Election Friction
For the past three weeks, I was on house arrest. Well, sorta. I could move out and around my site but I was strictly forbidden to go to town or near any crowds or political rallies. And I was to prepare to evacuate… just in case.
In case what happens, you ask?
Well, you know, America’s not the only country who’s having a presidential election! This is election year for us, as well as many other African countries. In case things go haywire, we have to go into panic mode and evacuate. O.K., maybe not panic mode because we have a detailed emergency plan all worked out. The likelihood of us evacuating is probably not likely, but Peace Corps doesn’t want to take any chances with the recent violent political uprisings in Congo, Somalia, Kenya and Madagascar… all in Eastern Africa.
This tension is strange… I’ve never felt this kind of tension during an election. It’s not the will-we-have-our-first-black-president or who-will-rescue-us-from-this-mess kind but the how-safe-are-we kind. Malawi has only been democratic for 35 years and a multi-party one for the last 14 years. But 30 of those years were ruled with an iron fist and the succeeding 10 years ruled by corruption. People say that it was only in the last 5 years that they’ve seen real progress and development in Malawi.
This month, the presidential candidates registered for the election and are awaiting the Malawi Electoral Commission to determine the results for the election. But the real drama is happening with the former president who had already presided for two terms but still wants to run again. There were debates over the sketchy phrasings of the constitution and his intentions for running against the incumbent president, as well as the charges he is facing. Our main concern isn’t about who will become candidates but more how they will respond, especially from one person and his followers who are notorious for violence.
Since Blantyre is the hub of all political activities and residences, all the southern volunteers were warned to stay away, especially from political rallies. There was news of clashes between parties that resulted in some injuries but nothing drastic. For the time being, we’re no longer being held at site and can move around but with vigilance. (I was so glad, because I didn’t have meat since the beginning of January and was craving so much for a chicken burger in town!)
The next few months will mark the last stretch of the campaign. If all are approved by the Malawi Electoral Commission, the showdown will be between UDF’s Muluzi (former president), DPP’s Bingu (incumbent president), and MCP’s Tembo (opposition party).
When I inquired people of their choice of president, many preferred Bingu, though some preferred Muluzi. Those who liked Bingu extolled his efforts at developing Malawi the last 5 years and others liked Muluzi for his notorious “hand-outs”. But one mentioned that he would vote for “whoever will bring food” because we are now facing a period of famine due to last year’s bad harvest. :(
With all the excitement in the air, Malawi Electoral Commission is also really encouraging for a peaceful and safe election. Ghana has hopefully set the precedence for a peaceful election recently (which apparently didn’t have any bearing on Madagascar). Mozambique also had their election just not too long before we went there for Christmas. There have been lots of radio advertisements and flyers about how to have a non-violent and safe election. Come May 19th, my hopes and prayers are set on Malawi proving herself to be the peaceful country that she is and to be a beacon of light for other African countries.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
My Projects Update
Ever since my projects have taken off since October, I’ve found myself on an emotional roller coaster ride that doesn’t seem to end - elated at times, bewildered at times, frustrated at times. What I least expected was finding myself in awkward positions when it came to dealing with questionable bureaucracies. Regardless, my projects are all coming along and the communities are all excited!
My first major project, the Nutrition Workshop in October, was nothing short of chaotic. Those were perhaps the 3 of my most tiring days at site. Everything that we had planned out was turned upside down and was not made any easier by my counterparts’ inconvenient demands. But in the end, it was a success. We educated mothers with malnourished children from our Nutrition Clinic in a 3-day workshop about nutrition – from the basic food group lessons to food demonstrations. The most successful lessons were the no-oil scrambled egg and soy milk demonstrations (performed by yours truly :)).
By the way, great news! I had mentioned previously that UN’s World Food Program withdrew their supplementary feeding program from our district. Even though our district has the highest rate of malnutrition, we had absolutely no program to assist and monitor malnourished children or mothers. World Food Program recently just resumed the supplementary feeding program again for the moderately malnourished children and women! (Its chances of becoming a permanent program are nil due to decreases in donations so I’m still a proponent for teaching them self-sustainable skills and knowledge.) I’m hoping to combine my Nutrition Clinic with the feeding program so that we can still provide them porridge flour and cooking oil while teaching them about proper cooking techniques, kitchen gardens, and food preservation! (To make donations to these kind of programs, go to http://www.wfp.org/.)
