5 Things I LOVE about Mozambique

1. "Meus filhos"- Nhemba and Botao. The cat and dog who have been my companions, entertainment and family during these two years.

2. "Minha Empregada"-My housekeeper. Her name is Adelaide. She's only one year younger than me but she has already lived so much and has shown me true resiliency. She is the mother of the most adorable little boy in all of Africa! She's strong, beautiful, determined and has made my life here not only cleaner but a lot more comfortable as well. Whenever I don't know how to do something, where to buy necessary items or how to say certain things there she is with her bright smile to the rescue. She's so much more than a "maid", she's my friend.

3. "Comida da rua"-Street food! You can buy almost anything on the street here. From hard boiled eggs, chicken on a stick and an ice cold soda to socks, perfume, kitchen utensils, gold chains, beer, peanuts, light bulbs, nail clippers, diapers, jeans, sandals, lotion, a glass of wine, chips, towels, hats or even a new (probably pre-owned) cell phone.

4. "Fruta! Fruta!! Fruta!!!"- Fresh fruits. You can literally go outside and pick produce of trees. I have been in tropical fruit paradise! We're currently at the end of mango/pineapple season which means mango salsa, pineapple fried rice, mango pasta saucem pineapple jame, mango jam, pineapple-mango juice!! The possibilities are endless and the products are virtually free! Soon we'll over run by avocados, oranges and tangerines. YUM!

5. "Boleia"- Hithc hiking culture. I would NEVER attempt this in the States (and officially have never done it in Moz**) but here it is nothing to put your hand out and be offered a ride by a complete stranger who just happens to be going your way and who would love to have your company along the way. There are the occasional creepersm but most people just want to talk about what on Earth I'm doing so far from home and how much we both love President Obama!

Until the next 5!

Peace & Love

Mama Jay in Moz

The Countdown Begins

It's been a long time since I've written a post like this, but I find myself at a point in my service and life where I need a bit of introspection...

It's February 2013 and I have roughly five months left in the Peace Corps. I know I say this all the time but where has all the time gone??? Don't get me wrong I am BEYOND excited to be going home so soon but at the same time I'm nervous about leaving Mozambique.

The future is so uncertain. What will I do when I get home? Where will I live? Who will I hang out with? Can I still relate to my old friends? My family?

Many people have heard me talk and sometimes complain about the sloooooooow village life, but for the last 1.5 years it had suited me. I rise early and am in the house most nights when the sun sets. I've created a routine for everyday and with that have become comfortable here. I've grown accustomed to having a cup or two of tea (no matter how hot it is) every morning before work. I have set market days where I spend my afternoons buying produce and conversing with my favorite veggie ladies. I enjoy taking the time to prepare my meals and have been able to expand my repertoire to include fun spins on traditional dishes like feijoada (a savory bean stew) with a Thai twist (thanks for the recipe Mom!) and even homemade peanut butter and mango jam! *Have you noticed that I love food?*

At time the nearly glacial pace of life here annoys me but I try to look at five hour meetings that never start on time as less a nuisance and more a chance to chill with my co-workers and learn the local language (Ani babwata kudoku-I speak a little).  A fellow PCV and one of my best friends in Moz put it like this: when else in our lives are we going to have the time to lounge, read, cook, and relax as much as we do right now? I'll probably never ever get another opportunity to take a whole month off from work to hitch hike around whatever country I'm living in. <== Great Northern Adventure Post Coming Soon!

So while life in Moz is not always the most exciting it just happened to be exactly what I need at the stage in my life.

I only have five more months left and I definitely plan to spend them taking it easy, depending less on a schedule or watch and over all just living. Taking each day at a time, because I know that when I get back to the good ol' U S of A everything will be a blur. It'll be back to the busy city, back to school (prayerfully), long hours at work (hopefully), late nights of clubbing with the girls and plenty of time with the new man in my life :D

As much as I CANNOT wait I must remember to appreciate my time here, because before I know it all these smiling faces, pounding songs, genuine salutations and  pure, natural, unadulterated culture will be just a

faint but fond memory. 

Here's to Tchillar-ing the Mozambican way!

Peace & Love

Mama J in Moz