pic update

i haven't taken many pictures since i've came to my site, but i forgot about some of the pics that i took during my first three months in mozambique. and so i decided to choose my top 25 pics, but looking back at all of them remind me that a camera can't capture everything. nonetheless, in no particular order....

#1- Casa de Banho

me and the "casa de banho" became acquainted very quickly after my body rejected some expired mayonnaise that i ate on the first day. yea, wasn't pretty, but it forced me to become comfortable with the bathroom situation sooner than others. aside from the smell, however, crouching down and pooping down a hole did have its benefits: no flush mechanism, absence of backsplash, and it puts your body in a position that forces the issue rather than wait for it. downfalls? no magazine rack.
#2- Florj and Salida

these two were my host brother and host sister, and they were the friendliest and easiest to get along with.

#3- pride rock

remnants of an old well, this was the view right outside my house. calling it pride rock only felt natural.

#4- "cartar agua"

First, this is the image you see all the time whenever you're walking around here. women are somehow able to hold an incredible amount on their head here, but with a modest ease, unlike the men that have trucks strapped to themselves on "world's strongest man". second, they walk such a long distance for something so basic. and they have to do this everyday. third, this photo belongs in national geographic.

#5- "bringing home the dinner"

stuff like this puts KFC into perspective...


#6- "in pursuit of lunch"

then i got some perspective
#7- "lunch"

and i wonder how much chicken people would really would eat if they knew what the process was like. there are other pictures of the process, but they're for a restricted audience.

#8- "florj and salida, again"

they loved coming into my room and playing with my stuff, especially wearing that headlamp.

#9- "namaacha"

did some hiking one day on this mountain that oversees namaacha. this was taken after the rain, and it's amazing how green everything gets after the rain.

#10- "me"

either south africa, mozambique, or swaziland is behind me. i don't actually remember, but our hike brought us to where the three countries meet.
#11- "mines"

there are still areas of mozambique that are riddled with mines, remnants of the war. so, we didn't walk over there.

#12- "vitamin D deficient"

that's peter, my roommate, basking in the sun. he looks like he's just enjoying life, but really his stomach was struggling that day.

#13- "florj and salida, part three"

they loved gum and jumping up and down in front of the camera
#14- "teeefff"

like i said, they loved the camera

#15- "meu pai e minha mai"

those are my host parents, francisco and rebecca. they made the transition into africa easy for me. i miss them both.

#16- "judite"

that's my host sister on her birthday. she's intelligent and confident and i'm sure her future's going to be bright as that smile she's got.

#17- "mandavEEd"

this girl was one of the girls in the neighborhood that was always saying my name. whenever i passed by her, she always wanted a high five. never knew her name, but she's cute as hell.
#18- "danca"

yea, florj loved the camera

#19- "cheers"

a glass of champagne to honor judite's 17th birthday

#20- "tofo beach"

say hello to the indian ocean. on my site visit i went to the inhambane province and spent a night at tofo beach. it was one of the better beaches i've been to.
#21- "o chines"

that is the purple guitar that i purchased in mozambique and i'm slowly trying to teach myself how to jam on that thing properly.

#22- "bairro A"

these were the other peace corps volunteers in my bairro and so we all got the same print for our capallanas
#23- "represent"

there's nothing like doing some gang signs
#24- "host family"

this is a picture with my host family, but half of them aren't looking at the picture and the lady in red is not a part of our family. haha. it was a hectic day.
#25- "animal planet"

i don't see elephants, lions, or monkeys (actually, yesterday i saw a kid with a pet monkey. the other kids were freaked out by it), but i do see really big snails.