Life in Philadelphia has been crazy. I've written many blogs over the course of the past month but haven't put any of them up. Sorry! I'm going to play catch up with some short blogs about what's been going on in my reintergration to American culture - which is not as easy as I thought it would be!
I
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 02, 2009
Snow Day
The East Coast of the United States is blanketed in white. We got about 5 inches of snow here in Philly. It's still coming down. I was supposed to go to a company today at 9:30 AM for an interview. It was canceled. They only called me at 8:00 as I was headed to the train. No one is out. It's kind of eerie. I don't remember businesses closing like this. The dow is below 7000. It's going to get down to 14 F today. Is the world ending?
I think I'm going to go out and take some pictures. Keep an eye out.
I think I'm going to go out and take some pictures. Keep an eye out.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
What's in a Name?
America. A country or a continent? If I told a Mexican or a Costa Rican that I am American, they would understand. They would say, "so what, I am too!" In any language south of the Rio Grande, I would have to say that I am "estado unidense" or US American (United Statesian, literally translated) But, the past twenty four hours have gotten me thinking about names.
Kensington. Just sounds posh, doesn't it? I life on the cusp of Kensington, Philadelphia. I tend to tell people I live in Fishtown because it just sounds better. Fishtown sounds better?!?!?! I just imagine a bunch of fat crass women who you wouldn't want to mess with when I think of Fishtown. That may have to do with the term fishwife and the fishwives I met in the Fishtown of Maputo. Anyway, Kensington. That just sounds posh to me. I remember when I was exploring London for the first time (1996) and was based in South Kensington. I just thought if the garbage cans were covered in gold lettering than the place must be nice. I mean, it's called the royal borough, isn't it? Kensington Philadelphia is a whole different matter.
In this Kensington, there are regular police helicopter patrols. It's cool and makes you feel "safe" until they put the strobe lights on. Then you feel like you are in an Escape from New York scene. But last night, when I was coming home from Center City (Downtown Philly) I saw a bit of a commotion across the street from my house. Suddenly someone got curb checked. I heard the pop and freaked. I just didn't want to get caught up somewhere I didn't belong. I got my phone out to dial 911 but then someone ran out of Bob's Pub saying they already dialed 911 and I heard them coming. I had to go inside. But before I went inside, I saw them put the guy into the ambulance. He was bleeding and convulsing.
Welcome to America? Kensington on this side of the pond is not quite as posh. I guess this is a lesson to not take anything by its name.
Ate mais
Kensington. Just sounds posh, doesn't it? I life on the cusp of Kensington, Philadelphia. I tend to tell people I live in Fishtown because it just sounds better. Fishtown sounds better?!?!?! I just imagine a bunch of fat crass women who you wouldn't want to mess with when I think of Fishtown. That may have to do with the term fishwife and the fishwives I met in the Fishtown of Maputo. Anyway, Kensington. That just sounds posh to me. I remember when I was exploring London for the first time (1996) and was based in South Kensington. I just thought if the garbage cans were covered in gold lettering than the place must be nice. I mean, it's called the royal borough, isn't it? Kensington Philadelphia is a whole different matter.
In this Kensington, there are regular police helicopter patrols. It's cool and makes you feel "safe" until they put the strobe lights on. Then you feel like you are in an Escape from New York scene. But last night, when I was coming home from Center City (Downtown Philly) I saw a bit of a commotion across the street from my house. Suddenly someone got curb checked. I heard the pop and freaked. I just didn't want to get caught up somewhere I didn't belong. I got my phone out to dial 911 but then someone ran out of Bob's Pub saying they already dialed 911 and I heard them coming. I had to go inside. But before I went inside, I saw them put the guy into the ambulance. He was bleeding and convulsing.
Welcome to America? Kensington on this side of the pond is not quite as posh. I guess this is a lesson to not take anything by its name.
Ate mais
Saturday, February 21, 2009
I'm back
Hey everybody. Sorry for the long silence. I've been trying to acclimatize to the arctic weather that we've been experiencing here. I'm writing about a little jewel from the BBC that has been keeping me happy during the long hours of sending out CV's.
