Jazzy is doing wonderfully! She went cross country skiing with me last week; you would never know she was a Zambia native. She bounced around in it for several hours but was happy to come inside and sit by the fire. She had her second vet visit a few weeks ago and is doing well. Right not she is snuggled up in my grandfathers old reclining chair taking a nap.
Jazzy started to road to America when my friend and fellow PCV Caroline took her in. Jazzy was not an only child in her house though. Caroline adopted a former PCV's dog named Blue and she had a cat named Kitty. I remember the first time I met Jazzy and saw her playing with the other two. She and Kitty loved to play, and being similar in ages they bounced all around Caroline's yard. When I decided to keep Jazzy as my dog I felt bad breaking up these two friends. With all the trials and heart ache to bring Jazzy home to America I hoped Kitty would be able to come home with Caroline this year also and the two could maybe see each other again. I was so sad to hear that Kitty didn't return home to Caroline's site one day and later was found passed away in the field. She had been bitten by a snake. When Caroline told me the news and asked me to give Jazzy a big hug for her I did. I swear Jazzy could understand what I told her cause she looked sad...... Zambia is as tough on animals as it is on people. It makes me wonder what would have happened to Jazzy had I not taken her in and if we had stayed longer in Zambia. I feel really grateful for having been able to get J to America. It literally took a village to do so. From my village friends for giving us a ride to the veterinarian who took care of the international paperwork Jazzy and I thank you. It could have had a whole different outcome had we needed to hitchhike our way to the capital and to the airport or had I needed to navigate the airline rules alone. I hope I can pay it forward and help someone else when they need it.
Monday, February 10, 2014
A Future in World Aid
It feels so great to have a clear direction and a path to follow. The scariest thing when thinking about the future is not knowing where you want to go. Since returning from Zambia I've had the time to reflect and assess what it is that makes me light up. I'm so grateful that Peace Corps allowed me to find my passion for helping others and a drive to want to make the world better. My goal now is to make as many meaningful connections as I can with people I respect and admire who are already doing just this. I want to learn from them and hear their success stories. My hope is to find an organization with the same interests and values as mine. I loved having the opportunity to work in health while in Zambia. HIV and Malaria are causes that have come near to my heart. I also loved working with and supporting women and girls in empowerment and income stability. My dream is to work and support an organization that helps these causes. I see myself in the next 5 years living abroad and doing similar ground level work as during my service. I'm looking at organizations in and around Boston so I'll still be close to home for a time. I believe this next step will lead me to a long term career in public health abroad.
In other news, the Help Build a School Fundraiser is still progressing. I've asked my friend and contact in the village to send me an update on the community and their progress to date. With the help of friends, we've raised over $500. My plan is to start several more funding ideas this month and have the money raised by the summer. We are still targeting $5000 for the completion of the school, teachers housing, and a drinking well. Our t-shirt sales have been slow but about half have been sold!!! I have also been in contact with a local HIV program here in Augusta ME called the Horizon program. They have invited me to speak to their clients in May about HIV in Zambia. We hope to gain awareness of our cause and send a package of school supplies to the children of this community.
The future looks bright on many fronts :)
In other news, the Help Build a School Fundraiser is still progressing. I've asked my friend and contact in the village to send me an update on the community and their progress to date. With the help of friends, we've raised over $500. My plan is to start several more funding ideas this month and have the money raised by the summer. We are still targeting $5000 for the completion of the school, teachers housing, and a drinking well. Our t-shirt sales have been slow but about half have been sold!!! I have also been in contact with a local HIV program here in Augusta ME called the Horizon program. They have invited me to speak to their clients in May about HIV in Zambia. We hope to gain awareness of our cause and send a package of school supplies to the children of this community.
The future looks bright on many fronts :)
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Hi everyone,
I'll be participating in this years Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Bangor. My boyfriend Tom and will be supporting my aunt who is a breast cancer survivor!!!!! Wooohoooo!
Please help us support this cause by making a donation using the link below. If you're in the area in the 15th come and join us!
Thanks so much,
Bri
http://maine.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/BAN_MaineAffiliate?px=14746320&pg=personal&fr_id=3499
I'll be participating in this years Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Bangor. My boyfriend Tom and will be supporting my aunt who is a breast cancer survivor!!!!! Wooohoooo!
Please help us support this cause by making a donation using the link below. If you're in the area in the 15th come and join us!
Thanks so much,
Bri
http://maine.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/BAN_MaineAffiliate?px=14746320&pg=personal&fr_id=3499
Monday, September 9, 2013
It's been a busy couple of weeks as the summer starts to leave us. The cold air is already blowing in. I've been trying to spend my time scooping out the job scene and I've been applying to things that interest me. I've also been trying to find interested people two help me with fundraising to help complete the grade school in Zambia and to partner with the Green Living Movement.
I thought my best bet was to contact the University of Maine's Climate Change Institute but they said they are not able to extend their reach right now. So.......it's back to the drawing board. I was really hoping Maine would be a pioneer for this project but I guess my next move is to look outside the state. I've also contacted a local group called the Maine Network of Community Food Councils to see how I can get involved with issues of food stability on a local level.
I've also sent a few messages out to my former university. I'm asking the University of Maine at Augusta for help in raising the needed funds to complete a community school in Zambia. I think a lot about the kids who are not going to school day after day because of various hardships such as their parents ability to pay school fees, gender inequality, and the 10 mile distance to get to the next nearest school. That's why this school is so important. I've asked for students to get involved. I'm hoping we can hold fundraisers during games or have an art auction. I really hope I hear back from them. I'm also planning to contact area businesses to donate or to allow me to fund-raise outside their stores.
