Hey everyone
Well I am in Maputo, the big city to help out with training of the new volunteers. I am currently at the Peace Corps office because I went to the dentist to have a tooth filed because it got chipped. And we are trying to arrange my trip to South Africa for my stomach. Besides that everything is good. I go back to my site on Saturday and the next time I will be in touch with anyone will be December 3rd when my plane touches down in Chicago. About a month more and I will be home. So I am counting down the days. When I get to site I have a week of doing nothing, but I might help out in the bush. After that I will be helping at school for two weeks and then I only have one more week till I leave. So its really not that much more time. Well then I will be talking to everyone soon. Farhana and Sarah, haven't heard from you guys in awhile. Hope you guys will be around when I get home. Raj don't forget to put me on your busy schedule after December 10th and Cor let me know when your leaving. I will be going to visit Jeannette and the kids around December 7th, 15th and for Christmas. So scheduling will be tight.Ok love and miss you guysShellsHi mom it was great talking to you!!!
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Monday, October 18, 2004
Hey everyone
Sorry I know its been awhile since I’ve really written an email. Life has been hectic here to say the least and I haven’t had my laptop. I have been lending it to one of my good friends that works for an NGO here. This last time he had it he went and got my printer fixed because it wasn’t working, he had a program installed to write music since my program wasn’t working and he got my mouse fixed since it had broke. Which was awesome of him since I was planning on just getting it fixed when I got back to the states or just leaving it how it was. But it was probably to his advantage since he uses my laptop a lot. I get scared leaving it in my house since its not the most secure. Anyway I have it for now and I am currently using my printer to print my final exams for my classes. I dislike writing my tests on the board to have the students copy because they cheat when the test is the same. This way I have made three different versions and it will be a little harder for the students to cheat. I will see how it works. If it goes well, next year I will print all my tests. Its just a lot of ink and time.Otherwise everything has been going good here. I have been going to the beach a lot since we are in the summer months and it is hot. For those of you that tried calling me last weekend, I apologize. My friend was playing with my cell phone and he did something that made the phone ask for a certain code that I didn’t have with me. So the other day he took my phone to get fixed I gave him the wrong code so they changed my phone number. He is taking it to get fixed one more time with the right code so that I will have the same number and my credits, since right before he messed it up I put a bunch of credit on it so that I could call a few people to let them know I was in phone range. Anyway I was upset to say the least because it was my birthday weekend and I really wanted to talk to people. I called my mom to give her another cell phone number and it just happened that that cell phone wasn’t receiving calls because the card that was in it was bad. So to say the least I wasn’t having cell phone luck. But otherwise everything that weekend was good. I ate a lot of seafood and just lounged on the beach the rest of the time. I really couldn’t have asked for more, beside having my family and friends around me, but hey only about 6 weeks to go for that. So I know a few people are wondering what to get me for Christmas so I thought I would send this out in my mass email. Please, everything with gift receipts!2 plastic or vinyl tablecloths*1 small backpack-for hiking/camping1 large backpack-for hiking/camping1 Speedo bathing suit 1pc sz36/38*3 sets of small white gold earrings-nothing expensive*Timex wristband-something that won’t get smelly*Beach tent-2-4 people *Regular 35mm camera w/zoom and filmGameboy Games*GRE bookMargarita mix w/tequilaGum-good for teeth type*Pie pan 8-9 inchCraisins2005 calendarEverything needed to make rice crispies treat.Good batteries for digital cameraChocolateSchick silk effects razor refills*Self inking rubber stamp for homework-smiley faces, stars, etc.Head and Shoulders Refresh shampoo*These are the things that I really really need or wantAnything second hand is just as awesome and a lot cheaperWell thats all for now. I hope everyone is doing well. Peggy whats with the neck surgery?
Love and miss you all, Michelle
Sorry I know its been awhile since I’ve really written an email. Life has been hectic here to say the least and I haven’t had my laptop. I have been lending it to one of my good friends that works for an NGO here. This last time he had it he went and got my printer fixed because it wasn’t working, he had a program installed to write music since my program wasn’t working and he got my mouse fixed since it had broke. Which was awesome of him since I was planning on just getting it fixed when I got back to the states or just leaving it how it was. But it was probably to his advantage since he uses my laptop a lot. I get scared leaving it in my house since its not the most secure. Anyway I have it for now and I am currently using my printer to print my final exams for my classes. I dislike writing my tests on the board to have the students copy because they cheat when the test is the same. This way I have made three different versions and it will be a little harder for the students to cheat. I will see how it works. If it goes well, next year I will print all my tests. Its just a lot of ink and time.Otherwise everything has been going good here. I have been going to the beach a lot since we are in the summer months and it is hot. For those of you that tried calling me last weekend, I apologize. My friend was playing with my cell phone and he did something that made the phone ask for a certain code that I didn’t have with me. So the other day he took my phone to get fixed I gave him the wrong code so they changed my phone number. He is taking it to get fixed one more time with the right code so that I will have the same number and my credits, since right before he messed it up I put a bunch of credit on it so that I could call a few people to let them know I was in phone range. Anyway I was upset to say the least because it was my birthday weekend and I really wanted to talk to people. I called my mom to give her another cell phone number and it just happened that that cell phone wasn’t receiving calls because the card that was in it was bad. So to say the least I wasn’t having cell phone luck. But otherwise everything that weekend was good. I ate a lot of seafood and just lounged on the beach the rest of the time. I really couldn’t have asked for more, beside having my family and friends around me, but hey only about 6 weeks to go for that. So I know a few people are wondering what to get me for Christmas so I thought I would send this out in my mass email. Please, everything with gift receipts!2 plastic or vinyl tablecloths*1 small backpack-for hiking/camping1 large backpack-for hiking/camping1 Speedo bathing suit 1pc sz36/38*3 sets of small white gold earrings-nothing expensive*Timex wristband-something that won’t get smelly*Beach tent-2-4 people *Regular 35mm camera w/zoom and filmGameboy Games*GRE bookMargarita mix w/tequilaGum-good for teeth type*Pie pan 8-9 inchCraisins2005 calendarEverything needed to make rice crispies treat.Good batteries for digital cameraChocolateSchick silk effects razor refills*Self inking rubber stamp for homework-smiley faces, stars, etc.Head and Shoulders Refresh shampoo*These are the things that I really really need or wantAnything second hand is just as awesome and a lot cheaperWell thats all for now. I hope everyone is doing well. Peggy whats with the neck surgery?
Love and miss you all, Michelle
Friday, October 08, 2004
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Hey everyone
I just wanted to let you know that I will be in phone range from Friday to Monday. I will be at the beach a lot so if you canºt get through thatºs why. But just keep trying and I promise I will answer. So school is almost over and everything here is going great. Less than two months and I will be back in the states. I am soooo excited. Ok, I have to go but I promise to try and keep everyone up to date.Love and Miss you all,Shells
I just wanted to let you know that I will be in phone range from Friday to Monday. I will be at the beach a lot so if you canºt get through thatºs why. But just keep trying and I promise I will answer. So school is almost over and everything here is going great. Less than two months and I will be back in the states. I am soooo excited. Ok, I have to go but I promise to try and keep everyone up to date.Love and Miss you all,Shells
Monday, August 30, 2004
Hey everyone~
Well I am in Nampula City on an unexpected trip, I came in for nothing more than more stomach issues. I went to a local health clinic to have a test done. We´ll see. I met someone from the states, her and her husband are with a missionary and they offered me a place to sleep. So I spent the night in a real house, I felt like I was home again. She reminds me of mom, in being she has a lot of "stuff", for those of you who know what I mean. But it was nice being in a familiar atmosphere. Today I am going to the mission to meet everyoen and get to know a few more Americans, than I know, which here is none. So I will keep you all updated. I hope I wonºt be back in the city for a month or so, but who knows. My towm might be getting a cell phone tower, I am totally excited. Slowly but surely it will happen. So talk to you all soon and see you in three months.