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to focus much of my attention on the nutrition programs because of the Under-Five and Youth Shelter construction. After USAID and Peace Corps approved my proposal for building a shelter next to my health center, we immediately began buying and building early November. My youths assisted with the bulk of the labor – from hauling 50 tons of quarry stones and sand to 20,000 bricks to 2,500 kgs of cement – with much help from me. :) Aside from the manual labor, I was also the point person for arranging transport and meals, buying all the materials, and corresponding with my health staff, the district officials, and my site’s administrators. The latter has been frustrating, to say the least. Sometimes I feel like I’m pulling teeth just to get a simple task done. Let’s just say that there is “mismanagement” of funds… and priorities.
Our challenge as of now is the lack of funds to complete our project. We have used up all of our funds – due mostly to the local builders’ inaccurate planning and budgeting, improper use of funds, items being stolen on the mission, etc. – and can only finish the structure and the roofing. We may be able to finish most of the flooring but not plastering the walls. While I have considered asking for external donations (aka you haha), I thought against it. The communities I have worked with – the mission, the youths, and the health staff – have failed to contribute their portions to the project, so I insisted that they be responsible for raising the appropriate funds to complete the building. Though this puts a delay in our construction, I felt this was a necessary lesson for the community to learn how to plan and budget properly and to take responsibility for their own mistakes, as well as not take donations for granted as they often do.
While we were still working on the construction, my youth-friendly health club wanted to organize a Youth Open Day. It was a community event, in which several youth clubs were invited to display their performance arts at their best while incorporating the theme: “Youths should attend health facilities for services”. We had 7 youth clubs, in addition to our youth-friendly health club, present their best drama, choir, poem, or traditional dance with 3 judges awarding the best performances. With assistance from the District Youth Officer, we were able to reward all of the participants with footballs, netballs, and solar-powered radios. My greatest regret was not being able to watch the whole event (I left early for the long journey to Mozambique L). It was a such huge success that the assembly hall was packed and overflowing (at least 500 people and more!) and everyone had a great time!
The remaining major projects are the Natural Medicine Workshop in March and Income-generating Activity Workshop in April. Since the schools are now starting, I’m considering if I should teach Life Skills and restart Sisters’ Club again. But with six months left, I’m not sure how much I can really accomplish!
My experiences in working with bureaucracies left me speculating if I really want to pursue a career dabbling in law and policy. It was never really my intention to do so, but from talking to several people who believed my skills and talents are greatest used in law and policy work, I’ve had to reevaluate my future goals. But in all honesty, I don’t know how much I can – or want to – deal with corrupted and inept administrations and policies, much like what I’ve seen in Malawi, and the emotional pressure from the “oppressed” parties. If I’m dealing with a minor form of corruption, then how much worse would the major forms be?
But if it weren’t for the youths and children I work with, I might’ve halted the projects already. Dangling the children on my knees and laughing with the youths have been my greatest joys the past few months. I’ve really enjoyed getting acquainted with the youths while working alongside with them. Even being away for a 2-week holiday seemed like ages (more for them than me haha). They remind me that some things are really worth fighting for.
Well, that’s all my food for thought for now. :)
My first major project, the Nutrition Workshop in October, was nothing short of chaotic. Those were perhaps the 3 of my most tiring days at site. Everything that we had planned out was turned upside down and was not made any easier by my counterparts’ inconvenient demands. But in the end, it was a success. We educated mothers with malnourished children from our Nutrition Clinic in a 3-day workshop about nutrition – from the basic food group lessons to food demonstrations. The most successful lessons were the no-oil scrambled egg and soy milk demonstrations (performed by yours truly :)).
By the way, great news! I had mentioned previously that UN’s World Food Program withdrew their supplementary feeding program from our district. Even though our district has the highest rate of malnutrition, we had absolutely no program to assist and monitor malnourished children or mothers. World Food Program recently just resumed the supplementary feeding program again for the moderately malnourished children and women! (Its chances of becoming a permanent program are nil due to decreases in donations so I’m still a proponent for teaching them self-sustainable skills and knowledge.) I’m hoping to combine my Nutrition Clinic with the feeding program so that we can still provide them porridge flour and cooking oil while teaching them about proper cooking techniques, kitchen gardens, and food preservation! (To make donations to these kind of programs, go to http://www.wfp.org/.)
