Can't believe I finally made it to being a Peace Corps volunteer! Third times a charm... now I just have to see about staying here for two years. :)

I've been at site for two weeks now and love it! I am now in a small villiage in the Iringa region of Tanzania and it's beautiful. I have a cute little home with an enclosed courtyard, great neighbors, and in a good location between the health clinic and the primary school. I've already ideas of potential projects but have to do PACA tools and all that (as well as improving my Kiswahili!) before getting started on anything.

All's good and glad to have finally made it!

New address is posted to the right... WRITE ME!!!

Sorry I haven't been posting since arriving in Tanzania... training has definitely kept me busy! Things are pretty good and I think I am learning the language at a pretty decent pace... will know better after next week when we take our mid-training language test (written and oral). Wish me luck!!

I leave tomorrow morning for Washington D.C. for staging and then we are off to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on Wednesday. It's hard to believe that it's time to go already... May has flown by and this past week went at super-sonic speed. Just three months ago, when I got off the plane from S. Korea, I didn't think the time could go fast enough and now I am thinking "where did the time go?"!

And it all still doesn't feel real yet... am I really going?

Arrival in Tanzania

Suggested Dress Upon Arrival

Upon arrival at the Mwalimu J. K. Nyerere International Airport, the weather will be in the upper 70s or lower 80s at night (June and July are the coolest months of the year in Dar). You can wear lightweight outfits, but they should be neat, clean, and respectable to make a good impression on the Immigration and Customs people at the airport. No informal outfits (e.g. shorts, t-shirts, or clothes that reveal cleavage, backs or bellies) should be worn.

The training center is a professional work environment. We ask Trainees to dress according to official work attire as will be expected in your roles as village extension workers. We expect you to dress appropriately for the training activity, so when at the training center doing classroom-style sessions, we request that you please observe the professional dress described below. Whenever there is fieldwork, or field practicals, we expect you to vary your outfits accordingly (e.g. use of gumboots for farm work, etc.)

The norm for dress at the training center, as well as when visiting District Offices, NGOs, or the Peace Corps offices is as follows:

For All:

Shoes, sandals/tevas or sneakers

Acceptable work place dress for men:

Clean pants with colored or African - style shirts, a jacket, coat or sweater for warmth.

Not Acceptable dress for men at the training institute:

Shorts, dirty clothes, flip-flops, T-shirts, tank tops and earrings and other forms of “facial hardware”. Please keep your hair short for men. Dreadlocks are widely considered unprofessional in Tanzania and are not acceptable for Volunteers.

Acceptable dress for women at the training site:

Long skirts or dress with slip underneath, loose not tight. Blouse or nice shirt with long or short sleeves.

Not acceptable dress for women at the training site:

Tank tops, revealing dresses, short skirts, pants, spaghetti straps, knee high splits, short-sleeved outfits that expose the bra, T-shirts.

Facial hardware:

Though often considered fashionable in the United States, “facial hardware”, including nose rings, earrings for men, tongue rings etc, is frowned upon in Tanzania. This is particularly true in rural areas where you will be training and working. Peace Corps Volunteers who accessorize in this way may encounter negative feelings or feedback from the people with whom they live and work. As community workers in Tanzania, PCVs are expected to dress in a way that respects the culture. With this in mind, the use of facial hardware is not appropriate to wear as a Trainee or Volunteer.

I've just changed the settings so anyone can comment without the need to set up a blog/google account, etc. I welcome comments on any of my postings so please feel free! They will be posted as soon as I can get to them. :)

“Go to the people – live with them, learn from them, love them. Start with what they know. Build with what they have. But the best leaders, when the work is done, the task accomplished, the people will say, ‘we have done this ourselves.’”

-Lao Tsu (700 BC)

I just wanted to thank Jill at the Marquette County Health Department for hooking me up with some really great information. I went in last week for an HIV test (just to be sure before I headed off to Tanzania) and when Jill found out that I was going to TZ as a health education volunteer with the PC, she wanted to gather up an information packet for me.

