CInnamon Rolls as big as your HEAD!!!

August 4, 2011

So I am not really sure how to begin this or anything. It has been 2 weeks since I have last blogged which is a super long time for me. I am not sure how this happened either, I have just been so busy or having too much fun doing other things. I hope I can remember the last 2 weeks.
First I have to say that I went to Iringa with Paul and Tanya and met a bunch more volunteers. We all went down to Iringa which is in the south of the country to go to a theater workshop that I was not to excited about but I got to bring Jesca the younger which I thought was great because she could really benefit from the workshop if not just as a vacation. I was greatly impressed to find that I really enjoyed myself at it and learned some stuff. I also was not my lame self and went out a lot. The theater camp was a community participatory workshop focused on HIV/AIDS. There were about 40 of us there, 20 volunteers and 20 counterparts. We all broke into 3 groups:2 groups for skits and 1 dance group. I picked the dance group because I figured if I have to be on stage I mind as well be dancing. It was so much fun we learned a Maasai dance and at the end of the week preformed it for the secondary school girls. It was awesome. (I will try to put it online) It also made me really want to start to learn to dance. I am not sure if you have noticed or not but I have no rhythm in my body. But I do, do a mean chicken dance.

It was really fun because at night we got to just hang out with everyone. We all stayed in the same hotel, it kind of felt like I imagine dorm life to be if I would have ever lived in one. It was great we went out and got good food, went to the bar, and even played some cards.
On our way back from Iringa, me and Tanya met up with Claire and Randi in Dodoma and went to this awesome pizza place. I am not sure if it is because I have not had pizza in so long or what but It was amazing. We then went to the bar and hung out. It was a really nice night.
In Dodoma I bought granola and yogurt which was amazing. I so wish I had electricity so that I could have yogurt everyday. On that note I might have over did myself on yogurt and candy in Iringa. I am not sure what happened but I ate way, way too much. It was really bad.
Claire wanted Randi to teach us some exercises because we always talk about it, but never actually do anything. Well Randi woke us up at 6 am and we did some type of P90X. I could have killed Randi when she woke me up, but then after a little bit I was really happy that she did. Although now I just realize more how out of shape I am, but I guess you have to start somewhere. And this is the perfect time as I am coming home in November for Ashleigh’s wedding. I feel like this is a good goal. Look good in a dress by then and possibly not have a farmers tan.

I got back to my village on Tuesday and it was great, I went through all the motions and got everything in order and then laid down to read with my door open like normal. Well…..this turned out to be a bad idea because 2 little kids made it all the way into my house and almost all the way out without me hearing. I heard them and ran after them and caught one of them. He is about 4 and had my watch. The other one just kept running but I never thought he had anything only to discover that he had taken my phone. Out of all the things that he could have taken. Well then I went to his house but his mom did not understand what happened so I went and got Jesca. Well after talking to lots of people and many officials. I of coarse still have no phone and everyone is all over the place about it. One person suggested I offer a reward and it will come back. Which it probably would but what would stop someone from stealing something else again if they knew they could get money. Not thinking that I will ever get it back and not really sure how I feel about the entire situation. First off people got into my house with me in it without me knowing, which kind of scares me. Secondly these kids were very small, so what made them decide to steal from me? Did someone older tell them to do this and if so who? There Mom, brother? I have no idea. This also sucks because this means I really do need to keep my door shut and now no kids are allowed at my house. Also I do not care to much because it could have been worse and it was just a phone but then I think what could be next and I really just feel really violated. Also this might have been the worst week for this to happen I have so much work to do and I am trying to finish my pre-test for my research. Which is really, really stressing me out. I just do not know what to do. All of the research is on me, if anything happens and it goes wrong it will be all my fault. And I know things are going to go wrong. I guess I just do not have enough confidence in myself. But I think once I actually start it and get the ball rolling everything will be fine and I will be ready.

I forgot that one of my best friends in the ENTIRE world is getting married: Jenna. I am so happy for her you have no idea. Especially since she has been driving me crazy trying to guess when and where Josh would propose. This is awesome. This brings the count of close friends/ family who have gotten engaged while I have been in country up to I think 9 or 10. Statistics were correct when they said most people get married around 25. I think I am not going to be following the curve but ya never know I might just fall in love with a Tanzanian.

