Yesterday I went to meet the director at the orphanage. That was an intimidating meeting, especially because of the language barrier, but I told her my portuguese is limited and she was super nice and spoke clearly and simply. I went the first time today and got a tour and met some people that worked there. Some of the kids got together and sang a song of welcome to me. It was so cute. I'm still not sure what I'll be doing there but I'm hoping I'll get a couple of good games of "Terra, Mar" in.
Today, my coworker, an activista, told me that they want to start a business called the Association of Women Activistas. They want to sell chickens and firewood. I'm going to look into writing a grant to help start it. There's also a PC Program called JOMA/REDES. It's where a PCV gets a group of adolescent girls/boys together to make stuff and build self-esteem. We'll see how that goes, I still don't know many adolescents but that particular activista said she'd help me out. No worries there.
Home visits here are soo difficult. The neighborhoods here don't have street names. Two activistas per day go together to make two home visits to clients who have tested HIV positive and still need to start treatment. So, what they do is they go out into the neighborhood and simply ask people where the person they're looking for lives. But, asking people is a process in its own. What we do is, we enter someone's house and say, "Licensa!" (Excuse me). Then they stop whatever they're doing and bring out chairs for their unknown guests. They all greet each other and then the activistas ask if they know the person we're looking for. They usually say no. Sometimes we get lucky and the person we were looking for happens to be the person's house we strolled into. But, the meeting is always taken as an opportunity to invite the person/family we're talking to to take an HIV test at the hospital. The process is long, especially in the heat. But it's nice to stop at people's houses because they let us sit in the shade.
January 27, 2010
January 22, 2010
Random moments
The other day I was sitting with an activista and she was telling me that her husband speaks English because he works as a painter in South Africa. I asked her how many kids she had. She told me she has five kids, but four have died. I said, oh so you only have one? "No, I have five but I had four other children who died." I said oh when did the last one die? She said, "that child died last summer when she was four years old." I asked why they died. "They were sick. I want to tell you that this year, I'm going to stop HIV." Let's.
There's a market behind my house. I went to the market one day and poof! I ran into an activista. I think she's the oldest one because she's grandma-like. Anyway, she pretty much only speaks Chengana. So we ran into each other and we were both so excited to see each other. It was a strange moment because she was speaking in Chengana and I was speaking Portuguese. We both didn't know what the other was saying but I can say the excitement of the reunion was mutual.
My friend told me I finally got approval to work at the orphanage in my neighborhood. :)
I want to write more right now but I'm already late to meet a friend to share a Coca-Cola (what a treat) and then I think I might stop by the gas station to get some ice cream. It's Friday!
P.S. Thank you everyone for keeping in touch. Thank you for all the emails and everything else. Thank you to all my mom's piano students for making me birthday cards, I read them on my birthday! I plan on reserving a space on my wall to hang them! I'll take pictures. I love you and miss you all very very very much!
There's a market behind my house. I went to the market one day and poof! I ran into an activista. I think she's the oldest one because she's grandma-like. Anyway, she pretty much only speaks Chengana. So we ran into each other and we were both so excited to see each other. It was a strange moment because she was speaking in Chengana and I was speaking Portuguese. We both didn't know what the other was saying but I can say the excitement of the reunion was mutual.
My friend told me I finally got approval to work at the orphanage in my neighborhood. :)
I want to write more right now but I'm already late to meet a friend to share a Coca-Cola (what a treat) and then I think I might stop by the gas station to get some ice cream. It's Friday!
P.S. Thank you everyone for keeping in touch. Thank you for all the emails and everything else. Thank you to all my mom's piano students for making me birthday cards, I read them on my birthday! I plan on reserving a space on my wall to hang them! I'll take pictures. I love you and miss you all very very very much!
Unwanted attention or cultural exchange?
Not a day goes by where I don't get asked if I'm married, have a boyfriend, children, or if I would like to get married. I'm not writing this to make it seem like I'm getting harassed, but it is pretty much an everyday thing for me and it's made me become very assertive and direct in what I'm saying. After these situations I am able to say that I earn the respect of whoever started the conversation.
For example, my coworkers or whoever the person may be asking may say, "Mana Mallorina, where is your husband?" I say I don't have one. "Where is your boyfriend?" Don't have one either. I don't want one and I'm not looking for one. "That's not possible because you're pretty. You should marry a Mozambican so that you can stay here." I'll only be here for two years and I will return to America.
