tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53230213778235978792024-03-13T12:56:25.412-04:00On we gokattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-80615291176061223922016-11-01T09:37:00.001-04:002016-11-01T09:37:47.662-04:00next phaseSo, on with the next portion of our journey...parenting. John and I have been slowly working our way through the process of fostering from training, CPR & first aid certification, lots paperwork, interviews and getting our house up to spec to all the required heart to heart conversations that go along with any decision that drastically impacts family, friends, and our life as well as the child/children we will take into our home. We finally finished the process of getting approved (YEAH!!!) early October and in the same call that informed me of our approval I got a proposal of our potential placement. While was exciting it was also a little scary as we began to question everything about ourselves. Unlike having a really young child we had to worry about things like, what if he doesn't like us? <br />
<br />
Our placement...he is an amazing and energetic middle schooler who just turned 13 a week after moving in with us. Yes, we have a teenager now. He also has siblings all living in different places and has lived in many different places over the years himself. He has become attached to many people who have been taken away from him throughout his life and has only had one year of his schooling where he began and ended the school year in the same school. He has had many different people telling him who and what he should be all with conflicting ideas of what that means. His short life has had more loss and challenges than many adults that I know and he deals with it better than most of them, especially since he has had no control over any of these decisions. Even though he has only been living with us for 3 weeks, he is our kid and our number one priority. We want nothing more than for him to be happy, healthy and succeed in life (success does not mean rich, success means self confident, physically and emotionally healthy, having healthy relationships feeling in control of his situation and able to support himself in the long run). <br />
<br />
Some of the questions running through our head are:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>How do we deal with school and the multiple appointments along with work, especially given that many people in our life and work do not treat growing a family through fostering the same as growing a family through having a baby (many people thing it is plug and play which is not the case)? </li>
<li>How do we help catch him up at school? </li>
<li>How can we get him to fully trust us and let him know that we want him to stay long term if that is what he wants? </li>
<li>Who is he and who does he want us to be? I feel like we know him somewhat well but there is always something to learn. </li>
<li>How do we keep up with all the paperwork and required training? </li>
<li>How do we maintain his current healthy relationships, especially since we do not know anything about the people he has had in his life (friends, etc) if they are people we should maintain contact with or discourage? </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
We also now have long term questions such as how do we get to the point where we can try to get his sibling(s) and how fast is too fast for Travis and us while weighing the other's welfare?<br />
<br />
One of my biggest frustrations lately has been work and how if I had a kid I would have been granted a maternity/paternity leave. I do not need a long time, just enough to get through the initial several weeks of appointments and change. Yet here I am completely out of PTO and if I take any unpaid time off (can't take FMLA due to only being here 11 months) they can post my job. We really need to work on doing more to support foster kids and foster families. It is hard enough putting kids into a new home with all the stresses involved (not to mention any historical stresses that are probably still affecting them) yet to increase their stress level by making it even harder for foster parents who are already struggling with change and doing everything in their power not to take it out on the kids.<br />
<br />
An additional thing I struggle with is all the comments other people make about us as foster parents (both out of kindness or assumptions about the system/kids). For some comments people make: here is a great blog post: <a href="http://www.ourgoodfamily.org/2016/02/what-foster-parents-dont-want-to-hear/">http://www.ourgoodfamily.org/2016/02/what-foster-parents-dont-want-to-hear/</a><br />
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The system is a challenge, but all the restrictions, paperwork, training, rules, and appointments are there for a reason and most foster parents completely understand this within a short time because there are so many things about a child's (or adult) behavior where it would be hard to identify cause without seeing the tiny patterns. We do daily and weekly logs that help us see this and not just fall into bed at the end of the night thinking today was a challenge, maybe tomorrow will be better. We have to discuss what actually happened that day. Kids in foster care are amazing kids there through no fault of their own. They are struggling with the challenges of growing up compounded by the challenges of losing everything at least once and often over and over again. No matter what happened to these kids before foster care, their family was their family and world and they loved them. It was all they knew. Some of them had really good parents who were lost due to death, illness, or imprisonment.<br />
<br />
People make assumptions about them being behavior problems, but how many people did not have a friend who grew up with their parents who had behavior issues (or maybe you were that friend). Not all of them have behavior problems just like bio families. My son is no different that your son or daughter except that we know we need to get to know each other and all our firsts are happening at a different age. I can't make assumptions about who he is based on his history, we have to talk about everything and don't have habits (both bad and good) that have been built through years. I wish I had memories of his younger years, but we have the rest of our lives to make memories.<br />
<br />
Getting to know my son and his brothers is one of the best things to happen in my life!<br />
<br />kattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-78140945303492416552013-03-10T15:05:00.000-04:002013-03-10T15:05:02.849-04:00A very sad day<br />
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Well, today is officially my first day after Peace Corps
service and I feel a huge hole in my life where my Botswana friends and family
belong (this is not exclusive to Motswana, but encompasses everyone there
including Peace Corps volunteers and staff).
To let those who don’t know what
happened in on the last month and a half, John and I were sent to the USA for
medical purposes and with the full expectation and desire to come back to our
home in Botswana. We completed
everything successfully and were cleared by our Dr and due to one last request
from Peace Corps (with only 1.5 weeks left) to be cleared by another type of Dr
which it takes weeks to get an appt I was unable to get an appointment in time
and have been medically separated.
Officially as of yesterday I have been medically separated and John has
interrupted service. What this means is
that if I can fulfill the last clearance and we complete all the Close of
Service requirements we can be reinstated but the reinstatement process can
take a couple weeks, we are not guaranteed the same site and our close of
service date would change. So, we are in
limbo, still. We are doing everything in
our power to get reinstated, but also have to set up life here in the USA and
which ever happens first dictates our choice.
</div>
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Since we have been back in Louisville, our families have
been amazing and we want to thank them tremendously for the support they have
been giving us (as well as the few friends I have reached out to). We have been
partially behaving like hermits because the whole experience is a lot to take
in between culture shock and feeling like we have had the rug pulled out from
under us for the next 8 months of our life.
All of our plans and desires have just disappeared. The first 16 months of our service was rough
due to a broken foot and focusing so much of our time in the village because we
planned to do some of the fun stuff for us, travel, visit our Botswana family
& PCVs, and do collaborative projects more.
In the months right before leaving, I finally felt like I got into my
swing with the projects which meant most to me and now I will not be able to complete
them. A lot of this has not been written
up on here, but I would like to do updates to fill in the gaps. I am also sad about the way we left. We did not get to see everyone we wanted to
as many of our friends are scattered all over the country and the ones we saw
we had more of a somber goodbye rather than celebrating the time there. Most of all I am sad that I will never see
many of my good friends again or even be able to talk to them, especially the
kids who have no access to e-mail. Just
thinking about this makes me want to cry out of such a profound sense of
loss. I am not who I was before I left
and never want to be that person again but I have to figure out who I am and
who I want to be. I know this is a
journey we all take throughout life, but being in the middle of it right now is
a lonely place. One thing I really
looked forward to with completing service with everyone else is having such a
big support group in the Bots 11s who all came over with us and will all end
around the same time dealing with the same stuff. Instead now there are just a few of us
dealing with the same thing. I am
thankful for my fellow Bots 11s who are “this side” right now and how we are
supporting each other as well as those still in Bots who reach out and are
receptive. Right now as I feel so lonely
I also know I have so many caring families all over the world yet when I joined
the Peace Corps, I only had mine and my husband’s which felt like a huge gift in
and of itself. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For those friends in the US that I have not contacted,
please know I will in time, it’s just that the culture shock on top of
everything else has been a lot to take and in some ways is harder than when I
went to Botswana. </div>
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<br /></div>
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John and I love you all and have and will tremendously miss
our Bots crew. If we do not make it back
to serve we hope to visit before the Bots 11 COS.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tracy</div>
kattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-78031071325739385522013-01-07T09:06:00.003-05:002013-01-07T09:06:57.878-05:00Winky Blinky<br />
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Sad news, while we were on vacation in Namibia, Sally
(the Winkster) got out of the house and
has not returned. She was gone a couple
days before we returned and we have now been back 4 nights with no sign of
her. We spent time walking around the
village calling her name and asked people all over the village to be on the
look out for her, but alas there has been no sign. Given the nature of our village I do not imagine
she is still alive as there are many dogs, people drive cars very fast and
drunk and many people hate cats and link them to witchcraft. I have heard people talk about killing cats
and the only one (other than those living with the Afrikkaner family) I have
seen here was dead. Much as I would love
to hold out hope I can’t. <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">L</span> We would let her out sometimes, but she was
never gone for more than an hour or 2.
Normally when I woke at night I would see her lying by the open window
just watching us sleep.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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What was Sally to us?
She was more than part of the family, she was the only thing during our
experience that was always positive, even when she brought mice in the house
(both dead and alive), woke us up in the early morning and came back covered with
tlhoeleles (spikeys and I am sure I butchered the name) that we had to pick
off. The first few times these things
irritated us, but it was nice knowing that she meant well with the mice, we
could never oversleep (as she tended to start meowing as soon as our alarm went
off and didn’t really stop until we got up…she just wanted us up not food) and
picking off the spikeys were almost meditative.
Sally almost never fought us on that, she was very patient and seemed to
like it a bit. She even let us rub her
belly, pick her up without a fight, stick my finger between her toes (which
most cats hate), and wherever we were she followed us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Sally was also entertainment (and that is something there
is not much of here) through playing with her, personifying her actions, and
just laughing at the kooky things she often did, like finding her way under our
winter blanket in the middle of summer while we were sweating like crazy. She
would find her way into the most unlikely spots and positions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Most importantly she was unconditional love. She accepted us for who we are and enjoyed
being around us. She never told us we
are doing things wrong, never lied to us, never made us feel like we should not
be here and are not wanted, never laughed about rape, child abuse or other
horrible things, never made us repeat something 15 times until we said it
right, never left us out of things or said something we can not understand
looked at us and started laughing, never told us we should give her our clothes
(or camera, computer, lunch, basically anything), and never expected us to buy
them a ticket to the USA or find them an American spouse, and never told us that
we should cheat on our spouse with them. At the end of the day she was therapeutic,
helped us handle whatever crap came our way and made our house a home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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All in all she was a cool cat and will be missed
tremendously!</div>
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08833497903122521216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-15048030024063316512013-01-06T15:00:00.000-05:002013-01-07T09:01:17.771-05:00And now for your amusement and entertainment: A co-written post in the 1st person<br />
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This post is long overdue. More than a couple weeks ago John and I had
the pleasure of hosting a visit from some of our friends from the USA, Jen
& Liz. We had an amazing time! It was wonderful to share our life here and
have our first real trip with such great friends.<o:p></o:p></div>
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They flew through Johannesburg
in SA and spent a night there and we met them in Gabs the next morning…getting
to the airport was a mess for us at first as the taxi we had set up the night
before had a flat tire and only let us know when we called 5 minutes after he
should have arrived. We set up the ride with someone we did not know well since
our normal taxi would have to have picked us up an hour early (7am) and we
wanted a bit more sleep…bad mistake. The
taxi driver then proceeded to give us a number for another taxi who was out of
town. We trekked to the local shopping
center (which was not open yet) in the rain and luckily found the only taxi
driver who dramatically overcharged us, but we got there in time which was all
that mattered at that point. While
relaxing with a cup of filter coffee their plane landed and I was overcome with
excitement and nervousness. Up to this
point it was like I had two separate lives, my Peace Corps life and my USA life
and in only moments the two would merge.
Thoughts were rolling through my head about who I was, who I now am, and
wonder about how much I have changed.
That’s the amazing thing about a true friendship though you are accepted
for who you are! Thanks Jen &
Liz! After lots of hugs, we went to pick
up the rental car and headed to our lodge.
This day really composed of running errands (getting groceries for the
road), heading to a San (local tribe in our neck of the woods) art exhibit at
the museum, and just generally catching up with each other. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We had a great breakfast at
Metcourt with lots of bacon and other goodies and then got on the road. After a quick initiation of avoiding a baby
goat without hitting any humans on the first day, Jen got the full driving
experience in Botswana. Before the trip
would end we would see 4 lanes worth of passing vehicles on 2 lane roads, elephants
crossing at elephant crossing signs, more cows than a factory farm, the Tropic
of Capricorn, and a number of precariously loaded vehicles. Stopping for gas the first time, we spent
about 5 minutes trying to find the little latch in the car that would open the
gas tank and after reclining the seat and popping the hood, someone finally
figured it out. It needed to be pushed
from the outside and it opened right up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We arrived at the Rhino Reserve
in Serowe and were very impressed. The
four person chalet was spacious and had a braai pit right outside. We got in our first game drive of the trip
and saw impalas, warthogs, zebras, and black rhinos. We got within 50 yards of a small herd of
rhinos and sat in tranquil silence at the majestic scene. We noticed there were notched out of most of
their ears and our guide explained that it is an anti-poaching technique. All the samples are sent to an international
center that catalogs the DNA and if someone is caught with rhino horns then
they can trace where it came from to see who was responsible. It was a great day and perfect weather for
the drive. We ended the day with a meal
from the restaurant and a fire in the braai pit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We continued north and completed
our first quest of the trip: finding a BeMobile Sim card. In Gaborone we went to 4 different places
looking for one and were unsuccessful including a BeMobile store (this would be
like going to AT&T and them telling you sorry we don’t have phone plans
right now). We grabbed a local delicacy,
the wonderful Fat Cake (makwinya - deep fried dough), and got some gas. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We made it to Nata Lodge where
we checked in then headed out to meet Caroline who is a good friend of ours
from Hukuntsi (featured in some photos previously on the blog making fajitas
with us) and was transferred to the Senior Secondary School. She was kind enough to give us a tour of the
school so Jen & Liz got to see a bit of the non-tourist parts of Bots. This was a beautiful new school where the
majority of students are boarders. It
has the normal issues where many classes have no teachers but the reasons seem
administrative and bureaucratic rather than lack of trained teachers as many
teachers have to wait years after completing schooling to get posted. Jen and Liz also got to see a Kgotla and
local driving school as Caroline had a lesson there in the evening when we left
her. We ended the evening with dinner at
the lodge and drinks on the back porch of one of the rooms.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tuesday began our trek to Zambia
from Nata. On the way we stopped in
Kasane with the intent of leaving our rental car at one of the local lodges,
but first ran errands and grabbed cash at the ATM. While waiting in line I unexpectedly ran into
Octavius who I thought lived farther from Kasane. He graciously allowed us to leave the car at
his place and we all hung out for a little bit before having to catch a cab to
the ferry (there is no road, only a ferry to get across). The Bots side of the ferry was sparsely
populated but tarred roads, but the Zambia side was seemingly utter madness
with cars everywhere waiting to cross, mud all over (our car would have had a
hard time making it), and taxi drivers & hawkers who accosted us as soon as
we left the immigration area. John
quickly ran to find out the currency translation rate to pula and we negotiated
a taxi ride to Livingston where they dropped us at the ATM to withdraw money so
we could pay them. It was madness, but
nice to see that kind of commerce and entrepreneurial spirit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We checked into Jolly Boys, a
nice hostel, for the evening and went for a walk to find some dinner. Stopping at a pie shop, we got chicken
peri-peri & the illusive spinach & cheese pie which we have been on a
quest for all throughout Botswana. I guess we were just looking in the wrong
country. Then our tour of Livingstone
continued to a mall with vendor stalls where vendors will barter and negotiate
price. Although it was fun I was taken
completely by surprise and extremely out of practice because most people in
Bots won’t negotiate. The amount of
customer service and salesman ship was amazing and great to see so close to
Botswana where those are not strong qualities. On the way back to the lodge we
ran into Rachel & Julia, other PCVs, and spent a relaxing evening just hanging out at the bar in the
backpackers. It is always great to know
our friends get along well!<o:p></o:p></div>
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This
part of the trip is best summed up with pictures! We went to the Royal Livingstone Hotel and
got just feet away from zebras & giraffes.
This was just before we took a boat to Vic Falls,<br />
Zambia side, and into Devils Pool. We
took some pictures of the falls from a side view and then put our camera into
the hands and waterproof bag of our guide.
He took a small canoe over while we got to swim through the falls to a
small island of rock!! The water was
warm and refreshing and the experience was fantastic. All four of us jumped into the small pool of
water that is literally right on the edge of the waterfall. After hanging over the side and being
constantly on guard against the small fish that bit at our toes we swam back to
the mainland and were fed Eggs Benedict and coffee. All this before noon. Again we can’t recommend this enough if you
find yourself nearby and in the mood for an adrenaline rush. While waiting for our taxi to arrive we were
serenaded by an eight person choir singing traditional songs. There were very few guests about so it was
like a personal show just for us.
