My work.

I don’t feel like I have talked about my work much? Probably because it’s so difficult to define. I can remember taking a walk one day in beautiful Colorado with my mom before coming here (ahh, I miss our walks so much, mom!) and sharing one of my concerns about coming here. From the little information I had received, read and heard from other volunteers, there seemed to be no defined “job” as a volunteer. You really create your own role it seemed?

So, having now been a volunteer for a few months, I would probably agree that there is no defined role for the typical volunteer.  Which can be really good because you have a lot of opportunity.  And also one of the many difficulties of life as a volunteer.  Let me explain as much as I can.

There are two programs that a volunteer would be working with here in South Africa – Education (which would mean they would be working as an educator at a primary or secondary school) or one would be part of the CHOP program (the Community Health and Outreach Program). I am a CHOP volunteer (this was determined prior to me coming to South Africa). As CHOP volunteers we work with NGOs (non-profit organizations) which usually fall under one of two categories – home-based care organizations or drop-in centers (there are a few other NGOs that a volunteer might work with but these seem to be the primary two types). These NGOs work as organizations that have formed primarily due the demand and need to provide care and support for individuals and families that have been impacted in some way by the pandemic of HIV/AIDS here in South Africa…but it doesn’t mean these organizations provide direct health care. For example, a drop in center might provide food, support, etc. - the net can be cast wide as an organization helps their own community determine its needs.
The organization that I work with is a group of drop in centers (which mean that we work with children that “drop in” to the center before and after school). Our centers provide food for children ages 6-18 as well as after school activities. The organization has been around for a while but there are many changes that we are dealing with this year (for tons of reasons which I won’t go into right now).

So, what I do. I am trying to help with some of the infrastructure issues so that this organization is a sustainable fixture in each of their communities. Helping with things like training for the volunteers and staff (think basic leadership development, computer skills, financial management, etc). In addition, I’d like to develop some more meaningful activities and programs with the kids. While we have a great start, there is an opportunity to do more.

But, the challenge is sometimes not making it about what I want and making sure it’s what the organization/community wants and will support long after I’m gone. That can be a difficult lesson sometimes. Okay, it can be a difficult lesson quite a bit of the time.

Does that help give you a sense of my work?  Maybe.  Maybe not. 

The Run.

I did participate in the “Mayor’s Tournament” this weekend which I must tell you all about – it was a fabulous day.
The event is a day to celebrate women! It typically takes place every August which is Women’s Month in South Africa and our local municipality holds the event to celebrate the very important (and very difficult) role that women play in their family and culture but it also highlights women's continued struggle for equality. The event is open to women ages 18 to 80 (or older if they want to come!) and there is a run, soccer tournament, netball tournament (not this year though), traditional dancing contest, beauty contest (yes?!) and fashion parade! I had no idea?!

My friend, Lebo, came the night before to tell me that I needed to be on the tar road by 6AM because the local ward councilor would pick me up to take me to the start of the race. Sure enough, she was there to pick me up and we drove to the registration line and start of the run. It was clear that I was an anomaly. There was a bit of “talk” among the racers as to my attendance (why was I there?!) but then they figured out that I was a “local” and it was fine. It was also discovered I was from AMERICA (always an exciting discovery here) and then I became an instant celebrity. We had to wait for a while so I talked to people – asking about where they were from and why they were running. I must share a few information tidbits about the race:

• A free T-shirt can motivate any person, across any culture (there were free T-shirts given to all runners). I almost got mauled when they started passing them out.

• I wish I could have shared a picture of the runners at this race compared to a race that you might be picturing. DO NOT picture an American race. These women were in skirts, jeans, shoeless or not in appropriate running shoes (ie, flip flops, keds, holes in shoes, etc.). I only saw one woman actually wearing running shoes (other than myself). But it didn’t matter. They were so excited to be there.

• The gogos that were at the race were awesome! These are the grandmothers of the villages. They were in their headwraps, skirts, many were toothless, dancing and laughing (often at me trying to dance)! Ready to run (or kindof).

• If you have to use the bathroom while waiting for a couple of hours for the race to start, you just go. In the bush.

• Even though this was called a marathon, the distance was only about 5km. There is no way that these wonderful women could have “run” any further. Maybe a few of them, actually, with a little bit of understanding of pacing. They would sprint and then stop. Sprint and then stop. I tried to get them to slow down but it was sort of a lost concept?

• I did NOT win the race. For many reasons. General confusion about what was happening (and when the thing actually started – I thought we were still just singing and then all of a sudden everyone was running)? But mostly because I “ran” with several girls who wanted to hang with me. And then I encouraged the gogos for a bit. But that’s okay. There’s always next year!? Although, Piet, my host father, was quite disappointed to hear I didn’t win!

Next year, I hope to help the local municipality plan the event (with maybe some donations from my wonderful friends and family back home of running shoes?!). I was lucky enough to meet the mayor and the speaker as well as several of our local ward councilors. It was such an inspiring day.

And, I can’t even begin to describe the soccer playing gogos. This was truly a sight.

Some days are "too difficult."

