tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50951820927075403482024-03-18T20:24:06.277-07:00OsadandaulaRobert Gormleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822543628923837690noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095182092707540348.post-32505921907421265222012-10-25T05:30:00.000-07:002012-10-25T05:30:01.982-07:00Game Count Part 2: Transect Walk<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">October 6-7</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Honestly I wasn’t looking forward to the transect walks this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The water hole count was so amazing, there was no way the transects could compare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention last year’s walks were really really hot, people ran out of water and food, and got lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The drill was that we hike a transect the first day, and sit in a hide down by the river the second day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For our 10.5km transect (which probably turned out to be more like 15km because we didn’t know where we were going) we got in the vehicle at 4am in the morning and hiked from 5:30am – 9:00am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t a fan of waking up so early at first, but it was a blessing in disguise because we finished the hike before it became deathly hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The hike was essentially a bust as I had anticipated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t see much of anything; a few impala, bushbuck, warthog, roan antelope, and lilian love birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what do you expect when you’re trudging loudly through the bush?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And of course no story in Malawi would be complete without its transport troubles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We waited 3 hours before being picked up in a truck with not enough space because one of the groups found an impala that had died that morning and loaded it up in the back row of the truck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rangers cleaned and boiled it up for us for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The impala was a dark meat that was very tender and chewy, and tasted a bit like beef.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Later that evening we were visited by the US Ambassador and her husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She recognized us as Peace Corps volunteers and shared a few pleasant words with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But half of us (including myself) didn’t know who she was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time, she was just the nice woman who interrupted my turn in Dominion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And my friend next to me was embarrassed because he didn’t have his shirt on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Went to bed, but woke up to a lion roaring, circling the camp looking for scraps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one died (or saw the lion), but the guards were all around the camp with guns in hand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next morning we were up again at 4am for our turn to sit in the hide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turns out by “hide” they meant 8km hike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was okay though because we got to see some cool things, like recovering a wire snare laid by poachers (which started a discussion about poaching and corruption in the park), a massive hippo skeleton, a 2-day-old bushbuck (who clumsily bounded right up to us out of the bushes), croc tracks, turtle shells, hippo, elephants, waterbuck, bushbuck, warthogs, impala, roan antelope, water buffalo, sable antelope, and lilian love birds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We got back to camp (after only waiting an hour this time), packed up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And after a lost transect group was recovered, we loaded up the truck and headed home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were about 40 volunteers all trying to get to Lilongwe, creating an Amazing Race scenario that my travel partner and I won – the finish line being a shower at the lodge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sidenote: PCV’s aren’t eligible for Amazing Race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably a good move for them because PCV’s would crush it every time!</span></div>
Robert Gormleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822543628923837690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095182092707540348.post-42163848241729586232012-10-09T04:11:00.000-07:002012-10-09T04:11:00.598-07:00College Fair<br />
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Last month Education USA hosted a college fair in
Mzuzu. Six other northern volunteers and
I represented our alma maters and educated over 450 Malawian students on what it’s
like to study at a university in the states.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There were a wide range of students who came. Some very ambitious students wanting to know
how to become brain surgeons and judges, and others who asked: “what do I do
here?”. Some teachers weren’t much
better, responding to that question with: “you’re here to collect the flyers”. But that’s why I was there, to help clear up
simple questions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Other questions I was asked frequently were:<o:p></o:p></div>
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What courses do you have?
<o:p></o:p></div>
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It didn’t take me very long to memorize UC Davis’ four
colleges, and if they offered accounting (they do).<o:p></o:p></div>
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What about scholarships?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thankfully there was an entirely separate table I could
