Thoughts before traveling to the USA

This past week I’ve been feeling a bit lonely and friendless. I’m not sure if was because I was so close to coming home for a visit or if I was just stressed trying to plan all my classes for 2 weeks and pack. However, today really changed that and made me feel like I was loved.

Today being my last day at site for a few weeks it was a crazy day! Everyone kept asking me to bring them back something from America (a lot of times they asked to bring back cake from the wedding I’m going to or a cookie for them). Of course I just laughed and said “vamos ver—we’ll see.” Many of my students asked when I was leaving and when I was arriving in America…they couldn’t believe it would take a whole day on an airplane. Lastly everyone made sure I was coming back by asking what day I’d be returning—hopefully they actually study and speak in English while I’m gone! One of the lab techs from Portugal has extra time and offered to teach my lessons—I’m so thankfully they will have a teacher during these next few weeks.

This afternoon, I was not really looking forward to my last English class of the day. One of my 8^th grade turmas can be a bit crazy and they can never stop talking. I decided to try and guilt them into changing their behavior by telling them that if they don’t become a better class I’m going to go to America and never come back. Haha, probably not a nice thing to do but I think it really will work with them. They all looked so serious and started talking at once saying they would be a better class and follow the rules. One of my favorite students in the class came up to me after class and he just looked so sad so I asked if he was okay and he said no. I was getting worried at this point and he went on to say he was sad because I was leaving. I felt really bad for joking about their behavior and not coming back that I told him I was just kidding…I think he’s doing better now since he asked me to bring him back a pen from America. J A few of my colleagues came up to me to ask when/if I was going to America because they had heard talk about my trip. I told them yes but also had to set the rumors straight…no I wasn’t going for 5 weeks or 5 months, nothing is wrong—I’m going home for a wedding and YES I am going to return. I swear I told each of my classes all of these things but somehow people thought I was leaving and never coming back. Oh Nacuxa fofoca!

After classes I went over to the nuns’ house to talk with Rui, who will be teaching my English classes while I’m gone. I saw some of my students who were supposed to be in my crazy 8^th grade class but never showed up so I gave them a hard time. Then I ran into some other students and talked with them for a while about my trip. The next thing I see is Irma Sandra coming out of her house with a large bag that was covered. She asked if I was free because she wanted to come talk and give me a despedida (a get together Mozambicans/PCVs do before going away or going on a long trip). I felt really loved at that moment and after the day I had I felt like I had a lot of friends and good people in my life. She came over and pulled out fresh, warm bread from the school’s bakery, tuna and two bottles of beer. We ended up drinking our beer and chatting for about an hour. It was really nice just to hangout and catch up about her life and what she wants for her future. We also talked about Mozambican men and their methods for getting women.

Having that time talking with Irma Sandra and talking about our future helped me to realize sometimes I’m only lonely because I don’t get out there and ask to hang out. Despite what I once said on a blind date one of my talents is not making friends. I don’t like to get out of my comfort zone especially when that includes trying to make friends while speaking Portuguese. I’m very excited to go back home to America, enjoy protein-filled food (So I don’t lose any more hair) and being reunited with my friends and family! However, I’m also really looking forward to coming back to Nacuxa, starting the primary school library/tutoring program and no matter how awkward it feels I’m planning on taking my friend’s advice of just showing up at my Mozambican friend’s house and sitting there with her in hopes we can become better friends.

After today I know I have friends at site and people who will miss me in America; but I want to improve that and have friends who I can hangout with during the weeks and weekends! I need adult friends instead of just the crianças. Wish me luck for when I return! Until then I’m going to enjoy good food, good company and a beautiful wedding next week! 

Graduation Day

It’s been about a month since I last posted and boy has it been busy! School started two weeks ago and my new schedule has me teaching every day—22 hours each week. Thankfully, I have Tuesdays and Thursdays free in the afternoons so I can go to the primary school and start the library/keep it open then. I’m no longer teaching my favorite English turma and miss those students. This semester I’m teaching the English classes for the new Lab Tech program that just started in Nacuxa. All the students seem to really be interested in learning English—it’s been fun being able to get to know all the new students in that program.

Last Saturday was Graduation day here in Nacuxa. Classes were cancelled Thursday afternoon and Friday so the students could clean up the school for all the visitors. The graduation started in the morning and last all afternoon. The graduates all got sashes and diplomas. I was surprised by how many people were at the ceremony—it wasn’t just students but a lot of families came for their children. There were also a lot of chefes present—the ministry of education was there as well as important people representing the diocese of Nacala and TV1 (the Mozambican news channel) all came to the graduation.

Most of the ceremony reminded me of a graduation from high school in the States. The students received their diploma and a sash, student speakers and they had some cultural activities—two student groups performed a theater piece and they had a few groups perform dances. After the ceremony there was a lunch for the students, their parents, professors and the important visitors. Anna, the 7 Boy Scouts from Portugal and I helped serve the students and visitors. It was a mad house trying to serve everyone platters of chicken, goat, salads, rice and cake! The day ended with Anna and I hanging out with Irma Sandra eating chicken and cake in the kitchen and drinking a beer together.  It was a really fun day!

Some of the graduating students and the graduation banner

Just one of the cakes Irma Sandra made for the party 

One of the cultural dances performed by my students

Padre Eugenio giving out the diplomas 

Just some of the family, friends and students present for the graduation

This Thursday we had some visitors come to Nacuxa. Our Country Director and the Program Coordinator for EGRA came to visit to talk about the project and make a site visit. They brought Anna and I packages from America and cheese and chocolate! They took us out to dinner in Nacala and we talked a lot about the EGRA program and about life in Nacuxa. It was really nice to have visitors! 

We had another visitor on Friday…

The biggest spider I think I have ever seen--it was bigger than our hands! 

I really had thought I was getting over my fear/dislike of bugs and spiders until I saw that on our door Friday morning. Thank goodness my roommate is very kind of didn’t make fun of me. I did not want to go into our house afraid that if I walked past it the spider would jump on me. After 5 minutes standing outside the house looking like a fool I ran in while Anna stood in front of the spider. I have such a nice roommate! After class I asked my students if they could help me get the spider off the door since I was scared of it. They got a good laugh about that but they were so nice and moved it very far away. So thankfully I have such nice students and a wonderful roommate that puts up with my weirdness.

Here’s a story that will make you smile—Yesterday Anna got a visitor who asked if he could talk to her. She went outside to see what he wanted and he handed her a letter. It was a love letter he had written to her asking if she would marry him. We had no idea who this guy was and didn’t even know his name. Turns out he’s a worker at the school and comes in everyday from Nacala. I think she was pretty shocked this guy who neither of us knew was asking her to marry him in a love letter! We’ve had people propose before but never like that. Poor guy got turned down—which shouldn’t have been a surprise but I think he was hoping for a better turn out. It sure has been an interesting week! 

America bound in 2 days!! See you soon Omaha :)