Posts
Hey everyone!
I just uploaded my pictures so far to snapfish.
Here is the link ... http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=1200049022/a=1579671022_1579671022/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
Hope you enjoy :)
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Hey everyone!
Right now, I'm at the counterpart workshop in the "Fouta" region of Guinea. The counterpart workshop is the time when we meet the person responsible for us while we are at our sites. In most cases, the counterpart is the principal of the school. My principal, Mr. Sidibe, is really excited for me to come to the school. I am the fifth volunteer at this site, but the first education volunteer there. The school has five teachers, I am the sixth teacher, and also the only female. Tenatively, I will be teaching 7th and 8th grade math. Mr. Sidibe also wants me to teach 10th grade English, which I will probably do after I am at site for a few months and am used to everything. My classes will most likely have anywhere from 50-100 students per class. Mr. Sidibe was insistant that I allow all children into the class, no matter what time they arrive because most will be walking 1-2 hours to get to the school. Can you imagine American children having to walk that long to get to school... no way! I know I never would have, then again, you all know how lazy I am hah. The school we're staying at for the workshop is beautiful. It's some type of environmental school. We're here for three days, then we are leaving to head off to our sites for a week to visit.
Guinea is a really beautiful country, and has all the typical regions you would imagine when you think of Africa. The regions are Basse Cote, Fouta, Forest, and Haute. The Basse Cote is relatively mild temperatures and a mixture and with vegeation somewhat similar to the states. This is the region where we are staying at for training. The Fouta is absolutely gorgeous, and this is where we are staying right now for Counterpart Workshop. There are waterfalls, mountains, and everything is green and beautiful. I have amazing pics from the drive here.. I hope I can get them downloaded so you can see. The Forest is exactly what you think it would be .. tropical rain forests with animals, like elephants and chimps. This region has been closed for Peace Corps since 2000 but is reopening now with my stage. The people there are really excited to have Peace Corps back in their region. And finally, the Haute, which I'm know I talked about before because this is the region I will be living in. It's desert-like and really hot. I can tell you more after I visit next week.
This week, alot of the smaller children in my host family are leaving for vacation.. until October. This seems to be a common thing here. Children leave for a few months during the summer to stay with other members of the family in other parts of Guinea. Before I left, I gave out alot of the toys I brought with me. This was interesting because all the kids took one toy. Then inevitably, they all started crying and fighting because they wanted each others toys and there weren't enough for each to have their own. They didn't like the idea of sharing, but my host mom put them in their place real quick. Then, I had to try to explain to them in French how to play games, like Uno and jacks. It was interesting to say the least, and I really don't think they understood the point of most of the games.
In the markets here, the clothing they sell is all from Goodwill. Things that Americans don't want and don't buy, they send over to Africa and sell here. Needless to say, you see some interesting tee shirts here. I've seen a few with sayings like "I like boobs", or a 12 year old kid with a tee shirt that says "World's Best Grandpa". They have no clue what the shirts say, and it's pretty hilarious. The people here refer to the places that sell these American clothes as "The Dead White People Store" because they can't understand why white people would give away their clothes, so they assumer the clothing comes from dead people. Imagine me and my horrible french trying to explain to my family that this isn't the case here haha.
Right now, I'm at the counterpart workshop in the "Fouta" region of Guinea. The counterpart workshop is the time when we meet the person responsible for us while we are at our sites. In most cases, the counterpart is the principal of the school. My principal, Mr. Sidibe, is really excited for me to come to the school. I am the fifth volunteer at this site, but the first education volunteer there. The school has five teachers, I am the sixth teacher, and also the only female. Tenatively, I will be teaching 7th and 8th grade math. Mr. Sidibe also wants me to teach 10th grade English, which I will probably do after I am at site for a few months and am used to everything. My classes will most likely have anywhere from 50-100 students per class. Mr. Sidibe was insistant that I allow all children into the class, no matter what time they arrive because most will be walking 1-2 hours to get to the school. Can you imagine American children having to walk that long to get to school... no way! I know I never would have, then again, you all know how lazy I am hah. The school we're staying at for the workshop is beautiful. It's some type of environmental school. We're here for three days, then we are leaving to head off to our sites for a week to visit.
