tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36567131522238705942024-03-14T09:05:47.120-07:00all that is solid melts into airThoughts and musings from someone on the cusp of being. ricardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07587734099375889604noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-30794968532936868742010-08-01T17:16:00.000-07:002010-08-04T23:49:56.716-07:00History and HerstorySo, it's been a while since i've done anything with this... thing. So, i thought i might put up a few photos to give a little update on some fun activities i've been up to. And, also, give a little glimpse into my life here. Enjoy!<br /><br />These are two of the hardest working people in my village: Angela Mukalula (L), the Vice Chariwoman and Fanny Chisha (R), the Chairwoman for the Tubombeshe Women's Club, in our maize fields.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Dv_1PahmUVnhENASBwhgXZfMJl4-0ARXG5Lw1l9pHqjXm73GHevmVYhgz0Oz0Hetdf074xU61nMfpJoNAWgdzM_kYyD54kBBl0W4n4kn1MdoyWyQYsZg3kM7raa_7dVdecJxXkebqMQ/s1600/P4190140.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Dv_1PahmUVnhENASBwhgXZfMJl4-0ARXG5Lw1l9pHqjXm73GHevmVYhgz0Oz0Hetdf074xU61nMfpJoNAWgdzM_kYyD54kBBl0W4n4kn1MdoyWyQYsZg3kM7raa_7dVdecJxXkebqMQ/s320/P4190140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500611580593431266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />These are my members of my famliy and Women's group I started. We were celebrating Cinco BaMayo, a little tradition here in Northern Province. From Left to right, top row: BanaArron(1st wife to Sabe), Bertha Mulenga (My Bamayo), Mable Sabe(2nd wife to Sabe), Angela Mukalula (the ViceChairWoman for the Tubombeshe Women's Club), Fanny Chisha (the ChairWoman for the Tubombeshe Women's Club), Angela's son, me, Sabe, Mr. Mulenga (Husband to Fanny), Mr. Stephen Mulenga Chilambwe (My Batata). The two guys in the front row were priests I had invited from town, one a missionary from Mexico and the other from Zambia.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvUbn5DP7BLCJeNtZxR6c0gKH5itKDB4Z23Z85clAeGJC1YfkCpiTitQogldpd1nkJ2L4u7sTNYztZSsf28KyTN0LIw6Kwps0IM5-zKRX2FdfpnA7FX5aW0Ns54kjkp73D1Aj7tRdKCU/s1600/P5130223.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvUbn5DP7BLCJeNtZxR6c0gKH5itKDB4Z23Z85clAeGJC1YfkCpiTitQogldpd1nkJ2L4u7sTNYztZSsf28KyTN0LIw6Kwps0IM5-zKRX2FdfpnA7FX5aW0Ns54kjkp73D1Aj7tRdKCU/s320/P5130223.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500604653101070274" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These are ALL the Mexicans in the Northern Province of Zambia (that I know of), representing with pride our heritage for Cinco BaMayo. John Boso, Maralf Jimenez, and me!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUE779dj5RQqOIYG2X0tuROQjijKQi6qTAnd-AxQ2uGXBzBTB9Xxr4FbPN7j5_qP6b6tYVYkIZDVDQvmyddNpmE2FG4nio9-j9OujgPaMW1kJLI2zew5_pJuq8cjXy1rZzIw1jOFxYqQ/s1600/P5130239.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUE779dj5RQqOIYG2X0tuROQjijKQi6qTAnd-AxQ2uGXBzBTB9Xxr4FbPN7j5_qP6b6tYVYkIZDVDQvmyddNpmE2FG4nio9-j9OujgPaMW1kJLI2zew5_pJuq8cjXy1rZzIw1jOFxYqQ/s320/P5130239.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500611586453084738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Here's me doing my evening routine. Sitting with a cup of coffee on my stoop, reading and being pestered by the neighborhood kids from time to time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Te-hU_eR3RYRxkQquMAQ2qgq7REVVPs74BB8Au5mciUvoTs-vCryASkR470q9p1ruzudkwbn_QghXTBvVQbenKp_8QpHq2_PazlXSRd52ZMPOasap9snFYEAjNaie5FTE95-TIrwqnI/s1600/P6010298.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Te-hU_eR3RYRxkQquMAQ2qgq7REVVPs74BB8Au5mciUvoTs-vCryASkR470q9p1ruzudkwbn_QghXTBvVQbenKp_8QpHq2_PazlXSRd52ZMPOasap9snFYEAjNaie5FTE95-TIrwqnI/s320/P6010298.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500604640319986002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Below is the view from where I sit when I'm reading.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjge5_Uw1TCukqxAnL6DfqHvIztVKewlqvAnJ6-ShukjpeaS3c1WCcVcDK3E_8uAUuS-I4etsk13aJuNozVMTwivhfuZ6DaQg5qQ_UQaBLODEdCY2Ci7HSwOHVlhU4aLbEpet5Am9TSDng/s1600/P5230270.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 68px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjge5_Uw1TCukqxAnL6DfqHvIztVKewlqvAnJ6-ShukjpeaS3c1WCcVcDK3E_8uAUuS-I4etsk13aJuNozVMTwivhfuZ6DaQg5qQ_UQaBLODEdCY2Ci7HSwOHVlhU4aLbEpet5Am9TSDng/s320/P5230270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500611593521113858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />This is at the Close of Service party we had for some volunteers returning to the States. Its so sad to see them go!!! So, we all dressed up like amaguys! It's difficult to explain. Christine<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo87luhmdD0M8CbNlMsI_9O-ZVsUfv6EX_d64UDcZk0D-KviBT28rX7LMaIgRZqaOOban9sx1bcpnJ6Ut-kH7Q-8F6XClABcKWF7AcLbr5BX5tWMLCK9jt8fjgGqcxBnKoPoc-9kF70R0/s1600/P3120239.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo87luhmdD0M8CbNlMsI_9O-ZVsUfv6EX_d64UDcZk0D-KviBT28rX7LMaIgRZqaOOban9sx1bcpnJ6Ut-kH7Q-8F6XClABcKWF7AcLbr5BX5tWMLCK9jt8fjgGqcxBnKoPoc-9kF70R0/s320/P3120239.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500604629747168562" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Another dress up party. Me with my friend Meera. This time it was awkward middle school dance!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJcFlCFNJJ-_vcPMGd-sIMLv3oG5RBe__HY1xbekiT2WKWmzmQIxkdNxDfLYJylzfSyo201lbicKNL-1HWXzVXBxJS5V-_OQfF3xifBVKX4hGlNSm3VWpLFv-thSw8fIv3Q4bqjdagnI/s1600/P4170133.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJcFlCFNJJ-_vcPMGd-sIMLv3oG5RBe__HY1xbekiT2WKWmzmQIxkdNxDfLYJylzfSyo201lbicKNL-1HWXzVXBxJS5V-_OQfF3xifBVKX4hGlNSm3VWpLFv-thSw8fIv3Q4bqjdagnI/s320/P4170133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500611571004744722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />This is when Gerry visited! This a community School that I work with!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwatDsp5_R9-BJanGS5D-U4z5TTJX2DUiE3HnwAvjywylxNpRmFaDb36dospNPll7PqNj1Dva1PyEMMmlEgsM2SFxNUQefGG1xTCgDFllFV4jzGKI9RsvaglVSrg2KcP2qucz47FHHDeE/s1600/P2090094.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwatDsp5_R9-BJanGS5D-U4z5TTJX2DUiE3HnwAvjywylxNpRmFaDb36dospNPll7PqNj1Dva1PyEMMmlEgsM2SFxNUQefGG1xTCgDFllFV4jzGKI9RsvaglVSrg2KcP2qucz47FHHDeE/s320/P2090094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500604619863602930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />This is at the Northwestern Peace Corps Provincial House for Easter. Makin a splash! SHINANIGANS!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JqpCYwuV4-F4gDQhpLT4xamiTaqBuUQ-263BCl1hOrbmk3rkrgQ4qjZ6WrCO-guoC-DuEdhDkYgoXIptwc6DYfBZiKbojnNzq4ZG23SZbO_T8gaFjazmecnxYpFMFGcb2WzCNg1WQp8/s1600/P4020058.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JqpCYwuV4-F4gDQhpLT4xamiTaqBuUQ-263BCl1hOrbmk3rkrgQ4qjZ6WrCO-guoC-DuEdhDkYgoXIptwc6DYfBZiKbojnNzq4ZG23SZbO_T8gaFjazmecnxYpFMFGcb2WzCNg1WQp8/s320/P4020058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500611567733305490" border="0" /></a>ricardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07587734099375889604noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-20688203843848314992010-04-21T16:12:00.000-07:002010-04-21T16:14:30.591-07:00ah, zambia<span class="kn" dir="ltr">Ricardo: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":2cy">I got stung by a f***ing wasp this morning.<br />_____________________<br /></span><span class="kn" dir="ltr">Ricardo: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":15x">Oh. By the way, a snake fell down our well today.</span><div dir="f" class="km" role="chatMessage" live="assertive"><div class="kk"> <span class="kn" dir="ltr">me: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":16e">WHAT</span></div><div id=":17p" dir="ltr" class="kl">what does that mean <img framecount="40" style="background-image: url(im/emotisprites/frown0.png); background-position: 0px -132px;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/images/cleardot.gif" onload="'_GM_EmoticonHandler(" onmouseover="'_GM_EmoticonHandler(" alt=":(" pattern="frown" createtime="1271890218466" iconset="classic" height="12" width="13" /></div></div><div dir="t" class="km" role="chatMessage" live="assertive"><div class="kk"> <span class="kn" dir="ltr">Ricardo: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":17q">Ya. So. I got a goddamn snake down there.</span></div><div id=":1bm" dir="ltr" class="kl">That i'll be drinking water and bathing in snake piss and s**t and venom until i, or someone gets it out.</div></div><div dir="f" class="km" role="chatMessage" live="assertive"><div class="kk"><span class="kn" dir="ltr">me: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":1bo">can you get it out? how..what..</span></div></div><span class="kn" dir="ltr">Ricardo: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":2c9">With the bucket. Pull it up. Beat it.</span>mr.ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723111337044576762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-79709630101754232892010-03-29T13:53:00.000-07:002010-03-29T14:19:22.532-07:00Easter<div style="text-align: justify;">Ric is going to hitch to North Western province to spend Easter with his very amazing friend Stevie and equally amazing Brittany. Stevie and Brittany are the two volunteers from Ric's in-take (meaning, the group of people he came with) to be stationed in this far off region where sometimes fresh vegetables are scarce, and transportation even scarcer. They're amazing women for handling it and flourishing in this environment. Good luck Ric, don't let your sunglasses or hat fly off when you're on the back of that truck!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRS8LzzpPS-kj4tZdQ13n-yLQ0eFf7hSmtEPgt_TVOfLdBJbHMj1CHEPzyURKwEbuWsqi13pciolZ8b0YWgnVTl9n620hMW-J2p2hP_22isOltxUNrnFL3RmKVOSfEH_pKS6KDQawOtM0Z/s1600/hitch31857736_2924927_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRS8LzzpPS-kj4tZdQ13n-yLQ0eFf7hSmtEPgt_TVOfLdBJbHMj1CHEPzyURKwEbuWsqi13pciolZ8b0YWgnVTl9n620hMW-J2p2hP_22isOltxUNrnFL3RmKVOSfEH_pKS6KDQawOtM0Z/s400/hitch31857736_2924927_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454165958325189906" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCff12slGXB0E2YTMILy_BcOVp8tTtAAstViBSZkgJQ_vgPPMHnuFxZmGmW5akcIWMKYVup-X9jfbmp5MzOe5OM8OT6axndxtOjUtZZ5o1OasLxxT4YDFBasZsX-prVpxwxmvUD2JxKk4J/s1600/stevie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCff12slGXB0E2YTMILy_BcOVp8tTtAAstViBSZkgJQ_vgPPMHnuFxZmGmW5akcIWMKYVup-X9jfbmp5MzOe5OM8OT6axndxtOjUtZZ5o1OasLxxT4YDFBasZsX-prVpxwxmvUD2JxKk4J/s400/stevie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454163112561829010" border="0" /></a>stevie, keepin' it real in Malawi<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoTQLaxT-QfECqKSKF_ZobfjR8AERTF1G9EdnWdEIAhZ0C4BgQgC5I7GR1iThptFrOt7NuxHobCHHHMZ4MGbiY0Q5Q6pf86n1aq6fyxie68Zh7eLbmjmiTrJzvlvufdQqQds8NbIfuAWB/s1600/IMG_6450.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoTQLaxT-QfECqKSKF_ZobfjR8AERTF1G9EdnWdEIAhZ0C4BgQgC5I7GR1iThptFrOt7NuxHobCHHHMZ4MGbiY0Q5Q6pf86n1aq6fyxie68Zh7eLbmjmiTrJzvlvufdQqQds8NbIfuAWB/s400/IMG_6450.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454167870501719266" border="0" /></a>Ric hitching with Peace Corps volunteers Maurice and Joan<br />(both from his province, Northern)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>mr.ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723111337044576762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-73863222366904843842009-11-01T01:39:00.000-07:002009-11-01T01:46:24.578-08:00laundry day!