But barely...we have yet to get internet. Yes, for those who know, we have in fact lived in our new apartment for a month and a half tomorrow and have yet to even call. haha who says we're grown up? So I apologize on both of our behalfs that we have not been writing...the rest of you bitches aside from T, Nora and Maura have no excuse!
Well, I'm writing from a suite in a hotel in Denver right now. I'm on my first big girl business trip! Belize (the country) is one of our clients and I am here because they filmed part of a movie there and the premiere is tomorrow. Glamorous and amazing right...fly fishing movie. and I'm at a fly fishing convention...jealous?? I know you are. However, Denver is my favorite city so I will deal. oh and the bell boy who brought up my stuff...HOT! On a scale of 1-10 how trashy would banging the bell boy be? 1 being classy and 10 being hooker level. I decided 7...thus...acceptable.
Other than work I honestly dont have much of a life. I went to the Springsteen concert a couple weekends ago when he was here for harley fest and I TOUCHED HIM! 3 fingers, on his sweaty back...i havent washed my right hand in weeks. haha and now that you all just threw up a little bit in your mouths...
I dont have too much else going on. no, gresky and i are not having a love affair...that seems to be the most common question people ask me from school. sadly i just havent managed to get that sexy beast of a man yet...ew...now i just threw up a little bit in my mouth
Alright, I'm going to go get ready, gotta look good for those fly fishermen, I have a meeting with a group of people to discuss how we're going to capitalize on this even to improve tourism to belize...i feel like such a fucking grown up its sick! haha but i hope everyone is doing well! miss you all terribly, and we need to have a girls weekend sometime soon! chicago or milwaukee. oh and T we need to hang out soon! sorry, life's been crazy!
Love you freaks!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
bitches
hey bs
its me im writing you from prefecting a computer lab. im in the basement lab and no one ever comes down here so my 8th hour of the day is pretty much useless. i facebook and check e-mail most of the time. although i am lonely i am serenaded by the sweet sounds of the marquette high boys choir.
how is everybody? i feel like i know more about noras life than anyone elses and she lives all the way accross the world.
not too much new here except for we started school. i teach two classes everyday and teaching is so much harder than i thought it was going to be. i have a new found respect for all of my old teachers bc it is a TON of work. and kids can be shits. i had a kid try to make himself throw up today in my class. literally stuck his finger down his throat and gaged himself... the kids a fucktard and i hate him but i would only tell you all that. for the most part the kids are adorable and so good but i have a few bad seeds. ew i hate that i am old and just said that.
probably the hardest part is i have to like erase everything i know and try to think about it from the kids perspective which is knowing nothing. its a lot harder than it seems.
otherwise nothing new. elizabeth got a promotion at work which was pretty awesome and drewbie is back hitting the streets of milwaukee with a bang. tim got him in to murphys the other night and i have never really seen him think he was so cool. it was awesome.
alright well i gotta peace the bell just rang and i have to lock up. love you all and i cant wait to see you soon. allie get a job in mil fast so we can smoke cigs together and raid 914 every night.
o i did go back to the house last weekend and it looks so good. i am so pissed we spent so much time cleaning that damn floor bc he just replaced it. jimmy what an asshole
tt
its me im writing you from prefecting a computer lab. im in the basement lab and no one ever comes down here so my 8th hour of the day is pretty much useless. i facebook and check e-mail most of the time. although i am lonely i am serenaded by the sweet sounds of the marquette high boys choir.
how is everybody? i feel like i know more about noras life than anyone elses and she lives all the way accross the world.
not too much new here except for we started school. i teach two classes everyday and teaching is so much harder than i thought it was going to be. i have a new found respect for all of my old teachers bc it is a TON of work. and kids can be shits. i had a kid try to make himself throw up today in my class. literally stuck his finger down his throat and gaged himself... the kids a fucktard and i hate him but i would only tell you all that. for the most part the kids are adorable and so good but i have a few bad seeds. ew i hate that i am old and just said that.
probably the hardest part is i have to like erase everything i know and try to think about it from the kids perspective which is knowing nothing. its a lot harder than it seems.
otherwise nothing new. elizabeth got a promotion at work which was pretty awesome and drewbie is back hitting the streets of milwaukee with a bang. tim got him in to murphys the other night and i have never really seen him think he was so cool. it was awesome.
alright well i gotta peace the bell just rang and i have to lock up. love you all and i cant wait to see you soon. allie get a job in mil fast so we can smoke cigs together and raid 914 every night.
o i did go back to the house last weekend and it looks so good. i am so pissed we spent so much time cleaning that damn floor bc he just replaced it. jimmy what an asshole
tt
Hello from Afrique
ZUMA? Let it be known that I just screamed GWEN STEFANI NAMED HER SON ZUMA?! In an internet cafe and all my Peace Corps friends dont care and Im all alone. hahaha not, Ive found some girly girls like myself to converse about celeb gossip but I just embarrassed the hell of out myself! hahahah Im also on a French keyboard so bear with me.
Ill write a proper email soon, I finish training next Friday and I officially become a Peace Corps volunteer!
You can send me packages, the address is on facebook. Here it is-
Nora Kaitis, PCV
BP 971
Cotonou, Benin
Afrique de l'Ouest
May I suggest sending bubble wrap enevelopes? They come alot faster than boxes and the small ones are like 8 dollars to send. If you go to a post office, they will let you know what to do.
I will seriosuly love you forever if you send me stuff! The kids would love stickers and non meltable candy like Starburst or Skittles. And for me, hahahah any white girl hair product would make me cry of happiness. hahaah mousse, gel, texturizer or white girl makeup like mascara you can be sure NOT to find here.
Love you guys.
Nora K
Ill write a proper email soon, I finish training next Friday and I officially become a Peace Corps volunteer!
You can send me packages, the address is on facebook. Here it is-
Nora Kaitis, PCV
BP 971
Cotonou, Benin
Afrique de l'Ouest
May I suggest sending bubble wrap enevelopes? They come alot faster than boxes and the small ones are like 8 dollars to send. If you go to a post office, they will let you know what to do.
I will seriosuly love you forever if you send me stuff! The kids would love stickers and non meltable candy like Starburst or Skittles. And for me, hahahah any white girl hair product would make me cry of happiness. hahaah mousse, gel, texturizer or white girl makeup like mascara you can be sure NOT to find here.
Love you guys.
Nora K
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Hello my name is Madame Nora
A more pressing question- why the fuck am i only one posting on this blog? Im in Africa people, give me something so I can remember my former life!
T, if you think its weird to be known as “Miss Kaczmarek”, well over here I’m “Madame Nora”! Totally odd. At any given day, I have about 50 children charging at me screaming; “Madame Nora! Madame Nora! Ca va?” and then they try to carry my book bag for me. They also pick me flowers and bring them to me or if I drop a pencil or something, I have five little boys diving for it! It’s so freaking cute and my kids are so adorable and smart I just love them!
I’ve already started teaching. Peace Corps just throws you fucking in- its unbelievable. We do in nine weeks what people do in two years of school. It’s also incredible. You would never believe that some of the volunteers just started teaching two weeks ago. This week, I have to plan to teach for two hours a day, 4 times a week- really hard when my days usually go from 7-7 and then I have to go home and lesson plan. We’re teaching free summer school right now- basically Peace Corps advertises free English lessons taught by Yovos, and the children just show up. The kids are amazing. Amazing! They’re so freaking cute and so good. They say the cutest things like; “I want to eat my family.” And you have to not laugh and say; “You mean you want to eat WITH your family?”. When we grade tests, we literally spend two hours just hysterically laughing at their English mistakes. They’re so cute! Hahaha I’m teaching my kids how to sing “Umbrella”- which they just love. Ella-ella-ey-ey-ey. I videotaped it and I’ll put it up as soon as I get a good internet connection! It’s adorable! Plus you’ll get to see an African classroom- my kids have no books, two notebooks and a pencil. That’s it.
Actually Teresa, I do think the urban poor in Africa is comparable to the urban poor in the US. I mean, poverty is poverty. I mean, its still Africa- the “very poor” are on a completely different level. I went to my first African slum the other day and it was just awful. So sad. But there are rich people here and there are poor people here, and poor people all over the world feel the exact same way. I just think the US is a lot more dangerous- although it gets kind of spooky at night, I rarely feel unsafe here.
Africa is still great, although the food is kind of wearing on me. One more day of millet porridge and I may shoot myself. And the worst part about it is my family is so excited to give it to me, so I have to pretend to like it. Also they serve super spicy dishes that makes my nose run and my eyes water. Luckily we’ve all discovered peanut butter, pineapples and fried turkey- which is all amazing. Hahaha there is an upside- we’re all dropping weight like mad. The guys especially- two have lost about 20 lbs! I’m pissed b/c my boobs are getting smaller.
I officially become a volunteer on September 5. We’re having a huge party for our swear-in ceremony and the President of Benin is coming! Yay! It may seriously be the proudest day of my life. Then I leave for my village, Biro, on September 7 and start my two years of service. During the first three months, we’re on what we like to call “lockdown”. We cannot leave the village for more than a day for three months, until Thanksgiving. Hahaha so don’t expect to really hear form me- I’ll be lost in the African bush!
I’m so glad I did Peace Corps. I can’t say enough good things about the organization. I can honestly and genuinely say we do good things over here, I promise. We’re not just wasting tax dollars! Plus, I really like Africa! I’m also becoming really close with my fellow volunteers, they’re really amazing. Keep the updates coming, I have absolutely no idea what the hell is happening on the other side of the Atlantic. Send me letters and packages and come visit!