Sitting there in shorts and a tee-shirt I felt a little uncomfortable,
but that passed and we got a ride back to the backpacker. The truck from the next place we were to
stay, Jungle Junction, was pretty late so our group drank some beer and Tracy
and I played pool on the worst pool table ever.
The rails fell off if the ball hit them so all bank shots were out. The tables in southern Africa I have seen so
far are pale comparisons against American ones anyhow but this one took the
cake. If you made a ball you had a
fifty-fifty chance when it went through the return that it would fly out the
side of the table and roll away on the ground.
It was fun mostly because it was ridiculous. The truck arrived full of supplies so we all
crammed into the bed of the truck. There
was a mattress for some and others got the wheel well. It became a bumpy ride and between branches
smacking me in the face and trying to keep crickets from taking my eyesight I
was pretty preoccupied.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;"> </span>Thus began our time at Jungle Junction
which was an amazing relaxing place to let go of the weariness of travel. It is an island about a kilometer long with
outdoor showers and a self-service bar.
We arrived by dugout canoes, and got introduced to the staff that live
on the island and were warned to secure valuables as the monkeys who live here
like to filch things. Our time here
included a mix of activities for differing people such as a village tour, hiked
the island in search of hippo tracks, mokolo (mokoro or canoe) rides to go swim
and an evening campfire. One day we
ventured back into Botswana, in Chobe Park, for a game drive. It was broken up into two activities: a 4x4
and a boat ride. The 4x4 allowed us to
see all kinds of birds, a ton of elephants and we even got to a spot where they
crossed the road letting us get within 30 feet of them. The highlight for me was seeing a momma lion
and her cub walk around. I could have
watched her all day and we certainly wanted to take the cub back. I think Sally could find a way to befriend
her! She could definitely teach her
hunting skills. Also on our 4x4 ride
there was a dung beetle attack. These
mostly hollow bullet bugs can get as big a thumb and have a super hard
exoskeleton, but the oddity is that they fly.
You see them all the time careening through the air like something from
a video game. Well the truck was going
pretty quick and it had a canvas top but was open otherwise and the dung beetle
smacked right into someone. I was a seat
back so I never got the details, but between Jen and Liz they got it out of the
truck. No one went to the hospital so it
is now just a good story.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We reluctantly left the island
and due to the local currency we paid over a million kwacha all together so we
felt pretty flush. At the local Zambian
markets you can get the old inflated Zimbabwean dollars. I think the highest is 50 trillion
dollars. If we make it back that side I
want to pick up a “set of them” to get a little brick of history and a good
reminder of what inflation and bad governance can do to a country. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
This began our trek back to
Gabs. In the morning Brett and Max drove
us to the border and we had to say a sad farewell to Zambia. We crossed the border (ran into a nurse from
a village near Hukuntsi that Tracy knew – it is a small country), stopped for
cookies (very important as they were mint coconut chocolate crème
biscuits…mmm), picked up the car from Octavius and bid him a sad farewell, then
headed out to Francistown where we stopped for the night. We made it back in time for Mid-Service Training
and Jen and Liz became well versed in all that Gaborone has to offer. I am sure there are huge gaps in events even
some off timing, but we wanted to share another part of our adventure with
you. We love and miss you all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tracy and John<o:p></o:p></div>
Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08833497903122521216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-3925903862796562342012-10-24T10:46:00.000-04:002012-10-24T10:46:13.444-04:005 and 1<br />
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September brought Tracy and I some milestones (or maybe
kilometermarkers would be more appropriate?) in the form of being in Botswana
for a full year and also celebrating our five year wedding anniversary. Both of these seem equally unlikely while at
the same time quite concrete.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Every so often I will bring up a story about high school or
living in Australia and get surprised that Tracy doesn't remember being
there. Of course she is surprised since
we did not even know each other back then.
The other side of the coin is looking back at photos and realizing how
much we have grown and developed in the space of 5 years. Some big accomplishments seem small and other
ones have engrossed our lives. Learning
to talk openly, honestly, and often seemed like a no-brainer, but has been one
of the most rewarding aspects of our marriage for me and one of the most
difficult at times. We have gotten to
travel to Cumberland Falls, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador and the rainforest,
India, all over the USA, and now live in Africa. Just shy of a new continent for each year of
marriage – watch out Antarctica we are coming for ya’!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also our individual growth over the last half a decade
shocks and delights me. I have now quit
smoking, moved out of my dad’s rental house (that had no stove or kitchen
cabinets, but a sheik’s quality vanity in the bathroom) got a degree, sold a
house, cut my hair, had a “real” job, lost that job, got another “real” job,
quit that one, and moved 8,079 miles away from home (12,999 km). The Peace Corps has brought out aspects of me
that I never knew existed and has given me a real respect and understanding for
what immigrants that come to America experience. I am especially glad to have spent these last
5 years with a thoughtful and loving wife engaged in enjoyable and good times.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We did finally get away to Maun, Botswana for a small
anniversary celebration and went on a motor boat jaunt. It was fun but we realized we have been
skimping too much on vacations. One year
in and I have yet to see an elephant or giraffe!! Luckily our friends Jenn and Liz are heading
here in about a month and we are going to see a lot of things we have wanted
to. It will be along the eastern coast
of Botswana and will include Victoria Falls (Zambia side) and the Rhino
sanctuary. I am really looking forward
to traveling for pleasure and some relaxation.
For a view on traveling and vacations here that I completely agree with,
a good friend of ours wrote an excellent post that really captures how it
feels: <a href="http://livinglearningandservinginbotswana.blogspot.com/2012/09/exhaustion.html">http://livinglearningandservinginbotswana.blogspot.com/2012/09/exhaustion.html</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkr6egmbr8iC1ElBxZ1Vg2wcLnDVFg_bsNI4IeYJ6kl-AwHbzEdiNptblVnZDi3TfB0-irWVBhO9TEY0VdxCb5XZlihGXtTedomyE2ZtVVu-XwHrG9VcM2T2mEdFtTrQhjLpyDTuIsa0/s1600/01+Maun+old+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkr6egmbr8iC1ElBxZ1Vg2wcLnDVFg_bsNI4IeYJ6kl-AwHbzEdiNptblVnZDi3TfB0-irWVBhO9TEY0VdxCb5XZlihGXtTedomyE2ZtVVu-XwHrG9VcM2T2mEdFtTrQhjLpyDTuIsa0/s320/01+Maun+old+bridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEACv3ZP9Gv1VVVFGwD4TIwavYUdGQMAbtT7u_X6O_qHRn9hOgah-JbMlJ_g3_FDlXtet4p2005TY3nQHC_U5dm1puZy3CFM4D3Fdbux5tvMy6UW6UPEoxn_54ZH50BpOfB2o-w-cEWxY/s1600/02+Maun+landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEACv3ZP9Gv1VVVFGwD4TIwavYUdGQMAbtT7u_X6O_qHRn9hOgah-JbMlJ_g3_FDlXtet4p2005TY3nQHC_U5dm1puZy3CFM4D3Fdbux5tvMy6UW6UPEoxn_54ZH50BpOfB2o-w-cEWxY/s320/02+Maun+landscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The landscape</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQBqkwzvd8XRYFhMtFODUFJWpjNNrFxcg82te-vJ_RWX19NiUOyL0qcx7pqMRtoGZyrnMpClAmvYmROe4NQoBw57b19I0u-T7jdMVrCzagh6CyOrZ_eSSal0YCU2R27VHY-R3uH_aPO4/s1600/03+Maun+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQBqkwzvd8XRYFhMtFODUFJWpjNNrFxcg82te-vJ_RWX19NiUOyL0qcx7pqMRtoGZyrnMpClAmvYmROe4NQoBw57b19I0u-T7jdMVrCzagh6CyOrZ_eSSal0YCU2R27VHY-R3uH_aPO4/s320/03+Maun+sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After being in Botswana for a year, I am happy to say we are
doing well and still challenged on a daily basis. We find inspiration almost as often though
and that makes it worthwhile. We are
working on a “Child Abuse talk” for the local school teachers and have a great
counterpart and team being assembled.
Both Tracy and I have some work to do for it, but it is the kind of
thing we envisioned doing here. The
school year is winding down now and I will not see a lot of the graduates again
so there is a bit of sadness. We got to
attend the Form 3 party for the departing students and it went
wonderfully. Mr. Keitatotse and I had
put together a “movie” (more a slideshow with music) of a trip the students got
to go on. It was a big hit and the kids
loved seeing themselves on the screen. I
learned we needed more close ups of individuals and surprisingly pictures of
the buses. No idea why but they went
crazy over the buses. One of the newest
teachers sang a song and danced for them also.
He really stole the show and was very entertaining. I need to get him to help me with some dance
moves and choreography. They also had a
3 man play that addressed the importance of education, but I missed a lot of
the finer points since it was in Setswana and I have not grasped the language
as I had initially hoped.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWmdrqIkEQk3i9KqTJ9S5Q4q1sdwjXxdR1wgZcJF-DkBQR_zdIl5tRWoqcuP3AwvCkZn5GVvWoXp6PLHZPqL4TSlmHjdnv7ycBcDDuxp9GKFh0GNci-YWL_7qWyT9eHAzAZFrm36lu9Q/s1600/04+Mr+Dimbo+and+Soldier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWmdrqIkEQk3i9KqTJ9S5Q4q1sdwjXxdR1wgZcJF-DkBQR_zdIl5tRWoqcuP3AwvCkZn5GVvWoXp6PLHZPqL4TSlmHjdnv7ycBcDDuxp9GKFh0GNci-YWL_7qWyT9eHAzAZFrm36lu9Q/s320/04+Mr+Dimbo+and+Soldier.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Dimbo and Soldier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GtCtG7_9FIaDmirLVd2d7GM2rCLLwY2z1TXDc9ZGbFR_SVoYoZAey6cLgEtoCoTsAvl4GLAOCjxXeLAIwmvMXrhAi5vJeg1dhSik8T9Lmro37xXJFRwmkd6LdCAn9RL8Rgj_DGhULso/s1600/05+gymnastics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GtCtG7_9FIaDmirLVd2d7GM2rCLLwY2z1TXDc9ZGbFR_SVoYoZAey6cLgEtoCoTsAvl4GLAOCjxXeLAIwmvMXrhAi5vJeg1dhSik8T9Lmro37xXJFRwmkd6LdCAn9RL8Rgj_DGhULso/s320/05+gymnastics.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gymnastics</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERq03MGfSKWMHm0WWLzq42rmRvwWSYndXPPjveNWqqnZw4hwo9tIgIxcWS0shXFPL6qjARYJ08ecDqTZKWpQ38OiwG2mQQ3FE5xwCARYK1u-NbbI7d1LMNLDVC-2Btz0MAEEO0lgunKQ/s1600/06+Everyone+wants+to+watch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERq03MGfSKWMHm0WWLzq42rmRvwWSYndXPPjveNWqqnZw4hwo9tIgIxcWS0shXFPL6qjARYJ08ecDqTZKWpQ38OiwG2mQQ3FE5xwCARYK1u-NbbI7d1LMNLDVC-2Btz0MAEEO0lgunKQ/s320/06+Everyone+wants+to+watch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone wants to watch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybF6R_4HVA6mrCqEBcSVcBZCOSs3EE02ORmlI0e7pyOIl1gPRMB8cJIfyUjiIJk6hb00ufvNiy7Ek1h-Fva_mr6QzeXBJ_SOyxx6iXSBoN7rMCqnoxO73PChKeGq27-AmPQRqPZY2Sd0/s1600/07+Peter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybF6R_4HVA6mrCqEBcSVcBZCOSs3EE02ORmlI0e7pyOIl1gPRMB8cJIfyUjiIJk6hb00ufvNiy7Ek1h-Fva_mr6QzeXBJ_SOyxx6iXSBoN7rMCqnoxO73PChKeGq27-AmPQRqPZY2Sd0/s320/07+Peter.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter Keitatotse - he planned the whole event!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdnim94qGnI5TmMljde-PWWYko9g5beRxWCXzvdlxsX-fRkZTz8JLi9eDPP7Co5AwP7CrDsU0btxeiiGLIPqQCPuIZaQUDB2O8sD2gi3cW5V3xj6cefVPBuwbhzDUikzG1y5LRM4n4_k/s1600/08+the+drama+crowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdnim94qGnI5TmMljde-PWWYko9g5beRxWCXzvdlxsX-fRkZTz8JLi9eDPP7Co5AwP7CrDsU0btxeiiGLIPqQCPuIZaQUDB2O8sD2gi3cW5V3xj6cefVPBuwbhzDUikzG1y5LRM4n4_k/s320/08+the+drama+crowd.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crowd</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffzMckv7XKtTdtTkEJbg_uMtbAj8u4Tnp28yQr0B88t04_3psMMR4sDBPWzSzKcQzjdr87h0dSKZIDodIq2DFmL-lGHZPAPmjaQUCUb80cgEQoEJJdwWRAwbRSWm5w_FdiK58dy6xc5k/s1600/09+the+drama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffzMckv7XKtTdtTkEJbg_uMtbAj8u4Tnp28yQr0B88t04_3psMMR4sDBPWzSzKcQzjdr87h0dSKZIDodIq2DFmL-lGHZPAPmjaQUCUb80cgEQoEJJdwWRAwbRSWm5w_FdiK58dy6xc5k/s320/09+the+drama.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Drama</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since arriving here a short year ago, we have matured
personally more than many years combined.
Getting to know 35 American strangers and living in a room with a host
family has become 35 friendships and a new branch on our family tree. Moving to Hukuntsi and hitchhiking all over
the country (mostly the lower half) has stirred up a self-transformation also. I feel confident and comfortable that I can
talk to anyone from the most bedraggled shake-shake (a thick local brew with
twigs and an unmistakable smell) drunkard to a government minister with a suit
and tie sporting around in an air-conditioned vehicle. I recall going to coffee shops in the US and
not speaking with a soul. It seems kind
of other-worldly now. I look forward to
the future and seeing which things stick and who I keep in contact with. There are a handful of teachers I hope to see
in the states one day and get to return some of their generosity and warm.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lastly September saw Botswana celebrate its 46<sup>th</sup>
year of independence. Tracy and I had
one of the best days of our service celebrating in the nearby village of
Lokwabe. Between that and the loss of
Major Mautle we have been on the roller coaster of life recently. While excited about our future here, I
definitely hold our past in fond esteem.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hugs and kisses,<br />
John O.<o:p></o:p></div>
Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08833497903122521216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-41773933744416279662012-10-15T14:24:00.000-04:002012-10-15T14:24:00.620-04:00Being married in the Peace CorpsA while a go I promised a friend I would post this--sorry for the delay Julianne.<br />
<br />
The following is an article I wrote for the Botswana PCV Newsletter that is sent out every month. It is a great newsletter and I look forward to getting it and seeing what is on everyone's mind all over the country. John and I had been going through a rough patch and I had talked with single friends about the different challenges of being a married PCV here. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>"Being married in the Peace Corps sounds wonderful when
thinking of sharing these experiences with each other and having someone to
lean on and support you when the times are hard (or to fight a battle for you
that would have made you throw the towel in).
Sometimes it works that way and sometimes it doesn’t. Everyone has heard married people and
non-married people go through different trials and tribulations and here are my
experiences with them. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>In the US we both had our separate lives during the day. There were constant activities we could do
separately with friends or even with a group together, but not really being
together all the time. People saw us as
individual people who chose to be together.
Now anytime they see one of us the first question is “Kabo (John) o
kae?” People are shocked when I don’t
know and keep questioning. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i> I also have found
a disturbing change in myself; I am becoming a bit co-dependent. Instead of just going to the store by myself
or going for a walk when I need to get out, I find myself asking John along or
waiting for him. This is a habit I am
slowly breaking as it is destroying my self esteem.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Although it sounds nice having someone to do projects
with, having it be a spouse is difficult.
I hold John to higher standards than I do anyone else, which always
brings about stress. If one of us is not
motivated, it is easier than expected to drop the other person’s motivation.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>In the US I did not have to defend my marriage and the
idea of marriage daily. I don’t want a
small house. I was able to have male
friends without people assuming I am cheating and telling me they are going to
tell John. Although it has brought up a
lot of good conversations, the whole thing gets taxing a bit as about 75% of my
conversations now discuss John in one way or another. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>The most difficult thing is that our entire relationship
has changed. During the first few months
at site we fought more than we have ever fought in our entire
relationship. We even discussed going
home to save our marriage. One of us
having a bad day often means we both have a bad day…that is a lot of bad days
and sometimes multiple day long fights. For the new couples, it does get better in
time. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>We are still trying to figure out how to best cope with
this. Some of the main coping techniques
we have come up with include:</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Making sure we talk about our relationship</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Not making promises we are not sure we can keep
(i.e. talking to someone about something for the other person when you have a
busy day)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Not trying to be a “back seat driver” to someone
else’s project</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Taking time for ourselves when needed</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Allowing the other person to go out of town
without you if you both don’t want to go</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i>Although these are things we also did in the US the
stressors are different and more intense and our support network and stress
outlets have dramatically shrunk.