refer them to.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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What do I need to do to apply?<o:p></o:p></div>
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English competency exam, SAT score, and MSCE scores.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Though my favorite question was probably: “I want to major
in sociology; what is sociology?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Overall it was a good day connecting with kids and feeling
helpful. Not to mention the free lunch
that EducationUSA provided for us!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiyR4rsOKGmrRR1oSQjC1yd5dhITqN1sfMs2ZtR0I18neqhcEcDYc5bDMXyadINHgRYg2q04OII8YPcV3VroGiJ0vKYPrRUGTGYD6vx64nU43cDYZhhgBkKb-9Abs1HcPcy1SgQ1nYLk/s1600/DSC_0681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiyR4rsOKGmrRR1oSQjC1yd5dhITqN1sfMs2ZtR0I18neqhcEcDYc5bDMXyadINHgRYg2q04OII8YPcV3VroGiJ0vKYPrRUGTGYD6vx64nU43cDYZhhgBkKb-9Abs1HcPcy1SgQ1nYLk/s320/DSC_0681.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this here is why UCD is awesome.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyecQd27OBXx9RXOOYcnzS_8wtTWo0JjwBq71J_VEs70F4RVrQa0a8pomgHGPaC7MM3OftIT_pooND_HT7FGTu0N1VOHvz08BIEGi5OOf4T2yziF51tqeY-wh4xg_43v89R3Qx6pY9nwY/s1600/P1040626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyecQd27OBXx9RXOOYcnzS_8wtTWo0JjwBq71J_VEs70F4RVrQa0a8pomgHGPaC7MM3OftIT_pooND_HT7FGTu0N1VOHvz08BIEGi5OOf4T2yziF51tqeY-wh4xg_43v89R3Qx6pY9nwY/s320/P1040626.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joan bubbly as ever.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XBOwnHUbGnbtP_N0p50EjVoqrhsQx55N0X275e1I-uxoW9KZLPpTmHrEquXOZqA8J5hV3hrVMFXR4rtJJykmwB8sLNVwLhRboisTH2bGlhi6QS1aCDy0_gyCrEZxnVtXED6T_4tjQNQ/s1600/P1040628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XBOwnHUbGnbtP_N0p50EjVoqrhsQx55N0X275e1I-uxoW9KZLPpTmHrEquXOZqA8J5hV3hrVMFXR4rtJJykmwB8sLNVwLhRboisTH2bGlhi6QS1aCDy0_gyCrEZxnVtXED6T_4tjQNQ/s320/P1040628.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melissa and Jay nomming the free lunch!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeMey362B3rKbMJw9_uGW9bKNSCPkbtHZNM9Y7Lio0JBoNdUcvNjXOlmdZ23SsDCWQAzzlbFnFBlRYW0_AMpqv3Kcu-5W5s_fpmuMOTQeLsgeQa_PiQTqKIkVBOlZ3O7hvqbIGE8TeG8/s1600/P1040630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeMey362B3rKbMJw9_uGW9bKNSCPkbtHZNM9Y7Lio0JBoNdUcvNjXOlmdZ23SsDCWQAzzlbFnFBlRYW0_AMpqv3Kcu-5W5s_fpmuMOTQeLsgeQa_PiQTqKIkVBOlZ3O7hvqbIGE8TeG8/s320/P1040630.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew dropping knowledge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Robert Gormleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822543628923837690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095182092707540348.post-90968218264789179882012-10-01T05:05:00.000-07:002012-10-01T05:05:00.426-07:00Epic Fails<br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maya-lau/what-the-peace-corp-taugh_b_1099202.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Maya
Lau</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> notes how coping with failure is under appreciated quality, and how
Peace Corps facilitates coming to terms with, and growing through failure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s a quick list of all the things that I’ve
failed at in Malawi, making me a great job candidate:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Projects<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">FSEA (Future Scientists and Engineers of
America)-like program at CDSS (afterschool program to inspire and introduce
science and engineering skills: no interest)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Teach at <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CDSS
(high school) (previous experience with pcv teaching at school didn’t go so
well)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tutor at CDSS (students quickly lost ambition to
seek out a tutor, language barrier)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Women’s empowerment club TGSS (private women’s
high school) (administration uncooperative)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gender and Development Camp 2012 (not approved
by PC)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Permaculture trainings (insufficient training
sites, resources)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fruit tree budding and grafting training (after
submitting a grant, I deemed it unsustainable)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tree nurseries (lack of motivation)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">International/sustainable markets for LUSO
(still looking for partnerships)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Getting my soap group to take good business
notes (cultural differences)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Borehole beautification (complicated village
dynamics)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Home Based Care for HIV/AIDS patients training
for Village AIDS Committee (insufficient leadership in community)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hiking local mountain (forestry officers are
either too old to hike a mountain, or too afraid of snakes)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vegetable gardens (harder than it looks)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Artemesia cuttings (problems establishing roots
in cuttings)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Maru’s cichlid research program (replaced by
voluntourists)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Local language (plateau-ed) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Other<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Falling out of a matola (its fine, we weren’t
moving yet)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Getting electrocuted by lightning (don’t sleep
on the ground during a lightning storm!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Robert Gormleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822543628923837690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095182092707540348.post-52177705907790506352012-09-20T03:46:00.003-07:002012-09-20T03:46:33.890-07:00ANAMED
