Greetings from the Swiss Alps! Ok, actually Lushoto, which a town in my region, but its wayyyy up here in the mountains and is absolutely beautiful and, get this, CHILLY at night. After what I'd like to consider perhaps the hottest week of my entire life, I decided it was time for a break from the vil. I think the heat had gotten to me, and it was a rougher week than I've been experiencing, so a relapse from the heat was much needed. And when I say heat, I mean heat (it was 87 at 7 pm...without a humidity index). I had to lie on my concrete floor and fan myself with a magazine. Sure glad I have shutters on my windows! When the Tanzanians are saying its "Jua Kali (Hot Sun!)" you know its unebearable. I must have looked especially pathetic, because my neighbors and fellow villagers were constantly reassuring me it would be cooler in June. Can't wait......
My village survey and analysis are nearly complete, though with a few snaf-us. Meetings are generally started hours after their "start" time, and that's only if everyone has hauled water, and/or there hasn't been a death in the village, or they decide there wasn't time to have a meeting after everyone arrived too late, (all of which happened this week). Its hard to acclimate with my "american go go go" attitude, but I'm learning! The biggest worry now is preparing my report for my Training/Conference in a few weeks for PC, which is difficult without internet/electricity at site. Looks like more trips to town? Oh darn. :)
I'm definitetly getting a much better grasp of my village, and am generally recognized and greeted warmly. Feels good to be known! :) Once again, not a whole lot to report on this end, but looks like I'll be working with the clinic and the secondary school so far, and perhaps more to come. Right now, STILL just figuring it all out. I wanted this to be a focused blog, with one topic, but here I go again rambling on a million topics.
In a few weeks, I'll be heading to Morogoro for my conference/training, and will hopefully have more internet opportunities, so hit me with those emails and perhaps we could even schedule a Skype date with those of you so inclined? As for me, I'm going to enjoy my weekend in the cold, (i wore a jacket last night!), and the beautiful change in scenery (despite not being very far from my area, it looks like a whole other region!) before returning to the sauna that is my village. :) Rainy season is right around the corner though! Hopeall is well in Stateside, and love hearing from all you! BIG Thanks for the Packages, its like Christmas every time. You spoil me, Friends and Family! :) Lots of Love! (and sorry for the randomness, sometimes you just have to take advantage of an intenet cafe when you see one! :)
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Recharged (in more ways than one)
Greetings from Tanga! After four weeks, yes thirty days of village life, I have a recharged computer, recharged phone, and recharged spirit. While I have managed to get a little closer to integration in my vil from the last post, every day has been that wonderful, Peace Corps roller coaster! Some days are tough, some days are wonderful, but I guess that is life, right? Just seems magnified in TZ. :) I'm been able to begin the survey of my village PC has asked us to do, visit more with my neighbors and other friends, and even understand/convey a bit more swahili. Like I said, everything is pole pole, but as crazy as it seems sometimes, I now have one month at site under my belt.
Which means, one month of bucket bath, "cooking" (aka popcorn) and my continually waged WAR on the ANTS. These little boogers have over taken the outside of my home, but i have held my own with "dawa" (medicine, but in reality poison) from the local duke. Go me.
Hence, when my new site mate Nicole suggested a trip to the big city (Tanga), I was more than a little excited. Also, down to my last five dollars, was super excited to hit the ATM. And what a fabulous weekend it has been. Meeting up with, and staying with a former PCV and her family who now live here in town in a beautiful house on the ocean, hitting a TZ night club and learning some sweet moves, and even finding SPECIAL K bars at a random duke in town! That's what I call success. So now, a quick internet check and soon to dip in the ocean, then more PCV fellowship this evening, and I am recharged for the next few weeks at site. Just what the doctor ordered!
Now, if only the umeme (elec) would stay in my village for more than a few hours, I would be really recharged! I am able to charge the computer so hopefully a movie/intenet check in the village before another return trip to town, and my phone has been charged a few times in the vil again, so I'm feeling less disconnected. I did feel guilty leaving my village (even just to get to town), but did realize we all need a little recharging sometimes. I'll be a better/happier volunteer if I take care of my mental battery too.
Still loving the mail! I get to "little" town, Muheza to check about once a week, but sometimes takes longer, so please excuse tardy letters. Still hot, still not sure of my jobs in the village, still being taken care of by my VEO, and still being offered random Ugali and food from neighbors. Wish I had more excitement to report, dear friends, but this is all a process, and I'm just getting it started. Hope all are well, and lots of love (especially on Valentines Day! I probably won't post before then, but who knows!)
Chels (or Mkunde as I'm known in the village. It means you are loved. I melted, naturally).
Which means, one month of bucket bath, "cooking" (aka popcorn) and my continually waged WAR on the ANTS. These little boogers have over taken the outside of my home, but i have held my own with "dawa" (medicine, but in reality poison) from the local duke. Go me.
