It's Christmas.

So I was prepared to be bitter and sad as I wrote about Christmas today. But I’m not. I feel lucky. I am experiencing new places, meeting new people and doing amazing work. Even though I don’t get to be with my family in the comforts of a traditional American Christmas, I am waking up in Africa. The rain is pouring down, I am drinking tea and I will get to spend the day here in Mongu with new friends as we pull together to create a day celebrating where we are. And I feel quite lucky to be here.

I hope that wherever you are, you enjoy this day. Merry Christmas! 

The amazing Patrick and Carl - my own Christmas miracles.





Our feast.  The squash at the top were for my benefit.





I had some trouble setting the automatic timer.



But we finally got a group photo before sitting down to eat.

Can Talk.

Suppose you were given a random topic to talk about for 3 minutes in front of a group?  What would you say?   It doesn't sound that difficult until you are standing in front of the room trying to make something up.   Talk about your first love.  Explain a recipe.  Talk about the most boring meeting you have ever attended.  The idea is to use your creativity to make it interesting and engaging.  So I just finished a workshop where we had to successfully complete this exercise which was done as a way to get people comfortable talking in front of groups.  The training was done both to teach us about the essential medicines and medical supplies logistics system used here in Zambia and then we also learned how to teach others about this logistics system (a training of trainers).  Eventually, I will get the opportunity to teach health center, hospital and other ministry of health staff how to use the logistics systems that are essential in the process of ensuring that drugs are available for use here in Zambia.  So during the training we were being molded into trainers.  The training was actually quite good.  Long.  But good.  We stayed in a hotel which was in a town called Kitwe which is in the Northwestern part of Zambia (the Copperbelt) for a couple of weeks.  This is where they have all of the mines.  They mine mostly copper but also other minerals.  We passed one of the largest open pit mines during some of our travels there in the region (I will try to post pictures later).  The town itself wasn't much but it was quite big and more developed in comparison to Mongu (I’m learning most areas are more developed than Mongu in general).  So, I took advantage of shopping in the big grocery store, going to the market to buy material, enjoying some decent food, and hanging out with my fellow JSI friends.  One of the staff who was with me in Mongu mentioned that I didn’t have my “Mongu face on.”  When I questioned him as to what this meant he just said that I looked more lively and happy during the training...being out of Mongu.  I guess having a social life and friends around will do that?  Hmm…I have got to find some social networks in Mongu.  This is not going to be an easy task.  

Senanga.

I survived my first trip in the field.  Barely.  Okay, so it wasn’t quite that dramatic but it certainly was an adventure.  I wasn’t sure what to expect going into the week but, well, I don't even know if there are words.  On our first day after we met with staff from the District Health Office we set out to visit our first health center (and in case you are wondering the difference between a health center and a health post is simply the level of services offered).  After disembarking from the tar road maybe 20 or 30km from the town of Senanga on what didn’t even look like a path in the sand we started making our way to the health center.  I commented that I would have never been able to find this center again if my life depended on it (as we were bouncing through the bush on an incredibly sandy path – imagine driving along the ocean on beach type sand...except sandier).  There was a moment of silence and then everyone started laughing.  “This isn’t remote!"  was the comment from my peers. “We are barely in the bush.”  Little did I know how right they were…

The next several days were spent being thrown around in a Land Cruiser (thank goodness we were in a vehicle with 4 wheel drive) as we visited these rural health centers and posts.  One day we traveled over 10 hours and we only made it to 2 centers.  And, yet, when we would get to these centers there would be people lined up waiting to receive medical services or get their HIV drugs (most having walked for hours or sometimes days).  It was truly a humbling experience.  These centers provide a lifeline for the Zambians who live in these rural communities.  I am still contemplating what it would mean to live such a remote existence.  I don’t know that I can even begin to imagine even after having a very, very limited view into what life is like through my Peace Corps service in South Africa.  It doesn’t even compare to what I've seen so far.

I have a few pictures which I've put up if you'd like to take a look although they don't really do it justice.  The one of the man holding a lizard like creature is my favorite.  We just ran into him in the middle of the bush - he was herding some cows and had killed this creature and was planning on making a meal of it - yummy.

https://plus.google.com/photos/108740867339265842929/albums/5813573151092235217

(I'm having some trouble with my pictures link to the right...hopefully the link above will work!)

