Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Bungi Jump at Victoria Falls
One of the activities to do at Victoria Falls is bungi jumping off the bridge that spans the river dividing Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Finishing up
I never knew how much I liked goats until we brought one to live at our house for a few days. He feasted on our sweet potato patch.
The goat celebrated Halloween and greeted trick-or-treating students with us. Then he made a significant contribution to the farewall lunch that we organized for our friends and neighbors.
Last weekend, Veronica organized a special lunch for Lindsey and us. We're enjoying lots of time with people we love! 
Thursday, October 1, 2009
English Theater
Nine theater groups from two provinces gathered at our school on Saturday for the English Theater Competition. One of the groups from our school one a top prize!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
More Frisbee!
Jesse organized for a frisbee team at a primary school in a nearby town (coached by our former student!) to visit our current students here in Xai-Xai. 
After our students taught some skills to the younger ones and played a game, we shared lunch and headed to the beach for more Ultimate and fun! 
The next day we hiked with another PCV and a couple current students to a nearby beach that we'd never been to before. Mozambique is beautiful!
After our students taught some skills to the younger ones and played a game, we shared lunch and headed to the beach for more Ultimate and fun! The next day we hiked with another PCV and a couple current students to a nearby beach that we'd never been to before. Mozambique is beautiful!Monday, July 20, 2009
Mouth of the Limpopo
Jesse and I enjoyed a great hike to where the great Limpopo River empties into the Indian Ocean. Here are a couple photos. We're with PCV Russell, Tiffany and her boyfriend, Claudio, our best student, Moises, and a former student who's teaching in the area this year, Nelson. 
Monday, July 6, 2009
Lesotho
Jesse and I just got back from a great vacation to the Kingdom in the Sky! We did a big circle by bus through Swaziland and South Africa to get there and back, and enjoyed great hikes 
and even a little pony riding! 
We walked on dinosaur footprints from 200 million years ago 
and appreciated San paintings from thousands of years ago on cave walls. 
It was cold in Lesotho, so we spent the week with all our layers of clothing, wrapped ourselves in lots of blankets, and enjoyed evenings in front of fireplaces. 
We’re feeling refreshed and ready to begin a new semester of classes tomorrow!
and even a little pony riding! We walked on dinosaur footprints from 200 million years ago and appreciated San paintings from thousands of years ago on cave walls. It was cold in Lesotho, so we spent the week with all our layers of clothing, wrapped ourselves in lots of blankets, and enjoyed evenings in front of fireplaces. We’re feeling refreshed and ready to begin a new semester of classes tomorrow!Thursday, June 4, 2009
Dance
On Saturday we went to the opening of a new community center for children that will offer visual art classes, as well as performing arts classes (theater, guitar and traditional instruments, dance) and education about sexual health. Peace Corps volunteers in this community helped to initiate the project and a Mozambican friend, Claudio, is the coordinator. The opening ceremony was fun because the kids had prepared performances of theater, song, and dance. The picture is of performers playing drums and timbilia.
The quick video clip shows a bit of the traditional dance performance. Keep in mind that this is a special performance for this special celebration – it’s not every day (i.e. when you visit Africa, don’t expect to meet naked people with spears – note the cars in the background and guests in suits) but it is fun to watch.Saturday, May 30, 2009
Newspaper
Medard’s son, Samuel, is home from the hospital. His family appreciates your prayers and support.
Jesse’s mom sent a puzzle which we set out in the English Library. The students and librarian, as well as professors who stopped in throughout the day, quickly put together their first puzzle. (The American in the picture is a former Peace Corps volunteer in South Africa who visited us.)
Jesse’s JOMA journalism group published a fantastic first edition of the English newspaper, the Xai-Xai Monthly Standard. 
