tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-289244582024-03-13T16:42:07.261-07:00Peace Corps, Paris or BUSTMaya's Peace Corps and Parisian Adventures
"The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps."Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-91633326179060416532011-02-07T12:00:00.000-08:002011-02-20T01:08:14.552-08:00Kitties on the Buss go Round and Round...<p class="MsoNormal">It’s funny, when I was in Lesotho and would have to transport my kitty to the vet or another volunteer’s house for kitty sitting I would be the most hated person on the kombi (public transportation van).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They hate cats.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Many of them think that they are used in voodoo and that witches use them to cast spells on people.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, it was a bit of a shock to me when a lady sat next me on the bus and wanted to pet Lily.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It took me a second to realize I was back in a Country that loves animals.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I missed that.</p>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-10540317986928954942010-12-15T11:47:00.000-08:002011-02-20T01:08:03.638-08:00will work for humanity...<p class="MsoNormal">Been home a few months now and am looking for a job…maybe I should change my blog name to “How to Find a Job after Peace Corps” cause it’s NOT easy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I think I’ve signed up to every online job search engine known to man.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I applied for a job with the San Francisco Peace Corps office and got it; only to find out a couple days later that Peace Corps had a hiring freeze and they considered the position “non-essential”; so no job for me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now I’m considering Grad-school sooner than the planned 2 years from now.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Not sure when to give up though.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I really do want to stay home for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>With working in France and then Peace Corps Kenya and Lesotho I’ve been working overseas for about 4 years now.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I know whatever job I finally settle into after Grad-School will at the very least have me traveling a lot so I wanna enjoy some time in the bay area for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I guess I’m just talking myself into something I’m already planning to do…</p><p class="MsoNormal">While I was in Lesotho people were telling me about how bad the economy was but its a different thing hearing about it vs. being here. Trying to find a job makes it VERY clear.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I'm very lucky to have my family and friends. They've been so supportive during this time but I can't help but think about all of my other volunteer friends out there that are struggling. I just hope this all turns around soon.</p>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-32910405724005277732010-12-01T23:58:00.000-08:002011-02-20T01:07:52.403-08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, Yes, I know.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ve been MIA for quite a while.</div> <p class="MsoNormal">This past year has been tumultuous to say the least.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After being home for X-mas and New Years in 2009 I went back to Lesotho with plans to stay for a third year.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Unfortunately on the 29<sup>th</sup> of March I learned that the only Father I’ve ever known; my Uncle Bruce was in the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>His Lung Cancer had spread to his brain and things did not look good.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was on a plane home on March 31<sup>st</sup> and though I didn’t get to see him before he left I did get a chance to say to say goodbye.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through but I’m glad I was able to be home with my Family. Bruce Allen Goronsky will be eternally missed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was a difficult decision but after a few weeks home I was back on the plane to Lesotho.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>While home I was looking to my family to answer the question as to whether or not I should stay in Lesotho for another year but I learned it was a decision I would have to make on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I knew if they asked me to stay home I would but if I regretted it I would have blamed them for that decision.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Going back to Lesotho to make the decision was the right thing for me to do.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I returned to my COS (Close of Service) Conference and everyone celebrating the two years of Peace Corps Service we were about to complete…</p><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPfk0LgZFtK_E-h_CshHRJdHifw3AChd-9AXyj9N6fAEWJ8JvY9tDN-lq3XCXVDoUNSnkfjQ6oNrxWgqkWxrWo6xCCnrJRSQTuxhW-o9HgInbXniPKEhEUvujBCmlxMYTpgrw-A/s320/IMG_1912.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575679745748492802" /></div><div><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">After a couple of months back in Lesotho I realized I was trying to hold onto something that it was time to let go of.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’d worked on a number of programs; Youth Groups, Libraries, Life Skills Classes etc… and as the days marched on I began to realize that the amazing Community that I came to know and love was ready to try these projects out on their own.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was bitter sweet but I left the village of Nazareth to the Grand Opening of the Community Library that took the Community and I two years to build.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was a great way to say Good-Bye and was a wonderful thing to share with friends that came to visit from home.</p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlll020Epd3zWY-XDvtUswsqEVfS8ep-XOUm7bqCz_1HwSDwUyyZwBr-IcazW-rVHq7uxKrK9fR8l3BqMijp0eIUArsh3k_rY6iw70Dskd7a4ygXU46WnTZFKWjyfSc5Pw5QU0w/s320/4981533344_49d48ba08a_b.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575684193685532402" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; ">Here I am at a Good-Bye celebration in my Basotho Blanket and Hat with Ntate Edgar; one of my favorite people in Lesotho.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxYDYEDwDRUhLaKPHMME8E5nbWDkFJJNSURPmAi3eocn9sDeBNf5fneFTXgFwyyZVAmuuqZwnfPvz1f7FTIofZyPSwVYZ1g35wS-yMki3s82ry4A194SVgF9R99Za7ZrxstPrUA/s320/4980926711_7075b541d1_b.jpg" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; ">Me with the Teachers at Morapeli High School</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; ">I had an amazing three years. Smartest thing I ever did... <a href="http://peacecorpsparisorbust.blogspot.com/2006/05/mayas-big-adventure.html">http://peacecorpsparisorbust.blogspot.com/2006/05/mayas-big-adventure.html</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; ">More Pics from Lesotho here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/graci0us/sets/72157624936166764/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/graci0us/sets/72157624936166764/</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; "><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; "><br /></p></div></div>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-20848122884687960862009-12-21T00:51:00.000-08:002009-12-21T02:02:18.830-08:00And she's back...Ok, so I know you guys haven't heard from me in a while and I'm mostly writing at the moment because I have nothing better to do with the four hours that I have to sit in the Heathrow Airport right now. And I know you guys would much rather I talked about Lesotho and my last few months that I haven't written about but I'm not gonna cause that's not what's on my mind at the moment. I'll talk about that later but I won't promise anything because I imagine I'm gonna be busy hanging out with everybody for the next month so ya'll will just have to deal with seeing me instead :-)<br /><br />I'm on my way home and surprisingly not too nervous about it at the moment. Maybe I'll get anxious when I actually step off the plane and am about to see my Mom and brother.<br /><br />Amy and I had plans to sit in the Jo'burg Airport together yesterday for about 6 hours and play phase-ten (Jen we should totally add that to game night. It's awesome) and have lunch but unfortunately after getting off the bus we decided to go exchange money and we think she left her passport at the bureau de change. We spent a good five hours looking for it but unfortunately came up empty. When she went back to the bureau de change it was closed; we assume because it was Sunday. In my attempts to help her find it I went to the Airport Police Station and you would think the cops would be easy to find in any airport. Unfortunately not so much in the Jo'burg Airport. I didn't realize how many people lose their passports. After walking around in circles for a while I finally found the police and told them my problem. Well this proved to be an issue because I am not Amy so I of course could not claim her passport but I then explained to them that I just wanted to see if the passport was there and then she would come and claim it. After attempting to spell her name for them several times they gave up and handed me a box of at least 50 passports and said that I could look through them to find hers. And of course the whole time one of the cops was asking me a million questions about being a "black american". How do you answer the questions; "What's the most interesting city in the U.S.?" Do you realize how many cities there are in the U.S.? Clearly you don't or you wouldn't be assuming that I've been to all of them and able to compare.