Overall it has gotten better, but when we let down our guard up pops a
fight. All in all I am glad John is here
with me and I think this has strengthened our marriage, but definitely tested
it. "</i></div>
<br />
<br />
I hope everyone at home is well! We miss you all (and all the yummy food there...especially sushi...mmm sushi).<br />
<br />
Tracykattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-9415730521977821822012-10-02T04:42:00.002-04:002012-10-02T04:43:20.388-04:00Independence Day & Horse Racing<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Day 1 – September 30,
2012 – Botswana Independence Day Lokgwabe style<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1n5PFq5Ff74/UGqicDOa0pI/AAAAAAAAB04/wnocQzje9S0/s1600/DSC04846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1n5PFq5Ff74/UGqicDOa0pI/AAAAAAAAB04/wnocQzje9S0/s200/DSC04846.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PS traditional dance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mkGIicLxudo/UGqiit7lNZI/AAAAAAAAB1I/w0R74XRcMGg/s1600/DSC04861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mkGIicLxudo/UGqiit7lNZI/AAAAAAAAB1I/w0R74XRcMGg/s200/DSC04861.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tribe choir entering kgotla</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Dick, a co-worker of John’s, neighbor, and friend has been
trying to talk us into going with him to Lokgwabe for Independence Day. It is his home village. Given that it is a 4 day weekend and right
after our 5 yr anniversary we wavered a little bit, but ended up caving in and
I am so glad we did. Lokgwabe is a
village only 10k from Hukuntsi (John has almost run there before) and has so
much spirit. Some of Dick’s family
picked us up on the way and we stopped by his family’s compound to pick him up
and then headed to the Kgotla. I did not
feel like wearing a skirt all day, so I wore jeans and wrapped a cloth around
my waist to be allowed to enter without offending anyone. We ended up sitting behind Thato who was nice
enough to interpret for us when desired.
The event included the traditional speeches, a primary school
traditional dance, one of the tribes had a choir dance, and a singer with back
up dancers all of which was really nice, but the great stuff is what followed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rxjSiuTR-LU/UGqifPfoMrI/AAAAAAAAB1A/SVWRAy6LnD0/s1600/DSC04849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rxjSiuTR-LU/UGqifPfoMrI/AAAAAAAAB1A/SVWRAy6LnD0/s200/DSC04849.JPG" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xeGN4oYD6no/UGqimaYm2II/AAAAAAAAB1Q/1gbalHu-lcc/s1600/DSC04947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xeGN4oYD6no/UGqimaYm2II/AAAAAAAAB1Q/1gbalHu-lcc/s200/DSC04947.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Annah one of John's students</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gmaiag1BQVc/UGqiZe5NjzI/AAAAAAAAB0w/lBh4odQKIlo/s1600/DSC04836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gmaiag1BQVc/UGqiZe5NjzI/AAAAAAAAB0w/lBh4odQKIlo/s200/DSC04836.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Thato and me at the main kgotla</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZaX2abAvlbE/UGqirTxW2HI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/5rC_4pdgaZ4/s1600/DSC04967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>We then headed down to the ward level Kgotlas. Unlike most villages, each family did not
have their Kgotla in the middle of their family’s compounds, all Kgotlas are
placed on shared ground to create a community gathering area for all of
Lokgwabe where each family had their own area and was large enough for
community events (rather than just using the main Kgotla). Dick was kind enough to take us to each Kgotla
and introduce us to the families. He
mentioned that they would be angry if he did not as everyone wanted to meet
us. This included lots of hand shaking
and greetings, especially for the elderly.
Most were happy we were able to greet them in Sekgalagadi. We then went to meet the councilor for our
region whose home village is Lokgwabe.
He was extremely welcoming and proceeded to announce us to everyone over
the PA system on his car and requested we be fed, which was not a problem as
everyone wanted to feed us while we were walking around anyway. This was repeated multiple times during the
event. At one point John walked by
councilor and was requested to speak Sekgalagadi which caused a following
announcement saying we know the local language (only basic greetings as our
focus has mostly been Setswana and most people can speak English too).<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZaX2abAvlbE/UGqirTxW2HI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/5rC_4pdgaZ4/s1600/DSC04967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZaX2abAvlbE/UGqirTxW2HI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/5rC_4pdgaZ4/s200/DSC04967.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1HO80-DGsjA/UGqivCNXyrI/AAAAAAAAB1g/pY5XSMAKd8s/s1600/DSC04991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1HO80-DGsjA/UGqivCNXyrI/AAAAAAAAB1g/pY5XSMAKd8s/s200/DSC04991.JPG" width="200" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1HO80-DGsjA/UGqivCNXyrI/AAAAAAAAB1g/pY5XSMAKd8s/s1600/DSC04991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a>Soon after this the dancing and games began. Each Kgotla had a dance/skit/game. The mosadi mogolo (old ladies) in Lokgwabe
have an amazing amount of spirit and energy!
Many of them danced for over an hour combined and the dancing here
entails short fast leg movements that make me tired after just a few minutes
and sore then next day. At one point
there was a graduation dance which entailed all the mosadi mogolo holding
sticks (the kind used for corporal punishment).
The lady in the lead was dancing and trying to hit the others while they
all protected themselves with their sticks.
Occasionally she would lash out as it to get the crowd and everyone
scattered. The people she ended up
striking, who were part of the dance, wore leather as to protect themselves
from getting hurt. Another game entailed
everyone dancing in a circle moving clockwise to a very fast beat. Whoever had the orange would step in while
dancing after a certain number of beats while the person behind her/him would<br />
step in too and try to catch the orange.
This often had people (sometimes in their 50-60’s) ending up on the
ground but everyone just bounced right back up and kept going. One of the ladies would catch the orange and
then put it right in my face or Thato’s as if she were going to not catch it in
time. The councilor kept bringing the
microphone up to me to have me try to say the words to the song they were
singing, a few of which I could not pronounce.
If I am not over my fear of public speaking/performance/embarrasment by
the time I leave here nothing will cure me. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WGIDpgZ1RkY/UGqizWTjvBI/AAAAAAAAB1o/kZjSEVdbT5w/s1600/DSC05000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WGIDpgZ1RkY/UGqizWTjvBI/AAAAAAAAB1o/kZjSEVdbT5w/s200/DSC05000.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Orange Game</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aPy01e0JvtY/UGqjJSukMZI/AAAAAAAAB2I/Bmz3owZIFhI/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aPy01e0JvtY/UGqjJSukMZI/AAAAAAAAB2I/Bmz3owZIFhI/s200/Untitled.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The graduation dance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VnVg5dD7Tm0/UGqmmYLzGbI/AAAAAAAAB2s/cd3mETB4I18/s1600/DSC05083-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Ch1obuYNCE/UGqmo604tII/AAAAAAAAB20/ciqgmsc6h_Y/s1600/DSC05123-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a> </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hWinPxYvN_0/UGqi3A1PcqI/AAAAAAAAB1w/j93_zoG5T-Q/s1600/DSC05041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hWinPxYvN_0/UGqi3A1PcqI/AAAAAAAAB1w/j93_zoG5T-Q/s200/DSC05041.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foot race (john is a speck somewhere in there)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next came the 100m footraces by age category in 5 year
spans. John participated. At first everyone was shy to run against him
but eventually 6 other guys came out. He
put his all into it, but only came in 4<sup>th</sup> place. Some of John’s students were watching at the finish
line. It’s a good thing school is on
break this week or they would tease him relentlessly and they still might. I did not participate since I threw out my
back a few days earlier sadly since I think I would have had a good chance. Most of the women in my age category were in
skirts and did not have shoes on while running on gravel. I have to give them kudos for the valiant effort
they put into it though. Afterwards we
ate and a band set up to play which was later followed by a football (soccer)
match oon a pitch just out of town. As
we were leaving we thanked the councilor.
I mentioned that next year I plan on running and we will have to train
up on sprinting since we normally run longer distance races. He proceeded to announce over the PA that
next year would include a 10k race. Ha
ha. I really enjoy his spirit although he
did a great job of embarrassing us thoroughly.
We stopped by the football match for about 10 minutes before heading
home as it had been a long but wonderful day!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IabGwGp5p2o/UGqjAnAIoFI/AAAAAAAAB2A/BNQppbHvVLA/s1600/DSC05056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IabGwGp5p2o/UGqjAnAIoFI/AAAAAAAAB2A/BNQppbHvVLA/s200/DSC05056.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Us with Thato at the football pitch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i47ANN2Y2Bk/UGqi9V87v4I/AAAAAAAAB14/T9DU43uT4F0/s1600/DSC05046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i47ANN2Y2Bk/UGqi9V87v4I/AAAAAAAAB14/T9DU43uT4F0/s200/DSC05046.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">John & Dick</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Day 2 – October 1,
2012 – Horse Racing at Inalegolo<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_k246SMQu0/UGqmq5kY_pI/AAAAAAAAB28/3_a7Ck02z9g/s1600/DSC05153-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_k246SMQu0/UGqmq5kY_pI/AAAAAAAAB28/3_a7Ck02z9g/s200/DSC05153-640.jpg" width="200" /></a>Talk about a great way to start the month. I tagged along with a few friends to head to
Inaleglo for something that all my fellow Louisvillians (not exclusively) would
love…horse racing. Sadly John was unable
to make it due to a tutoring engagement. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span>
Now remember this is nothing like the
horse racing at Churchill downs with all the polish, but it makes me wonder how
close to horse racing of the past it was.
Thato & Francina pick me up around 7:15 and we hit the road after
stopping by Kang for some airtime and a pie (Americans, this is nothing like
our idea of a pie, it is more of a meal and completely awesome but that is
another post) and continue on our way.
Inalegolo is about 2.5 hrs from Hukuntsi and 20-30 minutes down a gravel
road which shakes my fillings out while I hope I have not directed Francine the
wrong way. She is new to the area and Thato was riding in the bed of the truck
being the kind gentleman he is (actually sleeping on the foam pad we threw in
there to make it more comfy). Eventually
we come over the hill and see a cell tower…yeah we are not lost. Pulling through Inalegolo which took about 1
minute since the settlement is only a few hundred we run into a tent where the
event has just begun. I eyed my friends,
waved at them, and tried to catch as many words at possible (which was fairly
low today due to my attention span).</div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As always the kick off included a few speeches,
traditional dancing and a surprise (to me) show by Vee who is a great Motswana
musical artist originating from my wonderful village. People are crammed all around to see him
perform along with some great dancers.
It is a mix of break dancing and miming…love it! At one point during the show there were some
teenagers behind me with a little girl of about 4 who sat in my seat while I
was standing. They realized I wanted t
sit and pulled her away, so I let her sit in my lap forgetting how terrified a
few kids are of me because I look so different than most people they know. The poor girl was terrified, but sat calmly
and no amount of encouraging made her comfortable with me. Hopefully I have not scarred her for life,
but luckily I saw her later and she did not run away or anything. </div>
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<br /></div>
Soon after the horse racing began. Horses were paraded out in front of the crowd
which just stood by the sidelines (marked by caution tape), they then walked
down the straight track, and ran toward us (we were at the finish line). Most races only had 3-5 horses and the
jockeys were full grown men although one race had a youngish boy. Often there were no saddles and men rode on
blankets on the horses, some of which looked a little mangy, but the best
looking horse did not always win. It is
interesting watching a horse race with little to no info about the horses or
jockeys. The crowd loved it and rivaled
the cheering at Churchill although there were no bets made, just pure fun. One lady who owned some of the horses always
ran after her horse when it passed. All
in all there were about 7 or 8 races which lasted 3ish hours. In between the races Vee and his crew manned
the DJ stand and it turned into an all out dance party as often happens in
events in Botswana. While I did not
dance at all, although Thato kept trying to talk me into it even though he had
no intention of dancing, we sat around talking and laughing, people watching,
and took lots of pictures of kids, dancing, and horses.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OZ778LrEO24/UGqmsosDHPI/AAAAAAAAB3E/pmQsJLcKezc/s1600/DSC05167-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OZ778LrEO24/UGqmsosDHPI/AAAAAAAAB3E/pmQsJLcKezc/s200/DSC05167-640.jpg" width="200" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We all went to eat food prepared by the event
coordinators. During the race Francina
went to run an errand for someone, which turned out to be picking up a
slaughtered goat (luckily the blood was drained). Surprise!
Ha ha. I found a ride back with
some of the people from Hukuntsi who work in the Council so we did not have to
debate who was riding in the back with the dead animal. Mmm mmm
I can tell I have acclimated to life here enough that I volunteered to
(not that Thato would have let me) before we found the ride. </div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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kattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-47532344892129309132012-09-29T05:42:00.001-04:002012-09-29T05:42:07.499-04:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2aTcWO6PL8/UGbA6IHd5WI/AAAAAAAAB0U/82cCAeUK_7w/s1600/P1020207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L2aTcWO6PL8/UGbA6IHd5WI/AAAAAAAAB0U/82cCAeUK_7w/s200/P1020207.JPG" width="133" /></a>Yesterday Thato called me with some really bad news, Major Nelson
Mautle passed away. Major Mautle is one
of my favorite people. Maybe I should
use was, but his passing away does not change that status. The Major was one of the most driven people I
have known, and in Botswana that is saying a lot. He would get on to people about being late,
not following protocol (which sometimes drove me crazy, but I understood why he
did that), and just plain wasting time.
He spent 2 years in the US (1985-1987 I think) studying then came back
to Botswana. He spent some time in the
military and worked with the government.
By the time I met him he was retired and had moved on to the next phase
of life. But retirement to him did not
mean just sitting back and letting things happen, he wanted to make a
change. He served on the VDC (Village
Development Committee), was head of Men’s Sector, always at the DMSAC and a
part of pretty much everything going on in Hukuntsi. In Botswana many people can serve on a
council and not do anything, but not the Major.
He had a very distinct voice and I was assured to hear him outspoken at
every event. Sometimes it was calling
out protocol issues, but normally it was pointing out obvious flaws in data or
questioning how issues would be addressed.
Botswana has a strong passive aggressive culture. Often people will not want to contradict
anyone or swim upstream, but the Major was definitely a salmon especially if he
saw ill affects to ignoring a problem. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He also had high goals.
The first time I met him he brought up wanting help trying to get the
desalination project restarted in Zutshwa.
Things kept getting in the way between me fracturing my foot and going
to SA for surgery, him falling ill, and other obstacles. This did not stop him from trying to get it
accomplished, although I am afraid it might be out of the scope of what we can
do during our short time here.. He did
lots of research and last time I spoke with him he was still talking about
it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of my favorite memories of him was during the African
Child Event. We arrived at the Kgotla after
it had started (we had not intended to go for the whole thing and just wanted
to sneak in and watch from the back rather than getting put in a prominent
position of VIPs as often happens). At
first we walked up to the outside of the Kgotla to scope it out and decide
where to slip in. The Major caught sight
of us, yelled at us to come over (I had my shoe off trying to get a thlolele..probably
really misspelled that but they are the spikeys all over the ground around here…out
of my foot). Since we did not come
immediately, he walked over to the fence right through the middle of the event and
cajoled us to come and sit mentioning that there were seats saved for us. Honestly we should have known better, but I
felt like a small child after that and am always sure to do what I know I
should at events like that. I laughed
about that for a long time and still smile thinking about it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He was constantly stopping in the office for business or just greeting me while passing by. It always brightened my day. He always a warm smile and a kind word. Since he has been ill I have noticed the difference that his not being around has made on me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-du1i3KuOPig/UGbAuTMLGoI/AAAAAAAAB0M/M63JggB2NI4/s1600/P1010350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-du1i3KuOPig/UGbAuTMLGoI/AAAAAAAAB0M/M63JggB2NI4/s200/P1010350.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really miss him and but am lucky to have known him. Although I am not religious, I know he
was. I hope his life after death is
everything he had hoped it would be. His
presence in my life, although short has made me a better person. He will always
be with me in my memories. My thoughts
are with his family and although we are all mourning his death, I hope we will
remember to celebrate his life.</div>
kattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-9519217210083032742012-09-07T14:04:00.003-04:002012-09-07T14:04:54.368-04:00Crazy long blog...long overdue<br />
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Sorry for the crazy long post. It is a bit of a catch up post. The last week or 2 has been such an eventful and amazing
time. Here are the event breakdowns:</div>
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<b>Wednesday August
22, 2012<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rA7ksIWOtDw/UEoqrFK2QTI/AAAAAAAABx0/3FL0inBWO04/s1600/STI-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rA7ksIWOtDw/UEoqrFK2QTI/AAAAAAAABx0/3FL0inBWO04/s200/STI-640.jpg" width="200" /></a>I went with the DAC office and the DHMT to Monong (a
small settlement of about 175 people) for an STI workshop. This was a fun trip as I have not been to the
settlement before. Most events include
speeches from many people normally including the Kgosi (village chief), a VDC
member (village development council), a guest speaker (this time it was people
from the DHMT - District Health Management Team), and a pastor. There was also entertainment which included
traditional dancing from the primary school students and a village elder
playing a homemade fiddle. Everyone got
a kick out of the primary school dancing because one of the male students had
to dance the female part of the dance.
