Training.

Sometimes I forget what I have written about and what I haven’t so forgive me if this is a repeat. One of the projects that I have been helping with at my drop-in centers for the last several months is training, training, training! During my community needs assessment way back in 2010 (ugh, it’s been a long time), training was identified as a priority. Although the staff and volunteers at my centers work with children, they do not have any training about how to care for or really work with children so training definitely seemed like a viable project to pursue.


We were able to work with a South African donor to assist with this training project and last June we received funding to train almost 40 of our staff and volunteers. Since August, we have been bringing the staff and volunteers from the centres together for a monthly training workshop so they can learn about things like the basic rights of children, the difference between discipline and punishment, hygiene and nutrition for children, and the importance of letting children make mistakes in order to learn (i.e., trial and error learning)! For some of the women, it’s been quite a challenge as they haven’t been in a classroom setting for 20+ years (and their attention span is like that of small child!). They have also had to write their assessments in English (which is not easy for many of them) and learn new, and oftentimes challenging, concepts. Mostly, I have been quite pleased with their progress and willingness to try. I know it isn’t easy. In January, they will submit their assessments for review and (cross your fingers) most of them will pass and receive a basic child and youth care certification. And if they don’t pass?! Well, I hope they have at least benefited from being in the training and learning something about how to work with children. Through my time here I’ve come to believe that sometimes the learning is in the process not in the end result...

Here they are working on writing an assessment, eating lunch (believe me, this was an important part of the day) and one of our group photos in front of the church where we held the training.

Giving Thanks (Again).

Today is Thanksgiving although it doesn’t feel like it much (again…yes, this is year two of celebrating yet another Thanksgiving alone). But, your American Peace Corps volunteers are trying to keep their holiday spirits high by sending texts to each other with holiday greetings and dreaming of stuffing, pie, and (in my case) tofurkey. I did, though, want to make sure to share with you (again) just a few of the things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving.

A new pit toilet at my house!
Rainy days during the summer heat to cool things down (like today)
Little kids screaming my name when I’m having a bad day, “Lethabo! How are you?!”
My mom and dad always supporting me no matter how crazy and non-conventional my choices
Vacations to beautiful African places
Good books
Watching cows stubbornly stand in the middle of the road just daring a car to try to hit them
Being able to wear flip-flops almost every day (except for the stepping on the nail incident this week)
Mango trees in almost every yard here
Dancing in my room and calling it a “workout”
Letters and packages from home (seriously, I love getting mail)
My family and friends, new and old

I miss my family and friends at home terribly and think of you every day but am so grateful for my new, extended family here in South Africa. The family that has let me stay in their home for two years (Piet and Ester and Kagiso). The community of Ga-Sekororo that has embraced me including people like Sheron, Olga, Charity, Spokes, Malepe, Motsatsi, and Sara. And also the Peace Corps Volunteers that will forever be part of my family because of this shared experience. I love you all and hope that everyone has a happy, happy Thanksgiving! And, if there is any way you can send me Christmas candy in my next package…I would be thankful for that too!?

Toothaches and Hiking.

So I had to take a little trip to the city to visit the dentist. I have been experiencing some problems with my tooth. Oh, you know, a little toothache. Well, the poor dentist here in South Africa had to deal with me fainting in his chair to get out some decay under an old cavity (I don’t particularly like the dentist and this combined with my fear of needles tends to lead to some problems when I visit the dentist). After this horrible visit I left hoping I would be toothache free. Well, I was not. So, I decided to go on a hike to see if putting a little time and space between me and the dentist would help.


So, off I went on an amazing hike in the Drakensburg mountains – it is a truly spectacular area in Kwazulu-Natal Province that I have not had the pleasure of visiting since my time here. Along with three other volunteers we braved hiking without a guide and “didn’t die” which was my one request before we set off. We did get slightly lost but it was worth it as we stumbled upon an amazing camping spot and cooked our rice and beans as the sun went down. We swam in some beautiful water pools and enjoyed the wide open space (we didn’t see one other person during our hike). It was a wonderful little vacation and I didn’t even think about my tooth…too much.

But, alas, I returned for another dreaded dentist appointment upon my return and was told that I probably have to get a root canal. Hopefully they can heavily sedate me. But, at least I got to go on a hike (and I have pictures...of my hike, not my tooth!)

Sweating.

I really do not like summers in Africa. And, yet, it’s that time of year again and I am enduring yet another summer here. Today it was almost 100 miserable degrees. Now I can hear my fellow Arizona friends saying, “We’ve had higher temperatures. That’s nothing to concern yourself with?” Okay. Let me explain the many differences. Most of you live in insulated houses with lovely air-conditioning. You do not walk long distances carrying water or wood or just getting from place to place - you have nice, air-conditioned cars. You also have running water to take a shower when you get all sweaty and smelly and disgusting.  Nope, we do not have these luxuries.  When it is 100 degrees it is just, well, awful. Most people try to find a small piece of shade and simply plant themselves in that spot for the rest of the day. And, then you sweat and sweat and sweat. And then talk about how hot it is…while sweating some more.


I tried to participate in life today during this heatwave. I walked to work…getting bitten by the many ants who also inhabit the dirt paths this time of year (remember my awful horror of the ants last year...well, the ants are back..also another reason I dislike summer here).  Then, I sweated while working.   Oh, and I sweated while walking home from work and I sweated while I sat outside talking to my friends and family waiting for it to cool down a bit (it didn't) after I got home from work. And I am now sitting in my little room. Sweating.

Ahh…summers in Africa. I can’t wait until tomorrow.

My work continues.

I continue to do project after project in my community – part of being a volunteer is you just keep trying to help in various ways and, believe me, I have tried many projects during my time here (some have been successful and others, well, not so much). 

I believe I mentioned I got funding for an internship project last March/April? Well, we are now about six months into the project.  I started with 12 interns. I have essentially “fired” three of the interns because they weren’t performing and it was clear they didn’t want to be in the program. I have now replaced these three interns. Eight of the interns are doing a fantastic job now. And the last one is on the fence at this point (we'll see). I’ve learned so much throughout the process and hopefully they have too. The interns help at their respective centers during the week after school with various activites and we meet once a month to workshop different job skills -  from how to use a computer to learning about interviewing for a job. I have them write reports every month, they all have set up emails (and are figuring out how to use them), and they are getting started using the internet as a research tool (this has been a slow process).  I am really happy with how things are turning out.

