Catching up... CAMP SKY!

I've been so busy lately. But before I begin with camp SKY, take a journey with me to the past. Don't worry, it's not too far away, just about a month or so. No need to pack your bags.

On July 20th Malawi was not in a state of safety. Unfortunately, I was heading down to Lilongwe on that day to attend to some Camp SKY business. As I passed though Mzuzu with Garrett and Chris, we noticed that the market was completely bare. It looked like a ghost town. The streets were also void of their usual sellers of avocados, ground nuts, scones, etc. While walking out of Mzuzu to begin hitching south, we saw groups of people gathered near a local school. By the time we were out of town the civilians began to demonstrate their frustrations with the government and their president. About every 10 minutes or so the crowd would disperse as the army and police squadrons fired tear gas into the crowd. At this point we were conveniently observing the protests from a hill outside of town, from where we could see most activities. The protestors quickly turned into rioters and began to wreak havoc and destruction wherever they happened to be chased. We watched as they tore down a roadside billboard picturing the current president, and lit it on fire in the middle of the road. Then they turned their anger on the DPP building (the DPP, "democratic progressive party", is the political party of the current president and most members of parliament and other ministers in the government). They tore off the iron sheets to make road blocks, preventing any traffic from getting into or out of Mzuzu. Then they tore down the DPP building and lit it on fire. The road block caused traffic to takea detour, using the road from where we were trying to hitch. Once the rioters realized the traffic could still get through they began running towards our turn-off with more iron sheets and other rubbish with which to make more road blocks. And we happened to be in their way. Once we noticed the angry mob coming our way, we all picked up our backpacks and started running away. Yes, I actually ran away from an angry mob in Africa. After we had ran about 1/2 mile or more we looked back and noticed an empty overlander bus (a tourguide bus) that just barely made it through the mob of people. They pulled over to pick us up, and we had to basically jump into the bus as we were running away from the mob. The bus brought us safely to a petrol station only a few miles outside of Mzuzu. The drivers and the tour guide told us of how the mob was throwing rocks at the bus and threatened to burn the bus down if the drivers didn't give the mob all the money they had. We all felt lucky to get away from the craziness. I'm sure, had they caught us, they would've taken everything I had.

We finally got a ride down south, but we were advised not to come into Lilongwe, the governmental capitol of Malawi, as it would be a dangerous area. Instead we stayed at the house of some friends just outside the city. We were put on lock down for several days, and I felt horrible because we ate all my friends' food. I hope we can repay them some day. When everything calmed down we were able to come back to Lilongwe, and I got many things done for Camp SKY.

Let me skip ahead a few weeks. Most of that time was only preparation for Camp SKY and reading about 8 Newsweeks I received from Mom. Thanks Mom, now I know up to date news... from June. (I'm not being sarcastic, it's really nice to be in the loop even though it might not be as recent as a month or two ago). I also set up a hammock in my house that looks over the valley. It's a great place to read and contemplate the existence of life, if true love can ever last, the ingredients of Malawian puff snacks, and all of life's great mysteries.

CAMP SKY 2011 - "From the Classroom to the World" Camp SKY began on Sunday, August 21st at Lilongwe Girls School. I had been in Lilongwe for days before that, staying at a the house of some different married friends just outside Lilongwe (PCVs). We were, yet again, on lock down due to expected riots again. (The Malawians had given the president until August 17th to either do a drastic governmental overhaul or step down, otherwise they were going to protest again. This did not end up happening, but the protests are supposed to have been rescheduled for September 17th. I guess we'll see.)

Anyway, the campers arrived on Sunday evening, and spent most of that day playing some games and getting to know the other campers. The next day, the first full day of camp, we got into the swing of things. Every morning from breakfast to lunch the kids participated in something like a summer school where they had 5 55-minute classes - Physical Science, English Grammer, Literature, Biology, and Math. The kids were split into 2 groups that learned different things within those subjects. For example, the students from group 1 learned about coordination in Biology, while the students from group 2 learned about genetics. Then after lunch were varying activities including laboratory time. The lab time was such a wonderful opportunity, as most of the students have never been in a lab before. They were able to use apparati and chemicals they have only learned about in science theory. It was great for them to be able to use their knowledge practically. In addition to these daily happenings, there were 3 1/2 meals a day (breakfast, lunch, tea, & dinner), and every one of them filling and delicious. Even the volunteers enjoyed the food. We considered that a win.

On Monday the students learned about HIV/AIDS transmission and listened to a wonderful guest speaker, Dr./Ms. Fulata Moyo, who is a native of northern Malawi who has obtained her PhD in ethics and gender, and spends her time doing research for a Catholic organization in Geneva. She was quite inspirational. The other activities for that afternoon included jam making, music (taught by me), drama, and resume writing. That night after dinner we played mission impossible (in the dark), where the students acted like spies and had to find a glowing box that was hidden somewhere on campus. If they were caught by a PCV they had to begin their mission again at the home base. They really enjoyed it, but I think the PCVs enjoyed it more.

