12 October 2011 Dance-Off/Step Up
This had to been one of the best dance nights ever, and I
was lucky to get a preview of it also. It was more of an improve. So the sexy
catwalk dance started back up and it was suppose to happen a couple Saturdays
ago, but because dinner was so late that night, the sexy dance didn’t happen,
but the music was still there so we were just dancing in the middle of the
cafeteria. Then the dancers came up…
I first saw this
earlier in the day when the “sexy dancers” were in the room practicing. This
set of guys, 3 guys, came in being all cool and stuff. They even came in and
took their shirts off to be “serious.” Then somehow this Step-Up/Dance-Off
competition started. If you have seen Step Up, it was comparable to that in a
very small way (at least I think so. I think I’ve seen Step Up). So the 2
groups were these 3 “cool” guys and 4 of the boys in the official dance. One
guy from one group would “step up” and dance in front of the other group, in a
quick body movement that I have not learned to do. I want to learn, especially
now. The movements sometimes signified things like “you stink” “you need to take a bath” among some
other things. They shook hands afterwards and we all left.
Then that night because the catwalk and so on was not
happening and we were just dancing, they got it going again. I luckily had my
camera this time and got some video. It
was hard to stop laughing and smiling.
To me, this was better than the sexy catwalk and so on. I don’t think they quite understand
how awesome and fun it really was. No, it can’t happen every week or it will
not be fun. But it was the dancing and the silliness attitude that came out
that day even more. For example, one kid from the 4 did a couple
backhandsprings to step up in front of the other group. After his dancing was
over, a guy from the “cool” group did a front roll/log roll to step up…
I’m hoping to put the videos here on my blog if the internet
will let me or on you tube. But as I was sitting here starting to write the blog,
one of the “cool” kids came in to hang out with me and asked what I was
writing, so we laughed about it and I told him how I want to put it on the
internet. He laughed and was like, “No, don’t put it on. We were only joking
around. I’m not a dancer.” And he was telling me only to remember it in my
head, not on the blog or even in my journal. But then he said, “No, put it on.
Do it.” As he was still laughing. How can I not show this video, at least when
I get home if not earlier? Or not write about it right now to share with you
all?
Perhaps one day I can learn to dance like that and be in a
“dance off” as such.
14 October 2011 Can I tell a cop no?
When I was down in Maputo, I went to Namaacha to visit my
host family and I stayed a couple nights. As hard as it was to live with a
family for 2 months, I love that family, my family. It was great to go see
them.
But, here’s the story (don’t worry, it’s not much.)
I got a boleia (a hitch) out of Namaacha to Maputo with this
family from Turkey who was just there to see the waterfalls. Only the daughter
spoke some English (and a little Portuguese). We got stopped by the cops at a
cop stand, and the cops here like to search everything to work out a bribe.
Communication was hard for them, so I stepped in and tried to help out as much
as I could. After they handed the cop 100 meticais, the cop told me I needed to
stay there. He had found out I was just getting a hitch. It almost sounded
serious when he said it.
So, the question remains, can I tell a cop no? Yes, because
I did and we drove away. The cop was jus t joking in the end, but it caught me
off guard…
31 October 2011 RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011
New Zealand All Blacks have been my team ever since I
learned about rugby. The last Rugby World Cup was while I was in South Africa
and New Zealand lost to France in the semi-finals ON MY BIRTHDAY! And I was
surrounded by a whole bunch of people from Europe, England more. It was a hard
loss for me. But I have waited the long 4 years for the New Zealand World Cup.
Originally I really wanted to make my way back to New
Zealand to at least watch one game, but you know how that goes, that takes
money and the right time off, and so on and so on.
The hard part about this world cup was I couldn’t even watch
it or hear about it! Luckily Julie has a shortwave radio and can get the BBC,
and as long as England was in the World Cup, they kept updating who was in and
things happening, so when England was out, last Julie heard was New Zealand was
in the semi-finals I think…so by the time I made my out to Vilanculos to see
who was in the finals, I was sooooo nervous!
I figured this place called Archipelogos would have a fun
rugby atmosphere with the South Africans around. When I got into Vil, I went
there to see who was playing in the final game. Ideally South Africa and New
Zealand would have been the best, but I could hardly hold my excitement when I
at least say New Zealand versus France! I wanted to scream with joy as soon as
I saw that, but I was alone and instead tried to hide the scream. Australia and
Wales were fighting for 3rd and 4th.
