Noel and Kaye, on a life journey

Life in DC

2011-12-23T18:23:00.004-05:00

After spending the first few months after of return to the US in Philadelphia, with our daughter, we are now trying to settle into the DC area. Kaye has secured a position as a professor at Georgetown University, hence the move. We have taken a sub-let on an apartment until we can determine where the ideal place would be for us to buy a house. Getting to know the various areas is taking some time, as we don't enjoy driving around in the traffic, but the access to the metro system is a better option anyway. have looked at a few houses up north, around Tacoma Park and Silver Spring. No decision yet.

Our current address is:
4022 14th St NW
#2
Washington, DC 20011

Drop us a line, or come and visit if you are in the neighborhood.
Merry Christmas to all and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Home (for now) in Philadelphia!

2011-07-05T08:11:00.005-04:00

Leaving Malawi was emotional and somewhat heartbreaking. We packed up our little home, and our dear friend Bernie has moved into the space. Very hard for us to believe that the two years have ended and now it is time to readjust to life in the us. The actual cutting of the cord seemed very surreal and fast, almost too fast; it is over!

The trip back was fairly smooth and allowed both of us to begin the readjustment. We arrived in Philly on July 2nd; staying in our daughter Rachel's house for the time being until we figure where we are supposed to be and what we are supposed to be doing. She recently bought a home in South Philly and only lived in it a month before we landed. She is staying at Temple U this month for the institute of Teach for America so we are living here alone and keeping the animals happy.

Our contact information for now is:

Noel 215-680-7325

Kaye 504-940-8952

1822 Montrose St.

Philadelphia 19146

Final Days!

2011-06-28T03:37:00.002-04:00

In Lilongwe at the Peace Corps office to finish the paperwork, then back to Blantyre for two days before we depart on July 1. Have managed to sell/give away most of our katunga (stuff), with only our clothes that we plan to take back with us to pack up. Can't wait to hit the US ground and reunite with family and friends...and get a job, eat nice foods, get a phone, etc. See ya!

Crueling Final Two Weeks!

2011-06-18T04:09:00.005-04:00

Trying to complete projects and assignments that we have initiated, these last two weeks are becoming quite demanding. We have our tickets and are starting to sort and pack, with the desire to take as little back with us as possible. Will probably donate some items to the guards, and are selling others to incoming PC volunteers. There is an Irish woman who will be moving into our little house, and she has expressed interest in purchasing some items. So, closing out, little by little, day by day (pang'ono pang'ono, tsiku ndi tsiku).

Remaining tasks: close out bank accounts, eat remaining food, say goodbyes, take some photos of our "daily" lives, final laundry, continue our job searches, and pack.

We will be heading to Lilongwe to the PC HQ on Monday 6/27-28 to complete our final paperwork and exit interviews, and then back to Blantyre for the final couple of days before our flight on July 1. We arrive into Philly on July 2.

Hope to get a chance to see everyone over the following few weeks/months. Once we get established somewhere, we would like to share our contact information in hopes of mutual visitations.

Final Month, and my BIRTHDAY!

2011-05-24T06:08:00.002-04:00

Counting down the final days here in Malawi. Our "official" end date is June 29th. So, we are starting the search for flights, probably initially to Philly for a chance to chill and reacquaint ourselves with our children and their homes. Looking forward to all of the things we left behind and continue to miss.

Seems like a lot of things to do before we leave; many tasks to complete at work, at least to train someone willing to continue/sustain the projects in which we had been involved.

And...today is my birthday. Had a wonderful cake from Kaye this morning, and some nice candy. We have learned to get along with less than what we would have done in the US to celebrate or commemorate special occasions. But all is good!

Hope to be able to meet all of our friends during the first few months after our return. Be well, and see you soon.

Easter Trip to one of the Seven Wonders of the World

2011-04-25T05:46:00.001-04:00

Awareness that our time in Malawi is drawing to a close motivated us to take a little journey. Peace Corps limits vacation during your last three months of service and Noel and I have taken very little of our 24 days/year that is given. So for Easter, we embarked on a trip to Zambia to experience Victoria Falls. This was our first trip outside of Malawi. We boarded the first of several buses to make this trip of approximately 1000 kilometers to Livingstone, Zambia.

Day one; a trip to Lilongwe and all the final security check-offs with the Peace Corps staff before heading on the journey. The second day began with a 6 AM bus from Lilongwe to Lusaka, Zambia, reported to be a 10-hour journey. When we first entered the bus Noel noted that there were six, 2 liter bottles of SOBO (a Malawian soft drink) stashed under all of the bus seats. Two hours into the trip we arrived at the Malawi-Zambia border. All was going smoothly until we sat at the border for over three hours. The delay was related to two women who were taking, one would estimate, over 100 two-liter bottles of SOBO into Zambia. It appeared that the bus operators were in on this caper as they never seemed to be angry with the women and they persisted in encouraging the border police to let the SOBO go on. Many things that one may want to take into to another country enter your mind (even the local Carlsberg beer) that seem more exotic and exciting but obviously there was a BIG PLAN. Finally the bus started again with no explanation to any of us as the reason for the delay. We finally arrived in Lusaka at 7:30 PM. Tired and hungry, we stayed at the Lusaka backpackers lodge and prepared for the third day of our trip.

Day three we were on a 6 AM bus to Livingstone. Seven hours later we arrived and settled into Jolly Boys Backpackers Camp. We had a comfortable, thatched roof, two-bed cabin and relaxed in preparation for the FALLS.

So, early on day 4 we entered the Victoria Falls national Park. The falls are 1.2 kilometers in length and the water flow was at its peak since it is the end of the rainy season. We were warned that the spray might be significant; they were renting crocks and rain ponchos as we neared the bridge to view the falls. Words do not adequately capture the amount of water we had pouring over our bodies as we tried to witness the falls. People were dripping wet, laughing, sliding, and trying to get a glimpse of the falls whenever the spray would reduce briefly. What was visible was truly inspiring but one left with a feeling of, “did I see the falls?” A variety of options exist to temp you to spend a little money in Livingstone, so that evening we rode the Lady Livingstone sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi river above the falls. It was absolutely beautiful and we met a lovely couple from Washington, DC who shared the 2 ½ hour cruise with us.

Driven to say that we actually Saw the falls, we signed up the next day for a Microlight flight over the falls. White-knuckled and very happy, we were flown over the falls and the surrounding game reserve. It was definitely a wonderful experience and a way to absolutely grasp the vastness of this area.