Hence, when my new site mate Nicole suggested a trip to the big city (Tanga), I was more than a little excited. Also, down to my last five dollars, was super excited to hit the ATM. And what a fabulous weekend it has been. Meeting up with, and staying with a former PCV and her family who now live here in town in a beautiful house on the ocean, hitting a TZ night club and learning some sweet moves, and even finding SPECIAL K bars at a random duke in town! That's what I call success. So now, a quick internet check and soon to dip in the ocean, then more PCV fellowship this evening, and I am recharged for the next few weeks at site. Just what the doctor ordered!
Now, if only the umeme (elec) would stay in my village for more than a few hours, I would be really recharged! I am able to charge the computer so hopefully a movie/intenet check in the village before another return trip to town, and my phone has been charged a few times in the vil again, so I'm feeling less disconnected. I did feel guilty leaving my village (even just to get to town), but did realize we all need a little recharging sometimes. I'll be a better/happier volunteer if I take care of my mental battery too.
Still loving the mail! I get to "little" town, Muheza to check about once a week, but sometimes takes longer, so please excuse tardy letters. Still hot, still not sure of my jobs in the village, still being taken care of by my VEO, and still being offered random Ugali and food from neighbors. Wish I had more excitement to report, dear friends, but this is all a process, and I'm just getting it started. Hope all are well, and lots of love (especially on Valentines Day! I probably won't post before then, but who knows!)
Chels (or Mkunde as I'm known in the village. It means you are loved. I melted, naturally).
Friday, January 20, 2012
Pole Pole (or Chilling in the Vill)
Habari Rafiki na Familia! A quick greetings from my new home (quick because i have like ten min of computer battery!)
Where to begin? Well my new home is what I like to call a Tanzanian apartment. Its two rooms, attached to the WEO (Ward Executive Officer)'s office. It has concrete floors, mosquito screens on the windows, a NEW porcelean choo. Lucky girl, right? I had a desk, a cabinent to hold my clothes and coffee table made to supplement the bed, couch, and two bookshelves the previous volunteer left for me. Its starting to feel like a home, and I was able to hang some pictures that I have been dying to get out of the plastic baggie they have been in since October.
Like I said my "house" is right by the WEO's office, and very near the village office and a place where they grind corn into flour (when there is electricity--another story). So, I pretty much always have people walking by, and my neighbors are literally right outside my window. Everyone is sweet, and my broken, awful Swahili has garnered a few smiles and nods. The kids play "football" (mpira la miguu) on a field near my house, and the little bitty kids play their own version under a tree right outside my window. Nothing like hearing a little kid laugh to turn a day around! :)
My VEO, Joyce, has been a God-Send. She has led me to meetings, visited schools with me, taken me along to her family gatherings, and generally led me around like a puppy. Thank God for her! She was the previous volunteer's counterpart, and I wasn't sure how it would work, but she has been such a help to me. Like I said, I have visited the two primary schools (i could write a whole blog about the kids and schools! :)), visited the 4 sub-villages of my village--yeah, its pretty huge! People sometimes teasingly ask why I dont' remember their names....i think i've met 300 people! I'm trying to remember names, but it will take time.
Which leads me to title of this blog, "Pole Pole" or slowly, slowly. I think I repeat this phrase 400 times a day: when trying to explain i'm trying to learn Kiswahilli, or that I can't remember someone's name, or just asking them to speak slower! Its definetely a trying time, but I just keep reminding myself this is the time to learn about my village, and what it needs and how I can help. I have been visiting the Zahanati (clinic) to "help" (more like wave at/tickle the babies bellies that come in for weighing or shots on Fridays...imagine that?). The nurses and "daktari" are very welcoming, like my village government.
Now to the important stuff, because my computer is on the brink and it'll be at least a few weeks before I can charge it. I haven't found that special "mama" yet to follow around/beg food off of, but my neighbors are kind, and everyday I feel more and more a part of the community. I did however, find a little "chai" stand, where I've been frequenting for a morning cup of chai, chappati, and beans. All for 400 shillings! (20 cents or so!). Helps with getting to know people and beats cooking! :) I'm taking after Grandpa Hand, sitting in the coffee shop.
My village is blessed with a pretty good variety of foods! I can buy bananas, oranges, mangoes, potatoes, rice, beans, flour, break, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, and a few other things---that's like everything! What I can't I supplement with trips to Muheza (kerosene, oatmeal, etc), which I'm getting the hang of! Speaking of Muheza, I now have a PO box! (check fb or contact my fam for it...not putting it on the web i don't think). Hope to get to check it about once a week or so, so can't wait to be pen pals! :)
While my daily routine has differed day to day, without electricity, I've been heading to bed so early. Which is nice, because with the motorcycles, *^#^%@! Roosters, and other village sounds, its often I wake up before 6. For those of you who know me at all, I know this is a shocker! :) Life is the village is slow paced, which is nice, considering the sweltering heat we've had. This is supposedly the hottest time of year, and let me tell you, it is rather warm! :) Come June, I'll probabbly wish for this.
My battery is blinking, so I better close. I appreciate the AMAZING support I constantly have from all of you at home, and it helps me to continue on this crazy journey I've begun. I'm still unsure of the work i'll do here, but everyday I feel closer to my village, and the new job i've undertaken. Know I"m thinking of all of you, and willl randomly find myself rememering funny stories with friends and fam, so know you are never far from mind.