Speaking of meals, I hope everyone is enjoying a Thanksgiving meal surrounded by friends and family today.  While I am not officially celebrating I am thinking of you all (and I must admit I wish I was eating some tofurkey and pie).  Alas, I will have to settle for nshima and veggies.  

Happy Thanksgiving! 

New Job.

It’s really just like any other new job.  For the most part, I am feeling a bit lost and unsure of myself but terribly overeager.  I want to make a good impression but am not really sure how to impress anyone yet other than to show up on time (on my trusty bike wearing my fabulously trendy bike helmet which causes me to stand out even more than I already do as the only white person in town because no one wears a helmet but the kids seem to like me in any form really so I suppose it doesn’t matter), read countless reports and documents, ask many annoying questions and help out in any small way I can.  But, I can’t tell you how good it feels to just be working again!  I’m in an office with other people who are all quite good at what they do?!  How can I not love my job and feel very lucky even if I am mostly just trying to figure out the difference between a health post and a health center.  

Anyway, I’ll be leaving Mongu this weekend to participate in my first M&E (monitoring and evaluation) trip with my fellow PPHLO (this is my newly appointed title which stands for Provincial Public Health Logistics Officer).  We are going to be visiting Senanga District which is to the South of Mongu.  There are 7 Districts in Mongu (soon to be 8) and I am learning that some of them are quite remote and challenging to travel to (we have to use a pontoon boat to cross over into some of the more remote areas!) but I believe Senanga isn’t too far removed – we’ll see.  We will be visiting the District Health Office and then throughout the week we will be going to rural health centers (and health posts, I presume) to check the supply of HIV drugs and other health commodities at each center.  I am looking forward to learning more about my new role as well as getting to see additional parts of the Western Province.

These are the 7 Districts in the Western Province (they will soon be dividing Sesheke District into two separate Districts).

And, dare I say, congratulations America!  Welcome back, Obama.  

Welcome to Mongu.

I have arrived in Mongu. And I have also left again. Well, I’m just back in Lusaka for some more training. Which means I spent all of 4 days in my new home but it was good to be able to see where I’ll be living for the next year. Luckily, I was taken there (and back) by a driver from my new organization so I didn’t have to ride the bus (although I’m told the buses are actually pretty decent). It was about a 7 hour drive to/from Lusaka and, yes, we drove through Kafue National Park. I did get to see some amazingly beautiful elephants (like right by the car!) and also impala, kudu, warthogs, monkeys, baboons, and some other deer-like animals (I don't know what they were).  No lions or giraffes or leopards but maybe next time. We also stopped at the Kafue River to get a couple of pictures and we were accosted by a guard telling us to move our car out of the road (I think he was just drunk although to his credit we were parked in the middle of the road). Upon arrival in Mongu, I got to see my house but didn’t get to stay in it the first night. Apparently, the water pump was broken (yes! I have running water!) so I stayed at the lovely Dolphin Inn. It was very quaint in a strange sort of way (and colorful) and I also got to meet the two other Americans who live in Mongu. They are both working for an agriculture project and have been around for a few months. At least I know two people? The next day I moved into my house and, man, do I have a ton of space. It’s a 3 bedroom house with 2 bathrooms (no showers just bathtubs so it’s essentially like taking a bucket bath as you work to pour running water over you...although no hot water but I am quite content because it's extremely hot all of the time anyway). And in the rest of my house there is so much empty space it’s kind of silly. I’m just using the one bedroom and they other rooms will remain empty since I do not have the funds nor the need to get items to furnish them. So, I’m doing lots of handstands and cartwheels to fill my time.

The Mongu terrain is a bit challenging. It is a quite sandy as I was warned. Which makes transport difficult. I will have to get myself to/from work everyday which is about 5km. I do have a bike but we’ll see how that goes in the sand. And, all of this sand makes the water a nice brown color so I’m busy filtering water and it still has a lovely rust color and somewhat sandy taste. But, all in all, Mongu seems good. Still lots to learn.  

I didn't have much time to explore the beautiful flood plains, see the king's palace or check out all of the hot spots in town (aka, the many tuck shops and bars).  But you can check out the photos of my house and those amazing elephants.  And, my new address is posted!!  Start writing letters and sending lots of books (I am in need of good books) and Halloween treats!

Sending my love from Mongu.

Zamfantastic.

