Bajo Tu Cielo

"What is coming of age, but realizing you're not the center of the universe"

[marenal432]

My English

I was taught that there was one right way to speak English.

That my English should be proper, appropriate, academic, intelligent, cultured… all these things.

There was one RIGHT way to speak English.

And THAT was not it.

That my English should not hold my accent, the slippery tongue that gets caught on the words, on the ‘esses’ on the ‘arhs,’ ‘thuhs’ and ‘tuhs’; that I should be ashamed of the mouth that drank “water” owner of the tongue that could not grasp it.

That my English should not allow for imperfections coming from un-tuned ears, ears that could not hear the differences in pronunciations, between chair and share, between hamburger and hambooger, but ears that readily heard the laughter.  When did ears ever see so clearly?

That English had no culture and therefore could not readily accept my culture. That I should not form it to suit my needs… or rather, that my needs were not suitable for it.  That my English was not MY English, it had been given to me, no, it had been lent to me. It was not for me to own.

I was taught, I was schooled, I was formed, and I was disciplined. And yet my English continues to deceive me, it forgets, it does not see the differences, it does not form itself into meaning the way I beg it to, it disappoints me… or rather, I disappoint it.

My English is weird, it’s an outcast, it slips up, it trips on itself, it doesn’t know the social norms, it doesn’t know that it doesn’t know the social norms. It is a foreigner, trying to make itself understood, and yet…

This is my English. I call it MY English and it is different from your English.

[fluffytherapy]

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Mental soothing

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My New Guinean Work-Out Plan

Core & Balance

Find 20 kilos of weight to position on your head for the day. This will strengthen the core and increase neck strength; angle the weight to increase intensity. Add a baby or toddler, depending on your level, on your back for increased balance.

Shoulders & Arms

With a soapy article of clothing, reach high up into the air and slam down the article with as much force as possible unto the rocks.  Repeat 10 times. Afterwards, take the same article of clothing and scrub against the rocks for 5 minutes. Rinse off in the river. Twist the article and drain as much water as possible out. Repeat with 100 more articles of clothing.

Abs

Eat rice, every meal, gives you a nice belly.

Quads, Hamstrings & Calves

Walk for 15 kilometers or climb up and down mountains to reach larger village where you can buy bread and other necessities; return home to your village 15 K away or at the top of the cliff in the evening. All while performing Core & Balance exercises.

[marenal432]

A Mi Madrecita Santa

En este dia de dias, le quiero dedicar este "post," a la senora que me ha ensenado y sigue ensenando como ser persona mejor y contenta.

A Donde Tan Peinada

Mi madre me enseno que no importa que ridicula, lo que importa es un buen sentido de humor.

Lo que tiene es exceso de gracia, no exceso de grasa...

Mi madre me enseno que la verdadera belleza viene de por dentro, no lo que verran los demas.

Senora de cuantas decadas

Y aun a su edad la persiguien, mi madre me enseno que mi valor no viene de ningun hombre y que no hay cosa como que se me 'va el tren'

I have the little lamp

Todos que conoceran la bella voz de mi madre, ella me enseno de hecharle las ganas "no matter what."

Aun entre los malos anos, mi madre a salido adelante y me ha ensenado hacer lo mismo. La vida sigue. Y nosotras estaremos ayi por los buenos momentos tambien.

"I know ju want me." Y yo tambien te quiero a ti Mam.

-Tu muneca de pastel, tu princesa, tu pollito, tu pitufo, tu junior, tuya.

[marenal432]

Independent Woman

The shoes on my feet, I bought them

The clothes I'm wearing, I bought them

The rock I'm rocking, I bought it

Cause I depend on me, If I want it

The watch I'm wearing, I bought it

The house I live in, I bought it

The car I'm driving, I bought it

I depend on me

All the women who independent, Throw your hands up at me

All the Honeys making money, Throw your hands up at me;

All the Mommas profit dolla's, Throw your hands up at me

All the ladies who truly feel me, Throw your hands up at me

Girl, I didn't know you could get down like that, Peace Corps how your ladies get down like that?

Tell me how you feel about this, do it how I want it, how I want to live; I worked hard and sacrificed to get what I get,

Ladies it ain't easy being independent.

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The Sensitive and Complicated Topic of Race

One distinguishes 4 races in the world. The Black Race, the White Race, the Yellow Race, and the American Indians with red skin.

Search what race each child pertains to in this photo.

This explains so much.

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That moment when you realize that the answer to "Where is that smell coming from?" is... "you."

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Hand-Washing Campaign

CAPTION: Si tu as utilise le toilette, Laves tes mains avec SAVON! [If you used the restroom, Wash your hands with SOAP!]

