SO, I wake up this morning and my dog, Pepper, is freaking out and barking at Billy the Goat. Billy is the most disgusting, ugly, and oldest goat I've ever seen, and I was freaking out because I thought that there was something wrong. After that I go back in the bed (now 3am) and I hear a weird noise on my roof...turns out my house has a chicken nest right above my room....fantastic!
Speaking of my house - I'm currently looking for a new one. Right now I am living in a house that is next to my organization, but I have no privacy at all. Everyday there are constantly ppl around - and even on a saturday I try to sit outside under my mango tree or on my veranda, and I find ppl THERE...just there. The area around my house is used for town meetings, my org's events, everything. Even the smallest task of taking a bath requires there to be nobody around. I'm just not comfortable walking out in my towel or capulana while going to take a bath with a million eyes watching me. I already get stared at no matter what I'm doing anyway! Bottom line is, I want to be comfortable where I'm going to be living - after all I am here for two years. Hopefully, my request to get a new house will be approved. If not - I don't know what the next step will be.
Random things -
1. I learned 5 new words in Changana, the local language, this week. I'm pretty good at it.
2. someone came to my house and took all of the water out of my buckets that took 20 minutes to fill....happens
3. I cried last night for about 20 minutes....then played songs from Rihanna's album and felt like a new person.
4. I bought some REALLY cute shoes down in Maputo....absolutely love this city!
5. My birthday is coming up! I'm planning a beach party....its gonna be fun. you're invited.
I've been a lil stressed as of lately, but its friday and I am going to enjoy the weekend. Work at the preschool has begun and I'm enjoying that. Even when I wake up super stressed, I am happy to see the lil children playing and smiling. Its something about children that make me smile. The kids here are so smart, but just dont have the resources to learn better - but - that's why I'm here, right? Hopefully the preschool will receive money for pencils, notebooks, and desks. They do have a meal everyday which is good, but other than that their materials are limited. The children sit on a mat on the floor, and write in the sand with sticks. So I'm working hard to push for money and assistance - they deserve it!
As for now, its boiling hot in this internet cafe, so I'm up n outta here. Time to eat a hamburger and a cold sprite. Why do I always end my blogs talking about food? I eat a lot. It keeps me happy.
Ciao amigos...ate luego!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Ohhh my
Issues
I can already tell that Mozambique is gonna be one of those countries that I have a love-hate relationship. This place is absolutely beautiful, and while I find a lot of good things about it here, theres also cultural differences, that at times, test my character. Its a culture that I’m still learning to live in. I respect the culture here and have an open mind, but there a few things that on a day like yesterday - make me slightly irritated.
1. Volume level - When someone speaks to me they are either screaming at the top of their lungs, or whispering. There is NO medium speaking level in Mozambique. When I’m riding on the chapa people are sitting RIGHT next to each other but are screaming….literally. I’m like, that person is right next to you and you’re shouting while using hand gestures. On the other hand, when you’re in the store trying to buy something or greeting someone on the street, they whisper when they speak. I’m like, what? Como? I always ask them to speak up and they talk in the same tone or give me an annoying look. I especially ask people to speak up, especially since they’re speaking Portuguese. So if I don’t get something the first time, I ask them to repeat. And of course what should be a 5 minute conversation takes 10. Love it.
2. Chapas - If I haven’t explained what a chapa is, it’s a mini bus - that is used to transport 15 people (roughly) However, it is totally ok for a chapa driver to cram 20 - 30 people in one chapa. Some stand. Some sit. Some hover over you with their armpit in your face. Others cough on you. Some scream in your ear while talking on the phone. And of course there is always someone cussing someone else out because they stepped on their toe or other body part. Not to mention that people are always in a rush, so when the chapa stops you have to RUN to get to the door and push your way I, or out. And don’t delay for a second - bc the driver WILL pull off if you’re not on it. Again, I don’t completely understand the rushing thing, but I guess I have to get used to that.
3. Personal space and privacy - well yea, that doesn’t exist here. Did I mention that already? Just to reiterate, its kind of overwhelming for me. I like my privacy, but living in a house that is literally 5 feet away from my organization, doesn’t necessarily allow me to have alone time when I want it. For example, I have to take a bath outside, which means I feel more comfortable if I do it when no one is around (just for the fact that its outside and I walk to my latrine in a capulana). But its hard to feel completely comfortable when there’s a bunch of people around my house. I like to take a bath at any time during the day, mainly because its so hot and I like to stay as cool, clean, and and fresh as possible.
4. I’m not Mozambican….I’m American….no no…American. - I don’t get offended at all when Mozambicans assume I’m one of them., or from South Africa or Zimbabwe. I do have the same color skin - so you can‘t blame them for making assumptions. When I tell people, “I’m American,” they don’t believe me. So then I go into small detail and explain that not all Americans are white, we’re all different colors with different backgrounds. I think the biggest thing that bothers me is the way I notice how black Americans are treated here, and how white Americans and other whites are treated. Sometimes it’s a good thing - for example, when I walk down the street I usually am never stopped by someone trying to sell me things on the street. When I have somewhere to go, I can usually get there with no problem. But if I’m with white people we get stopped all the time….I find it amusing actually.
