Resolve or Conform?

New Year Resolution vs. Declaration of Conformity

These last few days I’ve been thinking of my New Year Resolutions.  Every year I sit and actively consider what I need to do for personal improvement. My resolutions have been so typical; loose 20 pounds, curtail my vices; make new friends whilst staying in touch with old; and keep to a budget. Very typical, and they all have to do with me. So this year I have a problem – I can’t bring myself to make any resolutions this year.

Oh please, if you’re thinking that I’m egocentric you are far from right, I have room for improvement. I just can’t bring myself to any personal decrees. I think I’m bitten from the African Declaration of Conformity bug. Do not worry, I will not fall physically ill nor will I defect from my nationality, but this topic of New Year’s Resolutions bring up an interesting point of cross-cultural human behaviors.

For clarification it must be noted that all humans encompass universal behaviors regardless of where we were raised – all people in all groups are the same – just as we all value food when we are hungry. Values are only one aspect that defines a culture, and thus the behavior within it. Going back to the topic of food, a culture determines who will eat what, when and how based on what that individual culture values.In contrast to this cultural norm, some can hold personal behaviors in which an individual values something differently from the group.  An example is perhaps an individual who cannot eat in front of other people or a vegetarian in Omaha. So behaviors are developed from values universally, culturally, and individually.

Our American culture is based on individualism. Individualism concentrates primarily with the self and the needs of the individual. That self sufficiency guarantees the wellness of the group. Therefore, independence is highly valued and is an ingredient that makes strong leadership within the group. Thus, making New Year resolutions a tool in our culture to make us better individuals.

No one that I have spoken to here has ever heard of this personal oath that we make on New Year. Here they find it a bit humorous ,  for example when I told a friends that last year  one of my resolutions was to diet  she asked if my children lost weight and if my co-workers minded if I went to exercise. Wait a minute I was talking about MY decisions for ME. Here in Mozambiquethings are done in a collectivist mentality, individuals function within a group mentality, like the family or work group.  The success of the group ensures the well being of the individual.  The interdependence is stressed and thus a stronger unit is formed, traditional values are maintained and there is consistency.

Tradition and consistency; these elements are fading in the United States - we have traded them in to be vigorous go-getters with cardiac problems. Americans are not “obedient” individuals, thus high divorce and drug abuse rates. Submissive is a synonym to lethargic, conventionality is coupled with apathy.

On the other hand, here obedience has led to high HIV rates among women, submission to the rainfall causes hunger, and corruption has become the conventional way to succeed.

Is there a balance? Can I make this my resolution? Can this rebellious idea of meshing two cultures together work? Will there be a positive change by blending individuals into groups on one side and having individuals succeed for the benefit of the group on the other side? You tell me.

When this is done I will give up coffee.

Blessings for a New Year.

FUSION COOKING OR BAD COOKING?

It’s early Sunday morning and I’m heading to the market with my 200 meticais (about $5) to do my weekly shopping of fruits and vegetables. I grab my lovely shopping satchel, which I had made out of the thick plastic  that my sheets came in with capolana fabric on the outside, and wonder what it will be filled with.

I glance at the Peace Corps cookbook and dismiss my worry over my culinary ability.  “Be creative and flexible”, I convince myself as I walk down the path to the field already bustling with people.  I head to the “aisle” where woman are selling their produce, grown in their garden, neatly placed by quantity for the price.  Tomatoes, onions, garlic, lettuce, potatoes, bananas, and mangos, are greeted into my bag easily because I don’t have to decipher what they are. I know my tomatoes.

My brow started to crinkle as I approach the green harvest separated from the lettuce. To me it all looks like pretty leaves, different shapes and sizes, all clean and green.  Okay that’s what I need clean and green, to be experienced in my Mozambican cuisine (hey that rhymes!).  I must have been staring at these leaves with a phobia because when I looked up I realized that there was a group of vendors who gathered together watching me. Now I’m feeling anxiety rupture inside! – I have to choose which pile of .20 cent greens that I can cook and eat!

So I start to talk to myself because I needed the company at that moment. “Calm down! Ask if those are bitter like the other ones you threw out.” “I don’t know how to say bitter.” “Make the face!” And that eliminates one pile.  Ask which ones are sweet”. “Oh look, those are pumpkin leaves, and she is cleaning off the stems! This is good”.  “Peanut butter is good. This is a hassle”. “Try one more, how about the leaves from the bean plant”. “Oh yeah the protein exudes into the leave?” “Maybe, just buy it, your audience is beginning to pity your stupidity, next time come with the housekeeper and leave your flip flops home!” “I’ll bring that recipe book, a pot and charcoal, and cook here.” “Let’s go home”.