Second Image: "Tippy Tap" to be installed at our local elementary school.

[marenal432]

Malaria is the number one killer in Africa. Most of the people who will read this blog are probably not aware of this.

April is Malaria Month.  And suddenly, I am knee deep in projects on an illness I knew very little about before coming to Guinea, really, verging on next to nothing save its name.

But now, I go into the Health Post in my small village and every other person who comes in for treatment is suffering from “Palu,” Malaria. And turns out 14,000 Guineans are dying from Malaria every year, most of them children under 5.

So what do you do…

What is Malaria: A protozoal infection transmitted to us, human beings, by mosquitoes. Malaria parasites feed on blood cells, multiply inside them, and then destroy them. "Pas bon," not good.

So, obviously as a Public Health Volunteer in a country where so many people are dying from one specific disease, I clearly need to get some work done in this arena.

How do you treat it:  Well, you have your medicines, your ACT, your Quinine, all ATTEMPTS to kill off Malaria parasites in a body if you detect them in time, but turns out the best way to treat it, is to prevent it.

How do you prevent it:  While there are a variety of tactics you can use, some more expensive, some harder to come by, some less effective, the BEST  way, in Guinea, is to sleep every night tucked into a Mosquito Net, “Moustiquaire”, “Tenda.”  

Malaria, deadliest killer, turns out, is 100% preventable and treatable.

So, in the upcoming weeks, all over Guinea, mosquito nets will start to roll out, enough for every person in the country to sleep safely tucked away from Malaria. But, what do we need to do before then?  Make sure that every person in the country recognizes the importance of USING their mosquito net.  Yes, everyone hates mosquito bites, and yes, everyone hates Malaria, but how do you use this information as motivation to change habits?

Good question.

We hit the “marché,” market.

 My fellow PCV and I hit up four different villages, for their weekly markets, and took along our handy dandy Susu counterpart, Bandjougou, in a campaign to spread information on Malaria prevention.

We used any materials available, yes, those are cereal boxes, but their fronts contain Malaria Trivia Questions, which people received a “bon bon cadeau,” candy, for answering.

What was the end result:  We got to tell people that mosquito nets would be distributed in the upcoming weeks, “Tenda Fama,” we tried to dispel incorrect information about Malaria, no, they do not come from mangoes and mosquitoes actually love clean water, just as long as its stagnant.  We also wanted to make sure that the community knew that they COULD stop Malaria, in fact they could STOMP it out completely, just by sleeping under their mosquito nets every night. There might be a time when Africa no longer suffers from Malaria and it feels nice to be a part of that.

So, “How will you Stomp Out Malaria in 2013?”

Visit StompOutMalaria.org for more information.

[marenal432]

Join Me For Dinner

If you are at all curious as to what I’m eating, as one uncle so lovingly asked before my departure, “But what will she eat?!”  This is one of my favorite substitution recipes; basically, lacking crucial ingredients you substitute recipe ingredients with available products.   Thanks goes out to my mother for thinking to include hot sauce (Valencia) in a care package and my grandparents, aunts, and uncles for supplying the dessert, Oreos.

As presented in “Peace Guinea Volunteers’ Cookbook”:

Bob Dake’s Boneless Chicken Wings (using Tuna)

1 can of Tuna in oil

Flour

Piment (chilies), Ketchup, or Mayo

Paprika

Empty the oil from tuna into skillet and heat.  In a bowl mix together flout and tuna until no longer sticky.  Form into patties and fry in oil until golden brown.  Drain on a paper towel (or just go whole hog like I do), spice to taste, slather with hot sauce and serve with love.  Close your eyes and it’s almost like lightly breaded boneless, skinless chicken wings.

What I like to do:

I mix up some ketchup, mayo and hot sauce (Valencia) for the “Buffalo Sauce” (reason I don’t have buffalo sauce, although delicious, Valencia hot sauce serves more purposes).

To the tuna patties, I like to add crushed up crackers to give them a crunchier consistency (proper crushing may require a month of travel in a care package). AND FOR THE RECORD I do not go whole hog, but lacking paper towels, I use old copy paper (not essential for suitable replication).

Accompany with homemade french fries.  Add a little curry and onion salt to imitate Wing Stop’s Seasoned Fries.  For conspicuous healthy eating, leave the skin on the potatoes before deep frying.

Bon Appetit! I hope you enjoy these as much as I do, VRAIMENT!

PS. Please, I’ll take some state-side perspective on if this tastes anything at all like Buffalo wings; has it been so long, I’ve forgotten? Are these just Guinea good?

