Baby weighing

I have officially begun the process of integrating and learning my way around my new community. In terms of living situations, I have all the basic ammenities; I have electricity (almost all the time) and running water (again, almost all the time). I have access to the internet, and plenty of restaurants to choose from if I want to go out to eat. There are also 4 other volunteers in the town (from different projects), so I have the opportunity to speak english and relax with them if I need to. It feels very different then what people picture when you say "Peace Corps", and that is something I have had to get used to. However, I do feel very much like Gracias is the place for me, and I love it here. Despite the fact that I have access to all kinds of services, the general situation in Gracias and the surrounding areas has many needs in terms of health (and other general) services. The department (like a small state) of Lempira, of which Gracias is the capital, is the poorest department in Honduras. In my area, there are high rates of malnutrition, problems with hygiene, lack of access to drinkable water, HIV/AIDS...etc. Which results in many work opportunities for me, other volunteers and NGOs in the area. This month, I have been dividing my time between various projects. It looks like I will be spending a significant amount of time working with the World Vision office on their baby weighing campaigns in the rural areas. Each community has one day a month when all the mothers are supposed to bring any of their children, who are under 5, to get weighed by the community workers. They are then supposed to recieve counseling depending on their childs weight, and whether they have met appropriate weightgain goals based on their age. Unfortunately, it is alot of work for the community workers and World Vision, so hopefully I can serve as an added body and resource in terms of both doing the actual weighing and the nutrition counseling. It is right up my alley and I really enjoy the time I get to spend out in the more rural areas in the mountains. In general there is alot of need here and just not enough services, although there are a number of organizations and groups of people who are working in the area. I am trying to learn as much as I can about these projects so that my work over the next two years can be a support and compliment to the things that are already being done. The nutrition work is definitely not my only project, but I want to try and blog about my different projects separately as they grow and I learn more about them. Hope this gives you all a better idea of my life here...
As usual, much love to everyone at home.
Letters/packages can now be sent to my new address here in Gracias (yes, it's true; there is no street address or number)

Voluntaria de Cuerpo de Paz
Gracias, Lempira
Honduras, Centro America