So, I just wanted to let everyone know that my hospital project was fully funded thanks to the generosity of strangers and friends alike. Thank you. Family too, of course.
We are almost finished and I can't wait to show everyone photos of our new Poste de Sante. That means "health post" for those of you philistines who don't know French. just kidding. You're not philistines. I just wanted to use that word because I haven't had an occasion to in a long time.
Also, another reason I wanted to write was to divert your attention to my dear friend's excellent blog post about the event of the year. I wanted to kill a sheep in honor of Armand's visit to Senegal. My village family and Peace Corps friends immediately thought "wedding" so we compromised and had a huge spectacle of a party. Neither of us our Muslim, and so out of respect to the culture (and the fact that we don't want to be married) there was no wedding ceremony... don't worry, gentle readers, your writer is not married. Still, I was lucky enough to receive the services of the finest of hair and makeup artist in KM and all the wonderful ladies in my neighborhood pitched in the cook the most delicious meal ever. Most impressively, my PC friends from all over the country traveled from all over the country to meet Armand and have a party with us. We danced and did strange American things that confused my village and everyone loved it. I wish you could have been there. So anyway, here's the link
www.ericlella.blogspot.com The entry is dated feb 19th. I know this is a sloppy way of doing this but I can't get the internet to do what I want right now.
there are even pictures on that website. So it's worth going to.
see you all very soon.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
i finally decided to answer some questions.
I'm a RPCV, Kenya; now teach in Yreka, CA. Saw your request for donations. Our Health Science teacher is interested in possibilities to connect and help. Would you be interested in ...well, sort of ...letting a class adopt you? Steve
dear steve, sorry for the delayed response, i've been in village for a while. i woud love to have your class adopt me! please feel free to contact me at jessica.goza@gmail.com if you're still interested! Thank you!Jessica
why is the main photo on your blog so sassy and fabulous?
because i am sassy and fabulous.
Can you post pictures of all your outfits?
maybe one day, as a treat.
What is pepinere? Why does it need manure. Will you still be performing health education? D.
a pepinere is a tree or plant nursery. it needs manure to help fertilize the sand that everything is planted in. i still do health education.
Your mother and I are thinking of starting a petting zoo at Larry's produce. Send me an animal
i can get you a goat.
what does your poo smell like?
sulfur, mostly
what is cooking like over there? can you supply us with some recipes for the foods you make? i want the real senegalese experience.
american friends, this question was asked two years ago and since then i have learned how to cook so many senegalese foods. i will take requests when i return home.
Do you get everything that is sent or are some articles "lost in the mail"
sometimes letters get lost in the mail.
can you do skype without internet?
no. i don't know why someone would ask me this.
this blog is really old and should be updated with more ham.
i just saw this. it's awesome. no ham here, though.
Where can I buy an outfit and shoes like the ones you are wearing in your photo?
Come to my weekly looma (market) and i'll get you the hook up with my fabric ladies.
dear steve, sorry for the delayed response, i've been in village for a while. i woud love to have your class adopt me! please feel free to contact me at jessica.goza@gmail.com if you're still interested! Thank you!Jessica
why is the main photo on your blog so sassy and fabulous?
because i am sassy and fabulous.
Can you post pictures of all your outfits?
maybe one day, as a treat.
What is pepinere? Why does it need manure. Will you still be performing health education? D.
a pepinere is a tree or plant nursery. it needs manure to help fertilize the sand that everything is planted in. i still do health education.
Your mother and I are thinking of starting a petting zoo at Larry's produce. Send me an animal
i can get you a goat.
what does your poo smell like?
sulfur, mostly
what is cooking like over there? can you supply us with some recipes for the foods you make? i want the real senegalese experience.
american friends, this question was asked two years ago and since then i have learned how to cook so many senegalese foods. i will take requests when i return home.
Do you get everything that is sent or are some articles "lost in the mail"
sometimes letters get lost in the mail.
can you do skype without internet?
no. i don't know why someone would ask me this.
this blog is really old and should be updated with more ham.
i just saw this. it's awesome. no ham here, though.
Where can I buy an outfit and shoes like the ones you are wearing in your photo?
Come to my weekly looma (market) and i'll get you the hook up with my fabric ladies.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
scrooge
merry christmas everyone. i hope you're all having a wonderful time celebrating with your your family and friends. it's a nice time of year in america. after you're done reading this google "harmattan" and imagine picking the most painful boogers out of your nose.
btw, even though i live in africa i still make the sickest christmas dinners. take that, senegal.
btw, even though i live in africa i still make the sickest christmas dinners. take that, senegal.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Xaales/Dinero/Argent/Money
So, I'm going to be quite frank in this blog post: I need money. Lots of money. No, it's not for my personal use. I haven't sunk quite that low yet, even though I do eat EZ cheese right out of the can.