[marenal432]

Guide to Uprooting Oneself From OLD Environment to Complete NEW One

Step 1.  Establish a routine. (Logic:  We are creatures of habit; habits make us happy. Note to self:  Make a list of habits next.)

Step 2. Search out NEW “likes” in NEW environment (Note: may be comparable to OLD likes; Logic:  no explanation required for why you should like something, I hope.)

Step 3. Read (Logic:  Assuming you’re sleeping away 12 hours of the day…, what else are you going to do with the other 12?)

Step 4. Keep Reading (Logic:  …well, that answered that question.)

Step 5. Go to Bed (Logic: I think we’ve covered this already…)

  Step N.  In times of despair, sorrow, or just sheer overwhelming boredom, call on OLD memories of the good OLD’days (Note: in the case that you have forgotten mementos, like me, re-imagine times past, be nostalgic and recreate past in a much rosier positive way;  Logic:  None. You feel low. Wallowing feels nice.)

Step X. Charge everything while there’s electricity!!!

[marenal432]

Si una ves dije que te amaba...

*Anyone who has tried Fishy Spaghetti can attest to this.

[marenal432]

Facebook Status Updates the Internet May Have Missed...

[Abridged Version(Guinean time/American format)]

02/22/13_6:34PM:  Well, I guess now I don’t have to fear getting hit in the eye with a bungee cord, since it’s already happened…

02/22/13_1:19AM:  I don’t deserve all these loving people in my life, God bless them!

02/21/13_8:52PM:  Just finished Bridget Jones’ Diary.  Read the entire thing in a British Accent (in my head obviously…or not).  Have decided to submit my own journal in hopes of becoming next witty obsessive Singleton.

02/21/13_12:14PM:  What’s with these women?! I keep seeing them with four under layers or more, 2 pagnes, shorts, smaller shorts, and then underwear.  If I weren’t so paranoid, my mind wouldn’t have concluded that it’s all anti-rape protection.  Must get more layers…

02/20/13_5:49PM:  I found biscuits that taste like Barn Door’s bread! It probably can’t be healthy to eat so many in a day, but they’re only 500GF! Chumpchange!

02/20/13_5:12PM:  Fonio & Bananas, the new oatmeal w/bananas?

02/20/13_3:09PM:  I have nothing to do today save eat candy and nap.  3 o’clock’s too hot to do anything.  Any Guinean knows that.

02/20/13_1:20PM:  I saw another ‘accouchement’ today, this one today didn’t seem as fun…

02/20/13_8:50AM:  Shit, my watch is already fogged up…

02/19/13_1:23PM:  I don’t know why I’ve been craving sugar so much! But by the end of this week, by God, if I don’t have diabetes, cavities or worse!

02/19/13_10:28AM:  I saw a baby being born. This girl made it look so easy, in and out really… OMG, if I could be guaranteed a birth like that! Okay, I’d still hesitate, but she made it look so easy! Probably cause she’s 18…

02/19/13_8:34AM:  I I I, dreams about, in , around, presumably about Luby’s Cafeteria.

02/18/13_12:46PM: Pues ya veo porque les labo los pies Cristo, les has visto los pies? Hasta a mi me dan ganas! “A ver, ponte…”

02/18/13_1:08PM:  Ay, Madre, si solo supieras que deje mi vida en Odessa para venir hacer la misma cosa aca.  Me levanto y me voyal centro, ayi estoy sentada todo el dia, por mientras que mi “mama” trabaja, bromea con los clients, cosas que no les entiendo ni papas y asi nos pasamos el dia.

02/14/13_9:22PM:  I made some sweet Valentine’s cards.

02/14/13_6:54PM:  …this language barriers is getting to me.  I have nothing to talk about w/the kids or teenagers even though they come and press their faces up to my screen door every night. When I do go out to my step, I say hello, and that’s it. End of Conversation. It’s not even like I can joke w/them or invite them in. Nothing except awkward stares.

02/14/13_12:33PM:  I have discovered why they don’t sell “manioc” chips, hardest shit EVER.

02/13/13_6:27PM:  It feels really nice outside right now, now if I could just sit outside topless, it’d be perfect.

02/13/13_5:12PM:  Why procrastinate?  It’s not like I have anything else to do…

02/12/13_8:21AM:  Weird dream about Justin Beiber, kites and tattoos.

