Go Yankees!

Hi everyone,

A picture will follow next week when my dad downloads and uploads and all that the picture, but for now here’s the story:

Last night at the Yankees game my dad took Joaquin and me to Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez threw out the first pitch. There was also a nice Peace Corps commercial before the game. Even better, though, was when Joaquin and my dad and I went to get hot dogs and Director Vasquez walked by. Of course, I ran up to him and introduced myself and we got a picture of Joaquin and me with the director.

Sadly, the Yankees lost. Now, will someone pass the coffee, I never stay up late on a work night and I’m exhausted!

Stephanie

Sarah in Houston

I'm a teacher!

Six and counting

Just to counterbalance the Missouri Malawi factor (Jess, PAF, and his excellency the president's brother Mr. Mutharika) I have decided to move to New York. That will bring the New York Malawi team to six. And, if you include Kristy Schoeber that is seven.

I am taking up the commitment letter that the New York City Department of Education offered me for full-time employment for this school year. I will be teaching in Brooklyn at a school yet to be determined, but I do have a brand-new 24-pack of fine-tipped Sharpie markers so I pretty much feel ready to tackle anything.

hope all is well with all of you wherever you may be and whatever you may be doing
Merilee

a much more interesting post

so, i should have waited a little while to post because i discovered something strange when i was in my next class. in my legal research class we were looking at the course webpages for the teachers at wash u, and i see that there is a professor named A. Peter Mutharika. so i think, odd, i wonder if he's from Malawi. well, i get home and look at his profile, and in the second paragraph is this sentence...

During the 2004 Spring semester, he took time off from the law school to work as an advisor to his brother’s successful campaign for the presidency of Malawi.

that's right folks, the president of malawi's brother is the international law professor at my law school. how freakin weird is that? once again, hugs and kisses,

jess

a full time student once again

hey ladies and gents,

well, i'm in my first day at law school. it's great so far. it's nice to have something to spend my time doing. this summer got really boring. last week we had orientation all week (a bunch of lectures about ethics, basically) but i've met tons of people and everyone seems fun, which is good because i pretty much get to live in the law building with all of these people for three years. i have all the early classes, which i thought was icky before, but it also means that i get a parking space next to my building and i'm finished by 1 everyday. so i guess it's really a good thing.

besides that, there isn't really much going on. i hope everyone is having a great time doing what they're doing. let me know if you get into any legal trouble. i can't do anything to help, and i wouldn't know how to help, but i might be able to impress you with useless legal jargon about the tort system or something. hugs and kisses.

jess

Thelly

Hello there! This is Kelly and Tom writing from Cape Cod. It's so great to hear from everyone. Here's what's new with us: We are gearing up for teaching in Brooklyn in September. Kelly finished the summer portion of her training and will be teaching 11th grade Biochemistry, Bioethics and an Advisory class at the School for Democracy and Leadership (the principal did Peace Corps in Thailand!). Tom will be returning to School for Law and Justice to teach Consitutional Law and Advisory to 10th grade.

Tom just recieved an email, yep an email from one of his students! That field trip we took to the Celtel cafe really paid off! It was a typical Malawian letter but in email form. (He asked for snaps and Tom sent a picture attachment).

In other news we have been taking a lot of road trips visiting family, attending weddings and becoming reaquainted with the east coast.

New York City has a lot to offer and you are all still welcome to come and visit!

Sarah

Wow it’s wonderful to read all the up dates. You all are great.

Here is the scoop. Backpacking through Europe for 6 weeks was exciting. Andrew and I saw some amazing works of art in Italy and beautiful landscapes in Scotland. Silliest thing we did was sleep in the middle of park de Boulogne. It’s as bad as sleeping in the middle of central park. Ignorance is bliss.

My brother graduated from Ball State with most dynamic teacher award! I came home to see him accept his diploma!!

Then I went to England to see Frank! He Greets all of you guys! He misses us that is for sure. Frank and I took lots of walks, talked a ton, prayed all the time, and of course laughed. He will turn 91 this week!!

This summer I worked at Englishton Park for the third summer. I took on an administrative role, yet I did not get to have any say in program decisions. I did not feel as though my talents were put to use, and I missed working directly with the students.

Summer is over! Andrew and I survived Europe, yet we didn’t last after Englishton Park. I’m sad. He helped me so much in my transition back to the states – and I am grateful.

I am looking at these two jobs. www.eckerd.org as a counselor/teacher with Andrew in Florida (they are flying me out!), and www.kipp.org as a 6^th grade science teacher in Houston!! If I have a choice, then Houston, here I come!

~ Sarah

stomach illness and intense heat

Ah, things finally feel familiar. I woke up this morning before 5am with severe stomach pain and open stomach. We don't have an AC and as the news keeps reminding me, we are in the middle of a heat wave. Despite my current lack of sick leave, there was no way I could make it to work. I spent the rest of the day ignoring the news reports of terrible heat, and enjoying the luxury of a fan and ice. Flowing water I could trust was safe, high-speed internet, cable tv, and cold water coming out of the shower head. When a co-worker called up to see how I was I said, "Great! I've got ice!" She didn't quite understand but was glad to hear I'd be back tomorrow.

I miss you and hope you are staying cool.

Stephanie

p.s. my open stomach was likely food poisioning. I'm much better now.