Lots of love and I will eat a Mango/Orange for you! :)
p.s. no electricty in my village til next month! Yikes! Cell phone may be dead. alot. hope it gets resolved soon!
Where to begin? Well my new home is what I like to call a Tanzanian apartment. Its two rooms, attached to the WEO (Ward Executive Officer)'s office. It has concrete floors, mosquito screens on the windows, a NEW porcelean choo. Lucky girl, right? I had a desk, a cabinent to hold my clothes and coffee table made to supplement the bed, couch, and two bookshelves the previous volunteer left for me. Its starting to feel like a home, and I was able to hang some pictures that I have been dying to get out of the plastic baggie they have been in since October.
Like I said my "house" is right by the WEO's office, and very near the village office and a place where they grind corn into flour (when there is electricity--another story). So, I pretty much always have people walking by, and my neighbors are literally right outside my window. Everyone is sweet, and my broken, awful Swahili has garnered a few smiles and nods. The kids play "football" (mpira la miguu) on a field near my house, and the little bitty kids play their own version under a tree right outside my window. Nothing like hearing a little kid laugh to turn a day around! :)
My VEO, Joyce, has been a God-Send. She has led me to meetings, visited schools with me, taken me along to her family gatherings, and generally led me around like a puppy. Thank God for her! She was the previous volunteer's counterpart, and I wasn't sure how it would work, but she has been such a help to me. Like I said, I have visited the two primary schools (i could write a whole blog about the kids and schools! :)), visited the 4 sub-villages of my village--yeah, its pretty huge! People sometimes teasingly ask why I dont' remember their names....i think i've met 300 people! I'm trying to remember names, but it will take time.
Which leads me to title of this blog, "Pole Pole" or slowly, slowly. I think I repeat this phrase 400 times a day: when trying to explain i'm trying to learn Kiswahilli, or that I can't remember someone's name, or just asking them to speak slower! Its definetely a trying time, but I just keep reminding myself this is the time to learn about my village, and what it needs and how I can help. I have been visiting the Zahanati (clinic) to "help" (more like wave at/tickle the babies bellies that come in for weighing or shots on Fridays...imagine that?). The nurses and "daktari" are very welcoming, like my village government.
Now to the important stuff, because my computer is on the brink and it'll be at least a few weeks before I can charge it. I haven't found that special "mama" yet to follow around/beg food off of, but my neighbors are kind, and everyday I feel more and more a part of the community. I did however, find a little "chai" stand, where I've been frequenting for a morning cup of chai, chappati, and beans. All for 400 shillings! (20 cents or so!). Helps with getting to know people and beats cooking! :) I'm taking after Grandpa Hand, sitting in the coffee shop.
My village is blessed with a pretty good variety of foods! I can buy bananas, oranges, mangoes, potatoes, rice, beans, flour, break, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, and a few other things---that's like everything! What I can't I supplement with trips to Muheza (kerosene, oatmeal, etc), which I'm getting the hang of! Speaking of Muheza, I now have a PO box! (check fb or contact my fam for it...not putting it on the web i don't think). Hope to get to check it about once a week or so, so can't wait to be pen pals! :)
While my daily routine has differed day to day, without electricity, I've been heading to bed so early. Which is nice, because with the motorcycles, *^#^%@! Roosters, and other village sounds, its often I wake up before 6. For those of you who know me at all, I know this is a shocker! :) Life is the village is slow paced, which is nice, considering the sweltering heat we've had. This is supposedly the hottest time of year, and let me tell you, it is rather warm! :) Come June, I'll probabbly wish for this.
My battery is blinking, so I better close. I appreciate the AMAZING support I constantly have from all of you at home, and it helps me to continue on this crazy journey I've begun. I'm still unsure of the work i'll do here, but everyday I feel closer to my village, and the new job i've undertaken. Know I"m thinking of all of you, and willl randomly find myself rememering funny stories with friends and fam, so know you are never far from mind.
Lots of love and I will eat a Mango/Orange for you! :)
p.s. no electricty in my village til next month! Yikes! Cell phone may be dead. alot. hope it gets resolved soon!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Call me a Rubber Band: Christmas Adventures In Dar
So, as of the last posting, I was in the hospital with infection on my face, (the picture is just as lovely as the visual and outside of the doctor and me, you'll have to have a huge bribe to see it), but healing and headed to my site, only a few short days after the rest of my training class. Well, that didn't happen, but I did manage to have some adventures in the meantime, and have yet another cool story to look back on. (In case I was worried about acquiring those in the next two year--haha).
The title of this blog is a reference to my newly acquired flexibility after being delayed going to site. It will be almost two weeks after the rest of my class headed to their new homes that I will finally get to go. TOMMOROW!! For the past few weeks, I left the hospital, moved in with an amazing American family who lives here in Dar, left their house for Christmas so they could celebrate, moved in to another house of a nice PC family, visited the PC doctor at least two times to hear that my head is healing (I knew), did some shopping on Christmas Eve and bought a celebratory Diet Pepsi and Ice Cream Cone, watched countless unknown Christmas Specials, had running water, electricity and internet, had a family Christmas dinner complete with turkey!!, attended an awesome party of Expats from all over, delighted/disgusted many locals with my broken Swahili, and spent wayy to much money. Not exactly the first few weeks at site that I had in mind, and it was almost too much for me at times, as I had been preparing myself for living alone. In the village. In the dark. Some call this a vacation, but for the other Staph victim (or as we have christened ourselves, "Staph Sisters") who also stayed with me the whole time-luck for us actually- it was difficult to hear from our friends about their new homes, . Round one of flexibility.
