tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64362598618087397202024-03-04T23:08:15.873-08:00Jon's exotic adventuresThis blog will be used to reflect my thoughts, feelings, and experiences before/during/after my voyage to Africa in the U.S. Peace Corps. I am using this as a vessel for my family, friends, and peoples interested in hearing about my experiences!Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-84551485923350022332009-02-05T05:38:00.000-08:002009-02-05T05:40:47.114-08:00Back in ActionSo, 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.”<br /> 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.<br /> 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.<br /> 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!<br /> 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.<br /> 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.<br /><br />Jon<br /><br />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:<br /><br />Jonathan Bates<br />CP 85<br />Xai Xai<br />MozambiqueJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-31733091803161796292009-01-18T02:07:00.000-08:002009-01-18T02:09:00.262-08:00Holiday Hijinks<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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 <i><span style="">Red Cat</span></i> 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.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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.” </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Stay well and enjoy the cold.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Love,</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Jon</p>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-29013613610998114802008-11-14T02:29:00.000-08:002008-11-14T02:31:38.297-08:00Teaching HeavenLast week was the first round of National Exams here in Mozambique. At the high school level, both 10 and 12th grades have national exams at the end of the school year. Last year, while in training I visited a PCV at her site and one of the things I was asked to do while on my visit was proctor some national exams. Since I was not a member of the faculty of that school I thought it odd that this new guy could come in and control some exams, nevertheless it was done. My experience there was much the same of what I experienced in my own classes when giving exams...mildly loud and full of cheaters. I am overwhelmingly happy to report that my school had its act together for these national exams. During testing it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop and there were 700 people writing the exams! You can imagine my astonishment to this phenomenon – I wasn't used to this! It was what I have always imagined testing would be like if I were a teacher in the States or Europe, but never did I expect this after my experiences over the past year. The students did little more than sit at their desks, keep their eyes on their own exams, and only talked when they needed more scrap paper or had a question. For that week, I was in education heaven and loved it.<br /><br />Two days after the chemistry exam was written, the chemistry group was dispensed from further proctoring to start the grading process. If the process is long in the US, it's even longer here. In an effort to prevent corruption in the school system, the Mozambican government goes to great lengths to safeguard the integrity of these exams. The first step in limiting corruption starts with the exchange of exams with a neighboring high school. It just so happened that the school in which we switched with was the same school where a fellow PCV teaches. After the exchange takes place, the second step is done by the school direction which separates the pertinent student information which is located on the corner of the exam and gives every test a different alphanumeric code corresponding to that information. Think of a coat check system and you can start to get the picture. Finally that's when we get the exams, which we must sign out. The third step is going through every exam and putting a red line in every blank space (as to prevent professors writing in the answers). The fourth step involves a primary and secondary correction. Lastly, the fifth step involves two revisions by other officials. Only after this process is completed will the students get the grades. It's a simple process that takes an enormous amount of time. In the end, it is my belief that this process dramatically minimizes corruption that would otherwise occur if the system were not in place. Parabens!!<br /><br />You might have noticed above that I said that the first round of examinations was completed. This statement implies that there is more than one round to be held, which is the case in Mozambique and most places in the world (including NYS). Every exam is offered in two rounds at the end of the school year and then once more during the second trimester. For the end of year exams, if you fail the first then you can take the second and hopefully get the passing grade needed to move on. If you are unfortunate enough to fail both rounds then you can repeat the grade or take the "extraordinary" exam later the next year. You cannot, however, enter the proceeding year without passing all the exams. On top of all of this there are two classifications for the certificate/diploma you can achieve: sciences (Mathematica, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics) or "letters"/arts (English, Portuguese, Geography, History, Drawing). If you are going for the sciences certificate, for example, you must get certain grades on the corresponding exams and make the minimum for the others.<br />**Disclaimer: The preceding paragraph is everything that I have observed and taken in over the past year, some parts may be incomplete or simply not true. Obviously, this was not done intentionally but you get the gist.**<br /><br />Along with the end of the first round of exams came a very bittersweet period of time for me here in Chibuto. Last Friday was the goodbye party for one of my two sitemates who finished up her service (COS-ed) earlier this week. It was difficult seeing her off and saying our "goodbyes" but in the end I was very happy for her that she completed her service and left on a great note! As she said, "It's my time to go and I'm happy with my service, so I can leave happy." It doesn't get any better than that. My other sitemate leaves Chibuto at the end of next week, which will once again be a very difficult time. It's like saying goodbye to my Moz family! As some would say, "out with the old and in with the new" which is a little too brash for how I feel but the implication is spot-on. While I must say goodbye to my 2008 Chibutense family, I will also be receiving two more PCV sitemates for the next year. Now it will be my turn to be what Meg and Alyssa were to me for the new Chibuto PCVs.<br /><br />In speaking of the new group of volunteers, this past weekend was their site visits. Every new group of PC trainees is sent to current PCVs so they can get a glimpse of what life is like/could be like for them. I received 2 chemistry teachers and their stay was refreshing for both them and myself. It was nice to show them around my community, my school, the beach, and answer the array of questions that they had. Two of the days they were here were spent at the beach. The first beach day was a chance for them to meet the other area PCVs. It was a great exchange of information on everyones part. It is my hope that this trip energized and excited for their swiftly approaching service!<br /><br />As I write this, it amazes me that I have a week and a half left in Chibuto before I head down to Maputo for training and then back home for the holidays. I don't know where the time has gone but I'm really excited to be coming back for a brief visit! Any questions regarding my visit can be directed to my email (jon.d.bates@gmail.com). I'm pretty sure this will be my last post before I get back into the States so if I don't post before then than have an amazing Thanksgiving and I will see you all very very soon!<br /><br />JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-48302338786680968572008-10-09T02:16:00.000-07:002008-10-09T02:20:30.501-07:00Under the sea...I'll start this entry with the ever-so-gentle reminder that I'll be home for Christmas in less than 2 months! Time here (as I suppose everywhere) is moving at lightning speed. For example, the 27th of September marked MOZ 12's 1 year anniversary in Mozambique and on the continent of Africa. I am still flabbergasted that a year has past since I have arrived to this distant land. I know it's über cliché but it seems like I arrived only yesterday. OK OK, truth be told some days it does seem like yesterday and other days it seems like it has been a year or more. Despite how long it has felt like, we still have little more than a year left before we can celebrate our overwhelming success. Nevertheless, congrats to us for getting to this point!<br />So how did I celebrate my one year mark in Mozambique? Being the person that I am, I can never do things without fanfare and this most important anniversary for me called for a hullabaloo of sorts. For that, I celebrated by getting my PADI scuba diving open water certification in Barra Beach, Inhambane! Three of my fellow Moz 12 Gazans got their certifications about 2 months ago and have done nothing but talk about how amazing all the underwater fauna and diving is. Being the adventurous sort (I'm here, aren't I?) I decided that this was definitely something I wanted to do and was interested in. After Santa Claus (thank you!) delivered his generous gifts I headed up to Barra with another Gazan, David. We spent 4 full days receiving the theory and knowledge of safe diving and then put this into practice with 4 open water dives where we could practice our skills. Clearly I was not certified yet so our amazing dive instructor, Ina from Sweden, was with us. Some days we had another instructor from England, Lisa, with us so that gave us 1-to-1 instruction which was absolutely amazing. Just a plug for Barra Lodge Dive Centre: it's definitely worth the money and the individual attention is simply amazing. I have heard stories about surrounding dive centres and it sounds like they just don't compare. Definitely hit up Barra Lodge if and when you visit! I know that I'll be back again and again, and my Mother will be one of the people going back with me on a discover scuba diving course!<br />I left the long weekend a certified open water diver up to 12 meters but I plan on and can't wait to go back in a few weeks to get my deep diving certification so I can dive up to 30 meters. On my dives so far I saw a variety of sealife and fauna such as the world most poisonous fish, the stonefish. I also saw many octapii (sp?), which changes colors with the blink of an eye and to see then swimming and undulating their various color palettes is a sight to behold, lionfish galore, moray eels, giant clams, blue-spotted stingrays, the leaffish, crown of thorns starfish, blowfish, and the very rare frogfish, a relative to anglerfish, just to name a few!<br />The week directly after my scuba diving fun-for-all was slated as finals week at my school. However because the end of Ramadan fell in the middle of the testing schedule, all exams were postponed a week. This would be great, if the school direction told anyone that they were planning on doing this. Once again, I was out of the loop and learned only by showing up and being like "o que est a acontecer?!"/"what's going on?!" Ahhhh...this place never gets old. I love it. In the end, I had the week off to just hang out, do some reading, cleaning, and mild construction on my house.<br />Don't really have too much more to write on over here except that my group is finally not the newbie group as the new group of PCTs, MOZ 13, arrived just this past week. I wish them all good luck and a lot of fun in their training experience!<br />I miss you all at home and hope that everyone is surviving this rocky period of American economic history with a smile on your face. Remember that although times may be rough, there are always people and places worse off than our own. Not to mention that nothing lasts forever, both the good and the bad times. Things will get better.<br />Love you, and stay strong!<br />Jon<br />PS – can someone send me info on what is economically happening at home?? I hear almost nothing and what I do hear is incomplete and murky... jon.d.bates@gmail.com. Thanks!Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-13405371163892404892008-09-15T01:57:00.000-07:002008-09-15T02:01:22.599-07:00The LeoHey 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.<br /><br /> 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? <br /> 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.<br /><br /> 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!”<br /><br />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.<br /> 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.<br /> 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!!<br /><br /> 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.<br /> 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.<br /> 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.