<br /><br />I spent most of my time in Botswana defending my American-ness. That and hiding from the awful awful heat. I thought Kenya was hot but good lord. You step outside the door and you feel like you're going to melt like the wicked witch. I can now empathize with her pain.<br /><br />Anyhoo; my time at the airport is not all that exciting so I think I'll post some pictures cause hey; I HAVE HIGH SPEED INTERNET RIGHT NOW!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFTxAuWWM4oVH9669JsHbr7rVF_mE0upzbct4_Me7J8yS7Zv1CrIIb92XS1ySsH4ilmXtKxSv_p13YxyqSOa62CboIubBDlvcYpJcXeX3NEMzcjU9acGma5dWxp-q27LFKoY6QA/s1600-h/IMG_1549.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFTxAuWWM4oVH9669JsHbr7rVF_mE0upzbct4_Me7J8yS7Zv1CrIIb92XS1ySsH4ilmXtKxSv_p13YxyqSOa62CboIubBDlvcYpJcXeX3NEMzcjU9acGma5dWxp-q27LFKoY6QA/s320/IMG_1549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417617941275642034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi997hp6htJaNyvkC1EN9q9gTGHrKCekykXTjBPR49ETeVZz98elu37iucjhyRNCd8DDYXNtZtE2ge0csd1SM5ute9WGf_vOHBc233NT4Ibd4p4xDR4LKry9JNtpwKrh_5NWRTODw/s1600-h/IMG_1548.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi997hp6htJaNyvkC1EN9q9gTGHrKCekykXTjBPR49ETeVZz98elu37iucjhyRNCd8DDYXNtZtE2ge0csd1SM5ute9WGf_vOHBc233NT4Ibd4p4xDR4LKry9JNtpwKrh_5NWRTODw/s320/IMG_1548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417617952222579650" border="0" /></a><br />This is what I usually wake up to lying next to me in the mornings in Nazareth. I swear my cat thinks she's a person. One morning I woke up and had to take a picture of this insanity. She requests to get under the covers by jumping up next to my head meowing and pawing at the covers until I hold them up so she can crawl under. You kinda can't not love this cat!<br /><br />Here's me Trish and Ash on my Birthday...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Va4o6aBUwhaidjdPGxAqXm3uhWlVLFQOIj-rdG7GRRsTejj_cDR2ZyUyKyn-gyYcpWDXY9zw3wWey0hywC69g-ESqrGdMKdVgLupEWrj0B5o7jn563iNuJ9RSvNg0fyAWfbV7g/s1600-h/IMG_1532.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Va4o6aBUwhaidjdPGxAqXm3uhWlVLFQOIj-rdG7GRRsTejj_cDR2ZyUyKyn-gyYcpWDXY9zw3wWey0hywC69g-ESqrGdMKdVgLupEWrj0B5o7jn563iNuJ9RSvNg0fyAWfbV7g/s320/IMG_1532.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417623442155031170" border="0" /></a><br />Here are Some Pics from our Semongkong Thanksgiving:<br /><br />Hiked to the Highest Waterfall in Southern Africa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ2d4B3gbObYtQtz3S6XXJ7U5ZzMQ2YWzn8_oQCS-nWJa1Wta14GJxJJvarM6diDqd0z30FDcuilODjaEn9eUQ8IgbRfRKTb51WnueDSb926nWiwHOG_kvokc1ievhc8Z43QSDQ/s1600-h/IMG_1598.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ2d4B3gbObYtQtz3S6XXJ7U5ZzMQ2YWzn8_oQCS-nWJa1Wta14GJxJJvarM6diDqd0z30FDcuilODjaEn9eUQ8IgbRfRKTb51WnueDSb926nWiwHOG_kvokc1ievhc8Z43QSDQ/s320/IMG_1598.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417624331315757090" border="0" /></a>Here's me and my Donkey on the Donkey Pub Crawl:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3czyKor9xRckg9tHTnklHGz2ghGsyfwk61c2DUOSTmOqYV-PHZfSHGNI82TXpijwazog33Om75Jm_O3qVMZg6f7vTRh4Y3XVkBVo0mSXQpPBB1dy6ViG2NG48IzdVg0D-Q6hiHg/s1600-h/IMG_1608.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3czyKor9xRckg9tHTnklHGz2ghGsyfwk61c2DUOSTmOqYV-PHZfSHGNI82TXpijwazog33Om75Jm_O3qVMZg6f7vTRh4Y3XVkBVo0mSXQpPBB1dy6ViG2NG48IzdVg0D-Q6hiHg/s320/IMG_1608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417625302859422194" border="0" /></a>And here's me and Tara after making Thanksgiving Day hats a la kindergarten :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IM7jay0U01CWjGFXCM2cvTbx7ELg9ETns3US_m2dP8yH4KnzaHmAM-08JEAaZ2DrbCC-kJ3uyXZ4eEI5Ci-BZWJmHVe-Y9ksDIue5yMzfUOEA0a0_zkYf4ZB8rOpkGcQzdU-nw/s1600-h/IMG_1620.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IM7jay0U01CWjGFXCM2cvTbx7ELg9ETns3US_m2dP8yH4KnzaHmAM-08JEAaZ2DrbCC-kJ3uyXZ4eEI5Ci-BZWJmHVe-Y9ksDIue5yMzfUOEA0a0_zkYf4ZB8rOpkGcQzdU-nw/s320/IMG_1620.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417626142113868802" border="0" /></a>Hope you enjoyed and See ya soon!!Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-37138058609742668112009-05-17T05:16:00.000-07:002009-05-17T08:30:49.064-07:00Name that Kitten<meta equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><title></title><meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 2.4 (Win32)"><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> </style> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I know I haven't written in a while but I am working on a big catch up blog entry that will be up soon. In the mean time I got a new kitty cat and was wondering if you guys would help me name her. She's really sweet and likes to snuggle. Here are a few pics.</p>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRO7whqD00c8nyXmbFghPViQqsAC-mFBBRlRJo31nfcxkyNWHBHGnP01PMpxL820sNWmdXutelxPzSu_jIBX6JPhMz-BL35dmIlLx73dXKhyXwJ39Bc1djE5nq6NrTRUeCj5tVA/s1600-h/IMG_1350+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRO7whqD00c8nyXmbFghPViQqsAC-mFBBRlRJo31nfcxkyNWHBHGnP01PMpxL820sNWmdXutelxPzSu_jIBX6JPhMz-BL35dmIlLx73dXKhyXwJ39Bc1djE5nq6NrTRUeCj5tVA/s320/IMG_1350+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336711314735965458" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLlVTqd2oGSDEW8_rfcptpEbqVJvuxoQIP6d702agyreIXPx91WQqcLhDXosK8JrtwKvQMkS1QGhDPOVa-NsuUjr252gr2Hl2ysJY3IUB0_j_QU7HaGF5KQQHEej2vhuo-9D_Ag/s1600-h/IMG_1332+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLlVTqd2oGSDEW8_rfcptpEbqVJvuxoQIP6d702agyreIXPx91WQqcLhDXosK8JrtwKvQMkS1QGhDPOVa-NsuUjr252gr2Hl2ysJY3IUB0_j_QU7HaGF5KQQHEej2vhuo-9D_Ag/s320/IMG_1332+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336711315131757762" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8npCJ85Lv06jSoMxRrYq06Hk9IP0Eb_u9jliDkUSyIORZwSYnoK_bcbjIqjY2tj9AgajXRhGA3HjpmfogvCInHKhKF8yAcgK3DajcpEQ4dmm2o7EyYgnIEChdmXZixu4iGU1sEg/s1600-h/IMG_1322+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8npCJ85Lv06jSoMxRrYq06Hk9IP0Eb_u9jliDkUSyIORZwSYnoK_bcbjIqjY2tj9AgajXRhGA3HjpmfogvCInHKhKF8yAcgK3DajcpEQ4dmm2o7EyYgnIEChdmXZixu4iGU1sEg/s320/IMG_1322+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336711312492599058" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvArFVVD1cDiCBDJCsESwTyyVHDxEYD606iZUAIW-h7LQLQryVR9sv3swtl-dd8LmCytqawaykqxVXylbKthx-r-EGoJIR9K-hzoTfDA55NeGArtvhK8HCfExHJcuniTI8YXZQeA/s1600-h/IMG_1318+%28Large%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvArFVVD1cDiCBDJCsESwTyyVHDxEYD606iZUAIW-h7LQLQryVR9sv3swtl-dd8LmCytqawaykqxVXylbKthx-r-EGoJIR9K-hzoTfDA55NeGArtvhK8HCfExHJcuniTI8YXZQeA/s320/IMG_1318+%28Large%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336711308755891890" border="0" /></a>
<br />Now; click on the comments link below and let me know your suggestions.
<br />Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-31258347480322334922009-03-17T08:16:00.000-07:002009-03-17T08:18:33.495-07:00Something that made me giggle...I spent most of today in the bed trying to avoid a cold and watching The Office. Decided to surf the net and look at my old blog and discovered an even older live journal blog that I totally don't remember ever having. Anyhoo; this brought me to one of my best friends blogs which I began to read. She and I would have the most random conversations while working at our respective jobs back in the day. And this one she decided to post on her blog from January 27, 2005. It made me giggle...<br /><br />maya: i have a pimple under my chin...its very strange<br />jen: Welcome to today's episode of Too Much Information!<br />jen: Today's guest, Maya W<br />jen: Maya, you say you have a pimple under you chin.. just how strange is it?<br />maya: lol<br />maya: its in a weird place...like where the chin meets the neck.. that flat part<br />jen: ah<br />maya: i've never had a pimple there before<br />maya: that's why its strange<br />jen: it must be an alien pod<br />jen: its going to hatch soon<br />jen: and take over the world<br />maya: very well<br />maya: i am the mother of world domination<br />maya: snazzy <br /><br />Oh Red; how I miss you so...Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-54479292250267976742009-03-14T09:56:00.000-07:002009-03-14T09:58:38.820-07:00Handout Mentality<meta equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><title></title><meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 2.4 (Win32)"><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> </style> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There are so many people in this country; usually those that are working in some humanitarian capacity that talk about the Handout mentality of the Basotho (People of Lesotho). There are dozens upon dozens of organizations here that come in and give people money; or food or jobs. From NGO's to churches; to individuals who've decided on their own that they want to do something good for the world. This has been going on for probably as long as Lesotho has been around; so much to the point that there are Generations and Generations of people here that don't know what it's like to work for something. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The only way that I can really think to describe it is to compare these people to the children of rich parents. In many cases rich kids are handed things their entire lives. They don't know the value of hard work and parents have a really hard time getting them to get off their lazy bums and do something that will sustain their lives instead of living off Mummy and Daddy.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The only problem; actually there are several problems in this situation...some of the main ones being that there is no way for the people of this country to help themselves if one day, the gravy train decides to a grinding halt and as for in the work of those of us in the Peace Corps; how the heck are we supposed to convince the people of this country to do any work if they're always looking for a handout.