"The lights were flickering on and off. The living room, bedroom, and kitchen area were empty but someone was there. It was unsafe to sleep there, so the only other place to stay at such a late hour was the health center itself, where perhaps the night would resume peacefully until the day broke to call for help. Sleep however, didn't come despite the new, relatively safer location. Someone with ill intent had extended their will upon the health center, continually flickering the lights, sending spirits through the walls to imbue their presence into the health centers inhabitants. In the morning the MP came and instead of alleviating the MA by granting his wish to transfer health centers, forced work to continue despite the obvious indications of witchcraft."
The staff at my health center have told me the above story several times. Recounting the sleepless night the Medical Attendant told to the community of his experience with the bad magic.Despite my best attempts to probe and generate alternative ideas, there is absolutly positively, without a doubt in their minds no other answer than this: Witchcraft is real. Someone has imposed their bad magic onto the MA and we all suffer for him.
It's incredible, but there isn't a soul in Malawi who would dare to disagree about witchraft, it holds as much clout as most other relgions practiced here but is taboo to discuss, unless of course the worst happens and the bad magic seeps into the public sphere. As a result of this the MA is not working, dumping more work onto the mere 2 nurses at the health center, but also scaring off another HSA ( Health Surveillance Assistant) by accusing her of being the said "mfiti" (witch). People are scared, people aren't working, but people are still sick, and they still come to the health center...
*Sigh*
Hopefully this MA leaves soon soon and takes with him the "cry witch" attitude that is all too common amongst disgruntled health workers who are underpaid and looking for a way out... I didn't say that, you heard it somewhere else...
That's all for now, this is Dannelle saying goodnight, and goodluck.
This is just funny:
http://www.creasedcomics.com/video_page.php?id=30
SideNote:
If you want to send me things the following would be greatly appreciated! :-):
Tuna/Chicken packets
Shirts
Spices
Cheese
Chocolate
Hot Chocolate with marshmallows/tea/coffee
Chocolate syrup
Jet puffed marshmallows
Graham crackers
Dried fruits
Granola
Hot sauce!
Parmesean Cheese
Olive oil
Romeo & Juliet the movie on like a flashdrive or something ( I'm teaching it)
Anything fun!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
TheFlight
Met a Martz worker from Guyana who helped me through the Port Authority yesterday. His name was Michael and he navigated me directly to JFK no strings or bullshit attached. It was really refreshing to come home and experience some good old american samaritan assistance; albeit a rare and endangered experience in some parts.
I traveled from JFK to Amsterdam, where I'm currently sitting. I'll have arrived in Lilongwe tomorrow Jan 2nd at 9:45am after a layover in Nairobi. Who would have thought I'd ever have the cohones to make such epic traveling endeavors solo? I can't quite digest it myself.
So this is the first entry of a hopefully continuous log involving experiences had over the next year and a half in Malawi/Ntcheu/Bilira. Hope for a few reasons:
One.
That I choose to pony up like a good volunteer and stick it out til the bitter bitter end.
2.
That tragic and horrific events do not take place niether in Malaw/Ntcheu/Bilira nor America/Philadelphia/Scranton/Uniondale.
Zitatu.
That I don't up and fucking forget to write.
So, in an effort to catch everyone up to what is now the seventh month of my Peace Corps service, I will briefly review the past months and their important, comical, petty, and entertaining moments which other people tell me I will probably like to remember.
In the beginning...
There was anxiety, and it was mostly Mefloquine induced. It made the initial months of service, which are already a bit nerve racking, exponentially worse. These side effects however, are not always typical for Mef users. Some become comfortable with the Mef and do not evolve into raging lunatics... unlike myself after five months. More on Mef use and embarrasing moments later.
There was also a major emotional shift perculating in the early months. One that caused a 7 year relationship to come to an end, and additionally, for new butterflies and drooling gaga eyes to dry up and die as quickly as they came due to the expiration date on a second year Peace Corps volunteer...what a happy and wonderful person. I encourage the happy and wonderful people to come out of the wood work because you have a civil duty to teach those of us who have a difficult time keeping up about the secret trick to the hard work that is happiness. Iwe?Come back? Please?
Less impactual? Impactful? Are the small hilarious or scary things that have happened, which I'm just going to list because my flight is leaving shortly...
Uno- Wendy Pancake (N). Canine variety.Small collie/dingo. Black and White in color. Given by Mr. William D. Livengood.
2-Green Mamba (N). Sneaky reptile.Small bright green snake. Enjoys watching me shower. Bricked to death in Bafa a la Ine.
Three- Burning( V). Carelessness in action. Includes two instances, one involving potato soup that effected the left hand. The second involving smoldering, flaming plastic wrapped around a popping piece of ignited charcoal and my seared right foot.
