African Nations Cup...

I'm at the UN bar, working on a fourth of my computer screen after dropping it and now only that much of it working to fill you in on my first week of teaching. It went really well....it's a lot of work trying to teach students without the use of a book...but it's going. And it's easy when the students really want to learn. I don't really give them homework, since if I wanted to it would take almost all of my 45 minutes to write the problems on the board and for them to copy them. But I did give them the pages we are going over, and they can go to the library and check out a book and do the practice pages. I started off in every class telling them that it doesn't help them if only I care about their education. I leave in 6 months, and when I'm gone, then who would care about their education....I told them they have to care and do everything they can do to make their schooling better. I did have one kid do extra work and ask questions about it...which made my day. A class of mine told me on Friday that they liked my teaching, since it's more interactive than a typical Liberian education. I like talking...for all who know me, and it's no different in class..I don't want to write on the chalk board, with my back to them. I want them to interact with me, do problems together, make mistakes and know that it is ok, we are learning, there will always be mistakes, on my part and theirs. I do like teaching...having kids who want to learn makes it even better. Is this what I want to do with the rest of my life...probably not, but it's a good place to start. I've come to realize that I'm not meant to live in just one place, or do just one thing. I like my environment to always change, to constantly having to learn a new way of life...I love making new friends and discovering how good I am at networking...

On to Networking...Here's my guide to it....
1: Always talk to everyone...even the security guards, they will help you out and make sure you get what you want.
2: Laugh when given a marriage proposal...Last weekend, I had one from the guy I went to go watch the game with. All I did was laugh and say that he was funny...no need to actually give an answer, NO, but isn't laughing can make the situation better, I still need him in my network cause he's one of the guys in charge of the computer labs I use.
3: Smile and wave to all of the women and children, they might not have a "powerful" job but they know the ins and outs of everything and will help you along the way.


*This is more of what not to tell Peace Corps, that soon I'll be trying my hand at the helicopter ride the UN has from my site to the capitol. PC said I wasn't allowed to take the UN plane, but never did they mention a helicopter ride, plus they said not to abuse it...it's not abusing if they offer...right? Plus PC can't say no if I don't ask.

Since being here, I've hungout with a lot of ex-pats, not so many Liberians. Most of the women always have work to do (plus we don't have a lot to relate to, I'm just not a girl, I think like a man, I love sports!) and the men my age tend to propose marriage to me. Thus leaving the kids...We really only have one neighbor, so I hang with those kids. At the moment, I'm teaching them blackjack...it's good for their math skills, counting and statistics. I'm going to make gamblers out of them soon enough.

But the ex-pat community is good, small but good. I have a Pakistani food mess that I go to, it's only 2 dollars a meal and really good. Though most of them are muslims and it's their way, but they don't shake my hand...I've had my hand refused a couple of times...it's just something I have to get use to...so now I'm employing my head nod/bow, THANKS KOREA! I still need them to know I respect them and want them to be kind to me.

Well that's all for now...I miss home and everyone there, I miss AC, my cat, making money and the snow. But I have a new life and I'm getting used to it, and soon enough, I'll be loving it..,even more...Though I do get my full 9+ hours of sleep each night!

The picture is of me, my roommate and our counterparts. You are only going to get one at a time cause it takes FOREVER to download just one picture with my internet connection....It's worse than DSL, but I do get it in the bush of Africa.

Now you are cooking with gas!

It’s Sunday and a day of relaxation…Of course after I wash my clothes by hand and then wait until 4 for the water pumps to open to go get water. But today has been a good day. I got to sleep in, made me some eggs and fried plantanos for breakfast. Am suppose to go watch Arsenal play today at one…we will see if the guy shows up to take me there.

On Friday I spent the night with mostly UN people. I had dinner with some guys from Bangladesh, it was SOOO good! I get to have my own little international restaurants here in Liberia…Next Friday the Fijians promised to make me some Fijian dinner…I love being new to a place and having a vagina…cause it gets you a lot of places. Apparently one of the Bangladesh guys likes me, according to my roommate, but I’m not too sure about it all. Also something weird happened, on the plane ride from Belgium to Liberia, I was sitting next to this American girl who worked up north in Liberia for a NGO, we talked a fair amount but never exchanged numbers, thinking we would never run into each other again...but low and behold, who lives in the same town I do..She does...it's strange how the world works.

The other day one of the younger teachers at my school asked me if I wanted to get married some day. I said no, and he asked why…I said because when you get married, you make your decisions together and I liked making mine alone. I don’t think he understood me really until later. When he was looking at all my pictures and travels I have done…and then he told me, I understand why you don’t want to get married now. Marriage is for two people, I like to think and do things for myself and not have to worry about someone else….I like things to be simple…

As for my classes, I will be teaching Geometry and Chemistry to all of the 11th grade classes…Before I left for Liberia, I took a practice GRE examine and got a 60% on the Geometry part, so lucky for me this will be a GREAT review!

Here are some saying they have here in Liberia…I find them to be very funny
1: The eye can’t lift the load, but can determine if the load can be lifted.
2: If you don’t open your mouth, nothing can get inside.
3: Now you are cooking with gas.

Day 4...feels like forever

I've only been here 4 days but I swear it's been longer...Can time really go by so fast and slow at the same time? Tomorrow I will find out which classes I will be teaching...I'm hoping that there will only be 3 or 4 different classes...Here's hoping!!!

