"This is the life, everyone has to be somewhere. I am here..."

Ok so back to using songs as the title for my blog entries. If you don't recognize that one, it’s from the movie Dangerous Minds. I suggest listening to it or even watching the movie if you want to know why I feel like it describes life at this moment.

As a side note I easily could have called this entry “and then there were 37”, but that’s old news now and isn’t what I want to focus on. It hit me hard at first that another volunteer chose to leave, but I was strangely encouraged when I found out the original Group 1 from 1962 was exactly 37 education volunteers. We always talk about how we are the second version of Group 1 since we are the first volunteers since 1994, so it’s fitting that we have the same amount of volunteers in the same sector.

Ok on to the update. First of all, I’m sorry it has been so long without an update. I’m in my village now and have to travel to a big city to get to internet, and while that isn’t far away, I’ve been thwarted in my last few tries to use the internet (place wasn’t open, not enough time for travel, internet broken, etc.). I’ll try to be updating every month or so from here on out. Also along those lines, I really do want to hear from all of you. I’m sure you probably feel like nothing has changed at home, but it is really exciting to get news from home, even when it seems like something boring or unimportant to you. So please don’t feel shy about sending out a letter or shooting me an email update. I’ll respond back to you using the same method you use.

I have just finished my first month as an official Peace Corps Volunteer. This first month was time before school starts to get “integrated” into your community. That means getting to know people, establishing yourself as a member of the community, trying to learn community strengths and potential community needs (for later secondary projects), preparing for the school year, and whatever else you decide (learning to cook local foods, learning the local language, etc.). I’ve had many conversations with people about how this integration thing is tricky business. First off, in the beginning you are overwhelmed by how much you feel like you need to accomplish, but how little you actually have planned for each day and how to make bring those two things together. I also have the added challenge of being in a big town for a Peace Corps Volunteer at around 10,000 people, which makes it pretty tough to learn “everything there is to know” about this place…

