Ceremony Photos!
mercredi, octobre 31, 2007
Just wanted to say thank you for all of you who contributed to my project! It was greatly appreciated by both me and the people of my village. You guys are awesome :D Here are some photos which my counterpart finally sent me last week. More pictures to come :]
posted by Me at 6:47 PM
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Cooking with Samira (That's Me!)
dimanche, juillet 08, 2007
Text of the Week:
Galen: I think it is better for the world when you don't have access to technology.
Ha! You lob me and my blog! :]
The most popular questions I get (Other than the "Are you alive?" variety?) are the food questions. Such questions cover a broad range of topics related to all things edible.
Do you eat bushmeat?! Are you suffering from malnutrition?! Can I have your mailing address, so that I can send you protein bars?! Do you have a refrigerator in your house?! Do you walk uphill, both ways, to fetch your water?! Is it true that if I roll a Cheerio down a mountain in Africa, it will start a continent-wide marathon?! Etc.
To quell the anxiety, I have decided to invite you all into my kitchen, a la Rachel Ray.
As you can see, my kitchen is equipped with everything one could ever desire. Sink? Oven? Fridge? Freezer? Toaster? Microwave? Coffee maker? Dinglehoppers? Countertops? Electricity? Running water? Such unnecessary trifles! Who needs them when you’ve got a range top, some propane, and a water filter (free amoebas and gas fires, as an added bonus!)? For the more inquiring minds, that is neither cocaine nor marijuana (both rather cheap and ubiquitous here) on the floor. It is boric acid. No, it is not something you snort. Well, I suppose you could, if you were so inclined. However, a more appropriate usage is as bug repellent. For my fellow volunteers, wondering if that is really my swearing-in paigne (Did you know that paigne means “loincloth?” Shows what the French think of African people:p), which I cut up and used as shelf lining… Yes. It is.
Galen: I think it is better for the world when you don't have access to technology.
Ha! You lob me and my blog! :]
The most popular questions I get (Other than the "Are you alive?" variety?) are the food questions. Such questions cover a broad range of topics related to all things edible.
Do you eat bushmeat?! Are you suffering from malnutrition?! Can I have your mailing address, so that I can send you protein bars?! Do you have a refrigerator in your house?! Do you walk uphill, both ways, to fetch your water?! Is it true that if I roll a Cheerio down a mountain in Africa, it will start a continent-wide marathon?! Etc.
To quell the anxiety, I have decided to invite you all into my kitchen, a la Rachel Ray.
Today (in only 30 minutes), we will be preparing a (somehwat?) delightful and (questionably?) healthy pasta dish!
1. Make pasta. If I have lost you already, please turn back now. Prepare refreshing lukewarm beverage while you wait.
2. Powdered Milk + Powdered Seasoning = Sauce.
3. Add Meat Product & Spices. Cook.
4. Eat, drink, and be merry :]
In other news, my neighbor had a baby last week. Guess what the baby's name is? Her name is Sandra. I am so not joking with you. I asked them about 5 times. And they kept laughing at me.
Me: Quel est son nom? (What is her name?)
Neighbor: Sandra!
Me: Umm... Non... pas mon nom... son nom!! (Umm... No... not my name... her name!)
Neighbor: Sandra! *laughing*
Me: Son nom! *points frantically at the baby to get my point across*
Neighbor: Sandra!!!! C'est son nom! (That's her name!)
Me: Ce n'est pas vrai! (It is not true!)
Neighbor: Oui, c'est vrai! (Yes, it is true!)
Me: Vraiment? (Really?)
Neighbor: * laughing even harder* Oui, bien sur. (Yes, of course.)
And on that note... Go Download this and Help me with my Project :P Thanks!!! Je t'aime!!
Happy Belated (sorry I have been MIA!) Birthdays to:
Jennifer Eunice- Hello?! Pick up the phone. You're on the request line :p (Got that one from Animal:D)
Lindsay- Those pictures you sent are too cute! Can't wait to see you!
The United States of America- You have never looked so good.
