anything is possible

*new health club just started at mahongole secondary school! 24 girls and boys (3 boys and 3 girls were elected from each of 4 grades) we meet every wednesday after school. hoping to start peer education soon*

I now believe anything is possible. Last night, my neighbor and I cooked shish-kabobs. Perhaps you’re wondering where we found the “kabob,” the pointy metal rod that sticks all the vegetables? Bike spokes! Yes indeed, that’s what you call creativity. And it worked beautifully. We had such a feast—grilled chicken marinated in Italian dressing (a la Italian dressing spice packet from the US), fresh grilled vegetable kabobs (tomatoes, onions, and green pepper) as well as grilled eggplant—all served with rice. They had never tasted grilled vegetables, especially eggplant. Most of the vegetables here are cooked over fire for a long time, becoming extremely soft and chicken isn’t usually grilled-served soup-like or boiled in tomato sauce. Needless to say, they enjoyed the meal. Oh and last but not least, I made a banana and mango fruit crisp for dessert. KITAAAAMUUUUU, as they say, or delicious! It was nice to be able to give back to my neighbors who so graciously host me for meals throughout the week. I try to bring over produce or sugar or some other household good to compensate them for their generosity, but cooking for and serving them felt great. I even set the table like we do in America-with tablecloth, candles, and a flower.



Work-wise, everything’s moving along well in my Health Club, Health class at the Secondary School, Primary School Health lesson, as well as at CHASAWAYA. I’m starting to feel really comfortable presenting in Swahili, although I’m far from mastering the health technical vocabulary! I also had the opportunity to play doctor a few days ago when the nurse and doctor were out of the village traveling. Since I was the only “medical expert” (ha) around, all the injured folk came to my door (instead of the nurse’s next door). I bandaged up two kids that had fallen face-first off their bikes, but when a man came bitten by a snake around 11 pm, I had to direct him to the hospital in Makambako. Don’t have the medecine for that one, sir!

There has been one major unfortunate event I must report: two young women were raped down the hill from my village last weekend. So disappointing! Apparently, two men hiked up to Manga from Mloa, a shady junction village about 10 Km away. At about 7:30 PM, these visitors found two women walking innocently towards the river, grabbed and raped them. One tried to fight back and was beat up pretty badly as a result. I just found out from my village chairman that both men have been found and are now behind bars in Makambako. Thank goodness. I think all the women of Manga will be sleeping better now, but clearly, much behavior change work needs to be done among the men in this country. Not that we don’t rape in America, but apparently this sort of thing happens all too often.

Later today I will be refing the primary school boys’ soccer match after school. Manga vs. Mahongole! Go Manga! Should be a laugh…our team hasn’t practiced much due to the rains and fieldwork, so prediction is we won’t be faring too well…

Tomorrow, I’m off to Mafinga (town north of Makambako) for a Seminar on HIV/AIDS peer education. My friend, Jenny Venecek (hailing from SIT as well), has organized this event to educate secondary school students and teachers about the art of peer education so that they can then apply it in their respective schools, communities and Health Clubs. My elected Health Club leaders, Gerryson (Chairman) and Evelyne (Treasurer), will be joining Kinemelo, the Biology Teacher, who assists my Health Club meetings, on this journey. In order to reach Jenny’s village in time, we will all be biking from Manga junction at 6:15 am to arrive Makambako in order to jump on a bus to Mafinga. It’ll be quite a day. The students are so excited to make a trip out of the village and even spend the night in a guesti or motel in town-a first. These two will absorb, take notes, and then share with the rest of the Club about peer education methods when they return. It’ll be fun to see them be the experts.

After this seminar, I will be heading to Njombe for a meeting with the Regional Doctor, Ruande. My friend Maya and I are still working on the grant to implement a teachers’ training. It’s been quite a process trying to make appointments with this hot shot doctor, revising the budget over and over again, struggling to reduce costs, etc. Tanzanians, I’ve come to find out, expect to be paid when they go to seminars. Truly. It’s not like in the US where you pay to go, to learn. Most seminars organized here for any sort of professional from all fields pays the invitees, and a pretty hefty amount at that. Clearly, Peace Corps does not work this way; we’re having a hard time trying to convince the Dr. that Bush won’t give us the per diem for the participants (teachers) that he (and they) expects! Hopefully, we’ll get this grant turned in soon for funding and implementation in a few months. It’s all about the process not the product!



On the home front, my garden is complete and ready to bloom, awaiting the rains. I’m crossing my fingers that the seeds from the US will survive and produce in this climate. The cute kids from the primary school constructed a bamboo fence surrounding it to keep out the pesky neighborhood chickens. All my friends here can’t wait to taste vegetables/fruit from the US I just planted: spinach, squash, various herbs/spices (basil, dill, sage), garlic chives, watermelon, canteloupe, honeydew, tomatoes, onions, green pepper, eggplant and artichoke (had to-my favorite-kinda doubting that one will agree). And I’ve planted the following from Tanzania: figiri (lettuce-like), mahindi or corn (a must), and viazi vitamu or sweet potatoes. Trying to be local. It sure will be nice to pick fresh ones from the garden in a few weeks/months. I’m also trying to beautify the front of my house with sunflowers, lavender and local plants/flowers. It’ll improve my dirt front yard! Fortunately, time and rain are plentiful. (If any of you out there have some fun seeds you could send, I’d love to try them here)

*the finished product*

Future events to look forward to
*February 26: The 1/2 Marathon under Kilimanjaro. Your prayers are welcome. Hopefully all 25 of us PCVs will survive! Apparently, a handful of PCV’s from PC-Kenya are running, too. So excited!

*In late March-PEPFAR (The President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief) Conference, as well as a Seminar on HIV/AIDS Theatre—both held at a Mission called Kamodolessi, set way back in the mountains above Mafinga. I can not wait. The nuns here-God bless them-make their own homemade bread, cheese, and fresh coffee. They’re out at 5 am milking their cows as the fog rises over the valley. It’ll be a treat to be reunited with other PCVs in the area, PC trainers, and to learn new tricks of the trade to enhance our work in the village. Plus, we’ll each be able to bring a counterpart.

*Mid-May-my Mom’s arrival to Tanzania! Yeehaw.

*June-Ed's return to Tanzania as a PCV (for the round #2)!


*the kids at CHASAWAYA, NGO for orphans and vulnerable children in makambako*


*CHASAWAYA kids enjoying 3D glasses for the first time; thanks hannah beaver for the creative classroom materials! they're loving it*

*book recommendation of the month: THE ALCHEMIST by Paul Coelho--life changing!