{"id":314,"date":"2010-10-21T13:34:06","date_gmt":"2010-10-21T19:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.briandeyo.us\/brd\/wp\/index.php\/2010\/10\/21\/the-sound-of-popcorn-and-the-smell-of-chicken-feed"},"modified":"2010-10-21T14:08:45","modified_gmt":"2010-10-21T20:08:45","slug":"the-sound-of-popcorn-and-the-smell-of-chicken-feed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.briandeyo.us\/index.php\/2010\/10\/21\/the-sound-of-popcorn-and-the-smell-of-chicken-feed\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sound of popcorn and the smell of chicken feed"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is definitely something nostalgic about the sound of popcorn popping.\u00a0 Most recently in memory\"2010-10-21<\/a> we\u00a0 ran through 3 tins of jiffy pop in Chicago.\u00a0 I bought them because Target was selling them for $1 each.\u00a0 Although the memory of jiffy pop and its enjoyment is clear, we are currently experiencing what it is to make popcorn using real corn.\u00a0 It is possible it is maize.\u00a0 It did come from a package, but the frequency at which the kernels pop reminds me that we are in Africa.\u00a0 It also helps that the bobhuti (boys) next door are singing the theme song to the 2010 World Cup.<\/p>\n

We have been exceedingly busy lately, occasionally taking a day off to do nothing but sit on the floor and wish it was cleaner.\u00a0 It is quite difficult to keep things clean, and we have had a several hour conversation about just how far do we lower the bar on what \u201cclean\u201d means.\u00a0 It has been decided that \u201cunfilthy\u201d is the new clean.\u00a0 After a few weeks of work on our new ceiling insulation, the feed bags are up in the living room.\u00a0 We are the proud owners of 50 used chicken feed bags, 14 of which now hang from the tin roof above my head.\u00a0 The idea is to create a space beneath the tin roof to trap the heat.\u00a0 It so far seems to be working as the room was considerably cooler today.\u00a0 The unfortunate part of this process has been the amount of chicken dust kicked into the air.\u00a0 Regardless of how much Thandiwe has tried to prepare the bags, they still are sprinkling minute particles of magic chicken feed dust on our heads.\u00a0 The bags have been cleaned, stapled together, and cleaned some more.\u00a0 They were even left outside for a few hours, but there has been a fine layer of dust on most surfaces after working on them.\u00a0 I have given up on the idea of hiring a traditional healer to cleanse the place, as it likely involves more unpleasant smells.\u00a0 Thankfully now they are hanging, the dust should be an absolute minimum.<\/span><\/p>\n

(insert sounds of donkeys, crickets, and drunk bomake (mothers) clapping and dancing)<\/span><\/p>\n

Where was I?\u00a0 Oh yes\u2026 dust.\u00a0 Something has been affecting my sinuses, and I had to go into the Medical Office last week, as I have been suffering from moderate dizziness and irritated sinuses.\u00a0 I have been given a steroidal spray for the rhinitis, and taken off Mefloquin, in case that is the cause.\u00a0 I was unhappy about being on Mefloquin due to the side effects, but now I must say I miss it.\u00a0 I have to take doxycyclin now once a day, and I receive none of the fun side effects of Mefloquin.\u00a0 My dreams have mellowed out, and my daydreams are gone with them.\u00a0 Goodbye hallucinations, goodbye out of control sleep patterns.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the good things to come out of the office visit included picking up mail, and getting to see one of our good friends from training.\u00a0 The PC office is so far from we we live that in a car it might take 90 minutes.\u00a0 When taking the public transportation here, it is 2 buses and a khumbi (minivan) for a total of 3-4 hours.\u00a0 Just long enough that we will be required to spend the night in town when we want to get our mail.\u00a0 Thankfully Mfonzile (Joe) lives about 90 minutes from the PC office, and had enough floorspace to have me over.\u00a0 And he happens to be a fantastic cook.\u00a0 I was served $40 equivalent worth of appetizers in the form of radish, butter, and tarragon.\u00a0 I say $40 as that is what it would cost in the US, here is was closer to $10.\u00a0 Then I was spoiled with a E60 bottle of 2008 Pinotage, and some home made Indian dish.\u00a0 That was followed by great conversation, catching up, and getting lost on our morning hike.\u00a0 We were supposed to only go down to the river, so it was acceptable to me that I left my phone, wallet, and water at his place.\u00a0 I am pleased at the result however, I was able to see untarnished and uninhabited Africa.\u00a0 No people it seemed for miles, no trash anywhere, running water, green trees, and absolutely minimal signs that humanity had ever touched the ground around my feet.\u00a0\u00a0 And then it started to rain.\u00a0 We likely doubled-back 3 times before we gave up and cut through someone\u2019s cabbage patch.\u00a0 In the end it turned out exceedingly well, as Mfonzile made friends with the son of the cabbage-patch owner, and they will likely be working on a few projects together over the next few years.\u00a0 Just three kids hanging around in the cabbage patch.\u00a0 <insert joke here><\/span><\/p>\n