I also wanted to be able to take them on trips to learn about different careers throughout the internship. We took our first trip last month to learn about aviation careers. We were able to visit the air force base and the interns got to see a helicopter and meet some of the pilots, air traffic controllers, and mechanics. They even got to see a plane land while we were in the air traffic tower which was pretty spectacular. But most importantly they were able to ask questions about what they need to study in school if they want to become a pilot or a mechanic. It was inspiring to see them perk up and really engage in a conversation about their future.

Here’s to a successful project!

Coming to Africa.

So for the past two weeks, I’ve had a visitor in my South African home. My Mom! Yep, my wonderful mom came all the way from the US of A to see her youngest daughter (who is not so young anymore)…me. It was so good to have her here. I dragged her all over this country. We took a bus, a public taxi (called a kombi), an airplane, a lift from someone who was a friend of a friend, rented a car, walked, took the gautrain (like a subway) and even hitchhiked (sorry, mom, I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone but, really, everyone needs to hitchhike in their lifetime)? 

She got to see my village, meet some of my amazing South African friends and spend some time with my host family. The kids in my community loved her up just like they do me. Holding onto her hands and treating her like a celebrity. I’m sure it was a bit overwhelming (because it definitely has been for me at times).  She even got to teach (well, it was kind of teaching?) at the primary school. 

We also visited Kruger Park where she was like the “giraffe whisperer.” I've never seen so many giraffes at once. It was insane (they are her favorite animal though so I guess it was meant to be)? The Indian Ocean was beautiful and we even spotted some Southern Right whales (not her favourite part of her trip due to a little sea sickness) but even then it was still so wonderful to have her here with me.  Even if we were just hanging out watching TV (yes, I got to watch TV which was a perk of the vacation for me along with taking long showers and washing my clothes...in a washing machine)!!  

I must say, though, that I was a bit?  Out of sorts? I was talking about this phenomenon with a couple of volunteers after she left (I cried and cried as she was getting on the plane). I was sharing this feeling with other volunteers about how wonderful it was to have my mom here but it was also a bit strange. Like I didn’t always know how to act?  Luckily, I wasn’t crazy. At least they all said they felt the same way when they had their families come to visit. Having your family here is amazing but I think we’ve all come to be so independent and self-sufficient that sometimes it’s strange to have someone from home here? Also, as a volunteer, you have all of this time to try to get used to another culture and our families don't get that time.  They are just immersed in this strange world of ours?   

So, mom, I loved every minute of your visit and if I wasn’t myself completely myself just know that I am the same person with just a little bit of Africa in my heart. :)  I love and miss you.  Already.  And it's only been 4 days since you left.  Oh, and I'm working on putting up some of the pictures.  Keep checking back! 

Babies!

My friend had a baby last week. I have been waiting for her to have this baby for months (which is kind of how it works, I suppose)? She is probably one of my closest friends here and I am happy to introduce you to Reuben Motsatsi…is he not the cutest (but notice how he is crying when I am holding him but not when his mom is holding him)? 

A few interesting facts you might want to know:

Reuben’s father will not see him until he turns 3 months old (it’s not permitted) – he will only get to see pictures of little Reuben.

Reuben’s grandmother (on his father’s side) went to the hospital and selected his name (even though his father wasn’t allowed to be there or have any input into what his name would be).

Reuben’s mother and father can’t see each other (they can’t even be in the same room) until Reuben is 3 months old. And it will be another 6 months before they can…well, you know.

Reuben and his mom aren’t permitted to attend their church until after he is 3 months old.

And there are lots of other rules that I didn’t really understand (or couldn’t translate that well) - some of them are cultural and some of them have to do with the religious beliefs of the family. 

But, other than that, he’s perfectly happy and healthy and as cute as can be. I’ve even offered to take him back to America with me. Unfortunately they didn't agree to this...so, I'll just take lots of pictures. 

For Bob.

I can't be there to celebrate the life and mourn the passing of my friend, Bob, but I wanted him to know I am thinking of him today. And always. I haven't quite reconciled the fact that he won't be there when I get back - I have so many questions I need answered, advice that he was supposed to give me, discussions that we were supposed to have, experiences that I wanted to tell him about. You see, I thought of Bob as my guru. My teacher, advisor, and counselor of sorts (although I was the one who was supposed to be teaching him some yoga and meditation and what a guru is)? But, you don't really get to pick your guru - they just show up one day.

I love you and will miss you. Namaste, my friend and guru.

A Beautiful Mess.

I believe that I have mentioned I am helping to create a library at the primary school where I help out. Well, let me explain the reality. We started with a room filled with junk. And a whole lot of books. The principal asked me to survey the situation and see if I could “create a library” out of the mess. So, for the past several months, I have been sorting through massive amounts of junk which has been a task that I don’t wish to do ever, ever do again. There were files from the 1980s, old socks (don’t ask), bills, copies of registers, scary spiders, and massive amounts of dirt and dust. And the problem? The staff/teachers don’t want to get rid of anything? I will ask, “Oh, I found these old empty registers from 1993. I can throw them away, correct?” “No, no. We don’t use them but go ahead and keep them. We might need them someday.” I have almost started crying on several occasions. Don't they understand this stuff needs to be THROWN AWAY?!  But my biggest challenge? Waiting for shelves to arrive (remember African time)? The principal and I talked about these shelves and he made it sound so easy…I should have known. After asking him every day for several weeks, I finally just stopped asking.

Shelves!

But, amazingly, like everything in Africa, one day out of the blue, the shelves arrived!? It was magical and there was no warning but there they were…a bit out of sorts (meaning not exactly like we had discussed) but I have stopped being too picky. I’ll take what I can get. And, now I have been busy putting these piles and piles of books into some sort of order (along with the last remnants of the crap I can't seem to get anyone to agree to throw away).

I am not finished (even though all the teachers keep coming by and saying it looks beautiful so imagine what it looked like pre-cleaning) but will be glad when the hard labor is over and we can actually start letting some of the learners use the books!?  And if you are interested in making a book donation (?!) just give me a call.  I would love to have more books! 





