i carry it in my heart

carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)

i am never without it (anywhere go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)

i want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide) 

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Schooooool's out, for Summer

So it’s July 14^th & I’ve now spent 2 birthdays in Sierra Leone. Both have been filled with friends, drinks, laughs, and happiness so thank you for all the well wishes from home.

A lot has happened since I last wrote! Most importantly, I made it through my first year of teaching. In the end, it was definitely more rewarding and more challenging than I had expected. The language barrier, the unprofessionalism of some fellow teachers, and the frequent cancellation of school all contributed to making things, lets say, more difficult in effectively teaching my classes. Even still, the few kids that did care or tried to learn despite everything working against them, made my time entirely worth it. I’ve said it since day one, the kids are my best friends here and I’m very proud of all of my students that are genuinely interested in their education.

My family (plus Gab!) also came for a visit during my April break between Term 2 and 3. They even surprised me and brought Devon, which couldn’t have made me more ecstatic. I was so happy to see them all, and even happier to share my new life with them. They now know how slow moving a typical day actually is here in Fadugu, how kind & caring my neighbors and friends are, how horrible/frustrating/tedious transportation around the country is, how little privacy I get, and most importantly how content I am with all of these things. Their trip was not without bumps, however, and they all managed to get sick from the local food and the palm wine (we suspect). But we got to recuperate at a beautiful beach and they handled it extremely well (especially Gab! What a trooper- no better way to kick start a summer diet, right?). Overall, the week they were here was one of my favorites and made me realize how much I actually miss everyone from home. You’re all in my thoughts, be back this Christmas!

Another milestone to my time spent here is my (eventually successful) battle with malaria. Now, you may have heard that malaria is nothing more than a glorified fever. I know that’s what I was told. I’m here to testify that this is NOT TRUE- it is so much worse. It kicked my ass, let me recover small, then kicked it some more. Besides my 104 fever, I couldn’t even open my eyes for basically an entire day because it hurt too much. I didn’t really eat or get out of bed for 4 days, but I survived! And 10 pounds lighter, no less. I mean, the whole thing just makes me seem like I really live in Africa, no? Rest assured, I’m completely recovered and am happy for another story to tell. My mom, on the other hand, now has 100 more grey hairs. Sorry mom!

School should start back up in early September, but I have plenty to keep me busy until then-- beach trips, a volunteer wedding, training of the new guys, our mid service conference, and saying goodbye to the first group of volunteers. I’m looking forward to all of the above (except the goodbye part!) and I’m sure you’ll hear an update about everything… in about 6 months.

Like I mentioned earlier, I’m coming home for Christmas this year and I’ll most likely be staying through New Years. Please clear your schedule, I’d love nothing more than to see each and every one of you. I’m very excited-- to be completely honest, mostly to stuff my face with tacos, margaritas, shrimp pasta, martinis, apple pie, bagels… you get the picture.

On that note, I hope this finds you happy & healthy. My life here is full of love, and I wish the same for you.

O wi don cam-o, mighty yellow wi don cam-o

At the insistence of my mom (this may be her 10^th time asking me, at least) I’m updating my blog. I’m sorry for anyone that follows my random thoughts, but I’ve enjoyed checking out of technology for the time being.

I’m halfway through teaching Term 2, which so far has been better than the first term. Better in the sense that only about half of the students returned after the holiday break, mostly due to unpaid school fees, so all my classes are smaller, with maybe 40 kids instead of 60. That may seem like a step back, but I actually prefer it. I’m able to do more group work and one-on-one student tutoring during classwork time. I’ve been feeling like a stronger, better teacher and I like that. Funny that I’m discussing teaching though, I haven’t actually taught in about 2 weeks. We just finished up sport, which is essentially the same as afterschool sporting things, except schools here cancel school altogether and devote entire days to training, preparing the field, baking cakes to give to players, and playing the games. They don’t mess around. My school was divided into 4 houses: blue, white, yellow and pink (I was yellow house, woot woot) and we competed against each other in girls and boys volleyball and football-aka soccer. The entire duration of sport depends on your school. I have some friends whose sport last year went for almost half the term, with about 2 to 3 weeks of training, followed by 2 to 3 weeks of games. Luckily, my school is one of the more well-structured schools so ours only lasted 2 weeks. 2 weeks of my days filled with binch eating, poyo drinking, yellow team cheering, and sun tanning; I’d be lying if I said didn’t enjoy every minute of it. I am looking forward to getting back to teaching though. A friend of mine lent me some Planet Earth DVDs so I’m gonna try and rent a generator and tv so my kids can watch some awesome programs about caves, oceans, and deserts. I’m excited, I think they’ll really like it.