And a special shoutout to Mrs. F! Just because your daughter will be so amused by it! :D Haha! Hope you guys are all doing well :]
posted by Me at 11:43 AM
5 comments
102
dimanche, juin 24, 2007
The number above is:
a) A quantitative measure (in Fahrenheit) of a typical day in
b) My average test score in Organic Chemistry II (As if).
c) Six numbers away from my original Girl Scout troop.
d) My median body temperature for the past few days, thanks to a parasitic invasion :p
e) The approximate monthly salary (USD) for a Peace Corps Volunteer.
f) All of the above.
g) None of the above.
h) Only A, C, D, and E.
Download This Document (AHCP.doc) To Read About My Peace Corps Project!!!
Please Help Me If You Can!
Because you love me :D
posted by Me at 9:34 AM
5 comments
Because I Promised
lundi, juin 18, 2007
Quote of the Week:
Casey: You smell kind of like cucumbers...
:D Soooo... Like the title says...
Hmmm... lots going on...
However, since I am a bit incapacitated, I will be outsourcing the entertainment today :]
I do not have the time to search for it right now, because I'm about to hop back on the train... But the BBC did a show on The Arab-Israeli Cookbook, on their World Drama program. I think there is a link to the audio on that page... If not, it is worth the search. Listen to it, if you can :]
We will be back to your regularly programmed amusement any day now... perhaps even tomorrow:D Muah!
Casey: You smell kind of like cucumbers...
:D Soooo... Like the title says...
Hmmm... lots going on...
However, since I am a bit incapacitated, I will be outsourcing the entertainment today :]
I do not have the time to search for it right now, because I'm about to hop back on the train... But the BBC did a show on The Arab-Israeli Cookbook, on their World Drama program. I think there is a link to the audio on that page... If not, it is worth the search. Listen to it, if you can :]
We will be back to your regularly programmed amusement any day now... perhaps even tomorrow:D Muah!
posted by Me at 1:57 PM
1 comments
I Am Not Dead
dimanche, juin 17, 2007
Text of the Week:
Me: You will never guess where I am right now…
(And they couldn’t!)
Thanks to the barrage of emails and text messages which I have received recently, I know that my fellow volunteers were not the only ones wondering where the heck I was and what I was up to. Hahaha:D Hehehehe :D I would tell you… but then I would have one less thing to giggle about.
Well, I suppose the least I can do is give you a vague recount of my whereabouts and doings. So… the last month or so… I’ve been around. Doing things. I was thinking the other day about how amusing it would be if I had my own reality TV show. But then I realized that the whole lack-of-electricity thing would really hinder a camera crew in my village. And also, if Peace Corps administration had the opportunity to witness my daily happenings (such as giggling to myself for extended periods of time), I would probably get “whack-evacked” (the endearing term we use for the volunteers who get evacuated due to “mental issues.”).
I am in Yaoundé right now, so I am kind of tired thanks to the overnight train. Although, the train made it in only 17 hours this time! Awesome. I know that this post sucks a lot, but I just wanted to let you all know that I am alive and well:] Sorry for not including a comments section in my last post. I do not even know how I managed that one. I have edited it, so that now you can go back and leave many amusing comments for my previous post:] I promise a more entertaining post tomorrow, when I am more awake! Now you have something to look forward to:] You are welcome:]
Happy Father’s Day to all of you men wondering where the children in your house came from and why they eat all of your food and money :D That means YOU, Dad:D And many others, I am sure:] Love!
Me: You will never guess where I am right now…
(And they couldn’t!)
Thanks to the barrage of emails and text messages which I have received recently, I know that my fellow volunteers were not the only ones wondering where the heck I was and what I was up to. Hahaha:D Hehehehe :D I would tell you… but then I would have one less thing to giggle about.
Well, I suppose the least I can do is give you a vague recount of my whereabouts and doings. So… the last month or so… I’ve been around. Doing things. I was thinking the other day about how amusing it would be if I had my own reality TV show. But then I realized that the whole lack-of-electricity thing would really hinder a camera crew in my village. And also, if Peace Corps administration had the opportunity to witness my daily happenings (such as giggling to myself for extended periods of time), I would probably get “whack-evacked” (the endearing term we use for the volunteers who get evacuated due to “mental issues.”).