Ok so I won’t keep you in suspense any longer, here are some things I did in this past month:
• I started Mende tutoring with a local middle school Mende teacher. We spent most of Peace Corps Pre-Service Training working on Krio, which is the lingua franca for the country, but the area where I am is heavily Mende speaking (People only really speak Krio for trading or other business ventures and a combination of Mende, Krio, and English at school). The language is coming along very very slowly, but its definitely coming along. Nya gaama Mende yie klo klo (I’m learning the Mende language slowly)…
• I’ve been walking around the town randomly just talking to people and trying to get the town used to the fact that I’m around. That pretty much just means walking down streets, greeting people the best I can in Mende and telling them my name is Konya not pumui (white person), and walking over to spend time with them if they call me over with wa le (please come) or wa mu mehee me (come let us eat). Just fyi, the protocol for eating with people here is to accept it, but eat only a small amount leaving most if not all of the meat, saying you’re fed, and thanking the cook properly.
• “Keeping time” with key people so as to build relationships: my principle and other coworkers, the past Community-Teachers Association (CTA, their version of PTA) chairlady, the police commander and other officers, leaders of the local women’s organization, the town chiefs, the Christian Brothers, Christian Sisters, and Reverend Father at my school, my neighbors, etc.
• Visiting the local Community Health Center and getting an idea of what health care is offered here
• I attempted to start cooking lessons with my neighbor, but it took too much time to go to the market to buy everything, come back, cook, eat, and clean when I was trying to schedule so many other things. Now I pay my neighbor to make me food each day…
• Incredible times with the other volunteers, especially a trip to Number 2 River (where the river meets the beach) near Freetown. First time I’ve stayed in a beach house, danced on the beach, swam and especially watched the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean, and a host of other amazing things…
• Attended a workshop with the local women’s group about gender based violence
• Tagged along with a lady that works on a micro-loan program with women’s groups both in my town and in surrounding villages
• Biked around with one of my coworkers to introduce myself to the surrounding villages
• Continually preparing for school by getting supplies together, reading the Peace Corps guide to classroom management and doing exercises with a coworker, and cleaning, organizing, labeling, and taking inventory for our lab! That’s right we have a lab, with some actual chemicals and glassware 
• Working with the Christian Brother on making rules for the new library that is opening at the school, complete with donations of plenty of science books that the students will be able to read inside the library
• Spending time with the “Honourable” (i.e. Parliamentary representative) for these 3 chiefdoms, who is a fantastic woman and one of the few women in government here. I’ve also spent time with the woman who is the head of the 50/50 group for the Eastern Province. That group is based in Freetown and is devoted to increasing the amount of women in Sierra Leonean politics (until its equal or 50/50)
• I’ll round off this list with spending time with the Paramount Chief for my chiefdom. He is a fantastic guy who spent 27 years in America (and got his degrees there) before coming back to Sierra Leone around 2002. We took a trip to Kenema (the district capital 12 miles down the road) and got to meet the Regional Minister (the representative for the President for the whole Eastern Region), district education officials, the LUC (second in command for the Sierra Leone Police in the district, the OC wasn’t around, neither was the mayor who we were also wanting to meet)…the most ridiculous part of that day? Sitting in on the district council meeting where they make actual decisions for the district government. We were invited to the head table and listened to the council debate how much money they would contribute to a scholarship scheme in order to set an example before asking others to contribute. Then they asked my chief if he wanted to speak, and his speech was incredible. He gave me a warm welcome, mentioned that the US isn’t perfect and poor people do exist there (which no one ever believes) but that I did make a sacrifice coming. He went on to say that they should look at my sacrifice and instead of just taking what I have to offer (and trying to marry me while I’m here) they should take me as an example to search within themselves to develop their own country. He said that it should be their goal to decrease foreign aid until it is nothing and Sierra Leone is self-sufficient. He even threw in the JFK quote (super pertinent plus JFK is the founder of the Peace Corps), and I had to try hard not to cry sitting there at the head table (seriously it was way better than I’m making it sound). Mind you this is in stark contrast to how most Sierra Leoneans think. Its too early for me to make broad comments about the culture, but let me tell you a story to get the idea across:

I was keeping time with my Mende teacher talking about how teachers here don’t always get paid, comparing the cost/education system of Sierra Leone and the United States, etc. He started discussing how the government doesn’t do enough for the people (including pay salaries) but had also been complaining about how people shouldn’t be expected to pay taxes because many can’t afford them (taxes here are 5000 Le/year, which is $1.25 although the exchange rate is misleading. The buying power is about 1 meal that could feed a small family of 5 or so). I asked him where the government would get the money without increasing taxes, and without missing a beat (and even shocked that I asked at all) he said “from you people” (Cultural note “you people” is common and not at all an offensive thing to say, even though it sounds weird to us). Again its too early for me to be making cultural judgments, but the huge NGO presence in Sierra Leone is definitely doing something to develop a culture where people expect others (especially foreigners and the government) to come in and do things for them, don’t think they can/don’t want to do it for themselves, and take very little initiative in their own country’s development…now you see why the chief’s speech to a decision making body was so moving to me.

Since I don’t want to be making broad cultural statements, and I feel its too early to be saying extremely insightful things about the meaning of life or the inherent flaws in America (just kidding, just kidding), let me close off this long entry with some interesting things that people say in Sierra Leonean English or in Krio that are just ridiculous to me, and their “cultural interpretation”.

