osi 2008

Third Day Back.

2009-01-22T12:05:00.004+02:00

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.

2009-01-21T10:24:00.004+02:00

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

2009-01-20T10:28:00.002+02:00

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

2008-11-04T09:49:00.006+02:00

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

2008-10-12T05:29:00.004+02:00

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 ]

2008-07-23T20:06:00.004+02:00

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!

2008-07-23T17:40:00.003+02:00

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!

[ last day onsite ]

2008-07-18T12:16:00.005+02:00

Small chats about returning to Johannesburg at a future date to possibly continue onsite work for Behind the Mask have been in the air. Also, there is possibly another developing city project I was introduced to recently (somewhat connected to Constitution Hill) that has intrigued me and possibly well worth the time to keep networking with those external contacts. I'll be in close communication with my NGO - not only for the project tasks already on the agenda, but you never know...they may see me sooner than later.

L to R: Mashilo, Apinda, Thuli, Musa (behind), Jabu, Stanley, Mongezi, Nthateng

Behind the Mask (mising Abeli and minus DK in front...she's from FEW)

Today is the last day doing onsite work for Behind the Mask. It has been a wonderful exchange of our two cultures over the last couple of months and it's a shame time flew by so quickly. I made sure I took some group photos of the organization because they haven't had one since 2005. We got some fun ones in there as well...the only missing puzzle piece was Mr. Mauriello. But we can photoshop you in somewhere.

I fly out tomorrow 07:00 in the evening. Will return to America on Sunday morning.

Designing in Power Point

2008-07-16T14:29:00.002+02:00

My NGO does not have any design software. The webmaster has Dreamweaver. I am seriously ashamed.

I've been designing in Illustrator and translating my designs into PowerPoint so that my work can be continued after I leave.

I have 8 more days and I am super anxious to get home!

I will post my progress report soon. Take care, everyone!

Continuing work in New York for MHS

2008-07-15T17:31:00.004+02:00

I introduced you to Nurbeik earlier, he is this fascinating Kyrgyz lawyer who is daily on the news and who leads court cases against the government for the lack of transparency in budgets and allocation of funds. He works with MHS as well.

He came last week to DC for a meeting with the International Budget Project (IBP) and this week to New York City for meetings with the Human Rights Watch.

Meanwhile, as I am continuing work for MHS as of New York, I met with Nurbeik to show him the progress that has been made on the presentation I am preparing for MHS.

Together we discussed several issues related to the presentation and he provided me with updates to include. We will continue meetings today and Wednesday.

MHS will use this presentation to advocate for its causes, mainly the budget monitoring program, on the World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2008.

Maria is a Researcher for Europe and Central Asia at the Human Rights Watch in New York City.

All right then, later :)

[ standstill ]

2008-07-15T10:52:00.009+02:00

Joe is across the Atlantic now. I'm still here on dry ground. Making a list of things to do while I still can but, sadly, there's just not enough time in the day. Projects, in my opinion, are somewhat at a standstill (not drupal site - fellows get to call 99% of the shots on that one). I've been waiting for confirmations, answers, and materials from internal and external sources for a few days now. it started off a bit frustrating to very frustrating. However, I've dealt with small-teams of grassroots and non-profits before - this type of break in the progression is typical. I was hoping it wouldn't last as long as it has but I've managed to do some other small tasks while in the office. We were hoping to launch some of the near-to-finalized items before I leave, but my gut tells me with the continuation of slow responses and actions, it's not possible.

While I couldn't eat what was braai-ing, looks like Pefo knew what she was doing.

I really enjoy having "Mo" as a roommate. With Mauriello gone, it's just the two of us in this house on top of the hill. He's given me a very youthful but scared perspective on the South African LGBTI community - particularly along the lines of a younger-generation battling with the fears of "coming out" and the public risk of being proactive in the gay and lesbian civil rights movement. We sat in my bedroom last night talking about what he has seen, what he has heard, what's working forward and backward, and lastly a personal outlook on the country and his future. Some individual video interviews were not conducted in the office because of the very fears he has - about being "discovered." I respect this decision.

Last day with MHS

2008-07-14T20:44:00.010+02:00

On the last day of my fellowship, the whole team of Mental Health and Society went on a picninc to fascinating Ala-Archa Mountains.
Below is Aidar with one of the 5 watermelons :)

Below: Andrey and Maral,,,

Gladly (for me) the food did not include lamb or lamb's eye and that's because "there is no money for lamb!" Instead we had potatoes, vegetables, canned fish, bread, chicken and very good sweets!
Sophia cannot possibly be my daughter unless I have a child with a blond blond blond German,,, she's the lovely baby daughter of Lilia and Michael who work with the Budget Monitoring Program at MHS.
I was offered a very nice bouquet from the Self-Help Group with whom I worked (the self-help patients). Thank you Mental Health and Society for a fabulous and unforgettable work/experience during six weeks in Kyrgyzstan!

My buddies,,, (below)

Fabulous mountains behind,

Day 1 back in New York - I loved the food in Kyrgyzstan but I missed the American sugared sugared sugared cupcake :))))

[ hamba kahle, manqoba ]

2008-07-14T10:43:00.003+02:00

Mauriello will begin his journey back home this evening. It has been a pleasure experiencing South Africa with him and I'm very grateful he was here. Otherwise, who else would have been my bodyguard? "Hamba kahle, Manqoba." Go well and safely, Joe. See you in New York City.

Jupiter, finally

2008-07-11T16:54:00.001+02:00

"That one is Jupiter" Jan is looking at the eastern sky at the only bright dot visible in there.
"Holy Crap it is Jupiter! You can see the moons! Check it out" I'm looking through a telescope the size of Doris.
"Oh, that's Jupiter? That's the biggest one?"
"Do you see it's four moons?"
"Yeah"
We went to the planetarium.
It's a dome at the center is an archaic piece of hardware. Cogs, lens, shafts all dance silently remaking the night sky at the twist of a lever.
Cool

[ behind the scenes diary ]

2008-07-11T09:40:00.006+02:00

A fun side-project Joe and I have been doing is documenting ourselves here in Joburg (this is different from the recording of BTM members). It's quite amateur - in other words, very random. It's a compilation of discussions snippets about anything from foods, cockroaches, animals, load shedding to how Mauriello and I managed to live with one another as complete opposites. I'll be sure to show all of you when we get back. Too bad the Joburg team don't know or even own final cut pro. While pieced together in your simple iMovie, it's hilarious.

Stillframe: One week in.

Stillframe: Four weeks in.

Stillframe: Six weeks in.

Stillframe: Seven weeks in.

In Istanbul Airport again,,,

2008-07-11T06:22:00.001+02:00

Catching my flight in one hour - New York, here I come!!!!!
Will upload last Kyrgyzstan news tomorrow,,,,

m

[ braai! ]

2008-07-10T16:30:00.003+02:00

Even though I'm not leaving for another week, Behind the Mask is throwing a braai (aka barbeque) as a farewell to the "Bonnie and Clyde" team. They've invited others from neighboring organizations that Joe and I have met. I don't really know how big this thing will be but hopefully there will be something I can eat, since meat is no option for me.

cold

2008-07-09T16:53:00.000+02:00

"It's sooo cold" It was cold, for South Africa. probably around 11C thats 51F. "I bet it doesn't get this cold in New York."
"Are you kidding? This is nothing, This would be a pleasant autumn day."
She looked at me like what I was saying was joking. "really?" she said it like she didn't believe me, like I was telling a ridiculous lie.
"What? Yeah this is nothing." How could she not know about the cold? Didn't she know anything about snow? "It'll easily be like, 10C cooler in winter and that is on a good day."
"Oh my god, I don't ever want to go there."
"It's not that cold all the time, it can get really warm in the summer, it can reach over 40C" (100F) She thought about that.

[ from the eye of thuli ]

2008-07-09T10:40:00.004+02:00

Status: Busy. (I have my do-not-disturb face on)
Thuli calls the below images: Doris-in-action and Joe-in-action.

Doris taking a photo next to South African Police
(who really aren't taken the protest seriously).

Mauriello never wants people to know he's taken their photo.

lately, maral has been...

2008-07-08T17:58:00.006+02:00

Lecturing at the AUCA

Filming Tyéléguen for the MHS documentary

Finalizing work

Visiting the Armenian Diaspora, (Armenian flag behind,,,)

Taking pictures of children while they swim in the 43 oC heat in the fountain right next to the Presidential Palace

Hello everyone,

I have been so busy lately as my fellowship will be completed this Thursday evening - so I have been doing toooooo many things to finish as much as possible while still in Bishkek.

We are all continuing our work for our NGOs from New York, and my first meeting will be on July 14 with Nourbeik our lawyer who will be in DC and NY on meetings with the International Budget Project and the Human Rights Watch.

Nourbeik is a superstar in Kyrgyzstan - he is daily on the news fighting whatever establishment or the Parliament itself on the lack of TRANSPARENCY in the allocation of funds etc etc...

So with him I will complete the presentation I have prepared for MHS that they will use while for their presentation on October 10 at the World Mental Health Day.

Also, I gave a lecture at the American University of Central Asia, advocating for my NGO and trying to have Psychology students work as volunteers or interns at the Outpatient Daycare Center.

I completed the English version of the website - I am waiting for all Russian translations that everyone should prepare and send me so that I post that too.

I filmed a small interview and made a short documentary about it and uploaded on the site - with Kyrgyz Folk music in the background during transitions :)

I did many other things too - like melting in the desert heat - it has been 43 degrees Celius here for the past 3 days - I don't know how much that is in Fahrenheit.