As many people on facebook may know, I'm currently soliciting donations for a hospital renovation project. The reason this one health facility in the middle of nowhere Africa deserves your money is because: 1. I live and work there. and 2. Last spring a dog dragged up a still born baby that was improperly disposed of and took in through the market. Obviously, people were horrified and they came to me asking for help. The principles of hygiene and sanitation here are a little bit different than they are at the places I used to work at in the States but I still believe the health facility here deserves a fighting chance. Which is why I'm going to continue to beg for money until this project is fully funded.
I have a very tight, specific budget for the project and all of the money will be allocated to a specific need. We need to change the ceilings that have water damage and mold, we need to fill in the cracks in the walls and floors, we need to get new mattresses that are covered in vinyl, we need to repair windows and doors so we can keep animals and mosquitoes out, we need to fix the sinks that don't drain or run water, fix the fans that don't cool the rooms down and fix the lights so the doctor can see. We are also building seating for patients so they have a place to sit while they wait for appointments. We are building an incinerator to safely dispose of medical waste. There is a lot to be done but with your help, we can do it.
And that is not to say the community will not be participating as well. They are providing 25% of the total cost of the project themselves. They are also planning a community wide clean up so that we can attack the negative attitudes towards poor hygiene as a group and change the way people think about their health and their environment.
This is going to be the last thing I do in my two year service in Senegal and I want to make it good. Please, please, please consider helping me out with that. I came here to change just a little bit of the world and so far, I feel like I have. But this project will allow me to really feel like I've done a solid thing for the community that has given me the privilege to work, live and share my culture with them.
If you allow me to make this project happen with your donations, I will paint your name or if you donate in someone's honor, I will paint their name on the wall of the hospital, thanking donors and letting the community know that this would not have been possible without the generosity of other Americans like me. I know that I have a wonderful group of family and friends waiting for me back home. I want to thank you ahead of time for your generosity and support.
This is the link for donating:
https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=685-193
This is the link for photos of the health post:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103517722113759676642/KeurMadiabelHealthPost?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNPqyO3AhpWjkgE&feat=directlink
Again, thank you so much for your support. I am so grateful for everyone's words of encouragement, packages, emails. Without your support, I would have never made it so far into my service and without it I won't be able to finish. So with all the gratitude and appreciation in my heart, I wish you a happy holiday season with your families and a wonderful new year!
As many people on facebook may know, I'm currently soliciting donations for a hospital renovation project. The reason this one health facility in the middle of nowhere Africa deserves your money is because: 1. I live and work there. and 2. Last spring a dog dragged up a still born baby that was improperly disposed of and took in through the market. Obviously, people were horrified and they came to me asking for help. The principles of hygiene and sanitation here are a little bit different than they are at the places I used to work at in the States but I still believe the health facility here deserves a fighting chance. Which is why I'm going to continue to beg for money until this project is fully funded.
I have a very tight, specific budget for the project and all of the money will be allocated to a specific need. We need to change the ceilings that have water damage and mold, we need to fill in the cracks in the walls and floors, we need to get new mattresses that are covered in vinyl, we need to repair windows and doors so we can keep animals and mosquitoes out, we need to fix the sinks that don't drain or run water, fix the fans that don't cool the rooms down and fix the lights so the doctor can see. We are also building seating for patients so they have a place to sit while they wait for appointments. We are building an incinerator to safely dispose of medical waste. There is a lot to be done but with your help, we can do it.
And that is not to say the community will not be participating as well. They are providing 25% of the total cost of the project themselves. They are also planning a community wide clean up so that we can attack the negative attitudes towards poor hygiene as a group and change the way people think about their health and their environment.
This is going to be the last thing I do in my two year service in Senegal and I want to make it good. Please, please, please consider helping me out with that. I came here to change just a little bit of the world and so far, I feel like I have. But this project will allow me to really feel like I've done a solid thing for the community that has given me the privilege to work, live and share my culture with them.
If you allow me to make this project happen with your donations, I will paint your name or if you donate in someone's honor, I will paint their name on the wall of the hospital, thanking donors and letting the community know that this would not have been possible without the generosity of other Americans like me. I know that I have a wonderful group of family and friends waiting for me back home. I want to thank you ahead of time for your generosity and support.
