BRIANA SCROGGINS

Contrast

2012-01-27T03:06:00.000-08:00

Opinions

2012-01-27T02:59:00.000-08:00

Which do you like better?

StoneTown

2012-01-27T02:50:00.000-08:00

Daniel

2012-01-27T02:43:00.001-08:00

The Indian Ocean

2012-01-27T02:35:00.000-08:00

Dar

2012-01-27T02:21:00.000-08:00

Music Appreciation

2011-12-17T05:27:00.001-08:00

Malawi Music Project Day 3

2011-12-17T05:16:00.000-08:00

Blackout

2011-12-17T05:09:00.000-08:00

Malawi Music Project Day 2

2011-12-17T04:45:00.000-08:00

Malawi Music Project Day 1

2011-12-17T04:33:00.000-08:00

Following Footsteps

2011-11-20T21:51:00.000-08:00

View From a Ladies Room

2011-11-20T21:41:00.002-08:00

But there's a light on in chicago
And i know i should be home
All the colors of the street signs..
They remind me of the pickup truck out in front of your neighbor's house

Portrait of an Arist

2011-11-20T21:41:00.001-08:00

Losing Contax

2011-11-20T21:39:00.000-08:00

Breeding Borton

2011-11-20T21:38:00.000-08:00

Roses are Red

2011-11-20T21:37:00.000-08:00

Glass Class

2011-11-20T21:30:00.000-08:00

In the morning my dad walks down Daytona Beach and often finds washed up pairs of sunglasses. Thus far he has collected over 50 pair. We may have had a little too much fun with them.

Holla at yo girl!

2011-11-20T21:19:00.000-08:00

Masquerade

2011-11-20T21:16:00.000-08:00

Change

2011-10-19T12:19:00.000-07:00

WWIII

2011-10-19T12:00:00.001-07:00

Bucket Bath

2011-10-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

The Sad Skull Chipati and the Thursday Morning Breakfast

2011-10-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

Wrenches- To fix the hotplate I set on fire.
Ethiopian Starbucks Coffee- Grown in Africa. Probably bought cheap, sold expensive. Sent back to Africa.

Pea Pods

2011-09-11T02:28:00.000-07:00

Such a peaceful task before cooking dinner. Sitting in the evening sun on my back porch separating the peas from the pods.

Take Charge of Our Future

2011-08-12T11:19:00.000-07:00

Girls Leading Our World

2011-08-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

Jo!rdan

2011-07-21T10:29:00.000-07:00

NkhataBay

2011-07-21T10:26:00.000-07:00

Gule Wamkulu

2011-07-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

Last Day with Ray

2011-07-06T02:35:00.001-07:00

Safe travels friend.

Alyssa

2011-07-06T01:55:00.000-07:00

Joan

2011-07-06T01:37:00.000-07:00

The Girl in the Neighboring Bottom Bunk

2011-05-19T02:12:00.000-07:00

Tortilla Chips

2011-05-14T01:18:00.000-07:00

Cutters

2011-05-14T01:03:00.000-07:00

A Malawian traditional practice is burning herbs and rubbing the ash into strategically placed cuts. Different herbs have different meanings. My fellow Peace Corps friend, Duncan, and his wonderful counterpart, Baxter, participated in the tradition, wishing for protection during travels (Duncan) and protection from snake bites (Baxter.)

Chitenje Fashion Shoot

2011-05-05T22:23:00.000-07:00

Chitenje: A two meter piece of fabric worn by Malawian (and other African country) women usually around the waist to protect clothes from dust and dirt. Also used to bopa babies (carry babies on their back,) worn as head wraps, or made into traditional wear (outfits.)