August 5, 2011

I spent the five hours talking to the village government about my stolen phone. It was insane, the entire neighborhood for the most part was there and they all had their 2 cents to throw in. It was crazy at one point they had a line up of all the kids in the neighborhood and they were asked to state their name, who I was, and where I lived. It was a long drawn out process that I am not sure my thoughts on yet. I think it was good because I did need to make a fuss about getting my phone stolen or they would have just done it again and I also wanted to scare the little kids so that they would never do something like this again. Not really sure how this worked because it turned into a parents need to return the phone or we are going to the police (which was a bluff). All I know was it was a long meeting where I understood very little. I am still hoping my phone finds its way back to me but if not I am not sad. I now just want to put this whole thing behind me and stop hearing everyone tell me how sorry they are. I also hope I do not hold a grudge against the families. I am going to try not to but I think it is going to take some time.

I cleaned my house today in preparation for 2 new volunteers to spend a week in the village with me. I am probably more excited then they are about this. But now my house is clean and I am just excited now. I also did plyometrics that Randi showed me today. They were really hard but actually kind of fun.

Also find out that I have a mentally handicapped person living be himself next door. Still not sure my thoughts on this. It kind of scares me, but he must be harmless considering how over protective the village is. Although at the moment I can hear him yelling. Really hope this stops because I cannot go to sleep with someone yelling. I just do not think I would have good dreams.

Going to old Jesca tomorrow to hangout with her family it has been way to long. How did this happen. I am super busy now all the time which is great but I feel like I have not caught my breath in a month.

Also helping so kids out with their chemistry homework. Makes me really miss chemistry but also reminds me of how much stuff I have forgotten. Chemistry is really hard when you do not remember anything. Makes me wonder how I survived High School and College let alone got a degree in Chemistry.

August 6, 2011

I went over to old Jesca when I woke up because I have said a lot in the last few weeks that I would come over and have yet to make it. So I went over and of course ended up staying the whole day, it kind of reminds me when I go to Aunt Tricia’s and then find out that I have been there for 5 hours already. Crazy how time can fly. It was as fun as always. We talked, I helped her build nesting boxes for her banda, which by the way is huge. I am going to talk a picture and attempt to put it up because it is insane how huge it is. She also went with me while I did some pre-test surveys for my research. It was really nice because by her being with me it made me actually do the surveys and not continue to put it off.

I really enjoyed helping her build the nesting boxes. I forgot how much fun it is to build things. It was great. I also learned to make cabbage and tomatoes the right way. I attempted it last night and it did not really turn out but today Jesca’s daughter showed me how to make it.

I also got some more work done for the goat seminar and am getting things ready for my guests. I do not know where all the time went today but it is already really late and I am really tired yet I am still going to watch the West Wing. I am addicted.

August 11, 2011

So I have had 2 new education volunteers at my site for the last few days. It has been very interesting. I think I am over explaining everything because I think of when I first went to shadow and how I did not know anything and I was really in a sense scared I guess. So I have been over explaining everything which I am sure is driving them nuts. I told them just to tell me to stop talking if they understand. Also I am having a hard time letting them talk for themselves around the village. It is just a natural reflex I think. I also think about how when I go with Claire and Randi I let them talk and my brain just turns off because I figure they can listen for me. Either way it has been interesting. Marshal and Rose came to visit me and in the first day I thought we were going to have some major problems this week because Marshal really needed internet for what I am still not sure. But I was explaining to him that we did not have very good internet here and that on top of that at my site there is no service let alone internet. He has survived thus far although I am not sure if he could live in my village. It was also nice having them here because I was able to show them around my village and I realized that I do know a lot of my villagers and really have no trouble interacting with them. If only to ask if they are speaking Kigogo to please explain in Swahili. It was nice. I also realized that I do have a lot of projects going on at the moment, This makes me really happy although I am so busy at the moment that I am constantly on the run. But I would rather be on the run than not. I have a little of my dad in me I think.

I also vaccinated chickens this week and added up how many I have vaccinated thus far. Wait for it…. I have vaccinated 1500 chickens within the last few months which is insane and with the money that has been made I think we will be able to buy a few piglets for my pig project. I think I am the livestock queen now. Not sure my thoughts on this yet but it is better than nothing.