Love and miss you all,
Shells
Well I am in Nampula City on an unexpected trip, I came in for nothing more than more stomach issues. I went to a local health clinic to have a test done. We´ll see. I met someone from the states, her and her husband are with a missionary and they offered me a place to sleep. So I spent the night in a real house, I felt like I was home again. She reminds me of mom, in being she has a lot of "stuff", for those of you who know what I mean. But it was nice being in a familiar atmosphere. Today I am going to the mission to meet everyoen and get to know a few more Americans, than I know, which here is none. So I will keep you all updated. I hope I wonºt be back in the city for a month or so, but who knows. My towm might be getting a cell phone tower, I am totally excited. Slowly but surely it will happen. So talk to you all soon and see you in three months.
Love and miss you all,
Shells
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Hey everyone~
I just wanted to say hi one last time, probably for the next month or two. I think I am leaving tomorrow but I don't know if I have a plane ticket yet. Today I spent walking around Maputo getting things that I needed and what not. Sarah I mailed out your letter today, so we will see how long it takes to get to you. Oh someone tried to call me last night, I saw it on my phone this morning. Try calling me tonight I promise I will wake up. I will put the phone next to my ear or under my pillow or something. Peggy you will be glad to know that I have been getting good use out of the shirts you sent me. Karen As soon as it gets hot again I will be using the fan that you sent to me. And the food that came in the boxes is great, I love having options at mealtimes. Or just lots of snacks. Anyway I will have my phone on me like I said and I hope to hear from whoever. Ok, I have to go, Love and miss you all,Michelle
I just wanted to say hi one last time, probably for the next month or two. I think I am leaving tomorrow but I don't know if I have a plane ticket yet. Today I spent walking around Maputo getting things that I needed and what not. Sarah I mailed out your letter today, so we will see how long it takes to get to you. Oh someone tried to call me last night, I saw it on my phone this morning. Try calling me tonight I promise I will wake up. I will put the phone next to my ear or under my pillow or something. Peggy you will be glad to know that I have been getting good use out of the shirts you sent me. Karen As soon as it gets hot again I will be using the fan that you sent to me. And the food that came in the boxes is great, I love having options at mealtimes. Or just lots of snacks. Anyway I will have my phone on me like I said and I hope to hear from whoever. Ok, I have to go, Love and miss you all,Michelle
Friday, May 21, 2004
Hey everyone~
Ok, so I was supposed to be sending out pics but it doesn't seem to be working. Oh well, I will try again monday. I should start off with saying that i am currently in Maputo-relaxing. I came to get away and I am having some medical things checked out while I am here. Just some stomach issues probably related to worms or something. We'll find out soon. Anyway life has been pretty good. We've had a few problems in our house, but what is to be expected when you put two american women under the same roof. We deal with our differences and that seems to be that. What's new: I built a chicken coop for two chickens that I bought. I bought them to eat and then decided to keep them. I built the coop and they sleep there at night and in the morning they go pecking around for food. I give them rice when I remember but there is plenty garbage for the to eat. I am not sure if we are waiting for eggs to eat or for babies. I guess when we get eggs we will decide. So one night I decided that since the cat is always chasing the chickens out of our yard I would put the cat in the coop. Well that wasn't a good idea. The chicken came out first and the cat next. I wasn't sure who was more terrified. Then Pooh -the cat decided to chase the chicken out of the yard. Needless to say he didn't come back that night. But the following night they were both sleeping together again and I was happy to know that my chickens came back. So school is going along. I do like teaching though I will not do that when I get back to the states....I think I will take the GRE maybe look into getting a job with an NGO and who knows. I am still very confused. I can't say I have done much thinking but then I have. My spare time is filled by sleep and Gameboy. Anyhow I will write more Monday. I have my cell phone on until Tuesday. So feel free to call me.Lots of love, Michelle
Ok, so I was supposed to be sending out pics but it doesn't seem to be working. Oh well, I will try again monday. I should start off with saying that i am currently in Maputo-relaxing. I came to get away and I am having some medical things checked out while I am here. Just some stomach issues probably related to worms or something. We'll find out soon. Anyway life has been pretty good. We've had a few problems in our house, but what is to be expected when you put two american women under the same roof. We deal with our differences and that seems to be that. What's new: I built a chicken coop for two chickens that I bought. I bought them to eat and then decided to keep them. I built the coop and they sleep there at night and in the morning they go pecking around for food. I give them rice when I remember but there is plenty garbage for the to eat. I am not sure if we are waiting for eggs to eat or for babies. I guess when we get eggs we will decide. So one night I decided that since the cat is always chasing the chickens out of our yard I would put the cat in the coop. Well that wasn't a good idea. The chicken came out first and the cat next. I wasn't sure who was more terrified. Then Pooh -the cat decided to chase the chicken out of the yard. Needless to say he didn't come back that night. But the following night they were both sleeping together again and I was happy to know that my chickens came back. So school is going along. I do like teaching though I will not do that when I get back to the states....I think I will take the GRE maybe look into getting a job with an NGO and who knows. I am still very confused. I can't say I have done much thinking but then I have. My spare time is filled by sleep and Gameboy. Anyhow I will write more Monday. I have my cell phone on until Tuesday. So feel free to call me.Lots of love, Michelle
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Hey everyone-
Well I am currently able to use my cell phone for about the next week or maybe longer because I am going to ask to go to Maputo for medical stuff. I have had a bad stomache for awhile and its not getting any better. So I have a story to tell about getting to where I currently am. I am in Chimoio which is about a 3 hour ride from Beira which is like the second biggest city in Mozambique. Well we had our usual 2 hour chapa ride from Nametil to Nampula city so that we could catch a plane. Well me, Ed and Helana were walking from the store where we dropped off our gas tank to be refilled (Ed would be taking it back to Nametil for us) and we were walking up a hill to our bank. Well we saw a lot of people running and looking up at the sky and needless to say what do we see a few birds flying and a plane spiralling down towards the earth about a hundred feet in front of us, exactly where we just were. Well the plane hit, no explosion and masses of people started to run towards the plane. WE just kind of stood there in shear amazement, did that really just happen? Yes it did. At that point I decided I did not want to get on a plane but I did anyway about 2 hours later. I had a beer hoping to numb what happened and it did until the plane. I was fine until we started to land and I just got really nervous. So then after that we had a three hour chapa ride to Chimoio from Beira and there we saw a nice huge overturned semi laying in the middle of the rode and a truck that had crashed into it. A guy was smoking a cigarette by the leaking gas which I thought was very daring or just plain stupid. So it was definitely an eventful day and I am not looking forward to getting back on a chapa or a plane for that matter. The good part of the journey was at the end of it, being able to see some of the other volunteers. We had a very nice long dinner and caught up on stories, then Cheryl called which I thought was an awesome surprise. Its so great to hear voices that you havenºt heard in such a long time. So Hana and Sarah thanks for visiting mom, I am sure she really enjoyed it. Sorry John you are on my emailing list, now. Ok tata for now and I will talk to most of you soon. ~Love and miss you all, Shells