106 Ways to use a chitenje:
1. “Chimbutzi is Occupied” Indicator
2. Apron
3. Baby Carrier
4. Back Pack
5. Back Scratcher
6. Banana Hammock
7. Bandage
8. Bandana
9. Barf Bag
10. Beach Blanket
11. Bed Cover
12. Belt
13. Bib
14. Blindfold
15. Body Wrap
16. Boxing Gloves
17. Bus Window Blind
18. Camera Hider
19. Capture the Flag Flag
20. Cat Hammock
21. Chalkboard eraser
22. Changing Screen
23. Clothesline Panties Cover-Upper
24. Coaster
25. Collar
26. Computer Anti-Scratch Protector
27. Couch Cushion Fort Roof
28. Curtain
29. Diaper
30. Dirt Guard Clothes
31. Dish Towel
32. Door
33. Door Block
34. Do-Rag
35. Dress
36. Dust Rag
37. Ear Muffs
38. Fabric for Formal Wear
39. Feminine Pad
40. Fire Smotherer
41. Fire Starter
42. Flag
43. Fly Screen for Food
44. Flying Ant Catcher
45. Fume Mask
46. Furniture Cover
47. Gag
48. Goat Whip
49. Group Advertisement
50. Head band
51. Head Cushion
52. Head Towel
53. Hood
54. Ineffectual Parachute
55. Lamp Shade
56. Last Resort Toilet Paper
57. Laundry Bag
58. Leash
59. Light Diffuser
60. Make-shift tent
61. Mat
62. Matador Cape
63. Mess Wiper Upper
64. Mop
65. Napkin
66. Oven Mitt
67. Pack Padding
68. Partition
69. Patch
70. Pet bed
71. Pet Carrier
72. Picnic Blanket
73. Pillow
74. Political Party Indicator
75. Poncho
76. Puppet Show Theatre Curtain
77. Rain Guard
78. Robe
79. Rope
80. Scarf
81. Screen
82. Seat-belt
83. Sheet
84. Shelf
85. Shirt
86. Shopping Bag
87. Shower Curtain
88. Skirt
89. Sling
90. Smoke Signal Definer
91. Splint Hold
92. Strainer
93. Super Hero Cape
94. Sweat Band
95. Table Cloth
96. Tissue
97. Toga
98. Tourniquet
99. Towel
100. Tug-of-War Rope
101. Turban
102. Usipa Net
103. Wall Hangings
104. Warm/Cold Compress
105. Wrap
106. Wrapping Paper

P.S. Last photo by Tyler Barriger

Passover

2011-05-05T22:00:00.001-07:00

Sunrise Hike

2011-03-07T01:28:00.000-08:00

Carolyn

2011-03-07T01:26:00.000-08:00

Yo

2011-03-07T01:21:00.000-08:00

Peace Corps Trainees 2011

2011-03-07T01:16:00.000-08:00

Daniel and Caddie

2011-03-07T01:06:00.000-08:00

The Watcher

2011-02-26T23:20:00.000-08:00

Feature Hunt

2011-02-26T23:15:00.000-08:00

Hands-On

2011-02-26T22:29:00.001-08:00

My own spin on a project has been a villager-to-villager apprenticeship. Students from my Form 4 (High school seniors) chose what trade they wanted to learn and then were paired up with a Misuku carpenter, tailor, basket maker, cook (my counterpart, NaSimwela), knitter, and I even taught art, how to make friendship bracelets and the benefits, growing and harvesting Moringa trees. Here are some of their hands-on experience.

A New Hope

2011-02-26T22:10:00.000-08:00

The Hope Kit is a tool that us Peace Corps (and others) use to inspire people in the villages to talk about HIV/AIDS. It uses metaphors, games and is a fun, interactive way to get people of any language and any educational level to learn more on HIV/AIDS. In the 2007 study, Malawi was ranked the 9th worse country, with an average of 12% of its population infected with HIV/AIDS.
I have an amazing counterpart, NaSimwela, who basically did the entire demonstration solo. She did however allow me to do the condom demonstration to the giggling 36 women…. And yes those are wooden penises that are in the group picture.

Leaving Dzoole

2011-01-28T06:23:00.000-08:00

Birthday French Toast with a Chanuka Candle

2011-01-28T06:17:00.000-08:00

Nkhata Bay

2011-01-26T03:38:00.000-08:00

Oooh Sparklies!

2011-01-26T03:36:00.000-08:00

Men Culture

2011-01-26T03:29:00.000-08:00

Sparrows

2011-01-26T03:21:00.000-08:00

Catching the Christmas Chicken

2011-01-26T03:17:00.000-08:00

Maguy

2011-01-26T03:14:00.000-08:00

Steve

2010-12-13T02:30:00.000-08:00

Madame Watkins Part 2

2010-12-13T02:23:00.000-08:00

Billy

2010-12-13T02:21:00.000-08:00

The Mzuzu Zoo

2010-12-13T02:18:00.000-08:00

Greens

2010-12-13T02:14:00.000-08:00

Womba Gha Fyo Kuwomba

2010-12-13T02:04:00.000-08:00

Lughanoulupese

2010-12-13T01:50:00.000-08:00

Lughanoulupese, which means Skinny Love in Chindali, a puppy from Chimmy, has been a major contribution to my happiness in Misuku. But as it has taken so long for me to publish posts, and since I have been away from site for a few weeks it has turned out that he was stolen. I plan on getting back to site in the next two days and looking for him. Hopefully I will find him when I get back. Wish me luck.