As I started my venture to come into the city to write this, I passed a group of young men. One of them said to me, "Heyyy white girl!" Excuse me, sir, you are rude and white girl is not my name. Call me Senhora. "Ohhh you speak good Port! I want to marry you." I don't want to marry you. Good bye. He then continued trying to talk to me, but at least he started to address me as "A Senhora..." which is a sign of respect when speaking.
Or sometimes I can make the situation pretty comical. A couple times men have asked me if I have a husband already, because they would like to marry me. I say, "Yes I do already have a husband. Three, actually." Oh, but do you have children? "Yes I have five children." Wow! Out of that stomach of yours? Then the conversation turns into us talking about where I'm from and why I'm here.
No feelings have ever been hurt. On the bright side: I'm being very assertive and direct in what I want and I'm not "beating around the bush."
For example, my coworkers or whoever the person may be asking may say, "Mana Mallorina, where is your husband?" I say I don't have one. "Where is your boyfriend?" Don't have one either. I don't want one and I'm not looking for one. "That's not possible because you're pretty. You should marry a Mozambican so that you can stay here." I'll only be here for two years and I will return to America.
As I started my venture to come into the city to write this, I passed a group of young men. One of them said to me, "Heyyy white girl!" Excuse me, sir, you are rude and white girl is not my name. Call me Senhora. "Ohhh you speak good Port! I want to marry you." I don't want to marry you. Good bye. He then continued trying to talk to me, but at least he started to address me as "A Senhora..." which is a sign of respect when speaking.
Or sometimes I can make the situation pretty comical. A couple times men have asked me if I have a husband already, because they would like to marry me. I say, "Yes I do already have a husband. Three, actually." Oh, but do you have children? "Yes I have five children." Wow! Out of that stomach of yours? Then the conversation turns into us talking about where I'm from and why I'm here.
No feelings have ever been hurt. On the bright side: I'm being very assertive and direct in what I want and I'm not "beating around the bush."
It's hotter than Africa
It's really hot here. REALLY HOT. The humidity and lack of AC doesn't help, either. Never again will I complain in the U.S. when it's hot and seems unavoidable. Even if the AC were broken, in the U.S. I could have access to ice and lots of it. Just the thought of all that ice is making me sweat. Two examples of how hot it is here:
Emily texted me one day and said something like this, "Mal! Today I opened my water filter to add more and found a festering lizard inside. Gross." We have geckos chillin' everywhere in our houses but the thought of it being in her water is pretty disgusting. Thankfully it was in the top part of the water filter where the iodine candles are and she didn't get sick. Em told me it probably got in there because it probably first crawled into the barrel where her water is stored in her house and as it was being scooped into the water filter...so went the lizard.
I finally turned 22 this week so I'm no longer the only PCV in Moz under the age of 22. Anyway, Emily made me a very impressive cake. It was actually one of the best cakes I've ever had. So the day after my birthday I was in a rush to go to work as usual because I like to get my 20 extra minutes of sleep everyday (I guess some things never change) and I left the cake on top of my table. Emily had stayed the night and had actually put a bowl over it. I got home from work later that day and noticed a looong trail of ants on my kitchen table, and even some on the bowl. I took the bowl off and saw the cake on the plate. There were ants on the plate and maybe only two actually on the cake. But, that didn't stop me. I didn't care. I still cut off a huge piece of goodness in all its chocolate glory. Not to mention, it tasted fresh out the oven because it was so warm from the heat of the room. Anyway I chowed down and didn't see many ants on my slice. After that I got really thirsty and noticed the pressure coming out my water filter was low. So, I opened it to see how much there was. Not much. I noticed a small clump of something floating around. It looked like mold. How did that seep through? I thought. Oh well. I stuck my finger in there to take it out. Got it. Oh but it was not mold! No, it was a cluster of ANTS! I then closely examined the march of ants on the table and noticed they were going to the water filter. And that, my friends, is a brief description of how hot it is here. Ants passed up an easily accessible vanilla cake with chocolate frosting which consisted of more sugar than the recipe called for in order to invade my water filter.
Again today, I opened my water filter to see how much water I had and noticed another small cluster of ants in there!
Emily texted me one day and said something like this, "Mal! Today I opened my water filter to add more and found a festering lizard inside. Gross." We have geckos chillin' everywhere in our houses but the thought of it being in her water is pretty disgusting. Thankfully it was in the top part of the water filter where the iodine candles are and she didn't get sick. Em told me it probably got in there because it probably first crawled into the barrel where her water is stored in her house and as it was being scooped into the water filter...so went the lizard.
