I Don't Think We're In Oz Anymore

Scavenged Blogs

2009-07-16T00:35:00.000-07:00

So, I feel like writing a blog but I'm too lazy to actually write one out at moment so I'll just steal some old rambling from about a year or so ago from another blog of mine.

So some more stupid rambling about the Universe...

Before I had discussed how the latest thoughts are that the Big Bang was not a singular phenomenon... but that our Universe marked a beginning but also an event that had happened before... a continual growing and shrinking, a contracting and expanding... I like to think of the Universe as a beating heart... well anyways.. what about OUR universe in it’s particular permutation...?

Well, it began as one incredibly small blob smaller than you could see with your eyes, or a microscope... incredibly tiny... imagine the entirety of the universe smaller than a grain of sand... incredibly hot full of the potential for all life and all of time... the source of every laugh and every tear to come afterwords....

This little tiny guy was a little seed, just like a new love in your heart... full of energy and potential for anything and everything... There are four forces in our universe, gravity, eltcromagnetism, strong nuclear force and weak nuclear force... theoretically at the beginning, when the universe was smaller than a molecule containing everything, all of these forces where one force... one force contained in all of the matter and energy for everything and everyone and this whole world...

Most likely, gravity left and escaped from this ultimate force causing an incredible dispersion and inflation at which point the universe expanded faster than the speed of light... this is why the Universe is fairly uniform and as big as it can be even though it’s something like... forgive on dates.. I’m terrible at them... but somewhere around 13.7billion years old I believe?? But larger than it should be at this age if it was expanding only at the speed of light...

So this one force jumps ship and the rest release as well eventually into their separate parts...

at the inception of this and during inflation there were only hydrogen atoms and a few of them got together and made some helium particles... then a little down the line crazy stuff like light comes to be and gravity, maybe missing being together with the rest of it’s forces.. what if the original force was love? Yeah, I’m babbling but it’s 3 in the morning and NPR is not lulling me to sleep, this is what you get for reading my blog! So anyways gravity broke up the band so from now on it’s trying get everyone back together... where has the love gone and all that... gravity pulls these balls of hydrogen and helium together into these crazy gaseous balls called stars and this crazy thing called fusion starts to happen... insane!

So anyways, these stars drawn together by gravity begin fusing protons and neutrons and electrons into bigger and heavier atoms... nitrogen.. oxygen... carbon... all that good stuff... and it throws all of this out into this crazy new universe and gravity grabs onto these things and they come together into these crazy things called planets... I mean.. it’s a little crazy, but basically everything except for the hydrogen and helium on our planet, every cell in your body, every chemical that causes any reaction in your body, every bit of every smile and every frown for you and your friends, and everyone you’ve ever known and everyone they’ve ever known... all of it, well most of it... comes from our star the Sun... all of us are just bits of the sun which have been pulled together by this poor guy gravity... this force who’s trying to pull us all back together again... every piece of you and me and everyone around us comes from the sun... we are all the same with a few differences... all of us the result of these four forces... all from the same little seed, all together and alone....

Some day we’ll all be pulled together again to be remixed and started anew... but it all began at one point... all of us... everything... smaller than a grain of sand...

someday we’ll be there again... every particle starts and finishes in the same place...

If I don't see you before I'll see you there and we can share the stories of our former Universe and the new one to come.

yup, that’s all the nothing I have to talk about at the moment.

Real Blog to Come.... here's this for now.

2009-07-12T00:27:00.000-07:00

Walt Whitman (1819–1892). Leaves of Grass. 1900.

98. Ah Poverties, Wincings and Sulky Retreats

AH poverties, wincings, and sulky retreats!
Ah you foes that in conflict have overcome me!
(For what is my life, or any man’s life, but a conflict with foes—the old, the incessant war?)
You degradations—you tussle with passions and appetites;
You smarts from dissatisfied friendships, (ah wounds, the sharpest of all;)
You toil of painful and choked articulations—you meannesses;
You shallow tongue-talks at tables, (my tongue the shallowest of any;)
You broken resolutions, you racking angers, you smother’d ennuis;
Ah, think not you finally triumph—My real self has yet to come forth;
It shall yet march forth o’ermastering, till all lies beneath me;
It shall yet stand up the soldier of unquestion’d victory.

Happy BDay little Chris

2009-06-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

Hey, today is my cousin's BDay and I just wanted to say happy bday to him here. I've been saving my bday cake and I'll be eating it today as well, so it's kind of like a co-bday party on two continents. And we all get cake. Pretty excited about that.

Happy Bday

2009-06-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

So, I had the best BDay ever. More like a Bday week. I did a lot... most of it was legal, like 80% wasn't morally reproachable... so that's not too bad right? Thanks to everyone for all the BDay wishes and all the BDay cards. I got a new camera from my mom so now I can start posting up more pictures and she requested seeing where I live.... Get ready for the most boringest slide show of all time. Here it is.

My walk to school.

My New Place

Ok, now that I have a camera again I promise to take a bunch of pictures and put them up here until someone destroys this new one too.

Palm Reading...

2009-05-13T12:49:00.001-07:00

Yes, I'm that bored. I looked up some palmreadery online and this is what my palm say about me and my future! I had one of my Korean students read my palm for me once and she just looked at it and smiled at me. She refused to tell me what my palm said but said I should marry her.

My Heart Line

-falls in love easily

-freely expresses emotions and feelings

-some emotional trauma

My Head Line

-creativity

-adventure, enthursiasm for life

-thinking is clear and focused

-momentous decisions

My Life Line

-plenty of engergy

-vitality

-strength and enthusiams

-extra vitality

My Fate Line

-self-made indivdiaul; develops aspirations early on

The Shape of My Hand

- spontaneous, enthusiastic and optimistic

-sometimes egoistic, impulsive and insensitve

-extrovert

-do things boldy and intuitively

Some advanced readings....

-the long length of my ring finger denotes that I may have artistic talent as well as a reckless and wild nature.

-my straight fingers represent honest, direct and clear headed.

-soft heart

on all of my fingers I have the same types of knuckles which represent I am a person whose intellect and practicality work well together. A strong instictive drive is charactersitc of well-developed knuckles.

the balls of my fingers show a strong intellect and courtesy of the mind

Finger Spacing

-the distance between my pinky finger and wring finger indicate an independent mind.

-the closeness of my wring and middle finger suggest that I have an art related life and fate will aid me in success.

-the distance between my index and middle finger suggest that my success will come from somewhere other than my own goals and dreams.

Some smaller lines-

Health Line

-the triangle it forms with my heart and head lines is referred to as the "lucky triangle". The broad angle indicates very good luck.

Fame Line

-likely to have fame in the arts

Marriage Line(s)

unclear but I believe mine indicates a marriage (as opposed to affairs or separations, etc.)

Money Line

The line running to my ring finger cutting through the Fame Line indicates money obtained through luck and surprise

Line of Intuition-represnts intuitiveness (duh)

Oh my goodness.. there is more and I am still bored! Now the 'Mounts'

Jupiter mount-kind, more interested in respect than wealth.

Saturn-responsible, hard-working, aloof, gloomy

Apollo-proud, flatterer, extravagent

Mercury-clever, crafty, competitive

Inner Mars-Aggresive, argumentative

Plain of Mars-Uses the qualities of the heart head and destiny lines

Outer Mars-Strong-willed

Venus-Affectionate, sympathetic

Neptune-artistic talent, Charasimatic

Luna-Lovers of nature and beauty, immagintive

Dominant Mounts-

Venus-represents love/affection/passion

Lower Mars-represents physical courage

Okay, there are about 100 other things to look at in the 'degrees of the palm' but believe it or not I am not that bored.

Interesting Article..

2009-05-13T04:22:00.000-07:00

It's terribly written but it does give a little humanizing perspective of those on the other side of this rift.

http://www.ennaharonline.com/en/news/1175.html

My mother told me...

2009-05-09T09:51:00.000-07:00

... that I need to stop swearing even if this is my blog and that I should proof read my blogs because she can't believe that I'm an English teacher after reading my writing.

Since tomorrow is mother's day I guess I'll start proof-reading and stop swearing as much. She also informed me that it's bum-fuck nowhere not butt-fuck nowhere. See, look who's swearing now. Where do you think I learned this kind of language.

Love ya mom. Happy Mother's Day!

Perfect Day

2009-05-09T01:11:00.000-07:00

Okay so yesterday started off pretty boring. No electricity or running water. Mostly sat around sleeping and reading. Started and finished half a book. But come about 1 o'clock Eric, Nick and I went to have lunch with a Mauritanian friend who's we had over for dinner once and he's been asking us to come over for weeks. We finally found a time when we could and thank Allah we did.

Had some of the best Chebb Gen and Daomada I've ever had... yeah they fed us two plates of food at once. Pretty Akbar. Then we just hung out forever with him and his family and talked shit. Pretty entertaining to be talking shit in four different languages. I'm still amused by how we have conversations switching seamlessly between all of them.

