Back in Action

So, my first post back at the helm of this magnificent boat of adventure! I am pleased to say that my return back “home” was smooth, easy and very very comfortable – made so by the very plush and regal hotel I stayed at in South Africa (a huge thank you to the rents on that one!!). After arriving back in Mozambique without one of my pieces of luggage that was lost in the array of flight transfers from Albany to Johannesburg (there was one, by the way), I got home just a mere 4 hours later. In Mozambican terms of time, it was amazing. I was thankful that everything on the Mozambican end of things was as smooth as “buttahhh.”
So now I'm in Mozambique. Like I said I went back to Chibuto to see what the damage was to my house... and again, lucky for me there was none! I can't tell you hope much of a relief it was to get back to my house and find that all the doors and windows were unbroken and still intact. Though, I can't say as much for my potted plants; as they suffered hard at the hands of the malicious little gangs of children that roam my “suburban” neighborhood. All in all, life was good when I arrived back home. I was in Chibuto for about three full days when I was summoned back down to Maputo for my groups (Moz 12, for all you new readers) Mis-Service Conference. Basically it's a week of HIV/AIDS inspired seminars and sessions intermixed with physicals and dental appointments. What a week it was! I'll just say two things: and air conditioned environment and a buffet three times a day...! Seriously, what could be better than that?! We were all in climate controlled food comas by the first night. It was glorious.
In addition to the delectable cornucopias of food that were littered about the hotel, it was also a time to rekindle and reshape old friendships from training. It was a great opportunity to see everyone again and furthermore, to see how much everyone has changed in the last year. It really is amazing how a single year and the experiences experienced within that year can have such a dramatic affect upon people. It was great to see some with an increased air of self-confidence, some wisened by the hand of time, and some just a little bit less uptight and more willing to “go with the flow.” It is an exciting prospect indeed to think what this next year has in store for us all.
While my part of the conference ended, the part for the health volunteers continued on with seminars on perma-culture training. Since I was not ready to go home, I willingly succumbed to the requests of friends to crash with them for the remaining two nights despite me not attending the seminars and instead hanging out by the pool with another person in the same situation. After extending my vacation/conference for two days, it was just another day before now President Barack Obama was to be sworn in as our 44th President. With this monumental cornerstone in American history hanging in the very hear future, it was mutually decided by all that we would stay for the inauguration celebration at the US Embassy's public affairs office. We did and it was absolutely amazing! It was such a great experience to be abroad yet celebrating something so important to America. After the Embassy's soirée, we headed to an after party in honor of our new President. It was a big celebration with hoards of people, live Mozambican music, and people on stilts! It was a great celebration indeed!
The next day I headed back to Chibuto with the rest of the PCVs that extended their stay. The very next day I reported to the secondary school for work where we toyed with the new class schedule for the 2009 school year. After a lot of waiting and deliberation over who will teach what and when, the schedules were made. I wound up with a majority of my classes being of the 8th grade and one class of 9th grade. Now I wont go so far to say that I am pleased with this (as I was told I would be teaching 10th grade) but as I always say “you win some and you lose some.” Clearly this was one of those times I lost.
Now I am getting my footing back and swinging right back into the normal rhythm of Peace Corps Mozambique life. Every weekday I go to work and give class then I go home and hang out with the neighbors and/or a good book. When the weekend comes it’s usually time to head to the beach and have a little fun in the sun. At this point I can’t say that life is anything but great.

Jon

ps – I have a new address which isn’t terribly different than what it was. From now on, please use the following address for me:

Jonathan Bates
CP 85
Xai Xai
Mozambique

Holiday Hijinks

I hope that everyone had a very happy Christmas season and a very exhilarating New Years, I know I did! As 99.5% of you know, I was fortunate enough to be in the United States throughout the entire month of December and a beginning of January 2009. I know life in the US doesn't exactly thrill anyone (because we're all here already) but I feel I need to chronicle all that was my amazing USA vacation away from Mozambique.

It all started with my trip from site to Maputo the third week of November. I was lucky enough to go down to the Moz 13 training as a PCV trainer. It was an amazing experience to be able to meet, befriend, and let go with the incoming group of volunteers. By the time that I got down to Namaacha (my old training village) they were already in week 8 of training, so they only were two weeks from being sworn in volunteers. I was down for their first week of model school and tried to offer the wisdom that I acquired during my previous 15 month stint as a volunteer. I left the group feeling that PC Mozambique was definitely headed in a very strong, mature, and positive direction.

After my week long bash with the new volunteers I had a 3 day bender in Maputo. Since there were so many Moz 11's that were COSing and a myriad of Moz 12-ers that were frequenting the capitol, it was of no surprise that my “pre-vacation vacation” was a bit messy. While in the capitol I hit up this new martini bar (how chic!), went souvenir shopping for Christmas gifts, took a walking tour of Maputo, hit up the PC office, and said goodbye to many a good friend that was honorably ending their service and setting off for the United States and beyond. All I knew was that if this was any indication of my vacation stateside, I was in store for an amazing time when I arrived in NY. Man, was I right.

All in all it took roughly 38 hours from my house in Chibuto to my house in Amsterdam, NY. Not too bad considering that the flight from Johannesburg to Washington, DC took up 17.5 of those hours. I arrived bright eyed and bushy tailed at 10 AM to Albany with a slight feeling of exhaust. Where was the first place I went after my intercontinental voyage and my 15 month hiatus from the US? Well the Cheesecake Factory, of course! What better way to say “Welcome Home!” than by going to a place where one entree can feed a family of 4 suitably. Really, I couldn't think of anything better...other than the trifecta of martinis that I imbibed upon my arrival. For the record, there is nothing like a good, quality drink when you have become accustomed to liquor from a plastic soda bottle. I thought that was what heaven must taste like.

