool things to say. i promise for a good update next week or when i can next get on the internet.

again, thanks for people who have emailed--it means a lot and i´ll get back to you as soon as i can, i promise.

keep in touch. and tell me how america is doing.