I made it to Zambia! Actually, I have been here two weeks already. But I have yet to get out and see much of the country because I have been immersed in training, training, and more training in the large capital city of Lusaka (which is really kind of just a big city)? But, it’s fine…because I love my new job! I feel incredibly lucky to have this amazing opportunity and I am also happy to be back in Africa. I’ll tell you all about what I will be doing soon enough but for now, here is a picture of the other two American volunteers that I have been training with (Jonathan and Margaret) in the JSI office in Lusaka. We will be in Lusaka for about another week before we leave for our respective posts in the provincial offices (we won’t be near each other at all but hopefully we’ll have opportunities to see each other during trainings in Lusaka, etc).

So, I have learned that I will be going to the Western Province to the town of Mongu. These are some of the things people have been telling me about Mongu:

• It’s really hot.

• When it’s not really hot, it floods. Like roads close and people get cut off from service.

• There’s a lot of sand…not just a little sand. lots of sand. One person gave me a visual of sand spilling over the top of your shoes when you walk (hopefully this was an exaggeration).

• You can get great fish in Mongu because it sits near the Zambezi River. Too bad I don’t eat fish.

• It is the major rice growing region of Zambia. Everyone tells me the “best” rice comes from Mongu. Oh, and they also grow cashews.

• I will be learning/speaking Lozi (which is somewhat similar to the Bantu language I learned in South Africa, thank goodness).

• There is a really cool African ceremony called the Kuomboka Ceremony which takes place in March/April and I’ve been told thousands of people come to the area to see the Lozi King journey from his dry-season palace to his wet-season palace via a huge wooden canoe. Sounds pretty amazing?

• I get to travel through (literally through – there are no fences or gates or anything) a game park to get to Mongu. People see lions, elephants, kudu right by or even on the road…and you don’t have to pay to do a game drive. That’s pretty amazing?! And sort of dangerous…

But, this is all informaiton that I'm just picking up from others. I will tell you about my new home when I get there. I’m looking forward to actually seeing what Mongu has to offer. I just like saying Mongu.

I don’t have an address yet but when I do, please send me letters…and packages too.  Maybe I'll send you some rice. 

On the road again.

It's strange to be preparing yet again to leave. Strangely, I have those same feelings I had almost 3 years ago when I left for South Africa. I am anxious, thrilled, worried, ecstatic, sad…I thought I would be more prepared having gone through this before but it’s still sort of overwhelming. I feel like I haven’t packed the right things or said goodbye to everyone or followed up on some outstanding issue. So, on the eve of my departure, I thought I would do something very important. Post some pictures on my blog (check out the link on over there to the right).


Can’t wait to meet you Zambia…prepared or not.


Self-portrait of me while gathering items from storage out of parent's garage in Colorado.



Mysterious ways.

So the past few months have been...oh, you know. I have had some really wonderful days and some really tough days. Coming back home was an amazing gift.  An opportunity to spend time resting, relaxing (way too much time probably), traveling, and contemplating my future.


But, to be honest, I'm not sure if I was ready to come back.  I don’t know if I mentioned this but I had contemplated staying for a third year in South Africa (it’s an option for volunteers if circumstances line up). I had gone so far as to apply for a post and was really excited about the opportunity. But it didn’t work out for various reasons and even though I was disappointed, I thought, at the time, that it just wasn’t meant to be for me to stay in Africa. I figured I was supposed to come back home and decide what would come next for me. But as time has passed over these last few months, things haven’t lined up for whatever reason. Yes, I’ve applied for jobs but I haven’t found “the one” and I have increasingly found myself in a funk.

But then it happened. It’s kind of strange how things happen “in mysterious ways” as they say. Anyway, I found an opportunity that would take me back to Africa.  And for whatever reason, I have been given my third year in Africa.  So at the end of the month, I will be leaving again. And although I won’t be going back to South Africa, it feels like this is what I am supposed to be doing right now. And as for after that? I guess I’ll figure it out...later.

So, my wonderful friends and family, I will be leaving yet again to a new home away from home. I’ll be living and working somewhere in Zambia (as soon as I find out I'll let you know but it looks like I will be in one of two provinces – either in Mongu in the Western Province or Kasama in the Northern Province), as a Public Health Officer working with an amazing organization called JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc. (you can check out their website on my links section to the right). I am greedily learning all that I can about my newly adopted African country and welcome you to do the same. Did you know that Zambia is home to almost 12 million people and is just slightly larger than the state of Texas? And of course you can also visit the glorious Victoria Falls (among many superior game parks). So if you are interested in getting away next year, come on over for a quick visit and I will happily be your host.

