Sunday, July 31, 2011

Landmines & Cyclones??? 26/07/2011

So apparently, there are still active landmines and unexploded ordinances left over from the civil and even colonial wars!!

We found this out in a recent Safety and Security session (with the always entertaining Alfredo). While explaining the history of these mines the Safety and Security Coordinator pulls up a slide with tips for how to handle yourself in the event that you have just stepped on a mine. Basically, we are to keep our feet/weight on said mine, stay calm, call the authorities and lastly NOT PANIC!!

At this point, I was completely dumbfounded and knew for certain that I could not guarantee that I would stay completely calm if I suspect that I have just happened upon a landmine of all things!!

~Uma coisa boa (a good thing) that came out of it though is that we (Moz 16) have a new catch phrase:
"If you didn't drop it, don't pick it!!"

The second part of this presentation was about cyclones. So according to the SSC cyclones are really dangerous, because they bring a lot of rain, and mud and also crocodiles and hippopotamuses???

So, because he thought (I guess) we weren't taking his warnings seriously enough-the SSC brings up a picture of a crocodile, then another on of the croc sem (without) skin AND THEN another picture of human remains that were found inside of the aforementioned croc.

A bit EXTREME nao e??

Yea I know!!! You can imagine our reaction!



                                                                   

Preservatives Added?

One day I was sitting at lunch with my host mom quietly enjoying a heaping helping of spaghetti and chicken when suddenly my mae turns to me and asks "usam preservativos nos Estados Unidos?" (Do they use preservatives in the US?).

Believing that I had understood her question correctly-and given the fact that we were eating- I confidently responded "sim, em comida" (Yes, in food). Mae gave me the most puzzling look, shook her head in disagreement and repeated her question. This time I responded "sim, algum pessoas usa preservativos em comida" (Yes, some people use preservatives in food)--rephrasing my answer thinking maybe I had said the wrong thing before.

Finally realizing that I did not understand what she was saying she sent my sister into her room to grab a pamphlet about safe-sex and preventing HIV. As I began to read, my eyes grazed over the phrase "usa preservativos" attached to an illustration of a condom. Completely shocked and frankly a little embarrassed at my poor comprehension, I exclaimed "Oh condoms?!" Minha mae simply nodded her head and said "sim" in an almost exasperated tone, as if to say "finally!" LOL

I went on to explain that yes, we do in fact use condoms in the States and that "preservatives" are put into food to keep it from going bad. After that she and I carried on a good, allbeit basic, conversation about the use of preservativos to prevent HIV and other STDs. I ever found out that the local Catholic congregation approved and even promoted the used of condoms for safe-sex.

                              ~Ahh the adventures in learning a foreign langugae LOL~

Ate Logo!!!

We're Almost There!! 09/07/2011

So it's the end of week five (now the beginning of week 9, but hey I don't have steady internet!), which means that in another five week myself and my fellow Moz-16ers will swear-in and officially be Peace Corps Volunteers.

In a few more weeks I will leave Namaacha and embark on my two year journey at my site (Inharrime!!!). I will leave the comfort and security of my host family to move into my own house in a new and strange location. So I know now that I will be living with a Moz-14er who will be COSing (Closing of Service) in either November or December, which I'm actually really excited about.

A couple of weeks from now I will be expected to take all the knowledge I've acquired during PST and begin work with my organizations. So many questions come to mind as I consider this: Are my language skills good enough?  Do I really know enough about HIV and other health issues? Am I really ready to live and work and possibly hang out with ONLY Mozambicans???

These first few weeks flew by. It seems like just weeks ago I was hanging out with my family and friends in Philly. It feels like like it was only days ago that I first met the other members of Moz-16 and now we feel like old friends. It must have been mere hours ago that I arrived in Namaacha and could barely communicate with my familia hospedeira (host family)- using hand gestures to communitcate. Now I can have a full (still very basic) conversations and am even writing compositions on health related topics entirely in Portuguese!!

I guess the saying that "time flies when you're having fun" is true-- as so much of my life had seemed to go by in a flash. And, although there have been tough times, I have had many laughs and made many friends. I look forward to improving my language skills and building many more relationships over the next two years.

If these first few weeks and months have gone by this quickly I can only imagine how fast these next few years will pass. Before I know it I could be back in the States sipping margaritas with sugar on the rim and gossiping about the latest celebrity scandal with my friends and family.