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to focus much of my attention on the nutrition programs because of the Under-Five and Youth Shelter construction. After USAID and Peace Corps approved my proposal for building a shelter next to my health center, we immediately began buying and building early November. My youths assisted with the bulk of the labor – from hauling 50 tons of quarry stones and sand to 20,000 bricks to 2,500 kgs of cement – with much help from me. :) Aside from the manual labor, I was also the point person for arranging transport and meals, buying all the materials, and corresponding with my health staff, the district officials, and my site’s administrators. The latter has been frustrating, to say the least. Sometimes I feel like I’m pulling teeth just to get a simple task done. Let’s just say that there is “mismanagement” of funds… and priorities.
Our challenge as of now is the lack of funds to complete our project. We have used up all of our funds – due mostly to the local builders’ inaccurate planning and budgeting, improper use of funds, items being stolen on the mission, etc. – and can only finish the structure and the roofing. We may be able to finish most of the flooring but not plastering the walls. While I have considered asking for external donations (aka you haha), I thought against it. The communities I have worked with – the mission, the youths, and the health staff – have failed to contribute their portions to the project, so I insisted that they be responsible for raising the appropriate funds to complete the building. Though this puts a delay in our construction, I felt this was a necessary lesson for the community to learn how to plan and budget properly and to take responsibility for their own mistakes, as well as not take donations for granted as they often do.
While we were still working on the construction, my youth-friendly health club wanted to organize a Youth Open Day. It was a community event, in which several youth clubs were invited to display their performance arts at their best while incorporating the theme: “Youths should attend health facilities for services”. We had 7 youth clubs, in addition to our youth-friendly health club, present their best drama, choir, poem, or traditional dance with 3 judges awarding the best performances. With assistance from the District Youth Officer, we were able to reward all of the participants with footballs, netballs, and solar-powered radios. My greatest regret was not being able to watch the whole event (I left early for the long journey to Mozambique L). It was a such huge success that the assembly hall was packed and overflowing (at least 500 people and more!) and everyone had a great time!
The remaining major projects are the Natural Medicine Workshop in March and Income-generating Activity Workshop in April. Since the schools are now starting, I’m considering if I should teach Life Skills and restart Sisters’ Club again. But with six months left, I’m not sure how much I can really accomplish!
My experiences in working with bureaucracies left me speculating if I really want to pursue a career dabbling in law and policy. It was never really my intention to do so, but from talking to several people who believed my skills and talents are greatest used in law and policy work, I’ve had to reevaluate my future goals. But in all honesty, I don’t know how much I can – or want to – deal with corrupted and inept administrations and policies, much like what I’ve seen in Malawi, and the emotional pressure from the “oppressed” parties. If I’m dealing with a minor form of corruption, then how much worse would the major forms be?
But if it weren’t for the youths and children I work with, I might’ve halted the projects already. Dangling the children on my knees and laughing with the youths have been my greatest joys the past few months. I’ve really enjoyed getting acquainted with the youths while working alongside with them. Even being away for a 2-week holiday seemed like ages (more for them than me haha). They remind me that some things are really worth fighting for.
Well, that’s all my food for thought for now. :)
Youths chucking bricks.JPG)
Unloading 20,000 bricks
The boys drying off by the fire after getting rained on
Before: Building the foundation
During: Building the Structure
After: About to come!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Triple B Holiday in Mozambique
Feliz Natal y Feliz Ano Novo! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
The holiday in Mozambique was where I got Triple B – Burnt, Bruised, and Bitten. Don’t worry, the latter B was not from dogs, rats, or crocodiles, though I could’ve easily been their prey. I was the target of many blood-thirsty mosquitoes, probably carrying the malaria that kills so many people. Aside from the bites, I was definitely sunburned all around and bruised from the horrendous transport. And I’m going to tell you all about it! (Mom, don’t read this, because you might faint. Just kidding.)
