Sometimes we have problems. Problems that need to be solved by taking a step back and taking a moment to assess the situation. My organization is a CBO (Community based organization) and I have been trying to find my role there for quite some time. Its been about 8 months and I've still been trying to push my org in a new direction - but sometimes this doesnt work. The problem with my org, is they are used to the volunteers just being there....sitting around....maybe doing a project, maybe not. Well, I've explained to my boss at work that I didn't drop my life in the states to come to a country where my help wasn't wanted. Again, this is a common challenge that many volunteers face. So I've made the decision, along with the amazing help of Ilidio from the pc staff, that its better for me to venture out into the community and work on other projects in Chongoene. At first, I thought that this would be kind of like a slap in the face to my org, but then I thought about how frustrated I'd be sitting in an office and doing absolutely nothing. That isn't why I joined peace corps. So now, I have a new focus, new goals, and motivation. I will continue working with my REDES group (go to the fb page for more details!), going to the hospital, and helping out other organizations in Chongoene and Xai Xai that need my help. Its not only a way to stay productive, but also a way for me to feel good about what I'm doing. And yes, my boss will probably not like it that I'm doing work with other organizations, but that's something she will also have to accept. I'm not ready to just give up yet, my site has potential, and I am hoping things will turn out on a positive note.
There will be more updates to come, for now I need to roll out!
bjs.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Let's talk about a lil trip to the farm.....and how YOU can donate to my travel fund =)
The Rice Farm
I’ve never really been on a farm quite like this one. It was a really random day, and I was with Mallory and two other Mozambican friends. One of them was like, “I’m taking you guys to see something.” We’re like, “um ok.” Not too far off from where we live, there’s a farmland that is way behind a bunch of houses and buildings. I’m in the car, and the road seemed to get more bumpy as we went on. To my left, was a big white building where the Chinese live. I learned that they own one of the farms that we were about to see. My Mozambican friends weren’t too fond of the Chinese owners, might I add. They told me they sometimes beat the Mozambican workers, and treat them poorly. I just nodded and continued looking out the window…..not really sure what I was about to see. So we all get out the car and take a look at the view. “Wow,” I thought. This is a beautiful scenery. Apparently as far as my eyes could see was nothing but rice. Rice, rice and rice. Literally the biggest farmland of RICE I have ever seen. The guys start walking and me and Mal follow. It was a very narrow road with rice fields on both sides. We could see a few people in the distance working in the fields, and also saw a few small houses which the workers lived in. I actually was kind of in aww, because I actually felt like I wasn’t in Mozambique. I felt like I was in a storybook or something, one of those old plantation history books. We all just stood there for awhile, looked at some of the rice grains, and eventually found this young man who was willing to talk to us. My friend was asking him all sorts of questions, like “What time do you get up every morning? Who owns these fields? You have a family? How much do you get paid?” The man was willing to answer everything. He said he wakes up at 5am every morning, and stops working at 5pm. He explained in a very “careful” tone that the Chinese people own it, and a Mozambican man owns the other one. He has a family, 5 kids I think he said, and receives 1,000 meticas a month – which is about 27 usd. He didn’t elaborate on any of his answers, but was very nice to talk to us. Mal said to me, that sometimes she feels that Mozambicans will kind of sugar coat their answers bc she’s standing there. And she could be right. Maybe if her presence wasn’t there, he might talk to us differently. Afterall, on most days I’m a Mozambican, so it might have been easier to have a more in debt conversation with him. After we talked, my friend gave him 20mets, and told him to go buy bread for his family. The man happily accepted, and we continued on our walk.
Visiting this farm one time just wasn’t enough for me. I want to go back, and maybe talk to one of the Chinese farm owners. Do I have my own opinions about foreign influence in African countries? Absolutely. But what I want to do is learn more about it, and do so with an open mind. Its such an interesting place…..I felt something while I was there. So with that said, there is more to come next time I pay a visit to the rice fields. There’s a story there waiting to be written. Just wait….you’ll see.
BY THE WAY......Upcoming Travels!
Traveling is what I do. There’s so much to see around these parks, so I’m in the process of planning where I want to go and when. Here’s some of my ideas:
1. GHANA – yes that’s all in caps. I miss my family and friends. I hate to sound bias, but Ghana really is the best country in Africa, sorry Moz. I planned on going there in June, but time won’t allow it. So I’m planning to go 2nd week in August. I’ll have accumulated more vacation days, and its really windy and cold here in Moz during that month, so I figure it’s a perfect time to leave. To all my fans in Gh, don’t worry. I’m coming.
2. Sofala, Zambezia, and Tete! – Mozambique is HUGE, and so me and my bff Mallory have decided we want to do our best to see as much as we can! By the way, Mal is my left shoulder I lean on, oh, and Caitlin is my right. Without those two I would crumble ;) Anyway, Mal is a GREAT writer, and she an I share that in common. So we plan on taking our pen n paper, computers, and cameras, and head out to other regions on Mozambique. First stop on the list is Gorongosa National Park! Mal and I signed up to help out another volunteer with her conservation project. There’s also a lot of wildlife and animals to see, so I’m looking forward to that. Then, we plan on visiting other regions. Mal doesn’t want to go to “touristy” places….I think she’s all about the matu (farm) areas, but I’m hoping to convince her we’ll do a lil bit of both.