<br /><br /> 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!<br /><br /> 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!!<br /><br /><br /> 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!).<br /><br /> 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”?!<br /><br /> 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!!<br /><br />Muito amor,<br />João<br /><br />PS - Sorry no pics. Internet here sucks.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-62656353406548319792008-07-12T02:38:00.000-07:002008-07-12T02:54:09.992-07:00Oh the things you miss (and experience) while away.<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_omd26tBNcIEAKSSrRScqd4RJvQW71Un6CWI3Gc7cBUxZx4KKd5LYfsEt4gmDMCyLn3ImHzpYYoO3wCRVOGXuIXVAO1cPV2yGXWkUpUuGFj8Sc6KaV6p0MeWBL1PUxkPcvCbExRba1E/s1600-h/African+Impatient.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222062889856055634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_omd26tBNcIEAKSSrRScqd4RJvQW71Un6CWI3Gc7cBUxZx4KKd5LYfsEt4gmDMCyLn3ImHzpYYoO3wCRVOGXuIXVAO1cPV2yGXWkUpUuGFj8Sc6KaV6p0MeWBL1PUxkPcvCbExRba1E/s200/African+Impatient.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left"><br />I would first like to start off by saying Happy belated Independence Day, Happy 21st birthday to my dear little sister with big responsibilities, and a very Happy 43rd birthday to my amazing Mother. The summer months are always a happy thing in my family as my siblings birthdays are in June and July, my mothers is in July, and mine follows in tow the following month to wrap up the summer. I'm sorry I couldn't have been there to celebrate with you all, especially Leslie on her big 2-1, but Jonny is checked into Moz and on his adventure. </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGTDFKdskMM6e0i-vSgg1-bNpm9udyvMjXP8JUrUyrznSnubv5VI5vaFwnyrZ8VeP8YNJfJGGaW9lJSwCS_oYXb-Pa7gJQ6lSbg1-4r_SU9jy5ox-KcqXivKfwCWnuyKvGuSXoElA5zE/s1600-h/Neighborhood+children+sharing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222062903252690226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGTDFKdskMM6e0i-vSgg1-bNpm9udyvMjXP8JUrUyrznSnubv5VI5vaFwnyrZ8VeP8YNJfJGGaW9lJSwCS_oYXb-Pa7gJQ6lSbg1-4r_SU9jy5ox-KcqXivKfwCWnuyKvGuSXoElA5zE/s200/Neighborhood+children+sharing.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Yeah so the internet is finally back in action in my community and it's the talk of the town, well the internet and the newly paving stoned streets! (we now have 2 streets that are all laid by hand...oh the exciting on-goings of Chibuto!) Finally the end of the second trimester has come and now it's time for the tri-annual debate over grades. Now that I have one done, I am much more prepared for this and not at all nervous. I've gone to great lengths to make this as smooth as possible as well as taking care to do everything so it only needs to be done once and thus not spending an extra 15 hours at the school. That means that I can have some down time like all of my students. Speaking of which...my students are at a much different level than most of my colleagues students, or so it seems by m y observations. More than once I was asked “ Oooooo teacha! What are you doing for the break?!” because apparently I am expected to have some extravagant travel plans as an American teacher. So I responded that I was simply staying put in Chibuto with some possible trips to Xai Xai on business, and wouldn't you know they were absolutely appalled by my apparently mundane response! Which of course I was appalled at the fact that they were appalled at me for staying in town...now here are 15-18 year olds telling me of their plans of a refreshing and relaxing holiday in Maputo (the dually chic Gazan getaway and capital city of Moz) and I was staying in town. I was befuddled because I was truly (as were they) expectant that the exact opposite was to occur. It's little surprises and pleasant realities like that are some of the best moments I have here. It made me appreciate my site and my location more because I am positive that this is a rarity among the general Mozambican 9th grade population. </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_NL4yzE5bYvkpSC8bDziHrrM092S6anO-nLE90RjKfFmqdPeRcSTclEQzE4JvsmvQlGk4vZ1QSX6xy9PxUbHj9FdadSRv-Rl6zxTz2nX8TBgyFZ6UEP79CUIUoBHcPKzyggITkJ96Ps/s1600-h/Science+Fair+Chibuto+2008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222062883084539330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_NL4yzE5bYvkpSC8bDziHrrM092S6anO-nLE90RjKfFmqdPeRcSTclEQzE4JvsmvQlGk4vZ1QSX6xy9PxUbHj9FdadSRv-Rl6zxTz2nX8TBgyFZ6UEP79CUIUoBHcPKzyggITkJ96Ps/s200/Science+Fair+Chibuto+2008.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br />While on the topic of school and my job I should tell you all that the First Annual Chibuto Science Fair was held the 28th of June and it went off with a hitch! I am very excited to say that it was a good time for all involved and a great experience for my students, the public that came to view the projects, the school direction, and myself. In the end I had four participants that did projects on which type of soil was best for a high yield of black eyed beans to a description and model of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOArvFlva1TLDdOyLpwi6PCIUcj7Tf9gWXA1FEZRSDtyDs-ppa1hyphenhyphentFPfixUFCKJWHLnd4POOdvUG2tZIpwgqNELlQC0MVGeD8g4gfWYwCq8meJFGLm2nJJYFzIwJuB8tNryU_PhfTag/s1600-h/Papayas.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222062907414058658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOArvFlva1TLDdOyLpwi6PCIUcj7Tf9gWXA1FEZRSDtyDs-ppa1hyphenhyphentFPfixUFCKJWHLnd4POOdvUG2tZIpwgqNELlQC0MVGeD8g4gfWYwCq8meJFGLm2nJJYFzIwJuB8tNryU_PhfTag/s200/Papayas.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />the function and role of the diaphragm in respiration. They had time to explain their posters to the public in a general viewing session then each one got in front of about 30 people and explained their posters again. At the end they fielded questions from the judges which consisted of a physicist, biologist, and chemist. Words cant express how proud I was of them for doing this. They had to think critically and go through the steps and repercussions of cause and effect. Now this might seem like a fairly rudimentary thing for kids in America but that's because the art of critical thinking/cause and effect is instilled and taught to us from a very young age. Here, they aren't taught these intellectual skills and thus don't know how to formally critically think in an educational setting. They also had to publicly speak, all for the first time. Again this is something just not done here. I think its pretty fair to say that this is something that would be and is very difficult for any high schooler no mater of country of origin. For these and a myriad of other reasons I am so proud of my students here! I have two boys going to participate at the regional level to compete against all the other winners from 15 other secondary and professional schools at the end of July (in 2 weeks!). Let's hope Chibuto can get to the National level...Go Chibutian Shining Stars/Estrelas Brilhadas!! (yes, that would be our mascot...the shining stars, fun!)<br />This past weekend a vast majority of the Southern Mozambican volunteers gathered to celebrate our nations independence on the beaches of Xai Xai. It was a nice and relaxing time with all 17 of us there. It was good to see some people I havent seen in a few months and just a good time to get away before stressful grade debates occur. I must say that my two favorite times over the weekend occurred while I was in bed. The first was when I woke up, rolled over, and the doors were open to the veranda where there was a beautiful view of the Indian Ocean coupled with a gentle warm saline breeze. The second involved hanging out in the same bed with Sharonda, Katie, and Megan just shooting the breeze while waiting for the Advil that never came. Nothing refreshes you like a weekend at the beach! I'm thinking that I may need to get a house in the Hamptons or on the Cape when I get back in country just to satiate my weekend excursion palliate. Try it, you'll see what I mean.<br />I will make it official here so if you miss it, well it's not my fault! Thanks to my amazing and dear parents...I'll be home from December 2nd to January 5th! I have a tentative schedule that allows me to spend time in the 518, 585, and Long Island/NYC. I am so excited to get home and see people and have them see me because lets get serious for a hot minute, I look damn good! OK now that I got that arrogant tid-bit out of the way, if you want to get together while I'm home, I would loving nothing more than to meet up. Any who, enjoy the rest of July and the next time you'll probably hear from me is mid-August.<br />Now that I am looking to the future I would just like to say that I am very sorry that I will not be present at the wedding of two of my very special and amazing friends, Matt and Meg, August 16th. You guys don't know how much I want to be there to celebrate their special day. I'll be toasting to them all weekend long...it's already in my planner.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPP8OgnrT-DatKY3LjgIgL5aGP_Dux61cg8Iefr_FUO1TvwPe45-HIymQxTYmOtGCfbeQjAOiEJA_6H8aN5Pm8sUSX8odKFam3Qq35PXqOQNtHVuCqspS3L41SaApm5u9uHzLBtV9Mgw/s1600-h/Euselio+SF+Chibuto.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222062891567315426" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPP8OgnrT-DatKY3LjgIgL5aGP_Dux61cg8Iefr_FUO1TvwPe45-HIymQxTYmOtGCfbeQjAOiEJA_6H8aN5Pm8sUSX8odKFam3Qq35PXqOQNtHVuCqspS3L41SaApm5u9uHzLBtV9Mgw/s200/Euselio+SF+Chibuto.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />With that I will sign out and say goodbye. Miss you all and t-minus 5.5 months!!<br />- JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-41449991888062514762008-06-01T03:23:00.000-07:002008-06-01T03:24:29.119-07:00“Good drinks, good friends, good vibrations”I recently had to take what I am calling a “mental health break” from my school, job, and site. It was just getting to a point where I couldn’t deal with anything that was thrown at me…even the little seemingly insignificant things. That’s when I decided to go up to a place called Vilankulo in central Inhambane province. I had heard it was quite a distance from my home and I didn’t care despite knowing that. I packed up and left the next day. Since it was a holiday I didn’t miss classes that Thursday but I did skip out on my classes on Friday, no worries though – it was an extended weekend for my colleuges as well as a vast majority of the students. Well Samantha and I got a lift aka we hitched it (which is so thrilling bc in the States I would NEVER do it but here it’s become a free way to get between points A and B) and got a ride in like 3 minutes flat with someone that was going past our stop. It was an air conditioned car and the man spoke English…it was great and it only took 6 hours to get up there. The way back took 14 hours on public bus…think Greyhound but at 35 mph for 600 km.<br /> Well we got up there and so many people from the central region were there it was just really cool. It was good to catch up and hear about how their lives have been for the past 5 months at their new found homes. I spent three nights there and it was a well needed break from the monotony of my life here in Chibuts.<br /> As a second stress reliever I decided to throw a party at my house. Just a reason to get together, a reason to have a reunion. I also wanted people to come and see my site. We had fun cooking and just hanging out together. I believe a dance party occurred as well. We may be in the bush but we still know how to have fun. Also, I think people got a new found respect for me and the distance of my home from my actual town and school. All in all it was a good time. Now we're looking forward to the next Gaza Gathering at my friend Paul's site about 3 hours from here. Good times!<br /> While on the theme of breaks and vacations, I am excited to say that I will be home in the USA for about a month. I'll be coming in very early December and staying until about the same time in January. At that time my parents will be coming back with me on a great vacation touring South Africa, Tanzania, Zanzibar, and Mozambique. It’s going to be a lot of fun and I know my parents are really excited to not only see the great continent of Africa but to also see and experience the place I will have called home for the past year and a half. I’m optimistically looking toward the future and it’s looking pretty damn good.<br /> <br /><br /> Ate o proximo!<br /> JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-80361401101551226342008-04-28T00:07:00.000-07:002008-04-28T01:04:37.554-07:007 Months Down.Hello all my loyal North-American and Mozambican blog readers! I hope this reaches you well and you're enjoying the very nice, warm spring weather. As I sit here and type this it is “misting” and about 64 degrees...in Mozambican terms, its very cold. It's funny because in NY some people would be out in shorts but here people are wrapped in their winter parkas and all the winter apparel you could think of. I walked into one of my classes the other day and this very skinny boy was wearing what I can only describe as a sumo-wrestling suit. It was so hilarious I had to just walk out of class and take a breather. You had to be there. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194199641645116370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WBs-lFgYFI6a47oKZXfhx2_SQCTSXLeL3mxn6Q4fdu03FW_4kyxZtnaDiKd-VGPyZzTz73-TB-fbf0fOq_UWsCMzO2OXYhJw54Qucg48BFqqDiagTOGZLfUPQIlQ5B4v9v5iRVv0LFk/s200/DSC_0445.JPG" border="0" /><br />Last week I finished what we call conselhos which are just meetings to discuss grades and where we make the “report cards.” It was an interesting time. Compared to some of the stories I have heard, mine was really easy...despite having no clue as to what to do. But then again thats a pretty standard feeling here as a PCV in Mozambique. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEZvY5MCDuAdSwdGgvIfbOGOK50H5HkqdK0nPc4-6wjuqH1XwUuOi4mbOlJjtuhwdO2Mt8qPlqCKfe_olWQLev0wI_g0TOBof_01HrIOGTIWLQzgZkCgF8JNrXRQB81WA7oci9TBjy-g/s1600-h/DSC00128.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194196733952256946" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEZvY5MCDuAdSwdGgvIfbOGOK50H5HkqdK0nPc4-6wjuqH1XwUuOi4mbOlJjtuhwdO2Mt8qPlqCKfe_olWQLev0wI_g0TOBof_01HrIOGTIWLQzgZkCgF8JNrXRQB81WA7oci9TBjy-g/s200/DSC00128.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I love teaching here and I have a really great time with it...my students seem to really like me as do my colleagues, except when it comes to some of my students' grades. The educational epidemic in this country solely lies with the students and their choice not to study. It's that simple, the students here do not study. The rationale behind their logic is easy – they think they can cheat and pass. Well kiddies, not in my class. To mention it, not in any of my fellow American teachers classrooms either. For this we (PCV teachers) are always the epicenter of long and sometimes dramatic, escalated discussions about our students grades. Basically the other teachers and sometimes school direction tries to get us to “boost” grades to a passing score. It's pretty upsetting and morally I just can't do it. I don't.<br />After we finished all of the conselhos, teachers had some free time so I traveled around the Gaza province and visited the sites of Chokwe (central Gaza) and Massingir (on the S. African/Moz border). It was nice to see people and I found out that Chokwe is only like an hour from my town, which is awesome. We had a good time celebrating the birthdays of the girls in Massingir. Everyone got in a good dose practicing the Pasada (a Mozambican style dance; see also: elegant grinding) and frango assado. After I had my fill of a good weekend I had to head back home to Chibuto and prepare for school to restart the next day. So yeah, it's official I'm in the second trimester of my first year already! It's really exciting but kind of scary at how fast time goes here. Damn, I hope life isn't like this everywhere...<br />For the first time Gazans got a bit of taste of home vicariously through two of our fellow Moz 12-ers by having parents come and visit. It was the first parental visit of any of us here in Gaza. Emily’s parents are here in Mozambique and Jesse and Emily had a dinner party with Gazan PCVs and her parents. It was good to get a taste of home and just see some parental figures. I’m starting to get excited for when my parents come here next January!<br />I just started getting my Science Fair secondary project rolling this past week. It’s pretty exciting since it will be the first time something like this will be happening at my school. My students seem to be quite interested as do some of my colleagues. I’m pretty excited and I hope it will be a success!<br />All in all, Mozambique is a great country to live and serve in. Sure it may be insanely hot most of the year but there are some months when we are actually cold (makes the bucket baths a b*tch!). Not to mention that I am only an hours drive from the beautiful and picturesque Indian Ocean. The language is Portuguese so it's not unbearably difficult to pick up, though still hard at times. All in all I do love it here and I am having a great experience. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194194925771025314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Yi_K-j3C4n5CYn0B6UtaEce0e1FLapyHQx0vBWsez3fVuzT9VoX508g1tXXzoDrB_vFWIyghtQLXNHsJ5g9b9GqnV0eDgpAvLDs_ydQoJtLQNd5dvU3SK9UojhXVkdUKQfBJwNS8LeQ/s200/DSC00040+(2).JPG" border="0" /><br />Thinking of where I was a year ago: not knowing where I was going in Africa, thinking Equatorial Guinea, speaking Spanish, and teaching biology to where I am today: living in Mozambique, speaking Portuguese, and teaching chemistry is astounding. I still don't really know how I got here or why I'm here. All of a sudden I was on the phone with PC Washington arranging my flight from Albany to Philly then I was saying goodbye to everyone not knowing anything about what was to happen, a real adventure. I do know that I am supposed to be here and I feel that as every day passes that feeling of belonging intensifies. I think it will be on my flight out of this country that I finally know why I was here. And I like that.<br />Thanks for all the support from back home. I really appreciate it and hope you appreciate hearing about my life here! Enjoy the photos!<br /><br />Your Striving All-American-Mozambican,<br /><br />Jon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMvUufthWbDyKYTuF_OE2NHR8raF_Jx0SNQJ3MuG80HfTJkCMjDI5fZcKpaEvG1A5uNo5u3cqV3B9VaEZ_QPwdi1zYOkgIrNcHNsRl5WBssMih0rvHs2xwh3sxnCivDPDCjPZHrwiIyQ/s1600-h/DSC00037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194191850574441362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMvUufthWbDyKYTuF_OE2NHR8raF_Jx0SNQJ3MuG80HfTJkCMjDI5fZcKpaEvG1A5uNo5u3cqV3B9VaEZ_QPwdi1zYOkgIrNcHNsRl5WBssMih0rvHs2xwh3sxnCivDPDCjPZHrwiIyQ/s200/DSC00037.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194201131998768098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTE-QCGanC2XfiwRbDxqxTBY_gPxqIHbFRGYYcgyY9s4ZcBPk0__np0nkocwXjo8wisltLY6VjxA9mjmbfeikjnYm69WqiZm-928yd3OfkdJ74Dee9MK2G-av_ezwOkVswBabF1ItmQk/s200/CIMG1139.JPG" border="0" />Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-35871155178044740512008-04-01T02:01:00.000-07:002008-04-01T02:04:15.199-07:00The 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!<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br /> 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.<br /> 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!<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br /> 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!<br /><br />Jon<br /><br />(the next one will have pictures, I promise.)Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-57436074756037716762008-03-18T05:08:00.000-07:002008-03-18T05:26:14.461-07:00Oh where, oh where have I been??!Hey everyone! Sorry it has been so long since my last blog entry...what can I say, it's Africa and a third world country, access is few and far between. I suppose I'm damn lucky that I even have internet connection. I mean when I was preparing to come over here I didn't even think I would have electricity, running water, or internet. Haha ok well I do have two of those things, I'm just lacking on the whole running water issue. Ahhh the life of a PCV in an African country. <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> OK so the last few weeks (or months...I can't even really remember; time flies here!) have been pretty good over all. A lot of noteworthy things happened during this short period of time, if you can believe it...</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> I finally got my computer that my mother so generously sent from the US. It was a damn pain to not only get it here but then get it out of Mozambican customs. If the cost of shipping on top of the computer itself wasn't enough, the customs department put it over the top. Its just so ridiculous that they include shipping when they calculate the fee owed to customs! I couldn't believe it. Anyway, it started when i got a call that notified me that my computer was in Mozambique. I set up plans to go to Maputo to go get it. Well I got into Maputo and the next day i went to the airport to go get it armed with my passport and copious amounts of Meticais (the currency of Moz: metical [sing.], meticais [pl.]). The people there did not know what I was talking about when I was there. Now some of this may have been attributed to my talent in speaking Portuguese but I think I can actually get a coherent thought across. They asked if I had a form to pick it up, of course I didn't – no one told me about a form. Went back to the PC office to find out that I in fact do need a form, I didn't know what form or that there was even a form in existence. I called up my mother at 1:30 am, NY time, and had her fax all the info that she had. I went back to the airport only to have them send me downtown to the post office. The post office didn't have anything so I was instructed after many hours of questioning to go to a place called Sky Net (partner of UPS). I finally get there at 11:45 am, Moz time, 15 minutes before its set to close (just about everything closes at noon in Maputo on a Friday). They said they delivered a customs form to the PC office. I was furious. I just spent 1200 meticais on taxi's getting to and from everywhere and the source of the problem was the second place I went to, my organization! Turns out that my higher-up left the form with another person and didn't inform this person of what it was this person subsequently left the country for an extended period of time. What can I say? My luck is just too much for one person! Basically that weekend was a waste of all my money and I didn't get much out of it. The next weekend I headed back down and retrieved my comp after my organization picked it up for me. So, alas, I now have my computer and am severely contented.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> I did get some good things out of my first weekend in the “big city.” I randomly met up with a fellow MOZ 12-er, Ali, and we ended up hanging out together at the PC office for CD Dave's going away party/despedida then sspending a well needed night just hanging out. It was good fun after the computer incident. You might have caught it or perhaps not but I just alluded to the change in Peace Corps Mozambique regime. The Country Director of Mozambique, Dave Bellama, retired his position as CD after 3 years of service here. He was one hell of an awesome guy and he will be missed. Now we have a new CD who I have yet to meet but pretty excited to get to know her.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> The biggest change/event in my life since my last post is the start of classes here in Mozambique...well at least at the Escola Secundaria de Chibuto. After much disorganization within my school we are finally in flow with the first trimester. I thought/was told I would be teaching 11<sup>th</sup> grade chemistry to 4 turmas (classes) but that has changed into me teaching 9<sup>th</sup> grade and 7 turmas. So within one week I am teaching for about 21 hours 350 students. Most of my pupils are nice and fun but I do have some “indiciplinados”/class hellions; I mean they are high school freshmen after all. Pretty much things go smoothly so it's all good. We are just about to enter into our midterm time here and we are almost finished with the first trimester already! I can't believe it has really gone by this fast! All-in-all I'm having a really good time teaching these kids the noble study of chemistry (must be my Leo side...blah blah) and they seem to enjoy me, which is a really good thing too. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> The only truly difficult thing is the whole teaching in Portuguese issue. OK, I am not lying when I say that I don't speak hardly a word of English in class...well maybe a word or two like “yeah” and “good afternoon/goodbye.” But thats it really. I must say that it is getting easier every class but its really frustrating when the students laugh at me sometimes because they know what you're trying to say but your clearly not saying it correctly. I do get a bit flustered but try do everything I can to not let them see that. Hey they would be having a hard time too if they arrived in the US only 4 months before starting teaching without knowing a single world of English before they came. Of that I'm certain, and that gives me some sense of self-satisfaction and accomplishment. So in the end it's the beginning of an adventure and I'm absolutely positive that i will have more stories as far as teaching is concerned.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Other ongoings at my school would include the secondary projects that I am continuing and starting up. First, what is a secondary project? Well a volunteers primary project is what we came here to do, in my case teach. Secondary projects are projects/initiatives that are done in addition to ones primary job, hence the name. These secondary projects can come in all shapes and sizes. The secondary projects I am currently doing/going to start very soon is a Theatre Club for boys through the Peace Corps started organization JOMA (Jovens para Mundanca e Accao/Young Men for Change and Action). Basically it is a group centered around gender equality campaigns and HIV/AIDS awareness through the medium of acting. The other project I hope to start in my town soon is the National HIV/AIDS Awareness & Science Fair. There are three official regions in Moz and every region holds a fair with participants from as many school as possible to sumbit science fair projects. Students have to devise and implement a science experiment and then present and publicly defend their project. It's never been done at my school and I'm really excited to have some of my students submit projects!