The game was on Sunday for New Zealand and France. I really
wish I had my All Blacks jersey but it’s packed away in boxes at my granny’s
house! I was so nervous. Oh, yeah, this is all on a Thursday. New Zealand
choked in the World Cup in 2007 against France. And New Zealand had suffered
some bad injuries apparently during this tournament! I was so excited for the
game, though. And I convinced Drew, who lives by Archipelogos to go with me. I guess
that didn’t take much, drink in the morning? Okay!
It wasn’t quite the exciting atmosphere I had during the
finals while in South Africa when South Africa won, but was still nice! I mean,
any environment probably would have been fine with me since my team was in the
final game!!! And then the owner of the place gave me the New Zealand rugby
posters they had hanging up in the place. There was no Jerry Collins, Rodney
So’alo or Joe Rokowhoko this time, but the All Blacks are still my team!
The game was a good game. Pretty close the whole time. The
final score was 8 to 7, NEW ZEALAND!!!!!! That’s right, my team won!!!!!! I
wish I had all my English/European friends to cheer in front of!!!
I can’t even imagine what the atmosphere was like in New
Zealand. How awesome would it have been to even just be in the country even I
couldn’t have gone to the game!
On my bucket list is to go to a Rugby World Cup before I
die. Next World Cup, World Cup 2015, is in England. I still haven’t seen
Europe…
2 November 2011 Trust Lift
I hate this class, but I also love this class. Teaching them
becomes quite difficult. I pull out my bitch cared at lot when I have class
with them because they seem to have problems with finding a balance between
having fun and learning. I want to have
fun also, but at the same time as them listening and learning. Some days are
good, some days are bad. It’s hard to know what’s going to happen on that day….
I think it’s one of the hard things of all us living here together. It’s a hard
line to find between school and life. It’s all kind of mixed together.
Yesterday was my last class with them for the year. It’s the
end of our school year and it’s our last week of school until February. We were
finishing up rugby.
It started off great (overall, it was a good day). They showed up early to class by like
20 minutes or so, and on their own, they started a game of touch rugby, using
the full field. They were playing pretty good also. Of course, I joined the game.
Not all of them were playing, but many of them were, so I let this continue
past the bell for class because they were doing so great.
Then I split them into their teams I have made for them, and
we played a smaller game of touch using half the field. They are still learning
all the rules, but they were definitely showing me they have learned a lot.
After the first game was over, I had them make lines in their teams and shake
hands, “Bom jogo, bom jogo.” (good game). And this is somehow where the trust
lift happened…
A trust lift is when one person lies like a board and
everybody else lifts the person over their heads. One kid, Stelio, wanted to do
a tug-of-war with hands and pulling on each other before shaking hands. Bow
this idea got in his head, I’m not sure, but I wanted to start the second game,
but then a girl, Albertina, grabbed around my waist as Stelio pulled on my arm,
then the tug-of-war began. But as this was going on, Adelino started trying to
grab my legs. This apparently gave them all an idea. I will give them credit
for this, they worked well together. They got my legs and together they lifted
me above their heads and walked me around the fied a bit, cheering “Teacher
Mandy.” I guess you could say I trust them. I wasn’t scared at all. It was
actually quite fun. And there was no point in fighting it: I was outnumbered,
they meant well, it was still in the spirit of the game, etc.
Have I mentioned how by just having the white skin that I
have, I’m seen as pretty? I’m not really sure the reasoning (partly…a lot…to do
with the assumption that white means money), but then again I tend to put black
people on the pretty list automatically also. Will Smith is still my number
one. This class also is a bit older and they don’t tend to hide their crushes
much. Well, actually the Mozambican culture tends to openly show crushes, etc.,
even when it’s student crushes on the teachers. I don’t know how many times
I’ve “blown away” kisses, or have just said, “Thank you.” Or “You don’t love me.” When the kids say
they love me, I have to consciously make sure they keep an appropriate distance
from me. I think I have mentioned in an earlier blog, but the culture here is
very sexual. I don’t mean it in a bad way, just that it’s ‘sexual’.
