Disclaimer: I started this blog post a month ago hoping to post it for the new year. But, surprisingly, the rainy season has been busier than I expected and here we are, a month in, just finally making a post.
When I first sat down to write a blog post about 2013, I first thought of doing a top ten list, or highs and lows, or maybe even the best and worst memories of the year. But, what I wanted to say about the past year just didn´t seem to fit into a neatly organized list. It has been exhilarating, yet exhausting, thought-provoking and enlightening, adventurous and at times heart-breaking, frustrating and yet optimistic. So many experiences and revelations can only be summed up in the stream of consciousness I have composed including some of the highs and lows, the bests and worsts, the lessons learned and everything in between. So 2013 it´s been real.
- One of my favorite memories of 2013 is definitely "Den-Den's once-in-a-lifetime African adventure", the vacation I had with my dad and sister Bridget. From hiking down at Cape of Good Hope to sunset cruise at Victoria Falls, zip-lining across the falls to experiencing all the wildlife in Kruger. It was quite the trip.
- This year, I can say I have more of a grasp on grant/project management. After submitting four various proposals, the one my counterpart and I submitted to do an agriculture/nutrition project was approved and the grant money was awarded. I have learned the responsibilities and frustrations that accompany such work. I am grateful for this experience, but know that while this may be a first for me, i know it is something I expect to see experience more of in my future professional life.
- There is nothing quite like the African scenery, the African plains. Vast. Grand. Peaceful. Beautiful. Whether I am traveling down the country's only highway, wind blowing in my face, or just stopped at my favorite lookout point in Chicumbane, I am always taken aback.
- Somehow I have learned to handle the other inhabitants of my house. Finding lizard eggs tucked into my neatly folded clothes, a frog just under my refrigerator and the snail in my shower area. And not to mention the rats. But, I don't think I will ever be comfortable with the rats.
- I have been showered with kindness in this country. There was the time my neighbor showed up with an entire bag of tangerines. Or when Junior brought me five pineapples. Or when my neighbor just gave me a 2 kg bag of OMO detergent (mind you, that is not cheap.) I have realized that I really need to be better about receiving a gift, whatever it may be. There was the day I made Junior cry because he gave me a mango and I immediately passed it off to another child. Ep pa! That was probably the worst thing I could have done. He was so proud to be able to give me something and I just threw it away essentially in front of him as if it didn't mean anything to me. Heartless. So note to self: appreciate what is given to you. And know that it really means a lot to the person when they are able to give you something, whatever it may be.
- I don't want to jinx myself, but somehow I have managed to still have the same phone since I have been here in Mozambique. I don't know how I have done it. But, trust me, that is an accomplishment.
- There are a few things I will never take for granted after living here in Moz. Ice cold water, a breeze on a hot day and the shade of a mango tree.
- In America, I was always the one to arrive on time. Or early even. As I have mentioned before the "Mozambican schedule" has started to catch up with me. And yes, I will admit that knowing that 15h could mean anytime between 15:00 and 15:59, sometimes I may not always be there right on the dot. But, I always appreciate it when the person I am meeting with arrives on time or even beats me there. It makes me have faith that things can start on time, even in Mozambique.
- When I came back from America, I brought back pictures I had printed off for my friends, neighbors and counterparts here. It was amazing just how excited everyone got upon receiving a photograph of themselves. The photos made their days. But, their reactions made mine.
- I know I have written about it before, but one tradition here that I wish we did more in America is just going to visit friends and neighbors unannounced. Here, just stopping by someone's house is always welcomed with open arms and usually a plate of food. And you better be ready to eat it.
- "Hello Sister." "Hello my friend, how are you?" It goes without saying that once people realize you speak English, they either want you to teach them more or just practice what they know. I have received countless requests to teach English, so starting next month I will be starting to give classes to the hospital staff two days a week. Wish me luck! In exchange, I hope to be getting more practice on my Changana.
- The harsh reality of not accomplishing my new years resolutions. Oops. I really have no excuse for not reading a book a month and learning how to do a yoga headstand. But, so it goes. Better luck in 2014.
- I don't know if I will ever be totally cool with it, but I have definitely gotten more used to it: the constant questions and probing into my personal life. "Do you have a boyfriend?""Why not?" "I'll be your boyfriend." "You could marry my husband and then we'll share him." "It is not healthy to not have a boyfriend." It never ends...
- I have redefined what it means to have a long day on the road...between the minibuses, one lane road, unpaved roads, rain. I hope I never again complain about traveling in America, where I will be most likely in a private air-conditioned vehicle, traveling on paved, multiple-lane highways with the conveniences of restrooms and refreshments within every couple of miles.
- Technology and I in this country have not exactly had the best luck together. My computer has been back to the states for the repairs three times now. And I just had to remove viruses from just about every USB flash drive I own.
- Birthday parties in Mozambique are one of my favorite celebrations. Whomever's birthday it is has to cut the cake with someone special and then feeds them a piece of it (kind of like weddings in America). And then from there, they continue to feed a piece to everyone at the celebration. I have had the honor of being a part of many birthday celebrations. I was truly touched at one of the last celebrations where one of the volunteers I work with at CACHES picked me to be the first one to be fed a piece and gave a speech explaining why, in which he started to cry. I was truly touched.
- Estou a pedir..."I am asking for.." I will not miss this phrase whatsoever. And "BEEPS." A beep is when someone calls you, but just long enough for it to ring and then hangs up. That way, you have to call them back using YOUR credit to call. Yup, won't miss that.
- One of the hardest things about living in Mozambique is the amount of litter and trash just everywhere. But, what is even harder about that, is people's disregard for the earth and environment. I am no real tree hugger, but it is disheartening when people just throw things on the ground, out of a minibus or out the door. Especially, when so much of their life is dependent on the land. When I see people litter, I have started asking them, "Who is going to clean that up?" which is almost always returned by just a look of complete confusion.
- Before I joined Peace Corps I was told the relationships I made would really make my service. Truth. But, what has surprised me is how this applies to the relationships I have with people I just see once in a while like the people at the market and the post office. "Ola Amiga." They are always so warm, welcoming and wanting to know how I am. But, not only that, but we have built a trusting relationship. Not only do they know my name, where I live and what's going on in my life but it's now okay if I don't have enough money to pay for the green peppers, because I can come back the next day and pay. No questions asked.
- And while languages have never been my strong point, I am realizing I am now understanding some of the Changana spoken around me. By no means am I proficient or even able to use the right pronunciation to say even a fraction of the words, but I am able to string the words I do know and understand what people are saying around me...sometimes, that is.
The year 2013 was the bulk of my Peace Corps service in Mozambique. And this list more captures just a few of the realizations I have come to over the year. As January 2014 comes to a close, it means that there are just six months, give or take, left in my service. Crazy. So here's to making the best of it!
The pictures below are from a mural in Guija I just worked on with my counterparts Sam and Calvino last weekend. The mural was to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the floods in Guija. My colleague Elisabetta organized the event and we arrived to help with the design and painting of the mural. We worked with some of the hospital staff and other Peace Corps Volunteers to complete the mural over the course of a long weekend. |
| Mural at the entrance to the Centro de Saude de Guija. I worked with my colleagues and counterparts to create this mural one year after the floods devastated Guija. |
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| "Our health is in our hands" written in Changana |
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| "Always looking ahead. Be strong Guija." |
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| "Prevention starts with hygiene." |
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| Manuel. One of the usual suspects found around my yard... |