Thanks to my friend Liz, I've discovered the Friday Night Comedy from Radio 4. She was intent an Anglicizing this American. I remember when I was young and would watch some British television or movies. I wouldn't understand it. My father would say, "it's just not funny to us." Or something to that affect. However, the comedy skit is astounding. I'm so grateful to have been introduced to it. Many times I'll be listening to it in my room and laugh out loud - which is always good. My brother will ask me what's so funny. I'll explain to him and he just won't get it. I dread to think how he'll fair in Wolverhampton in September.
More soon
Thanks to my friend Liz, I've discovered the Friday Night Comedy from Radio 4. She was intent an Anglicizing this American. I remember when I was young and would watch some British television or movies. I wouldn't understand it. My father would say, "it's just not funny to us." Or something to that affect. However, the comedy skit is astounding. I'm so grateful to have been introduced to it. Many times I'll be listening to it in my room and laugh out loud - which is always good. My brother will ask me what's so funny. I'll explain to him and he just won't get it. I dread to think how he'll fair in Wolverhampton in September.
More soon
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Silver Linings?
In this time of economic hardship, things are tough. I'm breathing deeply every night before I go to bed and praying hard that I find a job. But, you know this bigotry and racism of my last post is changing slowly too. America is in trouble, she elects a black man - who likes to talk to people! What a novel idea! Iceland collapses and she elects a lesbian. Change is coming...
How many years for America to elect a woman or an openly gay person? Ideas?
Food for thought
Female Heads of Government
Female Heads of State
How many years for America to elect a woman or an openly gay person? Ideas?
Food for thought
Female Heads of Government
Female Heads of State
Race in America
We as a country are now about 8 days into the Obama presidency and I personally couldn't be happier. I will admit though, I never thought this country would be able to elect a black man.
I remember learning about "multi-culturalism" in middle school and high school. We were taught to be sensitive and never mention "race" or at least not by the color of the skin. Black suddenly became African -America (a term my friends in Africa do NOT understand) brown became Latin-American, yellow became Asian-American and white became white-cracker... :) Why did we stay white? Aren't we Europen-Americans. Or here is a novel idea that the rest of the world thinks already, we are all AMERICANS! I remember the fear I had if I said black within ear shot of a darker skinned fellow American. Now, I just don't understand the fear of color. (any kind!)
I don't think it is a mistake of linguistics that the words for heat and color are so similar in Portuguese and Spanish CALOR and COLOR. Color and the varients of it is what makes our life so interesting. That is something I looked forward to so much when I was winding down in Africa. The value of difference here in America. So many different people who believe so many different things and don't mind that many different opinions exist...then I got home. I didn't realize this hate exists. I think I'm just an eternal optimist and am a genuine supporter of the hand that Obama is extending. He's turning out to be quite the elegant statesman.
Now he's viewed as a black man here. But he's half white. That is very often forgotten in American politics. We view any black heritage as being black. Yet Obama was raised by a white family and dumped by his father early on. In Africa he is viewed as a white man - with African roots. If you think of it though, we all have African roots.
According to the Guardian today, Obama's White House is extending a hand to Iran, after already extending a hand to the Arab world. He's proven that you can't view things as black and white. When will we learn that lesson?
I remember learning about "multi-culturalism" in middle school and high school. We were taught to be sensitive and never mention "race" or at least not by the color of the skin. Black suddenly became African -America (a term my friends in Africa do NOT understand) brown became Latin-American, yellow became Asian-American and white became white-cracker... :) Why did we stay white? Aren't we Europen-Americans. Or here is a novel idea that the rest of the world thinks already, we are all AMERICANS! I remember the fear I had if I said black within ear shot of a darker skinned fellow American. Now, I just don't understand the fear of color. (any kind!)