First off, there is definitely the mark of British English on Sierra Leonean English, especially in words that sound extremely formal to me like veranda, parlor, vex, and humbug. There are also words that mean something different than how we use them, and it is a debate among volunteers whether the differences come from British English or the African interpretation, like using “revision” instead of “review”, sayings like “I want to believe”, or the hardest one for me to get used to: when people use “can” to mean “do”. For example if someone says “can you eat rice?” it means do you usually eat rice, or if someone says “why can’t you go sit inside?” it is really just a suggestion, not the attack it sounds like in American English. Some other funny things people say in Krio: most greetings start with asking someone “aw di bodi?” (how is the body?), “aw yu slip?” (how did you sleep?), or “aw yu spend di de?” (how did you spend the day? – the answer to this is “fine”, not a list of what you did that day), all of which are pretty weird to us. Last but not least, and definitely one of my favorites is “how do you see the environment?” Upon first hearing this, all the volunteers wanted to answer something along the lines of “with my eyes”, but the question is closer to “what do you think about the environment?” so the answer is whatever you are thinking about the place that you’re in.

Anyway let me finish off this long long entry with a little glimpse into what’s coming ahead. School officially “re-opened” on the 13th of September, but students file in slowly for the first week or two, so I’m just hanging out at the school in my awesome African lapa suits spending time with teachers, learning about how things run in the school, making other preparations, and “reviewing” material with the small number of students who have actually come…By next time you’ll be hearing from someone who has actually been teaching her official African classes! Well I want to believe I will be teaching by then…

In another side note, I realized recently that I am now living by myself for the first time in my life. Its strange to think that I passed this important milestone while in Africa…

Ok, in the truly Sierra Leonean way, let me sign off with all my relevant titles:

Amanda Pease
Konya Dongboi (Mende name)
Paradise (travel name, I promise to explain this one next time)
Peace Corps Volunteer, Sierra Leone group 1.2
Volunteer Advisory Committee (VAC) representative
Peer Support Network Counselor
And I’m sure many more to come once school gets going and we settle into our committees at school: I’m guessing I’ll be in the Library Committee, Sports Committee, and Performing Arts Committee to start…

Or in my standard American way of signing off:

Take care,
-A

And then there we're 38

So I wanted to update the blog way soone but caught a cold that slowed me down a bit. There is tons to update on so I'll do my best to let you guys know what's going on.

First off we had our first Peace Corps ET (Early Termination), resulting in there only beng 38. Well that is if you don't count the mystery of Samuel, who was supposed to be number 40 but never got on the plane for DC. One of our girls really wasn't happy here and decided to go home. I wasn't that close to her so I don't really know her reasons, but it was unreal to see one of our own leave, and also to realize how easy it would be to go back to America. It seems crazy to me as I've prepared myself for a 2 year commitment to see someone leave so quickly. I'm not judging her situation, it's just really weird for me to see because it seems so far away from my life. I sincerely hope she is feeling better and we all miss her out here.
In better news, we found out where our sites are!! I will be teaching at St. Joseph's secondary school in Blama, Small Bo chiefdom, Kenema District, Eastern Region, Sierra Leone (you get all that?). It's a town of about 10,000 that's really beautiful, and nicely situated between Bo and Kenema, which are the 2nd and 3rd biggest cities in Sierra Leone. I'm right on the Bo-Kenema highway, which means traveling to and from site will be super easy. The school is also an agricultural school, so it has a school swamp (for rice) that is gorgeous! I will be teaching SS1 and SS2 (10th and 11th grade) chemistry and physics, and may pick up a math class 2nd term if all goes well.
The Peace Corps had a supervisor workshop where our principals came to Bo to learn about the Peace Corps and our role and how to best help us in that. My principal's name is Michael Samba, and he is really awesome. He's also the president of the National Council of Principals!! I also had the chance to meet some colleagues, and they all seem fantastic and are really helpful. I'm anxious to get to site and get started!
I am anxious to get started but nervous as well. We had a 2 week summer "practice" school where we really got to see how difficult it will be to teach here. Classes were crowded (up to 70 kids), classrooms were connected (so the ambient noise from the next classroom was often too much to teach through), students didn't have textbooks (so you had to balance writing their textbook with encouraging problem solving and creative thinking) just to name a few. We definitely have our work cut out for us.