Chimmy

2010-12-13T01:42:00.000-08:00

The Story of Chimmy:
Sarah, the first Peace Corps Volunteer at my site, had people over for Christmas when they heard a commotion from outside. Apparently a litter of puppies had fallen into the Chimbutzi (pit latrine.) The volunteers spent their Christmas Day trying to fish these puppies out of the Chim and finally was able to save one.
Since that day Chimmy (as I call her) or Senje (another word for pit latrine) has been a loyal friend to all three of us Misuku volunteers. She follows me to language class and sleeps outside the door until I leave. And is just a loving dog, which is a rarity in Malawi.

Parlichi

2010-12-13T01:37:00.000-08:00

Hornedbill Trumpeter

2010-12-13T01:26:00.000-08:00

P.S. Thanks Margaret for letting me borrow your bird book. I have seen this bird around my site and had no idea what it was!

Madame Watkins

2010-12-13T01:23:00.000-08:00

Mughese Forrest

2010-12-11T05:21:00.000-08:00

Austin

2010-12-11T05:15:00.000-08:00

Put It In A Song

2010-12-11T05:12:00.000-08:00

The Grapes of Wrath

2010-12-11T05:03:00.000-08:00

Inbetween Homes

2010-12-11T04:53:00.001-08:00

The Watcher In The Woods

2010-12-11T04:43:00.000-08:00

Misuku Girls Hostel

2010-12-11T04:40:00.000-08:00

JAMBOLEKO!!!

2010-12-11T04:26:00.000-08:00

Sundown Showdown

2010-12-11T04:19:00.000-08:00

Reaching for Hope

2010-12-11T04:15:00.000-08:00

The Path Most Traveled

2010-12-11T03:05:00.000-08:00

Colleen

2010-12-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

Mali Penga

2010-12-11T02:52:00.000-08:00

Bump Shot

2010-12-11T02:50:00.000-08:00

Kara

2010-12-11T02:45:00.000-08:00

Chitimba

2010-12-11T02:39:00.000-08:00

Gule Wamkulu

2010-12-11T02:32:00.000-08:00

Nevermore

2010-12-11T02:27:00.000-08:00

Homestay Family

2010-12-11T02:08:00.000-08:00

Site Announcement

2010-11-28T01:52:00.000-08:00

Nkhukhu

2010-11-28T01:33:00.000-08:00

Jeroham

2010-11-28T01:15:00.000-08:00

A Fave from Home Stay

2010-11-28T00:59:00.000-08:00

Brian, Briana and Chloe

2010-11-28T00:52:00.000-08:00

Washing Clothes

2010-11-28T00:44:00.000-08:00

The Path

2010-11-28T00:32:00.000-08:00

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

2010-11-28T00:23:00.000-08:00

The Doors

2010-11-28T00:14:00.000-08:00

The Garden

2010-10-27T06:36:00.000-07:00

Chloe

2010-10-27T06:27:00.000-07:00

Zeb

2010-09-29T03:51:00.000-07:00

Sunrise Hike

2010-09-29T01:10:00.000-07:00

Shots

2010-09-29T00:57:00.000-07:00

The Speech

2010-09-14T06:31:00.000-07:00

My sisters and brothers,
In the past few weeks we have noticed that Malawian women clearly have super human powers. The evidence being that they have night vision, hands-of-steel able to pick up scalding hot pots, the ability to make dishes shine with dirt, ash and a splash of water. They are able to carry an entire tree’s worth of lumber on their head. They have homing devices to know where all my friends are at any given moment. They are able to cook a delicious four-course meal over one fire, when in the states we can barely cook a meal over four burners. And at the end of the day they still have the energy to laugh and love.
As for Malawian men, I have never seen such resilient farmers. Whether they are planting the seeds of the crops that will feed their families and the nation, or whether they are the teachers fertilizing and watering the minds of their students, or whether they are the preachers and doctors tending to the souls and bodies of the people, or whether they are the chiefs and government harvesting and planning on how next season can be even greater, the men of Malawi are thriving on hope, vision and ingenuity to consistently evolve the republic of Malawi into a safe and strong country.
The three goals of Peace Corps are:
1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of all Americans.
The people of Malawi have taught us the meaning of peace. You have ignited us for the work and adventures ahead of us. We will carry you with us as constant reminders of peace, for the next two years in the Warm Heart of Africa and for the rest of our lives wherever our paths may lead.
You have kept us safe, our bellies full, you have taught us so much, you have kept us clean and most of all you have touched our hearts. With all the languages in Malawi and all the languages in the world we could never express how much we appreciate you.
In the states, our families were limited to our households, but now that we have been to Malawi we know that you are all our brothers and sisters, and here we are family.
On behalf of my fellow Peace Corps trainees, the Peace Corps staff, the United States and peace seekers around the world we thank you.
Zikomo Kwambili. Ndagha ndagha.