Storm Pictures

Photos of the destruction done to my school by the tropical storm which hit us last week.

On Sunday of this week (yesterday) we were supposed to go to Maputo for a week long mid service conference. This is the first time that we get to see all of the volunteers in our group since training (a year ago). We also are supposed to have medical check-ups and training sessions designed to support us in our second year. Due to the tropical storm earlier this week, apparently Mozambican government officials decided to open a dam in the southern region to prevent flooding in that area. As a result, the water released flooded a road, the ONLY road to be exact, that goes from my province to Maputo, the capital. The 10 volunteers in my region who were stranded met in two different cities to wait for instructions from Peace Corps. Peace Corps sent two cars out in the morning in an attempt to find an alternate route. They bushwhacked for 8 hours on old paths used for transporting coal and wood and failed to get to us. In their own words "mission possible turned impossible". After waiting around all day we were told to go home or at least to a volunteer's house nearby for the night. Now we are starting day two of our mission. Apparently there is a train that can take us through the flooded zone so that we can get to Maputo. Some volunteers managed to get on it last night and we heard that it took them 12 hours, even though by car it's only a 100km stretch. We have to travel just over 2 hours to get to the town where the train leaves from so we will find out soon if our trip to Maputo will be possible. Wish us luck!

On Monday Southern Mozambique was hit by Tropical Storm Dando. Meteorological technology isn't quite what it is back at home so naturally we had no idea what was coming for us. Monday was the first day of the school year which meant that we had a big meeting with all of the students, teachers, and parents. Monday morning was cool, and I thought to myself, "how nice after so many days of scorching heat". I would soon regret that fact. I arrived at school and our school directors were concerned about where the meeting would be held. Usually it is held in the shade under a grove of mango trees but it was overcast and raining so that would not do. Someone went to check if we could have the meeting at the catholic church up the road since it's the biggest indoor space in our town. We rounded everyone up and filed into the church. After everyone was organized they decided that it wasn't right to have a church meeting in the house of god so they kicked us out and we squeezed maybe 200 people into a classroom made for 30 students. When the meeting finally started it was raining cats and dogs and the corrugated metal roof over our heads was flapping and threatening to blow off. When the meeting ended everyone took off for their respective houses. I closed up my house as best I could, wrapped myself up in a rainjacket with a backpack with anything that I would need and took off to my boyfriend, Francelino's house. Trees had fallen down, roofs were coming off, and the wind was blowing like crazy. I made it to his house running and wading through the roads to get there. When I arrived he had secured the metal roof with extra cement blocks. We locked ourselves in the house, put on dry clothing and tried to go to sleep. The power had already gone out and wouldn't come back on for a few days. In the morning the worst of the storm had passed but it had taken it's toll on the town. Two of my neighbors' roofs came completely off. Luckily mine stayed on, but sustained some damage and one of my rooms flooded. Houses were completely blown over and destroyed, most of the town's farmlands were flooded with water and two classrooms at the school had their roofs torn off by the wind. It's been a slow week of lighter rain and slow reparation of houses, but progress is being made. Pictures coming soon...

Holidays at home

After 2 and a half weeks in the US I am on my way back to Mozambique. The visit was great as I was able to catch up with family and so many friends. I was spoiled by my mother's excellent cooking. She made all of my favorite dinners while I was home and delectable Christmas treats like cherry cheesecake and peanut butter fudge bars! Christmas has always been my favorite holiday and I consider it a very special family holiday so being able to spend it at home this year was a dream come true. The whole day was wonderful with breakfast and presents in the morning followed by a visit to my uncle's house in Connecticut where I got to catch up with many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. The family Yankee swap was fun as usual, although I think my family took pity on me being the "poor volunteer in Africa" and I came out of it with a cool little telescope.
I appreciated down time, hanging out with friends on the couch and watching a movie, and definitely appreciated having a car at my disposal instead of having to rely on unreliable public transportation, as I do in Mozambique.
Many people have asked me if I experienced culture shock in the return from Africa to the developed world. The truth is that I wasn't as affected by it as I thought I would be. The weirdest thing was hearing everyone speaking English all around me, because I rarely speak English in Mozambique. I think that the since US and Mozambique are so different, and I know to expect them to be different, that I was prepared for the changes that I encountered back at home in the United States.
One of the biggest changes that I noticed In the US since last year is how much more everyone has become dependent on their cell phones! Your cell phone tells you everything: where to go, how to get there, the menu at the restaurant you're going to, you can answer any question on them! I know all of this existed in 2010 when I left, but everyone seems to be much more dependent on them.
The goodbyes were bittersweet after my visit. I felt blessed to have had the opportunity to visit during my Peace Corps service and I knew that I was going to miss everyone like crazy all over again, but the stay reminded me how much I love what I am doing and how much I love Mozambique. All in all, I feel ready and rejuvenated for my second year of service.