Seeking Support.

As the end of 2010 comes to a close, I am busy planning for 2011. I have so many things I want to try in year two of my Peace Corps service (I am torn between feeling like it will be the longest year of my life and yet the shortest due to everything I want to try to accomplish…) but one of the things that I am really interested in trying is a local girls club. I have a couple of really great prospects (interested groups that are willing to try it with me) at the primary schools in my area with girls in sixth and seventh grades (this is right before they jump to high school which seems to be a really good age).  I have written an outline for about a 4 month trial club that would encompass topics regarding personal leadership, communication, goal setting, sexual health and choices, and of course being a powerful woman! I definitely plan to teach them a bit of yoga throughout the course along with doing fun, educational and empowering activities.
So, that's where you all come in?!  I am seeking a bit of financial support from my family and friends (and, heck, anyone who wants to donate funds really) to get some of the supplies so that I can get the club started…it is entirely voluntarily and please don’t feel obligated. But, if you need a good place to send a donation that will definitely make a difference in the life of a group of girls next year, please send any donation (from $1 to $1 million) to the following address (you can make any checks out to me):

Betty Kingston
18535 E Lawndale Place
Queen Creek, AZ 85142

My wonderful mom will collect your donations and deposit so that I can purchase supplies for the inaugural club. I will keep you updated as to the progress of the club and how your contribution has made a difference!

May you all have a beautiful holiday season among family and friends! I will be celebrating South African style this year but that doesn't mean I won't be thinking of you all and missing you terribly. 

Namaste,

Wendy

Michael Polo.

I feel like I’ve been so…productive?  This is a strange feeling.  It’s been a while. 

Anyway, we had our commencement ceremony for the 2010 Leaders Program last week at a local venue called the River’s Lodge.  It’s an older resort about 45 minutes away from my village on the Olifants River.  It was really a great venue to celebrate the end of the program for our children (the select group of about 35 leaders) at the drop-in centers.  We took them there for the day as an opportunity for an outing/celebration of their hard work.  We reviewed the highlights of the leadership program (talking about what they had learned), handed out certificates, announced the leaders who were selected for the special outing trip (a day trip to Graskop where we will visit some beautiful sites in Blyde River Canyon which I will be sure to tell you all about), and then, the best part, had a braii (the South African equivalent of a barbecue) and let them just play for the afternoon!  

At the resort, there was a big grassy area where the kids could play soccer, a volleyball court (sort of...it was a bit old but we still played), and, yes, a swimming pool.  Unfortunately, no one knows how to swim.  But, this did not stop them from getting in the pool.  They had a great time (while I faked being a lifeguard making sure there were no drownings).  I also tried to teach them how to play, "Marco Polo" which somehow became, "Michael Polo."  Oh, well. they still had fun playing.

And I learned the secret to staying cool.  Just wear wet clothes.  All of the time. 

 Ice Breakers.

Michael Polo.

2010 Phedisang Leaders.

 

Success.

I have posted pictures from the event that we hosted at our local Turkey Clinic in honor of World AIDS Day 2010 yesterday (and I also put up a few pictures from the day before where we baked for almost 8 hours).  I am so proud of my community.  That’s all I can really say.  May the people of South Africa continue to work together to create change...

WAD.

As you know (I’m sure all of you know?), World AIDS Day (WAD) is on Wednesday, December 1. I participated in an art exchange program with my fellow Peace Corps volunteers here in South Africa. For the art exchange, children in all of our various projects created art and then we mailed the art from our project to another volunteer. So then everyone gets art from another project to share in their community – all in attempt to teach/share information about HIV/AIDS. Well, I have been pushing to have an “event” in my little area for the community on World AIDS Day so that I can display the art but also so that we can create our own little awareness/education campaign.
So, I couldn't get anyone to plan anything despite my efforts. But, last week, I ran into one of the nurses at the clinic who I have a good relationship with and she was all over helping me. We met at the clinic the next day and created a program (everything has a program here – complete with who is going to do the opening prayer and closing remarks), made posters, wrote letters…it was great. But, too bad the day is less than a week away. I shouldn’t be surprised though as this is pretty normal.  Which is probably why no one wanted to plan anything "so far ahead" in the first place. 

But you must know that in order to have a successful event, food is imperative. I just can’t get over this expectation at events here. It’s the first thing anyone asks. “Will there be food?” Eish. Anyway, because we were planning this very last minute, we didn’t have any food. Or money for food. So we decided to ask for donations. We have been somewhat successful in getting a few supplies which means that tomorrow I will be spending the afternoon baking with the nurse and praying that we can find cups for the juice that was donated.

