Liberia, December 4

Some recent happenings...
I have jiggers in my toes...small burrowing insects that lay eggs and have to be squeezed out in a painful at-home surgery. Sounds fun, no? It's strange the things you get used to, the idea doesn't really bother me any more.
Also, fighting a low-level malarial situation...lose energy and get a little strange in the head in the evenings...but by morning I'm back to normal.
Will be leaving Liberia in 10 days. I try not to think about it, or talk about it when it enters my mind. When I do think about it, I tell myself that I will be returning in February, so that I don't get too much in to anticipatory grief. I am going to miss so many things about this experience: the Fellows, the Staff, the ocean, the gorgeous evening walks, getting to teach yoga 6 days a week, teaching enthusiastic students who love to learn, watching Nik be so free and engaged with life and the natural world and his friends, the moon over the water, the coconut palms, the ferns growing on the trunks of trees, living with 8 boisterous and entertaining people, our family dinners around the table, each person stating what they are grateful for that day, the laughter ringing through the house, the teasing and joking that goes on between Nik and the Fellows every day, getting my meals prepared for me every day... the list goes on and on.

Well, the dinner table is set and we are gathering, so will try to post a time or two more before we leave on December 14th.

love,

Rachel

Thanksgiving in Liberia

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

We had a special day here...called off classes and organized a fishing adventure on a very tippy canoe, out in to Lake Piso. We walked out to the mouth of the lake, where it connects to the ocean, and waited for our boat to paddle up, fishing for bait while we waited. When the canoe arrived, Nik's dad and I decided we were a little too old and fussy to sit in the bottom of a small leaky wooden vessel, but Nik, Timmy and Donnett went aboard and paddled out away from shore. Apparently, Nik caught all the fish, Donnett caught one, and Timmy caught none. They eventually straggled back right in time for our Thanksgiving lunch, carrying lots of fish. Gathered around the table and enjoyed American stuffing from a box along with our spicy chicken and rice dish. Nik's dad gave money for the chickens, and Nik and Essie had gone out and bought them from a neighbor and chased them around to catch them. Donnett killed them, Nik looking on in fascination...

This evening we went around the table and gave thanks for our day (which we do every day) and Nik's dad gave a good speech, which I translated into English, about how well he was being taken care of here and how much he was enjoying himself in this beautiful place. He spent most of the afternoon being entertained by local children, playing games and walking along the beach. He also generously bought new shoes and shirts for Nik's two best fishing buddy friends.

Today is the day that I commemorate the death of my father, since he passed away on Thanksgiving, and I believe that he would be very happy to see Nik and I here among such good friends and family.

love,

Rachel

Liberia, November 20

Hello All,
OK, catch up time again.
Today, early, a sea turtle came up on shore to lay eggs. But she came up at the wrong spot, where all the fishermen keep their boats. Luckily, since she didn't "belong" to anyone (no one had caught her), the people who had gathered around encouraged her back in to the sea and let her continue on with her life. As she reached the waves, one young lad stepped up on to her back and surfed out into the waves on her back. Several people dove in with her as she swam away, until they lost her in the waves.
I then got ready for service up at the Episcopalian church on the hill overlooking Robertsport and the ocean and Lake Piso. Such a beautiful place, reminds me of Cape Cod in summertime, bushes and flowers overlooking the sea with old New England stone architecture. We were told service started at 9, so we hiked up the mountain with my breakfast of fried plantains in my hand. But no one, not even the pastor, was there when we arrived. about 9:30 the pastor arrived, and 15 minutes later a few other people straggled up the hill. Apparently, service actually starts closer to 11. African time. But once things got started, the sermon was interesting and funny and had a good message, and I was asked to stand and was welcomed by the pastor and congregation.

My pepper plants are starting to poke up out of the goat manure.

Getting things done here (the roof needs replacing - badly - and the fence around the house has been in major disrepair since I got here) has been a challenge. There are very few materials available, and even when they are, getting someone to cut them down and transport them to us seems to take forever. And finding someone to do that is difficult too. Frustrating, and not sure what the root causes are. Lack of motivation, lack of energy, lack of that old American "get it done" attitude - not sure...

Nik's father is coming to visit for a week on Tuesday. The last time Nik saw his dad was 3 summers ago...it will be interesting to see how they interact here in Nik's house, as we've always been on his dad's turf in Mali or France.

Thanksgiving coming up on Thursday...not sure how/if we will celebrate. I'm going in to Monrovia on Tuesday to do the shopping and will have to see if any Thanksgiving-ish items appear to me.

Classes with the Fellows have been entertaining and productive, as usual. I am teaching them Latin word roots and derivatives, have taught them how to conjugate Latin verbs (good mental calisthenics!) and tomorrow we'll do names of body parts and their derivatives (e.g. manus = hand, where we get manual, manufacture, manicure, etc.).