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-8mgeFq3ahT9BVVKltMaKiYmg0kpW8oFPWRNq5VFwDlhRAuK2oXzRX4iUsZUn_HwGBdm0myoVEmrATL8t6-OAf4BD14_KrIoPMOIiwrluLlcim-0jZGel9xiOIsYikLepbPWWivTIQxV/s1600-h/01112009(004).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-8mgeFq3ahT9BVVKltMaKiYmg0kpW8oFPWRNq5VFwDlhRAuK2oXzRX4iUsZUn_HwGBdm0myoVEmrATL8t6-OAf4BD14_KrIoPMOIiwrluLlcim-0jZGel9xiOIsYikLepbPWWivTIQxV/s400/01112009(004).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399069209597002850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnp1WghxO30FWpRCY2mimG6SS_0myPcMVIsMdTy8l_ncs5SXY_Sk-KpjRsp2ybhPT6PK-H49zVzUXg0WN2aaZWGiEU6NpR1RB_b-34xFMOmCM2xLxHZGERWKQUizchUzf6lEm_0ex-9hY/s1600-h/01112009(002).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnp1WghxO30FWpRCY2mimG6SS_0myPcMVIsMdTy8l_ncs5SXY_Sk-KpjRsp2ybhPT6PK-H49zVzUXg0WN2aaZWGiEU6NpR1RB_b-34xFMOmCM2xLxHZGERWKQUizchUzf6lEm_0ex-9hY/s400/01112009(002).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399069204831545554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0QrNGlJvnhctkHbc_VWc9YYDPhAGA2HPZVOZTMqx7rZ_FwGSEYkjhQfKKjSxKq2ytwG0QrVQgQT-4gSjnRXr-zmSuKfzrnye6-773nbijhSSxaLnNaKi7h3AGHQ12dvq85qnz-_V12Yk/s1600-h/01112009(001).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0QrNGlJvnhctkHbc_VWc9YYDPhAGA2HPZVOZTMqx7rZ_FwGSEYkjhQfKKjSxKq2ytwG0QrVQgQT-4gSjnRXr-zmSuKfzrnye6-773nbijhSSxaLnNaKi7h3AGHQ12dvq85qnz-_V12Yk/s400/01112009(001).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399069201496420194" border="0" /></a><br />Ric says of laundry day: "This is what i do sundays to avoid going to church! Seriously. Laundry is my excuse. But, in all honesty, its the only day i know i won't have meetings or 'real' work..."<br /><br />The other pictures are of his dish rack and a wall in his hut on which he hangs a "count down calendar" i made him. Underneath it is his cat Fuego (don't ask).mr.ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723111337044576762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-37479125067772966492009-10-17T04:12:00.000-07:002009-10-17T04:19:25.907-07:00LOCKDOWN<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrr6bbvoMthbmYbdmN1ybOWta2rURPzLxHVvfqyCzBsftAs3_u6xcgNPP-uQGN7EJtv0hX5dfggFvXLPaYyUqhFAN3fchD6QZF3_2HQAtDqfCzEFAx41kkxFej4KXaH1DPo_VYO6NXyOt/s1600-h/16102009(004).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrr6bbvoMthbmYbdmN1ybOWta2rURPzLxHVvfqyCzBsftAs3_u6xcgNPP-uQGN7EJtv0hX5dfggFvXLPaYyUqhFAN3fchD6QZF3_2HQAtDqfCzEFAx41kkxFej4KXaH1DPo_VYO6NXyOt/s400/16102009(004).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393526374609324258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyV1XfcanubY7qEj4IwtVHnUTNd6ECseMeEMm3w13cO7-oNAt_wi9rGSUeidFY69A1oB8mu5OWt2832W8fjHFoDuV0rcJ9y8PsFNEi6USRtWhss-DV_3jCniQUmc6Omw45U_cYIhgc0-u/s1600-h/15102009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyV1XfcanubY7qEj4IwtVHnUTNd6ECseMeEMm3w13cO7-oNAt_wi9rGSUeidFY69A1oB8mu5OWt2832W8fjHFoDuV0rcJ9y8PsFNEi6USRtWhss-DV_3jCniQUmc6Omw45U_cYIhgc0-u/s400/15102009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393526372201329218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxZ8cT3TMlOnMIdU9LDm5n1_BvyAuy5rRnCdtnmHDXgBtS3s-w7t8S060BMl2da3870lLVqIV4iRgk3wYbEddSWYGs9ZTYd3xM1eDAJPBVb3ISDoOmewN8jxCPBuekhL-hOk7glFMvf_v/s1600-h/12102009(006).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxZ8cT3TMlOnMIdU9LDm5n1_BvyAuy5rRnCdtnmHDXgBtS3s-w7t8S060BMl2da3870lLVqIV4iRgk3wYbEddSWYGs9ZTYd3xM1eDAJPBVb3ISDoOmewN8jxCPBuekhL-hOk7glFMvf_v/s400/12102009(006).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393526361597741010" border="0" /></a><br />This weekend marked a round of elections for the parlimentary seat in Kasama. There was some violence in the area when the results were being announced, so Peace Corps asked all the volunteers to stay in the compound for the weekend. In other words: LOCK DOWN!<br />Ric says, "<span dir="ltr" id=":1bt">Here's what us K-town kids do when kasama is burning itself down before the polling places open.</span> Ya for democracy!"<br /><br />The last picture is of the make shift tent shanty town Ric and his friends created when camping at the Wonder Gorge. Their ride was late picking them up so they were stuck in the heat.mr.ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723111337044576762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-91089188193841987132009-10-08T09:21:00.000-07:002009-10-08T09:23:01.751-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppqzDKpP3cArltqo6GXgJx7-xSj-Kug3S5AwOFoDj4qLzWN1oZro-fQcej3ZbU2sJinUwhFRhGYs5gBSzAccw9Rf_DVZa_ybqm1qrz3YK-vCCF_jr3KElltH8bYn8lWOXovhKftehnBCX/s1600-h/08102009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppqzDKpP3cArltqo6GXgJx7-xSj-Kug3S5AwOFoDj4qLzWN1oZro-fQcej3ZbU2sJinUwhFRhGYs5gBSzAccw9Rf_DVZa_ybqm1qrz3YK-vCCF_jr3KElltH8bYn8lWOXovhKftehnBCX/s400/08102009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390265439341754290" border="0" /></a><br />burning the fields, getting ready to plant seedsmr.ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723111337044576762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-31477142616799975302009-09-28T11:25:00.000-07:002009-09-28T11:47:34.956-07:00Update time<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcHTZvZ7tyW0YVGUTaplrXRdPEg-uWGK6AyBU6ANCHbLlX8mxebcbsC070Yv_1elQA8kKQivrqYYf1JzrOWm61A28VSRguz59i6AbuH1R15Dum1U6n7HD9z6-y6O_37NrNN0xE_ItL8yH/s1600-h/04092009(001).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcHTZvZ7tyW0YVGUTaplrXRdPEg-uWGK6AyBU6ANCHbLlX8mxebcbsC070Yv_1elQA8kKQivrqYYf1JzrOWm61A28VSRguz59i6AbuH1R15Dum1U6n7HD9z6-y6O_37NrNN0xE_ItL8yH/s400/04092009(001).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386591167011120850" border="0" /></a>Reading by candlelight. [I think this is a blatant fire hazard]<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8aW-kgR-Sogyv8gEgX8vh-3FJSvdKHQhKc8iVtj7O6c8Zd-bKb0FZ_CnBAyt1e2x0jTFbul3Mq5H9zccPlghhdmznH-oDZYrP2-ttPPxVrTP20k5Gz3SqcfuNonZD6QvhdcLH62T-sAN/s1600-h/04092009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8aW-kgR-Sogyv8gEgX8vh-3FJSvdKHQhKc8iVtj7O6c8Zd-bKb0FZ_CnBAyt1e2x0jTFbul3Mq5H9zccPlghhdmznH-oDZYrP2-ttPPxVrTP20k5Gz3SqcfuNonZD6QvhdcLH62T-sAN/s400/04092009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386591159759130498" border="0" /></a>I'm pretty sure this is one of Ric's "brothers"<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ8xvzCzSkSC1sZE4tcY48edvc4yocgav9DZidKVpDKKQBJplRf0DAOR-TvGJi9sEXcMuEStvBX1hOdCrnG3aNinDzmWwQDnVTTF8Y2Z3uD2ShY7nEQelc4fAOBw_u1gaclehARxFy4Qp/s1600-h/03092009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ8xvzCzSkSC1sZE4tcY48edvc4yocgav9DZidKVpDKKQBJplRf0DAOR-TvGJi9sEXcMuEStvBX1hOdCrnG3aNinDzmWwQDnVTTF8Y2Z3uD2ShY7nEQelc4fAOBw_u1gaclehARxFy4Qp/s400/03092009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386591154580026098" border="0" /></a>Some of the lovely ladies at the Thorne Tree House making a big lunch for an event<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkwTE-hNlYzo12mfeTy6bn9PGs_jifHalDg5nm-GyBxGsFD9U0Xsb_52VvWS8wxE14ooYQJPZodkiB7EPcPvT2rLbZG5DdJ26wL05sq4NouuMKAHQFfiDGmPok7iLgCFAbqQe-xvqwSO5/s1600-h/02092009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkwTE-hNlYzo12mfeTy6bn9PGs_jifHalDg5nm-GyBxGsFD9U0Xsb_52VvWS8wxE14ooYQJPZodkiB7EPcPvT2rLbZG5DdJ26wL05sq4NouuMKAHQFfiDGmPok7iLgCFAbqQe-xvqwSO5/s400/02092009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386591144707429346" border="0" /></a>Lunch at the local 5 pin restaurant in Kasama<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRkiC-0zziQMIZsWoeNKLFhFuO2vQDU7_XztjdG9T9AfuiNpQbiKkD_rH2EmGpAPpUtkVKYqIYZtKwz32IjmNbz4b7kYWNk9A9YkhlX00BkdwVkVr697yBAFkVzfHOi3vK5ZBA2Whl13a/s1600-h/28092009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRkiC-0zziQMIZsWoeNKLFhFuO2vQDU7_XztjdG9T9AfuiNpQbiKkD_rH2EmGpAPpUtkVKYqIYZtKwz32IjmNbz4b7kYWNk9A9YkhlX00BkdwVkVr697yBAFkVzfHOi3vK5ZBA2Whl13a/s400/28092009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386586943438646274" border="0" /></a>Ric making tortilla for the welcome dinner for the<br />new Peace Corps volunteers entering the Northern Province<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtnKGWYVkayiISSAYTeyHzX9KG1PwJz_uq0G2NwXFc0ysH22laGvFssOaHKcxan939XKw9mOVeJkMjdWUGHte_HrcybUL7bHBMkjc9CtosLlHOD-RLNxf0i5Plz-a3Or6cw7BBWc3Iin2/s1600-h/26092009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtnKGWYVkayiISSAYTeyHzX9KG1PwJz_uq0G2NwXFc0ysH22laGvFssOaHKcxan939XKw9mOVeJkMjdWUGHte_HrcybUL7bHBMkjc9CtosLlHOD-RLNxf0i5Plz-a3Or6cw7BBWc3Iin2/s400/26092009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386586940649301826" border="0" /></a>Ric's "little sister" playing with the smoke coming out of Ric's cooking shelter<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVSHJx7fPVGpi7Wm4vSFBbOaVLAMDqNKE54iA51Ny1nwMOUEtao1rgWPEezAvm3WiAI-KoXJxmpMMvA2HGZf3rMieztFc8espIG7R5DQClvKGeqGN7B2qhUuQxrSwvswHzTowbhN970Yx/s1600-h/24092009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVSHJx7fPVGpi7Wm4vSFBbOaVLAMDqNKE54iA51Ny1nwMOUEtao1rgWPEezAvm3WiAI-KoXJxmpMMvA2HGZf3rMieztFc8espIG7R5DQClvKGeqGN7B2qhUuQxrSwvswHzTowbhN970Yx/s400/24092009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386586931050997730" border="0" /></a>Ellyn at the internet cafe in Kasama.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuxuyHgi4w9vB3sMKo3bfWT0LBTzphBi5P88Hp_BVaxl3LCSY8fYUxqhBR9uEyYG1YppaC7G2397jh2TWWkcWwTuhDSXcVZacEI-_Yw70vmqUb_w8aHM-yVVg55ldO-gvZIl5xJ6vRgHF/s1600-h/22092009(002).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuxuyHgi4w9vB3sMKo3bfWT0LBTzphBi5P88Hp_BVaxl3LCSY8fYUxqhBR9uEyYG1YppaC7G2397jh2TWWkcWwTuhDSXcVZacEI-_Yw70vmqUb_w8aHM-yVVg55ldO-gvZIl5xJ6vRgHF/s400/22092009(002).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386586540880069218" border="0" /></a>Ric being...Ric. Making dinner for Joan, Ellyn, Laura, and a few others who stayed behind after they went camping at Chisembe Falls a few weeks ago<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBfh-CZFMTjnEND4ZgPD6QZjlMtMdDwkniEs6fTJRRULPhP96yra8I_uU6hwixyBPQtSGnV-eU9r6GCepWRKelg4fHPHE2mc2w9_EqwtpdySUDc7qV_DGJWX_PEGuywdmNWZC2j9EgGGe/s1600-h/22092009(001).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBfh-CZFMTjnEND4ZgPD6QZjlMtMdDwkniEs6fTJRRULPhP96yra8I_uU6hwixyBPQtSGnV-eU9r6GCepWRKelg4fHPHE2mc2w9_EqwtpdySUDc7qV_DGJWX_PEGuywdmNWZC2j9EgGGe/s400/22092009(001).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386586533281491362" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGbHn1GFIw5Wc6bHLocbdzI1qeMYM3w0EPWtwxHvfTR3K8YGPuVLZ5-GLCW_pHr1rMlb6m9_8iVuM3CpwgUzLETFg7b0sL1qCKDRASB9Rl9MHJvwpQ-00t9VHlK5hJSRQrT0cBAHpY-dV/s1600-h/22092009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGbHn1GFIw5Wc6bHLocbdzI1qeMYM3w0EPWtwxHvfTR3K8YGPuVLZ5-GLCW_pHr1rMlb6m9_8iVuM3CpwgUzLETFg7b0sL1qCKDRASB9Rl9MHJvwpQ-00t9VHlK5hJSRQrT0cBAHpY-dV/s400/22092009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386586523671402498" border="0" /></a>Everyone getting settled in at the Northern Province Peace Corps house<br />to watch LOST [they watched the entire season in one sitting i think!]<br /></div>mr.ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723111337044576762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-34139082220679396362009-07-06T03:53:00.000-07:002009-07-06T03:59:53.815-07:00Adventures at Lake 'Tang'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o_tEqbpcwm56jBDjz-Resk8utx-Z8DvnFCsUNGUU5omAzyH7bjvHdrXyz_kPTiO0MjPnl5aE5RGS0tQfP3bJUUkyYhHmtBnRUjl7_dURms3wobbFcAIsWASDux98VmiqMkAgldwAGsL5/s1600-h/Lake+tang%212.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o_tEqbpcwm56jBDjz-Resk8utx-Z8DvnFCsUNGUU5omAzyH7bjvHdrXyz_kPTiO0MjPnl5aE5RGS0tQfP3bJUUkyYhHmtBnRUjl7_dURms3wobbFcAIsWASDux98VmiqMkAgldwAGsL5/s400/Lake+tang%212.