Tete in the House

As the senior members of the Tete crew we had all of our new neighbors over for a welcome to the province event. Since we were the only ones sent up here last year, we're the only second year volunteers in the area, but Peace Corps sent us 7 new teachers this cycle more than doubling our presence from 4 Americans to 9. Everyone made it except for the only other male volunteer, so it was Luc parading around town with 7 females. Our event wasn't a raucous party, there wasn't too much drinking, dancing, music, or gossip worthy activities - it was more like a big sleep over. We did have lots of fun and there was plenty of giggling and girl talk. Our menu tried to provide some culinary inspirations using Mozambican products. We prepared a mediterranean feast with eggplant babaganoosh and chick pea hummus, bean burgers and french fries with ketchup, vegetable fajitas with homemade tortillas, cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and carrot cake with walnuts for
dessert, so we bent the rules a little and used a couple of ingredients from USA and Malawi. Janet also gave out mini-care packages she had assembled from assorted American delectables garnering some cheers doling those out! She also had some posters from the hit series Glee to help decorate some of the new houses and we gave away some of our less used kitchen items for those who didn't inherit anything from previous volunteers. Sleeping arrangements were a little tight, but no one had to sleep on the cement and everyone had mosquito protection. Sunday morning we all hiked up to one of the border markers that the British and Portuguese built in 1956 to divide Mozambique and Nyasaland (Malawi). The trail was a little steep and overgrown making it a bushwacking rock climbing adventure at times, but the views from the top did not disappoint and provided a great backdrop for some Tete group photos. So it was a great weekend; we got to show some PC
hospitality and best of all we now have a group of new friends nearby for support and to share our good times with this year.