Notice the remnants of "crap" (lawnmower)



Embracing my work



 



Don't forget.

What happened to my yoga practice?!  So I must confess that it started getting increasingly difficult to stay motivated to pratice alone.  I mean, it's okay once in a while but every day? Or, I would find a spider on the floor and become distracted. You know, all the typical excuses. So, for the past few months I have just kind of stopped practicing.

But I’ve missed it. So this weekend, I stepped back on my mat. My body was tight but my mind was still. It felt really good. I blocked out the noise outside my room and just breathed. And I reminded myself that wherever you go, there you are.

And I am in Africa.  Which is pretty amazing (as shown by some of my recent encounters).

The reality.

The reality of day to day life in the village can be a bit? Boring? Socially Isolating? Depressing? I have been having a hard time lately for some reason.  I am actually quite busy with work projects – teaching at the school, helping to set-up a school library, working at the centers, my internship program, this building project, training for the staff and volunteers…anyway, I have enough going on at work. But, the reality of my “social life” is that, well, it doesn’t really exist. After I finish with work, I go home and am alone. Okay, okay, I do hang out with the kids who stop by to visit or my 16 year old host sister or my host father but the idea of “friends” in the village is a bit cloudy. Beyond a few friendly one-liners (and everyone is generally very friendly) the deep, meaningful conversations are quite limited. I mean how many times can I talk about the cost of airplane tickets to America or if I know Beyonce with someone? And my Sepedi still can’t get me the surface stuff?! Plus, when the sun goes down, it's time to go inside (people don't typically linger outside after dark). 

In the beginning of my service, all of this alone/quiet time was quite nice. Coming from a world of being busy all of the time, it was wonderful to just have some time and space to be alone. But now?! I sure am looking forward to going out to a movie or getting a coffee with a few friends everyone once in a while. 

But just remind me to read this when I’m complaining about a busy social life again one day in my unknown future…the grass is always greener, right?

Yes, I am.

It's been a while since I've said this…but I’m tired.  I just finished another week with an amazing group of girls and I need a vacation.  From being a volunteer.  Just for a little bit. 

I just had 17 girls (all in grade 11) visit the community as part of a weeklong social awareness project which a school called Roedean puts together in partnership with my project, Phedisang. The girls all live in Johannesburg and go to Roedean which is a private, all girls school so to come to a rural community with long drops (pit toilets as we call them here) and no running water was a bit of a shock. With the help of another Peace Corps volunteer (thank you, Megan!) the girls all survived the week.  As I mentioned in my last blog, I was here last year when the group of girls from Roedean came but, this year, it felt particularly busy. We visited the primary school where I have also been volunteering and the girls helped in the classes, presented a drama and dance, planted trees and picked up trash with the learners. We stopped by a local bakery, Taposa, and the girls decorated some enormous cakes (and we proceeded to help eat one)!  We hiked up the mountain on a particularly cool morning to eat sweet potatoes and sugar cane with an amazing family living in the hills (I have a picture of Mr. Malepe’s pass book which blacks used to have to carry anytime they left their homes - they were arrested if they didn’t have their pass book). We had dinner at my host father’s house where the girls sang beautifully for Piet. Then, there was the Women’s Day March which was organized by the Phedisang Leaders and Roedean Girls. Oh, and while I don’t have any pictures (I was too enthralled in the moment to take pictures) but we also visited a sangoma who told us about living underwater with a snake – it was an exceptionally busy and eye-opening week for so many reasons!


So that’s why I’m telling you…I’m tired. But maybe I am just getting old?  I do have a few more gray hairs since I’ve been in Africa.  Yet, there is no time.  I am now preparing for my meeting on Saturday with my Phedisang Interns...

But I must send my love to the girls from Roedean. You were all AMAZING and it was a wonderful week (and make sure to look at some of the pictures I posted as well as their updated blog journal from this year's week)! 



We "heart" you!



It's been a long time.

It’s strange that I have now been here long enough to be participating in things that happened last year around this same time.  Alas, it is true.  For example, I am participating in my 2nd Roedean and Phedisang Working Together Event…as if Camp GLOW wasn’t amazing, hectic, and crazy busy enough?  Just a few days after I got back, I started frantically planning for the girls from Roedean to come to our community to visit. I don’t know if you remember me writing about their visit last year (eish, a year ago already?) but it was an amazing week (check out the blog I created for them last year on the right).  Roedean is a private school in Johannesburg and girls in Grade 11 have the opportunity to apply to participate in a social awareness project where they help in a rural community for a week. 


This year, we have a packed schedule and I am very much looking forward to meeting a new group of seventeen young girls. They will be visiting our centers to meet and play with the children, going to the primary school to present a drama, planting trees and doing a community clean-up project, and also participating in a celebratory Women’s Day march in the community!  I look forward to writing about their visit so keep checking back...

And speaking of 2nd times, as I was walking home from a fundraising event today, I was stopped by one of my friends asking if I was registered to run in this year Mayor’s Marathon (it’s not really a marathon – it’s just the name of the event). I happily replied that I would be running. I ran last year, didn’t I? So many “2nds”? I’ve been here a long time…

Camp GLOW...Continued.

I’ll give the writing part a try now. I just needed some time to process. Okay, Camp GLOW.

Through our spectacular friends and families contributions (another volunteer and I did the fundraising for the camp), we were able to invite 30 girls (ages 13-18) along with 8 counselors on a 6 day adventure, leadership and girls empowerment camp teaching about healthy relationships, self-esteem, sexual health and reproduction and HIV/AIDS (which continues to devastate communities here in South Africa). After separating the girls into cabins (the purple, pink, blue and green cabins which were fantastically led by four Peace Corps Volunteer counselors) we had the girls play games, learn camp songs, write in journals, swim in the river, hike in the mountains, perform in a talent show, sign each other’s GLOW GIRLS ROCK T-shirts, dance, do some yoga (!), learn how to kickbox, make smores, and say goodbye to the things they were told they couldn’t do in an “I can’t” funeral around the campfire. And these were just some of the activities we did!  It was a crazy, awesome, challenging, inspiring, fantastic week. One that I will never forget.
For most of these girls it was the first time they had left home for any reason other than a family gathering in a nearby village. They were exposed to new ideas and ways of thinking, new friends and opened up in ways I never imagined. Their bravery and honesty was inspiring. When my fellow Peace Corps volunteer and I started planning this camp, we had high hopes that it might make a small difference in changing these young girls behavior. But I believe we did more – at least I hope we did. During my first year in South Africa, I was talking to a young girl about circumstances and the idea that sometimes you aren’t given a choice in your life. If you live in a village or a city. If you have two loving parents or you live alone and have no parents. If you are poor or rich. The girls that attended camp didn’t choose their circumstances. But they have the ability to make choices that could change the course of their future. Most of them had never been told this before...and that’s what I hope we did during this camp.