I finally turned 22 this week so I'm no longer the only PCV in Moz under the age of 22. Anyway, Emily made me a very impressive cake. It was actually one of the best cakes I've ever had. So the day after my birthday I was in a rush to go to work as usual because I like to get my 20 extra minutes of sleep everyday (I guess some things never change) and I left the cake on top of my table. Emily had stayed the night and had actually put a bowl over it. I got home from work later that day and noticed a looong trail of ants on my kitchen table, and even some on the bowl. I took the bowl off and saw the cake on the plate. There were ants on the plate and maybe only two actually on the cake. But, that didn't stop me. I didn't care. I still cut off a huge piece of goodness in all its chocolate glory. Not to mention, it tasted fresh out the oven because it was so warm from the heat of the room. Anyway I chowed down and didn't see many ants on my slice. After that I got really thirsty and noticed the pressure coming out my water filter was low. So, I opened it to see how much there was. Not much. I noticed a small clump of something floating around. It looked like mold. How did that seep through? I thought. Oh well. I stuck my finger in there to take it out. Got it. Oh but it was not mold! No, it was a cluster of ANTS! I then closely examined the march of ants on the table and noticed they were going to the water filter. And that, my friends, is a brief description of how hot it is here. Ants passed up an easily accessible vanilla cake with chocolate frosting which consisted of more sugar than the recipe called for in order to invade my water filter.
Again today, I opened my water filter to see how much water I had and noticed another small cluster of ants in there!
January 15, 2010
HIV vs. Obesity
My job here is to work with people who have HIV/AIDS, and hopefully help to prevent it. As an American, I know how many other Americans feel about HIV. Does it give you the shivers? Many people don't really understand HIV in Africa. If the solution were that simple, it would have been solved/cured a long time ago.
HIV is an epidemic in Mozambique. Obesity is an epidemic in the USA. There's alot of people with HIV in Mozambique. There's a lot of overweight people in America. Prevention- signs, campaigns, organizations, and advertisements for these are everywhere in Mozambique. Prevention for obesity in the same way is everywhere in the U.S. Americans know how to lose weight: eat less and exercise more. People here know how to prevent/treat HIV. But knowing information isn't enough to change one's behavior. Our cultures don't help our problems. In the USA, restaurants serve way too much food and add stuff that isn't healthy. Here, with HIV, there's certain cultural aspects that don't help the problem, either.
I know what you're thinking. "Yeah, as Americans, we know how to lose weight and we're still fat and people die because they're morbidly obese...but at least it's caused by food and not sex." Is there really a difference? Maybe you as an individual lead a healthy lifestyle when it comes to food, but as far as changing the problem for a whole country...It's complicated, don't you think?
HIV is an epidemic in Mozambique. Obesity is an epidemic in the USA. There's alot of people with HIV in Mozambique. There's a lot of overweight people in America. Prevention- signs, campaigns, organizations, and advertisements for these are everywhere in Mozambique. Prevention for obesity in the same way is everywhere in the U.S. Americans know how to lose weight: eat less and exercise more. People here know how to prevent/treat HIV. But knowing information isn't enough to change one's behavior. Our cultures don't help our problems. In the USA, restaurants serve way too much food and add stuff that isn't healthy. Here, with HIV, there's certain cultural aspects that don't help the problem, either.
I know what you're thinking. "Yeah, as Americans, we know how to lose weight and we're still fat and people die because they're morbidly obese...but at least it's caused by food and not sex." Is there really a difference? Maybe you as an individual lead a healthy lifestyle when it comes to food, but as far as changing the problem for a whole country...It's complicated, don't you think?
Work
So, what exactly am I doing here? Good question because I'm still figuring out the answer.
Here's what my job is:
I work at a health center (like a mini hospital) in my neighborhood. There are a group of women there, known as activistas, who are almost all HIV positive. They give polestras (which means like lecture). They give 2 polestras during the morning at 7 and 9 about anything from HIV transmission, malaria, or diarreia. There's lots of different topics. I'm supposed to "strengthen" these polestras by maybe creating new ones and/or making the ones they already have better.
There is a mom/child HIV support group that talks about nutrition. I'm supposed to dabble in that somehow.
The activistas make home visits to people in the community and I'm supposed to go with them on those.