So, while I am sad to be leaving, I am happy to finally be moving forward again.

I heart Switzerland.

Amazing. I don’t think I will truly be able to describe to you how much I loved Switzerland. At times it could be quite unsettling because it was so…perfect. Everyone using their bikes, or walking on pristinely maintained trail systems, the wonderful trains which were always on time (usually to the minute), the lack of garbage anywhere on the streets, the Alps (my absolute favorite part of Switzerland), the beautiful cities, and of course the chocolate.


Our “home” was in a little town outside of Zug (about 40 minutes away from Zurich by train) which was an incredibly charming place surrounded by beautiful rolling green hills  and a gorgeous lake. We had easy access to the train and enjoyed walking or running in the Swiss countryside in the morning (there was an amazing trail system which offered great running/walking/biking access). And there was a beach on the lake not too far away which provided great people watching and beautiful views! It was an idyllic place. I think I could have stayed there forever.  Too bad it was incredibly expensive...and I don't know German.

Upon my arrival we immediately embarked upon an ambitious couple of days of hiking (courtesy of Chuck’s planning) in the Alps. Michelle and I were unaware of how long and far we were going but the views made up for the long uphills and ambitious downhills. I don’t know if the pictures do it justice but the Alps are one of the most amazing places I’ve probably ever been in my life. Every view is breathtaking. I could probably have spent my entire time hiking in these majestic mountains.

After our hike (feeling a bit sore and tired and wet since it had rained our last night), we made our way to Zurich to meet my friend Jennifer who was joining us for a few days and spent the next week sightseeing. We headed to Lucerne where we took a walking tour and enjoyed this beautiful little city on the water which was only about an hour from Zug. The next day we all took the train down south to Locarno which is on Lake Maggiore near Lake Como (no George Clooney sightings although the rumor was he was in the vicinity during our stay). This area is steeped in the Italian influence of Switzerland since it sits right on the border of Italy (it is only about 40 km from Milan). We loved a little village called Ascona and took a morning walk there to see the market. Jennifer and I also took a boat tour to a little village called Bellinzona (didn't love this village but the views fron the boat were great) and we also stopped on a little island with a beautiful botanical garden.

After spending a couple of days in Locarno we headed back to our home base and then took a day trip to the city of Bern where I had high hopes of seeing the parliament in action. Unfortunately that didn’t work out but we enjoyed the city anyway. Bern sits on the river where people can swim and relax and the city offers amazing architecture and city life. After visiting Bern, Jennifer and I then headed back to the Alps for another hiking day and were rewarded with probably the clearest skies of the week as we hiked to a little village called Gimmerwald (complete with a walk under a waterfall).

We ended the week by spending the day in Zurich shopping (mostly window shopping) and heading back to Lucerne for an outdoor evening concert on the lake (hoping to catch a glimpse of De La Sol) and then Jennifer headed back home.

Michelle, Chuck and I decided to head to France for a couple of days (I’m telling you the train systems offer easy access to most any nearby country – it’s awesome). We ended up in the cutest of cute towns, Strasbourg, France. We loved this place! Cheap wine and good beer plus a bustling outdoor market filled with great people and beautiful things? What more could you ask for (oh, and there was the really cheap hostel we stumbled upon which justified our little mini-vacation).  We were in heaven! We stayed for the weekend and reluctantly left stopping at a quaint little town also in France called Colmar on the way back to Zug.

Out last couple of days we took a bike ride around the lake near Zug (stunning!) and I picked out my dream house so that I know where to live when I make enough money to move to Switzerland. Then we enjoyed spending Switerland’s Independence Day (August 1) on the lake watching fireworks and having a picnic (almost like our 4th of July). A perfect end to a truly perfect vacation.

And, yes, I reminisced about Peace Corps life. It was so great to be with Michelle and Chuck and I’m already wondering when we will have our next “family” vacation. But first the rest of my life…

Sorry for the abundance of pictures but I just couldn't get enough.  Hope you enjoy!

One step at a time.

So before I tell you about what’s happening for the rest of my life, I’ll tell you about the next few weeks.  One step at a time, one step at a time.  Being unemployed for the last couple of months has been quite the journey.  I find myself oscillating between loving having all the time in the world to take yoga classes, go on long runs or try new workout classes, drink chai tea (I'm obsessed), read books, hang out with friends, watch lots of mindless TV/movies and….going crazy having the time to do all of these things.  