Training is now coming to an end, and we will be sworn in as Peace Corps Volunteers on August 13th (yes Friday the 13th!). This strange time that is training is now coming to a close...training consisted of a crazy busy schedule, living with a host family, and doing everything with a large group of Peace Corps' Trainees, all things which will be markedly different at our sites. Everyone is feeling a mix of being excited and nervous at the same time...
That's the update for now from Bo, Sierra Leone. By the next time you hear from me, I'll be living in Blama on my own, and I'll officially be a Peace Corps Volunteer!!
-A

"Got everybody watching what I do, come walk in my shoes, and see the way I'm living if you really want to"

I kind of like the idea of starting every blog entry with a song lyric that describes my life in the moment...can't promise I'll keep it up but I'll try.

Since I gave you guys an update about day to day life last time, I felt like it would be fun to do an entry about what makes African Amanda different from American Amanda:

It is the happiest moment of life when I see a cucumber or tomato, which I definitely didn't like at home.
I greet everyone I see as I walk by in 1 or a mix of 3 languages.
I'm surprised when people aren't talking to me (and are actually talking to someone else).
I cannot remember why I ever needed socks, shoes that require socks, or a jacket.
Staying up until 11pm seems like a ridiculously late night, and sleeping until 7 is sleeping in.
I have to dance to get through the week...at least 2 nights of dancing to "dance out" the week.
I've danced in ways I have never danced before and (sorry) probably never will in the States.
I danced blindfolded for an hour in a dance meditation.
My capacity for white rice has tripled since I left.
My alcohol tolerance is exactly half of what it was at home, probably because I sweat all day and am always a little dehydrated.
Things like washing machines and microwaves are starting to seem weird to me even.
I communicate much more using just noises :)
I feel completely comfortable wearing my lapa skirt anywhere for any purpose, even as a yoga mat, sheet, or something to cover my bag to thwart tifs (thieves).
I laugh at anything that's funny...even (and especially) if it's something someone did that's funny. And yes I'm laughing AT them, not with them.
I no longer think silence is awkward, ever. In fact not much at all is awkward...

And...easily the worst thing about Africa: My voice is always a little bit gone, meaning I can't sing really at all...

In New York: (concrete) jungle where dreams are made of!

Ok so everything about that title is true except for the concrete part. True story, I am living in New York! Ok, ok it’s New York Village in Bo in Sierra Leone, but I’ve always wanted to see New York! Except this New York doesn’t have electricity or running water or paved roads…so it’s just a little different!

So I figure the easiest way to catch you guys up is to just give you a day in the life here in New York: I wake up, go outside and brush my teeth and pull water out of the well if they haven’t already. Then it’s off to take my bucket bath which is an interesting task that I’ve come to love! It’s the only time during the day when I’m not covered in a gross layer of sweat aaaand it’s just so relaxing! Ok so after that I eat breakfast, which is usually eggs with onion and pepper and boiled plantains, then it’s off to training! The walk to the training site is about half an hour and you pretty much have to say hello to everyone along the way. That’s partly because greetings are a big part of the culture here and partly because everyone is staring at you and yelling “pumui pumui” (white person) so you may as well just say hello.

At training we have teaching sessions (and we start teaching our first students in a little over a week!), cross cultural sessions, medical and security sessions, and of course Krio (language) sessions. The days are packed full of information and real tiring, especially because everybody is tired just from trying to adjust to the climate and food. After class usually a big group of volunteers goes to the bar across the street (called Graceland) to chill and “shoot the shit” as everybody calls it. That is hands down my favorite part of the day, just decompressing with the other volunteers about how we are all adjusting and how classes are going or just talking about life here compared to in the States. We have a great group of people and I’ve luckily had no trouble making some close friends real quickly.

Then after that its back home for dinner (in Krio: A de go na house for eat) which is usually rice and some sauce with meat in it and occasionally (whenever I ask for it) some fruits or vegetables, then bath number 2 of the day (that’s right I have better hygiene in Africa than I did in the States!), then depending on the night it might be out to a bar/club called After Work that has awesome live music and dancing, or off to “Obama’s” bar to watch the World Cup games…yes there are many things here called Obama and this particular place has paintings of R. Kelly, Akon, and Bob Marley on it too!