Their rhythm was amazing! The
musician was great too and took me back to images of the rural south with the
sound of his voice and instrument. I can
definitely see a connection between the traditional music here and a lot of the
traditional blues in the US.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s7dbDgjCZ8A/UEoqvgBUIUI/AAAAAAAAByE/3y5f_Z2chi8/s1600/STI3-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s7dbDgjCZ8A/UEoqvgBUIUI/AAAAAAAAByE/3y5f_Z2chi8/s200/STI3-640.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wJl-Vw-LhRM/UEoqtwXI4YI/AAAAAAAABx8/WIucVrIUmQs/s1600/STI2-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wJl-Vw-LhRM/UEoqtwXI4YI/AAAAAAAABx8/WIucVrIUmQs/s200/STI2-640.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Next came the Setswamorago’s condom demonstrations while
one of the nurses and I entertained the kids.
We played a version of duck, duck, goose using pitsa, pitsa, tau. (zebra, zebra, lion…actually horse, horse,
lion but zebra is horse with stripes and is way too long to say while tapping
someone n the head). The kids loved it
and I loved watching them. It is a great
way to entertain kids ranging from standard 1 to standard 7.</div>
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<b>Friday August 24,
2012</b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_hG-Xh6BOqc/UEoq6sVa9FI/AAAAAAAABys/1sNx8vvD1vE/s1600/tbear2-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_hG-Xh6BOqc/UEoq6sVa9FI/AAAAAAAABys/1sNx8vvD1vE/s200/tbear2-640.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mPlvIQsn9CA/UEoq-2OeuXI/AAAAAAAABy8/6L8B8bDtbKQ/s1600/tbear4-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mPlvIQsn9CA/UEoq-2OeuXI/AAAAAAAABy8/6L8B8bDtbKQ/s200/tbear4-640.jpg" width="200" /></a>John & I went to Morwamosu to help a friend, Rachel,
give out teddy bears to the kids at her school and those 6 & under in her
village. The first part of the event
(for those under 6) was at the Kgotla.
The bears were hand knitted and donated by an NGO…what an amazing idea
because I have almost never seen a kid have a stuffed animal or toy here except
for the ingenious cars that are made out of wire and soda cans. The only requirement was to take a picture of
each child with the bear which is easier said than done for toddlers who aren’t
quite sure what is going on. The
littlest ones were a little bit shook up and a couple started crying so the
moms took them away for a moment and went back later once they had calmed down
a bit. The older ones loved it though
and I later say one of the kids in tears playing with the bear so overall I
think it was a hit!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XYTIUG7rGTc/UEoq3tonaBI/AAAAAAAAByk/7WIUE_Cvj2Y/s1600/tbear-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XYTIUG7rGTc/UEoq3tonaBI/AAAAAAAAByk/7WIUE_Cvj2Y/s200/tbear-640.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a3dklSxk2wg/UEoq8lJWXRI/AAAAAAAABy0/2NOZCPQzYm0/s1600/tbear3-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a3dklSxk2wg/UEoq8lJWXRI/AAAAAAAABy0/2NOZCPQzYm0/s200/tbear3-640.jpg" width="200" /></a>Next we went to the school, were walked around to all the
class rooms to meet the kids. The
amazing thing in some of the primary schools here is that even if a classroom
is missing a teacher the kids normally try to teach each other or
themselves. There were a few classrooms
missing teachers due to transfers and maternity leave. Some students from higher grades were
teaching the others (normally math and English). After tea break, the kids lined up to get
their teddy bears and the photo session began.
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q5As1QRNjVs/UEorAtp1jyI/AAAAAAAABzE/Yd6oQqdJ2TA/s1600/tbear5-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q5As1QRNjVs/UEorAtp1jyI/AAAAAAAABzE/Yd6oQqdJ2TA/s200/tbear5-640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachel & John after a long fun morning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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After this we went to Rachel’s for lunch and then to
catch a hitch back to Hukuntsi. The
amazing thing is that as we were walking up to the hitching post a vehicle
pulled over to pick someone else and we took off running. There was just barely enough room for all of
us, but the vehicle had air conditioning (which is not often found) and great
tunes. We then switched hitches in Kang
and only had to wait 45 minutes which is seldom heard of as well as getting a
free hitch. All in all it was a great
day!</div>
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<b>Tuesday August 28,
2012<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HqPhOVWAtAI/UEoqSZywPMI/AAAAAAAABw8/PU6KKx_6hus/s1600/Lehututu2-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HqPhOVWAtAI/UEoqSZywPMI/AAAAAAAABw8/PU6KKx_6hus/s200/Lehututu2-640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dika waiting to perform</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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During a conversation the previous day with a good friend
of mine, One, I found out about the Ward level of a Youth Arts Competition that
was going on that week and the regional level was happening the following week
(Sept 8). John & I went to Lehututu
(a village about 10K away) and had a marvelous time. We caught the combi there and were late
going, so we were afraid we missed a bunch, but luckily we are on Africa time
(the same as Island time for those of you who don’t know the Africa time
phenomenon). We got there in time to
catch the end of the first part which was musician who occasionally sang. The rest of the competition included poetry
(not like US poetry readings it is almost a mix of poetry and drama), drama,
traditional dancing, and choir. Several
of my friends were performing and I was glad not to have missed them,
especially since some of them I have never seen perform before.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HrA2eWk-q6Q/UEoqQu5tWUI/AAAAAAAABw0/RHqkf4Wx48Q/s1600/Lehututu-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HrA2eWk-q6Q/UEoqQu5tWUI/AAAAAAAABw0/RHqkf4Wx48Q/s200/Lehututu-640.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eei36I8jwEE/UEoqWn6zgZI/AAAAAAAABxM/-7GrkPIJunQ/s1600/Lehututu4-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eei36I8jwEE/UEoqWn6zgZI/AAAAAAAABxM/-7GrkPIJunQ/s200/Lehututu4-640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One in a skirt she borrowed from a friend</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The traditional dancing was amazing too especially since
the acoustics in the Kgotla caused my whole body to reverberate to the beats
that were being clapped. There are
normally 2 differing beats being clapped creating a unique atmosphere. Traditional dancing also has a bit of drama
depending on what group is dancing and the type of dancing and attire varies
region to region. When I first came to
Botswana I did not see/feel/hear the differences from dance to dance as well,
but I am definitely getting the hang of identifying differences and knowing
which groups are better than others and when possible mistakes are being
made. The Kgalagadi region really loves
traditional dancing to the effect that the entire Kgotla filled as soon as
people noticed the dance was about to begin and a large number left right
after.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bJlZ8mTGmWs/UEoqUVKb2MI/AAAAAAAABxE/ZEHFlzsk1VA/s1600/Lehututu3-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bJlZ8mTGmWs/UEoqUVKb2MI/AAAAAAAABxE/ZEHFlzsk1VA/s200/Lehututu3-640.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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After the event we chatted with friends for a while and
started making out way to the combi with a few friends. While still a ways away One noticed the combi
and said something to John about running to get it. As you all know he is up to a challenge. He took off running like a serious sprinter
with the rest of us trailing behind.
When we all got there everyone was cracking up and one of our guy
friends mentioned taking him to Zutshwa to go hunting with a spear. I’d love to see that happen!! Apparently John
did not know the combi had a stop and he was literally trying to catch the
combi… ha ha ha. I think he might have. </div>
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<b>Wednesday August
29, 2012<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I spent the morning at Makgakgane Primary School
assigning a composition for the Standard 7 kids (similar to 6<sup>th</sup> or 7<sup>th</sup>
grade in the US, but the age range is very different ranging from 12-18). I am going to start working with these kids
on English tutoring around once a week. I only spent about 15 minutes with them
before assembly and was really just trying to get my bearings but it is always
fun around the younger kids.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I had to leave for a Health Fair meeting, but later
returned to show the HIV/AIDS club kids TeachAIDS. Most of the kids in the club were Std 3-5
although almost every kid in the school wanted to be in the room. They were even trying to climb through the
window. Mpho, the special Ed teacher
(and friend) helped calm them down and kick those who shouldn’t be there
out. I showed the video, which is in
Setswana, but has a section where it asks questions. Almost all the kids answered right. Afterwards I gave them a Q&A
session. A lot of them kept asking the
same questions over and over and they even went to get a book to find
questions. I figured out that they
really only wanted to hear me speak, so I let them ask me any questions after
that. A kid from outside came running in
to get me saying they needed my help.
Apparently some kids got locked in a store room and the key was not
working. I went to get Steve to help and
he was already on the case. </div>
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<br /></div>
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While all this was happening I walked across the campus
to get something and was accosted by a mob of small children wanting to shake
my hand. This is something to be careful with in relation to the young
ones. 1 starts shaking your hand and
before you know it you have 30 kids on each arm about to rip them out. Just hope you have not eaten recently. It is one of the funniest things I have ever
experienced. Then one of them wanted to
touch my hair, so I let them…a mistake.
Before I know it the mob is trying to touch my hair or skin (they just
want to know if it feels much different from their own. Most kids have not seen
many white people before, especially one who is ok with it). </div>
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<br /></div>
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It took about an hour but they finally got the trapped
kids out there was an explosion of cheering from the room and all the
kids. The timing was lucky because it
was time to go home for the day. Mpho
walked me and it was nice catching up with her.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Thursday August
30, 2012<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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In the morning I worked with a friend, Keba, to help her
design a pamphlet for her business. She
then mentioned that the Youth Arts Competition was going to Monong and invited
me to go with them, so I went. Monong is
about 40K down a pot holed gravel & sand road. Depending on who is driving and who is in the
car it can be a great or really long experience. This time I was in the car with a pretty fast
driver who knew the road well and a talkative crew. I had never met them before but we all got
along well and joked a lot. Keba was in
the other car with a few of the Lehutshelo teachers I know. I had no idea they were coming so it was a
pleasant surprise.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
The atmosphere at the Kgotla is completely different than
Lehututu which made the competition much more quaint and pleasant (not that the
other wasn’t it just had a whole different flavor…kind of medium sized
villageish). This covered part of the
Kgotla is very small and surrounded by sand with the wooden “fence” part of the
Kgotla really close. This made all of
the performers extremely close and I ended up sitting right behind the
judges. I got to see the musicians
within a few meters and the traditional dancers were a few meters farther
away. The first traditional dance troupe
had a lot more drama than I have ever seen in a performance which I really
liked, but I later found out that it should be more focused on the dance than
the story. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
For the choir portion we had to move outside of the
Kgotla because there was not enough room, so we were just sitting on the sand
and the dancers performed on the sand. I
have never seen this on sand before. They are normally on concrete in the
Kgotla which creates more of a drum sound from the feet. I was amazed at how much of that they were
able to keep on the sand. </div>
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There was no drama or poetry performed here. Next year I want to make sure that John has
the ability to come to all of these too.
I will post more pics after the regional</div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<b>Friday August 31,
2012<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s_LOhz5rLLg/UEoqfagx5NI/AAAAAAAABxk/rZASKNo_OA8/s1600/Police2-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s_LOhz5rLLg/UEoqfagx5NI/AAAAAAAABxk/rZASKNo_OA8/s200/Police2-640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wawa & Thato</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I stopped by to visit Thato and help him with his
computer. While waiting for Avast to
download (at excruciatingly slow rates), we spent the afternoon chatting and
joking around. John called at one time
and mentioned another friend we were going to go with to Lehututu to see what
we initially thought was a DJ ended up having to go out of town. I asked Thato if he was interested, which he
was. We did some research and found out
that it is actually the Tshane Police band.
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
Around 9 Thato and Wawa, who was visiting him from Gabs,
picked us up. As is normal Bots fashion
the band was late. It should have
started at 8 but actually went on at 10:30pm.
We went to the pan for a little while and just talked and joked around
which was great so we got to know Wawa a bit.
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zTHMgOocIog/UEoqziBtn8I/AAAAAAAAByU/MTvZ1kTSdMs/s1600/police4-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zTHMgOocIog/UEoqziBtn8I/AAAAAAAAByU/MTvZ1kTSdMs/s200/police4-640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John in the dance competition</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esGsjX2KWv4/UEoq1opegaI/AAAAAAAAByc/s-XvQOwKHGk/s1600/police5-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esGsjX2KWv4/UEoq1opegaI/AAAAAAAAByc/s-XvQOwKHGk/s200/police5-640.jpg" width="200" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QmhPIjfUnCk/UEoqaqU3WCI/AAAAAAAABxc/ZnjPmNSCTbY/s1600/Police-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QmhPIjfUnCk/UEoqaqU3WCI/AAAAAAAABxc/ZnjPmNSCTbY/s200/Police-640.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AyZnWMx_Qoc/UEoqk6feeHI/AAAAAAAABxs/SwJnUm1cqek/s1600/Police3-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AyZnWMx_Qoc/UEoqk6feeHI/AAAAAAAABxs/SwJnUm1cqek/s200/Police3-640.jpg" width="200" /></a>Then the madness began.
The band included horns, 3 guitars, a singer, and dancers. The speakers were crazy large for a place so
small and when they first started playing it was only a few of us there. The bars close at 11 which is when people
started packing in. We had such a great
time dancing and I got to see a bunch of people I know in a completely
different atmosphere. John and I did the
2 step swing to a song which caused everyone to be watching us, or so Thato
says. People do mostly club type of
dancing here unless it is a wedding party that has choreographed
something. Everyone wanted a turn
dancing with us (I don’t think anyone expected us to be there) and I got
comments from people about it all week.
Late in the night John even was in a dance off which he claimed he lost,
but I am not sure if that is true. When
he later watched the video I got he is not sure either. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> King of the dance floor!! Ha</div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<b>Saturday September
1, 2012<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nldbkdjLDUw/UEoqOPwaT5I/AAAAAAAABws/xAOeJpGdGJs/s1600/Akiko+2-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nldbkdjLDUw/UEoqOPwaT5I/AAAAAAAABws/xAOeJpGdGJs/s200/Akiko+2-640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Akiko wearing her present from co-workers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qqo-TaT8uLg/UEoqKOltFKI/AAAAAAAABwk/KdYPWe1mGHs/s1600/Akiko+1-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qqo-TaT8uLg/UEoqKOltFKI/AAAAAAAABwk/KdYPWe1mGHs/s200/Akiko+1-640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
John & I went to a going away party for Akiko (Thato),
the Japanese volunteer. We didn’t stay
super long as we did not get much sleep the night before due to the band, but
we wanted to make sure to say good bye to her. By the time we got there the
party had been going for a little while and there were pockets of dancing, a
fire, the braii was going, and traditional food was ready. We ate, had a few beers, and socialized for a
little while. Eventually my eyelids were
taking over, as were John’s and we had to go or curl up in some corner.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
Akiko was the dietician at the hospital and is a great
person. She also helped me with a few
projects related to nutrition. Although
I didn’t get to see her too much I really enjoyed the time we spent
together. Akiko…I wish you the best in
everything and hope to see you again in the future!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<b>Sunday September
2, 2012<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6A780wormms/UEoqYQ3hBLI/AAAAAAAABxU/i94vIcm4sIY/s1600/Morutwa's+baby-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6A780wormms/UEoqYQ3hBLI/AAAAAAAABxU/i94vIcm4sIY/s200/Morutwa's+baby-640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morutwa & Zati</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
I went to check a friend who had a baby a couple months
ago. I spent a couple hours there and
had a great time. I have wanted to check
her for a while, but have not made time.
Seeing her reminded me how much I miss her at the office. Zati (might have spelled that wrong), her
daughter, is adorable and I am excited to watch her grow into a little girl
before I leave.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
That evening Thato & Wawa came over to make pizza,
hang out, and play games. Although the
dough did not want to rise, the pizza was still good. We ate, laughed, talked, and ended up playing
a few games of Pachisi. John and I both
were demolished during the games with Wawa winning the first and Thato winning
the second. Hmm, maybe next time we
should play a different game. I am
beginning to get the feeling that we are just innately bad at Pachisi. Dorcus almost always beats us when we play
too and it was a new game to her too.