On Tuesday the afternoon the students had their second round of HIV/AIDS, this time learning about prevention. The students learned how to use condoms, and some of them even volunteered to put a condom on a wooden penis to demonstrate their knowledge to their peers. What brave kids! The students also participated in some Malaria knowledge and prevention activities that day. The other activities were the same as above for Monday. That night I taught the students how to line dance. Because there was no power in the main activity hall, I had to dance on a table with another volunteer tracing my footsteps with a candle so everyone could see the dance steps.

Wednesday was field trip day. In the morning we went to the Lilongwe Wildlife Center, where the students -and volunteers- saw crocodiles, many monkeys, a leopard, a lion, antelopes, a porcupine, a python, and many birds. We also watched a presentation about Antarctica, given by one of the Malawian staff working at the LWC who had the opportunity to travel to Antarctica. She showed us pictures and a video of her trip. It was quite inspiring. It made me want to go to Antarctica. Most of these kids don't understand what that level of cold is, and can't really understand the concept of snow. After LLC and lunch, we traveled to the Malawi Parliament building, where we got a tour of the building and got to go inside the Parliament chambers. The kids asked many great questions and were really moved by seeing something their parents and grandparents have only dreamed of. Once out of the building, we also took the students to see the tomb of Kamuzu Banda, the first president of Malawi. They really enjoyed it. We came back to the campus for tea and some afternoon activities. That night after dinner we showed a movie in one of the classrooms - Pirates of the Carribbean. The students liked it, even though they talked through most of the movie. The wooden eyeball of the pirate just cracked them up!

Thursday afternoon the students learned about permaculture, and how to use the resources they have to make good environmental and agricultural decisions. They also learned how to and participated in composting and paper briquette making (you can make charcoal-esque briquettes out of trash paper and leaves). It was pretty interesting, and I also learned some things. The activities in the afternoon were music, resume writing, solar engineering, and drama. After dinner we had a talent show, which was... interesting. Think about the most awkward middle school dances and turn it into a talent show. That's about how it was. My music class performed a rhythm sequence with cups which didn't go so well, mostly because the students were nervous. They did perfectly during practice, but that's how it goes. I was still proud, and everyone had fun. The show ended with the volunteers singing the Malawi national anthem, and then the American national anthem.

Friday was the last full day of camp. In the afternoon, we had the groups divide up and make posters of what they had learned in their week of classes. Then one group of students taught the other group what they had learned. This was all done without the students looking at their notes. It was quite impressive to see all they had learned in one week. Unfortunately, I did not get to see this portion of the afternoon because I was busy dissecting a goat. We, a few of the PCVs, bought and killed a goat, and took out several of its organs to show the students how the body really works. I removed the reproductive system and the colon after sawing open the pelvis. I also removed 2 eyeballs and removed and skinned the head so the students could see the musculature of the face. I taught the reproductive system (it was a female) and the excretion system (kidneys). Others showed the eye, digestive system, the heart, the lungs (which the students got to blow up with a straw), and others. The students were inquisitive and got some great knowledge of the body out of their experience. I later dissected one of the ovaducts that was swollen to find a tiny goat faetus. I was guessing it to be not more than a few weeks old. I held it in my hand and walked around so students could see it. They have only seen pictures of such levels of development. I think my friends at Blayney Vet Clinic would be proud of me and my skills with a blade. For the last night we fed the students some pasta with a tomato sauce. They enjoyed it, but I think the PCVs enjoyed it more. What they really liked, though, was the ice cream they were given as a dessert - with toppings! Everyone was asking for seconds. We then had a ceremony of giving the students certificates of participation and T-shirts. They were thrilled to receive the shirts, and to be recognized individually. After dinner we had a disco/dance. It was a lot of fun for everyone involved.

On Saturday the students left the campus at 6:15 am, and the PCVs did some inventory and cleaning. I checked into a lodge and passed out after some lunch. Since then I've been relaxing and not doing much. I can't believe it's over. I keep feeling like there's something more to do. That I'm resting now, but I'll have to get up and deal with some problems of campers or PCVs or some other logistical snafu in only a minute. But no, it's finished, and I can relax and go home to teach in only a week or so, and that can be the only thing to trouble my mind. I'm going to have to find some other secondary projects to fill my time, because I don't think I have enough books to occupy all that free time. Thank you to all of you who have helped, whether you have helped to fund Camp SKY, or you have just been supportive of me during some stressful times. Thank you so much. You have made our camp the best yet! Now I'm going to go get a massage and some Chinese food.