Category Archives: Philosophy

Living Will, Mark 2

Posted on 31 August 2010 by Sika

My dad’s mom had surgery the same day as the memorial service for my mom’s mom, and she had a hard time (as a matter of fact is still in the hospital now, 3 weeks later). That’s why I haven’t … Continue reading →

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You Need a Living Will! Yes, I Do Mean You!

Posted on 19 August 2010 by Sika

Let’s start with a definition of Living Will. This has nothing to do with who gets what when you die. A living will has to do with how decisions are made about your health when you can’t make them. There … Continue reading →

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Musings on Ritual

Posted on 30 July 2010 by Sika

I haven’t been around much lately. On top of the busyness I was expecting: finding an apartment, moving, preparing for David’s visit, my grandma was sick, and then she died. And now we’re in the aftermath. I should clarify. My … Continue reading →

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The End and the Beginning

Posted on 25 June 2010 by Sika

And, that’s it for Peace Corps. I’m still going to be writing at this address, but when I get back from Costa Rica, I’m going to archive all my Peace Corps related stuff at a different address, redesign and re-title … Continue reading →

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Changes Peace Corps Hath Wrought

Posted on 25 June 2010 by Sika

Malawi has made me . . .. indecisive. I mean, I had occasional (frequent) problems making a decision before, but in Malawi you can make as many decisions as you want, and they rarely have any effect on the end … Continue reading →

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20 September 2009: Addis Ababa

Posted on 9 June 2010 by Sika

It was Sunday and Eid, and so the streets of Addis were thrumming with people who didn’t have to be at work. Semien hotel, where we were staying, was just off the piazza (ah, Italian attempts at colonization) and we … Continue reading →

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Leaving Malawi, Part II

Posted on 7 September 2009 by Sika

If I said there aren’t some things I’ll be happy to leave, I’d be lying. Mostly things like stone babies and the way many men feel they own my body because I’m a woman, and being called azungu azungu all … Continue reading →

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Leaving Malawi, Part I

Posted on 3 September 2009 by Sika

I haven´t written about my last weeks in Malawi partly because I still don´t have pics uploaded for some posts I´ve already written, but mostly because I´ve been in a serious state of denial: refusing to say good-bye to people … Continue reading →

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How Peace Corps is like a coat

Posted on 2 September 2009 by Sika

I think one of the problems some people have when returning from Peace Corps is a response to the loss of what Peace Corps means for one’s identity. For one thing, Peace Corps goes to great lengths to enculturate us–my … Continue reading →

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The high cost of living in Malawi

Posted on 18 June 2009 by Sika

There was an article recently about the high cost of poverty in the US. While I thought the author for that article could have come up with better examples, it was interesting and reframed some random thoughts I’ve been having … Continue reading →

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Madonna’s in the news again

Posted on 6 May 2009 by Sika

Madonna’s in the news again. I’m a little leery posting about this, because jeez peez, Madonna is already what 90% of everyone outside of Africa knows about Malawi, but I will boldly venture forth anyway. If you were privy to … Continue reading →

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Snorkeling II

Posted on 16 March 2009 by Sika

It’s so clear down here. I can see every dip and indentation of the lake bottom, looking like a buried civilization is waiting to be uncovered—miniature cliffs and canyons, the bed as if an inverted topography: the opposite world pushing … Continue reading →

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South Africa: The Winelands

Posted on 11 March 2009 by Sika

In Franschhoek we stayed at the Franschhoek Group Accomodation. We were a bit nervous when we got there because the place looks like an institution. As in, the type of place to which one can be involuntarily committed. But the … Continue reading →

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Day One: Johnny Clegg-a-palooza

Posted on 20 February 2009 by Sika

Our first full day in SAfrica*, I woke on Malawi time (read: way too early). I was very excited because I knew we were going to see Johnny Clegg that afternoon. Gareth had told us about the summer concerts at … Continue reading →

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Money Money Money

Posted on 19 January 2009 by Sika

Moses was meant to help me with my garden the other day. He came a couple of hours after I was expecting him and told me that he and his daughter, Dinah, had a meeting with Derek in the morning. … Continue reading →

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