1 February 2012 The
Year 2012
Well, I was doing a good job with at least keeping up with blogs by hand…The fact
that it takes me forever to get them on my actual blog site is another
story…but you all may be happy to know, I bought a computer a fellow PCV was
selling and this means it could actually be more possible for me to blog and
for you to know what I’m doing. I would say also where I am, but I’m in Mabote,
motherfucker, don’t you ever forget!
Have I mentioned something somebody once pointed out to me
about living in the woods? This was while I was in Montana working (which, but
the way, I do miss those mountains!)
When you are living in the woods (or the bush, as my case in Makwakwa) you kind
of lose touch with your people skills… A simple wave of hello to somebody becomes
a full body wave especially using the elbow. And you can’t forget the
incredibly big smile you need to have on your face with extremely bright, wide
eyes. Why am I probably repeating myself with this? Because I want to apologize
if my blogging sounds/looks like a full body wave especially from the elbow
with a bright ass smile and wide eyes.
What did I do to bring in the New Year? I danced on the
beach in Tofu. We just bought beers on the side of the road and drank and
danced on the beach with the Mozambicans. Go figure at some point in the night
I was teaching some Mozambican man how to swing dance. And, of course, I was
being the lead of the dance, so he was one doing the spinning. And we did get
fireworks at midnight. And probably not the safest thing since they were lit
off just about anywhere, but we aren’t
going to worry about that.
It’s hard to believe it’s already 2012. That means I have
spent all of the year 2011 living in Mozambique, actually in Makwakwa, Mabote.
It’s exciting to start this new year and I’m excited to be going back to the
states to at least visit next year, to see my nieces where I feel I’m being the
estranged aunt. But I’m also sad. I’ll be sad to leave the life I’ve also made
here. I think I was realizing the other day that this is the longest I’ve
settled in one spot for quite some time, basically since graduating high
school. And here I actually have a home. I’ll be sad to be leaving my students
same as when I left Woodstock in India. Students tend to become a big part of
my life, especially here where my social life is basically zilch. At the end of
the year, I do get to see a group of my students graduate and that will be fun.
My decision on returning home or extending is still all up in the air…but let’s
talk about what I’ve started this year with my students already.
Basketballl started up again. We’ve even already had our
first game yesterday with the Mabote guys. By the way, if anybody knows a way
to get a basketball court built somewhere, let’s say in Mabote, I would love to
learn how. It’s great working with the captain from their team. I get some ideas in my head and
before I can even tell anybody else, he
tells mee the same thing I was thinking, which is awesome because it’s them,
Mozambique, coming up with the idea and not me forcing an idea of mine…haha
like I want to do rugby and developing
it. . . He’s also getting a women’s team together for us. And we might be able
to enter a tournament in Vilanculos in June or July.
Sewing. As you might recall I’ve been sewing quite a lot
here. I’m working on making a quilt and I’ve been making my own clothes. So
far, 4 pants and 2 dresses. The kids are always “Estou a pedir”ing (begging)
for me to make them pants or a dress. Well, that’s just not possible. I’ve even
had kids offer to pay me. Even that wouldn’t be too practical because I’m
sewing by hand so the time it takes is
so much more. Plus, I wouldn’t want to take their money. Instead I’m teaching
them how to sew. Two times a week I have sewing day/night. They can bring a
capalana and we’ll make something out of it or this pants or clothes that
already have hole and they need to sew it shut. Even some of them are coming in
to take in their pants. My plan is for the capalana (2 meters of material used
for EVERYTHING) clothes, we do a catwalk and it’s kind of like a “Project
Runway.” We’ll see what happens with that. They love to catwalk/do the sexy
walk…
What else have I done in 2012? Well, I went to Swaziland for
a week in January to visit an organization called SKRUM that develops rugby and
teaches about HIV and AIDS. So that is now one of my goals this year is to get
some rugby going in Mabote. My students already know some rugby. Hopefully I
can get a teacher interested in the Secondary School in Mabote to coach a team.