His house is out in the middle of buttfuck nowhere(pardon my language, but this is my blog and it is my language)even further away than my school so we had a long walk. He was telling us about his friends house where he works out here and he said they had proper weights... we had to see this! So we go and we find ourselves the first Mauritanian 'gym' we've ever seen. It's just a guys dirt yard with some car axels welded to wheels, a couple of water jugs hooked to a rope and pulley system and a bench made of scrap wood -- but they are other than that the proper equipment. So we stay for a work out. We're working out with what have got to be 4 of the most ripped malnourished guys I've ever seen and it's like having four personal trainers yelling at you 3 different languages. I've been trying to do push-ups and sit-ups and running and some other stuff to make me feel like keeping something of my former strength from the states but it's been nothing like this. Eric and Nick are both much bigger guys than me and I thought I might look like the runt of the bunch when we were lifting but I was happy to see that I was more than keeping pace with them and the Mauritanians. This morning I am, however, a little sore. The good kind though. What more could you ask for? I'm definitely building a gym out of car parts when I get back home, I wish I had a welding machine here I'd go to town!

After that we just went home chilled out and had made ourselves a tasty treat. I guess that was pretty much all that made up my perfect day here.

I think it was such a nice day because we spent it almost all with Mauritanians (which is generally the opposite) and it was one of those times in a volunteers progress for me when I felt like I was breaking past another plateau. For the last couple months I've felt like my language and integration had been stagnating and there is nothing that I hate more than being stagnant. I'm constantly seeking personal growth, usually by putting myself into uncomfortable situations (like this stupid sandbox I'm living in!). In the last few weeks I've really been hanging out with my teachers a lot, I've got some new projects percolating, I feel like my French is starting to improve again, I'm getting better at Wolof I can pretty much understand what's going on 75% of the time in Wolof conversations, I'm starting to learn some Hassaniya beyond saying hello and it's hot for 45 min (I plan on sneaking into language classes this summer or getting a tutor so I can learn hassaniya as well) and more importantly I feel 'normal' again in my encounters with Mauritanians. I'm hitting a serious transitional stage again and I feel growth coming in many areas. Including these guns (yes I am pointing to my arms... oh yeah, you can feel the power!)

It's nice to have internet here at my place now. I am a morning person and I usually do most of my work between 5-10am. I can start reading my news and bullshitting on here on a regular basis, get a whole new morning routine. Okay, that's all my blathering and BSing for now.

Peace.

To Be Continued...

2009-05-08T14:50:00.000-07:00

Had a pretty good day today. Almost a perfect day. I'm tuckered out though so I'll blog about it tomorrow morning (In'Shallah).

The nights are getting colder here again surprisingly. That's nice. Makes for lovely star-gazing. The moon has a light pale yellow halo around it tonight. I hope that ring around the moon doesn't mean she's getting married! I was really hoping to have the moon for my very own some day. I guess if she's not really made out of cheese then it wouldn't be as much of a let down though.

Goodnight friends, goodnight kids, goodnight animals, goodnight moon.

Happiness according to a refrigerator magnet...

2009-05-07T18:28:00.000-07:00

So I just moved into my new house for the next year which happens to be above a cyber cafe. That means I'll be able to bullsh... ah, blog more often. Okay, really mostly bullshit. I have a lot of really close friends who are starting already to leave and some new people who are about to be coming in. So this is a transitional moment in the middle of a stagnation of extreme changes in my life... got that? Anyways, one of my buddies today was telling me about how he remembered growing up always seeing a magnet on his refrigerator that said "Happiness is having someone to love, something to do or something to look forward to." And we both just looked at each other and started laughing hysterically. Because that's pretty much the opposite of Mauritania. There's no one to love here, and if you happen to find someone that you might actually be able to have a meaningful relationship with you are so far away and so hampered by the situation that you can't realistically explore the possibility of something beyond sending text messages and seeing each other once every 2 months. You have nothing to do 98% of the time because it's just to damn hot and there is literally nothing to do here. While there are events or things that you can look forward too Mauritania has trained you like a dog that gets beat every time it reaches for a delicious beggin strip (I would actually eat a beggin strip in lieu of bacon right now!) not to raise expectations for anything good that might happen. Case in point, we have an amazing Administration here in our country that allows us certain travel and vacation privileges because they understand the difficulties of our lives. So, there are a few gatherings each year that allow us to go meet with those we might love in less depressing and more hygienic situations, allow us something to do and give us something to look forward too. Unfortunately the last two of these, the Atar Marathon and the upcoming Jazz Fest in St. Louis have been canceled... oh Mauritania!

I know my last post made me sound like a donkey screaming at evil spirits on a night of a full moon (which is a simile that makes perfect since if you live here)and with this one it might sound like another uninspired to head-bangingly bored and depressed blog, but the point of this little rant is the laughing.

Just reading my blogs it might sound like I'm an unhappy fellow, but nay, I am likely probably having the most fun here of any person in this country. And I'm glad to see that no matter what, even when facing the fact that I'm living in a situation which is the antithesis of happiness I can't help to do anything but laugh.

Hope whatever difficulties you're facing out there you are laughing those sons of bitches right into the ground like me. If not, give me a call and I'll make you feel better! Or at least it will give me something to do!

Promise now that I have internet I'll start blogging about all the happy things that happen here to me like my 30min walk to school every day where I'm accosted by children both ways who won't let me pass until I have greeted and talked with them in French, Pulaar and Hassaniya and for the smaller children who won't let me pass until I hold their hands for a bit of the walk, hug them or pick them up and carry them. The good times here are not so few, but they are fleeting and hard to keep in mind by the time I make it to the internet and the funny Allah laughing at me as he thwops me one on the noggin dwell a bit more on the mind. But I'll find time to fit them both now.

Donkey!

2009-04-26T08:38:00.000-07:00

Oh my... I forgot about this video. If you want to see some pictures of what Mauritania looks like watch this Youtube video. As you watch it keep in mind that the donkey is really a metaphor for what happens to your spirit as a young American living here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKkKQLdbCI4

PS-In retrospect this blog seems kind of depressing, if you're not familiar with me and my humor please be aware that while I am sincere about the metaphor here I find this countries continued attempts to beat me into submission quite entertaining!

Oh my...

2009-04-25T04:16:00.001-07:00

Yeah, so I was just skimming my last blog and saw that I said something like Mauritania has it's first black president... well I am greatly ashamed to admit that clearly my teaching English is a sham because it's = "it is" and not its... like the first black president of Mauritania. I literally just taught a lesson a week ago on the difference between possessive pronouns and contractions. So unprofessional of me.

What's the Common Thread?

2009-04-22T02:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/mauritanian-senate-chair-sworn-in-as-acting-president-2009041725654.html

Our dear General who lead the military coup and military junta has recently stepped down as President of this great Islamic Republic so that he might run in the June 6th elections as a legally and constitutionally valid candidate for President. Since he has stepped down our new interim president here is Mamadou Ba, A BLACK GUY! So Mauritania officially, okay maybe more technically... but either way, seriously (I like adverbs) has it's first black president.

Kinda of coincidental that they finally have their first black president at the same time as the United States of America finally gets ours too. Or maybe it's not a coincidence... what is the common factor... who was present in both countries for the respective swearing ins... Well as far as I know only me! Yes that's right, I am responsible for both Obama and Ba... I don't know how, but I'm pretty sure that it's officially a scientific fact. I mean look... it's science. I'm the variable causing these events. I'll even give you an if/then statement and you can try to prove me wrong. If Brandon Forester is 23 and lives in your country, then you will have your first black president sworn in. Irrevocable. Irrefutable. Unequivocal. Science.

Love,

Brandon "The King Maker" Forester

PS-I'll try to write a real blog sometime soon.

HA HA HA...

2009-03-23T02:01:00.001-07:00

Yup, that's pretty much how the system works...

http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=the-end-of-the-trip-with-a-few-surp-2009-03-22

All Good Things Must Come to an End

2009-03-23T01:19:00.000-07:00

Well, Mauritania has been being pretty good to me since the softball tournament in Dakar. When I got back my house finally had water all day and everyday. My classes were going pretty well. I was spending more time talking with some of the directors at my school. It's been nice and cool relatively speaking. I got a meat smoker. I sealed my house and killed off all the flies and mosquitoes. Took care of my student loans and taxes... Some other good stuff has been happening too. Just good stuff all around... but Mauritania is finally striking back!

So it all starts with the super dependent dog at my house who couldn't stand sleeping alone and outside one night so she destroyed the door and the therefore the insect seal keeping all the bugs out of the house. Then just this last week I went out to Tekane with Mike to help out with a Girl's Empowerment and Education project out in village. I thought that would be a good time... and it was but my sunglasses fell off on the trip out and got destroyed by the road and that night my MP3 player was stolen.

Then when I got back from my spring break/st. patti's day trip my house was flooded and just so I would know that Allah was messing with me after the flooding now I have no water at my house again! So we'll see what happens the rest of this week. Hopefully the taxes come soonish and then I can order an mp3 player and get it here within the next two months.... I could also see something going horribly wrong with testing totally alienating myself from the school directors again! Gotta be ready for absolute crushing disappointment in this country.. it's their number one export.