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355299181131979666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vaQcDridjQBN260Ln1YPpNXkLCdJnv-vCtHivXH9MUMOKAk5iADIu__Anvheltljjh9LPVNCWtvCRztrB-jv4zKPAWtORxloDSNfdnOnrtqiQNOg1bp81Xwuq3f-Ww6DUu0k5xZS0as1/s1600-h/Lake+tang%21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vaQcDridjQBN260Ln1YPpNXkLCdJnv-vCtHivXH9MUMOKAk5iADIu__Anvheltljjh9LPVNCWtvCRztrB-jv4zKPAWtORxloDSNfdnOnrtqiQNOg1bp81Xwuq3f-Ww6DUu0k5xZS0as1/s400/Lake+tang%21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355299176747908850" border="0" /></a><br />Ricardo and a bunch of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">PCVs</span> including Ellyn and Laura have gone to the lake at <span dir="ltr" id=":11e"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Insanga</span> bay</span> to explore and relax for the 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> of July. Next they're off to Joan's site for a party and Dale's for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Cinco</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">deBamayo</span> party. Oh the life of a Peace Corps volunteer!<br /><br /><span class="kn" dir="ltr">Ricardo: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":11o">Lake <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">tanganyika</span></span><div id=":11p" dir="ltr" class="kl">2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nd</span> largest lake in the world </div><div id=":11q" dir="ltr" class="kl">The deepest lake in the world </div><div id=":11r" dir="ltr" class="kl">At the bottom of the great rift valley</div><div dir="f" class="km" role="chatMessage" live="assertive"><div class="kk"> <span class="kn" dir="ltr">me: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":11t"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ok</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">mr</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">wikipedia</span></span></div></div>mr.ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723111337044576762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-22103657797348155032009-06-26T11:49:00.000-07:002009-06-26T11:50:10.820-07:00ah, zambia<span class="kn" dir="ltr">Ricardo: </span> <span dir="ltr" id=":3n">I think quote of the day was a random zambian man stopping me and saying,</span><div id=":3n" dir="ltr" class="kl">'sorry'</div><div id=":3n" dir="ltr" class="kl">Sorry for what? I said</div><div id=":3n" dir="ltr" class="kl">'Sorry, michael jackson died. Did you hear? Sorry.'</div>mr.ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723111337044576762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-6801215853434798742009-06-03T06:21:00.001-07:002009-06-04T10:06:27.741-07:00Chishimba Falls<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQr2CJdQH5gLlhIZq26I_NrZbvQutms06vAIfGgWUbdREUyFX6L2daIIzbY2iB_xjSVKcS7NzYiPkhEDu8XH5Gd2FjoiPsISzHHwuskHRVLdD7sesFyXWvPvMMczz7zNHLh2dP2RA0XP0/s1600-h/03062009(003).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQr2CJdQH5gLlhIZq26I_NrZbvQutms06vAIfGgWUbdREUyFX6L2daIIzbY2iB_xjSVKcS7NzYiPkhEDu8XH5Gd2FjoiPsISzHHwuskHRVLdD7sesFyXWvPvMMczz7zNHLh2dP2RA0XP0/s400/03062009(003).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343519903541475906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietDwsbr5w3fM7rA9f1yS-XpezX8ezWkg-WUS_7bgo1nlnutJ2Zpbdin8TepNPnUPNnqCDkhyphenhyphenIsX-hzSLnBbN_5yLo8yWhVEXL8ozv4bbRzUkIYjj38Wih2OZZ4kQ8vAfAEBhZIZLFLIvu/s1600-h/03062009(001).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietDwsbr5w3fM7rA9f1yS-XpezX8ezWkg-WUS_7bgo1nlnutJ2Zpbdin8TepNPnUPNnqCDkhyphenhyphenIsX-hzSLnBbN_5yLo8yWhVEXL8ozv4bbRzUkIYjj38Wih2OZZ4kQ8vAfAEBhZIZLFLIvu/s400/03062009(001).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343519897610451234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvRIQRLOUUbsD6VbQ8dz78SaMNDAgCzCaOWfnmaSTp33wriBq7_OHmtGte6PtnnSEnGbKTRsDOAi4wSRk5wI4GDzZizJB8g0PyfNTFHwkqa9hDrXOpA4-1jSZOu8QyledI6BX_ZViEixE/s1600-h/03062009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvRIQRLOUUbsD6VbQ8dz78SaMNDAgCzCaOWfnmaSTp33wriBq7_OHmtGte6PtnnSEnGbKTRsDOAi4wSRk5wI4GDzZizJB8g0PyfNTFHwkqa9hDrXOpA4-1jSZOu8QyledI6BX_ZViEixE/s400/03062009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343091263514103842" border="0" /></a><br />Ricardo, Ellyn, Justin and others are camping today at Chishimba Falls. I don't know about you but I'm jealous! He sent this picture from where they're set up.mr.ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723111337044576762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-11046130327245165242009-06-01T09:31:00.000-07:002009-06-01T09:54:11.996-07:00New(ish) Pictures<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD76fsngKTXyETRKlr5-lrpzTgIWc7_CixwXo-OytBGwepW3PLuHUwFeTMzLVUy3XN2iJMDvg1zedtH-f1pkeWSDaTGHpZxg3NiKtHqZmZvANDtlTIzRV5DrRCmNefvDHiIe4vxwZhYHWS/s1600-h/ric7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD76fsngKTXyETRKlr5-lrpzTgIWc7_CixwXo-OytBGwepW3PLuHUwFeTMzLVUy3XN2iJMDvg1zedtH-f1pkeWSDaTGHpZxg3NiKtHqZmZvANDtlTIzRV5DrRCmNefvDHiIe4vxwZhYHWS/s400/ric7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342403205868770066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNksAtSooB1m7_0dosSGzDyE1U-ueCZMXoxgDePrV2-6_8rA3jS9JCey2tGYmjAdPFha9RM57gIFSxUU5ofQWHrcn3nhyyG0ZwhIW-4gy6V88QAgwdD9UvzyojUOINyQTwzUu5MutVXo-x/s1600-h/ric5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNksAtSooB1m7_0dosSGzDyE1U-ueCZMXoxgDePrV2-6_8rA3jS9JCey2tGYmjAdPFha9RM57gIFSxUU5ofQWHrcn3nhyyG0ZwhIW-4gy6V88QAgwdD9UvzyojUOINyQTwzUu5MutVXo-x/s400/ric5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342398096332383426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1U3iBleL1UOm_vZ6q9q8tWhNS-2PpZiCTmewdgFSfCtbSudaRSyd_gGWBWquU0h6YIi4atkeT44WkXdDje5VyADA0SAnStQhDenLHknSbEI6EC0xEW309jeVlXZnlMYCugLUMcbEZEZO/s1600-h/ric4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1U3iBleL1UOm_vZ6q9q8tWhNS-2PpZiCTmewdgFSfCtbSudaRSyd_gGWBWquU0h6YIi4atkeT44WkXdDje5VyADA0SAnStQhDenLHknSbEI6EC0xEW309jeVlXZnlMYCugLUMcbEZEZO/s400/ric4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342398093350401122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11faCAW5uuV6EBIEi3QbWcUyL6b_7pgo6s0dsRSuU-4asuBjianUD32uco5f8n2rtq-zjFSIqyuCMZr6Nmjh-0ZWXTxmHCeQOCEG6J2FGiYcsIeZn-QkHMjZv83xfV6aQi5vT-880TOb7/s1600-h/ric3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11faCAW5uuV6EBIEi3QbWcUyL6b_7pgo6s0dsRSuU-4asuBjianUD32uco5f8n2rtq-zjFSIqyuCMZr6Nmjh-0ZWXTxmHCeQOCEG6J2FGiYcsIeZn-QkHMjZv83xfV6aQi5vT-880TOb7/s400/ric3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342398087573598658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLiCxzdH66g0FSe8mw9zI4n_rJ8hieuUc8XUe7qqJz5fOeTGdtz853QpOI46dvjT87Ir61s5xXR91ABxoAYIZWS-v9mPZbTrLwK4s1QlBrARNphyphenhyphenAUZqc8BYqs5N-tB_TIBj-6KO9t7_V/s1600-h/ric2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLiCxzdH66g0FSe8mw9zI4n_rJ8hieuUc8XUe7qqJz5fOeTGdtz853QpOI46dvjT87Ir61s5xXR91ABxoAYIZWS-v9mPZbTrLwK4s1QlBrARNphyphenhyphenAUZqc8BYqs5N-tB_TIBj-6KO9t7_V/s400/ric2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342398084089034770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTID2jl0knjPgsjSVOC9kPyEFGR6T_xvBocFgY1yzhyphenhyphenm810U-rKDSMFJzMKHwTrIYHX8KAQvXmQQTXVsjFwsoliM5TDmRtqLkeXjzCBTNZIJB8KEiWwOzFCacpbqkOB-Kj7RFlDhC8s22H/s1600-h/ric.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTID2jl0knjPgsjSVOC9kPyEFGR6T_xvBocFgY1yzhyphenhyphenm810U-rKDSMFJzMKHwTrIYHX8KAQvXmQQTXVsjFwsoliM5TDmRtqLkeXjzCBTNZIJB8KEiWwOzFCacpbqkOB-Kj7RFlDhC8s22H/s400/ric.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342398079753919842" border="0" /></a>Some pictures of Ricardo uploaded by his friend Laura (Thanks Laura!). I couldn't get my computer to turn them the right way and save the changes, I suspect because that is how they were uploaded to facebook. Who knows, they're lovely still. Enjoy!mr.ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723111337044576762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-13913158229643776652009-05-30T02:17:00.000-07:002009-05-30T02:24:35.909-07:00Ricardo helps local women's group<span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: what are you going to do in the group?</span></span><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: That's also why i wanted to go to justin's, to be excited with someone</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: aww</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>why didnt you go?</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"></span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: I'm actually still thinking about it, but basically it takes 30 minutes to get there</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: ok</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"></span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: And i have to come home by 1730 </span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>And it's already 1615</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"></span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: er..yeah that isnt enough time</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>tell me more about the group!</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>i'm here!! i can be excited!!!!</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>B-) -->me excited</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: Ha</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>:-)</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:13 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: so tell me more about the group</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: Well, we had the meeting in a grass field next to the head woman's house,</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:14 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>While all the men were building an insaka for the arrival of the chief,</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"></span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>The chief is coming next saturday,</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:15 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: did you have to have a translator there? did you talk in bembe? or did you all talk in english?</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: So, i started off the meeting by introducing myself, saying i'm the new volunteer, etcetc</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:17 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>I talked in broken zamlish, then the head woman started translating, and when she got tired. She called over this very nice gentleman to translate.</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: haha, that's great</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:18 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>so what did you discuss in the meeting?</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: I'm telling a story!</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:19 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>Ok</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>So, after my introduction, i gave a little speech about what i had been hearing around the community,</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:20 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>Like the women's group wanted to work with men, they wanted people to say fees, etc,</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:21 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>But, when they were talking about men being part, that tacitly means, men take control.