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Action for Natural Medicine (ANAMED[cite]) is a project
started in Germany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The founders have
found have been researching local medicines in the tropics, and promoting them
in the villages as an alternative to the health centers in Malawi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The knowledge about medicinal plants has
faded away throughout the generations in Malawi due to poor record keeping
methods, and the perception that western culture is progressive and right, and
African culture is outdated and wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
health centers in the villages often run out of supplies and aren’t easily
accessible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Health centers are supposed
to be within 7km of every trading center, but that can be a far walk when you
have malaria, and can’t afford to pay for transport (fuel prices keep rising,
difficult to generate income), and don’t have a bike.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>ANAMED
provides an alternative to the current health centers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Natural medicine gardeners will always have a
supply of medicines, and can sell medicines to people in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back in May Peace Corps provided an ANAMED
training for volunteers and a counterpart from their village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’ve
recently been approved for a grant to promote ANAMED in my village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday I received 15 artemesia seedlings,
and I am heading to the Natural Resource Center in Lilongwe to buy 2kgs of
morringa seed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Artemesia
is a shrub that treats malaria (among other things).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By making a tea from the leaves you can
extract the oils in the plant with the medical properties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Morringa
is a tree with very nutritious leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The leaves can be dried and made into a powder, and served in several
ways like putting it in a tea, or poured over a dish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This plant can help the malnourished and
people living with HIV/AIDS, but is also just a great way to get more
nutrients.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’ll
be allocating these two plants through women’s groups and village AIDS
committees in my area as per the conditions of my grant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The groups are very excited at the
opportunity of growing natural medicines, and are more excited about the
opportunity to sell them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Of
course a sufficient amount of education is needed about identifying and
treating diseases, and natural medicine is only an alternative to lack of
access to contemporary medicine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My counterpart is leading
the promotion and education of ANAMED in the village, and is emphasizing to the
groups to consult health workers first before making their own diagnoses’, and
I is supplying them with proper ways to harvest, prepare, and correctly dose
treatments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So
far this is the first successful project I’ve been a part of, and has made me
feel good about being here – like it’s all been worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Robert Gormleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822543628923837690noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095182092707540348.post-19473423842886864472012-07-05T07:34:00.001-07:002012-07-05T07:36:56.740-07:00Animals for Africa - Love Made TangibleI've previously posted about the Voice Flame Writers who came to Malawi to promote creative writing amongst women students last year. Well one of the women who visited last year, Robbyn Alexander McGill, had inspired a women's group in my village to make stuffed animals of Africa as a way to support the women, vulnerable children, and orphans in my village. <br />
<br />
And her work isn't just limited to my village, she's doing similar things in other parts of Malawi and Uganda. Please take a moment to check out her work at these websites and help spread the word: <a href="http://www.animalsforafrica.org/" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">Animals for Africa- Love Made Tangible</a>, <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/157887?a=812042&i=wdgi" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">IndieGoGo Campaign.</a><br />
<br />Robert Gormleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822543628923837690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095182092707540348.post-48186930592989354562012-02-25T05:20:00.000-08:002012-02-25T05:20:40.944-08:00Hot Rainy Season and BeekeepingAfter a long time waiting, the rains finally came in late December. But it isn't quite what I expected. It only rains about every 4 or 5 days, and sometimes its just a quick 5 minute session. The farmers in my village (down at the lakeshore) don't seem too worried about it though. Most of them planted cassava (a drought resistant crop, and the staple crop in the region), and the maize from genetically modified seeds designed for quick growth, are both doing just fine. But up it in the mountainous village of Chikwina (Stacey's site), rain is less common. As Stacey's neighbor put it "we're crying for the rains to come".<br />
<br />
A good friend in my village tells me that many areas in Malawi are experiencing conditions similar to Chikwina's, and predicts that there may be a dought this year. If this were to happen, it would severely affect the central and southern regions who plant almost exclusively maize crops, and not drought resistant crops like cassava. <br />
<br />
