Yup

I’m typing this up in Chã. It’ll be one of my last blogs from here. I have to move to São Felipe in January against my will. I love Chã, the people, the landscape, everything. I feel at home here. I love the fora, which means countryside, or “out” literally, but is really unexplainable in English. It’s just the fora. I’ll miss it so much.

I’ve become used to the lack of physical space and comfort here, whether in trucks, the city, parties, etc. A few days ago I came up from the city. A woman with two small girls got in next to me, so I grabbed one of the girls and put her on my lap, as is normal. About two minutes before they exited, the girl puked all over her shirt, my arm, and some of my shirt. I shrugged my shoulders, took the rag from her mom, and cleaned up as best I could. It didn’t bother me at all, strangely enough.

I’ve been doing well otherwise. I climbed the volcano again yesterday, with the sister of another PCV and one of the best local guides. He’s climbed it over 1000 times, and led his first tourist group when he was 12. Once he did it 20 times in 20 days. I’m learning the trail so I can lead groups of PCVs and friends when they visit.

Last weekend I went down to Mosteiros with Lauren. We did the hike from Chã, with took a solid four hours. It was almost all downhill, which sounds easy, but was incredibly difficult. By the time we arrived our legs were trembling uncontrollably. The trail goes through some of Fogo’s best farmland, with bananas, coffee, guava, and more. It goes through the island’s protected forest, very remote villages, and the Natural Park’s nursery. The weekend was great. It’s always nice to see other PCVs. We’re like family here. It’s more than friendship. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for the other PCVs here. They’re all I’ve got. Well, and the people in the village. But when you really need to talk only English will do.

Thanks for reading. I hope wherever you are as the holidays approach, you’re able to be with the ones you love.

Yup

Hey Everyone,

I hope all’s well where you are. I’m doing pretty well, spending the weekend in Mosteiros with some other PCVs. We did the hike down from Chã, which is beautiful. It took four hours and my legs are killing me today. Who knew all downhill could be so tough?

The other day I climbed the volcano for the third time. It’s awesome to see the ocean from the top. It’s like you can see ‘til the end of the Earth. I climbed with another PCV, a local guide, and two Dutch tourists. Their son/brother went to Michigan for his master’s. It’s always fun to meet people who know Michigan for things other than Eminem and Detroit as the Murder City, not the Motor City, Motown (perhaps not for long?!?), or Hockeytown.

I’ve been working lately gathering information about the mountain guides in the village. Most young men say they’re guides, but of the 30+ I catalogued probably 7-10 fit the bill. I would willingly climb with most of them, but then again I speak Kriolu. They all know the trails, though. Everyone here is at least bilingual, if not trilingual. It’s amazing.

My landlady’s daughter just got into town today, so we had a nice feast. I can’t get enough kabrito (baby goat). It’s so cute yet so delicious. The other day my neighbor’s horse killed two of his three kabritos… Even the cassava was good. Perhaps it’s growing on me. I still consider it a cut-rate potato, though.

I don’t have much time left before my battery dies. Thanks for reading.