Well I am currently able to use my cell phone for about the next week or maybe longer because I am going to ask to go to Maputo for medical stuff. I have had a bad stomache for awhile and its not getting any better. So I have a story to tell about getting to where I currently am. I am in Chimoio which is about a 3 hour ride from Beira which is like the second biggest city in Mozambique. Well we had our usual 2 hour chapa ride from Nametil to Nampula city so that we could catch a plane. Well me, Ed and Helana were walking from the store where we dropped off our gas tank to be refilled (Ed would be taking it back to Nametil for us) and we were walking up a hill to our bank. Well we saw a lot of people running and looking up at the sky and needless to say what do we see a few birds flying and a plane spiralling down towards the earth about a hundred feet in front of us, exactly where we just were. Well the plane hit, no explosion and masses of people started to run towards the plane. WE just kind of stood there in shear amazement, did that really just happen? Yes it did. At that point I decided I did not want to get on a plane but I did anyway about 2 hours later. I had a beer hoping to numb what happened and it did until the plane. I was fine until we started to land and I just got really nervous. So then after that we had a three hour chapa ride to Chimoio from Beira and there we saw a nice huge overturned semi laying in the middle of the rode and a truck that had crashed into it. A guy was smoking a cigarette by the leaking gas which I thought was very daring or just plain stupid. So it was definitely an eventful day and I am not looking forward to getting back on a chapa or a plane for that matter. The good part of the journey was at the end of it, being able to see some of the other volunteers. We had a very nice long dinner and caught up on stories, then Cheryl called which I thought was an awesome surprise. Its so great to hear voices that you havenºt heard in such a long time. So Hana and Sarah thanks for visiting mom, I am sure she really enjoyed it. Sorry John you are on my emailing list, now. Ok tata for now and I will talk to most of you soon. ~Love and miss you all, Shells
Friday, March 26, 2004
Well Hey EveryoneI just wanted to drop you a link to some pics that one of our volunteers took. I have pics but the computer keeps freezing when I try to attach them. I might write some more in a little bit, I need to go and find out where my cell is so I have it for the weekend. So here is the address http://homepage.mac.com/marromeuman/PhotoAlbum1.htmland these are pics from training. I have some really cute pics if this machine would cooperate with me on attaching them. Well all is good here, I am not sick anymore. I think I am going to the beach tomorrow, next weekend and then probably the week after. It is almost holiday time for us, thank god. Well I will try to write more in a bit. ~Love and Miss you all, Shells
Thursday, March 11, 2004
Hey guysWell this has to be quick. I have 7 minutes left of an hour after reading all of your emails. I am alive. I have been really sick the last week with I think Malaria. It has finally passed but nothing like a week in bed with fevers and chills and bodyaches. I didnºt get tested cause I am really scared of the hospitals here. Anyway I got another new number 258-82-626-761, the next time I will be on my phone will probably be the end of April or sometime this month when I go to the beach. There are so many things I want to say to so many people, I got a lot of touching emails and it kills me not being able to repsond to everyone individually. Mom, Karen, Jeannette, Cor; Sarah and everyone else that I missed. Thank you so much for just keeping me informed with life at home and your words of encouragement...I really do appreciate it. Ok, well I am still teaching lol, though they keep on changing our schedule. We are almost done with the first trimester and they still change it....I just donºt understand. Oh I got a kitten. Its name is POOH for nothing other than Winnie the Pooh. LOng story I will tell you about it next time. Ok got to go~I miss you and love you all, ShellsJeannette give teh kids hugs and kisses for me~Mom miss you bunches
Monday, February 09, 2004
Hey everyone~
Well I am back in Maputo for the time being. I got here on Sunday evening, they flew me north to another city and then south to Maputo, I don't ask but we had two layovers before we ever got to Maputo. To say the least it was a very long flight. But I am here and as soon as I get a ride back to the hotel to leave Helanas package I will be off to buy a cell phone. . Scott you can call Jeannette, she will have it also. I tried buying a cell phone yesterday but in this country everything is closed on Sundays. I am leaving tomorrow, I think, I am on a waiting list and should find out later. If not I will leave on Wednesday. I am not sure of the next time that I will have access to a network for the phone. I mean I go to the city every weekend but with the time difference I am usually home before you guys wake up. Unless I spend the night there, its hopeless. I know that i will have cell access in April. So I guess for those two months it will be up to the internet to do the talking for me.
A few quick things, mom I didn't receive anything. Maybe next time. I am receiving my mail that is being sent to me at the school. Remember letters to the school and packages to Maputo. Oh Chris tell your parents I got their X-mas card and tell them thanks and it was really nice of them to send one to me.
As for school, my house, my life- it is all good. Our freezer is treating us good, though it has started with little electrical shocks, but we think we know what we have to do. Our house hasn't been falling apart lately, though I think the ants are eating through our mud walls. Actually I think they are eating through our concrete in the bathroom-I didn't know they could do that so I am not sure if it is really concrete or what. As for the ants I had one in my pants the other day when I went to school. I was in class teaching when something was biting the heck out of my leg. I was scratching and all and the students were like go to the bathroom so it will leave. I was like no I have to teach, well when I got home I had at least a dozen welts on my leg. I think the ant crawled up my leg when I was going to the bathroom-since there are a ton in our bathroom and proceeded to hang out and bite the hell out of me. Anyway it was a fun experience.
As far as other things our boy that we had helping us didn't work, we fired him and just hired a new one on Sunday when I left. Teaching is fun, exhausting and hot. I have seven classes and four are 8th graders. Which I have a lot of translating in those classes. They keep changing our schedule and on wednesday I start at 7 and don't finish till 10:15 pm. My classes are spread out but it is still exhausting because then I have a class the next morning at 7 and at night when I am finished I like to plan my lessons. But I think they are changing it because I told them I can't do it. I don't mind teaching at night but I can't teach that late.
It has started to cool down here, I mean I don't sleep with my fan at night. Sometimes I am actually cold. At times when we take walks at night I actually put on a long sleeve shirt. Who thought that 60-70 was cold. I never thought I would use that word here. But I guess when your body gets adjusted to the temperature, thats what happens.
None of these pics are really recent they are from December. The next batch will be of my town and house and what have you. I just haven't had the time to take pics or the occassion and when I did my batteries weren't charged and the batteries at the market are not strong enough for my camera. So next time, I will have everything set.
Otherwise I sleep well, besides the sag in my bed, I eat pretty well and the most important is that I am still enjoying myself. Oh and my health is good.
Well I am going to close with that,
I hope everyone is doing well and take care
Miss you and love you ,
shells
Well I am back in Maputo for the time being. I got here on Sunday evening, they flew me north to another city and then south to Maputo, I don't ask but we had two layovers before we ever got to Maputo. To say the least it was a very long flight. But I am here and as soon as I get a ride back to the hotel to leave Helanas package I will be off to buy a cell phone. . Scott you can call Jeannette, she will have it also. I tried buying a cell phone yesterday but in this country everything is closed on Sundays. I am leaving tomorrow, I think, I am on a waiting list and should find out later. If not I will leave on Wednesday. I am not sure of the next time that I will have access to a network for the phone. I mean I go to the city every weekend but with the time difference I am usually home before you guys wake up. Unless I spend the night there, its hopeless. I know that i will have cell access in April. So I guess for those two months it will be up to the internet to do the talking for me.
A few quick things, mom I didn't receive anything. Maybe next time. I am receiving my mail that is being sent to me at the school. Remember letters to the school and packages to Maputo. Oh Chris tell your parents I got their X-mas card and tell them thanks and it was really nice of them to send one to me.
As for school, my house, my life- it is all good. Our freezer is treating us good, though it has started with little electrical shocks, but we think we know what we have to do. Our house hasn't been falling apart lately, though I think the ants are eating through our mud walls. Actually I think they are eating through our concrete in the bathroom-I didn't know they could do that so I am not sure if it is really concrete or what. As for the ants I had one in my pants the other day when I went to school. I was in class teaching when something was biting the heck out of my leg. I was scratching and all and the students were like go to the bathroom so it will leave. I was like no I have to teach, well when I got home I had at least a dozen welts on my leg. I think the ant crawled up my leg when I was going to the bathroom-since there are a ton in our bathroom and proceeded to hang out and bite the hell out of me. Anyway it was a fun experience.