But all throughout Malawi, the rains have energized the villagers into bustling farmers, starting their work in the fields at first light, and continuing until dusk. Since most of the farmers in Tukombo are women (who are in charge of house chores), they use the last bits of sunlight to draw water from the bore hole, pound the cassava root into powder to make nsima, and cook dinner.<br />
<br />
Since most villagers in Tukombo are busy in the fields preparing their food for the year, they have little time to listen to me talk about the benifits of planting trees. But there's one group who still finds time to enjoy the forest reserve.<br />
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They are the Tukombo Beekeeping Club, and they are by far my favorite thing about Tukombo. They are a group of about 10, but only 2 or 3 regularly show up to the weekly meetings. I joined them last week as they went to harvest from some of their bee hives. <br />
<br />
The trip started when Mr. Nkhata came by my house to pick me up on time (which is actually a couple hours early in African time). We to each members house in the group, informing them that it was time to start the meeting. I asked him why they couldn't just meet somewhere at a scheduled time. He's tried it before, but the other group members think he's trying to get out of his responsibilities as secretary, and think he's being lazy, so as an example of protest, they don't go to the meeting.<br />
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But this time around, we gathered 4 men and 2 women, and proceeded to check the hives. The first 3 hives had been invaded by ants, eating all the honey and causing the bees to flee the hives. The fourth hive had bees but no honey. And finally the fifth hive looked promising.<br />
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The two women started a small fire to be placed in the "smoker" (a small tin cylindar used to generate smoke) which would be used to pacify the bees. Meanwhile 2 of the men were putting on their bee suits and explaining to me how the bees were very aggressive at this hive, especially the soldier bees guarding the entrance to the hive (2 small holes designed to allow bees to get in and out). Sometimes the bees were so aggressive that they'd follow the group several meters, stinging them the whole way.<br />
<br />
Everything was set, and the 2 men went in. One of them constantly generating smoke, and the other taking out the honey combs which grew on easily removed wooden slats on the top of the hive. After about 15 minutes, they walked back to the group with a large bucket full of honey combs. The woman closest to the bucket reached in to get a taste, but as quickly as she stuck her hand in the bucket, she pulled it out and quickly jumped up and started running away, yelling something in chitonga. Then the next woman grabbed the whole bucket and started running for her the house. Then we all started running after her because she had the honey!<br />
<br />
By the time i got to the house, all the bees had left and everything was fine. We then sat around in a circle, washed each others hands, and each took pieces of the honey comb and ate the honey. It was the honniest honey I had ever tasted, it was so good! There were also little pockets of a bitter taste. Mr Nkhata enlightened me: "yea, those bitter things are the larvas. They taste good if you fry them up in oil and add salt". I might believe him if that wasn't how they cook all their meals. Still, the honey and the experience were quite enjoyable, and I can't wait for the next harvest!Robert Gormleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822543628923837690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095182092707540348.post-29205343322689469912011-11-28T03:08:00.000-08:002011-11-28T03:08:46.782-08:00Hot SeasonIts been hot-dry season since the end of September, so understandably projects in the village have been slowing down. Not just the projects, but a general malaze has taken over the village. Its too hot for people to do anything, they'll just nap for hours under a mango tree and wait for the reprise of late afternoon to do all their house hold chores. So as far as projects go, I've just been doing my own individual projects (which includes helping a PhD student with taking some lake survey data -- awesome!).<br />
<br />
November has brought with it humidity and thunderstorms at night. The thunderstorms are are amazing to watch over the lake, but the humidity at night can be almost unbearable. But hot-dry season is also mango season! There are 4 or 5 large mango trees at my house which means there are always mangoes around, but that doesn't guarantee you'll get a ripe one (people are always coming over and taking mangoes, even if they're unripe!). <br />
<br />
The idea of property rights are a bit different that what I'm used to in the States. It seems to be that all people are entitled to any fruits from any fruit tree. It reminds me of the saying that explains how property rights matter as much as people want to respect them, and only apply when you can enforce them.<br />
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But other exciting things have happened in November, like the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Peace Corps and USAID. It was a formal evening event at the Embassador's house. There was catered food, live music, and many important dignitaries to shmooze with. It was a good time.<br />
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The weekend after that a large group of us helped the Liwonde Park staff with a big-game count. Stacey Neilson and I spent the first day on a 12km transect walk, and the second day in a hide near a water hole. We saw more diversity of animals during the walk (including a run in with water buffalo, during which our guide shot his M-16 to scare them away as we ran the other way), but saw large groups of fewer animals while I was sitting in the hide (where we found an elephant!). I brought my camera, but wasn't able to get any good pics. It turns out all of those animals are really fast -- probably evolution or whatever.<br />
<br />
And I just came back from a Thanksgiving getaway where a group of us met up to indulge in the good ol' American tradition of over eating. Yes, even in Africa we managed to stuff oursevles to the brim with some well cooked Thanksgiving favorites. <br />