Love, Nora
T, if you think its weird to be known as “Miss Kaczmarek”, well over here I’m “Madame Nora”! Totally odd. At any given day, I have about 50 children charging at me screaming; “Madame Nora! Madame Nora! Ca va?” and then they try to carry my book bag for me. They also pick me flowers and bring them to me or if I drop a pencil or something, I have five little boys diving for it! It’s so freaking cute and my kids are so adorable and smart I just love them!
I’ve already started teaching. Peace Corps just throws you fucking in- its unbelievable. We do in nine weeks what people do in two years of school. It’s also incredible. You would never believe that some of the volunteers just started teaching two weeks ago. This week, I have to plan to teach for two hours a day, 4 times a week- really hard when my days usually go from 7-7 and then I have to go home and lesson plan. We’re teaching free summer school right now- basically Peace Corps advertises free English lessons taught by Yovos, and the children just show up. The kids are amazing. Amazing! They’re so freaking cute and so good. They say the cutest things like; “I want to eat my family.” And you have to not laugh and say; “You mean you want to eat WITH your family?”. When we grade tests, we literally spend two hours just hysterically laughing at their English mistakes. They’re so cute! Hahaha I’m teaching my kids how to sing “Umbrella”- which they just love. Ella-ella-ey-ey-ey. I videotaped it and I’ll put it up as soon as I get a good internet connection! It’s adorable! Plus you’ll get to see an African classroom- my kids have no books, two notebooks and a pencil. That’s it.
Actually Teresa, I do think the urban poor in Africa is comparable to the urban poor in the US. I mean, poverty is poverty. I mean, its still Africa- the “very poor” are on a completely different level. I went to my first African slum the other day and it was just awful. So sad. But there are rich people here and there are poor people here, and poor people all over the world feel the exact same way. I just think the US is a lot more dangerous- although it gets kind of spooky at night, I rarely feel unsafe here.
Africa is still great, although the food is kind of wearing on me. One more day of millet porridge and I may shoot myself. And the worst part about it is my family is so excited to give it to me, so I have to pretend to like it. Also they serve super spicy dishes that makes my nose run and my eyes water. Luckily we’ve all discovered peanut butter, pineapples and fried turkey- which is all amazing. Hahaha there is an upside- we’re all dropping weight like mad. The guys especially- two have lost about 20 lbs! I’m pissed b/c my boobs are getting smaller.
I officially become a volunteer on September 5. We’re having a huge party for our swear-in ceremony and the President of Benin is coming! Yay! It may seriously be the proudest day of my life. Then I leave for my village, Biro, on September 7 and start my two years of service. During the first three months, we’re on what we like to call “lockdown”. We cannot leave the village for more than a day for three months, until Thanksgiving. Hahaha so don’t expect to really hear form me- I’ll be lost in the African bush!
I’m so glad I did Peace Corps. I can’t say enough good things about the organization. I can honestly and genuinely say we do good things over here, I promise. We’re not just wasting tax dollars! Plus, I really like Africa! I’m also becoming really close with my fellow volunteers, they’re really amazing. Keep the updates coming, I have absolutely no idea what the hell is happening on the other side of the Atlantic. Send me letters and packages and come visit!
Love, Nora
Friday, August 15, 2008
hello my name is miss kaczmarek
hey biotches!
so just got back in milwuakee this week... friday to be exact and have been getting situated with the whole working at a boys high-school/ living with boys thing. now nora i dont know if your sense of humor has changed at all and if it has you might find this offensive but know im kidding... kinda. so my life and noras are somewhat similar. i feel as though living on 35th and michigan i have a constant looking glass in to the day to day of nora e. kaitis. there are people everywhere, all over the streets. babies are constantly crying. weird dogs also roam the streets and people stare at me everywhere i go like they have never seen a white person before. besides having electricity and running water i would say we are on even levels. so basically nora you could have just volunteered with me and it would have been like you moved to africa without really moving so far away. (again im kidding i dont actually think 35th and mich is the same as africa... but its pretty damn close)
we had our first meeting on monday- basic orientation. i got a tour of the school and it is massive. georgie calls about 4 times a day which for those of you who know georgeann know thats pretty standard. tim has been awesome and has been helping me a lot with moving and stuff and especially bc i have been having some panic attacks. you may ask what am i panicking about. i will tell you- almost everything (i fell like im turning in the georgie). so i was told we could move in to the house anytime last week. i get there friday along with thomas and georgeann bc heaven forbid i do something by myself. go to the house and it turns out all of the volunteers from last year are still living here meaning there is no room to move in to. so we move my stuff in to the front living room. so they still havent moved out by monday and administration finds out and gets pissed. well they tell them all to leave so they move out of their rooms but are currently living on our couches. so there is shit everywhere. boys shit and it smells and is gross. ladies i thought our house was bad- this is a whole new bad. i have never appreciated 914 more. so that house was old but at least was kinda cleaned when we moved in... you know there were blinds on the windows and they didnt have cob webs on them. well this house is old and is gross. the windows are like gray from god knows what and there are no blinds so i have to have to hide in the corners of my room to change. the good thing about the house is it is huge and its free. my room is gigantic but i think i may be moving to a different one.
so they clearly have no idea what to do with a girl. this whole us living together thing is really freaking out the administration since it is a catholic school but there are only two bathrooms and there now are going to be 4 of us so they are really up the creek. class starts next week so hopefully they will have everything figured out by then but thats a whole new level of things for me to freak out about. the kids im living with are superfreak geniuses and i have never felt dumber in my life. we kind of al tip toe around eachother bc its so awkward to be here but its getting better. i found out one of the kids also quit smoking at graduation so he and i have daily cigs on one of our porches (we have like 4). he likes to say he is lighting up a prayer candle and i think its a great way to think about it. so andy (he is my cig buddy) and i have bonded over our love for nicotine, tar, and cancer. ill let all you chicas know how class goes. i basically almost shit my pants thinking about it every night.
o so... the whole madden and bridget thing is crazzzzyyyyy. when i was in chitown two weekends ago for lolla i saw him and was talking to him and asked him how his life was. he responded not good. my drunk dumb ass forgetting about all that had happened asked him why. well he proceeded to tell me he was jobless and living with his parents. so i responded o thats not so bad so am i. well he countered with a big fat o did you also have your girlfriend go to europe and fall in love with a teenager and leave you? and i felt like the biggest idiot in the world. he was saracastic and seemed pretty ok about it but you could tell he was just pissed and hurt. that is nutso.
al im pissed we didnt see eachother last weekend. sorry about friday i got real drunk and went home real early and then monday everything ran late. call me and let me know the next time you are coming to this fair city.
mil girls- im baaack so if you read this today call me about tonight or i will call you. my smoking buddy (andy) has a friend whos dad apparently owns wolskis so he is going there tonight. i would be up for a little wolskis if anyone else is... o and tim and i were talking about how we need to go to bryants soon which is my friends, a must! and you must come over here some night to see the shithole i call home and drink and play. the house is huge so everyone will fit.
love you bitches and write some fun gossip on here... i miss you all so much and it makes me sad living in this house bc it makes me think of college.
love,
miss kaczmarek (thats my teaching name... how weird is that)
so just got back in milwuakee this week... friday to be exact and have been getting situated with the whole working at a boys high-school/ living with boys thing. now nora i dont know if your sense of humor has changed at all and if it has you might find this offensive but know im kidding... kinda. so my life and noras are somewhat similar. i feel as though living on 35th and michigan i have a constant looking glass in to the day to day of nora e. kaitis. there are people everywhere, all over the streets. babies are constantly crying. weird dogs also roam the streets and people stare at me everywhere i go like they have never seen a white person before. besides having electricity and running water i would say we are on even levels. so basically nora you could have just volunteered with me and it would have been like you moved to africa without really moving so far away. (again im kidding i dont actually think 35th and mich is the same as africa... but its pretty damn close)
we had our first meeting on monday- basic orientation. i got a tour of the school and it is massive. georgie calls about 4 times a day which for those of you who know georgeann know thats pretty standard. tim has been awesome and has been helping me a lot with moving and stuff and especially bc i have been having some panic attacks. you may ask what am i panicking about. i will tell you- almost everything (i fell like im turning in the georgie). so i was told we could move in to the house anytime last week. i get there friday along with thomas and georgeann bc heaven forbid i do something by myself. go to the house and it turns out all of the volunteers from last year are still living here meaning there is no room to move in to. so we move my stuff in to the front living room. so they still havent moved out by monday and administration finds out and gets pissed. well they tell them all to leave so they move out of their rooms but are currently living on our couches. so there is shit everywhere. boys shit and it smells and is gross. ladies i thought our house was bad- this is a whole new bad. i have never appreciated 914 more. so that house was old but at least was kinda cleaned when we moved in... you know there were blinds on the windows and they didnt have cob webs on them. well this house is old and is gross. the windows are like gray from god knows what and there are no blinds so i have to have to hide in the corners of my room to change. the good thing about the house is it is huge and its free. my room is gigantic but i think i may be moving to a different one.
so they clearly have no idea what to do with a girl. this whole us living together thing is really freaking out the administration since it is a catholic school but there are only two bathrooms and there now are going to be 4 of us so they are really up the creek. class starts next week so hopefully they will have everything figured out by then but thats a whole new level of things for me to freak out about. the kids im living with are superfreak geniuses and i have never felt dumber in my life. we kind of al tip toe around eachother bc its so awkward to be here but its getting better. i found out one of the kids also quit smoking at graduation so he and i have daily cigs on one of our porches (we have like 4). he likes to say he is lighting up a prayer candle and i think its a great way to think about it. so andy (he is my cig buddy) and i have bonded over our love for nicotine, tar, and cancer. ill let all you chicas know how class goes. i basically almost shit my pants thinking about it every night.