Being away from home for the first Christmas in my life was another challenge, but one I knew was coming. I did think that I would be with my region mates, celebrating with a glass of TZ wine and probs rice and beans, but instead I cooked a Christmas Eve Spaghetti with my SS, got to Skype my family on their Christmas Eve, and enjoy a family Christmas with the Ex-Pats on Christmas Day! Flexibility goes both ways. :) Hearing from family and friends back home as well as new friends here made it easy to get the "warm fuzzies" of Christmas that I love so much. Presents and snow don't make Christmas. :)
A final test to my already stretched patience was learning that my house, well its not the house they told me i'd have. So, of course, being the worrier of the world, this just added to my stress/anxiety level. PC is taking care of it, and I'm sure my new house will be just as fabulous, if not more so than the original (minus all the leftover furniture I was to inherit...yikes). I got all worked up and then I realized, hey you can't change this and maybe this was supposed to happen. After Staph, being stuck in Dar, and switched houses, my karma for site has to be awesome right? :)
So after two weeks of living in pseudo-America (the ritzy, ex-Pat part of Dar--AC, real grocery stores, and wifi), I'm headed back to Tanzania, the village. I get to move in, find a "mama" ( you know I love my mamas--all of them!), figure out my vil and where I fit it, and oh yeah, how to feed myself/survive. I forsee some "hodi"-ing going on (which means I'll convientely 'stop by' neighbor's houses around dinner time..muhaha). The biggest thrill for me is going to be NOT living out of my duffle bags for the first time since October. I don't have electricity, so charging up the ol laptop and even cell phone will be a challenge, so don't look for blogs too regularly, pals, but i will try for when I head to "town." I have been receiving some AMAZING letters and packages (got yours today Jess--THANK YOU!), and PINKY SWEAR i'll get a po box soon after I get to my site so I can pass it along to those inquiring minds.
So yesterday, as I'm taking a walk with a bunch of Americans/Brits/South Africans along the rocky, super steep coast off the Indian Ocean with the salty spray in my face, I was once again humbled and amazed at this remarkable journey I am so lucky to be on. A little scar, a shaved/bald spot, and being two weeks behind everyone else isn't even close to the worst things that could have been, and a new lesson in flexibility never hurt anyone. So, the next time you hear from me, I will have actually LIVED a my site, cooked on MY jiko, used my CHOO, and hopefully made some new friends in the village who can understand my elementary Swahili. It will also be a new year, and one full of more challenges, adventures, and more tests in flexibility. I can't wait.
Much love to you and happy 2012 (is it really 2012? crazy!). Tutonana baadaye! (See you later!) Love from TZ (and my new site!!)
p.s. I'll try to figure out adding pictures at some point, but just look to facebook for them in the future (could be months)!
The title of this blog is a reference to my newly acquired flexibility after being delayed going to site. It will be almost two weeks after the rest of my class headed to their new homes that I will finally get to go. TOMMOROW!! For the past few weeks, I left the hospital, moved in with an amazing American family who lives here in Dar, left their house for Christmas so they could celebrate, moved in to another house of a nice PC family, visited the PC doctor at least two times to hear that my head is healing (I knew), did some shopping on Christmas Eve and bought a celebratory Diet Pepsi and Ice Cream Cone, watched countless unknown Christmas Specials, had running water, electricity and internet, had a family Christmas dinner complete with turkey!!, attended an awesome party of Expats from all over, delighted/disgusted many locals with my broken Swahili, and spent wayy to much money. Not exactly the first few weeks at site that I had in mind, and it was almost too much for me at times, as I had been preparing myself for living alone. In the village. In the dark. Some call this a vacation, but for the other Staph victim (or as we have christened ourselves, "Staph Sisters") who also stayed with me the whole time-luck for us actually- it was difficult to hear from our friends about their new homes, . Round one of flexibility.