When I returned today to get my results (negative of course!), she handed me a thick envelope full of different pamphlets and information sheets on living with HIV, abstinence, birth control methods, information on different STDs, info about the different kinds of Hepatitus (modes of transmission, symptoms, prevention, etc), statistics, as well as magazines that are for people who are positive: POZ Health, Life & HIV, PA Positively Aware HIV Treatment and Health (HIV drug guide and the Report from the 15th Annual Retrovirus Conference), and went over everything with me. She also included some pens, shoe laces, clip, and a key ring that have "sex can wait" printed on them.

It was definitely more than I expected and I really appreciate the extra mile she went for me. So future health education PCVs and others who have to incorporate HIV/AIDS education into your various sectors, go to your health department and hopefully they will hook you up with a great packet of info too! :)

Thanks again Jill!

Thought I would post some PC quotes and a few of my favorite Swahili proverbs. I've been meaning to post the first quote for a long time now and was reminded of it today when I saw it on a fellow invitee's blog (cracks me up every time!!). Also thought I would throw a quote from a movie that couldn't be farther from the actual Peace Corps experience, but when I first saw it I knew I wanted to join the Peace Corps some day.

"A pessimist sees the glass as half empty, an optimist sees the glass as half full, and a Peace Corps Volunteer sees the glass and says, 'Hey, I can take a bath in that!" -PCV

"'Dear Dad. Have made terrible mistake and joined the Peace Corps. Please arrange to have me brought home at once. Your loving son, blah, blah, blah Lawrence'." Tom Hanks in the movie Volunteers (1985)

Haba na haba hujaza kibaba - Drop by drop, you fill the bucket/Little by little, fills the measure.

Rafiki akupendae humuona penye haja - A friend who loves you, you'll always see him/her when you're in need. (A friend in need is a friend indeed.)

Zawadi ni tunda la moyo - A gift is a fruit from the heart.

Kutoa ni moyo usambe ni utajiri - Giving is from the heart not from the wealth.

I'm going to:

-ride my bike everyday... goal is to get up to 20 miles without falling off before I leave for TZ. So far up to 8 1/2 miles. :) (just over 15 miles now!! - June 2nd)

-Continue studying Kiswahili... actually, I've been slacking off lately so really got to get back at it.

-Eat all the food I can that I know I will be missing in TZ, especially mom's cooking, Mexican food.

-Go out with my mom for appetizers and dessert... can never get appetizers, main meal and dessert, so we are cutting out the middle!

-Go see Indiana Jones 4 with my mom...

-Talk to as many friends, who are scattered throughout the States as well as the world, as much as I can on the phone.

-Sleep in (Z_Z)

-Go out target shooting with my dad.

-Go to Green Bay, WI to see family I haven't seen in ages!

-Try not to be too anxious and wonder if I can really do this... can I?!

-Enjoy the time I have left at home :)

Here is my mailing address during pre-service training from June 12th-August 22nd. If you send letters by airmail, it takes a minimum of two to three weeks, packages by mail take three to eight weeks, and packages sent by surface mail normally take three to six months to arrive.

Please number your letters and include "Airmail" on the envelope.

If you want to send a package, please send it in a packing envelope that weighs less than 5 lbs to avoid customs.

Christie Schulz, PCT

Peace Corps Training Site

PO Box 9123

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Africa

After paring down a bit and repacking for the 4th time, I think I'm just under 80lbs! :)

Here's my final packing list:

Clothes and shoes:

-shirts (two 3/4 length business casual for staging, 2 button down, 5 t-shirts, 1 long sleeved)

-tanktops/undershirts (3 colored, 1 silky)

-thermal underwear (1 shirt, 2 leggings)

-fun tops (2 to go out on the town in!)

