photos!

ansel... building sandcastles - some kids never grow up

REDES Workshop! the girls doing a impromptu skit

REDES Workshop! some of the girls describing their income generation project

Lua and her babies!

cuties!! 

so... whats next?

Life update;

I am back at site after the REDES Workshop that happened this past weekend in Homoine, Inhambane Province. It was a really great success- good venue, good food, and great informational sessions. I really think that the girls, and the PCV’s involved in it had a nice time. 

It was a hectic few weeks leading up to the preparation of it, but once it happened it was all worth it.

I don't know if you all remember the post I wrote about last year’s Workshop, and the debacle that it was- this year was a complete and total shift for the positive. I’m hoping to get some pictures of it to post on here, and will try to write a blog describing what happened in greater detail, I just wanted to keep you informed that it had happened, and that it was a success! 

So what’s going on here is that I was selected for PST (pre-service training) to be a visiting volunteer. My week is week 7, where I will be talking about the GAAC program and HIV – fitting considering my 3^rd year job description. It is also site announcement week, so I will be able to know who I will be living with in the North, and can start the foundation for the PC/PCVL relationship there! I will be in Namaacha for this from July 13th to July 20^th for this training. 

My original date to leave site was July 28, to be in Maputo to go through the medical processes and such before I move north to Quelimane and start my work with ICAP. However, it didn’t make much sense to me to leave site until the 20th, to come back and be here another 7 days before returning to Maputo. … So, I will be living in Maputo (possibly with a friend, or a hotel) for about 2-3 weeks working with ICAP, and Peace Corps until the 22ers swear-in. From there I will fly north to Nampula with the newly sworn-in volunteers to assist with their Supervisors Conference.

From there, I will bus down to Quelimane, where I will be living in temporary housing, until around the 9^th of September when the current PCV posted there leaves.

I have just under 7 weeks until I leave Quissico. In that time I have to close out some projects here, make my rounds to say goodbye to all of my friends/family I have made here over the past two years, figure out what to pack to go north, give Lua away to another PCV, find a home for her puppies (she had 4 of them) and just try to stay mentally sane through all of this.

I am really really really looking forward to this third year extension, the work will be incredible, and I get to explore a whole other part of this beautiful country. However, it is really starting to sink in, that while I will still be living in Mozambique. . . I wont be here in Quissico, in my little reed hut that I’ve turned into a home, with my dog, my friends, and the life that I have grown to love (even though at times I am absolutely frustrated with it). 

The plan is to spend as much time here as possible before I leave, just trying to soak it all in.

That's all for now.

xo

Brother Comes to Mozambique

Good Morning Everyone!

Well, well, well. . . it has been a crazy few weeks, and it will continue to be an equally as hectic time until I finally move up to Quelimane. 

Ansel’s visit has come and gone. It is amazing how 2 weeks can just FLY by. One minute I was picking him up at the airport (ok, it was more like I body-tackled him with excitement) and the next I was putting him on the bus to Maputo so he could catch his plane!

together after almost 2 years!

I met him without problem on the 11^th of May, unfortunately his bag didn't make his connecting flight – so we spent an impromptu night in Maputo with one of my friends. It was a lovely night filled with delicious food, and pleasant conversation. I think it was good for him to start getting on Mozambique time, and it gave him an opportunity to meet some of my friends and see a bit of the city.

The next morning we went back to the airport where his bag was waiting for us, and we were able to get it with little problem. From there we took a taxi out to the city limits, and hitchhiked north to Macia. In Macia we stayed with some of my good friends- and it gave Ansel a chance to see a bit of a town in the Gaza Province, and to see how PCV’s have fun! We did a ‘barraca’ hop- which means we went to 4 different ‘bars’ and had beers at each one. Playing card games, pool, and just joking around with friends. . . couldn't ask for a better way to spend a Monday Funday.

The next day we worked our way to Quissico, where we had a nice dinner with the boys, and took it easy for the evening. From the 13^th until the 21^st we were at my site here. Here he was able to; meet my neighbor-family, meet Tia Julia and her family, see how my community organization holds meetings, go to the lagoon, eat delicious food (matapa, feijao, couve, chicken etc)- and even took a day trip adventure with my sitemate Kevin to Xai Xai (a big city in the Gaza province) while I was stuck at the hospital all day.

