So here I am, two months into this adventure. Already so much has happened and I am becoming more and more focused on the actual trip to Africa.
Besides Brian and I, there are 9 others learning and working with us – 1 from Massachusetts, 2 from Korea, 4 from Brazil, 1 from Puerto Rico and 1 from Japan, as well as our Team Leader Jorge from Mozambique. Suffice to say not everyone has even close to perfect English and there is a lot of time spent in translation! When we are on the mountain (what I fondly call our 300 acres in the Berkshires complete with cabins and classrooms) we spend our time doing courses/classes, independent study, cleaning, cooking, and dishwashing rotations, fundraising prep, and evening activities. A typical day on the mountain starts at 8am and ends at about 8am.
So, in the last 2 months I have: learned how to cook for 40 people, given many presentations, learned how to communicate with minimal English, worked on an organic co-operative farm, learned about the history of Africa, called hundreds of stores during fundraising preparation, gotten yelled at and encouraged on the streets and in front of stores during 2 weeks of fundraising in NJ and CT, found out I am going to work with TCE in Namibia (!), done some serious soul-searching and research about the program I’m working with, and started doing some practical thinking about income generating projects that I am hoping to start once I get to Namibia. A pretty packed two months if you ask me!
Well, this is a very short summary of what I’ve been up to since August. Tonight we’re going to see a South African play. This weekend we are going to relax (maybe go to a Latin Festival?) and finish our prep for fundraising. On Monday I will be going to the Ithaca, NY area for two weeks of fundraising in front of stores and on the streets with Orlando (Puerto Rico) and Ana and Julio (a couple from Brazil). Brian is going with three others to Portland, Maine. So if you have any suggestions on where we should go in those areas give a shout! And if you happen to see us there, give us money!
Not sure about the internet access where we’ll be (crashing on the couch of a stranger for 2 weeks – go couch surfers!) but I’ll try to write if I can.
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Good luck Kim & Brian! I say with Ithaca, maybe Cornell and/or Ithaca College would be interesting - though poor college students, all probably idealists and would want to help out, maybe even help brainstorm ways to fundraise! ;)
ReplyDeletePpl in Portland are probably all really nice, maybe hit up places like "Old Port" where there may be some tourists this time of year - as they probably may have $ to spare
-Jen T
Thanks Jen! In Ithaca at least, that is exactly what I have found. The people here are very friendly and even if they can't give, they have been helpful with ideas.
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