tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79518232024-03-07T06:32:19.658+02:00Following My HeartAll decisions impact the rest of our lives, some more clearly than others. Very early in the morning, of Sunday July 25th 2004, I made a decision that will clearly impact the rest of my life. I decided to follow my heart, and join the Peace Corps.Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.comBlogger273125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-25091050261783317152008-10-15T20:58:00.004+02:002008-10-15T21:08:50.448+02:00This Story EndsToday I officially completed my COS (close of service) with the Peace Corps. Now I am an RPCV (returned Peace Corps volunteer).<div><br /><div>The Peace Corps was a great experience for me, and I still do not even understand all of the things that have changed inside of me.</div><blockquote><div>The least of which being the mild parasite found in me during the Peace Corps medical tests. :-)</div></blockquote></div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-17933308606988403412008-08-06T18:17:00.001+02:002008-08-06T18:19:00.035+02:00New Job!I have just been offered a contract in Namibia to work on their new national OVC database! Wow, I am sooo happy. :-)<div><br /></div><div>More details to follow...</div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-76961844548571963732008-08-02T19:09:00.001+02:002012-06-25T16:21:51.773+02:00Walking Home<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fKyCe4DEKPIj5XhhAZA8IWPT3bmAUeI6GhLarceJlnqr5oxEgPZWQ3OWjOvrH-rWvyk7yO9e8joMLWmuPVDlxwdDiPAFAJqWngkWUI1MlEzgvy62oXPzWYLp9SXC3_sMX3tm/s320/image-upload-93-775129.jpg" /><br />
Just a shot of what I see walking home. :-) </div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-16572905621501514152008-08-02T16:05:00.001+02:002008-08-02T16:08:46.937+02:00Back HomeI am finally back home. It feels good. I think I had let quite a bit of stress build up inside of me with all the running around I was doing.<div><br /></div><div>Today I am just relaxing, alone, to let my brain slow down just a little bit.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tonight I will go drink <a href="http://www.amarula.co.za/">Amarula</a> with Tate Philip! :-)</div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-72415591941382991662008-07-24T10:13:00.004+02:002008-07-24T10:18:34.582+02:00ZambiaToday I fly to Zambia to give a presentation <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">about </span>how to use databases for managing information on orphans and vulnerable children. I may also be talking about how databases can be used to support services around the distribution of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ARVs</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Antiretroviral</span> treatment for HIV).<br /><br />I will return from Zambia on Saturday.Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-89072226506327923002008-07-03T13:13:00.001+02:002008-07-03T13:13:49.181+02:00Waiting<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQJchEkQpFXNuiMtUucaCyeCHQ5t8Odwi4rLI8Vy8w1fyxftlSNDynsgyTOzDKYecHKomnzSY5jY0I_uhgYp8cuT1zt2sZArNhBATAz3MxtWDyyRmvSzqQqIv1MIeXonGIo0h/s1600-h/image-upload-28-727935.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQJchEkQpFXNuiMtUucaCyeCHQ5t8Odwi4rLI8Vy8w1fyxftlSNDynsgyTOzDKYecHKomnzSY5jY0I_uhgYp8cuT1zt2sZArNhBATAz3MxtWDyyRmvSzqQqIv1MIeXonGIo0h/s320/image-upload-28-727935.jpg"/></a><br /><span>It is just about time to get no the plane to South Africa. :-)</span><br /></div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-72571262600886468552008-07-03T06:35:00.001+02:002008-07-03T06:35:21.657+02:00Flying to Windhoek<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQ57jMx4TZwmPYL_LE_JBsxb0cUFv5UpJnIJZxcW2qB6cevGiEjeCNCgZzyFUvv7B0OMHQnwxBlCxqZwuNGDhOew5CywQf6IleNsgWuYEpavVMnUV4mf9KUUtMxJBNOymL93g/s1600-h/image-upload-33-720630.