But thankfully guarded optimism is my number one export, or at least just seeing how funny all of this stupidity is. Plus I got some other generally good stuff going for me right now that I won't disclose on this blog at moment for fear that Allah might take that away from me too! But, to quote Larry David from the appropriately titled show, Curb Your Enthusiasm (that's the casual self-title for my whole service over here) it's Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good.

Peace Out, Love you all.

Yay

2009-03-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my taxes, and I came up to Nktt to take care of my student loans so that's taken care of as well. I'm also on Spring break so that's pretty great. Going to thouroughly enjoy my night in Nktt, warm showers, cold rooms and comfy beds that aren't on the floor. Hanging out with peeps who I don't get to see anywhere near enough. Then tomorrow I head back to Rosso, Friday go out to Nick's village, Tekane, with Mike to help Mike do a Girls Olympics thing with girls from his GMC in Rosso... then we have St. Patti's day weekend which will be spent in an undisclosed location where there will be good times had by all. Then a week and a half of who knows what. Hopefully traveling around and visiting some places I haven't seen up north, maybe riding the coal train, maybe a camel track... anyways. I'm feeling accomplished right now and I'm about to go eat some real food and chill with my peeps.

peace

Cause I'm avoiding doing taxes...

2009-03-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

I was blogging about my band on my MySpace blog and saw this terrible blog on there that I wrote months ago. I thought I'd waste some time and post it here too.

I am a spirit of pure love.
I am seeking Truth in this world.
I am an agent of change.
I am a movement, a force of nature, I cannot die.
I can't be stopped, I can't even be slowed down.

I am a Whirlwind, you cannot hinder me. If you stand in my way I will sweep you up and make you a part of me or I will throw you aside.

We'll all find peace when we die, come live with me in Chaos while we can.

Love ya.

Good Luck Getting This One to Take Off...

2009-03-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

Check out this Article about a new Mauritanian national airline.... bless their hearts for trying but nothing in this country works. God knows I'm not getting on that plane... and it's not like anyone is trying to fly into this country. I guess if they let me fly home considering the odds a plane run by this country crashing are pretty high... I'd might still take the flight home with the 87% chance of crashing into the ocean.

Actually I've been having a great time here in the RIM as of late even though that sounds kinda bitter... Good times all around. Even recorded an 'EP' with some friends. Check it out at www.myspace.com/garybuseyvskevincostner

http://www.afriquejet.com/news/africa-news/mauritania-to-set-up-a-new-national-airline-2009031523737.html

Back to RIM

2009-02-06T05:04:00.000-08:00

Hey-Oh... back to this place again! I'll try to get a more thorough blog posted between now and WAIST about my trip back to the states but that probably won't happen... but I do at least have a new number for people. I'll update on my page but here it is as well

222-406-7256

Tabaski

2008-12-14T06:47:00.000-08:00

Here are pictures from Tabaski. Basically it's a holiday where you get to kill, prep and eat lots and lots of meat. God what I wouldn't have given for some bar-b-que sauce. I got to celebrate the first day (slaughter day) twice because it started in a different day on the second village I went to. So yay for me. Since I'm unfortunately an infidel I couldn't actually slaughter any sheep myself but I was able to help skin them and butcher them which was pretty great. Pretty sure I could dress a carcass on my own now. Maybe I'll take up hunting when I get back to the states... although I've only shot one animal in my life and it was with a BB Gun.. and it was a rat... and it was a mother and I cried a little bit and almost threw up because of what I did... I was like tweleve. But I don't feel so bad if I know I'm actually going to be processing and eating the meat myself. Better than what they do to them at the farms right? Anyways... I guess just enjoy the photo's!... oh yeah, I also got renamed again and now I actually have a family that I can communicate with and no sisters trying to molest me! My new name is Alioune Niang and I am a Walla Walla Wolof. Pretty sweet right?

Malcolm

2008-11-11T06:06:00.000-08:00

My BFF/Hetero-lifepartner/Manpanion had his baby! Now let's all pray for the little guy that he'll be happy healthy and not look anything like his goofy looking father!

Another Quick Blog

2008-11-11T05:29:00.000-08:00

Here's a great article I found about the new youth political party here in Mauritania. Good stuff.

Also, I just got another package recently. Thanks to all my aunts and uncles and cousins and parents (okay really just my mom! cause you still need to send me a package dad!) and thank you Damion, Colton, Nikayla, Isaac, Little Chris, and Aunt Pam for the letters. I promise I'll write back soon!

But for now... enjoy this article.

Youth political party in Mauritania calls for tolerance and fighting extremism
2008-11-10

The president of a new political party for young people in Mauritania speaks to Magharebia about his group's stance on critical issues facing his country.
Interview by Mohamed Yahya Ould Abdel Wedoud for Magharebia in Nouakchott – 10/11/08

[Mohamed Wedoud] Union of Democratic Youth President Jeddou Ould Ahmad says his new party will stand against terrorism, violence and ignorance.
The Union of Democratic Youth is the latest addition to Mauritania's political life. According to the union's leader, the new political party will stand against terrorism, violence and ignorance. Party president Jeddou Ould Ahmad spoke to Magharebia about his goals for the new organisation.

Magharebia: When did you first think of setting up a political party for youth?

Jeddou Ould Ahmad: The idea came two years ago, but the field activities began nearly a year ago. We managed to attract a good number well-educated youth; including doctors, teachers, engineers, students and other marginalised youth. There is no space for that segment of society, which constitutes society's backbone. Young people make up 70% of Mauritania’s population.

Magharebia: The party is a first in the country. What is the agenda of the youth party?

Ould Ahmad: Reinforcing values of democracy, respecting human rights, fighting violence, extremism, terrorism, racism, tribal and national fanaticism. We will empower patriotism and moderate Islamic values, and will work to ensure equal opportunities among men and women, particularly in fields of science, work and family life. We should not forget to encourage the use of foreign languages alongside Arabic – especially English, as it is the most widely spoken language worldwide.

Magharebia: Among the party objectives, you mentioned fighting extremism among youth. What is your strategy to achieve that end?

Ould Ahmad: True, the party seeks to fight all forms of extremism, based on the fact that extremism always encourages violence. We have relied on a number of means which include; organising seminars, distributing handouts, encouraging dialogue to end crises, and adopting consultancy to take all key decisions, while working to develop our manner in that regard using all possible means.

Magharebia: Do you plan on co-ordinating with Maghreb youth to exchange visions and experiences?

Ould Ahmad: Naturally, we welcome all efforts that seek to develop youth, especially efforts triggered by brotherly Maghreb states, with which we share religious, cultural, historic, geographic and political links. In the meantime, we also extend a hand of friendship to global youth who strive to spread the culture of peace and tolerance regardless of colour, ethnicity or belief.

Magharebia: What is your stance toward the national political arena after the toppling of former President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdellahi by the military?

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Ould Ahmad: We are against coups and military intervention in political affairs to begin with. Nonetheless, we did support this latest intervention to create a chance to amend some articles in our constitution, especially those related to the powers of the head of state, at the expense of other authorities (legislative and executive).

On the other hand, I believe that General Mohamed Ould Abdul Aziz managed in a short period of time to reach significant achievements to improve citizens’ living conditions. We are equally against foreign intervention in our domestic affairs, because those who stand to suffer the most are the Mauritanian people. At the same time, we are demanding the release of former President Abdellahi.

Magharebia: What is your message to Maghreb youth in general?

Ould Ahmad: Our message to Maghreb youth stresses the need for joint action to achieve progress towards a union of Maghreb states; and collaborating in order to reinforce values of democracy and respecting human rights in the larger Maghreb region in an atmosphere that knows no violence, terrorism, or extremism. In addition, establishing a youth forum to bring closer the views of Arab Muslim youth and all nations of the world to spread the spirit of peace, tolerance, and respecting others, which will lead to achieving progress and prosperity in serving humanity.

Quick Blog About Obama...

2008-11-07T10:17:00.000-08:00

Just read this article first ARTICLE

Anyways... I feel like America has finally come full circle since 9-11. On 9-11 and 9-12 all the newspapers around the world proudly declared, "We Are All Americans". Since that time which seems so long ago our current administration has done nothing but mismanage our country domestically and internationally squandering all of the support and solidarity the rest of the world had for us. Not since then, and before then probably not since the end of World War II has the world been so solidly consolidated and happily backing the United States. I can't explain to you the unique pleasure of being in Africa and walking around on the streets with every person I encountering me lighting up and shouting congratulations to me just because I'm an American right now. Thank God Obama one.

on a less positive note...

Thank God that idiot Palin isn't our Vice President Elect. What a F'n Joke.

Three Things!

2008-10-11T01:31:00.000-07:00

First of all I want to thank my mom and all of my aunts and uncles and cousins and grandmothers who have been sending me packages.

Second I wanted to share and article that illustrates just why it's so appreciated and important for people to send me food!

Mauritania deports 139 illegal Gambian migrants

APA - Nouakchott (Mauritania) Mauritania on Friday deported 139 Gambians who were attempting to travel illegally to the Canary Islands, official sources said here.