Today I went around to all of the local primary schools, that would be K-9th, and introduced myself to the principal. I have discovered that my two Peace Corps experiences were very different, in El Salvador the people needed help but didn't really want to do anything to help themselves...Here in Liberia, the people need and WANT our help. I don't think I will have a single moment to myself here, I'm already planning a teachers training for the younger grades and will be spending my afternoons being a tudor to anyone that wants it...hopefully these kids will take advantage of it and come. Thinking about starting a girls soccer team, to help empower the girls here...a lot of them don't finish school, I would say in my 12th grade classes there would be only 25% are females. It's really quite sad, for a country who has the FRIST WOMAN PRESIDENT IN AFRICA to lack so much in education for rural girls...MUST DO GIRL POWER, maybe they just missed that whole late 90s Spice Girl bit

I've made a handful of friends but my favorites would be my neighbors, James, DeeDeeh and Winter...5, 8 and 10...they are good fun and help me with my chores and I pay them in fruits and hugs.. =)

More things I've learned...

1: When carrying water on your head, make sure the UN water truck sees you so they will feel sorry for you and supply you with potable water

2: Say you have a boyfriend so people would stop asking me why I wasn't married or have kids

3: Go Come Back...it's a saying here and it sounds just like what it is...we can't do it now, go and come back after sometime...

4: How to cook eggplants, some potato like thing and sweet potato leaves, and make it taste not too bad

5: How to carry a little African boy on my back like the mothers here do

My new site, Voinjama!

After 8+ hours of driving, we finally made it to my site, Vionjama. I don’t have electricity but I can get the internet, most of the time. Hopefully I can use the electricity at the school to charge up my computer almost everyday.

Liberians are very friendly and love Peace Corps. Almost everyone over the age of 30 has had at least one PCV taught them. I am liking it here so far. I’ve meet a handle full of teachers and town members…will be meeting more shortly. The temp is nice and at night its chill. And my town has a shit ton of UN soldiers…I’m just saying and don’t worry I’ll keep you posted =)

Some things I’ve learned…
1: A man can’t put his hands in his pocket if he’s not wearing any pants…
2: The Liberian hand shake…though I need some more lessons
3: Being big is beauty here
4: I need to stay out of the sun to prevent wrinkles…
5: Their club beer isn’t too bad after several

Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa

Well I made it to Liberia yesterday. It’s poor like El Salvador, so far, their houses are better, almost all I’ve seen have been cement, and VERY clean. Where as in El Sal trash was everywhere, but here I haven’t run into that problem yet. Getting into the local customs you discover that doing basically anything with your left hand is a sign of disrespect, i.e. giving or receiving anything with you left hand…all should be done with your right. MUST REMEMBER RIGHT HAND!!!!

As for the convent…I haven’t even run into a nun yet…so no really damage has been done. And if any were to happen it would have to take away from my sleep, which I soooo desperately need! I take naps wherever I can get them. This jet lag is horrible, we didn’t have any time to adjust and this evening we are going to have to watch a movie about Liberia…cool and all but I’m pretty sure I will pass out once the lights go out.

Another thing I learned today…I will get to have the opportunity to have wireless in my site. I will buy something from a cell phone company and get to use it anywhere! I’m thinking, as long as it’s not more than 50-60 a month, then I’ll get it. That way I’ll be able to keep in touch with home, family and friends.

We will find out our sites by Wed or Thurs, so at that time I will know who I will be living with for the next 6 months…which there really is a short list of people I would want to live with…Now on to the people, there are a total of 17 of us…5 girls and 12 boys, I’m liking these odds! =) There are two main groups here, the group that got evacuated from Guinea and those of us who are Response. It’s kind of weird how it all divided up, but it did…should be interesting to see who I’ll be paired with…hopefully people I can stand to be around for long periods of time…

I'm leaving on a jet plane!!!

I'm at the DC Airport...waiting for my flight to Belgium and then on to Liberia...I'm actually quite in a panic...Did I pack the right stuff? Did I pack everything I'm going to need...Did I, Did I, Did I?????? Already realized that I forgot my sunglasses....DAMN IT!!!! There goes preventing those crow's feet and people thinking I'm 5 years younger than I am.....The next big question is....how am I suppose to "find" these other Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs)...There are 5 of them that will be on my flight...How do you pick a PCV out of the crowd? I mean...there's not a tree here for them to hug so how am I suppose to know its them?

And on the boy note...He did drop me off at the airport(sorry dad)...we will wait and see when a letter/email/first contact will be made...

Hopefully I'll be taking pictures soon after I arrive..doing bad things to those nuns and I'll post them for all to see!!!

Convent? Really?

So I just found out that I will be staying in a convent for a couple of days once I reach Liberia on Sunday evening...Are you fucking kidding me? A Convent? This is from the girl that really doesn't believe in God and loves sex...what can I do to insure my place in hell...Any ideas? I have a couple running through my head...I'll let you know what I come up with. The forecast for when I reach Liberia on Sunday, sunny with a high of 90 with 90% humidity maybe this is my hell and I'm heading there...

New Years...

The new year came and went. There was a lot of puking that night and the next morning as me and my sister traveled to Oklahoma. Apparently with the new year the boy decided to pop back up and I was drunk enough to say that I missed him. Who knows what going to happen with him, I leave for Africa in ONE week and I would put money on it that we won't be talking two weeks into me being there...But I'm a sucka for...we all know what I like and I'm leaving for Africa where I probably won't be getting the "same" opportunities as I have here. So leave me alone...if he wants to see me before I leave...I can't really say no, I'm weak!!!

With ONE week left I really haven't done anything to get myself ready. Though I did buy some spices, a pan, pencils and crayons. But packing won't take place until Friday, the night before I leave I feel I do my best packing under pressure....