More Adventures

November 30^th, Ruth and I went to a lecture on Rape Awareness presented by Linda Graham of the Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security Office of Mobile Deployments. These are some of our notes from the lecturer/ power point presentation. What does a rapist look like? It could be anyone. Fact- Personal appearance of victim and conduct alone WILL NOT cause a victim to be attacked. Rape is the most under reported of all criminal offenses. For every one rape that is reported, 10-20 go unreported. 1 out of 10 rapes involves a male victim. Average jail time for a convicted rapist in the US is seven years. A charge for “abduction and intent to defile” is an automatic twenty years.  Fear of not being believed is the number one reason why victims do not report sexual assaults.  In over half of all reported rapes, the attacker was either a friend or an acquaintance.  Anyone can be raped. Victim selection- Some choose by shoes-high heels and some choose by hair- ponytail. Isolation creates vulnerability. The approach to a victim might be as a con or by blitz/surprise.

December1st, Ruth and I went to help at Chikambuso. She was in the art room helping some kids, and I was in the library helping kids with reading. While we were there the secret service showed up to prepare for a visit from President Bush. That was interesting. December 3^rd our family went to the American Embassy to meet George Bush the 43^rd president of the United States of America.  Dad took John’s photo with him and Ruth shook his hand and his wife’s hand. I lost a shoe in the confusion and never got to shake anyone’s hand.  December 8^th Ruth and I went to Chikambuso for the Christmas party and passed out stickers.

December 9th my mum and I sang carols at an Indian Christmas Party held by the Tamil Association at CPS Hall. We learned a variation of Jingle Bells which told the gospel story in Tamil. “Piranthar piranthar Christou piranthar. Winnilium mannilum vetri mulanga –Hey.” Santa came to the celebration and gave people candy as he passed by. We did not stay for the magic show though it might have been interesting to have seen. I wore a borrowed sari. The guitarist (a Zambian), Mom and I were the only ones not of Indian descent.

Recently we went to Zanzibar for a week. Ruth, John, Chris, and Dad went scuba diving, and my mum and I went snorkeling. I was really afraid because the waves were brutal. Too bad we forgot the Dramamine.