o so... the whole madden and bridget thing is crazzzzyyyyy. when i was in chitown two weekends ago for lolla i saw him and was talking to him and asked him how his life was. he responded not good. my drunk dumb ass forgetting about all that had happened asked him why. well he proceeded to tell me he was jobless and living with his parents. so i responded o thats not so bad so am i. well he countered with a big fat o did you also have your girlfriend go to europe and fall in love with a teenager and leave you? and i felt like the biggest idiot in the world. he was saracastic and seemed pretty ok about it but you could tell he was just pissed and hurt. that is nutso.
al im pissed we didnt see eachother last weekend. sorry about friday i got real drunk and went home real early and then monday everything ran late. call me and let me know the next time you are coming to this fair city.
mil girls- im baaack so if you read this today call me about tonight or i will call you. my smoking buddy (andy) has a friend whos dad apparently owns wolskis so he is going there tonight. i would be up for a little wolskis if anyone else is... o and tim and i were talking about how we need to go to bryants soon which is my friends, a must! and you must come over here some night to see the shithole i call home and drink and play. the house is huge so everyone will fit.
love you bitches and write some fun gossip on here... i miss you all so much and it makes me sad living in this house bc it makes me think of college.
love,
miss kaczmarek (thats my teaching name... how weird is that)
Saturday, August 2, 2008
The Life of a Yovo
REE!!!! How the fuck is everyone?! Ugh I miss everyone and our college days when we used to run wild and be drunk all the time hahahaa. My life here is ridiculous, you're literally a two-year old baby all over again. You don't know how to feed yourself, how to wash your own clothes, how to use a latrine. I'm pretty sure any African I've come in contact with thinks I'm the world's biggest ditz, which I totally am! Peace Corps is a blast, and I'm very happy here. Basically Peace Corps is like a small college, all over again.
So right now I’m hanging out at the Peace Corps workstation in Parakou, a big city in the middle of Benin. There are three workstations in Benin, and basically they’re hostels for volunteers with 25 beds, TV room, library, kitchen, SHOWERS, and very slow and unreliable internet access. It’s awesome! Basically a college dorm all over again and we can stay here whenever we want. It’s also where we have Thanksgiving and things like that.
This weekend I left Porto-Novo for site visits to the village I’ll be living at for the next two years! My village is called Biro, and it’s a tiny village in the countryside. I’ll be teaching at the school in Biro. So, we met our school directors or our bosses, and he took us up to our villages. OMG you guys. Hahahah what the fuck to say about Biro.
The road leading to Biro is not paved, all dirt road!
It is an itty-bitty village right in the middle of the countryside
I don’t have a postmate! I’m the only white person in the village!
Its in the middle of the goddamn jungle. I am not kidding. Lush, green forest as far as the eye can see, hills, and mist!
It’s so freaking beautiful it would seriously move you to tears!
Anyway, so literally imagine ME, Nora E. Kaitis, in an African village. With no running water, that means bucket showers (which really isn’t that bad) and barely any electricity. Hahahah can you imagine how retarded I am there? Luckily there’s a Catholic Mission across the street from me so I’m hoping to become friends with them and use their electricity and showers hahahah.
So I stayed in the village with my neighbors, who is this really cute young couple and their adorable baby daughter. This is roughing it people! Latrine, no running water, minimal electricity, bucket showers! My host dad in the village, Soule, is apparently a big deal in the region, and he took me to his cow farm that he owns. Um the strangest experience of my life. He takes me to his cow farm deep in the jungle on his motorcycle where I’m greeted by about 25 Africans, wildly talking in Bariba, the native language. They grab a seat for me and I sit down, and basically I had about 25 Africans staring at me and screaming in a foreign language while I’m sitting at this cow farm in the middle of Africa. Hahahaha so fucking weird! Two babies immediately burst into tears at the sight of me, because I am one of the only white people that have ever seen, if not the only white person. As the people are wildly speaking Bariba and smiling at me, a little girl gets pushed to the front by her mom. She must have gone to school so she was able to say a few words to me in French, but she was mortified. Hahaha It was truly the strangest experience of my life.
Anyway, my village though is so freaking beautiful I can’t even describe it. We’re talking lush, green jungle and hills with mist! The are millions of trails of red dirt, so I can’t wait to take my mountain bike out and go around! There’s also goats, chickens and anorexic cows everywhere. Naked black babies run through the streets and there are girls selling stuff piled on their heads. At night, every star in the sky is out and it’s so cool! The people are really sweet. They stop and stare at you but if you smile at a kid, I swear you’ve made them the happiest in the world.
I don’t have a postmate (I am the only white person in my village), but my closest volunteer is about 16 miles away in the bigger city of Nikki. I’ve met him once, his name is Ryan and he’s this total hippy from Colorado. He has long blond hair and a shaggy beard. He works in the business sector, helping the women’s groups produce shea butter. Do you guys know shea butter? It’s a really good lotion used in a lot of cosmetics, and they produce it here. However, like most things in Africa, its too time-consuming to produce to actually be profitable. Anyway, there are a lot of companies, like L’Oreal, that will use shea butter from West Africa for their philanthropic products. So anyway, he works with the women and the shea butter, and I can’t wait to get involved with that!
There’s also another American near me- he was a volunteer ten years ago that decided never to leave. He adopted two orphans and fluently speaks Bariba. Anyway, apparently he’s a great guy to know and I’ll definitely be doing projects with him.
In case you’re worried for my safety, the Akandes called me three times and texted me twice. Hahaha I know if I’m ever in trouble, Papa Akande would be on the first bus up here to raise hell! My sister, Diana, who is drop-dead gorgeous, was in a beauty pageant this weekend! I’m so upset I couldn’t go because I was on post visit! Anyway, she won second place!
Hope all is well with everyone. I hear pics of the Messiah twins come out on Sunday! Ree! Keep me updated!
-Nora
So right now I’m hanging out at the Peace Corps workstation in Parakou, a big city in the middle of Benin. There are three workstations in Benin, and basically they’re hostels for volunteers with 25 beds, TV room, library, kitchen, SHOWERS, and very slow and unreliable internet access. It’s awesome! Basically a college dorm all over again and we can stay here whenever we want. It’s also where we have Thanksgiving and things like that.
This weekend I left Porto-Novo for site visits to the village I’ll be living at for the next two years! My village is called Biro, and it’s a tiny village in the countryside. I’ll be teaching at the school in Biro. So, we met our school directors or our bosses, and he took us up to our villages. OMG you guys. Hahahah what the fuck to say about Biro.
The road leading to Biro is not paved, all dirt road!
It is an itty-bitty village right in the middle of the countryside
I don’t have a postmate! I’m the only white person in the village!
Its in the middle of the goddamn jungle. I am not kidding. Lush, green forest as far as the eye can see, hills, and mist!
It’s so freaking beautiful it would seriously move you to tears!
Anyway, so literally imagine ME, Nora E. Kaitis, in an African village. With no running water, that means bucket showers (which really isn’t that bad) and barely any electricity. Hahahah can you imagine how retarded I am there? Luckily there’s a Catholic Mission across the street from me so I’m hoping to become friends with them and use their electricity and showers hahahah.
So I stayed in the village with my neighbors, who is this really cute young couple and their adorable baby daughter. This is roughing it people! Latrine, no running water, minimal electricity, bucket showers! My host dad in the village, Soule, is apparently a big deal in the region, and he took me to his cow farm that he owns. Um the strangest experience of my life. He takes me to his cow farm deep in the jungle on his motorcycle where I’m greeted by about 25 Africans, wildly talking in Bariba, the native language. They grab a seat for me and I sit down, and basically I had about 25 Africans staring at me and screaming in a foreign language while I’m sitting at this cow farm in the middle of Africa. Hahahaha so fucking weird! Two babies immediately burst into tears at the sight of me, because I am one of the only white people that have ever seen, if not the only white person. As the people are wildly speaking Bariba and smiling at me, a little girl gets pushed to the front by her mom. She must have gone to school so she was able to say a few words to me in French, but she was mortified. Hahaha It was truly the strangest experience of my life.
Anyway, my village though is so freaking beautiful I can’t even describe it. We’re talking lush, green jungle and hills with mist! The are millions of trails of red dirt, so I can’t wait to take my mountain bike out and go around! There’s also goats, chickens and anorexic cows everywhere. Naked black babies run through the streets and there are girls selling stuff piled on their heads. At night, every star in the sky is out and it’s so cool! The people are really sweet. They stop and stare at you but if you smile at a kid, I swear you’ve made them the happiest in the world.
I don’t have a postmate (I am the only white person in my village), but my closest volunteer is about 16 miles away in the bigger city of Nikki. I’ve met him once, his name is Ryan and he’s this total hippy from Colorado. He has long blond hair and a shaggy beard. He works in the business sector, helping the women’s groups produce shea butter. Do you guys know shea butter? It’s a really good lotion used in a lot of cosmetics, and they produce it here. However, like most things in Africa, its too time-consuming to produce to actually be profitable. Anyway, there are a lot of companies, like L’Oreal, that will use shea butter from West Africa for their philanthropic products. So anyway, he works with the women and the shea butter, and I can’t wait to get involved with that!
There’s also another American near me- he was a volunteer ten years ago that decided never to leave. He adopted two orphans and fluently speaks Bariba. Anyway, apparently he’s a great guy to know and I’ll definitely be doing projects with him.
In case you’re worried for my safety, the Akandes called me three times and texted me twice. Hahaha I know if I’m ever in trouble, Papa Akande would be on the first bus up here to raise hell! My sister, Diana, who is drop-dead gorgeous, was in a beauty pageant this weekend! I’m so upset I couldn’t go because I was on post visit! Anyway, she won second place!