 I need to remember to take a deep breath and live each day for what it's worth. I have wanted to be in the Peace Corps since I was in high school. I'm finally her and I want to really make a difference and get all I can from this experience.

So while I can't wait to see my family and friends again, I must keep in mind that this is my home now so I might as well enjoy it!

I must live my life Pouco a Pouco, Dia a Dia-Little by Little, Day by Day

Ate....

Que Bizarro

Something very strange happened to me the other day...

I had explained to my host mother that I would be learning a local language and that it would probably be the one she speaks (Changana). So that evening she began to teach me some simple greetings. Curious and eager to learn more, I ask my mae if Changana was a written language? She replied "sim" and sent my little sister into her room to get her bible written completely in the local language.

My sister and I both attempted (I say we both because she understands and speaks a little but cannot read it) to decipher the words from a passage that I was able to figure was located in the book of Timothy.

Obviously, I could kind of sort of read and pronounce the words on the page but couldn't understand them. My neighbor (who is also one of my favorite people in Namaacha--affectionately called "Vovo" or grandmother in Changana) had me read the words to her, the she translated it into Portuguese and I was able to understand it in English!!

It was such and awakening experience for me. I was so impressed with myself lol.

**OK so it wasn't really that bizarre, but at that instant I did have goosebumps. Another reminder of how blessed I am...

Gracas a Deus!!

5 Words I NEVER Used Before Coming to Mozambique

#1 "Chega"- the Portuguese words for "enough". In the States I could never get enough and I could always have more, but here I recognize the scarcity of things so I rarely take a second helping and I try to conserve as many resources (i.e. water) as possible.

#2 "Xi-Xi"-loosely translated, it means "pee-pee". Let me just say that everything in my life is scheduled around my bladder these days. I have to make sure I know where the bathroom is at all time and you could almost set you clock by the frequent trips to my balde during the course of EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!!

....which brings me to my next WINUBCM...

#3 LARIUM-for the life of me, I will never understand  why they (PC chefes) would put us on a long-term (meaning the whole 2+ years) Malaria prophylaxis whose side effects not only include increased/frequent urination, but also Hallucinations and Nightmares!!!!

                                                                But I Digress
#4 "Bom Dia" (and it's alternates depending on time of day)-I never really used to say "good morning, afternoon or night" to people in the states. People are usually so consumed with their own lives, ipods, blackberries, whaterver that they don't really ever recognize the existence of other people. Here in Mocambique people (criancas -children- especially LOL) get offended if you don't comprimentar-the verb to greet- them when you see them. It goes deep too!! Mocambicanos want to know how you are feeling, and how your day is going, where you are walking to--all with in the span of a 5 second cursory interaction in the rua-street-. Formality is very important here.

#5 "Gato Preto"- it's a brand of Peanut Butter imported from South Africa and it is DELICIOUS!! I never realized how much I liked peanut butter until I came to Africa. It's quickly becoming one of my favorite foods. It could just be because it's a reminder of home, but Black Cat is probably the best manteiga de amendoim I've ever had.

**Update**
OMG I just discovered that they have the crunchy kind too!!! **BOUGHT SOME***

Friday, July 22, 2011

Site Selections!!!!

SITE PLACEMENTS!!!
This just in!!!

After six and a half gruling weeks of entensive language training and exhaustive Tech/Core sessions, I along with the rest of my fell Moz 16'ers have finally received our site selections. This means that as of today (*written on 20/07/2011) we all know where/with whom we will be living for the next two years.
Thinking back to just a few short weeks ago, it's funny to think about how truley fast time flies. It's seems like only a few weeks ago (well...literally it was like almost two months ago) we all made our first semi-awkward introductions and set off on this amazing adventure together. Here we are, less than 50 days into our training and subsequent service, already missing each other's company and/or celebrating that fact that some of us who have grown close are only a few short hours away from one another.
So without further consternation and much more adeu I finally, after many many many days, nights and weeks of guessing, know the location where the next phase of my life will be set. In my interviews with Christie ( the Assistant Courntry Director) I expressed my desire to work with in a joint placement (meaning work with two organizations)--one possibly being a Faith Based Org--and of wanting to continue my work with your girls and PLWHA (People Living With HIV/AIDS. Based on my experience, I believe I have been place in the best place for me and I cannot wait to begin my work with ICAP (an International NGO run by Columbia University) and with a local CBO called Tivikela and also, from what I hear a rather large REDES group.
I wasn't sure at first, but after talking to the trainees that visited my new home I am really excited about living and working in....*wait for it*...
...
                                                                       ...
                                                                                                                                                                                   ...
Inharrime, the captial of the Province of Inhambane along the South Eastern coast of Mozambique!!!!
I will be replacing a Moz 14'er who will be COS'ing (Close of Service-ing) in November, and since I will be arriving in mid-August we will be roommates for about three months. I'm excited about the possibility of having guidance during the very important and overly-stressed "integration period" (a volunteer's first three months at site). I have gotten word from some pretty reliable sources that the volunteer I will be living with is really cool and that my house and site are both really nice. I even heard that I am just minutes from a lagoon and only a short trip from some of the nices beaches in the whole country.

