indian26

Well, I have been in this country for about 30 months. I left for Mozambique when I was 26 and now I am 28 years old.  My final day with the Peace Corps is April 18th.  I extended four months to work at the school library by buying books and training teachers and students to use them.  However, I have not received the money yet and I have two weeks left as a Peace Corps Volunteer.  However, I refuse to abandon this project, so I will stay a few extra weeks to finish the project, assuming that I will receive the money soon.  

So, what have I been doing between the ages of 26 and 28 years old.  I have been:

*learning Portuguese
*teaching English as a foreign language
*mentoring new teachers
*tutoring students
*walking in the bush
*riding in a mini van with 30 other people
*eating foreign food
*swimming in the Indian Ocean
*killing cockroaches, ants, spiders, bats, snakes, and mice that enter my house 
*squatting over a hole to go to the bathroom
*taking two or three bucket baths a day
*hand washing my clothes
*reading 80 books my second year (and who knows how many books I read my first year)
*dancing in the market
*brushing my teeth outside in the front yard
*sitting on my veranda (front porch) and watching the view of the valley or the stars
*sleeping under a mosquito net
*cooking tomatoes and onions 100 different ways
*explaining that Michael Jackson is black (not white)

I still do not know when I am leaving Mozambique.  I want to visit my family and friends in the states for a few weeks, and then return to work some more here, but not through the Peace Corps.  I went to the Ministry of Education (Department of Education) today to ask about teaching here through the Mozambican government, but they told me that it was not a possibility. That is too bad because there is a need for teachers here, but what can I do.  So now I am going to try to apply to NGOs, which are like non-profit groups or international relief organizations.  Some NGOs you are probably familiar are World Vision and Save the Children.  So, hopefully something will work out here. The problem is going to be obtaining a visa to stay here.  I can obtain a visa on my own, but then I have to leave and reenter the country every month to get a new visa. This isn't really possible because of money and I live 6 hours away from the border.  However, if I get a job through an organization, they will provide a visa for the length of my contract, so I do not have to leave the country all the time.  Plus, I need a job to support myself financially.  The longer I am here in Mozambique, the more I like it.  I really like the lifestyle here.  

Well, I have been dating this guy for a month.  I have known him since I arrived and I have known his family for the two years too.  My boyfriend's name is Chiquito, which is a nickname for Francisco (or Chico).  It is pretty interesting dating someone from a different culture, but it is also a learning experience for both of us.  Chiquito doesn't speak that much English, just a few sentences, so sometimes there are communication problems because I can't explain everything in Portuguese. But, I am helping him with his English and he is helping me with Portuguese.  However, I think the communication problems are pretty minor.  I made American food for him and his mom twice.  The first time I made homemade tortillas, refried beans, and spanish rice.  It took me over 3 hours, but they really enjoyed the food. Then I made oatmeal cookies, which I think I enjoyed more than they did.  Chiquito has no siblings and his dad lives in South Africa. He only met his dad once, last year, so it is just Chiquito and his mom.  I mean, he has many cousins and aunts and uncles, etc.  Well, enough talk of Chiquito.

Well, I really don't know what else to write about.  I guess this is it until next time.