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When I first arrived at my site and would have meetings with the people of my community they would all come in droves and be very excited about thee ideas that I would present to them. But once the actual work needed to be done on projects the people were no where to be found. I planned a pitso (community meeting) on Sunday of last week and of course; being an American I was on time and prepared to wait for a least an hour for the meeting to get started because that's the way things work in this country. I did wait for my planned hour with the Chief and one of girls from my community and no one showed up. I was a bit frustrated but the Chief suggested that we re-schedule the meeting for Thursday. So; we re-scheduled and I headed back to my little house. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Thursday rolls around and I head back to the Chief's house for another attempt at the pitso. I arrive and the Chief tells me that the community had two deaths during the night and people probably won't come. I'm pretty frustrated at this point. The Chief tells me that we will re-schedule again and I start heading back to my house. On my way; one of the community members stops me and asks why I'm leaving; because they are on their way to the pitso. I head back to the Chiefs place and let her know that people are in fact coming. In the end; only three women show up. We discuss all of the things I want to and they give me their opinions and answer my questions. All in all it's actually a pretty successful meeting since at least some members of the community have shown up. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">During the meeting I ask this question; about the “Handout Mentality”; which I of course have to explain a few times to the women. When they finally understand what I'm saying they completely agree with me. They say that yes; in order to get the people in the Basotho culture to do something you must offer them something; whether it be food at the meeting or some sort of prize. As long as something is being given away for free; you will always have a large group show up to your meetings.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So; the big question. Since I'm a volunteer and don't have the money to lavish the people of this community with free gifts of food and the like (and even if I did have the money I wouldn't); how on earth do I get them to do work without immediate gratification. How do I prove to them that in the end they will reap the rewards??? The answer? Well; none of them really had an idea. They all agreed to help me with the projects I am working on and we moved on to other things. Needless to say; I'm frustrated.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Don't get me wrong; there are many people that I've met in this country that are passionate about change and they do know the value of hard work. I also find that those that I've spoken too are having the same problems I am. And their answers are always the same; all they can really do is continue to work on the projects they're working on and continue to help those willing to do the work; no matter how large or small in number they may be.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Sometimes I think that I'm not as invested in this country as the people of it; and I guess not being a Masotho; I can't be. I am passionate about Lesotho and it's people and the fact that there are people here that I've grown close to makes me want to make a difference but end the end I always go back to Kenya. I always go back to the fact that I couldn't stay and I didn't go back. So in the end; why should the people here put their faith in me and rely on me. Why should they listen when in the end; I'm just going to go home?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">This blog has turned into a bit of a bitch fest. Maybe I won't even post it. Hell; two posts in a matter of days; my readers may not know what to do with themselves... </p> Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-46669337498875831082009-03-10T09:35:00.000-07:002009-03-10T10:13:43.783-07:00Catch Up BlogWell; I haven't written since the election. I have a lot of unfinished blog entries; most of which don't seem that exciting to talk about at the moment so I'm going to steal an idea from beansontoast and just give you guys a few snipits from the ones I think you'd be most interested in. <ol><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">1. X-mas/ New Years:</p></ol> <ol><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I actually got to talk to a lot of you during x-mas and new years since I spent most of that time staying at the Ambassador's residence taking care of their puppy/house sitting. Originally there were just going to be a few of us for X-mas dinner but a number of volunteers' plans fell through so I made dinner for about 8 of us. It was really nice. I made a ton of food; including a leg of lamb which I was very proud of and a delicious Peace Cobbler which was a definite hit. Sorry there aren't more pictures but my battery was dead and I forgot the charger. New Years was nice and simple; it was just me and one other volunteer at the Ambassador's. We played board games and drinking games and made Jello shot jigglers in x-mas shapes. That was cool.</p></ol> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> </p> <ol><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Note: Sorry; was gonna load pics from x-mas but they're too big...will do it when I'm not paying for internet :-); oh, and same for Egypt Pics</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">2. Supervisor Insanity:</p></ol> <ol><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">After the Holidays I headed back to site to find that my supervisor had lost her mind. She was always a generally nice person but never very personable. Not like the other nurses who'd invite me over and try to get to know me. I just assumed that she was someone who liked to keep to herself; but the day after the inauguration I learned that this was not the case. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">She'd offered to let me share her refrigerator at the clinic which I accepted. She's very weird about locking the fridge. I'm not sure who she thinks is going to steal her food but; yeah... anyhoo she had two keys. She gave me one and kept the other. The morning after the inauguration she sent me a txt message saying that she'd lost her key and would I bring her mine. At the time, I was in Maseru and sent her a message back letting her know where I was and that I would bring her the key as soon as I got back to the clinic. When I returned to the clinic and asked where she was, I was told she was busy with patients so I said I'd come back later. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Now; hindsight being 20/20 I could have just left the key with one of the other nurses but I didn't think of it. I had every intention of going back. I went to my house and promptly fell asleep. At about 4:30 I hear a knock at my door and it's one of the men from the clinic telling me that my supervisor wants to see me. I assume she wants her key back. I go to her door and immediately she starts yelling at me. Telling me that I've “disrespected” her by not returning her key when she asked for it. I won't go into it all but she yells at me to the point that I'm in tears and demands that I take my things out of her fridge. She tells me that she doesn't care if I'm sorry; nor does she care what I do with my food; when I point out to her that I don't have anywhere else to put it and that it will go bad. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I then leave her house in tears planning to take my food out of the fridge. One of the other nurses sees me and calls me into her house. I explain what happened and she goes to the Supervisor trying and smooth things over or at least figure out what really is wrong with this woman. That only makes the situation worse. My Supervisor storms into the other nurses house demanding her key and refuses to discuss it any further. The other nurses have no idea what to do. So, at this point I don't have my food and no way to get it. The next day, one of the nurses tells me that she talked to my Supervisor and convinced her to let me use the fridge until my food was gone. It all just gets worse from there. She began to treat me like a red-headed step child as my Mother might say. None of the project ideas that I present to her are approved. She began only speaking to me in Sesotho because apparently after being here for 8 months I should be able to speak to the language fluently. Peace Corps came out to talk to her but things never got better. Last week I made the final decision with my APCD (Assistant Peace Corps Country Director) to stop working at the clinic; at least until the new Supervisor starts in June. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The whole experience has been a bit of a nightmare. I feel like I was being a bit naïve thinking this woman was nice initially. I've always considered myself a pretty good judge of character but she just kinda came out of nowhere. I keep telling myself I need to focus on the good things happening at my site. Other things are going really well. My Library is coming along slowly but surely. I have a youth group that's also doing really well; I have a study group helping some of the High School students with English and I've started to work with World Vision. I'd really like to continue with my work and ideas for the clinic and it sucks that this woman is preventing me from doing that but I'm trying to be positive.