hello from the ramseys

Hi all,

I'll post later with something more interesting, but I keep meaning to tell "ya'll" that Joaquin got accepted to Columbia last week. We're both working temp jobs while we wait to hear from the other schools and figure out what location will be the most financially feasible.

My in-laws should be in town today. That should be fun and involve too much food. We're trying to keep the weight off. How is everyone doing with that? We're barely succeeding in removing the weight gained in the first month of US eating. Bleh.

I must run off to my job now. I am temping at a podiatrist office where I get to see foot ulcers and try to convince old diabetics to come get their feet fixed before they have to be removed. Fun times. Joaquin gets to smash concrete with his amazing strength and then report on how weak or strong the concrete was. This is an important part of the "Materials Science" world. He also got to play with boiling sulfur or something yesterday. I was a bit too distressed to listen. And a diamond saw, whatever that means.

Stephanie

Frustrations with being old

Hey Everyone-

It was great to hear everyone's story -- Harlan I can't beleive you took the greyhound cross country!! Although I am sure that it was a luxury compared to Malawian transport. I have to take it a couple of times between seattle and my home town.

Lately, since being back I have been travellin around the country. First at the end of February I went to my sister's boyfriends (who by the way is a retired NFL football player) birthday party in Vegas. That was a sweet trip!! It was interesting to realize that not all africans are short like malawians, but instead they have some how managed to become HUGE!!! I was the shortest and scrawniest person there! I also realized that i couldn't do the ol' simple malawian conversation where you ask if they are married or how many people they have in their family. So instead I just let my sister lead me around and introduce me to all of her friends -- including the cheerleaders from Bengals NFL team and from various other professional teams. Oh in addition to that, I even managed to run into Jennifer Love Hewitt on the elevator. It was a crazy weekend!

After that I decided to travel to New York to visit some friends out their -- including kelly and Tom. By the way Kelly, congrats on getting into Columbia. When you guys move down to manhatten let me so I can come and crash with you guys (again). Of course kelly and tom where gracious hosts.....We did manage to go out for a pre-St. Patricks party where they had a parade and we went bar hopping.

Also NY is not all partying, the city also has a great group of Museums -- my favorite was called Bodies (http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com/) where they have taken cadavers and some how preserved them in such a way that they were able to peel the skin off allowing you to see all kinds of muscles and guts. It sounds gruesome but as a Biology teacher I wish I could have been able to take my malawian students to such an exhibit.

Followung NY I was accepted to attend an all expense paid trip to Denver for a conference in Denver for pre-med American indians. It was cool to meet with all kinds of Indians from around the nation who are also interested in pursueing degrees in medicine. During the conference we had the opportunity to hear from indian doctors all of whom told of how they managed to get over obstacles -- including two of the female physicians told of how they managed to put them selves through med school with their children (one had 5 kids!!). The conference proved inspirational.

Anyways inbetween travelling I have been spending lots of time with the family and looking for part time jobs. Yep, like many of you I am struggling to find a job....it sucks!! I always thought I could just say "I just got back from Peace Corps" and I would be a shoe in for any job. Only to find out that although they are amazed with my experience that I don't have the skillz to do anything. However my buddy works at Banana Republic so I think I am going to go join him there until I find a better job. Tommy I guess I am following your foot steps even though you have already warned that working there has made you yearn for Malawian markets.

Well next week I will be starting my pre-med classes at the local community college (Biology and Chemistry) and I should be done with all of my pre reqs by the end of this year. I plan on applying fall 2007.

Happy to hear from all of you and I hope some of y'all make it up to seattle. I have a nice apartment.

later,
dakotah

Greyhound v. Coachline

Hey everyone,

As Merilee said, I recently took a little trip to Wisconsin, D.C, and many points in between by bus. Taking Greyhound is worthwhile, in a slightly masochistic, wanna-be bohemian sort of way. You get to meet such interesting people when you're locked up together in a giant metal box for the better part of a day. During this trip, I spent about 72 hours total either in a bus or waiting in the bus station. Along the way, I got to drop in on Merilee, Sarah, and Shauna, who are all every bit as interesting as the people on Greyhound. It was great seeing all of them and fun to observe them in their natural habitat. Here are some highlights:

* Watching Madam Headmistress and her younger brother make faces at each other as their mother said grace. Shame!

* Speculating with Sarah on why Buffalo Wild Wings is called BW3 rather than BW2. (My sources in Madison claim that the extra W is because "a buffalo has two wings.")

* Critiquing Americanized African food with Shauna. (What, we didn't get enough of that in two years?)

