We will meet him again at the airport in Joburg.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Sail Away
Pictures from our pre-going away party yesterday. One of our team members, Rodrigo is leaving for Brazil today so we said goodbye last night.
We will meet him again at the airport in Joburg.
We will meet him again at the airport in Joburg.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Two steps from the door
We had a big meeting today. Sunday will be the August Teams last day on the mountain. We leave for Mozambique on the 17th of February.
We're flying South African airlines with a layover in Senegal and then onto our destination in Johannesburg.
From Johannesburg, South Africa we'll take a bus to Maputo, Mozambique (12 hours- the scenic route).
We're literally wrapping up by finishing courses and having lots and lots of meetings.
On Thursday, I have a Portuguese language test that I must pass in order to go.
MERDE!!!!!! (At least I know all of the curse words!)
Saturday night we have our going away party!
Then, ate logo mountain!
ciao, ciao, ciao...
We're flying South African airlines with a layover in Senegal and then onto our destination in Johannesburg.
From Johannesburg, South Africa we'll take a bus to Maputo, Mozambique (12 hours- the scenic route).
We're literally wrapping up by finishing courses and having lots and lots of meetings.
On Thursday, I have a Portuguese language test that I must pass in order to go.
MERDE!!!!!! (At least I know all of the curse words!)
Saturday night we have our going away party!
Then, ate logo mountain!
ciao, ciao, ciao...
Monday, January 28, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Snakes, Scorpions and Spiders
I've been in the library studying Portuguese for the past two hours, and I just can't shake the image of tarantulas feasting on my sleeping body.
I will explain.
Last night, after watching Hostel (which is another story altogether), a group of us (girls only) headed up to the lodge for a candid discussion of what it would be like to be a female in Angola or Mozambique. Three volunteers just returned from their posts in Mozambique and we sat around the fireplace snacking and listening to their cautionary tales. I have made a list of things to watch out for in Mozambique.
SOJOURNER'S FEAR LIST:
1) Poisonous snakes (referred to in Portuguese as cobras- not helpful)
2) Tarantulas (yes- Mozambique is literally home to giant hairy tarantulas that enter our huts through the cracks between the mud walls and the thatched roof).
3) Poisonous spiders (Not only do I apparently have to fear tarantulas, there are a host of poisonous and deadly spiders just waiting to feast on my sleeping body).
4) Scorpions (If a scorpion bites you, you've got a few hours to get to the hospital or else...)
5) Centipedes (Apparently centipedes like to hide out in peoples socks)
6) Flying cockroaches (Not only do they fly, but they are enormous, the size of birds)
7) Getting into a chappa accident (Chappas are large vans aka. public buses, that are overcrowded and in terrible condition. Chappa accidents are very common as the drivers apparently soar at astronomical speeds. A few Development Instructors have been injured. We just got news this morning that one of the Project Leaders in Angola was killed when she flew through the windshield of one of these lovely vehicles.)
That is my fear list. Those of you that know me, know how crazy I get when I see a regular sized roach/spider/centipede.
For the next six months, I will be facing my fears head on, literally.
eeeeehhhhhhhhhh...
I will explain.
Last night, after watching Hostel (which is another story altogether), a group of us (girls only) headed up to the lodge for a candid discussion of what it would be like to be a female in Angola or Mozambique. Three volunteers just returned from their posts in Mozambique and we sat around the fireplace snacking and listening to their cautionary tales. I have made a list of things to watch out for in Mozambique.
SOJOURNER'S FEAR LIST:
1) Poisonous snakes (referred to in Portuguese as cobras- not helpful)
2) Tarantulas (yes- Mozambique is literally home to giant hairy tarantulas that enter our huts through the cracks between the mud walls and the thatched roof).
3) Poisonous spiders (Not only do I apparently have to fear tarantulas, there are a host of poisonous and deadly spiders just waiting to feast on my sleeping body).
4) Scorpions (If a scorpion bites you, you've got a few hours to get to the hospital or else...)