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">3. Egypt:</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">After Peace Corps met with my evil Supervisor I was happy that my Egypt trip was just around the corner. It was definitely a world wind Adventure. I met the other folks at the Jo'burg airport and we took the red eye to Cairo. We arrived at about 5am and thought we would have some time to sleep a bit; but nope. We got our VISA's, headed for the hotel and went straight into the touring after discussing some additions to the tour. We pretty much saw everything you'd want to see in Egypt; swam in the Red Sea, ate some amazing food and had a great time. It was a little bitter sweet for me to see all my friends from Kenya only to say good-bye to them such a short time later; especially since they're all leaving Peace Corps Botswana in a few months time. But it was great to see them all. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Everyone keeps asking me what my favorite part of the trip was and I guess I'll have to go with seeing the Pyramids and riding the camels. I think I kept trying to convince myself that I wasn't dreaming the entire time. Here are a couple of pictures from the trip. I've posted the rest of them on flickr :<a href="http://flickr.com/photos/graci0us/sets/72157613873700795/"> Maya's Egypt Pics</a> and here are some pics from one of my other travel companions:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/egyptsls/"> Shannon's Pics</a> Enjoy!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">4. Back to Lesotho:</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Since I've been back from Egypt I've tried to get back to the grind of things. And like I've said before things are going okay. I do find myself staying in my little house more often than I should these days. It's hard when you don't have something that you're suppose to do every single day for a few hours. I need to push myself a bit more to get things done. I've made a list of all the stuff I wanna do and am trying to get back into my running/pilates routine again. I did go to Bloemfontein last weekend to try and be more social with the other volunteers. I had a good time watching movies and eating good food and I did get to know a few volunteers a bit better; so that was nice. Unfortunately, being in South Africa is a little like going back in time 60 years back home for me. I know there's still racism back in the States but it's a completely different story when you have to deal with it directly. I guess I've been a little naïve in that respect as well. </p></ol> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> Well; that's all for now. And I always say I'll try to write more often but now since I finally got the internet to work on my computer; it's a bit more likely. Hope everyone else is doing well back home. I miss you all!! </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">-Maya :-)</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p><meta equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><title></title><meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 2.4 (Win32)"><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --></style>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-56578582741006666662008-11-05T00:31:00.000-08:002008-11-05T00:58:19.108-08:00Proud to be an AmericanI've been anticipating this election for years now. I was invited by the U.S. Ambassador to Lesotho to an election party. Now of course in my head an election party consists of a bunch of people sitting around a television for a few hours monitoring the election results. This however was a different situation. I and a few other Volunteers arrived to find hundreds of people at the home of the Ambassador. We were served drinks and made to mingle...and if you know me you know this is one of my least favorite things to do. Ask Diane; it was like pulling teeth making me mingle when I was helping her out in the Judges race.<br /><br />So I spent a few hours standing around wishing I were in America with Family and Friends watching the election. The party eventually came to an end and about 5 of us decided to stay up for the rest of the night. You may have seen me online. I did however fall asleep around 2:30 but was pleasantly surprised when I woke up at 4:00am to find Obama was coming into a landslide victory.<br /><br />I still can't believe it. The United States President is Barack Obama. I can't imagine the home I will return to in 2 years time; after the Peace Corps. I know change will come slowly and I hope the rest of the world takes to heart the words that Obama spoke in his Victory Speech; that this is just the beginning and change will NOT happen over night. I hope he is given the time to make that change to and become; like he said; the President to all; even those that did not vote for him.<br /><br />I am so Proud to be an American. I'm so Proud to be an African American. I'm just so PROUD!Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-90214519740336750822008-09-20T07:54:00.000-07:002008-09-25T08:12:17.244-07:00New Baby and Favorite GirlOne of the Nurses at my clinic is amazing. Well; they're all pretty amazing but this particular one has taken in 3 orphans from different members of her family who've passed away. The eldest is 17 and just had a baby. I went to visit her in the hospital when she had the baby and took his first picture. Apparently the Basotho like to make people name their children. The Nurse gave me the honor. Lotta pressure naming a kid. Figured the first kid I'd name would be my own but I figured I'd give it a try.<br /><br />So; meet Samuel...Born September 5, 2008<br /><br /><div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249973468675568930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17ERSSA8hF2-fGKOrdQ4U8OYVJYMhM2_UR436TOZJn0PjUABCoKTLd-9nwbVkmgBBrHdBNqyAFU9CvEv6psM_rjXqlXgkLWX4Q475XF2jaahOUPdyjvbber3-1oBICOEimTQwXA/s320/IMG_0588+(Large).JPG" border="0" /><br />This is 1 Day old<br /><br /></div><div align="left"><br />This is by far my favorite kid EVER! </div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249975455255691458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkh0qpxNSrohSAKju50SdZxIYZOCm904pLPiUaQED2fj-uF76MKQInKpCj62H9meyEznA8c4KbQ2IHBXuR0ygg_Z0GcO_wrHZZ_tQ2DHTJfVFN3YtMVKe1ogQmHgKWB6fjYz21fg/s320/mPHO+(Large).JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Her name is Mpho which means gift in Sesotho and she is such a little gift. Every time she sees me she gives me that great smile of hers. It's funny; when I first got here she wouldn't even let me hold her hand so she wouldn't fall down. Now, when I come to visit she has to be distracted before I leave so she won't cry. She's such a cutie pie!!!</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249976058553412898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ELsmGFy-QkpBWma4X6awq7ESXnG77r8kPwJmAOk4joNrcqh8jWcKn5IBZhIvyRPzYmF5L2efTw2z-_GY9rjZiGrkIXPbW51A7RiJHH2q1n0dfgYt1JNU2SpNvL0X5mwz-I18PA/s320/mPHO2+(Large).JPG" border="0" />I might put her in my suitcase on my way home in 2 years:-)<br /><div></div></div>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-30289517639972538622008-08-19T07:40:00.000-07:002008-09-25T07:53:52.835-07:00Health Matters/A good DayI've been at my site now for a weeks 3 days and I think my body is rejecting Lesotho. I've had the runs since Saturday; my allergies are insane. I think I spent the entire day sneezing to no avail and my eczema is rejecting any form of lotion I give it.<br /><br /><div>I told my APCD when she was trying to choose a site for me to find one with lots of kids. So yesterday despite the fact that all of the above was going on I spent the day chasing around my twin four-year-old host brothers and their little friend. I think the people in my village think I'm crazy cause I chase small children around but I had fun! :-)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>These are my bo-abuti </div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249972051850446178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMDbjfjpfGgMP7tf4cv6EZhj8Qnjq3_fxCt0vzzBDD0QmWZ8hFGAe_mrQVoSa-9mQpRRahw8SM-KxcbBSBUWDPjLEtC9BgfcGmoa7ta5E0zTOLJmTinE79pqpHmGlLVeMAeS0BQ/s320/IMG_0599+(Large).JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-2268463557972189732008-08-17T07:32:00.000-07:002008-09-25T07:38:35.245-07:00RunningSo as most of you know I like to run but I haven't really run since I went home from Kenya for that few months and even then it wasn't much. While in Kenya I didn't really run because of the elevation and the elevation here is much greater but I've decided to give it a try.<br /><br />So, this morning one of the men that works at the clinic knocks on my door and says, “Tomorrow you will wake at 6:00am.” Perplexed, I asked him why; thinking that this was the time the outreach vehicle was leaving; but no, he wanted me to run with him. Now; this man runs on a regular basis; is about 6'4” and all legs. There is not way on this earth that I'd be able to keep up with him. But next week I start the running. Wish me luck and that I don't pass out/ have a major asthma attack.<br /><br /><br />UPDATE 9-25-08: Still not running. Got Bronchitis that was made even more fun by my asthma and the super dooper dryness of the climate here...give me a couple weeks :-)Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-8221927495355775082008-08-15T07:18:00.000-07:002008-09-25T07:31:55.028-07:00Race RelatonsLesotho is not a very diverse country; especially coming from the point of view of a San Franciscan. You have your expats; you might see some Afrikaans every now and again and many of the successful business owners are Indian or Chinese.