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Other than the projects that I am doing at my school, I am also taking an aerobics class there too! Who would have thought that there would be an aerobics class here?! Its crazy ridiculous and just over the top. It's not really a workout as much as just something to give me a routine in my crazy scheduled life here. I mean I sweat more from the walk to catch a ride home than I do in that class. Nevertheless it's a great way to integrate more in the community. Hell yeah!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Well I can say that it has been nearly 6 months since I first landed here in Mozambique and I have been an actual Volunteer for 3.5 months. (Congrats Moz 12!) It really doesn't seem like it has been that long since I left but I will be the first to admit that so many things have happened to me in the short time that I have been overseas. I wish I could accurately explain the effect that all of these events has had on me already but truthfully I don't even know the extent to which I have been affected. All I know is that I have been in a way. Don't worry though! I am not going to come home and not take showers or something ridiculous like that.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> That being said I can say that my life here in Chibuto (pronounced 'Shi-boo-too'), my fair hamlet, is coming along at a pretty good pace. Not only have I started school but I have also gotten in pretty good with the integrating process. Now most people in my town (aprox. pop.: 10,000 people) know my name, who I am, and what I'm doing here. I mean there are only 5 volunteers in Chibuto, 3 from the Peace Corps and 2 from JICA (the Japanese equivalent organization), and there are NO foreigners in our community besides us. For the most part my community is really accepting/tolerant of expats. They all seem to want to get to know me...which brings me back to a conversation I had with some Moz 10 volunteers before they COS-ed and went back home. “Are you ready to be a Mozambican rock star for the next two years?” was the question asked to me. I didn't exactly know the full extent of that question and how truthful they were being when asking me that at the time. Now I have a bit more experience – and they weren't kidding! It really does feel sometimes like I am a rock star here. I would be lying if I didn't like it sometimes (blame the Leo in me, what can i say) I mean who doesn't like <i>some</i> attention but other times it just gets so damned annoying. Like for example: I'll be waiting for a chapa (a packed minivan type taxi of sorts) and someone will just be staring at me from across the road...sometimes for up to 20 minutes until I say something to them like 'Bon dia' or 'Boa tarde.' I mean come on, seriously people what is so interesting about a white dude waiting to get a ride?! Alas, just one of the 101 questions I have for this country. Again, the life of a PCV.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Back to my 'fitting in' expos<span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;">é</span>...I also am starting to make friends and contacts in my community and around the country. I have a few friends here in my community that I hang out with on a regular basis and show me around to some of the more fun parts of my town. The other night the volunteer from a town 20 minutes away, Samantha, came over. Eventually my friend and two of his buddies came over and decided to take us out to the local “hot spot.” It was pretty cool, it had a pool table, a nice bar with a wise assortment of South African wines and cold beers. They also had a DVD player that kept playing CDs of Justin Timberlake, Lisa Jaymes, Beyonce, and (oh yes!) Michael Bolton. I wont even start about the wide array of “discotecas” here in my lovely bush town. Life is going pretty well over here so far.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> I don't know if you have heard of anything on the world news or BBC but recently the chapa union decided to raise their fares by 100%. Quickly after, the government put a stop to that as it was such a steep increase and a majjority of the community would have a hard enough time affording that. Well naturally that just set the chapa people of this country into pandemonium because not only are the chapa people angry but with the increase comes the increase of all the goods/services in the country...and now we have riots in parts of the country. In Maputo (the country capital) there were tire burnings, a fatality, and cars being stoned in broad daylight. Luckily and thankfully due to the swift action of PC Moz none of us volunteers have been involved in anything. Like I said this rioting is going through the country, but at a slow pace. My community is not immune to it and in fact we had a series of riots here in Chibuto. I didn't go to school one day because I got a text from my site mate telling me of the craziness. Apparently from what I heard was that a special type of police was brought in to control the crowd because people were firing guns, burning tires, mugging people, looting stores, and burning bread stores. Needless to say i didn't leave my little house/backyard area. All is well now so no worries! I mean really, what is service without something scary and crazy like this happening?! What an adventure!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">OK just one quick note...I finally got a chicken! Her name is Penny and she is such a stress because she doesnt like to sleep in her own coop. The neighbors think a magical chicken just showed up until I killed that idea. I cant wait to get my own eggs from her...and eat her offspring.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Also, if you have tried to call me part of last week and this week, my cell phone was stolen while visiting a friend. What can I say? It was bound to happen. Nevertheless I am still pissed! Well all good now. I have a phone...so what are you waiting for?? Call me! Don't forget to use the internet program SKYPE (<a href="http://www.skype.com/">www.skype.com</a>). All you need is an internet connection and a microphone. According to my family its pennies compared to any other means of calling communication. If you don't want to call then you can always shoot me an email at <a href="mailto:jon.d.bates@gmail.com">jon.d.bates@gmail.com</a>. I'm not choosy and will take anything.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Well currently I am in Maputo for our bi-annual regional meeting. Most of us Moz 12-ers are pretty excited because we haven't seen each other in awhile, some of us since swearing-in in December. It also happens to fall on the oh-so-fun holiday of St. Patty's Day!! Hell yeah! Good times for all to be had.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Well that's the latest from me here. I hope you all have enjoyed reading. I miss you all and hope that you all are doing well and staying safe in wintery New York. I cannot explain how much I really miss everyone. I have a wall of all pictures of my old life back in NY. I can't but help to realize how lucky I really am. Each one of you has a very special place near and dear to my heart. Sorry I just went all mushy but sometimes it needs to be said and consequently heard. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> On a completely unrelated topic, now that I have my computer feel free to send me DVDs and CDs of the latest movies and music (or anything really, I'm not picky!). I mean you can't really get to much over here and the internet connection sucks to download anything (hello dial-up!). Also one last thing but still very important. Thanks so completely much for all the mail that you all have been sending to me. Whether they were letters or packages of sweet treasures, I value and appreciate EVERYTHING. I mean it from the bottom of my heart when I say thank you.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">All my love,</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Jon<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzyakjKM2kZPrtfjd5-ArXlGnWOMY3ToDos6GTblBGsv7zrXCewoo_ibIaHaTbKaicUHzXt05bso8flN70FlVaflI8SJThlnH5r6EGoclt539ebkZtEZxDMo1d9WvGPe5xY1rEZnjOqI/s1600-h/Moz+Sept07-Jan08+227.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzyakjKM2kZPrtfjd5-ArXlGnWOMY3ToDos6GTblBGsv7zrXCewoo_ibIaHaTbKaicUHzXt05bso8flN70FlVaflI8SJThlnH5r6EGoclt539ebkZtEZxDMo1d9WvGPe5xY1rEZnjOqI/s200/Moz+Sept07-Jan08+227.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179055456341072738" border="0" /></a></p> <br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>PS- Enjoy some pics from me and fellow PCVs on the beach after a long week at work! Suckaaaaaasss.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2ewDSpmMHzCUajLR5ZhET0vSue-mrMEnooA4X-khQ3hy8L0p5vBW68906WnLEA5B0jE6XoKKO3hkru5Z2TOQPvYDSFAy1r3PwqulbnNHxXaZR-y28QaIv8daSpxXjtgIvAHjNYEGZzc/s1600-h/Moz+Sept07-Jan08+232.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2ewDSpmMHzCUajLR5ZhET0vSue-mrMEnooA4X-khQ3hy8L0p5vBW68906WnLEA5B0jE6XoKKO3hkru5Z2TOQPvYDSFAy1r3PwqulbnNHxXaZR-y28QaIv8daSpxXjtgIvAHjNYEGZzc/s200/Moz+Sept07-Jan08+232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179055069794016082" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My fellow Moz 12 Gazan's, Megan Moriarty and Lindsay Hutchinson.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-91562667276954324102008-01-11T02:09:00.000-08:002008-01-11T02:35:57.853-08:00Life is boring when there is NOTHING to do.Yeah so it has only been like a week since my last post, I kow its crazy but since my town has internet and I nothing to do at this moment, I suppose I can post.<br /><div><div>I surprisingly and remarkably continued my already long vacation last week when I unexpectedly decided to go to the capital of Maputo for a weekend excursion. I told no one I was going and was just going to go and have the weekend to myself...boy was I wrong about that. On my way to Maputo, in a lovely chapa, we stopped for gas. Beacuse it was so stuffed and cramped, therefore hot in the chapa, I was desperately craning my neck out the back window to get some relief of fresh air. At that same moment, I spotted what the locals call us, a "mulungu!" It was one of the gals from the health group with 3 others that was on vacation with me in Tofo. I came to find out that they had the same destination as I and we were all staying at the same exact hotel. The weekend turned into a really fun one with us going shopping, lounging around in the air conditioned oasis of Hotel Africa II, enjoying meals out, and going to the best club n the country: Coconuts. It was awesome and I had a great time, kind of made me not want to go back to my life of a house with no fan, running water, or a sittable toilet. But, alas, I went back and all is well here in Chibuto.</div><br /><div>That Monday I returned was MOZ 12's official 1 month anniversary of service! I didnt do anything special, just sat around all day trying desperately to escape the heat. Congrats us...1 down 23 to go! haha.</div><br /><div>Yesterday I had a chicken coop built for me by some of the neighborhood children. It was <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAKuLfIoKkA43TLWxOd64xCBaHpC0w7NUpHXiuYECuZc7KFFg7UkLTTsBDMwcVr3IG0mY-vYIj3OdMx98igqHWmowYidsIYquBY-RSBVIdP-xIc-vt3lioMZU8zA3zf2XvcZ63drkVB8/s1600-h/DSC_0222.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154163932492076098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAKuLfIoKkA43TLWxOd64xCBaHpC0w7NUpHXiuYECuZc7KFFg7UkLTTsBDMwcVr3IG0mY-vYIj3OdMx98igqHWmowYidsIYquBY-RSBVIdP-xIc-vt3lioMZU8zA3zf2XvcZ63drkVB8/s200/DSC_0222.JPG" border="0" /></a>awesome how they were gathering the materials and analyzing a local coop to see how to construct this one...good skills to learn! 'Ta Bom! It only cost me like what would be in USD, $2.85...nice! Next comes the chicken then the eggs.</div><br /><div>So as I alluded to earlier, I have nothing to do in my town until the school year starts on the 30th of this month. So I just sit in my house reading "Les Miserables" all day and watching the chickens run around. Its really boring and I'm just itching until the school year can start. I cant wait. Oddly enough, right now it feels more liek solitary confinement than Peace Corps service but that will end, like I said, when school starts and I start working full time.</div><br /><div>Well thats all I have in my life right now, dont be surpirsed if you have a 315 area code bc I'll probably call you since its free (thanks Orlinda!). OK enjoy the record temps in NY!!</div><br /><div>- Jon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwX5cHkPKG7uCj0jji3m7QnULRDK5MYeNGThNXLfFYpg1K6iWZvN33lQlNei2S-56Wg-ke1NKE0zATm5BVpRdD2wggkyMGD9HCh2ZhJcGIupSua6CxZihMWxdRYpTePSg0gT3OHMlH4o/s1600-h/DSC_0223.