<br />
So now Stacey and I are preparing to seek out a couple permagardening experts, and learn what we can from them for the next few days, and take those skills back to site just in time for rainy season (starting in mid-December). I can't wait, it should be a good time. I'm sure they won't be afraid to put us to work.<br />
<br />
'Till next time, take care all!Robert Gormleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822543628923837690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095182092707540348.post-62692680735860451142011-10-04T03:16:00.000-07:002011-10-04T03:16:51.523-07:00Obstacles Just came back from a two week training back at the college. It was great to hang out with everyone again. We even walked up to a nearby place that was showing a replay of a Redskins vs Cowboys game, it was awesome to watch. <br />
<br />
Coming back from the training I felt rejuvenated and encouraged. PCV's wear many hats, but the training emphasized the role of a trainer/facilitator, and so I was motivated to be that person. <br />
<br />
So getting back to the village was just like arriving home. Everyone was excited to see me again, and people were coming to me looking for solutions to obstacles in their projects. I finally felt like I was being useful.<br />
<br />
The first man I started working with is a Health Surveillance Assistant (HSA). He's set up a small beekeeping project near his house to benefit the HIV/AIDS group he works with by selling the honey and providing the group with additional income to attain ARV's and a more nutritious diet. But shortly after leaving his house, I found out that his project stagnated because the HIV/AIDS group wasn't receiving any of their money from the project. <br />
<br />
Another group I was helping out also had similar problems. A women's group was receiving funds from a foreign sponsor through a lei-son in the village, they would then ship their product back to the sponsor's country, sell the product, and ship the proceeds back to the group. They recently sold their first round, and the lei-son received money from the donor, bought materials like she was supposed to, but only gave the women's group half the materials they were owed, and started another women's group in another village with the other half, unbeknownst to the foreign sponsor.<br />
<br />
In this second case I'm still deliberating whether or not its beneficial to confront the lei-son and risk losing the women's group and let morality prevail, or let the lei-son do whatever she's doing and leave the women's group short-changed. I'm also feeling pressured to accomplish something with these groups in order to show people and future interviewers that I've done something -- a common problem to aid as pointed out in Dambia Moyo's book Dead Aid.<br />
<br />
Switching gears to more exciting news though, Polar Bears and Bob (and his sister) are going to Natties again!! Best of luck guys, that's really awesome! I miss you all!Robert Gormleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822543628923837690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095182092707540348.post-45374563175380402932011-07-14T02:29:00.000-07:002011-07-14T02:29:06.224-07:00Do it for GAD!My bad, its been over a month since I posted. There a few excuses I can make. Its expensive to travel to Chintheche, and we aren't paid enough where I can routinely get to internet (or the post office). Also, not too much has been happening. <br />
<br />
BUT, I'm at Gender And Development (GAD) Camp right now. Basically, the GAD committee (a committee of northern PC Malawi) is hosting a week long summer camp for 25 secondary school students from the northern region, and hosted by the CCAP (type of church) where they provide food and board (paid for by a grant). The students spend the morning shadowing a professional in the city (lawyers, doctors, nurses, businessmen, radio dj's, hairstylist, and mechanics), getting to see what its like to be a professional, and to have an opportunity to ask specific professionals about their jobs. They then come back, have lunch, and listen to a guest lecture about professionalism, job skills, and the importance of education. We then break for dinner, then host a fun activity. Last night Haak (another PCV) and I hosted bingo. The kids were really into it, and the winners received glow in the dark bracelets which they thought were awesome. <br />
<br />
The ride up here was typical for Malawi, but unusual for America. Kathi and I sat at the side of the road waiting for transport for 2 hours (transport is most scarce these days because there is a fuel crisis in Malawi, supposedly caused by a lack of money in the government). We waved down a small semi and squeezed into the front with two other people. They were pretty cool and we chatted the whole way up, which took 6 and a half hours (a ride that should only take maybe an hour and a half). First the truck ran out of gas, so we found a villager with a bike to ride into town and get enough gas to take us into town. Then, because of the way they poured in the gas, the semi kept stopping due to airlock. But we eventually arrived north to Mzuzu just in time for dinner at the CCAP, which was essential because we hadn't eaten since 11am. <br />
<br />
Other things that have been happenning: I just shaved my head. Kathi took pictures, so hopefully she'll post them on fb or something. Experiencing some vivid dreams as a side effect of my malaria medication. The other night I dreamt that I was walking along a sidewalk at night, and two people ran by me (one chasing the other), and they came so close to me that I could actually feel the wind on my arm -- which woke me up. But the best meflopquin dream I've heard was that someone dreamt they were a gummy bear, trapped inside a skittles wrapper. <br />
