Bell the Protector.

I love Weet-Bix – which is not even that good. Weet-Bix is a sort of dry cereal type bar (South Africa’s #1 cereal is the claim...) that you are supposed to eat with milk but I just like eating dry. I think I am eating too much though. Can you have too much fiber in your diet?

Anyway, I am finding that life is getting better. At least this week it is better. Maybe every week just changes. I have relaxed about the language and actually find this makes it easier. I don’t know what made me so crazy last week (I really was a crazy lady). I was bound and determined that I was going to learn Sepedi in a couple of weeks…it ain’t happening. Plus, to report to you about my tutor situation. My young tutor did show up on Monday and Wednesday (although she didn’t come on Friday) and although she isn’t really a teacher she at least helps me practice plus I feel like it helps her practice her English. In addition, I randomly met a young high school teacher as I was walking home from the taxi and she said she would absolutely help me (after I butchered a few sentences). Her English is really good (as is her Sepedi) and she said that by the end of the year (thus my more realistic time frame) I will be speaking perfectly! And, in return, she wants me to teach her A.) to learn how to swim or B.) to learn how to drive. But, unfortunately, she is terrified of the water as well as cars (and I really don’t have access to either to be able to teach these skills). So, we will see how this all turns out. I’m just happy to be meeting people in my community!

Oh, one other highlight of my week was witnessing an impromptu HIV/AIDS discussion at one of our centers this week. I don’t really know if I have explained what the organization that I am working for does – it is an OVC Center (Orphans and Vulnerable Children) which means that we provide support for children who have lost one (or oftentimes both) of their parents usually as a result of HIV/AIDS. There are seven centers that my project is supporting and we feed children every day from ages 5-18 and then provide various activities they can do after school such as playing with toys, teaching games, singing, help with homework, etc. Thus, these kids are able to get a meal as well as some social support at the centers. Many of these children need more than food – when you think about the parenting that they are missing out on many of the kids look to our small staff to help teach them.  So, anyway, at one of the centers, some kids had some questions about HIV. Well, the staff then decided to sit everyone down and have a really honest discussion about the risks and consequences of being sexually active. Remember, these are children many of which have little to no support structure at home let alone talking to them about sex and HIV? It was amazing. I was really impressed with the exchange of information. It made me proud to be part of this organization and the work that we are doing.

I know that my time here is just starting…two years is a long time. I know that there will be ups and downs. This week has been a good week. 

Oh, and here is a picture of Bell, the friendly dog that I have somewhat adopted.  She rests outside my door and protects me (notice the burglar bars that also keep me protected).

Oh Sunday, Sunday.

Today is Sunday. I did my laundry. In lots of buckets. And while waiting for these items to dry while they blow in the smoke (I now realize that my clothes are drying on the line that is right beside where my host family is cooking outside today on the fire so my clothes will now smell like a campfire the next time I wear them - ahh, this is the life), I thought I would jot down a few of my deepest thoughts.


I am still on the verge of pulling my eyeballs out because I don’t understand 99% of the conversations that happen around me. Occasionally I can pick out words, “Bolela, tsebe, kereke, lapile, etc.” but the context and tone has me all confused with the many “aowa’s” and “ee’s” which just mean no and yes but sometimes bleed into other words. And then there are the “what what’s” which are thrown into conversation which just basically seem to be English slang words that are included as part of the common language/vocabulary. I have so much to learn. But, the good news. After a long and very difficult search (I literally started asking everyone that I would come into contact with that was remotely interested in my plea because I was so desperate to find someone to help me) I think I have found a language tutor. My host father’s niece introduced me to a recently graduated high school student that is going to come twice a week to help tutor me (cross your fingers she doesn’t back out)! It seems that teaching an American the language of Sepedi is not a fun job and therefore finding a tutor has been a difficult task. But, I have faith that my learning will progress quickly with my young teacher. And, if not, I will just give up.  Aowa!

In other news, I have somewhat adopted a dog. It is actually my neighbor’s dog but in a quest to make a new friend (I am the only one that doesn’t scare the dog or chase it away – they don’t really relate to the concept of keeping a dog as a pet here), I have landed myself a new pet. The dog now sleeps outside my door and lets me pet her (after quite a bit of coaxing). I wanted to name her “Bell” but after the request to translate the word bell into Sepedi (which was my original request to my host family) there has been some perplexion. They don’t know the Sepedi word for bell or maybe they just don’t know what I am asking which could definitely be the case (why would I want to have the dog as a pet and give it a name)? So, I may have to rethink her name or just keep calling her mpsa (which is dog).

At my organization I am learning about the work that is done on a day to day basis and although I feel that I am still in the observation stage (I won’t take on any projects for a while), it will be somewhere that I can contribute. I got to meet an great group of kids on Friday that was started by the previous voluteer (excellent work, Nick). He put together a program that helps teach them leadership skills. I am really excited about working more with this group.

