Training.

Sometimes I forget what I have written about and what I haven’t so forgive me if this is a repeat. One of the projects that I have been helping with at my drop-in centers for the last several months is training, training, training! During my community needs assessment way back in 2010 (ugh, it’s been a long time), training was identified as a priority. Although the staff and volunteers at my centers work with children, they do not have any training about how to care for or really work with children so training definitely seemed like a viable project to pursue.


We were able to work with a South African donor to assist with this training project and last June we received funding to train almost 40 of our staff and volunteers. Since August, we have been bringing the staff and volunteers from the centres together for a monthly training workshop so they can learn about things like the basic rights of children, the difference between discipline and punishment, hygiene and nutrition for children, and the importance of letting children make mistakes in order to learn (i.e., trial and error learning)! For some of the women, it’s been quite a challenge as they haven’t been in a classroom setting for 20+ years (and their attention span is like that of small child!). They have also had to write their assessments in English (which is not easy for many of them) and learn new, and oftentimes challenging, concepts. Mostly, I have been quite pleased with their progress and willingness to try. I know it isn’t easy. In January, they will submit their assessments for review and (cross your fingers) most of them will pass and receive a basic child and youth care certification. And if they don’t pass?! Well, I hope they have at least benefited from being in the training and learning something about how to work with children. Through my time here I’ve come to believe that sometimes the learning is in the process not in the end result...

Here they are working on writing an assessment, eating lunch (believe me, this was an important part of the day) and one of our group photos in front of the church where we held the training.

Giving Thanks (Again).

Today is Thanksgiving although it doesn’t feel like it much (again…yes, this is year two of celebrating yet another Thanksgiving alone). But, your American Peace Corps volunteers are trying to keep their holiday spirits high by sending texts to each other with holiday greetings and dreaming of stuffing, pie, and (in my case) tofurkey. I did, though, want to make sure to share with you (again) just a few of the things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving.

A new pit toilet at my house!
Rainy days during the summer heat to cool things down (like today)
Little kids screaming my name when I’m having a bad day, “Lethabo! How are you?!”
My mom and dad always supporting me no matter how crazy and non-conventional my choices
Vacations to beautiful African places
Good books
Watching cows stubbornly stand in the middle of the road just daring a car to try to hit them
Being able to wear flip-flops almost every day (except for the stepping on the nail incident this week)
Mango trees in almost every yard here
Dancing in my room and calling it a “workout”
Letters and packages from home (seriously, I love getting mail)
My family and friends, new and old

I miss my family and friends at home terribly and think of you every day but am so grateful for my new, extended family here in South Africa. The family that has let me stay in their home for two years (Piet and Ester and Kagiso). The community of Ga-Sekororo that has embraced me including people like Sheron, Olga, Charity, Spokes, Malepe, Motsatsi, and Sara. And also the Peace Corps Volunteers that will forever be part of my family because of this shared experience. I love you all and hope that everyone has a happy, happy Thanksgiving! And, if there is any way you can send me Christmas candy in my next package…I would be thankful for that too!?

Toothaches and Hiking.

So I had to take a little trip to the city to visit the dentist. I have been experiencing some problems with my tooth. Oh, you know, a little toothache. Well, the poor dentist here in South Africa had to deal with me fainting in his chair to get out some decay under an old cavity (I don’t particularly like the dentist and this combined with my fear of needles tends to lead to some problems when I visit the dentist). After this horrible visit I left hoping I would be toothache free. Well, I was not. So, I decided to go on a hike to see if putting a little time and space between me and the dentist would help.


So, off I went on an amazing hike in the Drakensburg mountains – it is a truly spectacular area in Kwazulu-Natal Province that I have not had the pleasure of visiting since my time here. Along with three other volunteers we braved hiking without a guide and “didn’t die” which was my one request before we set off. We did get slightly lost but it was worth it as we stumbled upon an amazing camping spot and cooked our rice and beans as the sun went down. We swam in some beautiful water pools and enjoyed the wide open space (we didn’t see one other person during our hike). It was a wonderful little vacation and I didn’t even think about my tooth…too much.

But, alas, I returned for another dreaded dentist appointment upon my return and was told that I probably have to get a root canal. Hopefully they can heavily sedate me. But, at least I got to go on a hike (and I have pictures...of my hike, not my tooth!)

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! 

Babies!

My friend had a baby last week. I have been waiting for her to have this baby for months (which is kind of how it works, I suppose)? She is probably one of my closest friends here and I am happy to introduce you to Reuben Motsatsi…is he not the cutest (but notice how he is crying when I am holding him but not when his mom is holding him)? 

A few interesting facts you might want to know:

Reuben’s father will not see him until he turns 3 months old (it’s not permitted) – he will only get to see pictures of little Reuben.

Reuben’s grandmother (on his father’s side) went to the hospital and selected his name (even though his father wasn’t allowed to be there or have any input into what his name would be).

Reuben’s mother and father can’t see each other (they can’t even be in the same room) until Reuben is 3 months old. And it will be another 6 months before they can…well, you know.

Reuben and his mom aren’t permitted to attend their church until after he is 3 months old.

And there are lots of other rules that I didn’t really understand (or couldn’t translate that well) - some of them are cultural and some of them have to do with the religious beliefs of the family. 

But, other than that, he’s perfectly happy and healthy and as cute as can be. I’ve even offered to take him back to America with me. Unfortunately they didn't agree to this...so, I'll just take lots of pictures.