Nearly four months to the day since I left California for Peace Corps (and wrote my first and last blog post). Thanks to free wifi for the next three days, I am now able to share stories from South Africa.
Tomorrow, I get sworn in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer. After eight weeks of Pre-Service Training (PST), seven weeks at site doing a Community Need Assessment (CNA) and a final four weeks of In-Service Training (IST), we’re being let loose in the field.
For the past four weeks, we’ve had a two week language intensive, presented our CNAs, had workshops with our supervisors and then our counterparts, and been introduced to all sorts of neat tools, resources and organizations. Honestly, it’s been an exhausting IST and I can’t wait to get back to my township in KwaZulu Natal.
In an effort to share a bit more of what I’ve been up to and seen in South Africa, I thought I’d post a few photos and stories.
Mosesetjane Village
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Homestay in Mosesetjane,
Limpopo Province |
I stayed in Mosesetjane Village during Pre-Service Training and In-Service Training. Moset, for short, is about 15km outside of Mokopane in Limpopo Province. Tar roads make way for red dusty roads smattered with boulders and cow dung. Dwellings vary, from tin shacks with crumbling walls to titled-rooved, brick houses with beautiful carved wooden doors, manicured gardens and high security walls. Mostly though, life happens in streets, around tuck shops, and in dim taverns.
Like many other volunteers' homes, my house was half finished, partially furnished and fabulous. It had electricity but no running water, we relied on the neighbors pump across the street for water. The walls in each room gave way to rafters,ledges where the occasional brave rat or mouse would scurry at night. Every night I dutifully mopped up the puddles of spilled bath water from my basin showers and moved my "chamber" toilet into the old pit latrine. These tasks have became part of my life here. Some days I crave a hot shower, but for the most part I've just fallen into the routine, this new order that determines how I move through life in Moset.
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Extended homestay family
at our Farewell Celebration |
Language and training sessions began early every morning. Now that winter has arrived, mornings are cold and dark. My host mom leaves early for work, but warms bath water for me in an old coffee tin as she leaves. I wake up to the house of roosters, dogs, children whistling to each other, and the hiss of the boiling water hitting the stove. Only two more morning in that house with those sounds.
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Vendors prepare for pension day
in Moset |
My host family has taken a much appreciated laid back approach with me. Istead of force-feeding me pap, fried eggs and white bread, they've let me cook my own food or vegetarian dishes and eat on my own schedule. So thankful for the Leso family.
In the last two weeks we've been shuttled 45 minutes from Moset to a lodge and game reserve outside of town for workshops and training sessions. We've been introduced to programs from Operation Hope, Grassroots Soccer, I Act, the Kings Foundation, SOUNS, Special Olympics South Africa and Fit for Life. Each has a unique program and focus, some of which will be very useful at my township.
As these sessions come to a close, its hard not to look forward at the next two years. Once again, I'm in transition.
Stay tuned for another post with highlights from technical trainings, weekend adventures and hilarious encounters.