Hope all is well with everyone. I hear pics of the Messiah twins come out on Sunday! Ree! Keep me updated!
-Nora
Friday, July 18, 2008
Ok half of my last post never posted b/c duh, I live in West Africa where the internet is horrid. I'm going to continue my latest blog.
I’ve seriously lived five lives since arriving in Africa. The other day I had a feast straight out of Fear Factor! Todd’s family and my family took us out to lunch for traditional African food. Dear Jesus. Third-world madness! But you have to grin and bear it. I looked away from the flies everywhere and the spiders on the wall and dug in. I had zero clue what I was eating. One was a weird brown stew, the other was a weird red stew and then fried cheese in red sauce. The meat was unidentifiable, although I did hear “mouton” which means either “goat” or “sheep” here. The goats run around here and eat the garbage, so I did not want to know anything of the mystery meat in this stew. Well, I ate it. The Beninese eat with their hands which is crazy. So anyway, the cheese was really good and me and Todd had our Fear Factor moment haha. I posted pictures and if you can identify anything in this food, be my guest!
When I hear my family talking loudly to each other in Yoruba in the next room or I see naked African babies running around, it’s such a trip to be like; “Oh my God. I am in goddamn Africa!”. But I genuinely like it here. It makes me sad to think that Americans have horrible stereotypes of Africans as sex-crazed AIDS patients running around stabbing each other in squalor. It’s totally not true. There’s so much more to this place and pictures really do not do it justice. Hahaha I’m turning into a Peace Corps hippie.
As I’m typing this, I totally realize I’m losing my English skills as well! I spend so much of my day speaking French that I’m really becoming fluent. Hahaha but West African French has such a different accent it makes me laugh! My language school in Paris would literally weep. Sometimes, when I get mad at my language teacher I whip out my best Parisian French just to spite her hahaha.
So what’s happening in the US? I’m a little worried because the BANK OF AFRICA just stopped accepting American dollars, which if that isn’t an indicator your economy is going to shit, I don’t know what is. Also, the Beninese are obsessed with Barack Obama because he’s half-African and they love Michelle as well. When I met my family, the first thing they did was ask me about Barack and show me pictures of Michelle! I think it would be a really great thing for Africa to see an African in power of the richest country of world. He has to win!
Love the gossip- Kaye and Jacobs- totally weird, and are we sure Moser hasn't killed them both? Allie I can't wait to share a bed with you again and kick you into the wall. Oh and by the way, sorry if it takes me a long time to respond to questions, I have to type my emails out the night before and just send them off when I get to internet, otherwise the stupid computers freeze or whatnot.
-Nora
PS- Teresa this country is calling your name. A) the biggest celebrity here is Celine Dion, singing her stupid heart out in French and B) Guess what they watch over here via satellite TV from Nigeria? MEXICAN SOAP OPERAS DUBBED IN ENGLISH! I’m in heaven! Hahahaha and they’re just as stupid as you think they would be.
I’ve seriously lived five lives since arriving in Africa. The other day I had a feast straight out of Fear Factor! Todd’s family and my family took us out to lunch for traditional African food. Dear Jesus. Third-world madness! But you have to grin and bear it. I looked away from the flies everywhere and the spiders on the wall and dug in. I had zero clue what I was eating. One was a weird brown stew, the other was a weird red stew and then fried cheese in red sauce. The meat was unidentifiable, although I did hear “mouton” which means either “goat” or “sheep” here. The goats run around here and eat the garbage, so I did not want to know anything of the mystery meat in this stew. Well, I ate it. The Beninese eat with their hands which is crazy. So anyway, the cheese was really good and me and Todd had our Fear Factor moment haha. I posted pictures and if you can identify anything in this food, be my guest!
When I hear my family talking loudly to each other in Yoruba in the next room or I see naked African babies running around, it’s such a trip to be like; “Oh my God. I am in goddamn Africa!”. But I genuinely like it here. It makes me sad to think that Americans have horrible stereotypes of Africans as sex-crazed AIDS patients running around stabbing each other in squalor. It’s totally not true. There’s so much more to this place and pictures really do not do it justice. Hahaha I’m turning into a Peace Corps hippie.
As I’m typing this, I totally realize I’m losing my English skills as well! I spend so much of my day speaking French that I’m really becoming fluent. Hahaha but West African French has such a different accent it makes me laugh! My language school in Paris would literally weep. Sometimes, when I get mad at my language teacher I whip out my best Parisian French just to spite her hahaha.
So what’s happening in the US? I’m a little worried because the BANK OF AFRICA just stopped accepting American dollars, which if that isn’t an indicator your economy is going to shit, I don’t know what is. Also, the Beninese are obsessed with Barack Obama because he’s half-African and they love Michelle as well. When I met my family, the first thing they did was ask me about Barack and show me pictures of Michelle! I think it would be a really great thing for Africa to see an African in power of the richest country of world. He has to win!
Love the gossip- Kaye and Jacobs- totally weird, and are we sure Moser hasn't killed them both? Allie I can't wait to share a bed with you again and kick you into the wall. Oh and by the way, sorry if it takes me a long time to respond to questions, I have to type my emails out the night before and just send them off when I get to internet, otherwise the stupid computers freeze or whatnot.
-Nora
PS- Teresa this country is calling your name. A) the biggest celebrity here is Celine Dion, singing her stupid heart out in French and B) Guess what they watch over here via satellite TV from Nigeria? MEXICAN SOAP OPERAS DUBBED IN ENGLISH! I’m in heaven! Hahahaha and they’re just as stupid as you think they would be.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
TIA: This is Africa.
First things first. TELL ME EVERYTHING ABOUT ANGELINA'S TWINS!!!!!!
hahaha and god bless globalization because I can pretty regularly use the internet. I'm at an internet cafe right now in Porto-Novo, the city where we are doing our training. I'm living with a host family, the Akande Family! They are a pretty wealthy family here. They have three daughters, Alethea, 22, Diana, 20 and Josette, 18 and a boy, Joseph, 12. I adore them. They are the nicest people ever! I have my own private room and as the Peace Corps loves to remind us; "This is Porto-Novo 90201" because the Akandes have TV, Nintendo from the 1980s, a refridgerator and a DVD player. We watch MTV Nigeria everyday as you can imagine, very interesting! hahaha. Oh and for Teresa, Celine Dion is honest to God the most famous person in Benin, singing her stupid heart out in French hahaha.
Outside of the other volunteers, I have yet to see someone of another race in Porto-Novo. It's hysterical. People openly drop whatever they're doing and just stare at you. To my host brother, I am an alien from the Planet White Freak. My host sisters and the little kids are always grabbing my hair, hahaha but I just grab their braids and everyone laughs. They are seriously the sweetest, most kindest people ever. Everyone in Benin knows what the Peace Corps is so it's really cool. The kids scream "Yovo! Yovo!" when they see you. "Yovo" means "Whitey" in Fon, the native language. They also chant this song; "Yovo! Yovo Bonsoir! Ca va bien? Merci!" but it's not mean-spirited, its just like "hey there white girl". I always just smile and laugh with all the people and they totally just eat it up because they're the nicest people ever. It makes me sad that Americans just have horrible stereotypes of Africans as sex-crazed AIDS patients stabbing each other because it's really not true!
I would definitely recommend that if any of you ever wanted to venture to Africa at some point in your life, DO IT! The airfare is around 2000 dollars, but once you are here, you are seriously spending pennies! Pennies! An hour at this internet cafe is a dollar. A taxi ride on a zemidjan motorcycle is a quarter. Its ridiculously cheap even with the crappy euro. And obviously, free place to stay with me!
Safari season in Benin starts in November and ends in March. At the national park up north, Benin has the big five: lions, elephants, rhinos, water buffalos and one other I forgot. Also there's huge waterfalls there and baboons! I think me and some other volunteers are doing a safari over New Years this year.
My best friend is actually a boy volunteer which is weird because I always have a million girl friends. Oh and before I forgot, Kate, that guy in the picture with the beard and stick for a bat went to high school with Dan and Joel in Omaha! How weird is that?! We found that out the first day. Anyway some of the girls in my training class are ridiculously stupid so I end up liking the boys the better. Theres like two or three girls I really like though.
hahaha and god bless globalization because I can pretty regularly use the internet. I'm at an internet cafe right now in Porto-Novo, the city where we are doing our training. I'm living with a host family, the Akande Family! They are a pretty wealthy family here. They have three daughters, Alethea, 22, Diana, 20 and Josette, 18 and a boy, Joseph, 12. I adore them. They are the nicest people ever! I have my own private room and as the Peace Corps loves to remind us; "This is Porto-Novo 90201" because the Akandes have TV, Nintendo from the 1980s, a refridgerator and a DVD player. We watch MTV Nigeria everyday as you can imagine, very interesting! hahaha. Oh and for Teresa, Celine Dion is honest to God the most famous person in Benin, singing her stupid heart out in French hahaha.
Outside of the other volunteers, I have yet to see someone of another race in Porto-Novo. It's hysterical. People openly drop whatever they're doing and just stare at you. To my host brother, I am an alien from the Planet White Freak. My host sisters and the little kids are always grabbing my hair, hahaha but I just grab their braids and everyone laughs. They are seriously the sweetest, most kindest people ever. Everyone in Benin knows what the Peace Corps is so it's really cool. The kids scream "Yovo! Yovo!" when they see you. "Yovo" means "Whitey" in Fon, the native language. They also chant this song; "Yovo! Yovo Bonsoir! Ca va bien? Merci!" but it's not mean-spirited, its just like "hey there white girl". I always just smile and laugh with all the people and they totally just eat it up because they're the nicest people ever. It makes me sad that Americans just have horrible stereotypes of Africans as sex-crazed AIDS patients stabbing each other because it's really not true!