The illegal migrants were intercepted Friday morning by a coastguard vessel of the gendarmerie off the Mauritanian coast after leaving Banjul six days ago.

All the returnees left Nouakchott, except one 24-year-old young man suffering from acute diarrhoea.

For the past few years, Mauritania has been the first target of thousands of sub-Saharan as they attempt to reach Spain or other countries in Europe.\
http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=77486

Yes, Even the African's in Mauritania get Diarrhea so badly that they can't be deported!

Third, last night was the first night where it actually got cold enough that I could wear my Chief's pajama pants, put a sheet over me and by 5 in the morning I even needed to put my University of Puget Sound hoodie to be warm and comfy. We are finally approaching the 'cold' season. Although cold is relative seeing as we were all shivering yesterday morning when we checked and found out the temperature was a freezing 77 degrees at 7 in the AM.

Oh.. how'd I forget these!

2008-09-29T05:48:00.001-07:00

Forgot to post our swear in day pics. Here they are. PS-thanks for the package Vicki!

Time Out in the Village...

2008-09-29T04:16:00.000-07:00

Here's something I wrote under a tree in Ganni.

Sitting alone on a woven mat under the tree and reading some random book I was quietly approached by two children, an older sister and a younger brother. No older than 7 and 5.

It was in America I might call a 'quiet' spring afternoon. Anything but noiseless, with no less than seven species of birds chirping their hearts out in the tree above me. Goats were of course loudly crying out to each other as annoyingly as possible just to hear each their own voices. I think they might actually be so stupid as to think they are dead if they can't hear their own bleating. Like a spring afternoon in America, their was nothing of silence but the simple surprising harmony of the cumulative sounds and the tranquility of the surroundings. It was reminiscent of sitting next to my dad's pond with a line out in the water. The sum of the noise creating a sort of enchanting or perhaps endearing quiet.

Anyways, I'm rambling... it was a nice day! So the brother and sister came up silently behind me while I was reading. When I realized they were there I turned and saw their hands already timidly outstretched to me. There was no fear of this stranger only a kind of wonder as they stared hesitantly at my white face and quizzically at my tattoo. I took both of their hands and greeted them first, as is customary, in Arabic then in Wolof, their mother tongue. I let go of their hands and asked them how they were doing in French. They just continued to stare at me silently.

The sister wore a bright white and yellow dress made of light cotton that danced in the breeze. A breeze which in America might seem more akin to a warm furnace blast, but here we call it a cool breeze. The wind made the loose ends of the dress dance in a playful manner that starkly contrasted the unmoving resolve and serious manner on the sister's face. It was the resolve of a seven year old girl to go over to complete stranger dragging her brother along to shake his hand... As silently as they came to me they turned and left, I said peace only in Wolof, a customary good-bye, to them and the little boy turned around. Throughout the whole encounter he had seemed totally unsure about me and the whole situation that his older sister had dragged him into. As I said good-bye he turned to me and smiled at me. He continued on for a little bit, then turned and waved and smiled again several times; each time running to catch back up with this sister who didn't wait for him to stop until they turned down the path.

Even though the exchange transversed three languages, more was said and passed on in the strong resolve on the face of the girl who led her brother hesitantly to greet a toubab and the final relaxed accepting smile and wave of the young boy. Sitting here under the tree contemplating this meeting, I realized while I have no idea what I'm supposed to be accomplishing, this is what I'm supposed to be doing here. In this little encounter I accomplished two of the three goals of the Peace Corps and I can say if this was all I was ever able to accomplish each day or even once each week I would consider my service successful.

Ouch

2008-09-23T07:42:00.000-07:00

First stuff that's not about Fantasy Football!

So I finally went out last week and got some fabric to have an outfit made for me. Here in my city we have two markets basically and if you want clothes you go out and buy the fabric then you find a tailor and have them make you your outfit. Sounds pretty logical from here, but I guess I wouldn't make those assumptions if I was someone reading this in the states... anyways, as anyone who knows me in the states can affirm to, I wear clothes that are inappropriately flamboyant in the states and thankfully here in this super conservative Muslim country that's perfectly fine. So I got this amazing and expensive deep purple and lavender fabric and had an outfit made, I'll get pictures up when I can. It's a pretty pimp outfit.

Anyways, I went to go find some more fabric because I need a few outfits and I chatted up this one lady and the guy who sells shoes next to her and talked her down on prices a bit but she didn't have the colors I wanted. Manna was with me and talked to her about getting me some green fabric. I didn't get away without buying this sweet ass black fabric with orange and white accents for a halloween outfit!

Anyways.. I went back today with Manna to the market and we stopped by the stalls of Binta (the lady with fabric) and Tejani(sp???) the shoe guy and Binta had one thign of nice green fabric but it was too bright. So she went to go get me some other fabric and had Manna and I watch her stall for her. So we actually went into the stall and sat and Manna discussed prices of fabric with perspective customers in Pulaar while I talked with the Tejani in French. By the time the lady got back Tejani decided we were best friends and he gave me a pair of shoes for free and then shined them for me. It was pretty awesome, Binta came back with some sweet choices of fabric and it was all in all a pretty great day.

As far as languages go, my French still needs some cultivating but I got a Wolof tutor with my sitemate Meredith and I'll be learning Wolof in French. So hopefully I'll be able to speak French and Wolof by the end of this year and then next year during stage I'm going to sneak into my old facilitator's class with the new stagiers and learn Hassaniya and then I'll get a Pulaar tutor for that year... that's my grand scheme to learn all the languages here except for the uncommon Sonyike*(sp) and Bambaran.

Ok, now for Fantasy Football!

So I lost this week by 4 points! If my dear sweet Ben Rothlisberger had of gotten me 4 points or if I would have put in any other QB I had I would have won.. oh well. This next week the guy I'm playing has literally half of his team on bye weeks. 6 of his starters aren't playing this week and he doesn't have a back up for two of them yet. I know he will but.. right now it's looking pretty good for me. Bad week, but I'm still in it and looking good for the long term.

More boring Fantasy updates..

2008-09-22T01:31:00.000-07:00

Sorry no pictures still. My camera is currently being dissected and we don't have the proper tool to open up the part we need to open. But maybe we're going to try to make a tool to open it up. In'Shallah we'll have a working camera again by the end of this month.

Anyways... onto Fantasy!

So I lost week one by like 3 points, won week two and now week three hangs in the balance.

I have Chris Chambers playing tonight and I'm down by 13. Rothlisberger getting injured hurt me a lot. I got -.16 points from him this week. I've made a lot of trades recently so here's my current roster and my line up for week 4.

QB-Matt Ryan (Atl @ Car)
WR-Chris Chambers (SD @ Oak)
WR-Steve Smith (Car vs. Atl)
WR-Michael Jenkins (Atl @ Car)
RB-Larry Johnson (KC vs Den)
RB-Reggie Bush (NO vs SF)
TE-Tony Gonzales (KC vs Den)
K-Jason Elam (Atl @ Car)
Def-Da Bears (Phi)

Bench

QB-Ben Rothlisberger (Pit vs Bal)
QB-Gus Frerotte (Min @Ten)
WR-Marvin Harrison (Ind BYE)
WR-Amani Toomer (NYG BYE)
RB-Ricky Williams (Mia BYE)
DEF-Colts

I need to pick up another Tight End and drop a receiver or QB. I don't know when big Ben is going to be back in form and I think that Matt Ryan could have some good games... no idea about Gus but I figure it couldn't hurt to pick him up and see what happens. Comments and criticisms are welcome!

Happy B-Day Mom!

2008-09-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

I hope you find as much excitement in your birthday as this guy.

Sweet Home Mauritania

2008-09-15T13:19:00.000-07:00

Well, we just had an Alqaeda attack here. Exciting stuff. Not really actually. All's good so far. More importantly I wanted to read to you some descriptions of my country from some travel books.

These are all quotes taken from Lonely Planet travel books

"one could almost suggest that Mauritania was the place to avoid...to some the place is the pits - sand and an overwhelming sense of revulsion"

"Rosso is the main Mauritanian-Senegalese border crossing. It's a grubby, haphazard town with a slightly sinister feel. Most travelers breeze through, as there aren't any worthwhile attractions here."

That's my home sweet home, the place to miss with an overwhelming sense of revulsion, not to mention being grubby and haphazard with a sinister feel... Anyways... just got a text saying my camel burger is at the house so I gotta run and eat!!

What's Your Fantasy?

2008-09-12T05:27:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I gotta keep you updated on my Fantasy Football cause it's important right?

I ended up losing by 3 points which is no fun, and what is worse is that I lost even though I had the third highest scoring team of the week. Sucks when your teams score would have beat almost everyone else but one team does just a little better!

Anyways.. I've made some moves and I dropped tynes, picked up Jenkins (WR-Atl)... then I saw that Young was having some.. issues and so I dropped him and went ahead and picked up the Atlanta QB as well. He looked pretty good last week. Not good enough to put him in ahead of Roth, but a strong back up I hope.

Anyways, here's my current line-up for week two.

