"We can't plan life. All we can do is be available for it."
-- Lauryn Hill
Today marks a month of officially being in this country, which means a few things. First off, I feel somewhat accomplished that I haven't cried and begged my mom to bring me home yet :) And second, I am definitely feeling a ball of emotions going into this week. Today is definitely one of the roughest days I've had here, well this week has been the roughest in general. My patience is being tested in a few ways. Its like everyday is completely different than the last. Our health sessions is probably the one part of my day I don't look forward too, only because there are 24 of us that cram in a small room, and well let's just say we have maaany different personalities within four walls. We also seem to discuss the same topics as the week before. I can't tell you how many times we've had sessions on malaria, hygiene, and sanitation. It just gets old after a while, and my attention has definitely plateaued this week. And I'm tired. Yes I go to bed usually around 9 and wake up at 6, but my body feels so strange. Its completely different than what I'm used to. Today however, we have a day off! In the morning we went in smaller groups to cross the Swaziland border to renew our visas, but of course since we're still trainees we can't venture or play in bordering countries until we're sworn in, so it was nice to at least look at Swazi from a distant view. I can't explain how happy I am that I can do whatever I want for the rest of the day. No one to tell me when to eat, study, or bathe.
Right now I'm sitting at the hotel - a spot which used to be "my spot," until the other 70 trainees found out this could also be "their spot." So I don't feel like I have a "spot" anymore, or a place where I can be alone, but it happens. Of course I have my room in my family's house, but I can't lock myself in there the whole day - otherwise they'd think I'm anti-social or just weird. I spend time everyday with my little sisters. We color, they help me with my Portuguese while I help them learn English, we watch movies (they have a DVD which is fabulous), take pictures, dance to that Beiber boy, and just read. I like my host family because they respect my space. They know when my door is closed its my alone time, and when I sit in the living room its an open invitation for us to chat or just sit in each other's company. The first week I was living here, I absolutely dreaded going in my casa, because it was just so awkward to be around them. But now its like we all laugh together, and I actually feel like part of their family. Though the language still presents a small barrier, it has gotten better as I've said before. I've just decided that I must spend more time going over vocabulary, and talking to locals, because as much as I love my friends here we never practice in portuguese.
I'm also sending letters with a current volunteer who is going home to the states over the holidays, so expect goodies from me within a month. When I get to site I'll have a new address, so my mail will be forwarded there.
For now I'm going back to minha casa for lunch, I'm extremely hungry. Caio!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Adaptation...
So three weeks in and I'm beginning to fall into a normal routine. I wake up between 5:30 and 6:30 (with my favorite rooster outside my window, take a bucket bath, (with our inside bathroom), get dressed, eat breakfast (usually an oily egg, bread, and coffee, walk to language class, have lunch, go to our health sessions, then language class again, and if I have time hang out and mingle with the other trainees. We all have a curfew of about 7pm on weekdays, and midnight on the weekends. Its a large group of us - 71 including me - and we're all really diverse. I have some favorite ppl here already, and they can make any bad day a good one. I am very lucky there are som amazing ppl here!
I've gotten used to alot of things I never had to deal with before - waking up by sunset (except Sundays when I sleep in!), going to bed to the sound of roosters, frogs, crickets, etc., killing cock roaches!, walking 25 minutes to health sessions, and trying to communicate in Portuguese. Alot of times minha mai she looks at me like I'm crazy, then laughs bc my portuguese sounds like gibberish at times....but anyway its getting better.
I've also gotten used to "the looks," a few times Mozambicans will walk up to me speaking Portuguese and Changana, and then I start responding and they're like, "oh she's not from here" haha I love it. Most people in my community know that I'm from the Peace Corps. I sometimes get people asking me for food and other things, but of course I play dumb and then laugh it off, and then they usually laugh with me. Having a sense of humor here is important - it makes the day go by!
I just recently uploaded some pictures on facebook, but still have more that I'll put up later. I'm trying to get some good pictures of the scenery, because its absolutely beautiful here. And when it rains here - it RAINS. Its like ten times louder than anything I've ever heard, but Im used to it. Things are coming along, I'm actually getting a "tan", and learning more and more about health, mozambique, and life in namaacha....