That night we decided to take an overnight bus back to Lusaka to save the cost of another night’s lodging. So at 8:30 PM we boarded bus one, 4:30 AM bus number 2 to Chipata, and then the two taxi rides to get over the border back into Malawi, another bus to Lilongwe, followed by the last bus to Blantyre. Our butts were tired, our bodies aching, and yet overall it was a wonderful trip with memories we will carry with us long after we leave Malawi.

Close of Service and a Family Visit!

2011-04-11T00:55:00.009-04:00

A wonderful two weeks of travel away from our sites during the middle of March. This break was thanks to our Close of Service retreat which was a wrap up gift for the two years of service. Over half of our group of 17 (remaining) health volunteers will be leaving the country at the end of April. Noel and I are part of the seven that will remain till the completion of our 27 months of service. The retreat was on the beautiful shores of Lake Malawi at Nkotakota Pottery Lodge. The COS meeting signifies that we are nearing the completion of our placement here in Malawi, as we were briefed on paperwork to complete, etc, prior to our departure. It was also a nice time to share thoughts and experiences with our entire group, for maybe the last time as we will all be departing at different times through the end of July.

We had our second official visitors from the US the following week. Mid-week of the conference, our daughter Rachel arrived into Lilongwe, so Kaye left to meet her at the airport. Kumuzu College of Nursing, where Kaye works, was supportive in arranging a vehicle and driver to pick her up at the airport. Unfortunately, Rachel's flight was delayed a day so Kaye had to wait an extra day and missed the last day of the conference. Our son Peter, and his girlfriend Kristy, were scheduled to arrive the following Saturday, but their flight was moved up a day . So, one came in on Thursday and two on Friday. This is the first official vacation that we have taken during our time of service. We are allowed 24 days for the two years but the reality is that being away from site is very expensive and travel is difficult and now really rest inducing. The time with Peter, Rachel, and Kristy was great. The visit began with a trip to visit our home-stay village where we spent our first 6-weeks in Malawi. During the very short visit to the village, we enjoyed reacquainting our friendship with our host "father and mother", and the quaintness of the village in general. Not much had changed since we left, almost 2 years ago, except for the hut (the home of the husband and wife who hosted us) where we had lived was in terrible condition. The entire back wall of the hut was crumbling and supported by boards to keep it from caving in. The hut had a thatched roof and mud stucco-type walls and even the concrete porch was eroding away. It will need to be torn down which is a serious problem as now the couple is living in the one room that is about 25 feet from the house. It was fun to see the amayi (wife) using a large barrel to cook/brew local beer. This was enough beer to give a glass to all of Oak Ridge.

After this we headed back to the lakefront and stayed at a camping type place called Cool Runnings. A nice relaxing place run by a woman who was born in Malawi but is South African by nationality. This was followed by traveling to Mua Mission which is a cultural-type village started by the Catholic priests. They have a very complete Malawian Cultural museum which has a room for characterizing and displaying information on the major tribes (Chichewa, Ngoni, and Yao). The rooms are filled with explanations of cultural practices, masks of each area, etc. After this we headed to Liwonde Game reserve, stayed in the Safari Game Lodge, and felt very far from urban society. The next day a short safari ride in the park and then we were ferried out to a larger boat for an all afternoon and night ride along the Shire River which runs through the game reserve. This was so relaxing and offered the opportunity to see many elephants, hippos, and crocodiles. It was so beautiful, relaxing, and overall very pleasant. The cook on board used to be a chef (somewhere), so the food was excellent! Then it was more mini-bus rides as we headed back to Blantyre to show them our home and our lives in Malawi. It was a wonderful visit, a little too brief, but great to be able to share part of our lives with those we love.

We would love to have more of you come to share a little part of our lives.

2011-01-12T02:39:00.009-05:00

The rain came down in buckets last night for about 3-4 hours. Sounded like a brigade of fire hoses directed on our little house. In a month or so the rainy season will be over and we can return to a more pleasant life; however, we must not loose sight of the dependent need of water by the local farmers.

Recently finished reading The Poisonwood Bible and ran across a pertinent observation therein:

"In the world, the carrying capacity for humans is limited. History holds all things in the balance, including large hopes and short lives. When Albert Schweitzer walked into the jungle, bless his heart, he carried antibacterials and a potent, although new conviction that no one should die young. He meant to save every child, thinking Africa would then learn how to have fewer children. But when families have spent a million years making nine in the hope of saving one, they cannot stop making nine. Culture is a slingshot moved by the force of its past. When the strap lets go, what flies forward will not be family planning, it will be the small, hard head of a child. Overpopulation has deforested three-quarters of Africa, yielding drought, famine, and the probable extinction of all animals most beloved by children and zoos. The competition for resources intensifies, and burgeoning tribes itch to kill each other. For very life saved by vaccination or food relief, one is lost to starvation or war. Poor Africa. No other continent has endured such an unspeakably bizarre combination of foreign thievery and foreign goodwill." So very true!

We were advised that our daughter is coming to visit us in March. That will give us an opportunity or excuse to finally get away and to areas of the country that we have not yet been exposed. Her visit comes at the tail end of our close-of-service conference scheduled to be held at a nice resort along the lake, so it will be a convenient launching point to continue northward.

We are still pondering about where we will locate after our return, and are trying to leave all doors open, including overseas opportunities. At the moment, we are focusing on the northeast as that is where our children have recently settled. So we continue to send out resumes' already in an effort to "test the waters".

A Funeral (bitter sweet), Thanksgiving, and . . . . . Christmas!

2010-12-13T02:35:00.009-05:00

Kaye’s mother passed away a couple of weeks ago, so the Peace Corps sent us home for the funeral in Indiana. We arrived the day before Thanksgiving, and returned to Malawi about 2 weeks later. Kaye had initially departed for Malawi with a thought that she might never see her mother alive again, as her health was already deteriorating a year and a half ago when we left. She had a great life of 88 years and was at peace but she will still be missed. Many things about our trip would have pleased her. She absolutely loved Thanksgiving and Christmas and always wanted the whole family to be together for these holidays. So we were ALL there honoring her and the life she had lived. I have to think she was smiling as she looked down on us.

