Landmines, machine guns and more...

Pictures (4) April 2007

2007-05-03T09:52:00.000-07:00

A waterfall in Gorongosa National Park

Deforestation in Gorongosa National Park due burning.

One of Alexis's Students at Science Fair 2006

One of my students at the 2006 regional science fair pretending to do something important.

Supposedly this mural is promoting condoms. However, I would say it appears to be promoting big butts and big condoms.

Alexis, Kory and two of our JOMA (boys club) kids.

Pictures (3) April 2007

2007-05-03T09:34:00.000-07:00

Have no words to describe the pure Mozambicaness of this fountain

Mural painting training group at JOMA

Alexis with her girls club

Women marching on Mozambican Women's Day

Alexis enjoys a little grading, while spreading sunshine wherever she looks.

Pictures (2) April 2007

2007-05-03T08:37:00.001-07:00

Kids in the trash pit.

Mud Bricks being fired.

Kory's students after winning a prize at the 2006 science fair.

A mural we painted in our living room.

Day beds we built in our living room.

Pictures (1) April 2007

2007-05-03T07:57:00.000-07:00

AAAAh, he's so cute.

On the summit of Mt. Domwe

One of our seasoned guides navigates some exposure on Mt. Domwe

Our bucket shower

Our Kitchen

Bombs!

2007-03-26T09:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been so long since we've written anything. Life's been busy here as we're preparing for conferences and wrapping up our 2 years in Mozambique.

This year Kory and I both have 3 classes of 9th grade (which is a relief for me after having 6 classes last year). We are almost finished with the 1st trimester of school and getting ready for the boy's and girl's conferences in April. Kory's been working with the boy's group to paint murals about preventing HIV/AIDS. My girls group is getting ready to perform songs and dances at the celebration of Mozambican Women's Day on April 7Th. I've been helping to organize the national conference on the provincial level for the girl's conference and am doing the accounting and communications for the boys conference. I'm tired. Kory's also been very busy organizing the Science Fair and English Theatre Competition. All these things take up a lot of time, require a lot of traveling, and your patience is severely tested. I'd love to be able to predict the outcome of something because of consistent service and availability, but that's just not going to happen.

We've been in Maputo for over a week now because we've not been able to return to our site in Manica due to bombs exploding. There was an armoury near the airport that housed old bombs left over from the war that began exploding due to the "heat and pressures". I don't believe that crap. Regardless, the official statistics (which i again don't believe these numbers, i think they are higher. i know the way they calculate these things and it's not in a way my Stats professor would approve) state that around 100 people were killed and approx. 300 were injured. It was scary. At first we didn't know what was going on and then we saw a big mushroom cloud of smoke coming from the city. There was broken glass everywhere and people were flipping out. I was out running errands in the city with a friend, Kory was taking a nap at the hotel (even he woke up from the shaking!). Luckily, we weren't injured, but I feel terrible for the people who lost family members or were injured.

Also, the situation in Zimbabwe is going downhill fast. We are concerned because we live 15 km from the border and an illegal crossing path is about 2 km from our back door. Many people are leaving Zim because the economy is falling apart (inflation rate of 1700%) and political problems are getting out of hand. We're not scared, but have to be practical and recognize that at some point, we may need to be evacuated. We're praying it doesn't come to that, but if it does, we'll be ready. If this happens before the end of our 2 years, we'll have to move sites and start all over again. I don't want to do that, but I don't want to just give up. Both of us feel committed to staying here and fulfilling our contracts. I requested that if we had to be moved, that it be to the beach. Ha! I think we deserve that after all we've been doing at our current home.

I'm headed to South Africa next month to have my wisdom teeth removed. I'm not looking forward to this trip. It will make me miss more classes and who wants to have their face cut open??? I don't! It needs to be done and I'd rather have it done soon. This will provide an opportunity to travel during our next break before Science Fair. We're hoping to travel to Malawi and through the northern provinces of Moz.

Ok, I've gotta run. I need to pack things up so we can get on the early flight tomorrow. We leave here at 5:15! You know how i love the morning...

We'd love to hear from you and get more regular email access this year, so please write!
~Alexis

IN AMERICA!

2006-11-27T09:28:00.000-08:00

so i've been back in america for 6 days...more or less. i'm still adjusting to the time change and the food and the convenience of everything, but it's been great.

a personal update that needs to be addressed is the Lester Dinsmore (my pop pop) died on November 26, 2006 at 5:05 a.m. while we were in Delaware for Thanksgiving. i was there in the hospital with him all night and was holding his hand when he passed on. it's been a rough start to my experience home. please keep Grace (his wife) in your prayers. she's obviously having a hard time and it's going to be a big transition for her. she lives alone now far from her family and friends.

