Some thoughts

Yes that's right. I'm in Africa so you might not think prom dresses when you first think of Africa. It's true that most Africans are very well dressed. Actually, it's very impressive how well dressed everyone is especially since handwash is the main method of cleaning here. So most professionals are dressed very well at all times. The only people that aren't really dressed very well are the OVCs (ophrans and vulnerable children) :( But regardless of what you think of when you think of African dress, prom dresses, might not be the image. But your image should change ;) See if salvation army can't sell something in the states it comes here. And so babies once worn christening, baptism, flower girl outfits come here. So it is very common to see toddlers in prom-looking dresses every day of the week here. It's so cute and hilarous. I truly think Africans would be shocked to see that US babies wear onesies most of the time if any at all. And that hardly any US babies wear taffieta at all times ;)

Other thoughts. I want a puppy. There are a ton in the village that people have. Have meaning they hit them with sticks mostly. But there is a very cute puppy that comes around our place from time to time. I want to adopt him. But everytime I try to pet him he runs away. I understand he thinks I'm hiding a stick. But I'm not. Man, he's real cute and it would definitly help pass the time and maybe keep some kids in prom dresses out of our yard if we had him ;) We'll see what happens.

I feel the love ;)

I'm in the boma for a bit trying to get some computer work done. And I got tons of packages from all of you (my wonderful freinds and family) for my b-day :) Thank you all so much for thinking of me and sending your love on. I really appreciate the great packages!! But mostly, I really love that I heard from so many of you!!! I wrote letters back to you that wrote and hopefully you will get them sooner than later ;) And maybe we can keep the letters going ;) Love you all.

What am I doing? Ask the people at the borehole ;)

I am really getting into the groove of things, I think ;) I have pretty much met everyone in my catchment (the 10 villages around my area). I have told them who I am and what I'm hoping to work on with them. I am also almost done helping the elections for all these villages new neighborhood health comittees (NHCs). These NHCs are groups of leaders in the communities who are interested in working to better their communities health. So once we are done doing all the elections my next task will be to compose a proposal with the health center committee chairman to coordinate a multiple day health education training for these new leaders. This training will encompass the 6 main health thrusts in the basic health care package here, which are; malaria, tb, hiv/aids, intergrated reproductive health, water and sanitation, and child health and nutrition. Hopefully, with my chairmen's help with the local language translation (he is an awesome translator for me when needed and such an asset to the community) we can create a training for these NHCs that will be interactive and educational. So, then they will better be able to provide accurate and fun health education within their villages as well as eventual some health intervention projects. I'm excited, things are coming along. Everyone has been really receptive and loves when I speak my garbled chinyanje ;) Other than writing talks in local language (which takes quite a bit of time for me ;), I have been biking alot to do talks, reading alot, and making some pumpkin cake (pumpkin is in season so people give us gifts of it alot--we are quite the basic bakers now ;). The heading of this post eludes to our housing situation. I really love our place and being right by the borehole is great because carrying water is heavy and I'm seemingly not as strong as most 10 years old here who carry water as well ;) But the borehole is also a social area, kinda like the mall for teenagers in the US ;) So when people get their water they also chat. They chat about alot of things including those 'musungos' (aka whitties--us). It's fine I know we are new and kind of interesting so people talk. I rather they come chat to us then about us but it will die down I'm sure. And I'm happy that my language skills are not perfect, because I probably don't want to know all of what they think of me ;) But waking up at 4am (that's when people start getting water cause the light is coming out;) to people chatting about you outside your window is rough sometimes. And sometimes it's just funny, really I am sure some people at the borehole now more about my life then I do ;) The other day we were eating nsima, the local dish, I have learned how to make it and we really do enjoy it. So we were having dinner outside and there was quite a stir around the borehole that the musongos were eating nsima ;) Rob and I kid about doing dramatizations in front of our place like after school specials about healthy relationships and things since we always have a pretty captive audience ;) Rob helped me carry water back the other day, people loved it ;) The lesson of the day sharing house work among couples, maybe ;) But really everyone has really welcomed us warmly and I feel excited about me next two years. Miss you all.