I have been living in moz for over year now. PCVs say that the year mark is the hardest and now I understand why. I miss the United States of Ameerrica! I miss Alex and I miss seeing my family grow and change. So I decided to write a blog to focus on what I have learned thus far and all of the wonderful benefits of pcv life in Moz!
I have learned how to small talk! haha
Im pretty sure that is my biggest personal accomplishment yet. So for all of the people in the past that I
have offended by not seeming interested in talking with, the truth is that I
just didn’t know what to say. So I apologize, but now I have plenty of ideas
and practice on how to have an everyday conversation. Typical conversation in moz… “good
afternoon. are you coming back from
work? Yes I am returning from work. It was hot today, yes it was so hot
today. You are eating beans for lunch,
yes I am eating lunch. Ok well I am
going to go and cook lunch too. Ok
compliment or say hello to your family (aka your dog and cat) at home” People literally tell me to compliment my
dog em casa because I live alone which is extremely strange for this
culture. Before I had a dog people
would tell me to compliment my family in America at the end of every conversation. Its also important to ask how someone slept when you see them in the morning. Sometimes you don’t even have to say anything. People are ok with sitting in silence here, don’t make it awkward, haha because they aren’t. It
doesn’t matter what you say, the point is that relationships are
important.
Something I find interesting and
didnt see the point of but that I actually kind of like now… If I am looking
for something or someone in the community, you cannot just walk up
to a house and ask where someone is.
First you have to greet the person in the yard, they will bring you a
chair, you sit down with them, greet again and ask how they are, and then you
can ask the question you came to ask.
This is a tradition with friends or strangers.
I really like feeling part of a
community here. When I walk to the
store down the street or into town I will usually see people I know and we will
stop and converse for a short while and it makes me feel good to know that I am
part of the community. I not only feel
like I have many acquaintances but also many good friends here. When I arrived I really didn’t expect to have
real friendships here because I didn’t think it would be possible to relate to
people past a surface level. But I have
been very blessed to have friendships with young women around my age who are
studying and waiting to get married or have a family, just as I am doing. When
I arrived here I always felt like an outsider but now I feel like I have a
group of people I can feel at home with.
When I am with the preschool staff or with my REDES group or with my
other girlfriends I feel completely comfortable like I belong here with
them.
I really like the fact that
everybody is family in Moz. All people
older than you are your aunt or uncle, your older sister can be called mother
as well and your friends are called sister or brother. If you are at a friend’s house during lunch
time you will eat with them. I actually
feel bad cause I hate moz food and the last two times I have been at my
landlords house for all of 10 minutes his wife tries to feed me a meal and I
have given excuses like … oh thank you, but I just bought food to cook with at
home or I already ate. I don’t think
the excuse is sufficient but I just can’t do it haha cause its never just a
small plate of food.
I like that people here
have a lot of respect for the elderly.
Everyone who is elderly is called grandma or grandpa by any passersby
and for the most part the elderly are taken care of by their families. Any family member can live with any other
family member. I have neighbors who’s
children go and live with aunts and uncles in Maputo so they can go to
school. I have another neighbor whos
grandchildren live with them to go to school in chokwe. So if you have family that lives in a town
where you want your kid to go to school at, the child can live with that family
no problem. If someones parents die
usually the children go to live with family… there are not many homeless people
in moz. The young does everryythinngg
for people older than them. If you are
carrying a bag or a jacket the younger person walking with you will offer to
carry it for you. All the cooking,
cleaning, bring me a cup of water … eveerrything is done by whoever is
younger.
I have had incredible work experience
opportunities! I am the current
inter-group exchange coordinator for REDES. We call these events trocas das experiencias
or exchanges of experience, where two or more REDES groups get together and
learn or teach the other group a skill.
My job description is to review
applications for groups who want to have a “troca” group exchange and approve
their activities and budget. I will be
writing monthly updates to all REDES participants about recent trocas and
writing an annual report including budget details. As troca coordinator I will also help
coordinate annual regional REDES conferences.
I have my own REDES group with whom I am able to facilitate weekly
meetings and I have the freedom to teach the girls whatever I want, accompanied
by which ever activity I choose. I have
already hosted my own troca between 6 groups, including 10 facilitators and 40
girls, where we learned how to make banana jam, discussed HIV and played
soccer. Planning the event was a great
experience for me to see what all goes into planning an event for a large group
from start to finish.
Of course the language is a huge
benefit that I don’t even realize. I
am going to make the transfer over to Spanish when I get home. Spanish and Portuguese are extremely similar. There are many of the same words,
conjugations and the structure is the same.
I am so lucky to be able to learn Portuguese in Africa instead of
French, English or a local dialect.
When I get home I will get a job with Spanish speakers in order to
practice and not loose what I have learned thus far.
I think another benefit that I do
not realize I am gaining is some managerial experiences. As a PCV you are expected to come into a
group that does not know who you are, does not speak your language and tell them what
they have been doing their whole lives is wrong and they should do it your way
instead. This is intimidating and in my
opinion difficult to do. It has been a
constant struggle with preschool staff to have good supervision with the
children. There has been some tense
moments but it really is for the safety and wellbeing of the children so I have
been persistent. I think the
awkwardness has paid off because things have gotten better, not perfect but
better.
Sometimes it is difficult to
take the lead and teach people who are older than myself something they think
they already know. But I have learned
that it is what PC wants me to be doing and that the people here really do need
the education and it is for their benefit.
I really try to approach the situation as being a part of a group and
learning together because I don’t feel I have the authority to demand them to
learn from me. But I can see in the
future when I am given the authority to lead a group that it will be a whole
lot easier with the experience I have gained here. And of course being able to speak in
English in that situation will make things a whole lot easier.