Sigh. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<o:p> </o:p> </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
kattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-28907164918254072662012-08-13T15:34:00.002-04:002012-08-13T15:34:46.184-04:00Sally and the notebook<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here are some photos of our newly acquired kitty, Sally
(for When Harry Met Sally – dad I know you appreciate the name). It is amazing how great having a pet again
is. It really helps with
loneliness. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Tracy</span>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkS51kKcr31eHxs5sLGZzNhmblMbtmUIRWlZ0o-pAeMn6pF7UAkpnV5CvpmURIwMXYrrX6Ft2AzV4J1nv3zV-2RtErcaCsR05UVq13NOxotab_Sdxzbx1KNesx-NhexVRRFkImQXD3ts/s1600/DSC03759-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkS51kKcr31eHxs5sLGZzNhmblMbtmUIRWlZ0o-pAeMn6pF7UAkpnV5CvpmURIwMXYrrX6Ft2AzV4J1nv3zV-2RtErcaCsR05UVq13NOxotab_Sdxzbx1KNesx-NhexVRRFkImQXD3ts/s320/DSC03759-640.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quite a curious lump</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVk3lCqICZkgf7pIordE-QzXmyclSuztj0Sz5VNrt3Zfk5-P6wRJmOrbomRa5b5gEtMRsTWRQBOPZQsNqWj8CEoYhpy6cuMFMmaqs9IXEIgap3b0h-f0pfXQZqrC41cmIYve1OqQpZ3c/s1600/DSC03757-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVk3lCqICZkgf7pIordE-QzXmyclSuztj0Sz5VNrt3Zfk5-P6wRJmOrbomRa5b5gEtMRsTWRQBOPZQsNqWj8CEoYhpy6cuMFMmaqs9IXEIgap3b0h-f0pfXQZqrC41cmIYve1OqQpZ3c/s320/DSC03757-640.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, it is a cat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJV40yxDKaHuX5Vuhcspm6hmegILAtLRcCv5bKKAANuQ3MSvPCJustaCz2037m-Hv8wVMvEg4t6o_Oyhv-izVfvl4ys3LRAXm56IO5QIe2AVqRpurN3l0lSkTdJ2k_7hrFd0YiVdpEOs/s1600/DSC03766-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJV40yxDKaHuX5Vuhcspm6hmegILAtLRcCv5bKKAANuQ3MSvPCJustaCz2037m-Hv8wVMvEg4t6o_Oyhv-izVfvl4ys3LRAXm56IO5QIe2AVqRpurN3l0lSkTdJ2k_7hrFd0YiVdpEOs/s320/DSC03766-640.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sally at a distance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIcu8SYlcfxIvtI_yb5go-7x7IjcQFZ4pYhGZ-VepExzRR_mqqUGaHIjHzbl2bX9ggdBzPzVbe4ON_Ef1kip7q7RbM5MI_sDsUquLkLwx-CRhMG5NlrRgixE5_v_O2g7ko4AW1Q90npE/s1600/DSC03768-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIcu8SYlcfxIvtI_yb5go-7x7IjcQFZ4pYhGZ-VepExzRR_mqqUGaHIjHzbl2bX9ggdBzPzVbe4ON_Ef1kip7q7RbM5MI_sDsUquLkLwx-CRhMG5NlrRgixE5_v_O2g7ko4AW1Q90npE/s320/DSC03768-640.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She looks sweet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCv0Mc-1diO39Il9dqhmd0X5ReVudi0OqYcrXs0Fjr_0HTeem1dG4SIuEsX7OIP0l_v1kJTmErXt5OCfYojo8_xm6S-Isf1WPkR9SVcTGmcFBrt5FU6YVg8J9r6ZXAzCHsxQFOV1Uyoc/s1600/DSC03770-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCv0Mc-1diO39Il9dqhmd0X5ReVudi0OqYcrXs0Fjr_0HTeem1dG4SIuEsX7OIP0l_v1kJTmErXt5OCfYojo8_xm6S-Isf1WPkR9SVcTGmcFBrt5FU6YVg8J9r6ZXAzCHsxQFOV1Uyoc/s320/DSC03770-640.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But wait..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlS26xjTcbQuoBpLhFpE12ZRUqVAUETSdB_czfvTAJa6DmYPzE3KS4ifPAioLbklmcvDvyG9EAkXV1aDbip-_VlhN7cvhyj1lwFN206b835X7qEXF5-fpKMZNh0DWXFrkraYZc7sN7tg/s1600/DSC03765-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlS26xjTcbQuoBpLhFpE12ZRUqVAUETSdB_czfvTAJa6DmYPzE3KS4ifPAioLbklmcvDvyG9EAkXV1aDbip-_VlhN7cvhyj1lwFN206b835X7qEXF5-fpKMZNh0DWXFrkraYZc7sN7tg/s320/DSC03765-640.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy KAT!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Notebook<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Since arriving to Botswana I have been missing one key
element to my life. That is a good
notebook that fits in my pocket. I
recall having scraps of paper litter my pockets for a long, long time. Through factory floors of Amazon, sitting in
comfy chairs at various call center jobs, and a moleskin that traveled to 3 of
the four corners of the USA. Maybe 2 and
½ corners since I am not sure where the south-western corner lies, it was close
anyhow. When I arrived here I got a
notebook that could fit in my backpack and then a smaller one that fit in
backpack, but I never really captured more than my “to do” lists. I am not one to open up a backpack and
retrieve a notebook if I see an interesting thing during a morning assembly
much less walking the 15 minutes through the baked streets of Hukuntsi. I finally got one a week or two ago and it is
working pretty well. The main thing I
forgot about capturing the vignettes of everyday life is that the more you
write down small things, the more you want to write about anything. My blog posting went up and I am getting more
done at work even. My day planner today
reads:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
August 13 Monday – Day 1<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
7:30 Start of classes for Term 3<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
9:30 Make copies of EDC forms<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
14:00 Go to Makgakgane Primary to meet the school head<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
With the help of my notebook:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I began the morning with learning to tie a new knot for
my blue tie. I have not worn a tie since
before mid-June and instead of it feeling like a ball and chain, it makes me
feel confident and ready for the day. It
is like a superman cape for the front of my body and it seems like it could
stop bullets or at least the discouraging things I am likely to hear on the
first day of the term. I arrive early to
school, which can be a challenge on some days, and catch up with some teachers
I have not seen for a couple of months.
We go to morning assembly with most teachers present, but it still looks
like a small showing. The students are standing
around and one of the Heads of Department is making his way through the tightly
packed crowd. It takes me a few seconds
to comprehend, but he is making students take off their sweaters. It is easily cold enough to see your breath
and I was berating myself 15 minutes earlier for not remembering my
gloves. He has a mountain of clothes
balanced on one arm and will later advise the students this will happen every
day they do not follow the dress code.
While he is going through this the students are being informed they are
missing about 7 teachers since they have gone for further studies and no
replacements have been found. I knew
before the last term ended on June 29<sup>th</sup> which teachers were being
sent for further studies so I ask myself why with more than a month there is
not a teacher for every class. This
question echoes around my head for a while until the sound waves diminish below
from bouncing around. When I next pay
attention I hear the students need to behave while not being taught or
supervised. I don’t think that is going
to work well, but who knows. I look down
at my tie and realize it is not in fact blessed with the gift of repelling bad
news.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am
planning on bringing in my computer to entertain some classes until replacement
teachers are found. I hope it goes well
and if the past is any indication the kids will find a way to make it
through. I spend the rest of the morning
on the phone and in the computer lab making some copies for another project I
am working on. Overall, good things. When I head out I stop by a shop that sells
everything a PCV could hope to buy with our needs and budget. I buy an immersion water heater that has a
picture of how to use. It shows two
wrong ways and one right way, but the only difference I see is the bucket tops’
color. I believe they are telling me to
use a pink bucket but I am not certain yet.
I will have to run this one by the wife.
The reason I am picking up the water heater is that our gas for the
stove is very nearly out. It keeps
flickering off and we have to watch it close to not have gas pouring in the
room. My program manager is on it
though, so I think this will be taken care of soon. I called him on Friday and he was worried
about what we were eating all weekend.
It will be nice to have a backup water heater anyhow so it is worth the
money.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After
lunch at the house I collected fresh dried clothes off the line. Then I went to a primary school about 10
minutes away from the house and had one of the most productive meetings of my
life. I am going back Thursday to
interview some teachers and kids. I got
to listen to Arcade Fire on the walk there and Avett Brothers on the trek
back. Also got a fist bump and a
handshake by a 5 year old girl walking the road by herself. Things are different, things are going well,
and things are going by too fast. We are
having a get together in September to celebrate being in Botswana for a
year. A full year already, unbelievable.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It is good to remember things you learned before and even
better when those things help you to remember where you are and why you want to
be there. So see everyone all those pens
are getting good use!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Love,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
John<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoDjjt7gZqLu_BHZ-qxifwcxGgVfAoZBl7zloVk9bHtmEHE1no5IJe-apLhfGsmHQTzWOiF_r0sVTDn85lOrnS6BS309sPnrViuq-92u2o9LdLmy66ETR6rd_uqBnOaFOMcjERT4lMdo/s1600/DSC03761-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoDjjt7gZqLu_BHZ-qxifwcxGgVfAoZBl7zloVk9bHtmEHE1no5IJe-apLhfGsmHQTzWOiF_r0sVTDn85lOrnS6BS309sPnrViuq-92u2o9LdLmy66ETR6rd_uqBnOaFOMcjERT4lMdo/s320/DSC03761-640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08833497903122521216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-64591516774207245682012-08-07T09:56:00.001-04:002012-08-11T02:31:33.019-04:00MiniRegional and GLOW Camp<div>
Tracy and I went to a “MiniRegional” during the weekend of July 20th through the 22nd in Tshabong. Peace Corps normally has a Regional meeting once a year, where PCVs get together to share experiences and ideas with people in their program area and to meet others in their area (to work on joint projects and the like). So it is also a great time to see friends and meet new people. This year was the first MiniRegional ever (in Botswana (to the best of my knowledge)) and it was a blast. While I have not really asked why they decided to start it up I think it was for people to meet the newest group of incoming volunteers and so they can get out of their villages and hang out with other Americans – aka blow off some steam.<br />
<br />
PCVs arrived via hitches, buses, and even an airplane. The Hukuntsi volunteers (which include Tracy and I) got a hitch with a policeman that was going well above the speed limit so he could get home to watch Formula One racing, no joke. We were able to stay with another couple from our Bots 11 group, Michael and Haley and got dropped at the door! We hung out and met their kitten until it was time to meet up with everyone. We forgot the camera in Hukuntsi, so I don’t think we got any snapshots of the meeting or Tracy and the cat. Their kitty was talkative the whole time we were in Tshabong, which Haley advised is not normal! It is always weird seeing another side of your pet and seeing how much they can change.<br />
<br />
The MiniRegional was at another PCV’s home so we took a walk and enjoyed seeing another Botswana village (town?). Motswana claim to only have one city (Gaborone) and a few towns (Francistown, some more…) everything else is labeled a village. The times I have slipped up and called Francistown a city they get a frantic look and extent the previous explanation. We had homemade pizza and talked about the challenges some of the new volunteers were experiencing. Nobody had anything too serious bothering them and I look forward to see them in a few more months to see how things worked out. We packed it in kind of late and made plans for the next day.<br />
<br />
Not everyone was able to go along on the next day’s event but those who went were in for a real treat! We hitched 10 minutes outside of Tshabong and visited a camel park!! Most of us rode them for a lap or two around the enclosure and got all kinds of information from the people running the site. Our hosts were Kenyans, but they were leaving in a few weeks and the park will be run by all local Motswana. It was an inexpensive activity and worth every thebe. We also go to see a porcupine’s home (a deep hole) and learned that they feed off of the bones of other animals. They need the calcium for their quills and bones are good for that. I found out from my mom that I did indeed ride a camel way back when the Louisville Zoo offered it. Getting on one now I wonder how I handled the experience as a kid. I am sure someone went up with me but it is kind of intimidating. You do not mount a camel the same as a horse. Instead the camel lowers itself when you get on and then rises with a zigzag motion that changes your weight around.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOtourjfhWNRJxd05DHD78Vyw6m-Yc76ckpQC8T52ox4TxQYvwrUuikR6AY9mhgSE5RUeD0Fdx8Lwziny0cAe36XcZuf7h9FykU7ATuaPa766gUjLD7Fvh1mi_OJghlPjyi2J4OhDvA8/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOtourjfhWNRJxd05DHD78Vyw6m-Yc76ckpQC8T52ox4TxQYvwrUuikR6AY9mhgSE5RUeD0Fdx8Lwziny0cAe36XcZuf7h9FykU7ATuaPa766gUjLD7Fvh1mi_OJghlPjyi2J4OhDvA8/" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We ended up heading out the next day, but met up with some of the crew the next weekend in Kang for a meeting about a GLOW camp. GLOW stands for Girls Leading Our World. We are trying to put together a weekend event for some Form 4 and Form 5 girls from the Senior Secondary School in Kang. Some of the workshop topics we are thinking about are: self-esteem, healthy living, decision making, Gender Based Violence, contraception, peer pressure, and leadership skills. Since it is the first meeting we spent a lot of it brainstorming different aspects of the camp. I am going to be looking for funding through some government agencies here in Botswana and Tracy will be putting together a budget and doing a budget template for others who want to start GLOW camps in the future. This will be some of my first attempts at writing grants so if anyone has any tips or templates I would greatly appreciate it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wsusS5tBB2vMSgBYxi7zBjpu1BKi3XKP3QkOF4FKUVuwvN4fqZ2G2tYdTc5aDWQhY4mzZib-FtvjtMJ4daZ5YiGNk3Hw7GisRb3v8JuO70ZrdAY11avy9xMjOPsUuC2f2cdlUh8I4iA/s1600/Glow+Camp+crew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wsusS5tBB2vMSgBYxi7zBjpu1BKi3XKP3QkOF4FKUVuwvN4fqZ2G2tYdTc5aDWQhY4mzZib-FtvjtMJ4daZ5YiGNk3Hw7GisRb3v8JuO70ZrdAY11avy9xMjOPsUuC2f2cdlUh8I4iA/s320/Glow+Camp+crew.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John, Michael, Tracy, Tate, Dominique, Haley, and Jan.</td></tr>
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We stayed at Jan’s place and ate like kings and queens. Jan likes to cook and she does it well. We had zucchini bread galore and on the last night had a great pasta dish. I ate more than I should have, but it was well worth it. After the meeting we went to a dancing session that Tate (the newest Kang PCV!!Woohoo!) invited us to. She stays on a family compound and they are having a wedding on August 18th, so she has been asked to dance. This was just a practice session so we were able join in and have some fun. There was a drunken guy that invited himself and had some MOVES! He is in front of Tracy in the video and that is why she is having such a hard time following the others. The video we are posting does not do the dancing fellow justice. I will have to create a montage of his moves and post it another time. That is what we have been up to lately!<br />
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Hope everyone is doing well. We love and miss you all.<br />
John<br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08833497903122521216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-7988213114153657852012-07-06T01:02:00.006-04:002012-07-06T01:23:34.970-04:00Last Day of School (June 29, 2012)<br />
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Sadness enters my heart when I think of the solitude of the
next six weeks. I did not realize how
attached I have become to the kids at the junior secondary school. Walking through the school often I feel like
I am in middle or high school again as I see kids staring at me and wonder what
they are thinking. All the self esteem
issues and worries flood back into my mind.
It was often hard to just walk through the school wondering when kids
talk among themselves and laugh while looking at me or saying my name if they
are making fun of me. </div>
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Over the last few months I have become more and more
comfortable there as my self confidence has built and I am better understanding
the issues the kids have to deal with on a daily basis such as lack of an adult
support network they trust. The kids
have to worry about their physical safety as it is a boarding school with
almost 250 boarders split between boys and girls hostels. For each there is 1 body matron looking after
the kids. This is not enough. The kids are left to run free basically
unsupervised during the evenings and weekends.
This term has been a rape (not the first the school has seen either),
and just last week one of the boys attempted to break into the one of the girls
hostels with a knife attempting to attack her.