Traveling to and from Mozambique proved to be more physically taxing than I expected. We literally spent half the time on the road trying to get somewhere (sometimes unsuccessfully). My friends and I started our adventure on the 20th at a volunteer’s house in a game park close to the border of Mozambique, where monkeys romped around the roof at night. We woke up at the brink of dawn the next morning, took a bike taxi in the rain, and took a vehicle to the road leading to the border. We waited for a few hours before a pick-up truck finally came and picked us up. After four hours of swatting away cholera-infested flies, mucking off the mud and rain off my face, and splashing through muddy potholes, we finally arrived at the border, only to find out that no transport was leaving this eerie border town. We were optimistic anyway, and luckily a nice 4WD came by and picked us up during the evening. After driving in the rain on a poor muddy road, we found a truck stuck in the ditch on the side of the road (a common occurrence during rainy season). We were unable to pass through, so we attempted to drive around the truck but ended up stuck in the ditch. By then, it was dark and a crowd of people were standing and shouting around the truck, so we were a bit nervous. Eventually, a group of men helped drag our car back out, and we attempted to drive around the truck again. We got stuck again, but this time, a tractor was able to pull us out of the ditch. The whole ordeal costed us another hour, and it was pretty late by the time we arrived to the next major town, Cuamba. Fortunately for us, our driver happened to own a hotel there, where we stayed for the night. (Unfortunately, we still had to pay for the room.)
We woke up not bright and early (4 AM) and headed off to the train station. When we got there, we found out that there was, in fact, no train going to the next major town, Nampula. And to encourage us even more, the locals told us that there were no chapas (pick-up trucks) going there too. By that point, we felt like our vacation was not working in our favor and were facing more problems than we imagined. We sucked it up and waited by the side of the road anyway. A few hours later, a large flat-bed truck came by and we hopped on. Let’s just say for the next 9 hours, any concept of road safety was completely thrown out the window. The first hour of that ride was the most uncomfortable ride of my life. Ever. I would classify it as the worst roller coaster ride, dipping into potholes, splashing through muddy pools, and almost flying off the side of the rail. We eventually moved closer to the front of the flatbed and sat atop tiers of light bulbs. How’s that for a “light” ride? ;) After two days of sleeplessness, I was able to nap at least a little bit… without falling off the truck.
We reached Nampula 8 hours later and camped out in a budget hotel for two nights. We intended to go to Pemba, but transport took too long just to get to Nampula. Pemba was another 6.5 hours away, which would not suffice just to stay for one night when we had to travel another day to our main destination, Ilha de Mocambique. So, we decided to skip out on Pemba and explore Nampula.
On Christmas Eve, we woke up at 5 AM and clambered into a minibus where 8 Zambia Peace Corps Volunteers were half-conscious and half-coherent. (If you thought we had it bad, think again. They traveled for 36 hours straight from Zambia covered in diesel, dirt, and rain!) For the next four days, we wandered around the island, visited other islands, slept in, ate awesome food (like seafood curry!), and hung out with the other volunteers. We were in a sunburned bliss.
The Ilha was also special in that it was the place where Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama and the Portuguese had staked their claim. UNESCO dubbed it a World Heritage site, so the fortress, church, governor’s place, and other buildings still remain erected. Walking through the 15th century dilapidated buildings, in which trees were growing, people were living, and remote bars were secluded, was quite the anachronistic experience. This place was probably one of the remote tourist spots unknown to the world. There were so few tourists that we could experience the feel of the local life, yet there were just enough to feel like we were on vacation. I particularly enjoyed the ride in the dhow (sailboat) to the other islands, a unique Mozambican transport all on its own. One of the islands was so remote that I was sure that we would be living out “Lost” had our dhow abandoned us!
After four days on the island, we headed back to Nampula with the Zambia volunteers and two Dutch doctors with hopes of catching a direct transport back to Cuamba. We wanted to catch a train this time, a far better and cheaper option than the transport we took. After a week of getting different answers to our inquiries about the train schedule, we found the train station closed. And to add onto our frustration, we found out that the only day the train did NOT run was the very day we wanted to leave!
All we could do was stay for the night again and hope (since no one could give us a straight answer about anything) that there was a vehicle leaving the next day for Cuamba. We got up at 4 AM again (yes, you should be groaning by this point) and headed out to the dirt road leading to Cuamba. After waiting for a few hours and hoping (more like wishing) for a private hitch (perhaps in a hummer limo?) to come by, a flat-bed truck picked us up. It was smaller than the first we rode in but big enough to fit our party of 13. We sat through 9 hours of rumbling on a dirt road at 80 km/h in the scorching sun and eventually a short shower (this was when our rain gear came in really handy). The end result? Faces caked with dirt and mud, major back pain, bruises, and a fit of laughter. When we got there, we rode in another flat-bed truck for 4 hours to the border town, Mandimba. It was dark by then, so we stayed in a pensao (a local resthouse), where I didn’t get a blink of sleep.