Yoga classes have been good, getting up at 5 to do my own practice, then waking everyone up at 6 for our group class. Attendance is sometimes spotty (just 2 or 3 of the 6 Fellows) but I can't force anyone out of bed for yoga...and those that do come seem to really be enjoying it.

Love to you all,

Rachel

Liberia, November 12

Hello All,
So hard to keep up with reporting things here!
This morning, worked with some small kids to clean the yard (once they figured out what I was doing, they competed with each other to race to pick up the next piece of trash), transplanted some small trees from the side of the house out in to the yard, collected some goat manure from a local farmer and planted pepper seeds in a little nursery up on our balcony. Then had a delicious cajun-type lunch of spicy kidney beans, sweet potatoes and rice - I need to learn that recipe!
Yesterday, Nik went out fishing twice with his two friends, Samuel and Mohammed (MoMo for short) and brought back fish to fry for lunch and then fish for fish pepper soup in the evening. Nik is getting a real cultural immersion, learning how to cook local fish dishes over a coal fire, cleaning the fish, etc.

Yesterday, I taught the Fellows about the eight parts of speech, which then turned in to a discussion about evolution, gay marriage, prostitution, etc. Nik and Donnet also presented their survey results on a virus they each researched, answering questions from a panel and engaging us in interesting discussions about AIDS and rabies.

It was 11/11/11 yesterday, the official beginning of the Aquarian Age, so we celebrated with extra yoga in the morning, then I made popcorn for morning snack, and bought sodas at night during our Friday Festival or dancing and singing...not the typical Aquarian Age celebration, but it's what we got here in Robertsport...

I also went swimming by myself for the first time, and sat on the beach watching the sun go down. so beautiful and peaceful here, giving thanks for having been brought to this amazing place and these amazing people.

Having a hard time deciding whether to stay for the spring semester, or come back in December to stay in Boulder permanently. Will keep praying for guidance and the best decision...

A few days ago, on an early evening walk, went into an old abandoned hotel and was blown away with the eery-ness and beauty of the place. see the photo...

Tomorrow, will teach two yoga classes to the community here at the House, one for kids, one for young adults. The kids are boisterous and enthusiastic, we'll see how the two teenage boys who are coming take to it...

OK, feeling more caught up.

Love to you all,

Rachel

Liberia, November 6

Greetings!

A quick update...

Nik and I went to Monrovia Saturday, his first trip in to the capital. He hasn't been willing to go in for previous grocery shopping trips, which take all day and involve at least 6 hours of driving, but the enticement of pizza and ice cream was finally too much.

He was a good traveler, as usual, plying our taxi driver with questions about monkey sightings and getting an interesting story about the driver hitting a crocodile in the road and taking it home on the top of his car.

Three hours later, we made the transition to another taxi just outside of Monrovia, and made our way over the bridge into the city. We got out and managed to be jostled along the streets, the sidewalks full of vendors, to Stop and Shop, which is owned by a Lebanese man and strives to be as American as possible. Nik was in awe of the canned tuna and candy selection. And the donut was on the house.

We then had several errands to run, and in one electronics store, the owner allowed Nik to sit and watch an American cartoon movie while Emmanuel and I finished our shopping, buying fresh fruits and veggies out on the street from street vendors. I found avocados (called butter pears here), green beans, carrots, cabbage, zucchini, cilantro - I was in heaven. We bought our items and left them with one of the vendors so we could return later for them on our way out of town. Notice the theme of leaving precious items in the care of strangers....and in all instances, the trust was well placed. We made our way back to Nik in the electronics store, and I struck up a conversation with the owner, who was Indian, explaining that I was teaching yoga. We talked yoga shop for a while, and he may bring his family out to Strongheart in the next few months to enjoy the beach.

When I asked about good pizza in Monrovia, he phoned his friend, also an Indian, who runs the Palm Hotel, and sent us to his friend to take good care of us. The pizza, according to Nik, was delicious, and I had a fresh salad and delicious Middle Eastern eggplant dish. Heaven.

Then the challenge of getting all of our boxes and propane tanks and fresh veggies back to Robertsport...not an easy task, but after two more taxi rides, and several more hours, we arrived near home by 8 pm, tho the taxi would not take us to our house because of the horrendous state of our road, so we had to carry all the items back to the house on our heads.

Luckily, we had found a bootleg version of Tom and Jerry on the street, so Nik was well entertained as we made our way back on the terrible road back to Robertsport.

Thank God for portable DVD players.

The moon is waxing, and a walk on the beach under the moonlight was just the thing to heal the bumps and bruises of our adventure.

love,

Rachel

ps – nothing brings 10 year old boys together across the cultural and language divide like old Tom and Jerry cartoons. There are guffaws and cackles coming from the next room from a group of kids as I write this….

Liberia, October 31

Hello All,

Let's see, where to start.

This morning I taught some basic yoga poses to 8 young kids from the neighborhood. Some of them were really good - able to hold tree pose forever, seemingly, and enjoying doing the difficult downward dog pushups with one leg in the air...more and more kids kept coming wanting to join, it may end up being a big Sunday class.