Luckily the night watch heard something and caught him in time. There
are also interaction issues between the students and teachers. Rarely do I hear a teacher or staff say
anything positive to the kids even when they do something well and my heart
goes out to them as I think of the stresses they are managing.</div>
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There have been a few times when I have just gone on to
campus and started talking to someone just to look up to find myself surrounded
by 20 kids all listening intently to what I am saying and barraging me with
questions about everything from life in general, my personal opinions,
lifestyle, and the US (these are mostly girls as I think they feel more
comfortable talking to a female). It is
an overwhelming feeling but amazing at the same time. There are a couple girls who specifically
told John they wanted to talk to me, so I can and found them during study
period just to find out they wanted to go over a test they just took. Between
that, playing cards, helping John with the computer club, and watching them
with the teen pregnancy workshop I have developed a huge amount of respect and
fondness for the kids I have gotten to know personally.</div>
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Yesterday was the last day of school and John and I handed
out the contest awards during assembly.
We spent the night before baking brownies for all entrants. Everyone got certificates as well as the 1<sup>st</sup>-3<sup>rd</sup>
prize winners getting books and a feedback form identifying their strengths and
weaknesses. Mma Masweu (Guidance & Counseling) and Rre Stoffel (Deputy
Headmaster) helped us hand out prizes while Akiko (Japanese volunteer) took
pictures for us. Afterwards two of the kids came up to thank me (John was
getting permission forms for kids who wanted to be a part of the computer club
over the summer) and wanted their photos taken with each other, Akiko, and me.
A couple of the kids actually gave me a hug too.<br />
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I walked around the school after the kids left and it was
too quiet, almost eerie after hearing the constant sounds of kids
everywhere. I know I will be seeing some
of them while working on projects over the summer or just walking around, but
it is not the same. </div>
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<i>I had intended to
post the above blog, but our internet stick stopped working, I here is an
update for the weekend.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Monday was a holiday here and we had a couple friends over
to share recipes and cooking. This is
the second time we have done this, so I will post pics from both events. We are hoping to make this a monthly
event. Our biggest worry initially was
the cost of food, but this has been remedied by everyone bringing some of the
ingredients.</div>
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The first time we made a pizza and calzone with Moitshephi
and Goitseone.</div>
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Monday we made fajitas with Caroline and Moitshephi (using
soya not mince because mince is no longer available in Hukuntsi).</div>
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<br /></div>kattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-32097198689709448182012-06-28T08:32:00.001-04:002012-06-28T08:32:36.167-04:00A roller coaster day<br />
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Tuesday (June 26, 2012) was an amazing day in both the
positive and negative respects. I went into work at the RAC and my CCE
(Community Capacity Enhancement) Project Manager in the DAC office where I work
reminded me that it was the day of the Teen Pregnancy Workshop at
Lehutshelo. How this project worked is a
group of us went into the school and had a Community Conversation with a group
of the kids (50). I was not available
when the first conversations went on but I was able to attend some of the
follow-up conversations. Through the
conversation the kids identify issues at the school and narrow it down to one
they want to tackle, Teen Pregnancy. They
then come up with a solution, a workshop for the students where teens who have
gotten pregnant come and share their stories with the other students. The final step is to implement the solution.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mma Masweu and the organizers</td></tr>
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Initially they were trying to find both mothers and
fathers, but in the end only mothers were willing to speak. They gathered the kids (only girls since
girls were speaking) in three groups by form.
The first two mothers that spoke did so in person and the second two
wanted to be anonymous so they wrote a script and had someone read it. Some were in English and some were in
Setswana, but all were amazing! It was
also impressive that they implemented this themselves basically.</div>
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After the first group, I asked if I could record it and
they were fine with it. The sound for
the recordings was not great, but the kids love watching it. Today I asked one of the girls who spoke, who
I have become somewhat close with, if they would be willing to record it again
and maybe we can make a video for the school or others to use. She is interested and now I have to gather
some of the other kids to see what they think.
School is done for 6 weeks beginning tomorrow, so I have to hurry. I am going to miss the kids. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></div>
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I also spent the morning reading some of the short
stories submitted for the Poetry and Short Story Contest. The writing is tremendous and I am excited to
give all of them their certificates and prizes tomorrow. We are also planning on baking brownies to
give all the participants. There were
only 14, so it is manageable this time.
I am also really excited about seeing the kids faces when they receive
their prizes and the feedback forms.
Instead of just choosing winners, etc, we decided to put together some
feedback forms to tell the kids their biggest strengths and areas for
improvement along with how it was graded.
This was amazingly hard to do because often Kabo & I did not agree
with how the graders graded plus we have been developing personal attachments to
some of the kids we work more closely with (exactly why we didn’t grade). I don’t often see the kids getting positive
reinforcement, so us spending 30 mins or more per entry was well worth it. We also know how to change the grading sheet
to factor in things we didn’t think about.
I am also working on putting together a file to share with all the
volunteers here to make their life easier if they choose to do it, so if any Botswana
PCVs are reading this I promise I will do it soon so you can have it before the
next term begins. </div>
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Now, let’s move on to the ‘worst’ part of the day. After this I came home to grab lunch before
heading off to football practice at Makgakganye Primary School. I am helping coach the boys’ team there and
absolutely love it. Actually it is an
odd mix of fear and excitement every time I go.
Every time I head down there I am thinking “what do I really know about
soccer”. I played 12 years, but it has
been 15 years since I played, which would put me at 27 if I started playing out
of the crib…ha ha. I digress.</div>
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Upon walking up to my yard something looked
different. The house looked so lonely
and there was too much tan coloring.
Five of our trees were gone. John
had already seen it and warned me, but that didn’t really lessen the blow. Luckily they left the big one in the front of
the yard, but for how long…aarghh. I
almost lost it with a mix of anger, frustration, and sadness. I saw years of growing in a climate with
little water just sitting outside our fence in messy little piles. It is not like there is a surplus of trees in
our little semi-desert and they were a slight feeling of home and comfort. I still have no idea why and need to talk to
the landlord. John tried to talk to the
family member that cut them, but his English is not great and our vocabulary
does not quite cover what we are trying to ask as well as the concepts of human
desertification. Hopefully this weekend
we can take some time to go over there and speak with one of the family members
who knows more English and we can study up on our environmental terms in
Setswana.</div>
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I had the hardest time forcing myself to go to practice,
but I am glad I did because it was amazing and made me feel tremendously better.</div>
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That’s all I have for now, but more will come soon I am
sure. On the walk home I heard John
muttering something under his breath about wanting to do a blog post when I
said I was going to write one. Hopefully
he will cover the computer club because it is going amazingly well! Initially I did not think there would be need
for me but with the number of kids coming both nights. Also we have been
staying way late. Normally we have to
kick the kids out because it is already way past dark and we need to get home
to cook, bathe, etc.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Wame aka Tracy</div>
<br /></div>kattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-63977961503159042182012-06-18T11:58:00.000-04:002012-06-18T12:10:54.828-04:00Computer Club and Packages Info<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have started a computer club for the students of the
Junior Secondary School. There was a
large amount of interest when registration began about a month ago. Around 57 kids signed up. There are only 22 computers in the lab so I
assigned either Wednesday or Thursday for each student and decided to split the
club in two. (A quick note: There was a strike of all government workers,
including teachers, which occurred before we arrived. All clubs and sports at the school had been
postponed until the issues were resolved, with the end result of a bunch of
bored students. Many of the students
live in dorms and room on school grounds.
They have little to entertain them on weekends so I thought a club would
help.) The first week of the club only 1
student showed up. The sports and other
clubs had finally started, but that meant this new computer club was a distant memory
for them all. As interested as the kids
are with computers and technology, soccer (or football as the English influence
has it called) is king. Needless to say
I was discouraged and upset since I had set aside two days a week instead of
just one like I had planned. A good
friend and fellow teacher assured me there were plenty of kids that were not playing
sports, but were merely watching them or just hanging out in other places. He advised me to target those groups rather
than kids that registered.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next week I made sure to remind the students about the
club on the assigned days and got 5 or so students. After an introduction of themselves and
gauging their knowledge I asked each of them what they wanted to learn about
computers or what they wanted to do with them.
They all replied in a very similar way “I want to know everything about
computers.” It is a weird feeling trying
to guide a class where the students have no expectations or understanding of
the possible rewards. I am still not sure
how to keep them interested since most of the goals I tell them about are too
abstract to be real motivation. We are
getting there though. We did some
training with Mavis Beacon (the typing teaching program) and they are not ready
for secretary jobs, but they are hunting and pecking much faster now. The last club meeting had 15 students and we
watched tutorials on Excel usage. The
progress has been different than I had expected, but it has left me hopeful for
the next term and next year. My next initiative
will be a study club that offers tutoring.
This is not directly in line with my Peace Corps mission (as I
understand it) but the school can certainly use it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After Junior Secondary School, which I teach (and is
equivalent to our middle schools in the USA) the student has to make certain
grades or gets removed from the school system.
There are some other government options for the kids such as the brigade
which focuses on skilled labor work i.e. making bricks, electrical work,
plumbing, etc. I don’t know how easy it
is to get accepted or enrolled in this option.
In the JSS system there are Form 1, 2, and 3, 3 being the last year of
the JSS. Right now the students are
writing their exams for the end of the term and I was looking over the shoulder
of an English teacher and saw a Form 3 student that got 0 out of 50 on her
exam. I have heard the student answer
basic questions about the text the exam was on so I am left wondering how they
prepare for these exams. The highest
score was 36 out of 50, so it is a widespread issue. I am hoping to get the new materials together
and come up with some good techniques for studying ASAP. The good news is the students I have spoken
with showed interest and seem willing to put forth the effort. Either way I will remain optimistic and keep
on keeping on. Also I will try to get
some photos up next time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Packages:</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When
you send a package please email us that it is on the way, so we can keep an eye
out for it. Also please write down the
Customs Declaration id number located above the spot for your last name. We have had a couple of package go missing
and they advised we can track them using this number. It has been suggested that when you send a
package you can write a religious saying on the package – we have been told it
helps “ensure” proper delivery. Who
knows if this is true, but it is worth a try.
Thanks again for all the support and goodies - they make our worst days into our best ones.<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx6zvZ5KyfKPVudxSZuz9dtR6RGouT4iov4QkPslbQEYaAAee0hL90mpRU1prO_Be2d4Rbf1HTwLJgADu6RXbbm2eDM3GxWGo5SS5cRl44hAgwJ2WTwu2NQyOgDaCn5jW6FTdiGFN42E/s1600/Customs+declaration.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCx6zvZ5KyfKPVudxSZuz9dtR6RGouT4iov4QkPslbQEYaAAee0hL90mpRU1prO_Be2d4Rbf1HTwLJgADu6RXbbm2eDM3GxWGo5SS5cRl44hAgwJ2WTwu2NQyOgDaCn5jW6FTdiGFN42E/s320/Customs+declaration.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love John and Tracy</span></span></div>
</div>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08833497903122521216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-31749969902522921232012-06-14T00:54:00.000-04:002012-06-14T00:54:19.647-04:00Every day conversations<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="AF">One of the most amazing things about serving
in the Peace Corps in Botswana include the conversations that happen. </span>This
morning I am working in the DHMT (District Health Management Team) helping with
April’s data compilation and reporting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started talking with
a friend and coworker, initially it was about the weekend which turned into a
conversation about her friend who passed away late last week. This family has had a very hard couple of
months. The woman who passed away was
young, not yet married and didn’t have kids yet. One night she had a really bad headache and
neck ache but it did not seem like anything out of the ordinary crick in the
neck from sleeping wrong. The next day she never woke up. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To make it worse, last
month her brother, who was also somewhat young, passed away. What this means on this side of Botswana is
every day between the point when the person died and the burial (from Thursday
of 1 week to the Saturday of the next week in this case...10 days) around 5pm friends
stop by the family’s house for a vigil.
The family of the deceased feed dinner to all the guests, and in some
cases lunch. This can be a huge expense
and large stress. She mentioned that on
the other side of Botswana this has been changed to where guests are only fed
on the day of the burial which is much more manageable for the families of the
deceased.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Later we ended up
discussing the specifics of her position (TB health educator) and how to battle
some of the main issues she works with such as lack of transportation for
patient home visits and delays in contact testing for large groups such as the
prison. Which later turned into differences between Botswana’s main struggles
of basic health issues and access to food and clothing for many vs those in the
US (some do have those struggles, but we also have more resources to fight
against higher level thing such as child/domestic abuse and whether disabled
people have access to public facilities).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt;">
<i>Side note….An example of things I
took for granted in the US was that all kids on sports teams (or most kids in
general) have shoes. I started helping
coach one of our primary school’s football teams and noticed that only 2 of the
almost 50 kids (both boys and girls team) had shoes. The govt does not fund primary schools sports
equipment (although it does fund secondary schools) and many of the parents
cannot purchase them. It is also
important to realize that there are burs all over the sand and in some cases
large stickers (one went right through John’s running shoe). The kids are going
to be in a tournament in a week and many of the other teams have shoes. I worry for my kids toes. </i><i><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></i><i> We are discussing ways of acquiring funding. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt;">
<i>The funniest thing is that at the
end of any event the kids want me to say something to them. I used to never be
prepared, but I have gotten pretty good at thinking quickly and having someone
translate because thinking quickly in Setswana is never an option. One thing I
still haven’t gotten used to is being introduced at any public event along with
the honored guests, no matter how far back I try to hide myself. Now back to my
previous stream of thought.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About 10 minutes later
One, who I had met a couple other times, stopped by the office looking for
someone and we got to talking about a few things. Such as how she used to work with kids doing
environmental education which then led to a conversation about the
environmental club at Lehutshelo. One
thing led to another and she invited me to a bridal shower for someone I do not
really even know. This will be my first
bridal shower, so I am excited to see any differences here. I have been to a few baby showers, one for a
woman I only barely knew and another for a good friend. It is amazing the difference that makes. My friend had me sit by her and explained
what was being talked about when I did not understand. As far as I can tell
some baby showers are a time to completely embarrass the mother to be. (Now I have another reason to wait to have a
baby although everyone keeps telling me we should start our family here and
just stay.) I am excited to meet her baby in a month, which will probably be
walking and maybe saying a few words when we leave Botswana (and only a few
months behind our new niece). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then a couple hours
later I found myself in a co-worker’s office giving him some training material
for Microsoft office and he mentioned how he was going the next week to Gabs to
deal with an ongoing court case. Several years ago he was robbed at gunpoint.
