Guianan Monthavairsary :)

I have now spent a little over one month in French Guiana. Here are some questions and answers to outline some of my thoughts on the experiences I have had so far.

Have I gotten used to the heat? I’m getting there. It is still really hot though.

Do I speak fluent French? No. (Bummer.)

Am I learning French? Oui - Bien sur.

Have I tried to book an appointment in French and gotten asked if there is someone around who actually speaks French so I can hand them the phone? Yes. Joy of joys.

Do I know my way around the city/village of Kourou? Kind of. Ish.

Have I broken down since my arrival? Yeees. It was (rather) dramatic.

Am I formally employed? Achhh.. no. Not yet anyway.

Am I teaching English? Yes! (And I actually like it!).

Have I been ill? Naah, not really - so far, so good! .. except for the touristic faulty-bowel-syndrome.

Do I love the pool? So so so so much. And the hammock!

Am I insanely tan? Alas, no. It's actually too hot in the sun.. you learn to avoid it best you can.

Do I hate the local mosquitos? With a passion.

Have I been locked out of the house after having about six tubes of blood removed from my body and thus been forced to ring on the neighbours doorbell and say “J’ai une probleme… uuh, le gate e ferme eeeeee j’ai ne pas un cles pasque j’oublie eeeeee Anthony vroomvrooom-conduir! Il conduir pour le travail..”? Why yes, yes I have. So that was fun O.o

Have I made some new friends? Yes! Yay for friends!

Have I been riding? Yes! - And I am going again on Friday! Haa!
(Do I have any idea what the riding instructor is telling me? Nope. Strategy: Nod and smile! J)

Have I enjoyed the local caipirinhas? Oh yeah :D … ‘Nuf said.

Have I been confused about local customs? Yes. Sitting around for hours on a bike, doing nothing – literally doing nothing though – is really really weird. Also, biking on the road with two large shopping bags, whilst balancing a toddler on the front bar… and simultaneously texting, is also rather strange behaviour I find. Seriously, completely standard over here. I tell no lies.

Have I gotten robbed? No.

Have I seen an anaconda? Nope, not yet! But I hear they live in the lakes in town. Crazy.

Have I seen a spider the size of my hand? Yes. I am not jesting either – it was huuuuge, and fluffy.

Have I seen a rocket launch? YES! Super super super cool!

Do I still marvel at palm trees and the beach and having a pineapple bush in my garden? Definitely. It is just amazing – I LIVE here! O.o whaaaaaaaat?

Now … Do I like it? OUIIII! J

Here are some recent pictures we took on the beach with the Melba monster :) Here she gets to let out at her excess energy and just push the throttle button to its maximum - she is happy, so I'm happy.

 Anthony and Melba playing fetch in the water.

Rawrrr... 

Brave girl and big sticks. 

 Gentle coaxing.

Two peas in a pod.

The sand is just EVERYWHERE.

... and that's how she likes it - not so fun to clean off though.

Une chienne heureux. A happy (female) dog.

The beach!

<3

                           

Some pictures from Arianespace's 60th successful launch, VA219, and heaviest cargo load yet.

There was a screen outlining the process and following the launch on video, also featuring scenes from the control center - super. cool.

So here is what I saw :) You can't really tell from the picture but it seriously lights up the whole sky. It was absolutely fantastic.

And back to the screen detailing the separation stages and so forth.

Pretty awesome stuff really.

Until next time, à bientôt! :)