And then there’s times when its not a good thing - I went in the gas station the other day to buy a can of soda and some pringles. But when I got to the counter, the Pringles were about 100 mets - and I was not paying that much for that small can of chips…tempting but no. So I told the lady I didn’t want the chips. She told me that I should just go ahead and buy them bc she didn’t know how to take it off the receipt. I’m like, no I don’t want the chips. She was rude about it, smacked her teeth, rolled her eyes, and made a big fuss about removing the Pringles. Then she mumbled something to her co-worker and told me next time I should know what I wanted before I came to pay. I wanted to respond, but I don’t know how to cuss someone out in Portuguese quite yet.
One of my Mozambican female friends told me that sometimes, moz women have an attitude with other moz women - which is common in all parts of the world. Women just don’t like women unless they’re friends, and for some reason we are the most petty creatures on earth. Point of this story is, I have never seen a Mozambican talk to a white person like that - whether they be south African, Portuguese or American. Some of you may disagree, but for some reason Mozambicans treat whites like they’re special, like they owe them something. Many of you may not understand this, especially if you’re not an African-American living in an African country, but I notice things that someone else doesn’t, and furthermore my experience and attention I receive is different than a white peace corps volunteer. I think the racial dynamics might still be an effect of colonialism, and the civil war that's not too far off. In my opinion, Mozambicans have not yet grown into a society and culture that allows them to treat and be treated equally.
It also goes vice versa. I see and notice how Portuguese or South Africans talk to Mozambicans, and it’s a way that can be degrading sometimes, as if moz’s are subordinate. There’s a lot of foreigners that come to Mozambique for business, vacation, etc, and when I see how they treat a waiter, a taxi driver, a woman, or even a non-white American, is far from what I would consider respect. I heard one of the previous pc volunteers say to me, “As a white male, I can get whatever I want in this country. I get treated very well.” And what he said I’ve seen to be generally true. Anyways…..I still love being African American here…….the American card still lets me get away with a lot of things, so I just roll with it and continue to be who I am.
On a more positive note - I just ate a big plate of Indian food with a cold can of Sprite. You can find all kinds of food in Mozambique! Until next time folks…..
I can already tell that Mozambique is gonna be one of those countries that I have a love-hate relationship. This place is absolutely beautiful, and while I find a lot of good things about it here, theres also cultural differences, that at times, test my character. Its a culture that I’m still learning to live in. I respect the culture here and have an open mind, but there a few things that on a day like yesterday - make me slightly irritated.
1. Volume level - When someone speaks to me they are either screaming at the top of their lungs, or whispering. There is NO medium speaking level in Mozambique. When I’m riding on the chapa people are sitting RIGHT next to each other but are screaming….literally. I’m like, that person is right next to you and you’re shouting while using hand gestures. On the other hand, when you’re in the store trying to buy something or greeting someone on the street, they whisper when they speak. I’m like, what? Como? I always ask them to speak up and they talk in the same tone or give me an annoying look. I especially ask people to speak up, especially since they’re speaking Portuguese. So if I don’t get something the first time, I ask them to repeat. And of course what should be a 5 minute conversation takes 10. Love it.
2. Chapas - If I haven’t explained what a chapa is, it’s a mini bus - that is used to transport 15 people (roughly) However, it is totally ok for a chapa driver to cram 20 - 30 people in one chapa. Some stand. Some sit. Some hover over you with their armpit in your face. Others cough on you. Some scream in your ear while talking on the phone. And of course there is always someone cussing someone else out because they stepped on their toe or other body part. Not to mention that people are always in a rush, so when the chapa stops you have to RUN to get to the door and push your way I, or out. And don’t delay for a second - bc the driver WILL pull off if you’re not on it. Again, I don’t completely understand the rushing thing, but I guess I have to get used to that.
3. Personal space and privacy - well yea, that doesn’t exist here. Did I mention that already? Just to reiterate, its kind of overwhelming for me. I like my privacy, but living in a house that is literally 5 feet away from my organization, doesn’t necessarily allow me to have alone time when I want it. For example, I have to take a bath outside, which means I feel more comfortable if I do it when no one is around (just for the fact that its outside and I walk to my latrine in a capulana). But its hard to feel completely comfortable when there’s a bunch of people around my house. I like to take a bath at any time during the day, mainly because its so hot and I like to stay as cool, clean, and and fresh as possible.
4. I’m not Mozambican….I’m American….no no…American. - I don’t get offended at all when Mozambicans assume I’m one of them., or from South Africa or Zimbabwe. I do have the same color skin - so you can‘t blame them for making assumptions. When I tell people, “I’m American,” they don’t believe me. So then I go into small detail and explain that not all Americans are white, we’re all different colors with different backgrounds. I think the biggest thing that bothers me is the way I notice how black Americans are treated here, and how white Americans and other whites are treated. Sometimes it’s a good thing - for example, when I walk down the street I usually am never stopped by someone trying to sell me things on the street. When I have somewhere to go, I can usually get there with no problem. But if I’m with white people we get stopped all the time….I find it amusing actually.