As far as other things our boy that we had helping us didn't work, we fired him and just hired a new one on Sunday when I left. Teaching is fun, exhausting and hot. I have seven classes and four are 8th graders. Which I have a lot of translating in those classes. They keep changing our schedule and on wednesday I start at 7 and don't finish till 10:15 pm. My classes are spread out but it is still exhausting because then I have a class the next morning at 7 and at night when I am finished I like to plan my lessons. But I think they are changing it because I told them I can't do it. I don't mind teaching at night but I can't teach that late.
It has started to cool down here, I mean I don't sleep with my fan at night. Sometimes I am actually cold. At times when we take walks at night I actually put on a long sleeve shirt. Who thought that 60-70 was cold. I never thought I would use that word here. But I guess when your body gets adjusted to the temperature, thats what happens.
None of these pics are really recent they are from December. The next batch will be of my town and house and what have you. I just haven't had the time to take pics or the occassion and when I did my batteries weren't charged and the batteries at the market are not strong enough for my camera. So next time, I will have everything set.
Otherwise I sleep well, besides the sag in my bed, I eat pretty well and the most important is that I am still enjoying myself. Oh and my health is good.
Well I am going to close with that,
I hope everyone is doing well and take care
Miss you and love you ,
shells
Hey everyone~
Well school started about 2 weeks ago. Right before that we moved into our house. Its great as it falls apart with us. The cement in our latrine has decided to cave in, which they have finally fixed, our door broke which we got fixed, we bought a freezer that has electrocuted the hell out of everyone in the house except for me. But we just had our faulty electricity redone yesterday so everything is good. Our brand new roof was leaking, but I think they fixed that. They put up a fence without a door, Iºm not quite sure why. And we have a well hole in our back yard that is big enough for one of us to fall down. They were supposed to top it off but they havenºt. Otherwise the house is great. We have ants that bite you and inject stuff into you and it hurts like hell. Toads seem to love our house. I dislike going to bed and having dirt on my bed so I hung capullanas on my walls to at least minimize the amount of dirt that falls. I bought a fan to use for those hot nights. Which it has actually been pretty cool lately. We have a cat almost. She is still nursing but we will bring her home soon. My roomy has deemed me the PCP Peace Corps Princess. Which I think everyone will find hilarious.
Otherwise school is great. I love teaching. I have 7 classes 3 times a week. I have a night class that is so full of energy. You can only make english so fun. The school schedule is messy. We have been teaching for 2 weeks and there are still professors who have not showed up for classes, they keep changing the schedule and now on monday we are getting 11 new professors. I am not sure why they donºt do all this before school starts, all I can say is it is Mozambique.
We have a boy Kino that lives with us. Actually he lives in teh kitchen. It is a house separate tahn ours and it has 2 rooms and today will have electricity. He is a good kid. He cooks and cleans for us strange americans. He starts night school on Monday, which we are helping him with. He just kind of fell into us. He was told to help us out and then he´s like I want to live here and moved into our kitchen. He was really shy at first but we said if he didnºt start coming out of his shell then we would need someone new. So heºs not slacking anymore.
Oh before i forget I lost my cell. Actually it was stolen today. It was my fault for not keeping a better eye on it but oh well. I got inot nampula and just wanted to get everything done to get out of here, go home and rest so taht I can go out tonight to where else but the discoteca. Our friends that go to school in Nampula come home on the weekends so its our time with them. Anyway when i get a new phone I will send out an email. I will still be in Maputo on the 8th so expect an email probably on the 9th with a number.
Ok, I should go time is running out.
I miss you all and hope everyone is in good health
Love ya guys
Shells xoxoxoxoxox
Oh if you sent things to that school address it is cool. Scott I got your letters. Mom, Cor and Scott I sent letters off to you guys today.
And yes I am still in Mozambique and loving it!!!!!
Well school started about 2 weeks ago. Right before that we moved into our house. Its great as it falls apart with us. The cement in our latrine has decided to cave in, which they have finally fixed, our door broke which we got fixed, we bought a freezer that has electrocuted the hell out of everyone in the house except for me. But we just had our faulty electricity redone yesterday so everything is good. Our brand new roof was leaking, but I think they fixed that. They put up a fence without a door, Iºm not quite sure why. And we have a well hole in our back yard that is big enough for one of us to fall down. They were supposed to top it off but they havenºt. Otherwise the house is great. We have ants that bite you and inject stuff into you and it hurts like hell. Toads seem to love our house. I dislike going to bed and having dirt on my bed so I hung capullanas on my walls to at least minimize the amount of dirt that falls. I bought a fan to use for those hot nights. Which it has actually been pretty cool lately. We have a cat almost. She is still nursing but we will bring her home soon. My roomy has deemed me the PCP Peace Corps Princess. Which I think everyone will find hilarious.
Otherwise school is great. I love teaching. I have 7 classes 3 times a week. I have a night class that is so full of energy. You can only make english so fun. The school schedule is messy. We have been teaching for 2 weeks and there are still professors who have not showed up for classes, they keep changing the schedule and now on monday we are getting 11 new professors. I am not sure why they donºt do all this before school starts, all I can say is it is Mozambique.
We have a boy Kino that lives with us. Actually he lives in teh kitchen. It is a house separate tahn ours and it has 2 rooms and today will have electricity. He is a good kid. He cooks and cleans for us strange americans. He starts night school on Monday, which we are helping him with. He just kind of fell into us. He was told to help us out and then he´s like I want to live here and moved into our kitchen. He was really shy at first but we said if he didnºt start coming out of his shell then we would need someone new. So heºs not slacking anymore.
Oh before i forget I lost my cell. Actually it was stolen today. It was my fault for not keeping a better eye on it but oh well. I got inot nampula and just wanted to get everything done to get out of here, go home and rest so taht I can go out tonight to where else but the discoteca. Our friends that go to school in Nampula come home on the weekends so its our time with them. Anyway when i get a new phone I will send out an email. I will still be in Maputo on the 8th so expect an email probably on the 9th with a number.
Ok, I should go time is running out.
I miss you all and hope everyone is in good health
Love ya guys
Shells xoxoxoxoxox
Oh if you sent things to that school address it is cool. Scott I got your letters. Mom, Cor and Scott I sent letters off to you guys today.
And yes I am still in Mozambique and loving it!!!!!
Hey everyone^
Well it is Wednesday and school starts either next monday or tuesday. I am not sure which day and I donºt even know if the school knows. We are supposed to have our house on Thursday. We told them last week to give us a house, any house. Just so we didnºt have to deal with other visitors coming in and out of the house all the time. Its just an aggervating situation all over. Well last week after I returned from Maputo I came down with a really bad flu. The minister of health was trying to convince me it was Malaria and I just kept telling him no. He wanted to do a test and I was like your not sticking me with any needles. I just had a high fever for a couple days and I have been left with a nasty cough. It sounds like bronchitis but who knows. I figure it will pass as did the fever in time. So lately I have been doing a lot of nothing. A lot of resting and more resting. Today is really the first day I have done something productive. I am also waiting on our school to tell me what grades I am teaching. Which they are supposed to have meetings the week before school starts but thats this week and we have no such meetings. On sunday was Helenas birthday and she had a party at our favorite barraca. She bought a ton of food and the owners cooked it for her. It was really nice, it would have been a lot nicer if I felt a whole lot better . Oh well, only so much I can do.
