PST

Hi all,

Right now I´m in what is called PST or pre service training. In Cape Verde it consists of 9 weeks of living with a host family and taking classes in a town about a 30 minute drive from the capital called Sao Domingos. Its a wonderful place to live and everyone I have met has been so warm and welcoming. My typical day so far has been:

5:45 Wake up
6:00 Meet other PCTs for a morning walk up the mountains
7:30 Breakfast- This is usually bread with butter and either an egg or yogurt and coffee
8:30 School starts- We usually have Kriolu for 4 hours divided up during the day, classes on medical issues, etc, and technical training. For me, this is learning about development and different types of organizations and how they function
We go home in the middle of the day for lunch.
5:30 School ends. After school I like to play soccer with my host brother and other PCTs and their families or go on a hike or sit and chat with my host mom and her friends. It gets dark here around 7:30 so I´m not out that late.
I eat dinner around 8 or 9 which tends to be leftovers from lunch or soup or something small. I like that dinner isn´t the large meal at my house.

Like many Cape Verdians, my family likes to watch their novelas- Portuguese soap operas. When the electricity is working, you can guarantee that they are watching them.

Right now Im with a few other PCTs shadowing a volunteer to see what PCV life is really like. Its been a great experience so far and we spent the morning touring a place that is kind of like a shelter for children who come from homes that aren´t necessarily the safest places to be.

I miss you guys and I hope everyone is doing well. If you get bored at work, feel free to send me mail. I´m not really going to have Internet for the next 7 weeks so any bit of news and connection with the outside world is always appreciated.

Ciao for now,
Jules