I must tell you about my day on Saturday. I was supposed to run in an event called the “Mayor’s Marathon.” I thought this event had been planned for quite some time because it seems to be an annual event (my first time competing of course) but it’s been quite challenging to pull information from people about the actual details so who knows? Well, the day before the race I was trying to figure out where I was supposed to go for the start of the race and people started saying that they “heard” it was postponed? I am not exactly sure why…something about a party was being hosted for the mayor and this seemed to be a conflict. I sent a text message to someone I hoped would know and sure enough the race wasn’t happening. Now, I’m not exactly sure how they told all of the other runners but I just try to not ask questions sometimes. The race is now happening next Saturday just so you know (wish me luck that I figure out the details).
Since I wasn’t doing my race, I decided to go to town (I did run anyway since the race does seem to be happening next week now…we’ll see)! After my run and bucket bath (yes, bucket bath every day!), I went to the road to catch my usual taxi. Well, this particular taxi was overloaded meaning they put too many people in the taxi with the assumption that some are getting off sooner rather than later. Too bad for the driver that the traffic cops were out and we were stopped. I found it strange though that the driver was smart enough to recognize they were being stopped and pulled over before the road block to change drivers because he was driving on an expired license (don’t ask) yet he didn’t think about the overloaded taxi so was fined anyway.

Then, coming back from town, I was accosted by one very drunk man who said he loved me and would in fact marry me (he even gave me a pair of earrings as a sign of his devotion). I have received this kind of attention before but it was a bit excessive. Luckily, I had the help of a few kind women on the taxi and they helped rid me of my potential future husband.

Upon returning to the village, I was greeted by my friend at the local shop telling me I am looking very “fat.” While I thanked her for her kind words (she also told me I’m looking quite wrinkly and red and need to wear a hat), I explained that this would be considered rude in my culture (she didn’t care). She said it means I am happy in the village – that I have an open heart. So I reciprocated and said she also looks very “fat.” 

Ugh. Some days are "too difficult."  This phrase (too difficult) can be said to most people here and they understand the meaning so I say it a lot. 

Disgustingly inspired.

The Roedean Girls

Wow. It’s been an amazing week. I feel so…inspired (thus the title of this blog). We just finished hosting a group of high school girls from Johannesburg (Grade 11) at my organization. They came to the village to stay for five days to help with projects at our centres but more than that it was about learning and growing. Seeing what life in rural South Africa is like because, although they live in the same country, it’s a different world out here where water is scarce, poverty is rampant and life can be really difficult.


I have to say I was terribly impressed. They were a great group of 15 dynamic girls who really wanted to be here and learn. They jumped right in and were great with the kids…making fast friends and easy connections despite the language barrier. I was deeply inspired and it renewed my energy. And, I got to teach them a little bit of yoga! 

We set up a blog where the girls recorded their thoughts during the week which I will put a link"(see my links to the right) to if you are interested in reading about their journey (plus, I am going to put up all of the pictures there so you can see how much fun we had)!

Oh, and I told them all about you – my wonderful friends and family back home.

I love and miss you all.

When you can't beat 'em...

Next week we have a group of girls from a private school in Johannesburg visiting the project where I work. For the past couple of years, my organization has hosted 15-20 girls from this school.  The girls spend 5 days doing a community service project in the villages. This is my first year helping/planning/preparing. It’s been quite...interesting. I am dealing with a very “western” thinking school from Johannesburg and the planning has been done using spreadsheets and lists and I am totally into it (because I haven’t had this much structure since leaving my job).

But then I bring these spreadsheets and schedules back to the volunteers and staff at my organization and, honestly, there isn't much interest in using them. At all.  Everything is somehow, magically done without writing anything down. Although there are a couple that seem interested so I must take baby steps. And deep breaths. 

Anyway, today I decided instead to not sweat it and sang songs with the kids. We sang the “right arm, left arm” song and then the “I love you, you love me” one? I felt a lot better after that. Who cares about spreadsheets and schedules anyway, right?


I’m kidding. I’ll get back to planning later.

Coming home.

I have been away from my site for the past couple of weeks (thus the reason for my lack of blog posts - my deepest apologies all you thousands of followers). But this weekend I came home. It feels strange to say that I was making my way "back home" since most of the time I still feel like a visitor here but maybe I am making more headway than I think because I actually got hugs (yes, actual embraces) from people after being gone - they seemed to miss me!? And I was really happy to see everyone. In fact, I didn’t even mind my bucket bath this morning. And, you know, walking to the pit latrine in the morning does allow you to greet your neighbors which is a perk that you don’t get when you have a bathroom in your actual house?

Doing some math.

I find that the times that I am most content/fulfilled/happy come when I am just hanging out with the kids. I have developed a little following of “students” that like when I give them math problems – you know, basic addition, subtraction, multiplication stuff. At first I started just writing them on a piece of scrap paper but then I got them interested in using the computer where there is a math game that we can play (and they find the robot that says “Good Job!” or “Well done!” quite amusing). So then our math games evolved into me making up short “tests” which consist of me giving them a few questions such as “What color is the sky?” and “Who is the President of South Africa?” After the test, I check their answers. It's quite fun and they seem to enjoy it. Plus, it gives me a chance to practice some language while also helping the kids with their English.
So if anyone has any math flash cards or also word/picture flash cards (with basic English words on one side with a picture of the item on the other to donate), please send them my way.  And, yes, I am wearing one of the terrible skirts that I seem to wear all the time now.