My first week back home was dedicated to my family and my hometown life (if there was such a thing) in general. I spent a copious amount of time with my parents, my sister, my niece, etc. in preparation for all the other traveling I was set to do during my stay, so my benefactors wouldn't complain that I hadn't seen them at all. During my first weekend home I was blessed with my nieces baptismal ceremony as well as attending a riveting Tran-Siberian Orchestra holiday concert. Both events, of which were amazing in their own right. Other than exclusively visiting the fam, one might say “in addition to” visiting the fam, an extravagant amount of eating was involved. I'm not lying when I say I put the feed bags on and went to town. Unlike my little Mozambican chalet, my parents humble abode is always chock full of food. So what did I do? Tuned into Dr. Phil and ate myself into oblivion day after day, of course. My taste buds were thoroughly titillated with pleasure at the wide assortment of flavors they were constantly sensing. It was a battle just to get my hand out of the bag/box. That was until I saw an episode where Dr. Phil was “shrinking” aka publicly humiliating people who were obese and didn't stop eating...then for some reason it got easier.

A few days later I set out on what I believe to be the best part of my vacation, my little 10 day getaway to Rochester, NY. Since it was my place of residence the past 4 years of my life and my college town I had no problems finding a place to crash and rock the city for all it was worth. For the first leg of my trip I stayed with an old track and field/XC teammate, Spain buddy, and great friend. We went crazy being together again while also catching ourselves back up to each others lives. While at Christen's many a visitor popped in and joined the band wagon of fun. It was the perfect beginning for an amazing ROC visit. The second half of my trip was enjoyed at my Uncles apartment, that's right I had my own digs when I was there...it really could not have gotten any better. During that time I saw just about everyone that I had wanted to see and got as crazy as I wanted to get/was expected. In the end I did get my fair share of Hazelitt Red Cat wine and garbage plates at Mark's Texas Hots and copious amounts of diner food at Gitzi's (thank's to Grandma and uncle Bill)...which couldn't have been more fitting. It's funny how the small things in life make us most happy and reminiscent. I left Rochester on a high note that will carry me through this next year and leave me anticipating the good times, scandalous lovers, and best friends that await me for my return to the 585.

I arrived into Amsterdam from Rochester after a series of delays on Amtrak's part that lasted a whole 10 hours. It wasn't the best nor funnest way to spend a Sunday but I met some really cool people and got a free ticket out of it which was pretty great. I got into Amsterdam where I spent Christmas and the few days after that hanging out with my best friends from high school, seeing old friends from high school, my entire family, and my lover. Now Amsterdam isn't what I would consider a “cool” nor “fun” place to be let alone live but the few days that spent there was actually fun. Whenever we went out in Amsterdam it was a high school reunion, which was interesting because it's always amazing to see where people have gone and what they have accomplished in the last time you have talked with them. Along with hitting up the nightlife in my home town, Dave and I did take some trips to Albany and hit up the scene down there. It was great to be able to go out with my best friend but also to be the person who I am openly and without remorse. One might say “refreshing.”

I will also add that my family likes to eat. Yes, we are a clan of eaters and because of this the scale said that I gained over 10 lbs in the short time I spent home. Now I'm not saying that I wasn't a fan of eating all of those delectable delicacies but I just wish there was a way to be like one of those widely despised people that eats everything and anything in sight and still retains their slim and slender body. Someone needs to get on that ASAP then forward me the info...I'll be waiting! All kidding aside, I just ate my face off because I knew that coming back to Mozambique would allow me to drop all my extra baggage and more. Let's hope my anticipations aren't for naught or you'll have a Jabba the Hut on your hands come December 2009. Holla.

After the busy Christmas season I headed down to the Tri-State area with Dave for a few days of quality time and to spend New Years in the city. A great time was had by all, even on New Years Eve where we were part of a car accident on our way to NYC. Just for the record, the driver was not drinking (for some reason unbeknownst to me, he doesn't like to imbibe alcoholic beverages). The roads were really slick with ice and while changing lanes we went into a spin out and subsequently slammed into a side rail and then a bridge. No one sustained injuries from the accident and we all managed to get out of the car safely as to avoid the on coming traffic. This all went down around 9:30-10 PM. By 11:15 we were in a club dancing the night away with porn stars. Although there were a few kinks in the plan, the end result of a kick ass New Years was a success. I had one of the best New Years to date for sure. I left Long Island a very happy man and somewhat ready to get back to Mozambique.

My last few days at home were spent with some high quality family time and filled with shopping for numerous necessities for my last stint in Mozambique. I left NY feeling amazing and nervous about returning to Mozambique. Now that I am back I am glad that I am here and doing what I am doing. Although I am excited for the day when I get to return home and start up a new life, I am determined to enjoy the amazing opportunity and experience that I have been blessed with here in Mozambique.

To everyone whom I saw, hosted me, held my hair back, was there for me, bought me a drank, and just made my visit home one of the best vacations ever – thank you so much! To all of those people whom I did not end up seeing – I'll be back so be ready! And finally to my family whom I adore so very much – without you and all of your endearing support in th past year and a half and for making my trip possible, thank you so very much. I love you all and cannot wait until we all see each other again!

Stay well and enjoy the cold.

Love,

Jon