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154164928924488786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwX5cHkPKG7uCj0jji3m7QnULRDK5MYeNGThNXLfFYpg1K6iWZvN33lQlNei2S-56Wg-ke1NKE0zATm5BVpRdD2wggkyMGD9HCh2ZhJcGIupSua6CxZihMWxdRYpTePSg0gT3OHMlH4o/s200/DSC_0223.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-49777885259177422892008-01-03T03:15:00.001-08:002008-01-03T05:07:43.409-08:00Life is a whirlwind when you're in Africa...and then some.<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9KZNQCCDllu1x31MESdlmMlPR1_m8hVmXvPOKxRifdY14fPfkenWilS0lvsWPYV7N4xfOlA_8KRwZZesrJQM_ubRMnuwbgzbAlxo-Hgy97FsX76EZUElwuhDk6ctxiQSoF65d9F9ok0/s1600-h/DSC_0139.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151222202016863090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9KZNQCCDllu1x31MESdlmMlPR1_m8hVmXvPOKxRifdY14fPfkenWilS0lvsWPYV7N4xfOlA_8KRwZZesrJQM_ubRMnuwbgzbAlxo-Hgy97FsX76EZUElwuhDk6ctxiQSoF65d9F9ok0/s200/DSC_0139.JPG" border="0" /></a>Hello again everyone! I know it has been a long time since i have last posted here (like 6 weeks I think?!) but with swearing in and site delivery and finally getting here and starting to get situated it has been really hard to get to a computer and not to mention the fact that the internet in my town has been broken for the last 2 weeks. Well anyway I'm just lucky that I am in Africa and have internet. So no onto what my life has been like for the past 5 or 6 weeks...</div><div><br /> </div><div>I think I last posted before Model School...well itr was a two week teaching experiment (or thats what I called it, bc thats what it seemed to be like) in which they put all of the freshly speaking portuguese speakers in front of classes of 20 students and had us teach to the students. I have to say that even though it was all in portuguese it<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151223146909668226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-ApyKrsXRNfTgshvmo3SiQAcYcXyld4ouSna8wxv8fl0sX8nAOp2PZJO4fH9TdqMYnTGWpr9FpgUYYzP4EY4LPxvKqpeeOzxQ8MK-leOzKVBvXWq4w778Xun7ns9IqcwBXKQCQGORz0/s200/DSC_0145.JPG" border="0" /> was not too hard. Yeah sure the lesson plans took 10x longer than any of the english teachers but it was still a good time. My students liked me or so i heard from my collegues (bc most of the students were our host brothers and sisters) and it was just fun. I think it may be in part due to me being a Leo but I liked to be up in front of them and teachng them. It was a challenge too so i think that had a lot to do with it as well. All in all it was a good experience...i dont think it prepared me for my real job but rather just ntroduced me to what it could be like. Nonetheless I'm pretty stoked for my job to start in a month.</div><div> </div><div>In the midst of Escola Modela was Thanksgiving. The PC basically screwed us this year and told us that unless we were going to plan and execute everything then it wasnt going to happen. Usually they buy everything for the dinner and that was even cut. But you dont give PCT's (now PCV's) an ultamatum like that one. We took the bull by its horns and had ourselves a damn good Mozambican Thanksgiving. We bought two turkeys and killed, defeathered, and gutted them and cooked them: one in stew and the other in the traditional oven. We had most of all the traditional staples of a US Thanksgiving feast as well. We had mashed potatoes, yams, deviled eggs, apple pies and crisps, cookies, browniws, squash, green beans, and even cranberry sauce...made from crasins (bc cranberries dont exist in Moz). For such a sad day to be away from home it wasnt all too sad. Mainly because eveyone was there and just having a good time cooking and having a few local beers.<br /></div><div>About a week later was what all of us had been waiting for since we started training...SWEARING-IN!! Sadly we came in as a group of 69 of us and left with 65...4 ET'd, 1 transferred, and we got a transfer from another country! The ceremony took place at the ambassadors house in Maputo...it was an awful and rainy day. Everyone took care too look their best in Moz and the torrential downpours that followed just rined everyones magnificent look. Damn it! So we got to the ceremony and took the oath and after a few speakers we were official Peac<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_xyDVFzsF9CuN3hMWyXQ8aTbXB3t6ZBbCjSioonnWumFYB8zl0V8Wpsdaf3fQDSlHqZXkvlE13H85q4PbGdBjyyp3OOqc9ub2mfSc7oOI_h7jZooZpFBkDDGKf_8tzBnlGy3i0N15wo/s1600-h/DSC_0188.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151224972270769058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_xyDVFzsF9CuN3hMWyXQ8aTbXB3t6ZBbCjSioonnWumFYB8zl0V8Wpsdaf3fQDSlHqZXkvlE13H85q4PbGdBjyyp3OOqc9ub2mfSc7oOI_h7jZooZpFBkDDGKf_8tzBnlGy3i0N15wo/s200/DSC_0188.JPG" border="0" /></a>e Corps Volunteers (PCV's). Everyone from PC Moz was there including officials from teh government, the US Ambassador, and the former Peace Corps Worldwide Director, Gaddi Vasquez. That was such an amazing surprise to hve him there...it made it special x 100. Funny thing is that while walking on the road in our training town of Namaacha to get a chapa to Maputo Gaddi Vasquez stopped on the road and got out and talked to us. How in the hell does something like that happen?! It was fucking awesome... his response after was "I thought you were in the Peace Corps." Amazing. Something I will never forget. PS - I did have a mohawk for the ceremony...all the dudes did...well most.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151226389609976754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHqQF6HzmFfXyQ2Z-VXFELaAXCxYGQFtZxKgAJz7OwcHslE4KbbR8RS-EywYe8yRkNBQFkNs1-B5UokA1WD7-UIJLSqjdXq9H4u255PqK80In6P7DjDnOgWuzb8YAKprmRpxOtxF6L_g/s320/DSC_0190.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>So a day after we were sworn-in we were delivered to site. With 64 of us to get to every stretch of Mozambique it wasa clusterfuck of a mess but all in all I think they di an awesome job. I left my home in Namaacha at 5 am and got to my site at 3:30 pm. I was the second to last of 7 to be dropped off in my group. It was long and tiring as well as exciting and really sad. I really wanted to get to a place where i knew it woul;d be my home but i didbnt want to leave everyone! Well lets just say that after a day I had my first break down. I have since then bounced back and am doing much much better. It's just the shock at first to know that you know absolutely no one but this is your home and not to mention the fact that you are the different one and everyone knows it just by lookign at you for 0.001 seconds.<br /></div><div>My first two weeks here, at site, were a real rollercoaster of just about everytuing. The dog that I took in from the volunteer before me killed a goat so I had to deal with all of that my 3rd day here....that is what set me over the damn edge. All my neighbors wanted to kill her and the dogs she ran around with. They basically gave me a deadline before they were going to kill her. I found 2 voluteers to take her...now I just have to get her to them. lol. That was probably the worst thing that happened to me by far so far. I did go to work for a week to grade tests and meet all of my counterparts. That was intreresting. I also met a lot of my neighbors and people in the makret. Made my first friend and met up with one of the other volunteers in my town from MOZ 11...Alyssa from Amityville, NY. Two people from NYS in the same small African town...what a trip.<br /></div><div>So those two weeks went by and along came the holidays. We planned a vacation to the Praia do Tofo on the Indian Ocean in Inhambane Province. What was only supposed to be 5 days ended up being 10 and itw as one of the best vacations i have ever been on. We left for a PCV's birthday party in Cumbana and spent the night there with lik 12 PCV's and one of the PCV's girlfriend that was visiting. It only took us 4 hours to hitch a ride from a nice Swazi-man on his was to Vilankulo. The day after we headed to Tofo Beach, didnt take long at all, only like an hour. We got to the hostel we were staying at...fuck that it was more of a resort than a hostel. It's called Fatima's Nest and has dorms, private bungalows, camping, and tents with beds in them. Its literally on the ocean, I could hear the waves at night when I was sleeping. They had cabanas with hammocks in them where you could chill all day under and sleep under at nigth if you wanted to. I slept in one my last night there.</div><div><br /> </div><div>At first it was like 15 PCV's which after Christmas dwindled to like 9. It was nice having everyone there but it was even nicer being in a smaller group. A few days after Christmas 4 more left and one came so it was better yet. What was awesome about this trip was the amount of people there and how many countries were represented by people staying there and that I met. Here's some of the countries that had citizens there and thatw ere crazy fun: USA, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, France, Spain, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, England, Belgium, and Egypt. It was fucking awesome. We celebrated New Years at Tofo as well and it was redonk fun. I have never had such a great meal here in Moz until that day. We cooked a fish called "dacuba"...? I think its wrong but I know its starts with a D. I am not someone that likes fish but it was so good. Loved it, shut up! Other than the group I came with I made a small group of friends from South Africa. Lo, another PCV, was enamored by one of them and we became a happy little family (Myself, Lo, Natalie, Carl, Al, Floyd, and Marie) for our time there. It was awesome because now we have plans to go to Joburg and Cape Town and visit! So excited to go and visit in a few months! Cheers guys and thanks for making it what it was...a kick ass shit show.</div></div><div><div><br /></div><div>I should let all of you know that if you want to send me anything use this address from now on:<br /></div><div><strong>Jonathan Bates</strong><br /></div><div><strong>CP 270</strong><br /></div><div><strong>Xai-Xai</strong><br /></div><div><strong>Mozambique</strong></div><div><br /></div><div>I got one closer to me by like 3 hours. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div>I also want to take some time to shoot some thanks to everyone that has been awesome at sending me things and contacting me in any form. I really really really appreciate it all and every buit of it helps even if it is just a wall post on facebook. THANKS GUYS, I LOVE YOU ALL. I really do have some of the best friends ever. I really do love you all. Also, btw I'm getting my computer soon so I should be able to communicate for frequently, which will be awesome. Also, I want to apologize to all the people in the 315 who I have been harassing...its free for me to call 315 area codes for soem reason so I am taking full advatage of it. If you're getting sick of me just let me know! I dont know how you could though...haha. jk.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yeah so now I'm just waiting for school to start in a month and get my hopuse ready as much as i can before all hell breaks loose there. I have a lot i want to do to my house but it should be fu getting everything and completng the jobs.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19M0jt7wvVhf3dwFUZv6F2oBh_kgdJATtyKf2rfAMOgHqf9SZQJFs0ckYY3bm_EchjuHzVK8rdU5Psx-S0GTY58CiN8hDzAmTWDE735EIIKIWoIHDH_0fyteq57yaDr-cJW8nYqds4DU/s1600-h/DSC_0163.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151224104687375250" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19M0jt7wvVhf3dwFUZv6F2oBh_kgdJATtyKf2rfAMOgHqf9SZQJFs0ckYY3bm_EchjuHzVK8rdU5Psx-S0GTY58CiN8hDzAmTWDE735EIIKIWoIHDH_0fyteq57yaDr-cJW8nYqds4DU/s200/DSC_0163.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>OK I just had to add this funny thing that happened today: I threw away a condom bc it was covered in shampoo from my trip and not but an hour later did I see a small neighbor child of mine blowing up what appeared to be a balloon...well yeah it was that condom. what the hell?! it was so hilarious.</div><div><br /></div><div>OK and one last update on my feelings on being here... its still hard especially after an amazing vacation where I had running water and my friends but its getting better everyday. So tomorrow I leave for Maputo for the weekend to go get my mail and see Felipe. Fun!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoku_he0RQrof1gWwp0RZc_XnMphQUKx9JQd56snGuuBICXcSXns0kJTEoKAwyE9lLoAJxzK78BrP34WNpZMPJcBQxWDkAGqdtK7YLu42K4eOA0u97xZ4kFwQE63Qgfcqnsg94aVa01k/s1600-h/DSC_0195.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151228468374148050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoku_he0RQrof1gWwp0RZc_XnMphQUKx9JQd56snGuuBICXcSXns0kJTEoKAwyE9lLoAJxzK78BrP34WNpZMPJcBQxWDkAGqdtK7YLu42K4eOA0u97xZ4kFwQE63Qgfcqnsg94aVa01k/s200/DSC_0195.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4L-DUmTdtK_M_dlD7lcikn5MYk70-ddZBBA8UUysJnDPL4gWmSD2XlPaTeuNZZub84JfNRFf3nib8AiOIxZssSzSK_IoiJhBromRmZZmyDTILCenfcU8kk2uVS0S49aK7GobHOtdL8S8/s1600-h/DSC_0204.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151232990974710818" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4L-DUmTdtK_M_dlD7lcikn5MYk70-ddZBBA8UUysJnDPL4gWmSD2XlPaTeuNZZub84JfNRFf3nib8AiOIxZssSzSK_IoiJhBromRmZZmyDTILCenfcU8kk2uVS0S49aK7GobHOtdL8S8/s200/DSC_0204.