tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88018445002023919612024-03-20T06:01:39.771-04:00Heather in Malawi, the Warm Heart of AfricaI'll be working with the Malawi Network of AIDS Service Organisations (MANASO) in Blantyre in southern Malawi. I'll be living in this small, landlocked and lightening-shaped country in southern Africa until January.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-33841597209105986972011-12-04T04:07:00.001-05:002011-12-04T08:49:33.501-05:00Getting Married in Malawi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildb7-Lwae4aamVcTzx-Nj6eSAb6Qm2BYorzOl867dMFTV2HpWnOgFn_7y_jLnmxosP3YzbR8IWDlf_Szz34hlulbsEKcOHlmsULvyeQNQd_iXBsXmemc5UDxRn6qGK5EONLuI-TfyXZdx/s1600/IMG_0320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEildb7-Lwae4aamVcTzx-Nj6eSAb6Qm2BYorzOl867dMFTV2HpWnOgFn_7y_jLnmxosP3YzbR8IWDlf_Szz34hlulbsEKcOHlmsULvyeQNQd_iXBsXmemc5UDxRn6qGK5EONLuI-TfyXZdx/s320/IMG_0320.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big money, big money!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Well, not me specifically! But it's definitely marriage season over here and I had occasion to drop in on a wedding reception yesterday afternoon. The sister of the Executive Director of AYISE Marcel got married and pretty much everyone gets invited to the reception. And in part that is because of the tradition of money throwing or "splashing." Change that 500 Kwatcha ($3) into 20s and 50s and get ready to dance!<br />
<br />
Basically there is a hall full of guests and the wedding party up front, and for hours, the bride, groom and the rest of the party take turns dancing to their favourite songs. Guests can either wait until a particularly catchy song comes on or until they are called to dance - brother of the groom's friends! uncle twice removed's relatives! Friends of the Bride's sister! Co-workers of the bride's brother! I'm telling you - do not toss away all your cash at once, you never know how many categories you might fall under.<br />
<br />
I walked over with my friend Emma, a Swedish volunteer through Peaceworks, bringing with us a handful of small bills. After watching guests dance their way to the front to present gifts, we decided that since the entire reception was in Chichewa so we could never know if "co-workers of the bride's brother" would be called so with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_lTHjpRkMM&feature=related">Sawa Sawa</a> playing, we danced our way up with others to throw some money around. After each song, a designated "cashier" collects all the money on the floor, another song is put on and it starts all over again! I guess it's a good way to raise some money for the new couple.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZovr0JiZCqIxyBbvEfum4D1CcvCCdaoeKQ6El0Oxahhfrq0-1iY562GZrbfRPY3adfdhxHbdWnW8oXKVCTW6v8UbjbtIhPSWI12O__OgN9NKTSqfgLCdA7Ai6wnVRJ3HPIB4E-hVREL6/s1600/IMG_0328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZovr0JiZCqIxyBbvEfum4D1CcvCCdaoeKQ6El0Oxahhfrq0-1iY562GZrbfRPY3adfdhxHbdWnW8oXKVCTW6v8UbjbtIhPSWI12O__OgN9NKTSqfgLCdA7Ai6wnVRJ3HPIB4E-hVREL6/s320/IMG_0328.JPG" width="320" /></a>You have to love the extremely colour-coordinated weddings over here. Bright pink and silver everywhere! Another big difference in weddings I noticed is that here they have a huge party on the Friday night, and the wedding is early Saturday morning - I'm talking 8am - with the reception happening all afternoon. It was nice to experience, but it must have been one of the hottest days yet so we didn't stay too long.<br />
<br />
Also, check out this adorable dik-dik that is living in the yard of my friend Sarah's guesthouse - she just calls him Baby; he's so tame and has a cowlick!<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-72742806481311726002011-11-27T09:31:00.001-05:002011-11-27T09:38:36.578-05:00Halfway and Playing Catch-up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px;">In
some ways the fact that I have not been able to post in my blog recently is a
good thing. It means that I have been busy, which I most definitely have. Work
has really been wiping me out – between the frequent 1 ½ hour minibus rides to
and from AISE, getting the run around for meetings, preparing a workshop,
meetings in Lilongwe, World AIDS Day coming up this week and trying to inch
towards ticking outputs off my work plan, I am trying to apply to jobs, grad
school and keep myself sane. And then it dawned on me last week. I have already
hit my halfway point in Malawi. Less than two months and the work left to do
feels overwhelming. Alas, such is the nature of short-term posts.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtxo1eeF7SZQTm9HkrtrJtpPVHhmFf6N7QZMcjocRRIEVOKBNbw7zNrJTXvuIGJ9IAYb6fpZDxZYXEvMJVQ7awdnSmQhOYwnGdFEEBJsNSy-I-PVsF6PO6FyTqtxj0gCX9JbC_Li26QK1/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtxo1eeF7SZQTm9HkrtrJtpPVHhmFf6N7QZMcjocRRIEVOKBNbw7zNrJTXvuIGJ9IAYb6fpZDxZYXEvMJVQ7awdnSmQhOYwnGdFEEBJsNSy-I-PVsF6PO6FyTqtxj0gCX9JbC_Li26QK1/s320/IMG_0138.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the height of the dry season - all the animals are hiding!</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt;">Enough
lamenting, life in Blantyre is moving along nicely. I have found a good group
of girls who support and look out for each other, which came in handy last
Friday when we had an issue with security here and my housemates and I will be
looking for alternative housing. It is sometimes hard to digest the
difficulties that expats run into working in developing countries, especially
when we are trying to contribute to national development and are treated as
though we are not part of humanity. I will just use this opportunity to let you
know I had my first medical procedures overseas – a successful if not painful
removal of a growth on the bottom of my foot, which I think began as blood
blisters from the Oxfam 100km Trailwalker last July. Trying to take it easy as
best I can. Other news: The housemates and I went to Majete National Reserve
earlier in the month and saw some nice animals – Nyala, Impala, Hippos, Warthog
– but no elephants! I ran a half-marathon in Lilongwe on just about the hottest
day ever – so I was pretty proud of myself. And WUSC, my sending organization, celebrated 30 years of work in Malawi, where we volunteers did a tasteful display of Aboriginal culture for the event. Sorry I don't have any pictures!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4R2xTC3n1toEa9FLzr2gWgHDBJ1jNmlFNCXLdof1jgX232ITcGrXTAPqrjeqHNzW-_Nc5IK9pF-G5XYIrzt0GLoeapx6WCD1OHrPzRCR7oEA39_x0KEQz_32KaVrk3XZo48XyyrgFmTJ/s1600/IMG_0200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4R2xTC3n1toEa9FLzr2gWgHDBJ1jNmlFNCXLdof1jgX232ITcGrXTAPqrjeqHNzW-_Nc5IK9pF-G5XYIrzt0GLoeapx6WCD1OHrPzRCR7oEA39_x0KEQz_32KaVrk3XZo48XyyrgFmTJ/s320/IMG_0200.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jacob, the Country Director, opening the celebration</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt;">It’s
World AIDS Day on Thursday, so I will use that time to post about the HIV/AIDS
epidemic in Malawi, giving a little more context for the work I am doing here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt;">Rainy
season is definitely upon us here in Malawi – I’m off to scramble home before
the downpour!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment--></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-1719800078863686262011-10-30T11:13:00.000-04:002011-10-30T11:13:59.945-04:00Celebrating Halloween and Mulako wa Lhomwe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-CA">Thinking about the difference between this
weekend and last weekend is one to smile about. Last weekend, we decided to bus
south to outside of Thyolo to a large celebration of one of the main cultures
in southern Malawi – the Lhomwe. Since the President Mutharika is Lhomwe, he
decided to build a cultural centre to preserve the Lhomwe language, dance,
songs and traditions. I do not quite support the idea of a cultural centre for
only one group and not the tens of others in the country, but I thought it
would be nice to see how people celebrate. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP5WC44UywVQgp6Zd-euVoK7_4O9mXveM7VSeMr0YnNw0EJzI3UWJgfNWOX53986trRb8m9WoVIZYPc9w0fMfedF1x4NFCVJXKimiGldn1KNBDXHu_Vp0w6spDPRO-6pvnhWEJ4FpG5mT/s1600/IMG_0090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP5WC44UywVQgp6Zd-euVoK7_4O9mXveM7VSeMr0YnNw0EJzI3UWJgfNWOX53986trRb8m9WoVIZYPc9w0fMfedF1x4NFCVJXKimiGldn1KNBDXHu_Vp0w6spDPRO-6pvnhWEJ4FpG5mT/s320/IMG_0090.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooling off with freezies under the shade on my new<br /> mulako wa lhomwe <a href="http://www.experiencemalawi.com/malawi_focus/20092711-what-women-wear-in-malawi.html">chitenje</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-CA">So off we went last Sunday by
minibus to Mulako wa Lhomwe, not sure what to expect exactly, other than a lot
of people. The minibus dropped us in what seemed like the middle of nowhere
amongst a sea of thousands of people, and we wandered into the grounds still
not sure what was going on. We did get there after lunch and missed most of the
real action, but we did get a glimpse of some dancers, some of which
spontaneously paraded behind while we were walking. Although I get stares and
questions daily, I am not sure I have felt like I was sticking out that much
before. But I understand people’s curiosity and with a pile of strawberry
freezies in hand, we enjoyed the few hours we spent there before cramming into
another full minibus to come home.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"></span><br /><span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: justify;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDi5mzs2CBru7Pi87HI-KrhLNQt_1lnEjccDamviwc4pmxTfbksdFy7u0jhqyt7BTJHRrYw7h05zZs08PwJqPPBMwd87BWc36OyuDgLFilT-InJJANYS6nPAhBrI1onVdRFMB6vNFKJ92B/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDi5mzs2CBru7Pi87HI-KrhLNQt_1lnEjccDamviwc4pmxTfbksdFy7u0jhqyt7BTJHRrYw7h05zZs08PwJqPPBMwd87BWc36OyuDgLFilT-InJJANYS6nPAhBrI1onVdRFMB6vNFKJ92B/s320/IMG_0095.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Example of things people were wearing to celebrate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-CA">Contrastingly, this weekend we celebrated
our own culture by dressing up in costumes and eating candy. Entertaining our
5-year old selves by transforming into ninja turtles for a night has value for
refreshing ourselves and feeling connected to what is going on back home. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-CA"></span><br /><span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-CA">Plus,
I love getting creative and crafty, since making costumes here is a little bit
different than at home, considering Halloween is not celebrated at all here.
But the outdoor market presents endless possibilities if you are willing to get
a little creative.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-CA">Just a little note to say I am doing well
and enjoying both Malawian and Western culture! I also had meetings on the
World AIDS Campaign and HIV leadership through accountability in Lilongwe this
week, which was quite educational and highlighted the challenges that civil
society organizations here face in trying to get the government to follow
through on their commitments to stocking central stores with ARVs and essential
drugs, nutritional supplements for people on ARVs, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-CA">More on work later, now that the rainy
season is fast approaching, it is incredibly hot so I am starting to work and
think at a slower pace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><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/AVvXsEgIfIUtmKeI6BzDq29Gb2v-hkorRNRKaDPrYI5kABjcGX257LygzQNSqkwrnvGUMvCLTaEaMhppLi1PHBxFJj7W30yqojD1csr0zocP1E-RW2jSYpOVsAT7wBLRMGSUBWJG3UPfawpn8MPk/s1600/DSC_1097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfIUtmKeI6BzDq29Gb2v-hkorRNRKaDPrYI5kABjcGX257LygzQNSqkwrnvGUMvCLTaEaMhppLi1PHBxFJj7W30yqojD1csr0zocP1E-RW2jSYpOVsAT7wBLRMGSUBWJG3UPfawpn8MPk/s400/DSC_1097.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heros in a half shell - turtle power!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-55676362166594745402011-10-21T09:19:00.000-04:002011-10-21T09:19:06.570-04:00Inspiration for Lord of the Rings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Quite literally, J.R.R. Tolkien is supposed to have visited Malawi in the 1930s just before he wrote The Hobbit. There seems near irrefutable evidence supporting this claim:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzU5CszWvVls1U_IAnP69H9slQV-GIoxmcKz7P_Mq_axhHUimeyZPF_gt_cssdYkRyepYQLxEHBtQoDYwbgb8NL_AP0hQ8CZdAIifb35G2YaYGZ649O1XbIFGVco8MW_q3-HSyiJ6FdmA/s1600/IMG_1651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzU5CszWvVls1U_IAnP69H9slQV-GIoxmcKz7P_Mq_axhHUimeyZPF_gt_cssdYkRyepYQLxEHBtQoDYwbgb8NL_AP0hQ8CZdAIifb35G2YaYGZ649O1XbIFGVco8MW_q3-HSyiJ6FdmA/s320/IMG_1651.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">After climbing for 5 hours, we finally reached the <br />plateau - quite Lord of the Ring-esque, no?</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. The Shire (pronounced <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">Shiré) River running from Lake Malawi through Mozambique and into the Zambezi River in Zambia.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">2. There is a legend that a secret population still lives in the mountains. At least according to oral tradition</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">, the plateaux of Mulanje Mountain used to be inhabited by the Batwa - Stone Age </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">hunters and gatherers. In Chichewa, Batwa means dwarf - not a bad precursor to hobbits!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">3. Check out the photos for yourself, from the mist shrouding the jagged peaks, to fields of mysterious and almost alien-looking trees, plants and grasses.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">Apart from the Tolkien connection, the talk of spirits surrounding and inhabiting the mountain range was also alluded to numerous times during our 2 day excursion. This is certainly reflected in local beliefs and names. The highest peak, Sapitwa, translate into "do not go there" in Chichewa, suggesting that the peak is out of bounds for spiritual reasons. While we were socializing in the lodge on the plateau, whenever there was silence, we ewre told that spirits had past. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">According to villagers those who disobey the spirits often pay a high price. Several locals and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">visitors have disappeared over the years, including a Dutch woman in 1994 whose body was never found despite both governments searching for weeks. Creepy.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfIkyxCelpmyq2xXxXvM3YlaB0NcVQ7ECANzN6xeP8ov59ibkvBjs7duSSVexyNX-hGwLG-o4iPxV683dnbWya59JGED9Kb3duZKsqA6I3nmpHXmnArYx-05YE5_oUc4bQaRMoKsNVGQk/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfIkyxCelpmyq2xXxXvM3YlaB0NcVQ7ECANzN6xeP8ov59ibkvBjs7duSSVexyNX-hGwLG-o4iPxV683dnbWya59JGED9Kb3duZKsqA6I3nmpHXmnArYx-05YE5_oUc4bQaRMoKsNVGQk/s200/IMG_1575.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Navigating tea plantations: Local villagers<br /> carrying back collected dried grasses for<br /> building roofs and fences</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Stunning landscape <br />we encountered during the climb</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Now, back to our story. It's almost rainy season - and the hottest season in Malawi - so we thought it best to climb Mount <a href="http://www.mountmulanje.org.mw/">Mulanje</a> before it gets too slippery and muddy. And so Saturday morning myself, my two housemates Dominique and Louise, as well as Rylea and Bonnie, two <a href="http://www.studentswithoutborders.ca/">Students Without Borders</a> (the student branch of my volunteer program) based in Lilongwe, set out for Mulanje by mini-bus. We had intended to take Louise's temporary car, but with the current <a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/303808_10150355372579590_508889589_7952993_230879597_n.jpg">fuel crisis</a>, there was no petrol to be had, cueing or not. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">The CCAP lodge where we cooked, rested and <br />checked out some unreal stars!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">After 2 hours we arrived to meet our crew - our guide, his cousin, two porters and a teacher from the multi-purpose learning centre. Steven, our guide, took us up to the beginning of the trail and so began our 6 hour, and at some points near vertical, trek up the Boma path. Little did we know at this point that the Lonely Planet notes the Boma path is extremely steep and "almost impassable" at times. Good thing we were blissfully unaware at the time. All gruelling climb aside, the landscape was beautiful and mystic.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The hike down was much tamer, lucky considering my calves haven't worked so hard in awhile! We stopped and admired the view much more, drinking from small waterfalls and if you're me, slipping and skinning yourself on slippery rocks!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZYejLT82qTO6u0MpOI5Eq2vyhkGZ5dZfzkFsD3XXfQhZsZSeS4iVNNU-Qot4pTzOnyacFP72I5PVk2G-dhrdhKr6utfk20vkRJfIaXMQPnCQDpbXyKlwGibou2SRkI_gnbyaUa1ui7CF/s1600/IMG_0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZYejLT82qTO6u0MpOI5Eq2vyhkGZ5dZfzkFsD3XXfQhZsZSeS4iVNNU-Qot4pTzOnyacFP72I5PVk2G-dhrdhKr6utfk20vkRJfIaXMQPnCQDpbXyKlwGibou2SRkI_gnbyaUa1ui7CF/s320/IMG_0038.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Our group - James, Bonnie, Me, Geoff, Rylea, Steven, <br />Louise and Dominique (missing our rasta porter Chiku)</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span>All in all, a great time climbing and you never know if the allure of Sapitwa will bring me back in the coming months.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Also, for anyone who reads in French, you should check out Dominique's blog <a href="http://doaumalawi.blogspot.com/">here</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-90372285725146922492011-10-17T15:42:00.000-04:002011-10-17T15:44:30.109-04:00Recognizing Child Labour in southern Malawi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Thursday and Friday I had the chance to learn about, visit and interact with children and young people involved in a special program to fight against child labour in Malawi. About two years ago, the Government of Malawi actually admitted and recognized it had a big problem with child labour, concentrated in the agricultural sector but also in domestic work, industry and of course, the informal sector. This recognition led to the Malawi National Action Plan on Child Labour 2010-2015.