<br /><br />The Basotho do not like the Chinese. Usually I would not make such a blanket statement but in this case I feel pretty confident in saying so. Today one of the Peace Corps Drivers came by house to drop off some things; among them a gas tank that needed to be filled. He took me to the “Chinese Shop” to fill the tank. Now this particular driver is a very nice, well educated man; so it came as a complete shock to me when we arrived at the store and before I even spoke to anyone he began to warn me about how difficult it is to communicate with “these people”. I spoke to the young woman behind the counter and the transaction went just fine but the entire time we were waiting the driver continued to talk badly as if the two young ladies tending the store weren't standing right in front of us. I tried to express my opinion the the man as loudly as possible so that all could hear but he just continued to berate. <br /><br />After paying for my gas a man put it on the truck for me and I waited outside for the driver. I wanted to go back in and apologize to the ladies. Tell them that I was sorry for what he'd said and let them know that I didn't share his opinions but a lot of me just thought they wouldn't have given a damn. The look at me and see another Masotho; not an American so what good would it have done.<br /><br />This wasn't the first time I'd experienced something like this. A couple of weeks before training was over I was in a Chinese owned internet cafe for a quick email check. A Masotho woman came in shortly after me and proceeded to ask me questions in Sesotho. After explaining to her in my broken Sesotho that I didn't speak the language very well she continued in English to explain that the only reason she came to this particular internet cafe is because the other one wasn't working and. She then went on the yell at the young man that was trying to help and complain that his Chinese computer was going to give her flash drive a virus. I was surprisingly calm throughout this entire exchange; even after she asked my age and then proceeded to tell me that she has a son my age that I could marry.<br /><br />I'm not entirely sure what the reason behind the hatred is. I think a lot of is it has to do with business sense. Many of the successful businesses in this country are owned by the Chinese. I have concluded that most of the Basotho businesses owners in this country don't really have a head for business or know how to compete in the business world. For example: In my training village; there were 2 general stores; essentially right across the street from one another. The sold exactly the same products for the same prices. They didn't really keep records of what they sold so they weren't keeping track of what sold well and what didn't. They just continued to by the same things. At one point when we were going around as a group getting to know the village we asked them about selling different things or slightly lowering their prices for more business. These concepts were completely foreign to them. I think it angers the Basotho that they are essentially giving their money away to the Chinese and Indian shop owners so in turn they treat them in this horrible manner that makes me wanna cry. I think I might have a big problem with this over the next two years. Not sure how to handle it. Any thoughts??Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-59111113167619889762008-08-06T07:04:00.000-07:002008-08-06T08:36:01.410-07:00It's Official...I'm a new volunteer...again. And here is Photographic evidence :-)<br /><div>Here are all of us as trainees right before we swore in...I think I'm looking a little confused.</div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231413582009721986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8uchd3f1TOZRRTn2WR5fZgljzR6Kp55LRQD_g33p0tlR88DshAGah1f6Et4tkNHoejg8Cz7cAbX9jm8XPBu9HL_FpIeDX_Q5bVTuVhX58FE5VUkPnLXbPgX-sd7NpU6z-Y4b5g/s320/Maya's+Pics+013.jpg" border="0" /> Here are all the ladies in our group. There are 17 women and only 6 men... <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRdhNIX5zYm33aEyFJH5-MqVgpsxxBU_5uy8-qvtPkmZeTglgefL65N2NiSz6a1RgMh7rtdWfTbO6oHBn2BkqmK54QzJD_0zhHePNHkrJ-AjwZ_4E2NZs74o7bjWFQmhySmGxRA/s1600-h/Maya's+Pics+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231420723691571218" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRdhNIX5zYm33aEyFJH5-MqVgpsxxBU_5uy8-qvtPkmZeTglgefL65N2NiSz6a1RgMh7rtdWfTbO6oHBn2BkqmK54QzJD_0zhHePNHkrJ-AjwZ_4E2NZs74o7bjWFQmhySmGxRA/s320/Maya's+Pics+012.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><br />Below are a few pics of another volunteers site. He will be working at Maliba Lodge. It's gorgeous. We spent the day there and hiked around for a few hours.</p><p></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BqE0PjY_IEWNYFlcuR5kJeXfYqOtR__LqWhoi0czaGmfyTmIxvLBsenlSQ9sQmrJfQxqOAu8h4X3r4ozl_SOl6CCFogsuIHRI1EfOq_Z7XEmboXJiNvTpynobiDKBidgSukRHw/s1600-h/Maya's+Pics+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231417785949237106" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BqE0PjY_IEWNYFlcuR5kJeXfYqOtR__LqWhoi0czaGmfyTmIxvLBsenlSQ9sQmrJfQxqOAu8h4X3r4ozl_SOl6CCFogsuIHRI1EfOq_Z7XEmboXJiNvTpynobiDKBidgSukRHw/s320/Maya's+Pics+005.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TeiZ1o0gAKcLNXccAT6B63wkC1oz3hqm284S69nWVkhMNPw1bDqS3nOoHQ5ff1Ji-BQ_TvFMMeQLg_Hus4vLTHC9qHAqdxqw1xgsYYZjs83Atb1XPgMhyucA3ISeP7AxiKoNZw/s1600-h/Maya's+Pics+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231417793092450706" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TeiZ1o0gAKcLNXccAT6B63wkC1oz3hqm284S69nWVkhMNPw1bDqS3nOoHQ5ff1Ji-BQ_TvFMMeQLg_Hus4vLTHC9qHAqdxqw1xgsYYZjs83Atb1XPgMhyucA3ISeP7AxiKoNZw/s320/Maya's+Pics+006.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5d52Nm2P_Mhl48SxTunX4DnxeLoTDLhDP8PckEpEDkaSY4eOcFTBg4cT91FmEtffEyC6fcBEslq6GkJr8QuDq3idNjT_-vncWh76M68c_SWOiAPAj-GGSWors0hlf446BGGQtgQ/s1600-h/Maya's+Pics+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231417781751087426" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5d52Nm2P_Mhl48SxTunX4DnxeLoTDLhDP8PckEpEDkaSY4eOcFTBg4cT91FmEtffEyC6fcBEslq6GkJr8QuDq3idNjT_-vncWh76M68c_SWOiAPAj-GGSWors0hlf446BGGQtgQ/s320/Maya's+Pics+001.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div>In my training village; this was my favorite little girl. She liked to greet me and ask a million questions. She would meet me after school, take my books; hold my hand and walk me home. She was so super sweet and always made my day; especially when I was having a bad one.</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSs7nLrOHxHgtYEdK99ytfO2r4A9DQQPikZ3zSGJjtiYeO2KvpL5fpByoY20mQpbSJBn5mA7SMiW58cvYwpHAKGks3JXYQNukEvSCsp037-K95vmc9mTYXW5JguYTX67KdVEcFuA/s1600-h/Maya's+Pics+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231422263946094146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSs7nLrOHxHgtYEdK99ytfO2r4A9DQQPikZ3zSGJjtiYeO2KvpL5fpByoY20mQpbSJBn5mA7SMiW58cvYwpHAKGks3JXYQNukEvSCsp037-K95vmc9mTYXW5JguYTX67KdVEcFuA/s320/Maya's+Pics+009.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div>And this is just a super cute picture of a super cute kid.<br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67Z_dZ6HPFedWo_vV5xglgi2FPYvB_iR7SBYajH07YutV13jX6A69mfF-1vxNRAN7YptKyT6vp4gadX35TqU1rxNqO2CuI3VAP9LEWHGgmjpNNFXoY20n5KeeeNo1OYwmK_4RVQ/s1600-h/Maya's+Pics+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231420730012154194" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67Z_dZ6HPFedWo_vV5xglgi2FPYvB_iR7SBYajH07YutV13jX6A69mfF-1vxNRAN7YptKyT6vp4gadX35TqU1rxNqO2CuI3VAP9LEWHGgmjpNNFXoY20n5KeeeNo1OYwmK_4RVQ/s320/Maya's+Pics+010.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div>That's all for now. My next entry will probably be after a few weeks in my village. Wish me luck!</div><div></div><div></div><div>-Maya aka Amohelang aka Mafusi<br /><br /></div><div></div>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-17525599188892569712008-08-06T00:00:00.000-07:002008-08-06T00:21:15.887-07:00Swearing In and the last few weeks...So, we swear in in just a couple of hours. I'm feeling ready to get this show on the road. I'm excited about my village and the work I'll be doing there.<br /><br />To catch up on a few things...."The Great Pants Rebellion" as I like to call it happened the week before we left our training villages. A group of us decided that we would take a hike to another training village to meet some of the other volunteers and innocently enough we thought we could wear jeans. As I and another volunteer were leaving my house we ran into a trainer who was less than please with the fact that we were not wearing skirts. At this point I was fed up with the situation. It's frickin cold here and wearing a skirt is not something I like doing; even back home. I refused to put on a skirt and walked away. My friend; not being as abrupt as I decided she'd at least tell the trainer that she would put a skirt on later. We weren't the only ones that decided to wear skirts that day. Once we got to the other village a few stragglers showed up in their skirt and told us that the trainer had marched them back to their homes and made them put on skirts before they could leave.<br /><br />It was sooo blown out of proportion. I just have to say; the women in America have it easy when it comes to this sort of thing. Mind you when I first started writing this blog I was a lot more excitedly angry about the situation. We had an end of training interview with our Country Director and Assistant Country Director yesterday and I completely forgot about it. Oh the drama.<br /><br />We took our language tests a couple of days and everyone passed. I didn't pass in Kenya so that's saying something about this crazy Sesotho language. It did seem a bit easier to me.<br /><br />I went to site visit and got a new name...I don't like though...they call me Mafusi...I think that's how you spell it. I have about 7 siblings and the last born were twins so Mafusi means after the twins...I like Amohelang better.<br /><br />I'm off to swear in and hopefully will be able to post some pictures later today. I know I've been promising that for some time now but it will happen one of these days. I hope everyone is doing well. I'll write again soon.