I would definitely recommend that if any of you ever wanted to venture to Africa at some point in your life, DO IT! The airfare is around 2000 dollars, but once you are here, you are seriously spending pennies! Pennies! An hour at this internet cafe is a dollar. A taxi ride on a zemidjan motorcycle is a quarter. Its ridiculously cheap even with the crappy euro. And obviously, free place to stay with me!
Safari season in Benin starts in November and ends in March. At the national park up north, Benin has the big five: lions, elephants, rhinos, water buffalos and one other I forgot. Also there's huge waterfalls there and baboons! I think me and some other volunteers are doing a safari over New Years this year.
My best friend is actually a boy volunteer which is weird because I always have a million girl friends. Oh and before I forgot, Kate, that guy in the picture with the beard and stick for a bat went to high school with Dan and Joel in Omaha! How weird is that?! We found that out the first day. Anyway some of the girls in my training class are ridiculously stupid so I end up liking the boys the better. Theres like two or three girls I really like though.
Well hello everyone!
I'm a bum and totally forgot to check out the blog until yesterday. But nicely done, this is a good idea. Love the stories so far, my favorite being that the Wizard man actually seemed freaked out when you pointed out to him that he did indeed look like a wizard. Hah!
Also congrats on the jobs girls! And leens with looking for a roommate, I know it seems a little strange, but I have heard that Craig's List is not a horrible way to go. You will probably get a bunch of responses then you can pick and chose with interviews. And I think the best possible form of interview with you two is taking them out, force feeding them rupplemans and seeing where things go...
Things are good in the Chi burbs though. I am taking the dreaded GMAT in a few weeks.... going to be hard as hell. The math section makes me want to cry. But I just want to get it over and done with while I have some time to study. Other than that I'm selling my soul to California Pizza kitchen and living the post-graduation-no-true-job dream. Highlight of waitressing was the other day when I had a surprise visit in the form of Pat kelly, Sean Whalen's bff, because he works accross the street. Loved seeing him, however, the longer he looked at me wearing a tie and covered in torani syrup the more I felt like a Marquette bum without a real job. Oh well.
This is just a short hello, I miss all of you, and I'll get back on a write some good drunken tales soon.
xoxo,
Dan
ps did Madden and Bridget really break up or is that just on facebook???
I'm a bum and totally forgot to check out the blog until yesterday. But nicely done, this is a good idea. Love the stories so far, my favorite being that the Wizard man actually seemed freaked out when you pointed out to him that he did indeed look like a wizard. Hah!
Also congrats on the jobs girls! And leens with looking for a roommate, I know it seems a little strange, but I have heard that Craig's List is not a horrible way to go. You will probably get a bunch of responses then you can pick and chose with interviews. And I think the best possible form of interview with you two is taking them out, force feeding them rupplemans and seeing where things go...
Things are good in the Chi burbs though. I am taking the dreaded GMAT in a few weeks.... going to be hard as hell. The math section makes me want to cry. But I just want to get it over and done with while I have some time to study. Other than that I'm selling my soul to California Pizza kitchen and living the post-graduation-no-true-job dream. Highlight of waitressing was the other day when I had a surprise visit in the form of Pat kelly, Sean Whalen's bff, because he works accross the street. Loved seeing him, however, the longer he looked at me wearing a tie and covered in torani syrup the more I felt like a Marquette bum without a real job. Oh well.
This is just a short hello, I miss all of you, and I'll get back on a write some good drunken tales soon.
xoxo,
Dan
ps did Madden and Bridget really break up or is that just on facebook???
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Why Hello everyone,
I figured I should finally write something on this, even though my life is boring. I do nothing during the week, besides maybe have an interview, otherwise I'm a lazy piece of shit that watches tv all day I really do feel like a waste of life. Then on the weekends I either get completely hammered in Milwaukee or in Chicago, I mean I know what you are all thinking Mo never gets drunk, I am usually am the one who has the most control over myself when we drink. Ha! My fourth would definitely be classis. I was hanging out with my friends from home and we were drinking all day, I ended up having my brother come get me later that night (it was only like 1030) when I got home my dad was wide awake and I had an hour long conversation with him, nothing of which I remembered, so the next morning I get up around noon, and start talking to my dad again and he started talking about what we talked about the night before, I obviously had no idea but tried to act like I knew what he was talking about finally he caught on and was like Mo, you don't remember anything we talked about last night, sadly I had to admit that I had no recollection of anything we talked about the night before. God my life is just great!
Oh also during the week I have taken up golfing. My dad made me take golfing lessons and I actually enjoy them so I think everyone should learn so when we all get old and make lots of money and belong to our country clubs we can all get drunk and go golfing together. Oh I also bought Fit Flops they were on Oprah's favorite things for the summer, they are supposed to tone your butt so I'll make sure to let everyone know if they work.
Leens and Kate obviously congrats on your new jobs I am definitely jealous! Leens when you move to Chicago we need to hang out all the time!
Maura good luck with school!
Nora Benin sounds awesome and I'm so glad that you love it!
T and Allie we should all be in the same city to do nothing together, and Dool you too just get rid of your class and work! ha
Miss everyone!!!
~Mosy
I figured I should finally write something on this, even though my life is boring. I do nothing during the week, besides maybe have an interview, otherwise I'm a lazy piece of shit that watches tv all day I really do feel like a waste of life. Then on the weekends I either get completely hammered in Milwaukee or in Chicago, I mean I know what you are all thinking Mo never gets drunk, I am usually am the one who has the most control over myself when we drink. Ha! My fourth would definitely be classis. I was hanging out with my friends from home and we were drinking all day, I ended up having my brother come get me later that night (it was only like 1030) when I got home my dad was wide awake and I had an hour long conversation with him, nothing of which I remembered, so the next morning I get up around noon, and start talking to my dad again and he started talking about what we talked about the night before, I obviously had no idea but tried to act like I knew what he was talking about finally he caught on and was like Mo, you don't remember anything we talked about last night, sadly I had to admit that I had no recollection of anything we talked about the night before. God my life is just great!
Oh also during the week I have taken up golfing. My dad made me take golfing lessons and I actually enjoy them so I think everyone should learn so when we all get old and make lots of money and belong to our country clubs we can all get drunk and go golfing together. Oh I also bought Fit Flops they were on Oprah's favorite things for the summer, they are supposed to tone your butt so I'll make sure to let everyone know if they work.
Leens and Kate obviously congrats on your new jobs I am definitely jealous! Leens when you move to Chicago we need to hang out all the time!
Maura good luck with school!
Nora Benin sounds awesome and I'm so glad that you love it!
T and Allie we should all be in the same city to do nothing together, and Dool you too just get rid of your class and work! ha
Miss everyone!!!
~Mosy
Monday, July 7, 2008
I miss you fuckerrrrrrrrrs
Heyyy ladies!
Well I'm horribly devistated that I missed Mo and Al this weekend...and moreso (no offense) devistated that I didn't see the WIZAAAAAD!! I was livid when gabs told me! Home was so fun though...aside from the HOURS UPON HOURS of planning the bachelorette party & bridal shower for Rachel's. If one of you bitches asks me to be your maid of honor I'll beat you. I feel like thats one of those things you're not supposed to say, but I dont care!
Nora- i got really sad at the end of your 1st post thinking it was the last time i would hear from you in awhile and that you were gone...then I scrolled up and saw another, and then another, and another. haha kidding, I love it, keep them coming! I'm soooo jealous. And will you please marry that hippy bearded man in your pictures who is holding the stick playing baseball? i feel like that would make my life!
T-when are you coming up? this coming weekend?
I'm getting my wisdom teeth out on thursday :( if you are my true friend you will know before I even write this that I've thus far had 2 nightmares already...about the IV they'll put in my arm to knock me out! Seriously guys I'm terrifyed!!
Oh! and I road the mega bus for the first (and FINAL) time home this weekend. Summary: 2 hours late picking us up on the way there, 1/2 hour late on the way back, and a woman changed her child's diaper across the isle from me! Enough said?
Alright ladies we are going to need a girls weekend in Milwaukee or Chicago VERY soon! I miss you bitches and I'm going to be in deep depression about not going out this coming weekend...and I will have chipmunck cheeks
LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Gelly man (for those former lovers of "aisha, aisha, passing me by"... stop looking at the screen like I'm crazy those who do not know what I'm talking about)
Well I'm horribly devistated that I missed Mo and Al this weekend...and moreso (no offense) devistated that I didn't see the WIZAAAAAD!! I was livid when gabs told me! Home was so fun though...aside from the HOURS UPON HOURS of planning the bachelorette party & bridal shower for Rachel's. If one of you bitches asks me to be your maid of honor I'll beat you. I feel like thats one of those things you're not supposed to say, but I dont care!
Nora- i got really sad at the end of your 1st post thinking it was the last time i would hear from you in awhile and that you were gone...then I scrolled up and saw another, and then another, and another. haha kidding, I love it, keep them coming! I'm soooo jealous. And will you please marry that hippy bearded man in your pictures who is holding the stick playing baseball? i feel like that would make my life!
T-when are you coming up? this coming weekend?
I'm getting my wisdom teeth out on thursday :( if you are my true friend you will know before I even write this that I've thus far had 2 nightmares already...about the IV they'll put in my arm to knock me out! Seriously guys I'm terrifyed!!
Oh! and I road the mega bus for the first (and FINAL) time home this weekend. Summary: 2 hours late picking us up on the way there, 1/2 hour late on the way back, and a woman changed her child's diaper across the isle from me! Enough said?