Guinea is a really beautiful country, and has all the typical regions you would imagine when you think of Africa. The regions are Basse Cote, Fouta, Forest, and Haute. The Basse Cote is relatively mild temperatures and a mixture and with vegeation somewhat similar to the states. This is the region where we are staying at for training. The Fouta is absolutely gorgeous, and this is where we are staying right now for Counterpart Workshop. There are waterfalls, mountains, and everything is green and beautiful. I have amazing pics from the drive here.. I hope I can get them downloaded so you can see. The Forest is exactly what you think it would be .. tropical rain forests with animals, like elephants and chimps. This region has been closed for Peace Corps since 2000 but is reopening now with my stage. The people there are really excited to have Peace Corps back in their region. And finally, the Haute, which I'm know I talked about before because this is the region I will be living in. It's desert-like and really hot. I can tell you more after I visit next week.
This week, alot of the smaller children in my host family are leaving for vacation.. until October. This seems to be a common thing here. Children leave for a few months during the summer to stay with other members of the family in other parts of Guinea. Before I left, I gave out alot of the toys I brought with me. This was interesting because all the kids took one toy. Then inevitably, they all started crying and fighting because they wanted each others toys and there weren't enough for each to have their own. They didn't like the idea of sharing, but my host mom put them in their place real quick. Then, I had to try to explain to them in French how to play games, like Uno and jacks. It was interesting to say the least, and I really don't think they understood the point of most of the games.
In the markets here, the clothing they sell is all from Goodwill. Things that Americans don't want and don't buy, they send over to Africa and sell here. Needless to say, you see some interesting tee shirts here. I've seen a few with sayings like "I like boobs", or a 12 year old kid with a tee shirt that says "World's Best Grandpa". They have no clue what the shirts say, and it's pretty hilarious. The people here refer to the places that sell these American clothes as "The Dead White People Store" because they can't understand why white people would give away their clothes, so they assumer the clothing comes from dead people. Imagine me and my horrible french trying to explain to my family that this isn't the case here haha.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Forecariah
Life the past few weeks has flown by. I've been in a city named Forecariah for staging (pre-service training). I live with a family there who is really nice and very educated. All stagiares take the name of their host family. My name is Mahawaa Ava Fofana. Both of my host parents are teachers, and my host father is also a principal. They have about 12 children, most of which are older. The older students are studying at the University. I lucked out because my family speaks very good French and some English as well. Forecariah is a very nice town. It is much smaller than Conakry, the first city we were in. All the people there are very nice and always willing to help out their local "Fote". We still train everyday from 8am-5pm, which makes the time fly by.
There isn't much variety on food here. My family gives me rice and sauce everday for dinner, and for breakfast, i eat bread with butter or peanut butter and tea. For lunch, we (the other stagiares and myself) eat in the village.. either in the cafe nearby or in the market. The options are usually egg sandwiches with cheese and mayonaisse, brochettes (which are an unknown type of meat on a kabob then put into a sandwich), rice and sauce, fruits and vegetables, and bread with peanut butter. They have really great vegetables here. I eat alot of avocadoes and cucumbers.
I recently found out where my site will be after training. It's in the region of Guinea called the "Haute". It borders the country of Mali. Haute Guinea is known for being extremely hot and desert-like. One volunteer in that region told me that the hottest temperature she saw there was 142 degrees! Most volunteers in the Haute sleep outside at night because it's so hot.. thank god for my mosquito- net hammock! I will be the 5th Peace Corps volunteer at this site, but the first education volunteer. The other volunteers were all Agroforestry. On the information paper they gave me about my site, it said my hut has a chicken coop, a garden, and a place available for bee-keeping. I guess I'll have to learn how to do these things. In a few weeks, we'll be going to visit our sites for a week, so more details to come when I arrive.
Last week, I killed my first chicken. I have to say, it went better than expected. One person holds down the chicken, while another person cuts off the head. I was the holder of the chicken, which sounds like a better job, except after the head is cut off, blood sprays everywhere and the headless chicken flaps around and I have to hold it down. I have to admit, it was one of the best chickens I ever ate.
