Reflections

Due to Malaria complications, I will be returning to the U.S. this Thursday. I am very disappointed that my time in Africa has been cut short. Words cannot express how impactful this experience has been. However, blood work from the local hospital indicated continued complications with Malaria. Within hours of my diagnosis I learned I would have to return to the U.S. within 48 hours which was quite shocking! I will be back on Brammer Farms recuperating for the rest of the summer. It typically takes 3 to 4 months to recover from these complications. I will rest in order to be 100 percent by fall semester but “resting” is not exactly in my vocabulary. Yet, I know this is important for my health.

I strongly encourage individuals, especially college students, to experience life in a third world country. You quickly learn to appreciate the little things we take for granted in the U.S. like running water, electricity, internet and cell phone service. My greatest challenge during my internship was communication. (Yes, waking up at 4:30 am and having a bedtime of 7 pm was difficult as well!) The only phone call I made this summer was to my parents to inform them of my diagnosis and flight change. Technology is simply very limited in the bush. Texting, snap chats and Facebook was not an option this summer. I felt cut off from the rest of the world.

However, it is truly a small price to pay for the lasting good development work brings. The medical care, food supply, clean well water, orphanage housing and religious devotion that Orphans Unlimited provides to the Balama community of Mozambique is critical. There are more than 1,700 orphans in the total programs that rely on this endeavor to not only sustain life but to survive. Widows and local villagers are also given much needed employment opportunities. They work as washer women, guards, brick layers and pastors for Orphans Unlimited. In fact, the entire community relies on this program. The hospital receives its patient food supply from Orphans Unlimited as the Mozambiquan government lacks resources to provide for sick citizens.  Many communities in the district have access to clean water because of Orphans Unlimited. They have drilled wells, a timely and expensive process, so villagers can have water during the dry season.

 I found great joy in the agriculture development work I completed. My favorite endeavor was the goat herd. I have a livestock background with cattle and horses so goats were a new experience! A goat can drastically improve life for a Mozambiquan family.  They are an excellent source of protein and can provide extra income through breeding programs. However, a challenge is sustainability. It is difficult to convince Mozambiquans of the long term good of breeding programs verses short term consumption gain. I read about these concepts in my agricultural economics classes before traveling to Mozambique so it was interesting to see these real life issues first hand.

The bean and corn processing was another critical project I worked with.  The orphanage’s yearly food supply was prepared during three weeks of my internship. Daily, 500 bags weighing 75 kg were filled with corn or beans that were sprayed to protect against insect infestation. This was a long and dirty process! Workers unloaded the beans into shoots to clean and spray. The bags, which were very heavy, were then carried into a storage facility. Guards watch the warehouse 24-7 as thievery is common in Mozambique.

You feel a sense of accomplishment knowing you helped prepare a year’s worth of food for children in need. This summer I worked with the Balama orphanage which consists of 80 children. I got to know most personally and will miss them greatly. I have many pictures to post once I am back in the U.S! The children warm your heart because they smile constantly and are so happy with the little they have. Working with Mozambiquan orphans was a humbling experience. I look forward to sharing my adventures upon my return to the U.S.

Tomorrow, I depart Balama, Mozambique at 6:30 a.m. to drive three hours to the Pemba airport. From there I fly to Johannesburg, South Africa. My return flight is much shorter, only 12 hours, due to time zone change. I arrive early Thursday morning in Atlanta, Georgia to the U.S. and then make my final destination to Kansas City, Missouri. My family will be waiting for me at my terminal and I am looking forward to seeing them and of course, Teddy.

Exploring the African Bush

The highlight of my week was taking a drive through the African bush for a picnic! In the wild outback of Mozambique, or the bush, roads are simply small paths among the grasses. This is the closest I have been to taking a safari. The grass was taller than our truck! (Note, trucks are known as “bucky’s” here.)  Among the scenery I spotted an occasional cotton field tended by local farmers. I have only seen one livestock farm so far in the country, with only five very poor looking cattle. As we neared the mountainside we passed through remote villages. Villagers were surprised to see a vehicle, let alone white people. I am sure they will be remarking on our jaunt for days.

One morning we arose at 3 am to watch the African sunrise from nearby cliffs. It was breathtaking! The sun rose just above mountains revealing a sea of green trees below. African trees are much different than the oaks, evergreens and spruces of the U.S. The scenery reminded me of the Lion King! Mozambique lacks the exotic wildlife of other African nations. Nearly all animals were killed in the war, but there is an occasional elephant spotting. (I am keeping my fingers crossed and camera ready!) Unfortunately, the elephants are known for destroying villages and fields while searching for food.

I met a Peace Corps volunteer, Rafael Hernandez, from Washington. I was shocked to find another American (or white person) my own age in Mozambique. He just graduated with a degree in physics and serves as a science teacher at Balama school. Rafael said the school system is very poor with limited resources. Each classroom typically has one textbook so students learn from their notes. The greatest challenge is teacher attendance, most teachers come to their classes intoxicated. Students must wait for hours outside the building for teachers to even show up. But, Rafael enjoys teaching his students and invited me to help him make peanut butter, his favorite Mozambiquan pastime.

I already know I will have reverse culture shock returning to the U.S., especially with my wardrobe. In Mozambique, showing knees is taboo as it indicates you are a wonton woman. Therefore, I have been wearing long skirts daily (I now know how pioneer women felt!) I wear tennis shoes to prevent snake and insect bites. Nightly I empty piles of dirt from my shoes. I will not take running water for granted again.  Guards pump clean water for my bunk house which I must then warm and carry to the shower area. Diet is dictated by the seasons because of limited food imports. Most products come from South Africa but meat and dairy are nonexistent. Lemons, watermelons, bananas and papayas  are currently available at the market.

I tried white watermelon for the first time! I do not recommend it as it is bland tasting. I also had my first papaya picking experience. The tallest papaya trees yield the first ripe fruit when they turn from green to yellow. By tying two bamboo poles together and having a Mozambiquan guard stand on three bricks we were able to reach ripe papayas from an 18 foot tree. Pictures of the experience are humorous! Catching the falling fruit is the most difficult part but it was a great addition to dinner.  I also had chance to work in the orphanage’s garden. Garden work is done by hand with a hoe and buckets for water (no water hoses here!) The gardens are covered with mesh to prevent insect contamination.

If you ever find yourself in Mozambique remember to never touch monkey beans. I thought a plant looked familiar. It was not until after I touched the prickly bean pods that I remembered they are notorious for making you itchy. After a thorough hand washing and several hours later my hands and arms were itch-free.

Today, I went on a weekly prayer walk with Orphans Unlimited staff. We walk to the nearest village, Balama, to check on sick individuals. The villages consist of many mud huts made out of Mozambique bricks.  Typically several family generations live in each hut. (Having five to seven children per family is normal in Mozambique.) Everyone walks or rides bicycles here but you see occasional motorcycles on the roads. All roads are dirt and covered in red dust so walking is a grimy venture! I look forward to my next outing in the bush. I have been taking many pictures of the wilds of Africa and cannot wait to share them on my return.