In other news, Harmattan ended a few weeks ago and its been getting progressively hotter as the days go by. The cool day breezes and the really cold nights (I slept in long pants, long shirts, and socks!) lulled me into a false sense of chilliness. Silly me, forgot how just the simple act of putting clothes on in the morning would leave me a ball of sweat over the summer. All my friends love telling me that this is just the beginning too, that dry season is yet to really come. Wish me luck, I might melt away.

I’m drafting this on my veranda right now, that way I can type it out quick next time I get internet, and my daughter Fatu is amazed with how fast I can write. “Yu sabi write quik-o!” Let me backtrack for a second, no, I didn’t actually have a baby. Not that much has changed, don’t worry. There is a 6 year old girl that lives in my compound though, whose mother lives in a neighboring village, which I’ve more or less informally adopted. I tell everyone I get 2 pikin, my dog Snoop, and Fatu. She’s the most precious little biscuit ever. Aside from my 13 year old neighbor Mohamed, she’s my best friend. Yup, I came to Africa and made a bunch of friends who are children. So it goes.

Alright, I haven’t typed this much in a long time, my fingers are tired and it took me much longer than I’d care to admit. I miss and love you all.

Jam Tun

'Only peace,' translated in Fula, a tribe originating from Guinea. I'm not sure why, but I have a fascination towards the Fula tribe. It's my mission to learn as much Fula as I can in the next two years. I want to believe I will be fluent one day.

Two weeks down of school! Well, we really only started this week as last week there was no school schedule. For the few students that showed up, it was more of a free for all 'teach what you want to teach, when you want to teach' thing. I didn't really like that because instead of 40 minute periods, I would get stuck in a room for 2 hours. Ha, good thing I lesson planned. The kids are really sweet so far, though I know not to expect that for long. Once the 'foreign white girl' thing wears off, their true colors will come out. Day after day, though, I'm in awe of them. Some of these kids walk miles to get to school, from various surrounding villages, just for the chance to learn. In unbearable heat, and torrential downpours, kids still show up to school. When I think back to my high school years, and the amount of times I would call my mom to pick me up from school cause I wouldn't walk the one mile home in a light rain.. I'm thoroughly embarrassed. 

The raining season is coming to an end, marked by thunderstorms pretty much every night. I'm very much going to miss falling asleep to intense rainfall on my zinc roof, so loud I can't hear myself think. However, I'm excited for the plentiful food thats 'a comin! 

 Shout out to Mr. Kennedy and Ms. Yoder! Keep West Islip learning :)

Relaxation, Africa style

So I've been at site now for over a week. I still have to get some shelves, tables and couches made, but other than that I'm pretty moved in. I want to buy some paint and make it more cozy (read: it's still dingy and dark) but overall I feel very content with where I'll be living for the next 2 years. My puppy Snoop has a lot to do with making me feel less lonely, as does my cat Nala. I love them. Did you know I love animals?

Life in Africa is very relaxing. If you're not one to take pleasure in having nothing to do but read, go hiking, or talk with neighbors on verandas, then life in Africa is not for you. I, on the other hand, am loving it. It's simple and serene and my town is gorgeous; I couldn't ask for more. There are talks of a teacher's strike because the government hasn't been paying anyone, but I very much hope that doesn't happen. I'm really excited to start working. The 3 weeks of summer school during training made me realize how much I actually like teaching. School is supposed to start September 12th, so here's to hoping it does.

Until then you can find me under a palm tree reading.

T-minus 4 days

4 more days until I officially swear-in as a Peace Corps Volunteer! I realize it has been quite a long time since I've updated my blog, but I've been so busy and have been completely slacking. My apologies. Or ooshya in Krio.

So much has happened I'll give you a brief rundown: mango and avocado season is don-don, I'm very sad. I now exist on hard boiled eggs and plantains most days. Or acheke, which is the best street food ever. Get out your cookbooks folks, write this baby down - gari, which is pounded kassava; spaghetti; baked beans; hard boiled eggs; tomatoes; cucumber; mayo; ketchup; onions; and delicious love. Trust me, sounds disgusting, and in America I would've agreed. But in Africa? It's lasagna.