I don't think it is a mistake of linguistics that the words for heat and color are so similar in Portuguese and Spanish CALOR and COLOR. Color and the varients of it is what makes our life so interesting. That is something I looked forward to so much when I was winding down in Africa. The value of difference here in America. So many different people who believe so many different things and don't mind that many different opinions exist...then I got home. I didn't realize this hate exists. I think I'm just an eternal optimist and am a genuine supporter of the hand that Obama is extending. He's turning out to be quite the elegant statesman.
Now he's viewed as a black man here. But he's half white. That is very often forgotten in American politics. We view any black heritage as being black. Yet Obama was raised by a white family and dumped by his father early on. In Africa he is viewed as a white man - with African roots. If you think of it though, we all have African roots.
According to the Guardian today, Obama's White House is extending a hand to Iran, after already extending a hand to the Arab world. He's proven that you can't view things as black and white. When will we learn that lesson?
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Timisela
Timisela is Xitswa for patience. Something America doesn't seem to have. Three things happened today where I was just astounded by the speed of America. An old lady was crossing the road in a walker/frame and cars were honking at her to "hurry up." The other honking for hurry uping involved the famous yellow American school buses. They were making their rounds dropping students back off at home. They have a stop sign attached to their sides that they can use when necessary. Now, it's a law to stop for that stop sign and wait for the kids to make it to the sidewalk. Well, this bastard was yelling out the window that the kids needed to hurry up!
I then thought to myself I have all the time in the world to do my shopping and get ready for the Zolani concert tonight.
May I never lose that....
I then thought to myself I have all the time in the world to do my shopping and get ready for the Zolani concert tonight.
May I never lose that....
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Is this man evil?
I'm going to the Daily Show today and found this prayer from my friend Virginia. It's a prayer by Bishop Gene Robinson who is the gay Episcopal/Anglican bishop from New Hampshire.
Is he evil because he likes men?
A Prayer for the Nation and Our Next President, Barack Obama
By The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire
Opening Inaugural Event
Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC
January 18, 2009
Welcome to Washington! The fun is about to begin, but first, please join me in pausing for a moment, to ask God's blessing upon our nation and our next president.
O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will...
Bless us with tears - for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women from many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.
Bless us with anger - at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Bless us with discomfort - at the easy, simplistic "answers" we've preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth, about ourselves and the world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.
Bless us with patience - and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be "fixed" anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.
Bless us with humility - open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.
Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance - replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger.
Bless us with compassion and generosity - remembering that every religion's God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable in the human community, whether across town or across the world.
And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.
Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln's reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy's ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King's dream of a nation for ALL the people.
Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain in these times.
Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.
Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.
Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.
Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters' childhoods.
And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we're asking FAR too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand - that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.
AMEN.Is he evil because he likes men?
Monday, January 19, 2009
Been Thinking
So I'm almost back in America one solid week and I haven't made it beyond Brooklyn. I hope the extended family is not getting mad at me. It has been snowing almost non-stop since I've been back though so I can understand the "better safe than sorry" mentality in traveling, especially since that is what I used in 3 years in Africa. But I thought about how Africa is still in my blood. In exactly a week, I will have experienced 3 Africa themed things in my life.
Last Friday, we went to the MOMA (which FYI is free every Friday from 4 to 8 PM) to see the American premier of the first Mozambican produced movie called A Terra Sonambula or Sleepwalking land. Then today I found out that one of my favorite singers is playing in NY this week. Her name is Zolani. She's amazing. I'm taking advantage of all of this on top of going to see the Daily Show for the important day of Bush's goodbye and the hello to a new era. (Hopefully in my life too!)
More Soon
Last Friday, we went to the MOMA (which FYI is free every Friday from 4 to 8 PM) to see the American premier of the first Mozambican produced movie called A Terra Sonambula or Sleepwalking land. Then today I found out that one of my favorite singers is playing in NY this week. Her name is Zolani. She's amazing. I'm taking advantage of all of this on top of going to see the Daily Show for the important day of Bush's goodbye and the hello to a new era. (Hopefully in my life too!)
More Soon
Saturday, January 17, 2009
It could only happen to me...