IV-E.Coli (N). Due to day old burger. Rendered me with severe food poisoning, dehydration, zee poops, zee puiks, and an IV line which I discovered at 4:30 AM in my local Malawian health facility, in a village, in Africa. I'm alive!
Asanu-Depo Provera (N). Gave my dog a shot! It was terrible! She's a squeeler.. and I'm also not a vet... She's well and not preggers.
I suppose for now that's all, I promise I'll be better about writing!
Cheers!
Met a Martz worker from Guyana who helped me through the Port Authority yesterday. His name was Michael and he navigated me directly to JFK no strings or bullshit attached. It was really refreshing to come home and experience some good old american samaritan assistance; albeit a rare and endangered experience in some parts.
I traveled from JFK to Amsterdam, where I'm currently sitting. I'll have arrived in Lilongwe tomorrow Jan 2nd at 9:45am after a layover in Nairobi. Who would have thought I'd ever have the cohones to make such epic traveling endeavors solo? I can't quite digest it myself.
So this is the first entry of a hopefully continuous log involving experiences had over the next year and a half in Malawi/Ntcheu/Bilira. Hope for a few reasons:
One.
That I choose to pony up like a good volunteer and stick it out til the bitter bitter end.
2.
That tragic and horrific events do not take place niether in Malaw/Ntcheu/Bilira nor America/Philadelphia/Scranton/Uniondale.
Zitatu.
That I don't up and fucking forget to write.
So, in an effort to catch everyone up to what is now the seventh month of my Peace Corps service, I will briefly review the past months and their important, comical, petty, and entertaining moments which other people tell me I will probably like to remember.
In the beginning...
There was anxiety, and it was mostly Mefloquine induced. It made the initial months of service, which are already a bit nerve racking, exponentially worse. These side effects however, are not always typical for Mef users. Some become comfortable with the Mef and do not evolve into raging lunatics... unlike myself after five months. More on Mef use and embarrasing moments later.
There was also a major emotional shift perculating in the early months. One that caused a 7 year relationship to come to an end, and additionally, for new butterflies and drooling gaga eyes to dry up and die as quickly as they came due to the expiration date on a second year Peace Corps volunteer...what a happy and wonderful person. I encourage the happy and wonderful people to come out of the wood work because you have a civil duty to teach those of us who have a difficult time keeping up about the secret trick to the hard work that is happiness. Iwe?Come back? Please?
Less impactual? Impactful? Are the small hilarious or scary things that have happened, which I'm just going to list because my flight is leaving shortly...
Uno- Wendy Pancake (N). Canine variety.Small collie/dingo. Black and White in color. Given by Mr. William D. Livengood.
2-Green Mamba (N). Sneaky reptile.Small bright green snake. Enjoys watching me shower. Bricked to death in Bafa a la Ine.
Three- Burning( V). Carelessness in action. Includes two instances, one involving potato soup that effected the left hand. The second involving smoldering, flaming plastic wrapped around a popping piece of ignited charcoal and my seared right foot.
IV-E.Coli (N). Due to day old burger. Rendered me with severe food poisoning, dehydration, zee poops, zee puiks, and an IV line which I discovered at 4:30 AM in my local Malawian health facility, in a village, in Africa. I'm alive!
Asanu-Depo Provera (N). Gave my dog a shot! It was terrible! She's a squeeler.. and I'm also not a vet... She's well and not preggers.
I suppose for now that's all, I promise I'll be better about writing!
Cheers!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
New & Exciting Things
This past week has been exceptionally fun/ crazy for a few reasons:
1. I now have a puppy! Her name is Wendy, she's a 13 week old chicken killer.
2. I have a table and chair! No more picnics in my house!
3. My health center is digging to lay pipes for running water! ( I'm very spoiled). So I'll have a spicket in my backyard and a shower! Very exciting as hot season is nearing.
4. I managed to set myself on fire while cooking. I have a fairly impressive burn on my right foot.Pictures will be posted.
I feel as though I always have tons of things to write about but when it comes time to sit on the computer and type them up my mind runs blank. I'll try and post again when I'm feeling a little more enthused about blogging. Until then, please write! { And send stuff { IE spices, chocolate, coffee, dried fruits -if you feel so inclined ;-)!}
1. I now have a puppy! Her name is Wendy, she's a 13 week old chicken killer.
2. I have a table and chair! No more picnics in my house!
3. My health center is digging to lay pipes for running water! ( I'm very spoiled). So I'll have a spicket in my backyard and a shower! Very exciting as hot season is nearing.
4. I managed to set myself on fire while cooking. I have a fairly impressive burn on my right foot.Pictures will be posted.
I feel as though I always have tons of things to write about but when it comes time to sit on the computer and type them up my mind runs blank. I'll try and post again when I'm feeling a little more enthused about blogging. Until then, please write! { And send stuff { IE spices, chocolate, coffee, dried fruits -if you feel so inclined ;-)!}
New address:
Dannelle Hauser PCV Bilira Health Center PO Box 42 Bilira, Ntcheu District Malawi Southern Africa
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
WAWA
Not to be confused with your favorite convenient mart!