We woke up – once again – at 5 AM and took off for the border. Once on the Malawi side, we were all able to breathe and relax again. After 8 days (yes, it seemed much longer than that!) of not being able to communicate at all in a Portuguese-speaking country, getting no straight answers to any of our questions, and experiencing hostility from the Mozambicans and their roads, we were all happy to be back in the “warm heart of Africa”. We appreciated Malawi even more for what it was. Mozambique was definitely a beautiful country with awesome food and culture, but it just feels good to be back in a familiar environment, the place that has been my home for the past year and a half!
I cannot sufficiently describe the experiences we spent waiting, the places we explored, the Triple Bs we incurred from our adventure, but I’ve attached a few photos for your viewing. The one of the beach is where I had written “Feliz Natal & Feliz Ano Novo, Dec. 2008” (“Merry Christmas & Happy New Year”). There’s one where I’m wishing you “Feliz Ano Novo” with the kids. :) And there’s one of the ancient Portuguese church overlooking the beautiful ocean.
So the moral of this story? Get your own car when going to Mozambique! Just kidding. I guess the lesson I’ve learned this Christmas is to appreciate every day for being alive and to be grateful. Just from being in Africa, I’ve learned to take challenges in stride, shrug my shoulders, and say “Zimachitika”. It happens. Even though we were frustrated from every challenge we faced, we knew things always worked out one way or another, and I was just happy to get somewhere alive and in one piece. I couldn’t help but laugh every time we hit a bump or mud splattered on our faces because it was a unique adventure that I would never experience elsewhere. Really, things could’ve been a lot worse. While rolling past the lush green foliage, the grassy huts, and the demure people, I remembered to be grateful for all the little things that were making my life better – the paved roads, the good weather, the kind people, the beds and roofs over our heads, the refreshing feel of a cold drink, the wonderful taste of seafood, the sound of waves crashing, the untouched shells, the rising sun… Life really can be so beautiful when you just sit still and watch it unfold before you.
Well, with that said (and a lot was said!), I hope you’re all enjoying the holidays with your beloved friends and family! I definitely miss the holiday atmosphere in the states, especially cuddling up in my blanket with a good book and cup of hot cocoa, hearing the Christmas carols, smelling the pine trees, watching the blinking Christmas lights… but I miss spending it with you all the most!
Happy 2009! See you in six months! :)
The holiday in Mozambique was where I got Triple B – Burnt, Bruised, and Bitten. Don’t worry, the latter B was not from dogs, rats, or crocodiles, though I could’ve easily been their prey. I was the target of many blood-thirsty mosquitoes, probably carrying the malaria that kills so many people. Aside from the bites, I was definitely sunburned all around and bruised from the horrendous transport. And I’m going to tell you all about it! (Mom, don’t read this, because you might faint. Just kidding.)
Traveling to and from Mozambique proved to be more physically taxing than I expected. We literally spent half the time on the road trying to get somewhere (sometimes unsuccessfully). My friends and I started our adventure on the 20th at a volunteer’s house in a game park close to the border of Mozambique, where monkeys romped around the roof at night. We woke up at the brink of dawn the next morning, took a bike taxi in the rain, and took a vehicle to the road leading to the border. We waited for a few hours before a pick-up truck finally came and picked us up. After four hours of swatting away cholera-infested flies, mucking off the mud and rain off my face, and splashing through muddy potholes, we finally arrived at the border, only to find out that no transport was leaving this eerie border town. We were optimistic anyway, and luckily a nice 4WD came by and picked us up during the evening. After driving in the rain on a poor muddy road, we found a truck stuck in the ditch on the side of the road (a common occurrence during rainy season). We were unable to pass through, so we attempted to drive around the truck but ended up stuck in the ditch. By then, it was dark and a crowd of people were standing and shouting around the truck, so we were a bit nervous. Eventually, a group of men helped drag our car back out, and we attempted to drive around the truck again. We got stuck again, but this time, a tractor was able to pull us out of the ditch. The whole ordeal costed us another hour, and it was pretty late by the time we arrived to the next major town, Cuamba. Fortunately for us, our driver happened to own a hotel there, where we stayed for the night. (Unfortunately, we still had to pay for the room.)
