16

why, hello there.

The despedida (Despedida – going away party.) has come and gone. Many beers drank, and laughs shared. I watched a good friend get in a taxi and go to the airport. . . and have a friend staying with me this week before they too depart to the airport.

Photos have been taken down off the wall here, I’ve started putting things in a bag, and have marked things to sell to friends (like my stove, fridge etc). So, while it is all starting to get real, I also have nothing to do until August 3^rd when I fly to Maputo. Packing, aside.

The thing that has been bothering me most about just sitting around here, biding my time until I COS, is everything I’m missing at home. Mom and Dad have officially bought a house in Texas, and move in sometime next week, from there my Dad stays in TX and Mom won’t be back to Pittsburgh until after I’m back in town. Brother is moving to Ohio for his big-kid job, and the grandparents are moving down to Florida. Talk about a mass exodus from Pittsburgh upon my arrival!

So, all of that is going on, while I sit here on my ass . . . wishing I could be there to hug my Dad, and spend time with my brother, mom and grandparents. Sigh.

Umm…. Not sure really what else to say.

Let me know if you want anything from Mozambique.

Birthday in 7 days.

Landing in DC on August 8^th.

Pittsburgh on August 10/11^th.

xo

numbers.

6/25/2015 – Independence Day in Mozambique

40 – years of Mozambican independence from Portugal

7/4/2015 – Independence Day in the USA

239 – years of independence for the USA

12 – unused capulanas I plan on bringing home

86 – books read during my stint in Mozambique

1,117 – days I have been in Mozambique

27 – days remaining in country

17 – days until my birthday

26 – my age, at this upcoming birthday

2 – bags that I brought with me to Mozambique

5 – volunteers from my group who extended their contract for the third year

18 – my PC Moz group number

11 – provinces in Moz

11 – provinces I have visited

128 – districts in Mozambique

68 – districts I have visited

3 or 4 – hours it takes to travel to my closest PC neighbor

25 – hours overland to Maputo from Quelimane

3 – places I have lived in Mozambique – Namaacha, Quissico, Quelimane

1 - successful yoga retreat on Ilha de Mocambique

7 – participants in the retreat

16 – hours it took in total to travel back to my house from the retreat

1 - letter of acceptance I received from the Masters International Track at Pitt

2 – applications to Peace Corps submitted, the most recent, in June of 2015 for a second potential service

That's right kids. . .I applied for Peace Corps. Again. I was officially accepted to the Masters International Track at Pitt, allowing me to continue my study in the Behavioral and Community Health Sciences concentration, but also allowing me to incorporate a second Peace Corps service into my education. Peace Corps seems to be the best way to really connect with a community, and know what it is like to live within a different culture. If I were to do a second service, my preference of country and program would be the Community Health program in Ecuador, giving me a chance to explore a new country, and immerse myself in an incredibly diverse and rich culture.

I’m still awaiting official word from Peace Corps regarding my acceptance and potential placement, but that's the most recent news from this end.

36.

Salutations all

Its July 1^st. . . WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?

You all are probably planning a nice cookout with friends and family, getting together your ‘murika clothing, and stocking up on beers to get through the hot afternoon. Over here in Moz, its chilly, our Independence day is past, and I’ve entered my last full month of my time here.

It’s all coming to a rapid close. I have the yoga retreat coming up this weekend, near Ilha de Mocambique, and then our going away party “despedida” here in Quelimane scheduled for the 17^th. I have yet to start packing, in my classic style I’ll leave that to the last minute, and just toss everything into a bag and hope for the best.

There is not too much new to report here, I’ve been spending my days getting paperwork together for my close of service (COS) process - - writing my description of service, letters to my supervisor, an organizational summary report etc. And my afternoons have been spent doing yoga, binge watching tv shows, and cooking good food. . . indulging myself with all of the delicious fresh produce in the central market of Quelimane.

Yesterday I bought a papaya, cilantro, eggplant, green beans, tomatoes, green peppers, carrots and okra - - for less than $5. You really can’t complain about that. I made a delicious homemade salsa, and a fantastic stir-fry for dinner. Nom nom nom.

happy fridge 

Today is going to be spent organizing the final logistics for the yoga retreat – getting the sessions organized, confirming the reservation and meals, and packing up my bag. I leave on the 5am bus from Quelimane to Nampula, and haven’t decided if I’m going to crash with a friend, or if I want to indulge in a night on Ilha.

I’m not really sure where I am, mentally, with my departure closing in so fast. . . I’m trying to think back to May 2012 when I could not wait to get the hell out of the states, and start this adventure. I was sad to leave friends and family behind, but not sad enough to stay. Now, I’m really not sure how I feel about going back to the states. Yes I have graduate school waiting for me, I have housing, and friends and family waiting my arrival, which is wonderful . . but …

(I’m not really sure what is to follow the ‘but’ in that statement)

Anyway.

36 days.

"this is my last month in Moz???"