While I was in Swazi, I got to play some rugby which made my 2012 already
great. SKRUM is supporting me in this endeavor of mine. And how it goes this
year will help determine on if I stay longer or go back to the states. My
thought is to extend in a youth development type form getting kids involved in
more sports, especially in more mato sites along with some HIV and AIDS
education. Main focus is rugby. Again, we’ll see how that goes…
Oh yeah, by the way, Swaziland is quite pretty. Very
different than Mozambique as far as land, animals and culture/people go… I kept
trying to speak Portuguese when English is Swazi’s official language…
Other things: I can officially say I have been mugged. Not
that that was something that was on my
bucket list, but I guess as a good friend of mine says, “you got to try
everything at least once.” I was in Maputo walking along the beach road going
to the Peace Corps office. The beach walk (the Marginal) is not a safe place,
apparently that statement is true also during the day. I thought just at night…
It was 1pm when this happened…
I was walking along, minding my own business. I start going
up instead of continuing along the marginal because I was getting close to the
PC office. All of a sudden I took a glance behind me and some young man was
literally right behind me. At this point, he wasn’t doing anything, but I don’t
like it when people walk that close, so I slowed down to let him pass me. So,
he passed me but then he seemed to slow down, so crossed the road kind of
keeping my eyes on him. I guess at some point I glanced away from him and
before I knew it he had grabbed me. I was pretty surprised, but my first
thought through my head was somebody I knew was joking with me, but then a half
second later I realized this was actually serious.
I don’t know what he said to me in Portuguese but I replied
in English “Get away from me,” cause I’m sure that really helped… He had
grabbed my cargo pocket on my shorts where my phone was and my right arm. As
soon as he had grabbed me, I turned around to him pretty forcefully. He still
had my pocket, but not so much my arm. Everything happened pretty fast, but I
swung my right first at his face. I’m not going to lie, I don’t think I
actually hit him that hard. His face did smash up some, so maybe it was harder
than I’m thinking. Can I get credit for it anyways? Well, I’m not sure what was
really in his hand, but after I hit him he shook what could have been a knife
in his hand. I think he looked confused at what to do. Perhaps because I hit
him. Perhaps because I didn’t look scared and was obviously ready to fight
back. Well, he shook the thing in his hand and then jumped over the wall to the
road below and ran away. Luckily he didn’t take anything and I had my bag and
everything with me.
After he jumped over the wall and ran away, I saw blood and
then saw where it was coming from. He cut my arm. It wasn’t deep at all and I
think some of the cuts were from fingernails versus the knife or thing in his
hand. I had my everything rag handy and kept it over the cut. Not too far up
from where it happened what a house with some guards in front, so I crossed
over and decided to tell them. I don’t know what came from that because I
continued to the PC office.
And that was that.
So the big thing in my head now is if I want to extend of
not. I love this experience and I feel another year here could be worthwhile if
it’s developing more sports, especially
rugby, here for youth and people in the communities, as I already mentioned
before. But at the same time, there are many things I miss that I’m not able to
really get here as easily. But then again, that are things here I’m getting
that I don’t get back in the states. I made a list of positives and negatives
of both options, aand I have more positives for going home to the USA, but the
weight of each positive or negative is different. Yeah, sure I miss American
food/cheese, but the weight of the experience and knowledge and satisfaction I
might be able to gain from developing rugby and sports here in Mozambique.
What is pushing me most to stay: the thought of developing
rugby here; the learning of a simpler, not so hectic life; the adventure and
stories.
Well, my guess is you’re done reading about these thoughts
in my head that are pulling me in so many directions.
Oh, last thing, perhaps I should put on my bucket list…no,
not on my bucket list, on my job option list, to be a Burlesque dancer…hahahaha
I did a performance with 3 other friends for a fellow PCV’s birthday.
Unfortunately no pictures or videos because the others said no. Perhaps that
makes you fortunate. I did the worm, a back roll, a cartwheel, and put all
together with some salsa and hip hop dances I learned at Purdue and other PE conventions. It would
have been nice to see myself dancing like that because remember this is me,
Mandy Nurrenbern, doing a “sexy” dance for somebody. When have you ever seen
Mandy be “sexy”?
The end.
6 March 2012 “Rich with Energy, Happyness”… and the “Why
are you different?” Or “You are different.”