Other things we’ve done: met the President and Vice President of Sierra Leone in a ceremony at State House, had a reception at the US Embassy, played soccer in the national stadium, watched soccer in the national stadium, got adopted by our host family, got given Mende names (mine is Konya, which literally means a woman fighter and is usually given to girls born during wartimes…it is a strong Mende name and people have responded well to it), and sooo many other things I can’t even tell it all!

Things are going pretty well in general. Of course some days are more challenging or tiring but overall things are going well. Life is busy with learning and preparing and all the madness that goes along with training. I hope all is well with everybody and I miss you guys. Wi go talk bak (We will talk later)!!!

Last day in California

So today is officially my last day in California. Its actually really weird to think about, because I've spent my entire life living somewhere in California, and now I'm leaving for over 2 years. A friend asked me yesterday if I felt like there was anything else I needed to do before I left, and luckily I don't think there is! I've been up and down CA in the last few months doing a million things and visiting everybody, and it's been an awesome time. Of course it's still bittersweet to say goodbye to everybody here and all the places I love, but I'm also super excited to start my adventure.

I want to say a quick shout out to everyone that's graduating from UCLA, I'm so proud of you guys and I wish I could be there at graduation...best of luck in the transition to whatever type of "real world" you're heading towards.

So from here I fly to D.C. to do orientation for a few days. We have a celebration at Peace Corps headquarters for the return of the Peace Corps to Sierra Leone, and NBC is supposed to be there! I have no idea what if anything will be on TV, but just giving you guys the heads up. After orientation we fly to Freetown, Sierra Leone to do some odds and ends before traveling to Bo for actual training. I'm told I wont have any access to internet in Freetown, so the next update wont be for a couple of weeks until I get out to Bo.

It is still so unreal to me that this is finally happening. I first decided I wanted to join the Peace Corps almost 2 years ago, and finished my application over a year ago. All the waiting sort of lulled me to sleep, and now all of the sudden here I am, flying away tomorrow! I'm not sure it'll fully hit me that I am actually living in Africa for a while...I think it'll feel like a summer trip to me at first (i.e. like Romania trips of recent summers). Maybe once I am actually moving in to a house (hut, or something) once training is finish I'll actually believe this is really happening...

Last but definitely not least, I want to say thank you to everybody for supporting and encouraging me through this process. It's really meant a lot to me, and I can't wait to update you guys with all my crazy adventures!

Finally Starting the Blog...

This post marks the official beginning of my Sierra Leone blog! I admit I've never blogged or twittered and rarely even update my facebook status so this will be an adventure in itself. Most other Peace Corps volunteers start blogs much sooner during the whole application process, but I decided to spare you guys all those details, and start with me leaving for Sierra Leone.

Here is the plan right now:
Fly to DC (via Denver) on June 1st to meet the rest of the volunteers, hang out, get immunizations and such, then fly to Freetown, Sierra Leone (via Brussels) on June 3rd. The Peace Corps has already told us there will be a celebration for us at the Sierra Leonean congress, which is super exciting! After a few days making the rounds in Freetown, we set off to Bo where training will be for the next 10 weeks. After that its off to whatever village or town I will end up at for the next 2 years!

I plan to update this blog as I can, but in all honesty I have no idea how much internet I'll have. Because of that I can't make any promises how often I'll update (I can't even promise it'll be interesting enough to read when I do!), but I'll do the best I can.

Just in case the internet situation is terrible and you guys want to keep in touch the old school way, here is my address. The Peace Corps says mail takes about 3 weeks, so don't be offended if you don't get a response right away:

Amanda Pease, Peace Corps Volunteer
Peace Corps
Post Office Box 905
Freetown, Sierra Leone

As far as I know you can check rates here http://ircalc.usps.gov/ and US stamps are perfect.

That's all for now :)