Today when we were coming to the city we were in a chapa in the front seat minus the windshield. Talk about having dirt all over your face. It was kind of like driving a motorcycle with a really nice breeze. But it sucked when other drivers went past us and we had their dirt iin our faces. Well that is all I really have for now. Not much has been going on, I am sure the next time I write I will have a ton to say. So I hope everyone is doing well and that everyone is having a good new year.
Until Next time,
Michelle
Oh, keep sending things to my Maputo address
Michelle Kramer, PCV
Peace Corps
C.P. 4398
Maputo, Mozambique
The PC sends things to me once a month in my newsletter so just send my letters there and then they will reach me. I figure its safer than sending it to the school, I promise this will be the last time i CHANge my mind. And the next time I will have my phone on will be Feb.8th when I fly to Maputo.
Love and MIss you all
Well it is Wednesday and school starts either next monday or tuesday. I am not sure which day and I donºt even know if the school knows. We are supposed to have our house on Thursday. We told them last week to give us a house, any house. Just so we didnºt have to deal with other visitors coming in and out of the house all the time. Its just an aggervating situation all over. Well last week after I returned from Maputo I came down with a really bad flu. The minister of health was trying to convince me it was Malaria and I just kept telling him no. He wanted to do a test and I was like your not sticking me with any needles. I just had a high fever for a couple days and I have been left with a nasty cough. It sounds like bronchitis but who knows. I figure it will pass as did the fever in time. So lately I have been doing a lot of nothing. A lot of resting and more resting. Today is really the first day I have done something productive. I am also waiting on our school to tell me what grades I am teaching. Which they are supposed to have meetings the week before school starts but thats this week and we have no such meetings. On sunday was Helenas birthday and she had a party at our favorite barraca. She bought a ton of food and the owners cooked it for her. It was really nice, it would have been a lot nicer if I felt a whole lot better . Oh well, only so much I can do.
Today when we were coming to the city we were in a chapa in the front seat minus the windshield. Talk about having dirt all over your face. It was kind of like driving a motorcycle with a really nice breeze. But it sucked when other drivers went past us and we had their dirt iin our faces. Well that is all I really have for now. Not much has been going on, I am sure the next time I write I will have a ton to say. So I hope everyone is doing well and that everyone is having a good new year.
Until Next time,
Michelle
Oh, keep sending things to my Maputo address
Michelle Kramer, PCV
Peace Corps
C.P. 4398
Maputo, Mozambique
The PC sends things to me once a month in my newsletter so just send my letters there and then they will reach me. I figure its safer than sending it to the school, I promise this will be the last time i CHANge my mind. And the next time I will have my phone on will be Feb.8th when I fly to Maputo.
Love and MIss you all
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
Hey everyone~
Well I am in Monapu, I am visiting friends and will be going to tthe Isle de Mocambique tomorrow for Christmas. So far everything is great. We have been in our town for 1 week and everyone there is awesome. We had a nice little welcome lunch and pretty much have met everyone in town. It is funny though, some little kids that are 1 or less see us and cry cause we are white. Its entertaining to say the lleast. Well we havenºt done much. WE have slept and walked and went out to the bar and discoteca. We live in an old colonial house that is huge. It is a guest house because our house is not ready for us. When we arrived they showed us 3 different houses and we chose the one that was in the bairro, bascially the center of where everyone lives and not one of the nice cement houses. We chose the dirt house. To get this house we had to compromise and we will be getting a girl that comes in from another town to go to school, she will live with us. We pay her tuition which is nothing, buy her notebooks and feed her. She in turn helps us cook, clean and get our water. It should be a decent trade off. They also tried getting us to hire a security person which we shot down. We donºt want to stand out anymore than we do. The girl living with us happens alot here, a lot of the teaqchers or wealthier people have the kids in their home as a way to help them and help the kid get their education. Traveling can be quite expensive and a pain in the ass, especially where we live. We are in the booniess, to say the least.
Lets see we have become good friends with this lady Ilda, she is a doll. She is 23 and works for the school. She lives with her 3 siblings, the youngest being 5 and she so fun to play with. We have also met the owner of the bar and discoteca which has opened her home and calls us her kids. Within the first 2 minutes of meeting her she showed us her house which is gigantic and she has a monkey. She has 5 kids and is a reeally good person. She has just been a real nice perosn to be around and her family is great. Her son speaks pretty good english which makes life a whole lot easier for me. I can actually carry on a real conversation with someone. Me and Helana are getting along great. PLus she is the way that I get through the days. I have depended on her portuguese a lot. Which I have to stop or I am not going to learn anything new. I just keep saying that it will come, in time.
So our town is small, we donºt have much available. We have basic things in our market like potatoes, tomatoes, riice, coconuts, beans onion. In the bar you can get beer, soda and stuff like that. We have very limited things to choose from, we can get fish which we have eaten a lot, chicken only once and i refuse to kill it and goat which neither of us will kill. So our diets will be rather bland, but that is ok. Our school is fairly big, relatively new and has a computer lab which is awesome. All the directors seem really nice and I canºt wait till school starts, doing nothing all day is really boring. I have made lots of jewelry and some curtains. I will make more when I return to town. We have went to the bar almost everyday, not to drink but to socialize. We have a housekeeper that really urks me cause we canºt have males that he doesnºt know at the house at night. Which sucks when you want to sit around and chat with friends. So that means we have to leave to do anything. He constantly wants to know where we are goiong and why and it is just annoying me. Anyway thats the only down fall so far. Me and Helana walked to the river which was a good 45 minute walk there just ot do something. Anyway I should go, this is costing me an arm and a leg. I will write more as soon as I can, aat least once a month. If anyone wants to call, my phone will work now. It should be on for the next couple of days, maybe till sunday. I donºt know about my battery cause the girls we are visiting dontºt have electricity to charge the phone. Other than that, i donºt know.
WEll I hope everyone has a merry christmas and a happy new year!!!!
Be safe
Love,
Shells xoxoxooxoxox
Well I am in Monapu, I am visiting friends and will be going to tthe Isle de Mocambique tomorrow for Christmas. So far everything is great. We have been in our town for 1 week and everyone there is awesome. We had a nice little welcome lunch and pretty much have met everyone in town. It is funny though, some little kids that are 1 or less see us and cry cause we are white. Its entertaining to say the lleast. Well we havenºt done much. WE have slept and walked and went out to the bar and discoteca. We live in an old colonial house that is huge. It is a guest house because our house is not ready for us. When we arrived they showed us 3 different houses and we chose the one that was in the bairro, bascially the center of where everyone lives and not one of the nice cement houses. We chose the dirt house. To get this house we had to compromise and we will be getting a girl that comes in from another town to go to school, she will live with us. We pay her tuition which is nothing, buy her notebooks and feed her. She in turn helps us cook, clean and get our water. It should be a decent trade off. They also tried getting us to hire a security person which we shot down. We donºt want to stand out anymore than we do. The girl living with us happens alot here, a lot of the teaqchers or wealthier people have the kids in their home as a way to help them and help the kid get their education. Traveling can be quite expensive and a pain in the ass, especially where we live. We are in the booniess, to say the least.
Lets see we have become good friends with this lady Ilda, she is a doll. She is 23 and works for the school. She lives with her 3 siblings, the youngest being 5 and she so fun to play with. We have also met the owner of the bar and discoteca which has opened her home and calls us her kids. Within the first 2 minutes of meeting her she showed us her house which is gigantic and she has a monkey. She has 5 kids and is a reeally good person. She has just been a real nice perosn to be around and her family is great. Her son speaks pretty good english which makes life a whole lot easier for me. I can actually carry on a real conversation with someone. Me and Helana are getting along great. PLus she is the way that I get through the days. I have depended on her portuguese a lot. Which I have to stop or I am not going to learn anything new. I just keep saying that it will come, in time.
