The end (of the 1st trimester)...ja!!

Hello friends and family back home! I hope that all is well with you at home and this finds you happy. I am trying to update more frequently because intervals of two months are fun for no one. Cheers and enjoy!

First off, I hope that everyones spring has been enjoyable thus far and much more agreeable than your winter! With the seasons changing in North America, they too are changing here and quite dramatically at that. We just entered into fall here even though no one thinks there are four seasons (they believe in rainy and dry seasons only). During the summer/rainy months, August to March, the temperatures hover around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Now they are substantially lower and stay around 80. It's great! I love being able to just walk out of the house and not feel like I need another shower in 10 minutes. Another thing is that I can tell that my body is accustoming to the weather here because when it gets in the low 80's and 70's I just want to layer up with a jacket! Weird...I am actually starting to become more Mozambican! Holla.

As you have undoubtedly read from my last blog, I just finished up my 3rd month of service, 6th month in country, and PC Moz regionals for the souther region. During the first half of this time we had many workshops and forms centered around HIV/AIDS and our experiences in the field during the past 3 months. We also were acquainted with how to develop, implement, and gather funding for projects concerning HIV/AIDS for our respective communities. The second half was purely Peace Corps related. At this time we met our new Country Director, Christine Djondo, and Admin Officer while saying good bye to our temp AO, Mark. It was also a chance for all the PCVs in the south to finally meet each other. I know that I personally did not know everyone in the south and it was great to meet everyone here. We just had a good time in the capital of Mozambique, Maputo. Whats not to love about free, all you can eat food, hot showers, aircon, TV, internet and all of the accoutrement of first world life?! It was a very nice but brief respite to our daily bush lives. Good times had by all...especially the karaoke, shopping, dancing, and bonding that occurred. I joined some great projects and committees that I am especially excited to get a start on. I did drop the JOMA project at my school for lack of participation/motivation on my schools part.

Arriving back at site after a 5 day getaway proposed some difficulties. Not only did my Portuguese suffer from speaking little to no Portuguese but also separation anxiety set in. It was so nice to see all of my friends that I hadn't seen seen since training that leaving them was almost too much to handle. I did get over it and from what I heard it's a pretty standard thing after the first regional meeting. What doesn't kill you definitely makes you stronger. Another thing was that I gave my final the days after I got back. It was a whirlwind of events getting everything done and corrected but its all taken care of and I'm happy, my counterparts are happy and most importantly, my school is happy. 'Ta bom! Now the next thing I have to look forward to are what's called conselhos...basically from what I have heard just a place where everyone argues in rapid spitfire Portuguese about students grades. Wow. What fun, I can hardly wait. Sounds like a picnic.

Most volunteers, when COS-ing (leaving to go back home to the US) have paigns about not seeing the value of their work in country or progress made. Especially as a teacher it is very likely. However just because you are teaching in a formal education setting does not mean that when you are done giving lessons that day you are done teaching. It also doesn't mean that you are going to stop learning either. This teaching/learning dichotomy continues into day to day life. Point in case is my best friend here at my site, Joca.

About two months ago when I was just a fledgling in Chibuto and just starting to cultivate my friendship with Joca, we had a long conversation about the importance of moving up in life and how to do so. I explained to him about the strategy of networking to find employment. Specifically he wanted to work for an NGO so I gave him some tips on effective networking. We then discussed that by simultaneously working and saving money you can buy things to advance your life (eg: transport and education) even further and how this practice can and will lead to better opportunities in life. Well I thought that when that convo had ended that that was as far as he was going to get. Just recently Joca told me that he followed what I had taught him and found a great program called something like “Candidatos Presidentais Mocambicanos do Futuro” (Future Mozambican Presidential Candidates). Although it is not exactly a job as much as an internship of sorts he still will receive an amazing about of money while learning really great leadership and networking skills. He is going to use all the money for a motorcycle to get to and from a job.
I couldn't believe it when I heard it and I still am in a bit of shock. I am so happy for my friend and happy that I could just be there for him to guide him on course for success. Parabens!

Like I said we are at the end of the first trimester and I am having a hard time believing that we are already to this point. Time has literally flown by here and from what I'm told it doesnt slow down. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing but its not a good thing either. Of course I want to see my family and friends and have all the wonders of home but I definitely don't want to wish away my time and experiences here. Nevertheless, teachers have about a one week vacation after conselhos and I am going to use that time to stay in my community and try to integrate more. I also plan to spend a full weekend at the beach and get some good times in before this jam-packed trimester begins.

Recently while talking to one of my very close friends from the States (a 315 number, of course!) I was asked what I do for fun here at my site because it is so bush like. Well I should say that for my town being considered a bush town, we are pretty advanced...at least I happen to think so upon seeing some other peoples communities. I mean I have some sidewalks and some of my streets have names, its not just all goat paths and chicken coops. Anyway, my response to this question was there's a lot to do if you know where to go, what to look for, and who you know. Just the other weekend there was a soccer tournament where teams from South Africa and Swaziland came to play against my home Chibuto team. It was great because people who spoke English flooded the town. Though I speak English I was reluctant to speak with them for the sole fact that they were the supporters of the other team! Haha. No, no, no, I'm not that much of an ass but it was still fun. Upon entering the “stadium” my site mate and I were very surprised to find a huge baboon tied with a chain around its waist to a pole as the teams mascot. The funny thing was that as someone walked by the baboon would to to play/attack with that person. It successfully caught a small boy and was “playing” with it. It was pretty hilarious. Shortly thereafter the rains pored down like it was Noah's flood and my little umbrella was no match for this. We were soaked from head to toe and just decided to leave upon cancellation of the games that day. It was a lot of fun.

Another activity to do here is just go out with people on the weekends at night and hangout. Usually this involves a barraca/bar of some sort (and by bar I mean a tin shop with a window to vend out of and chairs around a table). Even if you don't drink its a great way to get into the community and integrate even more. People not only see you as a teacher and professional but also as someone they can relate to, someone who likes to have fun too. Just the other night my good friend, Baito, picked up me and Samantha from my house and took us into a very small bush village 30 minutes away. I was frightened by the vast nothingness that seemed to be present until we came upon a small village and all of a sudden as we turned a corner there were about 200 Mozambicans dancing and just having a good time. We got out of the truck and got a drink and just had a good time with everyone. It's times like that that are the memorable stuff here. I loved it.

Anyway that's all I got for this update. I just want to say thank you to everyone who keeps up on my blog. I really appreciate you reading this and being interested in my life here in Mozambique. Although I cant do my experiences and my life here justice in this blog, you at least can see some what I am and Peace Corps Volunteers do in country. I still miss you all and cant wait to see you again soon!

Jon

(the next one will have pictures, I promise.)