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151232312369878034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzi8W6hUMHhSAG4FgI2X0yDmsoOQL38M3kdsefxwfnQ8o5-LO4WpcFUe-udXuKcPk2cSkZl0mcnv4ZxW2gluPYd0nLQZsWrQGyMjKMGEuYyBAP7hQSvJ-qlSJw4Xh8TjfSzAlxbVlcu8k/s200/DSC_0200.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjMp3edU9zLHlMVqmyrcgqtzCUfp9rfYtMt0W55Zr3dNGaeYyW4Ve689P_1inM6e0yUIakXuOJGZSsQB1kA2foSnRjReUdD8SDSaYF1QXy0dohAZgRiARH92R4ydXkUSeuE_SlFpS4Pw/s1600-h/DSC_0199.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151231212858250242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjMp3edU9zLHlMVqmyrcgqtzCUfp9rfYtMt0W55Zr3dNGaeYyW4Ve689P_1inM6e0yUIakXuOJGZSsQB1kA2foSnRjReUdD8SDSaYF1QXy0dohAZgRiARH92R4ydXkUSeuE_SlFpS4Pw/s200/DSC_0199.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQ7JzEsAx-OTQN4sh8mZHycA1NybzMHNDnsfr-TNbIUDPlOOGE8o6_fyG2fIrvdsVEebIh0oDeMtQyWiQXrvsS5Tzl_3cwqYM0r-j_aE86wyjEwyPHR5sHNG5B_bXxRe47BdQdrajmTE/s1600-h/DSC_0198.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151230212130870258" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQ7JzEsAx-OTQN4sh8mZHycA1NybzMHNDnsfr-TNbIUDPlOOGE8o6_fyG2fIrvdsVEebIh0oDeMtQyWiQXrvsS5Tzl_3cwqYM0r-j_aE86wyjEwyPHR5sHNG5B_bXxRe47BdQdrajmTE/s200/DSC_0198.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151229250058195938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kDFr6zCxeIm_ZritrpQZDPvaCXfFJNrHguegdXYquClGkVM4hiiwh_CtRd5DW0SkDlwskGG42oVPMp-7Qt_nk78wT-jh2q9kKG2Mtb_vsdg4V-m8b3bBywdGv5hre_ANPnE-yJwe3qc/s200/DSC_0197.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>PICS OF MY HOUSE ABOVE<br /><div> </div><div> </div><div>Until next time,</div><div><br /></div><div>Jon</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPedeAnJ6SIAkIFe2WLPrad-FQsCiG5weKmtjS9el0vJzaeTOzYQBmwgrT9gkKKRvvjIJF7gm39WC3n7F-B9xgcp5JLbTzM47bI3Qg2T_G6B_8buuRilF7LMS-hlOZRbjbD28YwAB6QX4/s1600-h/CSC_0205.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151233575090263090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPedeAnJ6SIAkIFe2WLPrad-FQsCiG5weKmtjS9el0vJzaeTOzYQBmwgrT9gkKKRvvjIJF7gm39WC3n7F-B9xgcp5JLbTzM47bI3Qg2T_G6B_8buuRilF7LMS-hlOZRbjbD28YwAB6QX4/s200/CSC_0205.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-27138710048747977832008-01-03T03:15:00.000-08:002008-01-03T03:16:45.628-08:00What the fx up-Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-37031737617696819022007-11-12T05:15:00.000-08:002007-11-12T06:32:06.810-08:00Dão-lhes um centimetro e eles tomam um kilimetro<div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyVrjTgN3addj6-K3q3OOnMTo2P9ZT_qlygHxo0_Vcvuo0FeguwpVnNb1lsyOU8Hs5oy-o6HLL2lnI2083Bjhk2SdGspvtJLLAaMxHIxqBOl6eKTJXOStoc-XkEkkoSSeMN2GactHJ9E/s1600-h/DSC_0073.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131956709572693346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyVrjTgN3addj6-K3q3OOnMTo2P9ZT_qlygHxo0_Vcvuo0FeguwpVnNb1lsyOU8Hs5oy-o6HLL2lnI2083Bjhk2SdGspvtJLLAaMxHIxqBOl6eKTJXOStoc-XkEkkoSSeMN2GactHJ9E/s200/DSC_0073.JPG" border="0" /></a>OK sorry everyone that this blog has been delayed so much...there has been so much to do. not to mention that the one fast computer in Namaacha is always taken by other volunteers. I actually has to get out of class early to get this spot...haha. well anyway like I said, a lot has gone on here in the past three weeks and I am going to do my best to catch you all up to speed on the happeneings here in good 'ol Moz. (PS - sorry about the nature of this blog its a bit choppy but I have so much to talk about...bear with me!) <strong>(A group of clad in costume at our halloween party)</strong><br /><div><div><br /><div>Well, the weekend after my last post myself, Lo, Tommy, Jared, Tara, and Raposa (all education volunteers located here in Nam-town too) went on a huge ass hike up one of the mountains bordering here and South Africa. From a point here in Namaacha you can see the quintessential African trees (think Lion King on the savana)...well we went in search of those. we crossed a huge damn that is like 50m hight and no bars across it to cross. Nevertheless, I was scared! Well we finally got to the top of the mountain and it was a beautiful view...well worth it!!</div><br /><div>The day after all the volunteers here in Namaacha celebrated Halloween MOZ style<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESvOBRnIpudj2zzcFqhwFUnN3uJUfXo79S2LtS3px6pmt1JfG5zge2yfGmD3qfNqu8VuUkd6C9Cff3-k-xJCgjib0CUa-6H5iDPduPyjEF90yIVGoH_A-89jMydzg6TCnQMNAYtq-P68/s1600-h/DSC_0068.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131955970838318418" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 206px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 152px" height="161" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESvOBRnIpudj2zzcFqhwFUnN3uJUfXo79S2LtS3px6pmt1JfG5zge2yfGmD3qfNqu8VuUkd6C9Cff3-k-xJCgjib0CUa-6H5iDPduPyjEF90yIVGoH_A-89jMydzg6TCnQMNAYtq-P68/s200/DSC_0068.JPG" width="175" border="0" /></a>. We had a big festa at the casa da corpo da paz where almost everyone was clad in a costume. Let me tell you these costumes were great for the limited available resources!! There were robots, pirates, peacocks (that was me and another girl), the people from Wizard of Oz, a lobster, and a glow worm! Most of teh costumes were made of things found around here (like banana fronds) and items bought from the huge third world market that rolls into town twice a week. It was a blast...not like any halloween I have celebrated in the US but still awesome!<strong> (Lo and I as peacocks for Halloween!)</strong></div><br /><div>Sadly...two more people have left our training class here in MOZ. One individual was sent home bc of his adverse actions against other trainees and the other was transferred to Namibia for her service...we all wish her luck in her new adventure!!</div><br /><div>Sooooooo....on October 19, 2007 my niece, J'ana Theresa Xenon-Bates (or whatever her last name is...I still dont know what my sister decided) was born. I am so happy to know that both her and my<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATL6VYcVD927TaXKLs27_UReIR1dCyTMJF291OxE6KCvELyhMF8pRlHUSlmBXEKCqzyUfY2pAIWoWzyQeQtIJEXUMggebNcXmiARvXW_SYhWfqmPNcCS0-qENhdkuFrPksGV18IIRAkI/s1600-h/DSC_0054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131955227808976194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATL6VYcVD927TaXKLs27_UReIR1dCyTMJF291OxE6KCvELyhMF8pRlHUSlmBXEKCqzyUfY2pAIWoWzyQeQtIJEXUMggebNcXmiARvXW_SYhWfqmPNcCS0-qENhdkuFrPksGV18IIRAkI/s200/DSC_0054.JPG" border="0" /></a> sister are healthy and doing well. I am just sad that I cannot be there to see her and knowing I wont see her for a year and a few months is tough too. I knew these things would happen while I was over here but when it happens its just harder to swallow. But all is weel and I will be home before you know it. While on the topic of babies, my mother here is preggers and is in her 5th month. She has decided to name the baby after me or my mother in the US if it's a boy or girl, respectively. Its pretty cool knowing that they like me enough to name their child after me! Of course its tradition (called "chara") that if they are named after you that you must buy them some clothes...i like to think that they like me enough more than they just want clothes. Such the optimist! Cool anyways. Love my fam here! <strong>(Those are 3 of my siblings!!)</strong></div><br /><div>OK so I got my first piece of mail here from Angay!! I was so elated to finally get somethjing. I was starting to think that nothing was going to get to me here. It was great to hear from people back home and have it to keep as a "momento" of sorts. I still like emails though! Thanks Ange!!</div><br /><div>In terms of my portuguese, it's loads better. We had our mid-training LPI (language proficiency interview) and I scored in the region that woukld qualify me to become a PCV)...which is flippin awesome. Our group as a whole had a 92% pass rate...from what we heard about years prior (I dont know how trustworthy this info is though) we are doing much better. Go MOZ 12! Its pretty sweet. Things are looking up here in all aspects, not only in language. Thje Malaria meds arent as potent on my emotions anymore so I am not siffering from bouts of depression like symptoms and always wanting to go home. Actually in fact I rarely feel that way and am starting to really love it here!</div><br /><div>So thispast week we all went on site visits aka vacations for the trainees! I went to the Manica province which<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyZD_Yc6pzDNjylVmYYEcoXkianBIeCJxDEUcjpUDNekQ_cj6TS5hrZw5Bjvrtn5VnhAULdNb93gZlPKpstFLErwqPN4OC5uA3JtBSP89jJU__HdpYt7ENKymB4K0dUP55dWy7sYDDN8/s1600-h/DSC_0119.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131958199926345090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyZD_Yc6pzDNjylVmYYEcoXkianBIeCJxDEUcjpUDNekQ_cj6TS5hrZw5Bjvrtn5VnhAULdNb93gZlPKpstFLErwqPN4OC5uA3JtBSP89jJU__HdpYt7ENKymB4K0dUP55dWy7sYDDN8/s200/DSC_0119.JPG" border="0" /></a> is located on the border between MOZ and Zimbabwe. It was B-E-A-utiful! The mountains came out of no where and were very reminiscent of 'The Others' village in LOST. The volunteer I went to visit, Kelly Searl, was awesome <strong>(thats me and her)</strong>. She had a lot of info for me about the whole PC experience (she COS'ed after I left aka finished her service). She told me alot about being gay and in the PC and more specifically PC MOZ. It was great to finally hear it from someone that has gone through the whole things. She put me into contact with an RPCV who lives and works in MOZ now for an NGO, this RPCV is also gay. Talked to him last night for awhile which was pretty awesome. I'm excited for service now more than ever after the site visits...it really inspired me to do my best and got me excited to be here! Sweeeeeeeeeeeet!!<br /><strong>(This is a view from the plane down to Mozambique...Sofala province I think!)</strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131957482666806642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx0_n_iXikBaIqRZYG8gEMKCXFcNAHHn0-GelVhKbZnZmOESwnC5wBjCxHOQaS4ZkX4U3mxUwnJbpdKNOW73RC7m5PSCBb1eL_xd9Q7Od_1VhfHkdK49RfODNlbhs-0sMGjI0NUSFafU/s200/DSC_0122.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>So I mentioned this open air market here in Namaacha earlier...well they call it "Shoprite" but its actually not a shoprite at all. Shoprite is actually a huge groceryt store but th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxoOpgBrQ2iyFrbK9aQWAC6PbuwUcRaiH8R2-zrbWQU3iD2vBVMtJqgPy85M8OMLQel41Pw0xLEPadh7rpIwmjTz5Xh0i_opg6dvPdZ2JM0e8Ak49_ILKYz9rFR3vdZEbOEnUd8rdJJE/s1600-h/DSC_0095.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131959308027907474" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxoOpgBrQ2iyFrbK9aQWAC6PbuwUcRaiH8R2-zrbWQU3iD2vBVMtJqgPy85M8OMLQel41Pw0xLEPadh7rpIwmjTz5Xh0i_opg6dvPdZ2JM0e8Ak49_ILKYz9rFR3vdZEbOEnUd8rdJJE/s200/DSC_0095.JPG" border="0" /></a>is is a flea market of sorts. Well we went shopping the other day and I got some great finds. I would have never thought that I was going to shop at a third world market, let alone like what i found. I found like 3 nice vintage t-shirts from the US...these are shirts people pay upwayrds of 30USD for but I payed only like 0.85USD. I also found a sweet muscle polo from Abercrombie (that I'm actually wearing right now!) for the same price!! It was the ebst deal ever...this is worth like 35USD...I love it! Amongst the other treasures there...I found a nice pair of jeans from Austrailia for less than 2USD. what finds at the Namaachian Shoprite!!<strong> (Thats all of us at the local bar playing drinking games and enjoying a Friday night Nam style!)</strong></div><br /><div>On my trip to Maputo two Saturdays ago I went to the 2007 World Press photo exhibit. Apparently its really famous and, yes, I went to see it for free. It was located in this old fort on the harbour and was beautiful. The pics were awesome/sad/inspiring/thought provoking all at the same time. I went with my Mozambican friend, Felipe. He shows me around the city when i go there and lets me use his internet sometimes. He is a nice guy and someone to hang outwith that isnt a trainee too. The day after Maputo, Sunday, my Mozambican parents took me to church with them. I told them I was raised Catholic but they insisted that i still come to their Apostolic Church. Well I eventually aquiesced (sp?) and went. IT WAS PURE HELL. Not only was it 95 degrees the whole day but it was 13.5 hours long. I was so mad at them for taking me there on the longest church service of the year. I thought It was rude of them and they knew I was pissed at them that night when I slammed my door to go to bed and hardly talked to them at dinner...the enst day is when I went on my site visit so they didnt see me for a week after...haha. we are all good now but lets just say that i did my penance and am not going to anothe rone of those services ever again!