Oh, and I also (accidentally) watched a chicken get slaughtered. It was the strangest thing. I was sitting outside my organization this week with the women (not understanding much that was being said but sitting there anyway as we were having a tea break) and all of a sudden one of the cooks grabs something from a large bucket and before I can look away I realize what is happening.  She has grabbed a chicken from the bucket and is taking her large knife and off comes the head in one swift maneuver. It was awful and fascinating at the same time. And then she just started working away and I couldn’t stop watching (well, I had to turn my head occasionally like I was watching a scary movie) but it was quite amazing.  This is a skill that I don't think I will master during my time here in South Africa.  But, wow. 

I am looking forward to getting the mail you will all be sending me soon so that when I head back to the post office (I have to take a taxi part of the way there and then walk not “too far but a little far” is the way to describe it here in South Africa) I have something to retrieve!  It is very disappointing to open an empty mailbox (that is my guilt trip to get you all to write)...much love to everyone.

Next post I will put up more pictures!

One week.

I survived my first week on my own, at my new volunteer “job,” in a new home. It wasn’t that easy I must admit and not for the reasons that you might initially think. No, I don’t have running water in my house/room. No running water also means I don’t have a toilet and walk outside to my pit latrine (which is missing a door) to use the bathroom. Plus, it’s terribly hot right now (and apparently for most of the year) in Limpopo. The bugs can be a bit overwhelming at times whether it’s a cockroach or the ants or a giant mosquito (or a visiting toad) all swarming and crawling around in unnecessary places. Washing clothes means they are done by hand in buckets (actually washing anything is by hand in buckets – clothes, dishes, me). Lots of buckets and filling and dumping of water.

But this was all quite tolerable compared to the challenge of making connections. It’s really hard to be not only the new person in town who can’t yet speak Sepedi (and of course I am the only white person which causes me to stand out). It’s difficult to not hear what is being said to or about me and I was really frustrated all week with the language barrier. It’s so hard for me to hear words in the context of conversations when everyone is speaking so darn fast (plus all I can really say is hello, my name is Lethabo, and that I slept well). I just hope that what my few friends in the village are telling me is true which is that I will eventually start to hear the language (and they promise to help me learn). I hope I can start to hear it soon or else I really might go crazy. Being left out of one more conversation is far worse than any bucket bath. But, just so you can see, here are a few pictures of my new home.  Ga ke tla bolele Sepedi mara ke ithuta (I don’t speak Sepedi but I will learn).  If it kills me and takes the entire 2 years.

Wherever you go, there you are...welcome to my new home in South Africa!

There's No Place Like Home

So I am finally an official Peace Corps Volunteer!  I have moved into my new home and am very happy to report that all is well (although I miss my host family very much and plan on visiting them as often as I can).  My organization is great and will keep me very busy and my "house" is a small "four square" that will suit me just fine.  I am still figuring out how to "decorate" but am very pleased.  I have so much to learn...the new language will be the most important.  But, for now, here I am in beautiful South Africa.

Oh, and please use my new address (it's posted on the right)!  It's ready to accept lots of mail from you!

Changes are happening!

I am again at an internet store checking email and thought I would say hello (Thobela)!  Since my last quick post there are changes potentially happening with my site placement so until further notice please hold off on sending me letters, candy, pictures, coffee, cookies, books, art supplies (you get the picture that I want goodies!) until further notice.  There are a couple of changes in the works so I may or may not have the same name/address.  I will let you know soon (I know you hang on my every word).
This will be my last week at our training/host site with my small community of Peace Corps "family" and my wonderful host family (pictures to come soon) and I will officially be sworn in as a volunteer (of course if I pass the tests that we will be taking on Monday and Tuesday).  Then, I will be taken away to my new community where I will be officially on my own.  Scary but true.  I will start making a home for myself meeting my co-workers, family and community.  I will let everyone know where I will be staying shortly and look forward to having more frequent internet access (I hope).

Oh, for anyone who is getting ready or thinking about joining the Peace Corps...it's an amazing opportunity but nothing I or anyone else can tell you will prepare you for this journey.  You just have to take it. 

Avuxeni (hello)!

I am alive and send my love!  I am happily matched with MAMA MONICCA and sister (her granddaughter) TUMI.  They are so loving!  MAMA only speaks Sotho but TUMI speaks English (she's 17) and they are great.  The village is called Machipe.  I am being taught Xitsonga because after I am with my host family for 2 months I will be going to a community that speaks Xitsonga (I think it will be north of here).  Love, Wendy (LETHABO). [posted for Wendy by Christine Blackmore]

So close...but yet so far.

It feels like I'm getting closer.  A couple of shots and a 17+ hour plane ride.  We will be there in no time.  I am in Washington, DC, with my fellow volunteers.  It feels good.  We have all started talking about why we made this decision and done a bit of bonding about luggage.  I think it's going well.  I don't know that I have learned anything more about our South African post (mostly we just discussed our commitment to the Peace Corps and then the logistics about making our way to South Africa) but all in good time.  When we land and start our PST (that's pre-service training) it sounds like we start cramming for finals.

I am excited, nervous, scared...I can't sleep.  Just like a little kid on Christmas night.