Also have done my pretest this week and am going to try and look at the results in the next few days. It was weird as I was asking some of the questions I was realizing how stupid they are and not really needed. But I guess I needed to write them down first to realize that they were not needed.

August 23, 2011

It has been a huge whirlwind this entire past month. I feel like I have been in a full on sprint, but I cannot complain, it is better than the alternative. I just spent the last week in Dar es Salaam with all of the volunteers that I started my service with. It was so much fun. We all stayed together at a hotel in town. I honestly cannot remember much of the last week, but here is what I remember. First right outside the hotel, is one of the best restaurants that I have been to in TZ. It is just a hole in the wall restaurant that has plastic tables set up on the side walk. It is so good though. They sell street chicken, French fries, and all kinds of other grill type food. I am really excited to take my Dad there along with a bar that I found that has live music at night. Since this was a seminar we had to go to the office everyday and it just so happened that there are is a peacock that was given to the President of TZ that has free range of all of Dar for the most part. And for this week he decided to set up camp in at the PC office. I cannot believe how beautiful peacocks are, but they are really loud. I might put them along the lines of a loon. And you all know how much I love loons.

Claire had to come in the same week as us, me, her, and a bunch of people from VSO went to this beautiful restaurant on the water and just sat and talked all afternoon. It was super relaxing, I almost thought I was on vacation. We also got invited to out Country Directors house for a nice dinner. It was a great dinner. I also played basketball while I was there and realized how out of shape I am and now how much I suck at basketball. It also reminded me on playing basketball in high school and how much enjoyed it and also how much I practiced.
Also during the day, we listened to everyone talk about their projects. I found this super interesting, but I know it stressed a lot of people out. But I thought it was super interesting to see what everyone else was doing and draw ideas off of them. I also realized that I need to finish what projects I have at the moment before I start anything new. We also had a meeting with just the environment people and this was really nice. I have a great boss. He showed us these TED talks and I thought they were amazing. One was about it being ok to be a follower and the other one was about starting a movement. I really enjoyed them and they got me more excited to go back to site and get some projects done.

I have a goat seminar that was suppose to happen this week but of course the facilitator was not able to make it so now it is scheduled for next week. It is becoming somewhat stressful because I really want to be a professional and be taken seriously, which I actually think I am, but at the same time for me professionalism also involves doing things when I say that they are going to be and getting them done. But of course I think I am the only one that is really stressed about it, Jesca said not to worry about it, this is Africa. Which she is right, I just need to not be so uptight about things. I am also a little worried because this is my first seminar that I have ever done and I want it to be a success. I think I will be in a much better mood once I finish this seminar and will be able to relax some. But really between this seminar and my research I think I am at my limit for stress. It also doesn’t help that I turned in a pre-test survey to my professors and I do not think it was written very well and thinking back I am not sure if I actually answered my statements of hypothesis. I am not sure what has happened to my brain in the last few weeks but I would really like it to come back to me. I also really need to start exercising again because this is definitely a good way to relieve some of my stress. I am not sure if writing this all down has actually helped me or made me more stressed. But at least I am aware of what I have to do in the next few weeks. How can I already need a vacation.

August 24, 2011

Today has been pretty much going the same as all the other days expect Paul slept at my house last night and then left early this morning. I wonder what all the villagers are thinking about at the moment. I am pretty sure there is a big consensus that we must be together but maybe not. He is here again tonight because he got back late from town. So we will see what tomorrow morning brings. I taught again at the secondary school. I taught them about controlled, independent, and dependent variables and did a really cool experiment that shows an egg floating. I also found out how hard it is to teach chemistry. I am not sure if they understand. It did not help that my Swahili was extra bad today but I said we would work on it next week. I then came home and passed out, to the point where I was drooling. It has been a long week already. Then my women’s group came over and we talked chickens which is always so much fun. They are just a great group of women, I am very happy that they found me. That was about all I did today although I am in the processes of making some new calendars and attempting to put my life back in order. I am really slow in getting everything back to normal, I am a little worried that by the time I get it back to normal I will have to leave again and it will all be a mess again. But that is usually how I live my life anyways so no point in changing now.

This weekend some VSO people are suppose to come out to my village and see the work that I am doing. I am really excited about this because I love showing off my village, especially now because I feel like such a part of it. I really feel at home and comfortable here. I am super excited for my dad to see where I have been living and what I have been doing. I am really happy that Jenna and Hannah came when they did, but I really wish they could also come back because I feel like I have so much more to show them. But in all actuality they had limited time and did see all of the important things. They saw my house and met the Jescas and really that is all that I really wanted them to see.