3. Tanzania!! – Just the name, Tanzania, gives me the chills. I have heard so many great things about it,that it’s a MUST that I go there, and I get to practice my Swahili! What I really want to do in Tanzania is see their beaches, and eat their amazing food. I love to eat. I also want to learn how to dance their traditional dances there. Give me a cute dancing outfit, some drums, and a crowd, and I’m good to go. Yay for Tanz.
4. Botswana! – Mal and I reeaaaallly want to go to Botswana. Apparently its one of the most amazing South African countries, so we’re going there to investigate. I’m hoping we find a good story to write about there, Bots is an interesting place, and I’d love to visit there. If Mal and I are lucky, we can make it before the end of this year.
5. Cape Town and Jo’burg! – So surprisingly I’m not that excited over South Africa – I feel like I meet enough South Africans here in Moz lol, BUT, I want to meet Nelson Mandela and talk to him for 5 minutes. (Oh what, you think its not possible? It so is.) Despite my reservations about SA, I’d love to see what the hype is all about. I do want to see the “Americanized,” places, but also the neighborhoods that people don’t talk about. I want to meet new people, talk to families, and learn something new that I didn’t know before. Plus, if I’m lucky, Mandela will ask me to stay there and become one of his personal writers.
That’s all that’s on the radar for now – so I’ll keep you posted. And please if you’d like to donate to the “Naa wants to travel” fund, that is a-okay with me!
I’ve never really been on a farm quite like this one. It was a really random day, and I was with Mallory and two other Mozambican friends. One of them was like, “I’m taking you guys to see something.” We’re like, “um ok.” Not too far off from where we live, there’s a farmland that is way behind a bunch of houses and buildings. I’m in the car, and the road seemed to get more bumpy as we went on. To my left, was a big white building where the Chinese live. I learned that they own one of the farms that we were about to see. My Mozambican friends weren’t too fond of the Chinese owners, might I add. They told me they sometimes beat the Mozambican workers, and treat them poorly. I just nodded and continued looking out the window…..not really sure what I was about to see. So we all get out the car and take a look at the view. “Wow,” I thought. This is a beautiful scenery. Apparently as far as my eyes could see was nothing but rice. Rice, rice and rice. Literally the biggest farmland of RICE I have ever seen. The guys start walking and me and Mal follow. It was a very narrow road with rice fields on both sides. We could see a few people in the distance working in the fields, and also saw a few small houses which the workers lived in. I actually was kind of in aww, because I actually felt like I wasn’t in Mozambique. I felt like I was in a storybook or something, one of those old plantation history books. We all just stood there for awhile, looked at some of the rice grains, and eventually found this young man who was willing to talk to us. My friend was asking him all sorts of questions, like “What time do you get up every morning? Who owns these fields? You have a family? How much do you get paid?” The man was willing to answer everything. He said he wakes up at 5am every morning, and stops working at 5pm. He explained in a very “careful” tone that the Chinese people own it, and a Mozambican man owns the other one. He has a family, 5 kids I think he said, and receives 1,000 meticas a month – which is about 27 usd. He didn’t elaborate on any of his answers, but was very nice to talk to us. Mal said to me, that sometimes she feels that Mozambicans will kind of sugar coat their answers bc she’s standing there. And she could be right. Maybe if her presence wasn’t there, he might talk to us differently. Afterall, on most days I’m a Mozambican, so it might have been easier to have a more in debt conversation with him. After we talked, my friend gave him 20mets, and told him to go buy bread for his family. The man happily accepted, and we continued on our walk.
Visiting this farm one time just wasn’t enough for me. I want to go back, and maybe talk to one of the Chinese farm owners. Do I have my own opinions about foreign influence in African countries? Absolutely. But what I want to do is learn more about it, and do so with an open mind. Its such an interesting place…..I felt something while I was there. So with that said, there is more to come next time I pay a visit to the rice fields. There’s a story there waiting to be written. Just wait….you’ll see.
BY THE WAY......Upcoming Travels!
Traveling is what I do. There’s so much to see around these parks, so I’m in the process of planning where I want to go and when. Here’s some of my ideas:
1. GHANA – yes that’s all in caps. I miss my family and friends. I hate to sound bias, but Ghana really is the best country in Africa, sorry Moz. I planned on going there in June, but time won’t allow it. So I’m planning to go 2nd week in August. I’ll have accumulated more vacation days, and its really windy and cold here in Moz during that month, so I figure it’s a perfect time to leave. To all my fans in Gh, don’t worry. I’m coming.