ok...on a bright note, i made it back safely. i did have a little of a rough start when i burnt my hand in the bathroom at the airport in jo-burg. i turned the hot water on (obviously not expecting it to work) and burnt myself. later i ordered a regal sandwich (some thai chicken thing with alfalfa sprouts and peanuts and a sesame dressing) and almost missed my flight because i was overwhelmed by the whole thing. i had to throw money at the waiter and get a to-go box because i needed to take it with me on the plane. i also was talking to people in portuguese when i was in the airport. not on purpose (i'm not meredith), but because i had just left mozambique and was still adjusting to the idea that i no longer had to speak anything but english!

i'm going to chicago for a few days to see my ladies! i can't wait. it's been so long and i can't wait to catch up and hang out with them. i've already seen a few of my friends from home, including Lisa, so it's been great. i can't believe people told me nothing's changed or been going on since i've been gone, they've been lying. so much is different!

while i'm home i'm using my dad's cell phone so you can call that or our home number. it's the same. or you can always email me. i don't have a job so i've got a lot of free time. for example, i'm at work with Lisa right now because i can be. i'm using her super fast internet and taking advantage of the comfortable chairs. God Bless America....ha!

Google earth image of where we live

2006-10-23T11:35:00.000-07:00

End of School Year One!

2006-10-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it has been a while since we updated the blog. Sorry. Anyway, here is all the news that is new and Peace Corps approved. School is finishing for the year, we are turning in our grades and warding of the hoards of students trying to bribe us for better grades. This last trimester has been a busy one. Jecua and Chinhamapere both held science fairs and competed in the regional science fair. We are heading up the regional science fair for next year. Jecua (Kory’s school) also competed in the Provincial English Theater Competition, where one student one a best actor award. We are also in charge of the English Theater next year. In addition, Alexis is running Girls clubs for both Jecua and Chinhamapere while I’m doing Boys clubs. Needless to say there are students at our house almost constantly. I woke up the other day to Alexis’s Girls group sing “malaria, cholera, SIDA (AIDS) OOOOHHH.” Yeah, that was a special moment. I have been doing a fair amount of climbing whenever possible. I recently made a trip down to help train this years new volunteers near Maputo. It was really interesting to see how far we have come in a year and how far we still have to go.
Funny story: The trainees first session in the country was with a supposed security expert from the US embassy. Anyway, this guy obviously has no idea what Mozambique is really like, because he told them that “everyone has AK-47’s and will use them.” Yeah, that scared the snot out of them. Just for clarification, that statement is not true.
I’ve posted a few more pictures and an image or two from google earth of our site.
Alexis will be coming back to States during the break to visit Maryland. I will be wondering about Mozambique and trying to stay out of trouble. Thank you all for you thoughts and prayers. We love you all.
Kory and Alexis

Picture set 6

2006-07-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

Local market vendors
The view from above our house
A little critter I picked up along the road
Sunset from the front porch of our house
Ancient paintings on rock mountain above our house

Picture set 5

2006-07-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

School where Kory teaches
The well we get our water from
Local village huts
Kory giving his students a test in his "Teacher's Robe"
With Kory's mom and Mozambique friends

A visit with the kids and new pics from Moz

2006-07-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a one week visit with Kory and Alexis. We had a great time experiencing a little of what their lives are like living and working in Mozambique. We were quite impressed with how well they are doing. In many ways it is a more difficult living situation then we dealt with when we were serving as missionaries in Papua New Guinea. For one they do not have expat neighbors surrounding them who they can talk to in English whenever they want to. They have to do their work in the national language. And their living conditions (no running water in the house) are more difficult. We were also quite impressed with how well they speak the national language of Portuguese. We were very thankful they were there to communicate for us as we encountered various situations. Like riding in a public motor vehicle crowded with local people or trying to figure out what the items on a menu were. As you might have picked up on what we have written we are very proud of what Kory and Alexis are doing and their perserverance and grit to try and make a difference in a part of the world where people do not have the advantages that we take for granted in the States. God bless you kids, we love you.
Dad and Mom
PS: check out the new pics

2 down one to go

2006-07-03T07:03:00.000-07:00

Ok so the second trimester is ending here in a week. That leaves one trimester before the end of the first year. My parents (Kory) were just here. In fact they left today. Had a great time and they got to see the most efficiently inefficient country around. Anyway, things are going well. We are health and most of the time happy. Our schools just had science fairs and we will be taking students from our respective schools to a regional fair in Tete during third trimester. We are also helping with english theater competitions and those will be done in september. My dad took a ton of pictures and I sent him home with some so he should be posting some new visual aids soon. We are hoping to do some more traveling this break and see some of northern moz. Well, there you have it, life just keeps rolling. Thanks for all your support and e-mails.
Kory and Alexis

Picture set 4

2006-04-13T01:34:00.000-07:00

Getting Cactus Sap in your eye really Hurts

The View from our back door

The Beach, very far away unfortunately

This looks how I sometimes feel...

Kory proving how manly he is...be very impressed. He is.

Kory holding hands with a man. Yes, we are still married.

