Time is a goin people.....

Tears and Sweat
It is sooooooo hot here in chongoene, hotter than “normal” (but thank the heavens "winter" has arrived) And I know its not just me, bc other ppl living in Gaza province have said the same thing - its hot ppl. So hot that when I was sitting at the internet café the other day - I felt trickles of sweat crawl down my back like I was standing under a waterfall. Gross. Just gross. I’ve learned to carry a little towel or handkerchief with me so that my face doesn’t glisten like a hot pepper, but lately that hasn’t done a thing. And then I look at other ppl and they’re literally not sweating like I am. I mean - Mozambicans sweat but not like me. I can’t imagine how other people manage the heat - like volunteers living in Tete. Apparently Gaza isn’t nearly as hot as Tete. Ughh…..I’m suffering people. Then there’s days when I have no energy to do anything, but its too hot to stay in the house. Even when your’e really sick or have a cold, you cant just sit in your house and take a nap - you will sweat……. and then start crying bc the heat is unbearable. Then after you cry you have to dry your tears - but wait, why dry them bc the sweat will just start again, and you’ll look like you never even stopped crying. Sad times ppl….sad times.


Sex Convo
Probably one of my favorite conversations so far in moz was talking to my good friends Celso, Nino and Dino and sex. It was actually good practice. Since I’m a health volunteer, I have to be comfortable with talking about sexual topics with people in the community. I don’t really know how the conversation started out, but I think we were talking about Americans and HIV/AIDS. So that led into them asking a lot of questions. I told them, “seriously, if you have any questions just please ask me, or if you guys need condoms I have them just ask.” that opened up a whole new door of questions - “Is it good to wear two condoms? I don’t like to go get HIV tests bc the hospitals aren't nice. If I have sex with a woman after she had an abortion and we don’t use a condom - will I die?” some of these questions may sound funny to you - but that’s the reality sometimes here. Sometimes, people just don’t know. I used this as an education moment. Sex is not always an easy topic to talk about but its necessary. I was happy to be answering their questions - we had moments when we laughed about certain things, but they really were happy that we were having an open conversation. I even used a banana and a peel to demonstrate how to use a condom effectively, it was great. Next time you should definitely join us.
You are a dancing queen!
Ok So, ya know how in the states being inappropriate in public is absolutely not ok? well nooooot so much here. Me, Mallory, Emily, and Caitlin are walking in Shoprite minding our own business when all of a sudden one of the workers starts dancing to house music that was playing in the store. He looked a hot mess. a hott mozambican mess. More like a fool actually. I was trying not to laugh but he was just so entertaining. And of course, the aisle I needed to go in was EXACTLY where he was dancing. And of course Caitlin was like, “I wonder which bottle of oil is better?,,,,,,hmmmm, which one is better?“ Im like, “girl, I wish I could tell you but I’m so distracted by this clown to my left….and its getting to be a lil awkward.“ So we left that aisle, but of course he was like, “You want dance with me ha? Come help me.“ I replied, “I don’t speak English, sorry” And THAT worked like a charm, (even though he knew I was American bc I'm always up in shoprite) I love the culture here sometimes, Mozambicans have the RIGHT to dance whenever and wherever….who says its ever inappropriate? I mean, the next time anyone in Americaland sees someone doing a version of the tootsie roll while spread eagle, just simply stare and applaud. Go Shoprite.

The best things in life are….
1. KFC! Yup that’s right. There is a KFC that is opening up in xai xai…and um I’m excited - r Back at home, I’d never be excited to go to KFC, but the fact that a slice of Americaland is making its way to my neighborhood is absolutely fantastic. I hope their biscuits are up to par, and that the chicken tastes just as good as it does back home.