2. Sofala, Zambezia, and Tete! – Mozambique is HUGE, and so me and my bff Mallory have decided we want to do our best to see as much as we can! By the way, Mal is my left shoulder I lean on, oh, and Caitlin is my right. Without those two I would crumble ;) Anyway, Mal is a GREAT writer, and she an I share that in common. So we plan on taking our pen n paper, computers, and cameras, and head out to other regions on Mozambique. First stop on the list is Gorongosa National Park! Mal and I signed up to help out another volunteer with her conservation project. There’s also a lot of wildlife and animals to see, so I’m looking forward to that. Then, we plan on visiting other regions. Mal doesn’t want to go to “touristy” places….I think she’s all about the matu (farm) areas, but I’m hoping to convince her we’ll do a lil bit of both.
3. Tanzania!! – Just the name, Tanzania, gives me the chills. I have heard so many great things about it,that it’s a MUST that I go there, and I get to practice my Swahili! What I really want to do in Tanzania is see their beaches, and eat their amazing food. I love to eat. I also want to learn how to dance their traditional dances there. Give me a cute dancing outfit, some drums, and a crowd, and I’m good to go. Yay for Tanz.
4. Botswana! – Mal and I reeaaaallly want to go to Botswana. Apparently its one of the most amazing South African countries, so we’re going there to investigate. I’m hoping we find a good story to write about there, Bots is an interesting place, and I’d love to visit there. If Mal and I are lucky, we can make it before the end of this year.
5. Cape Town and Jo’burg! – So surprisingly I’m not that excited over South Africa – I feel like I meet enough South Africans here in Moz lol, BUT, I want to meet Nelson Mandela and talk to him for 5 minutes. (Oh what, you think its not possible? It so is.) Despite my reservations about SA, I’d love to see what the hype is all about. I do want to see the “Americanized,” places, but also the neighborhoods that people don’t talk about. I want to meet new people, talk to families, and learn something new that I didn’t know before. Plus, if I’m lucky, Mandela will ask me to stay there and become one of his personal writers.
That’s all that’s on the radar for now – so I’ll keep you posted. And please if you’d like to donate to the “Naa wants to travel” fund, that is a-okay with me!
Monday, May 16, 2011
It's not all sun and roses....
Safety in Mozambique is the most important thing to me. So when this incident happened a few weeks ago, I was a little bit scared, annoyed, and frustrated. I'll leave the minor details out, but I was walking down the street around 11:15am on my way to the store. I had just gotten off a three hour chapa ride from Maputo and just wanted to get home and relax. I was already irritable because sitting in a chapa for 3 hours isn't a fun experience. Anyways, there's this crazy woman who lives in Xai Xai, or better use of words, she's mentally ill. I think she's a bit schizophrenic, but she's always angry and cussing people out. I saw her up the street and took more caution than usual because she was giving me "the eye." I don't know why she chose me, but she made some gesture at me, then decided to push me against a pole and slap me across the face. I screamed - bc that was just my first reaction - and I immediately started bleeding. She just kept on walking, and a police officer who saw the whole thing, also decided to do the same. Interesting. Glad he helped. Anyway, in the midst of some people laughing, some staring, I went across the street to the pharmacy to get something to stop the bleeding on the left side. I then called my friend Mal to come and meet me bc I needed someone to calm me down. Let me tell you, I wanted to hit somebody - mainly bc nobody in the streets, especially Mr. Policeman, didn't seem to care. Anyway, Mal showed up, we went to file a police report (which was pointless bc police here don't do anything about mentally ill people), and then I went home. I couldn't understand why I was so angry. surprisingly I wasn't angry at the woman bc she couldn't really help what she did - I mean she's mentally ill, but I was upset at the people and how the officer reacted at the police station. its amazing how nobody here cares about crazy Jane and Joe that walk the streets who say and do anything they please. What if that lady hit me with a weapon, or used a knife or something? We think things like this can't happen to us, but they do. I was thankful it wasn't worse than it was. At least she only used her hands.
Anyway, the point of this story is to let anyone know who's reading this and living and working in an environment different than their own - always, always keep guard. I felt I was pretty cautious, but I guess there was nothing I could've done to avoid the situation. Mozambique can be dangerous, depending on where you are and who you're with. I never walk alone at night, never take a chapa alone at night, and am usually always with a friend when I'm walking around the city. Its unfortunate that the police feel they can't do anything to Jane. They say to me, "What do you want us to do. She's mad." For all of you in the states, you're very lucky that if anything like this happened to you, you'd have somewhere to go. For example, back home we have mental hospitals, and while there are some here in Moz in the capital, Maputo, I don't live there. So its a problem when I try to express to the police here that its dangerous for these people to be on the street. Unfortunately they don't understand.
So I've become more irritable here, and I realize that even if its broad daylight I could be in danger. I don't want to scare anyone either, but don't worry. I'm fine now. Today is another day, and well, I'm still here.
Fica bem.
