I got a bad feeling about this

Not really, just a classic Star Wars quote.

Ok, been a while. But got a lot to say hopefully I can remember most of the good stuff. Plus Forrest has been showing up my blog so I want to at least write some more interesting things.

I am in Mabalane now. Forrest and I got a nice set up. The village is small and chill. It is green and really flat. Hot and dry so far. I like it. The peple have been really nice. We ate lunch and hung out with some prisioners and guards at the judges house yesterday. So we have a prison in Mabalane and the prisoner go out and get drunk with the guards. We meet this guy who talks and looks a lot like Eddie Murphy, he is doing ten years for thief, so Forrest an I invited him over to talk Englisg whenever. Haha

We just hitch hiked into Chokwe the closest city and bought bikes. Not sure how we will get home yet but ride or hitch is probably the answer.

We had a conference at the beach before moving to Mabalane to meet out new bosses. Xai-Xai is awesome. The water is warm and the beach is really nice. So chilling there was so nice. We were really living the dream for a couple days. Still am now but more of the Peace Corps Mozambique one. We do not have energy, so we read with oil lights and cook on our bbq like grill. We are about 1 mile from the market and literally right net to the school. There are three two bedroom house and are pretty new. Our director of the school is really nice and the other teachers seem cool. All is well in Mabalane!

So yesterday we seen this guy who asked us for money (he looked like he needed it) and Forrest gave him 1 or 2 mets. We were talking and I was wondering what he was going to spend it on. Then maybe 5 minutes later he walked by smoking a cigarette, haha it was so funny. Glad I didnt his cig. But I dont know how I feel about giving money. Im from this rich country and have all this stuff. Then the Peace Corps gives us a bunch of money to move in and buy things. So Forrest does not mind giving money away, I dont either. But not sure if that actually helps the person. I want to try and spend all my money so it goes to the community and country. Just failed by buying a bike made in China, but for now on. That is one of my goals buy local stuff and food too.

Last Friday was our last night as a group and went to this party with 3 fiends it was on the 14th floor of this apartment overlooking the ocean and city of Maputo. They had these two wesome drums and i played a little. But I cant really play drum yet maybe next time.

Well here is that time where I cant think of anything else to say. Trying to read, write, and study Portuguese with my free time. Which I have a crazy amount of right now. I have been thinking about life and deeper stuff lately and trying to write in this journal. So send me some messages and lets chat about life, philosophy, or just tell me about what i going on in the states.

No energy so keep writing even if I dont reply. Im reading them! For some reason I can log on reply to facebook messages a lot easier than my yahoo email. SO hit me up. Peace and do good things


Jimmy

Leia! Leia is my sister

Ok so almost done here in Namaacha. Im excited to move on and start teaching and doing other projects. Not sure what the future holds or much about my site. But Will let you all know soon.

Maputo was cool. I got a drum, it is awesome. But this week I have been in an Portuguese training all week and have been playing music. But we have a Thanks Giving party tonight and hope to jam.

We stayed at a hostel and walked around a lot. There was a blues concert and went dancing. Cooked dinner both nights and had a Thai buffet. That was about it. Went to an art muesum.

Im trying to hurry up, sorry. There is a lot more going on. I guess some of you do not know where I am going. I am going to Gaza providence in the district of mabalane. So if you are bored research the area for me and send me a text email, jgomes99@yahoo.com.

Thanks to those you have been writing me. Big Jon and Oldman thanks for the songs. And Ashley and Jodi thanks for the updates. Mom going to not have all those answers for you, but I am a big boy! It will be ok! Haha

Well have a great Thanks Giving, remember to take some time to think and say what you are thankful for. Ok I can start.

I am thankful to be healthy and have the freedom to do the things I want in life. And have a great family to take care of me while I go to Africa for a couple years. Ok I got to go out of time! Thanks for all the comments and read my comments for now on because I can reply to them from my phone!


Love Jimmy

A Jedi's strength flows from the Force

So I was on the local radio the other day. It was pretty cool. I talked about how I like the food. But the equipment was all old and rendom, which I thought was awesome.

I went to this spot where Sawaziland South Africa and Moazambique meet. That was cool. The I made home made peanut butter the other day with some friends. It was really rich and that was cool too. There are some other things that have been going on. but I forgot my paper with a bunch of notes. my bad next time.

Also sorry for spelling grammar errors. I am in a hurry and computer is in Portuguese. So my language is coming along. I am trying to apply myself more. Tomorrow I want to try and not use English for an entire day. My friend Mika did not talk at all yesterday and he has inspired me to not use English for a day. Gandhi inspired him. Ok I will load some pics this weekend in Maputo. I am buying a drum too.

Teaching today went really well. It is pretty easy to teach basic English to stuents who volunteer to come to school on their summer break. Peace and do goood things


Jimmy

Ready are you? What know you of ready?

Ashley,

No nicknames.

Jodi,

I have not been eating much packaged foods. Diet is close to the states. Lots of oil and meat though. I have not done anything extremely cool yet. Went to the waterfall. Ran for 72 minutes yesterday, then twisted my ankle today, it is swollen and hurts a little. Im good tho. Running here is nice. Lots of rolling hills and trails.

Tia,

They listen to a lot of American music and Mocambican music is similar to US dance, pop, and hip hop. The sunsets are really nice. Ill try to get some good pics. I tried to see a sunrise this week but really dusty and no good on that morning. sun rises at about 4:45 though.

Overall... Portuguese is getting better. I find out where I go in two weeks then get a weekend off. Going with some friends to the capitol. I start doing some model school teaching in two weeks. Next week get to learn about gardening and work out in the field.