I'll keep you posted on my progress and please send me good thoughts for my job hunt :)
Bri
I thought my best bet was to contact the University of Maine's Climate Change Institute but they said they are not able to extend their reach right now. So.......it's back to the drawing board. I was really hoping Maine would be a pioneer for this project but I guess my next move is to look outside the state. I've also contacted a local group called the Maine Network of Community Food Councils to see how I can get involved with issues of food stability on a local level.
I've also sent a few messages out to my former university. I'm asking the University of Maine at Augusta for help in raising the needed funds to complete a community school in Zambia. I think a lot about the kids who are not going to school day after day because of various hardships such as their parents ability to pay school fees, gender inequality, and the 10 mile distance to get to the next nearest school. That's why this school is so important. I've asked for students to get involved. I'm hoping we can hold fundraisers during games or have an art auction. I really hope I hear back from them. I'm also planning to contact area businesses to donate or to allow me to fund-raise outside their stores.
I'll keep you posted on my progress and please send me good thoughts for my job hunt :)
Bri
Monday, August 19, 2013
My Last days in Zambia
I've been home for 1 month now. Readjusting to the comforts of home has been strange. Where I'm glad not to have to carry buckets of water and hitchhike around the country, I think about my friends who are still serving and the villagers I miss. Daily life for them is still difficult. I want to try to support them in anyway I can. It's been so nice to be with family and friends and to work on the relationships that were strained while I was away. I'm happy to say that things are getting better and I have no regrets in my decision to come home.
First of all, I'm so happy to report that we got Jazzy HOME! I was so worried for awhile that we weren't going to make it happen. Thank you so much to everyone who helped me. To those people in Zambia who picked up a white girl on the side of the road carrying a dog to my friend and family who donated for her plane ticket! I appreciate your generosity so much and I will always thank you! During those last few days in Zambia as I made it step by step closer to getting onto the plane I told Jazz I wasn't going without her! Whether I was trying so hard for her sake or for mine I'm not really sure. I suppose a combination of the two. When I dropped her off at the airport I worried the trip would be to much for her and I questioned if bringing her to America was the right decision. The plan was for both of us to board the plane in Lusaka at midnight and land 10hrs later in Amsterdam. From there, I would continue on to New York and then Boston while she flew the next day direct to Boston. I tried to get her on my same flight but just couldn't make it work. It was so great to finally hit Boston on July 19th and see three people I love and missed so much! I missed New England too even if it was the middle of a 90 degree heatwave when I arrived! We were going to spend the night in Boston and pick Jazzy the next day. That's not quite how it happened though. Because of the intense heat the airline didn't put her on the flight and said she would be coming the next day. I was worried like crazy wondering if she was being taken care of and fed. They told me she was probably less stressed out that I was and that she would be fine. There wasn't much we could do so, we headed to Maine and went back the Boston the next day. Thankfully the heat broke and the lady at the cargo desk said she was here! When I opened the cage it was the same little puppy as before! She didn't seem fazed in the least! She looked up at me as if to say "oh, there you are. I knew I'd see you again"! I guess she had more faith than I did. I don't know if I could have managed my year in Peace Corps without that little dog and now readjusting to being home is easier because she's with me.
These are some of my last days in Zambia spent at Victoria Falls in Livingstone.
First of all, I'm so happy to report that we got Jazzy HOME! I was so worried for awhile that we weren't going to make it happen. Thank you so much to everyone who helped me. To those people in Zambia who picked up a white girl on the side of the road carrying a dog to my friend and family who donated for her plane ticket! I appreciate your generosity so much and I will always thank you! During those last few days in Zambia as I made it step by step closer to getting onto the plane I told Jazz I wasn't going without her! Whether I was trying so hard for her sake or for mine I'm not really sure. I suppose a combination of the two. When I dropped her off at the airport I worried the trip would be to much for her and I questioned if bringing her to America was the right decision. The plan was for both of us to board the plane in Lusaka at midnight and land 10hrs later in Amsterdam. From there, I would continue on to New York and then Boston while she flew the next day direct to Boston. I tried to get her on my same flight but just couldn't make it work. It was so great to finally hit Boston on July 19th and see three people I love and missed so much! I missed New England too even if it was the middle of a 90 degree heatwave when I arrived! We were going to spend the night in Boston and pick Jazzy the next day. That's not quite how it happened though. Because of the intense heat the airline didn't put her on the flight and said she would be coming the next day. I was worried like crazy wondering if she was being taken care of and fed. They told me she was probably less stressed out that I was and that she would be fine. There wasn't much we could do so, we headed to Maine and went back the Boston the next day. Thankfully the heat broke and the lady at the cargo desk said she was here! When I opened the cage it was the same little puppy as before! She didn't seem fazed in the least! She looked up at me as if to say "oh, there you are. I knew I'd see you again"! I guess she had more faith than I did. I don't know if I could have managed my year in Peace Corps without that little dog and now readjusting to being home is easier because she's with me.
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The new adventures of Jazzy!
These are some of my last days in Zambia spent at Victoria Falls in Livingstone.
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| The rarely seen hunchback of Victoria Falls caught on camera |
Elephant Ride!
Wildlife!
Sunset Cruise!
In the days to come my plans are to fundraise for the school in Chibobo and to try to find interested partners to continue work with the Green Living Movement. I'm excited to see what I can do to help my village from America. I'll be keeping you posted on my progress and news.
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