Third Day Back.

I am so tired... With slow or no internet connection (and firewall blocks), progress has been slow and so I carry my tasks back with me to the cottage. I'm under 1.5 hours of sleep right now...there are several time constraints I have in this brief visit so I told BTM that today and tomorrow is what I consider "CRUNCH TIME."

I am pleased with the published pieces over the summer. Here are two images. I'll bring some copies home. Looks like some more of my other pieces are heading to the printers soon (the were recently approved):

2006 Narrative Report was a word document. This is a vast improvement!

simplifying their data so everyone understands the course of web hits

Second Day back.

This visit to Africa is very different – I am living alone and a bit more stressed. Don't get me wrong, for the one full day that I have been here it has been mostly pleasant. But really, since my time here is so terribly brief most of the days will be busy with work and only work. Every day is so timed and carefully scheduled that there really is no time for leisure. I'm having internet difficulties so with 99 percent of my tasks being web-related...this is adding on extreme frustration.

Yesterday evening I went to a lounge call House of Nsako, a neighborhood hotspot that many cultural and international students like to hang out…even some celebrities (South Africa celebrities aren’t a big deal here…my friends say one sees them so frequently that just blend in very well). They were showing Obama's inauguration ceremony on three projections. After the ceremony finished, a live band played some contemporary live jazz. It was hard going to bed...just kept thinking about what I had to do the next day.

Oh, and I'm being blocked from our parsons server, prolonging trial and error testing.

Doris back in South Africa

Never thought I would be back so soon, but I am.

However, it has already been very emotional. Within the first two hours, I found out a dear friend of mine was diagnosed with HIV a couple of months ago. He was a Zimbabwean refugee and returned to his country to be with his family. They say grew very thin, weak, and eventually incapable of doing his work. Neighbors say they are unsure how much longer he has to live. He is only 30-something years old and his wife was someone I also befriended. He was not part of the organization but helped us with maintenance around the summerhouse. Since he left, no one really knows of his condition.

While anticipating a reunion with my South African comrades, I can’t help but think of all the work that needs to be done. I only have a total of four regular business days to get a bulk of it done. I’m hoping the office will open on Saturday. With an extra day, I’d be allowed more time to accomplish everything on this list. The purpose of this revisit is to clean up some loose ends and follow up with my NGO about what happened after our initial visit. What was the impact we made? How we can extend the impact into a foreseeable future? Specifically, this is what I have scheduled:

- Meeting with PCB to migrate and configure Drupal CMS onto their server
- Capture testimonies after the Parsons fellowship
- Visit, participate, and document any LGBTI events that may be scheduled
- Collect release forms from staff and all individuals previously photographed
- Pull quotes from current staff (some old members left but may try to send them an email survey)

I asked Thuli to sit with me this morning about how the organization is doing. Because of other challenges, they are really stressed right now. And let me just tell you, working with stressed people makes you even more stressed than you already are…I’m going to try my best to bring some smiles this week. Thuli (director) is out basically everyday and I'll only see her on Friday. The managing editor will not be here this week and the secretary is gone today. I'll be working with Stanley ("webmaster") most of the time.

This evening there will be a large Obama celebration at a neighborhood lounge not too far away that normally congregates those who are poetically, politically, and culturally open-minded. My landlord and neighbors will be taking me there as a welcome back to the American girl.

I’m not staying in the same summerhouse Joe and I lived in but my own private cottage that shares a courtyard with it. It’s very quaint but equipped with fewer things. There’s no stove or burners so personal cooking is not really an option (there is a microwave). No washer and no cleaning supplies. I’m sure I can borrow stuff from Mongezi, who lives in the private cottage neighboring mine. But there are restaurants nearby and dried foods can suffice for this short visit. If I buy soap, all I need is a rock to scrub any dirty laundry at the end of the week.

Overseas Delivery

Communication is really tough when long distance and time difference are both involved. Regardless, the last two large-scale publications for BTM were done and completed. Terribly exhausted but it was done. Uploading them for their printers to download. Here's a preview:

Above: News Magazine

Above: Layout of Gay Man Easts Crocodile Manual

BTM: Behind the Scenes of Doris and Joe

Doris Yee and Joseph Mauriello: Video Diaries
Quick Behind the Scenes of our 2008 Fellowship in Johannesburg, ZA.
Download footage at this link: Video Diaries
(footage was taken with point-and-shoot cameras and not edited in professional software)

BTM Documentary still being digitalized at this point.

[ thank you, south africa ]

My Dear South African Friend,
Thank you for the gift you have given me. While it may not be worth much when you measure this woven basket in rands or dollars, it is of great value. In your words, you said: "I don't have much money but I want to give you the thing I cherish the most." And to this - how it was presented to me - I shall always treasure this token forever. Your name will not be disclosed for you fear family will discover you on the net, and that you've been secretly working for an LGBTI organization.


You are one amongst many South African daughters and sons who cannot open up to mom and dad about your sexual orientation. For that, you have remained silenced and ashamed - you told me you will not get married, even though South Africa legalizes same-sex marriages. You told me because you were raised Christian, you were told you could never marry of the same kind. But dear sir, we are each individuals. Do not deny who you are. Your pregnant mother gave you this woven basket, right? You told me she is the one who would disown you. You fear she would become ill if she were to find out you were gay. You fear something will happen to your unborn baby brother. You are too sweet as to think about her condition. Oh dear friend, a loyal son you are as well. But i'll always keep this basket open, hoping one day you'll come out and stop hiding. Thank you for the gift.


Sincerely,

Doris Yee

I'm going home!

I'm so excited to go home. I've enjoyed my stay here, but there have been a mess of politics and I'm lonesome for home!

While here, I've been able to complete:
- main brochure
- main poster
- newsletter templates
- mock ups for entire website
- education/training catalog
- conference material templates
- e-blast draft

My wrap up items include:
- assistance with website implementation
- newsletter support
- e-blast support
- posters, brochure

I'll be home on Friday!