Picture set 3

2006-04-13T00:57:00.000-07:00

Stop Smilling and Get Back to Work

Santos our one-legged friend

Quinta da Fronteira near our House

Our Welcome van at the airport

Our House

Our Outhouse

Picture set 2

2006-04-12T23:52:00.000-07:00

Kitchen Before Renovations

Kory kills dinner

Mozambiquan School Kids

Our Host Family for Pre-service Training

Local Flora

Mozambiquan Baby Carrier

Cooking Xima

Picture set 1

2006-04-12T23:05:00.000-07:00

Our bedroom before renovations

Mozambiquan Mural

Claudia and Us with massive amounts of Meticais

Climbing during Training

A baby baboon, we hear the baboons barking behind our house on the mountain all the time

Pictures are here!

2006-04-12T23:02:00.000-07:00

So, we are finally posting pictures because we finally get the internet for free. i hope everyone is doing well and is enjoying the spring. It's turning to "winter" here, so it's getting cold. ha! We are finished with the 1st trimester of school now. We have a 2 week break until we begin class again. Schools here make the teachers work during the break on the grades of the student which are all written on big pieces of paper by hand. Luckily, Kory and I are both in Maputo for medical stuff.

Kory is going to the Boy's Conference this coming week and I will be doing the Girl's conference during the next break. These conferences are to help build self esteem of the kids and show them the opportunities that staying in school, staying healthy (i.e not getting AIDS or TB) and community work can provide. Each school in 7 of the 10 provinces of mozambique that have Peace Corps volunteers will be sending 2 students from their school. This is a really great opportunity to connect with other schools and hear how they are running things. It should be run.

Anyway, back to the pictures, they definitely aren't all the pictures we have but a few and our house looks a lot better now that we have been working on it but believe me...it's a long way from my luxurious apartment in Rogers Park. No balcony here, but we still have a porch. I did almost start crying when I saw the house for the first time (and you know I am not a crier), but now, it's great. I am concerned that my perception of "great" is getting skewed by being here, but what can you do? It may be better if you want to send packages to send them to Maputo at: Alexis Cole, PCV
C.P 4398
Maputo, Mozambique

If you want to send a letter or a padded envelope you can send it to: Kory Russel and Alexis Cole, C.P. 66, Cidade de Manica, Mozambique.

Ok! Post something back on here for me to read. Sorry I dont' get to email as much.

~Alexis

Enjoy the pictures

School?

2006-02-03T04:11:00.000-08:00

Well, school was supposed to start on Wednesday, but no one came. By that i mean no students attended classes. there were plenty of students wandering around and trying to register still, but not one came in a classroom. Thursday, same thing. Friday (today) is a holiday so there is no school. monday is the big day when most of the kids show up, but even then it is likely that the class roster will not be final and complete til the beginning of march. hopefully. this is getting to be a little absurd. anyway, that is life here. waiting for students to show up and have the test how much the new muzungo (white person) will let them get away with. good times to follow...

New Address

2006-01-27T02:48:00.000-08:00

after months of no mail and waiting for a post office box, we finally have it!
Kory Russel and Alexis Cole
C.P. 66
Cidade de Manica, Mozambique

all that anticipation for such a little address. ha! we have been busy getting our house into a livable state. we have no running water but we do have electricity. we love the emails and comments that we receive. sorry we cant always respond but time is very limited and costs a lot.

school is starting on february 1st and then we have a national holiday on the 3rd. nice huh? not really. i will be teaching 6 turmas (classes) of 9th grade. kory still doesnt know what grade or how many classes he will be in charge of. its scary. my classes will be between 50 or 60 students. that means i am responsible for at least 300 students who are likely to be the same age or older and usually larger than me. slightly intimidating, but i plan on laying down the lay on the first day. hopefully that will take care of any plots for an uprising. ha!

overall, life here has been good. i get sick, get better, get sick again. vicious cycle of living here. well we love you all and we think of you often. hope things are going well in america! someone eat a chipotle burrito for me and tell me how the maryland terps are doing! oh, i also need a GIANT ICE COLD DIET COKE. man, i miss that. oh well, in 2 years that will be a sweet reward.

~alexis and kory

this is the beginning of a very long time away....

2005-12-03T00:58:00.000-08:00

so, here is my blog. the first one up for public display. really i have nothing to say that i haven´t said in the mass emails, but i needed to set this up so we can post important information for everyone when email time is scarce. here are the basics. we are getting sworn in as official peace corps volunteers this coming friday. by sunday, we will be leaving our homestays (finally) and going to our site. we will be living in chinhampere, manica province. it´s supposedly beautiful, mountainous, etc. i still want to live by the beach. oh well. we have awesome people living near us and we will have a good time. there is a shop rite grocery store in chimoio (the capital of the province) so i should be able to find something to eat. we miss and love you all! hopefully you will respond to this.

~alexis