March 10, 2012
Not sure how or why this happens as it does but after being gone or awhile I always stay in my house for the first 24 hours. Not sure why, but I think I mush be mentally preparing myself for village life again seeing as it is so different from how I live when outside of it. So that is what I did today. Crazy to, to think that many had no idea I was inside my house. I guess they are not as CIA as I thought because everyone was like when did you get back. Not sure what this means but this evening I stepped out back into the village and joined village life. It went remarkable well, I took a deep breath as I left my house and started to walk around the village and it was fine and fun. Felt like I had not been gone at all which is nice. Funny as I went for my run I noticed a lot of people and machinery on the road. Turns out that they are putting telephone poles in, I am in shock. They all said that power was coming but was just like yeah right but it actually is coming. Although does this mean in a 1 year or10 I still do not know but it was pretty cool watching them get the poles off of the truck. Looks like a lot of work.
I went for a 2 mile run today that turned into more of a 1.5 miles. I have no idea how I ran 13 miles, I swear 1 mile almost killed me. I am not sure what my new goal for working out is but I am going to continue to run and try and keep my mileage up. I would like to do a sprint triathlon when I get home so this will help me stay in shape hopefully.
I talked to my professor about leaving early and that was a no go as it turns my program upside down which stinks but I am still ok with. I am now asking PC if they will let me leave early at all, I would really like to be home in time for the weddings and the bike trip but I guess we will see what happens. If not it is not the end of the world. I mean I do not have that much time left here and I am actually enjoying myself. I am guessing that has a lot to do with the fact that I know that I am going to be able to leave soon. Which funny enough brings on new thoughts and fears. So I am going to go home which is what I want but what if when I get home I do not want to be home. What if I want to come back or find out hat I cannot stay at home, then what. What if I just want to leave again. Then there is also the thought of what am I going to do, I will need to get a job but what am I going to get a job in. I have no idea, my interests are all over the place. SO much to think about.
I watched the Kony 2012 video which I am sure you all saw and I found myself wondering what I am going here. Here I am in Africa where all this aid work and everything is going on and what am I doing to help. I mean I have lived among some of the poorest of the poor for 2 years and what have I done with my time here. How have I really helped them.
Going to get back on the research track this week, I had a good email talk with my professors and am feeling even better about everything but it still is hard because I am here and they are there and the thought that I am not on track, but I think I am so that is really good. I am hoping to start mre walks with people within the next few days, I just need to go out and talk to people to see when they are going but first I need to try and organize myself, I just cannot seem to get organized with all of my stuff here and it is driving me crazy.
Also how many nutella and peanut butter sandwiches can you eat before you get judged. I am pretty sure I exceeded that number today as I just could not help myself I think this is the first time that I have had all of the ingredients at one time in my house and god were they good sandwiches.
March 11, 2012
First I need to say that I am still not sure why but there was a man screaming at the top of his lungs last night “I am sorry” over and over until about midnight. I have inquired to why and so far all I got was that his dad died or was poisoned, but that man that died, died 2 weeks ago so I am thinking it was something different. I am going to ask more tomorrow. It also started to pour last night which was awesome so now I have a full water tank.
Today I woke up and one of my neighbors invited me to another village to drink “pombe”
beer and see how they make bamboo beer. So I went only to find out that this was a whole day thing and that if an effort to try and use the rest of my sunscreens up, I picked the one that doesn’t work at all. So I look like a lobster today. But it was really cool. We went and saw how they make it, which is really not them making it at all. Apparently bamboo naturally produces alcohol after 7 days so they use a system kind of like tapping maple trees to extract the liquid. It was pretty cool. We then went into town and hung out with the villagers, I seemed to actually know more than I thought, and I sampled so bamboo pombe. I have to say that if I drank all the liters that were handed to me I am not sure if I would have made it home. I swear every 2 seconds someone handed me a new drink, although I am not sure exactly how potent it actually is, it doesn’t seem that bad but I am not sure. Weird too that they buy a liter at a time and just keep passing it around the table until it is gone and then they go get another one. But it was really fun. We also ate pork which was good but I had to really pick through the meat to find the good pieces and swallow the pieces that I didn’t really want. I cannot wait for clean meat that doesn’t have pieces of hair still attached to it. Weird though that I have gotten used to eating it in sense at home I would have just pushed it away and gagged here. I am like “theres meat, where?”.