Anyway, the point of this story is to let anyone know who's reading this and living and working in an environment different than their own - always, always keep guard. I felt I was pretty cautious, but I guess there was nothing I could've done to avoid the situation. Mozambique can be dangerous, depending on where you are and who you're with. I never walk alone at night, never take a chapa alone at night, and am usually always with a friend when I'm walking around the city. Its unfortunate that the police feel they can't do anything to Jane. They say to me, "What do you want us to do. She's mad." For all of you in the states, you're very lucky that if anything like this happened to you, you'd have somewhere to go. For example, back home we have mental hospitals, and while there are some here in Moz in the capital, Maputo, I don't live there. So its a problem when I try to express to the police here that its dangerous for these people to be on the street. Unfortunately they don't understand.
So I've become more irritable here, and I realize that even if its broad daylight I could be in danger. I don't want to scare anyone either, but don't worry. I'm fine now. Today is another day, and well, I'm still here.
Fica bem.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Flyin' High, Needles, and Baby Fizz
Spreading my Wings
I think I have finally found my role here at work, (which means going out to find work bc things move slooooooow here) and also becoming more integrated in my community – all thanks to my new friends, called patience and more patience. Sometimes there are so many lil small things I can think of that make me irritated, unhappy, or just plain upset – but I have learned to find the positive and beautiful things here in Chongoene. Slowly I think I’m developing into someone or something……who really knows, but the most important part is that I am making the most out of everyday here – and already realizing that time is flllyyyyying by. I cant believe its already been a lil over 6 months – but I’m happy I want to stay and experience more.
I talked a lil bit about my work before and how things were “picking up,” but its gotten even better since then. I have started going to the local hospital here in Chongoene, which is…..well I’ll talk about that a bit down the page, and also am working hard to get my REDES (Raparigas em Desenvolvimento Educacao e Saude) group together at the primary school. It’s a group for young girls that promotes awareness of health issues – such as HIV/SIDA and family planning. I love working with girls – but only the younger ones. Let me tell you, those teenage girls here are a hot mess sometimes – everywhere in the world there’s that group of petty teenage girls, when on any given day I could slap one of them lol. You get my drift, ne? Its easier to work with younger girls, because they listen and they are easier to work with and teach things to. So far I have 4 girls that are interested, so I’m working out the logistics with the Director of the School and hopefully (wish me luck) things will get underway.
Hospital
I work with a nurse, named Lurdrinha. She’s just about the craziest woman I have ever met in Mozambique, and absolutely love her. For the past few weeks I’ve just sat at the hospital and observed. Before I will say or suggest anything, I just like to “get to know” everyone and how everything works. Its better to just become familiar with the environment and comfortable with the people first – then I can start talking to them about why I’m really there and how I can help. So on Monday’s and Wednesday’s I help my friend, Antonio, with the program for teenagers at the hospital. They provide condoms and information that any teenager that comes to the hospital has. Its nice because Antonio himself is a teenager – so it makes it easier to work and talk with people his age. I was impressed at the resources they had – books of STD’s, loads of condoms for male AND female, contact information for the hospital in case of emergency, and more. It’s a very good program to have at a hospital, especially the condoms. Here you can’t just walk in a store in Chongoene and ask for a condom, because they’re not sold. My town is smaller than the next city over, and so things like condoms aren’t as accessible.
This past Monday I got to see Lurdrinha gives vaccines to babies – DTP and Hep B. Every mother here has a “Carto de Saude de Crianca,” a health record for the babies. One by one the names are called into the hospital waiting room – not a private room – and Lurdrinha tells the mothers to take off their babies diapers so that she can have room to shoot them up in the upper thy. The mothers do as instructed and then crazy Lurdrinha goes to work. The way she was giving them their shots was a lil hard to watch – first she’d take off the plastic off the syringe, squeeze in the medicine in the needle, then boom just like that. She did everything so fast….and so ……fast. Its like the mothers were in line getting a ticket or something and then walking away. One by one, shots were given, babies immediately started crying (awww they were so cute too), and the mothers left. The biggest thing I notied was that Lurdrinha didn’t clean the area first with alcohol, or put a bandaid on the area. I had asked one of my Mozambican friends if that was normal here, and his face dropped and said absolutely not. About 99% of hospitals clean the skin before giving the shot, but not at the hospitals in Chongoene. I wanted to say something the moment I saw it – but it wasn’t my place. I think today I will talk to the other doctor (since we’re like friends and all) and ask her instead of telling here what I think. “So before vaccines are given, are you supposed to clean the skin first or no?” something like that.