Who knows?! We may even have sparked a change big enough that now we will see a future president among these girls? Anything is possible. The choice is all theirs…

Camp GLOW.

You know those moments in your life that are so special that you don’t know how to describe them to other people? It’s like they are too good for words?


For me, being at this camp last week is one of those times. It was truly an amazing week. I’m not quite ready to write about it yet because I don't know how to translate it into words but wanted to share a few pictures (visit my photo album over there to the right).  I wish you all could have been there/here.  It was amazing...have I already said that?  See?  I told you I need to wait to do the writing part.


GLOW GIRLS ROCK!



All it takes...

Sometimes your faith starts to waiver.  Whether it's just a tough day where nothing seems to go your way or you just start to miss home.  You ask yourself what the heck you are doing here? Maybe it's just time to pack up and go home.  No one cares about my silly projects anyway...and then someone says it.  And it all seems okay again.


I was sitting on the step yesterday at one of our drop-in centers (a drop-in center is really just a youth center but usually only vulnerable or underprivileged kids come to the center) having come from the school. One of the learners at the school is sick and in the hospital so I wanted to see if it was alright to visit him.  Anyway, it was hot and sunny outside so I was sitting outside with three little boys at the drop-in center writing words in Sepedi in the sand. They would try to see if they knew the word I had written in English. I would clap and do a little dance when they got one right (you have to keep things interesting). We then switched to practicing addition – 4+2 =? I would write this equation with my little stick in the sand and then they would count on their fingers and look perplexed a bit but usually the answers would come…it was fun. A good way to spend the afternoon.

One of the staff members sat beside me after my little “lesson” and said, “You are doing a good job.” That's all it took. 

Next week, we leave for the 2011 Camp GLOW!  Thirty young girls will embark upon their first week away at a camp...and they couldn't be more excited.  Literally, the girls talk about camp EVERY DAY.  I can't wait to share pictures and stories with you.  Your generosity to help make this camp a reality is something that I can't thank you for enough!  Stay tuned... 

Color.

Every day here I am reminded of the color of my skin. Whether it is the “Lekgowa!” comment that I literally can’t get through one day without hearing (Lekgowa means white person in Sepedi) or a child that cries when I approach or looks at his finger after touching my skin to see if my whiteness will rub off?  Yet, it is also the special treatment that I get that reminds me I am different. The extra food my hosts want to provide, the chair I am offered when no one else has one, the offer of a ride when I am walking? I don’t want to seem ungrateful for anyone’s generosity but I struggle with being treated differently (good or bad) when I have done nothing to deserve or warrant it.


Being part of this journey has made me acutely aware of the opportunity we all have to try to see people for who they are – regardless of the color of their skin or what they are wearing or how they look on the outside. To look a little deeper, to ask questions, to get to know a person.  I hope that you all will make an effort.  For me.

Strange.

It’s strange how you kind of start getting used to not so normal things. I’ll give you a few examples:

• At the school there are buckets filled with water to wash hands. I realized the other day that they were putting Listerine in the water as some sort of sanitizer. Hey, that’s not that strange? Why not? It’s supposed to get your mouth clean. 
• I’ve gotten used to now coming home to sand covering my floor (and most of my stuff) due to the excessive winds sweeping it under my door. I now just shrug my shoulders and crawl into bed. I’m too tired to clean it up again.
• When the power goes out (which it does now regularly due to the rolling blackouts), eating apples for supper and going to bed at like 6:30PM seems normal.  Actually, I don't go to bed that much later when the power is on if I have to be honest?  Not much night life here...  
• Carrying toilet paper with me at all times is terribly normal. In fact, I will pass this advice on to all incoming Peace Corps Volunteers. Strangely, I now sometimes take it from public toilets in the “city” when I am traveling. What if I need it?

Anyway, I actually encountered a not so normal situation yesterday. I came home from work to a goat at my house. Now, there are a million goats here. But this one was tied up in the yard. I asked my host father why? He casually said, “Because tomorrow we are going to slaughter it and offer as a sacrifice to the ancestors.” What?!

Yep. Today they killed the goat. All of the relatives came and there was a big celebration (honoring the ancestors) for one of my host father’s sisters because she got a job. Luckily, I did not witness the goat killing. But they did feel that it was necessary to show me the poor goat’s head in a bowl later in the day…not a pretty site. I almost lost my cookies.

Sadly for all of you I did not have my camera to take pictures of today’s celebration. Maybe if I’m lucky there will be another goat killing so I can take pictures. And next time it will probably seem normal? 

A New Comrade.

It’s been an insane week. One that I probably won’t forget.


Last Sunday, May 29, 2011, I completed the Comrades Marathon (www.comrades.com). This is a huge race here in South Africa that brings almost 20,000 runners from almost 60 countries together to complete an insane course – 56 miles from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. Yes, that’s two back-to-back marathons in one day. I don’t really know why I thought I needed to train and participate in this year’s race – it seemed a bit like I was telling myself if I could get through this run, I could get through anything? Well, I am happy to report that I made it! And not only did I make it but I actually finished with a reasonably decent time – 9 ½ hours. This is about 3 hours slower than the fastest female (those ladies are crazy fast!) and three hours faster than the slowest finishers (and several thousand don’t even finish the race)? And, I ran the entire race (of course not my fastest pace but I just kept putting one foot in front of the other). Kind of like my Peace Corps service? :)

Unfortunately, about 30 minutes after I finished the race I learned that all of my things had been stolen at the start of the race. My backpack and all of its contents – my passport, money, credit cards, clothes, camera...and the list goes on.  So, after learning this sad, sad news, in my barely coherent state (my body was at its limit), my fellow Peace Corps friends helped me (literally) walk to the car where they let me borrow clothes (remember all I had was the running clothes I had just finished running many miles in), bought me a meal and a bus ticket to Pretoria for the next day where I proceeded to try to get all of my life back in order.  As I said, it's been an insane week.