</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:23 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>All the gendered bias, the masoginistic thinking and women's lower place in society, and basically all the negative connotations about woman have been internalized by the women here</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: that's a shame</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:25 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>did you address this at the meeting?</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: Even though they do the most work, get the least amount of respect, and its so institutionalized, its so solid, when i started talking about how in america (for all intents and purposes) men and women were the same, and they should talk to me as a woman,</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:26 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>They just kind of looked at me, not really knowing what that meant.</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:27 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>It's going to take a lot of classes to deconstruct that mentality</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>If at all possible</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: what type of activities do you intend to do?</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:28 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: I'm not there yet!</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:29 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>But ask me in a minute if i forget</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: oh ok!<br /></span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:30 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: So... Where was i</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:31 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>So, after my speech, we brought the meeting to an official opening with a prayer... You always have to have a prayer at the begining of every meeting</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:34 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span></span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>Then brain stormed about what the group would do.</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:35 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>First, they said they wanted a chicken coup. [One had been started in a village close by by a PC volunteer]<br /></span></span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: Ya. So i said i'm sorry but i'm not her, and that this is my village and this is my home.</span></span><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:53 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>They all clapped</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: aww yay ric!</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: But they also want to learn how to sew, make handicrafts,</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:54 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>Cook... I'm like, you all know how to cook. What are you talking about?</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>I was thinking that.</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:55 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>But, someone brought up that they wanted to learn how to read, how to write and how to speak english</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>I'm still waiting for my mentor's guide from the peace corps on ESL</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:56 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>So, they decided that they'd start with that and work to a chicken coup. Someone, in bembe, said that to have a chicken coup, </span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:57 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>You have to know how to read and write, do basic math bc all the money, etc. </span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: yeah</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>very good point</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: Which makes my argument for teaching or at least starting the classes up, </span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:58 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>Very easy.</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: that is great</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>the PC will give you materials to set up adult literacy?</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: Then, i asked if they wanted to pick an executive board-</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">3:59 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>Ya, i've already put in a request during training</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">4:00 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>Someone said that that should be at the next meeting then all the women started shouting at her, 'awe! Nomba! Nomba!' which </span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>Means, no! Now now!</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">4:01 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>And we had people nominated, and they all excepted,</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>And everyone was very pleased.</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: wow, you had your executive board meeting already!<br /></span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: And we set a date for the 1st official meeting</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">4:02 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>And had questions from the group to me</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: Which weren't really questions but {concerns} about the other volunteers working in the other villages and not this one</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">4:03 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: must be terrible to have to wait for volunteers to feel like you could make a change in your village...i'm sure they're all resourceful and intelligent enough to do it themselves</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">4:04 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: That's one of the things i say in every speech i give to the villages and pta's i meet,</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">4:05 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>That what i want is the people to realize they don't need my help, that they have the power to do it themselves, and that </span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);">4:06 PM </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>Hopefully, one day soon, they won't have to rely on usaid or whatever do build a stronger and better community/society</span></span></div><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: Ya. Basically, a 3rd year pcv said, our job is done when they don't need us anymore</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"></span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span></span></span></div>mr.ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723111337044576762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-91446976467201027092009-05-18T02:05:00.000-07:002009-05-18T11:07:22.762-07:00ah, zambia!<span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>I was sleeping last night, a little better, when i woke to the sound of a crunching noise</span></span><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"></span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: I didn't know he the cat had gotten the powdered milk down from the shelf and was ripping into the tin can or</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>If the cat was being eaten and it was bones being crushed</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"></span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>So, i tried, from bed with my flashlight, to see over the wall divider what was going on</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>I couldn't</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>So, i was a little scared, and decided i needed to know what going on </span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>And i pulled up my mosquito net, started stepping out into the room...</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: eeeeeeeeekkkk</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>what was it?!?!</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: When a bat came out of wherever and started flying all over the place </span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>:</span></span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>oh my god you must have been so scared</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: Needless to say, it scared me. </span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>So i jumped back into bed, and decided i'd find out in the morning what the crunching noise was</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">me</span>: and what was it?</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>i can't believe there was a BAT in your house</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; float: left; color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"> </span><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ricardo</span>: The cat had gotten a bag of dried soya and ripped it open</span></span></div><div><span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em;"><span>And, so, that's going to be the cat's food until that bag is finished</span></span></div>mr.ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723111337044576762noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-41969148792644481412009-05-11T15:56:00.001-07:002009-05-12T08:32:41.728-07:00Ric's Home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwVq2kZAHSpFetLmzP5zemvpGYGJBAUzXyftkeUdlk_d17Sr6LwhVRBjPK5EdbNr51OhQT0jQMblvaFxJR2v606fY7gPtgw9iLswEhK5TiE1S1FlbhPyQtBC8OYZPdfvEgvf1aC88lj-v/s1600-h/11052009(004).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwVq2kZAHSpFetLmzP5zemvpGYGJBAUzXyftkeUdlk_d17Sr6LwhVRBjPK5EdbNr51OhQT0jQMblvaFxJR2v606fY7gPtgw9iLswEhK5TiE1S1FlbhPyQtBC8OYZPdfvEgvf1aC88lj-v/s400/11052009(004).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334960770621450370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifl1GE7WlPYPMWAr9yD6XvWUmTxCd3GXFJR_TnjTsnFQdASLOaXXqmbYvpALjaz-uuNOu6Ajqofr2EI9J2srfE2dUS0ldwcc3T3_9zj8SbpO-IHxmEjRiTy5mHNGiXaL83jJaRKdKppNwT/s1600-h/11052009(003).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifl1GE7WlPYPMWAr9yD6XvWUmTxCd3GXFJR_TnjTsnFQdASLOaXXqmbYvpALjaz-uuNOu6Ajqofr2EI9J2srfE2dUS0ldwcc3T3_9zj8SbpO-IHxmEjRiTy5mHNGiXaL83jJaRKdKppNwT/s400/11052009(003).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334960772169972082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24qyD693JY_bMADb03aGBcpBM1xYtdSSHP5coJby_CTuJljoNlNnWYxLnILswURMWN_CZ_jjoQKsVmAJGm8Yppidycw0ePynuZAcHvEM6Atc3XMRlSlZh_XJiWZ8uQb33tJwW4nN0cTOH/s1600-h/Indoor.