TGIF

Teachers just crawl into a desk drawer at night, right?  Well, even if I had my own classroom, that’s not what I would do.

            Tuesdays through Thursdays are pretty much completely dedicated to school but my schedule from Friday to Monday is fairly flexible.  Of course, I have to lesson plan.  Writing lessons for between 30 and 75 students (because those are my usual turn-outs) in a language I’ve only been speaking for 4 months using only a poorly organized textbook wraught with errors and a little help from the internet takes up a lot of time and energy.

            Even so, four days is a long time.  Mireya and I have plenty to keep us busy.  This past Sunday, we held our first REDES meeting of the year with the group Mireya started last year.  REDES stands for “Raparigas em Desenvolvimento, Educação, (e) Saúde” or basically “Young women in development, education, and health.”  It is an organization run by Peace Corps and funded by PEPFAR to encourage young women to explore all of the possibilities for their future and, of course if PEPFAR is involved, teach them about safe sex and HIV/AIDS. 

             Sitting in the delightful shade of our new alpendra, we introduced REDES to the new girls (lots of excitement discussing the potential for a few girls to attend an expenses-paid conference!), read the Giving Tree in Portuguese, discussed what makes a friendship, then made and exchanged friendship bracelets to make a “rede” of friendship (rede in Portuguese means net or web).  We only had a turn out of 6 girls (and two were neighbors) but judging by how the girls stuck around for a while after the meeting just to hang out in the alpendra and chit chat, I’d say the meeting was a success and hopefully the girls will bring friends to next week’s meeting!

Our alpendra aka the new Montepuez REDES headquarters!  I will update this post next week with pictures Will took from our first meeting

            I may have mentioned that other potentional secondary projects in the works include a science fair, tutoring, English theater group, and computer literacy classes.

            Ok, so that accounts for one day out of our long weekends.  Life in general here takes a lot of time and work.  Our weekends are the easiest time for us to catch up on our cleaning, yard work, cooking, and bulk market runs.  There is also an unwritten responsibility of PCVs who are placed in cities.  Volunteers placed out in the matu (bush), or at least in towns without a bank, have to travel to the cities to do some real grocery shopping, withdraw their monthly allowances, and if they don’t have electricity at their site, charge their phones and computers. As the lucky volunteers placed in a town with a good market, a bank, and electricity, Will, Mireya, and I get to host our PCV neighbors quite frequently.  To the west of Montepuez, we have Rafael and Vikram in their not-terribly-matu-but-still-bankless site, Balama.  To the southeast, we have Liz and Jamie in Mariri.  Oh Mariri.  Mariri is a tiny town 17km off the main road with no power and no market to speak of.  Anyways, Rafael, Vikram, Liz, and Jamie often frequent the Milian/Weaver/Zweig Bed and Breakfast and it’s always a good time. 

            On weekends when we aren’t hosting our electricity/money/good food deprived neighbors, Mireya and I are free to travel!  Right now, I’m basically on the “learner’s permit” of my volunteer service.  During the first three months of service, I’m not allowed to leave my province of Cabo Delgado.  That doesn’t mean there aren’t places to visit!  I’ve already spent two weekends in Pemba (due east of Montepuez and on the coast!) so far, one with fellow teachers Ellen and Christina who graciously hosted “Cabo Christmas” and one with health volunteer Kelly (Who will be selling us her fridge when her service ends in June!!! Thanks, Kelly!!!).  Next weekend, Will and I will be traveling to Macomia, which is north of Pemba, to visit Eryn and Marin and celebrate Marin’s birthday with other Cabo Delgado volunteers.

Plans in the works for the next month or two:

-Traveling to Balama with Mireya’s REDES leaders, Eunilde and Farzana, to help Rafael promote a new REDES group

-Catching a ride with our missionary friends to spend a day with Liz and Jamie in Mariri

-Visiting Ebo, a pretty little town off the beaten path with some great hiking and a from what I hear, an awesome view off a cliff      

Wish list for trips I’ll make after my travel restriction is lifted:

-Peace Corps Reconnect Conference in Nampula

-Beach trip to Vilankulos

-Visit the Cahora Bassa Dam in Tete province

-Take the train between Nampula and Cuamba

-Visit Lichinga and Lake Malawi

-Visit Malawi

-See Victoria Falls

-Go on a safari somewhere to see something wilder than a stray cat or a goat

On an unrelated note:

            I got mail for the first time since arriving at site!!!  Unfortunately it took Rafael busting his knee to earn a trip to Nampula, but I got Christmas letters!  Thanks, Cherie, and congratulations on your new farm!  Also, a shout out to the 7^th and 8^th graders at the Carroll Catholic School.  It may have been February when I finally got to read your letters, but it still felt like Christmas : )