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Another month almost done. Time…it baffles me!

It’s been a busy time since I last wrote. I can’t believe how full my days are and how endless my to-do lists are…I thought village life was supposed to be leisurely and slow-paced?!?! Well, not here, not for me! I’m as busy as ever and LOVIN’ it!

Here is what is keeping me busy and sleepy at times:

School: Teaching is going as usual. It’s a love/hate relationship. We have had some major things happen over the past month.

- We have had a lack of teachers because the school doesn’t have any money. Just to clarify, the school has only 2 teachers and 1 Headmaster and me for 350 students…not good. There were also some High School graduates (HS is after Secondary School and before college) volunteering to teach at our school which is common. However, since the school has a lack of money to pay the teachers, the Headmaster told the teachers to stay home because they weren’t getting paid for working. Therefore, for the past month it has only been me, the Headmaster, and 350 students. Beyond nuts.
- The school in my village is new; it’s only 4 years old. So, we just had our first graduation. That was a big deal and we had so much fun!! There was dancing and drumming, food, skits, and of course boring‘ol speeches. It wasn’t too hot which was good, but it did rain a bit which caused some chaos. I have a lot of pictures which I will try to get up on FB soon and also some videos of the drumming and dancing!!
- We done had Form 4 National Exams…that was a crazy time, especially since we were short on teachers.
- The 2 teachers have come back and are trying to work out the no-money crisis/situation with the headmaster.
- I have also started a health club at the schools…it’s still under development. I will keep you posted on its progress.
- Not so good news….about a month ago one of my students died. She was about 17; a form 3 student. I had taught her health when I first began teaching. She died from pregnancy complications brought on my being so young. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon. It was a hard time at school then. I didn’t realize how much it affected me until I went to her funeral. It was pretty much awful with the whole community, all the students, teachers, and her mother who was obviously devastated. It was a terribly sad time. It also makes you think about what we (PC volunteers) are doing here; a lot of questions stirred in my head; I felt defeated. I had taught her about HIV/AIDS, using condoms, and abstinence for months. And then this happened. I know I can’t help/save everyone, but I wish I could. Brightside: I am hoping she will able to meet my Grandpa and Grandma Pace, Grandpa John, and Uncle Jeff in heaven. That would be nice.

Back to the positive side of life….

My community health group is rockin'! We have certainly kept ourselves busy and I see no signs of us slowing down. As you know, we did a HIV/AIDS education day in July. That went perfectly! Since then we have continued learning about good nutrition to then go out into the village to teach. We also went to a nearby village to teach Secondary School teachers and students about HIV/AIDS. It was at a conference other volunteers hosted. That also went incredibly well and we got a lot of compliments of how knowledgeable and professional my group is, YAY. Now, we are planning for the next World AIDS Day December 1st. We actually plan to do 2 events, one in town and one in my village. We have been doing such a great job the district office in Muheza Town want us to do an event there too. Lastly, we are still planning to do our income generating project as soon as the funding comes in from Peace Corps. BUSY BUSY.

My friends are coming to visit!!! They have already arrived in Tanzania!! They have been traveling the world since April and have come to TZ. I will see them the beginning of November when they visit my village and then we will go up north to climb Mt Kili!! I am so excited!!

Future conversation to be held with the Mt:
Me: Hello Mt Kilimanjaro
Mt Kili: Hello Jessie, How are you?
Me: Great! I’m going to climb you right now!
Mt Kili: HAHA Good luck, I’m the biggest bad-est, tallest mountain EVER!!
Me: I don’t care! I’m gona do it! And I’m gona kick you in the face! HA!

At least that’s how the conversation goes in my head :)

I am at the point in this blog that I am getting writers block. I know more has happened but I can’t think of things at the moment, so if things get silly from here on out…oh well!

I’m in Dar es Salaam right now for a PSDN meeting tomorrow. I am staying with an ex-pat. I never get tired of staying with ex-pats….hot showers, big houses, AC, fridges, comfortable beds, washer (and this time even a DRYER), electricity….it’s just all so posh! I love it!