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Anyway, I should get back to GAD camp, its almost time for lunch! Take care!Robert Gormleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822543628923837690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095182092707540348.post-50621644932354532512011-05-26T06:01:00.000-07:002011-05-26T06:01:01.039-07:00Pics!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My host family (Abambo and Amayi are standing next to me), and our neighboors whom we share the compound with. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My two year old host brother Fannuel.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The village baow board, where many Abambo's come to hang out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The six new Tongas, and some of our trainers at Swear-in!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKdWtkQpmlq3LVzgE4M-Lxl-lA26pxh5dfcSIR9jT9Bn0tz2W5mhOOluT7uiQ3IsEL0u7pF2Pag2jOizosP-2y1geefNrnKIhREYtczJmjue5QtyJgJvY_tIobvyjSOTxLHM6rQBd1gs/s1600/P1030322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKdWtkQpmlq3LVzgE4M-Lxl-lA26pxh5dfcSIR9jT9Bn0tz2W5mhOOluT7uiQ3IsEL0u7pF2Pag2jOizosP-2y1geefNrnKIhREYtczJmjue5QtyJgJvY_tIobvyjSOTxLHM6rQBd1gs/s320/P1030322.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hunted this one day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij54o6Ce4mbRI5BvlJ4qi9IN5xJMJV2EPOC_Y4jyelvb0GuZGENpIhaKxjIuqp8qjUD0gPOwKotkQ7m0NwiuZs0_vDAVkApkNNeX8EXvJ7WftJtlxrLjXEF5XAoBVZua_ERLknqTex8eg/s1600/P1030336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij54o6Ce4mbRI5BvlJ4qi9IN5xJMJV2EPOC_Y4jyelvb0GuZGENpIhaKxjIuqp8qjUD0gPOwKotkQ7m0NwiuZs0_vDAVkApkNNeX8EXvJ7WftJtlxrLjXEF5XAoBVZua_ERLknqTex8eg/s320/P1030336.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bedroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOkvUnofFX9Co4XsSen2DTGqYXf33LvhbxkIHfF86ubPBst6P_0MpGGdMU0XZxTmZ5qx7CimkODNAZ5FjU-7nfwfHgqmRQcN7FN3PI42-Gx6udCjn_XG2JBUhSDY-C0KptnLAjR4G7Go/s1600/P1030341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOkvUnofFX9Co4XsSen2DTGqYXf33LvhbxkIHfF86ubPBst6P_0MpGGdMU0XZxTmZ5qx7CimkODNAZ5FjU-7nfwfHgqmRQcN7FN3PI42-Gx6udCjn_XG2JBUhSDY-C0KptnLAjR4G7Go/s320/P1030341.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining Room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vRtrErPGjFHJ08EQiZ2PuVWGXayhtxcBVkMY9bT8YFTLiUhAZHypTGLFjKuAmh26flsCoy2aE0QZqtkBH0PIXv74U8gLzHI-O4dycuZGsPSdAquRFLUiTSt5u01wJ2zdgADI9wKImkM/s1600/P1030176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vRtrErPGjFHJ08EQiZ2PuVWGXayhtxcBVkMY9bT8YFTLiUhAZHypTGLFjKuAmh26flsCoy2aE0QZqtkBH0PIXv74U8gLzHI-O4dycuZGsPSdAquRFLUiTSt5u01wJ2zdgADI9wKImkM/s320/P1030176.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New training group.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeDYKZxmNDjFkMgAiIcsPzf2FUufgFwxhyhDwkCfWYd8noh9xj_oBuMLD3PCfD3lI2BS1wN2xLVBO3S_54oiz5mKew3UpbbNKWkIDiz_jIWo0pERFt_OYev09MOod3zYbBKAAFt-dfg0/s1600/P1030342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeDYKZxmNDjFkMgAiIcsPzf2FUufgFwxhyhDwkCfWYd8noh9xj_oBuMLD3PCfD3lI2BS1wN2xLVBO3S_54oiz5mKew3UpbbNKWkIDiz_jIWo0pERFt_OYev09MOod3zYbBKAAFt-dfg0/s320/P1030342.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Other side of the dining room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkAE9jdcjlTU1v6wyXrgrMdRfS2SVw8n3f4hyphenhyphenFvaqKp_EuoWpc2V-57AQmwZJc0pxVMfTtlFtOSB4ep0tA0i-oasab9Gucg-6y5VDpWuYA-Um8T_2Qi5p9h_lLmaFhwJQVxlpscSgB_U/s1600/P1030327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkAE9jdcjlTU1v6wyXrgrMdRfS2SVw8n3f4hyphenhyphenFvaqKp_EuoWpc2V-57AQmwZJc0pxVMfTtlFtOSB4ep0tA0i-oasab9Gucg-6y5VDpWuYA-Um8T_2Qi5p9h_lLmaFhwJQVxlpscSgB_U/s320/P1030327.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLMkKQLGZIfkGbpTgeA5N5_I7J1AySrVG_4B6oOys_FAkIdaZ6ydt-XAjIIsIGWxFnYSKwMs6cFkWnJFV68bgy1AxJMFVJhBbUNQCaQe_bePCYFqpQmb9FYbBNYX60-qLWucrC6S1IVE/s1600/P1030350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLMkKQLGZIfkGbpTgeA5N5_I7J1AySrVG_4B6oOys_FAkIdaZ6ydt-XAjIIsIGWxFnYSKwMs6cFkWnJFV68bgy1AxJMFVJhBbUNQCaQe_bePCYFqpQmb9FYbBNYX60-qLWucrC6S1IVE/s320/P1030350.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yt-Vx8yxLijx-CTR0GhYPFKi3Hh6vVEwzcydNvnr4Fu4ShEC1Lt633eT65IHdJFlITwN8qox58d5RxXDf5dxI5N601GKqbJNC1KsoFEu9vE6b4-A-uGLgGuzsWeYC2mqH1sXfvAuao4/s1600/P1030361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yt-Vx8yxLijx-CTR0GhYPFKi3Hh6vVEwzcydNvnr4Fu4ShEC1Lt633eT65IHdJFlITwN8qox58d5RxXDf5dxI5N601GKqbJNC1KsoFEu9vE6b4-A-uGLgGuzsWeYC2mqH1sXfvAuao4/s320/P1030361.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from my house, facing West.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Robert Gormleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822543628923837690noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095182092707540348.post-74585077444794984752011-05-23T00:13:00.000-07:002011-05-23T00:13:21.432-07:00Busy busyHey all, I was going to post pictures, but this old fashioned computer I'm on doesn't 'recognize my USB device'. I'll try another internet cafe soon...if I find time.<br />
<br />
I've completed training, been sworn in, and been posted at site for about three weeks now. Crazy. Here's what's happened during that time.<br />
<br />
First we were sworn in, which was a fun and somewhat emotional experience. We were all formally dressed, and spent our day out on the Embassadors plush lawn area. As we were waiting for the event to start, we were all taking pictures - it felt so much like prom. The speeches began, and some people, including the speaker got all teary-eyed when she was saying how appreciative she was of our service. Then after the officail swearing in came the best part. Food! All sorts of fried appetizers, soda, and cake! We then left the Embassadors house to go to a luncheon at our Country Directors house. So much good food, including macaroni and cheese, roast beef, garden salad, and more cake! Ahh...I'm drooling right now just thinking about it.<br />
<br />
We then went back to the college for a few days to get ready to head to site. Amidst all the packing and safety lectures, we managed to find time for a rematch of the Malawi vs USA soccer match. It went better this time - it was 2-2 at half time - but we still got crushed 2-5. They had some rediculously amazing goals though. Like a corner kick that bent in into the opposite top 90 of the goal, and another one where a guy dribbled between 4 defenders, and was sliding to make a shot that just found the smallest window inbetween the keeper and hitting the goal post to go in. <br />