August 26, 2011

So I went into town yesterday with a few people from one of the organizations here. We went to talk with an Tunajoli which is a USAID program. It went really well and I think they are going to come out to the village and teach a seminar about HIV/AIDS. I then got some more stuff done before calling Claire and telling her that I was in town. It is amazing how much stuff you can get done when you are by yourself. I see me actually coming into town and leaving within the same day after Claire leaves. I told Randi about this but said that this would not work for her because if she was coming into town I was also coming in to hang out with her. I am going to say it is the curse of being a twin always wanting to do things with people and never wanting to do anything alone. I blame Andrew.

So of course I ended up staying in town and we went over and met this family that lived in Mpwapwa for 15 years and were just coming back for a visit. They were a family from England and she was a doctor at the hospital for a long time. They have 3 kids that went to boarding school in England and lived in Mpwapwa until they were like 9. Crazy life. They said that when they arrived there were only 2 phones in the entire county and that they were not hooked up to water. I cannot even imagine that. Not sure if I would have survived. It was really nice to talk to them and get there perspective on things. They also said that they knew of my village and that it was really nice and we had a wonderful choir. It made be very proud especially because most of my friends in the village are in the choir. Apparently not a lot of choirs play traditional music like ours does.

I then walked back this morning and talked a little but on the phone to the new volunteer that is going to be living by us. She seems really nice. I am really excited to meet her. Also tomorrow people from VSO are coming to the village, I think they are going to think that I am crazy seeing as they live in the city and I live in the boonies. We are going to look at a few of the bandas that have been built and I am going to introduce them to the Jessica’s. Of course old Jessica was super excited about this.

August 28, 2011

It has been another interesting few days. Yesterday I started off the day in a great mood and accomplished a lot. I thought to myself, God I am so lucky to be living here. It is just great. I feel awesome and I really love my village. And then it continues to be a great day with me just doing errands. In the afternoon, VSO people came and looked at my projects which was really great because it made me feel so proud. We then all went out to dinner and then to a disco. Crazy they had a disco in Mpwapwa and it was just like a high school dance down to all the kids being drunk. Very crazy, I also saw some awesome dancing. I would love to learn to break dance. How awesome would that be.

I then woke this morning and went and met with an environmental officer that is suppose to facilitate my goat seminar. I am was in a good mood up until this point. He said weeks ago that he could help and is still going to help but I am just really over all these government officials asking for gifts and so on and so forth. He told me he needed new tires, I told him I could not help him but I would pay for his gas to the village. He was fine with that but then he went on to talk about how the government is so corrupt. I just wonder what him asking for tires was if not corruption. After that I have been in a really funky mood. I think I just have a lot on my plate and really need to get some office work done this week. Everything is still going great I am just really disorganized and a little worried about my research . I know that is will all turn out but time seems to be flying by and I am still moving so slow. I am hoping to make some more head way in the next few weeks. I am slowly feeling better but still really stressed. I think everything will be a ton better after this goat seminar is all taken care of. Cross your fingers it goes well.

Also talked to Andrew today, I am so jealous that he got LASIK. I cannot wait to get it. Also really excited to see his new apartment and very jealous of everyone that is going to Keith and Kelli’s wedding. I so wish I could be there but at least I am going to make it to Ashleigh’s. Also I heard that the Polish Festival is back and Rosa Parks and it is pretty awesome. Very excited to be able to go next year. And at present am dreaming of kielbasa, kapusta, and rye bread with lots of horseradish.

August 31, 2011

So I did not blog yesterday because I was to tired and not in the mood, I think this is a first for me although lately I have been having a hard time blogging. I feel like I am just stating facts at the moment and am not actually thinking. I think this is a result of me being so busy but I do not like it, I feel like my brain has turned off at the moment. But anyways yesterday was good. I helped plan a seminar about HIV/AIDS which I am really excited about. And then today me and Jesca went into town to try and get an idea of how much food we need to buy and when we are going to get the chickens. It all went really well. I think the chickens are going to be coming the 2nd week of October if everything goes as planned. Randi and 2 people from her village are coming tomorrow for the goat seminar so it should be good. I am a little worried about if the Bwana Shamba is going to come and teach though because Thursday is a religious holiday. I really hope he comes though because everything is set. If he doesn’t come I think I will just teach the seminar which is not what I wanted to do, but it is better than not having it. It already has been moved 3 times, I do not want to have to move it again and really I do not have the time to keep moving it. I hope it goes well though because I really want to do a seminar for cows too but I cannot do this unless things go well. Wish me LUCK.