I will be sure to take pictures to post of the event. And I’ve already said that next year, we plan ahead.

Thank you.

On the eve of Thanksgiving, I thought that I should reflect upon just a few of those things that I am thankful for in my ever evolving life here in South Africa.

Piet. Piet is my host father here in South Africa and can make a really crappy day turn around quickly. When I come home he is quick to joke around with me and give me a hard time. Piet inspires me in so many ways.

Time. I’ve never had so much time on my hands in my life. To sit and read. Or talk to Piet. Or write in my journal. Or go for a walk. Listen to the kids play next door (or join in). Sleep. Practice yoga.

Fans (the ones that cool you off). It is so hot and I will never, ever take air conditioning or rainy days (snow, for that matter) or any type of coolness for granted again.

Kind, helpful taxi drivers. Speaks for itself.

Water. The lack of water is one of the biggest challenges in my area (and many parts of rural South Africa). When I have access to water, I am grateful.

My friends and family. I have a deep appreciation for my family more so than I have probably in my entire life. Being away has made me recognize the simplicity of being together with the people you love.

I hope that everyone simply appreciates being with their friends and family on Thanksgiving.

Happy Tofurkey Day.

Ants.

This is trivial but true. It seems that rainy season is upon us here in South Africa. Hot, disgusting, balmy, rainy season. This has created a problem for me (I say for me because it doesn’t seem to bother anyone else). On my way to work (or anywhere else for that matter), I encounter thousands upon thousands of ants. Imagine the ground being covered so thickly by ants that it's hard to see dirt. It is awful.

My problem has become getting from one point to another without them literally crawling up my feet and legs as they bite me in a rage. I now have nightmares of trying to get anywhere without trying to dodge these ants. Sometimes I will be walking with someone and I am literally jumping up and down because ants are biting me and the person is just looking at me strangely.  They seem fine?  It's bizarre.  How are they fine?  I’ve asked why these ants doen't bother anyone else and they say, “We’ve gotten used to it. Our skin is strong.” Amazing.

I really hate the ants.  Dare I say more than the heat. 

Picture this (no, really, I finally have pictures uploaded so make sure to look)

Do I really have to go back to work? I’ve been battling this question for the last 24 hours as I reacclimatize to my surroundings. I had my first African vacation and it was truly amazing. Let me explain.


As a Peace Corps volunteer, you arrive in a country and are whisked away to a small village (in the middle of the night in my experience) and this village didn't quite represent the Africa I had in mind because, of course, nothing ever is like you imagine. So this means that, although I have been in Africa, I have not seen any of the places that have lions, giraffes, or elephants. I have been in a village, with no running water, dusty streets, goats, cramped taxis, ants that never die...you get the picture. But last week, I took my first vacation here and saw a part of Africa that was truly amazing.

Now, I did not do a 5 star luxury tour. I still took public taxis and stayed in backpackers (dorm rooms where you share bathrooms – kind of like being in a college dorm room) but it was being a “tourist” which made it feel different. That, and the amazing places we visited. My fellow Peace Corps Volunteer companions (husband and wife, Chuck and Michelle) were gracious enough to let me tag along with them and we had an amazing adventure. Complete with a few mishaps (and mistakes) along the way but I don’t know that I would change a thing. Okay, except the fact that I did not purchase one single thing?! What?! No souvenirs?

Kruger Park was fantastic. We slept in a tent in the park (in a protected area) but still had a hyena stalking us just outside the fence. We saw 5 leopards (apparently unheard of) and one was stalking an impala while elephants and water buffalo wandered by...giraffes, rhinos, and hippos were also abundant. Amazing. There were a few moments of boredom (because you spend a lot of time waiting to see animals) but we took pictures (as you can see from our photos) and were sufficiently satisfied with our adventure.

Then it was off to Mozambique. We decided to save some money and arrived via public taxi – we walked over the border and were asked if we were “scared” to arrive via public taxi. Huh?! It was a horribly hot day but once we found food and a cold drink all was better (and it even hailed the afternoon we arrived which was quite surprising). Sleeping without mosquito nets proved interesting (poor Chuck) but then I had bigger problems when we arrived at the amazing beach town of Tofo where I was eaten alive by some unknown bugs. But, it was again worth the long bus ride and bug bites because the beach here was amazing. Truly. Miles of clear, blue ocean where diving is superb but running along the beach was even better and relaxing was by far my favorite pastime. We even paddled sea kayaks and rode in a traditional dhow boat.

On the way home (sweating in my taxi packed next to my fellow South Africans) I realized why Africa is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Well, because it is.