Also, I visited my site on my birthday back in July. It's bigger than I expected, and I'm very excited to just move to site and start setting up my house and start planning lesson plans. Speaking of, I move this Sunday! Then my official 2 year service starts and I can. not. wait. to be independent. Training is a very exhausting program and I'm excited to live on my own.

Okay, that's it for now. Miss you all! PS I saw the new Harry Potter (got a bootleg, obvs have my priorities straight) and it was awesome. Wish I could've seen it on the big screen.

26 more to go

I can't believe Ive been in Sierra Leone for a month now. I feel like I've been here for both an entire year, and just a few days. After a quick bout of homesickness right off the bat, I’m actually surprised how well I’m adjusting to my new life. I wake up around 630 to take my morning bucket bath, eat a breakfast of either mango or avocado with a cup of tea, and head to a long day of classes from 8 to 5. Then it's back to my host family to hang out and eat rice and more rice, then bedtime around 9 during the week. It's a pretty sweet setup I got going here, and all my fellow trainees are awesome. I could get used to this African life. 

Yesterday we all found out where we'll be living for the next 2 years! I'm going to be living in a town called Fadugu, population around 8,000, and north of Makeni where I am now. I'm really excited, I'll be teaching JSS Integrated Science, which is a mixture of bio, chem and physics for grades 7 through 9. I go to visit my site next weekend (on my birthday! hope those letters are in the mail...) and I can't wait to see my house. I'll take pictures and try and post them as soon as I can.

Alright that's all I got for now. Miss you all!

Apoto! Apoto!

So I've been in Africa for a little over a week now. Crazy. I don't have much time, but hopefully I can write a longer more interesting blog post later on this week. I just wanted to post and let you all know that I'm alive and well (& extremely hot). I miss you all! Write me letters!

Wi go si bak! (See you later!)

Closing Time

I'm currently sitting in the lobby of this swanky hotel in Chicago that the Peace Corps has set us up in, and have just finished a loooong day of orientation. Everyone seems real cool so far, and I've had a great time (apart from the airport goodbyes with my family). I just wanted to write a quick last post saying I'll love and miss you all, and next time you hear from me I'll be in Africa!

That's all folks.

C'est La Vie

Well it's official, I've dropped the ball on blogging.

I know, I know, no excuses... but I'm just SO BUSY! I leave for Chicago in exactly 5 days, and I'm still not fully packed, on top of having to get ready for my going away party this Saturday. I know, woe is me. It's gonna be a blast though, I can't wait. Especially to be able to hang out with my college roommates all weekend. I may or may not cry... jury is out. I'm normally the most emotional cliche of a girl, but lately I've been getting what I like to think of as stage fright. I get the feeling everyone is expecting me to cry and just waiting for it to start.. and I just haven't. Ha, we'll see how the weekend goes.

So anyway, the idea of my new home being Sierra Leone in about a week is finally beginning to hit me. It comes and goes in waves, and mostly I'm super excited, but every once in a while a small nervousness grows in the bottom of my stomach and I can't seem to get rid of it. This is what I've wanted for over a year now. I know it's going to be the most challenging and rewarding experience I'll have in my entire life... but I'm also aware that it will be exactly that: challenging. I've read all I can possibly read on what to expect while volunteering in a third world country, and all about the different cultural traditions, and etc. But reading something and living through it are two different things. I'm nervous that everything I'm expecting is completely wrong, and the thing I least expected is in actuality what I should be worried about.

You get the point.

I'm just gonna focus on the next few days and enjoy my time with family and friends (not to mention, my time with favorite foods that I've wholeheartedly consumed with no concern over weight gain...). Sierra Leone will come soon enough, as will homesickness, loneliness, frustration, and complete contentment.

C'est la vie.

Guess who's back, back again

Sorry for my MIA status recently, I've been busy...

you know, just loungin around.

It's Mother's Day though, so enough about me! (More pictures & stories to come)

In honor of this lovely day, and my even lovelier mother, enjoy a song

Un Más Día

This time tomorrow I'll be laying here

With this in my hand

I can't wait to be in Spain! And then Ireland! And then Scotland!

I can't believe in a matter of a few months I'll be a world traveler. This is my dream come true, pinch me?

See you all in May :)