Now, week later I keep telling myself it could have been worse – I am fine. It’s just stuff. But my faith has taken a bit of a beating. But it will slowly come back. And what helps is my wonderful friends and family. Thank you everyone for helping me out and reminding me what is important.  I love you all.

Oh and to see a picture of your newest Comrade (me)! you can check out my facebook page where my friend posted some pictures. 

Five Much.



Interns completing the self-assessment


I am in a frenzy. I have so many projects I can’t keep them straight. I think it’s a coping mechanism for me at this moment (I won’t go into details). Anyway, along with planning and fundraising for the camp (Camp GLOW!!) that I am extremely excited about (keep those donations coming...please!?! - see previous post if you would like to assist with this awesome camp), helping one of our centers build a new building, working with the school on various projects, day to day work at the centers like renewing NPO certificates, writing policies and procedures, annual reports and job descriptions...today I started an internship program at our centers called, “Achieve Your Goals (AYG) Internship Program.” After applying for and receiving a small grant last year which will provide the funding for this project, I have been writing manuals, buying supplies, accepting applications from possible candidates, and doing interviews.  Well, today we proudly had our first meeting with 12 young interns from the community. The kids who are participating in the internship are in grades 10, 11 or 12 and they will be helping at our drop-in centers while learning basic job skills. All in a day of the life of a Peace Corps volunteer.

Then I relaxed in my bucket bath. 

2011 Phedisang AYG Interns (and my co-facilitator)

One More Time!

Dear Friends and Family:


I am writing to ask for your support (again!) for an upcoming project. The project that I am seeking your support for corresponds with my girls club and is aimed at bringing a group of girls from my rural community together with a group of girls from a similar community in another volunteer’s village where we will then host a leadership camp (Camp GLOW – Girls Leading Our World) for the week. This camp is a unique opportunity for young girls to learn leadership development skills, while also focusing on issues of women’s empowerment, health, and environmental awareness. We (I am working in partnership with another Peace Corps Volunteer) truly believe it will be a life-changing week for these girls. 
My request from you is in the form of any financial assistance/donations to help with the overall operational cost of the camp – including lodging, transportation, food provisions, and materials/supplies. Through many of your generous donations (thank you, thank you!) I have raised a portion of the funds but am still in need of some additional funding. The camp is being planned for the July school holiday so we are in need of funding as soon as possible. No opportunities like this currently exist for the girls in our rural communities, and our goal is to create a camp that provides them with access to much needed information surrounding their physical and emotional health as well as providing them with a chance to gain much needed confidence...as well as just having a lot of fun!

I can be reached via email (wendydelta@yahoo.com) if you have any questions and I appreciate your consideration.
The easiest way to donate is to send a check (or cash if you are so inclined!) to my parents address and they will deposit in my account:

Betty Kingston
18535 E. Lawndale Place
Queen Creek, Arizona 85142

Best in health,

Wendy Kingston

Peace Corps Volunteer, 2010-2012

Community HIV/Aids Outreach Program

Limpopo, South Africa

Happy Easter.

I feel lucky. I have just returned from a wonderful Easter holiday visiting the beautiful country of Zambia. Home of Victoria Falls. I have to admit that as we were headed to the airport last week we all were a bit confused as to whether or not Victoria Falls was or was not one of the 7 Wonders of the World?  Unfortunately, I still don’t know for sure. There are now apparently several lists of said Wonders of the World…according to some lists Victoria Falls is indeed one of the Wonders. But it’s not on all lists. I had no idea there was such a controversy over this list?


Anyway, we had a great vacation. I traveled with a group of four other volunteers – Emily (who is another community health volunteer from my group) and then two education volunteers, Shilpa and Megan. The first exciting part of the vacation was getting to fly (we didn't use a public taxi on this vacation)!  It’s been a while since I have been in an airport and I was excited to be in such civilization…we had hoped to get to the airport early and enjoy the shops but ended up being a bit hurried (exchanging money and going through long lines) but were treated to drinks and food on the plane. We stayed at a great backpacker in Livingstone (in Zambia). The country definitely had a different feel to it than South Africa and it was fun to meet other Peace Corps volunteers staying at the backpacker – some from Zambia and also from Nambia. We swapped stories and enjoyed hearing about some differences (and also many similarities) of our experiences.

Seeing Victoria Falls was amazing – one unfortunate part is that we were there during the “high season” which means that there is just so much water it’s difficult to see much of the actual waterfall. You just see white puffs of mist/water. It’s still pretty spectacular but doing things like white water rafting or some of the other water stuff is just out of the question. You can walk through the water “mist” and get totally soaked which was fun and then we walked to the bottom of a trail to see the view from the bottom (and watch people bungee jump from the bridge - which I did not do.  Sorry).

We enjoyed a sunset cruise down the Zambezi River, crashing a couple of the very nice hotels during the day to enjoy their pools, views of the falls, and food, as well as a game drive in Botswana where we visited Chobe National Park…and also ran into Chuck and Michelle (the couple that I have vacationed with during my last two vacations)! Surprisingly we stumbled upon them while we were having breakfast before our game drive in Botswana (totally unplanned) and then got to enjoy spending a couple of days with them before we left (I am just meant to vacation with them it seems)?!

I really do feel lucky that I have been able to travel in such an amazing place. I don’t know how one could see all there is to see in a lifetime here in Africa. But I will certainly do what I can and enjoy every minute.

Enjoy my pictures (I still have to get some from Emily but this is a start)! 

Today.