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">With the "middle" class of learners aged 14-17 years who</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> will study secondary school subjects until they are ready</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> for vocational skills training of their choice.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main culprit is the tabacco industry, a huge legacy of British colonialism in the country. In the southern region where tabacco is grown, many families, including their children, work the fields to help sustain an industry that has been suffering as of late. The worst regions for this are Mangochi, Lilongwe, Kasungu, Nzinba and Rumpe. On the other hand, the tea industry - more attuned to corporate social responsibility - has already insisted that children not be employed in the fields. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Malawi, a child is defined as 16 years and below (even though they ratified the CRC, which defines a child as less than 18 years old). However, the employment act says children 14+ can work as long as the working conditions do not put them at risk.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since Malawi recognized the issue of child labour and its inconsistencies in national law, the International Labour Organization (ILO) decided to provide support to their national plan by making a concentrated effort in 4 key districts to create Child Labour Free Zones across all sectors where children might be involved. The project is a mouthful but pretty self-explanatory: "Prevention, protection, withdrawal and rehabilitation of working children through education and vocational skills training."</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Teachers at Chonde multi-purpose learning centre </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">for children affected by child labour</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the organizations I work with, AYISE, is the implementing partner in Mulanje district. The project only got off the ground about 4 months ago and works through community child labour committees (CCLCs) to involve all players in society, from parents, to religious leaders and village headmen. On one side, the program takes children under the age of 14 that have dropped out of school for an extended period of time to work, or who frequently skip school to do piecework at the market, and brings them to take classes and in many cases have some form of counselling at the multi-purpose learning centre. Working with local primary and secondary schools, the goals is to mainstream the students back into the education system, while assisting their families to set up income generating activities to help alleviate poverty in the family. Hopefully this will prevent the children from having to drop out again to help their families. The teachers also monitor the mainstreamed children to make sure they're doing well all-around.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Class list for both older and younger children</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the children that are 14-17 years old, they finish a simplified high school curriculum and through partnerships with local businesses, are able to learn a skill of their choice like tailoring, teaching, carpentry, or welding, given tools and basic entrepreneurial knowledge to eventually start their own business.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 18 months that the pilot project will run, almost 1,500 children will benefit from education and skills training in Chonde village - the first zone in Mulanje district to benefit. I got to visit the first learning center and talk to some of the teachers, all of whom are from the village and feel very strongly about encouraging a future for these children.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids happily told me what they wanted to be when they grow up and asked me questions about Canada - like if we walk around without shoes like Malawians. I told them in winter that it's like being inside a refrigerator so we have to wear big boots all the time.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talking of challenges with the teachers, I was told that the children's attitude is the hardest obstacle to overcome. They have decided that education will not benefit them and teachers must make them understand that knowledge is power, more so than their piecework at the market. But at least it is a start and positive role models, like the youth involved with AYISE who have had the chance to see other countries, can go a long way in encouraging children to work hard for a better life.</span></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-42926702051836894862011-10-10T15:53:00.002-04:002011-10-10T15:53:33.553-04:00Making a home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9wwdWeT1ub8OlTPTs7uxRPI-hQNDgW_yL2_k5JXBt-3vVPvkRU4rQ0lTFwDaf9TmgUwSYEW_LXOxtO7olzQ8LYteoWikgmNjeXBIqI4EnH5yDbKsFgmZJ4s9hD9xGqEJnMtgDXfigSBy/s1600/IMG_1521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9wwdWeT1ub8OlTPTs7uxRPI-hQNDgW_yL2_k5JXBt-3vVPvkRU4rQ0lTFwDaf9TmgUwSYEW_LXOxtO7olzQ8LYteoWikgmNjeXBIqI4EnH5yDbKsFgmZJ4s9hD9xGqEJnMtgDXfigSBy/s320/IMG_1521.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our backyard gardens with lovely Jacaranda trees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpW3bA9fkdYuJ3fFof9ExVAlLkbHfvfY3pRpdXO067omrNz_5w1cUDXC3J1A41erhrRJvMaF3tQvEASls6qJdRrusVunuypCqLA-3RtNjPeawmXr6qPJ8bLVczVPvEU260rcfGgWYIkLQb/s1600/IMG_1518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpW3bA9fkdYuJ3fFof9ExVAlLkbHfvfY3pRpdXO067omrNz_5w1cUDXC3J1A41erhrRJvMaF3tQvEASls6qJdRrusVunuypCqLA-3RtNjPeawmXr6qPJ8bLVczVPvEU260rcfGgWYIkLQb/s320/IMG_1518.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home sweet home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUiEgNAqbjzggso1VyxSxOmnfZt0xs1Ielzf3wiesYHEamPao-5RQ7DgcAVYxIkxl9FwztemhWQ3YC0bMz2shcMNTd-Wlp_dwvv5nP5P-FieEft6I3givgb4_hcvRgjfOp02EWbVQ27pI/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUiEgNAqbjzggso1VyxSxOmnfZt0xs1Ielzf3wiesYHEamPao-5RQ7DgcAVYxIkxl9FwztemhWQ3YC0bMz2shcMNTd-Wlp_dwvv5nP5P-FieEft6I3givgb4_hcvRgjfOp02EWbVQ27pI/s320/IMG_1522.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our papaya tree at sunset</td></tr>
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As promised, I wanted to give you a peak at what I come home to every day. It's definitely becoming a home for me, except that the photos collage of everyone I taped to my wall, all fell down while I was at work today. That's pretty much the quality of a lot of products here! Have a good week everyone:)</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuTPQnslcFYI88HKYM51mKvR2TYEY6hP0MILtmsmIsVALQnJiouLOW6XtQ1Bp0fbiVD1zR26tBG3l5xLTLfu0HeScAC7IWbu3mtcVhwIGKOXClWbrztAAlrpZTMwwKxDyLQLEc3PUxULw/s1600/IMG_1519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuTPQnslcFYI88HKYM51mKvR2TYEY6hP0MILtmsmIsVALQnJiouLOW6XtQ1Bp0fbiVD1zR26tBG3l5xLTLfu0HeScAC7IWbu3mtcVhwIGKOXClWbrztAAlrpZTMwwKxDyLQLEc3PUxULw/s320/IMG_1519.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the balcony to the golf course behind us</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span id="goog_1516774412"></span><span id="goog_1516774413"></span></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-56541584426501662592011-10-09T13:59:00.000-04:002011-10-09T13:59:15.515-04:00Questions of Culture and Gender<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-CA">You frequently hear the term ‘culture
shock’ when referring to Westerners settling in far away places and facing
traditions, attitudes and behaviours that conflict with their own values and
ways of thinking and being. I am clearly not immune to these feelings, but I try to understand and respect where other people are coming from, while still trying to ease in the human rights and gender equality parts where I can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdOKNMxIY7UJnGvhyqj0L5RVMhMghLV0aAD8grGStIH3iAp2ve1QDc_F6VTprXlERBUMeznaYs_QnrcVifjGINKOWc4c54il9xzvCjr2CH05O9fUsj-GTZK9NBF_e60weXtfqNMYzRv_W/s1600/IMG_1421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdOKNMxIY7UJnGvhyqj0L5RVMhMghLV0aAD8grGStIH3iAp2ve1QDc_F6VTprXlERBUMeznaYs_QnrcVifjGINKOWc4c54il9xzvCjr2CH05O9fUsj-GTZK9NBF_e60weXtfqNMYzRv_W/s320/IMG_1421.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roadside view of vendors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Knowing that Malawi is a deeply, almost
fundamentally Christian-dominated society with only about 13 percent Muslim and
7 percent traditional religions, I was quite surprised to see how polygamy is
widely accepted and practiced in the northern region of the country. The
Church, working within these confines of tribe, recognizes only one wife. The
Executive Director even joked, half seriously, about taking a much younger
second wife in the near future. But, I spoke with a colleague who is about my
age and he seemed to say that young people are, for the most part, breaking
from this tradition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Yao, who live along Lake Malawi, are
the main practitioners of the traditional religion <i>gule wankulu</i>. As far as I know, they incorporate particular dances
and elaborate masks to make a connection with their ancestors, and rely on
beliefs passed down orally from generation to generation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZPd647cbUhqcPJ5VeDo1GFFpGtYGeY3nSyNtTIuMlMfD-_Q_7FWy9uv7U6F27sDa18e594xcunqLzMJhC_23ynZoKzAq6Rj6-Y1wwfak1eGhx3Eyo9tW6pAcc13-KLqcLAB4FH78iTXz/s1600/IMG_1495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZPd647cbUhqcPJ5VeDo1GFFpGtYGeY3nSyNtTIuMlMfD-_Q_7FWy9uv7U6F27sDa18e594xcunqLzMJhC_23ynZoKzAq6Rj6-Y1wwfak1eGhx3Eyo9tW6pAcc13-KLqcLAB4FH78iTXz/s320/IMG_1495.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shot of a young girl in a <i>chitenge</i> taken while heading<br /> through the countryside back to Blantyre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Another cultural practice is an agreement
between a couple who are unable to conceive a child where another man, a <i>fisi</i><span>
</span>- literally translated as ‘hyena’ – sleeps with the wife so the couple
can still have a child and appear “normal” within the community. And if a
husband dies, his brother “inherits” the widowed wife. At least women can wear
pants now, which until recently were not culturally allowed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">At least women are assuming the role of
traditional leaders in some villages. However, while the national HIV rate is
fairly constant at 12 percent, more than 60 percent of those are young women. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77rknuPR5pHhMKd11OC4mwMJGZoID7emquZo-IQiTqIgthebYol8ixC9KJQXNOqU6SFLfoNT3GDyj21Pup8Z5E5clQJ0dO6UIfOHJndsiZ-KoLR7gAakmJL6QFyFLr_syUtDaCM4jH7YE/s1600/IMG_1499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77rknuPR5pHhMKd11OC4mwMJGZoID7emquZo-IQiTqIgthebYol8ixC9KJQXNOqU6SFLfoNT3GDyj21Pup8Z5E5clQJ0dO6UIfOHJndsiZ-KoLR7gAakmJL6QFyFLr_syUtDaCM4jH7YE/s200/IMG_1499.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Borrie, who is Youjong's new kitten, decides it's nap time. <br />Youjoung is an AYISE volunteer from Korea.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Female empowerment overall is pretty low,
in the streets on weekends, the overwhelming majority of people hanging out and
goofing around are men. In both organizations I work with, less than 20 percent
of staff members are women. At AYISE, at least they are attempting to “empower”
their only two female staff members by enrolling them in driving school 3
mornings per week. And I can tell you that driving in Malawi is not easy! But
at least the fact that AYISE is making a small effort is a start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">However, as far as I can tell, gender
equality is still at its beginnings stages here and while I am not shocked to
hear and see so many examples of it, I am secretly glad that <i>azungu</i> do not have to follow all the
local customs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-61436257271858160922011-10-09T09:24:00.002-04:002011-10-09T09:26:51.303-04:00Getting a taste of local music at Lake of Stars<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKRq6nCvL7d6wtKTzl69sws_qJvrt1UgpqngxLNol0Gzl7iNOkJE6hzAIWvEvRxu8QctWahqWPz6fX7LJ_UPrhRk0b8qWplRiOA8dQ4p4sKJAibs6fdwBte2zrawRmDn2F98rZSIp8DzJ/s1600/IMG_1419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKRq6nCvL7d6wtKTzl69sws_qJvrt1UgpqngxLNol0Gzl7iNOkJE6hzAIWvEvRxu8QctWahqWPz6fX7LJ_UPrhRk0b8qWplRiOA8dQ4p4sKJAibs6fdwBte2zrawRmDn2F98rZSIp8DzJ/s320/IMG_1419.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front seat minibus view coming out of Limbe on <br />
Friday afternoon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">And apparently getting a bad flu as well,
but at least I’m on the mend! Last weekend, Dominique (my Canadian housemate) and I headed from Limbe – a
neighbourhood east of Blantyre where I transit through to work when I’m at
AYISE – on Friday afternoon en route to Mangochi and finally Nkapola Lodge
where the Lake of Stars festival took place. A definite downside to travelling
to new places by local mini-buses is that you have to rely a bit more on the
advice of people around you. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Friday night saw some pretty good reggae and the
UK group The Very Best as a Malawian project – so that was<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> pretty cool. The
spot was beautiful, with the stage set up right on the beach and since Nkhapola
is situated close to the extreme south on Lake Malawi, it is fairly narrow and
you can even see Mozambique – <o:p></o:p></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: whitesmoke;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Olá!</span></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YINj1zyatRqrTsKklue7fyIVXnwWGvC0qOu_gXgEaQXZkWM8HBgBrX2VWKKMYxm_X4YoxHqVU6X1aPH1j6Ty5jKpaT5QfqW4toaPHcu3gaWm_1Rz00YMGQnC-WxmwKdcUIxRxUxad8ND/s1600/IMG_1475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YINj1zyatRqrTsKklue7fyIVXnwWGvC0qOu_gXgEaQXZkWM8HBgBrX2VWKKMYxm_X4YoxHqVU6X1aPH1j6Ty5jKpaT5QfqW4toaPHcu3gaWm_1Rz00YMGQnC-WxmwKdcUIxRxUxad8ND/s320/IMG_1475.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Show stealers - Freshly Ground!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">The next day, we started checking out the
villages in the area surrounding the festival, since we were curious to see how
the Festival’s model of responsible tourism was playing out in practice. At least all the hotels were fully booked,
with many people, us included, camping on hotel lawns. But I’m still interested
to know if the people in these poor communities just see a whirl of <i>azungu</i> and affluent Malawians, without
getting any of the benefits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">On the music side, I highly recommend for
everyone to check out <a href="http://www.freshlyground.com/">Freshly Ground</a> from South Africa, an awesomely talented
group of people. Maskal – from Lilongwe – was really great, especially because
we had a Malawian giving simultaneous translation during the entire show!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRAwD4YUP4a_fQgr4_Nuh2ubg0Tq4_tc_Qul_2Qe4Elb2tcT3kw5cIlIwFMrhMWvpyZLmYH3B1CUe2c0MeKF9d6bt0eUoSsnVsZpEn_HMP4jsJEavYA4XSzB7b1OXt2V7mecokMZG77j3/s1600/IMG_1456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRAwD4YUP4a_fQgr4_Nuh2ubg0Tq4_tc_Qul_2Qe4Elb2tcT3kw5cIlIwFMrhMWvpyZLmYH3B1CUe2c0MeKF9d6bt0eUoSsnVsZpEn_HMP4jsJEavYA4XSzB7b1OXt2V7mecokMZG77j3/s320/IMG_1456.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An excited Chinese delegation!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">As you’ve already noticed from the title of
this blog, Malawians pride themselves in being the “warm heart of Africa”, it
doesn’t just refer to the climate – and I really saw this warmth among the
people on Saturday night. You might have heard about the magnitude of Chinese
presence in Africa, and Malawi is no exception. The Government of China was a
sponsor of the event, and a Chinese Cultural Delegation performed, sandwiched
in between two reggae and R&B acts. Dressed in traditional outfits, a
handful of Chinese singers and musicians played over recorded music, which
nearly drowned them out and was a far cry from something you might expect from
a music festival in Malawi. But still people danced, cheered and encored
throughout the performance!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQo4iWmFwfV1EP3E6nrc79hIAD3hN1hRvPEXrevCKf1sVs3KAw4Lc0rphXpz8JL0WbxeI9JVjXKJIGTKgxeXzVHUnUm70cwJiDG0RMe7x-z7dUyOo2MIEAyg1BjwmgRru17PvpRcZK7H8/s1600/IMG_1513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQo4iWmFwfV1EP3E6nrc79hIAD3hN1hRvPEXrevCKf1sVs3KAw4Lc0rphXpz8JL0WbxeI9JVjXKJIGTKgxeXzVHUnUm70cwJiDG0RMe7x-z7dUyOo2MIEAyg1BjwmgRru17PvpRcZK7H8/s200/IMG_1513.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poet and activist from Guyana</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfpwOE8UFoTL1nHhRp4G5hv90_kJbF_xeQdRHthyphenhyphenYM9Ts3mMK7QA76ZW6Lj-8ERmnV5XexXbScac9pRiuJpBSmcCeqLe1w9QyiD6-bKlb9uDf-gkQVT3QqLtPEqUugBH84rPONEki63n-/s1600/IMG_1435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfpwOE8UFoTL1nHhRp4G5hv90_kJbF_xeQdRHthyphenhyphenYM9Ts3mMK7QA76ZW6Lj-8ERmnV5XexXbScac9pRiuJpBSmcCeqLe1w9QyiD6-bKlb9uDf-gkQVT3QqLtPEqUugBH84rPONEki63n-/s200/IMG_1435.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving to his own rhythm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">All in all, a fun weekend and an ideal
introduction to regional and Malawian music. This weekend I took in Poetry
Africa, as part of the Blantyre Arts Festival, which celebrates spoken word,
songwriters, musicians and activists – individuals who contribute to social
change by making their audiences feel and understand the continent’s burning
issues in a new way. I really enjoyed TJ Dema and Chiwoniso and her <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Mbira_dzavadzimu_in_deze.jpg">mbira</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I’ll post about some cultural observations
and lessons I have learned, along with some photos of our house later tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Happy Sunday!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-86949088511958343482011-09-28T16:01:00.000-04:002011-09-28T16:02:02.395-04:00In Blantyre, and with a house!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-CA">And I couldn’t be happier - unless all of
you were here too. I know this placement will be full of ups and downs, so why
not enjoy the ups while you’re in that space. We arrived in Blantyre, about 4.5
hours south of Lilongwe on Monday afternoon, and first off checked out two
potential places to rent. Unfortunately, one looked like a work-in-progress and
we would have had to find another mattress AND stock the kitchen cupboards. The
second was very nice, but was only available until January, and so it wasn’t
ideal for both Dominique and I since she stays on for 6 months after I leave.