Being away from home for the first Christmas in my life was another challenge, but one I knew was coming. I did think that I would be with my region mates, celebrating with a glass of TZ wine and probs rice and beans, but instead I cooked a Christmas Eve Spaghetti with my SS, got to Skype my family on their Christmas Eve, and enjoy a family Christmas with the Ex-Pats on Christmas Day! Flexibility goes both ways. :) Hearing from family and friends back home as well as new friends here made it easy to get the "warm fuzzies" of Christmas that I love so much. Presents and snow don't make Christmas. :)
A final test to my already stretched patience was learning that my house, well its not the house they told me i'd have. So, of course, being the worrier of the world, this just added to my stress/anxiety level. PC is taking care of it, and I'm sure my new house will be just as fabulous, if not more so than the original (minus all the leftover furniture I was to inherit...yikes). I got all worked up and then I realized, hey you can't change this and maybe this was supposed to happen. After Staph, being stuck in Dar, and switched houses, my karma for site has to be awesome right? :)
So after two weeks of living in pseudo-America (the ritzy, ex-Pat part of Dar--AC, real grocery stores, and wifi), I'm headed back to Tanzania, the village. I get to move in, find a "mama" ( you know I love my mamas--all of them!), figure out my vil and where I fit it, and oh yeah, how to feed myself/survive. I forsee some "hodi"-ing going on (which means I'll convientely 'stop by' neighbor's houses around dinner time..muhaha). The biggest thrill for me is going to be NOT living out of my duffle bags for the first time since October. I don't have electricity, so charging up the ol laptop and even cell phone will be a challenge, so don't look for blogs too regularly, pals, but i will try for when I head to "town." I have been receiving some AMAZING letters and packages (got yours today Jess--THANK YOU!), and PINKY SWEAR i'll get a po box soon after I get to my site so I can pass it along to those inquiring minds.
So yesterday, as I'm taking a walk with a bunch of Americans/Brits/South Africans along the rocky, super steep coast off the Indian Ocean with the salty spray in my face, I was once again humbled and amazed at this remarkable journey I am so lucky to be on. A little scar, a shaved/bald spot, and being two weeks behind everyone else isn't even close to the worst things that could have been, and a new lesson in flexibility never hurt anyone. So, the next time you hear from me, I will have actually LIVED a my site, cooked on MY jiko, used my CHOO, and hopefully made some new friends in the village who can understand my elementary Swahili. It will also be a new year, and one full of more challenges, adventures, and more tests in flexibility. I can't wait.
Much love to you and happy 2012 (is it really 2012? crazy!). Tutonana baadaye! (See you later!) Love from TZ (and my new site!!)
p.s. I'll try to figure out adding pictures at some point, but just look to facebook for them in the future (could be months)!
Friday, December 16, 2011
New Adventures and Blessings (Or "How I watched Kindergarden Cop and soaked up AC")
Well, the great thing about life is that it is never what you are expecting! Especially here in Africa. In my last post, I was excited about my upcoming move to my "site." But now a day after all my fellow Peace Corps Volunteers [that's right, we aren't trainees anymore!] have headed to site, I'm still in Dar Es Salaam. We all headed here this past Sunday from our training site, all 41 of us and our i'm sure nearly a 1000 bags. After the 5 or 6 hour ride, we finally allowed a little freedom, and a small group of us headed to a MALL. (I'm sure you can guess the gender of this group). After a recharging of a gyro-like meat hamburger, real french fries, and a DIET pepsi, a smaller group of us headed to a MOVIE THEATER to see "breaking dawn." Well, it was probably the most ridiculous thing i've seen, but it was totally worth it, and sitting in the AC-ed room felt like America for two hours. Topped off with a soft serve chocolate cone, Sunday was a very good day in Chelsea's book. The next day, well not so much.
It all started with a pimple. Well, I'm not so sure it was a pimple, but something of that nature got inflammed and was bugging me enough to figure I had better let the PC doc look at it, since we were headed to the Peace Corps office on Monday anyway. He looked, said it was infected, told me to come back to get antibotiocs, and then I came back later and started to look puffy. Well after taking the antibiotics a day and still looking like a bee had stung me under both eyes, he decided I better go to the hospital for IV antibiotics. Please don't pity or stress or worry, this is not pity blog post!
So since Tuesday, I have been in, what I believe one of the nicest hospitals I've ever been in. Seriously fancy.
My room is like a small apartment and I have what I believe to be the nicest bathroom in all of Tanzania. A flat screen tv, AC, and a balconey with a view of the Indian ocean have definetely been nice, but its kind of bittersweet for me. I was preparing myself (and still am), to head to my site, without electricity, alone, and without any real direction. I've been taken care of by the nurses, doctor, PC doctor, had so many texts/words of support/calls/skypes and everything from PC friends, family and friends at home. I'm supposed to be sitting alone at my house now, trying to figure out what the heck i'm doing! Its just adjustment and adventure.
I added blessings to this title because really I have been this week. No, not talking about the amenities. This infection (not sure what it is) started up really quickly, and was actually pretty painful for a while, but I was here in a Dar, taken to I'm sure the best hospital in the country, and taken there and put up by Peace Corps. Now, had this happened after I got to my site, I would have had to figure out how to get on a bus to Dar and to the PC Doctor. The timing, though awful because I had to miss my swearing in ceremony with all the PCVs and the last few days of hanging out an being together for three months (boo), was actually sort of better I was here. So though this is not the ideal situation, and its hard to see the silver lining, I've just been trying because its all in how you look at things. The one thing the Peace Corps mentions for your service is flexibility. Well, I'm starting to stretch now.
So though I might have a gnarly scar (right on my forehead awesome), and I have a small bald spot my Doctor so lovingly called the Sinead O'Connor look, (more like a receding hairline), this experience has actually made me feel more blessed than ever. I have the best support team in the world, and knowing that has excited me to begin my service that much more. I really am getting too spoiled being here, and am excited to meet the people of my village, the people I will be working with and for the next two years.