What I also noticed at the hospital was the lack of PRIVACY. I know I’m that American who lived in a totally different culture than this, but I literally got goosebumps at times. For example, the hospital is set up so that when you walk in there are 3 chairs in the waiting room (along with the table that I sit at along with Antonio and the other jovens). There’s a tv to watch but no one seems to look at that. Anyway, three people sit outside the room and wait to see the doctor. But the room that the patients enter is always open. When the doctor is speaking to the patient, ppl in the waiting room can hear most of what’s going on. Also when the patient is in the room, there’s other medical staff inside working or talking to other ppl/patients. Each person spends no more than 7 minutes with the doctor ( I was keeping time) and then they leave with a prescription. Everything just seemed so chaotic. I felt like I wasn’t really in a hospital. In my head I was thinking, How can a sick patient be thouroughly evaluated in 5 minutes? And how can the patient feel comfortable talking to the doctor when the whole waiting room and other people inside the room know your business? I’m sorry if I sound culturally insensitive – but I think no matter the culture or situation, every patient should feel comfortable and willing to visit the hospital. It should be an environment that’s safe and welcoming. Even the nurses and Lurdrinha, talk with no patience, one of the nurses never smiles and yells at people when they don’t move fast enough. My theory is – if the medical staff is walking around with an attitude and a cold shoulder – then the patients will feel that. Mozambican culture isn’t as “warm” as it might be to some of us back in the states, but its important that the medical staff cares about the people they’re helping. Most of the people that came in this past Monday, (Antonio told me) are HIV positive, or their babies have HIV. He knows the health history of the people in Chongoene well, but I was shocked when he told me. I never asked, but he says he knows who has “the virus.” It was sad hearing that, but its also the reality. Chongoene is a town of about 23,000 people, but I only know of a few people in my community that have HIV/AIDS. I sometimes think about how alarming the statistics are here, and constantly thinking about what I can do? We’re all trained to work with HIV people in our communities, but some days I get depressed when I see a 5 year old child that’s HIV positive. Or a young kid who is mentally retarded because his mother decided to drink beer while she was pregnant. Sometimes I want to scream, but I take it one day at a time and have learned to “speak the language they speak.” I talk to people in a way people can understand.
“Um…excuse me…..your baby…..um”
I remember one day at the beach, I saw this mother giving her baby Fizz – same thing as a can of Sprite – and I was feeling rowdy that day and said something to her.
“Excuse me, Senhora, does your baby like Fizz?”
she looked at me kinda weird with a smile and said, “sim.”
I said, “ok ta bom, but I think Fizz has too much sugar for a baby….how old is he?”
“4 months.”
“Ahhh ok, well I work with babies at the hospital and the doctor told me babies 0 – 6 months should only be drinking breast milk because its not good for the baby to drink soda too young. Maybe your baby will get sick….and that would not be good, yea?” (mind you I’m talking to her like she’s my galfriend, not trying to be one of those know-it-all foreign chicks)
Surprisingly she smiled and said, “Ahhhhh ok mana, yea I don’t want by baby to get sick, because if he does you will arrest me.” Haha…funniest thing that was ever said to me that day, but we both laughed. I’m hoping she didn’t think I was just joking around, but that she really took into consideration what I said. I see that a lot though – babies drinking sprite, eating fries and other bad food. And even just the way babies are handled in general makes me cringe! People here seem to want to carry a baby by one arm and just fling it across the room. (I’m not exaggerating) To me, my jaw drops a lil and I start staring at it, but people just laugh and say to me, “mana nana, que e problema?” Or the way people “play” with babies. They are really aggressive when the throw babies up in the air, and also aggressive when the babies start to cry. The dynamic sometimes…..not all the time…..is so “rough” between the baby and parent. Either I’m too sensitive when it comes to baby care, or Mozambicans are too rough. Hmmm, I don’t know. But at the end of the day, babies are the most precious things to me, so I try to accept the fact that no matter what I say, or what my reaction is, Mozambicans will still pick their children up by one arm, throw them in the air, throw them in the water at the beach (as if a baby can swim), and give them Fizz and fries for breakfast. It’s a process for an overprotective baby lover like me.
Speaking of babies....there's one screaming in this internet cafe, so I'll cut this one short.
Next time folks....bjs
I think I have finally found my role here at work, (which means going out to find work bc things move slooooooow here) and also becoming more integrated in my community – all thanks to my new friends, called patience and more patience. Sometimes there are so many lil small things I can think of that make me irritated, unhappy, or just plain upset – but I have learned to find the positive and beautiful things here in Chongoene. Slowly I think I’m developing into someone or something……who really knows, but the most important part is that I am making the most out of everyday here – and already realizing that time is flllyyyyying by. I cant believe its already been a lil over 6 months – but I’m happy I want to stay and experience more.
I talked a lil bit about my work before and how things were “picking up,” but its gotten even better since then. I have started going to the local hospital here in Chongoene, which is…..well I’ll talk about that a bit down the page, and also am working hard to get my REDES (Raparigas em Desenvolvimento Educacao e Saude) group together at the primary school. It’s a group for young girls that promotes awareness of health issues – such as HIV/SIDA and family planning. I love working with girls – but only the younger ones. Let me tell you, those teenage girls here are a hot mess sometimes – everywhere in the world there’s that group of petty teenage girls, when on any given day I could slap one of them lol. You get my drift, ne? Its easier to work with younger girls, because they listen and they are easier to work with and teach things to. So far I have 4 girls that are interested, so I’m working out the logistics with the Director of the School and hopefully (wish me luck) things will get underway.
