I came into the city at the end of March in order to be a part of the Holi Pagwa celebration. It is the Indian celebration of Spring and colors. We bought bottles of dyed baby powder and headed downtown to begin throwing the baby powder at anyone we could find. There were local bands and lots of local food around. We had a blast and it got very messy. The side of my face is still a little pink even two weeks later!
bottles of dyed baby powder
enjoying cultural events
lots of color
I was lucky enough to go to Easter mass this year at the The Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral in Paramaribo. The service was in Dutch so I understood very little but I still had a wonderful time. The inside of the cathedral is beautiful and is made entirely of wood. There was a youth choir that sung Oh Happy Day and it was fantastic.
The week after Easter started our Close of Service conference. During the conference we were able to reflect as a group on our experiences during our 2 years of service. We talked about what our fears and hopes were at the beginning of our service and compared them to how everything panned out. There were plenty of tears while reminiscing and thinking about saying goodbye to not only fellow volunteers but to our villages in a few short months. The conference also included information on dealing with reverse culture shock once in America. The pace of life down here is MUCH slower than life in America. In America we are always on the go and busy busy busy working on something. Down here everything gets done...eventually. It was very hard to adjust to in the beginning but now we're all rolling with it but will have to adjust back to the American way. The conference concluded with information on finding jobs after Peace Corps and help with writing Peace Corps experience on a resume. I can't believe it is already time for me to start job searching! I feel as though I just got here a few months ago. It is bizarre that 2 years have already flown by!
SUR-17 the night we ARRIVED in Suriname, May 2011
SUR-17 two years later at our Close of Service conference, April 2013
At the end of the conference we attended the Peace Corps Legacy event. Peace Corps Suriname is closing due to budgetary cuts in July 2013. We are the last group of volunteers to serve in Suriname. I am honored to be a part of this legacy and I am very proud of our group on the work we have done here. The Legacy event celebrated the history of Peace Corps in Suriname. Surinamese officials, host country partners, US government officials and Peace Corps Washington DC staff attended the event. A few volunteers organized with local artisans to sell their handicrafts at the event. It was a great opportunity to buy some gifts for people at home!
SUR-17 volunteers with Carlos Torres, Acting Associate Director for Global Operations Peace Corps
Left to right - Me, Brooke and Jessica
The highlight of the Legacy event was the viewing of the Peace Corps Suriname Legacy film. A fellow volunteer, Kyle Smithers, was a SUR-16 volunteer (his group was 1 year ahead of mine) and when he finished his service he returned to Suriname to create a documentary film about Peace Corps in Suriname. The film was beautifully made and everyone in attendance loved it! I am thrilled to be able to have this documentary to always look back on about Suriname. Kyle is very talented and worked very hard on this film. I was fortunate enough to have Kyle interview my counterpart Theo and my good friend Woi from my village. Both of their interviews made it into the film! It is so special for me to see them on film. They did a great job! Woi was very nervous but determined to have Kyle interview her. Kyle also interviewed me in the village. You'll have to watch the video to see how it turned out!
Peace Corps Legacy Film
During this last trip into the city I was asked to participate on a panel discussion with the Acting Country Director of Peace Corps Suriname, Lenny Teh, and our Medical Officer, Johannes Legiman "Doc", on a local TV show. I was pretty nervous! Luckily it went very well and we had a lot of fun. We spent the hour speaking about Peace Corps Suriname and the impact it has had on the country. The host of the show was very nice and asked great questions. Check out the interview at http://www.apintie.sr/vidi.php?vid=7159
I have a busy few weeks coming up. A few volunteers and I will be hosting the US Ambassador to Suriname out on the river, showing him around various villages including my own! I will be doing a climate change awareness training with my counterpart in my village, finishing up another round of homemade soap lessons and implementing HIV/AIDS awareness curriculum at the school! Busy busy busy!
I officially have less than 3 months left in Suriname. I can't believe it! I'm dreading the day when I have to say goodbye to my friends in Peace Corps and my friends in the village. I already cry at the thought of hugging some of my beloved "teeny boppers" for the last time. It's clear that some of my friends in the village are already thinking about me leaving soon. My friends Woi and Sunuka come over to my house multiple times a day just to chat and spend time with me. It is going to be incredibly hard to say goodbye but I'll be ready. I'm ready for the next adventure in my life. Peace Corps has geared me up for the next chapter in life. I'm not sure yet what it will be but I'm looking forward to it!
Here are a few pictures from Kyle's (the Legacy film creator) recent visit to my village.