This of course turned into conversations about the criminal system, etc. This
got me thinking about a random 5 minute conversation we had with a street
vendor we have gotten to know. (<i>disclaimer…I
have no idea how far from the truth this is</i>) She mentioned that Botswana
does have the death penalty and it is not done by lethal injection. She said
there was some sort of chair used that basically hangs the person by lifting
the head.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes I come home
at the end of a day and feel like I have only had superficial conversations,
mostly niceties. I wonder how often days
like this happen and due to the lack of attention to detail I completely miss
them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Go siame!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tracy<o:p></o:p></div>kattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-11300155257413266402012-06-12T10:00:00.000-04:002012-06-12T10:00:02.629-04:00May 23 – International Candlelight Memorial<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This post is a few weeks overdue, but I
am finally trying to catch up. Hopefully you will see a few more soon<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On May 23 the DAC office worked with
several other organizations in our subdistrict (such as Men’s Sector, BNYC,
Minister’s Fraternal, and the local Kgosi) to put together a beautiful memorial
for those lost to AIDS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The event was at
the Kgotla in Moselebe which is the village touching Hukuntsi on the other side
of our salt pan and was schedule to start in the afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pcQcHCtHcbQ/T9dEGh4AUJI/AAAAAAAABsQ/KFcXTNfxjTQ/s1600/P1020108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pcQcHCtHcbQ/T9dEGh4AUJI/AAAAAAAABsQ/KFcXTNfxjTQ/s200/P1020108.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NO68Om0jAn8/T9dFnNdzFpI/AAAAAAAABt4/ild55g6xdSI/s1600/P1020131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NO68Om0jAn8/T9dFnNdzFpI/AAAAAAAABt4/ild55g6xdSI/s200/P1020131.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My workmates</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As expected there were a few hiccups during the implementation of the event such as transportation availability, and the event starting on time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main reason the event did not start on time was that our guest speaker cancelled at the last minute and we had to find a substitute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily Masita, who is the Assistant District Admin Officer and performs the legal portion of weddings for Kgalagadi North. He is an eloquent speaker and has the ability to draw the listener in to the mood of the event! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gNnT6qg1dao/T9dErl5vGDI/AAAAAAAABsg/EBhbGMInPxA/s1600/P1020124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gNnT6qg1dao/T9dErl5vGDI/AAAAAAAABsg/EBhbGMInPxA/s200/P1020124.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D3KXGV7k5Bc/T9dEXdVMuRI/AAAAAAAABsY/64HgYPMeaTE/s1600/P1020125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D3KXGV7k5Bc/T9dEXdVMuRI/AAAAAAAABsY/64HgYPMeaTE/s200/P1020125.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speakers during the event included
several local ministers, the DAC, two local Dikgosi, our district Councilor,
one of our S&CD officers, and Miss Stigma Free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miss Stigma Free’s speech was beautiful,
heartbreaking, and emotionally charged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course it was all in Setswana but I was able to pick up pieces here
and there and a friend was kind enough to fill in the gaps when I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QF1EdDNpRPA/T9dEz0qr-aI/AAAAAAAABso/ahXj3wbrsUo/s1600/P1020142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QF1EdDNpRPA/T9dEz0qr-aI/AAAAAAAABso/ahXj3wbrsUo/s200/P1020142.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the speeches, attendees were asked
to pick up a stone for each person they personally knew who died of AIDS then
place them in a pile in the front of the Kgotla and candles were handed out to
everyone. Songs were then sung while a cross was placed with a white linen
cloth in front of it and two large candles were lit. The rocks were then gently
moved to the cloth and it was all carried to a display of red candles arranged
as a ribbon in the sand. A procession of people began lighting their candles
and carrying them over to light the candles in the sand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another speech followed this and eventually
the event wrapped up.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a beautiful and breathtaking event as well a good reminder of the amount of pain and loss that HIV and AIDS have had on Botswana…has had on my friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The longer I am here the more normal everything seems. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>It is good to have a reminder of why I am doing the work I am doing and what is truly at stake. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wame aka Tracy<o:p></o:p></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</span></span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>kattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-74421064442603173152012-05-29T01:43:00.001-04:002012-05-29T01:43:22.985-04:00Water<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Water… I have read articles that discussed possible future
wars over water and logically their reasoning made sense, but I did not
understand the emotions behind it until moving to the Kgalaghadi. We have now been a week without water although
luckily we spent the weekend in Moshupa for a writer’s retreat with a few other
volunteers. This allowed us to
rehydrate, bathe, etc. Although we have
gone up to 2 weeks before without water normally I was able to get some at work
or a neighbor’s tap works. This time
there is no water at work and a larger part of Hukuntsi is out of water. Apparently a water main broke week+ ago Sunday night (May 20<sup>th</sup>, the
first night below freezing, so I would not be surprised to find out it froze).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are a few main things we use water for:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Drinking</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Cooking</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Washing dishes</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Washing clothes</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Bathing</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">F</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">lushing the toilet (we do have a pit latrine
outside, but when water comes on we tend to use the one inside instead)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
For us normally water comes on around 9-10pm and is off by
5am although this varies day to day and it is not uncommon for it not to be on
at all some nights. While reading this,
keep in mind that I know that water will come on eventually and I know I can
find water somewhere in the village most likely. I also have no kids of my own whose well
being I have to worry about.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s what happens in our minds during a water shortage:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>24 hours without water</b>: I assume this is just a day that is skipping
and it will be on the next day. I
normally skip a bath or washing clothes and conserve when we flush just in
case, but everything else stays normal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2-4 days without water</b>: I assume it could be a couple more days without
water and go to work with my water bottle empty and try to return with it
filled. Normally 20-35% of our water storage might be gone by then. We also
check the outside taps just in case the pressure can get to there but not up to
the house. We might ask a neighbor or two if they have any.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>4-5 days without water</b>: Definitely no bathing (unless we have baby
wipes or something), no toilet flushing (try to only use the pit latrine), minimal
amount of water is used for cooking and dishes are washed in dirty water (for
example I made pasta last night and washed the dishes in the water I drained
off after cooking). We start bringing in extra bottles to work to
fill and bring home. Over 50-75% of our
water storage is gone and I begin to assume it could be a week or two without
water. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>5-6 days without water</b>:
I stop even trying to drink the amount of water I should and get
irritated with having so much dried food to cook like beans and rice. Water is foremost on my mind and I become
more and more irritable over time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course the whole time water is a part of every
conversation I have with someone and I am often not the one to bring it up
unless I am trying to find out who does and doesn’t have it to find out where to
get it. Some of the smaller villages or
settlements have much larger issues with water than us and the amazing thing is
that there is water in the reservoirs underground. The big issue is the system that has been put
in place to allow a standpipe brought to every house and clean water. The idea is great and in the bigger villages
it does not often go out for more than a day or two but the farther you get
from the more highly populated areas the more issues there are. </div>kattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-18201144852056156022012-05-22T14:25:00.004-04:002012-05-22T14:25:59.139-04:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dumela ditsala tsame!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last few days have been crazy cold here. At night it is going below freezing and the
house never truly warms up during the day.
It is amazing the difference the sun makes during the day though. Lately I have been wearing a hat, scarf, and
gloves in the morning with a long sleeve shirt, thick sweatshirt, and tights
under my work pants. By mid afternoon I
have stripped to just a long sleeve shirt with the arms pushed up. This morning on my way to work I had the
oddest feeling. I walk to work through
some deep sand and have finally broken down and gotten ankle cut boots to keep
the burs and sand out of my shoes along with keeping my toes warm. With the sun reflecting off of the sand while
wading through it I had the feeling of walking through a foot of heavy wet
snow. I miss snow, but do not want it to show up here. Since we have no heat in the house the last
thing I want is to have humidity added on to the cold. The house does not have insulation either so
after a few hours it becomes just as cold inside as outside. I really miss heat. Luckily the blankets we have are great and
keep us really warm at night and I think we are going to try to find a space
heater. That is a major advantage we
have over some of our friends who do not have electricity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RTJjWwoK-K0/T7vZppG4r-I/AAAAAAAABpg/hDrQ1iaRg5w/s1600/blinding+sunlight+on+walk+to+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RTJjWwoK-K0/T7vZppG4r-I/AAAAAAAABpg/hDrQ1iaRg5w/s320/blinding+sunlight+on+walk+to+work.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Blinding sunlight on the way to work (also there are donkeys under the tree)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BFnmru4ayWU/T7vZsIN0oII/AAAAAAAABpo/hJlIsIGYdo4/s1600/road+to+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BFnmru4ayWU/T7vZsIN0oII/AAAAAAAABpo/hJlIsIGYdo4/s320/road+to+work.jpg" width="183" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> Deep sand I walk through on the way to work. </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, water has not been running for the last few days
either. John and I have been wondering
if a pipe froze somewhere. Luckily we
washed our clothes over the weekend before it dropped. The cold along with the lack of water has
kept us from bathing well. By the time
we get home from work the temperature is dropping and the prospect of getting
my hair wet just to have it freeze on my head does not sound fun. I am so happy for the wet wipes we have left
although I am going to have to break down, boil a bunch of water when it comes
back on and freeze my butt off. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, on the cute side we saw a bunch of really young baby
goats in a pen and got a few pictures of them that I thought you would enjoy. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bOZYU4Bu_Io/T7vaIYcBfeI/AAAAAAAABpw/pSEIOOWyvdQ/s1600/baby+goat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bOZYU4Bu_Io/T7vaIYcBfeI/AAAAAAAABpw/pSEIOOWyvdQ/s320/baby+goat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Go siame!</div>kattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-21720057380148823012012-05-01T06:43:00.000-04:002012-05-01T06:43:06.352-04:00Focus groupsAs Tracy mentioned I taught/ subbed for a few classes and
just asked them questions to get the temperature of how things at the school
are going. Overall most of the students
are very shy and quiet. I was initially
worried that it was because I was speaking English, but I have sat through some
classes taught by the other teachers and the kids are just as silent (lack of
participation is one of the biggest complaints from the teachers). I think (but cannot get a straight answer out
of anyone) that it is because they get pinched and insulted if they answer
questions wrong or ask something deemed “stupid”. Aside from the overall failure on tests I
think student/teacher relations are the biggest challenge at the school.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I quick summary of the questions I asked are:<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What do you like about school / favorite subject?<br />
What do you not like about school?<br />
What are the biggest challenges at school?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What is the role of Guidance & counseling?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What kind of clubs are there at Lehutshelo? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What kind of activities would you like the school to
offer?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What do you know about HIV/AIDs? Where did you learn it?<br />
What do you enjoy doing outside of school?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What do you want to do for a living?<br />
What could the teachers be doing better?<br />
What can I do? How can I help?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What would you like to learn at school that you are not
being taught?<br />
If there was one thing to change at the school what would it be?<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The answers to <b>“What
do you not like about school”</b> were interesting. Some things were of course reoccurring. No class seemed to enjoy the practice of
corporal punishment… Fighting and
stealing seemed to be less of an issue for the older classmates (Btw, this is
not nearly enough of a sample size, but I’m not a scientist. I only sampled 6 classes – 3 Form 1s, 2 Form 2s
and only 1 Form 3 class. I hope to do
more and see if some of my assumptions are right), so I wonder if the older
kids are the ones stealing and beating up the younger ones. Also there were issues of bad tasting food
and sometimes no food, no hot water for showers (for the boarding students) and
the toilet facilities were a problem for the older classes, but not mentioned
in the Form 1 classrooms. I think this
is because the Form 1 students have not spent a winter (it gets cold enough to
frost up windows) without hot water for showers and have not spent 2 years+
eating the same diet over and over again.
That is one of my new undertakings: finding out the cost and raising
funds to get the hot water heaters fixed.
Unfortunately it won’t get done by this winter, but they said they have
adapted since it has been out for years already. (I talked to the boy’s body master and he
said they have not worked since he has been there since 2007)<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In response to <b>“What
are the biggest challenges at school?” </b>the issues of teacher shortages and
teacher’s attendance came up a few times.
Some teachers skip classes and the students’ just sit there with nothing
to do. Often it is when teachers go out
of town or want to grade exams during the end of each term. As far as I can tell there is no system in
place for substitute teachers. The silver
lining to that is the opportunity I have to talk to each class about these focus
groups. As I know more Guidance and
Counseling exercises I will be able to handle free class time better also.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHp4k61YD1UXRAe8EMS4DuvzMb3RJssTbP_Q3u-5Q0oiYr78uuEKVbSaH17cM988tenMeoYTO7gskd7Fo56ZGR5GWvSNXq4tJZr56RT6Lh6XuVnLFfHkuPdWTGe1nR8fJeZyjpLZr9pI/s1600/IMG_0083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHp4k61YD1UXRAe8EMS4DuvzMb3RJssTbP_Q3u-5Q0oiYr78uuEKVbSaH17cM988tenMeoYTO7gskd7Fo56ZGR5GWvSNXq4tJZr56RT6Lh6XuVnLFfHkuPdWTGe1nR8fJeZyjpLZr9pI/s320/IMG_0083.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classroom setup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH68XF8JoEgGt8uPtiuHUBEQJr-A59rgl6Dx00sguflahDZC581ipaPvMAQr8C-qssJSq3Frc_awEHLq9Nj9LH_fVNSn7JoW-myOw__6g5Ng4uFIzgfnJLrznfJ6YGGMxA7QSyfnnndng/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH68XF8JoEgGt8uPtiuHUBEQJr-A59rgl6Dx00sguflahDZC581ipaPvMAQr8C-qssJSq3Frc_awEHLq9Nj9LH_fVNSn7JoW-myOw__6g5Ng4uFIzgfnJLrznfJ6YGGMxA7QSyfnnndng/s320/IMG_0082.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the board</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-ygl6LcG7dbZb9M0fA6bdkv_k4ZR12smIK3NSV-K8t-LD03WcCUZM1CKaG6RAHKneNH6oEXN-HJbdFp6cpD-ST76m3JyXhVZISMTCyQzUCqo67tlqbGbjk_SZJWzj314y1ypYfoVvq0/s1600/P1010372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-ygl6LcG7dbZb9M0fA6bdkv_k4ZR12smIK3NSV-K8t-LD03WcCUZM1CKaG6RAHKneNH6oEXN-HJbdFp6cpD-ST76m3JyXhVZISMTCyQzUCqo67tlqbGbjk_SZJWzj314y1ypYfoVvq0/s320/P1010372.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the kids</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Update:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Last weekend I was trying to fix something and was using
a sharp knife (anyone see where this is going?). Of course it slipped and I was not using
safety techniques, so I am now sporting 4 stitches in my index finger on my
left hand. So to tally it up, I had 3
stitches in my knee and 4 stitches in my finger. Any guesses on which limb will need 5
stitches and when??</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After I cut myself a good friend of ours, and my new
running buddy, Dr. Yimmam picked us up and took us to the Hukuntsi
hospital. I have to say I am completely
impressed with the local hospital. They
were fast and efficient, but also had great “bedside manner”. I was in and out within an hour and got
antibiotics and pain pills. I don’t know
if they are billing the Peace Corps, but they did not ask me for a dime (or a
10 thebe coin)! Dr. Yimmam dropped us
back at the house and I just took it easy for the rest of the day. I am still a bit grouchy but recovering
ok. Hopefully this will end our spree of
injuries.</div>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08833497903122521216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-73667047945226438282012-04-21T09:10:00.002-04:002012-04-21T09:19:12.492-04:00The good and bad of daysYesterday was Kabo’s first real day in front of students. The Guidance and Counseling teacher was out for a workshop so John took his four classes and we did focus groups to get to know the students wants, needs, likes/dislikes, and challenges. Kabo will write another blog with pics detailing this since soon I mainly played the role of the note taker and do not want to steal his thunder.
<br />
<br />
While waiting for Rachaba and Dika to arrive to set up for the steps film, Kabo and I were sitting on a ledge by the administration building. A group of girls approached us, greeted us, shook our hands left handed and said something while giggling. We asked them what they said and they proceeded to ask us where we were from and if we were going to be there tomorrow (Sat). At first we said no then later said we would stop by over the weekend and would definitely be there Monday. The amount of excitement from them could have powered an entire village. They were so excited and mentioned how bored they are on the weekends. They all shook our hands left handed again and scampered off. It was great! The small experiences like that can make a bad day good.
<br />
<br />
The STEPS film did not go as well as hoped. This is the third one we have done and they have varied group to group. These are films about real stories of people in different countries of Africa affected by AIDS. We show them to groups of people then discuss the video and relate it to their life. Normally we prefer to only 25 or less people, but somehow before Kabo and I got there the other organizers decided to do 2 classes which were about 60 kids, on a Friday afternoon. On top of it the main presenter threw Kabo under the bus and told the kids he was presenting unexpectedly (it happens all the time here as communication is not as strong). We muddled our way through but most of the time kids were not paying attention and were sitting by their friends talking. There was a small group of kids at the front participating, but all in all I think most of them were not reached. The reason to do smaller groups is it allows the presenter to walk among the group and keep every one’s attention. It also gives everyone a safer space to discuss personal issues without worries of other’s reactions. After the session I put my foot down and said if the group is too big I will not be a part of presenting, especially with kids. Someone told us that the greatest day can be destroyed by the slightest comment here, and it is true. After an experience like that it is hard to step back and say, let’s try to remember all the kids we reached at the first part of the day, not the feeling of failure of the last couple hours.
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dGooKZuxrMo/T5Kvx02gJvI/AAAAAAAABeQ/oTqmjdEiwCI/s1600/IMG_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dGooKZuxrMo/T5Kvx02gJvI/AAAAAAAABeQ/oTqmjdEiwCI/s320/IMG_0056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>John and Rachaba presenting</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Me, Rachaba, Dika</b> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
This morning Kabo and I got ready early (for a Saturday) and went down to Lehutshelo to watch the football match, council vs teachers. It is a nice cool fall day threatening rain, although everyone here is calling it cold and says it is not going to rain, which is making me homesick for things like sitting out at my Brian’s at a party around a firepit. Rachaba and Dika picked us up on the way and we got to the game at 9am. Like most things in here the 9 am game didn’t start until 10:15, so we went to one of the outdoor classrooms and played cards. After a while a group of kids surrounded us and we taught them how to play golf. At first they were really shy about it, but we could tell they wanted to play and one was bold enough to ask us to teach them. They picked up on it quickly and seemed to really enjoy the game. After a couple games we went to the football match because it seemed we had been gone a while and surely it had started…it hadn’t yet.
<br />
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<br />
<br />
The football game itself was fun due to conversations with friends and co-workers and we also took some great pictures. The council won, which I am torn about whether I am happy about that or not. The council team is technically my team due to where I work, but when I was initially interested in playing (before the broken foot) someone on the team told me I couldn’t play on it because it was a men’s team and I am a woman. The school team immediately asked me to play when they found out I had experience without my even prompting and before one game I was kicking the ball around (in a skirt b/c I was not on the team yet) they talked about finding me shoes, etc (oddly 4 days later I broke my foot delaying my return to being a star player…ha ha ha..sigh). After talking to more of the council players I realized that the initial comment from someone was out of ignorance and most of the players would love to have a female player and are surprised there are no female teams here.