Currently, I've surivived PST and the first three weeks at site- I'm staying in a village called Bilira in the southern part of the central region. It's a pretty sweet deal, I have a huge papaya tree in my backyard and I was graced with a house that has solar electricity. It's pretty 'bwana' ( pimp, sweet, or fly in chichewa). Despite my ammenities, I unfortunately reside with a mutant/ monster rat that seems to be impervious to the rat poison I've been feeding it. His name is "Pierre" and he eats all of my f*udgin* food no matter how well it is concealed, hidden, or contained. I also have been at war with the local 'mbuzi' ndi 'nhkuku' ( goats and chickens) that roam freely throughout my yard and tear stuff up. So luckily I've having a privacy fence built so soon I'll be able to clean up the yard and start gardening!
In any event I've been trying my best to keep busy, most of my days involve going on outreach with the HSA's ( Health Survelliance Assistants), trying desperately to keep up on my Chichewa studies and hanging out with the ladies in the Maternity Ward at my health center. I feel that most people are really excited that I'm here and are eager to work with me ( and even more excited that their village 'azungu' / white & rich person {synonymous and seemingly inseperable ideas} is making the effort to use the native lingo) so I feel needed and inspired despite also feeling slightly homesick and lonely. It's a strange combination to say the least.
In other news, unrelated to the 'warm heart of africa', I've recently been engaged! So there will be more information to come on that, mostly because I'm out of the loop as far as planning & logistics are concerned.
However, I do know I'll be home for Christmas- so I will be able to reconnect with everyone then. Until then, I will try my best to post next time I have internet.
Tiwonana!
Currently, I've surivived PST and the first three weeks at site- I'm staying in a village called Bilira in the southern part of the central region. It's a pretty sweet deal, I have a huge papaya tree in my backyard and I was graced with a house that has solar electricity. It's pretty 'bwana' ( pimp, sweet, or fly in chichewa). Despite my ammenities, I unfortunately reside with a mutant/ monster rat that seems to be impervious to the rat poison I've been feeding it. His name is "Pierre" and he eats all of my f*udgin* food no matter how well it is concealed, hidden, or contained. I also have been at war with the local 'mbuzi' ndi 'nhkuku' ( goats and chickens) that roam freely throughout my yard and tear stuff up. So luckily I've having a privacy fence built so soon I'll be able to clean up the yard and start gardening!
In any event I've been trying my best to keep busy, most of my days involve going on outreach with the HSA's ( Health Survelliance Assistants), trying desperately to keep up on my Chichewa studies and hanging out with the ladies in the Maternity Ward at my health center. I feel that most people are really excited that I'm here and are eager to work with me ( and even more excited that their village 'azungu' / white & rich person {synonymous and seemingly inseperable ideas} is making the effort to use the native lingo) so I feel needed and inspired despite also feeling slightly homesick and lonely. It's a strange combination to say the least.
In other news, unrelated to the 'warm heart of africa', I've recently been engaged! So there will be more information to come on that, mostly because I'm out of the loop as far as planning & logistics are concerned.
However, I do know I'll be home for Christmas- so I will be able to reconnect with everyone then. Until then, I will try my best to post next time I have internet.
Tiwonana!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
There's no place like... Malawi!
Okay so, my excitment hasn't faded nearly enough for me to write a coherent summary of what new and exciting things have been happening so the following may be random:
Words cannot describe the past two weeks and my excitement doesn't contain nearly enough energy to explain how freaking awesome life has been. Two of the three are irrelevant to my Peace Corps invitation, but nonetheless have made me increasingly happy.
1. The Phillies won the world series and the parade was fabulous.
2. Barack Obama is the president ( thank jesus and little baby jesus and buddha and little baby buddha).
3. I received my invitation from the Peace Corps for Malawi!
The invitation is for a Community Health Advisor position working to implement and develop community based interventions that promote positive behavior change for improving quality of life within the community. In addition: to collaborating with health officials and educators in the integration of HIV/AIDS education, basic health practices, and a slew of tasks that have yet to be determined! I depart for orientation on May 28th- 29th and I leave for PST ( Pre-Service Training) in Malawi on May 31st 2009.
After a nearly 12 month wait I finally know where I'll be spending the next 27 months of my life! This reality is both thrilling and frightening. I'll be residing within a world very different from the one I've come to know, and despite my 12 month wait, I'm in no way more prepared.
There is however, comfort in the fact that I'm not alone in this. Greater adventures have been accomplished, and afterall... it wouldn't be an adventure if I wasn't afriad of the risks involved.
Cheers to this pending adventure and to everyone who listened to me lose my head waiting anxiously for the invitation over the summer/ fall. I can promise you post- invitation Dannelle will be far less irritable!