I also visited the Armenian Diaspora and discovered that there are 1200 Armenians in Kyrgyzstan, 600 of whom in Bishkek.

Last but not least, on Thursday the whole of MHS is going on a picnic to the mountains. It is in 'my honor' :)))) (around 40 people)
I have been told that the guest of honor in Kyrgyzstan gets to eat the eye of the lamb after it is 'cooked'?!?!?!?!!?

I highly appreciate this, but I am not eating no eye, ok? I am not eating no lamb's eye.

I have been also told that the lamb's eye is only given to 'male' guests of honor - I hope that will be the case.

:))))))

Back to Alex

2008-07-08T16:44:00.000+02:00

Doris and I took our second trip into Alexandra, famously one of the poorest townships in Johannesburg. Since it was first settled over 30 years ago it has been the place immigrants end up upon arriving. We left the car to explored the market:

"what's this?"
"It's a rock"
That was an obvious answer of course it was a rock, but why would anyone buy a rock? And that question begs the other: why would anyone sell a rock?
"But what do you do with it?"
"...eat it, some people eat it."
"...oh"
The boy behind the counter walked away at that point.
There was a table with rows and rows of these rocks. They were soft and chalky looking, they had a light brown coloring.
I moved on and wandered into a shop. There I bought a bag to carry all the crap I had purchased over my seven weeks here in South Africa. It was a small plaid bag, it made Doris laugh.
"It's a girls bag, it's a girls..." when Doris says something she finds funny she says it almost twice; it's endearing.
"well it's the only one I like. Plus it says South Africa on it... Besides some of the sexiest men are androgynous, look at Prince."
She shrugged.
I walked out of the store and past several more rock displays, I decided I would buy one. I asked the women behind the table how much one was, she looked at me like I was stupid then replied "1 rand"
"I'll take one"
She laughed.
"What? what are these things?"
"They are rocks."
yes, apparently "...What are they for"
"...some people eat them."
this was annoying "Well, who eats them? and why?"
she blushed at the question and turned to Patrick and started explaining in Zulu or Xhosa; Patrick understands neither.
Patrick looked at me and gave a small shrug.
"what?"
"it's for women."
I got the idea that maybe the rocks purpose was something that was embarrassing to say to a man that you didn't know "Can you tell her?" I pointed to Doris. She only continued to blush.
"well then I'll give it to a women."
She found that really funny and giggled. I handed her a rand and she put the rock in a bag while calling over to her friend in whatever language; they both laughed. The other women leaned over to get a better look at me, she looked at me, then my plaid bag and then back at me. I didn't feel as silly as I probably should have.

[ cleaning up dirty design ]

2008-07-08T09:49:00.002+02:00

New challenge: Re-edit and re-design a 35-40-page Annual News Magazine in 1.5 weeks.
Behind the Mask needs to quickly reproduce this publication and are taking advantage of the time that Joe and I have left here. This piece was designed by outside sources and the final result was completely unacceptable. And so, it's been passed down to us to clean up the mess. Already it's a headache, I just hope that by the end we're still alive. Here's a video of yesterday's Soweto Gay Pride March: Vimeo !t.

[ mountains, horses, gay pride ]

2008-07-07T13:20:00.008+02:00

Click Above for Saturday Photos in Magaliesberg + Hartbeespoort Dam.

Click Above for Sunday Photos in Bela Bela and Mabula.

Click Above for Monday and Soweto Gay Pride March.

{loose ends}

2008-07-07T12:56:00.003+02:00

Im tying up some loose ends, I'm scheduled to leave tomorrow nite. Not prepared for the long flight. As for the loose ends. We're in africa, and africa has its own schedule, we get so spoiled in the west, especially with bandwidth!!!!!! Even our bad pizza is still pretty good. I'm going over the newsletter we designed, teaching Dedan the rudimentary procedures to get the newsletter out, designing, building mailing list, etc. The set up needs to be more self-sustainable, so it can be used by untrained designers. We developed a template for Dedan to develop print materials in Indesign, which we went over as well. Unfortunately, we didn't get all the cleanup done on the website, untangling a Dreamweaver document is an exercise in futility sometimes. For a application that is supposed to help, it tends to confuse the matter sometimes. I've revised and digitized a couple of logos for PCAU, which is the hospice agency in Uganda. I've developed and built visual identities for PCAU and PCAZ, another hospice agency in Zambia. Overall I feel I didn't really scratch the surface of the work needed. I'll be able to support remotely, on the newsletter, but really the website needs a tune up and restructuring. APCA want to develop a solid database system that is pretty in depth, and integrate that with a intranet. I guess I have to live with what I've accomplished so far.

Welcome to South Africa.

2008-07-07T11:15:00.003+02:00

It's been raining all weekend!

I'm working on initial design concepts for the website and finalizing newsletter templates this week. I was hoping to get the new site up and live before I leave, but I'm running into some delays.

The PA to the CEO keeps telling me, "This is not America. Welcome to South Africa."

I wish I had some exciting updates for you but it's much of the same. I'm currently working on digitizing a map.

Are you all getting ready to head back to New York, I wonder? I'm here for 3 more weeks and I'm getting a bit anxious because there are some serious personnel issues here. "Welcome to South Africa."

Pride March in Soweto

2008-07-07T04:03:00.000+02:00

Soweto is an amazing place, it is the epitome of urban sprawl. Miles and miles of neighborhood. It all looks basically the same but every detail is all alive with color and activity. The close quarters can spark tension, last year on this date Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Masooa, vocal LGBTI activists and open lesbian couple, were brutally murdered. The killers have yet to been brought to justice. LGBTI organizations in Johannesburg held a march to raise awareness about the issue of hate crimes.

This was my first experience with any kind of group demonstration, it was a unique experience. Below are some video and images from the experience.

Safari!!

2008-07-07T00:41:00.000+02:00

A view from the horse.

I rode on a horse next to a rhino, it was a white rhino. She was about 6 meters away from me, we knew it was a she by her poop (no kidding). My horse's name was bonero. He was a free spirt, all-be-it a tamed one. While all the other horses remained in line, Bonero would break the line and walk along side or go off into bushes and then cut back into line closer to the front. I would pet him when he did this.

White Rhinos

Dorris on the horse in front of me. Her horses name was Bonita, I think.

Some Gazelles.

Ladies just leave their "leavings" males role around in it the help spread the scent... nice.

Hartbeespoort dam; damn coasters

2008-07-06T00:36:00.001+02:00

from: Pbase http://www.pbase.com/michaelmccloskey/image/65770001

So we went to check out this dam. We took the rented car, the drive was cool, the views from the highway were amazing the music from the radio was African folk and we were having fun.

The road over the dam is one lane, there is a light, one direction passes at a time and you end up with a long wait. Over the fifty years of the dams existence the locals have grow wise to this fact and have set up on either side to pray on the waiting tourists, I was one of the waiting tourists. At his point in the trip I had 200R rand in my pocket (just over $20), that's it, I didn't even have money in the bank. So this guy approaches my open window holding a wooden cylinder and asks me to take it from him and open it, "wait till you see what is inside!"

I told him "no thank you, I know what your trying to do, your trying to get that thing into my hands because that makes the sale so much easier." I than tried to ignore him, but I was kind of intrigued. What was in that cylinder? I thought this even though I knew, some how, that the contents was most likely coasters. I don't know why I thought this but I did. He wouldn't leave so finally I said, "If you want me to see what's inside why don't you open it yourself?" I quickly followed with "but you might as well move on because your wasting your time." So he opened it and low and behold, coasters. He said they could be mine for 350R. "Ha" I thought, I don't have 350R so he's stuck. We haggled for a while over this thing that I didn't want and I eventually talked him down to 200R, even though I had no desire to actually own what this guy was selling. Finally he threw in small bowl and I took the bait. I was the dooped owner of a little wooden bowl and a cylinder full of coasters. I also had spent my very last dime. Damn dam.

Let's drive to durban!

2008-07-05T00:03:00.000+02:00

We went out on our first day with the car.
We went to some clubs, and coffee.
At the end of the night the car was packed.
Doris was sitting on laps, Apinda, Peepho, and Lasego where sitting on the seat underneithe her, Mongezi was in the front seat; we past a sign on the highway "Durban (arrow)" and peepho said "let's go to Durban!!" She was serious.
Durban is a beach town on the Indian ocean, Doris and I talked about going there. It's a 600km drive (300 something miles) it's far, it takes about 7 hours by car.
I am always up for anything so I had to at least consider the proposition, and this made Doris very nervous. It was 2AM and her head was kind of pressed sideways against the cars headliner.
In the end reason and Doris won out and we went home, but it was a fun idea for a moment.

{Final projects, Friday}

2008-07-04T11:41:00.004+02:00

Today and yesterday I spent revising several logos for another of the hospice agencies here at APCA. The Palliative Care Association of Uganda needed a revision to the identity and development of their visual guidelines. I've also been involved with the clean up of our site, a major project considering some technical issues. With Joe's advice, (generally a nice guy for those who don't know), I think we're going to try to use some google analytics on the site to help analyze the visitors, etc. Thanks Joe!

Interview with Stanley

2008-07-04T00:02:00.000+02:00

I never really understood what gay pride meant until we interviewed Stanley. Stanley has worked at BTM since the beginning. He started as the house keeper and is now the webmaster. I never put much thought into the concept of Gay Pride. I figured it was something to rally around but I never thought about the reason or meaning. I realized by talking with Stanley that growing up as a "closeted gay person" in a community that doesn't except sexual differences is a source of intense shame. It is natural for a homosexual to be a homosexual; imagine being ashamed of something that is natural to you. It's heart breaking. That is why pride is so important; to move beyond acceptance of yourself to a place where you can be proud of who you are. Acceptance without pride still leaves room for shame. Shame is a source of fear and everyone should be able to lead a life without fear. I get it now.

