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!