…Instead of reading him a bedtime story, Calvin’s father is
telling him the story of what Calvin and Hobbes have been up to since morning:
...Em vez de lhe ler uma conta, o Pai de Calvin
está a lhe contar a historia sobre o que Calvin e seu boneco Hobbes estavam a
fazer desde manhã.
Calvin: GOOD NIGHT?! That’s not the end! You didn’t even get
us to lunchtime!
Dad: That’s right… it’s not the end of the story. This story
doesn’t have an end. You and Hobbes
will write more of it tomorrow and every day after. But now it’s time to sleep,
so good night.
Calvin: This is a
good story about us if it doesn’t end! That’s the kind of story I like best!
Calvin: Acabo?? Ainda não chegamos ao almoço!
Pai: É certo... não é o fim da historia. Esta
história nuca vai terminar. Você e Hobbes vão continuar a escrever mais cada
dia depois por sempre. Mas agora é o tempo de dormir.
Calvin: Isso é uma conta boa sobre nós se nunca
vai terminar! É este tipo de conta que eu gosto mais do que tudo.
A few weeks ago I spend some time reflecting on the
wandering path that was 2013. I could never have seen ahead to those events I
experienced. Now, who knew that I would not only plant rice in Cambodia, but
that those very skills would come into practice in Mozambique? The story keeps
unfolding in such marvelous ways!
Na semana anterior, reflecti sobre o caminho de
2013. Nunca poderia adivinhar as experiencias que eu já tinha experimentado.
Quem sabia que eu plantaria arroz na Camboja e em Moçambique também? Esta historia continua a desenvolver de
maneiras maravilhosas!
They tell you when you come to work with an NGO in a country
overseas to not bring any expectations with you, as that is the surest way to
be discontent. They also tell you that in all likelihood, what you actually end
up doing on the ground will look very different from what you pictured reading
the “job description” online. Though
this advice is well meant, it is something you cannot fully appreciate until
you experience it for yourself.
Quando você vai trabalhar com uma organização num
pais longe de tua casa, eles dizem que é melhor não chegar com grandes expectativas sobre o trabalho. Eles
também dizem que a trabalho que você faria em realidade seria muito diferente
do que você acha. Este conselho parece simples, mas deve experienta-lo antes de
compreender.
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, the political situation
in Machanga is still tense. With occasional vehicle attacks continuing on the northern
road, and flooding waters threatening to cut off the southern road, I will not
be able to go to Machanga for a while yet. So, we started looking for something
else for me to do for the next few months. MCC has a partner in the province of
Tete called the Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM). One of their project
that MCC has been supporting for several years is the building of sand dams in
rural communities. They also employ four local agricultural extensionists who
go to these villages and demonstrate and teach conservation agricultural
techniques.
Como já disse num blog anterior, a situação política-militar
na região de Muxungue ainda continua. Por causa dos ataques armados e a
possibilidade de inundação na rua do sul,
vou demorar mais para ir a Machanga. Por isso, precisei de procurar
trabalho alternativo. A organização MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) tem um
parceiro em Tete chama-se o Conselho Cristão de Moçambique (CCM). Lá em Tete,
CCM construi as represas de areia e também ensina as técnicas de agricultura de
conservação.
 |
| New sand dam just finished this past november (will in time fill in with sand, the benefits of which I'll explain in my next post!) |
 |
| Demonstration plot in one of the villages showing how optimum spacing, application of manure, minimum soil disturbance, and the use of mulch can increase quality and yield of field crops like maize. |
A couple weeks ago, I endured the 11 hour bus ride to Tete
to visit this project. I had been so proud of myself when I found the bus
station using a map drawn by my Mozambican colleague on the back of an old
receipt, and purchased a ticket all by myself. Apparently I bought the wrong
one though, because as soon as I got home, everyone said, “you are taking THAT
bus??” I didn’t think it was all that bad, if a little longer than the speedy
mini-bus ones. But it left at 5 instead of 4, and that is reason enough to take
the slow bus for me.
Na semana passada, sobrevivi a viagem de 11 horas
a Tete para visitar CCM. Fiquei tão orgulhosa de mim que consegui procurar um bilhete sozinha, mas quando cheguei a casa, a
minha família me tinha dito que eu compara uma bilhete da empresa de machibombo
mais pior. É verdade que a viagem foi muito lenta, mas só precisei de sair as 5
horas (não as 4h), e tinha mais espaço do que as outras linhas.
After the formalities of being introduced to the staff at
the Christian Council of Mozambique, I spent the rest of the week soaking in
all I could: the sights, sounds, and tastes of Tete city (ate hamburgers for
the first time since leaving home!); the successes and challenges of CCM’s work
in Tete; and the experiences of farmers delving into conservation agriculture
for the very first time. And this
leads me back to where I started... where this journey is taking me next. Last
week I moved to Tete to work with CCM for a few months. I’ll be joining their
agricultural extensionists, in the field, working with them to plan ahead for
the upcoming vegetable season, and helping to gather stories of the farmers’
experiences. The plan is still to go to Machanga to teach at the school come
July, but that part of the story has yet to be told, and who knows what tomorrow
will bring!
Segunda-feira, fui apresentada aos trabalhadores
de CCM. Durante a semana seguinte, passei a conhecer a
cidade de Tete e o trabalho de CCM na região. Também comi muitas coisas
deliciosas que nunca comi desde que sai de Canada (hamburger, tacos, macarão de
vietnam...). Fui no campo com as extensionistas para ver as represas e os
campos onde praticam a agricultura de conservação. No Fevereiro, irei trabalhar
em Tete por 3-4 meses. Irei junto
com as extensionistas ao campo, ajudar na horta, e fazer relatórios sobre as
experiencias dos camponeses. Espero que em Julho possa ir para Machanga, mas esta
decisão ainda incerta.
And so the story goes on…
E a história ainda continua....
Graças
ao professor Pinto pela correção do texto português