So our town is small, we donºt have much available. We have basic things in our market like potatoes, tomatoes, riice, coconuts, beans onion. In the bar you can get beer, soda and stuff like that. We have very limited things to choose from, we can get fish which we have eaten a lot, chicken only once and i refuse to kill it and goat which neither of us will kill. So our diets will be rather bland, but that is ok. Our school is fairly big, relatively new and has a computer lab which is awesome. All the directors seem really nice and I canºt wait till school starts, doing nothing all day is really boring. I have made lots of jewelry and some curtains. I will make more when I return to town. We have went to the bar almost everyday, not to drink but to socialize. We have a housekeeper that really urks me cause we canºt have males that he doesnºt know at the house at night. Which sucks when you want to sit around and chat with friends. So that means we have to leave to do anything. He constantly wants to know where we are goiong and why and it is just annoying me. Anyway thats the only down fall so far. Me and Helana walked to the river which was a good 45 minute walk there just ot do something. Anyway I should go, this is costing me an arm and a leg. I will write more as soon as I can, aat least once a month. If anyone wants to call, my phone will work now. It should be on for the next couple of days, maybe till sunday. I donºt know about my battery cause the girls we are visiting dontºt have electricity to charge the phone. Other than that, i donºt know.
WEll I hope everyone has a merry christmas and a happy new year!!!!
Be safe
Love,
Shells xoxoxooxoxox
Hey everyone
Well So far what I have seen of Nampula is very interesting. It is not flat like Maputo, it has some curves to it and in places there are these huge mountainous like rocks that just jut out of the earth. It is definitely interesting. ~I really hávenºt seen anything else. I think I am in the city but I really donºt know, if I am its really small. It is supposedly the 3rd largest in Moz so I don´t think i have seen what this place has to offer yet. I will see more when I go shopping after I write this email. We have to get everything for our house today and then take it for a 2 hour road trip to our house. How not fun, but it has to be done. So it seems more and more like the town that we are going to is rural. They said it was and continue to tell us that it has nothing. I found out we have a nice school, our school has a computer and a vehicle, which means we can catch a ride into Nampula with whomever is going into town, which saves us money on chapa rides. We are also the first female teachers in our school. So I am not sure how that will work. Not only are we women but we are American. I Am sure there will be plusses and minuses.
So today our PC director that is with us to help us get settled in was telling us how our school director was saying that he is thinking about a different house for us to move into, I guess because he thought this one wasnºt good enough. Who knows, the Peace Corps is just like we dumped a lot of money into this house what are you doing. I guess this guy didnºt realize that he was really getting volunteers.
Okay I am going to end this here because this computer is taking so long to load pages and I really want to be able to read my emails that I received. So sorry mom for not sending you a personal email, Jeannette and the kids and Scott is was nice talking to you guys last night. It definitely brightened my night. I love hearing all of your voices. Farhana thanks for the advice. Cor I got your package and thanks a mil, I am waiting to open the gifts!! Mom you know i got your package and am waiting on one more.
So I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and I will be thinking about all of you.
Love and Miss you all,
Shells xoxooxoxo
Well So far what I have seen of Nampula is very interesting. It is not flat like Maputo, it has some curves to it and in places there are these huge mountainous like rocks that just jut out of the earth. It is definitely interesting. ~I really hávenºt seen anything else. I think I am in the city but I really donºt know, if I am its really small. It is supposedly the 3rd largest in Moz so I don´t think i have seen what this place has to offer yet. I will see more when I go shopping after I write this email. We have to get everything for our house today and then take it for a 2 hour road trip to our house. How not fun, but it has to be done. So it seems more and more like the town that we are going to is rural. They said it was and continue to tell us that it has nothing. I found out we have a nice school, our school has a computer and a vehicle, which means we can catch a ride into Nampula with whomever is going into town, which saves us money on chapa rides. We are also the first female teachers in our school. So I am not sure how that will work. Not only are we women but we are American. I Am sure there will be plusses and minuses.
So today our PC director that is with us to help us get settled in was telling us how our school director was saying that he is thinking about a different house for us to move into, I guess because he thought this one wasnºt good enough. Who knows, the Peace Corps is just like we dumped a lot of money into this house what are you doing. I guess this guy didnºt realize that he was really getting volunteers.
Okay I am going to end this here because this computer is taking so long to load pages and I really want to be able to read my emails that I received. So sorry mom for not sending you a personal email, Jeannette and the kids and Scott is was nice talking to you guys last night. It definitely brightened my night. I love hearing all of your voices. Farhana thanks for the advice. Cor I got your package and thanks a mil, I am waiting to open the gifts!! Mom you know i got your package and am waiting on one more.
So I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and I will be thinking about all of you.
Love and Miss you all,
Shells xoxooxoxo
Hey everyone~
Well today is Thursday and I swear in on Saturday night. We had our going away party yesterday with our families and we have just been living it up at the hotel. Boy do I love running water and air. I tried sending an email last week with no success. Life has been happening here. I am moving to Nametil, Nampula. It is a northern province. Think of Moz as the east coast. I have been at the bottom and am flying to the top. It is a 2 hour flight with a 2-3 hour chapa ride. I am so excited. This will be the first time that PC is in Nampula and there are 2 groups of us going-all girls. I will be living with Helana which people have commented is an odd pair. I think we will be good together-she is a bio teacher. I met my supervisor today-I am kind of weirded out by him-that may just be me. But it is supposed to be awesome where I am going. I can't believe I will be the first in the town-but I did request that. The northern province has a big muslim community. Which may or may not have an impact on how the school is-I will find out soon. I will be living in a mud house with a cement floor-this is mandatory. I have electricity but do not have cell phone capabilities-I am told within a year this should happen. I am keeping my phone and figure I will use it once a month when I go into the city. I will let everyone know when that is so that we can keep in touch. Basically if you want to talk to me, I suggest calling....now. I don't guarantee anything after sunday. Oh one thing chega-which means no more packages for now. Since I will be in Nampula I will only be coming to Maputo every 3 months. Which means my package would be here and I won't see it for that long. So when I get an address in Nampula I will send it out. Letters definitely I want sent to Nampula, the thing with packages is that the PC pays for them to get out of customs. If they are sent to my site then I have to pay out of pocket. So maybe send the packages just remember that it will be awhile. The next time I will be in Maputo is late April.
Anyway I am really excited. I can't believe training is over. We have a big party at the ambassadors and then we're off. Well thats all for now. I will write some time soon...maybe. Who knows.
Love you and miss you all,
Shells
Well today is Thursday and I swear in on Saturday night. We had our going away party yesterday with our families and we have just been living it up at the hotel. Boy do I love running water and air. I tried sending an email last week with no success. Life has been happening here. I am moving to Nametil, Nampula. It is a northern province. Think of Moz as the east coast. I have been at the bottom and am flying to the top. It is a 2 hour flight with a 2-3 hour chapa ride. I am so excited. This will be the first time that PC is in Nampula and there are 2 groups of us going-all girls. I will be living with Helana which people have commented is an odd pair. I think we will be good together-she is a bio teacher. I met my supervisor today-I am kind of weirded out by him-that may just be me. But it is supposed to be awesome where I am going. I can't believe I will be the first in the town-but I did request that. The northern province has a big muslim community. Which may or may not have an impact on how the school is-I will find out soon. I will be living in a mud house with a cement floor-this is mandatory. I have electricity but do not have cell phone capabilities-I am told within a year this should happen. I am keeping my phone and figure I will use it once a month when I go into the city. I will let everyone know when that is so that we can keep in touch. Basically if you want to talk to me, I suggest calling....now. I don't guarantee anything after sunday. Oh one thing chega-which means no more packages for now. Since I will be in Nampula I will only be coming to Maputo every 3 months. Which means my package would be here and I won't see it for that long. So when I get an address in Nampula I will send it out. Letters definitely I want sent to Nampula, the thing with packages is that the PC pays for them to get out of customs. If they are sent to my site then I have to pay out of pocket. So maybe send the packages just remember that it will be awhile. The next time I will be in Maputo is late April.
