It’s my party, I can run if I want to… run if I want to…

Yes, I am here! I arrived in Africa, and went on yet another, but this time tiny, plane to Beira Mozambique to arrive at a tiny airport. Then paid for my VISA using my limited Portuguese. 6 very well-dressed Mozambiquans greeted me along with Cheryl and Steve, an American couple with their 2 kids who are some of the most intelligent I have come across. This couple is apart of MCC and has taken me in their house and are orienting me around Beira until Tuesday. I felt very important having these well-dress people meet scrubby-traveled-on-a-plane-for-2-days me, and shook their firm hand shakes > “muito prasser” (much pleaser or pleased to meet you). As we drove to their house, I saw AFRICA! People on bikes, sometimes 2 or 3 at a time, chapas (mini transport buses which I will very soon get very familiar with) baskets on heads, people rolling tiers. Everyone is active, walking, selling something, talking… I love it! I wanted to go out and try and talk with everyone… but its not so easy sticking out like a sore-purple thumb. I don't want to look like a tourist either, so my camera will stay hidden for a while. The house is barred in, and they have a personal night guard. Its in a good area > a block from the beach! I went running this morning. Alone… yes mom, they said I could and it was safe enough with the light. Some were training for karate or something, I wished it were capoeira so I could join in, but apparently that word means ‘chicken house’ here. I have had a wonderful breakfast of hot bread from the bakery just beside the house which sweet, freshness wafts over making it smell like happiness whenever we arrive back home. I got 2 birthday cakes today, both delicious, the food so far I have had has been great… Cheryl makes wonderful dishes as well as their espredora (house helper/cleaner/cooker) who made grilled chicken and coconut rice for lunch with a sweet salad. I met the board of the church, and they are taking my position in Machanga very serious, and they seem to have a lot of hope and faith in me. Everything has been in Portuguese with Steve helping me out when I cant get it all in. We have little meetings all over the place and people are so hospitable. They serve coke and fantas in glass bottles (cheaper then cans of pop because they are recycled) and biscuits. For supper we went to a restaurant on the ocean. It was one of Beira’s cold days and was quite windy, but was enjoyable to the local Winnipegger. I am learning lessons fast > I absentmindedly left my purse at the restaurant. Luckily when we got home I realized and we drove back and it was still there. I’ll blame it on the jet-leg (which I don't think I have too much symptoms to) this time, but if it happens again…

Off to Machanga early tomorrow… over 8 hours of driving to my new home.

ps. i will NOT have internet for at least these 3 weeks, but feel free to call or text me at 011-258- 824-276-27

At the Airport- written Aug 16th

Is there a record of the longest stay in continuous airports? Well, perhaps the movie “the Terminal” wins, but I have spent a lot of time in airports, planes and links + tunnels between the two. The night before I left Akron, Pennsylvania, I decided I was going to stay up all night and pull an ‘all-nighter’ because we had to drive to the airport at 3:30am anyways. I was the only one who pulled though, but I did it> cant back out of your own initiative right? The first flight was 19mins! The second was 45 mins. I managed to fall asleep on both immediately because I had not had sleep for over 24 hours. The third flight, I prepped myself up, but ironically was NOT able to sleep for ANY of the flight. Typical. There were 9 of us who were going to different African countries and flying the Johannesburg together, so it was great to have a group on the plane. Of course everyone was seated together in the 50s… except my seat… back in the 70s! Typical. But to be honest I am glad it worked out that way. I sat beside a group of Afrikaners (the white south African man) whom all have the best accents. I learnt some Africana (like a white mans African with a twist of Dutch). E.g.: Thank you = bouyadonkie (said like buy a donkey). I never knew someone could fit in such irregular positions in airplane seats, and I am sure I invented some new ones. The guy beside me laughed often and called me ‘a peanut’.

This plane was ‘que rico!’ lux! I got wine, meals, refreshments, towel, toothpaste and toothbrush etc., movies and games of your choice galore. The 23 lbs of books I brought in a book bag didn't even get opened. (I tell you that thing is a burden to carry around in the airport along with my huge hiking pack + laptop, and a purse). No one has noticed I have 3 carry-ons yet.

Our group just departed and I have one more plane to go > to Beira. Tomorrow, August 17^th is my 19th birthday! My first full day in Africa. (time change is 7 hours different, will I be jet legged?) The next day I am being dropped off (9 hour drive on crowded bus perhaps) in the rural Machanga, Mozambique for 3 weeks without contact from the white world. Year nineteen begins here.

VISA anyone?

I have been in Akron for about a week and met all sorts of cultures. We had a talent/music night, and Ezekiel, a man from Kenya and Teddy (short for his full name) from Ethiopia, asked me to learn and sing a Swahili song with them in front of everyone. They asked me because I had spoken Swahili and the little bit of Arabic I knew with them and they thought it would be good for me to sing with them. Also, a group of us girls presented Michael Jackson’s’ “THRILLER” to show some American culture to those new to North America. People are so interesting > I say this as I think of Samhali the Haitian, New-Yorker going to Kenya, who presented an amazing poem comparing her NY lifestyle with the lifestyle of her previous visits to Kenya. I am in for a trip.

Everyone seems to really be bonding. Now names are solidifying in memory and each night we stay up later and later. It will be a bittersweet parting… if I can. I still don't have my visa and I am promised it will come Friday… TODAY… If I do I leave tomorrow as scheduled… I just HAVE to go to AFRICA!

I have dumped over 26 lbs of overweight baggage and am leaving it behind. What a waist of paying overweight charges: lesson to be learnt. If I do not leave this weight behind, in Johannesburg it will cost me $400 per bag of over-weightness. Yicks! Remember: simple living and flexibility is KEY

Hot-humid days here, playing frizbee, volleyball, tennis, running around and exploring the local area. A group of us found a little East Indian grocery store. Harvrit, the 72-year-old man whom owns the store has more energy then a 30 year old. He, an interesting character, born and raised in Uganda, and now lives in the USA selling Indian goods. He was exited we were there and gave us samosas, fresh chai tea (chai-masala the good stuff) and a bag of cardamom-crunchy, chip-like snacks. I await to meet locals and make regulars with the people in the markets of Africa.

Akron - land of the Amish

So I am out of Canada, and in Akron, Pennsylvania, land of the Amish. I am here with around 120 people going to 23 different countries doing different development projects and programmes around the world. I must say, thank your for all those who gave m

e encouraging letters and love> mom who sneaks one in my suitcase and dad who, of course, writes on graph-paper (perhaps written in the comfort of his garage?). I will keep those and probably need to re-read them later in the trip. But for now I am enjoying Akron, which is soooo humid! Flashy thunder-lightning storms this morning and afternoon!

I am really getting to practice all my languages and more! People from Africa with many languages, Brazil and other South American countries, even a girl from Jordan to practice Arabic etc. I don't even know where to start… but I am making an effort to hang with the three Brazilians, for Mozambique is a Portuguese speaking country.

MCC has arranged really awesome house groups in very themed and nice houses. I think its so luxurious it will be more of a culture shock going from here to Africa this Saturday, then if I had gone straight to Africa. I am sharing a room with a girl from Zimbawe named Kudzai who is giving me good advice about Africa. The rest of the week is filled with orientation. Not looking forward to lots of sitting, but I have already explored the streets of Akron and seen horse and buggy with some other runners.

Going to be a busy week

ps. i over packed! and now I have to dump over 26 lbs of stuff and leave it here! I don't care too much about the cloths, its just my art supplies and activities to keep me sane in down-times that I don't want to leave. ahh!

cheers

lexy