It’s not easy finding a place in new city when you don’t know anyone! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Luckily, after contacting an expat living
here, I got a call from a British PhD student who had found a place but needed
two roommates. We scooped her up from Med school, introduced ourselves in the
car, and an hour later, we were roommates! The place is in a neighbourhood
called Sunnyside, and within walking distance to MANASO, where I will be
working about half the time. It has a huge living room area; and we each have
our own bedroom with a big closet and carpet, plus a washing machine! Dominique
and I will move in Thursday night after our first day of work so that we can leave
straight away on Friday after work to Nkopola, where the Lake of Stars festival
is taking place! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">So that’s the big news to share, and my
first impressions of Blantyre are good. It seems a bit cooler here than in
Lilongwe and the city is bordered by red-brown, tree-topped hills all around.
And with the beautiful purple Jacaranda trees everywhere, the city seems very
alive and colourful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I’ll be starting at MANASO’s partner
organization, AYISE – Active Youth Initiative for Social Enhancement, on Thursday.
How these placements work is we get matched up with a counterpart, to whom we
are supposed to work with to ensure our work continues after we leave and the
organization is better equipped to work towards its goals. At AYISE, my
counterpart is Kondwani or as the Executive Director introduced him as: the
“King of Blantyre.” Being in IT, he knows a lot about website management, so I
should be able to help him with the content and he can help me with the
technical part. My counterpart at MANASO is Ismael, whom I will meet on Monday
(hopefully!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">I haven’t taken many photos here yet but
I’m sure the next post will have many </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span>J</span></span><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-5330087437591861972011-09-25T17:12:00.000-04:002011-09-25T17:12:12.000-04:00It's a conspiracy!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
Ok, so I'm hoping it will just be something to laugh about, but it appears that my new colleagues at MANASO think that their program officer, Heather, and their acting director, Donald, picked me for this post just because of my name! Fingers crossed to laugh it off when I start work on Tuesday morning.</div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVqM8RcndRutX5_ukmSYr1M78GgMVYpZueLBbdiQt-oJozsQi076kQFMLbMpx3JxArUqFnATX6wSNDIwAFYDQGBUzIhufDyDMDb2qZ8If6h5njo1bUVkNoCmswb4m8VMQhgkDZ9CgjeZt/s1600/IMG_1397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVqM8RcndRutX5_ukmSYr1M78GgMVYpZueLBbdiQt-oJozsQi076kQFMLbMpx3JxArUqFnATX6wSNDIwAFYDQGBUzIhufDyDMDb2qZ8If6h5njo1bUVkNoCmswb4m8VMQhgkDZ9CgjeZt/s320/IMG_1397.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hitting the streets of Lilongwe at sundown</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
Monday to Thursday of this week, Dominique and I had our in-country orientation with WUSC, who organize our job placements with their partners. We met with a CIDA rep, and found out that Malawi is only a "country of modest presence" for Canada, so the nearest Embassy is actually in Maputo, Mozambique. Health and Nutrition briefing: Check. Discussion of work expectations and mandate: Check (thank God). Review of living and working here: Check. Chichewa lesson: Check (and excited that it is similar to Swahili!). There was supposed to be a vigil-type protest for civil society here on Wednesday, so most people stayed home for the morning, but nothing really materialized in the end. More on that in a later post.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have been a little worried about work because I know former volunteers have had difficulties with their placements in Malawi. But I said months ago that I was looking for a professional challenge - so I'm facing this one with my head up and with a positive state of mind.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was a great introduction to the HIV/AIDS sector in Malawi to be able to participate in WUSC's annual sector committee meeting with its partners last Friday. Mostly partners made presentations about volunteers they've had, their work in the last 6 months, and the plan for the next 6 months. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRUYLeyuaHOfsUX2I3fOP4zqh7hyDPMRVj13ihy7QpKi6p9AhW78CXavpshvmeG3z4rhoOPkHTbELswcd-SIK8KIAFekJYgedu5W0QxGQDjCnNoMw6Ekfkji0kIXMmJ2yhUE5G9oWTRYJ/s1600/IMG_1393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRUYLeyuaHOfsUX2I3fOP4zqh7hyDPMRVj13ihy7QpKi6p9AhW78CXavpshvmeG3z4rhoOPkHTbELswcd-SIK8KIAFekJYgedu5W0QxGQDjCnNoMw6Ekfkji0kIXMmJ2yhUE5G9oWTRYJ/s320/IMG_1393.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting used to eating Nsima, a maize staple that always <br />reminds me of firm, gelatinous mashed potatoes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
WUSC has two main network organizations that it works with MANASO, who work more at the community level, and MANET+, the Malawi Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, who work more at the national level. I guess there is tension between the two, since the government and the National AIDS Commission, is giving more funding and participatory opportunities to MANET+, meaning that MANASO has severely downsized recently. I hope that staff can still be passionate about their work despite the changes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
In other news, myself, along with two other volunteers Sarah and Dominique, went to Lake Malawi for the day on Saturday to relax. I couldn't believe the wave conditions - I wish I had a board to try it out!<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5OWzPeLf0DCACorCpg5kCYHupiAy-YvKahtehESv6r7Aygjdap9R7idTy4qGhN811Jo52AQkR__qs3gMTJcZxCF5dCMQU2BY0AzgZKOIC_zGD2pJgF-BZ2YACl3gkjw28_BMnNuSocxd/s1600/IMG_1401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5OWzPeLf0DCACorCpg5kCYHupiAy-YvKahtehESv6r7Aygjdap9R7idTy4qGhN811Jo52AQkR__qs3gMTJcZxCF5dCMQU2BY0AzgZKOIC_zGD2pJgF-BZ2YACl3gkjw28_BMnNuSocxd/s320/IMG_1401.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the beach of Lake Malawi in Salima district<br /> - watching some locals wash clothes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
So it's off to Blantyre, my permanent residence, tomorrow morning to a guesthouse for the week. My first week of work this week, and then hopefully I'll be off to <a href="http://www.lakeofstars.org/">Lake of Stars Festival</a> in Nkopola this weekend (accommodation is booked!) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
P.S. The extent of Chichewa that I have thus far mastered:<br />
<br />
Dzina lanu ndi Heather :)<br />
<br />
<div>
Muli bwanji? (How are you?)</div>
<div>
Ndiri bwino, kaya inu? (Good and you?)</div>
<div>
Tuzaonana mawa - See you tomorrow</div>
<div>
Zikomo (kwambili) - Thank you (very much)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<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/AVvXsEiFHLIMAeDoNJxxNI-xZ7oDDRLCmWZ88EFtEyj0LbvCWEYBmgbEdZSrue6n5bOBwLRaHy07d8qdH1CGs36pBRGArGbfUE0B6qm04Fqq0eOcjSrs78XpfajNzKhRjk00qpLXjvNMUKZ6vU2V/s1600/IMG_1405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHLIMAeDoNJxxNI-xZ7oDDRLCmWZ88EFtEyj0LbvCWEYBmgbEdZSrue6n5bOBwLRaHy07d8qdH1CGs36pBRGArGbfUE0B6qm04Fqq0eOcjSrs78XpfajNzKhRjk00qpLXjvNMUKZ6vU2V/s320/IMG_1405.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously, with these waves Malawi needs a surf club!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-7271120443339279672011-09-20T14:21:00.001-04:002011-09-20T14:26:43.875-04:00Landed in Lilongwe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">
</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may come as a surprise to some but I got
an opportunity, through Uniterra and WUSC, to help build media and
communications capacities in two HIV/AIDS NGOs in southern Malawi. So it
appears that another blog revival was in order – so check back here for the
next 4 months if you’d like to see what’s up with me, or understand a bit more
about this landlocked little gem.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After over 30 hours in transit, I arrived
in the capital city of Lilongwe and immediately noticed a few things. It’s very
dusty and it’s very hot. I guess there is a reason why their claim to fame is
the “warm heart of Africa.” I guess another country swiped up “the heart of
Africa” slogan first. Lilongwe is not
much of a capital city to be honest. Since the capital was moved there from
Zomba, in the South, after independence in the early 1970’s, the city is still
being formed and rather haphazardly. I have been told by numerous people that
Blantyre, the commercial capital four hours south and my new home come Monday,
is much more beautiful and well planned. I’ll let you know next week!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a restful Monday, Dominique, another
Canadian who will be working in Early Childhood Development in Blantyre as
well, and I had day 1 of orientation at WUSC HQ today, which was immensely
useful in clarifying what I am actually going to be doing here! I’ll be
splitting my time between MANASO, an umbrella NGO coordinating over 400
community-based organizations working on AIDS, and Active Youth Initiative for
Social Enhancement (AYISE), one of their member organizations working on youth
and HIV/AIDS issues. Mostly I will be working on building a communications
strategy, website development, training on ICTs and building successful
relations with media and helping design communications materials. Not bad!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s funny that so much here reminds me of
being back in Dar es Salaam, between finding stocks of my Milo and Nido
favourites, buying a Kitenge (here called a chitenge), minibuses and being
called a <i>muzungu</i>, I already feel like
I am figuring things out.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also found out there is Malawi mountain
club that takes weekend trips to Mount Mulanje, which looks like a beautiful
mountain chain in the south-east part of the country close to Mozambique.