My hope is I can get to my site soon, but its looks like I'll be in town for at least a few more days. Hopefully Christmas can be spent with my new Region-mates, but now I'm just taking it one day at a time. That's really all you can do with life anyway, right? So thank again for all the love and support and prayers coming my way. I really do appreciate every bit of it. I'm not sure the internet situation again until Christmas, but please know that, I'm thinking of you and wishing you all the Merriest of Christmases! (Or Hanukkah or Kwanza or Solstice, whatever you are celebrating). Eat something bad for you for me, and watch every Christmas special they show (you know i'm a sap like that!). Seasons Greetings from the hot African Sun! :)
It all started with a pimple. Well, I'm not so sure it was a pimple, but something of that nature got inflammed and was bugging me enough to figure I had better let the PC doc look at it, since we were headed to the Peace Corps office on Monday anyway. He looked, said it was infected, told me to come back to get antibotiocs, and then I came back later and started to look puffy. Well after taking the antibiotics a day and still looking like a bee had stung me under both eyes, he decided I better go to the hospital for IV antibiotics. Please don't pity or stress or worry, this is not pity blog post!
So since Tuesday, I have been in, what I believe one of the nicest hospitals I've ever been in. Seriously fancy.
My room is like a small apartment and I have what I believe to be the nicest bathroom in all of Tanzania. A flat screen tv, AC, and a balconey with a view of the Indian ocean have definetely been nice, but its kind of bittersweet for me. I was preparing myself (and still am), to head to my site, without electricity, alone, and without any real direction. I've been taken care of by the nurses, doctor, PC doctor, had so many texts/words of support/calls/skypes and everything from PC friends, family and friends at home. I'm supposed to be sitting alone at my house now, trying to figure out what the heck i'm doing! Its just adjustment and adventure.
I added blessings to this title because really I have been this week. No, not talking about the amenities. This infection (not sure what it is) started up really quickly, and was actually pretty painful for a while, but I was here in a Dar, taken to I'm sure the best hospital in the country, and taken there and put up by Peace Corps. Now, had this happened after I got to my site, I would have had to figure out how to get on a bus to Dar and to the PC Doctor. The timing, though awful because I had to miss my swearing in ceremony with all the PCVs and the last few days of hanging out an being together for three months (boo), was actually sort of better I was here. So though this is not the ideal situation, and its hard to see the silver lining, I've just been trying because its all in how you look at things. The one thing the Peace Corps mentions for your service is flexibility. Well, I'm starting to stretch now.
So though I might have a gnarly scar (right on my forehead awesome), and I have a small bald spot my Doctor so lovingly called the Sinead O'Connor look, (more like a receding hairline), this experience has actually made me feel more blessed than ever. I have the best support team in the world, and knowing that has excited me to begin my service that much more. I really am getting too spoiled being here, and am excited to meet the people of my village, the people I will be working with and for the next two years.
My hope is I can get to my site soon, but its looks like I'll be in town for at least a few more days. Hopefully Christmas can be spent with my new Region-mates, but now I'm just taking it one day at a time. That's really all you can do with life anyway, right? So thank again for all the love and support and prayers coming my way. I really do appreciate every bit of it. I'm not sure the internet situation again until Christmas, but please know that, I'm thinking of you and wishing you all the Merriest of Christmases! (Or Hanukkah or Kwanza or Solstice, whatever you are celebrating). Eat something bad for you for me, and watch every Christmas special they show (you know i'm a sap like that!). Seasons Greetings from the hot African Sun! :)
Friday, December 2, 2011
December in Africa
Happy December, All!
It blew my mind yesterday when I realized that it was December already! November certainly flew by in some regards, but in other ways it feels like I have been here for months. I'd like to put some pictures [it sure is a good thing I got the HUGE memory card because i'm the Tanzanian paparazzi] up here, but as you all know, my technological capacity is so limited even in the states. I'm hoping to figure it all out better once i'm in my "home."
Anyway, this past week has been SHADOW week, where all of us trainees follow around a "real" PCV for a week to see how they live, cook, cope with small furry house guests, and "kick it in the Vil." Since I'm staying where I'm training, I was very excited to learn I'd be visiting another region, wayyyyyy across the country for shadow, Mbeya. The bus ride, while a whole experience in itself, took us through a National Park. And folks, it was just "stepping into the sun" (lion king ref!)! I SAW ELEPHANTS! ZEBRAS! GIRAFFES! In the wild! It was such an awesome experience, and if we were standing out enough on the bus, our reaction to the animals pretty much made the other passengers stare/smile/laugh at us. The six other PCT's and I got on the bus around 9:30 am, and got to the shadow region after 8:00 pm, so you can imagine how happy we were to get here. We all got to hang out in "town" the first night/day, then headed to our separate villages with another PCT and the PCV. Mbeya is a beautiful region, and while mountain-y [not sure if that's a word], its a completely different landscape. Michelle and I stayed with Jessica, who taught us the ropes! Basically we got to cook and eat non-Tanzanian food (no rice! Quisedillas with Velveeta, Pancakes, homemade Guacamole, bean burgers!), and relax, which we don't get alot of in training. We hiked a mountain/large hill/call it what you want, and visited her Zahanati (clinic/place I want to help out at), and visited with some villagers. Living on my own will definitely be a change, but I was relieved to find out I'd be able to get popcorn-- rest assured I won't starve, Mom. I'll probably be doing alot of "nesting" the first few months as I begin to figure out my place in the village and the jobs I"ll take on. I'm moving into a house where a Volunteer lived for two years, and just left in July, so I may already have some furnishings, which would be great the first night! December 15th is the big day, so please keep me in your prayers/thoughts/good vibes as I jump the next hurdle!