5) Centipedes (Apparently centipedes like to hide out in peoples socks)
6) Flying cockroaches (Not only do they fly, but they are enormous, the size of birds)
7) Getting into a chappa accident (Chappas are large vans aka. public buses, that are overcrowded and in terrible condition. Chappa accidents are very common as the drivers apparently soar at astronomical speeds. A few Development Instructors have been injured. We just got news this morning that one of the Project Leaders in Angola was killed when she flew through the windshield of one of these lovely vehicles.)
That is my fear list. Those of you that know me, know how crazy I get when I see a regular sized roach/spider/centipede.
For the next six months, I will be facing my fears head on, literally.
eeeeehhhhhhhhhh...
Friday, January 25, 2008
Rock the vote 08'
Bom Dia! If you are an American and a voter, and you are interested to see how the presidential candidates feel regarding issues of global poverty and how they plan to work towards the Millineum Development Goals check out www.ONEVote08.org/ontherecord.
These issues are important and are often lost in discussions about other crucial issues such as the war in Iraq and the economy. At www.ONEVote08.org/ontherecord major presidential candidates from John McCain to Hillary Clinton speak out about their plans (or lack there of) to eradicate global poverty.
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
One of Africa’s many folk tales is the story of the mouse who tried to mobilize his fellow animals- the chicken, the goat, and the cow- to remove a mousetrap. Well, they did not care about the mousetrap, since it posed no danger to them. But then it happened that a very dangerous snake got caught in the mousetrap and when the farmer wanted to take it out, he was bitten. Now, when bit by a snake you immediately have to wash the bite with blood from a chicken, so the chicken was slaughtered.
As the farmer became more ill and unable to work, the family had to slaughter the goat to have enough food to eat. And alas, when the farmer died from the bite, the family had to slaughter the cow to have food enough for all the people coming to the funeral.
Moral: Don’t turn your back on the problems of your fellow human beings, because they will end up being your problems as well.
Empower yourselves and make good decisions!
These issues are important and are often lost in discussions about other crucial issues such as the war in Iraq and the economy. At www.ONEVote08.org/ontherecord major presidential candidates from John McCain to Hillary Clinton speak out about their plans (or lack there of) to eradicate global poverty.
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
One of Africa’s many folk tales is the story of the mouse who tried to mobilize his fellow animals- the chicken, the goat, and the cow- to remove a mousetrap. Well, they did not care about the mousetrap, since it posed no danger to them. But then it happened that a very dangerous snake got caught in the mousetrap and when the farmer wanted to take it out, he was bitten. Now, when bit by a snake you immediately have to wash the bite with blood from a chicken, so the chicken was slaughtered.
As the farmer became more ill and unable to work, the family had to slaughter the goat to have enough food to eat. And alas, when the farmer died from the bite, the family had to slaughter the cow to have food enough for all the people coming to the funeral.
Moral: Don’t turn your back on the problems of your fellow human beings, because they will end up being your problems as well.
Empower yourselves and make good decisions!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
I just held my first morning course and it went very well.
;0)
I talked about pedagogy and learning styles and how to effectively teach teachers to be better educators.
Yesterday I went to the Salvation Army and held an art workshop with troubled youth. My specialization tasks are flying by.
I am so ready to go...go....go......to (and i'm still adjusting to this notion) Mozambique!
;0)
I talked about pedagogy and learning styles and how to effectively teach teachers to be better educators.
Yesterday I went to the Salvation Army and held an art workshop with troubled youth. My specialization tasks are flying by.
I am so ready to go...go....go......to (and i'm still adjusting to this notion) Mozambique!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Oi!
I'm back on the mountain after my fifth fundraising trip.
AND WE'RE FINISHED!
NO MORE FUNDRAISING!!!!!!
Thanks so much to my good friend Liza who held a benefit concert in Rochester on behalf of the August Team.
As excited as I am to be finished with my fundraising, I'm having a series of small heart attacks. I will not be able to go to Benguela. No Angola for me!