I'm going to try to upload some pictures now before my time at the internet cafe expires. But thanks for everyone following me and my adventures here! I'd love to get mail of any type! Anyone interested in calling can get my phone number from my parents.
There isn't much variety on food here. My family gives me rice and sauce everday for dinner, and for breakfast, i eat bread with butter or peanut butter and tea. For lunch, we (the other stagiares and myself) eat in the village.. either in the cafe nearby or in the market. The options are usually egg sandwiches with cheese and mayonaisse, brochettes (which are an unknown type of meat on a kabob then put into a sandwich), rice and sauce, fruits and vegetables, and bread with peanut butter. They have really great vegetables here. I eat alot of avocadoes and cucumbers.
I recently found out where my site will be after training. It's in the region of Guinea called the "Haute". It borders the country of Mali. Haute Guinea is known for being extremely hot and desert-like. One volunteer in that region told me that the hottest temperature she saw there was 142 degrees! Most volunteers in the Haute sleep outside at night because it's so hot.. thank god for my mosquito- net hammock! I will be the 5th Peace Corps volunteer at this site, but the first education volunteer. The other volunteers were all Agroforestry. On the information paper they gave me about my site, it said my hut has a chicken coop, a garden, and a place available for bee-keeping. I guess I'll have to learn how to do these things. In a few weeks, we'll be going to visit our sites for a week, so more details to come when I arrive.
Last week, I killed my first chicken. I have to say, it went better than expected. One person holds down the chicken, while another person cuts off the head. I was the holder of the chicken, which sounds like a better job, except after the head is cut off, blood sprays everywhere and the headless chicken flaps around and I have to hold it down. I have to admit, it was one of the best chickens I ever ate.
I'm going to try to upload some pictures now before my time at the internet cafe expires. But thanks for everyone following me and my adventures here! I'd love to get mail of any type! Anyone interested in calling can get my phone number from my parents.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
My First Days in Guinea
I've been in Guinea for about 5 days, and so far, so good. Although, we have been somewhat sheltered because we've pretty much only been in the Peace Corps compound so far. The city we're in, Conakry, is exactly how it is sterotyped in the movies.. crazy, dirty, no sewage/trash system, little children (often naked) running around. My big adventure since we're been here was go to the local market with the previous volunteers who know their way around. It was chaotic and all the trainees and myself returned a little scared and culture shocked. They sell everything there from food to shoes to microwaves.. anything you need! While we were out walking around, the groups of african children yell "Fote! Fote" at us, meaning "white person, white person" and another kid got scared and starting crying when he saw all of us. All you can really do it laugh at it. Our compound is literally right on the beach, it's a beautiful scene, but unfortunately, the entire beach is covered with trash, so you can't really go on the beach and definately not in the water. You're just asking for diarrhea if you do that.
We've had alot of training so far, we're training 8-5 daily, which is about 4 - 1.5 hour sessions, 3 meals, and a few tea breaks. The sessions cover everything from how to speak french, how to speak the local language (called Susu, and no, it doesn't involve clicks haha), safety, cross cultural training, and other things like that. Today, we learned how to squat to poop into a pit latrine and how to wash your butt with your hand and to use a water can to rinse it off... always a good tool to have hah.
I have to say, I'm already sick of the food and miss american fast food (gabs, you know i miss this haha). For breakfast we have a baguette with peanut butter, jelly and butter, and a hard boiled egg with tea or coffee. For lunch, we have rice with different types of sauce, usually something red and spicy. I really don't know what it is. For dinner, we have rice and sauces again, but with meat. It seems in africa they have 2 kinds of meat.. fish or "viande" (french for meat), so I often have no idea what the "meat" is. The fish is a whole fish (head, scales, and teeth!) usually floating in the sauce. I am still a little scared of the meat, but I eat it anyway and it's usually good.. besides the occasional bone.
Tomorrow, I am headed off to a different city about 2-3 hours away from here to start our homestay portion of the training. I haven't met my family yet, so I have no idea what I'm in store for. We have our adoption ceremony tomorrow afternoon, then tomorrow night, I am off to live with a family for 3 months that I don't know and won't really be able to speak to. And i'll be pooping in a pit latrine and showering in a bucket. I'm excited though, and I can't wait to learn more and see more of the country.
