Monday, September 15, 2008

The Leo

Hey everyone! I'm reporting here from Mozambique with another update of my so called life (isn't that a TV show?!). I really don't remember when I last updated as I write my blogs at home instead of the ridiculously expensive telecommunications shop (which charges use per minute on a dial-up connection...really, how offensive!) Any who, onto the ongoings of my life abroad.

I know I have been talking a lot (as in the past few posts) about my secondary project, the Science Fair on both the local and regional levels. The end of July saw the realization of the Regional Science Fair which for the first year, went off really well. All-in-all I am pleased with the Fair. Of course, with anything at home and especially in Africa, there are problems encountered at every level of activity and planning. In the end, we had about 40 students from 10 secondary and professional schools of Gaza and Inhambane Provinces accompanied by 16 teachers (both American and Mozambican). What a success! It just so happened that my only student participating won the Southern Regional SF for the primary cycle (8-10th grades). Naturally, people suspected that I had some influence in the decision making process. Of course! The man that was running around like a chicken with his head cut off for 8 hours straight rigged a high school competition...come on people! Is there honestly anyone that pathetic?
The final stage of the Science Fair came and passed just a few weeks ago in the bustling metropolis of Maputo. My student and I, along with all the other winners and their respective mentors, traveled down to Maputo to be part of the National Science Fair Expo that is expected to be broad casted on TV in the next few weeks. I'm going to be a Mozambican television star...err, I mean my student is going to be famous!! Haha. I know that my student as well and myself was pretty excited about this amazing opportunity to showcase his adept mastery of biological concepts and phenomena. While down in the Big City we went to the Museum of Natural History and we even tried to get into the Geology Museum but there was an astronomical cover charge and a wait for the non-VIPs. They weren't even going to give us the first drink for free! Haha, I kid – it was just closed both days we tried to go. It was a lot of fun to spend the time with the students aka the crème de la crème of Mozambique as well as seeing some PCVs from the northern and central regions. It's because of students like that that I'm extremely hopeful and optimistic about the future of this great country.

The National SF Expo was directly followed by PSN (Peer Support Network) training which meant that I got to spend 8 whole days in Maputo. It was extremely refreshing to get away from site life and just change it up a bit. 15 PCVs convened for a 5 day training conference where we were acquainted with the ways and methods of appropriate and meaningful peer support. It was an amazing time spent with some of the best people I know. It really amazed me how such a large group could have such good dynamics. I expect that there will be very few ETs (early terminations) this next year (knock on wood), or at least I hope that's the case. Again, it was great to see PCVs from every region that I hadn't seen in 11 months! We rock guys and remember...“It's just the tip!”

Directly after PSN ended Foxie and I went back to Namaacha and visited my Mozambican family. I hadn't been back in about 9 months and it was my first time back so needless to say I was a bit nervous. Were they going to think of me differently, would they think my Portuguese had improved, what was it going to be like when I was the only foreigner in my bairro (neighborhood)? These were all the questions that were running through my mind as we approached the quaint mountainous village tucked in a nook made by the borders of Swaziland and South Africa. Well I can say that it was absolutely amazing! Yes, I'll admit at first it was awkward but then I just hoped into the same grove I has before I left. Not even 5 minutes after I walked in the door my mother screamed (not said), “Tome um banho, meu filho!!” (Take a bath, my son!!). That's when I breathed a sigh of relief that it was going to be just like homestay only this time I could actually have long conversations with my parents and have mutual comprehension of the dialouge.
While back in Namaacha I also met my xara (namesake). When I arrived at homestay, unbeknownst to me my mother was about 5 months pregnant. By the end of my homestay she was clearly visable and looked like she was going to pop soon. About 2 months after I left she gave birth to a baby boy. I was equally amazed that they wanted to name their new son after me. I thought they were going to name the child João (Joe-wow), the Portuguese version of John and what I am called here. Not a chance. Typical of my mother she wanted something foreign, “chic”, meaningful and beautiful so she chose the name Jonathan. Words cant really express how amazing it is. It's truly an honor to have a child names after me with my English name. When I go back for the christening I'll take pictures and place them here.
Oh and the best part is that the child has a really fair skin tone so the neighbors thinks that it's actually my child! It doesn't get any better than that, folks!!