And then there’s times when its not a good thing - I went in the gas station the other day to buy a can of soda and some pringles. But when I got to the counter, the Pringles were about 100 mets - and I was not paying that much for that small can of chips…tempting but no. So I told the lady I didn’t want the chips. She told me that I should just go ahead and buy them bc she didn’t know how to take it off the receipt. I’m like, no I don’t want the chips. She was rude about it, smacked her teeth, rolled her eyes, and made a big fuss about removing the Pringles. Then she mumbled something to her co-worker and told me next time I should know what I wanted before I came to pay. I wanted to respond, but I don’t know how to cuss someone out in Portuguese quite yet.
One of my Mozambican female friends told me that sometimes, moz women have an attitude with other moz women - which is common in all parts of the world. Women just don’t like women unless they’re friends, and for some reason we are the most petty creatures on earth. Point of this story is, I have never seen a Mozambican talk to a white person like that - whether they be south African, Portuguese or American. Some of you may disagree, but for some reason Mozambicans treat whites like they’re special, like they owe them something. Many of you may not understand this, especially if you’re not an African-American living in an African country, but I notice things that someone else doesn’t, and furthermore my experience and attention I receive is different than a white peace corps volunteer. I think the racial dynamics might still be an effect of colonialism, and the civil war that's not too far off. In my opinion, Mozambicans have not yet grown into a society and culture that allows them to treat and be treated equally.
It also goes vice versa. I see and notice how Portuguese or South Africans talk to Mozambicans, and it’s a way that can be degrading sometimes, as if moz’s are subordinate. There’s a lot of foreigners that come to Mozambique for business, vacation, etc, and when I see how they treat a waiter, a taxi driver, a woman, or even a non-white American, is far from what I would consider respect. I heard one of the previous pc volunteers say to me, “As a white male, I can get whatever I want in this country. I get treated very well.” And what he said I’ve seen to be generally true. Anyways…..I still love being African American here…….the American card still lets me get away with a lot of things, so I just roll with it and continue to be who I am.
On a more positive note - I just ate a big plate of Indian food with a cold can of Sprite. You can find all kinds of food in Mozambique! Until next time folks…..
Friday, January 21, 2011
OLA!
Natal and Ano Novo
Bom dia! Well, there is a lot that has been going on! Let’s begin with what I did over the holidays….it was definitely a lot of fun and I had a lot of food and drinks. Ok, so, I went to Xai Xai (Shy-shy) beach for the Christmas. A group of us were meeting there, and some ppl rented a house along the beach. Let me tell you Xai Xai beach is BEAUTIFUL. People are out dancing, drinking, eating, swimming, even surfing - which by the way I am definitely learning to surf and become a licensed scuba diver!- but yea back to the beach. The weather was perfect for me, I love a white Christmas, but spending it here with the sand in my toes and the cool water on my skin was just heavenly. There was a bunch of South Africans and other tourists that come to Mozambique for the holidays. I haven’t had many encounters with South Africans, but I must say the ones I had over Xmas break were….interesting. Yeah. On the beach, they also have this massive dance floor with a DJ and loud music right across one of their hotels. Everybody was just having a good time. Oh, and some of you have asked me, “are you getting darker, can you tan?” hahah, why yes…yes I have. Before I came to Moz I was like a coco-caramel, but now I’m like a coco brown-milky way-caramel lol. But seriously I have noticed a shade darker in my skin, I love it! And btw YES black ppl need to wear sunscreen. One of the PCV’s was like, “yea you need to wear sunscreen too,” I’m like, “Um yea obvi,” (not that I asked him in the first place). But this is the longest I’ve ever lived in a place where there’s sun….hot hot sun….so I try to protect myself as much as possible. I also learned to carry a bandana or some type of sweat rag, because as soon as I take a bath and walk around for 5 minutes, I’m drenched in sweat. Nice right? So for those of you that WILL visit me this year, pack a few rags.