So, I’ve decided to take a vacation.  Makes perfect sense, don’t you think?  I’ll be going to Europe with my Peace Corps “family” – Michelle and Chuck.  I’m really looking forward to not only being in Switzerland but to seeing my amazing friends again.  While we’ll be staying in a little town called Steinhausen (which is outside Zurich), we are going to try to maybe visit Italy and France as well as do some camping and hiking in the mountains (in the Alps, of course). 

While this isn’t exactly the best time to go (seeing as I don’t have a job) I figured when would I ever have this time since I hope that one day I will be employed again.  And since we have a free place to stay (Michelle and Chuck are doing a home swap so hooray for free) I am also justifying my vacation since it will be so "cheap."  I’ve also discovered something that I am in need of…a reconnection with my Peace Corps family.  I want to talk about silly Peace Corps stuff and do a bit of reminiscing about the life I left behind.  It’s been amazing how much I have relied on this extended family, not only Michelle and Chuck, but many of my Peace Corps friends during my transition home.  It’s weird how these previous strangers have become part of my family and will now always be part of my life.  

So, for now, I’ll jump on a plane and do a bit of traveling.  And then I’ll start the next chapter of my life.     

Change.

I can feel it.  I have been home for almost two months.  And I can feel that things are starting to change. Yes, they are.  Yes, indeed, they are.  Soon, I will tell you all about.  That is, if you are still reading this silly blog about my life.   

Back in the US of A.

I didn’t know if I would continue to blog after leaving South Africa. But here I am, still thinking about things I want to say. To share. So I guess until I run out of stories, I’ll keep writing. I actually don’t really know if anyone reads this but I also don’t know that it matters to me all that much.  I'll just keep posting anyway. :)

So I am back in America. Missing South Africa. Weird how that happens. I never thought I would have such a longing to be back there? To sleep in my little room with no running water. And take a taxi. Maybe eat some pap. And give my friends a hug. My first week back home was amazing. I was so happy to see everyone and it felt good to be back.  And of course the basic luxuries were really wonderful – long showers, being able to drive, ice machines, Starbucks, mindless TV whenever you want, iPhones (!)…and the “culture shock” that everyone had told me was going to be such a problem didn’t seem to be such a big deal? But then the second week came. And I started to feel funny. Sad. Lonely. Like I didn’t fit in? Is this what they were talking about?  It has also been harder since the initial “party week” ended because I don’t really have a place of my own, or a job, or my stuff, or a plan.  My parents (hi mom!) have been fantastic taking me in and all but it’s still hard when you just don’t feel…like yourself and you are confronted with a future that is unknown. But, I need to keep reminding myself that this was ultimately my choice. I set this all in motion. This amazing, life-changing opportunity. Now, I just have to keep moving forward and trust that it will all work out.

Luckily I don’t seem to be the only one going through this re-entry (???) process. Talking to other RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer is what this means) friends, we are all going through some kind of readjustment. It’s like a weird grieving process/trying to rebuild what was your life before you picked up and moved. But nothing is the same. You aren’t the same.

On a happier note, I have been able to reconnect with many of my old friends and enjoy the beauty of the Arizona desert (while also trying to stay cool – it’s already been an awful 100 degrees). I've taken lots of long runs and done some hikes (along with doing lots of sleeping in)!  :) I have decided that while Arizona is beautiful (I tried to share some of that beauty with a few hiking pictures), it may not be the place for me.  I am looking for jobs across the country (and the world) so am hoping to find my new home in the next few months. Wherever that may be and whatever I might be doing?  Stay tuned...

Halala.

One last vacation in South Africa. Halala (not quite sure of the spelling?) but this is a word that I learned during my time spent in the Eastern Cape. In Xhosa it means “celebration” and it seems you say it when you are expressing joy for something or someone. Or you are just generally happy. Well, halala…


After officially hanging up my hat as a Peace Corps Volunteer (spending a week in Pretoria having medical exams, meetings and finishing final reports), I was officially “sworn out” and am now what they call an RPCV (a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer). It was bittersweet. Too much emotion to write about now. Maybe later.