I really didn't know what to expect of Traverse City before I got there. All I've heard about the place was in regards to the cherries, and it's not cherry season. And since I avoid the use of computers except for playing games, I didn't bother to look anything up beforehand, including the exact location of Traverse City. But it was a lot of fun. With Merilee's help, I got to do a lot of stuff I'd never done before: built a snowman, went cross-country skiing, walked on a frozen lake, ate at Coldstones. If you've been to San Francisco, Traverse City reminded me a lot of Sausalito, a long stretch of waterfront populated by upscale restaurants. Merilee's got a great family: her brother is a skiing champ, and her dad knows everyone in town because he's that friendly. Oh, and by the way, the cherry salsa is faaaan-tastic.

I only got to hang out in Indianapolis for a day, so Sarah had me fix her computer. Gee, Sarah, great seeing you, too. :-) (I know sarcasm doesn't come off well over in writing, and you'll notice that was 2nd degree sarcasm, so it's probably even worse.) I got to meet Sarah's special friend, Andrew, who is very mature despite practically being a baby. And it was great seeing Mr. and Mrs. Oblon as well.

And I almost managed to sneak through Washington without seeing Shauna, but we managed to meet up and commiserate over not having worked for the past four months. Hey Shauna, I heard the NIST is looking for programmers.

Unfortunately, I didn't go up to New York, which I would have loved to do. I wish I'd had more time to spend travelling, but I'm hopeful that I'll be able to make another trip out to the East coast before the year is over.

That's all for now. Go Greyhound!

Harlan

Merilee in Michigan

Greetings to all from snowy Michigan...I am glad to hear that everyone is doing well. Congrats Kelly, Jess, and Tommy on the school acceptances! (and I suppose props go to John for pulling himself away from the beaches of South Africa to head up to Zimbabwe).

I have now been in Traverse City for over three months. I have been substitute teaching, which is an interesting experience since my youngest brother is still in high school (I always get the "do you have a brother?" question at the beginning of class). This week the kids are all hyped up about spring break. They give me a sympathetic look when I tell them that I am not going on spring break...and I stare back with this "yeah, whatever, I've been to Africa whih is way cooler than Florida" look. One day I actually told a student that she was lucky to have a chair; with her IPOD in her hands she had been complaining about how their school had "nothing."
Two afternoons a week I teach after-school Spanish classes to elementary school students, which has been a great opportuniy for me to focus on my espanol.

The languageship himself, Harlan Young, came to visit me in Traverse City a few weeks ago. He can vouch for what a great vacation destination T.C. is. I had fun making him cross country ski, walk out on the frozen ice to see the ice fishermen, and build a snowman. My family thought he was fabulous (and a little bit nutty for choosing to take the greyhound across the country...on the upside, I think that it made them realize that maybe I am not so crazy after all). Visitors are welcome. But, be forwarned that my Dad will show you off as "one of our friends from Africa" to pretty much everyone who will listen.

I have pulled on the traditional wear a few times for school presentations. The students are really intrigued by everything...and in Traverse City they are really fascinated by the whole concept of hair extensions. Every time I show the pictures I am amazed by how beautiful Malawi is and, like Tommy's recent reminiscence of the smell of urine and intense sun, I wish I could transport these kids for a few moments so that they could take in all of the sensations--good and bad alike. I do set up some stations and it is always amusing to watch the students try to pound maize and wash clothes by hand.

Well, I miss you all very much (on a cold day like today I am also missing Nkhata Bay!). Wishing you all the best.
Khalani makola, Merilee

The city that never sleeps

Hi all,
We would just like to extend an invitation to anyone and everyone who would like to come out and visit here in beautiful New York City. (If you need to review past guest's experiences just ask Dakotah).

Tom is still busy teaching. And Kelly has been accepted to Columbia. Whoo-hooo! We are planning on moving into a bigger place in Manhattan in the next few months. Next moth we're going on a trip down the east coast to Florida. So if anyone is on the way let us know we'd love to stop!

Not grown up yet- Matt and John

I admire all of the steps everyone (Dan and Tommy) has taken, (Jess is just showin' off with her phancy coledge, congrats) to find gainful employment. I am sleeping at a hostel in Asheville NC, looking for a room to rent. Then it will take a while to set up my Bingu picture over the mantle and spread out the reed mat. Still trying to get a permit to sell pata pats on the corner.

John Jordan is still kickin'. Any guesses...... Nope not Madagascar, Zimbabwe. Going between Victoria Falls and a place called Mana Pools. Return home, no idea.