So, I'm back and America. It's been about 72 hours and it's cold. I went to the cafe around the corner from my sister's house and tried to "meet people." Truthfully I was just bored in the apartment and wanted some sort of tolerable stimulation. Anyway, I worked up the nerve to speak "coffeeese" and tried to order a hot drink. Luckily the barista was patient and I got my task accomplished. However, the guy next to me was having some trouble. He was asked whether he would like a small, medium or large. So, he retorted with "well, it depends how large the American large is." Think supersize me people. I laughed outloud and he and his girlfriend came to sit at my table. (Which by the way had a picture of Felix on it.) So the first new people I meet in America and become friends with are two Estonians named Peeter and Lissie. Is that a sign?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
First and Last
So this is my first post for 2009 and my last post from abroad... for this time at least. Lots has happened but that will stay until I'm sitting in Weston with nothing to do but update my life online. I think there will be some funny posts to come though as I struggle back into America. Fasten your seatbelts!
But, I just wanted to write about Europe and the UK. All of the above has played such an important part in my life. This is the first time in my life that I am flying from London without an even "vague" plan on coming back. I love this city, London, so much but no I could never afford it... I'm watching Absolutely Fabulous right now and realizing how wonderful the humor is. I met up with some of my old friends from University here in London and some of them said to me that I should base myself here in Europe. I'm excited to come back to the States though.
It's a new beginning. I feel like I'm almost going to be discovering a new country. However, I've not had much luck with Americans abroad because most of them find me rather arrogant and full of myself. :O) I don't know how I will be viewed in America after all these years abroad. I guess I'm just wondering how much of an American I still am. Am I the American abroad, the abroad American or just..... (fill in the blank)
But, I just wanted to write about Europe and the UK. All of the above has played such an important part in my life. This is the first time in my life that I am flying from London without an even "vague" plan on coming back. I love this city, London, so much but no I could never afford it... I'm watching Absolutely Fabulous right now and realizing how wonderful the humor is. I met up with some of my old friends from University here in London and some of them said to me that I should base myself here in Europe. I'm excited to come back to the States though.
It's a new beginning. I feel like I'm almost going to be discovering a new country. However, I've not had much luck with Americans abroad because most of them find me rather arrogant and full of myself. :O) I don't know how I will be viewed in America after all these years abroad. I guess I'm just wondering how much of an American I still am. Am I the American abroad, the abroad American or just..... (fill in the blank)
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
End of 2008
Tonight I get to finally experience a German tradition of Television. New Year's Rockin' Eve German. Dinner for One Have a Look.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
The End of an Era
Well, this is it. The last post from Africa. I'm sitting at OR Tambo International Airport in Joburg and bought 30 Rand worth of wireless so I could use my laptop. I'm slowly coming back into civilization. Jess left yesterday, and I played massive amounts of Pass the Pigs and Apples to Apples with the PCVs who were still at the backpackers. I've not really started processing my thoughts and emotions yet. It really has not hit me.
My last day in Africa was spent in bed until 9 AM!!!! What a luxury! Also, Pretoria was 25 degrees celcius today so rather cold for a summers day. I went and bought some extra socks though for when I land in Europe and I purchased a compelation CD called the GREAT SOUTH AFRICAN TRIP that I'm going to listen to in the plane and I know I'm going to ball my eyes out to the beautiful music. Africa will never be forgotten by me. I love her and hate her with equal passion and all I have to say is
KANIMAMBO KWATSI MAMAE AFRIKA!
PS. Should we have a vote on whether or not I continue this blog? Thank you all for reading over the years and I hope I can continue to entertain.
My last day in Africa was spent in bed until 9 AM!!!! What a luxury! Also, Pretoria was 25 degrees celcius today so rather cold for a summers day. I went and bought some extra socks though for when I land in Europe and I purchased a compelation CD called the GREAT SOUTH AFRICAN TRIP that I'm going to listen to in the plane and I know I'm going to ball my eyes out to the beautiful music. Africa will never be forgotten by me. I love her and hate her with equal passion and all I have to say is
KANIMAMBO KWATSI MAMAE AFRIKA!