In my next blog, I'll talk more about what exactly I'm doing here, and the interesting things Im learning about healthcare and other health-related issues in this country.
and don't forget to write, text, and call me! Caio =)
I've gotten used to alot of things I never had to deal with before - waking up by sunset (except Sundays when I sleep in!), going to bed to the sound of roosters, frogs, crickets, etc., killing cock roaches!, walking 25 minutes to health sessions, and trying to communicate in Portuguese. Alot of times minha mai she looks at me like I'm crazy, then laughs bc my portuguese sounds like gibberish at times....but anyway its getting better.
I've also gotten used to "the looks," a few times Mozambicans will walk up to me speaking Portuguese and Changana, and then I start responding and they're like, "oh she's not from here" haha I love it. Most people in my community know that I'm from the Peace Corps. I sometimes get people asking me for food and other things, but of course I play dumb and then laugh it off, and then they usually laugh with me. Having a sense of humor here is important - it makes the day go by!
I just recently uploaded some pictures on facebook, but still have more that I'll put up later. I'm trying to get some good pictures of the scenery, because its absolutely beautiful here. And when it rains here - it RAINS. Its like ten times louder than anything I've ever heard, but Im used to it. Things are coming along, I'm actually getting a "tan", and learning more and more about health, mozambique, and life in namaacha....
In my next blog, I'll talk more about what exactly I'm doing here, and the interesting things Im learning about healthcare and other health-related issues in this country.
and don't forget to write, text, and call me! Caio =)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
2 weeks in....
Ola! I've been here two weeks now, and already feel like its been a month! But this is a good thing I guess - learning to adapt in a new place and culture. Still learning Portuguese, living with my homestay family, and training, training, training.....
Right now I am in Naamacha living with my homestay family - a beautiful familia with three little girls. The eldest sister takes me everywhere I need to go. My mai cooks the best food, and always makes sure that I'm good with everything. (she loves laughing at me trying to wash clothes!) At first when I moved in - it was a lil awkward because we all had some communication problems. My family only speaks Portuguese and a local language called Changana. Talk about sign language! First thing I did was take a bath - and yaaay I got an indoor bathroom! Alot of trainees don't so Im happy. My room is huge, with yellow walls. Its a three bedroom house, and very nice. My mai likes flowers, so theres a lot of vases around the house. Im lucky to get such a nice home, it makes things a lil easier and comfortable.
I live in a small community setting where everybody knows everybody. I've gotten used to the stares from ppl, Im sure they just want to know who I am and why Im here. I like talking to ppl and answering their questions (in broken portuguese that is). Class is about a 25 minute walk from home, and the market and shoprite is close walking distance too. So Im finding I can easily get things I need. And of course my fabulous fellow trainees are always around.
And probably the coolest thing I notice about my neighborhood is the musica! I can hear people dancing. First of all, the music never shuts off. It doesn't matter if its 3pm or 3am, the party continues. Right now I can hear Akon in one corner of the neighborhood, and Justin Beiber on the other - Beiber is HUGE here! One girl said to me. “voce cantar ‘baby baby baby’ de Justin Beiber,” It definitely was a classic moment with us blurring his song - I actually see his videos a lot when I watch tv with my sisters. Oh, and Rihanna is huge here too, they love her. My eldest sister is Shakira, and I am Lady Gaga according to her. And while we're on music - they have a mozambican dance contest - "So you think you can dance" style, and its probably the funniest thing to watch after a rough day.
Other than that, I'm taking pictures, meeting new people, getting used to the food, loving my indoor bathroom, dodging the roosters, and getting used to the creepy crawlies! Im starting to become friends with the unknown bugs that floats around here. The weather has been cold, wet, and rainy. (ewwww, but then we have days where it gets really hot, so the weather changes alot here. Its summer season but its real cold on some days! Thank goodness I brought rain boots =)
We have 7 more weeks of training I think, and then its the swearing in ceremony. Im staying busy by writing letters to friends and fam, studying Portuguese, walking to the market, and sitting outside my house that overlooks the mountain scenery. Its beautiful here, and day by day I'm learning more about life in Naamacha. PLEASE send me messages, letters, texts, e-mails, and call me! I miss you all terribly....help a sista stay sane. Boa noite! (Good night!)
