Third Goal

sunset over Lake Malawi

This is a sunset scene over Lake Malawi from Cape MacClear.

african plains

This is a picture from on top of Nyika Plateau in Northern Malawi. It is the site that David Livingston set up a mission hospital during WW2. Women from the local villages would hike up to the top of this plateau 4 months before giving birth and then hike back down afterwards. From the top of the plateau one can see the Shire River (Lake Tanginyika drain off) and 4 countries; zambia, tanzania, malawi, and mozambique; and on a really good day..all the way to the Indian Ocean. On the grounds of...

guliwamkulu

Guliwamkulu are masked dancers from the community. They make their own masks. The identity of the individual should never be known. If in the act of dancing, a guliwamkulu lets his mask fall off and his identity becomes known; the mask is sent to a musuem (Mua Mission) for preservation in Malawi. Guliwamkulu often made red masks to mimic the face of 'the white men'. Their plays and their dances would reflect their feelings toward our race and our western culture. The closest thing I can think...

A Turkmenistan Wedding Movie

Homecoming

Women welcoming a new bride into their family. These women are leading the new "gelin" (bride) into her new home with her in laws. 

Dancing Queen

My two year old "host niece" busting a move at her uncle's wedding. 

Training

In Niger, girls playing sports was unheard of, and they were normally never permitted to wear shorts. These girls are representing their middle school (in the background) in a regional soccer tournament organized by PCVs. Although there were many challenges, the girls learned a lot, loved playing, and helped advance the role of women in their culture. 

Merry Christmas!

About a week after my swearing-in ceremony, fellow PCV Susan Gibson and I traveled to my site.  It was nearing Christmas, but, being on the equator, it was very hot.   We dumped all of my belongings in the house, took stock of what was there from the PCV I replaced, then went to the village to get essentials.  We began soaking beans upon our return and began to get the house in order. We started up the charcoal jiko and put the beans on to cook, outside, of course, as it was so nice (except f...

The Igorot

The Igorot tribe, high in the Cordillera mountains, are one of the most well preserved examples of Philippine Culture. In a country colonized and overrun by both American and Spanish culture, seeing native Filipinos embrace their own heritage brings a new hope to the future of the nation.

Boat to Nan Madol

I remember this moment so well. It was so beautiful the boat ride to this island with ancient ruins.  I couldn't believe I was in the middle of the Pacific Ocean--what a paradise.