I was asked again today if I was married and how many children I had. I told them none of the above and then they asked if I was scared of being to old to have kids and get married. They just do not seem to get it, They then thought maybe I should just pick one of the men here and then I could just teach him English and we could get married. I told them that I would pass on that too.
March 12, 2012
I am not sure how it happpened but I slept in until 10 am today. It was crazy. I was the most tired I have been in forever and felt like I had run a marathon the night before which is really funny because the day after the actual race, I felt completely fine. Not really sure but it was nice to sleep in and not be disturbed although I never really have a good sleep for fear that I will be disturbed I think. I mean no one thinks twice about knocking on my door no matter what hour it is.
I ran today for 25 minutes and felt really out a shape. Scary how fast that can happen. I am working aon a way to keep me exercising, Maybe I will train for another marathon or something, I just need some type of goal and all to keep me on track here because it is so easy to get lazy here.
I washed clothes all day today and I think I have one more day ahead of me and then I will be back on track which is good because then I can start going on walks for my research again and get back in track with everything.
Also I ate an insane amount of candy today, I have no self control when it comes to food, especially when it comes all the way from home.
March 15, 2012
I have become obsessed with 2 things in the last week: The tv show Friday Night Lights and putting peanut butter and nutella on anything and everything that I can think of. Tonight for instance I made pancake tacos with peanut butter and nutella inside. This has not been a good week in the fact that I have rarely left my house or eaten anything other than stated above and candy. Not good I know. On top of that all I have been doing is making up excuses as to why I cannot start such and such. Luckily Jessica brought me back to reality with the fact that people are cutting firewood right now even though it has been raining a lot. So I have promised myself that I will start in the next few days as well as start running again. I still have been exercising but not to the caliber that I think I should be considering what I have been feasting on the last few weeks. So hopefully the next few days I can get back in the groove probably just in time to leave again.
Also I talked to my bosses and I am set to be done with PC July 18, which stinks that I cannot make the bike trip or possibly both weddings but it is still really nice to have answer and a definite date of being done with PC. I thought I would be a little more upset about it but I really have no problem with it, it is kind of a relief so that now I will have time to leasurely finish my research and hopefully right a rough draft, finish all of my projects, and see a few more places in TZ that I still have not visited.
March 17, 2012
I think that I am almost back on the band wagon. I went into town today and got a lot of stuff done and then came back into the village and started to tell everyone that I want to go cut firewood with all of them. Of course they all think that I am crazy but that is ok, they will go with me.
The corn is just starting to be ready to eat, it is not like the corn at home but it is really good and it is good to have a different vegetable than tomatoes to eat. I still am not to good eating habits but that will happen so enough when all my junk food runs out.
Almost forgot. Happy St. pats day. I did not even have a drink today in honor of it which stinks but I did by cornbeef but have not cooked it yet. It is canned but I think I might try and make a stew or something tomorrow with it.
March 18, 2012
I accidentally started my bed on fire last night and did not realize it at first. That is what I get though for using candles really close to my bed. I am still waiting for the day when I light my mosquito net on fire. I really hope that day never comes because then I lose my protection from the all bugs and lizards.
I made stuffed Indian potatoes chapatti today. I was not as good as I hoped but of course I ate it because I had spent so much time on it and I was hungry. I did for get to take a picture though which stinks I like to document my food. They king of looked like pastys and made me really excited for the UP.
I ran 3 miles today and it almost killed me. I have no idea how I ran a ½ marathon,
I am going to collect firewood tomorrow which I am really excited about. I really want to start getting the ball rolling again on my research so that I know where I have wholes and need to dig more.
