Jimmy Schneidewind
For some reason, Peace Corps decided that it would be a good idea to accept me into their program and then to send me to Mozambique, or "the 'Bique" as the natives refer to it. No, that part isn't true, but the first part is. I will be serving in Mozambique for the next two years and three months, and I will use this blog to document my journey. My story is sure to include twists and turns, the likes of which are unknown to the common man, but then again, I am the Fresh Prince of Mozambique. Stay tuned "to see what happens when people stop being polite and start being real! The real world. Mozambique.The Fresh Prince of Mozambique
Of course, the contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps. Duh.
Travel Blog Posts
May 19th 2009
I thought about issuing a public apology to begin this blog because of long it has been since I last posted an entry, but then I realized that it is probably unnecessary being that my blog readership can be more accurately described as a couple of dedicated family members and close friends that humor me, rather than a throng of rabid and demanding followers. However, I think it’s safe to say that between weekly phone calls with my parents and brother, and bi-monthly calls from my former girlfriend that I have directly validated my five month absence from Travelblog to ALL my dedicated readers. You don’t see the New York Times calling all of its former girlfriends and family members every time an issue goes missing. When you are part of the throngs, you just don’t ... read more
December 6th 2008
I still cannot write the actually name of "My Town" because chances are that somewhere out there amongst my thousands and thousands of loyal readers there is someone so repulsed by my audacity to continuously publish a public journal about ME and MY LIFE that revealing my exact location would only put a bulls eye on my back for that someone to come here and put an end once and for all to the Fresh Prince of Mozambique. I can't allow it. The show must go on. Please be warned, if you are not related to me or even if you are, you will find almost none of these photos at all interesting. Its just a few days of walking around my town. No elephants or lions were out on those days, but I'll try for ... read more
December 3rd 2008
Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you, this would in fact be my second blog entry within the last 10 days. It must be due to that holiday magic that finds a way to touch all of us, even those of us in Mozambique. I was telling my mom that Thanksgiving is just absolutely HUGE here!! You wouldn't think it, but the streets were just overflowing with Mozambicans wearing pilgrim style hats, dressing up like turkeys, and of course bars become packed with everyone in town who has gathered around to see the Detroit Lions play football on the television. It really is just a fascinating scene. OK, so all that may be a lie, but I'm starting the Straight Talk Express (RIP) from here on out. I will break this edition up into two entries, ... read more
Please accept my humblest apologies
Published: November 27th 2008Africa » Mozambique » Central » Quelimane
November 27th 2008
Why hello there! How have you been? Oh, me? I’ve been good thanks, pretty busy though. Whats that? Well yes, I believe I have lost a little weight, thank you for noticing! You actually look a little fatter to be honest. Its ok, that happens to a lot of people after high school. What? Yeah, you’re right, it has been quite a while, I apologize ….I believe the last time we talked, I had a full head of hair, my name was Jimmy Schneidewin_, I was 23, I had only run one marathon in my life, the President of the United States was white, and the record number of losses in one season for a University of Michigan football team was 7. Sounds like we have a little bit of catching up to do. And by ... read more
September 6th 2008
So I spent so much time with those other entries today that I have very little time to write this update. I am training for a marathon. The race is November 2 in Soweto South Africa. Training in Africa is harder than training in Michigan. My hair is still growing. I will include a picture of how ugly I have become. I am almost done with my original name on my Peace Corps name countdown. I will include a picture. I am happier than I was last month, and I was happier then than I was in July, and happier in July than June, etc. I still miss home a lot, but I am doing alright here.... read more
September 6th 2008
Mt. Namuli is the second highest mountain in Mozambique, tipping the scales at 2419 meters. It also happens to be located in my province, right outside of a town called Gurue, which lies only about 5 hours from the city I now call home. Naturally, I had to climb it. Two other volunteer friends joined me, one, a health volunteer who lives in my province, and another who is a teacher in the province directly south of Zambezia, and was on break between the 2nd and 3rd trimester terms. We all made the trek to Gurue, where we would begin our adventure. As a fact, Gurue is probably the best city in Mozambique. It is up amongst the mountains so it is actually quite cool. It is somewhat of a tourist destination for this reason, so ... read more
My Kitchen Counter; An African Odessy
Published: September 6th 2008Africa » Mozambique » Central » Quelimane
September 6th 2008
I am in the Peace Corps. I serve in Mozambique. Or is I the other way around? Peace Corps Mozambique is the name of my program. Within Peace Corps Mozambique, there exists a powerful and wise organization called The Peer Support Network (PSN). This organization is made up of only the wisest and most powerful volunteers, a network of peers, if you will. These are volunteers who have won the right to go through intense special training that will allow them to offer assistance, guidance, and advice to their fellow volunteers during this particularly stressful time of their lives. Homesickness, problems integrating into the community, feelings of excessive happiness or sadness, unpredictable bowel movements, and the like, all fall under the realm of psychosocial topics that a PSN member might be able to help you with ... read more
August 2nd 2008
You know, after a while it just gets to you. Everything! The culture, the people, the work, the daily grind. I can't lie, it just begins to wear on you. There is corruption everywhere, especially in the government, the force that is supposed to lead the people to a brighter tomorrow. The people governed don't help the situation. They say they want change, they say they can't tolerate the ways things are, but often times they just talk, and talk, and talk, they are too lazy to put action behind their words. The culture, although sometimes beautiful, can just be too much to handle on the days when you are just tired, just want to rest. It is a known culture across the world, sought after, stereotyped, even imitated, and it is great, but after the ... read more
June 7th 2008
I remained restless throughout the night and into the sunrise, as the surprisingly cold morning air was seeping through my bedroom window and surrounding me. The temperature here has actually become slightly chilly lately, particularly at night and early morning. The small thin blanket that was struggling to cover my 5'6 frame proved a poor substitute for the large thick bedspread I normally use while sleeping. On the spare mattress next to me lay my large thick bedspread, and underneath my large thick bedspread lay a visiting Peace Corps Volunteer, who could accurately be described at that moment as selfish and warm. To be fair, I can't say that even if i were the one laying under my blanket of choice that my night would have gone much better; the mattress that I sleep on, which ... read more
June 7th 2008
So here is what I have seen in my short time working in the 'Bique. Mozambique is one the poorest nations in the entire world. When independence was finally won from the Portuguese in the mid-1970s, Mozambicans could not agree on who would lead the country, which resulted in a 20 year civil war, one of the bloodiest in world history, a war that was also actually financed in part of the the South African and U.S. government. Anyway, as long as Mozambicans were fighting amongst each other and being used by foreign governments, no international funding to speak of was entering the country. With the end of the civil war in the early '90s came the international money Mozambique so desperately needed. Mozambique has been receiving almost more money that it knows what to do ... read more
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