It’s great that I’m understanding Portuguese so much more
here. I can, for the most part, tell what they are saying about me. I’m sure
there are things I am missing and maybe I’m only listening to the good and not
“understanding” the negative or bad. Selective hearing is much better in a
different language.
I got these two things all in one day. 1.) “You are rich
with energy and happiness.” And 2.) “You are different.” And yes, I take them
both as compliments and perhaps that is what makes me different…
“You are rich with
energy and happiness.”
I think I was having a conversation about “Yes, we have
black people in the United States also” (It’s a concept they don’t really
understand even though they can name off some celebrities who are black.)
Anyways, a kid came in on the conversation and told me Akon is black and has more money than me, a
mulungu, a white person. My first reaction: “Yes, they are finally
understanding I’m not growing money from my skin.” I can see why they think
that. I’ve even started to think that about other white people here because
many do have money and it feels like they flaunt it. Well, after he told me
Akon is black and has more money than me, he continued on and said I was
richer. I got a bit confused, but then he said, “Voce e rico com energia e
felicidade.” (You are rich with energy and happiness.” And that Akon has money
and is not happy. It’s a great reminder that it’s not money and items that make
us happy. My opinion, it’s what we make of our lives.
Numero 2: You are
different.
I was sitting in my dining room/dance floor/living room in
my house talking with one of my students. A little bit of background on this: I
just got back from a weekend in Vilanculos where it was almost a perfect break
from my school after being at school for 5 consecutive weeks. It had a great
party/drinking night on Friday, playing the band’s guitar, dancing, etc. Then I
kitesurfed, well body dragged. Next time I’ll get the board he says. I was able
to use the internet and get some things done. Anyways, Vilanculos brought me
back refreshed. So, I am sitting there with my student and he tells me, “You
are different.” I thought he was referring to the fact that I returned to
school different because before leaving, I wouldn’t say I was mad or unhappy,
but it was definitely to the point I needed to get out.
But I clarified it and he was just talking about me in
general, that I’m different… even from other Americans. I’m not going to lie,
I’ve gotten that before. There was an interview question I got before from the
sports camp I worked at in California. It was a phone interview and he asked
me, “If your friends could describe you in one word, what would that word be?” I didn’t stop and think for
veery long about my answer. Maybe because my friends have said it to me a lot…
“Crazy.” Right after I said it I almost wanted to smack myself. This guy on the
phone has no clue who I am and just told him I was crazy? As if he really wants
to hire a looney! So, very quickly afterwards I tried to explain. “No, no, no.
Not crazy in a bad way. Crazy in that I do crazy things sometimes… “ Oh, boy,
it sounds like digging myself in a hole as I am recalling this story. He hired
me.
Well, I told the kid that back at home with my friends they
call me crazy, but not in a bad way. He just laughed. So, basically, he now
understands that not all Americans are like me. Perhaps a reason that Costa and
I are friends is because we both used “crazy” as our one word during that
interview…
11 March 2012 Bamboo Wireless
My site mate Julie was just reading a book or has read a
book or maybe is reading a book about Africa and the author described something
she called “Bamboo wireless” that happens in Africa. They do have cell phones
now, but it’s not like they have credit all the time or even in the case of
Makwakwa, no reception. The question then remains, how do they always seem to
know what’s going on, here and “out there”?
It’s called “Bamboo Wireless.” Africans can somehow read
each other’s minds. My kids know when the school truck is going somewhere or
when somebody is coming to visit or when we have meetings at the school. Of
course, these can all be because of a lack of communication in my school, or a
lack of me knowing how to use the “Bamboo Wireless.”
But perhaps I am starting to become a bit African myself.
But only halfway. It seems that sometimes they can even read my mind. Here are
2 examples:
1.) I
am working with a guy from the Mabote town to have our basketball games. He has
made a team in town and when they can work out transportation to a our school,
we have games. Well, he read my mind on Mabote forming a women’s team. Then he
did it again. Before I mentioned anything about maybe being able to play some
basketball in Mapinhane or Vilanculos he talked to me about a tournament we
might be able to do in June/July in Vilanculos. I just hope that all works out.
2.) During
school holidays I did a bit of shopping to find some board shorts. I needed a
long pair that would hide my big butt when kitesurfing. I found a pair that was
okay and they fit. Last weekend I was in Vilanculos and one of my students,
Roy, went home to Maxixe for the weekend. When he got back, his dad had bought
me a pair of board shorts that fit better and was more of what I was wanting
even though it wasn’t what I was necessarily looking for.