Continuing with my marathon vacation, Foxie and I then headed up to Southern Inhambane Province to the beauteous villa of Quissico. Quissico is known throughout Mozambique for having some of the best views and amazing lagoons. On our way up, on a 6 AM bus, everyone was wasted. It was truly like the party bus. There were like 3 people on it over 30 and the rest, it seemed, were in Spring Break mode. It was a lot of fun. We were making good time until some drunk girl started screaming PARAAAGGGEEEMMMM!!! Which means 'stop the damned bus.' Apparently the wine had got to her and she has to use the bathroom and by bathroom I mean a bush on the side of the main road in Mozambique. I should also note that this happened at about 8 AM. It was classic and I loved it.
Also, this would be a great time to mention the money collectors knitted sweater at the bus stop. It was a disgusting pea green with gold yarn weave. On the front was a giant face of a puppy with the script “How much is that puppy?” Think of those nasty Christmas sweaters that many elderly people love to wear...it was about 100x worse than that. Naturally at 6 AM I was prepared for such a thing...and so it lead to a Barney song: “Hooooowwww much is the doggie in the window, woof woof, the one with the waggly tail...” Everyone just looked at us like the crazy foreigners, which at that time I'm sure it seemed we were drunk too.
So when we finally made it to Quissico 6 hours later, the Timbila festival was in full swing. (If you don't know what a timbila is google it!) We arrived at the PCVs house in Quissico and there were about 20 PCVs there. It was amazing to see so many people. We all dispersed in various dirfections. Some wen tot witness the timbila players while myself and 3 other OCVs headed down to the lagoons. We were told it was a 20 minute walk and the directions were to follow the “biggest road.” In theory it sounds like great directions but when the roads are similar in width, it gets a bit hairy. Well we walked for an hour (with the sun quickly setting) and never got to the beach. We did get to what seemed like a crocodiles nest...we decided that it probably wasn't the best place to go swimming. On out trek back up the huge hill, we encountered a gaggle of PCVs that had just been to the beach. We missed the oh-so obvious “right at the little goat path.” Nevertheless the festival was amazing and we had a blast. The next day I finally made the trip back home.

After a week of classes, I headed once again up to Inhambane Province for the second PC regional meeting. Since PC Moz (not to mention PC worldwide) took harsh budget cuts, the second meeting was cancelled but we Southern PCVs banded together and created our own meeting. This time it took place in Barra Beach, Inhambane. I can honestly say it has to be one of the worlds best beaches (or at least it seems so). We had workshops/sessions every morning then relaxed all afternoon. It was yet again, another great time. I had such a great time that I plan to return at the end of the month to get my diving certification!

4 weeks left!! Of the school year, that is. Nevertheless it's pretty exciting and I truthfully can't wait to be done teaching. This year had been really long (and sometimes feels extremely short) and I am ready for a break...that's longer than 4 days. Within these last 4 weeks a variety events are to transpire: I'm going to get my scuba diving certification, Moz 13 arrives, and I finish up teaching!!


Just a few weeks ago, as most of you know, I celebrated my first birthday abroad, the mundanely big 2-3! Yes, I have entered into the realm of the “mid-twenties,” which is a bit unsettling. I had people over to my house and had an afternoon of drinks and tapas followed by an evening of more food, copious amounts of cake/desserts, and dancing. It was a good time. I'm just thankful I didn't have a complete melt down like most of the birthdays celebrated here have at one point. Now that my birthday has come and passed I can now concentrate on what lies ahead in the final stretch of my first year of service not to mention working off the grotesque amount of weight that was gained from the 7 cakes that were made for me (even though I shared ALL of them!).

While in the spirit of joyful jubilations and ceremonial celebrations, I would like to say a few things to the soon-to-be newlyweds, Mattew and Megan Wukovitz. The first is that I am so happy for both of you and even more happy that you found your respective soul mate at so young of an age. We could all be so lucky to find someone that truly cares for us the way we care for them...what an amazing gift! The second is that I am truly sorry I couldn't be there to celebrate your big day. You don't know how melancholy missing it has made me. Nevertheless, I hope your wedding is amazing, beautiful (if I know Meg and her artistic abilities, it undoubtedly will be) and more than anything else, memorable. I hope you both, your family, friends, and especially the NAZty's have an amazing time; and just remember that I too am celebrating you both across the seas in Moz the entire day! I would like to wrap this up by saying that I hope (and expect) that you both have a very long and happy life together and I'm proud to call you both such great friends. The only question I have now is, when the hell can we expect a “Future Naz Alum”?!

Finally, I would like to end by giving a huge THANK YOU for all your birthday wishes, calls, cards, packages, and yes, Facebook posts. I really appreciated all of them and I can't wait to see you all in less than 10 weeks!!

Muito amor,
João

PS - Sorry no pics. Internet here sucks.