Wednesday, August 12, 2009

ready..set..GO!

I have:
-Registered for the GRE in October
-Gotten a lot of work done
-Eaten enough good food to last me a month
-Enjoyed my time(as always)
-Laughed a lot
-Smiled more

And realized quite a few things...

*Malawi is not poor, it has quite a few resources that are poorly managed.
*My career path seems to become clearer everyday.
*I live in my own world, within in my own space most of the time.
*I enjoy Malawi, it has a lot to offer. Not focusing on the negative helps that.
*I don't really agree with pop culture or politics and don't over indulge in either.
*Decided that i'm going to be my own boss.
*Money is not my motivator, learning is.
*Good conversation is hands down the most gratifying thing.


O.K enough of that...

I'm done and going home...(to kasitu)

xoxox

And we're off...

Greetings! I hope this finds you all doing well. I’m getting ready to complete my much needed and wanted vacation. It has been a nice stress reliever and has allowed for me to get my thoughts organized as I come up on my third term of teaching. I figured I would take this email to share with you a few thoughts and some things that have occurred lately that I have been unable to share due to lack of time. So here it goes…
Highs and lows...
A low…
The day I was released from the hospital I received a phone call from Francis, the chairperson of the Kasitu AIDS Organization, informing me of the sudden death of Linily, the vice chairperson of KAO. In the past couple of weeks there have been several funerals (more than four I believe) but none really hit me as this one has. I attended a few of the funerals, not because I knew the person who has passed away but because it shows that I’m not just invested in my work but my community as well. Plus, I was told by my friend Edith that it makes me a “good woman” whatever that is supposed to mean. When the Kasitu AIDS Organization was formed and officers were chosen, all of those voting were confident in the skills that Linily had in order to assist the group reach its goals. Linily was actively involved in her community but also in her home not only caring for her child as a single mother but helping bringing in income to support her parents and siblings. I have been in awe of women for all that they do and hearing about the death of Linily just made me think that her community has just lost a key player in its’ development activities but the girls of the community have lost a great role model. The community is unsure of the cause of death and because there is no real explanations for her sudden death so many people believe it is witchcraft, others believe it may have been cerebral malaria, but I know that question will hang in the air. This is supposed to be the wedding season but for some reason it is the funeral season in Kasitu. The day after I left for vacation 4 children (one I believe to have been a form one student of mine but won’t be sure until I return to Kasitu) were hit by a car as the car was trying to swerve to miss a stone in the road and killed instantly. The driver was arrested on the spot and the people of Kasitu were pissed so they torched the car. My perspective on death has always been a bit different and even though I see it as just a natural part of life as birth, man, I wasn’t expecting to be overwhelmed with so many deaths in such a short time. It really shows you that life is short and too precious to waste time on bullshit (excuse my language).
A high…
My boarding students are amazing! Chisomo and Martha get up every morning around 5 and begin cleaning before preparing breakfast. It’s nice having them there, not necessarily for the conversation aspect but because they lift so much weight off my shoulders in terms of keeping my house in order. I say let’s have beans for dinner and it’s there, I ask if they can go to the market to pick up a few things and they go, it’s simply amazing.
Another high…
Camp GLOW was amazing! I taught a couple of classes focusing on self-esteem and IGA(Income Generating Activities). The energy was great and just what I needed to get me re-motivated and excited to return to my own work. The girls gained a lot of valuable experiences, my student Charity was smiling from ear to ear the entire time. Simply amazing…which made me realize that girls/women’s education and empowerment in sub-Saharan Africa seems to be pulling on me for a future career option. Hmm…maybe, but first grad school.
Another high…Vacation was amazing, I went to Senga Bay which is about 230K south of me for a couple days of relaxing on the beach. My friend Jazmian and I took a boat out to Lizard Island and had lunch and swam. Yes, there were lizards everywhere but they managed to keep their distance from me. I came back a bit sunburned but its ok and well worth it. I’m ready to head home to Kasitu, there’s nothing like your own bed.
Project Updates
Kasitu Primary School boarding facility is moving along at snail pace…well, everyone involved is on holiday. Prince has flown the coup and went to South Africa to find work and more money. He may be back in 6 months, he may not. The Primary Education Advisor Assistant has taken his place, so once we’re all back in Kasitu we will meet to discuss what to do next. My headmaster is a bit weary of the project just because the headmaster at the Primary School is a bit crooked and much rather have me bring electricity to his house ( my response when the Primary School Headmaster asked for electricity was “I’m not a miracle worker” haha, told him it takes a lot of time and energy to bring electricity somewhere and you already own a bar on the road with electricity you need to be more focused on bring electricity to your school not your home.) We shall see how this plays out. Eunice is still on board and that makes it worthwhile.The Girls Leadership Academy is coming along well. I have been able to lock in a location at the boarding girls’ secondary school about 30K from my house. The total cost for the facility, the cooks, and firewood comes out to about 16,500MK or $117 USD. A bunch of the beverages and snacks that are the leftovers from Camp GLOW will be donated which is fantastic seeing as it will get me under the $1000USD that is the maximum for applying for a mini-camp grant. The more I’m able to fundraise the easier it is. The Kasitu AIDS Organization suffered a blow with the death of Liniliy, but Augustine was voted in to take her place and we’re moving along. Francis and I, will head to the District Assembly in the boma (district center) on Friday to register the organization which will make it easier when it comes time to get funding or use of resources.Okay, that about sums it all up.
If you have questions as always feel free to ask.
Love,
Courtney