During my 1st month I've been just sitting in with the aconselheira, a woman who gives "psychosocial support" to patients. So basically I've just been listening to patients talk about their treatment and how they are preventing from spreading HIV. BUT, this week I finally got to go with an activista into the community on home visits, which, by the way, I can't wait to share that experience with my social work professors/former internship supervisor during college. And, I've been spending more time with the activistas, and on Monday, they want me to give one. We'll see how that goes. So this seems really broad but that can be a good thing because that means there's alot of room for me to do my own thing. And, all the polestras are given in Chengana. So I'm learning that, too. There's also an orphanage in my neighborhood that I'm getting involved in but I'm waiting to get approval to go work there. We'll see where that goes.
I think I'm gonna like it here.
Here's what my job is:
I work at a health center (like a mini hospital) in my neighborhood. There are a group of women there, known as activistas, who are almost all HIV positive. They give polestras (which means like lecture). They give 2 polestras during the morning at 7 and 9 about anything from HIV transmission, malaria, or diarreia. There's lots of different topics. I'm supposed to "strengthen" these polestras by maybe creating new ones and/or making the ones they already have better.
There is a mom/child HIV support group that talks about nutrition. I'm supposed to dabble in that somehow.
The activistas make home visits to people in the community and I'm supposed to go with them on those.
During my 1st month I've been just sitting in with the aconselheira, a woman who gives "psychosocial support" to patients. So basically I've just been listening to patients talk about their treatment and how they are preventing from spreading HIV. BUT, this week I finally got to go with an activista into the community on home visits, which, by the way, I can't wait to share that experience with my social work professors/former internship supervisor during college. And, I've been spending more time with the activistas, and on Monday, they want me to give one. We'll see how that goes. So this seems really broad but that can be a good thing because that means there's alot of room for me to do my own thing. And, all the polestras are given in Chengana. So I'm learning that, too. There's also an orphanage in my neighborhood that I'm getting involved in but I'm waiting to get approval to go work there. We'll see where that goes.
I think I'm gonna like it here.
Diarreia
Has a whole new meaning outside of America. For my first couple weeks in Xai Xai, I had diarreia. I should have called PCMO but didn't because I figured it would pass, and because it was only once a day. Anyway, New Year's Eve, Emily and I chowed down on some buttered mashed potatoes with buttered chicken and more buttered stuff. Oh did I pay for it in the latrine. In the morning, I rolled onto my side and that's when I felt it. I can't explain the feeling that was going on inside my body. I just knew I had to go to the bathroom and I had to go right at that moment.
I yelled for Emily, asked her where her keys were for the latrine outside. "HURRY! I'm not playing around!" Whatever, she finally gets the keys and I didn't run to the latrine because I couldn't if you know what I mean but I walked as fast as I could. As soon as I got in there and as soon as I hovered over her wooden "toilet", and was halfway to sitting down, I lost control. Yup. I. Lost. Control. I got business all over that wooden seat. Em knew something bad happened when I went back into her house asking for a bucket of water. She asked me if I wanted to bathe. "No, I need a bucket of water in the latrine..." "Why? What could you have possibly DONE?!" she said. "Just give it to me. I couldn't help it." I told her.
I had to buy her a few new rolls of tp after that. I finally called PCMO a few days later and finally finished my antibiotics. It's all good now and I'm ready to chow down for my b-day.
I yelled for Emily, asked her where her keys were for the latrine outside. "HURRY! I'm not playing around!" Whatever, she finally gets the keys and I didn't run to the latrine because I couldn't if you know what I mean but I walked as fast as I could. As soon as I got in there and as soon as I hovered over her wooden "toilet", and was halfway to sitting down, I lost control. Yup. I. Lost. Control. I got business all over that wooden seat. Em knew something bad happened when I went back into her house asking for a bucket of water. She asked me if I wanted to bathe. "No, I need a bucket of water in the latrine..." "Why? What could you have possibly DONE?!" she said. "Just give it to me. I couldn't help it." I told her.
I had to buy her a few new rolls of tp after that. I finally called PCMO a few days later and finally finished my antibiotics. It's all good now and I'm ready to chow down for my b-day.