PS. Should we have a vote on whether or not I continue this blog? Thank you all for reading over the years and I hope I can continue to entertain.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
#1
Hallo van Suid Afrika
Sorry I've been missing in action but it's been an action filled 48 hours. The trip to South Africa was pretty uneventful. I just struggled to stay awake because I didn't want to miss any of the last 120 kilometers left in Mozambique. Got to the border and the sun was beating down. Of course the line was huge at the border. I felt like a refugee, but the funny thing was as I got closer to the building (deciding the future of my life) a guy took me by the arm and brought me to the front of the line. I thought maybe he "recognized" me from my Brazilian Soap Opera days, but he just wanted a fanta. He cut about 30 minutes off of my wait time, so I gave him 30 mets for his troubles. Yes, I guess I did bribe a border guard, but does it count as a bribe when he's just offering me some services! Naturally, my cell phone stopped working as I got over the border. This is such a ghetto fabulous cell phone that I'm surprised it lasted this long but thankfully I was able to bribe the other volunteer I was traveling with with dinner and some beers and now I have his cell phone. Like it would have worked in the States anyway. :) Oh PC, what you have taught me!
Got to Jozi and got scared, but during the day in a car, it doesn't look that scary. It kind of looks like a Framingham MA stuck in the 1980's. Had a couple hours before I left to the airport to pick up Jess. Andrew (the other PCV) and I went to the closest restaurant (We are in Joburg after all!!) which turned out to be a Portuguese Restaurant with Mozambican staff. The food was cheaper here than in Moz. GO FIGURE! Then off to the airport to pick up Jess who true to form showed up an hour late. I felt bad because the driver had to wait for me. But when he came to pick us up after Jess finally cleared customs, he had his pita in the car. (mistress) Epa Afrika! We got home at midnight and promptly fell asleep, thank GOD! Jess didn't sleep very well on the plane so was tired.
Day #2 started with us hitting the ground running. Jozi is the biggest city in Southern Africa and chocka history from all over the sub-continent. Me being the history nerd, I had to take advantage of where I was. We started this tour with a guy Moses and his ADORABLE son Siyande. We spent the next 12 hours with him but went to SOWETO, and the Apartheid museums. It was a little awkward for me in Soweto because it looks like how I lived in Moz, but since Jess can't get to Moz with me on this trip, I figured why the hell not. The Apartheid museum is what got me. I started crying. When you buy a ticket, you are issued with your racial classification on the ticket. I joked with Jess that she was most definitely going to get "blankie" and I would get "nie-blankie." White and non-white. Well, I was right and I just couldn't stop laughing! Even though we are siblings and obviously both white, Apartheid thought otherwise. Just got me thinking how stupid racism and that whole system was/is. Jess and I also started realizing that it still exists in America, we just never had some term to call it by name. You don't identify something, then it doesn't exist now, does it?
Later last night, we went to a Johnny Clegg concert. WOW! This man is amazing. I want all of you to investigate him and see how wonderful the music of this continent is. We were five rows back (almost in spitting distance) for R205. So cheap. The dancing was beautiful, the voices were amazing and one of the back up singers had one of the biggest bundas/bums I've ever seen in my life and man could she shake it! I'm still on a high from the sheer joy of life that I experienced last night. There were some afrikaaners in the crowd who were the first one's up dancing and seeing that even further concretes my belief that all this fighting, fear and hatred is completely pointless cause in the end, we all want to have a good time, love and be loved. I challenge someone to prove me wrong. :)
Today was a day of rest. Slept in til 9 AM! Had some leisurely breakfast and tea then went on a 12 k walk through the city. To the mall and back so we could get some beer so don't get too hasty about thinking that I've become some sort of health nut! Listening to the CD I bought last night of the concert, we caught up on the past year. Suprises on both sides, but what's life without a little bit of surprise right... one word, boring! We came back, cooked some dinner, played some pigs (thank you Pamela Shelly and Anne Blumenauer) and are now getting ready to go to bed because we are catching the bus to Namibia tomorrow.
So, we'll be back in South Africa on the 25th so for any christmas calls, you can reach us at +27 760 666 034. I'll update what our Namibian number is.