Hospital
I work with a nurse, named Lurdrinha. She’s just about the craziest woman I have ever met in Mozambique, and absolutely love her. For the past few weeks I’ve just sat at the hospital and observed. Before I will say or suggest anything, I just like to “get to know” everyone and how everything works. Its better to just become familiar with the environment and comfortable with the people first – then I can start talking to them about why I’m really there and how I can help. So on Monday’s and Wednesday’s I help my friend, Antonio, with the program for teenagers at the hospital. They provide condoms and information that any teenager that comes to the hospital has. Its nice because Antonio himself is a teenager – so it makes it easier to work and talk with people his age. I was impressed at the resources they had – books of STD’s, loads of condoms for male AND female, contact information for the hospital in case of emergency, and more. It’s a very good program to have at a hospital, especially the condoms. Here you can’t just walk in a store in Chongoene and ask for a condom, because they’re not sold. My town is smaller than the next city over, and so things like condoms aren’t as accessible.
This past Monday I got to see Lurdrinha gives vaccines to babies – DTP and Hep B. Every mother here has a “Carto de Saude de Crianca,” a health record for the babies. One by one the names are called into the hospital waiting room – not a private room – and Lurdrinha tells the mothers to take off their babies diapers so that she can have room to shoot them up in the upper thy. The mothers do as instructed and then crazy Lurdrinha goes to work. The way she was giving them their shots was a lil hard to watch – first she’d take off the plastic off the syringe, squeeze in the medicine in the needle, then boom just like that. She did everything so fast….and so ……fast. Its like the mothers were in line getting a ticket or something and then walking away. One by one, shots were given, babies immediately started crying (awww they were so cute too), and the mothers left. The biggest thing I notied was that Lurdrinha didn’t clean the area first with alcohol, or put a bandaid on the area. I had asked one of my Mozambican friends if that was normal here, and his face dropped and said absolutely not. About 99% of hospitals clean the skin before giving the shot, but not at the hospitals in Chongoene. I wanted to say something the moment I saw it – but it wasn’t my place. I think today I will talk to the other doctor (since we’re like friends and all) and ask her instead of telling here what I think. “So before vaccines are given, are you supposed to clean the skin first or no?” something like that.
What I also noticed at the hospital was the lack of PRIVACY. I know I’m that American who lived in a totally different culture than this, but I literally got goosebumps at times. For example, the hospital is set up so that when you walk in there are 3 chairs in the waiting room (along with the table that I sit at along with Antonio and the other jovens). There’s a tv to watch but no one seems to look at that. Anyway, three people sit outside the room and wait to see the doctor. But the room that the patients enter is always open. When the doctor is speaking to the patient, ppl in the waiting room can hear most of what’s going on. Also when the patient is in the room, there’s other medical staff inside working or talking to other ppl/patients. Each person spends no more than 7 minutes with the doctor ( I was keeping time) and then they leave with a prescription. Everything just seemed so chaotic. I felt like I wasn’t really in a hospital. In my head I was thinking, How can a sick patient be thouroughly evaluated in 5 minutes? And how can the patient feel comfortable talking to the doctor when the whole waiting room and other people inside the room know your business? I’m sorry if I sound culturally insensitive – but I think no matter the culture or situation, every patient should feel comfortable and willing to visit the hospital. It should be an environment that’s safe and welcoming. Even the nurses and Lurdrinha, talk with no patience, one of the nurses never smiles and yells at people when they don’t move fast enough. My theory is – if the medical staff is walking around with an attitude and a cold shoulder – then the patients will feel that. Mozambican culture isn’t as “warm” as it might be to some of us back in the states, but its important that the medical staff cares about the people they’re helping. Most of the people that came in this past Monday, (Antonio told me) are HIV positive, or their babies have HIV. He knows the health history of the people in Chongoene well, but I was shocked when he told me. I never asked, but he says he knows who has “the virus.” It was sad hearing that, but its also the reality. Chongoene is a town of about 23,000 people, but I only know of a few people in my community that have HIV/AIDS. I sometimes think about how alarming the statistics are here, and constantly thinking about what I can do? We’re all trained to work with HIV people in our communities, but some days I get depressed when I see a 5 year old child that’s HIV positive. Or a young kid who is mentally retarded because his mother decided to drink beer while she was pregnant. Sometimes I want to scream, but I take it one day at a time and have learned to “speak the language they speak.” I talk to people in a way people can understand.
“Um…excuse me…..your baby…..um”
I remember one day at the beach, I saw this mother giving her baby Fizz – same thing as a can of Sprite – and I was feeling rowdy that day and said something to her.
“Excuse me, Senhora, does your baby like Fizz?”
she looked at me kinda weird with a smile and said, “sim.”
I said, “ok ta bom, but I think Fizz has too much sugar for a baby….how old is he?”