As for New Years - um what an experience. So like, I kinda wanted a “quiet” New Years. I know that sounds strange, but I wanted to be with just one or two friends, have some wine, sit outside and talk, listen to music…..ya know. Im sure you’re wondering why on a day like NYE I wanted to be chill, but fact of the matter is - I was missing my friends and all that jazz back in the states…and thinking about what we did last NYE…(haa) So, Idk I was kinda moody and was just like, “yea its 2011 whoop-dee-doo.” WELL, in Chongoene you can’t stay at home on New Years, are you crazy?! Two of my Moz friends came over, and looked at me and basically gave me 15 minutes to get dressed, grab a drink, and head over to the neighbors house. So….I mean, I had to go, right? I put on some jeans and went to their house, and I must say, as interesting as my neighbors are, they definitely made me feel at home. Before I came, they were just chilling. But as soon as my friend asked them could Nana celebrate her first NYE with us, they were like yes! The mom got a table, put snacks out, fed me, and even sent my friend to the store to get my signature drink bc they didn’t have it haha. I’m like, “please its ok, I can drink soda.” The dad’s like, “Sprite, on New Years? Ayyy paaa!” and they laughed….I’m like ok well if you insist…..can’t pass up a free drink, now can you? Needless to say, within minutes the music was poppin, random ppl joined us and started dancing, and well….the drinks were flowing. It was nice. As the clock got closer to 12, my neighbor’s kids were lighting fire crackers - which is scary considering they nearly almost lit the house on fire! - but it was nice. “cinco, quatro, tres, dois, um….Feliz Ano Novo!” Literally the whole town was shouting, and believe it or not, this was my first time being up that late in my new neighborhood….I thought I’d sleep through New Years! But yea it was cool, I had a good time, and liked the hospitality my neighbors showed me that night. And well, that about rounds up what I did for the holidays. it’s a nice time to visit here, because you meet all kinds of people and toursists, and there’s ALWAYS a party to crash or a beach to lay on. All in all, my holiday’s were fabulous.
Vaca!
Michelle and I were walking along, just getting to know our hood a bit more, and out of nowhere comes a HUGE cow - basically one of those bulls that you see on tv - mooing and running in our direction. Needless to say, we were a teeny bit frightened! I see kids all the time spanking the cow herds and watching over them - but that’s only from a distance. Seeing a cow up close, and you’re not in a zoo - is a hot mess. Literally this thing was looking at me like he wanted to eat me for dinner. Me and Michelle just start laughing, then dodge the cow like we were dodging bullets! Luckily a girl “shooed” the cow/bull away, and me and michelle pranced along. We kept looking over our shoulders, making sure he was gone….and he was…..ahh fun times.
Why not everyone can be a Peace Corps Volunteer….you meet all kinds of animals!
SO, as some of you may know, lately I’ve had some unpleasant encounters with animals - or as I’d really like to call them “balls of rabies.” I’ve heard about a lot of volunteers in my groups having animals problems, but I was hoping I wouldn’t have to be one of them….but NOOOOOooooooo, what would my experience here be without some balls of rabies to welcome me? Let’s start with the lil stuff - you already know about the cockroaches, flying-biting ants, long, orange spiders, hyperactive frogs, and the bettles. Well….let me tell you….you ain’t seen NOTHIN’ yet until you’ve seen a RAT hiding behind your bedroom door at night. I literally screamed, called my friend, and almost cried bc the rat looked like Flavor Flave n Shrek mixed together. He was soooo ugly and gross, and BIG. As soon as rabies saw me, he ran right up the wall back into his little whole like nothing even happened. I was freaked out, and I immediately wrote on my to-do list - FIND A CAT. I am not a cat person, in fact when they’re big they freak me out, but I hate rats more! So, I have a reeeeeeeaaaallly cute kitten (notice I said kitten, not a cat) and since I got her I haven’t seen a rat since. Her name is Sadie (Say-dee) and she’s tan mixed with light brown…adorable actually. I was worried about her in the beginning because she had diarrhea or something, but now she’s ok. A vet came to my house and get her shots for rabies, tapeworm, and fleas….and she’s literllay a blessing. I think I’m becoming one of those ppl who’s like “awww look at my kitty witty…so cute…” but I mean, let’s be real….a cute, cuddly kitten is better than a human eating rat…!
And um yea, (knock on wood) Im hoping bats aren’t my next problem. I woke up in the middle of the night and heard something chewing through the wood in my roof. I have a tin roof, with long pieces of wood that hold it together. And when the thing stopped making noise it flew away…..it sounded like a scene from that movie Birds or something. Im praying its not a bat - my site mate Michelle has them in her house, and spends a fair amount of time killing or chasing them out the house….I can obviously handle many things - but a BAT…not so much.
Trocar cultura
Just like any other person, living in a new place will have its classic moments, none other characterized by “culture shock.” As I said before, nothing really “shocks” me here, as I sometimes find myself comparing it to other African countries. But I try not to do that, because Moz in itself is another world of its own. Let me be frank - I like it here so far, but noticing certain aspects of Mozambican culture that makes me think. Before I get into it, know that I am only generalizing, not all of my encounters with Mozambicans have been the same, and furthermore, I am only stating my opinion of what I’ve seen in almost 4 months. So, one of the major things I’ve noticed while being here, is the attitude of some Mozambicans - and I don’t mean this in a negative way. I noticed that they feel their way of doing things is the ONLY way of doing things, and if you do something a different way - you’re wrong. Um, here’s an example…..