</div><br /><div>Well MODEL SCHOOL is next week and I'm pretty damned nervous about the whole thing. We have to teach like 5 lessons or something, im still not sure yet, in all portuguese in front of like 45 students. I know that this is what its gonne be like at site but i am still nervous to be doing this in a language that i am still new in and hardly know that well. I will let you all know how it went in my next blog, thats for sure! ALSO, in less than 2 weeks we find out where our sites are going to be!!! crossing my fingers for an ocean site or mountains...I dont want to be in the boring plains where there are no beautiful landscapes...hope that I get a good one people!!</div><br /><div>I miss you all and hope that you all are surviving the cold weather over there in the US...as its becoming winter over there, its approaching summer here and boy can you tell. Today it was 95 again. Have a great Thanksgiving and Black Friday!</div><br /><br /><div>Love you all and until next time,<br /></div><div>Jon</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><strong>(Myself, Adrienne, Tariq, and Lo at a Maputo gelataria)</strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131960222855941538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoqptLpeo6wGcmkUaLWgHhdbrQIvNhZrtgmsXXcNYMTsogbJNP5fQc2iZ63SLEQN-SQU0NS3OWXMAPC8fNwDgy1Tg6MB6g8GhwLkwY1LxcZ0CVmglBvzP3KxMI1EgMxjSR49eQnjla84/s200/DSC_0125.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-39454759267741207182007-10-11T04:54:00.000-07:002007-10-11T05:12:15.322-07:00Another one bites the dust...Hello everyone! It has been awhile since I have last updated...about 2 weeks or so. I think this schedule is going to be pretty regular providing my access to internet is available but pretty expensive (60 metacais per hour or about $2.20 per hour).<br /><br />So I am and have been at my training site in Namaacha for the past week and a half. I have been taking portuguese classes every day for like 7-8 hours a day. Lets just say that it is pretty tough and mentally exhaustive. In the US I go to bed usually at like 1 am...here it is not un-normal for me to go to bed at like 8:30 or 9 PM. WHOA! I def do not like that but I need to do it because there is nothing else to do and I am just so tired that I have to go to bed. The malaria prophgylaxis I am on (Mela-something) is making me have bad dreams every night, and I,m pretty sure it is the reason why I feel I am mildly depressed. Dont worry thougH! I am fine and its just a lot to bear all at once. I will survive so dont worry too much about me. Oh yeah! If you do want to get ahole of me in person I just got a cell phone in Maputo...contact Dave Rust or someone from my fam to get the number...just remeber to dial 011 before the 258 country code!<br /><br />I love my familya nd they seem like they love me too...I have a mother (mãe), a father (pai), 2 sisters (irmas) and 2 brothers (irmãos). My bros and sistrers are all younger than me and they are really curious to know about me and where I am from, in egenral just everything about me...kind of cool! The climate here was hot whern we got here but since we are in the mountains we are fortunately cooler than most of teh country. Right now it is freezing at 34 deg C (I think like high 60´s or low 70´s)...Its really freezing here! Who would have thought?!<br /><br />My portuguese is coming along at a steady pace. Every Friday we have an LPI whichj is just an interview with the language peopel to see how we are doing. I am rigth in the middle so its all good. I can communicate what IU want to my fam and they generally knwoi whwta I´m saying. Most of the time I) just have my dicitionary with me so I can look up the terms I dont know at all. But like last night I was explaining to them that my sister was about to have a baby and what halloween was. They didnt get the ideaabout carving pimpkins bc that would be a waste of food! Also I cooked for them last night an »American» dinner which consisted of roasted chicken (which I helped kill) with roasted potatoes, carrots, and onions. I also made mashed potatoes which they really liked. Which is great b.c I am sick of rice!<br /><br />Ok on a more depressing note...people keep leaving here to go back to the US. And by people I( mean people that I am close with here. Yes I would consider tjem friends already b.c when you go through soemthing like this you need as big of a support system as one can have. Shari...a friend from Wisconsin left about 5 days ago while Heather a nice girl fron Ohiop left like 30 minutes ago. My support system is dwindling and its not cool. I cant deal with people like this leaving its really really hard. I often want to go home to but I cant leave because I feel like I need to stick it out for the next 10 weeks here and give it a real go. I am not a quitter but hey if after 10 weeks I decide like I am really not meant to be in the bush takinbg bucket baths and all that good stuff then hey, I tried right?! Its not that bad now whre I am dying to come home but I think of it often. I am told this is normal and I know every singloe one of s here is going through the same thing....we just miss home. AKA CULTURE SHOCK. It´s hard and if you have never gfone through this...try it. You will really learn to appreciate everything back at home. Now I dont mean to paint a horribke picture bc I have learnbed a lot and this is a great experience. I wouildnt give this for anything andI hope It continues.<br /><br />I will leave you with a goodbye from myself and from the entire MOZ 12 group...and hey do us a small favor, have a beer on us! <br /><br />Love always,<br />JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-8235872202578081062007-09-27T13:13:00.000-07:002007-09-27T13:31:27.063-07:00The beginning of an adventure...WOW...so much has happened in the last few days it's hard to know where to start so I can think of no better place than the beginning. Side note: for the sake of time and efficiency I wont bore you w. endless details.<br /><br />PHILLY<br />I arrived in Philly 23 September and met up with the 68 other volunteers going to MOZ. It was pretty exciting to meet so many new people. SO far everyone has been absolutely fabulous. The hotel was sehr presh and more than accommodating. Even though staging was pretty packed with seminars and meetings we still had the night free and did we ever use that "free" time. We went out both Sunday and MOnday nights. We all bonded over food and copious amounts of beer. It was an enriching time had by all! Well we left Tuesday morning to go to JFK in NYC...what an emotional trip...people called me and thats all it took for me just to loose it.<br /><br />Most people still have their game faces on but everyone knows that we all are feeling the same way. Sad about leaving home but overwhelmingly happy/excited. Onto AFRICA...<br /><br />AFRICA<br />We had two back to back 8.5 hr flights and stoped midpoint in Dakhar, Senegal. yayy. It was along ass flight but had awesome peopel all around me. The South Afrucan man in frnt of me reassured us that MOZ was an awesome place to be...he said "it's so much fun, and you will have it too!" SWEET!<br />Arrived in Jo'burg, S. Africa at roughly 4:30 am your time. We stayed at a 5 star luxury hotel that immediately served us wine and cheese from the country. Let it be known that S. Africa wine is absolutely delish. We also had a buffet that was at least 5 courses and world class food. The best last meal I could ever think of. PS - just to give you a sense of what this place was like, for the breakfast they had make your own bloody mary's w. Skyy vodka...which of course I helped myself to!<br /><br />The next morning/today we left for Mozambique! When we arrived myself and 9 other lucky people got sent to another hotel bc there wasn't enough room for us. It really sucks bc we are separated from the group but at least we have this brief internet stitch! Today we had dinner, talked about issues/ questions we had, got vaccines, and say a tribal dance w. music! It was so awesome...words cant describe! Now we are at the hotel in the cty of Maputo and just chillin out before bed...its about 10:30 pm here aka 3:30 pm in the US. More is yet to come tomorrow and the day after and day after. On Sunday we get separated into very small groups and dropped off at our homestay. It's sad to be separated from all these great people b.c thats just what they are great people that i have fallen in love with in a very very very (muito muito muito) short period of time. Such is life...but it sucks! lol.<br /><br />I love and miss you all! I am thinking about you all.<br /><br />Cheers/Salud!<br />Jon<br />xoxpJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-88741455355706096352007-09-19T22:46:00.000-07:002007-09-19T22:48:13.615-07:002 days!!<span style="font-size:180%;">I leave in <strong>2 days</strong></span><br /><br /> and have so much still left to do!<br /><br /><br /><br />excited<br />nervous<br /><br />just two of the many emotions fluttering through my mind right now.<br /><br /><br />I need sleep. More packing tomorrow. Last time going out tomorrow too. Better make it a good one!<br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br />JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-24125841178233827012007-08-31T15:46:00.001-07:002007-08-31T15:57:08.012-07:00The time is fast approaching...Sorry I havent updated in awhile. Life has been really hectic here. So I got my wisdom teeth out two weeks ago. I had a smooth and very rapid recovery (I had it done on a Monday and by Wednesday I out at the bar with my amigos...surprisingly I just had water that night). I got fully cleared for the PC and got my staging kit in the mail yesterday. I will be making my travel arrangements to report to staging in Philly any day now. Also, I am simultaneously trying to learn Portuguese from Rosetta Stone that my family so graciously purchased for me...because you all know I wasn't gonna spend that much money on that.<br /><br />Today I just finished my last day working at the JCC in ROchester and I moved out of Rochester. I am now living at the parental units house in Amsterdam. Since Dave moved away there are very few people left in Amsterdam, most notably Ms. Angay. But now I have a very sexy lover/friend/? in Albany who I'm happy to spend a majority of my time with. Hey! if he makes me happy why not, right? Now I know what your thinking..."you only have a month or less!" I KNOW THIS. But you who know me, know that I'm crazy. I'm just having a good time with an awesome guy. It's that simple.<br /><br /><br />I will update more often now that I am home and devoting most of my free time to the PC, friends, family, and lover. Keep watch!<br /><br />JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-27739068065465337342007-07-12T13:35:00.000-07:002007-07-12T13:39:17.662-07:00IT'S OFFICIAL!!Hello all! BIG NEWS!!! It's official...I am going to be serving in.......<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >MOZAMBIQUE!!</span><br /><br /><br />as a chemistry teacher no less to high schoolers.<br /><br /><br />I leave September 23, 2007 and will return for good December 10, 2009.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygdZTp0TSEFH13Zjvuo5sM8buC7L0gHsSggQpMh16xouCTs8z-KCbO0o80rj7b8fmpu9ZerkGMNkcG13HqKbfqzWcQhaRSgkHk4h-6cjuIi4fBGdfnz0PwZQx4D6gqHXmqW8x-N4MPz0/s1600-h/mozambique-location-map.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygdZTp0TSEFH13Zjvuo5sM8buC7L0gHsSggQpMh16xouCTs8z-KCbO0o80rj7b8fmpu9ZerkGMNkcG13HqKbfqzWcQhaRSgkHk4h-6cjuIi4fBGdfnz0PwZQx4D6gqHXmqW8x-N4MPz0/s400/mozambique-location-map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086412442108591394" border="0" /></a><br />More info is sure to come later...<br /><br /><br />JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-29026259319065738062007-07-06T16:08:00.000-07:002007-07-06T16:33:45.272-07:00Supa excitedSo much is happening! So much has happened! I wont bore you with all the details about what has happened to me since my last post. Rather I will comment on the future. Seems weird, right?<br /><br />Well I have <span style="font-size:130%;">BIG </span>news...<br /><br />I finally got medically cleared for Peace Corps service!!! I am a multitude of emotions right now...at the forefront are nervousness and excitement. WOW. I mean I am getting closer to leaving everyday. The regional nurse in Washingon, DC told me that I would be placed within the next two weeks and I would be notified ASAP. Well thing is, is that my mum called me and told me a woman from the placement office called and I need to call her back. Of course I did but she was not there...BUMMER!! All this waiting is awful - although at the same time I dont want to know where I am going yet b.c it will all seem so final and just like that, I'll be on my way to a land of desolation and modern asceticism.<br /><br />Also, I made the appointment to get my wisdom teeth out for the 23rd...anyone want to nurse me back to health?! I prefer nice/hot boys but at this point I'll take anyone! (lol) So after those babies are out I will get my tix in the mail and be off...<br /><br /><br />OK the future now, so the Boilermaker is Sunday. I am leaving in a bit to go to Utica to engage in the usual Boilermaker weekend traditions. I'll go to the casino tonight and spend money then tomorrow go to the expo and eat all day then Sunday run the big 15k (9.3 miles for you non-runners). I'm running with my old teammate Meredith...we are SUPA EXCITED. Our goal (which will seem slow to the advanced runner) is to cross the finish at less than 1:25:00. Come watch us!!