<br />
Then the next day, a group of 12 of us played the most intesne game of ultimate ever to occur in Malawi. My team was up 12-9, then it was tied 14-14, and we managed to win 16-14. CLUTCH! The best part was right afterwards, James, the cook, made the best dish in the world: spaghetti and meat balls. Yesssss...<br />
<br />
I don't think I recovered very well from the two matches, because the next day I woke up with a headache that persisted all day. I later developed other flu like symptoms - but I didnt have the flu. We went to Lilongwe the next day, so I popped into the health office just to check in with the doc. He thought it was a viral thing, exhastperated by dehydration. So I ended up spending the day on an IV (after which I felt amazing), and staying over night, just so they could monitor me. <br />
<br />
I waited all of the next day for a transport going back to the college. I almost missed the only transport, but managed to get back to the college around dinner time, sadly after half of the training group had already been driven to site.<br />
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We were posted to site the next day. We loaded a small, SUV-like transport with three PCV's worth of stuff crammed in, and on top of the car. We spent all day traveling and unloading at each persons site. The host villages were very welcoming to the volunteers, and helped unload the car.<br />
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After being posted, I've spent 3 weeks at site. I've been spending my doing house chores and chatting with the village. I get to do fun things like carry buckets of water on my head from the borehole, chop wood, and spend forever cooking over a fire stove. Sometimes I think the ramen packaging is taunting me when it says "cooks in 3 minutes". <br />
<br />
Cooking probably takes up most of my time just because I'm not that good at it yet. Sometimes it takes one match to like the fire, and sometimes it takes one box of matches. Last night it took me 2 hours to cook pasta. A bit frustrating, but that was the best pasta ever...it tasted like victory.<br />
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It hasn't been all play and no work. Integrating into the community in itself is a crucial and important task. So far it has helped me to find projects, make relevant contacts, and identify avenues of accomplishing projects, and identify what the community wants.<br />
<br />
I am in contact with the Forestry Office in my area, I may be teaching at one of the Seconday Schools (high schools) here, made contacts with a couple NGO's and CBO's in the area, and am involved in starting up a young womens group - talking to them about staying in school or watever. Not to mention the 2 womens groups I have inhereted from my preceeding volunteer, and the garden and tree nursery I've started in my backyard, and the mud stove I've built at a nearby volunteers house. I've been busy, don't worry mom. <br />
<br />
During my second week at site, I was invited to a nearby house that was hosting a womens group called the Flame Writers. They are a group of women, mostly from the states, who have come to tour Malawi, inspiring young girls' creative expression. After spending some time with them, I was motivated to lead some writing groups that they might have inspired at the local secondary school. <br />
<br />
I'm sure I'll fall into other projects too. I'm here in Mzuzu for an HIV/AIDS training. And the other day, a young man stopped by my house while I was cooking, asking me if I had condoms. I was like "um...what?". Then I remembered reading in the previous volunteers report, and how she used to distribute condoms and educate the community about family planning and safe sex.<br />
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Hope you all are doing well. Have the Sharks won the Stanley Cup yet? Good luck with the upcoming club season!! I will be there...in spirit...like a Jedi. I'm sure my Jedi spirit can get some phantom D's for you guys. Keep me on the stat sheet!Robert Gormleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822543628923837690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095182092707540348.post-32987470167660944342011-04-15T05:18:00.000-07:002011-04-15T05:18:18.176-07:00Still in Training...<div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Here's my permanent address:</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div style="color: #888888;">Robert Gormley, PCV</div><div style="color: #888888;">District Forestry Office</div><div style="color: #888888;">PO Box 38</div><div style="color: #888888;">Chinteche, Malawi</div><div style="color: #888888;"><br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I haven't been there yet, but if you send mail, I will go. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span>Almost done with training! Two weeks left then I swear in and become a volunteer!<br />
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A lot of time has passed, and I can't remember everything that's happened, so I'll go backwards in time because its easier for me to remember. <br />
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I've spent the last couple days at my new site by myself. My site is really cool, I'm 5 minutes away from the beach, and I can hear the waves crashing in the distance. At the site I've inherited a dog named kubaya boko (hippo killer). My forearm is sore from fanning my fire when I cook. But its cool, I'll power through typing this post because I'm sure you're all wondering whats going on.<br />
<br />
We had a village farewell last week. It was craziness, and leaving homestay was kind of sad. All four villages met up and we showed them what we had been learning in PST. Then we had a cross cultural exchange session in which the Americans played a baseball game -- I was the peanut vendor. We explained its history and what was happening, but I'm pretty sure we just looked really weird to them. Also, the day before, the trainees played the staff in an epic Malawi vs USA soccer match. Sadly we lost 2-4, but we definitely impressed them with our sweet skills.<br />