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQ57jMx4TZwmPYL_LE_JBsxb0cUFv5UpJnIJZxcW2qB6cevGiEjeCNCgZzyFUvv7B0OMHQnwxBlCxqZwuNGDhOew5CywQf6IleNsgWuYEpavVMnUV4mf9KUUtMxJBNOymL93g/s320/image-upload-33-720630.jpg"/></a><br /><span>Here is the plane that brought me to Windhoek yesterday. Today I leave for South Africa.</span><br /></div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-52339294141508063002008-07-01T11:20:00.001+02:002008-07-01T11:20:34.994+02:00Running!<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-UeOGUtbDfTpjKHBFsbpeuDv151gmLu-11UZaGxhnwjXboOo1Zlqsf8ZrKsX7Hz1D26gZ4D9ir8z0ti7NV6DaqpJIoFGTwRKmJDqqLkMuUdVXeZ8vSR6ywOrfFrAyjaDsnDD/s1600-h/image-upload-74-734428.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-UeOGUtbDfTpjKHBFsbpeuDv151gmLu-11UZaGxhnwjXboOo1Zlqsf8ZrKsX7Hz1D26gZ4D9ir8z0ti7NV6DaqpJIoFGTwRKmJDqqLkMuUdVXeZ8vSR6ywOrfFrAyjaDsnDD/s320/image-upload-74-734428.jpg"/></a><br /><span>We short-circuitde the security system, pushed started the car, and are now back no the road. :-)</span><br /></div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-78292956888190089102008-07-01T10:17:00.001+02:002008-07-01T10:17:19.312+02:00Broke Down<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDKIwKE4LASN5P85Ayxb07y-JPyd0hiDFyprHG9gbXIWWpyBxTJuS3jIQT7eCn6Bq8vyaExTog8S6U0So6MOXgtJhRHj9ww6Xay4as3M_WHA-_duIB57QXcQ6rTdemiWMZus-/s1600-h/image-upload-67-738818.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDKIwKE4LASN5P85Ayxb07y-JPyd0hiDFyprHG9gbXIWWpyBxTJuS3jIQT7eCn6Bq8vyaExTog8S6U0So6MOXgtJhRHj9ww6Xay4as3M_WHA-_duIB57QXcQ6rTdemiWMZus-/s320/image-upload-67-738818.jpg"/></a><br /><span>We stopped the car to pick up some more people, and now it won't start. It could be because of a faulty security system. </span><br /></div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-9289231825087431632008-07-01T09:27:00.001+02:002008-07-01T09:27:05.412+02:00Leaving Opuwo<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zfmBe4OjJPUPr4X5pZEO1nUzifpVBDwGIULBfIt_iMB1lTxFPP5tMI0hcUMzh2IQptAZoPqbt0psc3pHD_x7Tx3veqy74_ZT6sQCm-BQfXTrhu8LPrTpibhFpYa0Xx7PXG2s/s1600-h/image-upload-66-724497.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zfmBe4OjJPUPr4X5pZEO1nUzifpVBDwGIULBfIt_iMB1lTxFPP5tMI0hcUMzh2IQptAZoPqbt0psc3pHD_x7Tx3veqy74_ZT6sQCm-BQfXTrhu8LPrTpibhFpYa0Xx7PXG2s/s320/image-upload-66-724497.jpg"/></a><br /><span>I am just now hiking from Opuwo. I nice man helped me get a part-way there hike.</span><br /></div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-52479986165637673392008-06-28T12:51:00.001+02:002008-06-28T12:51:24.351+02:00On The Way To Opuwo<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgig9tTtwobqBLB_Lf1NZyv3IJOWfLJa8u-xEZyC9_LsOwkKD5abjFhVBo7PjKaYfGomw7jMJFsHVIvlQKDiaAjGk4a2QAHooraMtiXqnfJsiAw2bxAkV5S2jK4zkIAoJTXICgc/s1600-h/image-upload-12-783914.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgig9tTtwobqBLB_Lf1NZyv3IJOWfLJa8u-xEZyC9_LsOwkKD5abjFhVBo7PjKaYfGomw7jMJFsHVIvlQKDiaAjGk4a2QAHooraMtiXqnfJsiAw2bxAkV5S2jK4zkIAoJTXICgc/s320/image-upload-12-783914.jpg"/></a><br /><span>I'm just now in a combi on the way to Opuwo. </span><br /></div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-26075095542699346962008-06-27T13:03:00.002+02:002008-06-27T13:07:25.360+02:00A Little HecticStuff is going on again:<div><br /></div><div>Today teach in Okashandja to OVC girls.</div><div>Saturday travel to Opuwo.</div><div>Sunday, Monday, Tuesday: Fix computers for a youth centre.</div><div>July 1: travel to Ondangwa.</div><div>July 2: travel to Windhoek.</div><div>July 3: travel to Johannesburg, South Africa.</div><div>July 4: give a presentation on the OVC database.