From site, we went north to Inhambane City where we stayed with another PCV friend, and were able to go to Tofo Beach during the day, and see a bit of the city by night. On the morning of Friday the 23^rd, I put him on the 4am bus from Inhambane City to Maputo, where my PCV friend hosted him for the evening, because I had to go to Homoine for the REDES Workshop, and unfortunately I could not accompany him to the airport.

ahh... the chapa's in mozambique. lovely memories

All in all, a very simple but still, quite a lovely visit. I hope that he enjoyed his time here, as much as I enjoyed having him here. I am very thankful for all of the PCV’s that put us up during our travels… I couldn't ask for better friends!

He made it safely back to DC, where my mom picked him up and they drove back to Pittsburgh.

Miss you already buddy!

-xoxo, sis

REDES, COS and BO pt. 2

So… COS conference. Close of Service. A time for all the volunteers in my group to get together one last time, recap our service, talk about our successes/failures, reminisce a bit about how far we have come, start thinking about life in America, and have a chance to say one final goodbye.

Its strange that it happens about 90 days before our actual leave dates, but I suppose that's logistically the better way to do things. During our conference we talked a lot about the logistics of getting back home; plane tickets, reestablishment allowances, career services etc …. All very helpful for those who are actually going home. (to be clear, I will not have another COS conference, this was it for me – I just have to remember all of this information for another year hah).

We were put up in one of the nicest hotels in Maputo, which was AWESOME! After a week of staying at Base Backpackers (not a bad place) and then a weekend at an ex-pat’s house (USAid worker) it was like the cherry on a sundae to stay at the place we did. It was a beautiful spot, located at a great place in the city, accessible to many things, and the conference was held right there.

We had full days everyday, and were privy to many guest speakers- mainly RPCV’s (returned peace corps volunteers) who shared their experiences, how returning to the states was for them, and what they have been involved with since leaving their country of service. Again, all very interesting, and awesome- just doesn't really apply to me at this point in my service.

One of the best parts of the conference for me, was a visit from the CDC representative for the GAAC program (the work that I will be doing in my 3^rd year in Quelimane). We had a great brainstorming session with all of the volunteers who have been involved with this program throughout our service. It was an information download for the CDC about what actually is happening in the field, and a mini-venting session for the PCV’s to express our frustrations and the numerous problems that arise with this well-meaning program.

We were able to get a basic form for the toolkit that I will be working on this next year, and we have started to compile information to help create it. The toolkit will be distributed to each hospital/health center that has ARV’s (antiretroviral treatment). It will hopefully be something implemented nationwide, with the help of volunteers, and their counterparts – to create a sustainable and lasting program for those who take HIV medications. This next year, you all will be hearing more about how its going. For now, just know that I am very excited about this possibility, and that the work has already started!

Of course, when you get Moz 18 together, you know that there will be some great times. Nights out at the karaoke bar, playing pool at the cheep beer spot, dancing our butts off at a live music venue – it was a great going away party every night.

Moz 18, enjoying some drinks at a nice spot!

During many of the sessions, I felt that they weren’t really applicable to me because they were all about reintegration into the United States, saying goodbye to our homes here etc. I would sit there and think “I am not leaving yet, so this doesn't really matter”… and then it hit me- though I am not leaving Mozambique, I AM leaving Quissico, my home here, my friends, and life as I know it here in Mozambique. I’m about to move to a big city, have an actual job/internship, and start my professional life. Life IS going to change for me. Just maybe not as drastically.

Some food for thought.

Last weekend was Beer Olympics at Tofo Beach! I’m not going to go into too much detail about what happened, but know that it was a great time. Health volunteers vs. Education volunteers here in the south. Health won (obviously) and it was a wonderful weekend of sun, surf, friends and beer. Health team- we can do this ALL DAY!

game faces? sadly mine is not as intimidating.

So my life has been busy since COS conference. I have returned to site on Sunday, and jumped right back into work, planning the REDES Workshop (May 24-25), getting work done for CCS, starting to work on this Toolkit for the GAAC program, and just everyday hustle and bustle here in Quissico. My brother gets in around 11am on Sunday the 11^th, so this weekend I have to travel back to Maputo to get him (sighhhhh). But its all totally worth it to have him here.