Yesterday I went to Chongoene beach (20 mins from my house) with my neighbors - the ones whose house I went over for New Years. It was the parents and their kids, two of my friends, and the guy who was the driver. We all got in his truck and headed for the beach. First of all, the beach was absolutely beautiful, it’s the perfect place to go to for a relaxing day. But, I couldn’t really enjoy the scenery because of what was happening. On any other day, I would take my bathing suit along to the beach, go in the water to cool off, and walk around like there’s no problem. But I didn’t bring my bathing suit on this trip - for the simple reason I’m not comfortable showing my body like that in front them. it’s a little different if I was just with the mom and her two kids, but with the father, their friend, and my two other guy friends, I’m just a little conservative. Here, its no problem to swim in your underwear, which is still a little akward but is growing on me. I think my main concern is being around men in my bathing suit. It may sound silly, but I would’ve felt like their eyes would be on me…and my belly ring haha. So with that said, they all kept asking me, “Nana, tomar un banho agora,” - “Nana, take a bath now.” (They refer to swimming as taking a bath) I just smiled and said “nao obrigada, eu nao tenho ropa do banho,” trying to say I don’t have a bathing suit. They looked at me like I was nuts, “porque?” I just kept on smiling bc its what I do best, and said I’m good, thank you. Next time. The mom made a face and mumbled something to her husband, and then the kids looked at me….and they kept looking at me….and it was awkward. One of my friends sat on the beach with me which was nice, but I still felt weird. This was something they just didn’t understand, and literally the whole ride home they talked about how Nana didn’t get in the water, what’s wrong with her?
The ride home was also weird because they were asking me interesting questions. Like,
“why do you stay in your hosue, you sleeping all day?”
“why don’t you have an empregada, you need help doing housework.”
“why don’t you drink Milo?”
“why did your parents only have 3 kids? You only have two brothers?”
And so on. I havent been asked these questions from my neighbors alone, but from a lot of ppl. For the first question, Mozambicans have this thing where they think if you stay in you’re house during the day, or even at night, that you’re sleeping. They don’t understand the concept of alone time. I like and appreciate my along time here. I always just smile and say, no Im not sleeping, I’m doing a lot of things around my house - reading, studying Portuguese, watching movies - and they still say to me, but why do you stay in your house? And I often will get asked about my family back in the states a lot. Its just me and my two brothers, and here, depending on who you talk to, its good to have a lot of children. But of course, this is a mentality that I want to make ppl think about. I want women to realize that having a baby = having money and being prepared. And that’s part of the reason why I appreciate these moments when ppl ask me these questions, because it allows me to plan what activities and conversations I can have with my community.
I’m saying all this to show that in my experience, Mozambicans expect me to learn and respect their culture, and how they do things, but I haven’t really felt that respect in return. Don’t get me wrong, I have met a few Moz’s who really listen when I explain, “oh in America some ppl do this,” or, “when this happens, my family does this,” and so on. But generally speaking, I feel like some ppl judge me. They give me a disapproval look, they mumble things in Portuguese or Changana to one another, or still tell me that the things I do are wrong. I’ve never really seen or lived in a culture where the ppl feel there’s only one way of doing things. With this said, I still walk around feeling positive, because being here I don’t judge their culture, but it definitely is frustrating when you don’t feel like you’re being respected. Now of course, a lot of my friends say the same thing about their encounters with Mozambicans, but this is just my experience. But I know not all Mozambicans are the same, and I;ve only seen a small portion of this country…..so I look forward to meeting more ppl, and learning all that I can - the positive, and negative!
Bom dia! Well, there is a lot that has been going on! Let’s begin with what I did over the holidays….it was definitely a lot of fun and I had a lot of food and drinks. Ok, so, I went to Xai Xai (Shy-shy) beach for the Christmas. A group of us were meeting there, and some ppl rented a house along the beach. Let me tell you Xai Xai beach is BEAUTIFUL. People are out dancing, drinking, eating, swimming, even surfing - which by the way I am definitely learning to surf and become a licensed scuba diver!- but yea back to the beach. The weather was perfect for me, I love a white Christmas, but spending it here with the sand in my toes and the cool water on my skin was just heavenly. There was a bunch of South Africans and other tourists that come to Mozambique for the holidays. I haven’t had many encounters with South Africans, but I must say the ones I had over Xmas break were….interesting. Yeah. On the beach, they also have this massive dance floor with a DJ and loud music right across one of their hotels. Everybody was just having a good time. Oh, and some of you have asked me, “are you getting darker, can you tan?” hahah, why yes…yes I have. Before I came to Moz I was like a coco-caramel, but now I’m like a coco brown-milky way-caramel lol. But seriously I have noticed a shade darker in my skin, I love it! And btw YES black ppl need to wear sunscreen. One of the PCV’s was like, “yea you need to wear sunscreen too,” I’m like, “Um yea obvi,” (not that I asked him in the first place). But this is the longest I’ve ever lived in a place where there’s sun….hot hot sun….so I try to protect myself as much as possible. I also learned to carry a bandana or some type of sweat rag, because as soon as I take a bath and walk around for 5 minutes, I’m drenched in sweat. Nice right? So for those of you that WILL visit me this year, pack a few rags.
