I Am Billy Maddison

I may not be the smartest kid in class, but I’m definitely the biggest… So I’ve been in my village for about 7 months now and I finally decided that I really want to work on improving my Swahili. My best friend in the village just happens to be a primary school teacher for second grade here. We decided a good way for me to practice would be to sit in on her classes. I then realized I’m Billy Maddison. I’m taller, bigger, and I read louder than any of the other students. I hope I pass second grade…but the work load seems a little intense. It’s a lot of fun and I think it’s helping…at least I’m learning some new songs in there.

I also just got back from running the Kili (half) Marathon in Kilimanjaro. Please note the inserted *half* in there. I think people who run 26 miles are ridiculous. Anyway, I actually jogged most of it and didn’t pass out after the first 3 miles. I really want to do it again next year and maybe I’ll actually train a little harder for it next time.

I’m also working on setting up a time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with a couple other volunteers and groups of students. We’re looking to go around November to give us plenty of time for planning and fundraising. Our plan is for each volunteer to take 4 girl orphans and pay for all the fees. Luckily the Tanzanian Government has set up programs and reduced fees for TZ residents to climb, so we’re able to take our groups of girls for a discounted price. Despite the reduced rate the total cost is still going to be quite significant so we’re looking for anyone interested in donating to help these girls climb Kili.

I know people back home have been asking about ways you can help. Any donation would be incredible and we would be so thankful here. I'm investing a lot of my time in the schools here and working on improving health standards through a dispensary building project as well as building another well in the village. We're always looking for school supplies, ways to generate income to pay school fees and for uniforms, soccer balls for after school activities, etc. If you're interested please email me at catduthie@gmail.com.

Thank you for your love and support!

-Cat

Step Lightly! Thanks!

So it's been awhile since my last post....but things have been going really well! Right now is rain season...which is...interesting? As I was making my way to the main road today I realized the bridge is out now. Everyone just told me to use the boards but I told them I would fall into the river...and they laughed. Then the guy in the water helped me across, thus making him my hero. I told him that...then he asked me for money. I tried to tell him as a 'hero' he shouldn't ask for cash, but that didn't really translate. Anyway! I made it across safe the 'treacherous waters' (which was really like maybe a foot of water) and all is well.

Right now I'm teaching English at the secondary school again and I love it. The students are hilarious and we have a lot of fun. Soon I'll start teaching math and I'll have a health club on Fridays. We're working on getting water pumps built and also a dispensary! I'm really excited about everything that's going on and I think the village is as well.

Anyway, things are going really well! Hope things are going well in the States!

-Cat

American Gothic....

I've spent the past few weeks working on my garden, helping plant corn and beans, and trying not to cut my foot off with my hoe. It's been quite an interesting experience. Fortunately I've had my friend and her financee to help me. I made them pose as the famous painting American Gothic. I tried to explain it to them...but I think the meaning got a little lost in translation. Oh well. They liked the picture regardless...and it made me laugh. So we'll see if anything actually grows.

Congrats?...Maybe?

So I may or may not be married to the man to the left of me. I went to a wedding last weekend which I have to say was one of the most fun things I've done so far! While my friend and I were waiting to get ready for everyone to go to the reception hall we decided to wait in the bride and groom's chairs. We were sitting there and after a little while a group of people came over to meet the 'Mzungu'. Suddenly there was a lot of commotion and people started shifting seats. I looked over and my friend was gone, there were a bunch of people around me...and the man on my left was grinning. They yelled for a picture so we quickly snapped a picture, there was more talk...then I was being introduced to his parents. Congrats to me? The reception was by far the best part! Lots of dancing, I gave a speech, and several other shoutouts to the foreigner. It's an event you don't want to miss...so I'll expect you at mine.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!
I hope everyone has a great holiday! After days and days of debating on a costume this year I have decided to go as a superhero. This idea came about after being in my village for several weeks and realizing that my villagers seem to think I have the ability to do anything. I had a village meeting the other week where the village government announced to the ENTIRE village that I will be working in the schools, setting up pig raising projects, planting trees, building a dispensary, helping to finish the second primary school, starting a fish keeping project, and also bringing water...from the mountain. I first asked if I would be carrying that water on my head daily, or perhaps I would be provided a mule. Once I had a chance to inform them that I am actually here as a health volunteer and know NOTHING about raising pigs, planting trees, and providing a loving and safe environment for fish we started to talk more about things I can actually do. This really got me thinking though that people really have a lot of faith in my potential abilities. I decided that I'm either a superhero...or Jesus. Not quite having the costume for Jesus this year, I settled on being a superhero instead. There's always next year!
This past week I also discovered that I've been sharing my house with some delightful creatures as well...bats. Last Saturday night I was getting ready for bed and I called for my dog to come. When she didn't run in my room immediately as usual I went into the main room to get her. She was sitting on the ground staring at the wall right next to me. I looked at her confused, then looked at the wall and realized there was a bat just hanging out on the wall. OH MY GOD. I RAN into my room, shut the door, and took 5 to figure out what to do. Having absolutely NO experience with bats, I decided I shouldn't handle this issue by myself but it was too late to call anyone. Instead I opened the door slightly, grabbed my dog, slammed the door shut, put my suitcase and clothes in FRONT of the door (in case he turned into the Count and tried to bust in) and decided to wait it out until morning. As I was laying in bed listening to him fly around my house, banging into pots and pans, it suddenly dawned on me that the 'mice' I thought were living in my ceiling above my bedroom were actually bats. Good. The next day I woke up and ran to my friend's house to tell her what happened. She cracked up and sent her boyfriend back with me to investigate. I told him I thought the bat was gone, but he went to check anyway. He climbed INTO my ceiling and started giggling. There was some commotion and several minutes later told me to wait outside. As I was standing outside clutching my dog 2 bat bodies were thrown from the ceiling out the door.
The picture above is my hero...holding his 'catch'.
Let's see, I mentioned before that I tell everyone I'm going to have the most amazing garden here ever. People point to the dirt on my arms and legs and ask me if I was just working in my garden. I then tell them I haven't actually started my garden yet...I'm just dirty.
At church there is the cutest older gentleman who comes every Sunday wearing a three piece suite. He is one of my favorite people in the church. He's very quiet and usually sits in the back. Last Sunday he stood up and sang a solo. Everyone cheered and clapped! It was great!
Enjoy your candy! I'll be passing out ugali balls this year...mmm...delicious!