Working with stanley

2008-07-03T00:01:00.000+02:00

I have been spending time training Stanley. He has some experience with the web and is not a beginner which makes my job easier.
This is my plan, it's a four stage process... I'll let you know how it goes.
1. I plan to start with basic and general "internet principals": giving him an understanding of the technologies being used in the site.
2. Then I'll give him some very basic HTML training (even with the sites built in text editor, it's all HTML underneath and since HTML is so easily understood with proper instruction he might as well know it.)
3. Then I'll get him oriented with Drupal and how it works (I've already given him some documentation to look over I am basically going to outline what that documentation covers so he understands how the system works)
4. Finally I am going to go over the basics of how the BTM site works... (this is by far the most crutial portion as it is what he will be working with from day to day. If he understands nothing but this last section then he'll be fine. He will have a better foundation of understanding if he has that other stuff floating around in his head first)
I plan on doing this over the course of 4 days. Starting today. I'll do the last leason on Monday and let him play with the system for the rest of the week while I'm still here.

Fire in South Africa

2008-07-02T23:42:00.000+02:00

Fire doesn't seem to be a big deal in south africa.
I mean if there is a fire blazing out in a public place, nobody seems to care.
Barely anyone even takes notice.

People start fires in cans all over the place, this one's in Alexandra

I saw this one in a parking lot

and this one in a park

I've seen others but I was used to seeing fires so I stopped taking pictures

[ sneak preview ]

2008-07-02T16:21:00.004+02:00

What: Annual Narrative Report 2007
Status: Being proofed by contacts in ZA an NL, still receiving content from some sponsors (why it remains as a draft)
Size: 90.5 MB
Total Page Count: 35
Design: Original photography and layout by Doris Yee
Description: Each chapter is a color of the rainbow. The cover was desired to be the crimson yellow image so where it would typically pop in the color sequence is replaced with this steel photograph I stylized. It throws off the rainbow but the rest is at least consistent. There is still content flowing in from external funders so there are currently some placeholders in the below compressed thumbnails. These are just chapter spreads, obviously with other pages that populate each section. Color seems to be off when making them web-viewable but color palette of the real thing is much more vibrant. Somewhat like a Pantone booklet. Some data visualizations representing bandwidth usage, web site statistics, and financial audit were also made to be included in the final piece. I believe last year's annual report existed as a word document.

[ office prop ]

2008-07-02T12:56:00.002+02:00

Man-haters?

Drupal Update

2008-07-01T23:41:00.000+02:00

I have spent a large portion of my time here at Behind the Mask starting this site over. I've done it several times and it looks like I'll have to do it at least once more...

My goal is to have the sites structure finished before I leave baring a few advanced features such as Paypal donations and a slick front page slideshow which I plan to have finished by mid october. This first goal is looking impossible considering my latest string of problems. I plan to have the site's look and feel finished by September first. Despite my latest problems this goal is still well within reach and I expect to achieve it.

With that done I will focus on migrating the database, from the old site to the new. This is something I have never done, and I don't know what kind of complications/compermises I'll have to face. I plan to have that accomplished by October 15th. With Doris's help I also plan to have the special features finished.

During this whole process I have kept careful notes documenting the use of the site. I will use the remainder of the fellowship to turn these notes into proper documentation for the site's usage from an admin point of view.

Fortunately Drupal is very user friendly if configured properly, this is what I have spent a majority of my time researching, how to design the site so it is easy to use and update.

Though the project has had it's ups and downs so far, it has gone as smoothly as expected considering I am employing a technology I had little exposure to when I started. I leave South Africa a competent Drupaler. And that is good.

[ 07 07 07 ]

2008-07-01T09:25:00.005+02:00

Sitting alone today in the "shop", where the 07-07-07 campaign members organize their advocacy and media communications. Some of the most dedicated feminists are situated in here but currently on retreat for the day. We needed to make space for someone in the media room and I volunteered to work in this cold, cold and quiet room. Hopefully it's not haunted like most other sectors of this facility.

Today is spent drupaling and making data visualizations for the 2007 audit report.
In the "shop" by myself.

07-07-07 formed as a reaction to the murder of Sigasa and Massoa and named after the date of their killing (July 7, 2007). Together, members raise awareness among South African leaders and local communities about unfair violations on the LGBTI community.

Sigasa and Masooa's bodies were discovered by a jogger in a field in Meadowlands, Soweto, on Sunday 8 July. According to various reports, the couple, who were romantically involved, had been tortured, and possibly raped, before they were shot dead. No arrests have yet been made.

{The Source of The Nile}

2008-07-01T08:04:00.008+02:00

The source!!! Here it is. It's where the Nile starts. It takes 4 months for water to get from here to The Mediteranean and Nile River Delta.
This is how you know you're at the source of the Nile. Its actually a nice little spot, kind of touristy.

{APCA Newsletter}

2008-07-01T07:50:00.003+02:00

Heres a comp of the APCA Newsletter I've been working on. Waiting for live copy to finish and start testing.

Churchs on sunday

2008-06-30T17:03:00.000+02:00

The Kliptown Church

We visited three churches this Sunday. Each one inducted Doris and I as members. The last we went to was in Kliptown, one of the poorest parts of Jo'burg. During one part of the service I held hands with this African girl. She was not more than 15. We recited verses to eachother: "my joy is your joy, my pain is your pain, when I look into your eyes I see family, when I look into your eyes I see myself, and I love you!" she recited the words to me at the same time. She was a total stranger I will never see her again I am almost sure. The preacher had a lazy eye, it was the opposite of crossed. He lead the whole church through this; everyone was paired.

Progress

2008-06-30T13:04:00.003+02:00

Ok, Mike and I have to stop with the sad posts!

So here is an update on my progress, as this Wed marks the halfway point of my stay here. Incredible.

I've been working mostly on print materials. So far I have managed to complete:
- Logo revision
- First Draft of Brochure
- Overhaul of Website Structure and Design
- Presentation templates for upcoming conference
- Assessment of Newsletter (audience, content, design)
- Template calendar for event planning and PR

Oh and over the weekend, I was able to get to the top of Table Mountain! The scary thing is there are hardly any guard rails. My driver said during peak season, there's at least one death due to recklessness a month. Yikes.

I'll post pictures when the internet connection cooperates.

{trip to Jinja and the Nile}

2008-06-30T10:13:00.006+02:00

Friday's trip to Jinja included a hospice visit, which included several home visits, to typical Ugandan farmers and village homes. My server connection here is faulty so I'm having a difficult time uploading photos.

Often on the home visits one is confronted by the harshest reality of the situation, which for most is hard to deal with. Seeing human suffering and poverty and illness is shocking to one's sensibilities, especially to western standards and beliefs. We, Dedan and I, photographed several patients in their homes. Dedan is the IT Manager here at APCA. It's distressing to see the real suffering people have to go through. Let alone photograph it. Many of the patients are, sadly, not long for this world. And the best nurses and doctors can do is try to combat the incredible pain they endure, with morphine or other painkillers. I walk away from these visits grateful, but with a profound feeling of powerlessness at my inability to help or alleviate the pain these people and their families must deal with. We, in the west, are lucky to have what we have for a healthcare system, in spite of its failings and inadequacies. Sounds trite, but I have to say it.

Jinja is the second largest city in Uganda, which is saying alot. One wonders what the fourth largest city looks like. All kidding aside, Jinja has not only some natural beauty and falls, white water rafting, but the unique distinction of being the source of the Nile and the Bell Lager factory. I'm more impressed by the Nile, than beer at this stage of my life and trip. It's not really easy to determine where exactly the Nile begins. It took the English many years and trips to determine exactly. I saw it and I couldn't tell, but there's a big beer sign that tells me so, so I have to believe it. I stopped believing in beer long ago.

[ soweto + religion ]

2008-06-30T09:36:00.007+02:00

This weekend sure was something. While hate crimes towards those within the LGBTI community is a major problem in Johannesburg, most of it occurs within a certain demography - the South African township. Referencing from the testimonies I've recorded of my coworkers, the words of gay and lesbian belong to this foreign terminology throughout a child's upbringing that was neither used or permitted for practice. In townships, it was just assumed you would marry the opposite sex. The Christian church plays a heavy role in these townships - as we have heard, seen, and visited this weekend in Soweto. In fact, Joe and I were noticed in the first church we visited, taken by the hand, brought forth in front of this 100-person audience, introduced, and inducted into the Methodist society with the entire service as our witness. I was so shocked about how quickly we got sucked into the institution. They even sang a Zulu song to us. Yes, the church (if not the most important player) than the second vital asset to keep up in the game. If you're not playing by the church's rules, you'll face the penalties.

Methodist Church members who welcomed with open arms and song.

Kids at play in Soweto streets.

Hanging outside house that is guarded by cheaper fencing.

In solitude.

Solution for the one-woman heavy-load carrier.

Looking dry, maybe feeling dry.

Using resources, being smart. Fence made out of cars.

These kids told me that they love bologna.

Occupied shop.

With Granny.

These boys were cleaning up a littered field in order to make their own soccer field.

Going home.

Coal burns for a "warmer" evening.

In Soweto we were, from morning to near sunset. It's by far the most beautiful place in all of Johannesburg - every pedestrian greets you with a smile. No child will run away from you but actually ride up to you on their old bike and want to shake your hand. Even with shacks as homes and the poor reputation, these people still have lots to be happy about.