QB-Ben Rothlisburger (Pit @ Cle)
WR-Marvin Harrison (Ind @ Min)
WR-Michael Jenkins (Atl @ TB)
WR-Chris Chambers (SD @ Den)
RB-Larry Johnson (KC vs. Oak)
RB-Reggie Bush (NO @ Was)
TE-Tony Gonzales (KC vs. Oak)
K-Jason Elam (Atl @ TB)
Def-Da Bears (Chi @ Car)

and my Bench

QB-Matt Ryan (Atl @ TB)
WR-Steve Smith (Car vs. Chi)
WR-D.J. Hackett (Car vs. Chi)
RB-Ricky Williams (Mia @ Ari)
TE-Heath Miller (Pit @ Cle)
Def-Indianapolis (Ind @ Min)

One thing that sucks... almost all of my starters are playing away games. Hopefully that doesn't dampen my score too much and I can pull out a victory and maybe stay close to the front of the pack for the all season high scoring team bonus.

Any shit talking or advice is welcome.

howdy

2008-09-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

So it's Ramadan and I'm chilling for the next three weeks with about nothing to do. I'm sorry to say that my camera is non-functional right now thanks to a traumatic event which shall go undiscussed here. It should be fixed soon, In'Shallah. That means that no new pictures shall be posted for a while. And while I do have about 170 pictures from swear in party I've been sworn not to post most of them online so I have some filtering to do before any of those go up! :)

Life here in Rosso is pretty good. I have a sweet apartment I'm living in where I basically live in the second story of a building. I have a wrap around patio and a roof I can climb up onto.

At night i love to climb up onto the roof and enjoy the breeze where I can look out over my city and watch life happening without anyone knowing I'm there. Since it's Ramadan and everyone sleeps and does as little as possible during the day time when they fast they are all super active at night and from my roof I can see all the action.

I can't explain how crazy it is over here or how normal all the craziness seems to me already. I can't believe this is my life right now, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Okay, that's my whole random blog for the moment..

Oh wait, the only reason i got on to blog was to say that i have skype now brandon.forester

I only get online like once a week but maybe you'll catch me or we can set up a chat sometime! Peace all.

Some pictures from "stage Olympics"

2008-08-27T17:43:00.001-07:00

So here are a few pictures from the last day before we swore in.., Tomorrow we become real volunteers!

Liz's Photos...

2008-08-27T00:09:00.000-07:00

Some actual words!

2008-08-26T02:47:00.000-07:00

So, I feel like I've included a lot of pictures in my blog, but I have not wrote that much since I've been in Africa. So I'll include a few quotes and entries from my journal in this entry.

First of all, my journal is not so much a diary of events as it is a spiritual journal that I began in 2005 and lost for a while then decided I should restart it while I was in Africa.

The opening quote for my spiritual jounral:

“Do you think I know what I'm doing?
That for one breath or half-breath I belong to myself?
As much as a pen knows what it's writing,
or the ball can guess where it's going next."

-Rumi

"There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man."

Mark 7:14

"Surrender yourself humbly;
then you can be trusted to care for all things.
Love the world as your own self;
then you can truly care for all things."

-Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching, 13

"And do not mix up the Truth with falsehood, nor hide the truth while you know (it).
And keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and bow down with those who bow down.
What! Do you enjoy men to be good and neglect your own souls while you read the Book, have you no sense then?
And seek assistance through patience and prayer, and most surely it is a hard thing except for the humble ones."

Koran: Surrah II (The Cow), 42-45

*"I'll probably never be rich, but I will be a fat man”

-Louis Armstrong

June 27, 2008

On my first night out of 'Camp Stage' and into Africa, I find myself more prepared than I ever imagined I could be. I have (wait... break for tea here) very limited language and am in a house with no English speaker and one person who speaks French. (he left the next day) So clearly as the Peace Corps sees fit, I'm learning French...

The food is amazing, my family doesn't find soap necessary for meals.. when in Rome... I'm treating most of my water with bleach, but I want to build immunity and I lack patience... so In'Shallah.
June 28, 2008

“The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you
Don't go back to sleep
You must ask for what you really want
Don't go back to sleep
People are going back and forth across the door sill
Where the two worlds touch
The round door is open again
Don't go back asleep"
-Rumi (36)

Goodmorning, I must strive to live an awakening life.

I found the roof today.

The morning begins two hours after the 5:30AM call to prayer....

I feel useless as any empty vessel, waiting to be filled with knowledge. But it's this emptiness and potential which makes me valuable now.

July 4, 2008 (Independence Day!)

"A secret turning in us
makes the universe turn
Head unaware of the feet
and feet head. Neither cares
They keep turning"

-Rumi 278

July 5, 2008

There are patterns in life. Not everything happens for a purpose, but purpose arises from the things that happen. The key is to blend yourself with the patterns that include the things you want. That's called happiness.

Bloom, Wil McCarthy, 273

I'm sitting outside my house in Rosso after taking my sup and I'm looking up a the crescent moon. How appropriate. I know this is a duh, but the stars are amazing. What did people think they were before they knew? If they knew the truth, wouldn't they think it was even more amazing?

This body is a prison for the soul. Holding it back, keeping it locked away from a society of its own kind. But, just as a prisoner may use the duration of his incarceration to grow, learn and nourish himself... so can the imprisoned soul turn away from the corrupting influences of it's imprisonment to grow and gain.

July 20, 2008

'I am Determined'

"One regret, dear world,
That I am determined not to have
when I am lying on my deathbed is that
I did not kiss you enough."

Hafiz (I Heard God Laughing)

Started the morning with some jazz. It was basically amazing. Did Manteca by Mr. Gillespe. Dizz in the morning is a wonderful choice. I'm a terrible journal writer... oh well!

August 1, 2008

I've just returned from site visit. Not much of a journey for me since I am going to be teaching in the training city, Rosso. My visit consisted primarily of drinking gin, whiskey and “tea”, playing Jeopardy, flirting, beirut, homo-erotic joking, American Legends (made in the EU), playing with Mutard, watching the entirety of the American version of the Office series, singing karaoke and eating incredible incredible food. Basically all the stuff we've been missing.

I joined the Peace Corps for the very selfish reason of personal growth and it seems that me becoming a better Brandon thus far has entailed increasing my debaucheries, indulgences and general desire to be naked by 3 fold.

To put it simply, life is good. :)

Model School Part Deux

2008-08-22T06:59:00.000-07:00

First Trade

2008-08-15T05:09:00.000-07:00

Okay.. so after some consideration and thought I decided to drop Green because I think between Johnson, Bush and Williams (given all three are questionable with Johnson not really playing last year the chief's should have a stronger line from him to run behind though, Bush is coming back from an injury and Williams is... well he's Ricky Williams but it's predicted he'll be the main carrying back or co-carrier for the beginning of the season...) but I think I'll have two strong starters. So I dropped Green for now and picked up D.J. Hackett as a WR, if Smith isn't playing then Carolina's going to be throwing to him and he's a solid reciever. Thanks to Mike for the advice!

If anyone else has any comments or opinions please share!

Fantasy Football...

2008-08-15T03:39:00.000-07:00

So, I'm in a fantasy football league here in Mauritania and this is my team at the moment.

QB- Ben Rothlesberger (Steelers)
RB- Larry Johnson (KC)
RB- Reggie Bush (NO)
WR- Steve Smith (Panthers)
WR- Marvin Harrison (Colts)
WR- Chris Chambers (SD)
TE- Tony Gonzales (KC)
K- Jason Elam (Det)
DEF- Da Bears (AKA Hester)

Bench
Vince Young (QB-Ten)
Heath Miller (TE-Pit)
Ricky Williams (RB-Mia)
Ahman Green (RB-Hou)
Lawrence Tynes (K-NYG)
Indianapolis (DEF)

I think I have a pretty solid team. There are lots of sentimental Chief's picks or former Chiefs... since Steve Smith apparently punches team mates in the face and I didn't think to draft a back up WR, I need to drop someone and pick up a WR. I'm liking most of my back-ups but I think I'm gonna drop Green for right now and try to pick up a promising rookie. Let me know what you think about my team.

First half of model school

2008-08-12T06:44:00.000-07:00

Yessir

2008-07-30T16:51:00.000-07:00

My mom got on me for joking about parent stalking. We are all very happy that our parents are all reading and emailing each other and us. It's great to know that the parents have formed their own network back home. So keep on reading our blogs and looking at the pictures, that's what we put them up for!

Maybe even some words...

2008-07-30T02:29:00.000-07:00

So, my site visit has been pretty fantastic. I'm certain that I have the best site, region and the best site and region mates in the whole country. Plus, we have karaoke at our region house so yeah. There's also going to be a fantasy football league and there are other people to listen to the games with here in my city. I basically have all of the important things covered. There may have been a bit of debauchery, but nothing that was unnecessary or immoderate. For all of your parents who are stalking your children through blogs, including my own, don't worry about us. We're all good kids and we've all got great friends who will keep us out of too much trouble. Miss everyone back home... well at least half of you! JK, miss you all. already 1.5months done just 25.5 left to go..... I'll be home in no time.

Some Pictures from Site Visit

2008-07-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

Got my Site..