It was a little strange for us to revisit the US. How quickly a person can adapt to a change of culture and feel right at home again was amazing. Having arrived in Indiana a day before Thanksgiving, allowed us the wonderful opportunity to share that holiday with our families; it is our favorite! Our children were also able to join us in Indiana for the service. With the services finished and Thanksgiving over, we all traveled back to Philadelphia with our children and spent several days with them prior to returning to Malawi. While in Philly, we were surprised with some nice and thoughtful Christmas gifts. We were able to see and feel the Christmas season in the US. The lights, the trees, the music, the general good will was wonderful to experience. Holidays are understated in Malawi so it was great to feel the joy that comes with the season. We saw snow flurries, enjoyed the generally cold weather, and most of all, had time with our kids.

Now back in Malawi, we brace ourselves for another Christmas with very little noticeable celebration of the season. Although Malawi is essentially a Christian nation, life simply goes on here as usual for most holidays, with the exception of official government holidays. We do have a Christmas dinner planned with our landlord, and a gathering at their house with the rest of the Blantyre Choral Society (of which we are members!). There will be a chance for socializing, singing carols, and enjoying a nice variety of foods and refreshments. With some of the nice Christmas decorations given to us by our family and friends, we have decorated our little house, though minimally as it is.

Once again one is reminded of the little things that make such a difference in our lives. Specifically it is time with those we love and cherish.

Our return to life in the States is scheduled to commence with our departure around the end of July 2011. We are still trying to contemplate what it might be like, what we will do, where we will set down roots, and what impact or affects our experiences here will have on our lives.

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all! See you next year.

A quick update...

2010-09-06T06:23:00.003-04:00

A good book that pretty accurately reflects our experiences of the African lifestyle, at least here in Malawi. And a recent read that provides a great historical insight on the slave trade, as well as life in Africa.

We went back to the Majete game preserve last week with a friend. This visit yielded a very significant (yes, scary) quantity of elephants that, for my comfort, are just too big and too close! We also witnessed a fairly large number of zebras, which escaped our first visit, and the usual impalas, hippos, monkeys, baboons, waterbucks, and sables.

Another wonderful change was an invitation to dinner one night last week with some representatives from the US Embassy who were traveling with a man from New York presenting information on women empowerment issues. We attended the panel discussion and received the invitation afterward. Also dined with the President of Kamuzu College and a couple of others from Kaye's site.

Thoughts and Reflections

2010-08-13T02:53:00.005-04:00

Life in Malawi is a challenge, but anything that needs to be accomplished can be done with patience and fortitude. A couple of things to remember is that the culture does not insist on accuracy, or that time schedules be maintained. There is no understanding of a schedule or the need for one, the benefits of anticipating an outcome or event, or planning for anything that could disrupt an event or action. I have come to realize that if one enters into a project, picture it as an "opportunity ladder", aim for that lowest rung, and you won't be disappointed. These thoughts also work for "if it isn't broken, don't fix it. As long as something still shows value in it serving its intended purpose, it will do just fine, thank you. If four bolts are securing certain items together, and all but one still remains, but it works, it's fine. When it finally no longer functions, then we will look into getting it repair, by whatever means, resources, and parts are available or accessible.

But maybe these norms are what keep the Malawi people happy. Their needs are few and, given seeds, a small garden, and a good growing season, they seem generally content with their lives. Employment options are few, especially with no advanced education; and even with a university degree, unemployment is staggeringly high. The Malawian people are genuinely happy and contented individuals. Walking down the street, it is common to hear them singing to themselves. And their voices are beautiful. The most beautiful voices can be heard in the local churches, cemeteries, or hospitals. It is common for the village women to gather at such locations and present their collective songs to each other en masse. Such harmony and orchestration, without the aid of any instrumental accompaniment.

The country, at least the city of Blantyre, is home to a fair number of Indian and Chinese immigrants who have been here for many years, having stayed after their parents had left or died. Their general occupation is that of shop owners, ranging from hardware and plastic items, to very inexpensive (cheap) imported goods that meet the available money, but not the life expectancy one would like. That said, I recently read an account that the transformation of life in Africa really happened with the introduction of the plastic container. Theretofore, water needed to be transported within heavy clay pots, which were normally carried atop the heads of the individuals. This made it difficult, awkward, and painful for young children to do so efficiently as their loads would have to be limited. With the advent of the plastic bucket, and any other such plastic containment vessel, more water can be carried and, being equipped with handles, transportation is much easier and efficient. The downside is that strewn plastic bags and wrappings are everywhere, littering the ground and rivers. Regarding the litter, it’s not just plastic, but there is an unconscious propensity to just discard anything no longer needed onto the street, or wherever they may happen to be at the time. I have a feeling that it creates jobs for those hired by the city assemblies to continually sweep the streets; but that effort doesn’t affect the rural areas or villages, or anywhere outside of the cities.

As we have begun our final year of service here in Africa with the Peace Corps, we have started to think about options beyond, what we might wish to do, and where. The latter will obviously be decided on what opportunities we find. We both desire to work for another couple of years, maybe even another international assignment, but preferably closer to the US, our family, and friends. As everything we own is in a good state of compression and storage, a move would be fairly easy, when the time comes. If you hear of anything that sounds exciting, keep us in mind.

Back to village life for a week

2010-08-02T01:59:00.002-04:00

We were back in Dedza last week as "PCVs of the week" assisting the recently arrived volunteers who are involved in their training, as we were a year ago. Village life was honestly nice to re-experience; very peaceful, structured, quiet, and a chance to brush up on our Chichewa.

During our stay, we were responsible for making ourselves available to the new trainees who may have had questions about what to expect during their upcoming events of moving to their site, language issues, travel, shopping, etc. We each stayed in different villages as there was a need for a PCV in each village. The only thing that I honestly did not enjoy was the incredible amount of carbs given to me at virtually every meal, including snack-time. My (Noel's) host family must have grown a lot of potatoes, and were proud of it!

We got back home on Friday, and settled back into our daily routine. The next event will have Kaye traveling back to the Lilongwe area to help with the girl's camp that our group is hosting the week of August 8th.

Stay well; be safe.