Definitely going to check it out! As well as the Lake of Stars festival!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Calling anywhere outside of Africa will
cost me $2 per minute but incoming is free, so here is my number if you ever
want to chat, I'd love that! +265 992 124 425</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Warm hugs from this warm heart.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toll bridge from the main produce market to the side selling clothes and other random stuff</td></tr>
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Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-66898553484580885712011-05-04T16:18:00.000-04:002011-05-04T16:18:03.882-04:00Easter weekend egg-stravaganzaPardon the pun. Actually my Easter long weekend did not involve a single egg - though my friend Custy had some chickens at his house who had laid some - and it did not involve any chocolate. I know, pretty shocking! But don't let the lack of these typical Easter icons fool you, I still brought out the child out in me. I had seen a lot of children flying kites over the past few months and heard that Easter as the big weekend to fly and make kites. Without enough time to make one - I didn't even know that was possible! - my friend Jason and I bought one to fly by a cane field in St. Philip. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMwg4teCbQqmHBDO82suOaa6u4nGJDVCIJRL2yvWc76EQMBuL22IS97r_UQTVDahR1VNS9YPXoUlT1ltp5KhT25uDZNIK4BrqbxnIXZUFU5srS2WT5MVLs4UHjolB-SxpnBCp4BI33G0g/s1600/oistinsfest%2526kites+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMwg4teCbQqmHBDO82suOaa6u4nGJDVCIJRL2yvWc76EQMBuL22IS97r_UQTVDahR1VNS9YPXoUlT1ltp5KhT25uDZNIK4BrqbxnIXZUFU5srS2WT5MVLs4UHjolB-SxpnBCp4BI33G0g/s320/oistinsfest%2526kites+006.jpg" /></a></div>It's definitely been a few years since I last flew a kite, but after adding extra tail to our little guy, it got some air. Not as sweet as the <a href="http://www.nationnews.com/images/cached/inc/uploads/articles/Kite_St_Joseph-450x350.jpg">26-foot</a> record breaking kite flown here last week here, but I could not seem to wipe the smile off my face nonetheless. Apparently all the children here make their own kites with sticks or sugar cane stalks as the frame, a cut plastic bag to cover it and ripped bedsheets as the tail. I saw a toddler with his little newspaper and stick kite on my way home from work the other day. I would like to try making one - but with constant rain here the last week or two, I'll have to wait a bit longer.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOMAe0qpkEf5axdAjpUjktmZF8-NHjHHd2a4Dw25BfFfh6UWyt18Yre-cDnkhZO9gm24H2dTnIL4mUfPkFa5YPv7W2tt_Wv68PeeQr1WmuaiK7G3M48o02U-plpB0yPb1Z-HhkaryLFiX/s1600/oistinsfest%2526kites+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:right;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOMAe0qpkEf5axdAjpUjktmZF8-NHjHHd2a4Dw25BfFfh6UWyt18Yre-cDnkhZO9gm24H2dTnIL4mUfPkFa5YPv7W2tt_Wv68PeeQr1WmuaiK7G3M48o02U-plpB0yPb1Z-HhkaryLFiX/s320/oistinsfest%2526kites+019.jpg" /></a></div>I accidentally let go of the kite at one point, but luckily the spool caught itself in some cane not too long after I shot up and ran like a maniac after it. It also dropped in a distant field after the wind died down abruptly and by the time I reached it, it was about to be cut my a young boy on his bike. Got there right in time, but that kite clipping business is serious stuff here!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49J6GAWZZ3dGBemlJAVYgO8QueR3YWSTD9HIV50WSoWreDQ10G6TRWxSfOIAOcImAmru3QCftvLW7xqIVfB6_Nb3R6qIMmFFTRdgnEq2Rdwzkw6ezRkpyuXgf1aGUqUJtbjpTxnnx_Lwv/s1600/oistinsfest%2526kites+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49J6GAWZZ3dGBemlJAVYgO8QueR3YWSTD9HIV50WSoWreDQ10G6TRWxSfOIAOcImAmru3QCftvLW7xqIVfB6_Nb3R6qIMmFFTRdgnEq2Rdwzkw6ezRkpyuXgf1aGUqUJtbjpTxnnx_Lwv/s320/oistinsfest%2526kites+040.jpg" /></a></div>Saturday I relaxed and enjoyed some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ital">Ital</a> food being cooked for me. Ital is basically Rasta food made with no salt, oil or meat (with fish as the exception) and using fresh coconut milk whenever possible. After opening up two <a href="http://heatherdonald.blogspot.com/2011/01/coconuts-101.html">old coconuts</a>, chopping them, and blending and straining the mixture, Custy and Jason added spice and freshly ground nutmeg to make an amazing coconut punch. I later dreamed about this punch and hope to re-create it again soon.<br />
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On Monday, I woke up nice and early to join running buddy Rodders at Queens Park in town for a 10km run to Oistins, as part of the Oistins Fish Festival festivities. After a quick nap, I headed back to watch some of the goings on, sample some treats and take in the Greasy Pole competition. Essentially, a flagpole gets completely slathered with thick, yellow grease for machinery and a group of men try to climb on top of each other in an attempt to reach the prize money at the top of the pole - I heard it's $500 USD!<br />
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Definitely both amusing and heart-wrenching to watch as feet were shoved into faces and piles of bodies collapsed. Check out the winning team!<br />
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I know this post comes late and I'll make sure more ongoings get up here in the next month before I come home - time is just flying! Haha get it? Flying?Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-90086236926066188452011-04-18T21:29:00.000-04:002011-04-18T21:29:00.315-04:00Cricket for the BlindThis is a little tidbit I meant to post about a few weeks ago when my brother first left. <br />
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After hugging my brother goodbye at the airport, I took the ZR van along the South coast back towards home. After about 10 minutes, a young girl about 12 years old, dressed in a blue t-shirt and shorts, climbed carefully into the van with her oddly-shaped bag. As she made her way to the back of the van, her mother spoke diligently with the driver, directing him to escort the girl somewhere I was not familiar with when they arrived at the terminal. I thought perhaps the two knew each other and that the girl was heading to a friend's house. But upon catching a glimpse of the printing on the t-shirt and the difficulty she was having to make her way to the back empty seats, I realized that this girl is blind. And that inside this bag was her cricket equipment. Immediately intrigued, I looked up the game when I arrived back home - it looks like a really big deal in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B080ZE3EwR8">India</a> and the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/cricketforchange?blend=4&ob=5#p/u/0/sYhfmdzxeg4">UK</a>. Each time fields 11 players, as 20/20 goes, of which a certain number have to be legally blind, while the other players can be visually impaired. The ball emits a noise making it possible to hit even without seeing it. Along with a few other changes, visually impaired children and adults can play the same sports at a higher level.<br />
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Cricket in Barbados, and in the West Indies in general, is a phenomenon. I will not go as far to say that it is akin to Football in South America, however with the UK legacy in the region, it is still incredibly popular. For someone whose mom has worked at Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind for the past 10 years, I am really interested in watching a game! I'll let you know how it goes.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-63452317856752581142011-04-07T10:38:00.001-04:002011-04-12T10:09:16.134-04:00Visa issues aside...Antigua!It's the moment you've all been waiting for...okay not really but finally the title of my blog can live up to its regional expectations after a short work trip to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp9yHQmWgMg&feature=related">Antigua</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham2BOozqMyQ79ohBqajbKf_PCbKOIri-rZ06btuX2qEJbvuxfruuKQ7Vuvk6xChdwAa6UKX5j_HCkI5gVg26rnLsnKhzN3LpxUjYFLf7-7qvRmWU-hTo1DThyphenhyphenXGTaYJZCKsjxPhEE-sqm/s1600/antigua+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham2BOozqMyQ79ohBqajbKf_PCbKOIri-rZ06btuX2qEJbvuxfruuKQ7Vuvk6xChdwAa6UKX5j_HCkI5gVg26rnLsnKhzN3LpxUjYFLf7-7qvRmWU-hTo1DThyphenhyphenXGTaYJZCKsjxPhEE-sqm/s320/antigua+002.jpg" /></a></div>On the communications side, UNICEF is working in select countries in the region to equip children and youth with the writing, photography and video-making skills to enable and motivate them to speak out on issues affecting them, their community and their country. Sounds vague, but workshops like this one in Antigua, help to show young people that their opinions matter. The video productions group, facilitated by <a href="http://iliveup.com/">LiveUp</a> host Mitzi Allen, brought youth into groups to plan, script, budget, shoot, edit and present a five minute segment on a topic of their choosing. I was impressed when the three groups chose themes of child abuse, peer pressure and sports promoting positive youth development. I'll have to post the videos next week when they're finished!<br />
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The journalism/photography group were told to list three of their passions and focus on one for their story, and some really interesting ideas came out: from redefining the word 'ghetto', to girl guides tuning down the aggression of one girl, to discussing what happens to orphans and forgotten children in the family law system from the perspective of an adopted girl.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4am9hq-dwAPKtRMFppAecYnlX3qZ7tSWfS8mUR59AOBRB0O9zfgA5hxSH6gP_fxbTrCGmSxTHp3IndBH4UwMqRb9gLXsNLJ-WJsreUUeU3GCrG1cv4KWdIsjKAovQnmINgfkQxC41JUU/s1600/anuyouth2+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4am9hq-dwAPKtRMFppAecYnlX3qZ7tSWfS8mUR59AOBRB0O9zfgA5hxSH6gP_fxbTrCGmSxTHp3IndBH4UwMqRb9gLXsNLJ-WJsreUUeU3GCrG1cv4KWdIsjKAovQnmINgfkQxC41JUU/s320/anuyouth2+003.jpg" /></a></div>Focus group on Monday went well, though a lot of kids were shy even when I spoke to them directly. And most of them had never heard of UNICEF, let alone the <a href="www.unicef.org/rightsite/files/uncrcchilldfriendlylanguage.pdf">CRC</a> so at least I was able to explain a bit about that.<br />
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One of the highlights of this trip was definitely meeting Fidel and Cozy, two bright and upfront girls, who took some time to show me around and share about themselves openly. And I thought Barbados was a small island; Antigua has less than 100,000 people and everyone knows everyone’s business. Such is the case with “Antigua’s list: girls” – a survey voted on by a plethora of males (I hesitate to use the word men because the whole idea is beyond immature) with categories such as “Menstruating Barbie”, “Cutest Face” and “Best Body.” <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlq44MHZMufu5HDanxqOEoSHV4nNaXg8V8Ycv5Sx5t8MHboBjNIQvwM9Y6A4mrf2FmkShC-XGauwQ0fLSSIxoozVAc8XwdHOZns2rdi-MpF__jrwMulYJsn7QCKzR2YQfKzWoADv8Q4Zg/s1600/antigua+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:left; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlq44MHZMufu5HDanxqOEoSHV4nNaXg8V8Ycv5Sx5t8MHboBjNIQvwM9Y6A4mrf2FmkShC-XGauwQ0fLSSIxoozVAc8XwdHOZns2rdi-MpF__jrwMulYJsn7QCKzR2YQfKzWoADv8Q4Zg/s320/antigua+009.jpg" /></a></div>As you may know, I turned 24 on Monday while in Antigua, though without text and virtual messages from friends and family, I might have completely forgot! After the workshop finished, I went to eat a giant, delicious pizza at Big Banana, followed by an ice cream-topped fresh waffle from the Australian, which later I found out are the two must-eat-at places in Antigua. After eating, I strolled around the harbour, snapped some sweet shots and met the Sushi Kid. This artist, music producer and sushi master successfully guessed my age and went on to explain how he was planning on becoming a millionaire in the next 4 years. Ronald Silencieux, his real name, was quite the character but made it perfectly clear how few opportunities there were on the island. I spent the rest of the evening enjoying more ice cream and talking about life with a complete stranger. It’s about finding joy in the unexpected.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlaPJjX2f9oaYrXaDkK4wAVw5hffHNeiih8dY6q7QbtEF_Slgqi1_CL34N2fSOQRuceTVXERoV_vTVN1hnhkKjXkp1bfZ8cUqAN2jqTeRcOwE9gXS6xJfbPI53_fMwRfCM_lcZap4lh5M/s1600/antigua+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlaPJjX2f9oaYrXaDkK4wAVw5hffHNeiih8dY6q7QbtEF_Slgqi1_CL34N2fSOQRuceTVXERoV_vTVN1hnhkKjXkp1bfZ8cUqAN2jqTeRcOwE9gXS6xJfbPI53_fMwRfCM_lcZap4lh5M/s320/antigua+013.jpg" /></a></div>Tuesday I spent most of the morning talking with Fidel and documenting more of the youth workshops. Her and Cozy wanted to show me more of the island but when we ran out of time before my flight, we made a quick stop by the coast and for some sandwiches before I headed back to Barbados.<br />