I have three more weeks - I'm completely saddened by it. Wish I could stay longer.

Prepairing for 2010

2008-06-29T15:46:00.000+02:00

South Africa will host the World Cup 2010.
It's everywhere.

People are wearing caps with logos: 2010 cocacola.

There is construction all over the city in prepairation.

It's got the whole country hopeful.
Stadiums are being built, neighborhoods are being renovated, even the taxis are getting makeovers.

I want to come back then and see how the country has changed.

Recharging the batteries at Lake Issyk-Kul

2008-06-29T07:53:00.006+02:00

The remainder of my 2 weeks in this lovely country with its lovely people will be full of even more work than what has been done so far!
Saltanat needed a break too, so we hit the road to fascinating Lake Issyk-Kul.

Lake Issyk-Kul is the largest alpine lake in the world after lake Titicaca in Bolivia/Peru.
It is at 1606 m above sea level. I don't think there is place in the world where while swimming in the ice cold water, we get to see mountains covered with snow! I mean in Lebanon we get to see mountains while swimming but not so close to us and not covered with snow (unless we choose to swim in January).

Hit the Road.

Our resort at Bosteri.

I literally had to hide behind a hanging curtain to try a suit on , , ,

Saltanat

The Market.

Currency ha ha ha - 1 US Dollar = 35 coms.

Out on the Town: Pool with Lasego and Peepho

2008-06-28T16:48:00.000+02:00

She looks like she knows what she's doing.

This July 4th Doris and I went out for a rare night on the town in Rosebank tonight. Rosebank is a commercial district, it has a mall with places to eat, a movie theater, as well as nightlife spots. We went to Galaxy, it's kind of like Dave and Busters. They have a large bar/pool hall. Doris and I did a terrible job at representing the United States with our pool skills, we were beaten handily every time. The pictures below do not give justice to the volume of the music being played... After pool we dance for a minute. Over all pretty good time.

Peepho lining up... She was "off her game" she still whooped us

Lessego. all business.

what is Doirs doing?

[ grim day ]

2008-06-28T15:42:00.004+02:00

STRIKE. Street closures and large-scale disruptions have been occurring on the way going home. Public servants and Congress of South African Trade Unions are protesting. Waiting in traffic, I took some photos from the back seat:

[ the walk in the dark ]

2008-06-28T14:25:00.004+02:00

It's only when this place begins to feel like home that I realize I will be leaving it in three weeks. But we've been told this time around, us Americans needed to learn the way of life here, adjust and feel comfortable with it. Around the one-month mark, I decided to take a walk outside by myself during the evening, fetching some apples for Joe and me. Yes, it's not the smartest thing to do. As Joe says it, " I refuse to be a prisoner in my own home!" We hear it over-and-over again, Johannesburg is not a safe place, especially for a someone who doesn't look like they are from around here. Asian, female, short, and no bulging biceps. Joe can pass for any white South African. Lucky duck.

Night shots and a fast shutter are for Joburg photography.

It was fine. But yes, I won't walk alone again in the dark. On the way back home, the entire neighborhood experienced a load shed. I got to watch the lights shut off house-to-house, lamp-to-lamp. It went from dark to nothing. Just to be safe, I ran the rest of the way with my apples.

We have South African Names Now

2008-06-27T15:17:00.007+02:00

Bluto, the brave villian

Because Doris took the profelactic story today, I got the privilige to tell you all about our new names.

Today the kind people here at BTM gave Doris and Me South African Names.

Doris was given the name Sibongile (pronounced Si-bon-gee-le) which means Gratitude or sence of thanks. This is a traditional name given to daughters whose parents wished for them, like boy of our dreams. Dorris even got a middle name: Handeka (pronounced Han-day-Ka). Which means lovely.

I was given the name Manqoba, which I can barely say (pronounced man-*click*-o-ba). I am told it is a very masculine name. It means Brave villain... I thought this was odd at first but than I remembered my roommates at home joke and call me Bluto sometimes.

I always thought of myself as a gentle soul but I guess others don't see it that way :(
oh well.

Doris, you can get the Female condoms down stairs at FEW (Forum for the Empowerment of Women). They have a whole bowl! (reference)

[ where are my female condoms ]

2008-06-27T09:39:00.004+02:00

Even in an organization where a majority of the staff identify themselves as lesbian, the men still get special treatment...

I find it hilarious we only supply condoms in the male washroom at BTM
and there are no female condoms in the women's lou.

It's been a shared opinions by many in the office that a black South African lesbian
is targeted more for discrimination than a black South African gay man.

Port Elizabeth

2008-06-27T08:34:00.004+02:00

Port Elizabeth is a beautiful, quaint little city. Here are some photos from the boardwalk:

We made some decisions about the website, and now it's time to refine layouts, design and site structure. Once that's all set, we'll move into implementation in Dreamweaver. More on that to come!

maral is busyyyyyyy

2008-06-26T17:15:00.004+02:00

Maral is busy working on the MHS website, working on a logo for the coalition that was formed on the June 18th United Nations meeting (but still waiting for the Russian name and slogan) and preparing for a lecture she will give tomorrow at the American University of Central Asia AUCA which is probably the most prominent university in Central Asia.
Maral wants to watch the Russia/Spain match tonight with Bakay and Bayan and the whole of wholeheartedly involved Kyrgyzstan, but wonders how she'll make it.

Doesn't this sound like a facebook post/change of status?

One last thing for now - Maral might consider taking a break and escaping to lake Issy Kul over the weekend where she plans on wearing shorts and slippers and selling roasted fish at the beach.

Ta ta!

On Our Way Home From the Coffee Shop...

2008-06-26T11:08:00.001+02:00

By the time Jan picked us up it was well dark.
We saw a spotlight sweeping the sky.
Jan said: what are they doing? Looking for stars?
I snarfed.
Jupiter is the biggest planet, yeah?
yep... it is in our solar system...

[ disgrace to the nation ]

2008-06-26T09:11:00.004+02:00

Dirty politicians just don't make sense. I wonder if they even understand themselves. Projects are still rolling. Roger out.

{trip to Z, contd}

2008-06-26T08:10:00.003+02:00

Back from Zambia, where we held a branding and identity workshop for PCAZ, the Palliative Care Association of Zambia. Developed a logo, colour scheme and website template for the association. Will start to produce a visual guideline for the application of the visual elements. Zambia was very oddly quiet and eerie, like being in Florida in a way. Gated communities and big houses. Try not to fly Kenya Airlines....

3 days in Zambia

2008-06-26T07:46:00.006+02:00

[ ++ more assignments ]

2008-06-25T16:00:00.003+02:00

Bonnie (left) and Clyde (right).

If you haven't noticed, the blog posts of the "Bonnie and Clyde" team are getting shorter and shorter. With just a few weeks left, we try to take advantage of every minute of our BTM internet time and resource strictly for our BTM assignments and tasks. But some real progress and excitement has been reached:

+Mauriello is really shaping and defining the form of the Drupal site.
+Video interviews of each member are detailed and distinct from one another. Editing the recordings will take time but hopes to be fully captured and rendered before my departure.
+A launch of the new brand is planned to be completed again before departure.
+Fellow LGBTI and civil rights organizations in the building have been liking the new work (even trying to tap into joe and my services)

Sand Hills

2008-06-25T10:21:00.001+02:00

All around this city are sand hills. As an outsider with little knowledge of geology I didn't put much thought into them. After some weeks in Johannesburg I found out. They are industrial refuse from mining. Johannesburg is a mining town. It didn't exist before the mines, gold was found in 1886 and the city was founded in the same year. Before, this area was endless Savannah today it's endless sprawl. On the edges of town, like on the edges of an ant hill are mounds of sand. The sand is displacement from the mines.

They grew for decades; every year growing in size and numbers. In wind it was dangerous to go outside due to the pelting sand. As time went by the mines have dried. The sand hills have settled, grass has grown holding the particles in place. And eyes can look at the hills no matter what the wind, and now have. There's gold in those hills. The mining operation plans to sift through the sand in search of gold dust. Decades of this will displace the sand again; in the future there will be no hills.

But, I'm sure, the city will stay.

[ internet percentage ]

2008-06-24T17:40:00.003+02:00

When we look at the stat 10 percent, our jaws drop. But for third world standards, it's amazingly good. However, the number is (slowly) moving up. South africa is really trying some new tactics and ploys to make this country internet-equipped, affordable, and accessible. Lets just cross our fingers. Such optimism would only benefit Behind the Mask since their website is their primary communication vehicle.

This Morning

2008-06-24T14:42:00.001+02:00

There was a dark cloud in the sky this morning as I left the door. From all the windows I saw sun but from the doorway it looked like a whole different day. As soon as I stepped out I saw that the sky was only dark in part. In fact it was a plum of smoke rising in the distance.

It was rising fast. On the way to work a turn back would show it growing bigger, but not thinner. By the time we reached the building half the sky was grayish black. What the heck had happened?

I found out later what was going on. It was a fire at a factory. They made foam there. Burning foam makes a lot of smoke.

What Laura is Working On

2008-06-24T08:59:00.007+02:00

I realized I haven't shown you anything I've been working on. Oops.

I've been working on the logo (I wanted to start from scratch but found out that's a no-no):

This is part of a corporate identity manual that I'm putting together so my NGO knows how to use their logo. There are a bunch of different people working on different projects, and their print material does not have a unified approach.

I've also been working on a brochure:

And most recently, I'm working on their website:

It's seriously taking all my self control to not completely change their logo and colors. Haha. But good designers can work within constraints and make something beautiful. I keep telling myself that.