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24qyD693JY_bMADb03aGBcpBM1xYtdSSHP5coJby_CTuJljoNlNnWYxLnILswURMWN_CZ_jjoQKsVmAJGm8Yppidycw0ePynuZAcHvEM6Atc3XMRlSlZh_XJiWZ8uQb33tJwW4nN0cTOH/s400/Indoor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334705454810525666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmk_VNNnGeHZWagnEXwJnfb6V8rP4Nu-GpHYLDfAHx_FatnFe4ZuB2pB7f-Mf7WDt7LkODUUi0z5y0LQrZAV_9EJUIEsNoMPwo3ToVuYmhgjXRRkgwnS3iwODeItJqFFEfp222fLeIKtn/s1600-h/Indoor+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmk_VNNnGeHZWagnEXwJnfb6V8rP4Nu-GpHYLDfAHx_FatnFe4ZuB2pB7f-Mf7WDt7LkODUUi0z5y0LQrZAV_9EJUIEsNoMPwo3ToVuYmhgjXRRkgwnS3iwODeItJqFFEfp222fLeIKtn/s400/Indoor+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334705454480412722" border="0" /></a><br />for the next 2 years! Mwalushi, Zambia.<span style="display: block; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span>mr.ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723111337044576762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-59860618945931575392009-05-01T15:31:00.000-07:002009-05-01T16:28:22.036-07:00President Obama, Welcome to Zambia!Ok, so this has nothing to do with anything except a sweet t-shirt I got made in Manchester for the U.S. presidential inauguration when I was there visiting Anchal. I brought it to Africa. Here are a few examples of its awesomeness. ENJOY!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330987896988565186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoDSqowEtHTRi4PHkTKeWXThUnDHBLnF7kDiidYKwFIKvjhmmbxldx4JeYuordrAUYO1NzM_VtW2RgjyeIx8b4Zs6dRYKRwBx_7KPab4JzU1bo-zmS1z5QHtjaW8-lx8nlbVfpJEJcqw/s320/P3120194.JPG" border="0" />This is the first Vice-President of Zambia's daughter! Supposedly, her father was a great intellectual and acted as the architect of the country. In fact, he named the country "Zambia"! His story is like Trotsky, though, and ends in a smiliar fashsion. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330989098649721746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJ1v1NQi8itpaQF09rMOOJjPFYbZxdHTxJFfoHhDdwXT9sT0enXU3g7HsyOYWhQ3JlncsHJZz36776T1S5ikwj8XBWgVcZWAk6raNZUXT19IrUgsnWmIzK8QyBLeixD5hHELZ7h7OgyQ/s320/P3270292.JPG" border="0" />This is the Chiefteness of Chongwe District and some other portion of geography. She came to speak to us and welcome us to her kingdom, where she rules with an iron fist!!! Just kidding. Below, she's laughing at my shirt.</div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330989624263021330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmn5_LVlVnIz7otrjYNOM5Su50hSbjz5u9EuNhiL-A153zkfss67aM1khs4E3OIQkpqutPjBuc9Jm_xVAOcTghZmBcuMIfmeSqQyQYyM3cdhFyJaVP0hZbwMY7esyynBaaO5-ca4I_KI/s320/P3270294.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330991052273160802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPy03D60H1ElL9ZZrz1TZvE_u7kOlcHdwvkhaw-3hQS-JaXIpxdzHYzVdgPZjDVWkH1ZcnFbdOr2lD2MSe8_1u6lWRspi4XoSUxN_G4BBr238c-BtSqFiTB9BIzmxoBXP2oNMTI5El1nE/s320/P4220494.JPG" border="0" />Here I am with some the PC staff and PCT's at FTI. </p><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330990577623031618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJK_7VcKqIRqdmeKLJOn7uFVl9MmbhpJ9_XVR7xh-Wb-9ojgGqPKaLcD8WiQtkoejlxIfROZyQjahktdYXV1PKA1uwxAwKhgvd0D3RXCtz30l4l5rLN1PL3JukMc_JRzaRGh5W7-2UIkU/s320/P4220485.JPG" border="0" />Here I am with one of the Health Trainers from the Peace Corps. He actual works in conjuction with PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), President Bush's attempt to buy himself a beneficial legacy. At least it gets to people that can actually help people save lives. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjto3J7k3sm5tpXQ1rrtfr8jW-nTs3tJapSKUMP9hT5qMP6qVJugv5ebKF4fjm6j1oOoFNJzqw8B4nDEGR0u18pflilriZMymRkwlzUGg_nyZytOFuO2SgVu8QC_VPCraFrVQud98mTgk/s1600-h/P4240547.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330993355841032898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjto3J7k3sm5tpXQ1rrtfr8jW-nTs3tJapSKUMP9hT5qMP6qVJugv5ebKF4fjm6j1oOoFNJzqw8B4nDEGR0u18pflilriZMymRkwlzUGg_nyZytOFuO2SgVu8QC_VPCraFrVQud98mTgk/s320/P4240547.JPG" border="0" /></a>AND WHAT?! OBAMA! Here we are at the Ambassador's residence in Lusaka before swearing in as official PCV's! Above, I'm standing with Laila, a PCV who joined our program after she had to leave PC Madagascar because of the coup d'etat. Below, I'm standing with Katrina, who's my neighbor in Northern Province and, sadly, the only African-American to swear in, in our in-take. Come on Peace Corps! Get your act together!!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQB2WDY0YjU1duGXyPnXmcjjg46dY3ek7649WbU9VBLOrUGvIktTZTB6MekmMH0m9T7Ly1RfEcVGDNi1Pn6HNrHCrxOsfEiGg4-V3-YffIdNMGPG1iHvU9U3mKjXq2nbDpMGNHzKY3xFk/s1600-h/P4240549.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330992918239121138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQB2WDY0YjU1duGXyPnXmcjjg46dY3ek7649WbU9VBLOrUGvIktTZTB6MekmMH0m9T7Ly1RfEcVGDNi1Pn6HNrHCrxOsfEiGg4-V3-YffIdNMGPG1iHvU9U3mKjXq2nbDpMGNHzKY3xFk/s320/P4240549.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>ricardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07587734099375889604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-23786799041692888672009-04-30T13:51:00.000-07:002009-05-04T23:55:22.249-07:00"Mzungu!" and other Stories from the Frontlines of the War on Education<div align="center"><em>*I already wrote an entire entry and it was deleted from my phone, so i might rush or skips parts, because ... really, how demoralizing is it to have finished something and then to have all of it to be erased? Alot.*</em> </div><div align="left"><br />So, I've come down with a leg infection and have been beckoned back to Lusaka. Like so many urban centers in the developing world, the class distinctions are more pronounced, rich and poor sitting right next to each other (one in the BMW, the other selling produce on the road side). It's an example of top-down socialism on what Gramsci would call a "backwards" society. One thing this city has going for it--the beautiful and caring people that I've met and know through serendipitous channels. So, I came to Lusaka to make sure I didn't need amputation or surgery. The last blog explains a little. In any case, I've got some time on my hands so I thought I'd give a run down of what I've been learning, doing, and what I've been preparing for in a few blog posts... sprinkled with pictures. So here goes. The first one is about my... </div><div align="center"><br /><strong><em>MY ZAM-FAM</em></strong></div><br /><div align="left">I lived in a village called Kabeleka. Its about 45 k on the Great East road almost to Chongwe, then an 8 k ride down a dirt road, then a 4.5 k ride/walk on a bush path to get to Kabeleka. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-FU4fY-Xu7wcfVS841okZFl8auToRvLKHjS_2VKAyRA9c9AbSiuk1fRknDjuP3v9mHlSOxzVmdXZBZrqjkDJg1ZOqL4qFhhZCgl0H9aD3zf_x5FzjCXy0JwAP_W0pDjDbfJ46zZqK2I/s1600-h/P2270142.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330981548335210706" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-FU4fY-Xu7wcfVS841okZFl8auToRvLKHjS_2VKAyRA9c9AbSiuk1fRknDjuP3v9mHlSOxzVmdXZBZrqjkDJg1ZOqL4qFhhZCgl0H9aD3zf_x5FzjCXy0JwAP_W0pDjDbfJ46zZqK2I/s320/P2270142.JPG" border="0" /></a>Kabeleka was put on the proverbial map when Alex Trabek ("That's 'An Album Cover', Mr. Connery") came and paid for a school and a boar hole (for deep water to be obtained from) to be built in Kabeleka. World Vision also has a chicken farm there, as well. </div><div align="left">I lived in a one room, round mud hut just big enough for my twin bed to fit in. It was right next to the goat pen, which took me a while to get used to. Some times, they would escape from their pen and wander the compound at night and rub against my door and scare me into thinking someone was knocking at 1:30am. Another night, when I went outside to go pee, a baby goat charged and rammed me. I always made sure they were locked up after that. </div><br /><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330595079617848546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2rqYsz7vLYyuE0yDUESKkJuMYfpkFsE2Mr-SdfaICvN_Q1wjXI0gN8EPBW3Gy7hupBp3c_8Gm_GPCzv5qxNZNHxuAbEAFZn6n0J52K6iAIgRFrv23sqgYdd1RzhV2oWF3akXkKY8XlE/s320/P3090180.JPG" border="0" />I lived with the Kalimina's, pictured at left in their entirety. Spencer, the father, took me under his wing and we would eat every meal together, discussing international politics, religion (mostly Christianity), American and Zambian culture, gender roles... and even watched some dubbed Thai and Filipino soap operas. His father was a police officer in the city before deciding to move his family back to the farm right before Spencer could finish high school. My father was a police officer in the city. </p><br />They guided me in the dark when I was lost, made sure I ate and drank and took my meds when I had malaria, and made sure I never left the house looking dirty... most of the time to my chagrin. Bamayo would always make sure that I had a piece of bread for school as I left, which she baked daily. Bamayo's father was from South Africa. Her mother was from Zimbabwe. They moved to Zambia (before Bamayo was born) because her father had been a freedom fighter against the apartheid South African government and Zambia was a safe zone/haven for those in struggles for national liberation in southern Africa. Zambia was bombed by the neighboring countries for its insubordination.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330721497069655202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwN6D9Czy__-lqj1fC60YcPOUocMxrYotSBGOP7JuEvD0iiezZIGhgu38IdiR9rVJXxM61gEbaRlNa3ydUBSieIMdr2zS5ze7VYRDk4guJfkkp22_W1tkA2M1OLfa_LNk8Xnt46U0DY58/s320/P4170435.JPG" border="0" />Spencer and Bamayo have five children. The eldest is Bruce, 13, named after Bruce Lee. He's amazingly even tempered, kind, and obedient but independent. Everyone in the village knows who he is, so much so that they don't call the "house" that I live at "Spencer's House," but "Bruce's House." He is always helping both Batata (father) and Bamayo (mother) around the house, in the fields, with the goats and chickens, burning bricks and being an exemplar for his <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TpXC-L-jFIVhFGr5M6hEd35bb3zAb8w8ld6T6Z4zhwiAH5BSLhvLI5YlxlLuqfx1dPUIgarAdSEEPg1CEa0LgiCTodk-iLvXA67QuD2mQzvyPaPbfz8ZJew6cpFecEXdb2xxcMu0kTM/s1600-h/P3060172.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330723344094981986" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TpXC-L-jFIVhFGr5M6hEd35bb3zAb8w8ld6T6Z4zhwiAH5BSLhvLI5YlxlLuqfx1dPUIgarAdSEEPg1CEa0LgiCTodk-iLvXA67QuD2mQzvyPaPbfz8ZJew6cpFecEXdb2xxcMu0kTM/s320/P3060172.JPG" border="0" /></a>younger siblings. The next two are Brian, named after his uncle, and Martin, after Martin Luther King Jr. (That's them on the right. Martin is holding his little sister. We're just chillin on my front porch.) They can almost always be found together, playing all different forms of football (soccer)-with rocks, fingers, imaginary, or with a ball made out of plastic shopping bags-and making sure the goats don't eat all the corn before it gets harvested. One of my favorite things to do would be to sit in the middle of the compound, next to the kitchen and eat roasted corn straight from the fields with Batata and watch the stars come out over the children playing in the dirt or entertaining each other on the reed mat. Or run in front of the camera as I took landscape shots with my clothes blowing in the wind.