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Side note about flying Liat (the Caribbean regional airline)aka Leave the Island at Any Time. For real, the plane left 15 minutes early. The pilot apologized for the delay in leaving as I boarded, calling out “we were delayed because of the individual coming on board just now.” Oh thanks. Luckily I smiled, waved and said sorry to all 6 other people on-board.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqBe-RAXCZQM34PHFpgvTQlyOuha9dovQfHofSiz6HgZbqCtoXnQMeykA0-ZQ7TULzYMnLkiq4cfEU2ElMRfGUvBsFWxuQVzzpWPuZfWjL9EQj05SEc9VCVAIQFuuHGABqSuytGZ-XWkK/s1600/antigua+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqBe-RAXCZQM34PHFpgvTQlyOuha9dovQfHofSiz6HgZbqCtoXnQMeykA0-ZQ7TULzYMnLkiq4cfEU2ElMRfGUvBsFWxuQVzzpWPuZfWjL9EQj05SEc9VCVAIQFuuHGABqSuytGZ-XWkK/s320/antigua+016.jpg" /></a></div>Every day I am learning more about UNICEF’s role in working with partners in that we document the process – necessary for our transparency but it can be burdensome for partners, we speak at the opening and closing ceremonies of conferences, workshops and trainings, and we ask partners to fill out surveys and forms to receive their funds. Now that I have a better understanding of these processes, I think it's time to get some hands-on work under my belt, and now that I have my return to Canada date of May 27th, it’s time to really think about what’s next for me!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-45370738417342878672011-03-27T17:10:00.001-04:002011-03-27T17:11:04.071-04:00Sibling love and missing momentsAfter a hiatus that just flew by, I'm back to keep you posted on life on this (increasingly) small tropical island. I find myself saying "<a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Cheese%20On%20Bread">cheese on</a> this island is very small" even more now! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvllftnw2k1Xo6wPg0C-hgXmC3Nb0WvX5oL9Exd7l3KKa3F5gfpSVjUYW0H1f-zO8DmTbwuUTQ8yyw9uYxrRZaJl27HJofy5geQBc2lmCwMvIj_gQsrpG3Al8-mGBBSGAXh11g9Up9o9ln/s1600/IMG_0841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvllftnw2k1Xo6wPg0C-hgXmC3Nb0WvX5oL9Exd7l3KKa3F5gfpSVjUYW0H1f-zO8DmTbwuUTQ8yyw9uYxrRZaJl27HJofy5geQBc2lmCwMvIj_gQsrpG3Al8-mGBBSGAXh11g9Up9o9ln/s320/IMG_0841.JPG" /></a></div>First things first, my brother Matt, my first visitor while working abroad, spent a week here and it was both refreshing and exhausting. I felt simultaneously like a tour guide, parent, sister and bank. Working overseas has its perks - new and stimulating environments, meeting a world of different people, personal growth, running from winter in Canada, but it necessitates sacrifices as well. These sacrifices are more evident a certain times than others. Missing time while my younger brother grows up is right up there on the list of things it pains me to give up. I definitely learned that I can't bridge that distance in a week, especially not by overspending and giving him everything. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIqjGqaCqysrpaLCcBRW8FAXcTSyrXUYIeUcfpL61RyKfFBnPTVgYvLIN7pp4ZH1fIZldVH9yFc_iAq5F30ot1rYDM1T-mkg2jdLEZSL_wvndJjwlkFtfBcTW0XTD6TXSDkT5S5DJg6lK/s1600/IMG_0864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:right;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIqjGqaCqysrpaLCcBRW8FAXcTSyrXUYIeUcfpL61RyKfFBnPTVgYvLIN7pp4ZH1fIZldVH9yFc_iAq5F30ot1rYDM1T-mkg2jdLEZSL_wvndJjwlkFtfBcTW0XTD6TXSDkT5S5DJg6lK/s320/IMG_0864.JPG" /></a></div>I can understand how a separated parent can feel by buying things to make up for lost time. But at least from my end, just spending time together - checking out a junior surf competition at Bathsheba on the East Coast and hanging out all together with some friends here - was the greatest feeling. I know a week cannot make up for many months missing at a time, but just appreciating it nonetheless as an opportunity to share my life with family and spend whatever time we have together, catching up. The feeling of hearing my brother rave about how amazing his first surf lesson was and together, watching him catch a wave on his own, is incredible.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGf4tm7m35gHM7c1xpRS8KbQZspBMdXZg9p-4KvInIhraXYroL6-GKS2YngzE9swB0_v-EvSUP9duGgcdM60hyphenhyphen12yZoKsxdluJVotKc7eBZAZzdmX9QT6BntPfPRxtXjAs1WQ63RNwVr7M/s1600/IMG_0926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGf4tm7m35gHM7c1xpRS8KbQZspBMdXZg9p-4KvInIhraXYroL6-GKS2YngzE9swB0_v-EvSUP9duGgcdM60hyphenhyphen12yZoKsxdluJVotKc7eBZAZzdmX9QT6BntPfPRxtXjAs1WQ63RNwVr7M/s320/IMG_0926.JPG" /></a></div>Other highlights of his time here include getting him to dance, our tour of the Mount Gay Rum facility, not your average <a href="http://wn.com/Barbados_by_Locals%E2%84%A2__Dominoes_at_Rum_Shop">domino games</a>, eating a lot of good food and enjoying the beaches. All I can do is be happy that we got to spend this time together.<br />
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In other news, I need to get back in shape for Oistins 10km run at the end of April. Too much hailing of the ice cream truck recently. And on the work front, looks like I might be in Antigua for my birthday and a couple days following for some youth media training, so fingers crossed I'll find out early this week.<br />
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Nickname updates: Met the following people in the last two weeks - Scotland Yard, Blood Stain (intense), Sacky, Ziggy and Damian (after Ziggy and Damian Marley).<br />
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And lastly, looking forward to <a href="http://www.thebarbadosreggaefestival.com/">Reggae Fest</a> and Oistins Fish Fest - I heard some women can de-bone a flying fish in seconds! - at the end of April.<br />
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After a rainy session at Surfer's Point<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4F1A9MfOl7b7ytUzFdySxdS838BX9tzf29azSiEmpZIa77gcWt1mGrIfRkvEsMyzxtirR6ImCv-NmCgyhxM_5inSVceJYuGYs4ROeR6MnGKGJTAxmpKUDyn8X8yqLQz5FdIo8An3OoGJ/s1600/IMG_0928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:center;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4F1A9MfOl7b7ytUzFdySxdS838BX9tzf29azSiEmpZIa77gcWt1mGrIfRkvEsMyzxtirR6ImCv-NmCgyhxM_5inSVceJYuGYs4ROeR6MnGKGJTAxmpKUDyn8X8yqLQz5FdIo8An3OoGJ/s320/IMG_0928.jpg" /></a></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-9161632368173287262011-03-15T00:33:00.000-04:002011-03-15T00:33:19.170-04:00It's about time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VywRUTE0_FGsy-RNycsBr4aEMtaAtUlsM3aszq44VIE_cA47FW0vKR3Bu878VANnwyBLHrqNe5e4YaL5ppXuNuQLj3dhctCxh29GZ92oApR-sGoXq3BGXWkvm_w6jG8Lb3i5CfDHhoVg/s1600/IMG_0697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VywRUTE0_FGsy-RNycsBr4aEMtaAtUlsM3aszq44VIE_cA47FW0vKR3Bu878VANnwyBLHrqNe5e4YaL5ppXuNuQLj3dhctCxh29GZ92oApR-sGoXq3BGXWkvm_w6jG8Lb3i5CfDHhoVg/s400/IMG_0697.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I have been in Barbados for almost 6 months. Barbados is 430 square kilometres. Just the size of <b>urban</b> Ottawa is 357 square kilometers. It is slightly embarrassing to admit that I had not toured the country before yesterday. But at least we did it and since this week is a bit chaotic for me - my brother is coming on Wednesday! - this post might be dominated by photos. I have a feeling most people won't mind!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvLootyGnRqmtKbklvDf7pHMQ8Qk8Tu0sufQUHKB3PxcAf3V0H25bhHty7HD1awR0f-xlyGscgcTuceFJNAjQxBAcMbeXqee71gwNIIr5vU_zPppem8UXasrh2e3qBnBvER20yGov1s3e/s1600/IMG_0652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvLootyGnRqmtKbklvDf7pHMQ8Qk8Tu0sufQUHKB3PxcAf3V0H25bhHty7HD1awR0f-xlyGscgcTuceFJNAjQxBAcMbeXqee71gwNIIr5vU_zPppem8UXasrh2e3qBnBvER20yGov1s3e/s320/IMG_0652.JPG" /></a></div>I did end up having a lovely weekend, involving celebrating a friend Ricardo's birthday (check out the snicker's decorated cake we got for him) on Friday and taking in a performance from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3YpfaZrjfY">Peter Ram</a>, a popular <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bashment">bashment</a> freestyle artist. Saturday was probably a contender for my laziest day ever in Barbados, and Sunday went surfing at Surfer's Point and first time I didn't get pushed into any waves. After surfing, spent the rest of the day on the island tour. Would like to give more details but need my rest right now, will update this later in the week hopefully.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4IiB_hmuCNN3JzKUVrXU0zCyhdZfj_bEDnoEHjSM8F5Tz5Ivf3_TJfIuGt_-pdxRbtf_TNTt0R-rpu09mOT6-2xhvygJIfUA-elewZJbMrASjT_Fnq-e45hHyNVLMJbwQkbs1RBE4Wap/s1600/IMG_0677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:center; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4IiB_hmuCNN3JzKUVrXU0zCyhdZfj_bEDnoEHjSM8F5Tz5Ivf3_TJfIuGt_-pdxRbtf_TNTt0R-rpu09mOT6-2xhvygJIfUA-elewZJbMrASjT_Fnq-e45hHyNVLMJbwQkbs1RBE4Wap/s320/IMG_0677.JPG" /></a></div>Started by picking up a slew of great people pon de west coast, and saw him!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKJ5XEAANVWYuMoTnrbHkpxvBS7jC4RVFHryuTwggxZae05t57AhRtmBPaWA_jhEr5jUwNq7CDX2ZDWI3MPafPxCLTtmK-OuW_5DjV7UiDtaCHdoiOBnJmYL31jYLVKvc7QliAoYdU9yV/s1600/IMG_0686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:center; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKJ5XEAANVWYuMoTnrbHkpxvBS7jC4RVFHryuTwggxZae05t57AhRtmBPaWA_jhEr5jUwNq7CDX2ZDWI3MPafPxCLTtmK-OuW_5DjV7UiDtaCHdoiOBnJmYL31jYLVKvc7QliAoYdU9yV/s320/IMG_0686.JPG" /></a></div>Finally made it to the North point - where do you want to go from here?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn9Q_qHzbpKy0c6_KP4GPjfEclDUIA0_EBiEc2YMji4c0SP7NgB90Zr_7wn0Dy8nSpV1xoNi6zApozzP7-NbAtcYFbXmLFOEHfFxpOW5d6t2XaeIImcEgfOTKXXbzmKnzVHv2hVkZ74gj/s1600/IMG_0690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:center; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn9Q_qHzbpKy0c6_KP4GPjfEclDUIA0_EBiEc2YMji4c0SP7NgB90Zr_7wn0Dy8nSpV1xoNi6zApozzP7-NbAtcYFbXmLFOEHfFxpOW5d6t2XaeIImcEgfOTKXXbzmKnzVHv2hVkZ74gj/s320/IMG_0690.JPG" /></a></div>It's Animal Flower Cave (though we didn't go down in it - apparently the sea anemones for which it's named have mostly been washed away with rough weather the last few years.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TmhkbqgPsBhyXzQ3WiBeA6GZeTkPmGgIRC_voBTGEQVxYjEka3UlLlN3hWHRufXRKQz4Ny1fkRUpx_PkEMD2cMajT22dvoRwmcKdGrCCGKIB2bkZhYRNDckti7v2yFTnIDVBdOIAs9QZ/s1600/IMG_0711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:center; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TmhkbqgPsBhyXzQ3WiBeA6GZeTkPmGgIRC_voBTGEQVxYjEka3UlLlN3hWHRufXRKQz4Ny1fkRUpx_PkEMD2cMajT22dvoRwmcKdGrCCGKIB2bkZhYRNDckti7v2yFTnIDVBdOIAs9QZ/s320/IMG_0711.JPG" /></a></div>So I made due with relaxing and taking in the amazing view.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_thjcoflI9G7-U0KMM5vTb8PsWnv_j2wXjxtwXBSWmBSKH4vVjX484WL-3kJBkqheTn1meG80fFguSehFuIjB48o0YhudpLWMuUGkMSn3jlq4aXy6XhEN1haerr4zhDNoO1Dj6oY7sRs5/s1600/IMG_0722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_thjcoflI9G7-U0KMM5vTb8PsWnv_j2wXjxtwXBSWmBSKH4vVjX484WL-3kJBkqheTn1meG80fFguSehFuIjB48o0YhudpLWMuUGkMSn3jlq4aXy6XhEN1haerr4zhDNoO1Dj6oY7sRs5/s320/IMG_0722.JPG" /></a></div>Catching a rainbow!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkA0NWV4OiYDaXORCe08z6aPC0cGv7ZN-ah7H00nhsOQIF1jn6rPwX2cyQX1DlNTC79B9tq6Cb3P4eEFnPH6kwrQi244Si_60u8O7H2Y2mVbIOB2OQmoHItJnY5k7IvaT8C5k-7t2oe5pL/s1600/IMG_0744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkA0NWV4OiYDaXORCe08z6aPC0cGv7ZN-ah7H00nhsOQIF1jn6rPwX2cyQX1DlNTC79B9tq6Cb3P4eEFnPH6kwrQi244Si_60u8O7H2Y2mVbIOB2OQmoHItJnY5k7IvaT8C5k-7t2oe5pL/s320/IMG_0744.JPG" /></a></div>This is Cherry Tree Hill (strangely no cherry trees) with a beautiful view to the Scotland district of Barbados, famous for the only rolling hills on the island and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redlegs">"ecky-beckies"</a>, White Barbadian descendants of prisoners and indebted servants.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdB-97M203TGfiUjhRbjiM0b27gAirCrGAYHhuhTEk6j31ZyU-L272u7L4U2iLttNrFPpp8kjdxFQEi-8QpYBG8Asvy4GStwcbrliPAywr5uYw0zU0BeNMNLi3wy6jhUaCpeUcLl9lVEe-/s1600/IMG_0754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdB-97M203TGfiUjhRbjiM0b27gAirCrGAYHhuhTEk6j31ZyU-L272u7L4U2iLttNrFPpp8kjdxFQEi-8QpYBG8Asvy4GStwcbrliPAywr5uYw0zU0BeNMNLi3wy6jhUaCpeUcLl9lVEe-/s320/IMG_0754.JPG" /></a></div>I thought this was THE windmill of Barbados; apparently <a href="http://www.barbados.org/windmill.htm">not</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9nMP2PJK4lO4n22vKKiiMx9mlSY8XKrfdqMcxDYt3qWIzpopCnkDSUhN59PsrJwWvvTw_g-i1R-bVi8ho-NsPdV0747mLMCLUCpDN1kjP1YRDalcEqZoadizwNvO2EqIY4oRaPRuZ691/s1600/IMG_0764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9nMP2PJK4lO4n22vKKiiMx9mlSY8XKrfdqMcxDYt3qWIzpopCnkDSUhN59PsrJwWvvTw_g-i1R-bVi8ho-NsPdV0747mLMCLUCpDN1kjP1YRDalcEqZoadizwNvO2EqIY4oRaPRuZ691/s320/IMG_0764.JPG" /></a></div>Prime example of island erosion and the effects of climate change. That is a house. On a rock.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HvmJWyhHJr7LdMi68l4W1sRmwOHG8vEjIHTY0fuFx41RvmcO1xFLujxTlDEZrHMpWqavuKR0a42DfzEEo8jnAPEl8o_kMGeCG8j4AYLpxB93vlb63bvPq4SwWs-OGiaYHYwU9gksgAJu/s1600/IMG_0778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HvmJWyhHJr7LdMi68l4W1sRmwOHG8vEjIHTY0fuFx41RvmcO1xFLujxTlDEZrHMpWqavuKR0a42DfzEEo8jnAPEl8o_kMGeCG8j4AYLpxB93vlb63bvPq4SwWs-OGiaYHYwU9gksgAJu/s320/IMG_0778.JPG" /></a></div>Pools at Bathsheba - should have brought my bathing suit!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_KGagW2qIdfvuWODSD8J1sMI9M2NVhIiPM6iI1IPewZXitNht542DyVt0Nq_93LSarfvsu0tESkx21TPt5volVBXhHuLLOkb_iuDGu3Xxpk7cSP2W8h2OGt5jjwMmDfywTa4D8KKlY_7/s1600/IMG_0782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_KGagW2qIdfvuWODSD8J1sMI9M2NVhIiPM6iI1IPewZXitNht542DyVt0Nq_93LSarfvsu0tESkx21TPt5volVBXhHuLLOkb_iuDGu3Xxpk7cSP2W8h2OGt5jjwMmDfywTa4D8KKlY_7/s320/IMG_0782.JPG" /></a></div>Reminds me of a crazy straw!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RWsipSiBppr921ZJ8Hv1-soyWgCT39-RgKHmHPohHeURFalDcESOSG1bfWEjBcQEBvHvl5kzHezWy4hz9Aij9pAV1jRuDe-YthPQ-u4pMP0TCjwnGFEdvs7jMm8B4BpDgdd7Tqt72pT0/s1600/IMG_0784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RWsipSiBppr921ZJ8Hv1-soyWgCT39-RgKHmHPohHeURFalDcESOSG1bfWEjBcQEBvHvl5kzHezWy4hz9Aij9pAV1jRuDe-YthPQ-u4pMP0TCjwnGFEdvs7jMm8B4BpDgdd7Tqt72pT0/s320/IMG_0784.JPG" /></a></div>Each parish has it's own parish church (so we saw quite a few). This one is where the former PM David Thompson is buried.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_xqA3tNBeEKGatobGo5r94GYa2k_b_NTYX-XWzX8sPMqP9t3_B2c1K8Dv6233Ch6mVKPm2c6UN9n4-xOikgnZMsWnbrWiESD5_3utkEAsJFgPN0Bc0TTklgcyVlbJbIdcaehEo9dyK69/s1600/IMG_0794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_xqA3tNBeEKGatobGo5r94GYa2k_b_NTYX-XWzX8sPMqP9t3_B2c1K8Dv6233Ch6mVKPm2c6UN9n4-xOikgnZMsWnbrWiESD5_3utkEAsJFgPN0Bc0TTklgcyVlbJbIdcaehEo9dyK69/s320/IMG_0794.JPG" /></a></div>After going through St. Michael, St. James, St. Peter, St. Lucy, St. Andrew, St. John, St. Joseph and St. Philip, we go round past the airport and back home in Christ Church. That's almost all the parishes in one day!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-1221298556239757142011-03-08T21:56:00.000-05:002011-03-08T21:56:13.914-05:00A mix of things going onFirst, Happy International <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkp4t5NYzVM&feature=player_embedded">Women's</a> Day! To borrow from a note written by Melissa: "Today is simply a reminder that we (children, men, women and everyone in between) should mobilise for women yesterday, today, tomorrow and for all the days after that." It's not about the specific day but just to recognize that each individual, woman or otherwise, is unique and faces unique challenges, has special talents and embodies all the potential in the world if they are given an opportunity.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbHWQsbOOvAJG75Bsg6-NwMYG6009LViEVhpwGjW-zBVkOaa1YvOb5gdbZO5TCn92VBMD9OPffvY02EVvlAxRtmbUy0Mlbjs3DPRttXBm4CIMqWufhsEhFsMGjqT49mQUgLOPKJtzo6ma/s1600/195123_10150104930442655_51965142654_6568261_4834455_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbHWQsbOOvAJG75Bsg6-NwMYG6009LViEVhpwGjW-zBVkOaa1YvOb5gdbZO5TCn92VBMD9OPffvY02EVvlAxRtmbUy0Mlbjs3DPRttXBm4CIMqWufhsEhFsMGjqT49mQUgLOPKJtzo6ma/s320/195123_10150104930442655_51965142654_6568261_4834455_o.jpg" /></a></div>In other news, I had a fairly quiet weekend, with another surf lesson on Sunday with some new and old faces. Finally learning to catch my own waves; I can read when a set is coming in but still hard to time the paddling so that I actually ride the wave and not get rocked by it! I was at the beach with a friend Saturday afternoon, played a little raquette ball, enjoyed some rum punch and swam around for awhile. Last week, I went to a different friend's football (soccer) match, and watching from the sidelines really made me miss playing! Here is a picture from the game with a friend's little sister Samantha. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJevyC7PSHIUSKMfJ7F5Yr9zFV9r6cbfEIgdKO-_ezqx0WRglA9Ttm4epP8eL8EFzr-Wock2T_DbGt-d-iAIyypf8y6B1dyCi5Iou2opvb909ViyU5RGLt7D6-tRBmjlWCROmlgaTQTYnn/s1600/IMG_0626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:left; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJevyC7PSHIUSKMfJ7F5Yr9zFV9r6cbfEIgdKO-_ezqx0WRglA9Ttm4epP8eL8EFzr-Wock2T_DbGt-d-iAIyypf8y6B1dyCi5Iou2opvb909ViyU5RGLt7D6-tRBmjlWCROmlgaTQTYnn/s320/IMG_0626.JPG" /></a></div>It's down to crunch time in Spanish class, so plan on cramming that for the next few weeks. The Institute is actually planning an Easter weekend trip to Venezuela - pretty cheap so it's tempting. <br />