Let me know what you think!

MHS logo | before and after

2008-06-23T15:42:00.006+02:00

BEFORE:

NOW:

Weekend in Durban

2008-06-23T13:24:00.003+02:00

The past few days have been full of meetings, and it was nice to have a weekend of rest. People here are so warm and welcoming, and I feel really blessed to be here!

On Saturday, I spent the morning at the beach and the afternoon with the advocacy coordinator. We drove along the coast and visited the largest mall in the Southern hemisphere. Then we went to the playhouse to see a play about a South African family during the unraveling of the apartheid era.

I don't know where to begin when it comes to this apartheid business so I think I won't begin. It's so upsetting!

Then on Sunday the owner of the b&b I'm staying at took me around town. She took me to meet some of her family members in the outlying townships. Then I had my first taste of South African McDonalds. Very mayonnaise-y but pretty much the same.

Durban is an interesting city...surprisingly similar to California in climate and infrastructure. It was beautiful this weekend- a nice change from the wet week. It was raining for days, which left parts of the city in ruins because of flooding.

(Thursday night I stayed at a hotel because my NGO was having a conference there. We had no electricity for the bulk of our time there, and no running water for our entire stay. Aside from the fact that it had a gorgeous ocean view, it was one of the seediest hotels I've ever stayed in. Haha.)

I leave Durban tomorrow. I'll let you know how Port Elizabeth is!

I'm still in South Africa

2008-06-23T11:52:00.001+02:00

Yes I am still here.
I am still building a Drupal based website (though now I am thinking of using drupal 5 rather than 6, more modules are currently available)

Interesting things going on:

When we got home yesterday we had no water. It came back a few hours later.

When we got home today our power went out. It came back in a few hours...

I walked to an ATM yesterday and on my way I saw a couple of kids with really long sticks. These kids were probably around eight or ten, the sticks were about twice their height. They were hanging out by the side of the road and whenever a motorcycle would pass they would swing at it with their sticks. That made me chuckle.

[ we are one ]

2008-06-23T11:16:00.005+02:00

Friday: Completion of the 28-page annual report. Currently going through proofing by managing editor and managing director.

Saturday: Walked the city with Godfrey and treated him fifty flights to the tallest point in South Africa.

Local taxis seating 15-16 people. 7 rands/ride.

While there are cars everywhere, much is still done by foot.

Godfrey overlooking ZA.

East Johannesburg.

Me and Godfrey.

Sunday: No electricity in the morning. No water for the whole evening. During the afternoon Joe and I visited the Cradle of Human Kind and went down the Sterkfontein Caves with Jan. Jan has been living in ZA for 37 years but can't afford to visit some of these leisure and historic sites. After I paid for his ticket at Maropeng, we were given these sticker bracelets to wear. When the lady behind the partition gave him his, Jan held and looked at the bracelet for a minute - he was confused. I then wondered, "Has Jan ever visited a museum?" I didn't ask but I showed him how to put on the bracelet. I even let him put on mine for good practice. He whispered in my ear, "I have never done this before. You seem to know what you're doing." It was like watching a baby enter the world for the first time - maybe even a bit too interactive for Jan. He was scared when it came to this interactive boat ride that drifted you through all five mass extinctions.

Jan outside of Maropeng.

Jan and Me (practicing Joburg gang)

Monday: Since last Friday, I started recording one-t0-one testimonies of each individual BTM member as a means to explore what is really behind the mask. Two people have been interviewed thus far - capturing elaborations on their advocacy and activism as well as personal reflections as rather an internal or external member of the LGBTI community. I was quite emotional recording today's testimony - hearing about items from devastating hate crimes to the heroic story of coming out in an anti-gay township.

Maropeng and Sterkfontein

2008-06-22T15:36:00.001+02:00

Doris, Jan (our driver) and I visited Maropeng to see "the Cradle of Human Kind" and the Sterkfontein caves. These are two of South Africa's jewels and they are really something to see.

One of the oldest of humanities relatives was found in the Sterkfontein Caves in 1997. Little Foot, as the discovery has been called, is an Australopithecus. It's skeleton is nearly 95% complete. The Cradle of Human Kind is a museum of human history stretching back to the begining of the planet. It all starts with a boat ride...

The map is really confusing. It's turned on it's side right now. You enter on the far right (bottom) and go left (up). The map makes the museum look like a Plenko machine.

Well at least the museum does. We got on this floating raft and journied through the first billion years of earths history. It took us through several periods. Here's us in a deep freeze period the walls are covered in ice!

After the boat ride you enter the main exhibit. I took a video of some highlights:

They also have a room for dinosaurs

Upon leaving the exhibit we headed over to the cave where Little Foot's remains where found. Before getting into the car we climbed to the top of the exhibit hall and took in an awesome view.

Cave entrance

Most of the pics from in the cave came out blurry. I got two good ones:

that's a bat

We left the cave and checked out the caves accompanying exhibit.

This guy looks kinda like my dad.

What is Doris doing?

With that we headed home.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

2008-06-22T15:32:00.004+02:00

Ak Keme Hotel Conference Hall, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, June 17 and 18, 2008.

The United Nations General Assembly on 13 December 2006 adopted the text of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol. Within two years 20 states ratified the Convention which was put into force on 3 May 2008. This made it the Convention which has been the fastest to be set into force so far. Up to today 129 states have signed the Convention, and 27 states have ratified it.

The Convention signals a global commitment to improve the opportunities for people with disabilities so that they enjoy all rights on the same basis as other people without being discriminated. The Optional Protocol establishes two procedures aimed at strengthening the implementation and monitoring of the Convention. The first is an individual communications procedure allowing individuals to submit complaints to the Committee claiming breaches of their rights; the second is an inquiry procedure giving the Committee authority to undertake inquiry visits to the State Party to investigate grave or systematic violations of the Convention.

Below are some of the rights covered by the Convention:

• equality before the law without discrimination
• right to life, liberty and security of the person
• equal recognition before the law and legal capacity
• right to respect physical and mental integrity
• right to live in the community

The Mental Health Initiative is a sub-program of the Open Society Institute’s Public Health Program that is based in Budapest and that works in the countries of the former communist bloc to promote the social inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Kyrgyzstan constitutes one of the fifteen former Soviet Republics. It has gained its independence in1991.

According to figures cited by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development there are 111 thousand people with disabilities in the country. This number constitutes 2.1% of the total population of Kyrgyzstan. Based on accounts and experience of the persons with disabilities, many of them do not enjoy de facto the rights which are stipulated in the national legislation. For instance, physical accessibility to various facilities, transport, buildings is a huge problem in Kyrgyzstan. In practical terms it means that persons with locomotor sytem impairment who use wheelchairs cannot access public buildings or transport without someone’s help as there are no special ramps.

Mental Health and Society in Kyrgyzstan has been a long-term partner of The Mental Health Initiative both as a service provider and as an advocate for reform in mental health care. Mental Health and Society focuses on deinstitutionalization; on creating sustainable alternatives in the community to the current system of segregated care in large size institutions.

On 3rd June 2008, Mental Health and Society, along with other NGOs that work for people with disabilities, had a meeting with representatives of the UN OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) and the UN Development Program to prepare for the June 17th and 18th conference.

UN Agencies decided to convene this event to increase awareness about newly adopted Convention and its Optional Protocol among a wide range of national stakeholders including persons with disabilities, NGOs, ministries and members of the Parliament.

Along with Dr. Burul Makenbaeva, executive director of Mental Health and Society and Aigul Kyzalakova, social worker with Mental Health and Society, I attended the conferences that were held in Ak Keme Hotel’s Conference Hall in Bishkek between 9 am and 4 pm.

Present were:
United Nations Human Rights Advisor, Dr. Oskar Lehner.
National Programme Officer of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Saltanat Sadykova.
Minister of Labor and Social Development, Ms. Oktomhan Abdullaeva.
Member of Parliament, Chairman of the Social Policy Committee, Mr. Nikolay Bailo.
Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Kasymbek Mambetov.

Moreover, there were around 30 people with disabilities and representatives of NGOs that work in the disabilities rehabilitation/protection/advocacy areas.

Member of Parliament, Nikolay Bailo said that it’s important that Kyrgyzstan ratifies the convention, but that it is a process and it will have to happen eventually.

When the topic of education was being discussed, Mr Bailo mentioned that the government is short of money to provide education for normal people, how can it possibly provide money for the disabled? This comment received huge criticism precisely from Dr. Burul Makenbaeva who argued that the mere reference to ‘normal’ and ‘disabled’ implies discrimination. Dr. Makenbaeva added that the real implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities starts with a change in attitude towards the disabled; a transformation from pity and charity to equality.

Above:
Member of Parliament, Chairman of the Social Policy Committee, Mr. Nikolay Bailo.

From left to Right:
* National Programme Officer of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Saltanat Sadykova.
* Executive director of Mental Health and Society, Dr. Burul Makenbaeva.
* United Nations Human Rights Advisor, Dr. Oskar Lehner.
* Myself.

Walk in Jo'burg

2008-06-21T14:35:00.000+02:00

Today for the first time I was able to explore the city on foot. Patrick told us about an event being held in Newtown, Johannesburg's cultural center, where snow machines were going to be set up to create a "winter wonderland." (Don't forget that it is winter here in the southern hemisphere.) In addition to snow the city had plans for a skating rink and live music.

As it turned out the winter wonderland was on Sunday. But we still had a great time walking through the city. Check out the pics I took...

We started out in Fordseburg, an Indian, Pakistani neighborhood and they have a large out door market on weekends. Unfortunately it doesn't really get going until after one.