We are having too many worries when it comes to our VISA situation.
Now I must chose between Malawi and Mozambique. I know nothing about the placements in these countries yet I've got to make a decision by tomorrow.
Aaaaaggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEAS???????????
I'm back on the mountain after my fifth fundraising trip.
AND WE'RE FINISHED!
NO MORE FUNDRAISING!!!!!!
Thanks so much to my good friend Liza who held a benefit concert in Rochester on behalf of the August Team.
As excited as I am to be finished with my fundraising, I'm having a series of small heart attacks. I will not be able to go to Benguela. No Angola for me!
We are having too many worries when it comes to our VISA situation.
Now I must chose between Malawi and Mozambique. I know nothing about the placements in these countries yet I've got to make a decision by tomorrow.
Aaaaaggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEAS???????????
Thursday, January 10, 2008
It's still warm and pleasant outside. The snow has almost completely melted. Let's hear it for global warming!
We got our vaccinations today. I actually was already up to date on all of my shots thanks to Ghana so I got my malaria pills and dysentary pills from the Travel Clinic and laughed at my teammates who had sore arms.
Tonight we will sign our contracts with Humana People to People and it will be official. We will be Development Instructors. We have survived the training! (almost...)
We got our vaccinations today. I actually was already up to date on all of my shots thanks to Ghana so I got my malaria pills and dysentary pills from the Travel Clinic and laughed at my teammates who had sore arms.
Tonight we will sign our contracts with Humana People to People and it will be official. We will be Development Instructors. We have survived the training! (almost...)
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
The weather is warm!
It's finally warm, really warm (60 degrees more or less).
The sun is out, the snow is melting, we're about to re-apply for our VISA's to Angola. Hopefully everything will work out. I've decided to give myself until March. If I don't have my VISA by March I will opt to go to Mozambique.
I have also decided to do my camp future (follow-up period) in New Delhi India as opposed to my original idea of Brazil and then my secondary idea of South Africa.
Things are slowly coming together.
I will go to Maryland next week to finish my fundraising. I've got about $700.00 dollars left or to fundraise and it's completely possible.
It's finally warm, really warm (60 degrees more or less).
The sun is out, the snow is melting, we're about to re-apply for our VISA's to Angola. Hopefully everything will work out. I've decided to give myself until March. If I don't have my VISA by March I will opt to go to Mozambique.
I have also decided to do my camp future (follow-up period) in New Delhi India as opposed to my original idea of Brazil and then my secondary idea of South Africa.
Things are slowly coming together.
I will go to Maryland next week to finish my fundraising. I've got about $700.00 dollars left or to fundraise and it's completely possible.
Monday, January 7, 2008
problem!!!!!!!!!!!!
So there is a problem now. It looks like our VISA applications to Angola are not going to go through. I may have to change my plans and go to Mozambique instead.
;0(
pooh!
;0(
pooh!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
I'm Back!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I arrived back on the mountain last night and it's COLD!
We're having the coldest day of the year today (- something or other).
Late last night when I was about to go to bed I discovered a present. Mouse droppings!
Lots and lots of mouse droppings all over my bed!
Yes, not only was my room freezing to the extent that I could see my breath, but a mouse, or mice or rats or who knows decided to use my duvet as a latrine.
So I spent the night curled in a ball wearing layers and layers of clothes with no sheets or comforter.
At least I can say things are pretty much getting back to normal!
I arrived back on the mountain last night and it's COLD!
We're having the coldest day of the year today (- something or other).
Late last night when I was about to go to bed I discovered a present. Mouse droppings!
Lots and lots of mouse droppings all over my bed!
Yes, not only was my room freezing to the extent that I could see my breath, but a mouse, or mice or rats or who knows decided to use my duvet as a latrine.
So I spent the night curled in a ball wearing layers and layers of clothes with no sheets or comforter.
At least I can say things are pretty much getting back to normal!
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