gems

I am working on a piece. A travel writing piece. An article about Pemba. In researching Cape Town, I found an article by a writer I had read before. I had recalled reading something he wrote about Pemba, then later found he had authored several books, including a few memoirs. I love memoirs. His article about an accommodation in Cape Town interested me. I looked it up and now plan to spend a day there. I wrote him last week and he wrote me back. He told me to write about what I know and suggested Pemba. Writing about this place from a travel writers point of view is almost comical. I wouldn’t exactly wish this place upon anyone really. There are zero restaurants I recommend and no places I would prefer to rest my head. Even my own accommodations are less than appealing. But I am not here for the lobster and chocolates on my pillow. So I am literally scratching my head (we have not had running water for two months now) and wondering just how I am supposed to write an article promoting this place as a tourist destination. But I love the idea and am up for the challenge. I plan to write about Ibo Island as well. I will take camera and computer and hope to spend my evenings here pecking out the days’ activities. 

This weeks’ lack of water has forced me to learn how to wash dishes from breakfast, lunch and dinner in 32 oz of water. This evening the whole ordeal just seemed too daunting so I ate a Snicker’s for dinner instead- easy clean up and a protein? I have had help in the classroom this week. A visitor is here teaching a course in the school called “La Red” created for African youth, teaching character development and having roundtable discussions on life. It has given me a little more flexibility in my days. Andrea arrives tomorrow and I am glad to finally have her back. This week Cesar needed to go to his father’s village to collect an “inheritance”. He came to me for the money to get there. I gave it to him. Zito brought me a fairly large aquamarine that he “found”. The gem is local to Mozambique it was perfectly cut and I would love to know it’s story. 

I taught the Friday “La Red” class on “Setting Goals” and loved sharing with the students my own personal methods of goal setting and sharing with them the goals I set to come to Moz and how it all came to fruition. Their culture is so survival oriented and setting goals and steps to accomplish them is often foreign. My morning class divided in groups and one group decided that they had a dream to open a restaurant and had written down a list of goals to work toward to make that happen. The afternoon class was different, full of frustrated kids who had had their dreams dashed for completely lack of finances and were filled with hopelessness. I went around the room and told each one what I saw over them. So much intellect. Such limitless potential. Nation changers. I found myself preaching my heart out and passionately compelling them not to give up. I gave it my all to encourage them not to look at the circumstances around them. I encouraged them to dream crazy absolutely impossible dreams. I can’t empathize with them. But I can speak truth to them. I wish they could see themselves the way that I see them.

Zito the Businessman and the "Aquamarine" that might just be a marble

Our school is the building on the left

going to the well for water