Mallorina
Americans are able to pronounce rrrrr, but not people here. So, my new name here now is Mallorina. Finally, it's 2010 and I'm almost 22. I'm the youngest PCV in Moz. I brought in the New Year with my dear friend Emily, whose site is not too far from mine. We had made some new years resolutions together and one of mine was to be more positive. As soon as the clock struck midnight and we said "happy new year", I broke it and said "Aw, too bad we can't be with our family and friends right now." Homesickness has reached an all time high. I know I've mentioned that before but unless you have been alone in a foreign country you wouldn't really understand. I talked to a fellow Moz 13er who was visiting Xai Xai and was telling him how my life here is an emotional rollercoaster everyday. All in one day, I can be thinking how much I love it here and then a few hours later something annoying or difficult can happen that will make me want to go home. I told him that day at work my neighbor texted me saying thank you because he thought he did better on an English exam because I helped him a little bit. And that my day was also good because one of my coworkers finally gave me my secret santa present which was a fruit bowl. But then something happened in the same day like I had a small misunderstanding with one person and thats enough to bring my mood down when I should be really proud that my neighbor sent me such a great message. I'm not sure if this is human nature, or American culture, or just a personal flaw for it to be so hard to stay positive. I can't speak for everyone, so I'll say its just a personal flaw that I'm willing to share with everyone. I talked to my dad a few weeks ago and he told me, "Mal, you don't have to be there. You have a choice. So if you want to come home, you have the ability to do that." And as soon as he said it, I knew I didn't want to come home. Thanks, dad.
But, I'm getting better, I really am. You can ask Emily...So, being positive everyday is a goal. In order to become that, I have to focus on what I think sucks and how I can make it better. Here's what sucks:
1. My house is empty. I only have 2 beds, one table and two chairs. I don't have a voltage regulator so I can't use my computer.
2. I have been having stomach issues- diarreia.
3. It's really hard to define my job at my job.
Here's how I'm looking at it now-
1. I don't have alot in my house but if I didn't have a bed, I couldn't sleep. If I didn't have a table, I couldn't eat on it or put my stove on it. I have a stove and a fridge. Essentials for survival. I have the means to get furniture. Actually, I went to a carpenter and designed my own china cabinet/bookcase thing. I can't get it delivered like Gallery Furniture, but it'll get in my house somehow. And if it doesn't fit thru the door, we could probably just peel back my tin roof and set it in..just kidding.
2. I finally called PCMO and got some antibiotics. My stomach is still sensitive and I still get diarreia but atleast its more controllable now. This will have to be a whole nother blog entry.
3. Defining my job as a Peace Corps Volunteer is the most difficult. But, I have an awesome ICAP supervisor and the activistas I work with are really great and excited to work with me. This also will have to be another entry on its own.
Then, I was thinking, I have a good Peace Corps site. I have a market right behind my house, I'm 10 mins from the beach, 5 minutes from the city, I have a best friend, Emily, who is easy to get to, and my job has potential. I can't really complain. If I'm unhappy here, I would have to go back to the U.S. and be unhappy there. So, I'm working on it. I'm finding small things that make me happy. Whenever something gets to me, I have a permanent list of things in my head that I can think of that automatically lifts my spirits.
But, I'm getting better, I really am. You can ask Emily...So, being positive everyday is a goal. In order to become that, I have to focus on what I think sucks and how I can make it better. Here's what sucks:
1. My house is empty. I only have 2 beds, one table and two chairs. I don't have a voltage regulator so I can't use my computer.
2. I have been having stomach issues- diarreia.
3. It's really hard to define my job at my job.
Here's how I'm looking at it now-
1. I don't have alot in my house but if I didn't have a bed, I couldn't sleep. If I didn't have a table, I couldn't eat on it or put my stove on it. I have a stove and a fridge. Essentials for survival. I have the means to get furniture. Actually, I went to a carpenter and designed my own china cabinet/bookcase thing. I can't get it delivered like Gallery Furniture, but it'll get in my house somehow. And if it doesn't fit thru the door, we could probably just peel back my tin roof and set it in..just kidding.
2. I finally called PCMO and got some antibiotics. My stomach is still sensitive and I still get diarreia but atleast its more controllable now. This will have to be a whole nother blog entry.
3. Defining my job as a Peace Corps Volunteer is the most difficult. But, I have an awesome ICAP supervisor and the activistas I work with are really great and excited to work with me. This also will have to be another entry on its own.
Then, I was thinking, I have a good Peace Corps site. I have a market right behind my house, I'm 10 mins from the beach, 5 minutes from the city, I have a best friend, Emily, who is easy to get to, and my job has potential. I can't really complain. If I'm unhappy here, I would have to go back to the U.S. and be unhappy there. So, I'm working on it. I'm finding small things that make me happy. Whenever something gets to me, I have a permanent list of things in my head that I can think of that automatically lifts my spirits.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