Alright ladies we are going to need a girls weekend in Milwaukee or Chicago VERY soon! I miss you bitches and I'm going to be in deep depression about not going out this coming weekend...and I will have chipmunck cheeks
LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Gelly man (for those former lovers of "aisha, aisha, passing me by"... stop looking at the screen like I'm crazy those who do not know what I'm talking about)
bored out of my mind
hey biotches....
sorry i have been mia from this thing but i have been away from the internet for about the past week and am pretty much technologically retarded and didnt realize i had to set up a g-mail account before doing this even tho it says right on the invite you need to.
so the mitten (michigan) is so unbelievably boring! i do not do anything but sleep and watch tv. basically i am living in a house sized lair but feel guilty about it bc there is no one with me to be lazy and smoke cigs. i cannot believe how much i miss school and mil town and everyone.
we just got back last night from dc dropping off lil drewbie for les aspen... he was so nervous and cute and nerdy it was funny. the house they live in is huge and is literally a block and a half from the captial building. if i would have known about the program i totaly would have done it- im super jealous of him right now. dc is unreal how cool it is. we went like 5 years ago so it wasnt my first time there but this time i like really appreciated everything i was seeing (as cheesy as that sounds)
norbs- im so happy for you! im so glad that you love it and i know you will... thats so exciting! ps make a beautiful mixed baby to bring home to us in the next year. o and i still need to talk to marquette high about the pen pal thingy but as soon as i know you will.
leens- way to go on the job front. call me soon and let me know when you are going to chi for sure
kate- congrats to you too lady
maura- good luck with school baby!
milwaukee lads i think i am coming to the fair city this weekend as long as i dont have to go to a family funeral. i know if i come im going to the brewers game on friday but would love to meet up with you after since we didnt get to last time i was in town. ps found out that weekend (2 weekends ago) that kaye and jacobs are dating again. thought that would be a fun little gossip nugget for you all to chew on. im guessing some of you already knew that tho.
speaking of gossip this blog lacks some juicy stuff. i miss the days of lying in the lair talking about other people. we need to stop being pretend adults and start chatting about people who arent as good as us. i unfortunately live in a prison cell with georgie as a gaurd so i dont have much to share- sorry.
when are we all getting drunk together again? please let it be soon. i miss you guys
love,
carmen
sorry i have been mia from this thing but i have been away from the internet for about the past week and am pretty much technologically retarded and didnt realize i had to set up a g-mail account before doing this even tho it says right on the invite you need to.
so the mitten (michigan) is so unbelievably boring! i do not do anything but sleep and watch tv. basically i am living in a house sized lair but feel guilty about it bc there is no one with me to be lazy and smoke cigs. i cannot believe how much i miss school and mil town and everyone.
we just got back last night from dc dropping off lil drewbie for les aspen... he was so nervous and cute and nerdy it was funny. the house they live in is huge and is literally a block and a half from the captial building. if i would have known about the program i totaly would have done it- im super jealous of him right now. dc is unreal how cool it is. we went like 5 years ago so it wasnt my first time there but this time i like really appreciated everything i was seeing (as cheesy as that sounds)
norbs- im so happy for you! im so glad that you love it and i know you will... thats so exciting! ps make a beautiful mixed baby to bring home to us in the next year. o and i still need to talk to marquette high about the pen pal thingy but as soon as i know you will.
leens- way to go on the job front. call me soon and let me know when you are going to chi for sure
kate- congrats to you too lady
maura- good luck with school baby!
milwaukee lads i think i am coming to the fair city this weekend as long as i dont have to go to a family funeral. i know if i come im going to the brewers game on friday but would love to meet up with you after since we didnt get to last time i was in town. ps found out that weekend (2 weekends ago) that kaye and jacobs are dating again. thought that would be a fun little gossip nugget for you all to chew on. im guessing some of you already knew that tho.
speaking of gossip this blog lacks some juicy stuff. i miss the days of lying in the lair talking about other people. we need to stop being pretend adults and start chatting about people who arent as good as us. i unfortunately live in a prison cell with georgie as a gaurd so i dont have much to share- sorry.
when are we all getting drunk together again? please let it be soon. i miss you guys
love,
carmen
AFRICA!
Hey guys! I finally have time to write! Im at the Peace Corps office hanging out because I tested out of all my language classes so I don't have to go for the next two days! Yay! Still, I have weeks of intensive French ahead of me, and then I'll take classes in the local language. OMG though, Parisian French was just drilled into my head at the Sorbonne and this is sooo different! West African French makes me laugh, and its definitely going to take some getting used to!
So far, this experience has exceeded all my expectations. It keeps getting more and more fun. Benin is so poor you really cannot understand it unless you come. The capital is basically a shanty town, and the people are so poor and so sick. Still, they're constantly smiling and are so happy to see you its so amazing. To explain how poor it is, let me explain.
For instance, we have not had water for three days. I, Nora Kaitis, have been taking a bucket showers. Oh yes, washing my body and hair from a bucket. Electricity is completely sporadic, going out about 2-3 times/day. And, a guy in my training class broke his ankle last night. It's the second day. How did he do this? He was sitting on the roof (everyone was on the balcony and roof slants down), stood up and fell straight through to a classroom below him. He has to be medvacked to Senegal or South Africa because they can't fix it here. Poor lad. But yes, roofs cave.
For some reason, we all just take it. I don't even really miss it, because we're all in the same boat. I told you, this is basically like the best summer camp ever for 22-year olds. The food is also really bad. I mean, it's ok, but just not good. Still, you eat it.
The people in my group are amazing and I'm obsessed with them. I also love the other volunteers and staff members. We have so much fun!
I am also so happy to have this blog because Peace Corps reads my other one! So we can't write anything!
So I'm staying at a Catholic Missionary with everyone for five days. They have a bar, so we drink Beninese beer at night with sand and palm trees. Yesterday was Sunday, aka church day, which lasts all day. There were kids everywhere! They were so cute. And among 80 children, not one had a toy. Not one soccer ball, not one doll. They hunt lizards all day and go crazy for digital cameras. You take pictures of them in different poses and then they fall on the floor laughing when they see themselves. I posted pics on facebook. The people here are absolutely gorgeous. The have this dark flawless skin, and they wear traditional African clothing. They're very proud. On the other hand, they're very humiliated by their status in the world and have this sad inferiority complex. 2% of Benin's population has AIDS, which is actually lower than the USA's 5% HIV/AIDS rate (Gabby you might wanna back me up on that).
Today was so much fun because the vast majority of taxis in Benin are motorcycles! So we had training on the zemidjans, the taxi motorcycle. You have not lived until you are on a motorcycle in Africa hahaha. So much fun! They zip through the streets and miss trucks and stones by like inches. Its soo cool. We have to wear helmets and the Beninese think you're crazy for wearing it haha.
Soon I move in with my host family and train for nine weeks and then I get my post! Crazy! There are so many hidden perks to joining the Peace Corps and I love it. Sorry if this email is a little crazy, there are a million people around me right now distracting me hahah. Like right now the volunteers that have been here for a year are freaking out over a People magazine someone brought over haha.
Love you all! I'm doing great and I'm having so much fun.
-Nora
So far, this experience has exceeded all my expectations. It keeps getting more and more fun. Benin is so poor you really cannot understand it unless you come. The capital is basically a shanty town, and the people are so poor and so sick. Still, they're constantly smiling and are so happy to see you its so amazing. To explain how poor it is, let me explain.
For instance, we have not had water for three days. I, Nora Kaitis, have been taking a bucket showers. Oh yes, washing my body and hair from a bucket. Electricity is completely sporadic, going out about 2-3 times/day. And, a guy in my training class broke his ankle last night. It's the second day. How did he do this? He was sitting on the roof (everyone was on the balcony and roof slants down), stood up and fell straight through to a classroom below him. He has to be medvacked to Senegal or South Africa because they can't fix it here. Poor lad. But yes, roofs cave.
For some reason, we all just take it. I don't even really miss it, because we're all in the same boat. I told you, this is basically like the best summer camp ever for 22-year olds. The food is also really bad. I mean, it's ok, but just not good. Still, you eat it.
The people in my group are amazing and I'm obsessed with them. I also love the other volunteers and staff members. We have so much fun!
I am also so happy to have this blog because Peace Corps reads my other one! So we can't write anything!
So I'm staying at a Catholic Missionary with everyone for five days. They have a bar, so we drink Beninese beer at night with sand and palm trees. Yesterday was Sunday, aka church day, which lasts all day. There were kids everywhere! They were so cute. And among 80 children, not one had a toy. Not one soccer ball, not one doll. They hunt lizards all day and go crazy for digital cameras. You take pictures of them in different poses and then they fall on the floor laughing when they see themselves. I posted pics on facebook. The people here are absolutely gorgeous. The have this dark flawless skin, and they wear traditional African clothing. They're very proud. On the other hand, they're very humiliated by their status in the world and have this sad inferiority complex. 2% of Benin's population has AIDS, which is actually lower than the USA's 5% HIV/AIDS rate (Gabby you might wanna back me up on that).
Today was so much fun because the vast majority of taxis in Benin are motorcycles! So we had training on the zemidjans, the taxi motorcycle. You have not lived until you are on a motorcycle in Africa hahaha. So much fun! They zip through the streets and miss trucks and stones by like inches. Its soo cool. We have to wear helmets and the Beninese think you're crazy for wearing it haha.
Soon I move in with my host family and train for nine weeks and then I get my post! Crazy! There are so many hidden perks to joining the Peace Corps and I love it. Sorry if this email is a little crazy, there are a million people around me right now distracting me hahah. Like right now the volunteers that have been here for a year are freaking out over a People magazine someone brought over haha.