We woke up not bright and early (4 AM) and headed off to the train station. When we got there, we found out that there was, in fact, no train going to the next major town, Nampula. And to encourage us even more, the locals told us that there were no chapas (pick-up trucks) going there too. By that point, we felt like our vacation was not working in our favor and were facing more problems than we imagined. We sucked it up and waited by the side of the road anyway. A few hours later, a large flat-bed truck came by and we hopped on. Let’s just say for the next 9 hours, any concept of road safety was completely thrown out the window. The first hour of that ride was the most uncomfortable ride of my life. Ever. I would classify it as the worst roller coaster ride, dipping into potholes, splashing through muddy pools, and almost flying off the side of the rail. We eventually moved closer to the front of the flatbed and sat atop tiers of light bulbs. How’s that for a “light” ride? ;) After two days of sleeplessness, I was able to nap at least a little bit… without falling off the truck.
We reached Nampula 8 hours later and camped out in a budget hotel for two nights. We intended to go to Pemba, but transport took too long just to get to Nampula. Pemba was another 6.5 hours away, which would not suffice just to stay for one night when we had to travel another day to our main destination, Ilha de Mocambique. So, we decided to skip out on Pemba and explore Nampula.
On Christmas Eve, we woke up at 5 AM and clambered into a minibus where 8 Zambia Peace Corps Volunteers were half-conscious and half-coherent. (If you thought we had it bad, think again. They traveled for 36 hours straight from Zambia covered in diesel, dirt, and rain!) For the next four days, we wandered around the island, visited other islands, slept in, ate awesome food (like seafood curry!), and hung out with the other volunteers. We were in a sunburned bliss.
The Ilha was also special in that it was the place where Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama and the Portuguese had staked their claim. UNESCO dubbed it a World Heritage site, so the fortress, church, governor’s place, and other buildings still remain erected. Walking through the 15th century dilapidated buildings, in which trees were growing, people were living, and remote bars were secluded, was quite the anachronistic experience. This place was probably one of the remote tourist spots unknown to the world. There were so few tourists that we could experience the feel of the local life, yet there were just enough to feel like we were on vacation. I particularly enjoyed the ride in the dhow (sailboat) to the other islands, a unique Mozambican transport all on its own. One of the islands was so remote that I was sure that we would be living out “Lost” had our dhow abandoned us!
After four days on the island, we headed back to Nampula with the Zambia volunteers and two Dutch doctors with hopes of catching a direct transport back to Cuamba. We wanted to catch a train this time, a far better and cheaper option than the transport we took. After a week of getting different answers to our inquiries about the train schedule, we found the train station closed. And to add onto our frustration, we found out that the only day the train did NOT run was the very day we wanted to leave!
All we could do was stay for the night again and hope (since no one could give us a straight answer about anything) that there was a vehicle leaving the next day for Cuamba. We got up at 4 AM again (yes, you should be groaning by this point) and headed out to the dirt road leading to Cuamba. After waiting for a few hours and hoping (more like wishing) for a private hitch (perhaps in a hummer limo?) to come by, a flat-bed truck picked us up. It was smaller than the first we rode in but big enough to fit our party of 13. We sat through 9 hours of rumbling on a dirt road at 80 km/h in the scorching sun and eventually a short shower (this was when our rain gear came in really handy). The end result? Faces caked with dirt and mud, major back pain, bruises, and a fit of laughter. When we got there, we rode in another flat-bed truck for 4 hours to the border town, Mandimba. It was dark by then, so we stayed in a pensao (a local resthouse), where I didn’t get a blink of sleep.
We woke up – once again – at 5 AM and took off for the border. Once on the Malawi side, we were all able to breathe and relax again. After 8 days (yes, it seemed much longer than that!) of not being able to communicate at all in a Portuguese-speaking country, getting no straight answers to any of our questions, and experiencing hostility from the Mozambicans and their roads, we were all happy to be back in the “warm heart of Africa”. We appreciated Malawi even more for what it was. Mozambique was definitely a beautiful country with awesome food and culture, but it just feels good to be back in a familiar environment, the place that has been my home for the past year and a half!
