Back From Hello

Life as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) in the jungles of Suriname can be difficult in so many ways. There are bugs, wild animals, the heat, the humidity, boat trips on dangerous rivers, etc. In addition to these challenges, we also face the difficulty of learning a new language, building useful and meaningful relationships, trying to identify potential projects, and just generally fitting-in in an unfamiliar culture, and missing friends and family back home. Given all of these stresses, it’s imperative that PCVs are able to develop creative ways to cope.

Lindsay and I have chosen food.

Here are two of the delicious meals we’ve managed to whip up in our tiny jungle kitchen:

These first two pictures are of a delicious breakfast treat called Calas that my mom sometimes makes when she has leftover rice. It’s essentially a rice fritter and it’s just plain delicious.

Our second and final dish for this post is a homemade cheese pizza on Italian herb crust. I made the sauce from scratch and Lindsay made the crust. Yes, you are completely entitled to be jealous.

As we craft new and amazing jungle foods, I’ll make sure to update you poor souls unfortunate enough to be dining stateside. Future posts will include my new favorite hush puppies, banana fritters, corn bread, cookies, and many other mouthwatering treats. Just know one thing, no amount of jungle can keep a good chef down.