We have news from the IFP and Xai-Xai, international news (via what we understand from BBC radio), as well as culture, health, sports, fun section, and advertisements for our other extracurricular activities. If you would like a free subscription to this prestigious paper, we are open to international circulation. Just send an email. Also, if you would like to submit an article for publication, you may send it to jesse.routte@gmail.com. Below are a few sample articles from this edition:
****************************************************************************
Strangers Attack IFP
May 8, 2009
IFP, Xai-Xai
By António F. Sitoe
On the night of May 8th2009 a man was caught at the IFP gate who said that he was coming from Chibuto to face his girlfriend who is also from Chibuto. This strange man was caught by the students of IFP who were working that night. The guards were absent during this time and students were asked by the supervisor of the boarding, Professor Bernadette, to guard the gate. According to one of the students, named Antonio who was at the gate during the night a man came and asked permission to enter. When the man was asked what his name was and where he was coming from he didn’t give a name and said that he was one of the students at boarding school and was a student in a class DR. António, who is class representative of that class (DR) shamed him by asking his student number and he said that that number does not exist in that class. António asked him to confess the reality and the man saw that they had discovered him. He said that he was the boyfriend of a girl from Chibuto. António went to the gymnasium to call the boarding supervisor and she told him to take him to one of the classrooms and lock him in and the following day they should take him to the police station to be judged by the policemen.
The next day, Saturday he asked to be forgiven and the student guards liberated him and he went out. But he never told which girl was his girlfriend.
**********************************************************************************
Health Issues in Quarter 6
By David Jeremais
On Sunday our journalism team went to Quarter 6. Where we spoke with Miss Mondane. She told us about the conditions of Quarter 6 regarding health. What we learned from our interview is that some people are suffering from Malaria and diarrhea specifically the children from age 7 up to 14 years old.
The children also talked about the hygiene in quarter 6 is very important to clean and keep clean. People accepted that hygiene is not well done around the families in quarter 6. The street is covered by rubbish.
For better health people said that all have to work together to fight against the illnesses, clean the fields and yards, and take care of the street. So we will be helping each other. We will be returning soon to see what progress has been made.
IFP Sport Frisbee/Football
By Malaquias José Ganhae and Fernando Alberto Moiane
There is not relationship! The trainers of this institute, those who like sport, are extremely admired about sport in this college. But no where they can practice what they like said Amilo, the sport representative. Amiló added: “we love sport, but the school administration is not caring about sport. They don’t take care about the sport in this college. That is why the trainers are not occupied in these things, always are despising sport because no one is supporting them”.
During our interview we met with some girl players that like sports. They demonstrated interest for all kinds of sport, but the problem is in part of the school administration, because they don’t want to make some finances for the sport in this college. “We love all types of sport, and we want to practice but there is no way to do that,” says Graça, one of the women football and Frisbee players.
Jesse’s mom sent a puzzle which we set out in the English Library. The students and librarian, as well as professors who stopped in throughout the day, quickly put together their first puzzle. (The American in the picture is a former Peace Corps volunteer in South Africa who visited us.)
Jesse’s JOMA journalism group published a fantastic first edition of the English newspaper, the Xai-Xai Monthly Standard. We have news from the IFP and Xai-Xai, international news (via what we understand from BBC radio), as well as culture, health, sports, fun section, and advertisements for our other extracurricular activities. If you would like a free subscription to this prestigious paper, we are open to international circulation. Just send an email. Also, if you would like to submit an article for publication, you may send it to jesse.routte@gmail.com. Below are a few sample articles from this edition:****************************************************************************
Strangers Attack IFP
May 8, 2009
IFP, Xai-Xai
By António F. Sitoe
On the night of May 8th2009 a man was caught at the IFP gate who said that he was coming from Chibuto to face his girlfriend who is also from Chibuto. This strange man was caught by the students of IFP who were working that night. The guards were absent during this time and students were asked by the supervisor of the boarding, Professor Bernadette, to guard the gate. According to one of the students, named Antonio who was at the gate during the night a man came and asked permission to enter. When the man was asked what his name was and where he was coming from he didn’t give a name and said that he was one of the students at boarding school and was a student in a class DR. António, who is class representative of that class (DR) shamed him by asking his student number and he said that that number does not exist in that class. António asked him to confess the reality and the man saw that they had discovered him. He said that he was the boyfriend of a girl from Chibuto. António went to the gymnasium to call the boarding supervisor and she told him to take him to one of the classrooms and lock him in and the following day they should take him to the police station to be judged by the policemen.