Tchau for now
Ian and Jess
Sorry I've been missing in action but it's been an action filled 48 hours. The trip to South Africa was pretty uneventful. I just struggled to stay awake because I didn't want to miss any of the last 120 kilometers left in Mozambique. Got to the border and the sun was beating down. Of course the line was huge at the border. I felt like a refugee, but the funny thing was as I got closer to the building (deciding the future of my life) a guy took me by the arm and brought me to the front of the line. I thought maybe he "recognized" me from my Brazilian Soap Opera days, but he just wanted a fanta. He cut about 30 minutes off of my wait time, so I gave him 30 mets for his troubles. Yes, I guess I did bribe a border guard, but does it count as a bribe when he's just offering me some services! Naturally, my cell phone stopped working as I got over the border. This is such a ghetto fabulous cell phone that I'm surprised it lasted this long but thankfully I was able to bribe the other volunteer I was traveling with with dinner and some beers and now I have his cell phone. Like it would have worked in the States anyway. :) Oh PC, what you have taught me!
Got to Jozi and got scared, but during the day in a car, it doesn't look that scary. It kind of looks like a Framingham MA stuck in the 1980's. Had a couple hours before I left to the airport to pick up Jess. Andrew (the other PCV) and I went to the closest restaurant (We are in Joburg after all!!) which turned out to be a Portuguese Restaurant with Mozambican staff. The food was cheaper here than in Moz. GO FIGURE! Then off to the airport to pick up Jess who true to form showed up an hour late. I felt bad because the driver had to wait for me. But when he came to pick us up after Jess finally cleared customs, he had his pita in the car. (mistress) Epa Afrika! We got home at midnight and promptly fell asleep, thank GOD! Jess didn't sleep very well on the plane so was tired.
Day #2 started with us hitting the ground running. Jozi is the biggest city in Southern Africa and chocka history from all over the sub-continent. Me being the history nerd, I had to take advantage of where I was. We started this tour with a guy Moses and his ADORABLE son Siyande. We spent the next 12 hours with him but went to SOWETO, and the Apartheid museums. It was a little awkward for me in Soweto because it looks like how I lived in Moz, but since Jess can't get to Moz with me on this trip, I figured why the hell not. The Apartheid museum is what got me. I started crying. When you buy a ticket, you are issued with your racial classification on the ticket. I joked with Jess that she was most definitely going to get "blankie" and I would get "nie-blankie." White and non-white. Well, I was right and I just couldn't stop laughing! Even though we are siblings and obviously both white, Apartheid thought otherwise. Just got me thinking how stupid racism and that whole system was/is. Jess and I also started realizing that it still exists in America, we just never had some term to call it by name. You don't identify something, then it doesn't exist now, does it?
Later last night, we went to a Johnny Clegg concert. WOW! This man is amazing. I want all of you to investigate him and see how wonderful the music of this continent is. We were five rows back (almost in spitting distance) for R205. So cheap. The dancing was beautiful, the voices were amazing and one of the back up singers had one of the biggest bundas/bums I've ever seen in my life and man could she shake it! I'm still on a high from the sheer joy of life that I experienced last night. There were some afrikaaners in the crowd who were the first one's up dancing and seeing that even further concretes my belief that all this fighting, fear and hatred is completely pointless cause in the end, we all want to have a good time, love and be loved. I challenge someone to prove me wrong. :)
Today was a day of rest. Slept in til 9 AM! Had some leisurely breakfast and tea then went on a 12 k walk through the city. To the mall and back so we could get some beer so don't get too hasty about thinking that I've become some sort of health nut! Listening to the CD I bought last night of the concert, we caught up on the past year. Suprises on both sides, but what's life without a little bit of surprise right... one word, boring! We came back, cooked some dinner, played some pigs (thank you Pamela Shelly and Anne Blumenauer) and are now getting ready to go to bed because we are catching the bus to Namibia tomorrow.
So, we'll be back in South Africa on the 25th so for any christmas calls, you can reach us at +27 760 666 034. I'll update what our Namibian number is.