As for New Years - um what an experience. So like, I kinda wanted a “quiet” New Years. I know that sounds strange, but I wanted to be with just one or two friends, have some wine, sit outside and talk, listen to music…..ya know. Im sure you’re wondering why on a day like NYE I wanted to be chill, but fact of the matter is - I was missing my friends and all that jazz back in the states…and thinking about what we did last NYE…(haa) So, Idk I was kinda moody and was just like, “yea its 2011 whoop-dee-doo.” WELL, in Chongoene you can’t stay at home on New Years, are you crazy?! Two of my Moz friends came over, and looked at me and basically gave me 15 minutes to get dressed, grab a drink, and head over to the neighbors house. So….I mean, I had to go, right? I put on some jeans and went to their house, and I must say, as interesting as my neighbors are, they definitely made me feel at home. Before I came, they were just chilling. But as soon as my friend asked them could Nana celebrate her first NYE with us, they were like yes! The mom got a table, put snacks out, fed me, and even sent my friend to the store to get my signature drink bc they didn’t have it haha. I’m like, “please its ok, I can drink soda.” The dad’s like, “Sprite, on New Years? Ayyy paaa!” and they laughed….I’m like ok well if you insist…..can’t pass up a free drink, now can you? Needless to say, within minutes the music was poppin, random ppl joined us and started dancing, and well….the drinks were flowing. It was nice. As the clock got closer to 12, my neighbor’s kids were lighting fire crackers - which is scary considering they nearly almost lit the house on fire! - but it was nice. “cinco, quatro, tres, dois, um….Feliz Ano Novo!” Literally the whole town was shouting, and believe it or not, this was my first time being up that late in my new neighborhood….I thought I’d sleep through New Years! But yea it was cool, I had a good time, and liked the hospitality my neighbors showed me that night. And well, that about rounds up what I did for the holidays. it’s a nice time to visit here, because you meet all kinds of people and toursists, and there’s ALWAYS a party to crash or a beach to lay on. All in all, my holiday’s were fabulous.
Vaca!
Michelle and I were walking along, just getting to know our hood a bit more, and out of nowhere comes a HUGE cow - basically one of those bulls that you see on tv - mooing and running in our direction. Needless to say, we were a teeny bit frightened! I see kids all the time spanking the cow herds and watching over them - but that’s only from a distance. Seeing a cow up close, and you’re not in a zoo - is a hot mess. Literally this thing was looking at me like he wanted to eat me for dinner. Me and Michelle just start laughing, then dodge the cow like we were dodging bullets! Luckily a girl “shooed” the cow/bull away, and me and michelle pranced along. We kept looking over our shoulders, making sure he was gone….and he was…..ahh fun times.
Why not everyone can be a Peace Corps Volunteer….you meet all kinds of animals!
SO, as some of you may know, lately I’ve had some unpleasant encounters with animals - or as I’d really like to call them “balls of rabies.” I’ve heard about a lot of volunteers in my groups having animals problems, but I was hoping I wouldn’t have to be one of them….but NOOOOOooooooo, what would my experience here be without some balls of rabies to welcome me? Let’s start with the lil stuff - you already know about the cockroaches, flying-biting ants, long, orange spiders, hyperactive frogs, and the bettles. Well….let me tell you….you ain’t seen NOTHIN’ yet until you’ve seen a RAT hiding behind your bedroom door at night. I literally screamed, called my friend, and almost cried bc the rat looked like Flavor Flave n Shrek mixed together. He was soooo ugly and gross, and BIG. As soon as rabies saw me, he ran right up the wall back into his little whole like nothing even happened. I was freaked out, and I immediately wrote on my to-do list - FIND A CAT. I am not a cat person, in fact when they’re big they freak me out, but I hate rats more! So, I have a reeeeeeeaaaallly cute kitten (notice I said kitten, not a cat) and since I got her I haven’t seen a rat since. Her name is Sadie (Say-dee) and she’s tan mixed with light brown…adorable actually. I was worried about her in the beginning because she had diarrhea or something, but now she’s ok. A vet came to my house and get her shots for rabies, tapeworm, and fleas….and she’s literllay a blessing. I think I’m becoming one of those ppl who’s like “awww look at my kitty witty…so cute…” but I mean, let’s be real….a cute, cuddly kitten is better than a human eating rat…!
And um yea, (knock on wood) Im hoping bats aren’t my next problem. I woke up in the middle of the night and heard something chewing through the wood in my roof. I have a tin roof, with long pieces of wood that hold it together. And when the thing stopped making noise it flew away…..it sounded like a scene from that movie Birds or something. Im praying its not a bat - my site mate Michelle has them in her house, and spends a fair amount of time killing or chasing them out the house….I can obviously handle many things - but a BAT…not so much.