“4 months.”
“Ahhh ok, well I work with babies at the hospital and the doctor told me babies 0 – 6 months should only be drinking breast milk because its not good for the baby to drink soda too young. Maybe your baby will get sick….and that would not be good, yea?” (mind you I’m talking to her like she’s my galfriend, not trying to be one of those know-it-all foreign chicks)
Surprisingly she smiled and said, “Ahhhhh ok mana, yea I don’t want by baby to get sick, because if he does you will arrest me.” Haha…funniest thing that was ever said to me that day, but we both laughed. I’m hoping she didn’t think I was just joking around, but that she really took into consideration what I said. I see that a lot though – babies drinking sprite, eating fries and other bad food. And even just the way babies are handled in general makes me cringe! People here seem to want to carry a baby by one arm and just fling it across the room. (I’m not exaggerating) To me, my jaw drops a lil and I start staring at it, but people just laugh and say to me, “mana nana, que e problema?” Or the way people “play” with babies. They are really aggressive when the throw babies up in the air, and also aggressive when the babies start to cry. The dynamic sometimes…..not all the time…..is so “rough” between the baby and parent. Either I’m too sensitive when it comes to baby care, or Mozambicans are too rough. Hmmm, I don’t know. But at the end of the day, babies are the most precious things to me, so I try to accept the fact that no matter what I say, or what my reaction is, Mozambicans will still pick their children up by one arm, throw them in the air, throw them in the water at the beach (as if a baby can swim), and give them Fizz and fries for breakfast. It’s a process for an overprotective baby lover like me.
Speaking of babies....there's one screaming in this internet cafe, so I'll cut this one short.
Next time folks....bjs
Friday, April 22, 2011
BIG FISH
I.love.the.fish.market. I mean there are fish…..and then there are fiiiiish. A group of us headed over there one afternoon, and immediately became a bit overwhelmed. Once the vendors there see a group of Americans, they start yelling and rushing toward us trying to get us to buy their food. They really do have everything at the fish market – shrimp, lil fish, big fish, clams, like everything. I’m not a big seafood eater, but it was the first time I tried a piece of shrimp. It wasn’t like allll that but I kept on eating ‘em. I never say no to food. So anyway, the way it works is – you buy all the food you want, then go to the other side of the market where they have tables. You choose a table and have your food prepared. It’s a fun atmosphere – lil overwhelming if its your first time – but then you learn how things move. I’ve been there about 4 times now, and every time its something new, but ya know…I can’t complain! Once YOU come to visit me we’ll go there together
yummmy
I don't eat these but apparently they're amazing
us waiting patiently for our food....=)
and THAT's how we roll!
Random story
Mozambicans can be really nice – and I saw that on my chapa ride from Maputo back to Chongoene. So when the chapa driver stops at a busy “paragem” (stop) there’s people there selling snacks, bananas, and drinks. Me being the naturally always hungry girl, bought some cookies. I was sitting in the back row with three other young girls, and they wanted the same cookies I had……but I bought the last ones. I felt kinda bad, so I gave each of them two cookies. They were so happy, and just smiled at me. Ya know Nana loves the kids. About an hour goes by and I had taken a lil snooze, and right when I opened my eyes one of the girls says, “mana, queres comer?” – “sister, do you want to eat?” I mean she already had the plate with a chicken leg and pasta ready, so I happily said “obrigada” and ate it. It was just such a nice gesture, especially coming from kids that age. They were so sweet. So yes ppl – even though Mozambicans can get rowdy sometimes…there are some that really go the extra mile to lend a helping hand. And Im glad she did lend a hand bc I was dreaming about chicken anyway…..
What every American girl Needs in Moz
This is a list comprised of ideas from me and my hot mess friends living in moz. Take it from us – we know what every girl here needs!
1. Nail polish – they do sell it here but most of them don’t have OPI. So I mean definitely bring your favorite colors. When you first get to site most of you will have plenty of down time – so use that to paint your pretty toes.
2. Make up – I assume if you regularly wear make up you wouldn’t forget this one. Its important to have if you use it! Its hard to find make up unless you’re in Maputo or another big city
3. Jewelry – Don’t bring anything here that you wouldn’t cry about loosing – but definitely bring your favorite necklaces and bracelets, bc its what makes you, you! You don’t have to be as conservative as Peace Corps says you have to be – its really important you keep your personal style. No need to change who you are……walk the runway with pride.
4. Batteries – batteries……….
5. Leggings
6. Cute underwear – SOMEtimes its ok to wear the granny panties when you’re like hiking or something…..but its ok to wear your cute undies….you’ll feel good about it at the end of the day.