Love,

Cat

They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach...well I'm screwed

So cooking's going well! The other day my best friend in the village wasn't feeling well and since she cooks for me practically everyday I thought I would return the favor. Bound and determined to have eatable rice and beans I started the jiko and got to cooking. To make both of these dishes you simply add water. Wait. Add more water. Wait. And when you've pretty much tapped out the village supply of water on one meal, you add one last bucketful of water, and wait. 4 hours later the beans were still hard and the rice had a crunch to it. Good. I can't wait until I move on to desserts. There is no WAY this could go wrong.

I was doing laundry the other day and came to a couple new revelations! First I've decided that REI has the most amazing underwear ever. Seriously. I want to give a shoutout the the makers of the 6-week, bacteria-resistant, easy clean, quick-dry underwear because it is a gift from God. I have never been so thunderstruck by a pair of underwear before! (I did, in fact, just use the word thunderstruck). It has EASILY cut my laundry time down from 2 hours of intense scrubbing, rinsing, and hanging to a mere hour and 50 minutes! I haven't even tested out its ability to be worn for 6 weeks without washing...but you needn't worry, that will come later! The other revelation I had has inspired me to write a book. While looking at my size Small t-shirts that have now grown to X-Large I decided that I am going to parallel David Sedaris's book Dress Your Family In Corduroy and Denim except that mine will be called Dress Your Family In Spandex and Lycra...because it's definitely needed here. Look for my book in stores next year.

Another product endorsement....Venus Razor. 2 months of leg hair growth. One razor. Smooth legs. Need I say more? I pretty much tell everyone here about this razor. I'm convinced at this point it can cut through anything. I'll test this theory out next time I'm chopping fire wood. I'm wondering if Gillette will send me free blades for this...just an idea.

Other update: I smell. I mean, there's just no way around it. I tried to feign that it wasn't me...but it is. I mean, it's not JUST me...but I'm definitely not excluded.

Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm....what else? I've been telling my villagers all about the amazing garden I'm going to have. I haven't actually started doing anything yet, but in my mind it will be incredible! I'm talking 12 foot tall corn stalks. Maybe I'll have a corn maze. This could get interesting. I'll be sure to post.

Hope things are going well back in the States! I'm sending in my absentee ballot and looking forward to the election!

-Catherine

I Am Paris Hilton

...and I wonder why they laugh...In my defense the neon green high heels are not mine.
The past few weeks have been pretty busy here. I’m teaching English now to the Secondary School to the Form 1 students (freshmen essentially). I really feel this is where I’m able to utilize my language skills and impress these students with fluency and grace. Usually I end up standing in front of the class staring at the students, begging them to answer my questions. I start by saying "Anyone?.....Anyone?" and eventually move on to "Bueller?...Bueller?" At least I make myself laugh. The students are really great though and starting to relax and talk more in class and ask me questions about the States. Most commonly asked question..."Is there ugali in America?"
Since I’ve been so successful in all the other aspects of my life I decided that I would add to my list of achievements and hone my culinary skills. I debated heavily which feast I would prepare…and I opted for beans. I figured beans couldn’t be that hard. Light a jiko. Put some beans in a pot. Add some water. Wait half a day. Done. I followed these steps religiously to ensure optimal bean cooking. Hours later I stirred the pot, added a little salt, and considered these things done. Piling them high on my plate of rice I took my first bite and decided that culinary school is not in my future. Even my dog wouldn’t eat my beans.So cooking isn't my specialty but I try to tell my friends here that I am an amazing cook at home with a microwave.
Life is good...:)