RESULT: Garlic, onions, carrots, a bit of curry powder, and peanuts, sautéed with pumpkin leafs.

SCORE:   TASTE: 6.5    EFFORT:  8    NUTRITION:  9    ASSIMULATION:   9.5  

 

HOUSEKEEPER'S OVERALL OPINION:  3.5 

Why? Here there is no variety on cooking; all things are made one specific way.  There is only one way to make pumpkin leaves here: I talked to 5 people about this dish and EVERYONE replied: NO GARLIC, MISSING THE TOMATOES. This is one of the most amazing cultural facts that I’ve learned here, one staple ingredient, one recipe, no variation.  Cookbook authors / fusion chefs would be a phenomenon here!

HEY, maybe I’ll do a fusion cuisine project – combination of cultures, resources, novice, and creativity! Have I stumbled on a women’s empowering group?  Why do only the women cook? That would suggest passing the apron to the men. Here, the women in my generation – nope.  MAYBE ALYCIA’S (MY DAUGHTER’S) GENERATION!

xo

Lentil & Rice for Thanksgiving.

I am surprised that it is close to the end of November!   I sit here eating lentils and rice, and am thinking of my family and friends enjoying the holiday of Thanksgiving. Giving thanks is something that has new meaning for me –  being so far from my home in a very different culture, communicating differently, meeting new people, working in a different environment, even wondering what I can make for dinner. At home these things were easy to do or could even be avoided, but being away situations in life need to be absorbed with gratitude.

I am thankful for experiencing the wonders of Mozambique.  I just completed six months of residing here; my Portuguese is better; I have a nice group of friends; and some projects are already underway at the hospital. Even as I do the analysis of my Community Needs Assessment I look forward to possible new projects in the area of nutrition, child development, and starting a HIV support group, so the next six months will be interesting.

I take my working here pretty serious - a bit too serious - having a weekend getaway made me realize that even my blog post can relax seeing the beauty of the beaches on the Indian Ocean coastline. So sit back, grab a drink, and see the awesome terrain of Bilene, Inhambane (approx. 1 ½ hrs from my site).

After a conference in Maputo, a group of us rented a van with driver and went three hours north. I was so excited after hearing the popularity of this beach, but more and more curious as we got near because it was rather scarce of beach  views. "Are we there yet?",.

The van dropped us off before our lodging because it did not have 4x4. After an hour or so we arrived, despite the name of the lodge.

Right this way…. Wow!

The lodge is on a lagoon but a walk up a hill - I mean sand dune - would get us to the ocean. I have never imagined that sand dunes could be like this!  I felt like I was in the Middle East rather than Africa! What an awesome hike this was.  

 

 
 Up, across, down...

….to a piece of heaven on earth untouched by greed and enjoyed by the innocent.

Amazing journey it was! Thanks for sharing this with me.  xo

Malaria is a crisis in Africa.

 

Malaria is a crisis in Africa. For the month of November Peace Corps volunteers in Mozambique are working to STOMP OUT MALARIA!  

                                                         

Malaria Statistics

(From the WHO World Malaria Report 2011)

• ·         Every minute, a child dies from malaria
• ·         About 91% of malaria-related deaths in 2010 occurred in Africa. The majority of these      deaths were children under age 5

                                                               

Malaria is spread from person to person by mosquito bites. The mosquito that transmits malaria is the Anopheles mosquito, which mainly bites at night time, between 9:00. The mosquito then carries the malaria parasite, and transmits it to another person when they bite them.  Now that other person is infected with the parasite, too and a mosquito can carry it from an infected person to another person. Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, sweats, headaches, loss of appetite, pain in the joints, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and convulsions (fits).

Infants and young children, as well as pregnant women, are most vulnerable to malaria, because they have reduced immunity in comparison to other people who may contract the disease. Individuals with stronger immunity can still have the malaria parasite in their blood and not experience the malaria disease, or have only a very mild, non-life-threatening case of the disease.