Lunch with the President of Malawi

2010-08-02T01:52:00.005-04:00

On July 21st, we had the incredible experience of being invited to the home of the President and first lady of Malawi. It was almost unbelievable as we sat there being served by all the attendants to the President. The President, His Excellency Ngwazi Professor Bingu wa Mutharika and first Lady Madame Callista Mutharika invited all current Peace Corps Volunteers to their home for a state luncheon. It was everything you could imagine a State luncheon might involve. We were served all courses with waiters who wore white gloves and served from the LEFT and removed from the RIGHT. They knelt on their knees when serving the first lady and the President. We had a military band who played the fanfare as they entered and a reggae band that played while we ate. They joined us in dancing after the dinner and each of us danced up and greeted the couple. It was truly wonderful and what a gracious host and hostess they were!! Each table also was served four kinds of wine plus a bottle of liquor and juice. I wish all of you could experience something similar as it will remain with us long after we leave Malawi.

So to each of you we feel this event was truly one for the books in Bultemeier/Kuck history.

Things we miss:

2010-07-20T07:03:00.003-04:00

Just a few of the items that I have been thinking about lately, as we finish our last 12 months of service:

1. Family
2. Friends

The rest not in any particular order:

Driving
Being out after dark
Musical performances
Bagel from Hot Bagel
Sitting and having coffee at a coffee shop
The Sunday New York Times
Favorite radio shows
A more structured job/occupation
Affordable anything
Technology/electronics

A visit to another game preserve.

2010-07-07T06:34:00.009-04:00

A trip to the capital Lilongwe over the 4th of July weekend for a nice gathering at the US Ambassador's house with any of the ex-pats that were in-country who wanted to attend. The Ambassador had just accepted (volunteered) for an assignment in Baghdad as he felt that he needed more excitement(?!). He leaves in about a week. After the fun and food, we had the wonderful opportunity to drive south to visit the most popular game reserve in Malawi, Liwonde, over the 4-day weekend (it was Malawi's Independence Day celebration on the 6th). It was larger than the Majete reserve that we visited last year. We sighted about 30 elephants; most so close to our vehicle that I became somewhat anxious! We were driven to the park by another US citizen with whom I now work, and who has worked in many different countries during his career. I will try to post some of the photos soon.
We also spent some more time along Lake Malawi on the way south, at a different place than where we had visited before, and stayed in a very nice lake-front hotel.

At the end of the month we return to Dedza and to a village that is hosting recent volunteers for their training. We will be making ourselves available for a week for any questions that they might have, and to assist in any other way necessary.

Stay well, and let us know what you would like to know about our lives and experiences.

A brief update

2010-05-20T01:48:00.004-04:00

Noel has started his new position with a different NGO in Blantyre, WALA. Funded by CRS/USAID, it promises a lot of work opportunities and activities.

Last weekend we had the pleasure of visiting and camping on the southern part of Lake Malawi with our landlord and their youngest son. It was a part of the lake that we had not seen before, and was every bit as nice as the spot we visited over Christmas further to the north. It is a beautiful lake, but did not see any of the "normal" activity such as water skiing or casual swimmers. The camping was nice; we had a chance to check out a recently donated tent from a friend who was leaving the country.

Next Monday (my birthday!) we head back to Dedza (where we first started our training) for our MST (mid-service training). Hard to believe that we are nearly at the half way point on this journey.

Two weeks ago Kaye and I participated in our first 5K race here, and did remarkably well! There were 400 plus runners and Kaye came in first in the over 40 female category and I came in third in the over 40 male category. Who would have guessed that living a stressful, protein deprived life would help us??? Anyway the prize was 5 kgs of sugar. That would make a decent American runner have a heart attack. Every runner who finished received 2 kgs of sugar and then those that placed got extra sugar. We just laughed as we walked home with 12 kgs of sugar in our arms. We welcome any recipes that are 90% sugar.

Anyway, that's it for now. Do stay in touch and let us know how your lives are going. We remain healthy and fit. Stay well!

Quick photo of our new house

2010-04-20T02:55:00.005-04:00

This is just a quick exterior photo of our new home. We will take a few shots of the inside and post them soon. This house is a much more manageable size for us, and features a kitchen/dining area, a bedroom/seating area, and a nice shower/bathroom area.

At the end of May, we are off to our mid-way point gathering for additional training, debriefing, etc. Hard to believe that we are at that point already!

I, Noel, am in the position of changing my work site to another NGO in Blantyre. More info to follow.

Stay healthy, safe, and in touch.

Easter on Mount Mulanje

2010-04-07T04:15:00.020-04:00

Our first Easter in Malawi was on top of Mt. Mulanje. Once again our dear friends, Deb and Eugene and their sons, provided us with a memorable and wonderful experience. We hiked up the mountain for six hours on Friday and found our first rustic cabin where we spent the night. There we met ten others from a variety of countries in Europe. The hike was steep and reminded us of our climbs up Mt. LeConte. We all slept outside under the porch overhang and enjoyed a beautiful evening without a light or sound of civilization. On Saturday we hiked for five hours along the upper ridge of the mountain to another rustic cabin and shared the space with three families. Rain greeted us for some of the hike but the arrival at the cabin made it all worth while. The trails are very primitive with no markings, except when a trail “fork” was reached. One must rely on a deep trust in the guide (which we hired, along with a few porters to carry our essentials) that he knew where he was headed. Again, we slept on the porch and listened to rain as it pounded the tin roof during the night. Upon awakening, we found the sky covered with stars and a beautiful moon. The stars are so beautiful when there is an absence of human made light to dampen the effect.

Easter morning greeted us with chocolate eggs, French toast, and wonderful hot tea. We did a leisurely hike to a natural pool and found some of the most beautiful scenery that one could imagine. Easter was hard as I (Kaye) felt my first serious pangs of homesickness as I remembered hikes, Easter sunrise services, and the fun of dying eggs and hiding them with the kids. I am reminded of how very much I love holidays and the traditions that surround them. It is great to have this family to share our lives with and be able to create new traditions.

Monday we hiked back down to the base of the mountain and cooled our feet in the natural pools formed by the flowing river. The entire weekend was a reminder of the incredible natural beauty of the world and how very fortunate we are to experience this and to be able to share it with each other, our “virtual” friends, and with the Murphys. The four days of hiking found us landing on our butts several times, slipping on very smooth and clay covered rocks and being very thankful when we were back on relatively level ground.

More photos of the mountain and our hike can be found to the left under “Our journeys”.

Enjoying a Malawian (International) School Production

2010-04-01T05:16:00.006-04:00

We were invited to attend a performance at the local International Primary school. This includes children up to grade 6, and a school of 300 students. Deb, our landlady, is the music teacher at this school so we were invited. We had the complete joy of watching about 150 fourth through sixth graders perform a very beautiful musical drama about two tribes in Africa. We were both struck by how fortunate these children are to attend this school.