This is the link for donating:
https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=685-193
This is the link for photos of the health post:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103517722113759676642/KeurMadiabelHealthPost?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNPqyO3AhpWjkgE&feat=directlink
Again, thank you so much for your support. I am so grateful for everyone's words of encouragement, packages, emails. Without your support, I would have never made it so far into my service and without it I won't be able to finish. So with all the gratitude and appreciation in my heart, I wish you a happy holiday season with your families and a wonderful new year!
Whoa Crazy Update
Hello Readers,
SO MANY THINGS HAVE HAPPENED SINCE I LAST WROTE. it's insane, really.
So, My mother and sister came to visit and I showed them around Senegal. It was so fun being a host. I got to stay in a nice hotel in Dakar and take them to the touristy places like Goree Island and the renaissance statue. Then we went to St. Louis, Lompoul (camel riding!), Mbour (beach!), Kaolack (garbage!) and then finally my site, the good old Keur Madiabel. By the time we arrive in KM it was Tabaski time, the holiday where each family sacrifice's a sheep in honor of God's mercy towards Abraham about a zillion years ago. Anyway, no one in my family really knows what its about so we just have lots of sheep and call it a day. This year my family killed FOUR (4) sheep which was so much meat. I had Senegalese outfits made for my mom and sister and we all looked so funny dressed up after eating all that meat.
After that, I received an exciting text message from a friend letting me know that the Global Smile Foundation was doing a collaborative project with a Thies hospital to repair cleft lips. So I showed up in Thies, not knowing what to expect and I had the most amazing week of my service. The team that arrived in Senegal did an amazing job on 30 patients, even though all their equipment had been lost by the airline. I had the honor of helping out in the operating room (just like my good ol clinic days!), helping out in the office organizing photos (just like my good ol library days!) and translating occasionally. It was so inspirational to be able to help to change someone's life so drastically in such a short period of time. The American team used their own vacation time and money to be able to go on this mission and I felt so lucky to be able to talk to them about their experiences in the medical field both stateside and abroad. I can't wait to make medical missions part of my career.
Then I went to Dakar to finish a bunch of office work and to visit a friend who had recently moved into her apartment there. She has a gorgeous place that looks out over the ocean.
I just spent a few weeks in village and while I love everyone there, the kids find it impossible to leave me alone. I'm the designated kid washer now. :) So, I escaped my village and visited my neighbor, Jennie's, village where the kids didn't leave me alone there either. HA. I love the toddlers but I never realized the destruction they could leave in their paths.
I always feel like I'm in a frantic rush now that I only have a few months left of my service. I'm looking towards the future and getting ready, emotionally, to leave the home that I created for myself almost two years ago and create a new one, someplace else will a whole new cast of characters. I'll let you guys know how that goes.
I miss my readers and friends and I miss America. BYE BYE.
SO MANY THINGS HAVE HAPPENED SINCE I LAST WROTE. it's insane, really.
So, My mother and sister came to visit and I showed them around Senegal. It was so fun being a host. I got to stay in a nice hotel in Dakar and take them to the touristy places like Goree Island and the renaissance statue. Then we went to St. Louis, Lompoul (camel riding!), Mbour (beach!), Kaolack (garbage!) and then finally my site, the good old Keur Madiabel. By the time we arrive in KM it was Tabaski time, the holiday where each family sacrifice's a sheep in honor of God's mercy towards Abraham about a zillion years ago. Anyway, no one in my family really knows what its about so we just have lots of sheep and call it a day. This year my family killed FOUR (4) sheep which was so much meat. I had Senegalese outfits made for my mom and sister and we all looked so funny dressed up after eating all that meat.
After that, I received an exciting text message from a friend letting me know that the Global Smile Foundation was doing a collaborative project with a Thies hospital to repair cleft lips. So I showed up in Thies, not knowing what to expect and I had the most amazing week of my service. The team that arrived in Senegal did an amazing job on 30 patients, even though all their equipment had been lost by the airline. I had the honor of helping out in the operating room (just like my good ol clinic days!), helping out in the office organizing photos (just like my good ol library days!) and translating occasionally. It was so inspirational to be able to help to change someone's life so drastically in such a short period of time. The American team used their own vacation time and money to be able to go on this mission and I felt so lucky to be able to talk to them about their experiences in the medical field both stateside and abroad. I can't wait to make medical missions part of my career.