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Otherwise, still running in the mornings and really liking experimenting in the kitchen recently, especially with red lentils. Next to milo, this is my current mini obsession. But eating more veg (even tried <a href="http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h326/hdonald1/IMG_0648.jpg">these</a>), feeling good and thinking about my <a href="http://kalemenow.tumblr.com/">lovely friends in DC</a>.<br />
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As I continue budgetting for food here, I thought you might appreciate a visual illustration of purchasing conundrums in a small island state. <br />
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This 2L jug of decent rum costs about 20 dollars<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlesl3iy9kyDt4Uc7m5JZNBXOdGNp8T4VLQ7QItN7OyLE9f8vUHCux0ayQBx4F8arVHU_biKBpyZlkzqfSqT4kkZLjTb7nC0NWOftT58kYoNo3YGHXEJikeXTY1UFE37oBWFVsXsSTk2N6/s1600/IMG_0649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:center;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlesl3iy9kyDt4Uc7m5JZNBXOdGNp8T4VLQ7QItN7OyLE9f8vUHCux0ayQBx4F8arVHU_biKBpyZlkzqfSqT4kkZLjTb7nC0NWOftT58kYoNo3YGHXEJikeXTY1UFE37oBWFVsXsSTk2N6/s320/IMG_0649.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This package of strawberries costs 11.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIwz7W8sejkSZMv9JTvxLa9avji51zc0UfdMfnYz1zWdcsZEMvzRrTyhJBowsTrZwwRdcys-gaav_chfdVZuQKmbACMke7QfY8hBf3mFw3eKo2_5xEP14AHcd6vwfocaCCbqrCD2h8seX/s1600/IMG_0650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:center;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIwz7W8sejkSZMv9JTvxLa9avji51zc0UfdMfnYz1zWdcsZEMvzRrTyhJBowsTrZwwRdcys-gaav_chfdVZuQKmbACMke7QfY8hBf3mFw3eKo2_5xEP14AHcd6vwfocaCCbqrCD2h8seX/s320/IMG_0650.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Tax went up 2.5% in January, so VAT is sitting at 17.5% at a time when impacts from the economic crisis in North America as still being felt here. All over the world, prices of foodstuffs are going up, which affects people's buying choices. Already I can see a lot of American and fast food influence on people's eating habits here - between KFC and the local McDonald's equivalent <a href="http://www.chefette.com/chefette.cfm">Cheffette</a>, I can see a lot of people get that taste for salt and a bargain. Here's hoping public health becomes more of a priority.<br />
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Also, my brother comes in T-one week!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-43918689993961303072011-02-28T08:41:00.008-05:002011-03-02T15:41:44.693-05:00Nicknames and our little misadventureJust a few observations about nicknames here. First, they are very widely used. Second, they follow you, good or bad, pretty much forever. Third, here you can know someone for a very long time without actually knowing their 'real' name. And fourth, they serve the purpose of providing an alias should you decide to do something illegal, with the idea that the police would look for you using your real name, which some may not even know. Sneaky. One of our regular bus drivers, Piley, which is embroidered on his dashboard Kleenex box, and Supa Ted, a driver we had on a Bridgetown-bound West coast bus, are just some of the names I have heard. In Canada, we generally call each other by our full name or a short or cutesy version of it. It is rarer to call someone another name all together on a regular basis. In Barbados, I have been known to respond to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPytpYlCOcqQMRXerS2hbjTcNdedNFqk7hvlaoKYSgmZY6HLugDLmIICs3bnoEkt2mgCMh_CCbYZubQjOeDprqdST032xvIkPi5up__qo13UV6a_l9WNmv6uXLINuyiKePIfzGAE6Ezlc/s380/beachnight+034.jpg">Shorty</a> and most people’s nicknames correspond to physical features: Tall man, Big guy, Rasta, Red man, Picka (he is a picky eater), etc. We used to have some dancer friends here: Casper, Froggy and Scooby. But I like it all. Keep your eyes peeled for a future post on speakin' like a Bajan - Melissa is officially getting "lessons"!<br />
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On the weekend front, Saturday I met up for lunch with some friends of my dad’s – thanks for lunch, ice cream and friendly faces Jim and Silvia! – and limed the rest of the day away back at Crane Beach. And eating some coconuts right out the tree!<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XXBdY5n88IYyWdmpoCJyVUhkLP1SvnZBpata2uMzEYLXBnUUvp3sU7ZEREFltPI8_F8rbw1Ny8x6ed3xQrUgsiiWNiGtU-ob__mZfidecfUei98z0ee-KOmAPwsPblkRO8k2M2bK2xuO/s1600/IMG_0618.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XXBdY5n88IYyWdmpoCJyVUhkLP1SvnZBpata2uMzEYLXBnUUvp3sU7ZEREFltPI8_F8rbw1Ny8x6ed3xQrUgsiiWNiGtU-ob__mZfidecfUei98z0ee-KOmAPwsPblkRO8k2M2bK2xuO/s320/IMG_0618.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578735622884907570" /></a>On Sunday, Melissa, Chris and I headed out to the West coast after my surf lesson with the vision of taking out the kayak, catching a glimpse of some turtles and snorkeling around the marine park. I had done it already many times on my own and even with Melissa last month, so by now I should have the routine down pact, right? How wrong I was. I heard swell was big on the West coast, since surfing Sunday morning at Freights on the South Coast was not that great wave-wise. Apparently when one is good, the other really isn’t. But even after dragging the kayak, snorkel gear, fins, anchor, waterproof camera, bread for attracting fish, towels and whatever else down to the water’s edge, the wave breaks along the beach seemed manageable. We had all the good intentions in the world, watching the wave sets and looking for a calm moment to push in the kayak and hop on. But we misjudged. Badly. And the kayak (which has a crack in it already) filled completely with water, making it an 8 foot long rock sinking and crashing into shore! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bLHBL5IuFIBPrgJROxJYfN1MYnu2iHZhavqwsbNbobvfDZJMk0Yl0IOPTzQrZIM8BLu_HnYzDdUDNWHnLD8LtZiUz2V3ZsRBvMyWR-ppMtLga3IbQPm5KXbECwo9rQ5jbuc1mgtULEhD/s1600/IMG_0609.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bLHBL5IuFIBPrgJROxJYfN1MYnu2iHZhavqwsbNbobvfDZJMk0Yl0IOPTzQrZIM8BLu_HnYzDdUDNWHnLD8LtZiUz2V3ZsRBvMyWR-ppMtLga3IbQPm5KXbECwo9rQ5jbuc1mgtULEhD/s320/IMG_0609.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579199353183443650" /></a>It knocked Melissa clear off her feet, sprawling into the water, along with all of our gear! And me, who owns a kayak at home and is at least a self-professed intermediate kayaker, was at a loss to figure out how to drain the extremely awkward and weighty boat. Meanwhile, I am sure the row of tourists sunbathing nearby was particularly amused at our little chaotic antics. Essentially for about an hour, we wrestled with the waves and keeping the kayaking from taking in water on the launch. And then we realized that in the midst of all the confusion, we lost both snorkel masks – the whole purpose of going out in the first place! <br />
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Sam, if you’re reading this, Copper is looking for them, sorry! And your anchor as well. Not sure how we managed to lose that one. I suppose it’s a particular skill of mine. <br />
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All you can do is laugh it off, and after some good home cookin’ and a beautiful sunset, we headed back to the South coast, ready for the work week.<br />
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Check it out: post-surf lesson at Freights Bay!<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwsMhFh59BlDPQXHw2h-p-R5U67jh71T6OHvJPODs68vBQIx9aHDIHoOkvDCCgdo8cxWOD3qnIfVYQ4KcQbsFsz3f4ucYf8h7MaLWilkBtSSP1RM3BzwAIGKuRXRYyC1rmKUhVvx2zaet/s1600/IMG_0619.JPG"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwsMhFh59BlDPQXHw2h-p-R5U67jh71T6OHvJPODs68vBQIx9aHDIHoOkvDCCgdo8cxWOD3qnIfVYQ4KcQbsFsz3f4ucYf8h7MaLWilkBtSSP1RM3BzwAIGKuRXRYyC1rmKUhVvx2zaet/s320/IMG_0619.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578735627067334386" /></a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-73643284090608888422011-02-20T18:59:00.007-05:002011-02-22T08:36:37.524-05:00Sunning and running!With a cancelled surf lesson on Friday on account of high tides, I was hoping it would not be a bad omen for the rest of the weekend. With the success of the fishcakes last week, Melissa and I had two friends over for dinner on Friday, and headed off to Oistins for some dancing. <br /><br />In case I somehow forgot to explain Oistins, it’s the central fish market on the South Coast, where fishermen sell their catch of the day and about 30 food vendors season, grill, fry, and serve up all varieties of seafood, chicken, salads, chips, macaroni pie and of course, beverages. Friday evenings, locals and tourists alike come out to enjoy good food, good music and in turn, some good dancing. For us, it’s a chance to unwind after the work week, run into friends (and foe), and indulge our foodie selves! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczaA-UnORgdwmTSXiAZ9-YjJgOevnpRS1DPUsIZHUfgPVN9ghjm-JY1euFdlcodEGHaBLv08qbjIsj-wgx8_r5gXbOCJDHECaZ9fiwJfLKPIVWYnbf7tvb2CHGFdg1TBi0g1t7OdLqWEV/s1600/crane+003.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczaA-UnORgdwmTSXiAZ9-YjJgOevnpRS1DPUsIZHUfgPVN9ghjm-JY1euFdlcodEGHaBLv08qbjIsj-wgx8_r5gXbOCJDHECaZ9fiwJfLKPIVWYnbf7tvb2CHGFdg1TBi0g1t7OdLqWEV/s320/crane+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575942412749070626" /></a> An invite earlier in the week from two new friends sent us to the island’s fanciest resort on Saturday afternoon: The Crane. I was told that the classification goes beyond the star-rating and is rated as a 4-diamond resort. I’m talking four pools, hot tub, a glass elevator down a cliff to the beach, ponds filled with coy fish - the works. Felt a little bit out of place, and as much as I try to avoid feeling or acting like a tourist at all costs, the day trip was beautiful and relaxing. And the cliff views out into the Caribbean Sea were breathtaking. I just feel bad for those tourists who come to Crane, with its restaurants, convenience stores and boutiques, and never experience everything else Barbados has to offer. And we got a tour of another relatively unexplored Parish: St. Philip. Mostly sugarcane fields and twisting roads, but the land is cheaper and it’s not too far from the action.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJUSiFY_GWXCmyam5l_pZblkDFJi584cTUOP8Kt37AmhQFPWMfaGk9UYBWEaUn2ssh0h-0B2LPEJu96mz_3tWTF7oX9vXq0us3lhCixnkfRy8p3T3HlA0vMe32K9PMPZ9qvClwKwVsNH_/s1600/crane+017.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJUSiFY_GWXCmyam5l_pZblkDFJi584cTUOP8Kt37AmhQFPWMfaGk9UYBWEaUn2ssh0h-0B2LPEJu96mz_3tWTF7oX9vXq0us3lhCixnkfRy8p3T3HlA0vMe32K9PMPZ9qvClwKwVsNH_/s320/crane+017.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575942416611481042" /></a><br />Sunday was time for my second race event in Barbados. And, like last time when I convinced Laurie to run the half-marathon with me, my friend Rodney was victim number two. And he did not come willingly and insisted on trash talking! The <a href="http://www.holetownfestivalbarbados.com/">Holetown festival</a> on the West coast has been going on all week, with Sunday being the last day. The festival consists mostly of vendors selling food, toys, art, jewelery and loads of other stuff. It was nice to see a familiar face, with Sam’s friend Maria showcasing her art. After poking around and resisting food for most of the afternoon, I caved and had a blueberry smoothie about an hour before the race. Probably not the smartest choice. And 4pm is not really an ideal time to be running in the heat, even it’s JUST 7k (Rodney hated that I was calling it ‘just’ which cracked me up). Actually finished better than I thought: 36:48, with Rodney coming in 30 seconds and a broken shoe later. He seems to think revenge will come at the <a href="http://www.barbados.org/off.htm">Oistins Fish Festival</a> 10k in April. We’ll see :) One funny comment came from a guy who I ran past during the race: “Hey sweetie, can I massage your feet when you finish?” I don’t think so. <br /><br />After a dip in the sea, the arrival of Melissa’s brother Chris, the intake of many litres of water and many fishcakes, I was wiped. Now time for another week of work – at least there is the State of the World’s Children publication launch happening Friday to help with, plus a few other projects I have going on. And let me tell you, having Chris here is pumping me up for my little bro to come visit in a few weeks; my first overseas visitor!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uxGTVbyAuK4YtAYwH8-qi1jhIEJ2kmX8YsRz9I_ycsR5n526abUxMetvQIqbXgrq1MnBCcNO8lvvm56saFlvBW_DBO6zf1CbfeppALDLR4133nmTDLa2tNzWgndN10EZYviaf8Mw54Wn/s1600/crane+013.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uxGTVbyAuK4YtAYwH8-qi1jhIEJ2kmX8YsRz9I_ycsR5n526abUxMetvQIqbXgrq1MnBCcNO8lvvm56saFlvBW_DBO6zf1CbfeppALDLR4133nmTDLa2tNzWgndN10EZYviaf8Mw54Wn/s320/crane+013.