<br /><br /><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330597383812163826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2raAZ7QdTGLlNaUAYjhP_WRQdu1CiKAN_AZyoOKBYZcbei59tk7gaq2ysfChT0eu77OHfQys3wKlk9nDiGHC98JIAzLt-EmWfXloe4bBSBePKH53tJgzKe8WIVv5vFGVBYa9ekT-XN30/s320/P3090177.JPG" border="0" />The next child is Carol. That's her, above, in front of the kitchen and the corn "silo" in the background. Her nick name is "temperamental", because that's how i tried to describe her to Batata, and afterwards he would just call her "temperamental". She is happy and giggling one <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi892g_I5p7WZ_J1NjAOUaG5P_EAuFdL92K0KyRyOTZE1Oh3P123C95AIsHsF4pqZITShWIuwDLl3us2mQWa-YUSZKudwctQXssLsdCIVoP6avEw4FJDUX92S6EsBpVQixQktk4Hv7cjFQ/s1600-h/P4170431.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330712765047686066" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi892g_I5p7WZ_J1NjAOUaG5P_EAuFdL92K0KyRyOTZE1Oh3P123C95AIsHsF4pqZITShWIuwDLl3us2mQWa-YUSZKudwctQXssLsdCIVoP6avEw4FJDUX92S6EsBpVQixQktk4Hv7cjFQ/s320/P4170431.JPG" border="0" /></a>second, then crying her lungs out the next, usually from falling or sometimes seemingly no externally related activity whatsoever. The last child is Naomi, a "biblical name" Batata says's, who was born just over 20 days before I came to live with them. She cries less than Carol. But she was always staring at the ceiling and for a while, I was afraid that she might be blind. And I thought how devestating that would be for the family and for her in this environment. Agrarian Zambians are built like rock sculptures-they become conditioned to the hard field work, their skin becomes tough as nails and they can pick up hot coals and the like with ease, carrying 20kg bags on their heads (the women), and, for some reason, they almost all have great teeth. Carol's favorite brother to play with is Brian, the second eldest, so Batata is hoping that Naomi gets along with Martin better, then everyone has their favorites. And Bruce... they all look up to Bruce.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pMRb7VJjqXtglGkbHffTMF_K6QW-PrUY_E1mlX9-eYTX4zmJNnDWkapvIcgLJRIs4odRR7Ez1fORDuLWhoD7kyU9KAto02DFGcGs69yDX9U6e9nt4go1cru5shxQAT5u1cXEflC2p8E/s1600-h/P3150207.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330715173330299746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pMRb7VJjqXtglGkbHffTMF_K6QW-PrUY_E1mlX9-eYTX4zmJNnDWkapvIcgLJRIs4odRR7Ez1fORDuLWhoD7kyU9KAto02DFGcGs69yDX9U6e9nt4go1cru5shxQAT5u1cXEflC2p8E/s320/P3150207.JPG" border="0" /></a>So, a typical morning would be waking up to these jerks(the roosters and chickens, to our left) sporadically from 3:45... ya, a.m.... until I actually would get up between 5:45 and 6:15 to take my morning bucket bath. Batata or Bamayo would heat some water on the fire that was constantly burning in the kitchen-literally, it always had some red embers going, otherwise they'd have to start it up again, so they had what we would consider a yule log, basically an entire tree trunk, smoldering in the kitchen for there to be fuel. Then, I'd get ready for school and eat some fresh bread with peanut butter, have instant coffee with sugar (there's no milk, people! There's no electricity!) and listen to the morning news on the radio. Oh, ya, the t.v. and the radio are hooked up to a car battery that is recharged every couple of weeks for free... because the last car battery that Batata had was stollen when it was at the tuck shop being charged overnight. (a tuck shop is a little stall that is like some Old West general store... the closest thing i can think of in the states to a tuck shop is a hot dog stand at a baseball game that sells chilly-billys, fries, candy, etc... except these stands sell soap, condoms, cooking oil, paraffin, hair nets, etc., etc.) So, the guy who owned the tuck shop gave Batata a used car battery and said he'd recharge it for free for the year. I don't know how good of a deal that is.<br />So, after coffee and bread, I'd walk or ride my bike to class (2 k) then return home for lunch about 11:30 with the family (a.k.a. ate alone with Batata because the men eat first then the women and children after and they usually eat separately), then bike or walk (4.5 k) to the Farming Training Institute (FTI) about 13:30 where technical and health classes were held. That lasted until 17:00 and we'd return home before dusk to have dinner, watch as the stars came out even clearer than in Yosemite, and go to sleep. Wake up. Repeat. Monday-Friday. Saturdays were half days. Sundays are the off. Ya know, its the Lord's day. </p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330719116758491202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSpiuazpsqd70WW7jk8xBjBESSJ0cxbufhee_QLgZQBlAXi5JkMe6nJkiqNINQt-_T09LGZ4tz-0Ob4kEvfSVVCaEngG89lWBDS2w-2PCKTREJD1tQFvlsrN-Kla9CNEOj9VLUPn1BTI/s320/P4130417.JPG" border="0" />Ya, that's Batata making bricks. All the buildings in these pictures he built with his bare hands. And all with a smile on his face. Bruce is off camera right, mixing the water and dirt from whence all the blocks will be molded.<br /></p><br /><br /><p align="center">So, the grand culmination of our home-stays came on Cultural Day, where all the PCT's (Peace Corps Trainees) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31eSW0O7-gtFOF7oZtGozsfRnshWTC_x56LBBeK2XMCeO4AYQ2mIrJuqmmJ8OatwJKuhQWjzUjwlLXZqcbEJIZpoeya9DNPHFC039d7h6BF-1UTuhCocZMPKsQ72FLJ20Tsv1gB_WpDY/s1600-h/P4220455.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330955120482529042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31eSW0O7-gtFOF7oZtGozsfRnshWTC_x56LBBeK2XMCeO4AYQ2mIrJuqmmJ8OatwJKuhQWjzUjwlLXZqcbEJIZpoeya9DNPHFC039d7h6BF-1UTuhCocZMPKsQ72FLJ20Tsv1gB_WpDY/s320/P4220455.JPG" border="0" /></a>cooked american food for all our host family parents. There were hamburgers, BBQ chicken, apple fritters, stir fried rice, among other things. The food prep that I was involved with was pizza made from scratch. I was under the tutelage of Ellyn, my closest neighbor during training, and now my closest neighbor at site. She is cook extraordinaire... on top of being a fantastic and beautiful human being. That's her in the picture (left) letting me taste my creation--the sauce! That sauce took 3 1/2 hours to cook. But it was worth it! It was AAAAAAMAZING! And across from Ellyn and I is Geoff, a Greek yacht-rock god! He was making fried-eggplant with Stevie. Its quite ironic, actually, that every single day i worked at O'Malley's someone would call me <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeFDqsK47B4zYxJmjmcPKhBLWlzD8KQyt0W-zQm4OgYCYoq8NKLOdS9uHJtL7QnaAOmAaq5DtMEcAUUAcoOCfLqcaZPQUPsa2DFkgq_Aw03ZhF24OsD93VBSqMdCr2JtOG5bhhpv1LIU/s1600-h/P4220473.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330959057227214098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeFDqsK47B4zYxJmjmcPKhBLWlzD8KQyt0W-zQm4OgYCYoq8NKLOdS9uHJtL7QnaAOmAaq5DtMEcAUUAcoOCfLqcaZPQUPsa2DFkgq_Aw03ZhF24OsD93VBSqMdCr2JtOG5bhhpv1LIU/s320/P4220473.JPG" border="0" /></a>Mario, Luigi, or make some reference on how I should be <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330958435546360994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5miS2InPlxLZG_-bUYRNyVXJznczrnnXe0KgYYq5fIaQmkEq1Fj4nP8KSpcz6h9XSjLrdtSmJ3A1Gzs5Uk5O88Y1Qu1jA9ASQjJ_LSN4Mil7GvWFemtOEKdHWUmRZyCMwLpLeUoSl24/s320/P4220468.JPG" border="0" />making pizza's. And i would laugh and think, "Give me your money!," and now I'm in Africa, making pizzas. I'm sweatin' in the kitchen with Mary about to do some simultaneous pizza dough throwing! On the right, I'm yelling at the damn paparazzi who was hounding me all morning for my secret recipe. "GET OUTTA MY FACE!"</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center">I'll let some pictures do the talking for the rest of the day.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330961997192561586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYohazndTb2fIDjpRCb5PijfgkL5r0O2cYqW9tytymqjO79FGEClo_hb0-G77u2Y8kHSxHch4U3jUBBvcbSWFElL7zJXr9Z9mN4dQog5Hnj0x_-8kcriJQm2DMIaUPGFgqjf3aWwiTQzY/s320/P4220477.JPG" border="0" />The whole spread with the PCT's in my in-take: from R to L- Nikki, Ashley, Geoff, Tyson and Daphney (married), Grayson and Kevin (not married), Ellyn, Mary, etc.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFlZphjp8hy5iGG0PxagfV6doZiD_gWSlYeRn5Cy3E7JdM-q5ruxkcAKrwAb_eSe5DnkzYzlRQrE4pS_vun8bJKbVizxarJixVCel_BNL23_osEtoPFHMUw25SovDBy-PFAYXBXuX_KM/s1600-h/P4220478.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330968557339213442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFlZphjp8hy5iGG0PxagfV6doZiD_gWSlYeRn5Cy3E7JdM-q5ruxkcAKrwAb_eSe5DnkzYzlRQrE4pS_vun8bJKbVizxarJixVCel_BNL23_osEtoPFHMUw25SovDBy-PFAYXBXuX_KM/s320/P4220478.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9LkUwlctZtZTzwHjhesBkxx63-LRNYhyBRbKBlSPapQzGyrGFIP0gwv2Flw9ZZ_ucwoCQKrKXLTkT8z9DW7EjZEEjBDh_KHMsjbrvroW39Rjh-gwtP1p2Ux1eOjKOFOznWe5bt5_qaY/s1600-h/P4220511.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330969583663233490" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9LkUwlctZtZTzwHjhesBkxx63-LRNYhyBRbKBlSPapQzGyrGFIP0gwv2Flw9ZZ_ucwoCQKrKXLTkT8z9DW7EjZEEjBDh_KHMsjbrvroW39Rjh-gwtP1p2Ux1eOjKOFOznWe5bt5_qaY/s320/P4220511.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />On the left, my Batata is getting his hands on some of the grub we worked all morning to make. On the right, its the last time I'll take a picture with my family here as a PCT.<br /><br /><br />On the right is the Kabeleka Krew--Ellyn, myself, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEohJ3NKwRHXWE1R6vuyO8Z8vQC_GHl36dm_kHBGlLaif84AeRU5wOMgjkF3SmPbSiz7ZVJ39twMn202-6ehZj4mn4AmpYL8eZGniS0Pr8w6QNqGH59SXgzeMg0jP0-J6-Nv0DIDsE3o/s1600-h/P4220510.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330972978928786066" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEohJ3NKwRHXWE1R6vuyO8Z8vQC_GHl36dm_kHBGlLaif84AeRU5wOMgjkF3SmPbSiz7ZVJ39twMn202-6ehZj4mn4AmpYL8eZGniS0Pr8w6QNqGH59SXgzeMg0jP0-J6-Nv0DIDsE3o/s320/P4220510.JPG" border="0" /></a>and Laura with our language instructor, BaLeonard, in the background. We'll get deeper into that situation in later blogs about language and technical training, RED and LIFE, first and second site visits, and my future in Zambia. I'm just lucky that I had two wonderful classmates that are now two of my closest PC neighbors!<br /><br />The next day, we packed our bags and left our homes for Lusaka for soon we would leave take that right of passage afforded to those of us who completed training... we would become PC Volunteers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUGjxHabzxhGXJV3aaSs2HPfwncB77naU9Bfwxwjuj6Aya0GybXZjbL6YmczfTxr6yax34jlhCXuUGx46SKb30wsxrJzhupsKgEVwrtS78cFiZJBetlLvXg_Bx8FYx3igVTE1c_1taZo/s1600-h/P4220449.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330975661515392738" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUGjxHabzxhGXJV3aaSs2HPfwncB77naU9Bfwxwjuj6Aya0GybXZjbL6YmczfTxr6yax34jlhCXuUGx46SKb30wsxrJzhupsKgEVwrtS78cFiZJBetlLvXg_Bx8FYx3igVTE1c_1taZo/s320/P4220449.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LoLOe2NGTYN6rpsr1ESeCrIWwrfpIccuKbDm9IBzpRZomUtjVXn4J6kSfmxPifvD_JcQaklPPcUkCfUT02eVXGa0L6JqigwZVJTAnRvPqJvtqN7jEnFlVhSiX5WsG4NUYkGd8aOoIVI/s1600-h/P4220448.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330975110331522434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LoLOe2NGTYN6rpsr1ESeCrIWwrfpIccuKbDm9IBzpRZomUtjVXn4J6kSfmxPifvD_JcQaklPPcUkCfUT02eVXGa0L6JqigwZVJTAnRvPqJvtqN7jEnFlVhSiX5WsG4NUYkGd8aOoIVI/s320/P4220448.