Then I went to Dakar to finish a bunch of office work and to visit a friend who had recently moved into her apartment there. She has a gorgeous place that looks out over the ocean.
I just spent a few weeks in village and while I love everyone there, the kids find it impossible to leave me alone. I'm the designated kid washer now. :) So, I escaped my village and visited my neighbor, Jennie's, village where the kids didn't leave me alone there either. HA. I love the toddlers but I never realized the destruction they could leave in their paths.
I always feel like I'm in a frantic rush now that I only have a few months left of my service. I'm looking towards the future and getting ready, emotionally, to leave the home that I created for myself almost two years ago and create a new one, someplace else will a whole new cast of characters. I'll let you guys know how that goes.
I miss my readers and friends and I miss America. BYE BYE.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
A YEAR LATER
so i feel bad because it's been a year and i haven't blogged. actually, that's a lie. i don't feel bad.
my mother always said if you don't have anything nice to say don't say it all. so i've been silent.
i don't really know how to sum up a whole year in a blog post so i'll start with the most recent things:
1. Moringa Tour- My friends Ari and Carla had the genius idea of planting intensive beds of Moringa, a highly nutritious but underused plant, in many villages. In July, we visited 20 something villages and planted beds of Moringa with the intention of returning to teach them how to utilize it. Last week, my friend Andrew and I visited 24 sites teaching rural community members how to dry Moringa leaves to maximize the nutritional benefits.
2. Spain- I went to Barcelona and Valencia to see the sites this past August. Honestly, it was hard to return to Senegal. Barcelona is such a beautiful city full of culture, food, friendly people, art etc. My friend Mika, sissy and I went to the Tomatina tomato throwing festival in a cute little town called Bunol. It was so much fun. I love it there.
Those are the main things. Other activities include: 4th of July, hiking water falls, visiting Mika's site, biking, helping out with trainings, painting murals, holding health talks, visiting St Louis for Jazz Festival, WAIST and dressing up as a hotdog, going home to US for vacation, tonsillectomy, seeing my friends and family at home, Halloween and dressing up like a banana, butchering and frying a turkey for thanksgiving, trying to organize projects for my community, celebrating victories and mourning losses, making friends and having them move away, lots of laundry by hand etc etc etc
so, as you can see i've been too busy to blog. but i enjoy hearing from everyone regardless and i am looking forward to seeing every one face to face one day.
my mother always said if you don't have anything nice to say don't say it all. so i've been silent.
i don't really know how to sum up a whole year in a blog post so i'll start with the most recent things:
1. Moringa Tour- My friends Ari and Carla had the genius idea of planting intensive beds of Moringa, a highly nutritious but underused plant, in many villages. In July, we visited 20 something villages and planted beds of Moringa with the intention of returning to teach them how to utilize it. Last week, my friend Andrew and I visited 24 sites teaching rural community members how to dry Moringa leaves to maximize the nutritional benefits.
2. Spain- I went to Barcelona and Valencia to see the sites this past August. Honestly, it was hard to return to Senegal. Barcelona is such a beautiful city full of culture, food, friendly people, art etc. My friend Mika, sissy and I went to the Tomatina tomato throwing festival in a cute little town called Bunol. It was so much fun. I love it there.
Those are the main things. Other activities include: 4th of July, hiking water falls, visiting Mika's site, biking, helping out with trainings, painting murals, holding health talks, visiting St Louis for Jazz Festival, WAIST and dressing up as a hotdog, going home to US for vacation, tonsillectomy, seeing my friends and family at home, Halloween and dressing up like a banana, butchering and frying a turkey for thanksgiving, trying to organize projects for my community, celebrating victories and mourning losses, making friends and having them move away, lots of laundry by hand etc etc etc
so, as you can see i've been too busy to blog. but i enjoy hearing from everyone regardless and i am looking forward to seeing every one face to face one day.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Life After Ramadan
Apologies dear readers for my lack of posting (you've likely heard this apology at least once before and will probably hear it many more times in the future) but I've been busy sitting around doing nothing. Well, just kidding...kind of.
The month of Ramadan has just passed and this year I chose to fast with my family. During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset. They use this time of year to purify themselves by refraining from gossiping, thinking unclean thoughts (heehee), etc and devoting more time to thinking about Allah. Very nice. As you all know, I'm not Muslim but I decided to fast this year to show respect and solidarity. Also, people think you're way more badass if you're a fasting white girl. What they did not know was that most days I snuck water and food in my room. Yes, that's right. I'm admitting this online because it was hot and frankly I think it's dumb to give myself headaches and low blood sugar just so that people think I'm tough. But still it was a gigantic pain in the neck and it's not like I had full meals or anything.
