[ last day onsite ]

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

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

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 ]

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

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 ]

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

"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