I must share my day with all of you out there (well, I know my mom is reading this anyway...hi mom)!  This morning I woke up at my normal time – too early (you don’t want to know). It’s been cold (yes, cold!!) and rainy here so getting motivated to run in the morning can be challenging. But I am on my final month of training for this insane run. Anyway, in the name of Peace Corps safety we all have to get burglar bars installed when we move into our rooms. Burglar bars are these awful, ugly prisoner looking gates and bars on our windows and doors. So you have to first unlock your door and then unlock the gate (prison like bars) to go outside. This morning I was ready to go outside for my run (first to use the pit toilet to be completely honest) and was trying to unlock my outside gate when a funny thing happened. The lock wouldn’t open. It was stuck. I was locked inside my house. For the first 10 minutes it was amusing. After 20 minutes I was getting panicked. What do you do when you are locked in your house? Call the police? Or just start yelling? I figured at some point my host family would get up and see me. But that would be a couple of hours…and I really had to go the bathroom? So I started getting more aggressive with the stupid lock and, luckily, after another 30 minutes or so and by a complete miracle the gate just clicked open. I can’t tell you why. But I’ve never been so happy to get out of my house. I really had to go the bathroom by that point.  But now I am scared to lock it again.  What if I can't get it open tomorrow?  This is a real problem. 


Unfortunately, on my run I ran into Patrick. This is a guy who keeps turning up for some reason. First it was on a taxi where he declared his love for me by telling me I “rocked his world” (understand he had never seen me before – sometimes you just get people telling you they love you). Then I see him again walking to one of my centers. He again says that he loves me and that I need to just “try to love him.” I said that I didn’t really want to try to love him. So this morning he asked me why I haven’t been visiting him? Really?

But, then, my day took a fantastic turn for the better. Today I started to get the school connected to the internet (I now help a couple days a week at the primary school in my village – I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this?). I helped them figure out how to use their modem on their one computer and we set up their email account. They practiced sending an email - they were so happy! The idea that they could send information without having to drive it to an office was like magic…it was just such a fun teaching moment.

And then I had the opportunity to sit with the principal and talk about the challenges that the teachers/school face (let me tell you there are some enormous challenges). It was a really great conversation. I have been quite impressed with his candor and honesty. He said that for him it’s more important that the learners at the school understand the information they are being taught – not just that the school has a high pass rate (which may be a larger challenge I’m starting to learn). He was saying that there is so much pressure on the teachers to just pass learners but yet there are so little resources for the teachers when they need help if learners aren't performing (and not to mention physical resourcs).  We then moved into talking about the challenges of South Africa in general and I asked him if he saw a fix to the challenges/problems. He feels strongly that education, particularly for those in leadership roles, is what will move this country forward. Thus, his emphasis on teaching and education.

I end my day proud to be in South Africa. Challenges and all.

St. George.

Last week our group (otherwise known as SA21 – the 21st Peace Corps group to serve here in South Africa) gathered for a mid-service conference in Pretoria. It was an opportunity to reconnect, reflect and then look forward.  We only have a year before we have to decide what we all will do next? It was really good to see some of the volunteers that I hadn’t seen in a long time and be together again – the group you arrive with really becomes your extended family (all of the good and the bad)! Being here puts you in this heightened state of awareness and really helps you see what you want (or don’t want). Sometimes it can be amazing and other times it can be a bit overwhelming. I don’t know that I have it all figured out but I’m glad I was able to be in some good company last week. Plus, I got to take unlimited showers and eat a lot of food.
And, even better, I got to come back home to my amazing community and host family that I love. 

That's a LONG way.

I ran in an ultra marathon this weekend - 56 kilometers (I will make you do the math – I had to?). There is an annual event here in South Africa that Peace Corps volunteers participate in to raise money for a deserving student to go to school and further their education. As a collective Peace Corps group we raised over $22,000 for the KLM foundation (www.klm-foundation.org). Thank you to my friends and family who donated (and you can still donate at any time so if you missed out and want to contribute)! I must tell you that I didn’t know what I was getting myself into…I was the only female Peace Corps runner tackling the 56km run (most of the group ran the half-marathon – and did an amazing job as many of them had never ran in a marathon before) and, although I knew it was going to be a difficult course based on hearing about it from another volunteer who did it last year. But I had no idea.
Basically, you run uphill (into the most spectacular mountains) for the first 22 miles. Seriously, it is all uphill. And then for the last 12 miles you run down the mountain. I befriended a group of South African runners who called me “Miss America” and asked why I had chosen this as my first ultra marathon. They told me it was the most difficult race in South Africa…rated a 5 on a scale of 1-5. What was I doing?!?

But I am pleased to say that I finished the race in less than 6 hours…and ran the entire way. Although there were many times that I wanted to walk, I just kept running (I kept thinking it is kind of like my Peace Corps service…you just keep going). And it was an amazing experience. And to those volunteers who met me at the finish line and cheered me across…you guys ROCK. And when I post the picture of me finishing and you see how happy I was to have accomplished such a feat, then you will see why I am now going to attempt to run 89km in May.

Here I am after just completing my first ultramarathon...can you feel my sense of accomplishment?  I sure can.

The 2011 Peace Corps Longtom Group

Last of last week (I just like saying this).

So things don’t always work out as planned – especially in Africa. Last of last week (this is how we refer to the past here) on Monday it was a holiday so I asked some of the staff and volunteers from my center if they wanted to climb the mountain again (I don’t know if you remember but I did this last year and loved it). They agreed and even said they might organize a few of the kids from the center to come along. So, assuming this was all being coordinated (a little food, some water, a responsible adult to navigate the way, etc.) and I would just have to show up, I also thought it would be fun to invite a few friends (yes, I have friends in the village now although most of them are high school kids and then there is now a nearby Peace Corps volunteer – hey, they are still friends). So I gathered my hiking crew to join in climb to the top of the mountain. 

Unfortunately, I got a message the night before saying that the staff from my center were tired (something about being up all night attending a funeral the night before) and they didn’t want to go up the mountain now. This was bad news because I didn’t really know the way up the mountain. But I figured I had been there once and it couldn’t be too difficult? So, I checked with my group and we decided we would still attempt to do a hike.