I am in Yaoundé right now, so I am kind of tired thanks to the overnight train. Although, the train made it in only 17 hours this time! Awesome. I know that this post sucks a lot, but I just wanted to let you all know that I am alive and well:] Sorry for not including a comments section in my last post. I do not even know how I managed that one. I have edited it, so that now you can go back and leave many amusing comments for my previous post:] I promise a more entertaining post tomorrow, when I am more awake! Now you have something to look forward to:] You are welcome:]
Happy Father’s Day to all of you men wondering where the children in your house came from and why they eat all of your food and money :D That means YOU, Dad:D And many others, I am sure:] Love!
posted by Me at 9:07 AM
0 comments
Mommies and Magic
dimanche, mai 13, 2007
One of the (millions of) wonderful things which my Mommy brought me from the greatest country on Earth was a pushlight thing. One of those circular lights with the adhesive on the back that you can stick on walls in closets and such. My Mom was reading one night while I was being entertained by this seemingly magical electronic device, bopping it over and over again and giggling to myself. She looks up from her book.
Mom: … Is that going to become an extension of your sock puppets?
Me: (Looks at Mommy as if she is crazy.) Um… Mom… the light obviously does not talk…
I mean, really…
As most of you know, my Mommy came to visit me for 3 weeks. We had a grand old time! Surprisingly:D Some of you often ask me how I got to be so fly. Well, just look at this lady! Can you believe that she is gonna be -- years old on Wednesday?! Did you actually think I was going to post her age? She is already gonna kill me for posting this picture.
My mother is a woman of many talents. However, these talents do not include photography. Since fair is fair, I combed the pictures she took for one in which she had not cut off my head. In this one, she only cut off my lower half. That’s progress.
My Mommy and I in Kribi. I think it is crazy that I do not look like a chocolate cream puff (I ate about 300 of them) in this picture. Our IST was held in Kribi. We stayed at a very nice hotel, in which we were fed buffet upon buffet of the most glorious French cuisine and seafood. We had also spent a couple days in Yaounde beforehand and feasted appropriately. When in Rome… it was Game On. So, I dunno… Either I have some killer genes, magical powers (semi-true), or a combination of worms and amoebic dysentery. I’m kind of leaning towards the last option.
Anywho, Kribi was delightful! We did not want to leave, despite the long training sessions and the “I Am Dying” incident… And it was wonderful to see all of you crazies again. I cannot believe it had been 4 months since I had seen all y’all! I do not even know what to say about all of it. So I’ll leave it at “a la prochaine!”
When the vacation was over and we had to trudge back up north to the desert, obviously I was a little sad. But who knew what 2 weeks of rain could do?? Before we left for IST, the rainy season had just begun up north. As the train pulled into my province, I was glued to the window. What was all of this… greenery?! This plant life! More magic?! I did not even recognize the place! And the rain! That sweet sweet rain… it has been raining every day since then and I love it. Minus when I have to travel through it… Speaking of, Kelly and I were bushtaxi-ing it back to post last week when our bushtaxi broke down (as usual). So everyone piled out and sat by the side of the road while the car was being worked on. Kel says, “Well, at least the weather is nice.” Of course, at that moment, the clouds roll in. Followed by lightning, then thunder, then a torrential downpour, then… get this… hail. Hail. Huge chunks of hail. In sub-saharan Africa. We thought it was the Apocalypse. Everyone ran for the closest shelters. Wisely, Kelly and I chose one with holes in the roof. End of segue.
My village was so enchanted with my Mom… even before they saw her carrying the bucket of water on her head (“Samira! Why can’t you be an African woman like your Mom?! Why do you carry the water by the handle like a Nassara?!” Um… because that is what handles are for?) Apparently, she even speaks Fufulde better than me. What sort of sorcery was this? Voodoo? I do not know. But it was all good, cuz it was nice to have the fishbowl attention (which makes me want to kill myself with a spoon at times) dispersed between us:]
My counterpart and my supervisor took us on their motos to the waterfalls in a nearby village.