The stage was covered with children of every race and color, all dressed in native costumes and singing in beautiful harmony. The production was called "Thondwe and the Rain Goddess". We would estimate that perhaps 10% of the performers were Caucasian, and the remainder were a beautiful mixture of ethic groups from around the world. South America was probably not represented but the other continents (except Antarctica) were fully represented. We couldn't help but believe that this type of school can only bring about peace, tolerance, understanding, and love.

We have always felt fortunate to live in Oak Ridge with its mixture of cultures, and to have our children grow up in such a diverse and challenging environment; this was a true integration of all.

Wishing all of you a very blessed Easter. Celebrate life.

Our Anniversary

2010-02-25T07:39:00.009-05:00

31 years, and together in Malawi, Africa! What a place to celebrate, and to remember, in spite of the robbery.

We have both said that if it were not for our new landlord, we might be home by now, as it would have been difficult to imagine being in a new place and to feel secure. This family is wonderful, to the point of having us join their family for dinner on the eve of our anniversary. To top things off, they made a beautiful picture of us, framed it, and gave us a wonderfully hand-carved local statue. I don't know how we would have managed in any other place.

The rainy season is pretty much as named; rains nearly every day and/or night, sometimes quite hard, but usually not very long. We are both closer to our work sites now, so that part is good for shorter walks in the rain. Kaye is getting more acceptance at the college, so things feel a bit better and there is more of a sense of being needed. I am looking for another organization where I can feel the same fulfillment. Got one or two in mind.

We were visited by the Peace Corps doc yesterday; part of their new routine of getting out more often to check on our states of health, both mind and body. I think that we passed. It was suggested that we find time to get away for a little vacation now and then, as it would help our emotional recovery. We both tend to be awakened by the slightest noises, so I am sure that we regularly lose sleep. Our landlord and family have invited us to join them in an overnight hike at a nearby mountain over Easter, so that will be great fun and relaxing.

The Event!

2010-02-02T08:45:00.006-05:00

I hesitated to publish these details, as all is better now, so don't be too alarmed as you read this account.

At about 2:50am on the morning of Jan 22, noises were heard outside of our bedroom. Believed to be outside the house and those of the guard, I suggested that we ignore it. A few moments later I thought to investigate. Going to our bedroom door and peering through a crack I saw several shadowy figures with flashlights in the adjoining room. At that time panic set in. It was about 3:00am, and they had already managed to compromise our front door to gain access into the house. I made a noise to let them know that we were not asleep but awake and aware. The response was "Give us your money or we will kill you" (being white, the normal assumption is that we have money).

Kaye and I tried to make a hasty phone call to the guard company contact that we had been given, but were not able to make a connection (phone off??). At that time a forcible entry into our bedroom was being attempted and we tried to push back and to keep the door closed. I asked Kaye to hand me a hoe that was in the nearby closet.

When entry was made, I swung the hoe and believed to have stuck at least one of the perpetrators. Continued swinging and screaming forced them out of the house and back into the carport area. The aggression then turned to them throwing bricks through every window in an attempt to hit me. Failing that, due to my agility, one of them jammed a long wooden board through the door and hit me in the head. Upon seeing blood, I called it quits, retired into the bathroom and layed on the floor.

They then proceeded into the bedroom asking Kaye for money and rummaging through our belongings. During the ordeal, one of them slapped Kaye on the face responding to her continued denial that we had any money.

In the end, they got what they wanted and left. It was then that we looked outside and saw that they had tied up the two night guards that we had, so we cut them free. The guards' keys had been taken, along with their cell phones, so they had no way to call for help or to even open the gate to go out and seek help. They were finally persuaded to scale the wall, go to a neighbor's house and ask for help from other fellow guards. It was about 2 hours before any real help arrived.

Once at the house, the guard company assisted us to the hospital and police station to get help and to file the reports. The invaders had climbed over the back wall and made their escape the same way. We had had a work crew rebuilding the back brick wall for about two weeks, a week or so before this, so the workers are some of the prime suspects.

Stolen were each of our computers, our cell phones, an iPod, our mattress, clothing and shoes, two backpacks (sorry, Ryan), a billfold (w/credit cards) and bank checks, batteries, a watch, reading glasses, a fan, a camera, and a little cash lying around. We are still trying to assess all of the missing items in order to properly represent the value for, hopefully, compensation by the guard company.

After the reports were filed and medical attention given, the Peace Corps thought it necessary for us to be transported to Lilongwe (the PC Headquarters) for R&R, which we obliged. Actually staying with the PC Country Director at his house was a very nice experience. His wife was out of town so I think he enjoyed a little company.

We are in the process of resettling into a servants/guest house located in the backyard of very good friends of ours that we had met through our church in Blantyre. It will be a wonderful respite for us, and we will be immediately next to friends and people with who we can communicate, if ever needed. Our old place was within 9ft high bricked walls and no one would have even been able to hear anything. In addition, it was a distance from the city and fairly isolated. The new arrangement will be significantly better. Plus they have dogs which all Malawians greatly fear!

We have now traveled back to Blantyre, made some minor security improvements to the new house to meet the PC standards, and have unpacked and resettled. It is about a 15 minute shorter walk for me to work, and also for Kaye.

In hindsight, our old house had been compromised once in November when intruders entered another part of the house and stole about 9 mattresses, wall outlets, and many of the interior door knobs. At that time, it was decided to change security companies, which was done, and to add additional padlocks to the exterior doors, which was done. It is not too difficult to break the locks! All standard security precautions were in place. We should have started looking for other accommodations then.

As stated, we are now believed to be fine, and in better spirits every day. Keep us in your prayers, and remember that there are bad people everywhere.

Lake Malawi

2009-12-30T01:12:00.004-05:00

We had some free time after Christmas to do a little trip to the lake. We had heard that Lake Malawi was beautiful and worthwhile to see. We joined a couple of other Peace Corps and former Peace Corps volunteers of our "age" which was nice and restful. More of the photos are on our "journeys" link on the left. Spent only a day and a half there and returned home on the 29th. Both of us are to report back to our offices on the 4th.

Don't know what to expect for New Years eve and beyond, as there was nothing too special going on here at Christmas time. Sort of business as usual!

With the rainy season upon us, it tends to rain about every day; some days harder than others. We try to remember to pack an umbrella when we go out, but sometimes forget to do so.