The next day, Saturday he asked to be forgiven and the student guards liberated him and he went out. But he never told which girl was his girlfriend.
**********************************************************************************
Health Issues in Quarter 6
By David Jeremais
On Sunday our journalism team went to Quarter 6. Where we spoke with Miss Mondane. She told us about the conditions of Quarter 6 regarding health. What we learned from our interview is that some people are suffering from Malaria and diarrhea specifically the children from age 7 up to 14 years old.
The children also talked about the hygiene in quarter 6 is very important to clean and keep clean. People accepted that hygiene is not well done around the families in quarter 6. The street is covered by rubbish.
For better health people said that all have to work together to fight against the illnesses, clean the fields and yards, and take care of the street. So we will be helping each other. We will be returning soon to see what progress has been made.
IFP Sport Frisbee/Football
By Malaquias José Ganhae and Fernando Alberto Moiane
There is not relationship! The trainers of this institute, those who like sport, are extremely admired about sport in this college. But no where they can practice what they like said Amilo, the sport representative. Amiló added: “we love sport, but the school administration is not caring about sport. They don’t take care about the sport in this college. That is why the trainers are not occupied in these things, always are despising sport because no one is supporting them”.
During our interview we met with some girl players that like sports. They demonstrated interest for all kinds of sport, but the problem is in part of the school administration, because they don’t want to make some finances for the sport in this college. “We love all types of sport, and we want to practice but there is no way to do that,” says Graça, one of the women football and Frisbee players.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Winding down
Our teaching is going well with just a couple weeks left in the semester. The students are doing "peer teaching" in all of our classes, getting more experience actually being in front of the class by teaching the primary school lessons to their classmates (acting as 1o year olds). It's fun to see them improve, becoming more creative and confident in their teaching. I've been enjoying my time in front of the classroom too. The students are very fun. Last week we studied Octopus's Garden (Beatles) and they wanted to stay after class to dance to the song they'd learned.
We started "Monday movie" nights, showing English films that have been well-attended.
Last week made our front garden sweet potato harvest into delicious soup.
Please keep your prayers the new baby and family of our good friend, Medard. The baby's name is Samuel. He's been in and out of the hospital the last couple weeks with a respiratory infection and then general weakness so we're all worried about him.
We started "Monday movie" nights, showing English films that have been well-attended.
Last week made our front garden sweet potato harvest into delicious soup.
Please keep your prayers the new baby and family of our good friend, Medard. The baby's name is Samuel. He's been in and out of the hospital the last couple weeks with a respiratory infection and then general weakness so we're all worried about him.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Conferences
The REDES conference last week was a huge success. 52 teenage girls traveled from secondary schools across the region to the beautiful beach for an intense week of education about women’s health and HIV/AIDS, and guidance about setting and reaching personal goals. In a camp-environment, the girls learned about themselves, developed their skills and strengths, and discussed their opportunities and potential. Mozambican professors facilitated sessions and Peace Corps volunteers were cabin counselors and prepared behind the scenes. Here's a photo of the girls making bracelets that represent the positive qualities that each brings to the group.
It was a week of “firsts” for many girls. It was the first time that some girls had seen the ocean and the first time for most to giggle in a swimming pool. It was the first time for many to ask open questions about their reproductive system and get facts from a nurse. It was the first time for a few to get tested for HIV. One girl made it her goal to speak in front of the group and on the last day she did.
On the last day of the conference, Mozambican rap artist, Dama do Bling joined us! As a lawyer/musical artist/celebrity/fashion designer she’s reached many of her dreams. She listened as the girls shared their goals for the future and gave them advice and encouragement. Afterwards she signed autographs, ate lunch with us, and then returned in the evening for a short private performance.
Meanwhile, just half an hour down the beach, Jesse was coordinating the JOMA conference to teach communication skills. 