Good times:] When my Mom was leaving, I tried to be all stoic; giving her the “See ya when I see ya” sort of hug. As soon as her taxi pulled away, Kelly and Sara asked me how I was doing. And I started to cry. Hahahaha:D I know, how old am I? To give myself some credit, it wasn’t a girly inundation of tears. It was a dignified “My eyes are watery due to allergies” sort-of-cry. So there:p
Happy Birthday!!
To Mommy!
To My Alyosha (Kwasifer)!
Happy Engagement!!
To Kate! Even though we all saw it coming from a billion miles away:D Did you get a stripper for the party already? I hope it’s not Jay :/ No offense, Jay :D See you guys next month :]
And lastly, but certainly not least(ly?)
Happy Mother’s Day!!
To all you ladies out there doing your best to make sure that the rest of us keep it together:]
Ben Taylor wrote a song for his mom, Carly Simon. It is cute, so I’ll post a bit of it. I know what you guys are thinking: “Sandra? Do you even know who Carly Simon is?? How did you know that she had a son??” Well, when one listens to NPR, one discovers many things about white people and their music:p It’s called being cultured :p Or something like that.
Mom: … Is that going to become an extension of your sock puppets?
Me: (Looks at Mommy as if she is crazy.) Um… Mom… the light obviously does not talk…
I mean, really…
As most of you know, my Mommy came to visit me for 3 weeks. We had a grand old time! Surprisingly:D Some of you often ask me how I got to be so fly. Well, just look at this lady! Can you believe that she is gonna be -- years old on Wednesday?! Did you actually think I was going to post her age? She is already gonna kill me for posting this picture.
Anywho, Kribi was delightful! We did not want to leave, despite the long training sessions and the “I Am Dying” incident… And it was wonderful to see all of you crazies again. I cannot believe it had been 4 months since I had seen all y’all! I do not even know what to say about all of it. So I’ll leave it at “a la prochaine!”
When the vacation was over and we had to trudge back up north to the desert, obviously I was a little sad. But who knew what 2 weeks of rain could do?? Before we left for IST, the rainy season had just begun up north. As the train pulled into my province, I was glued to the window. What was all of this… greenery?! This plant life! More magic?! I did not even recognize the place! And the rain! That sweet sweet rain… it has been raining every day since then and I love it. Minus when I have to travel through it… Speaking of, Kelly and I were bushtaxi-ing it back to post last week when our bushtaxi broke down (as usual). So everyone piled out and sat by the side of the road while the car was being worked on. Kel says, “Well, at least the weather is nice.” Of course, at that moment, the clouds roll in. Followed by lightning, then thunder, then a torrential downpour, then… get this… hail. Hail. Huge chunks of hail. In sub-saharan Africa. We thought it was the Apocalypse. Everyone ran for the closest shelters. Wisely, Kelly and I chose one with holes in the roof. End of segue.
My village was so enchanted with my Mom… even before they saw her carrying the bucket of water on her head (“Samira! Why can’t you be an African woman like your Mom?! Why do you carry the water by the handle like a Nassara?!” Um… because that is what handles are for?) Apparently, she even speaks Fufulde better than me. What sort of sorcery was this? Voodoo? I do not know. But it was all good, cuz it was nice to have the fishbowl attention (which makes me want to kill myself with a spoon at times) dispersed between us:]
My counterpart and my supervisor took us on their motos to the waterfalls in a nearby village.
Good times:] When my Mom was leaving, I tried to be all stoic; giving her the “See ya when I see ya” sort of hug. As soon as her taxi pulled away, Kelly and Sara asked me how I was doing. And I started to cry. Hahahaha:D I know, how old am I? To give myself some credit, it wasn’t a girly inundation of tears. It was a dignified “My eyes are watery due to allergies” sort-of-cry. So there:pHappy Birthday!!
To Mommy!
To My Alyosha (Kwasifer)!
Happy Engagement!!
To Kate! Even though we all saw it coming from a billion miles away:D Did you get a stripper for the party already? I hope it’s not Jay :/ No offense, Jay :D See you guys next month :]
And lastly, but certainly not least(ly?)
Happy Mother’s Day!!
To all you ladies out there doing your best to make sure that the rest of us keep it together:]
Ben Taylor wrote a song for his mom, Carly Simon. It is cute, so I’ll post a bit of it. I know what you guys are thinking: “Sandra? Do you even know who Carly Simon is?? How did you know that she had a son??” Well, when one listens to NPR, one discovers many things about white people and their music:p It’s called being cultured :p Or something like that.