I have only one more week with my homestay family, and while sometimes I thought training would last forever, its going to be very bittersweet to leave such a kind family. I'll have to heat my own bath water? Who will shoo away the rats? Haha. Seriously though, they were a great family for me as I began to experience what it means to live in Tanzania. I have only a glimpse of what that actually means, but over the course of two years I will begin to. Like today, as I saw men and women working their fields with a Jembe (like a hoe), I thought to myself, is it really 2011? Life is slower, and in some ways simpler here, and I am looking forward to the amazing lesson in patience and flexibility that I'm sure is in store.
To the family/friends/others that I haven't been able to get a letter to yet, please accept my apologies. I was hoping the blog to be a letter to all, and then supplemement with actual letters, but the strenuous training/learning to keep house/visiting schedule for training leaves little free time. I have been thinking of you!!
One final random note, I have been wearing a sweatshirt the last few days we've been down here in the cold(er) region! It's crazy as I am perpetually warm/sweating/a hot mess in Tanga, but then again the freezing water shower at night has made me appreciate the warm weather of Tanga too. At least I can say I wore a sweatshirt in December this year! :) Talking to family at home and hearing about the freezing weather/rain, I do have to say "Pole". IL weather is one thing I do not miss! So think of me when you have to throw on the extra sweater, haha.:)
Maybe one day I'll have one of those blogs where each post focuses on one thing, and is concise, witty, and informative. But for now, thanks for bearing with me as I spew information and random thoughts with choppy, misspelled sentences. I haven't changed that much yet!
I don't know if I'll be able to blog before Christmas, so a HUGE MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my loved ones! This is my favorite time of year, and I am wishing you all the merriest of christmases from Africa!
Oh yeah, I do have a phone now, and i hear skype is reasonable if any of you are so inclined to chat.. hint hint, haha. Love the letters and greetings from home too! [Thanks Rose and Evan for my first Christmas Card in Africa! and Grandma! Six!]
Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings from under the beautiful African Sun!
It blew my mind yesterday when I realized that it was December already! November certainly flew by in some regards, but in other ways it feels like I have been here for months. I'd like to put some pictures [it sure is a good thing I got the HUGE memory card because i'm the Tanzanian paparazzi] up here, but as you all know, my technological capacity is so limited even in the states. I'm hoping to figure it all out better once i'm in my "home."
Anyway, this past week has been SHADOW week, where all of us trainees follow around a "real" PCV for a week to see how they live, cook, cope with small furry house guests, and "kick it in the Vil." Since I'm staying where I'm training, I was very excited to learn I'd be visiting another region, wayyyyyy across the country for shadow, Mbeya. The bus ride, while a whole experience in itself, took us through a National Park. And folks, it was just "stepping into the sun" (lion king ref!)! I SAW ELEPHANTS! ZEBRAS! GIRAFFES! In the wild! It was such an awesome experience, and if we were standing out enough on the bus, our reaction to the animals pretty much made the other passengers stare/smile/laugh at us. The six other PCT's and I got on the bus around 9:30 am, and got to the shadow region after 8:00 pm, so you can imagine how happy we were to get here. We all got to hang out in "town" the first night/day, then headed to our separate villages with another PCT and the PCV. Mbeya is a beautiful region, and while mountain-y [not sure if that's a word], its a completely different landscape. Michelle and I stayed with Jessica, who taught us the ropes! Basically we got to cook and eat non-Tanzanian food (no rice! Quisedillas with Velveeta, Pancakes, homemade Guacamole, bean burgers!), and relax, which we don't get alot of in training. We hiked a mountain/large hill/call it what you want, and visited her Zahanati (clinic/place I want to help out at), and visited with some villagers. Living on my own will definitely be a change, but I was relieved to find out I'd be able to get popcorn-- rest assured I won't starve, Mom. I'll probably be doing alot of "nesting" the first few months as I begin to figure out my place in the village and the jobs I"ll take on. I'm moving into a house where a Volunteer lived for two years, and just left in July, so I may already have some furnishings, which would be great the first night! December 15th is the big day, so please keep me in your prayers/thoughts/good vibes as I jump the next hurdle!