Tchau for now
Ian and Jess
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Addendum
Just wanted to add a few more things to my lists of misses and not misses. Many people, mainly Virginia and Noel have been telling me things I will be missing.
SO:
Misses
Manica (I think their stock will take a hit when I leave)
Fresh Coconuts anytime
"Mandaring" children to go buy you things when it's too hot
tipo tinto (my biggest vice)
capulana clothing
Won't miss
lack of queues
5 people doing the job that one person does at home
SO:
Misses
Manica (I think their stock will take a hit when I leave)
Fresh Coconuts anytime
"Mandaring" children to go buy you things when it's too hot
tipo tinto (my biggest vice)
capulana clothing
Won't miss
lack of queues
5 people doing the job that one person does at home
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Hal is alive
Facebook
Is it a book of faces that come back haunting you from your past? Yes I believe so. I've had weird Facebook experiences before, but yesterday takes the cake. You all know the people you may know aspect of Facebook, well, my host family from the first half year of Germany was all on there. How did Facebook know? There was no 6 degrees of separation connection. It just was freaky, because all 6 of them were on there. I decided, what they hell, and friended the oldest 3 who I was closer with anyone before ww3 broke out. To my big surprise, they all responded!
Guess people do grow up with age...
Is it a book of faces that come back haunting you from your past? Yes I believe so. I've had weird Facebook experiences before, but yesterday takes the cake. You all know the people you may know aspect of Facebook, well, my host family from the first half year of Germany was all on there. How did Facebook know? There was no 6 degrees of separation connection. It just was freaky, because all 6 of them were on there. I decided, what they hell, and friended the oldest 3 who I was closer with anyone before ww3 broke out. To my big surprise, they all responded!
Guess people do grow up with age...
The America List
What I’m excited for in America
CHEESE!!!!
NPR
Being exotic
Appliances that work
Public transport that works on a schedule
Speaking American English Again
Getting things all in one place (I think Wal Mart would kill me right now)
CHEESE!!!
Choice
Obama
Clinton
Flush toilets
clean bathrooms
high speed
being able to have an egg and cheese sandwich without confusing people
having enough change
things will just work... i think
not being stared at
Passing through the border and feel proud to put down my passport
seeing my family
seeing my friends
going to theater
going to movies
dating
living life in the land of obama
seeing Mag
seeing friends
seeing family
Living in Philly
plotting my next escape
looking for a job
HIGH SPEED INTERNET
What will scare me
People that voted for Bush
That fact Bush and I are in the same country
the possibility that Palin may run in 2012
The cold
the size
the language
the accent
the cold
the snow
the amount of white people
the racism I will only really notice now
flush toilets
clean bathrooms
choice
supersize
mcdonalds (it's been nice not seeing a mcdonalds in YEARS!)
any other thoughts?
Last day of Work
Since it’s my last day of work in Africa (for some time at least) I thought I’d come up with a list of what I’m looking forward to in America, what I’m not, what I’ll miss in Mozambique and what I’m not going to miss. I hope my profuse sweating doesn’t short out the entire computer keyboard. It’s kinda gross how much I’m sweating at 8:30 in the morning! Here we go……..
What I’ll miss in Moz
Friendly people
Talking about absolutely nothing for hours
DOING absolutely nothing for hours
The slow pace of life
Being a celebrity
Calling my own hours at work
A (ok) beach 15 minutes from my house
Forests of coconut trees
Beers for $1
One syllable responses
Gorgeous people
Wonderful smiles
My housekeeper and here endless cheerfulness even though she lives in a grass hut
My dogs
My next door neighbor Vaz
Being Tio to at least 50 kids
Sylvia’s restaurant
Sylvia’s chicken
Sylvia’s hugs
SYLVIA
My little Maxixe crew (who’ve all gone and abandoned me!)
The tree bar with a 360 degree people watching perch
Being able to act crazy and no one really care because I’m white
Letting my dog chase children knowing that she’ll never catch them (I mean people her tail is wagging!)
