Hello all! So I have to apologize for not updating in a while. It has been really busy in Ilembo and I have not had much time to write up a post. I think I will just summarize the past month and a half with some bullet points:

• So we went to Matema Beach for a birthday celebration at the end of October. Matema Beach is right on Lake Malawi, or Ziwa Nayasa as they say here. It was absolutely amazing. The travel was a headache but once we got there it was worth it. Summary of Matema:

  • We stayed in these little cottages right on the beach and had a view of the mountains sloping in to the lake.

  • The sunrise and the moonrise from behind the mountains was breathtaking.

  • Maren and I actually went on a canoe ride—see facebook for pictures—in a canoes made out of a tree trunk.

  • We went on this deceivingly challenging hike to a waterfall and were actually able to make our way behind the waterfall, it was amazing. I think one of the coolest things I have ever done.

  • We relaxed a read books on the beach, it was a much needed vacation from village life

• Then I celebrated Halloween alone in my village with delicious candy corn; however, as I was eating the candy corn in my hammock in my courtyard the hook that holds my hammock up pulled out of the wall and my hammock fell....maybe I should have eaten a little less candy corn.

• The month of November was pretty insane:

  • Helped weigh babies multiple times and teach about good nutrition with Nahasibu

  • Went to church a few times

  • Hung out in town a little with some friends

  • Planned a World AIDS Day Event

  • Did some farming

  • Got a lot of free food because I helped to farm

  • Realized I really love my village

  • Successfully made rice wine

  • Held a lot of meetings to organize World AIDS Day

  • Held my PACA tools meetings—required PC protocol

  • Had a visit from PC to talk about Ilembo and make sure everything was going well

  • Celebrated Thanksgiving, American Style! Mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, mango cobbler, wine, green been casserol with the fried onions on top, cranberry sauce, chili, etc, etc. It was amazing! I seriously surpassed my expectations!

• Then on November 30 I actually had my big World AIDS Day Party, because the NGO, KIHUMBE Group, that I had invited was obviously very busy on December 1 so we just did it a day early. It ended up being such a success and I was so happy about it, even though it was a ton of work.

  • KIHUMBE Group, an NGO from Mbeya came to perform about AIDS, teach, do some crazy dance moves and test people. There were over 200 people there and 89 people got tested, 6 positive. The percentage is lower than the average 9% in Mbeya Region. Also, in Ilembo ARVs are available for all people living with AIDS. So we instructed everyone who found out they were positive to go straight to the Health Center and talk with the doctor to get their CD4 count tested and open up a file.

  • Then the Ilembo Drumming Group performed, which was great! They are always a hoot and attract tons villagers

  • Then we had students from the Secondary School sing

  • We had the head of the entire Ward of Ilembo, not just the village, talk about AIDS

  • My Community Theater Group performed about sexism and stigma

  • We had a tug of war between villagers---I was on the loosing team

  • Then we had meter races, men versus men and women versus women. This was an aspect of the day that I did not really think was important when we were planning the event, but it ended up being my favorite part! It was so much fun! Everyone was so excited to race and watch the races. Even some of my widows ran, which I thought was impressive!

  • Then we had a soccer game between Ilembo and the next village over. So fun!

  • We also successfully planned food for all of our guests, which ended up being pricey but Mama Finga who cooked all of it volunteered all of her services, which was so sweet! And a lot of work to do for free. I was actually really shocked with how many people volunteered their time and services to help with the event. It was great!

• As tired as I was I ended up going in to town the next day because I was heading to Iringa the day after and needed to buy my bus ticket. It also happened to be my Birthday! So I stayed at Maren's house in town, aka the “Hotel” and we made burritos with beans, guac, an lots and lots of veggies. It was delicious! Oh, a chipati instead of the tortillas. And we celebrated me turning 23!

• The next day Megean and I travelled to Iriniga to meet up with some friends there. We went to this very safi—nice--restaurant and I ordered chipsi mayai, which you can buy anywhere and is essentially just eggs and potatoes mixed together, when I could have ordered a burger or pizza. I think I am turning in to a Tanzanian....

• Iringa was great and it was so nice to see some friends that I had not seen since training!

• The next day we all got on the nicest bus I think I have seen in Tanzania. My knees did not hit the seat in front of me, there was no one standing in the aisle, the person who was sitting next to me was not smushed up next to me—it was great! And along the way we saw elephants, giraffes, a zebra rolling around in the dirt, and lots of monkeys. Always a good time!

• Now we are all in Morogoro for IST (In-Service Training) if you have not noticed PC loves acronyms. So we are staying at a very nice center divided into houses on the same compound and so far it has been really fun. We had a half day yesterday so we all went to a pool at a hotel and swam away the afternoon. Then we had delicious Chinese food for dinner at the hotel. It was very nice! And so nice to go swimming since it is HOT here!

Okay well that's all for now but I will update more this week since I will be having a lot more internet access!