Our own work has come a long way over the last several weeks, yet we are still up-in-the-air as to what is the best approach.\u00a0 Peace Corps stresses \u201ccapacity building\u201d as the definition for development, as opposed to the traditionally thought of \u201cbuild it, give them money, and the will come\u201d approach.\u00a0 This puts us in a position of trying to motivate the people around us to do things that require no money and obviously this idea meets with a lot of blank stares.\u00a0 Occasionally I can pick up on someone\u2019s eyes glazing over when I say we \u201cbring no money”.\u00a0 (more donkeys)\u00a0 In spite of no-money approach, we have been repeatedly introduced to how desperately our community desires is water.\u00a0 Even the pastor said water is most important.\u00a0 There is one NGO in our area, and the Govt itself working on a water project, so that puts us out of the running for what everyone is looking for.\u00a0 It is a good thing however since sustainable water projects cost millions, and still don\u2019t always work out.\u00a0 The quick fix small borehole may cost a few thousand Emalengani, but when that 60 meter borehole dries up, people are going to be really upset.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

The best news out of the water crisis is that the second most desired thing we can do is work with the youth on empowering leaders for tomorrow.\u00a0 If you are a boy and you don\u2019t play soccer, there is very little for you to do here.\u00a0 There is supposedly a boxing club of 4 people.\u00a0 If you are a girl you are lucky to have free time.\u00a0 There is a youth center here which is in bad need for restoration, as it has been mangled through neglect and lack of funding.\u00a0 The pool table has a 45\u00b0 slant to it, and the foosball table is a few players short of a full team.\u00a0 The burglar door has been pulled off by either an overweight kid, or an overweight kid riding a bull.\u00a0 The keys were lost and all the interior doors now have a doggy-door hastily installed in case Lassie needs to help kids on the other side.\u00a0 The grass is green.\u00a0 It is also waist high.\u00a0 It is quite funny with all of this, how all I can see is an incredible stroke of luck for us, and all the potential this place can be.\u00a0 Now we just need to figure out how to spread our vision.\u00a0 Step 1 : Fix Youth Center.\u00a0 Step 3: Profit.<\/span><\/p>\n

We are exceptionally lucky to live in a community which so far seems quite versed on HIV and we haven\u2019t confronted much stigma around it.\u00a0 People are sick and dying, but people aren\u2019t afraid to talk about it.\u00a0 Condoms are passed out frequently, and the male circumcision program is strong here (ask me sometime what circumcision can do for you). All this does bode well for our role in actually feeling like we are accomplishing something.\u00a0 I believe we are riding on the wave created by the Group 6 volunteers who left the site better than they found it.\u00a0 Thanks to Dumsane and Lindelwa!\u00a0 I rarely get mistaken for Dumsane, but Thandiwe corrects at least two people a week that she is not Lindelwa.\u00a0 Happened yesterday actually.\u00a0 \u201cNot Lindelwa\u201d had a good day of staying inside and reading the Darwin Awards today.\u00a0 Ahh reading\u2026 what a great past time.\u00a0 Reading is entirely underrated in the US, and I am pleased to need more than one hand to count the number of books I have read in the last 4 months.<\/span><\/p>\n

ACK!\u00a0 4 months!\u00a0 I saw some video of Chicago on TV today while I was interviewing a local business owner.\u00a0 It seems like time has just blown by at an astrono\"2010-09-16<\/a>mical speed.\u00a0 There was much talk during training about the Lifecycle and moods of the volunteer, and it resembles a roller-coaster.\u00a0 Now that Thandiwe nami (Krista and I) are out of training, speaking siSwati more often, and integrating, we are supposed to be slowing down considerably and adjusting to \u201cSwazi time.\u201d\u00a0 So far it hasn\u2019t been happening in obvious wa ys, but I will look up from my gardening and 5 hours have passed.\u00a0 We are now growing carrots, chives, tomatoes,\u00a0 green onions, basil, hybrid green peppers, organic peppers, dill, and oregano.\u00a0 The two types of peppers are kind of an experiment to see which grows better, tastes better, etc.\u00a0 They are planted side by side and will get the same treatment.\u00a0 The organic peppers will likely be able to have their seeds harvested and planted next year.\u00a0\u00a0 Mfonzile was telling me that the big seed company here was bought by an American company, and Walmart bought Shoprite.\u00a0 This means even more of the money spent in Swaziland will go to US companies who pay taxes, which then get given to Swaziland as foreign aid.\u00a0 What a world right?\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