Right now I am in Naamacha living with my homestay family - a beautiful familia with three little girls. The eldest sister takes me everywhere I need to go. My mai cooks the best food, and always makes sure that I'm good with everything. (she loves laughing at me trying to wash clothes!) At first when I moved in - it was a lil awkward because we all had some communication problems. My family only speaks Portuguese and a local language called Changana. Talk about sign language! First thing I did was take a bath - and yaaay I got an indoor bathroom! Alot of trainees don't so Im happy. My room is huge, with yellow walls. Its a three bedroom house, and very nice. My mai likes flowers, so theres a lot of vases around the house. Im lucky to get such a nice home, it makes things a lil easier and comfortable.
I live in a small community setting where everybody knows everybody. I've gotten used to the stares from ppl, Im sure they just want to know who I am and why Im here. I like talking to ppl and answering their questions (in broken portuguese that is). Class is about a 25 minute walk from home, and the market and shoprite is close walking distance too. So Im finding I can easily get things I need. And of course my fabulous fellow trainees are always around.
And probably the coolest thing I notice about my neighborhood is the musica! I can hear people dancing. First of all, the music never shuts off. It doesn't matter if its 3pm or 3am, the party continues. Right now I can hear Akon in one corner of the neighborhood, and Justin Beiber on the other - Beiber is HUGE here! One girl said to me. “voce cantar ‘baby baby baby’ de Justin Beiber,” It definitely was a classic moment with us blurring his song - I actually see his videos a lot when I watch tv with my sisters. Oh, and Rihanna is huge here too, they love her. My eldest sister is Shakira, and I am Lady Gaga according to her. And while we're on music - they have a mozambican dance contest - "So you think you can dance" style, and its probably the funniest thing to watch after a rough day.
Other than that, I'm taking pictures, meeting new people, getting used to the food, loving my indoor bathroom, dodging the roosters, and getting used to the creepy crawlies! Im starting to become friends with the unknown bugs that floats around here. The weather has been cold, wet, and rainy. (ewwww, but then we have days where it gets really hot, so the weather changes alot here. Its summer season but its real cold on some days! Thank goodness I brought rain boots =)
We have 7 more weeks of training I think, and then its the swearing in ceremony. Im staying busy by writing letters to friends and fam, studying Portuguese, walking to the market, and sitting outside my house that overlooks the mountain scenery. Its beautiful here, and day by day I'm learning more about life in Naamacha. PLEASE send me messages, letters, texts, e-mails, and call me! I miss you all terribly....help a sista stay sane. Boa noite! (Good night!)
Friday, October 1, 2010
Bem vido!
Ok, this is going to be the fastest blog I've ever typed because I want to update you all before I leave for my homestay family. So bare with the non-structure pls!
Well, WE MADE IT =) Finally here in Mozambique after long flights and bus rides. I am still feeling jet lagged, but I am very happy the group got here safe and on time! I've been here 3 days now, and already have so much to say. For starters, the people in my group are a very diverse, high-spirited group of people. We all are so different - age, background - but share one thing in common of course, which is the need to become an official PC volunteer. Right now we are trainees, and have to successfully complete three months of training - which includes becoming an Intermediate Portuguese level. Talk about pressure! Our homestay families are not allowed to speak in English! But I actually think this is much better, because that will force me to speak Portuguese all day long. Its a beautiful language and I love the way Mozambicans speak it. So I am very anxious to meet my homestay family tomorrow and spend my first weekend here with them. I want to integrate into everything they do - parties, dinner, cooking, cleaning, church, well...everything. I think this will be the best way for me to learn more about Moz culture. So excited for that.