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"></p><br /><br /><p align="center"></p><br /><br /><div align="center">The last morning I was with my family. This is what I saw every morning as I went to take my bucket bath or as I was getting out. I especially liked this sunrise, as it was the last I would have with the Kalimina family. </div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330976771095808626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFed4oD3ZyMPo_Uc_3yqJUC-597oGzjJk-9CXRSSv4ucM_dCzRSy1vKkXmkUOl1u9A8aK_y8J5n_WTXVJNHcoUB-aOQY0p2PWv3vlq53AiLuDw0R5oCpyoY8P21_YLEX803Tyn6_V6p0/s320/P4220450.JPG" border="0" />The field I walked past to get to FTI. This was the morning of Cultural Day and it was especially windy. All the grass was making the wind whisper and the lone tree held against its siren calls to fall. I don't know when I'll ever walk that path again. But I'll keep moving with the wind at my back.<br /><p align="center"></p></div>ricardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07587734099375889604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-31857732000217505302009-04-30T09:18:00.001-07:002009-04-30T09:19:34.581-07:00puss factory?<p>so, my left leg is 5 cm larger than my right leg in circumference. I'mlike the guy in 'lady in the water' who only works out half his body!Man, that was a terrible movie. So, i saw 3 doctors today and theyall concurred that it wasn't DVT, whatever that is... Dad can look it up. What i have is some kind of internal infection caused by thelymphs not being able to drain plus some external blood vessel rupture. Soooo, i'm on the meds and have to stay in lusaka untiltuesday.Well, i'm going to take my first shower in over 48 hours and get allyou can eat indian food with my friend ann-marie who's leaving bc sherealized she wasn't ready for this whole bush life thing... and i'lltry to keep my foot elevated the whole while.</p><p>Love you all!</p><p>Ricardo 'i'm not dead... Yet' Nuñez</p>mr.ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723111337044576762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-29194622732281349462009-04-26T03:07:00.000-07:002009-04-26T03:13:05.882-07:00ricardo via anchal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkg876yvcgEthHLAW1GDwRlnDGehijL4xvYFxJi4bMdxIVl27vsKJis6Kr0M4_Utr1l9OFIF-nRjFBneCT6pUVj0oYZ0W7xRbqzfvRG4TGWiPRAZrbZrsmD4fNPMAYuK4-GiY4OomyrWk/s1600-h/Laura+ellyn+pizza=all+good%21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkg876yvcgEthHLAW1GDwRlnDGehijL4xvYFxJi4bMdxIVl27vsKJis6Kr0M4_Utr1l9OFIF-nRjFBneCT6pUVj0oYZ0W7xRbqzfvRG4TGWiPRAZrbZrsmD4fNPMAYuK4-GiY4OomyrWk/s400/Laura+ellyn+pizza=all+good%21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328940929259465458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaIZGn4SFtN68chSZJenmu8_MfgaR5cocgSxmDP8jpgmyX4GR9zRV0gbdtS9pxINA-3s7vLQF3RkYO8oswkNih8dtTIbz2betfCxzQIr6TuCvPSRQPEhL4eg0wny3tNqLSgS2btKE5lOI/s1600-h/riclusaka.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaIZGn4SFtN68chSZJenmu8_MfgaR5cocgSxmDP8jpgmyX4GR9zRV0gbdtS9pxINA-3s7vLQF3RkYO8oswkNih8dtTIbz2betfCxzQIr6TuCvPSRQPEhL4eg0wny3tNqLSgS2btKE5lOI/s400/riclusaka.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328940924850978578" border="0" /></a><br />I'm going to post things on here from time to time that Ric sends me, as it is easier for me to do it via laptop than Ricardo via a tiny little phone. So from time to time, he'll send me script and I'll post it here for his blog readers.<br />Here are some pictures!mr.ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723111337044576762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-84691138861193242192009-01-22T04:24:00.001-08:002009-01-22T04:26:22.755-08:00hope<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/01/21/us/21obama5-600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 232px;" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/01/21/us/21obama5-600.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>ricardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07587734099375889604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-89711285244539249512009-01-15T13:47:00.000-08:002009-01-15T14:39:41.886-08:00Supposedly, I listen to Modest Mouse too much. That's physically impossible.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://akamai-static.nme.com/images/09115_110309_animalcollectiveL50109.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 184px;" src="http://akamai-static.nme.com/images/09115_110309_animalcollectiveL50109.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />So, basically I just wanted to voice my opinion about a show i went to last night...<br /><br />I'LL START with Anchal's favorite part! BACKSTORY!<br />So, Anchal, my partner, bought us tickets to go see Animal Collective at the Academy at Manchester University for X-MAS. Sweet! I'm not the hugest A.C. fan but I like their music, especially the album Feels and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxvGHQHiY70">Peacebone</a>/<a href="http://www.blogger.com/w.youtube.com/watch?v=W6KPDWNAPBU">Fireworks</a> from Strawberry Jam. I think they definitely have an eccentric yet "listener friendly" quality to their music.<br /><br />THE SHOW: So, Anchal and I go to the show last night. We get there pretty much just in time to have two drinks and AC to get on stage. The place was packed and Anchal and I had to stand against the metal waist-high fence which surrounded the EQ station. The crowd generally didn't get into it too much, but better than I would expect from an LA crowd. I swear to Jesus, every time I go to a show in LA/Hollywood, Gerry and I are the only ones dancing or shaking our boodies/heads! So, I try to get into it, but they never put it over the top. Their songs were overdrawn most of the time, with looped tracks ad nauseum. I found myself imagining singing or more tracks put on top of the layers AC was creating on stage, and then thought, "Why the hell am I having to insert music, in my head, for me to enjoy this?" When their songs would hit a stride, they would reach a point where you were expecting it to go faster, further, deeper! AAHHH! Anti-climacticism at its most profound! (Freudian?) It would trail off into another loop! Then, when they did play faster songs that were more lyrically driven, David Portner, a.k.a. Avey Tare, would sing behind the beat, slowing the momentum of the song. It felt as if he was tired, that the tour or life or what have you had left him unable to muster the full strength to keep up or give it more. There were provocative tracks, ones that made me fall into a little trance or meditate, and sometimes i was definitely swaying to the sounds. But sometimes the loops and the reverb made an incomprehensible wave of noise that left you wondering what to do, or what was going on. To say the least, the show was lackluster.<br /><br />Here's a little taste of the show<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LlKv299k8P4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LlKv299k8P4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/D7pS-9HFrQM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/D7pS-9HFrQM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />POST-ANTI-CLIMAX: Anch and I went to a bar afterwards--<a href="http://www.qype.co.uk/place/65130-Big-Hands-Manchester">Big Hands</a>. Its a hip little joint next to school and we got a drink. I was explaining to Anch my frustration about the show and how it could be interpretive, and I just wasn't getting what the band was trying to accomplish artistically. Anchal's rum and coke was flat, so that was nice. Then, two black guys (and I only say this because, besides Anch and myself, there might have been two other people in a packed bar that weren't white as the fresh fallen snow) decided to set up shop and do a little twacked out dancing right behind Anchal. They had to be on somethin. Their eyes were rollin to the back of their heads and they were bumping and grinding to imaginary nymphs from the middle kingdom. One of them even began dancing against a girl for a few seconds who was in the middle of a conversation with some guy four inches from her face. Then, to my disbelief, they didn't even react! Fucking Limeys! They almost started gyrating towards Anch and I couldn't take it any more! RANCHAL, OUT!<br />TO make matters worse, i stopped drinking and twenty minutes later, while Anch was waiting for Indian food, i already felt hung over and near-vomiting status.<br /><br /><br />So, in summation: Animal Collective was a dud. Drinks after proved disappointing. The English policy to obnoxious drunkards/tweakers is "ignore it long enough and it'll go away." AND i was hungover without even going to sleep.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1121/952100395_03cde010a1.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 249px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1121/952100395_03cde010a1.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />GO TEAM VENTURE!ricardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07587734099375889604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-82847555012865199412009-01-13T10:19:00.000-08:002009-01-13T14:23:53.633-08:00Ben Bernanke, you're my hero...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqeZsYvAWc3USvL1ULr4ZxWti0PGVc5Y1Ar4sHN75W6z8hw516dmMUXy3ViRImbh1M4ZYlds0nEev1XDCaJlvdbgAx3ygD1_sygXr16ftFS7oAvz2EU6aHsGEKT_gr4ofG9f1NYO0Nv8/s1600-h/clooney_marxism_coffee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqeZsYvAWc3USvL1ULr4ZxWti0PGVc5Y1Ar4sHN75W6z8hw516dmMUXy3ViRImbh1M4ZYlds0nEev1XDCaJlvdbgAx3ygD1_sygXr16ftFS7oAvz2EU6aHsGEKT_gr4ofG9f1NYO0Nv8/s400/clooney_marxism_coffee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290901266296516306" border="0" /></a>So. I'm sitting here in Manchester. I've been with Anchal, who's working diligently on her MA papers, chillin' in the mostly gray, mostly cold, outskirts and inskirts of the John Rhylands University Library. There are a large contingent of leftists, it seems to me, here in England. But, it hasn't been their presence that's lifted my socialist consciousness, but the everyday reality of the world we live in. Especially two programs I have the priveledge as an American to be privvy to. <a href="http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/index-flash.html">The Bill Moyers Journal</a> and <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/view/">Frontline</a>. If you haven't seen them, CHECK THEM OUT! You will not be disappointed! But more on them later.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfWmehDC2vcRC9YJcfKj6_oQQRbumRKyBCN8YMOLBXwjBbVJUAq6W-mM-zRrAQXStLnGUO75tl8ts_23KruVTGqDiHBgyioBU2RYNeppwsdfUOb_dct7uvU7Ht67rih8lswXCJC_mlY8/s1600-h/capyr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 357px; height: 462px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfWmehDC2vcRC9YJcfKj6_oQQRbumRKyBCN8YMOLBXwjBbVJUAq6W-mM-zRrAQXStLnGUO75tl8ts_23KruVTGqDiHBgyioBU2RYNeppwsdfUOb_dct7uvU7Ht67rih8lswXCJC_mlY8/s400/capyr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290904179292927074" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As most of my time has been spent in front of the computer over the last few days, here's a little synopsis of world events, or at least ones that I want to give my opinions on, for anyone living under a rock... or in America!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">#1<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">ONE NIGHT ONLY!!!<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(<span style="font-size:85%;">or 17 nights so far, and <a href="http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=12899483">who knows for how many more years</a></span>)</span><br />ISRAEL vs. HAMAS<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(and Palestinian women, children, and some <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1106542/Gazas-darkest-day-40-die-Israel-bombs-safe-haven-UN-school.html">UN aid workers</a>, what evs)<br /></span>IN AN ALL OUT BATTLE ROYAL<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(or another example of<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asymmetric_warfare#Israel.2FPalestinians"> assymetrical warfare</a>)</span><br />FOR WHO CONTROLS A NARROW STRIP OF LAND<br /><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/is.html">SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THE STATE OF </a><br /><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/is.html">NEW JERSEY</a>!!!