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575942411738418610" /></a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-87637401027007894692011-02-14T20:32:00.004-05:002011-02-15T08:14:34.628-05:00Reflections on things I loveAs I sit here in a sugar coma, induced by warm brownies and ice cream, I can’t help but turn my thoughts to all the love that I have in my life. My family, my friends here, back home and around the world, and countless things that make me smile. I ordinarily boycott Valentine’s Day, apart from the chocolate and sweets, as a singular day to express your love, preferring to do so the other 364 days in the year. I found it a bit odd waiting in line at the grocery store today, watching men buy fake roses wrapped in cellophane and cheesy cards from China, that in a country where it seems so many men, and increasingly women, have more than one partner, that V-Day seems a sort of day of redemption. On my part, I thought it nice to consider some of the many things I love in life, apart from people – they know who they are and I will make sure they know they are loved another day.<br /><br />1. Skype – when phone connections suck, budget is tight and a voice isn’t enough, Skype answers the call and helps me feel connected!<br /><br />2. Digital Camera – knowing my memory problems, photos help me relive moments over and over again, and reconstruct an experience on scrapbook pages.<br /><br />3. Running – just you, body and soul, to exhert, unwind and reflect while you push yourself. Looking forward to the Holetown 7km run with our friend Rodney on Sunday. He seems to think I'm going to kick his butt :)<br /><br />4. Ice cream – ok I couldn’t not include it. In fact, here is what my ice cream looked like an hour ago:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAu50EzylPBPJzdFTOGav1-jB5i2zEAZJiMVFh0Ni_cp5hx3wctXUCmIrWYzSKoo0sLVhW64dIHhebXX_wGTyJv4nOJxTpXZH-v_vo6LRqffX6xRomA5k0AwZnbD3iWhyphenhyphenLVrHtPUblw-Yz/s1600/mmm.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAu50EzylPBPJzdFTOGav1-jB5i2zEAZJiMVFh0Ni_cp5hx3wctXUCmIrWYzSKoo0sLVhW64dIHhebXX_wGTyJv4nOJxTpXZH-v_vo6LRqffX6xRomA5k0AwZnbD3iWhyphenhyphenLVrHtPUblw-Yz/s320/mmm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573739234132290898" /></a><br /><br />5. Stephen Lewis and Romeo Dallaire – two men I highly respect and admire for their humanitarian work in Canada and abroad.<br /><br />6. Aloe vera – it’s the new windex; the current cure-all!<br /><br />7. The feeling of a cool breeze on your face and through your hair, where you can just close you eyes and breathe it in.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCyI7fd3dvd1BAbA-fApdzSFLSqOTa2TeGc-Q0dBYYeEX_ocMCmZ0aL0fInSwmIFciS_2oWjh1I29xR96lPSJpdz8hyVPrtVxCcvKjLTS6PtAoKPKSJeLiQdJXtolfW7lbGLXRsTKRCu-/s1600/fishcakes+n+taboo+004.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCyI7fd3dvd1BAbA-fApdzSFLSqOTa2TeGc-Q0dBYYeEX_ocMCmZ0aL0fInSwmIFciS_2oWjh1I29xR96lPSJpdz8hyVPrtVxCcvKjLTS6PtAoKPKSJeLiQdJXtolfW7lbGLXRsTKRCu-/s320/fishcakes+n+taboo+004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573739239737969490" /></a><br /><br />8. Comfort food that feels like a rainbow in your tummy - you know those days where you can completely satisfy a craving, or when you try a new recipe out and it tastes divine; sit back and savour it :)<br /><br />9. Peaceful, restful sleep - the kind where you really feel ready to tackle life when you get up; definitely need more of those mornings!<br /><br />10. The feeling you get when you give a little surprise to someone and get their excited reaction - the best kind of egoism.<br /><br /><br />And while I'm at it, I want to thank in particular the friends that I don't keep in touch with as frequently as I would like, but who take the time to read here and keep posted on what I'm up to. When I see the stats and check out which countries are reading, it really brightens my day. Thank you with all my heart.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-8265413819143048972011-02-13T14:36:00.007-05:002011-02-13T21:42:27.845-05:00Surfing and fishcakesI know that I haven’t talked much about the work I’m currently doing and I would like to share, but before I forget, let’s recap my weekend real quick. Essentially I limed my afternoons away, setting up a surf lesson for this morning.<br /><br />Having only surfed with Sam on the West coast, I was a bit anxious about proving myself with a new instructor and a new surf spot – Freights Bay on the South coast with <a href="http://www.boosyssurfschool.com/">Christian</a> and a group of EU diplomats (who are pretty cool). Even though I slathered on the SPF30 before heading out, I burned quite nicely. But it was worth it. When I’m out in the water, no matter how exhausted I am from paddling, it’s like I’m in my own world out there and life is good. I even watched a turtle stick its head out of the water and look around right in front of me! I rode a couple of good waves, one I even rode, thought it was over so I popped down then realized it was still going, so I jumped back up! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-34CIHTWxidhyphenhyphen7K_-xrTdDVqfjWVJZfZsU5-_uXYiekbu6BdqWRMfNukjxbGJY7pz7b4ItCVEIowMwUoqMI4Cmgf2e-EwIdsIi4W8IetZu9V2A3dsiBfBAoys4z6omT45dy2Zr5vNaa-/s1600/fishcakes+n+taboo+034.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-34CIHTWxidhyphenhyphen7K_-xrTdDVqfjWVJZfZsU5-_uXYiekbu6BdqWRMfNukjxbGJY7pz7b4ItCVEIowMwUoqMI4Cmgf2e-EwIdsIi4W8IetZu9V2A3dsiBfBAoys4z6omT45dy2Zr5vNaa-/s320/fishcakes+n+taboo+034.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573357344877891122" /></a>Burnt and worn out, I headed home to nap and make fishcakes for dinner, attempt number two at learning to cook Bajan.<br /><br />I meant to make the fishcakes Saturday, but after forgetting baking powder and oil at the store, fatigue got the better of me and I tried them today. It’s essentially a fried ball of dough with spices, saltfish, onions, shallots and a bit of hot pepper – delicious! They turned out great ☺<br /><br />Now back to another work week - but work is going fairly well. There are always challenges but I'm positive about the remainder of the placement. I'm working on a series of focus groups right now with teens to figure out how to engage this generation to talk and take action on issues that affect them, particularly using social networks. So far, a lot of interesting stuff coming out and a lot of social commentary that make my jaw drop! Apart from that, I got our office a social media presence with a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/UNICEFeasterncaribbean">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/unicefeastcaribbean">Youtube</a> page, and trying to work on building up followers from around the region, particularly youth and those that UNICEF could partner with on projects. And I got the office using Prezi to make more engaging presentations for donors and stakeholders, which is fun for me and will involve some training of staff. Otherwise, as Tom, the Representative, joked at a staff meeting last week, he'll have to hire me as his personal consultant when I leave. Wednesday this week is the big meeting on presenting and discussing this year's Country Program Document (or CPD since the UN is <span style="font-weight:bold;">very</span> fond of acronyms) with Education and Social Affairs government departments in each of the (now) 12 countries that our office covers, since Anguilla was recently added. That's about it for an update right now!<br /><br />And Melissa and I got a special (edible!) surprise from France this week, yummy! Gros bisous cocotte :D<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkRBqkNBxq225npggQYdWPt0v4UidsZiHwBQ1urECf_3nOYm3V9cfuSeDCy7D1-PwKHNQQ4hMhLBfM-8VWnbD2qecHfj4btr_vAwG4D3WGOH_aoSo3edyAhWhWuhofq0BRsTvVhOTlDg9/s1600/fishcakes+n+taboo+011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkRBqkNBxq225npggQYdWPt0v4UidsZiHwBQ1urECf_3nOYm3V9cfuSeDCy7D1-PwKHNQQ4hMhLBfM-8VWnbD2qecHfj4btr_vAwG4D3WGOH_aoSo3edyAhWhWuhofq0BRsTvVhOTlDg9/s320/fishcakes+n+taboo+011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573358098074383378" /></a><br />And this is how happy I was to eat my first cheeseburger in months:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5JtwetwSOo1C5MYVnFsQvJindTpbNUK9R9mI1J56bXlCr1E3GQlraIrmEG_TmTTx_ttSCfdUShiBdZWUXal3kddYkE77vtTGZPaQ1k2I7p2jG_LeKNd0dUrTtubJDBlrohyphenhyphenVCIzhCcDX/s1600/Taboo+Feb+12+-+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5JtwetwSOo1C5MYVnFsQvJindTpbNUK9R9mI1J56bXlCr1E3GQlraIrmEG_TmTTx_ttSCfdUShiBdZWUXal3kddYkE77vtTGZPaQ1k2I7p2jG_LeKNd0dUrTtubJDBlrohyphenhyphenVCIzhCcDX/s320/Taboo+Feb+12+-+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573359728688145074" /></a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-59337277499059920282011-02-06T09:20:00.008-05:002011-02-06T18:19:50.528-05:00In case you thought a conkie was a shellThat would be a conk shell you would be thinking of. This one is a traditional Bajan dessert made with pumpkin, coconut and sweet potato, wrapped up and steamed in a banana leaf. You may remember me eating some around Independence Day (think same time I tried pigs tail). Sherri-Anne, who works at the UN, lent me a “Best of Barbados Cookbook” and inspired me to at least attempt some of the recipes. And why not start big! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCHsM91VMX1UAGQwBLPqu-rhy4jEK5WeBB9Mmq36aPlADWxzq62MmCfDyNkHZFvV4jHRtRz_KMy2_5dFAT5bg8qAwZfDDqJ08ZNqMWDI5lNqJ5p4C2qyWxfD-phxWsdmXUwbvwpJV1t7I/s1600/conkies+003.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCHsM91VMX1UAGQwBLPqu-rhy4jEK5WeBB9Mmq36aPlADWxzq62MmCfDyNkHZFvV4jHRtRz_KMy2_5dFAT5bg8qAwZfDDqJ08ZNqMWDI5lNqJ5p4C2qyWxfD-phxWsdmXUwbvwpJV1t7I/s320/conkies+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570446138224685826" /></a><br />So after collecting all the ingredients on Friday, I woke up Saturday morning with the intention of starting early. After remembering the warnings from others that conkies take all day, I finally pulled up two recipes I decided on - the one from Sherri-Anne’s cookbook and <a href="http://caribbeanvegan.wordpress.com/2010/01/10/perfection-in-a-parcel-conkies-a-tutorial/">this one</a> - and starting assembling the ingredients. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Step 1: Leaf hunting</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmYGC6huAGRIz6riZfC0kkmpla4Vtf9E-Ks9TEcnMU_bLEK5fyFO43UFrNDppR85cnmsY_d72FkU_u6FBPnpBBONGJEllEITKKcSLMcoQAsaYLVdhCCAGfJxRF_VN6Y7T0Z5Ee_sMqOfh/s1600/conkies+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmYGC6huAGRIz6riZfC0kkmpla4Vtf9E-Ks9TEcnMU_bLEK5fyFO43UFrNDppR85cnmsY_d72FkU_u6FBPnpBBONGJEllEITKKcSLMcoQAsaYLVdhCCAGfJxRF_VN6Y7T0Z5Ee_sMqOfh/s320/conkies+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570446128978831570" /></a>Luckily we have a banana tree in our backyard, which has rebounded at least partially from Tomas. I tried to pick big, green leaves that weren’t torn much, so I could get good square sections to wrap the mixture in. I found out that you need big pieces so that the mixture doesn’t fall out everywhere. Didn't really get that until later on in the process. I felt a little odd out there with my kitchen scissors snipping away, though by the end of the day I would have to go out about 4 more times to get leaves. I scrubbed them off with soap and water and let them dry.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Step 2: Singeing the leaves (and that means fire!)</span><br />This one seemed pretty straightforward at first: take the clean leaves, put them over an open flame so they will get pliable to be able to fold around the conkie mixture. After burning up my fingers and a little trial and error - how was I supposed to know the leaves actually change colour when you leave them over the flame for the right amount of time? - I got the first batch of leaves singed. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dMzggtHpqqniI3GDEXjI7qZqoAH3Md-3c4c_Wi2CAj2NJi1TSfPiH3cAkp4fOVITHZUL77XgcFv8XI05xtRV2yCpJZr2hAlkqvHj1vaQt_HGGcBOuEje8cdjyhDF1lbYz4fSkHKEMtvo/s1600/conkies+008.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dMzggtHpqqniI3GDEXjI7qZqoAH3Md-3c4c_Wi2CAj2NJi1TSfPiH3cAkp4fOVITHZUL77XgcFv8XI05xtRV2yCpJZr2hAlkqvHj1vaQt_HGGcBOuEje8cdjyhDF1lbYz4fSkHKEMtvo/s320/conkies+008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570587019268811730" /></a>I started separating the leaves from the stalks, which I chopped up to use in the pots to create a steamer for these little guys. Cut 'em up in squares and on to the mix.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Step 3: Grating, grating and more grating</span><br />I bought a 3lb piece of pumpkin and used about 2lbs of sweet potato, and without a food processor or blender, and with the help of Melissa and the finest side of our hand grater, it took about an hour to get a pile of orange and white goop into the mixing pot. Mix that with the pictured ingredients (plus a pack of grated coconut) and you some delicious conkie batter! I put in dried cranberries and some raisins - normally its raisins and dried fruit or candied cherries but it can be whatever your heart desires really. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIclvJINquezvMfn2FAHigHbZ-S2zNpbAiFmRbAM3XqNHPiSPtJEeiR2JFPpHJaqNgBI7ADbKcvhfwnVwKtMTFUMMFoKyJNXAePre6bsGmyAZcW3MdA7DDjIcDyyuOxHODMJuFWV-krZXO/s1600/conkies+016.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIclvJINquezvMfn2FAHigHbZ-S2zNpbAiFmRbAM3XqNHPiSPtJEeiR2JFPpHJaqNgBI7ADbKcvhfwnVwKtMTFUMMFoKyJNXAePre6bsGmyAZcW3MdA7DDjIcDyyuOxHODMJuFWV-krZXO/s320/conkies+016.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570596695102560882" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Step 4: Packing those parcels</span><br />This is the most fun part! And also took even longer than the grating, since I had to repeat step 1 and 2 about three or four times after grossly underestimating how many conkies the batter would make. And I had a few casualties where the banana leaf split while I was folding them. In the end, I had three pots with the banana stalk steamers set up inside them going at once. I heard different cooking times depending on the recipe - anywhere from 30 mins to 2 hours. But I read that the conkies get fairly firm when they're done so I just waited until the leaves got darker and opened them up to check. Without anyone to ask, I just winged it! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjpHKZGIFFSk22TWLWweOymQVj_RXFFda2nwvoTax5hMVpB5iTcR0FxWzvZV8H0AjIpSsQgti6_R9IHDUQY5RciO7VNZ1i9jxJmMv-tehix9ZiwVYhSKojrYqSdFI4DYcqEdZytAc1G_Y/s1600/conkies+017.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjpHKZGIFFSk22TWLWweOymQVj_RXFFda2nwvoTax5hMVpB5iTcR0FxWzvZV8H0AjIpSsQgti6_R9IHDUQY5RciO7VNZ1i9jxJmMv-tehix9ZiwVYhSKojrYqSdFI4DYcqEdZytAc1G_Y/s320/conkies+017.