There is nothing that I can do, but belong to you
Heaven and Earth and I find myself
Singing this song for you
As luck would have it, it just so happens, that there's
Nothing I'd rather do…
Heaven and Earth and I find myself
Singing this song for you
As luck would have it, it just so happens, that there's
Nothing I'd rather do…
Mom: I am not even gone yet and I miss you already...
Me: I have that affect on people.
Me: I have that affect on people.
posted by Me at 10:17 AM
0 comments
Promiscuous Girl
samedi, avril 28, 2007
Text Message of the Week:
Kelly: Babe, your man is passing with flying colors, surprisingly. Even Casey is d’accord. Imagine that sh*t! He is more of a man than the dried eggs imply. Smoke that.
Haahahhahaha!! Kel, I nearly fell out of bed laughing when I read this. Case, stop playa hatin’. Hate the game.
I am going to share some of my more substantial thoughts today. Inspired by the To-Do List from a previous post, I decided to make my own “To-Do” list:] Since I am playing Devil’s Advocate, please assume the conditions to be ideal. Fortunately (or unfortunately), I am not actually any of the following: a man, a pedophile, a necrophile, jail-bait, a lesbian, a fictional character, a home-wrecker, a stalker, a gold digger, or Nelly Furtado. And now, without further ado and in no particular order: Wham. Bam. Thank You, Ma’am.
1) Ari HeSoFine (That boy was the reason we went to work… and did overtime…)
2) Jonathon Yeminy (That boy was the reason we rode the bus… at absurd hours of the day… unnecessarily… good times, girls :D)
3) Hehehehehe! Sorry, I cannot bring myself to type his name. Some of you already know, so just :::mentally picture his name here::: If you are picturing your own name… Well… I guess it is good that you think so highly of yourself:/
4) That dude on that VCR/DVD infomercial thing who looks like Erik’s brother.
5) Erik’s brother (That’s right:D)
6) Jordan Wall (Still. Actually, I’d need to see a recent picture first.)
7) Lee Pen(cil me in)der (Cuz he’s a rock star!)
8) The guy at the Wawa who makes sandwiches:D (Yah, him. Give him my number. And an international phone card >:])
9) Vince (Not Adrian Grenier. Okay, maybe Adrian Grenier.)
10) Ari Gold (Not Jeremy. Definitely not Jeremy)
11) Jim Caviezel (Uh… Did you see him in The Count of Monte Cristo?? AND he’s Jesus?? Bonus.)
12) Tobey Maguire (Not Spiderman.)
13) Elijah Wood (Not hobbits:/)
14) Ewan MacGregor (And most of his characters.)
15) Josh Groban (Obvious.)
16) Aaron McGruder (My Dad would be so proud.)
17) Neil Gaiman (I would become Jewish for him.)
18) Douglas Adams (I bet he is making God laugh right now.)
19) Alton (and Alton.)
20) Not Trishelle (Cuz she’s trash.)
21) Professor Robinson (No, I am not stealing from your dating pool, Chenkay… He is not over 50… or at least, he does not look it…)
22) Kenneth Branaugh (Go ahead and laugh. You just don’t kno:p)
23) Craig David (He is not even all that anymore… maybe it’s the accent.)
24) LL (Not THAT one! Eww, I am not Nazish. I mean the one who “represents Queens.”)
25) Angelina Jolie (Der.)
26) Saira Mohan (Have you seen her??)
27) Salma Hayek (Ditto.)
28) Reese Witherspoon (How could he?? Did they have a pre-nup??)
29) River Crazyface (Cuz she’s good at everything.)
30) Inara (Cuz she’s a pro. And an ambassador.)
31) Dean Kamen (Bling Bling! Erm... I mean… he’s so smart and charitable!)
32) Curtis (So he wears a little makeup… As if you don’t:p)
33) Logan Huntsberger (I know. So not my type. But he’s not Rory’s either, so :p)
34) Prince William (Obviously.)
35) Colin Farrel (Cuz who hasn’t?)