Youth arrived from across the region to receive instruction on journalism, art, theater, or music, and to participate in discussions about health and healthy masculinity. They’re returning to their communities prepared to spark more important discussion and thought. Here's a photo of Jesse with our students at the conference.
It was a week of “firsts” for many girls. It was the first time that some girls had seen the ocean and the first time for most to giggle in a swimming pool. It was the first time for many to ask open questions about their reproductive system and get facts from a nurse. It was the first time for a few to get tested for HIV. One girl made it her goal to speak in front of the group and on the last day she did.On the last day of the conference, Mozambican rap artist, Dama do Bling joined us! As a lawyer/musical artist/celebrity/fashion designer she’s reached many of her dreams. She listened as the girls shared their goals for the future and gave them advice and encouragement. Afterwards she signed autographs, ate lunch with us, and then returned in the evening for a short private performance.
Meanwhile, just half an hour down the beach, Jesse was coordinating the JOMA conference to teach communication skills. 
Youth arrived from across the region to receive instruction on journalism, art, theater, or music, and to participate in discussions about health and healthy masculinity. They’re returning to their communities prepared to spark more important discussion and thought. Here's a photo of Jesse with our students at the conference.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Song
My students wanted to share this song with Ms. Nelson's music class.
Song Title: Um Dia
Sê forte
Pequeno Moçambique
Moçambicanos
Ajudem o pais a crescer
Todos juntos
Mudaremos nossa situação
E um dia
Alcançaremos nossos objectivos.
English Translation of the Song: One Day
Strong, little Mozambique. Mozambicans help the country to grow. All together we change our situation and one day we will achieve our objectives.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
New Beginnings
The students are here and classes began 2 weeks ago. We have almost twice as many students in the English course this year and are excited to get to know them all. Also, the school has hired a worker to be the librarian in the newly opened English library. Yay for access to resources!
Jesse’s planning logistics for the JOMA conference and I’m doing logistics and finance for the REDES conference in April. Jesse found beautiful conference sites at the beach and the managers there are excited to be supporting the development of Mozambican youth. Jesse is in his element working like a camp director, and for me it’s very motivating to know how much the girls are going love it. We’re feeling quite busy but in happy ways!
Jesse’s planning logistics for the JOMA conference and I’m doing logistics and finance for the REDES conference in April. Jesse found beautiful conference sites at the beach and the managers there are excited to be supporting the development of Mozambican youth. Jesse is in his element working like a camp director, and for me it’s very motivating to know how much the girls are going love it. We’re feeling quite busy but in happy ways!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Frisbees
Samantha and other Ultimate players in the
We’re changing our post office box for this year. Now our address is C.P. 85 Xai-Xai. There will be no more C.P. 270.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Happy Holidays!!
Happy New Year! Best wishes to everyone!
For us, 2008 left and 2009 entered packed with memories.
Before Christmas, Phil visited! It was wonderful to spend time with him in Mozambique.
Then our whole family met in Tanzania for an amazing vacation of hiking, safaari, and beaches. One highlight was climbing Mt Meru - the hardest hike I've ever done, but worth it. We summitted as the sun was rising over Mt Kilimanjaro.
The beautiful beaches of Zanzibar stretched way into the ocean during low tide.
After Tanzania, Paul came to see Mozambique. We took a lovely, relaxing side trip into Swaziland too.
For us, 2008 left and 2009 entered packed with memories.
Before Christmas, Phil visited! It was wonderful to spend time with him in Mozambique.
Then our whole family met in Tanzania for an amazing vacation of hiking, safaari, and beaches. One highlight was climbing Mt Meru - the hardest hike I've ever done, but worth it. We summitted as the sun was rising over Mt Kilimanjaro.
The beautiful beaches of Zanzibar stretched way into the ocean during low tide.
After Tanzania, Paul came to see Mozambique. We took a lovely, relaxing side trip into Swaziland too.It was wonderful to be together and share these beautiful places and experiences. Now I'm ready to get home to Xai-Xai and soon meet my new students! Classes will probably begin in February.
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