The Neighbors

Two doors down from me lives the guard and his family. The guard is also the karate master of my town and holds classes every Saturday (I really want to go!). He walks with a limp but said he can protect me and the CSB commune by using his karate skills. His wife's name is Vola who is my best friend in town. We hang out and chat almost everyday, and she really goes out of her way to help me (she even got up early to boil water in order to iron my dress before a wedding. That is love). They have a 9 year old son and 3 year old daughter who frequently visit me and look at my maps, sticker book, and just like to make funny faces in the reflection of my water filter. During the school year, their niece lives with them because her family lives too far for her to walk to school each day. This family of five lives in the exact same size living space as I do which is smaller than a college dorm room. Almost every night, a woman in labor knocks on their door for help and the guard notifies the midwife and then stays awake with her until she is taken care of. They open their kitchen and supplies to family members of the people who stay at the CSB for medical treatment. Whenever I'm away from site, Vola calls to check up and I always say, “inona no vaovao?” (“what's new”) to 3 year old Monica. They are beyond kind to me and are some of the most generous people I have met. I feel lucky to have them as my closest neighbors.

Monica

 You know you're a PCV when:
-You have found worms in your fruit
-You don't send food back at a restaurant even if it has hair, bugs, rocks in it