Trocar cultura
Just like any other person, living in a new place will have its classic moments, none other characterized by “culture shock.” As I said before, nothing really “shocks” me here, as I sometimes find myself comparing it to other African countries. But I try not to do that, because Moz in itself is another world of its own. Let me be frank - I like it here so far, but noticing certain aspects of Mozambican culture that makes me think. Before I get into it, know that I am only generalizing, not all of my encounters with Mozambicans have been the same, and furthermore, I am only stating my opinion of what I’ve seen in almost 4 months. So, one of the major things I’ve noticed while being here, is the attitude of some Mozambicans - and I don’t mean this in a negative way. I noticed that they feel their way of doing things is the ONLY way of doing things, and if you do something a different way - you’re wrong. Um, here’s an example…..
Yesterday I went to Chongoene beach (20 mins from my house) with my neighbors - the ones whose house I went over for New Years. It was the parents and their kids, two of my friends, and the guy who was the driver. We all got in his truck and headed for the beach. First of all, the beach was absolutely beautiful, it’s the perfect place to go to for a relaxing day. But, I couldn’t really enjoy the scenery because of what was happening. On any other day, I would take my bathing suit along to the beach, go in the water to cool off, and walk around like there’s no problem. But I didn’t bring my bathing suit on this trip - for the simple reason I’m not comfortable showing my body like that in front them. it’s a little different if I was just with the mom and her two kids, but with the father, their friend, and my two other guy friends, I’m just a little conservative. Here, its no problem to swim in your underwear, which is still a little akward but is growing on me. I think my main concern is being around men in my bathing suit. It may sound silly, but I would’ve felt like their eyes would be on me…and my belly ring haha. So with that said, they all kept asking me, “Nana, tomar un banho agora,” - “Nana, take a bath now.” (They refer to swimming as taking a bath) I just smiled and said “nao obrigada, eu nao tenho ropa do banho,” trying to say I don’t have a bathing suit. They looked at me like I was nuts, “porque?” I just kept on smiling bc its what I do best, and said I’m good, thank you. Next time. The mom made a face and mumbled something to her husband, and then the kids looked at me….and they kept looking at me….and it was awkward. One of my friends sat on the beach with me which was nice, but I still felt weird. This was something they just didn’t understand, and literally the whole ride home they talked about how Nana didn’t get in the water, what’s wrong with her?
The ride home was also weird because they were asking me interesting questions. Like,
“why do you stay in your hosue, you sleeping all day?”
“why don’t you have an empregada, you need help doing housework.”
“why don’t you drink Milo?”
“why did your parents only have 3 kids? You only have two brothers?”
And so on. I havent been asked these questions from my neighbors alone, but from a lot of ppl. For the first question, Mozambicans have this thing where they think if you stay in you’re house during the day, or even at night, that you’re sleeping. They don’t understand the concept of alone time. I like and appreciate my along time here. I always just smile and say, no Im not sleeping, I’m doing a lot of things around my house - reading, studying Portuguese, watching movies - and they still say to me, but why do you stay in your house? And I often will get asked about my family back in the states a lot. Its just me and my two brothers, and here, depending on who you talk to, its good to have a lot of children. But of course, this is a mentality that I want to make ppl think about. I want women to realize that having a baby = having money and being prepared. And that’s part of the reason why I appreciate these moments when ppl ask me these questions, because it allows me to plan what activities and conversations I can have with my community.
I’m saying all this to show that in my experience, Mozambicans expect me to learn and respect their culture, and how they do things, but I haven’t really felt that respect in return. Don’t get me wrong, I have met a few Moz’s who really listen when I explain, “oh in America some ppl do this,” or, “when this happens, my family does this,” and so on. But generally speaking, I feel like some ppl judge me. They give me a disapproval look, they mumble things in Portuguese or Changana to one another, or still tell me that the things I do are wrong. I’ve never really seen or lived in a culture where the ppl feel there’s only one way of doing things. With this said, I still walk around feeling positive, because being here I don’t judge their culture, but it definitely is frustrating when you don’t feel like you’re being respected. Now of course, a lot of my friends say the same thing about their encounters with Mozambicans, but this is just my experience. But I know not all Mozambicans are the same, and I;ve only seen a small portion of this country…..so I look forward to meeting more ppl, and learning all that I can - the positive, and negative!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Vamos Vencer....
Ola everyone! Its been over a month since my last update - sorry! Things got a lil busy and what not! …..but don’t get too rowdy yet - I promise this one’s gonna be good….so here we go…
End of Training and Swearing In Ceremony....
So, last time we talked I explained what was happening around week four and now its about week 9 or 10....I dunno I can't keep up. But good to know that things are better and I'm alot less stressed.For me training was a long haul, and I'm happy its over. Yea it was a lil sad when I was saying goodbye to my homestay family in Namaacha, but I think I was ready to move on and see what else this country has to offer, and I must say, I'm lovin' it. I'm sure you want to hear more....
I swore in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer in Maputo, Mozambique December 3 at the US Ambassador, Leslie Rowe’s, house...jealous much? It’s a beautiful house, and the ceremony was fabulous. We all swore in to the same oath that Obama sworn into as President. It was a cool moment, I must say....can't say the same for the food....but ya know. Ms. Rowe gave a speech, and it was good to hear her words of encouragement, because alot of us needed it. This was an awesome step in our journey thus far. Let's be real.....not many people get to chill at the Ambassador's place for a few hours while becoming a PCV ;)
Where am I, and what am I doing?