Words cannot describe the past two weeks and my excitement doesn't contain nearly enough energy to explain how freaking awesome life has been. Two of the three are irrelevant to my Peace Corps invitation, but nonetheless have made me increasingly happy.
1. The Phillies won the world series and the parade was fabulous.
2. Barack Obama is the president ( thank jesus and little baby jesus and buddha and little baby buddha).
3. I received my invitation from the Peace Corps for Malawi!
The invitation is for a Community Health Advisor position working to implement and develop community based interventions that promote positive behavior change for improving quality of life within the community. In addition: to collaborating with health officials and educators in the integration of HIV/AIDS education, basic health practices, and a slew of tasks that have yet to be determined! I depart for orientation on May 28th- 29th and I leave for PST ( Pre-Service Training) in Malawi on May 31st 2009.
"You have plenty of courage, I am sure," answered Oz. "All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty."L. Frank Baum (Wizard of Oz)
After a nearly 12 month wait I finally know where I'll be spending the next 27 months of my life! This reality is both thrilling and frightening. I'll be residing within a world very different from the one I've come to know, and despite my 12 month wait, I'm in no way more prepared.
There is however, comfort in the fact that I'm not alone in this. Greater adventures have been accomplished, and afterall... it wouldn't be an adventure if I wasn't afriad of the risks involved.
Cheers to this pending adventure and to everyone who listened to me lose my head waiting anxiously for the invitation over the summer/ fall. I can promise you post- invitation Dannelle will be far less irritable!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Sweet, sweet relief...
This past monday I received an e-mail from my placement officer, Julie Thompson. She re-nominated me for a program leaving at the end of May 2009 to Sub-Saharan Africa, and said that I should expect the invitation in the mail within the next 7-10 business days!
The wait is finally over and I can exhale with some relief, knowing that I'm one step closer to becoming a volunteer! I'll post more specific information when the invitation arrives!!
The wait is finally over and I can exhale with some relief, knowing that I'm one step closer to becoming a volunteer! I'll post more specific information when the invitation arrives!!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Timeline of Hope
December 07 - Sent in completed application including references
January 08- Sent in required legal documentation
February 08- Interviewed mid February- *Nominated for Health- Extension program in Sub-Saharan Africa leaving end of September.
March 08- Received Medical packet and began completing appointments
April 08- *Completed & cleared Medical - waiting for dental appointment
May 08- *Completed & cleared Dental- all documentation is complete and will be sent to my PO
June 08- Waiting to hear from Placement
July 08- Waiting to hear from Placement still...
Today is July 28th- I'm concerned as to whether or not I'll be sent an invitation. Some days I'm hopeful and excited, others I'm frustrated and disappointed, today I'm frustrated and disappointed. The Peace Corps placement process is a delicate one. They review information that has been accumulating since the day you applied. They review your interview, medical, dental, and legal information carefully to match it appropriately to a program best suited to your abilities and hopefully your interests.
They are the match makers- I need a match- else I feel I'll explode.
On the bright side however, if I'm invited to serve I will hear such information within the next 3 weeks as the Peace Corps has to issue invitations 6 weeks prior to the tentative date of departure. Therefore, since my estimated date of departure is the end of September, the very latest that I can be invited would be mid August...
I hope I hope I hope I get in!
The fact that it's still possible is what keeps me going... in the mean time please meet Dannelle the overtly anxious stress bomb of doom. :-)
January 08- Sent in required legal documentation
February 08- Interviewed mid February- *Nominated for Health- Extension program in Sub-Saharan Africa leaving end of September.
March 08- Received Medical packet and began completing appointments
April 08- *Completed & cleared Medical - waiting for dental appointment
May 08- *Completed & cleared Dental- all documentation is complete and will be sent to my PO
June 08- Waiting to hear from Placement
July 08- Waiting to hear from Placement still...
Today is July 28th- I'm concerned as to whether or not I'll be sent an invitation. Some days I'm hopeful and excited, others I'm frustrated and disappointed, today I'm frustrated and disappointed. The Peace Corps placement process is a delicate one. They review information that has been accumulating since the day you applied. They review your interview, medical, dental, and legal information carefully to match it appropriately to a program best suited to your abilities and hopefully your interests.
They are the match makers- I need a match- else I feel I'll explode.
On the bright side however, if I'm invited to serve I will hear such information within the next 3 weeks as the Peace Corps has to issue invitations 6 weeks prior to the tentative date of departure. Therefore, since my estimated date of departure is the end of September, the very latest that I can be invited would be mid August...
I hope I hope I hope I get in!
"Hope is passion for what is possible"- Soren Kierkegaard
The fact that it's still possible is what keeps me going... in the mean time please meet Dannelle the overtly anxious stress bomb of doom. :-)
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