Hmmmm what else - oh yea the current Ambassador for Mozambique is Leslie Rowe - and I like her style! She gave a very motivating speech to us yesterday, and it was nice to hear her speak about why the PC is an important organization. From what I am learning about Moz, they need our help in their communities, and our job is to help them achieve their goals. So I am looking forward to the challenges ahead.
So the weather and scenery is eye-catching. I saw the Indian Ocean and the President's house along the beach. Its a very nice house, and I learned that no one is allowed to walk on that side of the street. And some of the houses are so nice, everytime we take a bus ride somewhere I just stare, observe, and just take in everything I see. I mean, I've only seen a few miles, but so far its just amazing. But tomorrow I will see more of Moz, as we travel to Namachaa to our families. Its right on the Swaziland border so I've been told. As PC trainees we're not allowed to travel there yet, but when we're sworn in as volunteers we can travel to nearby countries. Swaziland will definitely be the first place I visit - I heard its a cool country to see, so looking forward to that.
OH and the food! Mutio bem! I have eaten so much its not even funny. The rice, beans, sauces, fish.....so tasty. They also give us some real good passion fruit juice with our meals - and tea and coffee is served on the regular. Our hotel staff is very kind, and we all eat together for breakfast and dinner. I'm probably the greediest girl in Moz right now!
Also, please continue to contact me through facebook, email and skype! skype is the best, it works great out here! I don't have a sim card yet, but we are all supposed to get one next Saturday, so I will text and call you all as soon as I can! I miss everybody, and continue to send me messages because there definitely is down time, so keep that in mind! Talk to you all soon, Boa noite!
Well, WE MADE IT =) Finally here in Mozambique after long flights and bus rides. I am still feeling jet lagged, but I am very happy the group got here safe and on time! I've been here 3 days now, and already have so much to say. For starters, the people in my group are a very diverse, high-spirited group of people. We all are so different - age, background - but share one thing in common of course, which is the need to become an official PC volunteer. Right now we are trainees, and have to successfully complete three months of training - which includes becoming an Intermediate Portuguese level. Talk about pressure! Our homestay families are not allowed to speak in English! But I actually think this is much better, because that will force me to speak Portuguese all day long. Its a beautiful language and I love the way Mozambicans speak it. So I am very anxious to meet my homestay family tomorrow and spend my first weekend here with them. I want to integrate into everything they do - parties, dinner, cooking, cleaning, church, well...everything. I think this will be the best way for me to learn more about Moz culture. So excited for that.
Hmmmm what else - oh yea the current Ambassador for Mozambique is Leslie Rowe - and I like her style! She gave a very motivating speech to us yesterday, and it was nice to hear her speak about why the PC is an important organization. From what I am learning about Moz, they need our help in their communities, and our job is to help them achieve their goals. So I am looking forward to the challenges ahead.
So the weather and scenery is eye-catching. I saw the Indian Ocean and the President's house along the beach. Its a very nice house, and I learned that no one is allowed to walk on that side of the street. And some of the houses are so nice, everytime we take a bus ride somewhere I just stare, observe, and just take in everything I see. I mean, I've only seen a few miles, but so far its just amazing. But tomorrow I will see more of Moz, as we travel to Namachaa to our families. Its right on the Swaziland border so I've been told. As PC trainees we're not allowed to travel there yet, but when we're sworn in as volunteers we can travel to nearby countries. Swaziland will definitely be the first place I visit - I heard its a cool country to see, so looking forward to that.
OH and the food! Mutio bem! I have eaten so much its not even funny. The rice, beans, sauces, fish.....so tasty. They also give us some real good passion fruit juice with our meals - and tea and coffee is served on the regular. Our hotel staff is very kind, and we all eat together for breakfast and dinner. I'm probably the greediest girl in Moz right now!
Also, please continue to contact me through facebook, email and skype! skype is the best, it works great out here! I don't have a sim card yet, but we are all supposed to get one next Saturday, so I will text and call you all as soon as I can! I miss everybody, and continue to send me messages because there definitely is down time, so keep that in mind! Talk to you all soon, Boa noite!
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