Instead, I will write about my lovely vacation in the Eastern Cape. I went with friend and fellow volunteer, Megan. We took an overnight bus to a town called Mmtatha and sat in the pouring rain for many hours waiting for a shuttle to pick us up and take us to the starting point of our hike in Port St. Johns. I’ve never seen so much rain. This did not bode well for an upcoming five day hike leaving in less than 12 hours. But we woke up the next day to sunny skies and left with our fantastic guide, Lloyd. He would be with us as we traversed ~60 kilometers over the next few days along the Wild Coast. We stayed in local villages with families in their rondavels, sleeping on the floor, taking bucket showers, and eating amazing Xhosa food. Although I’ve been in South Africa for a couple of years, the differences between where I stay and the area where we hiked were very distinct (language, people, land, homesteads) so I was glad I had the opportunity to visit this area. It’s truly spectacular (pictures to be posted soon). Due to the rain, we had lots of water to maneuver around. At some river crossings we were met by “ferry men” with small boats while at other river crossings we simply had to get wet (sometimes up to our chests). Overall, we were successful at staying dry (except for the one incident in a tipping kayak) and we made it to our destination in Coffee Bay where we played on the beach for a couple of days and ate some lovely ice cream and amazing pizza.

I then parted ways with Megan as she left to go meet friends and I headed to the mountains. I had heard/read about a quaint little town called Hogsback and was determined to get there before leaving South Africa. It was a bit of a logistical challenge with no car but I found my way with a couple of buses and shuttles. And it was definitely worth the effort. It was almost like being in Colorado again. I was a bit unprepared for the cold though and had to layer most of the clothes I had brought to keep warm (and stand incredibly close to the fire). But I took some beautiful hikes (with the most amazing waterfalls) and met some great people while hovering around the fire at night.

And now?! I am back in Joburg packing up my stuff getting ready to fly back to America. It feels quite strange. I am incredibly sad and anxious and happy all at once. South Africa has become my home for the last two years. I love so much about this place and it is going to be hard to say goodbye. But I suppose that wherever you go there you are.



Ugh, look at those ugly feet...



A Celebration.



My beautiful village. 

I feel so lucky.   I decided I wanted the opportunity to be able to say goodbye to everyone at my site all at once so a few weeks ago I discussed the idea of having a party at my house the day before I was going to leave my community.  A small goodbye party.  Piet, my host father, was gracious enough to say yes to having a bunch of kids (who like to listen to loud music) as well as all of my Phedisang Project friends and other community members over to the house for the afternoon.  The party planning turned into a bit of a fiasco which I won’t go into but in the end it all worked out (somehow it always does…)?  My interns came and gave a speech, the girls from Camp GLOW were also there (and helped decorate and serve food), the Phedisang staff helped cook food, the kids who I hang out with from the community all showed up, and many community members came out to say goodbye.   Oh, and of course a couple of my PCV friends were there as well.  It was a day that I will never forget.  The day was filled with food, dancing, laughing and, of course, many tears... 

I have a few pictures on some of my friends and family to share. 

Lasts.

This is a week of lasts for me here in Ga-Sekororo, South Africa. The last time I will take a taxi ride to Tzaneen to go shopping. The last time I will go for a run in my village. My last bucket bath (of course it has been pointed out to me that I could continue this tradition back in America…). The last time I will sit on my porch with my host father talking about my day. The last time I will go to the Phedisang centers. The last time I will go to the post office to get my mail. The last time I will hang out with my “kids” playing UNO or hiking or listening to music. The last time I will ever eat rice and beans (I hope). And maybe the last time I will see some of my friends here...

Who knows when I will come back to South Africa. I would like to? I’ve come to love this country. But since I can't say for sure, I will simply say goodbye to my South African family that I have come to love and hope that I can stay connected with them in some small way.

As I finish what started as a far-fetched dream to join the Peace Corps several years ago, it seems strange now to be finishing and going back to my life in America. What will I do? How will life be different? Or will it be the same? And, more importantly, what are my new dreams?  I can’t say for sure that I know what my future holds.  I only know that I will forever be changed by my time here. By the people I met, by the things that I saw, by the places that I’ve been. I feel very lucky to have had this time. Some people have asked if I would do it over and the answer is yes. I don’t have any regrets.

But, I am looking forward to coming home to see all my friends and family back home. I can’t wait to share a little bit of my experience with you and see what the future holds...after I do a bit of hiking in the Wild Coast that is...see you soon!

So many lasts.

This weekend I ran in my last marathon in South Africa (who knows if I will do more when I get to wherever I’m going).  Who would have imagined my two years in South Africa would include a couple half marathons and marathons...and then there was the insanity of that ultramarathon.   But, I decided it would be nice to do one last race.  And I am so glad I did...