I am still plugging away at my graduate school applications. They are coming along at a nice pace, but I always get hung up on the essays. Essays are the most annoying part of the apps…but I’m thankful to have electricity this weekend so I can keep the ball rolling and get a lot of work done. Slight update: I am still applying to the MA in International Disaster Psychology at University of Denver. But I am not applying The Chicago School of Professional Psychology anymore because I overlooked the slight detail that you have to have your masters to be eligible to apply. Oops. However, now I have decided to apply to the University of South Dakota….I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING!! I was thinking the same thing…South Dakota?! What?! Heck no?! The thing is …. Is my program is not offered at many schools. I have always known about the program at USD but never considered it because well, it’s in in South Dakota. But I don’t want to apply to only one school, so I have decided to apply. The funny thing is that is actually the BEST university for Disaster Psychology, it’s a PhD program, and is actually HIGHLY selective. Who knew?!? South Dakota University?!?

Why South Dakota won’t be that bad (if on the slight chance that I actually get in…which to be honest is highly unlikely):
- It will be only 5 years.
- I will be in the best Disaster Psychology program in the country!
- It’s not any further from WA then Colorado is, so I can still visit home a lot.
- Rent will be CHEAP.
- There is nothing to do, so I can focus on my PhD.
- It will be a nice calm, rural-ish, pretty environment after returning to the US coming from a Tanzanian village. I mean, could you imagine me going back to the OC…I would be seriously flustered and confused.
- It’s next to Montana, so I am assuming they have cowboys too.

See! I don’t know what I didn’t consider SD before?!

Christmas…you guys know I’m not coming home for the big day….but what should I do with those extra vacation days??? How about….RAFT THE NILE RIVER!! Yep, I’m gona make it happen!

I’m still running and it’s going great!! I am really coming along. And my new running shoes should be here soon to save my feet from the destroyed thing I’m currently wearing.

Since we are on the health/fitness topic, let me share some information about some comments I have had on my appearance. First, some history: when I got to this country I weighed 176 pounds; now I weigh 163. And I have been running, so I am feeling great! Back to now: Regardless of these facts, I have been told I am fat 3 TIMES in the past couple weeks. (Ok truth be told…here in Tz, to be told your fat is a compliment….but still!). Also, on 2 outa 3 of the occasions I was wearing the same flow-y white shirt…first thought upon receiving the comments, ‘I am never wearing this shirt again!’ HOWEVER, I have also been told by 2 different students that I look like Shakira and Jessica Simpson. Seriously?! So in summary…I think it would be safe to assume everyone is crazy here or that I look like a chubby Jessica Simpson with big curly hair.

Facts, stats, and all the good stuff:

- Here are 2 new games I like to play with myself….First: I like to see how long I can go without washing my hair. The other day I couldn’t remember the last time I washed it so I think that’s my best score so far (I also found a couple ants in my hair, so I thought it was a good day for a hot ‘bucket bath’ and wash my hair. Second game: I like to see just how little of water I can use to bathe. Fun times! And don’t worry, when I return to the states I will surely discontinue these games, as I will not have to carry all the water I use on my head.
- I have read 40 books…just started my 41st.
- I will be returning to America in 9ish + a couple weeks!!! WHAT! HECK YAY!
- I have realized just how attached I have become to this place, my village, my villagers, my mamas, groups, students, everyone and everything. It’s going to be very hard and an emotional departure.
- But it still can’t wait to return home to all of you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- MY DAD IS VISITING IN 2.5 MONTHS!! WHOO HOO!
- Write me a letter…because I really like getting them and I haven’t been getting as many lately!
- I didn’t proofread this blog again…forgive me.
- I’m doing to go for a run and then maybe stop at the ‘big’ grocery store and just look at all its glory-ness and think of all the things I can’t buy on my crappy Peace Corps budget.

With love from around the world,
Jessie