Just past the Market is the Oriental Mall. Most of the malls storfrontage faces a large open center courtyard where vendors have set up stands. Here too most of the shops are owned by people of indian decent. The air was heavy with the smell of indian spices; vendors sold colorful fabrics, toys, along with gold plated pots and urns.

Shot of the inside portion of the Mall

Gold plated stuff

and some toys

From there we headed to Newtown arriving "24hrs early" (astutely phrased by Doris) for the winter wonderland. We left Newtown for "the Top of Africa" at the Carlton Center. At fifty stories, the Carlton Center is the tallest building in Africa. I know it's kind of average by New York City standards but the fact that nothing else is as high means you have unobstructed views for as far as the eye can see.

To get there we had to walk through some downtown streets. This was a real treat. We really got a feel for the city.

ice cream!

steak and guns!!

An outdoor salon.

We past several storefronts that only sold steel wool. I had never seen so much in my life.

Finally we arrived at Carlton Center and took a high speed elevator to the top. From there we could see the entire space that we had just walked.

I spotted this house on top of a skyscrapper

and all these clothes drying. colorful.

{It's Friday!}

2008-06-20T15:13:00.003+02:00

It's Friday and something went right, or at least I did something correctly. I've been playing around with one of the e-mail services (mailchimp), cousin of survey monkey. It's a neat little tool, that I assume when used correctly is powerful and efficient. The down load speed here is so slow, but the newsletter e-mail I've been working on is cute and efficient. I'm off to Zambia Sunday morning @ 2:00am ( I don't get it), to help another Hospice organization, PCAZ. Lukasa is another large capital city, compared to some places in Africa. We'll see about that.

Pick 'n Pay

2008-06-20T13:41:00.000+02:00

One of the interesting things about living in another country is stuff you find in a foreign super market. Products that are completely mundane to the average South African seem bizarre to a foreigner from the States.

Doris and I go the the "Pick 'n Pay" quite a bit. Pick 'n Pay is a South African Success story. The founder got the idea to open a super market after visiting the States in the 70s. Since then his franchise has been a run away success.

Alright so the only thing strange about this one is the name...

While I'm on the subject of breakfast... I wrote a whole blog post about this stuff earlier. This is the rainbow of variety I mentioned.

Like most super markets Pick 'n Pay has releases budget versions of products under it's own brand, but they really didn't try very hard in their branding effort though....

Sounds extra good since it comes in heavy syrup.

Is this meatloaf made for dogs or from dogs?... I'm just being funny, it was in the pet food isle. Food you make out of pets I mean.

The name kind of reminds me of orange crush, it says on the label that it contains 6% oranges when you dilute it with water...

Pick 'n Pay does a better job branding it's luxury products...

Look at all that jerkey! Here in South Africa they call it Biltong and they have a huge variety and it's all so good. The only thing I find unusual about this is the huge selection. In the states you'll be lucky to find a stand with teriyaki and original. Here you can even get exotic things like ostrich and antelope. I get at least two or three of these containers every trip to the store. I know your jealous.

Pick 'n Pay also doesn't disappoint in the meat spread department... I like meat pretty well but I steer clear of these.

And finally for desert... Well I don't know what this is, but I am pretty sure you can get it at a shoprite in New Jersey so this is an example of universal strange.

[ detroit freestyle in ZA ]

2008-06-20T13:05:00.003+02:00

Detroit Freestyle in South Africa from Doris Yee on Vimeo.

[ i'm black. ]

2008-06-20T09:49:00.004+02:00

A court on Wednesday, June 18th, 2008 issued a landmark ruling classifying Chinese as black, making them eligible for benefits for those discriminated against under the former apartheid regime.

Under the apartheid rule the Chinese were classified as black, and then later on as colored. However, after the birth of democracy fourteen years ago, the Chinese were no longer recognized as any official color. With the the dawn of the new democratic government, South Africa embraced new legislation including the Black Economic Empowerment and other affirmative action policies. These were raised as support for black access to discounted shares offered by large companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Blacks were also given preference for top business positions.

To be brief, lets just say the Chinese wanted back some kind of racial recognition and fought in court in Pretoria (ZA capital) to tap into these privileges, thus be called black.

I feel this democracy is turning back in Apartheid sometimes - except the table has turned. As my comrade Salma says: You have your blacks on top, and the whites on the bottom now. Salma doesn't speak of the statistics that prove her wrong, the ones saying the typical white South African still has the upper hand. But she's referring to the mentality that cannot be measured in BBC's or CNN's numbers. The sense of entitlement is amongst many individuals oppressed during Apartheid. I just don't think we should fight back with hypocritical color systems that were once seen as unjustified.

[ a school without art, music + play ]

2008-06-19T15:34:00.006+02:00

For all mornings, "Bonnie and Clyde" wake up, eat breakfast, and go to work. Like most nights, we bring home our assignments and keep on working for the remainder of the evening. But last night we knew the next morning we would break from that routine. I'm glad we did today.

Curious about classroom dynamics and social interactions occurring in an educational atmosphere, we requested a visit to a South African school. We went to one located in a lower-income neighborhood, not too far away from a township. What we got was more than a visit. Joe and I spoke to two full classrooms of perhaps 30+ students each and exchanged our impressions of South Africa with their impressions of America. Below are some of the questions we received:

How much is a loaf of bread in the United States?
What do you think of Barack Obama?
How do you feel about the Chinese being Black (I'm considered Black here)?
Do you like Michael Jackson?
What is a baseball made out of?
How expensive is a taxi?
Is there racism in America?

We were escorted around the facilities by the Deputy Principal. He said to us: Parents are just happy their sons and daughters go to school. There is not too much they can accomplish at home. But many of them, sadly, don't feel the need to stay in school and leave much earlier than the actual time students are released. Teachers have felt more like babysitters as opposed to educators in the last decade. These students are completely unmotivated to build on their education. Because the government doesn't provide these poorer schools with resources like art supplies, music books, or funding for a gymnasium, this school (like many) do not provide any leisure or elective courses. Vimeo Link: School Poverty.

No art. No Music. No Sports.

Indian Ocean

2008-06-19T15:30:00.008+02:00

I touched the Indian Ocean for the first time yesterday. Or rather, it touched me. It's been stormy here in Durban, and the waves were very large.

Durban is more urban than Cape Town...more swamp-like in climate. It is beautiful here, with the sea so close by and marsh land lining the highway.

But as scenic as it is here, I've never seen anything like Cape Town. I've always believed California is so beautiful, with the mountains and ocean never more than an hour away by car. In Cape Town, you're at most a 10 minute drive from something that will draw your eyes away. There are mountains and water everywhere! It's stunning.

High schoolers in South Africa

2008-06-19T10:29:00.000+02:00

Doris and I took the morning off today to visit a high school on the outskirts of Jo'Burg.
Patrick once taught there and we were able to get a full tour. We went around with the Deputy Principal. At first glance the school reminded me of where I went for grade school. It consisted of several one story buildings with rows of class rooms. The class rooms themselves had black boards all along the walls and rows of desks in the center. In South Africa they call there students Learners. I thought that was kind of nice...

Exams were taking place this week. Usually the and the learners wear uniforms but today they were allowed to dress down for a small fee. Our first stop was a tenth grade class room. They were preparing to take a biology exam. The class room was sparsely populated kids were sitting towards the back and corners of the room, leaving a big space of empty desks in the center and front o the room. They were very typical tenth graders, a bit "too cool for school." They were telling me about how they were in a gang called the Afghans and they were throwing gang signs. I don't know how serious this was, they seemed like nice kids who were playing and showing off.

Tenth Graders

Next stop was an 8th grade class room where they were preparing for their test in Africaans. This class room was filled. Nearly every desk. One little girl was sitting at the teachers desk at the back of the room. They tried to teach us a bit of it but we were hopeless so I taught them a little spanish Hola, and como esta (that is reaching the limit of what I knew so we quickly changed the subject). Doris asked if they had any questions about the states, and boy did they ever. (especially the little girl sitting at the teachers desk.)

Eighth Graders

They asked about the cost of living (how much does a loaf of bread cost in the US? a gallon of milk?). We would answer and do the conversion and they would all gasp. They asked about pop stars, I was laughed at because I didn't know who Chris Brown was... still don't. We were asked about racism in America, this topic keeps coming up, no one is afraid to confront it. It's kind of refreshing! One girl asked about clever people: "is it true that if you become too clever you go mad?"

I was kind of shocked by this question "Like an evil genius?" I replied. She nodded.
I explained that I was pretty sure evil geniuses started out mad and that growing more clever only made them dangerous. I also tried to tell her that she shouldn't be afraid of growing more clever. Otherwise who would counter the evil geniuses?

Then she asked if there were a lot of clever people in America. I immediately answered "yes" than I thought for a second and added: "America has clever people because we have a government that lets clever people be clever, it's called a democracy and it is the same government that you have." I told her how lucky we were to be in a place that let clever people be clever.

Than the Deputy Principal asked Doris and I to say a few words about drug abuse and unprotected sex. I felt a bit like smoky the bear but we managed. "Only you can prevent teen aged pregnancy and AIDS."

We left the 8th graders to their exam and they said goodbye in Africaans which I tried to parrot back but totally mangled. We walked with the Deputy Prinsipal around the property and pause beside a burnt out hulk of a building. It was the same as the other buildings but the roof had fallen in because of a fire.