So I cut my hair. And gave my hair to my host niece. She was really excited and is going to weave it into hers. Haha, so thats cool. I cut it when I first got here. I didnt really want to, but it is way cleaner. Ok im going to get going. Might have some pics on facebook if people tag me. We had a Halloween party last weekend it was fun. Well I think that is it. Peace and do good things


Love Jimmy

Meditate on this, I will

Old Man,

I drink my water at the bars. I have not read any books or seen any wild beast.Seen some monkeys tho in Maputo.I have not gotten any letters yet. Stop sending them, the mail is slow and expensive. Write me an email!

Big Jon,

No host Old Man. Or pics yet. Some people have taken pics. But really slow to load. Ill try some time when I am on a fast computer. This town is about 40000 people.

Cris Bowles!

Whats up, nice to hear from you. I dont im making you look bad. Your probably running for congress by now.

Bob,

I eat local bananas! From my backyard to be exact.Pretty sweet.

Any other questions? Everything is fine here. Raining today. The other day was almost 100 degrees, then it hailed an hour later and was kind of cold. We did these like talent or whatever skits the last two weeks. They were a fun time. Some groups were really good. I´m actually not really sure what else to add now. The days are flying by for me and they are all about the same. I do the same thing everyday. I'm trying to apply myself more to Portuguese but it is easy not to with all of us Americans here. I am not learning as fast as I would like to, too bad I am not more intelligent.


Peace and do good thing
Jimmy

Size matters not, ... Look at me. Judge me by size, do you?

Im using one of my friend’s computers at this bar, Casa dos Dois. This is what they call a man’s second home here, not sure if it is a joke name or not.

Everything is going well. Portuguese is coming along and everything else is fine. That is my only problem not being able to communicate very well. But it is not bothering me. I try to study as much as possible. But I am just not that good at remembering words or grammar.

Random highlights and stuff over the last couple weeks

Lighting and rain storms and pretty cool. They light the sky up pretty good

Crazy changes in temperature. It went from like 90’s to 40’s in two days. And the mud is insane. It gets dark early here too.

We rode chapas, the taxis here, they are packed really tight. So travels will be interesting here

I take my ukulele al over and everyone loves it. Lots of kids following me playing the Air Uku.

Flushing the toilets is fun. You fill up a bucket and just poor the water into the toilet.

My friend and neighbor Ali got her shoes stolen last night.

O and we all cooked with our mom’s last night in our language groups. It was fun and crazy. Playing random games and singing kids songs. Well that is good for now. Peace and do good things everyone!

Love Jimmy

Only what you take with you

Ok got a little more time.

Oldman,
There is beer and cigs here. So you can come visit.

Tomorrow my host mom is not cooking so my host brothers and I are doing all the cooking. They are also taking mo to these waterfalls. So that should be cool.

Well I brought ay to much stuff. I didnt need anything. They got everything here. Ok feel free to write me. Recycled paper would be sweet!

James Gomes
Corpo da Paz
Avenida do Zimbabwe 345
Maputo, Mocambique

Do or do not, there is no try

Ola!

Lots to say but I am going to make it quick. Everything is great. I cant communicate very well but its getting a lot better each day. Life is very different, but I am really enjoying it.

My host mom is awesome! She is very jolly and keeps me well fed. The food is great. Well one of my friends is waiting to use the computer. Maybe some other time I will be able to write more. Days are very busy. I have language and peace corps classes most of the day. then trying to fit in some workouts and play the ukulele on top of studying Portuguese. Not a lot of free time in my day.

But I am living like a king compare to some of the others, haha. They are not too happy about that since I dont even want a lot of my luxuaries. Indoor shower and toilet, dresser, mirrow, and queen size bed. Ok may the force be with you and do good things!

Love Jimmy

Luke, I am your father

Ok my vacation here at the resort is over. Just chillin and going over safety/regualtion stuff. I have worked out the last four days. Pretty sweet!

I go to my host family tomorrow. That will be cool to start. I had to comform a bit this evening to social standards.

Dad,

You will nopt believe this but I left my guitar on one of the planes. So that was short lived, plus I had already broke a string. Uku is still going strong tho.

Got to go, may not hear from me for a while. The fellow volunteers and trainees are cool. Peace


Jimmy

You must unlearn what you have learned

Yan and Billy made it. So that was cool. Im just staying up and hopefully going to sleep as much as possible on the flight.

Seen a really cool sun set and moon rise combo on the flight from Medford to SF.

Then broke a guitar string at the SFO. Have not fixed it yet not sure where my multi tool is. So no guitar yet. Three others have ukuleles tho. And an other guitar.

Might not hear from me for a while. So peace


Jimmy

Size matters not, ... Look at me. Judge me by size, do you?

Leaving Oregon Soon

Kind of hungry, might want to get use to that. People keep asking what it is going to be like, not sure. But I'll let everyone know. I fly to Philly tonight process tomorrow and then leave Tuesday. 15 hour flight from NY to South Africa. Yan and hopefully Billy are going to come hang out before I leave. Peace and do good things

May the Force be with me

Have not packed yet and may be missing some crucial possessions. But whatever. Part of me does not want a bunch of these luxury items and the other part knows I might end up buying them anyways and having to have them shipped. I might not take a computer or dont have one yet. I was looking up solar panels and there are some cool ones for a couple hundred dollars, a small panel can do a lot. Worth it in the long run for sure. Then they have crank powered radios and speakers, 1 minute powers for 20 minutes of music. Why cant I get everything that way? I would be cranking away for everything.

But it would be cool to live more like the locals. They probably dont have computers and other electronics. Plus then I would be tempted to waste time playing on a computer. Then again maybe I will need it to write up lessons and other stuff for teaching or projects???