02/09/13_2:44PM:  Brandi, I miss Fredericksburg wine-tasting days so much!  Those are some of my favorite memories, even when we got nothing done all day, lol.  I hope those aren’t done for good and that we can have some more in the future, McNurgets or not, those were hella fun J

02/10/13_9:32PM:  Being overwhelmed by the hereness and inescapability of Guinea, enjoying making (or attempting to make) naan for myself, eating too much sugar and looking up at the stars as light shines from my open hut’s door.  I wish I was a more talented artist.

02/10/13_9:08PM:  I leave the US for a couple of months and my cousin turns into a comic book nerd?! No, not Guerra, Lyn! Hahaha!

02/09/13_5:12PM:  Cracking up at Chalupa for half the way home cus he had his ass up in the cabby’s and front passengers’ faces for several minutes, God knows why.

02/08/13_3:35PM:  Things that are gone forever:  -Things I dropped down the pit latrine –My ability to pick a language & stick to it. FRAN-SPAN-GLAISE?!

02/08/13_8:13AM:  Well, my tummy definitely hurt…

02/07/13_9:29PM:  My tummy hurts.

02/07/13_8:54PM:  I wonder when’s the next time I’m going to Conakry…

02/07/13_7:56AM:  Want, want, want.  All I seem to do here is want stuff and wait for the day I can get it.

02/05/13_8:33PM:  I’m impatiently awaiting the end of the month, but there’s so many days in between, and life that needs to be lived in between.  We’ll see, must stay busy and not just keep looking forward to other days when there’s a perfectly good one right in front of me.

01/27/13_2:13AM:  Things I will regret – Missing April’s wedding.

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Into the Wild: Letter To A Friend

“You think that I am stubborn, but you are even more stubborn than me… I fear you will follow this same inclination in the future and thus fail to discover all the wonderful things that God has placed around us to discover.  Don’t settle down and sit in one place.  Move around, be nomadic, make each day a new horizon.  You are still going to live a long time… and it would be a shame if you did not take the opportunity to revolutionize your life and move into an entirely new realm of experience.

You are wrong if you think Joy emanates only or principally from human relationships. God has placed it all around us in anything and everything we might experience.  We just have to have the courage to turn against our habitual lifestyle and engage in unconventional living.

My point is that you do not need me or anyone else around to bring this new kind of light in your life.  It is simply waiting out there for you to grasp it, and all you have to do is reach for it. The only person you are fighting is yourself and your stubbornness to engage in new circumstances.”

Chris “Alex Supertramp” McCandless

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January 26, 2013

This post is dedicated to a most special event, which I will have the misfortune of missing while abroad,to my friend April Portillo, I am very sorry to be missing your wedding on January 26. In my life, I have tried my best to surround myself with genuinely good people, people I truly respect and have something to learn from in order to become a better person myself. April, you are one of those good people.  You are beautiful inside and out and I still have much to learn from you in years to come.  Please don't let my absence from one of the most important days of your life fool you otherwise. I recognize what I am missing and wish I could have done  differently, but with that, I wanted you to know I will be thinking of you all day as I imagine you on your wedding day.

I had staged a FAUX WEDDING here in Guinea, asking some other volunteers to act as stand-ins, while I got pictures of me at "your wedding,"  unfortunately, life happens and those pictures were lost in the process.  However, I did cry at your wedding and you can ask anyone there, it was a lovely ceremony.  Not as much drinking as the real one, I assume, but fun nonetheless, for what it was.

All joking aside, I envy the love you've found. There's been times in my life when I've seriously doubted anyone's ability to find love or keep it, but seeing you and Jay Jay, somehow changes things.  I may still be a cynic, but I can't deny the love between you two.  Thank you.

Thank you for being my friend. Not only that, thank you for being a GOOD friend.  I wish you all the happiness the world has to offer. If anyone deserves it, it's you.  Thank you for letting me be a part of your story, I hope to share many more chapters with you.

Con Amor,

Maren

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Fote, A Cultural Perspective

As written by social researchers in the Basse Cote region of Guinea

As Fote make their way into the region again for their seasonal migration, it is important to take the time and seek a deeper understanding of their behavior and ultimately better our relations with such exquisite creatures, which are a vital component of the global ecosystem.

The term (1)Fote, or less known as Westerner, encapsulates a variety of pale-skinned animals that roam in packs when migrating through West Africa.  Although Fote enjoys the outdoors, and is often spotted running through the brush in packs or exercising different behaviors in the sun, (2) convoluted body positions believed to be mating tactics that demonstrate flexibility to possible mates, Fote is highly sensitive to the sun and if not protected from the sun will turn a pink/red color. They find it very difficult to function in temperatures higher than 29 degrees Celsius and will often be seen sitting out in the shadows if forced to be outside of their habitat. 