Anyway I am really excited. I can't believe training is over. We have a big party at the ambassadors and then we're off. Well thats all for now. I will write some time soon...maybe. Who knows.
Love you and miss you all,
Shells
Hey Everyone~~
Well another week has finished and I can't say it was anything because I missed school for three days. I was however able to teach for 2 days and next week will be full of teaching. I've had a major headache and finally yesterday I was given migraine medicine which seems to be doing the trick. Nothing like having migraines in Moz. It sucks and all I have done is lay around the yard all day and sleep, talk and eat. What more could I possibly want.
I did get mail yesterday which was awesome. Thanks mom and Scott. Scott~~I received the money you sent thanks. Mom I will send those stamps back to you, thanks for thinking of me. I love fridays mail and money what more could you want....running water-oh how I miss you.
So last night during dinner we lost power. I had to take my flashlight to the latrine which I have stopped doing and I realized why I had stopped. Its so much nicer when you don't see all the wonderful critters. But without the flashlight when there is no electricity you can't see your hand in front of your face-I am not quite sure what happened to the moon light.
So for the most part my week has been blah. I have spent lots of time at home and have learned a lot about my family. I was able to fill out a form that stated where I wanted to go-it may not happen but I have hopes that it will. I stated the beach-but I am sure lots of people said the beach.
I spent a lot of time with my host sister-whom I really admire. She seems to have her head on straight and I want to help her but I run into this problem of whether or not too. I mean I help where I can but there are so many other families out there that need more help than my family. I mean my host sister is in the process of getting her own house built and there are so many other families that can't even feed there children let alone pay for a home. There is so much need and so little money. What my host mom makes in a month the P.C. pays her in a week for having me. And we're only talking about $40 a week for me. Thats what she makes in a month-to me that is outrageous-we would crab if thats what we made in a day let alone a month. So different-so very different.
Oh I wanted to say that if you don't receive mail from me don't feel offended. What it costs to mail one letter is more than for an hour of internet. And it takes a hell of a lot longer. I know some of you wanted my web site address but I have no idea what it is...sorry- but really my emails are what is on my website. I do however have my address :
Michelle Kramer, PCT
Peace Corps
C.P. 4398
Maputo, Mozambique
Other than that-the food is well rice-always, beans-sometimes, mboa and coulve-which I like a lot, fish which I don't like, some chicken stew thing which is pretty good, some skin of some animal which I won't touch.
Speaking of not touching things-I found a kitten last night and I fed it lots of fish. I think it was very happy though it wasn't moving a whole lot this morning. I think I may have over fed it. It is crawling with fleas-oh yeah mom can you send me a few dog flea collars, cat flea collars and I was also thinking about those things you put in the nape of the animals neck that liquid stuff. Don't worry about when you send it, I just figure with some package taht you will send. Dogs are a great thing to have to protect the house-when they decide to stay around and not pasear--which means to walk around, cats are good for the little rodents that seem to be everywhere. I wanted a monkey but that is against peace corps policy. I want to give the kitten a bath but my family insists that when you bathe an animal it dies. I am not quite sure why-but I will let them have their beliefs.
WEll thats all for now, oh yeah I will not be writing anything more for about 2 1/2 weeks. Next weekend we are celebrating thanksgiving, and the following weekend will be the last with our host families. We leave around the 9th or 10th for Maputo and we will be staying in a luxurious hotel for 4 nights. Air conditioning and running water I couldn''t ask for more. WE will be swearing in some day I think the 13th at the ambassadors house which I hear is nice, with swimming pool. So we get it made for a few days and then we're off on our own.
Anyhow I will send emails out in a few weeks. I hope all is well in everyones life. Oh- I want to say that if there is anyone out there that is still puffing on cigarettes-Quit please. Lung cancer sucks and I'd like all to be around when I get home in two years!
Ok, thats my advice for now,
I miss you all and love you guys lots,
Shells xoxoxoxoxoxo
Well another week has finished and I can't say it was anything because I missed school for three days. I was however able to teach for 2 days and next week will be full of teaching. I've had a major headache and finally yesterday I was given migraine medicine which seems to be doing the trick. Nothing like having migraines in Moz. It sucks and all I have done is lay around the yard all day and sleep, talk and eat. What more could I possibly want.
I did get mail yesterday which was awesome. Thanks mom and Scott. Scott~~I received the money you sent thanks. Mom I will send those stamps back to you, thanks for thinking of me. I love fridays mail and money what more could you want....running water-oh how I miss you.
So last night during dinner we lost power. I had to take my flashlight to the latrine which I have stopped doing and I realized why I had stopped. Its so much nicer when you don't see all the wonderful critters. But without the flashlight when there is no electricity you can't see your hand in front of your face-I am not quite sure what happened to the moon light.
So for the most part my week has been blah. I have spent lots of time at home and have learned a lot about my family. I was able to fill out a form that stated where I wanted to go-it may not happen but I have hopes that it will. I stated the beach-but I am sure lots of people said the beach.
I spent a lot of time with my host sister-whom I really admire. She seems to have her head on straight and I want to help her but I run into this problem of whether or not too. I mean I help where I can but there are so many other families out there that need more help than my family. I mean my host sister is in the process of getting her own house built and there are so many other families that can't even feed there children let alone pay for a home. There is so much need and so little money. What my host mom makes in a month the P.C. pays her in a week for having me. And we're only talking about $40 a week for me. Thats what she makes in a month-to me that is outrageous-we would crab if thats what we made in a day let alone a month. So different-so very different.
Oh I wanted to say that if you don't receive mail from me don't feel offended. What it costs to mail one letter is more than for an hour of internet. And it takes a hell of a lot longer. I know some of you wanted my web site address but I have no idea what it is...sorry- but really my emails are what is on my website. I do however have my address :
Michelle Kramer, PCT
Peace Corps
C.P. 4398
Maputo, Mozambique
Other than that-the food is well rice-always, beans-sometimes, mboa and coulve-which I like a lot, fish which I don't like, some chicken stew thing which is pretty good, some skin of some animal which I won't touch.
Speaking of not touching things-I found a kitten last night and I fed it lots of fish. I think it was very happy though it wasn't moving a whole lot this morning. I think I may have over fed it. It is crawling with fleas-oh yeah mom can you send me a few dog flea collars, cat flea collars and I was also thinking about those things you put in the nape of the animals neck that liquid stuff. Don't worry about when you send it, I just figure with some package taht you will send. Dogs are a great thing to have to protect the house-when they decide to stay around and not pasear--which means to walk around, cats are good for the little rodents that seem to be everywhere. I wanted a monkey but that is against peace corps policy. I want to give the kitten a bath but my family insists that when you bathe an animal it dies. I am not quite sure why-but I will let them have their beliefs.
WEll thats all for now, oh yeah I will not be writing anything more for about 2 1/2 weeks. Next weekend we are celebrating thanksgiving, and the following weekend will be the last with our host families. We leave around the 9th or 10th for Maputo and we will be staying in a luxurious hotel for 4 nights. Air conditioning and running water I couldn''t ask for more. WE will be swearing in some day I think the 13th at the ambassadors house which I hear is nice, with swimming pool. So we get it made for a few days and then we're off on our own.
Anyhow I will send emails out in a few weeks. I hope all is well in everyones life. Oh- I want to say that if there is anyone out there that is still puffing on cigarettes-Quit please. Lung cancer sucks and I'd like all to be around when I get home in two years!