March 22, 2012
I know that I have not been writing everyday, I just cannot seem to do that at the moment which is weird because I used to love writing every night, maybe I am just getting sick of it or am to busy I do not know. So I went and cut firewood, so my research is moving slowly but it is moving which is good. It was a long day, after I cut wood, I went to a funeral where I sweat there were over 1000 people there, They just kept coming. While they were burying the casket, I sat under a tree with a bunch of women and they asked me a ton of questions. They think that I use some magic medicine so that I do not get pregnant so on the way back I was ranting to Talita about why do not they just use condoms and so on and so forth. I think I was talking a little loudly because the group of men in front of me turned around and then I thought maybe I should continue this talk later. They also thought I must use some special medicine for my hair and that is why it looks like that. I did not know what to say to this either. Although I guess if I lived in a country where everyone looked similar that I might not realize that there are people of all shapes and sizes out there but maybe I am wrong. Although I feel they are able to see enough tv and written word to see the rest of the world but maybe not.
I also am working on a malaria grant at the moment and trying to get it done soon which is killing me. I have as usual put myself in a weird position where I am doing most of the work and somehow stilling finding more work that I can without realizing the amount of work I already have.
I am going to Morogoro this weekend which will be fun. Me and Paul are teaching about grants and I am going to pick my classes for this fall at Tech. I think I am going to tack ea remote sensing class which I am kind of excited about.
As for leaving here, I am still hoping that I get to leave July 18th but I am not sure if I understood when I talked to my boss so now I have to talk to her again because she of course is the head of everyone leaving but at the same time someone else is in charge that had no idea what I was talking about, if that is the case and I do not get to leave when I want I think I am looking at more towards the beginning of August which I would stink but hopefully everything works itself out. It has to every once in a while for me.
March 23, 2012
I biked into town and did some work today and was back by lunch. It was so great. It is also really weird that I do not like being there when no one else is. I guess this also kind of keeps me up on my work and getting things done otherwise I have the habit of just hanging around and talking.
I think I am going to write one more grant and then I am done. One more final project that I have been wanting to do and then I do not know. Maybe I will even get around to finishing my research, that probably would be the best. I swear I am trying but the rain just keeps coming and then I seem to be on all these trips all of a sudden not sure how this happened but I am actually really really busy at the moment.
March 28, 2012
It has been an eventful week. Me and Paul went to Morogoro on Saturday to train the new volunteers on grants and help them with Project management. Paul did a really good job teaching it and I just kind of hung out and helped when I could. It was really great to see the new class again yet weird at the same time because you are kind of an outsider and it is a little akward at first but by the last day it was really nice. I also got to see some other friends from my class which was really great because I never get to see them. So all in all it was amazing. I got to hang out with good friends, drink so cold beer, and eat pizza and burgers. Could life get any better, there was even running water and a toilet. Life was pretty much complete.
I got a call telling me that I get to COS on the 19th for sure, which is one day past what I thought it really is not bad at all I mean what is one day but I am not going to lie for like 30 minutes I was heart broken not sure exactly why but I think I just had it in my head already and I have a hard time changing things that I think were set in stone but it actually works out better because all I am COSing with Paul and Tanya so I am really excited. Not sure about a plane ticket and everything yet. I might possibly travel for a little bit but at the same time Heather’s wedding is that weekend and I would really like to be home for it so I am not sure what it going to happen.
While I was waiting for the bus today I talked to a guy about love after a man asked if he could marry me. He had two things to say: Love has no eyes and will you let someone choose for you. Oh yeah and he is going to pray on if we should be together and then he is going to call me. I told him “God Wants”. He was a nice guy though and gave me a good price on my bus ticket. I got it for 10,000/= and the guy next to me who is tanzo got it for 15,000/=. Sometime I guess it pays to have those conversations.
The bus ride was brutal today. Not sure why but I got back and pretty sure I gained another shell with the amount of dust that was on me, not to mention the amount of dust that I inhaled. I got home and have been lounging.
