More happening, May 10

I know it seems as if I am always posting something up on this blog, but truly, it is not just because I long-winded, but also because there is so much happening in a typical day....even when we do not have scheduled activities, just wandering around town or reflecting on what we have be doing starts to provoke a desire to share it.

Yesterday was busy - in the morning we did community visits ( no worries, I will not talk about that again), and in the afternoon, we hosted two parties.  The first was in celebration for International Nurses Week, and since the crew of students and teachers here are primarily nurses, it has become a tradition on this trip to invite all the nurses from the hospitals and clinics in town to a party where the profession is honoured and the nurses acknowledged. There was cake and drinks, and what is a party without speeches?

The nurses from Ocoa were given gifts as thanks for their hard work and for allowing us to participate in their work as part of our visits and training.

The second party was in honour of the group of translators who have be working with us and accompanying us on our various trips and activities.  These guys are a great bunch and take time from their lives and work to be with us as volunteers.  Sme of them have been doing it for many years and all of them are loved and respected by the Ocoan group.  They have saved our proverbial butts on numerous occasions, as not only do they assist in interpreting conversations, the explain the reasons for activities and cultural motivations for behaviours. They help calm crowned when things look like they are getting out of control, they help keep things organized......and other things to numerous to mention.they do all of this with grace, humour and patience. Hats off to them!

Again cake and speeches. Also hugs, and a few tears....

Then, yup there's more, we practice singing a song and the Canadian national anthem as after supper, off we went to mass in town where we sang out tunes in front of a packed church.  Didnot do too badly, if I must say so myself!

Our time here is drawing to  a close.....today one last rip to the packing house where we cleanup the vestiges of the donations and either pack them away for next year or donate them to various places in the community.