Monday, July 18, 2011

In the Pit...latrine 14/06/2011

Since we've been in Namaacha I've been raving about how I haven't had any stomach troubles. In fact, I really have had to "go" but once since we've been here.
IT finally hit me :(
Maybe, it's because I've been trying to hold it...
OR
Maybe it's because I've been exercizing and eating more fruit and veggies...
WHATEVER it is
I need to get control of it. "Downloading" (Thanks Elyse lol) in a virtual hole in the ground IS NOT fun. Nor is it easy, when you are trying to avoid putting your behind on the "seat" [which is really just four cement blocks surrounding the opening of the hole in the ground in my case].
** Speacial shouts out to my God Mother (Hey Peaches lol) who insisted that I bring a portable/purse sized can of disenfectant spray.
^You better believe I sprayed EVERY INCH of that case de banho before I postitioned myself [I discovered that putting my feet on either side of my body atop the cinder blocks works best] over the latrine (<-- I guess I had better get used to this word o_O).

I keep having to remind myself that this is what I signed up for!
I have never missed an American Standard toilet so much!
BUT!
I might get used to it...~who knows!?~...
(at this point) This is only like my 10th day in Mocambique LOL.

I will say that I'm glad I got it out of the way. My aim (ew I know :{ lol )isn't that great but at least now I know how it works LOL
Luckily, we have training sessions in buildings with "real" toilets (I'll use this term loosely as they don't actually have automatic flush and you have to dump a bucket of water at just the right angle to make things flow) so when I can help it, I wait until I get to these places and handle my business there. I know I won't always  be able to do this, and that someday probably very soon I will have to revisit a latrina...but I'm gonna try my DAMNED-EST!!

I'll keep you posted!
ATE LOGO

**Update**
So about four weeks later I got a stomach virus-dirrhea included-and became very well reaquainted with the latrine and every other toilet I came in contact with...
^ It was bound to happen LOL

On a related note... 17/06/2011

That last entry about perception got me thinking about another "P" word that has been tossed around a lot lately...
...PERSPECTIVE
In a recent Stress Management 101 session we had recently, a fellow PCT (Peace Corps Training) reminded us all to keep things in perspective. She suggested that whenever we get down about our current circumstances that we think back to a time in the States when we felt the same way. In doing this we would be reminded that one can have a bad day anywhere and not to blame these feelings on Moz or the people here. She also suggested that we remember that we were able to get over it.
In a separate conversation I had with the members of my language group where the topic of perspective was raised, we all agreed that after this experience (living and interacting with host families and our service to follow) we would all be able to roll with anything.
One of my colleagues had been having an especially hard day, after a run-in with her host mother's sister-in-law concerning the cleanliness of her clothes (or the lack there of in her opinion). The woman commented on how my friend couldn't have washer a particular shirt correctly because it still had stains. What my friend failed to communicate (or just didn't care to) was that it was an old shirt and that she only wore it to sleep. The woman, who has probably been hand washing her "roupa" to a perfect shine since she was a crianca, naturally assumed that minha amiga just didn't know how to wash clothes properly.
My friend's reaction was that it didn't really matter because it was a night shirt and therefore not meant to be seen by anyone. She also remarked to the rest of our language group (all two of us LOL) that she didn't care if her night shirt was dirty or what her "aunt" had to say about it because this woman (in not so many words...) basically bathed where she crapped.
In a strange way this was her way of keeping things in perspective. The woman didn't like the way she lavar'd her roupa and minha amiga didn't appreciate having to clean her body where others relieved themselves.
I think in this situation we just have to keeps things in their proper context and understand that no one thing or place is better than another it's all what you make it.
BE R E S L I E N T!
Keep it MOVING!!
ATE LOGO!!!