I cannot sufficiently describe the experiences we spent waiting, the places we explored, the Triple Bs we incurred from our adventure, but I’ve attached a few photos for your viewing. The one of the beach is where I had written “Feliz Natal & Feliz Ano Novo, Dec. 2008” (“Merry Christmas & Happy New Year”). There’s one where I’m wishing you “Feliz Ano Novo” with the kids. :) And there’s one of the ancient Portuguese church overlooking the beautiful ocean.
So the moral of this story? Get your own car when going to Mozambique! Just kidding. I guess the lesson I’ve learned this Christmas is to appreciate every day for being alive and to be grateful. Just from being in Africa, I’ve learned to take challenges in stride, shrug my shoulders, and say “Zimachitika”. It happens. Even though we were frustrated from every challenge we faced, we knew things always worked out one way or another, and I was just happy to get somewhere alive and in one piece. I couldn’t help but laugh every time we hit a bump or mud splattered on our faces because it was a unique adventure that I would never experience elsewhere. Really, things could’ve been a lot worse. While rolling past the lush green foliage, the grassy huts, and the demure people, I remembered to be grateful for all the little things that were making my life better – the paved roads, the good weather, the kind people, the beds and roofs over our heads, the refreshing feel of a cold drink, the wonderful taste of seafood, the sound of waves crashing, the untouched shells, the rising sun… Life really can be so beautiful when you just sit still and watch it unfold before you.
Well, with that said (and a lot was said!), I hope you’re all enjoying the holidays with your beloved friends and family! I definitely miss the holiday atmosphere in the states, especially cuddling up in my blanket with a good book and cup of hot cocoa, hearing the Christmas carols, smelling the pine trees, watching the blinking Christmas lights… but I miss spending it with you all the most!
Happy 2009! See you in six months! :)
We're wishing you a Happy New Year!
The 15th century church on Ilha de Mocambique
"Feliz Natal y Feliz Ano Novo Dec. 2008"
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
FELIZ NATAL from Moçambique!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I´m currently in Mozambique for the holidays! Getting here was quite an adventure and I promise to update you all about it when I return to Malawi (hopefully in one piece!). My friends and I traveled for 3 days to Nampula, a little town. We are heading up to Isla de Moçambique for four days.
It has been a little funny trying to speak in a Porguese country with our broken Spanish intermixed with our Chichewa!
I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Holidays! Wish I could be there with you all!
Love,
Elaine
I´m currently in Mozambique for the holidays! Getting here was quite an adventure and I promise to update you all about it when I return to Malawi (hopefully in one piece!). My friends and I traveled for 3 days to Nampula, a little town. We are heading up to Isla de Moçambique for four days.
It has been a little funny trying to speak in a Porguese country with our broken Spanish intermixed with our Chichewa!
I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Holidays! Wish I could be there with you all!
Love,
Elaine
Friday, November 28, 2008
Nutrition Workshop Pictures
My counterpart teaching about the food groups and nutrition groups
Soy milk demonstration/practical
Soy milk!
The children waiting at the water pump
The mothers and children tasting the soy milk and cassava chips
Fay, my co-worker's supercute kid! :)
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Next time
I wanted to post an update, but somehow it doesn't feel right to do so right now. I'll be back in a month with an update!
Happy Turkey Day! :)
Happy Turkey Day! :)
Obama wins!
Hooray for Obama!!
I really wish I were there with my fellow Americans to celebrate, but I was definitely rejoicing with you in my spirit! My brother had kept me up all night with the polls, and at 6 AM, he texted me, "HE WINS! HE WINS!" That definitely woke me up. :)
I listened to the gracious and beautiful speeches on the BBC and then sprinted to my friend's (also a Peace Corps Volunteer) house. We cheered, laughed, and celebrated. We agreed that for the first time in our lives, we actually felt proud to be Americans.
Then I went to my health center with the biggest smile on my face. Still bubbling with excitement, I told my health worker supervisor about Obama's victory. He stared blankly at me and asked, "Who's that?" He's only the next president of USA! I guess not everyone's well informed. :)
Africa is truly rejoicing! There was a play in Kenya about Obama and McCain. I've heard songs on the radio about Obama... and I heard there is a chitenje (a traditional fabric) with Obama's picture plastered all over. I am so buying it when I see it! :)
Congratulations Obama!
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