</div><div>July 5: travel to Windhoek.</div><div><br /></div><div>:-)</div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-72334870888114255072008-06-26T20:28:00.002+02:002008-06-27T10:16:25.464+02:00Fish for Supper<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFqb_WO8zNfhGyFpztMdr1w9okqN5_O6rxTcjPP8tN7RTPR1NYj4UOVvcTytHCNHsu2DjoR3ReEV6pKaudukqPGcNu3Kpq_50hp7gWVnvtk2s8Th24_qy9dJSRtNvTZIXoOEh/s1600-h/image-upload-42-785900.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFqb_WO8zNfhGyFpztMdr1w9okqN5_O6rxTcjPP8tN7RTPR1NYj4UOVvcTytHCNHsu2DjoR3ReEV6pKaudukqPGcNu3Kpq_50hp7gWVnvtk2s8Th24_qy9dJSRtNvTZIXoOEh/s320/image-upload-42-785900.jpg" /></a><br /><span>This evening a friend gave me two fresh fish. :-)<br /><br />I fried them up nicely with some spicy chicken wing batter my mom had sent me.<br /><br />When I gave a fillet to my Kuku, she took one bite and said: "nantago", which means "again". She liked it so much she wanted another fillet. :-)</span><br /></div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-40325066533365751722008-06-19T18:59:00.003+02:002008-06-19T19:10:31.748+02:00Sarafina!Today I provided three showings of the movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105316/">Sarafina!</a> to a school near my house.<div><br /></div><div>The film was part of special activities at the school in remembrance of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soweto_uprising">June 16th, 1976</a>.<div><br /></div><div>On that day many children rose up and protested against apartheid.</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhD-edxSPUrasDBdEef5rmBkB4T5H__4Hr3vClIyKhbo4mQmfC5uU-UPrvLjeda-ytJ6RdF5-yL44E0jUSMUDtegdJzzbqZRUqQx629FDmPWDOPyssi4OdX490zqESDd9nfcxe/s200/DSC00007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213640724819994786" /></div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-77880678861967477382008-06-12T16:56:00.003+02:002008-06-12T17:23:11.438+02:00Child-Headed HouseholdsI just came back from a half-day tour of 5 child-headed households.<div><br /></div><div>Imagine groups of children living together without running water, electricity, or parents.</div><div><br /></div><div>It can be easy to forget the suffering of others while sitting at home watching reality television and eating home delivery pizza.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.ileni.com/Ileni/Grains_of_Sand/Entries/2008/6/12_Not_The_Same%2C_But_Who_Cares.html">A Picture from the trip.</a></div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-66739237754236147462008-06-09T14:21:00.004+02:002008-06-09T14:28:06.235+02:00My PlaceI am starting to understand my place in the world.<div><br /></div><div>Many times, when I am present and calm and attentive I can help people heal.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, I will find ways to do it more often... :-)</div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-39889598419337435612008-06-02T16:16:00.000+02:002008-06-02T16:17:11.812+02:00Things"The best things in life are not things."<div>Art Buchwald</div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-83803616143119904842008-06-02T16:14:00.001+02:002008-06-02T16:15:48.536+02:00Shaky But StandingI am a little shaky, but I am standing.<div>For me, I am always jumping in head first.</div><div>But, I would not have it any other way. :-)</div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-89430145918685824002008-05-27T23:06:00.001+02:002008-05-27T23:06:07.502+02:00Off-RoadingFollowing your heart does not always mean doing what makes sense...following your heart is more like off-roading through life.Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-2409006003584705292008-05-26T12:49:00.008+02:002008-05-26T18:40:18.201+02:00RepairedMy heart was utterly broken, and my love was laid out for her to see, and in the end it was enough. <div><br /><div>And she stopped her day for me. And my friends stopped their day for me. And they helped repair my heart. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now my heart is glued together with the love of others.</div></div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-18395033130060497832008-05-24T12:47:00.000+02:002008-05-26T12:49:21.643+02:00BrokenI thought it would be enough to fill my heart with love.<br /><br />I thought my full heart would convince her I was the right man, but my full heart was not enough, and then it broke, and she saw my weakness.<br /><br />Now, I am even alone in my dreams.Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-12519967857487538692008-05-23T20:59:00.003+02:002008-05-26T12:44:04.099+02:00My First Present to Myself<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span>I just remembered that when I am feeling really sad, it is most likely that I have a bunch of emotions that I have not yet shared with right person, and that finally sharing them can make a big, positive difference in how I feel.</span><br /></div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-34851573328542253562008-05-23T16:08:00.002+02:002008-05-26T12:43:06.629+02:00Cake<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrUgVsyphfZTgZzze6FxxMQ4KG3QxMdXpifD6f97_bOBpZjHrxbQYJaDwVLRFJwVW_ptTClerAKpJ-mXuVicyW50HiHWtQhtKu8epgJmV3YoSdqxXinx79VqDizayLJSOSWZx/s1600-h/image-upload-214-796891.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrUgVsyphfZTgZzze6FxxMQ4KG3QxMdXpifD6f97_bOBpZjHrxbQYJaDwVLRFJwVW_ptTClerAKpJ-mXuVicyW50HiHWtQhtKu8epgJmV3YoSdqxXinx79VqDizayLJSOSWZx/s320/image-upload-214-796891.jpg" /></a><br />Here is a picture of the cake that my friends got for me on my birthday!</div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-41180522278776926352008-05-23T09:38:00.003+02:002008-05-23T09:55:03.479+02:00Following My Heart<div>I was just making some updates to my blog format, and I happened to re-read its title "Following My Heart".<br /><br />I realized, it is very easy to know where my heart points -- I only need to think about something, and then be quiet and still. My heart is getting used to speaking up for itself, but it still needs me to give it a little room to announce how it feels.<br /><br />As a birthday present to my heart, I am going to listen to it as much as I can today!</div><br /><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203478436587746850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 86px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 79px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="108" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYj3deDpRsssyzgZKgI8Uzl5Jq3GjRYZvJVnHzhxj9TouXV0UuHjlf66v_9-cv7t1I4xU8zPV2r-Q8ETbrrRYX1nsB5JRV44tjZsOx60e6QEOqAw4n2QCOOPCY9Ozi5J61dHNz/s200/Heart.bmp" width="114" border="0" /></div>Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7951823.post-80167939712912394162008-05-23T09:28:00.003+02:002008-05-23T09:31:44.737+02:00BirthdayToday is my birthday. I am happy to be experiencing yet another one. :-)<br /><br />I am just now waiting for a ride. I am going to teach for a couple of hours on HIV/AIDS related topics to a small group of my Namibian friends. I am excited for this class, because it will be with friends, and I like giving the presentation that I will be showing them.<br /><br />I am hoping that later today a friend will come over and we can cook a nice birthday meal together, while listening to music and then watch a nice movie while we eat our freshly cooked food.Jay Haasehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17649564071014552261noreply@blogger.com0