Percepcao

                                                                "Percepcao" 16/6/2011
                         Perception
                                                    Perception
Perception
How one is perceived is Moz has become a recurring theme throughout PST so far.
Almost everyday we are reminded to respect the customs of our host country so as to avoid being negatively perceived or not accepted at all.
One would think that this is common sense, but when you are living and/or working with people who get in your business or ask probing or personal questions or try to tell you what to do, what to wear, or where to be and when and you are 22 frickin' years old! [BUT I DIGRESS]. But we want to integrate and make the most of this experience right? RIGHT!
SO, for these next few weeks (and the 24 months after that *sigh*) I will suck it up and do as I am told (within reason of course...cuz I'm grown!) so as not to be perceived negatively. I want to be able to gain the trust of respect of the people in my host country. WIth that said, I will adhere to the cultural norms and watch for social cues, but I will always be ME and -as soon as my language skills improve- I will always stand up for myself and for what I believe in.

ATE LOGO!

Potty Poetry Vol. 1 Ode to my Xi-Xi

Oh my, I have to Pee
I hop out of bed
and grab my
"xi-xi"
Balde de xi-xi
how you've saved me...
from having to pee in the dark
at night, outside, when it's scary
Little bucket, beside my bed
my friends and family
would probably dread
but if they know
what I know
they would use you
when they have to GO
<3

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Randomness (13/06/2011)

SOME-

                 TIMES 

                                     yOu 

                                               jUsT 

                                                                     NEED 


                                                                                   A 

                                                                                         GOOD

                                                                                                      HUG
~to remedy this me and some other members of Moz 16 have started a Hug Club lol.


I Come with PEACE

Reflection 13/06/2011

Today (Monday, June 13th or Segunda-feira, treze de Junho as we say in Portuguese) marks the beginning of my second week of Pre-Service Training and my ninth day in Namaacha.

I'm enjoying my time here and am learning much, but there have been and are definitely some tough times. I spoke with my mother and twin brother on the phone last night it instantly made me sad. I was happy to hear their voices, but it made the separation even that much more difficult. All I can do is try to keep in mind that I chose this for myself and I have to constantly remind myself that after these three months--and the 24 that follow that I will be so enriched.

Sitting outside, as I write this, admiring the beautiful scenery I can't help but feel at one with the world, myself and this task I have taken on...

Remembering to be flexible seems to be a recurring theme in my life. I must constantly remind myself that I am not at home and I can't just hop into my car and go where I please. Going to the bathroom is often a wake-up call for me. Taking a bath by head lamp at night, hunched over a "bacia" reminds me of how truly blessed I am and I thank God every night for allowing me to be here and to be able to fulfill a dream I've had for many years.

Another principle that I am learning to adopt in my new life as a Peace Corps trainee and as a resident of Namaacha is to find pleasure in the small things. In the states it is so easy to sweat the small stuff, but when you are thrust into this world it's hard to imagine being angry about missing a movie or other trivial things when you see how hard people work just to prepare a simple meal.

I see now what our trainers were talking about when they said that Mozambicans take great pride in their appearances. They enjoy looking good, and working hard to improve their lives. I was speaking to my "Avo" [grandmother], who is really my neighbor, and she was explaining that it takes a lot to make a meal, but she didnt mind because she knows that everything she eats is natural and without chemicals. We are so quick to grab "fast food" and are steadily gaining weight while these people we consider less fortunate are enjoying the freshest fruits and veggies often right out of their own yards.

As I sit here and reflect on my journey thus far I begin to recognize that Pre-Service Training (PST) really has two parts: on one hand we are in Portuguese lessons and Community Development sessions all day, and on the other in the evening we are learning customs and recipes and other valuable lessons on basic and organic happiness.

So far I've learned how to prepare couve (a leafy green similar to collards) and have come to fall in love with my family (and also with the cute little chickens that run around everywhere). I have a basic grasp of beginner , conversational Portuguese and have realized that "winter" in Africa is really just a word LOL.

Ate Logo and as always I Come with PEACE