36) Dr. Burke (And Isaiah, pre-verbal diarrhea.)
37) Dr. George (Obviously not T.R. Knight.)
If anyone on this list (or anyone who resembles anyone on this list) happens to be reading this… let me know if you’re interested. If you want to be added, send me a convincing email with an even more convincing picture attached. :::Goes to check her email:::
Kelly: Babe, your man is passing with flying colors, surprisingly. Even Casey is d’accord. Imagine that sh*t! He is more of a man than the dried eggs imply. Smoke that.
Haahahhahaha!! Kel, I nearly fell out of bed laughing when I read this. Case, stop playa hatin’. Hate the game.
I am going to share some of my more substantial thoughts today. Inspired by the To-Do List from a previous post, I decided to make my own “To-Do” list:] Since I am playing Devil’s Advocate, please assume the conditions to be ideal. Fortunately (or unfortunately), I am not actually any of the following: a man, a pedophile, a necrophile, jail-bait, a lesbian, a fictional character, a home-wrecker, a stalker, a gold digger, or Nelly Furtado. And now, without further ado and in no particular order: Wham. Bam. Thank You, Ma’am.
1) Ari HeSoFine (That boy was the reason we went to work… and did overtime…)
2) Jonathon Yeminy (That boy was the reason we rode the bus… at absurd hours of the day… unnecessarily… good times, girls :D)
3) Hehehehehe! Sorry, I cannot bring myself to type his name. Some of you already know, so just :::mentally picture his name here::: If you are picturing your own name… Well… I guess it is good that you think so highly of yourself:/
4) That dude on that VCR/DVD infomercial thing who looks like Erik’s brother.
5) Erik’s brother (That’s right:D)
6) Jordan Wall (Still. Actually, I’d need to see a recent picture first.)
7) Lee Pen(cil me in)der (Cuz he’s a rock star!)
8) The guy at the Wawa who makes sandwiches:D (Yah, him. Give him my number. And an international phone card >:])
9) Vince (Not Adrian Grenier. Okay, maybe Adrian Grenier.)
10) Ari Gold (Not Jeremy. Definitely not Jeremy)
11) Jim Caviezel (Uh… Did you see him in The Count of Monte Cristo?? AND he’s Jesus?? Bonus.)
12) Tobey Maguire (Not Spiderman.)
13) Elijah Wood (Not hobbits:/)
14) Ewan MacGregor (And most of his characters.)
15) Josh Groban (Obvious.)
16) Aaron McGruder (My Dad would be so proud.)
17) Neil Gaiman (I would become Jewish for him.)
18) Douglas Adams (I bet he is making God laugh right now.)
19) Alton (and Alton.)
20) Not Trishelle (Cuz she’s trash.)
21) Professor Robinson (No, I am not stealing from your dating pool, Chenkay… He is not over 50… or at least, he does not look it…)
22) Kenneth Branaugh (Go ahead and laugh. You just don’t kno:p)
23) Craig David (He is not even all that anymore… maybe it’s the accent.)
24) LL (Not THAT one! Eww, I am not Nazish. I mean the one who “represents Queens.”)
25) Angelina Jolie (Der.)
26) Saira Mohan (Have you seen her??)
27) Salma Hayek (Ditto.)
28) Reese Witherspoon (How could he?? Did they have a pre-nup??)
29) River Crazyface (Cuz she’s good at everything.)
30) Inara (Cuz she’s a pro. And an ambassador.)
31) Dean Kamen (Bling Bling! Erm... I mean… he’s so smart and charitable!)
32) Curtis (So he wears a little makeup… As if you don’t:p)
33) Logan Huntsberger (I know. So not my type. But he’s not Rory’s either, so :p)
34) Prince William (Obviously.)
35) Colin Farrel (Cuz who hasn’t?)
36) Dr. Burke (And Isaiah, pre-verbal diarrhea.)
37) Dr. George (Obviously not T.R. Knight.)
If anyone on this list (or anyone who resembles anyone on this list) happens to be reading this… let me know if you’re interested. If you want to be added, send me a convincing email with an even more convincing picture attached. :::Goes to check her email:::
posted by Me at 4:50 PM
6 comments