-heavy sweater jacket (1)

-hooded sweatshirt (1)

-blouse (1 long-sleeved, 2 short sleeved)

-pants (1 heavy, 1 lightweight, 1 pair of jeans, 1 short pants)

-skirts (3 lightweight, 1 heavy)

-sleepwear (2 long pants, 2 shorts)

-swimsuit (1) and sarong (1)

-sun hat (1)

-slips (3)

-socks and tights

-underwear (lots)

-bras (2 sport, 4 regular)

-bandanas (2)

-rain poncho (1)

-Moroccan shawl

-keen sandals (1 pair)

-sneakers (1 pair)

-dress flats (1 pair)

-shower shoes (1 pair)

-nice (but cheap) leather-ish sandals

Electronics, etc...:

-shortwave radio

-ipod mini

-solio

-digital camera

-headlamp

-small flashlight

-batteries (AAA, AA, watch, travel alarm)

-adapters

Bathroom, etc...:

-razor and blades

-q tips

-wax strips

-tissue and campers toilet paper

-lotion and moisturizer

-soap

-shampoo and conditioner 2 in 1

-deoderant (3)

-feminine products and the Keeper

-scented oils to use as perfume (special occassions)

-toothbrush (2) and toothpaste (2)

-floss (3)

-bathtowels (1 regular, 1 handtowel and 2 camp towels for quick dry)

-basic first aid kit (Peace Corps also issues a first aid kit)

-makeup (just a shadow and a mascara)and travel mirror

-comb

-hair ties & head band

-nail clippers and tweazers

Kitchen, etc...:

-garden seeds (various)

-knife, can opener

-Nalgene bottle (1 large, 1 small)

-spices (chili powder, lemon pepper, garlic)

-crystal light on the go packets to flavor water (various)

-leatherman

-water purification tablets

-matches

Bedroom, etc...:

-travel pillow and travel blanket

-sleeping bag

-mosquito net (extra for guests and travel)

-flat sheet and pillow cases

Books, etc...:

-address book, envelopes, stationary

-notepads (big and small)

-pens, pencils, color pencils

-maps

-UNO card game

-photo albums

-swahili dictionary

-scissors

-rubber bands

-books:

*A Void by George Perec

*Cock and Bull by Will Self

*Comfort Woman by Nora Okja Keller

*East is East by T.C. Boyle

*The Man Who Turned into Himself by David Ambrose

*Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond

*The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood

*Swahili dictionary

*The Little Yoga Book by Erika Dillman

Gifts:

-soccer pins (to inflate balls)

-post cards

-stickers

-towels

-frisbees

-compact hydrofoil kite

-neckties

-gum

Misc.:

-glasses (a pair and a spare) and sunglasses (1)

-superglue

-incense

-rubber bands

-clothesline and pins

-duct tape

-sewing kit

-laundry bag/mesh bag

-whistle/compass

-1.5 liter multi-sport hydration pack

-bike helmet (last minute buy... got the email from the Peace Corps the week I leave...)

Bags:

-large military backpack/duffle

-large rolling duffle

-rolling carry-on and messenger bag

Round two of packing for TZ has not gone so well... started out very optimistic and now I'm just tired/frustrated. I think I am over the weight limit by about 10 lbs. I know that I have too much stuff, but I'm also having a hard time convincing myself that I don't really need certain items.

You'd think that after both Morocco and South Korea, I'd learn to pack lighter...

How do you pack for two years without hiring an entourage to carry all the crap you think you need?! I've just started the first round of what will be a few weeks of packing, unpacking, and repacking...

This has been a bit of a hard month for me... I'm in the second month of my three month break between leaving my life in S. Korea and leaving for Tanzania in June. I've been trying to keep busy with studying Swahili, visiting friends and family (who do not have three months off), getting prepared for June as well trying not to become a lazy glutton (mmmm... homecookin' and lazy mornings!). Ahhh, I will be well rested when I get to Tanzania!

I am feeling homesick for Korea at the moment... missing my friends, my co-workers, my students (Hi Quinn!), the food, the random things that really make living overseas interesting, and as well as soooo many other things.

And I'm still wondering: where's spring???!!

Things I'm looking forward to in Tanzania:

-trying the food (yep, I'm a glutton!)

-really getting immersed in the language and the culture

-stepping outside of my comfort zone (again!)