<br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Talking to Mogapele before the game</b>
</div>
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The council team</b>
</div>
<br />
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<br />
During the game I had some great conversations with people and glad to hear about differing parenting styles, as well as things people are trying to do to give their kids a better life than they have had. I love conversations like this because I get a well rounded view of Botswana, not just seeing how the kids from the settlement are being raised, but also kids from different parts of the country.
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After the game, we walked up to the shops and got a “hunger buster” which is a meat filled makwinya (deep fried ball of dough). They are so yummy, but not quite health food. I figure I will be running soon and hopefully can knock off some of the gut I have created, so what’s one last hurrah. This is the longest I have walked since the broken foot. I am still using one crutch because my foot is too weak to support me on my toes yet, but I am working on strengthening it and only use it for a little extra support so I am not limping. I will do more test walking tomorrow and hope to be completely crutch free by next week.
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Funny thing…it just started raining. Our rains should be pretty much over by now, but everyone says weather has been odd for the last 10 years which is causing problems with agriculture.
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Go siame!
Tracykattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-5507468887556341232012-04-14T04:55:00.000-04:002012-04-14T04:55:18.353-04:00EasterIt has been good having Tracy back in Hukuntsi. As she mentioned we have had all kinds of visitors as of late. Dr. Yimmam stopped by and we made it out last weekend for a long run. I have not run for about 7 weeks so it was rough but certainly needed. I have a sneaking suspicion once Tracy gets her legs back we will be up to a full marathon distance in no time.<br />
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On Easter weekend, we went to the salt pan for sunset and to a braii with some friends and their daughter. They cooked up steak and chicken and I got a lesson on how to chop up a whole chicken. It is quite a bit easier than I would have imagined. One of the unexpected bits of knowledge I will pick up over here is picking out beef cuts and possibly learning to slaughter my own food. Fun fun. This leads me to a self-observation about myself and my wife (can I term an observation about Tracy as self-observation? Just did.): We never take our camera anywhere! Even when I do bring my camera I feel weird snapping pictures, I need to remember I am indeed still a tourist in some fundamental way. We will work on that.<br />
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The next day I noticed some people taking the fence around our yard down. It never kept the goats and cattle out anyway, so I found myself very relaxed about the whole thing. After an hour or so of them working we had a knock at the door and it was our landlady and her husband. They live in the capital city and were in Hukuntsi to celebrate their 2 year anniversary. They informed us that they were actually repairing the fence and not removing it. I am a bit conflicted about the fence repairs. We love looking out and seeing our yard full of livestock that eat up all the grass and weeds. (With long grass come scorpions and snakes) So now I will be raking the yard, but also have the option to grow a garden! I really miss the garden we had when we lived on Rufer Lane, so this may be a way to bring back something we miss from home.<br />
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That evening we made some cupcakes from a mix Tracy’s folks sent and put chocolate icing on top and trekked over to our neighbor’s house. (This seems a good a time as any: Tracy still has a big ol’ moonboot and is using two crutches. They are not the under the arm kind but the kind I tend to associate with polio. Anyhow she is able to move around on the sand quite well, but a bit slowly. We are hoping only 3 more weeks or so and then she can chuck those aside.) The neighbors had chairs arranged around a TV with a good sound system set up and a small, circular cake on a low table up front. After the obligatory prayer that accompanies all meetings, gatherings, and discussions they thanked everyone for coming in the local language and then in English for Tracy and I. Then they started the show. After the movie began they served traditional food and everyone was whooping and hollering when they saw someone they knew on the screen. Most of the people there were the ones who cooked for the event so they missed a lot of the stuff when it had happened two years ago. It was really sweet and they had a great time. After the 2nd DVD ended and everyone had eaten they wanted to cut the cake and have some desert. One thing I had noticed on the DVD was that they had identical cakes at the original ceremony. I nonchalantly mentioned this to Tracy and the edges of her mouth curled into that magnificent grin. She advised that they did not make a cake for this, but that cake was in fact from 2 years ago. About this time they began to cut and the knife was not making a dent past the icing. I looked back to Tracy and started to say “They forgot to defrost it.”, but thought that through. While refrigeration is found in many homes here in Botswana I soon decided that this cake was not frozen. It was stale. Two years stale in fact. The groom had finally made the first long incision along the diameter splitting the thing in two. I could see little beads of sweat on his forehead by this time. He was starting to look a bit tired and desperate. One of the ladies from inside was yelling and laughing, and then she came out to hand him something better to dissect the dessert. I recognized the implement from the fence work earlier in the day. They were in fact using a hacksaw to portion out the cake to the eager crowd. I tasted it and have lived to tell the tale, but I would not recommend it! We ended up having a great evening with lots of laughs and little kids running around. Once again we forgot our camera though.<br />
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The weekend ended with some coworkers, Dick and Mr. Rapholo, coming over to type up a CV. They also taught us a new Setswana word: babalase. It translates to hangover. They left to go sleep it off and Mr. Rapholo brought his wife and two daughters back over that evening. We finished up his typing and traded card games. They taught us a game very close to UNO using a standard deck and we taught them how to play GOLF. They loved it! Before we leave this country we may be able to get a real fad going!! I am still hopeful to get a card game night started at the school too. If anyone knows any simple games to play I would appreciate the instructions.<br />
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It was a great weekend and we got to talk with some folks back home too! We hope you all enjoyed your holiday. Go Siame!<br />
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Johnkattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-70823102477269506782012-04-14T04:52:00.000-04:002012-04-14T04:52:08.385-04:00Home Sweet HukuntsiI always have thought that home is where people care about you and never realized how true that is. Over the past year I have felt extremely transient between traveling, moving to Botswana, and having the constant motion in Botswana from place to place. Although I always have embraced constant motion, a year has been too much. Just as soon as Kanye felt like home we left. Hukuntsi started to feel like home just before I broke my foot and then life was a jumble of movement and being stuck in the house. Everything felt completely unstable and then I went to Pretoria.<br />
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I arrived back at my village late Tuesday and had a slow crutch/stumble in the dark down the gravel and sand roads that led to our house. Although it was great to see John I felt completely jostled, cramped, dejected and beat down as any long bus ride in Botswana will do, not to mention my foot was killing me. <br />
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The bus ride itself was a whirlwind of emotions as normal. Some other time I will have to detail bus rides here. They are an amazing mix of wonderful and awful, but now that I have gotten used to them I do not mind them (other than the constant shooting pains when you have a broken foot). Luckily the other riders made the ride bearable and ensured I had a seat when I probably would have been standing for about 4 hours of the ride due to a required bathroom break.<br />
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Since I have been home I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of friendship coming from friends, coworkers, as well as neighbors. The first full day I was home John and I then decided to go for a walk/crutch to a make sure I got some exercise. After rounding the first corner a truck came driving up, stopped by us, and a neighbor came running out hugging me. She does not speak any English and my Setswana has gone downhill since I have been gone, so we had a short conversation with lots of hand gestures and unexpected emotion and said “Go Siame” (good bye). After the next corner another truck stopped. This one was filled with coworkers who were all coming to check on me and bring mail. While stopping by the store I caught up with a few friends and Joe gave us a ride back, luckily because my foot was ready for a break. <br />
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The next day, Dika, a friend, stopped by and we talked and played cards for a few hours. During his visit Dr. Yimmam, another friend and coworker, called to make plans for the following day. Every day that we have gone out we run into more friends and acquaintances. I know that Hukuntsi is home and I am increasingly content to be in my community and know that we have already made an impact through friendships. I also know I am not the same person I was when I came here. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9CdmeYNGL4k/T4k6aPw7jwI/AAAAAAAABb8/mvtJN5a9pcU/s1600/P1010315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9CdmeYNGL4k/T4k6aPw7jwI/AAAAAAAABb8/mvtJN5a9pcU/s320/P1010315.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8hcCG47scXw/T4k6aoD9bwI/AAAAAAAABcI/-M3Z_QNNQ0M/s1600/P1010318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8hcCG47scXw/T4k6aoD9bwI/AAAAAAAABcI/-M3Z_QNNQ0M/s320/P1010318.JPG" /></a></div>kattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-8285081829303278482012-03-20T12:17:00.000-04:002012-03-20T12:17:52.119-04:00Pretoria, SA and stressorsSo, here’s the skinny. Right now John and I are in Pretoria although he is heading back to Hukuntsi Tuesday. I ended up having surgery on my broken foot (no need to worry, all is well) because it was not healing right and I really need to be able to run to complete my service in Botswana. Need sounds like a strong word, but it is important to realize that running is my main stress release and pain management tool (migraines & back pain). The Peace Corps is stressful. It is a roller coaster of emotions where you can go from feeling like you are having the best day of your life to having the worst day of your life and back to the best day in a matter of twenty minutes. The whole experience begins with leaving everything that is familiar and having an understanding of what the smallest interactions mean in our culture as well as being far away from my support network. Luckily my main support person came with me, but that in and of itself brings about new stressors. John and I have never fought so much in our relationship, although we have finally figured out ways to deal with the stress and things have come down to a seemingly normal level for now. We have built a support network with other volunteers, which is so much more important than I ever realized because there is someone else who understands exactly what we are going through. Initially I was not the type to reach out when I needed someone but I learned to get over that. Building a support network in the community takes a bit longer and although friends try to empathize I always feel like I have to think through what I say a bit more and friendship is different than in the US. Often the littlest things are the biggest stressors and most of them are cultural differences. One example is personal space. I know a woman considers me a friend when they grab my hand if we are going to the same place or if we are working at a computer side by side, they put their chin on their hand with their elbow in my lap. Sometimes this has happened with someone I have only known for an hour or two. This goes against a respect of personal space I grew up with. It has taken a while, but I am ok with it most of the time and take it as a compliment. When I am tired, stressed, have a migraine, etc. it is hard to remember some of the cultural differences and fight my trained cultural response and keep my emotions in check. It is also hard to be patient and remember that 8am often actually means 9am or even 10am and to gauge when it is worth bringing up the lateness such as for a scheduled meeting where someone traveled from another village and might miss their return transport and when it is not for times such as if I am being picked up at home for something that doesn’t have a negative impact other than irritation. <br />
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Just standing out in the community is also a stressor. There is a saying that everyone gets 15 minutes of fame, well we have 2+ years. Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is bad. There is no anonymity and people I have never met know my name and call me over to their yard. We live in a fishbowl. This means that if we walk by a friend’s house and do not stop by or if we do not take the time to talk to someone who wants to, people know immediately. People also make unexpected assumptions about us due to our skin color, such as we are rich, have knowledge about or can fix everything, and that no matter the problem we want to help. Sometimes this is an advantage and sometimes a disadvantage, but it is a hard transition coming from a larger population. If I am lonely, all I have to do is go for a walk and inevitably someone will stop and talk. <br />
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All right, enough prattling on.kattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-2544730854853799822012-03-09T11:21:00.001-05:002012-03-09T11:30:24.053-05:00The many faces of John<div><p>I know we are long overdue for some good quality posts and after this one that will still be the case.  With the constant traveling I have been doing (Maun for regionals Feb. 17-29th, 2 weeks in Molepolole (with a trip back to Hukuntsi on the weekend) for a couple of workshops, and now in Gaborone for more x-rays of Tracy's foot) and the constrast of Tracy not being able to leave the house unless someone picks her up in a 4 wheel drive, we have not had time nor energy to write up the humdrum of our lives.  Until now!!! I shaved off the beard.  Tracy thinks it has been more than 5 years since I was last shorn to this extent.  That means this is the first time my nieces and newphews get to see the youngish uncle John and retain memories of it.  Tracy says I still look like an old man - the crows feet are a give away... heh.  Enjoy and we plan to write more, but this is what we always say...</p>
<p>Love you all, John</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Zk9ienJ8R-0S0VECxesPDcBlLScXcXI8dwCx_RKkxs4A3npleLzy38qL1hGdoxukK2rQRRxCieiQnQatcDnxac0M9CkTuXBoYr0KFt9q1FJispMRBFMWsrD4BlJCO70jHnXvf0pudYk/' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmkOGkyH7Onyc3eb74uCItvMOUv08TAMVCotlyzj0QPXObrvwRJdytGh-_mo2vqoP09UtyKDx560wvD_jRSbqOMQku7eW53fee4F5buShVrc0XmC8DBstpjcqRqgjLGSKDqYhAJxoD6o/' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kvNVHXGeIH10qYoCfoLj1FrQSEyfTdSCS8GOJAQayQkw2ny5UqnafB0BRCyhc1_xzzUsmBC_rjuV9cZvevZCkKPw7mb__g29v79Saxqnu2ht80bVMIlDYdBv6-pTi0FJtq6HwrbEhpo/' /><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEPYzGOMq_xC6GL9rXw6AIidUgPq9c8pIXSwaqHh-2HivrMCZqB-GDSabQbfL-uaXLLZCEUxH9w2W5MhzRuR3KzD2gM9GqZ1NTnAndgFW8CQjn8Ri7ZNmMpTULgw6NPgNpp2tphqrL2A/' /></div>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08833497903122521216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5323021377823597879.post-43069455023043168312012-02-06T09:13:00.001-05:002012-02-06T09:19:01.467-05:00IST & HospitalsSorry about the long delay between posts and lack of pictures. The last few weeks have been hectic. John and I have been at training in Gabs for the last few weeks. We arrived on Jan 22 after taking time to stop and see our host family on the way. Although everyone was not available I really enjoyed spending what time we could with the people available. I guess this means that we will have to make another trip to see them as soon. It is an amazing feeling walking up to the house and having a bunch of kids come running up to me and all want hugs. This is definitely my home village in Botswana. Pearl, my host mom, surprised me with a hat and scarf she knitted. She is working on one for John too. I love my family here.<br />
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All in all IST (in service training) was fun and it was great to see everyone! There were many card and board games, swimming, and just hanging out talking. One night a large part of the group went out to a local bar dancing. Apparently John put his dancing shoes on and has a reputation among our group as a smooth dancer. I stayed at the lodge and just hung out playing cards with some of the others. Although it was great fun I wish I could have seen dancer John in action. <br />
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Med timeline:<br />
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Jan. 22 - At the bus rank in Gabs we had a bit of an overwhelming experience shopping. I felt like I was back in the US with all the choices, bright colors, and people. It is amazing how quickly I have become accustomed to life in Hukuntsi. We were finally boarding the combi (a big van used for public transport) to Mogoditshane and my foot turned on a missing part of a brick in the road. Yup, it’s broken and blew up like a balloon. At one point while sitting in the waiting room I told Nelson (a staff member who drove me to the hospital and has been a great support) that my foot looked pregnant. I got a backslap on the foot, was told not to put any weight on it, and had an appointment made for the following Monday.<br />
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Jan. 23 - Nelson brought crutches to training for me (not the underarm crutches we use in the US, but forearm crutches made for people who can put weight on the foot). This is complicated by the hand injury I had in mid December that is not yet healed. So here I am in Botswana checking out the hospitals and on crutches. The regular crutches are not available anywhere in the country. John was kind enough to give me piggy back rides all over the lodge. <br />
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Jan. 27 - I got a wheel chair mid day so John did not have to carry me everywhere. Then later that evening John tripped over a rug and put his knee through a pane on the glass door. I was upstairs at the time when Cassie came up to tell me. I thought they were kidding at first since John rarely hurts himself and the irony was high. Haley and Michael stuck with him until a driver took him to the ER and one of our medical officers met him there. After about 5 hrs he was stitched up and good as new although he did pull out a piece of glass yesterday and there is probably more where that came from. Advocates are so important here. The Dr never tried to clean the glass out of his knee. I know in time most of it will hopefully come out but it would have been nice if they had tried to clean it. <br />
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Jan. 30 - I had an appt which was long and painful and resulted in the local Dr. suggesting surgery based on my lifestyle and the likelihood of it healing properly without it. <br />
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Feb. 1 - US Drs. want to wait 2 wks and x-ray again to see if it is healing properly. I am to go home to Hukuntsi.<br />
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Feb. 2 - US Drs. want me to stay in Gabs until the x-ray on the 9th. I moved to a different lodge.<br />
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Feb. 5 - John went home to Hukuntsi for a few days and will return on the 8th to go with me to the Dr.<br />
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So that is the update here in Botswana. I have to say my PCV friends as well as local friends have been amazingly supportive. My host sister came to the lodge to have dinner with us and has volunteered to help me out whenever needed while John is gone. I also met a couple times with an entrepreneur from Lokgwabi, which it 10K from Hukuntsi, to work on a business plan. She is a very intelligent/diligent young woman who is starting a business that will fill a niche perfectly. It is the little things that keep you going when you are having a bad day or miss home.kattea79http://www.blogger.com/profile/16457703748380590407noreply@blogger.com2