<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />MayaMayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-11194664189283033382008-07-18T06:47:00.000-07:002008-07-18T06:54:09.873-07:00HI ALLSome of you might have expecting a post entitled "The Great Pants Rebellion of 2008!!" Unfortunately I did not have the time to finish it nor do I have the time to do it right now; but I did find out my site today. I will be working with a Clinic for Orphans and Vulnerable children near the capital of maseru. I'm very excited!! I will post more later.<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />AmohelangMayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-80900282835195862072008-06-29T03:36:00.000-07:002008-06-29T03:39:09.705-07:00Just A quick NoteHi All,<br /><br />This is just a quick note to let you know that I'm doing well. I just got back from a site visit with a current volunteer. The travel was a pain in the bum but brought back memroies from Kenya. Life here is going to be very similar to life in Kenya. <br /><br />There is going to be a taxi strike starting tomorrow so I may not get to post for a couple of weeks. My computer time is running out but I love you all and will try to write again soon, with pictures hopefully.<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Amohelang :-)Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-12997087267556253242008-06-21T02:55:00.000-07:002008-06-21T03:07:18.387-07:00Thoughts from Amohelang...Whoever had the idea of a tin roof should be shot. I'm typing this blog to the VERY LOUD sound of hail falling on the tin roof above me. I'm also noticing that all of the places that the roof leaks are conveniently located around the bed and not over the bed. That's nice.<br /><br />I've been in the training village for about a week now and despite my earlier complaining; it's been a really amazing experience. My host family is awesome. I have two host sisters (ausi or bo-ausi for the plural); one is 15 named Lindy and the other 9 named Andile. Lindy has helped me out so much with the whole language barrier thing and despite what she thinks speaks nearly perfect English. My host Mom or 'M'e (May) is great as well. She cooks things a little on the salty side but other than that is awesome. Starting tomorrow we'll be cooking for ourselves so that will be nice. I think it amuses my 'M'e that I look like her but can't speak the language. I also have a few brothers (abuti or bo-abuti) that I rarely see. One is 12 and seems to pop up every now and again but the others are either out tending to the livestock or away at college. So; I haven't really met them.<br /><br />This culture is definitely a lot different from the Kenyan one that I got use to. Women; although they still get the short end of the stick culture wise seem to be the ones that get the educations. Men are relied on to tend to livestock at a pretty young age and yes the women are expected to stay home and take care of the kids, clean the house etc... but the young girls get to go to school more often than not and have an opportunity to attend college and make something of themselves. It's pretty interesting; especially when I compare it to the experience that I had in Kenya where women weren't educated because “it is a waist of money to pay for an education for someone who is going to be married off to another family.” as I was told.<br /><br />They focus a lot more on the language here in training than they did in Kenya. Which is definitely a good thing with all the clicks and pops they got going on. My new Sesotho name is Amohelang (AAMOOHAYLANG) which I believe means “we are greatful/thankful to receive” and I'm told it is a very special name by all who greet me. <br /><br />In about a week or so we will be doing a site visit to a current PCV's site for a few days just to see what they do and how things work. There are several field trips planned for us to go build key-hole gardens (Lesotho's take on Kenya's sack garden; which I think is a way better idea; the key-hole; not the sack) and work with communities. I actually like the structure of the Lesotho training a lot better than Kenya. There is more hands on work. They don't just say hey you're going to do ABC and then send you off to your site they actually have you implement ABC before you leave.<br /><br />Training is hard and it still sucks for the most part that I'm having to do it again; but I am learning some new things and the experience isn't terrible. I know that still sounds bad but that's the gist of it. I'm not terribly home sick but I would like a phone call every now and then! I sent out an email with my number. Also, here's a website you can go to to get pretty cheap calling cards...http://www.phonecardsmile.com/search/Lesotho/-.html. <br /><br />I was going to attempt to load pictures onto my blog today but unfortunately forgot the cord that connects the camera to the computer... so that will have to wait until next time. I love you all and hope everything is going swell for all.<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />AmohelangMayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-8879961766586101042008-06-14T05:28:00.000-07:002008-06-14T05:55:37.184-07:00Off to a new host family...Tomorrow we leave for our host families in Lesotho and will be staying with them for the next 6 weeks. I'm excited about having my own little space. The training center here sleeps about 6 people to a room. And not a very big room at that. It's been kinda like being at camp for the last week; especially with the cold. I expected it to be cold all the time here since its winter but it's only cold in the mornings and at night; which definitely has it's ups and downs.<br /><br />In our training villages; instead of having a room in the home of our host families; we actually have a house to ourselves on the compound of the family that's hosting us; where we will eventually be doing all the things we'd be doing at our site. I think this is a much better idea than what Kenya did because it forces the trainees to fend for themselves early on and make the mistakes in training that we had to make by ourselves in Kenya. Basically during our training time in Kenya everything was done for us so it was a lot harder to fend for ourselves when we went off to our own little villages.<br /><br />For the most part; I'm seeing this as a nearly identical experience to the one I had in Kenya. I have noticed many similarities to Kenya here but the culture is somewhat different and I imagine that I will learn a lot of new things about this country and its people. I am looking foward to it now. It still gnaws at me sometimes that I'm having to do the training over BUT I did talk to the trainers and it looks like I will be able to help out in trainings in areas in which I don't need the training as well as work on language during times in which I can't assist but have had the training that the other volunteers are getting. That makes things not seem so bad. I'll let ya know how it actually turns out though.<br /><br />We come back to Maseru about once a week; so I should be able to post at least that often. And by this time next week I will apparently have a new name; so I'll let you know what that will be. I hope everyone is doing well!!<br /><br />-Maya :-)Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-42447954843838221632008-06-08T01:31:00.000-07:002008-06-08T02:05:08.465-07:00LesothoI arrived in Lesotho about 2 days ago... I believe... my mind can't really keep up on what day it is at the moment. <br /><br />I keep looking at the small city of Maseru where I'm staying and trying to compare it to Kenya and my experiences there. There are a lot of similarities to Kenya but for the most part the place is very different. Much smaller than Kenya for one. Definitely fewer people. I think there are probably fewer people in the capital here than there were in the small town of Oyugis near my site in Kenya.<br /><br />Training so far has not been too torturous but we don't really start working on anything major until tomorrow. It does sound like they're not going to force me to re-learn the information that I already know. I think I'll be able to spend my extra time studying the language which will be nice because the language of Sesotho is much harder than Swahili. There are clicks involved!! Which I'm really not getting the hang of so far.<br /><br />My training group is pretty cool as well. Everyone seems pretty excited to be here and taking all of it in. I don't know if panic hasn't set in for me because I've done this all before or if it's just lingering in the back ground; but so far so good. <br /><br />I did manage to get a cell phone sim card. I sent an email with all the info on how to call me. I look forward to hearing from folks!! I'll try to send another update soon.<br /><br />-Maya :-)Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-35042249768685444202008-06-04T01:01:00.000-07:002008-06-04T01:02:23.692-07:00Peace Corps: Take Two<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So; I've taken the plunge. I'm officially a Peace Corps Trainee...again. The Staging experience was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. It actually wasn't bad at all. For the most part I did know everything that was going to happen before it did but I tried to put a good spin on it all and actually got some enjoyment out knowing more than the others did. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My training group is much smaller this time around. There are only 23 of us. 17 girls and 6 boys. Classic to the Peace Corps ratio on things. It definitely gives me a different perspective. My first training group started out with 50 and I'm not sure how many of them I really got to know. After being in Kenya for a while I tried pulling memories of my fellow trainees out of my head from staging and many of them that had grown to be my closest friends; I couldn't place. This time I feel like I've really gotten to know the majority of the people here.