Yesterday Timmy and I walked to the beach to find Nik and three of the Fellows joining in with the local fishermen to pull in a giant net from a canoe out in the sea. It was like a giant tug of war game with the fish in the net...and the fish lost. Lots of small fish, and several large ones (called in the local dialect "sea chickens"), a tuna, some barracuda. People on the line were putting the smaller live fish in to their pockets to take home as bait or for their afternoon soup. Since he had helped, Nik was given a barracuda, and he sold it for 75 Liberian dollars, which is about $1.25. He will use it to buy drink mixes to put in water or bread in the market when he gets hungry and our meal isn't ready.

Yesterday morning, a couple in their 20s from the community came up for a private yoga class, which they really seemed to enjoy. People here are not used to sitting cross legged, so even just basic stretching poses are challenging. But the woman had good balance, and the man's strength served him well in the difficult poses. Hopefully they will bring some friends next time. I felt proud of them for being willing to try something new.

It has been getting hot here, and the rain is coming less and less to cool things off.

There has been a major upset in the elections, and the election commissioner admitted that differing results were reported, and in fact the opposition party, CDC, won the first election. Ellen's party came in second, so it won't change the run-off election parties on Nov 8, but psychologically it definitely changes things. Apparently, the election commissioner sent his family to the US before he made the announcement (in fear for them) but the US wouldn't allow them to stay. Now the CDC will participate in the run-off election, since they feel like the first election was fairly reported now.

Please see the new Strongheart website: http://flavors.me/stronghearthouse

We need donations!!! there is a spot on the website on which you can donate. We need groceries and money to pay the local staff (cook, housekeeper, someone to bring the water from the stream for bathing and drinking, etc.). Thank you!!

The crescent moon appeared last evening, so beautiful over the ocean, with Venus sparkling brightly near by.

We went to a wake for the neighborhood "governor" Friday night. The coffin was draped with a Liberian flag, in the City Hall, and women were dancing and singing all around it. What amazing energy surrounding him, a good way to go. The dancing and singing went on all night apparently.

We have a pet monitor lizard tied to a tree. Nik brings it dead fish to eat. They say that it will become tame and not need to be tied at some point.

Classes have been going well, there is good positive energy in the house, and things are running smoothly. There was a lot of publicity for Strongheart because of Evelyn Apoko, one of the Fellows, speaking out about the situation in Uganda and Rush Limbaugh's comments about the LRA, by whom she was abducted as a child. Brave woman - interviews on CNN, going to Capitol Hill, etc.

Speaking her truth.

Next Friday the Fellows and I plan on performing MC Yogi's "Be the Change" rap about Gandhi, which is the house favorite song.

Thanks for following!

love,

Rachel

Liberia, October 23

Well, it's been a little while since I've posted. Partly because I need to conserve laptop battery, partly because I have gotten busy taking on the financial budgeting and accounting here at the house. Which has been teaching me a lot about the behind the scenes workings of running an establishment here in Liberia. And also I think bringing me closer to people here since I am becoming a more integral part of the House.

Have had many lovely daily adventures here recently, and am really really happy. Feeling connected to people, swimming in the warm and calm sea, feeling like I am being of use, teaching yoga every day. Nik is taking on more of a sense of being a part of the house, and is becoming more and more willing to help out and "be useful" as I say (and as the Fellows make fun of me for saying). Had an American visitor stay here last night, it was interesting to be in the position of getting to be the tour guide and seeing this amazing place through another's eyes. It is becoming more like home, like a place that I belong to and that I am happy to share with others. We all (Fellows and Staff) worked hard yesterday to get the house ready, and everyone worked together to make sure there was delicious food available and clean water in the house, etc., and I think we all felt that sense of accomplishment from working together and creating something successful. Our visitors made a generous donation to the house, and gave our dear cook a ride in to Monrovia on their way back so she could attend her brother's funeral.

Above is a picture of me and Timmy and Gabriel carting broken chairs to the chair doctor in their wheelbarrow ambulance. With a book on my head, carrying things in the African style.

Nik goes out fishing with friends every afternoon, coming home just before dinner and darkfall. He is making good progress in Math, we are working on long division and he has mastered multiplication and math facts are rolling off his tongue now. I think one on one instruction has been very beneficial for him. I am also having he and a Fellow do a survey on a particular virus of interest - Nik chose AIDS and has been asking several people in and out of the house what they know about it. We will compile results this week in graphed and written ways. I've been enjoying keeping my hand in being a "school teacher" but glad to have just a few students, and mostly getting to teach yoga and from the amazing book Wired for Joy.

We hope to start a small pepper garden in the yard this week, and will be inventorying the house to get ready to start opening it up as a guest house. So lots of projects! Yay!

Love to you all. If you are moved, please consider donating to this amazing organization: http://flavors.me/stronghearthouse

Rachel