MST

We have made it to our mid service!!

Last week, we were all in Vila for our Mid Service Training (MST). The health volunteers had their training on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Education had our training on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Peace Corps kind of gave us an overlapping weekend. It was so great to see everyone and catch up on how they are doing. We all have been here now for 15 months. We all have had good days and bad days. MST was great because it was the refresher I think most of us needed. Now we are on the other side of the mountain going down. When I look at my group, I am just in awe of how lucky I am to be on this journey with them. They are a huge support system for me here on the island and many of then will continue to be when this journey is over.

I am in a really good place now. I feel at home. Everyday, I am reminded that I made the right decision by staying. It feels great to meet this mile stone. I look forward to the next 12 months. I have a lot of plans for site. Also, this year will be different because I finally got an island mate. Her name is Natalie and she is only like a 45 minute hike away. It's so great to be able to share this experience with her. We are going to have great times here.

In the Gupta fashion, I will give my top 10.
They are in no particular order:
1. Computer Lab and internet at my school.
2. My Auntie Leitau
3. Juju and Maxi
4. All three of my counterparts
5. Kava
6. My family here and family in the states
7. Diva Cup
8. Avocado and Shapes
9. Kids playing with my hair
10. Walking around my village

Here are my 10 least favorite things:
1. Flies
2. Waiting for a bus
3. Kava
4. Sweat
5. The sound of everyone spitting after kava
6. The Computer Lab not working
7. Being in Vila alone
8. Not having an avocado tree
9. Juju humping everything and everyone
10. No citrus

Well, that is it. The countdown begins. 12 months!!!
I will leave you with some pictures from our MST.

These two get me through my service!

Funny picture! The VITEL group!

Ya! for Kava!!!! (I do not know why I am standing like this)

YUMMMM! Watermelon! It has been so long!

The VITEL crew! Life is so much better with them in it!

The country director and I talking about the future!

The staff and our VITEL team celebrating MST! We could not do what we do without them!

Now, pose nice!

This is my favorite. The top pic was the first time we all met and started this journey. Since, then we have had 12 people return home. So during our MST we took a photo and left a spot for each of them from the original photo. For they are still with us. We miss you all so much!