2008-07-21T04:45:00.000-07:00

So my site is the city I'm already in. It's basically fantastic because I'm close Senegal and anything I might want that I wouldn't be able to get further in country... for example alcohol. Also, I will be able to get vegies and a good variety of food year round. And even more important, I basically have awesome site mates and region mates. Eric and I will be providing some Mulatto Bravado for the region... did I mention it's going to be bad ass?

Some More Photos!

2008-07-19T17:12:00.000-07:00

Not too exciting.. I'll try to blog soon.

Nothing exciting to say except we find out our sites soon and I finally got 'the sickness' and it involved me shitting 40 times in one day. Literally, 40 times. Amazing.

Some More Photos

2008-07-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

Some pictures finally...

2008-07-04T06:44:00.000-07:00

a short note

2008-07-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

Im in an internet cafe in africa and they keyboard is set in afrikaans which means im guessing at half of the keys Im typing. Excuse my lack of apostrophes and other stuff... I should be able to get on again on my computer so I can upload pictures on the 12th of July... at least in theory. Hope all is well back home. All is well here. peace.

oops...

2008-06-24T10:24:00.000-07:00

apparently I put the wrong number..

011-222-458-6751.

Will get pictures up soon.

Bdizzle is Finally in Africa!

2008-06-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

I'm in Africa writing right now. Exciting right? My new cellphone is 011-2220458-67-51. It's free for me to answer, but it will cost you to call unless you have a phone card. It's great here. I love it so far. Everything about it. Especially all the people I'm here with. Can't wait till I can improve my language skills so I can get better at talking to the Mauritanians. Email me if you want to chat and I'll do my best to get back to you when I can. I'm going to be at this training site with wi-fi until friday. That's about all I got at the moment. I'll try to be a better blogger, but there's too much to write about at the moment. I'll have a lot of spare time after we are done with this week long training and try to update more.

US Sends 200 Marines to Mauritania

2008-06-13T06:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=59691§ionid=351020506

Enough Said Again...

2008-06-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

Fattening Before the Slaughter...

2008-06-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

So I've been trying to eat as much as I can before I go so I can get nice and plump before I ship off. Thanks to my Grandmommy's ability to saturate and super-saturate food products with butter and all of my friends and family who have fed me or gone out to eat and eat and eat with me I think I've succeeded somewhat!

Here's me trying to be a fatty fat fat for Africa. I'm like 195 or a little more. Was around 180 or a little less this year so only put on like 15. Those are a pair of pants I bought for the Peace Corps so I got em a size to small before I started fattening up and I've been wearing them to work. So hopefully my growing butt didnt' stretch them out and they fit me when I weigh like 160! Oh well, I got a good belt.

Read This...

2008-06-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

Here's this wonderfully sad and beautiful story that I read on Slate today and it has nothing to do with Africa or me, but it's something I feel like I just needed to share.

An Affair to Remember
http://www.slate.com/id/2192178

So read it.

PS-I think the sonnet below might be an appropriate bit of verse for the story actually.

Sonnet a Day?

2008-06-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

So for about the last week I've been getting this 'Shakespeare Sonnet a Day' emails. And to be honest with you.. Shakespeare is kinda lame. Not a great fan of his work. Rather read some original tragedy or comedy... Rather read some of Caesar himself than a play written about him... but I happened to enjoy this sonnet and found it somewhat appropriate. So, Enjoy. I always suggest with poetry to read it out loud. Give it a go. Feel the rhythm of the words...

Sonnet #27

Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed,
The dear repose for limbs with travel tired;
But then begins a journey in my head,
To work my mind, when body's work's expired:
For then my thoughts, from far where I abide,
Intend a zealous pilgrimage to thee,
And keep my drooping eyelids open wide,
Looking on darkness which the blind do see
Save that my soul's imaginary sight
Presents thy shadow to my sightless view,
Which, like a jewel hung in ghastly night,
Makes black night beauteous and her old face new.
Lo! thus, by day my limbs, by night my mind,
For thee and for myself no quiet find.

Jamie and Jessica in One Day?

2008-06-08T22:13:00.000-07:00

This morning was sucky enough having Jessica leave, but then I didn't even think that tonight was going to be the last time I see her twin sister and my BFF since highschool Jamie too before Africa... This is not the best day ever.

I love you girls!

Bon Voyage Jessica.

2008-06-08T11:37:00.001-07:00

So my friend jessica who is going to burkina faso left this morning. We became really close over the last year and It's sad to see her go. I got to see how much it sucks to have someone important to you get onto a plane to god knows where for the next two plus years. It was hard to see her go for me, and I'll probably get to see her in the next 7 months. I can't imagine what it must be like for her family and friends who won't get to see her for the entire time. I'm sorry to all my friends and family that i'm going to be doing the same to you. I hope to return to you a stronger and better person.

Yr. Faithful Servant

2008-06-06T10:13:00.000-07:00

So I finally wrote my first letter. Given, it wasn't from Africa yet.. but it was good practice. And important, because it's going to take a lot of practice to get good at it. My handwriting is atrocious.. I don't think I've handwritten ANYTHING since about my sophomore year in HS? Maybe a few blue book tests in college... or perhaps the written portion of the LSAT's? Point being, I, like many people of this generation, have lost the most valuable ability to write a good letter. I plan on writing and writing while I'm abroad. I hope this works out for me. I hope that anyone who reads this will take the time to write me at least one letter, even if it's just a few lines long and saying hello, it will mean the world to me in Africa. I will also be sure to write you back ASAP. I imagine myself writing grand Victorian letters with complimentary closes such as, your faithful servant, or with my greatest love.. things like that. And I want to have endearing letters like our first George Bush president, who despite his faults, was an astounding writer of letters... or Louis Armstrong who always began or ended his letters with a poem or a joke... I love to blog too, but blogging is for those with A.D.D. and need instant gratification... I look forward to the Romanticism of letter writings. Help join me in this effort, huh?

With My Deepest Devotion,

Brandon "the Garrulous" Forester

New letter for family and friends...

2008-06-04T16:25:00.000-07:00

I posted a new letter for family and friends in my "Resources From Peace Coprs" or something section of my blog. Read it.. or don't. Here's a link to it too.

LINK

Enjoy. Peace.

What Else Needs to be Said?

2008-06-04T09:58:00.001-07:00

Sad Face...

2008-06-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

Had my going away party for my family today. And my two youngest siblings went with my Grandmommy to spend some time in KC with her. Unfortunately that means I won't see them again before I go... The kids are going to be the hardest thing to leave because they are like my own children.... this sucks. I miss them already.

Going Away Party (Family) Pics

2008-06-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

Truthful words are not beautiful.

2008-05-31T16:16:00.000-07:00

Truthful words are not beautiful.
Beautiful words are not truthful.
Good men do not argue.
Those who argue are not good.
Those who know are not learned.
The learned do not know.
The sage never tries to store things up.
the more he does for others, the more he has.
The more he gives to others, the greater his abundance
The Tao of heaven is pointed but does no harm.
The Tao of the sage is work without effort.

Tao Te Ching, Chapter 81
as translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English

Little Tao for the BDay

2008-05-30T05:49:00.000-07:00

Knowing others is wisdom;
Knowing the self is enlightenment.
Mastering others requires force;
Mastering the self needs strenght.
He who knows he has enough is rich.
Perseverance is a sign of willpower.
He who stays where he is endures.
To die but not to perish is to be eternally present.

Tao Te Ching, Chapter 33
as translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English

More on Water..

2008-05-28T17:12:00.001-07:00

The highest good is like water.
Water gives life to ten thousand things and does not strive.
It flows into places men reject and so is like the Tao.
In dwelling, be close to the land.
In meditation, go deep in the heart.
In dealing with others, be gentle and kind.
In speech, be true.
In ruling, be just.
In business, be competent.
In action, watch the timing.
No Fight: No Blame

Tao Te Ching, Chatper 8
translated by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English

Under heaven nothing is more soft and yielding than water.
Yet for attacking the solid and strong, nothing is better;
It has no equal.
The weak can overcome the strong;
The supple can overcome the stiff.
Under heaven everyone knows this,
Yet no one puts it into practice.
Therefore the sage says:
He who takes upon himself the humiliation of the people
is fit to rule them.
He who takes upon himself the country's disasters deserves
to be king of the universe.
The truth often seems paradoxical.

Tao Te Ching, Chapter 78
translated by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English

Water

2008-05-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

Every day I must remind myself how important it is to my goals in life that I am more like water. Especially as I embark upon my journey into the desert.

A New Community

2008-05-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

Over the Memorial day weekend, I was able to attend a conference for the Krista Foundation which I've mentioned a little bit in my earlier blogs. Going into the situation, I was completely unaware of what to expect from this weekend and with my leaving so soon I almost viewed it as a burden which was taking away one of my few remaining weekends to connect with my family and friends in the short time before I leave for Africa. But, they were giving me a check for $1000 so who was I to say no? Well, it turns out that by the end of the weekend I hadn't thought about the grant at all and money was the least of things I had gained from my weekend.