Fote’s natural habitats are quiet secluded rooms, where Fote enjoy spending most of their time.  They avoid interaction and only grudgingly can be encouraged to “speak”.  Their speech can be muffled, guttural, and for the most part unintelligible by the common person.  It takes skilled personnel to work with the Fote in an enclosure, where they are trained and “taught” to speak.  Any spectator, however, should note that Fote’s preferred method of communication is through, what we will loosely refer to as, dancing. 

When studied in a group, researchers will note that most of their interactions involve swaying motions and flailing arms. At darker cooler times, Fote will drink a fermented fruit/vegetable concoction, which seems to be their main source of nutrition.  At this time, Fote’s dancing will become even more erratic and it is believed that this may be a form of religion or belief system, because these gatherings occur at regular intervals, at the close of each week, and in very structured ways.

Another main source of nutrition for Fote is pate d’arachide.  While it is locally used for sauces, Fote enjoys it uncooked and unprepared and enjoys spreading the raw paste on to everything else it ingests.

The female of the species commonly exhibit male-like behaviors and will wear clothing that is regularly only for males.  There is a growing theory that this may have to do with the species only recently acclimating to wearing clothing, as it is unknown as to how long ago they were domesticated.  It is also common for the female of the species to crop the fur on their head short like the male of the species.  Fote also requires a lot of training and education for any domesticated activities, such as cooking and the washing of clothes and should not be expected to ever be able to perform this behavior satisfactorily in their lifetime(see earlier comment pertaining to clothes and time of domestication).

Although, the time Fote is in the Basse Cote can be both enjoyable and puzzling, it is important to take the time and appreciate all of our places in this world and enjoy the larger perspective of our role in it.  From the average spectator, we ask you be patient with Fote, they are not the most intelligent of creatures, but if you take the time and do not try to over analyze their behavior patterns, you will find you may truly enjoy their presence for the 2-3 months they spend in our region.

1.  Fote refers to the singular and plural form of the species.

2.These mating behaviors have been termed by certain researchers, of the Western Doctrine, as “yoga” although the reasons for these behaviors are still widely questioned.

[marenal432]

Guide to a Guinea Peace Corps Volunteer Trainee's Room

1. Toilet Paper. A must.  Poopy bag is optional, but note some Guineans family may disapprove of you clogging their Western-style toilet with paper (Americans note:  There is no flushing to do this, just gravity).

2. Headlamp.  For general use, but mostly for using the bathroom in the dark.

3. Water Filter. Don’t drink the water, even if it’s from a pump.

4.  Eye Dropper with Eau de Javel (watered down bleach). Point being, don’t trust the water you just filtered that came from a pump.

5.Toothbrush.  Hygiene is still a must and I like to use filtered water.

6. Le Globelet. Used for Bucket Baths. Has a double function of holding my toiletries.

7. Le Seou.  AKA Bucket, for bathing.

8. Huggies Wipes.  For when Bucket Bathing is not an option.

9. Mirror.  As many trainees have discovered, it’s hard to make do without one.

10. Fan.  For daily half hour of “me” time.

11. Lanyard.  Smurfs are optional, but definitely needed to lock up your room day and night and during potty breaks.

12.  Food. If you’re not a fan of eating fishy rice or fishy spaghetti morning noon and night, you may want to make secure other provisions.

13.  Alarm Clock.  If you forget it, don’t worry.  The next door neighbor will wake you with his bleating.

14. Journal.  Archaic form of documenting daily activities, pre-Facebook era. Journal must be accompanied by a writing tool.

15. Book. Books. Lots of them. Lots of reading.

16.  La Moustiquaire.  Mosquitoes are the only transmitters of Malaria.  Make sure you tuck your net into your mattress to protect yourself and your community against Malaria. Only you can prevent Malaria! (Note: I am a Public Health Volunteer).

17.   Cloud Fitted Sheet.  No top sheet. I call them clouds, because it makes me feel better, rather than think they’re bleach stains.

18.   Towel. A good traveler always has a towel with him/her.

19.   Le Velo. Also known as a drying rack. And no, you cannot have mon velo, stop asking.

20.   Luggage.  I am fully integrated, as Guineans also use luggage to store their clothes indefinitely.

21.   Off to the side… Downy, Febreeze, any spray that will make your clothes smell better and seem cleaner for longer.

Not pictured:

A secret bag of Doritos that survived the trip. Only to be used in case of an emergency. Or my birthday.

Envelopes, stamps, and address books. For the letter writing. Although, there is no postal system in Guinea…

Water bottles.  Current PCV’s weren’t lying.  I wish I had brought more of them, or my jug.

Medical Kit. Nuff said.