That's about all for now. Stay in touch and let us know what you would like for us to share. Stay well.

So, who guards the guards?

2009-12-08T01:53:00.006-05:00

A fiend recently commented on a dialogue that he had had with his guard/gardener. When the guard asked him why he didn’t have a guard, and/or a way to lock his gate, he replied that where he came from (America) there is a police system in place, and functioning, that discourages random break-ins and such intrusions and that the system is generally respected. This was unheard of by the guard. Although, the Malawi police are generally thought to be effective and well regarded.

The sad thing is that this general feeling in Malawi is constantly perpetuated by the fact that security companies providing guard services are rampant throughout Malawi. The vast majority of houses have massive brick fences around them topped with barbed wire and glass shards. Even last night, at our house, our guard came to the door and asked us to place a padlock onto the outside door gate. My question: why do we need a lock if we have a guard? Why do we pay for guard services? I didn’t ask it, just thought it.

Another story recently shared was that of an azungu (white) couple who locked their keys in the house. After explaining the problem to the guard, it was but a matter of a few minutes that the guard showed them how to get a long stick, reach into the house, across the room, and secure the keys from where they had been left.

It has been widely mentioned that the guards are the ones who typically do the breaking in and stealing. If caught and questioned, the general response is that they do it because they get paid so little. So, I guess, they assume it is a given and accepted “right” of theirs to steal? A guard in Malawi gets around K5000-6000 (kwacha) per month, which equates to about $40, slightly below what we understand the average wage to be about $500-600/year. These security guards are at the bottom of the world's pay scale. With a daily wage that is much less than a cup of coffee in the US or Europe, their total pay also includes allowances for housing. These guards typically work for 60 hours a week, and yet barely surpass the $1 per day per person established by the World Bank as the measure for "extreme poverty". (Once families are taken into account, the income per person falls far short of even extreme poverty.) Adding further insult, they work for 12 hours a day and are paid for only 10 under the G4S (employing company) policy to reduce pay by half for overtime hours. Most of the workers can't afford to take any transportation and therefore many walk an hour and a half each way to work. Families can't afford school books for their kids and they can't afford to put basic foodstuff on the table. A "living wage" is not even within reach.

But, don’t get me wrong, I personally feel fairly safe while negotiating my way around. It is just not advisable to do so after dark.

Friends, Rain, Safety, and Preparing for Christmas.

2009-12-07T04:34:00.003-05:00

We have made several very nice friends here in Malawi; some from our church and others through other acquaintances. The sad part is that some of the ones are here for only a short period of time, like us, so the relationship will be fleeting! We must enjoy them while we can. We were invited out for dinner last night with one couple that will be departing next week, back to Denver, and have an invitation to a Christmas day dinner with one of our church family friends. Our Christmas plans to date include a departure for a trip to a lodge on Lake Malawi and spend the 26th-28th with a couple of other Peace Corps volunteers of our similar ages. The lake view is supposed to be wonderful, and it will be yet another part of Malawi that we have not yet seen.

With the start of the rainy season, we got caught in a drenching downpour on Saturday. Having only a small umbrella between us, and with the blowing wind, we were SOAKED. Even though this is summer, and the temperature has risen, the rain felt cool, if not cold. We hit the warm tub upon our return to home. Rained again very hard yesterday, but we had solace indoors.

Some things had disappeared from our house over the past several weeks. Not from "our side”, but from the area of the house that we do not occupy. The result was a changing of the guard company! This supposedly occurs rather frequently throughout Malawi, and the guards are usually suspect, or at least could be party to the transgression. Fortunately, none of our belongings were taken, yet, although there was evidence that “they” had been able to gain access to our kitchen area and maybe an adjoining room. A little spooky. Since, we have had new, heavy-duty padlocks installed on the exterior security gates, changed a couple of interior/exterior door locks, and are trying to be a bit more diligence in our personal safety. On a side note, a recent trip to Lilongwe and the Lilongwe bus depot (HORROR!) resulted in my backpack being compromised by someone in the crowd and removing my iPod and cell phone charger. I wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper expressing my feelings and actually got published. Will be more observant and careful in the future.

My office closes on the 18th of December and doesn’t reopen until January 10th. I will have to figure out what to do with myself as Kaye will continue to work for part of my time off.

We can’t thank our US friends enough for the special care packages that have been received. Our enjoyment and surprise continues with each delivery. Thanks to all of you and have a Merry Christmas.

A trip to a game preserve with our visitors

2009-11-25T01:26:00.019-05:00

We had a great time with our two visitors, David and Deborah, showing them around Blantyre and walking them to death (hope you guys can forgive us!). Deborah spent most of her week helping Kaye at the nursing college training nurses in how to use an ultrasound machine. It was a huge success, and very much appreciated by the college staff and students. David did a lot of walking around town and just enjoying himself. The weather was a bit hot, but that didn't stop his activities.

While they were here, we took the time to visit a local game preserve. A good friend from our church offered the use of one of his cars, and a driver. Greatly appreciated and enjoyed! The Majette preserve is in one of the hottest areas of the country, past Chickwawa and near the lake. There are others in the area, but this one was the most accessible during the time that we had available. Didn't see any elephants; probably too dry for them at the time.

Another day was spent visiting a typical Malawian village, accessible by bike taxis. We all made it, but we had to walk on a few occasions up the hills.

We found this snail in our carport area the other day. Easily 8-9 inches long!

Looking forward to the Thanksgiving gathering in Lilongwe. It will be held at the US Ambassador's house; the same place where we had the July 4th party. A lot of Americans from many US posts in Malawi, and a lot of good food. The party is to be held this Saturday, the 28th.

Enjoy the Holidays and keep us in your thoughts, as we will of you!

Headed to the next PC training event (and visitors!!)

2009-10-30T06:19:00.006-04:00

On Sunday, November 1st, we are off again, back to the Dedza College of Forestry site for IST (In-Service Training). That is the site where we were initially indoctrinated with the language and technical sessions, for our first few weeks when we arrived. The IST is a refresher, I guess, with emphasis on more technical training and more language. We are scheduled to stay for two weeks.

However, we have a couple of friends arriving from Tennessee on Saturday the 14th, so we will leave a day earlier in order to meet them at the airport. Deborah, an ultrasound specialist, and a longtime friend, is planning to work with Kaye at the College, training the nurses in ultrasound techniques. David, Deborah's husband, will also be visiting. Together, the four of us hope to do a little traveling outside of Blantyre, but can't do much, or go very far, in just a week. We plan to take some photos and to share them upon our return.