Ok, thats my advice for now,
I miss you all and love you guys lots,
Shells xoxoxoxoxoxo
Hey everyone~
I have had a smile plastered across my face for the last 40 minutes reading all of my emails. It sounds like everyone is doing great. Well this week has flew by and I have taught my first lesson. It was only for 20 minutes but I think I did really well. I have to teach everyday for 45 minutes for the next 2 weeks. I am scared but I figure I have been able to do it once I can do it a few more times. Its just scary because you have people watching you, if it were just the students it would be ok. So my language skills are slowly coming along, I am conversing more and more with my family and it is really amazing. Oh, I made pizza last sunday for them over charcoal and it came out awesome, I did burn the first one but otherwise it was great. I think my family really liked it, though I am not making it anymore because it was really expensive. I am goign to stick to mashed potatoes which I am goign to make tomorrow.
So in about 4 weeks we swear in. This sounds so exciting. We have this huge party with our families and then we leave and go to Maputo where we will stay for 4 nights at the hotel and be living the good life until we have to leave for our sites. WE find out what sites we will be going to the first week of december. I can not wait until then.
I put together this picture wall in Casa Grande (this is a place that is huge and has our library and also has air) it was from the first few days in Mozambique, wow was it interesting to look at. I remember all the anticipation and having no clue what I was getting myself into. It is really fun to look back. Also I am figuring out how to get things done here. I had to write up a little petition and have people sign it so that us females could get something that was supposed to be supplied but our wonderful medical officer keeps telling us no. So we went over him to our country director.
For some reason I love doing things like that, or at least getting things done. I would say in a timely matter but here nothing is in what we would consider a timely manner.
This past week it has been raining quite a bit. I woke up in the middle of the night when the rain started and I couldn't sleep because it was really loud on our tin roof. Yes our roof is tin. I actually had to put the pillow over my head, oh yeah mom you could send me my ear plugs-they are in my jewelry box or in my nightstand. You have to love moms that ship you tons of things including food to Mozambique. Well I lover her regardless of the awesome goodies.
So christmas is right around the corner, how weird. We are having a thanksgiving celebration in 2 weeks and then I guess for christmas we all go to the beach or something like that. Going to the beach for christmas-I would have never thought. Its exciting and knowing that next christmas I am goign to visit home and be able to see the snow that I dislike.
Anyway my diet here is still of beans and rice and my family keeps telling me how they want to be fat, I am like no you don't. Wow is it different than the US. I guess the families judge how their volunteers are doing by how much weight they have gained! With that note I am going to close this email.
So everyone have a good week and I will email you again next week
Love you all and miss you,
Shells xoxoxoxo
I have had a smile plastered across my face for the last 40 minutes reading all of my emails. It sounds like everyone is doing great. Well this week has flew by and I have taught my first lesson. It was only for 20 minutes but I think I did really well. I have to teach everyday for 45 minutes for the next 2 weeks. I am scared but I figure I have been able to do it once I can do it a few more times. Its just scary because you have people watching you, if it were just the students it would be ok. So my language skills are slowly coming along, I am conversing more and more with my family and it is really amazing. Oh, I made pizza last sunday for them over charcoal and it came out awesome, I did burn the first one but otherwise it was great. I think my family really liked it, though I am not making it anymore because it was really expensive. I am goign to stick to mashed potatoes which I am goign to make tomorrow.
So in about 4 weeks we swear in. This sounds so exciting. We have this huge party with our families and then we leave and go to Maputo where we will stay for 4 nights at the hotel and be living the good life until we have to leave for our sites. WE find out what sites we will be going to the first week of december. I can not wait until then.
I put together this picture wall in Casa Grande (this is a place that is huge and has our library and also has air) it was from the first few days in Mozambique, wow was it interesting to look at. I remember all the anticipation and having no clue what I was getting myself into. It is really fun to look back. Also I am figuring out how to get things done here. I had to write up a little petition and have people sign it so that us females could get something that was supposed to be supplied but our wonderful medical officer keeps telling us no. So we went over him to our country director.
For some reason I love doing things like that, or at least getting things done. I would say in a timely matter but here nothing is in what we would consider a timely manner.
This past week it has been raining quite a bit. I woke up in the middle of the night when the rain started and I couldn't sleep because it was really loud on our tin roof. Yes our roof is tin. I actually had to put the pillow over my head, oh yeah mom you could send me my ear plugs-they are in my jewelry box or in my nightstand. You have to love moms that ship you tons of things including food to Mozambique. Well I lover her regardless of the awesome goodies.
So christmas is right around the corner, how weird. We are having a thanksgiving celebration in 2 weeks and then I guess for christmas we all go to the beach or something like that. Going to the beach for christmas-I would have never thought. Its exciting and knowing that next christmas I am goign to visit home and be able to see the snow that I dislike.
Anyway my diet here is still of beans and rice and my family keeps telling me how they want to be fat, I am like no you don't. Wow is it different than the US. I guess the families judge how their volunteers are doing by how much weight they have gained! With that note I am going to close this email.
So everyone have a good week and I will email you again next week
Love you all and miss you,
Shells xoxoxoxo
Saturday, November 08, 2003
So one more week is down and I really only have four more weeks of training. The last week is more getting ready for us to swear in. Next week we start to practice teaching. I guess they round up kids from school that want to attend a bit of summer school for free. I'm kind of freaked out because I have written one lesson plan and am not confident in it. But I guess there is no time like the present to learn.
So I have a monkey friend. I think I mentioned the monkey before, he is tied to a tree. Well I started to feed him and now he likes me. He stuck his hand in my mouth and smelled my saliva. Then he proceeded to clean my hands and touch my face. Then he tried grooming my hair and I kind of backed off. The next day he started to sit on my lap. He is awesome. I want him. The guy asked me if I wanted to buy a monkey and then said not this one but another one. I want that one, not anyone else. Anyhow I go twice a day and feed him bananas. I buy the bananas and keep them in the house. My family thinks I am strange but oh well, I told them I really like animals.
I had my interview friday on how everything was going, I tried drilling it that I really wanted to go to the beach. I just think I would be very happy there, but wherever I go I will be happy...I hope. I also got more shots how fun. Rabies again..the last one and my 2nd Hep B which hurt like hell.
But I am going to end this...I will write more next week. I just have some webiste editing to do. Talk to you all next week. Oh yeah, don't be upset if you don't receive personal emails. I just dont have enough time. Though I read all the emails from you guys and laugh at most of them. I do enjoy reading them, so definitely keep em coming.
Love ya,
Shells xoxooxoxoxxo
So I have a monkey friend. I think I mentioned the monkey before, he is tied to a tree. Well I started to feed him and now he likes me. He stuck his hand in my mouth and smelled my saliva. Then he proceeded to clean my hands and touch my face. Then he tried grooming my hair and I kind of backed off. The next day he started to sit on my lap. He is awesome. I want him. The guy asked me if I wanted to buy a monkey and then said not this one but another one. I want that one, not anyone else. Anyhow I go twice a day and feed him bananas. I buy the bananas and keep them in the house. My family thinks I am strange but oh well, I told them I really like animals.
I had my interview friday on how everything was going, I tried drilling it that I really wanted to go to the beach. I just think I would be very happy there, but wherever I go I will be happy...I hope. I also got more shots how fun. Rabies again..the last one and my 2nd Hep B which hurt like hell.
But I am going to end this...I will write more next week. I just have some webiste editing to do. Talk to you all next week. Oh yeah, don't be upset if you don't receive personal emails. I just dont have enough time. Though I read all the emails from you guys and laugh at most of them. I do enjoy reading them, so definitely keep em coming.
Love ya,
Shells xoxooxoxoxxo
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