What I ended up finding was a whole community of people who in a short time have become sincere, dear and lifelong friends. I'm lucky to have found a budding community already in connecting with many of the other people who I will be serving along with in Mauritania. But, in the Krista Foundation community I have found a group of people who will be able to help me along in my personal spiritual journey through the Peace Corps. Already, I know that finding this community will help to both enrich my service experience and, I believe, enrich me in my ability to better serve the community into which I'm entering.

One of the things we were told by this amazing story teller who was the guest speaker at our conference is that in some cultures, God is viewed as a spider who spins the webs that connect and hold the universe together. If that is true, then surely this universal spinner has touched my life, once again, connecting me with far reaching webs to other people, communities and experiences all across the world. The speaker also at one point had us all close our eyes and envision in 4 or 5 words the world we wanted to live in. The world we wished could exist on this Earth. When I closed my eyes I heard and saw, "There will be food (Of Course! my first thought!), music, laughter and dance! Looking back on the weekend and the community, that is exactly how I would describe it. This weekend was one of those serendipitous moments which marks a distinct change in a persons life that will shape the rest of the years to come and I am full of gratitude for that.

Mauritanian Bloggers!

2008-05-24T07:09:00.001-07:00

So while looking through some of the google news stories that are automatically sent to me on Mauritania I saw one on Ahmad Ould Islam (by the way, I'm pretty sure that's everyone's name in Mauritania because it seems like every person I read about has a name that looks and sounds just like that, yes I know that's culturally insensitive of me but it's honest at the moment and I'm not there yet!). Ahmad is the founder of the Mauritanian Bloggers Union. Pretty cool right? Well I think it's pretty cool and appropriate to post on my blog

So here's the story

Here's the link to his blog (in Arabic)

And here's the link to his blog (translated by google)

Remember as always dear friends, Keep the Peace and Spread the Love

Over priced decor for my concrete hut?

2008-05-22T11:33:00.001-07:00

Here's my new computer for Africa i just got to day. Who's willing to take bets that my final site placement after training won't have electricity let alone internet access?

French...

2008-05-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

So, now that I'm less than a month away from Africa, my French is no where near as good as I hoped it would be. We get free access to Rosetta Stone and we're supposed to use it for 40 hours and I guess there's no particular profiecency we are supposed to reach since we all start at different levels... but for anyone else going through Rosetta stone I'm at like 31 hours so close to my forty but I'm only at like Unit 4, assignment 31... which means I've done a bit but I still can't really speak any French! Probably understand a good portion of it, slowly with hand gestures. If only life were like the Matrix and you could download it into your head... I think I'm just going to communitcate with winks, nods, making my hands into the pointing/gun shape and wiggling it around making a Fonzi face and other kinds of gestures you might see the two brothers from a Night at the Roxbury making. That should be good enough til I learn the French and other language(s) right?

Clear..

2008-05-21T07:57:00.000-07:00

Got my dental clearance. All my little duckies are in a row now. Of course, they are swimming to the Sahara desert.. but at least they're all in a row!

More Exciting News..

2008-05-20T11:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's basically the same story that keeps getting played again and again and again. The repetition dulls you to it right?

http://allafrica.com/stories/200805191635.html

2008-05-19T08:01:00.001-07:00

Hey hey hey, looks like i got my staging kit even with the dental hold. Awesome. On to africa!

and the Beat goes on?

2008-05-19T07:01:00.001-07:00

Well, I finally got all my dental stuff done and I'm sending it off today. Hopefully it's all done-done cause everyone else is getting their staging kits and now I'm a lil behind!

Final Countdown...

2008-05-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Yeah, so it's officially like one month til I depart for Atlanta from where I'll depart to Africa. Other people in my group are getting their staging kits, unfortunately I haven't gotten all my dental stuff in yet so it might be like a week or so before I get mine.. The closer it gets to going the less real the whole thing seems.. exciting.

No one to blame but myself..

2008-05-18T12:20:00.001-07:00

HA HA.. read this article . I guess if I get killed in a food riot then it's my own damn fault!

I'll miss you in africa wonka bar.

2008-05-17T21:39:00.001-07:00

Three Things...

2008-05-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

So, I was doing this dumb MySpace survey and one of the questions was, what are three things you can't live without? and I realized that any three things I could think of are in fact things I'm going to be living without or living without a certainty of access to them for the next two years... CRAZY.

2008-05-11T09:07:00.001-07:00

I just got my solio solar charger for cell phones and other small electric devices like mp3 players... Yeah... It's basically the coolest thing ever. Look at of charging my cell phone right now. I'm a big liberal but i don't know that i really believed that solar energy really worked like magic... But look! I'm so amazed and so unhappy with my government yet again for not investing more in this.

Optimism...

2008-05-10T06:44:00.001-07:00

I just realized when reading an article in an old Time magazine that one of the many 'benefits' of living in conditions where the average temp us over 100 degrees is that you can do Bikram yoga outside!

Mr. Forester goes to D.C.

2008-05-08T19:13:00.000-07:00

So, it's the last night of my trip to D.C. to visit family before I leave for two years. I got to do lots of cool things including talking to one of my states congressmen to convince him that it's time to go for Obama and stop this silly uncommitted thing... and lots of other great things.. but most of my time was occupied by helping to be a facilitator at this conference for an organization my cousin works for, Tellin' Stories... it's a program that helps to get parent and community involvement to improve schools and education. Anyways.. it was an awesome program to work for and I got to learn a lot of wonderful techniques and approaches that I might be able to use and adapt for my experience in Africa. Of course, I might not be able to use any of it, can't start looking for solutions and answers for a community that I haven't entered yet.. but participating in this three day conference it got me excited about being an educator for the next two years. YAY. That's all.

More mobile blogging and some mula.

2008-05-02T12:09:00.001-07:00

So i'm playing with this mobile blogging again and It's easier to do with a picture from my phone. Anyways, i just got invited to participate with the Krista Foundation which involves a grant of $1000. So That's cool.

Motivation?

2008-04-30T08:40:00.001-07:00

So this was a post from my blog on myspace and it got me thinking:

I know I'm not the first person to say this, but I don't think hate is the opposite of love. I think fear is. Hate is passion misplaced, but it's fear that keeps us from love and from all of the greater things we might have in life. It's fear that causes hate, and anger and distrust. Some people enjoy being feared seeing it as some kind of respect, whenever I recognize in someone else fear, or some kind of emotion or reaction to me motivated by a fear and not by love it disguists me and forces me to reflect on myself and see where it is that I have failed. Caution is only intelligent and necessary, but don't live a life where fear is a deciding factor, but love. Let yourself be lead through life by love, courageous, perhaps even foolish love and as my friends help me to do the same as I do my best as a friend to help you overcome your fears and find motivation in love to accomplish all that you would in life.

That's basically the usual BS that I spout on my blog on myspace, but it made me think. People always ask why I'm joining the Peace Corps and I usually tell them it was to lose weight and get a tan. But I think this has something to do with it. I don't want to live a life of fear, fear of loss, fear of different people, fear of difficulty and suffering and pain. Loss and difficulty and pain are part of the human condition and experience. They help us to grow. So I'm think, at least in part, the Peace Corps is an opportunity for me to face things that I might fear and which might cause me pain and suffering and difficulty... but to go in and face them willingly and with love as a motivation so that I might be able to grow and be a better person than I am today. But, I'm also going to lose weight and get a tan! WHAT A DEAL! :)

2008-04-30T05:42:00.001-07:00

Testing out this mobile blogging thing from my phone. Gonna miss this little midget in Africa.

The 'oh shit' Stage

2008-04-28T06:53:00.001-07:00

This is the morning when I wake up and realize I'm going to be visiting family for the next week and a half and then by the time I get back I'm going to have like 5 weeks left and I am just not doing good at prepping for Africa. The, I need to see this person, and do this, and buy this and pay off this and figure out that and blah blah blah. Very exciting stuff. Thankfully I'm chill. But, I really should start getting my life sorted out, and soon!

French Smench!

2008-04-27T14:32:00.000-07:00

Blah... Rosetta Stone makes me want to slap myself. I should be studying but doing MySpace surveys seems so much more important right now....

French...

2008-03-30T15:13:00.000-07:00

Yes... more French studying this weekend both on Rosetta Stone an on My French Coach on the DS... after closing the bar last night and getting up early to play pool this morning this French is turning my brain to mush right now... needed a blog break.

test blog again...

2008-03-28T20:10:00.001-07:00

testing testing... 123... sibilance, sibilance

Test post...

2008-03-25T13:10:00.000-07:00

I'm just testing to see if this works sending out an email when I post. Brian, I'm trusting in you to let me know.

Nothing Exciting to Say!

2008-03-24T14:13:00.001-07:00

Bloop.. just wanted to blog. Realized I can do that from work. Any excuse to kill time.

