The time has come...
For me to finally get a chance to check my email. Jeez. It's been so long. But I'm starting to get used to not having internet all the time. It's been so difficult coming from my house in Georgetown with wireless, to Safi where there is one place within a square 30 kms that has internet, and it rarely works. Alas, it is working today!!! (knock on wood)
Since I last posted....
1) I have a tv and satellite dish. I joined the PC to live a more simple life, be away from the rush of "civilized" society, only to get a tv and satellite. However, in my case, I think I can justify it. I am a girl in a heavily repressed society where I cannot go out of my house alone during the day, I cannot go out after dark at all, and everytime I leave, I get harassed by little boys. Only one rock has been thrown at me in Safi, though. And that little kid got some serious scolding from his buddies and his daddy. But he did bruise my hand. Anyways, I get about 10 English channels. Two movie channels, CNN, BBC, two channels that play tv series, a history channel-like one, and something that resembles E. Not to mention tons of music video channels. I would estimate that I have about 45 of them. It's ridiculous.
2) Today I joined up with JOHUD and the UN World Food Program to pass out food in my town to poor people. One of our LCFs from training got a hold of me and invited me to come help today. I was the photographer. I met the governor, and ran into my friend Dr. M who runs IRADA (another UN agency) here in Safi, who has the sacred INTERNET, and so here I am now. It was very depressing to see so many poor children and elderly people without shoes, but we gave them food, so that's a little uplifting. It was sponsored in part by McDonald's.
3) I found Diet Coke in a dukan (store) in Safi. There were only few cans of it, but in a week I managed to buy their entire supply.
4) I survived my first sand storm. On Saturday I cleaned my house. Cleaning of course means pouring water all over the floor and then using a squeegie to put it down the drains that are scattered throughout the house. Anyways, Saturday night, we got a sand storm. Howling winds and sand. That's all. It was scary, though, cause there was debris all over the place. The next day, I had about a centimeter-thick layer of dirt all over my recently cleaned floors. But at least I survived.
5) Yeah that's all. My life isn't that exciting.
Ok, thanks to EVERYONE who has emailed/called me. I love you all. Thanks Mom and Dad for sending me mac and cheese. You've made my month. Really. You guys rock my world.
Since I last posted....
1) I have a tv and satellite dish. I joined the PC to live a more simple life, be away from the rush of "civilized" society, only to get a tv and satellite. However, in my case, I think I can justify it. I am a girl in a heavily repressed society where I cannot go out of my house alone during the day, I cannot go out after dark at all, and everytime I leave, I get harassed by little boys. Only one rock has been thrown at me in Safi, though. And that little kid got some serious scolding from his buddies and his daddy. But he did bruise my hand. Anyways, I get about 10 English channels. Two movie channels, CNN, BBC, two channels that play tv series, a history channel-like one, and something that resembles E. Not to mention tons of music video channels. I would estimate that I have about 45 of them. It's ridiculous.
2) Today I joined up with JOHUD and the UN World Food Program to pass out food in my town to poor people. One of our LCFs from training got a hold of me and invited me to come help today. I was the photographer. I met the governor, and ran into my friend Dr. M who runs IRADA (another UN agency) here in Safi, who has the sacred INTERNET, and so here I am now. It was very depressing to see so many poor children and elderly people without shoes, but we gave them food, so that's a little uplifting. It was sponsored in part by McDonald's.
3) I found Diet Coke in a dukan (store) in Safi. There were only few cans of it, but in a week I managed to buy their entire supply.
4) I survived my first sand storm. On Saturday I cleaned my house. Cleaning of course means pouring water all over the floor and then using a squeegie to put it down the drains that are scattered throughout the house. Anyways, Saturday night, we got a sand storm. Howling winds and sand. That's all. It was scary, though, cause there was debris all over the place. The next day, I had about a centimeter-thick layer of dirt all over my recently cleaned floors. But at least I survived.
5) Yeah that's all. My life isn't that exciting.
Ok, thanks to EVERYONE who has emailed/called me. I love you all. Thanks Mom and Dad for sending me mac and cheese. You've made my month. Really. You guys rock my world.
posted by Hilary at 11:49 AM
1 Comments:
I don't know if you check your blog anymore considering you've been home for about nine months, but I'd love to talk with you about your experiences in the PC in Jordan. In the future, I'd love to serve there, and I've been lucky enough to experience the country for a few months, so I know generally what I'm getting into.
I'm wondering with the cost of living shooting up with the influx of Iraqi refugees, how were you able to afford living? Does the PC routinely up your stipend? I know how you felt with the sat dish and tv - I did miss the outside world, and I wonder if I can afford such a luxury on a PC salary.
Of course there are other questions I'd love to ask since you've had a more in depth experience. Please drop me an email at marching.into.pc@gmail.com
Sue :)
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