<br /><br />ROC Pride is next week! Dave is coming up and we are going to have soooo much fun! Finally he will be here after 4 years of never coming to the ROC to see me...what a fucking whore. I am just soooo excited. This will be my first pride event since I came out. Yeah, so I will leave it at that - SUPA EXCITED!<br /><br />Sadly, I will be moving out of 61 Cornell at the end of the month and begin my new residence in the ROC (yes! I am staying here!) with a friend. I will miss this house, the people in this house, and the location of this house (haha) so much words cannot describe it. If you know me then you know my love for this house. I don't want to leave it! Even though I live in what people consider the "city" and it has its fair share of violence...I would choose no other place to live...thats if I had a choice.<br /><br /><br />Now I am off to run my ass off (hopefully!). Stay safe and have fun people...it's the summer! Enjoy life.<br /><br />Jon xoxoJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-73753046726360352512007-06-23T12:32:00.000-07:002007-06-23T12:50:00.220-07:00It's been awhile since I have plast written. A multitude of things have been going on in my life that had to be dealt with before this. It's official: Dan and I are done. In the end it just came down to really poor timing for the both of us. It sucks but he did what he had to do and I respect him for it. I will miss him though. He brought things out in me that I didn't think I had. I'm thankful for that.<br /><br /><br />Anyway! I (hopefully) just completed my last series of medical evals for the PC...after they drew blood for the wrong test and I had to go a random clinic. Talk about annoying to the max.<br /><br />The past two nights I have been one hot mess aka a total shit show...so if you saw me any of those nights and I offended you in some way, please forgive me! I wasn't going to drink much last night b.c Thursday was an experience that I clearly do not remember but since I was going through post-break up shock coupled with Leslie insisting on doing a "power hour"...did I really have a choice?! All I remember about last night was the song "shake that ass bitches, let me see what you got" and there I was shakin away with some woman I can only relate to a crack hoe...but a really nice crack hoe nontheless! Good times!<br /><br />So now I am in Amsterdam waiting for my sister to come home from Utica so we can go get some dinner together...this will be the first time that we will be going to dinner alone and I'm really excited since I havent really talked to her much recently. But tonight I am going to see Dave in Albany!! I am super pumped! I miss him a lot and lets face it people when we both get together it is like the dynamic duo...throw in his roomate Brittany and the three amigos go to town...!<br /><br />Have a good day everyone!<br />JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-69646524631045231242007-06-16T15:39:00.000-07:002007-06-16T15:51:01.272-07:00Waiting.This past week or two has been one hell of a ride. So much has gone on...but I wont bore you with all the details. I have been spending a lot of time with Dan which is awesome...!! So far so good. Of course that was until the convo regarding me, the PC, and him came along this morning. I'm not going into it but we'll see what happens. I like him a lot, he likes me....everything's going great in our relationship but it's for that very reason that we may be thrown off. Only time will tell and now I'm just waiting to hear what Danny-boy is thinking. The wait is killing me..........<br /><br /><br />This whole application process regarding the PC is totally <span style="font-style: italic;">awful</span>...I wish no one has as bad of an experience as I have had so far with it. You have to get many tests and exams done on you and then all you do is wait. And wait you will...you wait until they send you back a form telling you what you forgot to include....half the time what they said wasn't included in the first packet, actually was. Such is the case in my instance. Now for their obvious folly I'm guessing this will set me back until a post-September departure.<br /><br />You know, they ask in your PC interview if your involved with anyone at the time and then they go on to tell you that it's advisable that you don't get involved with anyone between now and the time you leave. What is that like <span style="font-weight: bold;">9 months</span>?!!? Thats really difficult! Well at the time I was as single as they come...and then I got involved. It sucks what this whole waiting game can do to you and the people around you.<br /><br />Sorry to rant again, but thats a gist of the going-on's in my life at the moment. Have a good day!<br /><br />- Jon (still waiting...)Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-86598426384257728642007-06-03T19:13:00.000-07:002007-06-03T20:07:43.663-07:00Crazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4whg1wv3t7Lmugls-yV7rNLzsh-jXF9Y1_q1ZRD58i0qPaSK3BwAbkdgkux0N3yH_FQT59VAFwHxOdmPhTKS5630xZ50I9NdS4eubc2vqv1AEtmvvorStAjhkbfiu5PoSFm7asBtUrlY/s1600-h/Dan+and+I+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4whg1wv3t7Lmugls-yV7rNLzsh-jXF9Y1_q1ZRD58i0qPaSK3BwAbkdgkux0N3yH_FQT59VAFwHxOdmPhTKS5630xZ50I9NdS4eubc2vqv1AEtmvvorStAjhkbfiu5PoSFm7asBtUrlY/s200/Dan+and+I+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072040397453682946" border="0" /></a><br />These last few days have been crazzzzzzyyyy. So much has happened! My life changes so fast I can barely keep up with it, let alone my poor friends. So after going to the Drag bootcamp last Wednesday with Dan I slept through my alarm and missed 1.5 hours of work and of course to my dismay my boss found out and asked me what was up and I had to tell a white lie (the power on the block went out). Thursday was just ac crazy b.c even though I had to open the next day I still went out with Dan. It was so late by the time we got back (they turned on the lights even before we left) I had to go to work in 2 hours...I pulled an all-nighter came back showered and went to work. After work I took a 4 hour nap and went to the East End Fest. What a horrible experience. Usually I am a huge optimist about this stuff but when I have to wait 30 minutes to get a 5 dollar beer in a 90 degree bar I am not all too enthused. Dan, Orlinda, Jen Lindsey and myself went to O'calls and then to LUX. It was my first time there and I absolutely loved it....Jen and Dan popped my LUX cherry, lucky them!! haha. Can anyone say <span style="font-weight: bold;">Crackhead</span>?!?!?!<br /><br />That night is when I decided that I loved being in the ROC too much to move back to Amsterdam...even if it is for 2 months. I simply don't want to move somewhere where I am going to feel like the best thing to do is slit my wrists and poke out my eyeballs. My life is not in Amsterdam anymore. I know Dave and Ang will not be pleased (and I wish that they could live here!) but I have to do what is best for me....and that does <span style="font-style: italic;">NOT </span>include me living in Amsterdam watching TV on a Saturday night.<br /><br />So the search is on. I posted an ad on craigslist.org and have gotten back some really cool responses. Basically I have a choice between a woman ("Karen") and her cat "Pookie," a french foreign exchange student and his gf, or a house with 3 other guys....I'm leaning toward the Karen or the Frenchie. We'll see...an adventure, I'm sure, is sure to follow and I'm super excited for it.<br /><br />Dan and I went to dinner at Country Sweet on Monroe and anyone who knows the city knows that it is rare to see two white boys in there despite it being 6:30 pm. PS - the food is absolutely amazing...everyone has to try it!! Saturday night Dan and I went to the T-shirt opening/soirée at Thread, this really awesome "one-of-a-kind" clothing store. Super expensive but super cool nonetheless. After having a few beers and some champagne we decided to go to Two89. If anyone doesn't know, this is the new and much improved Jungle. Despite this place doing a total 18- and going from dive to hipster hang, it still flooded my mind with memories from my freshmen and sophomore year. It was <span style="font-style: italic;">our </span>bar...and by that I mean Nazareth's!! So many AWESOME memories that I will NEVER forget, ever! **sigh** Soon after we went to TiLT and I met up with Liz N. and her gf, Laura A., it was so awesome to see her again...I miss her! All in all it was a great night and the two drunk ladies we encountered on our travels was awesome. Number 1 was some woman asking to buy our belts b.c her friends husband didnt have one and apparenly needed one. She then proceeded to ask us if we were gay. Of course we answere truthfully...bad idea. As soon as she heard this she kept going on and on how she loved gay men and she clutched us as if we were her new best friends. We politely said goodbye and started to walk away, at teh same time this crazed woman is screaming at us telling us she loves us!! HOLLA. Drunk woman number 2 was apparently from Miami and "hated" it here b.c she drank by herself and knew no one. After just barely helping her over a chain rope she pestered us for a ride to her house. It wasnt far so we gave her one...she nearly puked. I would have been so pissed if she had done that. Thankfully for us and for her she didnt.<br /><br />Well I just had to get that all out and document the crazy times that went on these past few days. I hope everyone has had a good weekend! BTW, the pic posted is the first one of Dan and I...presh, we know!<br /><br />JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-86703117634867194342007-05-30T18:23:00.000-07:002007-05-30T18:35:19.875-07:00...I'm gonna need a coffee...So I told myself that this week I wouldn't be going out so often because I have to open 4 out of the 5 business days this week...which means waking at ~5 AM. Well fate would work itself out otherwise to me...went out to Acme and RJs last night. It was Craig's 22nd pre-bday bash. Well since tonight is his actual bday, we just <span style="font-style: italic;">have </span>to go out! The plan is Oxfords for their $4 pitchers...sweet deal! Of course, if you know me, I can't stay at a straight bar for too long...so after JD's I will be dragged by Dan...errr, going with Dan... to Muthers for their novice drag queen show night. <span style="font-weight: bold;">This is going to be total uninhibited, unabashed, and pure hilarity!! </span>Drag queens are so funny...especially when there is no cover and good drink specials. Yep and I still have to open in the AM...I think I have finally faced the fact that I will NOT be sleeping tonight, or tomorrow night for that matter (Thursty Thursday)!<br /><br />I'm pretty sure my social life is getting out of control....oooo but it's sooooooo much funzo! I need a man to reel me in so I don't have to go out looking for something that I probably wont find. I'm a romantic hopeful nonetheless. Eh, oh well until then it looks like it will be crazy crazy.<br /><br />Have a good night everyone, I know I will! And now I will leave you with a quote from Cher that Leslie found and can apply to almost all of us (especially me!)<br /><br /><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><span lang="en">"A [boy] can wait for the right man to come along, but in the meantime that still doesn't mean [he] can't have a wonderful time with all the wrong ones."<br /> - Cher<br /></span></blockquote>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436259861808739720.post-9303662519652439712007-05-27T15:05:00.000-07:002007-05-27T15:16:21.165-07:00Happy Memorial Day!!These past few days have been one hell of a whirlwind with all the boy drama and with memorial day parties! So my boyfriend of a VERY short time period cheated on me last night and thankfully due to his roommate I found out...lets just say that I dropped him like a bad habit. You all know what I say (if you dont, you now will): "Once a cheater, always a cheater!" Anywho, there are more where he came from. It's funny too, his roomate is actually coming to the ROC tonight to party it up for the Safari White party...funzo!<br /> Last nights white party at RJs was a total bust but it was still fun to see Catie, Larry, and Leslie absolutely shit faced. Tonight will be more fun...!<br /> I have to open every day this week so that should be super fun aka Jon will not be going out this week...which will probably be good since I need to start being more frugal with my money. However my dear roomie, Orly, referred me to her new job and I have an interview there tomorrow for it...pay rate is $16+ an hour and lets face it boys and girls...I am way too cheap to pass up an opportunity like that. So we will see if I am really cut out for this.<br /> In terms of PC business...not too much to report back on. Still need to get those damned wisdom teeth out (grrrr...).<br /> Thanks for reading and listening to me rant...it feels good to do so. Have a great Memorial Day tomorrow and I hope everyone enjoys the festivities of tonight and tomorrow to the fullest.<br /><br />- JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362706407096594394noreply@blogger.com0