I am currently living in Chongoene, Mozambique, in the Gaza province. I’m located in the south right along the Indian Coast. There’s two beaches nearby, my house is ADORABLE, I live right next to the organization that sponsors me, I am surrounded by sand, I have my own mango tree, and Im living on my own…..in southeastern Africa….which was and still is somewhat of a shock….but I love it! I work with an organization called AREPACHO, which allows me to work with people affected with HIV/AIDS, orphans, and vulnerable children (OVC’s). I’m very excited about that and can’t wait to get my foot in the door. I wanted to work with children, so Im happy to have this opportunity! And BIG SHOUT OUT TO ZACK, the previous volunteer before me who built a preschool from the ground up,for showing me around, introducing me to new people, and best of all giving me all his things that he doesn't need anymore....its like an early Christmas! He gave me pots, pans, a gas stove, house decorations, water filter, etc.....he's such a good person. Thanks Zach!
By the way...here are some other things you probably should know.....during my first few months here I have witnessed the following....
1. a lil girl about 4 yrs old gettin jiggy in the bar....dancing to chris brown...with her hands up
2. a woman walking up to me and started speaking Changana a local language, then looking at me strange bc I don't respond....(I'm not Mozambican)
3. me falling in a puddle while no one was looking....happens....
4. witnessing a man walk into a wall...then play it off like it was a dance move....that jokester...
5. me handling my business in a plastic bag bc the bathroom was too far away.....(yea you're laughing but this MIGHT happen to you if you live here for a few weeks!)
MOving on, I will post pics of my house and my new town sometime next week, and thanks to everyone who responded to my last e-mail, REALLY sorry I didnt write everyone back, but I will! My internet time is limited as you already know...but I love you all and thanks for the encouragement!
Still aching to send me a letter? Then do so! E-mail me for my mailing address. I could really use some new bath gloves! haha
naa.nquaye@gmail.com
End of Training and Swearing In Ceremony....
So, last time we talked I explained what was happening around week four and now its about week 9 or 10....I dunno I can't keep up. But good to know that things are better and I'm alot less stressed.For me training was a long haul, and I'm happy its over. Yea it was a lil sad when I was saying goodbye to my homestay family in Namaacha, but I think I was ready to move on and see what else this country has to offer, and I must say, I'm lovin' it. I'm sure you want to hear more....
I swore in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer in Maputo, Mozambique December 3 at the US Ambassador, Leslie Rowe’s, house...jealous much? It’s a beautiful house, and the ceremony was fabulous. We all swore in to the same oath that Obama sworn into as President. It was a cool moment, I must say....can't say the same for the food....but ya know. Ms. Rowe gave a speech, and it was good to hear her words of encouragement, because alot of us needed it. This was an awesome step in our journey thus far. Let's be real.....not many people get to chill at the Ambassador's place for a few hours while becoming a PCV ;)
Where am I, and what am I doing?
I am currently living in Chongoene, Mozambique, in the Gaza province. I’m located in the south right along the Indian Coast. There’s two beaches nearby, my house is ADORABLE, I live right next to the organization that sponsors me, I am surrounded by sand, I have my own mango tree, and Im living on my own…..in southeastern Africa….which was and still is somewhat of a shock….but I love it! I work with an organization called AREPACHO, which allows me to work with people affected with HIV/AIDS, orphans, and vulnerable children (OVC’s). I’m very excited about that and can’t wait to get my foot in the door. I wanted to work with children, so Im happy to have this opportunity! And BIG SHOUT OUT TO ZACK, the previous volunteer before me who built a preschool from the ground up,for showing me around, introducing me to new people, and best of all giving me all his things that he doesn't need anymore....its like an early Christmas! He gave me pots, pans, a gas stove, house decorations, water filter, etc.....he's such a good person. Thanks Zach!
By the way...here are some other things you probably should know.....during my first few months here I have witnessed the following....
1. a lil girl about 4 yrs old gettin jiggy in the bar....dancing to chris brown...with her hands up
2. a woman walking up to me and started speaking Changana a local language, then looking at me strange bc I don't respond....(I'm not Mozambican)
3. me falling in a puddle while no one was looking....happens....
4. witnessing a man walk into a wall...then play it off like it was a dance move....that jokester...
5. me handling my business in a plastic bag bc the bathroom was too far away.....(yea you're laughing but this MIGHT happen to you if you live here for a few weeks!)
MOving on, I will post pics of my house and my new town sometime next week, and thanks to everyone who responded to my last e-mail, REALLY sorry I didnt write everyone back, but I will! My internet time is limited as you already know...but I love you all and thanks for the encouragement!
Still aching to send me a letter? Then do so! E-mail me for my mailing address. I could really use some new bath gloves! haha
naa.nquaye@gmail.com
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Road Block in week 4...
"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!
-- 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!
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!)
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