7. Leave in conditioner – (because Mona said so)
8. Tampons WITH the plastic applicator – PC doesn’t have those
9. Hair straightener – IF you have room, you’ll appreciate it.
10. Sports bras
11. A decent sized mirror – you will not find many mirrors here. They just aren’t used like that.
12. Eye brow pluckers
PACKAGES AND LETTERS
Ok this is just a QUCIK lil message to those back in America land – SEND ME STUFF. I know we all get busy and whatnot…..but imagine not having sunbelt granola bars, or sour patch kids, or a new journal to write it. And PPL I have down times on some days and would LOVE to read your letters. Some of you all don’t like writing letters but it means a lot to me….so pleeeeeeeeeeeease send more! And thank you to those who already have! Nana loves u.
yummmy
I don't eat these but apparently they're amazing
us waiting patiently for our food....=)
and THAT's how we roll!
Random story
Mozambicans can be really nice – and I saw that on my chapa ride from Maputo back to Chongoene. So when the chapa driver stops at a busy “paragem” (stop) there’s people there selling snacks, bananas, and drinks. Me being the naturally always hungry girl, bought some cookies. I was sitting in the back row with three other young girls, and they wanted the same cookies I had……but I bought the last ones. I felt kinda bad, so I gave each of them two cookies. They were so happy, and just smiled at me. Ya know Nana loves the kids. About an hour goes by and I had taken a lil snooze, and right when I opened my eyes one of the girls says, “mana, queres comer?” – “sister, do you want to eat?” I mean she already had the plate with a chicken leg and pasta ready, so I happily said “obrigada” and ate it. It was just such a nice gesture, especially coming from kids that age. They were so sweet. So yes ppl – even though Mozambicans can get rowdy sometimes…there are some that really go the extra mile to lend a helping hand. And Im glad she did lend a hand bc I was dreaming about chicken anyway…..
What every American girl Needs in Moz
This is a list comprised of ideas from me and my hot mess friends living in moz. Take it from us – we know what every girl here needs!
1. Nail polish – they do sell it here but most of them don’t have OPI. So I mean definitely bring your favorite colors. When you first get to site most of you will have plenty of down time – so use that to paint your pretty toes.
2. Make up – I assume if you regularly wear make up you wouldn’t forget this one. Its important to have if you use it! Its hard to find make up unless you’re in Maputo or another big city
3. Jewelry – Don’t bring anything here that you wouldn’t cry about loosing – but definitely bring your favorite necklaces and bracelets, bc its what makes you, you! You don’t have to be as conservative as Peace Corps says you have to be – its really important you keep your personal style. No need to change who you are……walk the runway with pride.
4. Batteries – batteries……….
5. Leggings
6. Cute underwear – SOMEtimes its ok to wear the granny panties when you’re like hiking or something…..but its ok to wear your cute undies….you’ll feel good about it at the end of the day.
7. Leave in conditioner – (because Mona said so)
8. Tampons WITH the plastic applicator – PC doesn’t have those
9. Hair straightener – IF you have room, you’ll appreciate it.
10. Sports bras
11. A decent sized mirror – you will not find many mirrors here. They just aren’t used like that.
12. Eye brow pluckers
PACKAGES AND LETTERS
Ok this is just a QUCIK lil message to those back in America land – SEND ME STUFF. I know we all get busy and whatnot…..but imagine not having sunbelt granola bars, or sour patch kids, or a new journal to write it. And PPL I have down times on some days and would LOVE to read your letters. Some of you all don’t like writing letters but it means a lot to me….so pleeeeeeeeeeeease send more! And thank you to those who already have! Nana loves u.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Work is getting underway!
So I work for an organization called AREPACHO - Agricultural Association for the Reduction of Absolute Poverty and to Combat HIV/AIDS of Chongoene. These are a few pictures of an event we had last Friday. All of the activistas in my org (about 135) received new kapulanas in celebration of National Woman's Day. It started at about 8:45 in the morning, but that doesnt stop ANYONE from getting up, strapping on a new kap, and singing in perfect pitch. Yup....that included ME. I was trying to keep a "low" profile - which never happens - but they immediately spotted me out. "Mana Nana, ven aqui, queremos dancar!" which means, Nana get out that chair and shake what ya momma gave ya - just kidding. It means, come here, we want to dance. So I started dancing and taking pictures at the same time. It was alot of fun and gave me a chance to ATTEMPT to speak and learn the names of all the activistas. That may never happen, but its a start. Hope you enjoy the pics!
sing it momma, sing it
Here is Ms. Ivete, the Project Coordinator at Arepacho. funniest woman ever.
I also work at two "escolinhas" or preschools, one in the town of Fidel Castro and the other in my home town Chongoene! I absolutely love children - grant it they're a handful - but they really put a smile on my face.
More pics of work to come! Hope everyone back home is fabulous..until next time =)
sing it momma, sing it
Here is Ms. Ivete, the Project Coordinator at Arepacho. funniest woman ever.
I also work at two "escolinhas" or preschools, one in the town of Fidel Castro and the other in my home town Chongoene! I absolutely love children - grant it they're a handful - but they really put a smile on my face.
More pics of work to come! Hope everyone back home is fabulous..until next time =)
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.
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.
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