(take a breath\u2026 changing subjects)<\/span><\/p>\n

I am also growing cactus, iboza and wild something-tree (name censored!).\u00a0\u00a0 As much as I talk about the climate and scenery being like southern Arizona, nothing drives it home more than realizing I am growing cactus.\u00a0 The kind we have looks just like ocotillo, but is terrifically short like a shrub.\u00a0 The point in planting it is to keep the tinkhukhu (chickens) out of the garden.\u00a0 I came all the way to Africa to cultivate cactus, and what a good job I am doing.\u00a0 But here is something I can bring to Africa.\u00a0 Prickly pear jelly is something that will be widespread and marketable by the time I am done.\u00a0 My book says it grows here, now I just have to find some.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Of all the plants however, nothing I have seen is quite as beautiful as a Jacaranda.\u00a0 If you haven\u2019t seen how gorgeous that tree is, Google it and look for pictures of it in bloom.\u00a0 If it isn\u2019t invasive I am bringing some back home with me.\u00a0 If it is invasive I will take up painting so I can at least bring that back.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking of paintings the art available at the big tourist market is incredible.\u00a0 Goods from all over Africa are traded as this market.\u00a0 The market itself is likely the size of Tucson Mall, and all outdoor.\u00a0 Some areas are two stories, but it is all wood planks and wood stairs.\u00a0 It is precisely what your mind would picture a market in Africa being like.\u00a0 Drums, jewelry, and paintings are available.\u00a0 Some for as little as $1 US.\u00a0 My plan is to buy a drum and several of pieces of wall art next time we are there.\u00a0 Right now we are actually feeling the squeeze of living on a PC budget, and recognize that my $2 a day juice habit may need to go.\u00a0 The juice habit is incredibly satisfying though.\u00a0 I can buy a liter of 100% fruit juice for $2, and it is the most delicious thing I have ever drank.\u00a0 The price may be lowering in the next few weeks also, so the juice habit won\u2019t go quite yet.\u00a0 Sadly the Mozambican bread habit is already on its way out.\u00a0 The bread is only good with the spicy bean patties they make, and we just bought a 2 pound sack of chilies for less than $1.\u00a0 Just not sure what we are going to do with all those chilies.<\/span><\/p>\n

One thing I am sure of is we will be eating under lighted circumstances now, thanks to the solar lights Pop sent us.\u00a0 Pop\u2026 those things are great!\u00a0 I put together a small outdoor charging rack so they are less likely to be trampled by goats while outside.\u00a0 We can now truly stay up until 9pm again and not bump into walls doing it.\u00a0 The same time as the solar lights came, Powertraveler fulfilled its promise and delivered free of charge a solar-powered battery that will recharge the laptop.\u00a0 The battery takes about 8 days to fully charge in the sun, but can charge the laptop 5-6 times on a full charge, so I should be able to type on a real keyboard like I\u2019m doing now more often.\u00a0 This is a good thing, because as great as I have been about keeping a journal, it is devolving into a series of bullet points on what has been happening, and doesn\u2019t include any personal interpretation or substance to it.\u00a0 It is nice that I ate cornflakes.\u00a0 Again.\u00a0 (more donkeys\u2026 they really are dumb asses).\u00a0 I don\u2019t need to look back on my journaling 50 years from now and say \u201cyup.\u00a0 I was regular in those days.\u201d\u00a0 Hopefully when\u00a0inspiration for\u00a0writing\u00a0something of quality is on my mind, I will\u00a0enshrine it here.\u00a0 In the meantime I am still trying to learn how to juggle and do magic.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There is definitely something nostalgic about the sound of popcorn popping.\u00a0 Most recently in memory we\u00a0 ran through 3 tins of jiffy pop in Chicago.\u00a0 I bought them because Target was selling them for $1 each.\u00a0 Although the memory of jiffy pop and its enjoyment is clear, we are currently experiencing what it is to …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":313,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.briandeyo.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.briandeyo.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.briandeyo.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.briandeyo.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.briandeyo.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=314"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.briandeyo.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/314\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":316,"href":"https:\/\/www.briandeyo.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/314\/revisions\/316"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.briandeyo.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.briandeyo.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.briandeyo.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.briandeyo.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}