I got to run with my amazing friend, Grace (I promised I would run with her the entire race).  It was her first marathon and she did a fantastic job!  She will go on to run in many more races, I'm sure (she is already analyzing her results).  Here's to many lasts...and to all of the many firsts still yet to come.      

My host father.

I imagined being placed with a family. A family that was overflowing with young kids that I could play with after work, who would teach me games, and give me hugs every day. A young mother with boundless energy would show me around the village. And, of course, there would also be a gogo living on the compound and she would share her wisdom (even though we could not speak the same language) – maybe she would be a traditional healer?! This would be my host family in South Africa. Doesn’t this sound grand? Well, this is what I thought I wanted. So, when I was told I would be living with a single man….a pensioner who was retired because of a disability?! I wasn’t very excited. This didn’t sound like my ideal South African family.

But then I met Piet. Mr. Piet Thuketane. And my perspective shifted (isn’t it strange how that happens sometimes)? Well, Piet has turned out to be my lifeline. On days that I thought I just couldn’t stand it one more second, I would seek guidance from Piet. He always had answers (granted, sometimes not to the questions I asked but it usually didn’t matter). Along with teaching me about life in South Africa and the people/places/traditions in my community he taught me so many other lessons. He taught me how to maintain my sense of humor. And how to appreciate being quiet and more observant. And how to be less judgmental. As I would walk home from work, I would look forward to my time sitting on the porch talking to Piet. He liked to know about my day. Then he would ask about my family and my friends. I think I told Piet more about my life than I have shared with some of my close friends? When I was going through a break-up…I confided in Piet. When I was frustrated about a project at work, I shared with Piet. When my sister had her baby, Piet was the first to know. And Piet remembered everything I told with him (it was sometimes shocking). And, oh, he loved having my fellow Peace Corps friends visit (like Ethan “the giant” and Megan “the scientist” and Ted “the china boy”!).

I feel lucky now I didn’t get the “perfect” host family. Because, instead, I met Piet. He is an amazing person. Right now, I can’t imagine saying goodbye to him (I am tearing up just writing this…). And, even though Piet will never see me (he lost his sight several years ago), he may know me better than anyone else. Thank you, Piet, for giving me not just a place to live for the last two years but making it my home.

It's Finished. Finally.

A year ago I helped to write a grant proposal which funded a new building for one of the centres I support. It’s been a year of ups and downs as this building has been constructed. From getting the land donated from the induna (who is like the chief of the village) to working with the local municipality to get the building plans approved and then finding all of the materials and supplies. Buildings and construction (especially in a rural South African village) was not something I had a lot of prior experience doing?! It’s been a long year. But the staff and volunteers did an amazing job of putting in the time and work needed to get the building completed. They were able to move in to the new centre last week which will provide 85 orphans and vulnerable children with meals and after school activities. The children that come to the center have little means for food or enrichment and are put at a disadvantage in pursuing future goals which is the purpose of having the center...and I’m so happy and excited it is ready for use!


We still have many cosmetic features that need to be completed (curtains, more office furniture, shelves, more toys and books would be nice along with much needed burglar bars for security) but I am really proud of the work and time everyone put in to get the building completed.

My heart is full.

I have been really happy these last couple of weeks. Usually, when I get back from a long vacation, I go through a deep depression acclimating back to village life (back to taking bucket baths, eating bland food, slow days, hot weather, limited conversations, blah, blah, blah…poor me). Anyway, this time, I haven’t really felt that way. It’s been easier for some reason. For example, last night, I played a rousing game of UNO until late (okay, late is relative but it was darkish?) into the night with three of my favorite kids. They have a somewhat sick addiction to the game and I find many of my nights eaten up playing this game of my childhood. But I do enjoy it. I don’t know if it’s the nostalgia now that I am near my end of service or finally feeling like this place is my home. Either one, my heart feels really full.

Saying goodbye is going to be hard.

P.S.  If anyone can (quickly) post another few decks of UNO cards...you would be a saint. :)

Last of last month. Or something like that.

December has come and gone. It is now January and I am completely overwhelmed. There is too much to do and too little time...because I will be coming home in 3 short months!!!


But back to December. Well, at the beginning of December I was able to enjoy some time with my fellow Peace Corps volunteers at what was called our ‘Close of Service’ conference. We all reflected on our 2 years of service, talked about what it would be like going back to the US of A, and just generally reminisced. One of the volunteers put together a slide show with many of our group photos which was an amazing collection of shared memories that I will cherish.  Oh, and we also had a dance party (see below). 