The burnt section is just beyond that wall

Interestingly, this was a class room Patrick taught in. Now it is a wasted mess

The fire was started by angry locals, we didn't get a clear story. I have a feeling that there isn't really a clear story to get. The DP started talking about the woes of the South African school system. Like the U.S. the public school system here is underfunded; however South Africa is a level below even the worst schools in the US. There is no funding for music, art, or Physical Education programs. South Africa has a 16% rate of Grade 12 passes with endorsement. The US graduates 76% of it's hig school students. He looked at the burnt building and put his hand on the wall, "the walls are strong, we just needs a bit of money for a roof, than we could open these classrooms up again."

We left, Patrick, ever optamistic, ever possitive talked about how he taught: "When I taught here we didn't have any money either" During the Apartheid an average of 5R was spent per colored student, that compairs to 1R per black and 85R for white. "but you don't need money to teach children, you just need to have energy and be creative." As a testament to Patrick's success he sent 6 children to college from his class, impressive considering a 16% matriculation rate.

It's also worth noting that Patrick stopped teaching decades ago. It is hard to stay creative and energetic in a stifling environment.

Notice the "rights reserved" symbols I found that interesting.

'Nother day in the salt mine

2008-06-18T16:33:00.004+02:00

'Nother day on the 'ole salt mine. Been cleaning up the site. Needs it bad, as we all do. It's really dusty here. It'll take me a couple more days to finish this. Dreamweaver is, well, never mind. I'm gonna grind it out, and get it done (I hope). I'll start to redesign the home page soon. I'll be in Zambia for the early part of next week conducting a presenattion and workshop on brand development for NGO's.

Sadly, like Laura, I'm constantly exposed to the dire circumstances of the people we visit on Hospice visits. It can be incredibly demoralising and heartbreaking. The consolation is the feeling of perhaps doing something that can help out, even on a extremely modest level. As the nature of the work is demanding, what I find inspiring and heart warming, are the doctors, nurses and workers and volunteers, who find it in themselves to care compassionately and without judgement. I don't know how they do it, and maybe they don't either. They just do it...

Internet in the Third World

2008-06-18T15:12:00.002+02:00

At the most important human level, the internet connects people and ideas. That is what Hector Ruiz said at the 2007 TED conference where he talked about AMD's (American Micro Processor) initiative to get 50% of the worlds population on the internet by 2015. video here

In the first world we have around 75% internet penetration. Internet connectivity is affordable and available nearly everywhere in the first world, and certainly everywhere it is needed most. The first world relies on internet for business, education, and entertainment. Instant access to communication is a wonderful thing and it is made so easy by the internet.

As Dorris and I have been experiencing this isn't the case in the Third World. Here in South Africa only around 10% have access and we have it good compared to the rest of the content which has only 5% (Ethiopia has only .5% penetration). South Africa has sound infrastructure and a relatively wealthy population, so why the low numbers? The problem is the cost is astronomical reaching nearly a hundred dollars a month (nearly 700R)*.

Dorris and I sat in on a meeting with PCB, Behind the Masks tech service. We were there to ask questions that concerned the new site we're building but we were also there to lend some tech experience to the BTM team. While there we learned a thing or two about South Africa's internet situation. Currently there is only one international line running from south Africa to the rest of the world, and that goes through India (see fig below). The line is owned by a single entity, Telecom, and with no competition they have kept the price high.

Image from:http://escience.anu.edu.au/lecture/comp1710/internet/image/10692573853map.gif

Over the next few years this will change. Several new lines are already in the works. One, being laid by Zamtel a consortium owned by the Zambian Government, is slated for completion later this quarter, dubbed the EASSy ( East Africa Submarine Cable System) with end points in South Africa and Sudan.

In addition to EASSy another cable, the SEA cable is planned for opperation in 2009. SEA will be laid by SEACOM and is being funded by Private equity, it will be managed by Neotel (South Africa's second largest tele-communications provider.)

What are the implications of the third world getting online? What's Africa's equivalent of dramatic look gofer? More importantly what are the implications for schools. Resources for education are slim all over Africa internet connectivity offers the worlds culture, current events, and history at a users finger tips. Even more than that the internet allows people to connect with other people, it makes the world seem smaller, and makes the distinction between people seem less relevant.

*1 dollar is worth 7.6 Rand, but 1 rand goes a lot further when purchasing food compared to purchasing electronics. For instance, a South African Pizza place is advertising two large 16" pies with two toppings each for around 80R that's about 10.50. Domino's charges more for a plain 14" pie. So when purchasing food $1 is worth about 1.5 to 2R. The pay scale is adjusted towards the low end so dollar for Rand the common South African pay rate doesn't look much different.

Sadness

2008-06-18T13:11:00.007+02:00

I'm in Durban this week doing on site hospice visits. Yesterday I drove out with Zodwa, the Advocacy Coordinator, to a rural site that is 3 hours away from the city. It was a beautiful drive...lots of farmland and lots of farm animals. I even caught a glimpse of some zebras and ostriches grazing along the side of the road!

The conditions in this country are much like the US. There are pockets of extreme (in some cases excessive) wealth, and pockets of dire poverty.

Hospice work is heartbreaking. The mother of this young girl is infected with HIV. They are still unsure if this infection has been passed along to this little one. The two of them live in a secluded hut, about a half mile from the only paved road that leads to the nearest hospice. The destination is a 4 hour walk.

Outside their home, a malnourished goat and rooster peck around for the little vegetation there is on the rocky soil. Inside, cracks line the wall and insects make their homes. And even though winters in this region are fairly mild, it is cold inside. Maybe even colder than it is outside.

The mother is in stage one of HIV. She is still mobile and looks rather healthy. The daughter is despondent and sits completely still. Even when touched, she does not turn or look up. My heart is heavy thinking about the disease, sadness and helplessness of this area. I'm reminded why cause related work is so necessary.

[ drag queen murdered ]

2008-06-18T11:03:00.003+02:00

Daisy Dube (formerly known as Desmond Dube) was shot to death in a nearby neighborhood called Yeoville on June 2, 2008. FEW (For the Empowerment of Women) is hosting a commemoration event called Speak Out and End Hate for the tragedy. They asked Behind the Mask to quickly provide a poster and flyer for them.

BTM only had a few hours to make the deadline so Thuli asked me to piece something together. What was requested was a color A3 poster, b+w A5 newspaper announcement, insertion of the 07-07-07/rainbow trademark colors and typeface, in addition to doing a play with "Daisy." This is what was made.

Tech problems, work and the chimp

2008-06-17T15:24:00.004+02:00

I'm running into wireless internet issues here, as in sometimes I have it and somedays I don't, and when I do it runs at a seemingly glacial pace, (unlike the 10th floor lab), no excuses though!!! I'm in the midst of designing a template for print reproduction while I wait to be set up to address some web site issues. APCA needs to be able to use the template to design their own publications with InDesign. The challenge is one of inexperience on the staff, understandably. I'm trying to make it sustainable for them, re: simple, and consistent with their present materials.

Need to be spend more time cleaning up website, starting initial designs for homepage redesign and investigating mailchimp, (which looks like it solves the problem of the newsletter very well)!

We're bored so here a bit about money...

2008-06-17T14:39:00.004+02:00

Doris and I didn't do anything today. We made a brief attempt at seeing another movie but Jan, the driver, was taking the day off. So we sat at home and got some work done. No big progress to report so I thought I'd use this blog post to talk about South African Money.

The "Rand" looks really cool. It is very colorful and each has a different animal on it. As the increment on the bill gets bigger the length of the bill gets longer. It's subtle but interesting. Below are a few pictures of the bills I have.

It's shiny. see?

More Love for Drupal

2008-06-17T10:51:00.000+02:00

I have been learning more about Drupal as I get deeper into the making of BTMs new site and the deeper I go the more I like. Today I spent time setting up the sites category hierarchy. Drupal uses a system of Taxonomies. A taxonomy is a hierarchy of related terms. What taxonomies offer is a way to have terms inherit from multiple parents, this makes organizing a news site and offering related articles easy and super effective.

The CCK module is proving to be as useful as advertised as I can include all the data necessary about an article all stored in appropriate custom fields. My goal is to get the sites skeleton structure finished before the end of week five so that I can begin migrating the content while I am still here. This way I can get Stanley (BTMs future webmaster) familiar with the system and working with me to get the new site ready for launch.

[ LGBTI arrests in Kampala ]

2008-06-17T09:58:00.005+02:00

Two weeks ago BTM found itself in frenzy as many of our activists had to finalize their reports on the LGBTI arrests made during a peaceful protest in Kampala, Uganda. The event has brought upset to not only gay and lesbian communities in South Africa but to Amnesty International.

National police in Kampala arrested three activists during a peaceful protest organized by local LGBT organizations on June 3, 2008. These activists along with other demonstrators held up signage that called for the attention to HIV/AIDS vulnerability among comrades in the LGBTI community. This was a reaction to a statement by the Chairman of the Uganda AIDS Commission the day prior who said: Gays are one of the drivers of HIV in Uganda, but because of meager resources we cannot direct our programs at them at this time.

The three activists were charged with criminal trespass and will face a court hearing later this week. According to Amnesty International, these arrests make it clear there are preventative obstacles LGBTI communities are fighting as a mean to increase prevention and care of HIV/AIDS in Uganda.

The Budget Monitoring of Psychiatric Institutions

2008-06-16T17:13:00.002+02:00

Mental Health and Society has 3 sections:
* The Outpatient Daycare Center (that has a subsection: the Self Help Group)
* The Advocacy Center
* The Budget Monitoring of Psychiatric Institutions

Today I had a meeting with the third and learned that the Mandatory Public Health Insurance Fund controls the distribution/quantity/quality of drugs sold at the pharmacies through a Data Base that assures the transparency of the matter.