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So now the next step is the 17 hour 40 minute plane ride to Lesotho. I don't know that I'll be getting internet access anytime soon so this will probably be the last you'll be hearing from me for a while. So before I go I just want to say thanks to all of my family and friends for putting up with me. For putting up with my depression over Kenya and supporting me when I said I wanted to go back to Africa. I know many of the things I do are pretty crazy in a lot of peoples eyes and many of you wish that I'd just settle down in one place for a while and perhaps some day I will.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">On a side note: As many of you know during my time at home I'd been helping Diane with her campaign for Superior Court Judge in Santa Clara County. Well; as of 3:35AM EST she is in the lead with 27.49% of the vote; with her closest competitor only holding 18.85% of the vote. So; she'll definitely be in the run off in November. So; if you live in Santa Clara County VOTE DIANE RITCHIE FOR JUDGE NOVEMBER 2008!!! Congratulations Diane!! I'm very proud. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">So back to Lesotho. We're going to be spending a night in Johannesburg, SA before our final flight to Maseru. There might be a chance of internet access there but I'm thinking I might just wanna lie down or run on a treadmill for a while. Sitting for that long is gonna suck.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I'm definitely not nervous; like I was for Kenya. It's kinda nice feeling a bit more prepared. I'm just hoping this experience works out a bit better for me. Thanks again everybody and I'll see you all in 27 MONTHS!!</p>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-31579659744545315782008-04-04T17:48:00.000-07:002008-04-04T18:23:45.005-07:0076 Days...<p class="MsoNormal">For the last 76 days I’ve been waiting.<span style=""> </span>Waiting and praying for something to happen.<span style=""> </span>For peace to reign over <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Kenya</st1:country-region></st1:place>, perhaps?<span style=""> </span>To return to my little village and my little house with the tin roof that leaks.<span style=""> </span>To play with my little kitten who by now is no longer a kitten and is probably actually catching those chickens she enjoyed chasing so much.<span style=""> </span>I dreamed and prayed of returning to this place but today I made a decision that means I will not be returning to this place and will most likely travel to another location still unknown to me.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Most likely it will be Lesotho/South Africa because my friend Jen; smart woman that she is did a little internet search while I was having my nervous breakdown about the Peace Corps making me make the decision between being reinstated into Kenya and re-enrollment into a new country yet to be named.<span style=""> </span>And of course they wouldn’t tell me the name of the country I could potentially go to.<span style=""> </span>That; ladies and gentlemen would have been way too easy.<span style=""> </span><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What was I talking about again?<span style=""> </span>Oh yeah; Jen she went into searchenjen mode and found someone’s blog who is leaving for Peace Corps on June 2<sup>nd</sup>; the date that they gave me and they are going to Lesotho so it is logical to make the assumption that that's where I'd be going.<span style=""> </span>Now; of course there still is the chance of this not being the location I end up going to but I’m going with it for now.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I guess my decision to go somewhere else; instead of continuing to wait for <st1:country-region st="on">Kenya</st1:country-region> had a lot to do with the fact that I know going back to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kenya</st1:place></st1:country-region> won’t be all of those things I prayed for and dreamed about.<span style=""> </span>The experience will be so far from my dreams; that to be honest the idea of going back depresses me.<span style=""> </span>The chances of me going back to my site are pretty much non-existent and the chance of violence erupting again still exists and reading articles online makes that fact clearer to me everyday.<span style=""> </span>I really don’t want to put my family and friends through thinking something terrible might happen to me again.<span style=""> </span>I know they want me to be happy and continue on with what I want but despite the fact that I was fine while in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kenya</st1:place></st1:country-region> I was in fact one decision away from being one of those people that had to be evacuated by helicopter.<span style=""> </span>And who knows; had I been at the center of the violence like so many of my friends were; I may not be so gung-ho about going back now.<span style=""> </span>I definitely left a piece of my heart…and my kitten in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kenya</st1:place></st1:country-region> but now I guess it’s time for me to move on.</p>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-20596220738204896012008-03-18T09:44:00.000-07:002008-03-18T09:45:22.010-07:0059 Days...<p class="MsoNormal">59 Days…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I’ve been home now for almost 2 months now.<span style=""> </span>I haven’t written for several reasons, I suppose.<span style=""> </span>The main one being that I simply didn’t want to complain about something that has become clear to me that most people won’t understand.<span style=""> </span>Everyone… ok; not everyone but many; have at least given me the impression that I should be happy to be home; happy that I’m not in that horrid country being shot at (I will state this many times over; I was no where near the violence! Never even heard a gun shot.<span style=""> </span>Probably a better chance of me being shot in Hunters Point in SF) living without running water and electricity.<span style=""> </span>This; I don’t handle well.<span style=""> </span>I was happy in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kenya</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""> </span>I was happy in my little village helping the people and beginning to make a difference.<span style=""> </span>I miss them.<span style=""> </span>I miss my cat Lola.<span style=""> </span>I even miss my choo (pit latrine); ok, not that much.<span style=""> </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kenya</st1:place></st1:country-region> will always be this unfinished place in my heart.<span style=""> </span>I will always feel like I deserted it and should have fought harder to get back to it while at the same time I feel lucky that I’ll be able to go back anywhere at all.<span style=""> </span>As many of you may recall when we were being evacuated from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kenya</st1:place></st1:country-region>; we were told that we had 4 options during this whole mess.<o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">(1) Direct Transfer – This is where we would leave <st1:country-region st="on">Kenya</st1:country-region> and go straight to another country in <st1:place st="on">Africa</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>The idea of this only appealed to a few; I being one of them.<span style=""> </span>But I inevitably changed my mind.<span style=""> </span>A decision I have wondered for the last 2 months if it was the right one.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">(2) Reinstatement – This is where we go home and wait for <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kenya</st1:place></st1:country-region> to calm down and when/if that happens we could return.<span style=""> </span>Most people opted for this.<span style=""> </span><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">(3) Re-enrollment – This is where we return home and re-enter the Peace Corps; not necessarily from the beginning but it might as well be.<span style=""> </span>It’s kind of a smack in the face to be honest; but I’m thinking positively.<span style=""> </span>This is the option I chose. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">And finally (4) Completion of Service – This is where you say, “Screw Peace Corps I’m Out!!”; not exactly but you get the point.<span style=""> </span>Surprisingly enough; at least to me, many people took this route.<o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">No one bothered to mention to any of us that there was a chance that we couldn’t be invited back for reinstatement back to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kenya</st1:place></st1:country-region> or that there was a chance that we would not be allowed to Re-Enroll.<span style=""> </span>I’ve considered suggesting to my friend that this has happened to that she sue.<span style=""> </span>I think she has a pretty good case; but I am biased.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As for me I’ve been Re-Enrolled; but I don’t know where I’m going.<span style=""> </span>There is an opportunity for me to go to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Zambia</st1:place></st1:country-region> which would be great but I have to be medically cleared first which might even happen this week.<span style=""> </span>This excites me.<span style=""> </span>But what sucks is; if I don’t get the post in <st1:country-region st="on">Zambia</st1:country-region> then I will have to wait until late July to go to another country in <st1:place st="on">Africa</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>At this point I can’t complain because at least I’m getting to go somewhere.