Rain on a tin roof as long as it doesn’t come inside
The tropical downpours
The heat
The fact that “cold” for me over the past 3 years has been 60 degrees.
Beautiful Sunsets
Beautiful Sunrises
Beautiful Beaches
My friends
Peace Corps Crew
Big Mama at the Market
Speaking multiple languages a day
Laughing over the smallest things
My lizard pest control system
Walking around and knowing EVERYONE
Speaking comfortably in English while no one else understands
EWWWWWEEEEE, Epa!, aaahhheehhh and the myriad of other grunting noises that just conveys so much meaning
What I won’t miss
The heat (brain frying comes to mind)
The staring- I’m really NOT that special
Everyone thinking I’m made of money when they make more money than me
CHAPAS!!!! Clown Car public transport
The staring
Chapas
Never knowing how long traveling could take.
People thinking I don’t speak Portuguese
People who pretend like they’re listening to me and aren’t really
The heat
The mosquitoes (3 years on lariam is ENOUGH!)
Not knowing if you can get what you want when you want it. The west is spoiled!
The staring
Mulungo status
The heat
Stupid conductors on buses that think you would still take this form of public transport if you had a choice!
The fact that a distance of 20 k could take 30 minutes or 3 hours
The little rubbing together of the fingers to signify money
Dancing about the subject instead of heading straight for it
Stupid small talk
Yeah, my miss list is smaller than my won't miss list!
Monday, December 01, 2008
I'm so dizzy
My head is spinning. I've got 2 days left at work, 5 days left in my town where I've spent the past 3 years of my life. I've got 10 days left in a country that has taught me so much more than I could have imagined when I signed to dotted line all those years ago. I've got 27 days left on a continent I don't know how I'll get back to and as the saying goes "never leaves you." I thought when I left for Germany in 1999, I'd find myself, I thought when I left Friend's World I'd find myself, I thought signing up for Peace Corps, I'd find myself (that worked a little better as many of you know!) and now as I'm leaving I wonder if I'll find myself. But as one of my dear friends said here, one thing ends another thing begins... at least I'll never be boring at dinner parties. :)
P.S. I'm so thankful for all my friends of the years who have kept in contact with me and hopefully will for many years to come.
P.S. I'm so thankful for all my friends of the years who have kept in contact with me and hopefully will for many years to come.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving
As I'm wiping the sweat off of my brow and really getting aggravated at the 7 people that are in my tiny office, I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. I'm now 47 days from coming back to the Land of Obama, 2 years since my harrowing thyroid escapades, and winding up year three of life in Africa. The next 47 days will bring some crazy times I've no doubt. The last three years in Mozambique have proved to me that the only thing you don't get over in life is death. I thought things were really serious with the thyroid, now all I can't do because of it is go to a place like the Pitcairn Islands. Who would want to go there though?
That's the next thing, I've nothing to do at work except explain to people that the folders of pornography they've downloaded could be the reason that the computers aren't working anymore. So I've developed this fascination with really far flung places and mighty small places in this world. My two latest ones are Pitcairn Islands and Bhutan. I just read a wonderful book about Bhutan called BEYOND THE EARTH AND THE SKY and yup, you guessed it, I want to go there. I'm looking for this book called SERPENT IN PARADISE and I don't have to wait for reading that book, I already want to go there. I'm not too sure they'd let me in to either place though because of the synthroid medicine.
Anyone want to join me on some crazy treks?
Happy Thanksgiving
That's the next thing, I've nothing to do at work except explain to people that the folders of pornography they've downloaded could be the reason that the computers aren't working anymore. So I've developed this fascination with really far flung places and mighty small places in this world. My two latest ones are Pitcairn Islands and Bhutan. I just read a wonderful book about Bhutan called BEYOND THE EARTH AND THE SKY and yup, you guessed it, I want to go there. I'm looking for this book called SERPENT IN PARADISE and I don't have to wait for reading that book, I already want to go there. I'm not too sure they'd let me in to either place though because of the synthroid medicine.
Anyone want to join me on some crazy treks?
Happy Thanksgiving
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