What I didn’t realize is that kids from my drop-in centre were still coming to this “organized event” which was now somehow in my hands since the staff wasn’t coming. But, you see, I didn’t actually know this until kids started running after me as we were literally about 20 minutes into our hike up the mountain (which I was just kind of navigating as I went - I didn't really know where I was going). That is the African way…not much communication. There were about 20 kids with no water and no food who were now on the hike…eish. I was not really prepared to take on this responsibility.

We figured out that there was a stream up ahead where we could get water and then decided we would just cut the whole hike short. It ended up being fine (meaning no one sustained any injuries although I did actually have to break up a fight between two kids) but, next time, we will definitely organize a bit better.

Here are pictures of the rowdy crew.



Some of the kids from one of my centers.




A happy hiking crew. 



My New Status.

So next week will officially be my year marker here. I only have one year left in South Africa. But what will I do with the rest of my life? I was sitting with my host dad and he suggested I could stay here longer…hmmm. I think I miss America. Too much.  A funny story though. I now have two other Peace Corps volunteers relatively close (taxi rides away) so I invited them over to meet my family and see my community on Saturday. While we were sitting on the “stoop” (also known as the porch) talking to my host dad he suddenly exclaimed to the newest volunteer, “You sound like a true American!” So then I asked him what I sounded like? And (I swear this is true) he said, “You sound like an African!” Ahh, he said I sound like an African. I almost teared up…


But this still doesn’t answer my question, “What next?” Good thing I have another year. In the meantime, I will enjoy my status of sounding like an African.

Church in Africa.

So I usually go to church here every Sunday.  Not because I’m terribly religious but I really enjoy being with the community that I've found at the church – the family that I go with, the kids at “Sunday school,” the people that I see every week.  Plus there is dancing and singing.  Anyway, there was a bit of a mix-up at church this week. I got a call from the family that I go with – they said that we were going to a different church and asked if I could just meet them at this different church? Well, I was a bit perplexed because I didn’t know where this other church was but I accepted the challenge. I asked where it was and through the phone nodded as they described my destination. “A green roof? Down the dirt road? Yes, I can find it.” Now, you must realize that every road is a dirt road and all buildings/houses essentially look alike. But I understood the general area and figured I would ask someone when I got lost.


I started walking.  And, per usual, I picked up followers along the way.  They just “wanted to be my friends.” So I asked my new friends where the church was and they were very helpful (or so I thought).  I thought I was doing pretty good.  I was on the dirt road walking to a church with a green-ish roof. Okay, there was also a tent too but there were church-like people setting up. It looked promising? I went in (okay, went under the tent) and was ushered to the front (of the plastic chairs in the dirt). Everyone looked happy to see me (and, no, my church family wasn’t there but that wasn’t too surprising as it was early and nothing starts on time).

Church started and I joined in – dancing and singing. Slowly, about 20 minutes later I realized I was not at the right place…but by that time, I was completely immersed in this church (wherever I was) and couldn’t get up and leave. I was hugging people and they were so happy to have me at their church (a bit confused I'm sure but happy). So, I stayed. For four hours. At the wrong church.

As I was leaving, the pastor asked me who had invited me. I just shrugged and said that it was a bit of a mix-up. He didn't seem to mind and asked me to come back next week. Oh no. What do I do now?  Maybe I can just say I got lost if I run into him again and he asks why I didn't come back? 

Amazing Africa.

So I was invited to be part of a family vacation with my adopted South African family (this is a family I have stayed with a few times when I have to travel away from the village). On our “family vacation” we visited the most amazing game park which is situated almost on the border of Botswana (about 20km from the border crossing). A place called Madikwe. It’s hard to explain the African bush until you have been here but the game parks are quite amazing (and this one was exceptional). Prior to coming I had read that the lions at this game park were abundant (they actually have too many and are in the process of removing some) and I would definitely see all of the “big 5.” I had also read that I was in for a bit of luxury living. As you can imagine anything with running water is pretty luxury to me but this place was truly amazing…except at any moment you could be killed by a lion or a poisonous snake or spider the size of your arm because you are in the middle of the bush with a flimsy little fence around the perimeter. Every morning and evening you take a “game drive” which is where you look around for animals in the park – imagine a vast wilderness (not a zoo). It was spectacular. I saw African wild dogs stalk and kill an impala, lions just walking around, elephants outside my room, rhinos…tons of birds which I had no idea what they were but everyone else was always expressing amazement (there are apparently over 350 kinds of birds – that is way too many to keep track of - I am a horrible bird watcher). But I did enjoy the stalking and killing which we were able to witness. To see an animal hunt is intense. I know that sounds crazy coming from a vegetarian but there was something very beautiful about the process.


But, again, I am happy to be home. I miss my little place when I'm gone. I always call my host dad when I am gone to update him about when I am coming back (and he likes to make sure I'm alive and safe). Well, yesterday I called him saying I would be back in that afternoon. His response almost brought tears to my eyes. He said, “We can’t wait for you to come home. We have been missing you terribly.” Ahh.

Oh, don’t forget to check out my pictures. I am getting better about posting pictures.

Pick N Pay

Sometimes you do crazy things in Africa. Like run marathons. Yesterday, I ran a marathon.  And I ran this marathon so that I could qualify for an even longer run that will take place later this year.  Why?  I don't really know.

But an interesting tidbit was that a runner was hit by a car during the race yesterday.  The car that hit the runner was a get away car that had just robbed a store and was trying to quickly leave the scene of the robbery...talk about crazy.

Happy Valentine's Day!

The future.

I know I said that I just enjoy spending time with the kids here (and I do) but there are so many kids it is difficult to manage and can be overwhelming. I might have mentioned this but my work to start the girls club has led me to helping at the primary school in my village. This is a school with almost 700 learners…and not enough teachers. And that’s just the primary school. The high school has almost 1,200 learners and has a huge problem with overcrowding, lack of teachers and the list goes on…
So sometimes you just have to find a few kids that stand out and you start getting to know them a bit better. These are a few of the kids that I have been spending my time with...

Dineo. She is in 7th Grade. She wants to be an accountant. Her English is really quite good (it’s her favorite subject). She helps her best friend with her schoolwork because she doesn’t want her to fail. She is kind and funny and likes to dance (but she doesn't think my dancing is that good).  