Also ate a papaya today with bananas and granola and thought to myself how awesome it is that I am eating this food here, where this food was grown. Also papaya looks gorgeous when you cut it open.

Oh and you are going to like this one. I found out I have bed bugs. I am severly grossed out
about this but not enough to not sleep in my bed tonight. Me and Jesca bought medicine and are going to take care of it tomorrow but really how gross is that. I keep such a clean house to, I do not understand where they came from although thinking about it maybe it is from me vaccinating all of those chickens. I think I am going to have to do some research. But I just want to make this clear: I SHOWER EVERY DAY HERE, and am probably cleaner here than at home.

August 31, 2011

So Randi got here today and I actually think we might pull off the seminar. So far everything has gone as it was planned and the person who is suppose to teach said that he will here tomorrow even thought tomorrow is a holiday. It is the Muslim holiday Ida which is a 2 day celebration. Funny thing about is you do not know when it is going to be until the night before, it has something to do with the moon. I still do not get it all the way.

September 1, 2011

The first day of the seminar went surprisingly well although there were still a few bumps in the road. It also seems that tomorrow Jesca is going to explain where the money is going. Apparently they think that I am stealing it although I am not sure what I would do with the money seeing is the seminar cost more than what they paid. That is one thing that I am really happy about in the US people trust each other I think a lot more. Although because I have been here I am not as trusting and seem to think sometimes that I am getting cheating when really most people are trustworthy but it just takes that one person to make you doubt everyone. Very unfortunate.

Also yesterday old Jesca was telling us about the Germans living here and how before they left they hide all of their belongings underground in bunkers. So now people are looking for them but they think they are haunted by ghosts. It is crazy but then she was saying that you can buy this oil that makes you invisible to the ghost so that you can sneak by them and get the German artifacts. Can you believe this stuff. I had her explain it all to Randi just to make sure that I do understand it. Also realized my Swahili is terrible. Randi is awesome at it. It bothered me a little at first, but now I do not mind it. I understand my community and I am still able to do my work I just sound like an idiot when I am talking. Also weird that nobody in my village corrects me until there are other white people are so I of course look even more stupid. Oh well at least I am use to it.

September 2, 2011

We finished the goat seminar today and I really thought that I was going to feel less stressed but this is not the case. I am not sure what is going on, I think I just have too much on my plate and I am thinking about my research and wanting it to go well but not really sure if it is. Although Blair and Tom are being a ton of help, I think it is just me needing to fret about something.

Randi and Paul were a lot of help with the seminar and were really good for support. I think it went really well and they were all really excited to get the certificates that I had made which I find a little crazy because really it is just a piece of paper but they were ecstatic about them. We all took a group picture which I am going to send out to everyone that helped me fund this seminar.

After Paul, Randi, and me climbed my mountain. I cannot tell you how much I think I like hiking and then find that after I start hiking I really do not like it that much at all. Crazy how that works. I am not sure if I would really want to hike Mount Kili or not at this point. I have a thought that I might not be able to make it because then I think about when I climbed the Grand Tetons and that was really hard and I was in shape at that time. We shall see what happens. Also I really, REALLY want to go skiing. This next year could not go fast enough. I cannot wait to ski again but I am also a little scared at how rusty I will be.
I have decided 2 things that I am going to be really happy about when I get back to the US. The fact that I can go swimming whenever I want to and that I can eat cold food. Cold papaya at the moment sounds like the most amazing food in the world that an actually sauerkraut ( I think I am dreaming of Polish food because my dad was talking about the Polish festival).

September 3, 2011

Congrats to Kelli and Keith on their wedding day. I hope it went great. I came into town today with Randi. We walked in. I am so tired, really need to get some energy back. We just laid around the house today and Claire made Dalh. it was amazing I think that when I get back to the states I am going to have a wide range of food to cook. Also made cinnamon rolls today but they were not as big as your head like in the UP.