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The first week of homestay crawled by so slowly, I thought it would take forever. But we all adjusted to it, and time flew by. And now PST is almost over. Woohoo! <br />
<br />
Our days in homestay were very structured...kind of. We had breakfast, language and tech training from 8am to noon. Lunch from noon to 1:30, then another language and tech session from 1:30 to 4:30. My family usually ate around 6:30, and I was in bed by 8pm. But often times, when we needed transport to get to a session, we would spend a lot of time waiting around, if it ever came (which it didn't a couple times). <br />
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The best part of homestay was Thursdays, when all the trainees came together at the college. Its amazing how quickly we all bonded, and how great it is to see each other again.<br />
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Anyway, that was homestay. I'm heading to language intensive where i'll be chilling at a lodge in Nkhata Bay for a week, learning Chitonga non-stop. Then we'll all meet up in Dedza for a week, get ready for move-in. Then we swear in April 26th!<br />
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I'm trying to load a J&A episode right now and its taking forev. That's definitely been the hardest part about Malawi so far. But other than that, training has been pretty sweet. But soon my small bubble of a world will soon break, and i'll be living at site, being all independent or watev. Can't wait! Miss y'all! Take care.<br />
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<br />
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<div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div>Robert Gormleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822543628923837690noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095182092707540348.post-29606858976016105912011-03-30T02:56:00.000-07:002011-03-30T02:56:12.989-07:00Im aliveIm at an internet cafe and i only have a few minutes.<br />
<br />
Malawi is pretty sweet. My homsestay family is awesome. My abambo (dad) is 33, a farmer and a builder. My amayi (mother) is 27 and awesome. Then I have two sisters (10 and 7), and a bother (3) who is totally obnoxious and hilarious. basically the only time i get to spend with them is when we eat meals (3 squares a day), and an hour before breakfast. My amayi usually wakes me up around 5 am to start doing chores (starting the fire, chopping fire wood, collecting water from the bore hole, etc.) Most of our meals consist of nsima, beans, potato, rice, soya pieces, chicken, and veggies (cabbage or rape). The rest of my day is spend learning Chitonga and enviro tech skills. <br />
<br />
Im having an awesome time so far. Everyone here is really cool. I'll probably access internet 2 weeks from now when we get to go to site visits. Talk to you then!Robert Gormleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822543628923837690noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5095182092707540348.post-53653008237595947382011-02-02T01:23:00.000-08:002011-02-02T01:23:11.245-08:00Bon Voyage!I'll be leaving for Malawi, Africa to be an Environmental Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV).<br />
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My job title is a Community Forestry or Community Parks Extension Volunteer. I will be implementing collaborative community management of protected areas. Though, from talking to many other PCV's, most volunteers work on something other than what they are initially assigned. <br />
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I decided to join after graduating from UC Davis, because the Peace Corps looked liked a great next step in that it provided me with an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge I have gained, and also a challenging and unique environment for me to learn and grow both professionally and personally. <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Orientation (Feb 24-26)</b></span><br />
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The next step in my journey will be the orientation session held in Philadelphia, PA. Here the other Malawi environmental and health volunteers will be receiving an introduction to the Peace Corps, what our service may be like, and the necessary shots we will need.<br />
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From Phili, we will be bused to JFK in New York, and leave for Malawi at 10:40am EST.<br />
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<b>Pre-Service Training (PST)</b><br />
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Upon arrival, we will begin our PST. This training lasts eight to twelve weeks, during which, we will live with a host family. Training includes five major components: technical training, cross-culture training, language instruction, personal health and safety training, and the role of the Volunteer in development.<br />
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I won't have access to internet during training, and after training I don't know how accessible it will be (so I don't know how frequently I will be able to update this blog). However, I would appreciate receiving letters from you all!<br />
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My temporary address during training will be:<br />
<br />
Robert Gormley, PCT<br />
Peace Corps<br />
P.O. Box 208<br />
Lilongwe, Malawi<br />
<br />
<b>A Note about Snail Mail in Malawi from the Peace Corps</b><br />
<br />
Mail takes a minimum of two to three weeks to arrive, often longer. The Peace Corps advises friends and family to number their letters [so I will know if any are missing], and include "Air Mail" and "Par Avion" on their envelopes. Packages take six to nine weeks for airmail, and surface mail packages take around six months. If someone is sending you a package, it's advisable to keep it small and use a padded envelope so it will be treated as a letter.<br />
<br />
I'm excited to see what the Peace Corps and Malawi have in store for me over the next two years! Bon Voyage!Robert Gormleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822543628923837690noreply@blogger.com2