“Bamboo Wireless” – perhaps it’s just me just out of touch
with things and the world, or the language, but the fact that this is felt in
other places around Africa makes me think that bamboo has got something special
in it…
23 March 2012 Dad lives…in my heart..
So the students know my dad died and so on. Well, some of
the students know. I didn’t go around announcing, “Hey, I lost my dad when I
was 17.” But when I am having a conversation with students and they ask me
about my family, I tell them. I could make it simple and just say my dad lives
in Evansville when I get that question or that since I don’t have a home of my
own, that yes, I stay with my dad. But that would be a lie. And I don’t like to
lie.
The conversation came up again just the other day and somebody
who already knew about my dad’s death said a phrase that I guess I never
thought of out loud and it was nice to hear it from him. “He lives…in your
heart.”
What a true statement, just wish I could have a 2 way
conversation with him, eh?
25 March 2012 Frustration or Anger? FECHA A SUA BOCA!!!!
I know that in my head I’m thinking I am presenting myself
in one way, but it really all depends on how the person on the other end is
actually reading it.
How do you explain to them that I’m not angry, that I’m
disappointed and frustrated? I can use the words, but they continue to tell me
to not be angry. Eh pah!
So I am not angry all the time, but remember the list of
challenges I face when teaching PE here in Mozambique? Well, they are
definitely still challenges and the hardest one I feel I face is their behavior
and my style of teaching. Oh, and the fact that I don’t feel support from the
school and there is no line of action as far as discipline goes, or if there
is, I don’t know about it and punishments I hear they get sometimes see almost
bogus or I don’t agree with (like they don’t get lunch or dinner). The only
thing I feel I can do is make their grade go down, but so many don’t seem to
care about their grades anyways.
In other words, it all gets very frustrating. It’s in the
cultural differences and I sometimes feel that maybe I’m pushing what I grew up
with in America and perhaps it doesn’t fly in Mozambique. Perhaps the values I
learned growing up are not the only way things work. It’s just so hard to see
it any other way.
Last year I was doing a word of the day we would discuss:
respect, honesty, sportspersonship, trust, commitment, and character. I chose
them as I saw fit and what I saw was lacking.
What is it that I am seeing and I personally don’t like and
have had enough of?
-
Disrespect to the ref, to the other team, and to
their own teammates, and to the sports equipment involved
-
Lying during games, trying to call things for
the ref and even wanted to fight about it
-
Rubbing in wins (laughing in their face, etc.),
blaming losses on someone/something else
-
Being ball hogs and cocky on the field of court
-
Not going to practice and still expect to play
for games
-
The lack of actual thinking on how one thing
done can affect something or somebody else, etc.
And you can’t forget about my indisciplinados… for the most
part, the students are good…individually. . . but with many of them when you
put them together, they become jerks. I’ve never had to kick people out of my
class before. I don’t like it because they are the ones that need to learn
character, but if I let them stay it’s totally not fair to the other students
who actually want to learn. So, I kick students out, almost every class. I kick
them out for disrupting class too many times. I kick them out if I’ve had to
remind them too many times to actually participate, or if they think they can
just go sit and rest on the side whenever they want, even in the middle of a
game just leaving their team.
Julie had a good point she said to me today. I wonder what
my experience would have been like if I actually taught in Watts in LA? I
almost feel if I would get a job like that after being here it would be so nice
to me! J
I’m sure it would still be quite difficult, but I just wonder if it would feel
so much easier after here? It’s not that
bad, it’s just hard and gets frustrating sometimes. And perhaps because I have
no social life or sports teams I am on to let off steam… And after one year, my
patience has been running out. I also need to learn to shut my mouth more. I
usually just say what I’m thinking and don’t think about what I’m saying. I’m
not talking about my bluntness with the students here. I’ve learned it’s okay
to be blunt here, and it’s good to a certain extent. But sometimes I get ideas
of things I want to do and I talk about it before I even know if it will be
possible. So then I get my hopes up and perhaps the students. Then I get more
frustrated with myself in the end, if it doesn’t work out.