However, malaria can be transmitted congenitally, which means that a pregnant woman who has malaria can pass the disease to her infant, either in the womb during pregnancy, or during delivery. This is because the malaria parasite is carried in the infected person’s blood, and pregnant women share a blood supply with their babies. Similarly, malaria can be transmitted through blood transfusions.

Education and resources remains the barrier to eliminate Malaria here in Mozambique.  Mosquito nets are distributed during neo-care at the hospital and the lab is equipped with testing kits.  Yet it is very common day to day results test positive.  During my questionnaire of 100 people 80% of these adults have had Malaria.  The danger is with young children, so the message remains strong to use the mosquito nets. 

Other preventative methods are:

• ·         Indoor residual spraying (IRS): this is when insecticide is sprayed on walls inside a      home.
• ·         Wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves and long pants
• ·         Avoid wearing dark colors, which attract mosquitoes
• ·         Apply mosquito repellents containing DEET (or dimethyl phthalate) to exposed skin
• ·       Screen all windows and doors in the house, or at least in rooms where people sleep,     to stop mosquitoes from getting in
• ·       Eliminate places where mosquitoes can lay eggs. For example, cover or drain and fill    areas with standing water

111 countries around the world have already eliminated malaria!

Mozambique will be added by 2020!

Malaria prevention and control are being assistance by the U.S. Government (USG).  In May 2009, President Obama announced the Global Health Initiative (GHI), a six-year, comprehensive effort to reduce the burden of disease and promote healthy communities and families throughout the world, with a particular focus on improving the health of women, newborns, and children.

Acknowledgements:  Malaria No More and Lalela Project and revised by Malaria No More in partnership with the American Peace Corps. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2vKZ0vl_7k

My jigsaw puzzle.

This blog is just pieces of a jigsaw puzzle of people that have made my journey awe- inspiring; the people are humble of their beauty, and are gracious with their time and attention.  Thanks for visiting and allowing me to share these snap shots of what I am experiencing here in Mozambique.

·         I walk about 20 minutes to the hospital every morning and must say “Good Morning” 30 times. The courtesy is rampant among everyone, yet because I look so different that politeness is expanded with simple questions or comments like, “Are you lost? Where do you want to go” (one kid actually turned around to walk me to the bakery”) or “You need to get an umbrella to shade yourself from the sun.” The community here exhibits what kindness is.

       ·         Patience. Over my life time my patience has evaporated, I hope to absorb it back from these women. One example that I see at the hospital is mothers coming in for monthly well baby checkups. Mothers bring their babies in once a month for the first year the date is close to the day the baby was born. The visits are done by steps of service areas, first step is weighing in of the baby then waiting to be called to determine next step; vaccines, further consultation, lab work, and/or the pharmacy. Because of lack of personnel even the techs jump from weights to vaccines to consultation to writing prescriptions. A mother with a three month old that has diarrhea will go home after 5-6 hours of waiting at each step WITHOUT one complaint, grimace, or rudeness.I am reminded of the reactions of people back home being at the grocery store check-out line and the cashier is waiting for a price check .

·         

    Summer here should be called Inferno (Hell) I am not joking.  For the first time in my life I truly understand what sweating bullets means.  In the last two weeks temperatures have hit over 100ºF/ 40ºC. This is my number one cultural adjustment. Did I hear you say air conditioners?  Not yet, not for a while, aside from the expense of the unit, this country is still working on stable electricity (I think only half of the country has power lines and a water supply in homes - but they are rapidly developing the infrastructure).

·         My district is small, about 2/3 the size of Connecticut, the population is about 67,000, it is rural and agriculturally based. It seems to be a good snap shot of the national poverty line. The high school attendance here is approx. 65% boys and it is not unusual for a girl to drop out of school between 7^th – 9^th grades and have a baby by 17.  I’m working on a needs assessment and one of the questions is “If you could choose to have any job you want, what would it be?”  Their reaction looks like if someone asked you if you won the lottery. The majority of girls have responded “teacher” or “at the hospital”. 

·        

            Of course the children are beautiful.  They are very curious about me yet timid; the camera seems to break the ice. The teens and adults are mesmerized when looking at their picture. 

All else is going well, I’ve made some friends and my house is equipped with the necessities and comfortable. I’m keeping busy with doing a community needs assessment, and trying to get some projects started at the hospital.  Next month my PCV group meets in the city for week long training and I’m looking forward to that.

My next blog will be pictures of the landscape so come back and see the beauty of this country so stay tuned!  xo