My daily schedule went something like this: wake up at 5:30 eat last night's leftovers, go back to sleep for as long as possible, get up late (less hours awake means less hours hungry, duh), wander about the compound, play with children, sneak some water, go to the hospital/market to greet people and buy food for dinner, go home, nap, play with children, chat with my sisters while helping make dinner. around this time it's about 5:30 or 6 and everyone (especially me) is starting to get really crabby and hungry. at 6:30 everyone, seriously, everyone starts to ask me what time it is. This is because they want it to be 7:30 already and I'm one that has a watch or cellphone or clock. This is the only time anyone ever cares what time it is.
Also, no matter what time of year, I've noticed that they demand the EXACT time. If I say it's 5:30 they say REALLY? 5:30 exactly? and then they crane their necks to look at my watch. Then if its actually 5:28 they correct me and look at me like I'm either dumb or a liar. I mean, this is coming from people who seriously don't ever care about getting any place at anyone exact time. If I arrange to meet someone to do work or attend an event it always occurs and hour and a half late. EVERY. TIME. So the exact minute thing escapes me.
So anyway, at 7:30 or when the mosque says we break the fast. This is the best part of Ramadan. The whole family gets together on the patio or mat and has bread with butter, a delicious tea called kinkeliba and dates. The whole thing only last 15 minutes but it's nice to just sit and chat and the first drink and bite of food after a day of not eating is so satisfying. The bread is SO fresh during Ramadan since all the families buy loaves and loaves of it everyday. Then everyone disappears for a while until 8:15 until dinner. Let me tell you, dinner during Ramadan is the best. We had chicken 2 or 3 times during this month and meat twice! The bowl has tons of vegetables with all of my favorite garnishes. They really go all out.
So now you know all about Ramadan. It's over now but that doesn't mean I'm not still hungry. Send food! I love you all!
The month of Ramadan has just passed and this year I chose to fast with my family. During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset. They use this time of year to purify themselves by refraining from gossiping, thinking unclean thoughts (heehee), etc and devoting more time to thinking about Allah. Very nice. As you all know, I'm not Muslim but I decided to fast this year to show respect and solidarity. Also, people think you're way more badass if you're a fasting white girl. What they did not know was that most days I snuck water and food in my room. Yes, that's right. I'm admitting this online because it was hot and frankly I think it's dumb to give myself headaches and low blood sugar just so that people think I'm tough. But still it was a gigantic pain in the neck and it's not like I had full meals or anything.
My daily schedule went something like this: wake up at 5:30 eat last night's leftovers, go back to sleep for as long as possible, get up late (less hours awake means less hours hungry, duh), wander about the compound, play with children, sneak some water, go to the hospital/market to greet people and buy food for dinner, go home, nap, play with children, chat with my sisters while helping make dinner. around this time it's about 5:30 or 6 and everyone (especially me) is starting to get really crabby and hungry. at 6:30 everyone, seriously, everyone starts to ask me what time it is. This is because they want it to be 7:30 already and I'm one that has a watch or cellphone or clock. This is the only time anyone ever cares what time it is.
Also, no matter what time of year, I've noticed that they demand the EXACT time. If I say it's 5:30 they say REALLY? 5:30 exactly? and then they crane their necks to look at my watch. Then if its actually 5:28 they correct me and look at me like I'm either dumb or a liar. I mean, this is coming from people who seriously don't ever care about getting any place at anyone exact time. If I arrange to meet someone to do work or attend an event it always occurs and hour and a half late. EVERY. TIME. So the exact minute thing escapes me.
So anyway, at 7:30 or when the mosque says we break the fast. This is the best part of Ramadan. The whole family gets together on the patio or mat and has bread with butter, a delicious tea called kinkeliba and dates. The whole thing only last 15 minutes but it's nice to just sit and chat and the first drink and bite of food after a day of not eating is so satisfying. The bread is SO fresh during Ramadan since all the families buy loaves and loaves of it everyday. Then everyone disappears for a while until 8:15 until dinner. Let me tell you, dinner during Ramadan is the best. We had chicken 2 or 3 times during this month and meat twice! The bowl has tons of vegetables with all of my favorite garnishes. They really go all out.
So now you know all about Ramadan. It's over now but that doesn't mean I'm not still hungry. Send food! I love you all!
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