So, my two friends who are serving in Mali have decided to come home because they were really not meshing well with Mali... they had decided to stick it out and just see how things went but there was a health concern about one of the members in their family and they decided that right now it was more important that they were able to spend time with their family members than try to stick out their service. I'm glad they will be back. I have missed them, but I will miss more that they aren't going to be in the country next door to mine anymore. I was excited about having people to visit in Mali. Their early termination, partially because of the difficulty of their assignment is a bit discouraging, especially since Amanda confided in me that when times were bad in Mali the running joke was, at least we're not in Mauritania!

So boo to that, but I'm still super excited to go and I'm excited to see my friends again!

My friend Jessica is still going to be in Burkina Faso which is just on the other side of Mali so I will have someone to visit over there. Not to mention all of the awesome people who I am going to be serving with who I've managed to connect with over email. I'm excited to meet all of them and as Brian has already discovered we may be brother's seperated at birth, or perhaps cousins becasue we seem to click well.

Jessica is working on her Aspiration Statement that you have to do once you get your invitation to explain to the poeple in your country what you plan on accomplishing and how and why and blah blah blah... I'm supposed to take a look at hers tonight. I saw that Brian had posted his on his blog so I thought I'd post mine as well. Here it be, very unexciting but that's the way it goes:

A: My goals and aspirations at this point are relatively simple and pragmatic. I hope I am able to effectively engage with and instruct my students in the English language. I understand that I will likely be teaching large numbers of young energetic students and that classroom discipline may be a concern. I believe that my experience in working with Korean exchange students helped to prepare me for this role and for the difficulties involved in this goal. My role as an assistant for this program required me to facilitate English exchange and conversation on a daily basis. It was difficult to get the students engaged while remaining a source of authority for students who were the same age or older than myself. It also gave me specific experience in teaching English as a second language to a group of students whose langue I was unfamiliar with.

I also hope to be able to reach out beyond the school and get involved with parents and the community. I had the opportunity to tutor elementary school children in impoverished neighborhoods through program called Kids Reach in Tacoma. While the main responsibility in this volunteer experience was actively tutoring the children to increase their math, reading and writing skills; I also saw the importance and necessity of community involvement and outreach. It wasn’t enough just to provide the students with a few hours a week of tutoring. If a child was able to overcome his difficulty in learning, it required involvement by parents. So after every session we would get in contact with the parents and discuss their child’s progress and what the parents could do to help facilitate their children’s continued success.

Part of community outreach as discussed in my assignment description is encouraging and organizing extracurricular activities. This was another of my primary responsibilities in working with the Korean exchange students. Every week we were responsible for planning and organizing a field trip. Every trip was an exercise in organizational ability as well as the ability to manage and maintain discipline with a large group of rowdy students. One of the field trips involved one other program assistant and myself taking the entire group on a weekend trip to Portland (from our university in Tacoma, WA). At the end of the program, we helped the students to create and produce a play of their own that they performed for a large group of people including all the professors they had worked with and their host families.

Anther role listed in the assignment description is contributing to the advancement of girls’ schooling and education. This is particularly exciting for me and should also serve as the basis of my secondary project. My undergraduate thesis was entitled Empowering Women: A New Approach to Development in Africa, and it addressed how focusing on women’s education, health and institutional participation was not only a necessity for development but also a driving force for achieving development. In my research I found that educating girls and giving them the tools to empower themselves and their communities is one of the most efficient and effective ways to achieve change and sustainable development in Africa. So I’m very excited to have the opportunity to help work with educating girls. I’m very interested in working with the Girl’s Mentoring Centers described in the assignment description. I’m not sure if there will be some kind of cultural weirdness in my being a male working closely with females. There was some hesitation at first in working with the female Korean students, but after a professional relationship was well established it dissuaded any hesitation to interact due to gender.

While I wish I could be more specific as to my aspirations for a secondary project, I don’t think it would be wise to have my mind set on any particular program. I think it will be important to assess the needs of the community in which I am placed before I begin to develop projects to address those needs. It’s also very important that I am able to make a sustainable change. Sustainability is a word that gets thrown around a lot today. For me, it means that I want to be able through teaching other educators, working with the community and encouraging students to become involved in their own educations, to help give the community I am placed tools that they can use to further their own goals. I don’t want to simply come in, teach a few kids English and leave. If I am to have a lasting impact then I must help them to organize themselves and meet their own goals so that they can continue to develop after I leave as well.

I’ve become aware through reading other volunteers stories that for secondary projects outside funding may be necessary. While working with the University of Puget Sound’s department of Donations and Charitable Giving my primary responsibility was calling and acquiring donations and funding for university programs. I believe that experience will be useful should I need to obtain outside funding for any secondary projects I might attempt.

While it may be the goal of all Peace Corps volunteers at the time of application to “save the world”, my idealism has been tempered by the realization of my actual assignment. I understand that it is a very difficult assignment and it will be very challenging. While I may not be saving the world, my greatest aspirations for myself in the Peace Corps is to work with my assigned community to help empower them so that they might be better able to achieve the goals they have for themselves.

B: Like I said in section A, I think that it’s important that I am meeting the needs of the community for which I am in and not enter a community with some artificial desires of my own. I think my main strategy will be to listen actively to the concerns and desires expressed by my host country partners. I am there at their invitation, and it’s important that to a certain degree I am helping them accomplish the goals set for me. I will also try to maintain as much contact and communication as possible so that we both might be able to give each other feedback. So, should I need some resource in achieving the set goals or if I am having a problem then I am able to express my concerns as well to the host country partners. While I get the sense that much of my work will be done independently and of my own impetus and motivation, I hope we will be able to work as a team in achieving shared goals as is appropriate.

C: I think my main strategy for adapting to the new culture is to be open-minded. I’m fascinated by other cultures and very interested in trying to acculturate myself to a certain extent to the Mauritanian culture in which I’m going to be placed. I think the obvious first step is gaining a firm grasp on the language as quickly as possible. In my work with the Korean students, they were being immersed in my culture, not I in theirs. But, in order for us to work together it was necessary for me to have an understanding of their culture. Much of the confusion and many of the cultural impasses we came upon were the result of ineffective communication. During our time together I was able to learn to understand and speak a limited amount of Korean and it was clear that every little bit helped us to communicate and understand each other more effectively. The key to our successful interaction was patience. When there is a language barrier, it can intensify confusion caused by cultural differences. So it’s important not to become easily frustrated during frustrating situations. As the language comes along, staying open minded, remaining patient and understanding, finding similarities and respecting differences will help me to adapt to the culture and achieve my goals.

D: I hope that during the pre-service training I will be able to become more comfortable with French and also be able to get a firm grasp on whatever other language I might need to learn. I also hope that I will be able to become comfortable in the new surroundings and culture so that when I make it to my assignment I won’t feel completely alien. I hope to gain a high enough comfort level with the language and culture that I am able to confidently and successfully teach English to my students and create bonds with the community. I hope I am also able to connect with my fellow Peace Corps volunteers and others in the Peace Corps office so that during the difficult times that surely are ahead of me I will have a network of people who understand the difficulties I am going through who might be able to help me remain focused, motivated and optimistic.

E: Right now, my personal and professional plans after the Peace Corps are to attend law school. As far as long term goals beyond starting a family and some kind of career where I am able to help others I’m not sure what my goals are post Peace Corps. I can’t begin to imagine the effects that my service will have on me as far as enforcing my loose plans for life at this point or perhaps even completely changing them. I imagine that I will probably come back and continue with my education still unsure of exactly where I want to go. But whatever I decide I want to do I know that my service will help me to gain skills that are universally applicable. I think it will help me grow and mature as a person so that I might appreciate what I have and what I can do for others. I think it will help to teach me greater patience and courage. I can’t think of any aspect of my personage which won’t be improved by the joys and difficulties which I will experience in the service (unless of course I contract something fun like malaria! That might have some detrimental effects). I think after the Peace Corps, whatever goals I set my mind on I will feel more confident that I am able to achieve it because of the difficulties I will have to overcome.

Yeah, that's it. I think maybe on my next blog I'll write about why I'm 'really' joining the Peace Corps as opposed to my Aspirations...

Waiting...

2008-03-20T13:41:00.001-07:00

Well, I'm so bored with all this waiting I'm ready to get this show on the road. Every day I get more excited about going even though I feel like my language skills are never going to be good enough.

I'm very excited that I've been able to talk with so many of my fellow PC RIM peers before we depart. I'm sure we will all become very close and I'm especially excited to meet Brian because he makes fun of me when I'm being a whiney little bitch on MySpace which is exactly what I need.

My friend Jessica who applied at the same time that did and ended up picking Africa in June of '08 just like me even though we were half the country apart and had no clue the other was doing it... wait, sorry for the run on sentence, I'm afraid you should expect quite a few of those... finally got her invitation this week and she's going to be not too far away in Burkina Faso. So of my 3 fellow High School friends who also joined the Peace Corps we are all in three countries right next to one another.

So that's awesome.

Ready to go... even though I don't have all my stuff and can't speak enough French yet!!

My Very First Blog!

2008-02-15T13:14:00.001-08:00

Okay, well I'm not actually in Africa or anywhere near Africa yet. I'm just getting organized and setting things up for when I go. So since MySpace will probably take to long to load and work with I'm going to start blogging her and hopefully be able to blog in Africa!