<br /><br /></div>Sooooo.... Israel is blowing the shit out of <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7826968.stm">Gaza</a> and <a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/2009112165350696500.html"> banning Palestinian political parties</a> within Israel... which has nothing to do with the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/30/gaza-hamas-palestinians-israel1">Israeli elections</a> coming up. AAAAAnd Gaza is blowing up some parts of <a href="http://video.news.sky.com/skynews/Home/video/Gaza-assault-Hamas-missile-attacks-on-Israel-continue/Video/200812415195632?lpos=Latest+Video_4&lid=VIDEO_1746127_The+Hamas+Missile+Threat&videoCategory=Latest+Video">Israel</a>, even if it's mostly <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfJi_SUKqvo&eurl=http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=VxV&q=H">country side</a>.<br />Of course, the entire world drops what their doing when these two beligerents get into a tiff. Unlike when the <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=a8ZcoEnESXVE&refer=india">Sri Lankan</a> government sends military forces to the other side of "their" island and attack the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Orrrr when the Russian government strikes down resistance movements in the <a href="http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/2/3/1/0/3/p231039_index.html"><span class="fieldtext">Caucasus Mountains.</span></a> Etc., etc. etc. So the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?page=9&id=693850303&aid=50331&auser=562954373&view=all#/photo.php?pid=2303559&op=12&o=all&view=all&subj=693850303&aid=50331&auser=562954373&id=680820000">Security Council</a> gets together and yap, yap, yap a <a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/01/2009191340884788.html">binding resolution</a> comes to pass. And then the UN binding resolution fails. YAY! So have efforts by <a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/200917111614136903.html">French Prez Nic Sarkozy</a>. And also, by all indications, <a href="http://www.spiritualprogressives.org/article.php?story=gaza_text">Cornel West</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">#2<br />THAT'S RIGHT!<br />THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM AWARDS ARE HERE!<div style="text-align: left;">The long awaited awards that we've all been biting our nails about are here! In President Bush's infinite wisdom he has decided to give the highest civilian award to Colombian President Uribe! YAAA!!! To bad <a href="http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/01/12/us-award-uribe-sends-wrong-message">Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International-USA, Center for International Policy, Human Rights First, Latin America Working Group, Refugees International, and the Washington Office on Latin America</a> have to get in the way and always ruin the fun! Turns out Uribe isn't the nicest guy, like the dramatice increase of extrajudicial killings of civilians by the Colombian Army! Aaa well, maybe these darn hippies will stay out of the way next time!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">#3<br />THE PROTESTS AT LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT!<br /><div style="text-align: left;">I know you guys have been up late at night waiting for the third runway at <a href="http://www.heathrowairport.com/">London Heathro</a><a href="http://www.heathrowairport.com/">w</a> to break ground, but then these leftist, hippies, and middle class socialist types have to ruin it again talking aboutcarbon emissions and "global warming"! Phhhh! <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2009/jan/13/heathrow-picnic-protest">Watch the maylay and mayham as these coppers and protesters get into it in this, the British version of a battle royal!</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Well... that's about all I have for right now.<br />But, in closing,<br />here is an awesome pick for all you <a href="http://www.anchb.blogspot.com/">feminists </a>out there...<br />that also happen to be my partner.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRB9ga-cj3T72MOsRrzrZipITRkh77wsQ8gbqDNOwHh3Gb04o2XAMCWxkyghPHYXgF_TV43wBzL13jMem3NrIBa5mOJqoe1CIM1SrgcXQGpBvkW9Tvs3nPQCcmPlsU2bBXZKxwz8ULPXA/s1600-h/shemaylookcleanbut.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRB9ga-cj3T72MOsRrzrZipITRkh77wsQ8gbqDNOwHh3Gb04o2XAMCWxkyghPHYXgF_TV43wBzL13jMem3NrIBa5mOJqoe1CIM1SrgcXQGpBvkW9Tvs3nPQCcmPlsU2bBXZKxwz8ULPXA/s400/shemaylookcleanbut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290904930675308066" border="0" /></a>THAT'S RIGHT, BOYS! KEEP IT CLEAN! DIRTY, DIRTY WOMEN!<br /></div><br /></div></div></div></div>ricardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07587734099375889604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-72555145506606229172008-12-15T22:00:00.000-08:002008-12-15T22:36:20.488-08:00counting the hours makes my head get dizzyThere are only 17 hours until motu gets home and I can finally hold her in my arms again. It makes my head spin with delight and the music at the <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-library-a-coffee-house-long-beach">Library</a> not so terrible. Its still pretty bad, though.<br /><br />I'm getting ready for my deployment here in not so sunny Southern California; attending meetings, rewriting resumes, attempting to create a strategy and aspirational statement with no real knowledge or experience. Hopefully there aren't anymore snags... but if history is any indicator, I'll be told that I can't go, or Zambia will devolve into civil war, or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uIj0YvDBKE">Bush</a> will stoke some anger and Americans will not be allowed into the country.<br /><br />For posterity: When you begin typing in the google search area, underneath appears suggestions to guide your search. Those suggestions are based on high traffic to sights answering like-minded queries. When I began typing "Kill" for "<a href="http://www.popstar.com/Liars/Videos/Movie/Kill_Your_Idols/">Kill Your Idols</a>", the top search starting with "kill" was "kill obama"! How this country makes me proud! I heard before the elections that white supremist groups wanted Obama to win because they reasoned it would start a race war. Hooray for humanity! After typing in "kill your" the highest search starting with those two words ends "kill your boss". yep.<br /><br />AFRICA, HERE I COME!ricardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07587734099375889604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-25657465125745274652008-12-07T13:23:00.000-08:002008-12-08T09:35:04.612-08:00why do i have people over?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJxXy6iGnGJJVMA0U_gxBN3Xr7Fxf1EfJ0qS8FRtqSrSD9inWt-0RL_twyob8fPh35gqGIiEBX3xb1SrTX4D7lgaNpwHXpH4YUPgGwKj9p9NGLije2o-LkCCbohH6BDIbmT6lBJas3WI/s1600-h/houseparty2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJxXy6iGnGJJVMA0U_gxBN3Xr7Fxf1EfJ0qS8FRtqSrSD9inWt-0RL_twyob8fPh35gqGIiEBX3xb1SrTX4D7lgaNpwHXpH4YUPgGwKj9p9NGLije2o-LkCCbohH6BDIbmT6lBJas3WI/s200/houseparty2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277472511107660914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />i'm also wondering why i have Big E's chicken wings when they're probably the worst chicken wings around? the only answer is that i think its better than del taco at 2 am. also, why don't more people dance at parties?<br />hmmm... motu will dance.ricardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07587734099375889604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-43659648974984398742008-11-27T11:00:00.000-08:002008-12-08T09:33:04.649-08:00joining the team<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQAM2Stx7S0HL9enoBCSqhgZ0Xs60y7f5EOfeuHO4aaeiMknHpO5v9jkvs7PzRdpqBrMBy2KhHG8kMHt5HghG3TbOzoeJ9a8VbTiE31egvpws0mBjO9keAWYw5FCc4gicQKPUbKj-zzU/s1600-h/zambianteam.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQAM2Stx7S0HL9enoBCSqhgZ0Xs60y7f5EOfeuHO4aaeiMknHpO5v9jkvs7PzRdpqBrMBy2KhHG8kMHt5HghG3TbOzoeJ9a8VbTiE31egvpws0mBjO9keAWYw5FCc4gicQKPUbKj-zzU/s200/zambianteam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277473116664267394" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So, just thought I should put on my contact info for Zambia before i forget and I'm there and wondering why the hell my family and friends aren't sending me anything! The address below is only for the three months of training in the capital before i get sent out into what the Peace Corps handbook calls "real Africa", which i disagree with. Its such a trope of the western ethnocentric gaze on how Africa, this diverse and spectacular content, can be idealized into a singular idea of rural, backwards, and undeveloped societies that we look down upon from our modernized towers of power, wealth, and privilege. Ya know, after colonial domination and exploitation, which continues to this day. (More to come on that later!)<br /><br />But, i won't be there until March, so don't send anything yet. I don't want that other guy with my name in Lusaka getting anything! So, here it is...<br /><br />(my name!)/PCT<br />Peace Corps<br />P.O. Box 50707<br />Lusaka, Zambia<br /><br /><br />oh... and i love you, motu.ricardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07587734099375889604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3656713152223870594.post-80300183941957265622008-11-25T15:58:00.000-08:002008-11-25T16:29:03.208-08:00Garage LifeSo, this is my first blog. Not really sure what to write. Anchal, ("light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul.... the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth." An. Ch. Al! (for those of you who don't know this quote... read more!)) told me to start one. So here goes.<br /><br />I've been invited to Zambia with the Peace Corps to take part in a "Rural Education Development" (RED) project in February 2009. I know it will be here too quickly, and the time I have with the people I love will be too short. I won't be able to see my cousin, Nick, come back from Maine, or see the bamboo Garvey and I planted grow in my backyard. Nor will I be able to spend as much time in merry ol' Eng-A-land with motu-ji. Hopefully, through this blog, I may keep my family and friends updated, and hopefully give some advice or dialogue to those seeking placement in the Peace Corps, international aid work, neo-platonism, neo-marxism, neo-gramscianism, post-feminism, post-queer society, secondary post-modernism, political discourse in general, and/or liberation theology!<br /><br />For now, I'm living illegaly in the US. That's right! I'm living in my garage.<br /><br />What a crappy first blog.<br /><br />Love,<br />ric<br /><br />p.s. Watch this POV/PBS documentary, <a href="http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2008/soldiersofconscience/">Soldiers of Conscience</a>. Its probably the most honest expression of the Iraq war I've seen televised. It brought me to tears multiple times.ricardohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07587734099375889604noreply@blogger.com1