Please stay well and stay in touch. We miss you all. (One thing was on my mind last night...I have yet to see or hear a lawn mower although the grass, where planted, never seems to get too long!)

Our house (albeit just an exterior shot)

2009-10-20T06:40:00.007-04:00

For those who are interested in seeing our "permanent" dwelling, this photo shows the view as you approach from the gated entrance. It looks, and is, fairly nice, but it was totally barren inside when we first inhabited it. We have since been able to add a very few items, mainly a couple of tables and chairs and a bed. The kitchen has been fitted with a small electric cook stove consisting of two top hot plates and a small oven. Adequate for our needs. Still no way to refrigerate anything, so we carefully and frequently shop.
Started drinking our homemade wine; generally pleased, although the alcohol content seems somewhat low. Have to start planning the next batch soon.
Our challenges: For the reality - we lose our power almost every day, usually around the time we have started to prepare our dinner, 6PM or so, and it stays out anywhere from an hour to three hours. Water service is also subject to frequent outages, but not as often as the power. Getting things fixed, or to work at all sometimes, is a challenge as not having, or being able to find, a tool is a constant problem. What we would identify as common items in the workplace, like scissors, paper clips, pens and paper are scarce, or in short supply, or tightly controlled. Workmanship has our concerns and frustrations, from replacing door locks to any basic repair. Probably back to the lack of readily available tools. Our daily commute has been mentioned, but it also provides a nice source of exercise.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Again, let us know what you would like to know so that we can make this blog as interesting as possible. Stay healthy and safe.

Life as it is...

2009-10-05T04:19:00.003-04:00

Summer and the annual wet season is to start about the end of October and lasts until sometime in January. During the period, most harvesting is non-existent, and people would have already bought and stored most of their basic staples to last through the season. Vegetables and most local produce is still supposedly available, with prices for some rising and some falling. We continue to eat fairly well; a lot of fresh foods. Our staples generally include oatmeal, bananas, soya, beans, greens, carrots, onions, tomatoes, eggs, oranges, and bread/peanut butter. We have been fortunate to have received some great mailed items, from fiends in the States, including tuna packs, protein bars and chocolate to supplement what we can purchase locally. The other issue, of course, is what we can afford on our limited budget. However, we actually feel great, healthy and fit, probably due to the fair amount of walking that we do daily. Not having a vehicle, other than bikes that have proven to be too risky on the city streets, we walk everywhere, probably averaging 5-6 miles each per day. Not complaining. Additionally, we have just started our first batch of homemade wine! Can't wait. We had been given a nice Peace Corps cook book compiled by fellow, past volunteers that includes some nice options for preparing dishes from very basic and readily available items. One was wine from lemon grass. We opted for blackberries.

Meanwhile, life goes on. Our work hasn't changed much; Noel is still managing the information/resource department at his NGO, and Kaye is monitoring the masters student activities in the hospital and working with them on their research projects.

The people of Malawi are very nice, although we have each experienced a faux paux with communications that have cost us a few kwachas! The basic problem is that, being “whites”, the locals assume that we have money to burn and sometimes get taken advantage of. If they only knew of our actual income. The next major social event being anticipated and to experienced here is the Thanksgiving get-together that will be hosted at the US Ambassador's home, similar to the 4th of July gathering. A lot of US government folks and good food.

That's about all for now. We think of all of our friends regularly, and hope that all are healthy, safe and employed (or otherwise happy and prosperous). Do stay in touch and let us know what YOU would like to know about us and our lives. It's difficult to guess from here, as things are so different in a lot of ways, yet so similar in others.

An update from Kaye

2009-09-22T04:41:00.006-04:00

Noel and I were in intensive pre-service training until the end of July. During that time we lived in a Malawian village and had no access to any communication with family, friends, US or any world news. It was quite intense with four hours of language every day and then several hours of technical training and cultural education. On July 29th we were officially sworn in as Peace Corps Volunteers and moved to our site on August 1st. Noel and I live in Blantyre and will be assigned to this location for the entire 24 months. It has been a very interesting and challenging first month as we are given a subsistence allowance of $3/day. We are to live as they live in the village. So, we were provided a foam mattress, a bed frame, a table and two chairs. Everything else we are to obtain ourselves, plus buy food on the allowance. We are becoming quite excellent shoppers at the local market and live on whatever vegetables are currently in season. We do not have refrigeration so our dietary choices are limited to what we can buy and eat that day. Eggs are a major part of our diet, plus vegetables, rice, and peanut butter if we can find it, make for our dining delights. The local market is a great source of shopping for fresh vegetables, fruits and "stuff".

As we head into the hot, rainy season (Malawian summer), the early mornings and the late afternoons and evenings are cool, making for enjoyable walks to and from our work sites. During the late mornings and mid afternoon periods, the temperature can hit near 100F.

We have learned so much about ourselves, life, humility, thankfulness and gratitude. It is hard to put it into words but hopefully this gives you a brief introduction to our lives. The people of Malawi are extremely kind; they live a very family centered, simple life and have a very strong religious connection in their lives. Noel and I have found a Lutheran church in Blantyre, Beautiful Savior. The congregation is very small but it feels like we have a little piece of our lives in the US.

Noel has been placed with MANASO, an NGO, that works with many community boards helping with HIV/AIDS prevention. He is in charge of the resource center and is busy everyday with that assignment. I was placed with the University of Malawi, College of Nursing, in Blantyre. The college just started the first Master's degree in Nursing program in the country and they are in year one. So it is very exciting and certainly challenging. I just completed a one month mandatory rotation thru all of the wards at the Queen's hospital which is the major government hospital of the country. Trust me you never want to be admitted to the hospital in Malawi. Most beds do not even have one sheet, they do not do any type of emergency resuscitation, families come and cook the food outside the hospital for all the patients, and supplies are limited and often not available. It was such an educational experience. Both Noel and I are hoping that we will be able to make at least a small contribution to the lives of some people in Malawi.

Not to be presumptuous, but just as a word of caution from experience: mice and/or rats have shown to have found access into certain foodstuffs that have been mailed, usually in the paper blister-type envelopes that do not have the inner plastic lining. We presume that they can't detect edibles beyond the plastic barrier.