<o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Things in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kenya</st1:place></st1:country-region> continue to flounder.<span style=""> </span>I was excited a few weeks ago to hear that Kofi Annan helped broker a power sharing agreement between Kibaki and Odinga but there doesn’t seem to be any real progress stemming from this agreement; just more conflict.<span style=""> </span>I know the country will eventually calm down but I definitely wouldn’t count on that happening anytime soon; although I still pray that it might.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As for now I continue to work with Diane on her campaign for Judge.<span style=""> </span>At least I can be of use to someone while I’m stressing out over this whole situation.<span style=""> </span>I’ll probably do some traveling; thinking about going to visit Marc & Shanta when they come back to the States in Philly and might go to Portland to visit my Aunt and cousin.<span style=""> </span>That’s about all for now; I’ll try to update my Blog more often but I’m not making any promises.<span style=""> </span>This is all a very depressing situation for me and I don’t really want to discuss it or bore the rest of you with my stories.<span style=""> </span>But if something good happens you all will be the first to hear…or read about it rather.<span style=""> </span>:-) <span style=""> </span></p>Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-52761320803432635142008-02-19T21:49:00.000-08:002008-02-19T21:50:20.121-08:00I will write something soon.... I swear!! :-)Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28924458.post-23306879824316662132008-01-13T06:18:00.000-08:002008-01-14T06:23:02.471-08:00I have been trying to write a blog for ages now. I’ll start on something that I find interesting or think you guys might find interesting; like the fact that I had to climb out of a matatu window because there were two touts (dudes that take your fare) fighting in the matatu and the car was so old that getting the door open was pretty much impossible. The Kenyans laughed at all of us as we climbed out of the window but we thought to ourselves, “They’ll probably be doing the same thing if the touts don’t calm down and someone doesn’t manage to get the door open”. The touts continued to fight as we went on our merry way. For all I know they’re still in that matatu arguing about Lord knows what.<br /><br />I was in a tiny town near Nairobi for a little over two weeks with four other volunteers. Half of that time was planned because we wanted to be there for Christmas. The next phase of our plan was to head to Kisumu for New Years Eve; but as you all well know that didn’t happen. After our two weeks at the site near Nairobi the Peace Corps moved four of the five of us into a part of Nairobi called Westlands. Westlands is kinda like being back home. There are big apartment buildings and hotels; malls and lots of diversity. One of the only differences is that there are about a million cab drivers trying to get you to use their cab when all you want to do is find the internet café that’s probably only about 50 feet away. <br /><br />We spent 2 nights in Nairobi and arrived in Nyeri; (a town near Mt. Kenya) on the 10th. <br />Peace Corps moved all of the volunteers that can’t go back to their sites (mainly those of us with sites in the western part of Kenya and some in Rift Valley) and weren’t evacuated to Tanzania or Uganda here. We’re staying in a very nice hotel with probably what I would consider the best food I’ve had in Kenya thus far. I am enjoying it a great deal. Maybe I’ll put back on some of that weight I’ve lost.<br /><br />At the Hotel we’re doing several things…well the Peace Corps is making us do several things; I assume so that we don’t go stark raving mad. It’s mostly busy work; such as revising the Peace Corps Kenya welcome book and other documents that we complain about all the time and of course language classes which I was not so keen on in the beginning but have since changed my mind. Now I’ll get to learn some KSL (Kenyan Sign Language) which I am excited about.<br /><br />So, since I’ve stopped and started many a bog entry over the last couple of weeks I thought I’d just throw in some stuff from each entry and let you all enjoy my randomness…<br /><br />December 30, 2007:<br />Being in Kenya at the moment is a bit surreal. At home you tend to listen to the radio and watch the news and feel so far removed from all the bad things going on in the world. In most cases I would just say how sad things are and simply move on because none of it’s directly happening to me. It’s a bit surreal being here. We’re in a safe place and we have all of the amenities that we need such as electricity and running water (most of the time) as well as all the movies we can watch and computers with DVD players to watch them on. And I kinda have that feeling of being removed from the situation because though it is all happening around me I’m still an American and the violence is not right outside my door and there’s always that assurance that I can go home anytime I want to because this place isn’t my home. Though that makes me that much sadder about the experience my colleagues back at my site are going through. This IS there home this IS where they have to stay. They can’t just get on a plane and go somewhere where everything is fine.<br /><br />As for those of you that don’t know what’s going on I’ll give you the quick and dirty of it all. On December 27th there was a Presidential election in Kenya. The two biggest candidates were Mwai Kibaki (the previous and technically current president of the country from the kikuyu tribe) and Raila Odinga (from the Luo tribe).<br /><br />The majority of the Kenyans that I’ve encountered wanted Odinga to win. They were ready for a change in the country. As you may know based on my previous blogs many of the people in Kenya that hold government positions or power positions in general are corrupt. Many of them obtained their jobs through bribery, lies and schemes and continue to do those things in order to keep their positions. One of the biggest things that surprised me when election time came around was the blatant outright ways in which the politicians would bribe the people. <br /><br />One day I was walking through my little village and kept seeing large crowds of people just milling around waiting. I asked one of the Mama’s what was going on and she explained that a politician was coming to speak to them and the main reason they were all waiting was because the politician was also going to hand out hundred shilling bills. What I found very strange about this fact was that all of the politicians did this and all of the villagers came and collected the money from each and every politician. I finally asked someone who they would vote for if they were accepting money from all of the politicians and they simply said, “Oh; whoever gives me the most money will get my vote.” All I can really say to that is; WOW!! I could never have imagined it if I hadn’t seen it all with my own eyes.<br /><br />January 1, 2008:<br />New years was a bit of a bust, to say the least. We couldn’t go anywhere or do anything. We ended up spending the night listening to the BBC, hoping to hear any news on the election madness. At around 11:45pm we all decided we couldn’t stay out of bed for fifteen more minutes so we all got in bed. I was the official time keeper and yelled out “HAPPY NEW YEAR” at midnight. I think we were all asleep about 5 minutes later.<br /><br />January 1, 2008:<br />Something about tribalism/racism that I didn’t get in America and that I definitely don’t get here is; well, here everyone really IS the same. I know that’s kind of a childish naïve statement to make but I feel like it’s true. At least in terms of looks; for the most part everyone looks the same. Same hair, same skin color (although they tend to differentiate between shades of brown), same eyes; but the hatred that they seem to have for one another definitely equates, in my opinion to that of the KKK and the Black Panthers and I just simply cannot wrap my head around it. <br /><br />Different tribes traditionally did different things to survive and lived in different parts of the country. I’m not sure how deep the animosity ran between them before their colonization by the British but I’ve been told by many Kenyan’s that Kibaki’s tribesmen (the Kikuyu’s) were favored by the British for some reason. They obtained more land and were able to make better lives for themselves and their families while many of the other tribes suffered. After independence in 1963 the new President (Kenyatta) chose not to serve the country as a whole but to give preferential treatment to his tribe, again the Kikuyu’s. They are the largest tribe in Kenya.<br /><br />The people of Kenya look at what has happened in the country in terms of development and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the areas in which Kikuyu’s live are much more developed than any others. All of the other tribes are angry because they feel like it’s their time to benefit and they believed that Raila Odinga; the opposition candidate was going to bring about change.<br /><br />January 5, 2008:<br />I just got an update on the towns nearest my village and things are apparently not so good. There are no vehicles going in or out of the towns due to road blocks and lack of fuel which means that there is no food coming into the towns. They haven’t seen bread since the day of the election and rice that should cost 20/- costs 200/-. And I know it’s probably the last thing I should worry about but now I’m concerned that my cat’s not going to get any food because she was left with one of the teachers on the compound and if they’re not able to get basic food I doubt they will feed her or be able to for that matter.Mayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506024128308255559noreply@blogger.com4