The Karonga krew

soon to be a grown-up...

well, i was dreaming of quitting this job of mine and perhaps being unemployed for a little while as i look for a new job (because this one ends in may anyway, so i have to get one then) but then i had to buy a suit for a reception thing that washington university is having in my honor. okay, maybe not specifically in my honor, but in honor of the admitted students, and i'm one of those. anyway, suits cost an ABSURD amount of money. never having been a 'professional' or a 'grown up' before, i've never needed to buy a suit. and while i knew they cost more money than regular clothes, i had no idea how much more. plus, i was picky about which suit i bought. so it's partly my fault. long story semi-short, i can no longer afford to quit my job just yet. i'm here at least until the next pay period ends. boo.

i did finally decide to accept at washington university. i had to accept their financial aid offer by the beginning of april, and most of the other schools i was accepted to weren't going to put out their offers until after then. plus, to be honest, i probably wasn't going to get a better offer. so that's settled, which is weird, since it seemed like this thing that was so huge and undecided for so long. and yet, making the final decision was such a non-event. i thought it would feel like a bigger deal. whatever. i'm just rambling now. i'll stop.

well, not alot else is going on and i should get back to work. i hope everyone else is doing well. i miss you guys.

hugs and kisses - jess

A not so secret admirer

No, Tommy, YOU'RE the bestest.

i dream of reeking markets and muddy paths

Believe it or not, working at Banana Republic is just not as glorious as one would think. All those days spent in my hut, cough cough, glamorizing American retail got my hopes up way too high...now I dream about urine tainted markets and piles of offensive t-shirts. Moving on...I'm also taking a Spanish class which is going well and the rest of my free time is spent just hanging out with Erica and friends from college. Basically I'm just trying to stay busy until school starts in August; so far my most attractive acceptance is Albert Einstein (Bronx). Okay, there's my little update for you all, you're the bestest~

Tommy

ps

the next blog over is ridiculuos, but its got pictures of some really good food

breaking the long radio silence...

it's one in the morning and all's well more or less in austin. as you might know, sxsw has officially come to town dragging hordes of hipsters and various other trendy bastards with cool shades and badges saying they've payed a lot of money to come and shit here for a few days. luckily, my career path has diverted from world saviour/ highschool teacher to its current incarnation as, what?... busser. at this allnight diner. graveyard shift. so, at least i'll be making money off 'em.

the career path has turned out to be a treacherous road actually(just go with the flow and be blissfully ignorant of spelling errors). my first occupation landed me in the basement of this dorm making coursepackets for a whole new round of brats. i lasted about 8 days maybe before reaching some limit of soul defication. it could have been the fact that i was in a basement for 12 hours a day, the fact that i never saw the sun, or the big nigerian sob running around, yelling, waving his cigarette in my face. but could i smoke? nooooo. anyway, whatever the cause was, the night of the 8th day, morning of the 9th day, night of the 9th day, and morning of the 10th day found me and two friends at various stages of a bottle, singing anarcist punk songs and yelling to whoever would listen all the ills of this sad world. it was actually very theraputic in a self-destructive way.

my next foray into the jungle we like to call an 'honest man's pay', was much more pleasant, but as is usually the case, less lucrative. being raised in austin, working at a thrift store has always been a dream of mine. never in my wildest dreams did i realize how cool it was. so, when a friend of a friend of mine asked me to work his shop for a few weeks before it closed down, i gladly accepted. being the only employee, there were certain perks. the store was open when i was there. and that was whenever i wanted to be there. usually one of my brothers would stop by to sm#^@ me out, or somebody else would. my 'boss' would usually roll by about five with some beer. and i got a turntable and a bike out of it. but, keep in mind, not a lucrative field to go into.

now i have the graveyard bus gig. i spend my days sitting at coffee shops doing late gradschool applications, trading stories with the other soldiers from the ranks of the sporatically employed. now now i'm on my third glass of box wine trying to fall asleep. and i'll tell you what, after two years of carlsberg, it still tastes good. if you fell asleep reading all this nonsense, i don't blame you, so just give me a call(yep, got a cell phone) at 512-589-6758.

kudos to all the other insomniacs this wendsday morning

dan

Mangos revised

Hey everyone, Hope all is well. I am still on vacation, visiting my brother in Ft. Myers. This not working thing is great. I took a cooking class on Tex Mex food and one of the recipes was black bean and mango salsa. Its good

here it is
black bean and mango salsa

3/4c black beans, rinsed
1/4c white onion -chopped
1 clove garlic minced
1 jalapeno chile minced
2T Lime juice
1/4c mango diced
1/4c pineapple diced
2T. red Pepper diced
2T orange Pepper diced
1t oregano
1t cilantro
2T olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

mix all together. let sit 1 hour in the refrigerator for the flavors to mesh.

happy memories of spending about 2 hours making 6 tortilla chips for salsa