Some women came over today and not I have set up walks with 2 groups to go get firewood with them. The only thing that stinks is that they are really early in the morning. But this is a good start to my research again and a way to just get right back into it. I also sent in a grant yesterday for malaria. I just cannot seem to sit still which is good but at the same time why do I do this to myself. I do not know, I blame it on my dad.
Talked to the whole family this week and they are all doing well. I am so happy after I talk to them and at the same time sad. Han says it feels like I am coming home tomorrow. I wish that were the case but it is coming up. Also funny that my dad just wants to make sure that I am home by Scott and Lisa’s wedding. So you know how excited he is about that. He asks Han the same question too.
I was also thinking on the bus today about me being here and what my thoughts are now and what I would tell people about this. I am not totally sure yet but I think my thoughts are somewhat changing in some regards. It is really weird, I will try and explain more when I have it more figured out but I think this also has something to do with that I know that I am coming home soon. Weird to think too that I might actually miss this place. Scary too. I think I might think a little to much but then again what else do I have to do here.
March 29, 2012
Woke up at the crack of dawn today to go farm and cut firewood. Little did I know this was going to take 7 hours and I was going to walk over 7 miles. If I would of known that I would have put my sunscreen on better so at the moment I am super tired and sunburnt. But it was really fun and has helped me dive back into my research which I really like. It is nice, not sure why. Also really excited to return to school.
I think the next few months are going to be crazy busy, I am already feeling like I have no time. I am also really excited not that I get to COS with everyone and am not that sad that I am going to miss the bike ride. Weird because last month I was really sad about that, Time changes things I guess.
I was walking with a grandma today and she told me how she really liked me and I was a lot happy and like to laugh more than the other volunteer. Most of this I think is untrue. You always get compared to the previous volunteers. I am sure the next one will hear how great my Swahili is, which is great but it is almost no existent. I mean today I told a lady that Jessica couldn’t hear out of her eyes. And yes I meant ears. I think that just drives the point home as to how bad my Swahili is but I can commicate with my villagers and then understand me so it is not that big of a problem only when I leave does it matter. I also couldn’t come up with the word for world today and that unleashed another can of worms. Oh well.
I saw a monkey while we were cutting firewood today. IT was awesome. I was so happy while the people I were with did not like it because they eat all the crops. I am just happy I can say I saw a monkey at my house. Sounds so much better than saying I live in farmland which I do but now I can say there were monkeys and I forgot to mention hyena’s (I have never seen but I hear them at night and do not really want to see them).
Also harvesting has just begun so I am going to be eating a lot of corn ( breakfast, lunch, and dinner) as well as not ripe peanuts which are surprisingly good. As well as lots and lots of watermelon. I want to make watermelon jam but not sure cause it sounds kind of gross but I just might this week. I tried the baobob wine and the banana wine today, they were so so sweet I am not sure if I can drink any of it, but I am sure I can find away. This reminds me that the grandma and me talked about beer and how she shouldn’t be spending all her money on it, on the way home. It was a great talk. It made me laugh a lot. I swear everything for her relates back to alcohol.
April 9, 2012
Happy Birthday Al and Stephi! I know it has been along time since I have written but I swear I am moving at hyperactive speed which is really good but at the same time I have no time on my hands. Crazy how I can go from being so bored to so busy I hardly have time to breath.
I have been doing firewood walks with people and it has been going really well. It takes a lot of time and energy to do them but it is really fun and excited. I really like what I am doing my research on. It is funny to see where people go one day I will be walking on the road to get wood and other days I we are scaling the side of a mountain. I still do not know how they can scale and hold firewood on there head I have a hard enough time walking. They know this to because I am constantly hearing Katie slow slow.
I am also in the middle of planning a 1 week girls conference in Dodoma with a bunch of volunteers so this is keeping me busy. Somehow I raised my hand to teach one of the sections. Which is interesting because my Swahili is so bad that I am sure everyone is going to cringe but it might not be to bad. I think it will be really good for the girls and help them a lot.