Lebo. She is in 12th Grade. She wants to learn about meteorology. She is the only one of her friends that passed 11th Grade. She works extremely hard and wants so much to go on to tertiary school (college). She is bright, articulate and quite ambitious.  I try to help her with math and physical science on the weekends.

Kagiso. She is in 10th Grade. I don’t think she has quite decided what she wants to do but, man, is she sharp. She doesn’t take any crap (in a good way) and is a great student. I like to hang out with her because she helps me look at the world from a teenager’s perspective - she is totally honest and shares her feelings openly.

I could go on (there are others, definitely) but these kids stand out. A common link between all three of them is that they have all lost one of their parents. Their remaining parent is struggling to make ends meet (making very little money) and all have multiple siblings and have to help at home. They will face huge challenges simply because of their circumstances. It’s an amazing world we live in, isn’t it? These kids just want the same thing that any young person wants?  My hope for their future is that someday their dreams will come true.

Happy Anniversary!

So this weekend we had a reason to celebrate.  My fellow Limpopo volunteers of Peace Corps South Africa group 21 (we were missing one of the group!) got together to celebrate our one year anniversary of living in South Africa. I have a few pictures of our weekend in my photo album (we even went to a coffee place in town which was a highlight)!
And now for a bit of reflection time. I never thought I would make it this far. Through the application, leaving everything that I know and love, giving up the physical comforts of my very blessed American lifestyle, trying to figure out what I was supposed to be doing in my project (and how to communicate in another language which is still definitely a work in progress)…and now I will use a cliché. It is the toughest job you will ever love. And, strangely, I do love it. Not to say there aren’t moments (or, okay, let’s be honest, even days) that I have hated it. But I am so glad I took this leap. I am doing something that only a few people will ever have the chance to do. And what makes me love it the most to be honest are my interactions with the kids.  They see me as a part of America - a place that they will probably never get to see (and many of them will never even leave this village).  But I have this opportunity to share part of what America is and who I am with these kids. It seems less and less about the big things (although I’m still trying the big things and some work, some don’t). But the exchange and sharing of culture is something I will never again take for granted.

Here's to one year in South Africa! 

Strange.

I had a week that was filled with strange and interesting things. But, I must confess that it was one of thost emotional roller coaster weeks for me. One day I was feeling the lowest of low - why did I come to South Africa?  This is crazy? The next, I was on a high - this is amazing?  I am making such an impact!  If I have learned nothing else being a Peace Corps volunteer, it is how to simply “keep going.” And, if you just keep going you get to see and do some amazing, strange and interesting stuff – and meeting amazing people along the way.

To highlight a few of the strange and interesting things this week...
• I was locked IN at work. Yes, I could not get out of the locked gate that surrounds our center for several hours.  I tried to call people and finally got in touch with someone who came and let me out. 

• I discovered that there is a pyramid selling scheme that is moving around my village that some of the people are participating in – and the products are made in Scottsdale, Arizona! How weird is that! It’s some kind of aloe product that you sell and then get other people to sell and then you can make money…I have been solicited to buy these miracle products several times. 
• I was sitting on my porch and one of Piet’s friends was putting shoe polish on her feet. I asked why? She said because it cures her pain. Oh, I said. Why not? I guess the rumor is that brown (you can’t use any other color) cures corns.

I thought I needed to pass these strange items along…and they made me feel happy about being in South Africa.

And, tomorrow, I will get up and keep going so that I can learn more strange and interesting things.

Thank you.

I first must thank my girls club donors to date (and there’s still time to make donations if you are feeling generous)! My fabulous friend Christine – you are most amazing. Grandmother – I love you. Chad, Lorrie and Kathy…I will buy you a drink when I get back (that is, when I get a job)! :)

I am working with the primary school here in my village to organize the first meeting (remember, things move via SLT but have no fear)…and I will keep you informed as to our progress. I am very excited!

So I read an article in the paper during my holiday break that I enjoyed and wanted to share…I will try to find the link and post. For now, let me at least share one small part of the article (which was about aging and living longer). The author, Robert Rowland Smith, talks about aging not along a continuous axis where you might be tempted to keep doing the same things.  He states that the challenge (and opportunity) of getting older is to make abrupt turns which might not only make you better but essentially these turns could make you a different person. I like that.

Here's to some abrupt turns for all of us in 2011. 

Ain't it beautiful.

Ahh, vacation. So I now understand why people flock to Cape Town. It is an amazing place. For the holidays (so I wouldn't be depressed without the comforts of my family and friends for Christmas and New Year), I embarked on an amazing adventure. I think I could have spent another several weeks in Cape Town and been quite content (it might have also been the showers and free use of a washer as well)?  You have the ocean, wineries, mountains, shopping, great food, museums…the list goes on. I, again, traveled with the wonderful couple, Chuck and Michelle, who have taken me under their wing and into their family (which can be confirmed because the three of us shared a flat for a week with one bathroom which did not have a bathroom door – this took a bit of coordinating but we managed…hey, it was a free accommodation). We climbed Table Mountain in record time, watched African penguins in Betty’s Bay, walked along the cliffs of Hermanus hoping to see whales (no luck), toured several wineries where I tried to taste the asparagus in my wine (no luck again but I drank it anyway), ran up Chapman’s Peak, watched a concert in the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens on New Year’s Eve, and enjoyed the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Parade on New Year’s day.


I must admit I was a glad to be home after my almost 30 hours of travel…but it was well worth the journey. Please view the pictures of our amazing adventure. Happy New Year.

To eat or to look at the mountains?

Before I tell you about my holiday vacation, I realized I forgot to tell you about (and put up pictures) of the day trip we took with the leaders from my project.  We selected the top 12 kids from the Leaders Program to go on a day trip to a nearby area called Blyde River Canyon – it’s an amazing area with many scenic spots that people come from all over to visit but unfortunately people from most of the rural communities in the immediate area don’t oftentimes have the opportunity to go because of cost.  I’m happy the kids got the experience and it was a really great day but I said to my host father afterwards as he was asking me about the trip that there is some universal, built-in programming whereby all teenagers, no matter where they come from, are more interested in eating sweets (this is what candy is called here) and chips and listening to loud music in the car rather than looking at beautiful scenery and learning about the history of the country. Oh, well, what can you do?