That's pretty much the last few days of my life here. In the homestay village, there is no internet, so I'll be without internet for the next 3 months. I'll keep this updated and email everyone when I get a chance. Until then, write me letters :)
I miss and love everyone!
We've had alot of training so far, we're training 8-5 daily, which is about 4 - 1.5 hour sessions, 3 meals, and a few tea breaks. The sessions cover everything from how to speak french, how to speak the local language (called Susu, and no, it doesn't involve clicks haha), safety, cross cultural training, and other things like that. Today, we learned how to squat to poop into a pit latrine and how to wash your butt with your hand and to use a water can to rinse it off... always a good tool to have hah.
I have to say, I'm already sick of the food and miss american fast food (gabs, you know i miss this haha). For breakfast we have a baguette with peanut butter, jelly and butter, and a hard boiled egg with tea or coffee. For lunch, we have rice with different types of sauce, usually something red and spicy. I really don't know what it is. For dinner, we have rice and sauces again, but with meat. It seems in africa they have 2 kinds of meat.. fish or "viande" (french for meat), so I often have no idea what the "meat" is. The fish is a whole fish (head, scales, and teeth!) usually floating in the sauce. I am still a little scared of the meat, but I eat it anyway and it's usually good.. besides the occasional bone.
Tomorrow, I am headed off to a different city about 2-3 hours away from here to start our homestay portion of the training. I haven't met my family yet, so I have no idea what I'm in store for. We have our adoption ceremony tomorrow afternoon, then tomorrow night, I am off to live with a family for 3 months that I don't know and won't really be able to speak to. And i'll be pooping in a pit latrine and showering in a bucket. I'm excited though, and I can't wait to learn more and see more of the country.
That's pretty much the last few days of my life here. In the homestay village, there is no internet, so I'll be without internet for the next 3 months. I'll keep this updated and email everyone when I get a chance. Until then, write me letters :)
I miss and love everyone!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Staging
Today, I left into my first day. I said my last goodbyes to the people who matter to me most, and headed off to Philly. I'm here for staging where I met the other volunteers in my group, who are all great! We had a 4 hour orientation, where we covered the basics, like peace corps goals, policies, and then travel info for tomorrow. It was alot of group work, skits, and that kind of stuff, which I'm overall, not a big fan of, but it helped to meet the other volunteers. After that, we all met for a "last supper", which ended up being at a cuban restaurant near the hotel and then we headed off to the bar for a last drink in America (thanks Yik!). I surprised because I don't feel any bit nervous, only excited. I know this will be a really challenging 2 years, but it will be worth it in the end. I can't wait to head off tomorrow for the 24 hours of travel ahead of me to get to Guinea.
I love & miss everyone!
I love & miss everyone!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
"One Night in Africa"
On Saturday, my amazing friends and family threw me a going away party. We thought it would be a fun idea to dress up and this was our attempt to dress as Africans ha. Some people's outfits were more similar to biblical figures or romans haha, but it was a great time! I have some of the most amazing friends anyone can ask for and I will miss them so much while I am gone! 
Monday, June 1, 2009
THANK YOU!!
I've had an overwhelming amount of support from my friends and especially my family. I wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who has helped me out. I am truly lucky to have all these amazing people in my life who will support me and my dreams no matter what!
A special thank you to :
My Mom & Dad
Grandma Kathy
Grandpa Bob & Jean
Aunt Judy
Uncle Tom & Aunt Rita
Uncle Tom & Aunt Kathleen
Sue Saccuto
Lorie Rettew
Joe & Susie Malavolta
My wonderful co-workers at Great Valley OB-GYN
Grandpa Ron & Kay
Thank you!!
A special thank you to :
My Mom & Dad
Grandma Kathy
Grandpa Bob & Jean
Aunt Judy
Uncle Tom & Aunt Rita
Uncle Tom & Aunt Kathleen
Sue Saccuto
Lorie Rettew
Joe & Susie Malavolta
My wonderful co-workers at Great Valley OB-GYN
Grandpa Ron & Kay
Thank you!!
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