I wanted to stay in the village for easter but then realized that if I stayed I was going to have to go to church I decided to go to Randi’s. I just cannot sit through church here, it is really long and you just feel like you are getting shouted at. Also I did not know how to decide whose house to go to so I thought it would just be easier to go to Randis. It was nice we made lemon cake and some vegetable Indian dish. It was a good way to spend easter considering that I am in Africa. But man I would of loved to be home for all the good food.
I made stirfry sauce this week and I swear that it taste just like it came from a Chinese restaurant. It is so good I had a hard time exercising before I ate the whole thing. This gets me excited for coming home and getting to cook so much more and having so many more ingredients.
I also know that Uncle Pat’s funeral was this weekend. I would have loved to be there to hear all the great stories about him. I am sure everyone laughed a lot. He was such a great, fun person to be around. I know that the cottage is going to be a lot different without him.
April 11, 2012
At the moment I am at the breaking point. It is crazy how things can be going so good one moment and then they can all crash on top of you. Of course I am still waiting for about 20 chickens to show up and the man is giving me the run around. On top of that I have a girls conference next week that I am not very excited about I was excited in October but now I just have to much going on and it is not a top priority at the moment. I cannot wait until it is done. Then I was stupid and decided to squeeze one more grant into my work load. Also really stupid as I have zero time and to top it all off I still have not finished my research. I know I did this to myself but at the moment I am about ready to crack. I cannot seem to get ahead there is just always so much work to do on top of just living. July 19th cannot come fast enough at the moment.
April 12, 2012
Life has gotten both better and worse. My chicken guy still has not come yet and I am not sure what to do about that but he is about to feel the wrath of Katie. He has blown me off to many times who does he think I am that I can sit around all day every day and wait for him. Sad when you trust someone and then find out they are a douche.
Also here is some bad news. Randi called Mathayo yesterday and said send a car and then the line got cut off. So of course me and Mathayo are thinking something happened to her for about an hour luckily it was not her but someone in her village was in really bad shape. A crazy man who was in a mental institution was let out and came to her village. This women was at the farm and somehow this crazy man came and beat and raped her and then threw her into a gully. It was really bad and Randi had seen it. I cannot even imagine. That is so scary. But the women is at the hospital now and Randi is ok. But OMG scary what can happen to a person.
I also went t cut firewood today and again we scaled up the side of a mountain. I am not sure how they do it because I swear I am going to fall to my death. If I do not break something in my firewood travels, I will count myself blessed. It is really hard I always have the same image of me falling and not stopping, I just cannot figure out how they do.
I also am turning into a gimp. I now have 3 different cuts on 3 toes on the same foot. Not sure how but everyone seems to notice them to. Today Jessica gave me some oil to keep the flys away which it did work but turns out the oil is chicken placenta. Not sure what my thoughts are one this yet, maybe the flies are better.
April 14, 2012
My foot is getting worse but the day, I keep doing things to same foot and now everyone notices as assumes that it is from cutting firewood. But then I have to explain how it all happened. It is echausting and who notices these things, really. I also not have cuts on my hands and fell in the exact same spot as I did last week with wood on my head so now I have a huge scrape. I am falling apart fast.
I talked to my chicken guy yesterday and I think everything is back on track or at least that is what he lead me to believe. I really want to trust the guy so I am going to believe him. Hope it works out in my favor.
I am going to Dodoma for a girls conference tomorrow for the week and am not excited about it. I have so much work here and the idea of Dodoma for a week Is not that exciting at the moment, but I know that when I get there is will be lots of fun so I just need tomorrow to come so it all works out. Also it is a ton of work that I just do not have time for.
I made another fuel efficient stove yesterday and I think that it went really well I am really excited to start making more in the village. Also saw a white guy in the village yesterday that is here working on the electricity. I walked right by his car and he either did not see more or did not care. I am hoping the first. So next time I see him, I am just going to knock on his window because how often is there another white person in the village. NEVER.
All my siblings are in AL this weekend. I am guessing they are having a blast and cannot wait until I get to come home and go to AL to with all of them and they get to see Eric Church so how can it not be a good time.
Also trying really hard like Aunt Marti ito like
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