Status as of August 25th.

2009-08-25T05:13:00.005-04:00

Greetings to all! I think that we can assuredly say that we are in our permanent house and are trying to make it as comfortable as possible. That said, we must accomplish that task with the limited funds that we have beyond our eating budget for such things as a comfortable chair or two for reading and just for relaxing. We have a spot picked out for it, should it become a reality.
The house we have been given belongs to the Kamuzu University where Kaye teaches, and we periodically must tolerate some students, and some noise, in adjacent areas and rooms. All in all, not too bad.
On a potentially positive note, we have discovered a sports center nearby, with a pool, track, workout room with real weights, and other things that we might use. The cost is steep for our allowance, so we are considering spending our US dollars. It will allow us to maintain some sanity in our lives and to get back into the shape we were in before we left home.
Kaye is in the mddle of her "observation" period at the hospital, and Noel is settled into his role as the Resource Office manager at his NGO.
We will post more info, and some current photos, soon and as time allows.
Stay healthy, and in touch!

We are settled!

2009-08-04T05:22:00.003-04:00

Please note our new addresses on the left!
We are finally into our "permanent" home trying to establish ourselves in the community. This means finding the best places to shop for the necessities that we can afford, meeting neighbors, establishing routes to work (we both have about a 30 minute walk, in different directions), and keeping our bike tires inflated. Bike commutes will hopefully be a part of our travels, soon.

We took the official oath of office yesterday!

2009-07-30T08:45:00.008-04:00

"...to defend and protect the United States of America..." We have been officially sworn in as Peace Corps Volunteers and have started our service. Present at the ceremony were the US Ambassador to Malawi, the Peace Corps Country Director (with whom we had lunch the day before), and several other country dignitaries. Quite a ceremony with a lot of tribal dancing taking place.
Still trying to get moved into our housing in Blantyre, but feel we are getting closer. Maybe tomorrow.
I am still trying to get some photos uploaded, but the connection speed is too slow and I do not yet have the Malawian patience. I will try when I get situated at my business location and try from there next week. Kaye will be teaching at the Malawian College of Nursing, and Noel will be working for Manaso, an NGO umbrella organization networking the HIV/AIDS services within the country.
I will post our actual mailing addresses in the next few days once we get settled into our final locations.

From the Village to the City

2009-07-19T08:08:00.004-04:00

Having spent the last 6 weeks in the Malawi village of Chapatali, trying to learn the language of Chichewa by being force-fed, we are now in our destination city of Blantyre, which is a giant leap forward. Blantyre is essentially the financial and business center for the country, so we have access to virtually anything that we will need from here on. The blackout where we were left us with a craving for anything regarding news in the world, or even electricity. Pictures of our village life have been taken and I will try to up-load them as soon as time allows.

Patience, please.

2009-05-29T10:06:00.002-04:00

We finished our DC orientation yesterday and are now awaiting our bus ride to the airport and the flight to Malawi. Our first stop is an overnight stay in Johannesburg, SA, and then on to Malawi the following morning.
During our first 8-9 weeks, our access to communication options will generally be non-existent, so please check back for updates when we are able to post them.

Our sendoff

2009-05-26T18:10:00.002-04:00

What can be said about such a wonderful group of friends who came to wish us well and to celebrate my birthday. If there were to be any apprehension about this journey, it would be having to leave these friends behind. Thank you all for a memorable evening together! Stay in touch.

2009-05-18T16:04:00.008-04:00

The following information has just be sent to all PC volunteers headed to Malawi.

Accommodations
For the first week, we will stay with all Trainees in dorm rooms at a local college, two to a room. At the end of one week, we will move to our Homestay family and divide into language groups (Chichewa or Chitumbuka). We will have our own room, with simple furnishings, within a family home.

Bicycles
We will each be issued a sturdy “mountain bike” for use at our site. The bikes will be issued at the end of PST when you will receive bicycle riding and maintenance training. We will not need the bikes during PST (pre-service training) as we will be fully immersing ourselves in the local village by walking as much as possible.

Communication
As a Trainee in Dedza we will not have access to either Internet or e-mail - with the possible exception of the weekend following site visit. Family and friends are advised to send mail the old fashioned way. There is an office phone at the training site for business and emergency purposes, and the Training Manager has a cell phone for emergencies. Since we won’t have access to phone or email no news is good news concerning our arrival.
Our address will be:
NOEL KUCK/KAYE BULTEMEIER, PCV
PEACE CORPS/MALAWI
BOX 208
LILONGWE
MALAWI

Local Conditions
The Training Site is within a College located in Dedza. It is said to be a lovely place for our first introduction to Malawian life and work. There is a lot of pine plantation area, hills of indigenous forest, magnificent rock outcrops and mainly dirt (muddy) roads. The rain and elevation makes it chilly sometimes, but then the sun comes out and it’s nice and toasty. Lightweight hiking or work boots and Teva-style sandals are most popular and practical for Health PCVs.

The First Weekend
On Monday, the day we arrive, there will be a low-key welcome activity. We may want to go for a short hike right away, or sleep off the plane ride, so the afternoon is free. For the first four days, there will be introductory sessions for culture, Chichewa language, and brief informational interviews with the APCD and Medical Officer. There will also be a briefing on the entire eight-week training period.

Our training will, for the most part, be village-based. The College is located about 80 kilometers south of Lilongwe. The cluster villages are around the College, but transportation will be limited to feet and training vehicles. Once a week all Trainees will gather for common sessions such as medical, safety and administrative briefings.

2009-04-27T12:05:00.005-04:00

We have just received our marching orders to report for service! Now is the time to start the serious anxiety!
The schedule is to arrive in Washington DC in time for registration at 2:00 pm on Thursday, May 28th. Orientation lasts until 7:00 pm that day; we check out of the hotel by 11:30 am on Friday, May 29th, board the bus for Dulles Airport around noon, and depart for Lilongwe, Malawi at 5:40 pm on Friday, May 29th. Arrival into Lilongwe is planned for Sunday, May 31st, at 2:05 pm (8:05 am EST).

2009-04-20T11:48:00.000-04:00

Things are coming together! We have found a house renter to commit for two years. Starting to purge the house with garage sales.

2009-04-17T18:42:00.000-04:00

Stay tuned as we begin our journey at the end of May, 2009, our departure, and then our pre-service training in-country from June through July. Then we begin our 2 year adventure.