HIV/AIDS Awareness Party!!

Last Saturday evening, I hosted an HIV/AIDS Awareness Party that served as an opportunity for me to practice my Peace Corps assignment of being a Health and HIV/AIDS Educator. I provided drinks and snacks, and gave a short presentation to attendees about HIV/AIDS. I taught about HIV and how it spreads, testing for and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and ways to prevent transmission of the virus. I demonstrated (*using a carefully selected zucchini from the grocery store) how to properly put on a condom, and then distributed condoms. A Donation box was passed around, and any money collected was given to the Aids Action Committee to support the fight against AIDS.

The night was an absolute success. People were eager to talk about HIV/AIDS and had questions to ask, particularly about transmission of the virus. As part of the presentation, everyone participated in a game. Then after the game, everyone received prizes of cards, Fruit-by-the-Foot, or packs of gum. When all was said and done, we raised $75 for Aids Action Committee, and everyone had a great time.



A Short Story: The Perfect Zucchini

So, I'm standing in Stop&Shop after work the other day trying to figure out what fruit or vegetable is the most phallic. I need a phallus for my demonstration on how to properly put a condom on. So, not only do I need something that looks like a penis, I need something that can stand up on its own on a table. This is my conundrum as I wander the isles of fresh produce. Then I spot the zucchinis. Bingo! The vegetable is firm enough that I can chop one end off and it will stand upright on its own, and it also is just the right size for a condom to slide on without much fuss.

Now, which one looks the most like a penis? Which one is the straightest so that the phallus won't tip over mid-demonstration? I realize that I've been staring at the zucchinis for at least two minutes and I feel my cheeks blush. I'm in the middle of a public place comparing zucchinis to penises. The pressure becomes too much. I grab two of the straightest, sturdiest looking ones of the right thickness that I can find, and I toss them in my produce bag. As I make a beeline to the candy isle, I think to myself 1.) I'll never look at a zucchini the same way again, and 2.) I deserve something chocolate.