Love you all! I'm doing great and I'm having so much fun.
-Nora
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Maura, you're right and I'm idiot. I remember thinking "that doesn't sound like Mo" when I read the post. Hey loons I'm in the Philly airport waiting for my connecting flight to Paris then Cotonou. I've already puked all over my hotel and almost fainted and I'm not even in Africa yet hahaha! I went out drinking last night with the other volunteers and between drinking and chugging coffee, I got myself extremely dehydrated and seriously almost fainted at vaccinations at 7 am this morning. I broke out into a cold sweat and seriously things were going black until I was; "Do NOT faint, do NOT faint". Luckily it passed and then I saw the nurse and they helped me get rehydrated again. After that, the vaccinations made me puke all over my hotel after an extremely violent taxi ride back to the hotel. So far, things have been so great. Really. There are already two girls talking about leaving, but I'm annoyed by them anyway. Sayonara! haha. The boys are also great and we have had so much fun! Last night we partied with the Benin volunteers and with the volunteers leaving for Kyrgestan or whatever. Ok well I love this blog because I can actually say whatever I want, Peace Corps reads my official blog and reprimands us for writing bad stuff or whatever. Alright, last few minutes of internet, I'm thinking my posts may become more and more sporadic, but keep it up! Love you and Maura, you're gonna make a fab teacher!
-Nora
-Nora
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Summer Camp
Hey homies-
I decided to sneak away during my lunch break and take advantage of the hotel's free internet. I'm in Philadelphia for three days of orientation. So far, I have seriously had like the best time of my life. Imagine a summer camp for 22-year olds, only its in Africa and all you learn about is languages and international development. I'm in heaven. I'm also the most uninteresting person here, comments like; "I sailed around French Polynesia for 5 weeks" "I did two semesters in Japan" "I did wildlife conservation in Tanzania" are completely common. I do luckily have a little leg up in the fact that I know French. But anyway, it's been so fun, everyone is so interesting and from all over! Montana, Hawaii, NYC, San Diego, Alabama! It's crazy. There's also two British kids (they have American parents and are citizens and the English equivalent of the Peace Corps is harder to get into). So anyway, tomorrow we do vaccinations and health all day and finally depart for Paris at 7 pm. We spend some time in the Paris airport (its going to take all self-control not to bust out of there, but all I need is to miss my flight haha) and then finally land in the capital of Benin at like 6 pm on July 4. Then the rest of the volunteers there are picking us up and taking us to the ambassador's house for a 4th of July party! yay!
Anyway, it's so great to hear from all of you. Mo, what exciting news! We'll both be teachers except my kids live in a hut in the bush! hahahah. And Leenie! Yay! I heard the Hyatt in Benin is one of the classiest.... hahah not.
Leens there's also a girl that looks like you whose from Boston so I obviously want her to be my best friend hahaha. My mom called and we just got your package! Boo, but its ok! Alright you guys, take care, we'll talk soon!
-Nora
I decided to sneak away during my lunch break and take advantage of the hotel's free internet. I'm in Philadelphia for three days of orientation. So far, I have seriously had like the best time of my life. Imagine a summer camp for 22-year olds, only its in Africa and all you learn about is languages and international development. I'm in heaven. I'm also the most uninteresting person here, comments like; "I sailed around French Polynesia for 5 weeks" "I did two semesters in Japan" "I did wildlife conservation in Tanzania" are completely common. I do luckily have a little leg up in the fact that I know French. But anyway, it's been so fun, everyone is so interesting and from all over! Montana, Hawaii, NYC, San Diego, Alabama! It's crazy. There's also two British kids (they have American parents and are citizens and the English equivalent of the Peace Corps is harder to get into). So anyway, tomorrow we do vaccinations and health all day and finally depart for Paris at 7 pm. We spend some time in the Paris airport (its going to take all self-control not to bust out of there, but all I need is to miss my flight haha) and then finally land in the capital of Benin at like 6 pm on July 4. Then the rest of the volunteers there are picking us up and taking us to the ambassador's house for a 4th of July party! yay!
Anyway, it's so great to hear from all of you. Mo, what exciting news! We'll both be teachers except my kids live in a hut in the bush! hahahah. And Leenie! Yay! I heard the Hyatt in Benin is one of the classiest.... hahah not.
Leens there's also a girl that looks like you whose from Boston so I obviously want her to be my best friend hahaha. My mom called and we just got your package! Boo, but its ok! Alright you guys, take care, we'll talk soon!
-Nora
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
I feel bad for Hyatt....
oh and PS i got offered that executive marketing position for Hyatt in downtown Chicago. I'm moving in three weeks...as of now I have no apartment haha so we'll see what happens! I know my friend Megan from home is going to be moving with me, but if any of you or anyone you know is looking for roommates, it lowers apt prices so much to have three opposed to two.
keep your eyes and ears open!! and some of you get your booties down (or up) to chi-town...NOW!!
love,
George W. Bush
keep your eyes and ears open!! and some of you get your booties down (or up) to chi-town...NOW!!
love,
George W. Bush
Accidently Got Sauced and Embarassed Family...
Hey guys!
Okay first things first.........allie prayed silently in a church for ten minutes...
im going to let that sink in.
Haha, second of all Larry, Mo, and Curly your stories were hilarious and I felt like I was literally talking to you in person. All i can say about everything that happened to Dool is.....obviously.
So I'm going to begin to weave my tale. Last weekend was my cousins grad party, and it was a fine/normal event.... until I started drinking grey goose and lemonades. Now, this is the o'shaughnessy side of the family..the crazy side and everyone came in from out of town. Keep in mind that I am the oldest of 26 grandchildren. Needless to say I got sauced out of my mind and continued to literally guzzle the Goose while at the same time telling my 14 year old cousins they better do the same. of the 26 cousins I am the only one that can legally drink. I would say that about twelve were belligerant. No wait, I just counted, 10. Ten of us went crazy. we brought out this wierd wooden board and set up an impromptu beer pong tournament...started blasting irish jig music and forced our dads to be our partners. Tim O. (dad) had a poor showing......until we started filling the cups with Great Lakes.
Now if you guys haven't had Great Lakes, it's this very potent beer that's like an ale..and it's notorious for being pretty good and SUPER strong. Tim O's talents were honed and he ended up winning the tournament with me as his partner.
His 15 year old son with his temps had to drive us home.
Needless to say Crazy Col (my mother) was not thrilled when I was imitating my aunts dance move in the family room in my 10 inch wedges and wiped out knocking over a wooden chair. apparently i'm an "embaressment"....haha I told her she was forbidden to look upon me. didn't end well. I was forced to do lawn duty the next day and prrooooobably would have chosen death.
I think I convinced about 9 more of my cousins to come to Marquette and continue the legacy. There are 4 of them that are going to be seniors in high school and are all thinking of coming. how hilarious would that be...if you went to college with three of your cousins. I'm laying on the peer pressure pretty hard so we'll see
So anyways, what are your guys plans for SummerFest...im debating coming up this weekend....everyone's thoughts?!
i honestly miss you guys so much, and i love you all!
sincerely,
Nala the Lioness.
Okay first things first.........allie prayed silently in a church for ten minutes...
im going to let that sink in.
Haha, second of all Larry, Mo, and Curly your stories were hilarious and I felt like I was literally talking to you in person. All i can say about everything that happened to Dool is.....obviously.
So I'm going to begin to weave my tale. Last weekend was my cousins grad party, and it was a fine/normal event.... until I started drinking grey goose and lemonades. Now, this is the o'shaughnessy side of the family..the crazy side and everyone came in from out of town. Keep in mind that I am the oldest of 26 grandchildren. Needless to say I got sauced out of my mind and continued to literally guzzle the Goose while at the same time telling my 14 year old cousins they better do the same. of the 26 cousins I am the only one that can legally drink. I would say that about twelve were belligerant. No wait, I just counted, 10. Ten of us went crazy. we brought out this wierd wooden board and set up an impromptu beer pong tournament...started blasting irish jig music and forced our dads to be our partners. Tim O. (dad) had a poor showing......until we started filling the cups with Great Lakes.
Now if you guys haven't had Great Lakes, it's this very potent beer that's like an ale..and it's notorious for being pretty good and SUPER strong. Tim O's talents were honed and he ended up winning the tournament with me as his partner.
His 15 year old son with his temps had to drive us home.
Needless to say Crazy Col (my mother) was not thrilled when I was imitating my aunts dance move in the family room in my 10 inch wedges and wiped out knocking over a wooden chair. apparently i'm an "embaressment"....haha I told her she was forbidden to look upon me. didn't end well. I was forced to do lawn duty the next day and prrooooobably would have chosen death.
I think I convinced about 9 more of my cousins to come to Marquette and continue the legacy. There are 4 of them that are going to be seniors in high school and are all thinking of coming. how hilarious would that be...if you went to college with three of your cousins. I'm laying on the peer pressure pretty hard so we'll see
So anyways, what are your guys plans for SummerFest...im debating coming up this weekend....everyone's thoughts?!
i honestly miss you guys so much, and i love you all!
sincerely,
Nala the Lioness.
Monday, June 30, 2008
I wish this was about our great sex lives, it's not
Heyyy ladies! Dool, Gabs and I are doing a joint blog right now, being the last 3 left in milwaukee :(. I have a little news! I am officially stuck in this godforsaken tundra for awhile...BVK offered me a job on Friday! Sooooo everyone needs to come back, or at least come to visit when Gabs and I finish our amazing apt that we're going to buy. We've already picked out a color scheme: mint green & chocolate brown. haha geeks I know, but I'm excited! So some highlights from the past weekend for us 3
1. Dool got BLACK OUT and got home (we dont know how). and by home, I mean to shen's apt where him and mo were lovingly cuddling. she proceeds accept their invitation into his apt, get sick a LOT in the bathroom and at some point in the night crawled into bed with both of them! Needless to say Shen was not pleased and ended up on the ground by the end of the night, but not before bandaging dools bleeding foot for her. all and all a loving friday night.