Cant wait to toss him in the back of a truck, hitchhiking.

Its been a shocking and rather frustrating day – on my walk to the hospital this morning the small puppy that has sort of adopted Lua and I followed me the entire way, and right as I was entering the road to the hospital, he was run down by a car. His small body was just thrown clear across the road, landing right at my feet, and the car continued on its way. Shocking, terrifying, saddening, disgusting. Just a river of emotions tore through me at that moment. RIP little puppy, you were so cute and compeltely adored by both Lua and I. 

I walked into the hospital, very shaken at what I had just witnessed, unsure of what to do – only to find that the entire CCS team was gone, and that NO ONE LEFT ME THE KEYS to the office. Even though I specifically asked them to yesterday. I have lots of work to do. And cant really do it unless I’m in the office, with all of the documents, paperwork and materials. Frustrating. So. . . . I collected myself the best I could, and walked myself right over to Tia Julia’s shop. She immediately served me some tea, and I have been sitting here since, writing blog posts, and working on my other assignments from my computer, chatting with her now and then and just trying to calm myself from a rather traumatic morning. Sigh…. Life in Mozambique, never boring.

Well kids… I suppose that's all for now.

xo –

t

REDES, COS and BO

It has been a busy few weeks here in Mozambique… so I think that these blog posts will be broken up between a few of them.

I was in Maputo, the capital city from April 20^th, to May 1^st working with the REDES program, and then participating in my COS (close of service) conference with Peace Corps. Afterwards, I traveled to Tofo beach, where I participated in the annual Beer Olympics that we hold between volunteers. Since then it has been a very busy week here at site, lots of work to do, and trying to get things ready for my brothers visit. He will be here on Sunday, around 11am!! How exciting. It has just been a whirlwind of visits from the states, which is never a bad thing.

Ok, so I will start with the REDES meeting and go from there.

Along with ongoing REDES activities, a major initiative this year has been the process of registering Rapariga em Desenvolvimento, Educação e Saúde (REDES) as a formal Mozambican association. And a few weeks ago in Maputo, the Assembléia Geral of REDES the Association held its first meeting! The registration process is still ongoing, but the three-day meeting put REDES well on its way to association status.


At the meeting, the founding board members drafted a constitution and submitted all of the supporting documents to the Ministério da Justiça. Within two to three weeks, we should hear from the Ministério about any changes that need to be made, and after a little more bureaucracy, the provisional estatuto (constitution) will be published in the Boletim da Republica.

Along with drafting and submitting the necessary legal documents, the Assembléia and PCV leaders (myself, Wendy, Lee and Anna) discussed the form that the Association's leadership will take and began to formulate a plan to transfer leadership from PCVs to the Assembléia over the coming year. In order to facilitate the eventual transfer of leadership from PCVs to the Assembléia, it is crucial that we work closely together over the coming year. All future planning calls will include both PCVs and board members, and we ask that both sides of the leadership work in pairs in all planning activities.

the ladies, hard at work at the office- revising our constitution 

In reflection of the multiple structural changes REDES has gone through this year, we have decided to change the structure of REDES leadership a bit. The REDES project is in the midst of transforming itself into a Mozambican-led association and PCVs that are interested in becoming part of the REDES team must be willing to work with 11 HCN founding board members (composing the Assemblea Geral) to support the process of “legalization.” Despite these new mudancas (changes) towards official association status, PCVs will continue to play an important role in the management and growth of REDES. Each leadership position will have new responsibilities to coordinate with their HCN counterpart on the Assemblea Geral.

Members of the Assembléia will also participate both in voting for the coming year's PCV leadership and in June's leadership handover in Nampula.

We are all very excited for the many benefits this new form will bring to REDES in terms of financial sustainability, stability of leadership and organizational learning. Three of the founding board members have been with REDES since its inception in 2005 and all have a shared vision of a stronger organization that will continue to grow and touch more young girls lives.

a group shot!

It was a very exciting week, a bit stressful at times, but overall VERY successful. We stayed at Base Backpackers in Maputo, and held all of our meetings at the Peace Corps office in their conference room. Cooked all of our dinners at the backpacker, and ordered our lunches from a local place that makes good but cheap food. Moral of the story? We were able to pull off this incredible feat, without spending insane amounts of money! GO REDES!