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570601349558694194" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Step 5: Steaming and sampling</span><br />So after two ronds of steaming, and burning the bottom of two pots from not have enough water, I ended up with about 25 pretty looking conkies, 2 that broke while cooking and stuck to the inside of the pot, and 6 that burst a bit out of the leaves. I thought I'd photograph the ugly ducklings of the bunch. Started just after 1pm and finished just before 7pm, with one very messy kitchen. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrZ_rV1RE6a_pW2VCzwJN5xt812mwMCbX8Vb_aXVEvX-KZ-FP_V_eDYDFbee6AsKs1peeYTbET71OqfaoQHHlJ1CBnsiNdq3YdG3GYXV0nLljwvjYULUOEStPWOGcA4VKou5oFcdwLvKf/s1600/conkies+024.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrZ_rV1RE6a_pW2VCzwJN5xt812mwMCbX8Vb_aXVEvX-KZ-FP_V_eDYDFbee6AsKs1peeYTbET71OqfaoQHHlJ1CBnsiNdq3YdG3GYXV0nLljwvjYULUOEStPWOGcA4VKou5oFcdwLvKf/s320/conkies+024.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570603439215999426" /></a>I lay them all out to cool but was hesitant to sample - what if after 6 hours of work, I had made conkies that would either disgust or offend people? This was almost a national dish! Luckily a friend of my roommate Julie, a Bajan, dropped by an sampled one. And I quote: "That's a good conkie." Phew. Fears curbed, I set about dividing them up to give to people in the office, to a few friends and of course, for us! I can't wait to see the reaction of people :) <br /><br />Now I just need to find some coconut ice cream to top it off - and it will be heavenly!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9Bj0qEh5D5edjASePf-ypdJXpru27BZv7Xgwjiczl-rTsVtZAugsPxNp6QkbbQEH3ffwW-1DSdQtyXdRwzVTGSAxoTDQvZFwW2YIoWtvuNvhVICSUj-EcQ_xM_2YYIFczDvDSiz8TIMW/s1600/conkies.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9Bj0qEh5D5edjASePf-ypdJXpru27BZv7Xgwjiczl-rTsVtZAugsPxNp6QkbbQEH3ffwW-1DSdQtyXdRwzVTGSAxoTDQvZFwW2YIoWtvuNvhVICSUj-EcQ_xM_2YYIFczDvDSiz8TIMW/s320/conkies.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570605076193646290" /></a><br /><br />UPDATE: I brought conkies over to Copper and Agatha's place (where I snorkel, fish and kayak on weekends) and got a really enthusiastic response :) Copper said they were really good, and even said I make conkies better than some Bajans he knows. One of Copper's daughters said she loved it. Left some for Avalon, who was fixing the fishing boat I caught the big fish on. Bringing some to work tomorrow!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-50933433735810356412011-01-31T21:05:00.003-05:002011-01-31T22:23:32.417-05:00Hard to say goodbyeNo no, I’m not leaving here any time soon. But I am saying goodbye to a really good friend here, who is really a big reason why I have been able to experience so much of the culture here. Not the time to be selfish, and I really do wish Sam all the best in the UK; you never know when you might see someone again. If the connection I share with a pile of wonderful Americans who I met in Tanzania is any indication, I know that you make the effort to see people you care about – and it’s always more than worth it. Looks like I will need to venture off solo to find more things to do. Or become extremely fluent in Spanish. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEQ7Bg6ULQSX_RTU4DLdggJ_7qSsnOwtUm3HXW0gF8Mjq5k9rOCvPsl2B0E0Oaf6o07uNNFqGK8xyb8L53qYKdkm1mS9TCQvbLpV0ln-5XhoP7DqSw3gqPu4Fvm2GNRP5uz67gdYeFS4O/s1600/IMG_0427.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEQ7Bg6ULQSX_RTU4DLdggJ_7qSsnOwtUm3HXW0gF8Mjq5k9rOCvPsl2B0E0Oaf6o07uNNFqGK8xyb8L53qYKdkm1mS9TCQvbLpV0ln-5XhoP7DqSw3gqPu4Fvm2GNRP5uz67gdYeFS4O/s320/IMG_0427.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568554663458078882" /></a><br />Our last weekend hanging out couldn’t have been complete without a pass off of knowledge of how to make the best fire for roasting breadfruit. I can guarantee a beach fire with roasted fish and breadfruit to any island visitors :) I had another surf lesson that went really well. On Friday, I watched this inspiring surf movie Riding Giants about big wave surfing emerging in the U.S. It was absurd! So for Saturday’s lesson, I was probably a little too pumped. After about 30 minutes of paddling around and trying to catch a wave, Sam took pity on me and started helping me out with timing. I’m telling you, I can pop up, ride the wave and pop down – but catching the wave requires reading the ocean. Not so easy!<br /><br />Other than the surf, I ended up going with Sam up to Speightstown, the most historically significant town in Barbados, where Brits first landed on the island. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12UZsKBlMePQLw7KwuBAJUjylPraI2JAj8tmsvx7p1IAjvnK5r-HfU-Txw-BAmW0CS-JFYV7y8rZnCsQr71RH0NPI4rf9kmLoMSEKNbXnsLK-NaDIdOlDDHJD_talcb3VTvvcso6RWiaE/s1600/IMG_0419.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12UZsKBlMePQLw7KwuBAJUjylPraI2JAj8tmsvx7p1IAjvnK5r-HfU-Txw-BAmW0CS-JFYV7y8rZnCsQr71RH0NPI4rf9kmLoMSEKNbXnsLK-NaDIdOlDDHJD_talcb3VTvvcso6RWiaE/s320/IMG_0419.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568554653595091010" /></a>The coastal winding streets displaying colonial architecture now contrast with modern hotels and resorts. Even though the island is relatively small, the size of Ottawa with less than half of its population, there are still so many places that I haven’t seen yet! And I got my first glimpse of the all-inclusive tourist life and got a chance to use some of their goods! I got my first sailing lesson – though I’m nowhere near ready for a real regatta – and it was really fun just coasting along the beach. After another breadfruit roast, Sam convinced a friend to let me water ski for a few minutes, which made my legs feel like jello. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ap68NVpnasL3ED5BJ1xWmiTQ-F-KEKnJz-Ujbtsoj2a7T2ayCe1noo8-6f-KJNcL4NSi1NIT7CaOBnFAbYFy5ukTXTkWYCzDNMig-BNjmEmBichBxA2f0Vb_uFgRHGebv3MI7tCLF19i/s1600/IMG_0430.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ap68NVpnasL3ED5BJ1xWmiTQ-F-KEKnJz-Ujbtsoj2a7T2ayCe1noo8-6f-KJNcL4NSi1NIT7CaOBnFAbYFy5ukTXTkWYCzDNMig-BNjmEmBichBxA2f0Vb_uFgRHGebv3MI7tCLF19i/s320/IMG_0430.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568554670414333170" /></a>Another tidbit I found out this weekend is that there is a festival going on in Holetown in a few weeks – and there is a 7km afternoon race. Motivation to keep up the running! And to ignore the CONSTANT ice cream truck bells I hear everywhere. I’m telling you, I hear them in my sleep – it’s my official anthem in Barbados!<br /><br />So this week, I get to learn more about what it feels like on the other end. How it feels to say goodbye. Time to keep things in perspective and make my favourite caveman proud. Time to hone by exploration skills and pretend iza Bajan!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-75356330273432965022011-01-23T16:15:00.008-05:002011-02-01T13:04:31.041-05:00Happy Errol Barrow Day!Who was this lovely gentleman, you may ask? Errol Barrow was the founding father of Barbados, so why not celebrate his birthday – any excuse for a good, family BBQ Bajan-style! Unfortunately, the UN only gets a certain number of holidays so we had a rainy half-day of work, but as soon as 1pm rolled around, my roommate Melissa and I hopped on a bus to the West Coast, to Roadview, St. Peter, to enjoy the rest of the beautiful day with our friend Sam’s family. With juice and chocolate in tow, we had no idea the home cooking that was awaiting us. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UuB95R-4G-F2FFOMLZ9njZw2uieZox2X8ynrHoOvWo4trkcwYbH65yXT_FtaO-yifPdIgEIVdN4d8GJmx769NKeubptVw2LhcZQqW0Y_SHBN6EaaGcZHq3QnAdBdruIJLjoT93mR2zmP/s1600/IMG_0366.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UuB95R-4G-F2FFOMLZ9njZw2uieZox2X8ynrHoOvWo4trkcwYbH65yXT_FtaO-yifPdIgEIVdN4d8GJmx769NKeubptVw2LhcZQqW0Y_SHBN6EaaGcZHq3QnAdBdruIJLjoT93mR2zmP/s320/IMG_0366.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565493606170123922" /></a>Sam had mentioned something about roasting breadfruit and fish, but the wood slotted oven built from sliced scraps would have made any caveman proud! The gist of it is that you build up the oven around the breadfruit, set the thing on fire, and wait for it to fall apart into ashes. Then the veggies are ready. And somewhere in there, you throw in some aluminum-wrapped sweet potato, a whole coconut and seasoned whole fish. While we watched it all be built up and fall apart, we sampled some fresh fried flying fish (tongue twister!) and bonita fish. Yum! <br /><br />But the best was yet to come. Caveman’s ingenious bonfire yielded amazing roasted breadfruit – which reminded Melissa and I of ugali but better, with a dip of ketchup, pepper sauce and butter. How can you go wrong! And the roasted coconut was really nice as well.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESHVORZsgcJ_bFfnOGpXdjPJr3539WLwP8hv7IRKD3QgKrKoJJZv7vRH1cRzbW_ObnnCdUj2CPVDq74UCsml3OQf5007mRwqV0cPHa0cfKwM1G5jE_efjEAlkh7bMIQKBNSG7qyzowpup/s1600/SDC12858.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESHVORZsgcJ_bFfnOGpXdjPJr3539WLwP8hv7IRKD3QgKrKoJJZv7vRH1cRzbW_ObnnCdUj2CPVDq74UCsml3OQf5007mRwqV0cPHa0cfKwM1G5jE_efjEAlkh7bMIQKBNSG7qyzowpup/s320/SDC12858.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565502898994368738" /></a>And as the piece de resistance – the roasted fish were out of this and we revenged it right out of the foil. It felt so good and natural to eat stuff right out of the ground and sea. And a lovely sunset dip in the Sea to end off the day. And Saturday had even more down-to-earth cooking after Melissa and I went out to learn to catch big fish. After seeing some crazy looking splashing not so far from the boat, we circled around a few times before I felt a tug. After enlisting some help, I pulled out an 8-pounder – not bad!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WT5ng3CK08APdPHk7XjvHDLn_sJF0U8VwZQLikGAGQDHapwT8vQr496DB3xayNKeMtAT9PvNEmxrBIzs0j7o05SS3KqBharTWO310tKwGbxkJQRNZyFzDV2h4LD-JU1FiTdhNgr3a-41/s1600/IMG_0376.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WT5ng3CK08APdPHk7XjvHDLn_sJF0U8VwZQLikGAGQDHapwT8vQr496DB3xayNKeMtAT9PvNEmxrBIzs0j7o05SS3KqBharTWO310tKwGbxkJQRNZyFzDV2h4LD-JU1FiTdhNgr3a-41/s320/IMG_0376.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565498307992483986" /></a><br />Melissa steered the boat for a bit, but I’m not so good at that stuff, so I just played around with some flying fish that we caught earlier – flying fish is the national animal of Barbados and they have very large fins that spread out to allow them to jump out and almost hover in the air for a split second. I guess pretty fun to catch with nets.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIjMpvwrMdya9xD7S8cn3fpjwC27b7Tsu5YTMOdN5EeBLtv9mSG0hXHTPvlBfj4QMcZaaN8pxN3iQfuO-46MEx4hh_CdKufc_VTrc0nUopcu9RTc3Yw5bBLvfzynXpYKtqNDb16Jv2rfZ/s1600/IMG_0387.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIjMpvwrMdya9xD7S8cn3fpjwC27b7Tsu5YTMOdN5EeBLtv9mSG0hXHTPvlBfj4QMcZaaN8pxN3iQfuO-46MEx4hh_CdKufc_VTrc0nUopcu9RTc3Yw5bBLvfzynXpYKtqNDb16Jv2rfZ/s320/IMG_0387.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565498318809293298" /></a><br />And after that excitement, another bonfire was set up and, after guts were removed, roasted the flying fish “in their jackets” and got the 101 on de-boning, taking off the skin and what not to eat on the inside. Taking the skin off and dunking them in the saltwater provides as much seasoning as you need on these babies. Needless to say, I’m eating a lot of fish and loving it. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSCcCjnEP2ZPCx4s-8SazyolKDvCU8WzioWOf5pqSI24iRPSQ-Q3Yd-7rejzWym9ctcPhuu21984cXFHjk6-Qu17uj3utqYQ9tvpUjlWZvEAt6e5jr6intNVhcBDnAKvKglgZY2aaPOhc/s1600/IMG_0404.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSCcCjnEP2ZPCx4s-8SazyolKDvCU8WzioWOf5pqSI24iRPSQ-Q3Yd-7rejzWym9ctcPhuu21984cXFHjk6-Qu17uj3utqYQ9tvpUjlWZvEAt6e5jr6intNVhcBDnAKvKglgZY2aaPOhc/s320/IMG_0404.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565501151466420994" /></a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8801844500202391961.post-22758161087479127432011-01-23T15:00:00.006-05:002011-01-23T16:59:45.955-05:00Caribbean CricketNot your grandpa’s 3-day cricket that breaks for afternoon tea. I’m talking about decently exciting 20/20-style where each team bats for 20 overs (think innings where only 6 balls are thrown) and each time runs are scored, dancers are wukking up and people are jumping out their seats and waving 4 or 6-run mini-posters! Overall – a surprisingly fun atmosphere! So Wednesday night Canada was playing Barbados at the Oval downtown, so with a (patient) Bajan friend in tow, I was off to my first match. First off, I was told that cricket wasn’t dissimilar to baseball, except that you only run back and forth in a line with wickets (tall stick things) at either end. But what I didn’t know was that one team bats the full 20 overs (takes about an hour and a half) before the other team takes over. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Z3yUobYi6q7MUzT9PcP7_tMbNCxFKlFvUHSTBm0U1oY5_ScSQOux5P0Pw3rJtRFaZDdXv85TFXoH5-FnkK9lj6xhiWPMuCJAXOAr4H2gSP892Y2s4eojmCQOuOj06GKpU7fx1S5tR2R1/s1600/IMG_0355.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Z3yUobYi6q7MUzT9PcP7_tMbNCxFKlFvUHSTBm0U1oY5_ScSQOux5P0Pw3rJtRFaZDdXv85TFXoH5-FnkK9lj6xhiWPMuCJAXOAr4H2gSP892Y2s4eojmCQOuOj06GKpU7fx1S5tR2R1/s320/IMG_0355.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565474394199774018"></a><br />We arrived a bit late for the 8pm game but it didn’t end up starting until closer to 9 – typical Bajan time. Barbados was up first, so after a barrage of questions about what has going on, I was finally starting to understand. Mostly I just liked cheering and jumping up with everyone else! But the rain wasn’t holding up so the game was interrupted about four times in the first half, so a lot of what I watched was this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDLGrxcEgsggxXoAo0EL68XNI5ulpibjq0Fu7bYrRAHixkTPeMLD5tRLdHvV9fyQgEIpynf89C5sc86LgzzMqRqY6jA_mE2t4q_p9DNSEFLLLtzA3mOxDDHDABKMoOft2Ctn2MkLCZpEZ/s1600/IMG_0360.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDLGrxcEgsggxXoAo0EL68XNI5ulpibjq0Fu7bYrRAHixkTPeMLD5tRLdHvV9fyQgEIpynf89C5sc86LgzzMqRqY6jA_mE2t4q_p9DNSEFLLLtzA3mOxDDHDABKMoOft2Ctn2MkLCZpEZ/s320/IMG_0360.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565475772063816850"></a><br />So what do you eat at a cricket match you might ask? Fishcakes with pepper sauce and Banks! I think I might be mildly addicted to fishcakes. It seems like a large number of people from the Canadian ex-pat community came out to the game as well. Here is a highlight of why I was cheering for Barbados and keeping my nationality a little hush-hush:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dza-WEVNvln7x7FQ3oxmtlq18zgsOP4OJReBaqWrGwMErWnDm-k7UbTS2frXT_YPYe4RI6ugvPWJqwl8j9_Dg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08737088649127173137noreply@blogger.com0