-meeting the other trainees/volunteers in my group

-getting to know my host family(ies) and community(ies)

-figuring out what projects I can start and/or continue building on

-the kids... I love working with children and hope to have a few secondary projects that I can get kids involved in.

I've been back in the States and up at my parents in upper Michigan for almost two weeks... it's been really great to be back home, but I'm already feeling the need to get moving again. My mom and dad's place is beautiful, loads of nature, and not many people but there is too much snow! Where's spring?!

I'm really looking forward to going to Chicago next week and starting my month long road-trip to see friends and family. Maybe as I head south, it'll get warmer. :) It will be good to get out and travel around a bit to see everyone, before I leave for Tanzania in a few months.

I've been spending the past few weeks buying things to get me started in Tanzania... hoping that I'm not going to overpack but I already know that I probably will! At least I am more financially able to outfit myself this time around. Goal: two checked bags (one big, one small) and my laptop as a carry-on... fingers crossed!

For the next few months I probably won't post anything on here, but when I get to Tanzania, I hope to post at least once a month.... at least pictures. (Got a new camera!)

Kiswahili words I've learned so far: #s 1~5 moja, mbili, tatu, nne, tano; mama, baba, kaka, dada (dad, mom, brother, sister) hujambo (how are you?), sijambo (I'm fine), bibi (lady, miss, ms. mrs), bwana (sir, mr.), ndoto (dream)... a slow start, but right now focused on getting the pronuciation down, but there will be a few that will give me trouble: there is a kh throat sound and a gh throat sound that are a bit hard but I'm working on them. At least the vowels are pretty straightforward! Here are a few kiswahili words that I've come across during pronunciation practice that are a bit of a a mouthful: ng'ong'ona; mnanasi; mwanangu.

Things I really miss about Korea: my friends, my students, my co-teachers, my school, my boss and her husband, ajumma, kimchi, dolsot bibimbap, mandu, korean food in general, seeing hanguel everywhere and seeing what I can read/understand, the fact that it will warm up there much sooner than it will warm up here, easy transportation options that are sooo cheap, being able to go up into Seoul and have loads of different things to do and see...

It's hard to believe that I've been living and teaching in Korea for 4 years. I came here when my first attempt at the Peace Corps didn't pan out as expected and I was looking for something else to do. When the volunteers and trainees were evacauated from Morocco at the start of the war in Iraq in early 2003, little did I know that by the end of the year I was going to be putting my PC experience on hold to go to South Korea to teach English.

What started out as a year commitment, in the southern part of the country, turned into three more when I changed jobs and moved closer to Seoul to be an English teacher at a Korean kindergarten. I fell in love with the kids, my co-workers, my director and they became my family away from home. I will really miss the kitchen ajumma (older woman/auntie) at my school who has made my favorite Korean food for the past three years and who has always been kind to me. Kids that I started teaching when they were 5 years Korean age (3~4 years old Western age... in Korean age you add a year or two depending on what time of the year they were born) will be graduating as proud 7 year olds in a couple of weeks. It's amazing how much they've changed and I think we will all be a weepy mess that day.

I decided to re-apply to the Peace Corps this past summer and my school has been supportive of my decision though they are sad to see me go. I felt that I really had to give the PC another try and see what direction it would take me next. In November of 2007, I received and accepted my invitation to Tanzania as a health education project volunteer for June 2008.

I will be leaving behind a Korean friend who has just recently learned that she and her husband are pregnant with their first child. Another close K friend is going through a crisis of what she should do with her life... whether to stay on at her mother's school where she is underappreciated or leave to pursue her dream of having an online shopping site. One of the first friends I made in Korea and who came from Ireland to teach English in Korea around the same time I did, is struggling to find out if there is life after Korea. We've all become like sisters, though we all have very different backgrounds, beliefs, opinions. I want to be there for them and I wish I wasn't leaving them behind the end of this month.

Korea has been my often frustrating, though never boring home for the past four years and it will be hard to say good-bye.