However the Mandatory Public Health Insurance Fund cannot control the 'import' of drugs. Kyrgyzstan does not produce drugs and therefore it imports from neighboring countries - and so many drugs are 'corruptly' imported, there is no trace of their origin, some are of bad quality and some have false certification.

When The Ministry of Health in Bishkek is proposed to discuss transparency at the level of import and distribution of drugs, they do not say they refuse to discuss, but strangely enough the subject ends up being avoided.

Zambia Here I Come

2008-06-16T16:46:00.003+02:00

Just got the word, I'm going to Zambia Sunday for a 2 day presentation on branding and the importance of design issues on NGO identity. Should be fun. I hope. I'll get out of Kampala for a few days, thinking of going to Jinja next week for a publicity shoot to get archive material for APCA archives. I'll be visiting a Hospice to see the provider/patient relationship there.

[ aggressive words for positive action ]

2008-06-16T14:42:00.006+02:00

Meet some members.

Musa Ngubane. Video and journalistic activist. One of the first members working for BTM.

Lesego Masike. Toughest soul in the office. Journalism intern turned into full time reporter. Lesego is one of three members that will go design and layout training with me.

Abeli Kilonda. One of two heterosexuals in the office. Originally from Democratic Republic of Congo, he is our French reporter/translator.

Nthateng Mhlambiso. Senior online reporter.

[ political corruption intensifies ]

2008-06-16T11:44:00.011+02:00

DOWN WITH MUGABE.
Guerilla-leader Mugabe is running to be reelected as President of Zimbabwe. He's been president forever! The Zimbabwean elections closely effect South African especially with the current Xenophobia attacks and number of Zimbabwean refugees flocking into Johannesburg, creating violence tensions in the townships.

The Zimbabwean people will suffer from Mugabe'e economic mismangament, corruption, and brutal repression. Mugabe has raped his people of vocal and political freedoms, supporting a Pan-Africa but without the input of his fellow countrymen. Our Zimbabwean maintence man, Godfrey, is a dear friend who can't even find work in his homeland. He misses his wife, children, mother, and house. How can you hope for Pan-Africanism if you cannot even get Zimbabwe acting in harmony first? Simple. Stop stealing your people's money and also...stop killing them! I have befriended too many refugees here to go and support this man. Down with Mugabe.

DOWN WITH JACOB ZUMA.
Zuma, current corrupt and narrow-minded president of the ANC (African National Congress), will most likely be elected as the next president of South Africa. Much political protest has been seen and documented but little can be done. Much opposition is seen in all members of our NGO, Behind the Mask.

Zuma is an unpopular presidential candidate amongst many gay and lesbian groups as he has criticized them on many occasions. In his words, same-sex marriages are a disgrace to the nation and to God. When I was growing up, an ungqingili (homosexual) would not have stood in front of me. I would knock him out. Down with Zuma.

Do some homework, actually read up on these players. After your research, you'll understand why we look at these guys like monsters.

Local Drupal Installation

2008-06-16T11:04:00.000+02:00

I got Drupal running locally on my machine and boy am I glad. I am now able to work at home. I did it using MAMP (refers to the tech stack: Mac - Apache - MySQL - PHP). Now I can mess around as much as I want and not have to worry about BTMs Drupal installation.

I've already made a pretty big boo boo. I was trying to figure out how block placement worked, there is an option to have blocks only show up on certain pages. Well I accidentally set the login block to appear on a page that didn't exist (actually it wasn't accidental, but it was stupid). Than I logged out...

I can't log back in!! It's not that big a deal, there is nothing in the database so if I can't find another solution I can just reinstall Drupal and drop all the template stuff back in. I am trying to figure out how to fix it without doing that, just to get a better feel for the system.

Hiking on Issyk Ata with Saltanat and Aiday

2008-06-15T17:34:00.004+02:00

...In a different city...

2008-06-15T14:24:00.000+02:00

Last night Doris, Nadia (Patrick's Daughter), and I went to see the "Sex in the CIty" movie. Alright get your cracks in now I'll wait...

The movie actually wasn't bad, Doris was more critical but she is a die hard fan of the show. What was interesting for me was seeing this movie that is so centered around the city of New York, in a city that almost couldn't be geographically further from it. The movie really makes New York look gorgeous and does it in a way that is true to form. The movie made me a little homesick. It made me feel really lucky to grow up near such an incredible city. When I watched the movie and saw the sites of home, I was reminded of my own experiences and memories from New York. I have stood on the Brooklyn Bridge on a sunny day and marveled at the Manhattan skyline. And like the cinematographer did in the movie; I also avoided looking at the Verizon building.

It's kinda hard to miss though isn't it?

My Kyrgyz Family

2008-06-14T17:20:00.004+02:00

Baian is Burul's son. Burul is the director of MHS. This night was a typical Kyrgyz gathering.

Every single one on the table should raise a toast to the birthday person - including little me. As far as I was concerned, older people raise a toast, but here every one within the exact 4 hours that we sat around the table had to raise a toast in turn.

The Kyrgyz people drink tea at dinner - and lunch and breakfast and always. They also drink vodka at dinner.
The food was great and it kept coming and everyone HAD to eat.

Mokhtar, Burul's husband had been in Armenia twice and is very fond of Armenia. He gave a long speech about his visits and missions there, precisely in Echmiyazin and Yerevan.

I told Mokhtar that my grandfather refused to believe my father when he told him that the Vatican was bigger than the Echmiyazin Church, he told me that any Armenian would refuse that!

"Maral" Armenian or Kyrgyz?

2008-06-14T17:07:00.002+02:00

Today at lunch, we had a "peaceful fight" over the origin of my name. The Kyrgyz were saying it is a Kyrgyz name and it means deer - and I was insisting that Maral is an old Armenian name and it means gazelle or deer.
I said that Kyrgyzstan stole this name from Armenia, Armenia being one of the oldest civilizations and cultures in the world and they said that Kyrgyzstan is older!!!
We laughed a lot :)))

[ gay marriage, gay unions ]

2008-06-14T16:37:00.005+02:00

There are only five (5) countries in the entire world that legalizes gay marriages:

Canada (2005)
Belgium (2003)
Netherlands (2001)
South Africa (2005)
Spain (2005)

Salma asked Joe and me if the United States recognized same-sex marriages. When we told our fellow comrade that less than a handful of states did, she went hysterical to believe our 200+ year old democracy provides less support and recognizable rights for LGBTI couples than theirs which is only but 14 years running...and it's the whole country.

We met Damon the other day, the previous administrator for BTM. He's from Philadelphia. He and his partner got married here in Johannesburg within the last year. They returned to the States just a few days ago.

Prepairing for Internetlessness.

2008-06-14T14:17:00.001+02:00

There is a commercial on South African radio stations. It features a somber voice describing the effects of a serious disease. One that cripples and make communication impossible. The disease is called internetlessness and the first time Doris and I heard the commercial we were in the car with two other people from the BTM office. It was on day three of our internet being down and we all had a good laugh.

Thankfully the laughing is over we finally have internet at the office again. For almost all of this week Doris and I had to work downstairs at FEW (Foudation for the Empowerment of Women). Because of this we have missed the lively activity in the BTM newsroom. It was good to be back yesterday.

Doris and I spent most of the day at "Mug and Bean" a coffee shop in Melville. We met a few Americans there. They were going to University in Johannesburg. They where part of a missionary. It was cool to meet people from the States.

I spent my time preparing for the rest of the long weekend (Monday is a national holiday). I'll be suffering from internetlessness at home as well. My goal is to finish the template for BTM by tuesday. Without internet at home I have had to make sure I had all the components necessary for creating the template including help documentation and other templates to use as examples. I have the layout working in plain HTML and I hope the transition to getting the drupal theme up and running will be easy.

[ report cover finalized ]

2008-06-13T16:59:00.007+02:00

Considered among the best bathrooms in the Republican Mental Health Center.

2008-06-13T15:48:00.004+02:00

Republican Mental Health Center

2008-06-13T15:33:00.003+02:00

The Republican Mental Health Center is one of the 4 public hospitals for the mentally disabled.
The conditions of patients in this hospital are bad and MHS does its best to protects these patients' rights to:
* Proper food
* Good Hygiene
* Contact with the family
* Provision of resources
* Control of diagnosis / drugs
and much more.
I had a meeting today with "Family and Society" which is an NGO, partner of MHS. They deal with mentally disabled people 'staying at home'. After long struggles, they were finally given 2 rooms in The Republican Mental Health Center. The funny thing is that the hospital thinks they have A LOT OF FUNDS and that they are therefore rich which is not the case. Of course they are funded by the OSI and that's fantastic but that doesn't make them exactly as rich as the hospital thinks they are. They showed me something fascinating/crazy today and I took permission to post it:
It is a formal letter from the hospital asking them for money and THANKING THEM IN ADVANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice little woman outside my office!

2008-06-13T15:30:00.001+02:00

Happy Holiday

2008-06-13T14:53:00.003+02:00

Monday is public holiday here in Cape Town. I'll be flying to Durban and then heading to Port Elizabeth. I'm not sure if I will have any internet access there, so it may be a while before you hear from me again.

Here are some pictures of the guest house I am staying at. It's really large and very comfortable. I have a small fridge in my room, as well as a tv that plays 2 channels. Yay! I also have access to a small kitchen where I can prepare my dinner (or as they say in Cape Town, "supper"). Breakfast is provided, consisting of fruit, toast and an egg.

And there are these weird bird things that wander about the garden!

Oops. Guess I can't post pictures now, but I will try later!