After the conference, I immediately faced having a root canal. Yes, I survived my first (and hopefully last) root canal. It was questionable there for a while but with the help of some heavy duty drugs and some hand-holding by a few friends, it is done. Thank goodness as this had caused many sleepless nights for me.

With the root canal behind me I travelled to Johannesburg where I met my Phedisang AYG (Achieve Your Goals) Interns (the group of 12 high school learners I have been working with for the past year). I had planned the trip for the interns to visit several companies in Johannesburg and learn about different careers. We had an amazing few days and it was by far the highlight of my month. We got to spend some time visiting a logistics and transport company where the interns learned about various career paths (human resources, accounting, IT, etc). Then we got to tour one of their warehouses and meet several of the management staff. We also stopped by the zoo and met another young intern who was attending college while also interning at the zoo and she was able to give us a tour and share her experience about going to school and working/learning while helping at the zoo. It was a great trip (and I’m hoping it provided motivation for the interns)!

Then, it was finally time for vacation! With my extended family (the Possins), I was able to explore Northern Mozambique and Tanzania (including several nights on the amazing island of Zanzibar). We flew to Northen Mozambique and then set off for the “Isle de Mocambique” where we enjoyed a fabulous couple of days relaxing on the beach (and by the swimming pool). We also took a dhow boat to another even smaller island and did some swimming and snorkelling. The only challenge was the heat – excruciating. But if you stayed near water and jumped in every once in a while then survival was possible. After leaving the island we had quite the adventure traveling to our next destination near Pemba. I won’t go into the details here but sometime over a drink or a large plate of hummus or a big fruit salad or some chips and salsa (oh, I miss good food), remind me to tell you this story. In Pemba, we stayed with an Italian couple at a beautiful beachfront resort basically doing nothing (seriously, I put on my swimming suit before breakfast and it stayed on until the evening). I have learned that I am incredibly good at relaxing by the beach. Can I include this skill on my updated resume?

Then, we went into the town of Pemba (still in Northern Mozambique) for a couple of days. One of these days was Christmas Eve and we had a great dinner of Indian food – I ate probably one of the best cashew curries of my life (do you see food is a recurring theme)? On Christmas day, we travelled from Northern Mozambique to Tanzania (and ate our Christmas meal of pizza and beer)! We weren’t really sure of our plans for the next few days but decided to head to Arusha where we signed up to do a budget safari to see both the Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater. Even though it was a budget safari (leaking tents, no showers, not the greatest guide, etc.), the landscape and animals were beautiful. No, spectacular. This is the Africa you imagine. Wide, open spaces with animals everywhere. We witnessed the beginning of the wildebeest migration where herds of wildebeest move across the Serengeti from Kenya (just google ‘wildebeest migration’ and you will learn all about it). We saw baboons, giraffes, leopards, a cheetah, monkeys, lions, elephants, water buffalo, rhino, and hippos…I really can’t describe how beautiful these areas are and am grateful I had the opportunity to visit.

Then we headed to Zanzibar for our last few days of vacation. We had to take a ferry to get to the island of Zanzibar (or if you aren’t a Peace Corps volunteer you can fly). The island of Zanzibar is another amazing place. There are beaches that stretch for miles (literally, they go on forever) and the most amazing resorts (from extremely high end to the budget backpacker). We celebrated New Year’s Eve on the island with people from around the world (Tanzanians, Americans, Italians, Greeks and Egyptians) with a bonfire on the beach and then decided to head to a local hangout. We recovered on New Year’s Day by relaxing on the beach (yes, my newly acquired skill). As if that wasn’t enough, we finished our whirlwind tour in Stone town (on the opposite side of Zanzibar) which turned out to be a shopping mecca (as well as a food lover's heaven).

I feel very lucky to have been able to take this time to see some of the magnificent places here in Africa. I wish I had more time (and money) to go exploring. But I know that I will come back to Africa someday to do some more exploring. I still have so much to see?!

Now, though, I am back at home in my village. Even though I returned to dead bats in my room, disgusting heat, and those darn ants...I am happy to be home. I missed my host family and the community and am looking forward to enjoying these last few months with them. Happy New Year, by the way!

(And I am putting my vacation photos up...so click over there to the right).