I have only one more week with my homestay family, and while sometimes I thought training would last forever, its going to be very bittersweet to leave such a kind family. I'll have to heat my own bath water? Who will shoo away the rats? Haha. Seriously though, they were a great family for me as I began to experience what it means to live in Tanzania. I have only a glimpse of what that actually means, but over the course of two years I will begin to. Like today, as I saw men and women working their fields with a Jembe (like a hoe), I thought to myself, is it really 2011? Life is slower, and in some ways simpler here, and I am looking forward to the amazing lesson in patience and flexibility that I'm sure is in store.
To the family/friends/others that I haven't been able to get a letter to yet, please accept my apologies. I was hoping the blog to be a letter to all, and then supplemement with actual letters, but the strenuous training/learning to keep house/visiting schedule for training leaves little free time. I have been thinking of you!!
One final random note, I have been wearing a sweatshirt the last few days we've been down here in the cold(er) region! It's crazy as I am perpetually warm/sweating/a hot mess in Tanga, but then again the freezing water shower at night has made me appreciate the warm weather of Tanga too. At least I can say I wore a sweatshirt in December this year! :) Talking to family at home and hearing about the freezing weather/rain, I do have to say "Pole". IL weather is one thing I do not miss! So think of me when you have to throw on the extra sweater, haha.:)
Maybe one day I'll have one of those blogs where each post focuses on one thing, and is concise, witty, and informative. But for now, thanks for bearing with me as I spew information and random thoughts with choppy, misspelled sentences. I haven't changed that much yet!
I don't know if I'll be able to blog before Christmas, so a HUGE MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my loved ones! This is my favorite time of year, and I am wishing you all the merriest of christmases from Africa!
Oh yeah, I do have a phone now, and i hear skype is reasonable if any of you are so inclined to chat.. hint hint, haha. Love the letters and greetings from home too! [Thanks Rose and Evan for my first Christmas Card in Africa! and Grandma! Six!]
Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings from under the beautiful African Sun!
Drumroll Please....
So the big day finally arrived on Saturday, the 26th: SITE ANNOUNCEMENT! Or in layman's terms, the day the Peace Corps told us where we'll all be living around Tanzania for the next two years. In my "interview" in the weeks before with my APCD (associate PC Director), I said I'd like to go wherever i'd be a good fit, and that the climate didn't really matter. He had mentioned a region, and I was sure I wasn't going to be placed there just because he had told me that. haha. Anyway, so the big day arrives, and we are all together, dancing to some crazy African beats on local drums and hyped up. Bet you can't imagine me excited/dancing around like a fool, right? :) The first person gets called up, and not long after, it was my name! I will be staying in TANGA region,(the region we are training in,) in even the same district we are training it! Muheza (if you can find it on a map!). I have a specific village I"ll be living in, but would rather not blast it all over the internet for the creep-o's to find and hunt me down. Just kidding. I was SO EXCITED. Fellow volunteers have likened my reaction to be being called down on the Price is Right. It a GORGEOUS, lush, hot, mountain-y, HUMID region, but I think it will be wonderful. The beach is only an hour or two away too, so that sweetened the deal even that much more. My friends Michelle, Brittany, and Glenn are also staying in Tanga so i'll have some great company for Christmas. Which is 10 days after I'm dropped off. Which I'm trying not to think about right now. :) Actually, the PC is like a big family, and I'm thinking it will be a wonderful new holiday experience.
But lets talk logistics now... I'm moving into a home with NO ELECTRICITY for the first time in my life, living ALONE for the first time in my life, and fighting the war on the panya (rats) solo. Time to put on those big girl panties! I'll be setting a PO Box in Muheza probably very soon after moving in, so all those magazines, candy, wet wipes, general goodies, you've all been dying to send (haha), can be sent there.
Perhaps one of the best things about being placed here in the same region was the reaction of my host family, who i've come to really adore. They are such special people! I told my baba that I was staying, and he said "You will visit every Sunday"! For those of your in my family, or know my family and traditions, you know how this made me smile and feel so warm. I told him probably not that often, but I will come down! :) It was definitely a "home is where the heart is" moment, and it was priceless.
The weeks are definetely flying by so quickly, and I will have one more week at training after shadow (which is when I'll be following around another PCV like a lost puppy, trying to learn to survive on my own), then we are off to Dar for a week, then its time to move to my new home. Until next time, my love from the land of Lion King!
But lets talk logistics now... I'm moving into a home with NO ELECTRICITY for the first time in my life, living ALONE for the first time in my life, and fighting the war on the panya (rats) solo. Time to put on those big girl panties! I'll be setting a PO Box in Muheza probably very soon after moving in, so all those magazines, candy, wet wipes, general goodies, you've all been dying to send (haha), can be sent there.
Perhaps one of the best things about being placed here in the same region was the reaction of my host family, who i've come to really adore. They are such special people! I told my baba that I was staying, and he said "You will visit every Sunday"! For those of your in my family, or know my family and traditions, you know how this made me smile and feel so warm. I told him probably not that often, but I will come down! :) It was definitely a "home is where the heart is" moment, and it was priceless.
The weeks are definetely flying by so quickly, and I will have one more week at training after shadow (which is when I'll be following around another PCV like a lost puppy, trying to learn to survive on my own), then we are off to Dar for a week, then its time to move to my new home. Until next time, my love from the land of Lion King!
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