2. Trainors little brother came to visit and promptly fell in love with the girl who bought him the most shots...mo. A little while later inquired as to whether or not mo had a boyfriend, and if so, whether or not he was dangerous. Gabby said no.
3. We all had the intention of going bowling on saturday night, but showed up in our sandles to gresky's. he lovingly offered us all socks to wear (joe o's of course) and when we all got rejected from the bowling ally due to trainor's little brother's fake gabby geniusly remembered that she forgot her socks at home so proceeded to take everyone's socks and now has 4 pairs that she can fit BOTH of her feet in.
4. Some man stole dools underwear from the pool. apparently this was some time ago, and everyone knew about this, but me. gabby just causually dropped the fact that he was smelling it as well.
5. I had an official Dool moment yesterday. While walking down the allyway behind 18th after parking my car, at dusk, by MYSELF, I look up at a dumpster as a car drives by. to my dismay I find myself staring at hairy homeless butt. a homeless man is SHITTING into a bag mere feet from me! I have still not recovered.
6. Gabs and I got bed frames delivered today. No mattresses, the frames. fuckin renee row.
7. I got a fish, his name is Eugene. I affectionatly call him eugie for short. gabby calls him gene.
Love,
Larry, Moe and Curly
1. Dool got BLACK OUT and got home (we dont know how). and by home, I mean to shen's apt where him and mo were lovingly cuddling. she proceeds accept their invitation into his apt, get sick a LOT in the bathroom and at some point in the night crawled into bed with both of them! Needless to say Shen was not pleased and ended up on the ground by the end of the night, but not before bandaging dools bleeding foot for her. all and all a loving friday night.
2. Trainors little brother came to visit and promptly fell in love with the girl who bought him the most shots...mo. A little while later inquired as to whether or not mo had a boyfriend, and if so, whether or not he was dangerous. Gabby said no.
3. We all had the intention of going bowling on saturday night, but showed up in our sandles to gresky's. he lovingly offered us all socks to wear (joe o's of course) and when we all got rejected from the bowling ally due to trainor's little brother's fake gabby geniusly remembered that she forgot her socks at home so proceeded to take everyone's socks and now has 4 pairs that she can fit BOTH of her feet in.
4. Some man stole dools underwear from the pool. apparently this was some time ago, and everyone knew about this, but me. gabby just causually dropped the fact that he was smelling it as well.
5. I had an official Dool moment yesterday. While walking down the allyway behind 18th after parking my car, at dusk, by MYSELF, I look up at a dumpster as a car drives by. to my dismay I find myself staring at hairy homeless butt. a homeless man is SHITTING into a bag mere feet from me! I have still not recovered.
6. Gabs and I got bed frames delivered today. No mattresses, the frames. fuckin renee row.
7. I got a fish, his name is Eugene. I affectionatly call him eugie for short. gabby calls him gene.
Love,
Larry, Moe and Curly
Saturday, June 28, 2008
72 hrs left in the U S of A
First of all, THANK YOU ALL for coming last weekend. It was all so nice and I seriously felt so loved :) I hope you all had as good of a time as I did!
Leenie Leenie this is a fab idea and I love it. I'm sure I'll be laughing my ass off in an "internet cafe" aka grass hut in Benin and telling all of my shaman friends. I'm also keeping a blog while in Benin so you can check out my ridiculousness abroad there as well. It is:
http://noraslifeinbenin.blogspot.com/
I think I'm going to make it Perez Hilton Third World-style, aka draw cum stains on all the volunteers I don't like (hahha kidding). Anyway, Allisondro I loved your story, especially about your mother telling you that your sins were too long and she had to be somewhere at seven. hahahahah. So you all are going to Milwacky next weekend? Boo. I arrive in Benin on July 4, think of me....
I went to the Cubs vs. Sox game yesterday, my dad has season tickets and let me take them (he is a psycho Sox fan even though we are from the Northside of Chicago and it makes no sense). I myself am a true fairweather fan and think the whole rivalry is stupid since we're all from Chicago. Anyone, my dad's stipulation is that I had to wear a Sox shirt and root for the Sox, so I was a Sox fan yest. It was amazing! They're both in first place and the Sox ended up winning. I took my friend Claire b/c she's a huge Cubs fan and she just got heckled the entire game which was hilarious. People were shouting "100 yrs! 100 yrs!" at her b/c its been 100 years since the Cubs have won a World Series. Anyway, we went to the Taste of Chicago beforehand and got huge frozen lemonades which we dumped vodka into before we got on the L to the game. It was really fun and a great way to kiss goodbye my favorite city before I go :(
Anyway, I leave for Philadelphia on Tuesday to meet the rest of my Peace Corps peeps and do three days of orientation and vaccinations. My flight is at 6:30 am. I finally get to Benin on July 4 which is weird, especially when the 4th of July is my favorite holiday! I'll have my cell phone on me until I leave for Africa. It's going to be insane. Even know when I'm sleeping in strange places like with Allie in Ben's bed in Milwaukee, or at Claire's sisters', I'll wake up in the middle of the night and be like; "OMG am I in Africa?". hahaha because isn't that going to be weird?!
My parents keep calling it "Elle Woods Goes to Africa", the girl from Legally Blond. Which is actually sort of fitting hahah.
I'm not really that nervous. I spent most of last year doing that. I just have this sort of melancholy feeling, like am I crazy? Am I making the right decision? It's weird. I'm also very anxious.
Love you all. Good luck with everything and take care of yourselves. You won't even know how much I'll miss you guys! Really.
These next couple of years will fly. Now I'm balling.
Love,
Nora
Leenie Leenie this is a fab idea and I love it. I'm sure I'll be laughing my ass off in an "internet cafe" aka grass hut in Benin and telling all of my shaman friends. I'm also keeping a blog while in Benin so you can check out my ridiculousness abroad there as well. It is:
http://noraslifeinbenin.blogspot.com/
I think I'm going to make it Perez Hilton Third World-style, aka draw cum stains on all the volunteers I don't like (hahha kidding). Anyway, Allisondro I loved your story, especially about your mother telling you that your sins were too long and she had to be somewhere at seven. hahahahah. So you all are going to Milwacky next weekend? Boo. I arrive in Benin on July 4, think of me....
I went to the Cubs vs. Sox game yesterday, my dad has season tickets and let me take them (he is a psycho Sox fan even though we are from the Northside of Chicago and it makes no sense). I myself am a true fairweather fan and think the whole rivalry is stupid since we're all from Chicago. Anyone, my dad's stipulation is that I had to wear a Sox shirt and root for the Sox, so I was a Sox fan yest. It was amazing! They're both in first place and the Sox ended up winning. I took my friend Claire b/c she's a huge Cubs fan and she just got heckled the entire game which was hilarious. People were shouting "100 yrs! 100 yrs!" at her b/c its been 100 years since the Cubs have won a World Series. Anyway, we went to the Taste of Chicago beforehand and got huge frozen lemonades which we dumped vodka into before we got on the L to the game. It was really fun and a great way to kiss goodbye my favorite city before I go :(
Anyway, I leave for Philadelphia on Tuesday to meet the rest of my Peace Corps peeps and do three days of orientation and vaccinations. My flight is at 6:30 am. I finally get to Benin on July 4 which is weird, especially when the 4th of July is my favorite holiday! I'll have my cell phone on me until I leave for Africa. It's going to be insane. Even know when I'm sleeping in strange places like with Allie in Ben's bed in Milwaukee, or at Claire's sisters', I'll wake up in the middle of the night and be like; "OMG am I in Africa?". hahaha because isn't that going to be weird?!
My parents keep calling it "Elle Woods Goes to Africa", the girl from Legally Blond. Which is actually sort of fitting hahah.
I'm not really that nervous. I spent most of last year doing that. I just have this sort of melancholy feeling, like am I crazy? Am I making the right decision? It's weird. I'm also very anxious.
Love you all. Good luck with everything and take care of yourselves. You won't even know how much I'll miss you guys! Really.
These next couple of years will fly. Now I'm balling.
Love,
Nora
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Yahtzee!
Hey bias!
Okay, so I have a job now and I'm extremely bored out of my mind so I decided that this would be a great and easy way to keep in touch since we've all gradauted. I figured that we'd all be experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms from each other, alchohol, and cigs.
So in order to weave our tales (drunken, sober, stupid, hilarious) and keep in touch, I suggest we all post our thoughts and stories on here. we can plan our next adventures and drunken nights.
The link is http://marquettefriends.blogspot.com/ . It's under kathleen.oshaughnessy@marquette.edu and the password is marquette. But I invited you all to be Contributors so you can create your own user name and password to put up posts.
well tell me what you guys think, and write on the wall!
love yas,
Miranda Hobbs
Okay, so I have a job now and I'm extremely bored out of my mind so I decided that this would be a great and easy way to keep in touch since we've all gradauted. I figured that we'd all be experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms from each other, alchohol, and cigs.
So in order to weave our tales (drunken, sober, stupid, hilarious) and keep in touch, I suggest we all post our thoughts and stories on here. we can plan our next adventures and drunken nights.
The link is http://marquettefriends.blogspot.com/ . It's under kathleen.oshaughnessy@marquette.edu and the password is marquette. But I invited you all to be Contributors so you can create your own user name and password to put up posts.
well tell me what you guys think, and write on the wall!
love yas,
Miranda Hobbs
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