You Are My Porridge

     A couple of weeks ago, someone yelled across the street, “You are my porridge!”  At first, I was rather confused by this.  What was this man trying to tell me?  Did he want me to make him porridge?  Did he want to make me porridge?  Then, after a while, I realized that in South Africa, they eat porridge for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Evidently, this was quite the compliment…

            I hope that everything is going well state-side.  Thanks to my brother, Dave, my sports connection to the US, I’m up-to-date on some things so, I’m sorry about the Phillies; that is a bummer!  Hopefully they’ll come through next year.  The past couple of weeks here were really great, so let me update you on my life in Limpopo (which is apparently known as the Eden of South Africa)…

            First of all, I celebrated my first South African birthday last Saturday.  I felt like it was a 36-hour birthday due to the time difference – let me tell you, I could get used to having a longer birthday!  It was definitely weird not being with my family and friends back home (I was feeling a bit nostalgic for Lady Antebellum and birthday cake shots), but I had a wonderful day nonetheless thanks to some of my best Peace Corps friends.  At first I feared that I might be spending my entire birthday in the back of a khombi – the taxi drivers don’t leave until every seat, and I mean EVERY seat plus some, is filled.  Eventually we were off to Polokwane, my head hanging out of the window (I am not quite sure why dogs enjoy doing this) so I made sure not to sweat to death.  When Mardy, Jill, and I arrived in Polokwane, we met up with Abby, Nick, Colin, and Casey at the Mall of the North.  They gave me the nicest birthday card (props to Casey for being a great artist)!  Thanks to my my parents, Erny, and Aunt Barb, I was able to purchase a new pair of shoes (Crocs has some really adorable & comfortable shoes for teaching) and a foam roller (which my host family LOVES!).  After a bit of shopping, we enjoyed a meal at Mugg & Bean, and then headed off to the Game Reserve.  One of the PCV’s from SA23 was the nicest host ever, making us feel quite at home.  The evening was spent eating a delicious cake (Betty Crocker Nick made a peanut butter and chocolate cake – the appearance didn't do it justice!), drinking Top Deck Martini’s (thanks Abby!), and playing a multitude of card games.  The next morning we were able to walk around the Game Reserve, and even see some animals; I’ve never been so close to an ostrich before.  It was definitely an unforgettable birthday.  Thanks to everyone at home for all of the warm wishes; they meant a lot!

            As much fun as I had, it was nice to come home.  Unfortunately the trip back was a little too eventful for my liking – let’s just say that I kind of stick out and get some unwanted attention.  I don’t know how many times or in how many languages I have to say “no, I don’t want your number” and “no, you can’t have my number” and “no, I will not marry you” to get the point across.  Luckily, my host family was home when I returned, arms wide open, to welcome me back which made the khombi ride back a little less upsetting. 

            As for my site – it continues to make me smile, and I continue to be amazed as to how lucky I was to be placed where I am.  I feel like a member of the community now, which is a really terrific feeling.  At one of the schools I am working with, we just began the Reading Intervention program.  I assisted the English teachers and the HOD with different strategies on how to successfully implement the program.  It was so great working with the teachers on this, and seeing how receptive they were to my advice.  I know that while they will learn from me, I will learn so much more from them.  This week was my first time teaching the 7^th grade learners English for the ANA (Annual National Assessment) Reading Intervention.  The lesson – which took about 2 hours – went really well!  I had the learners make their own Personal Dictionaries, and we started doing Personal Journals.  One of the PCV’s who was at our group’s training had suggested the idea of Journals, and I’m so glad that she did; I think it is going to be a successful tool for improving writing.  In addition, I played hangman with the class.  It’s a really great way to get the learners spelling, and learning new vocab.  Since they beat me, I brought all 57 of them cookies on Tuesday, which they were very happy about.  The teachers didn’t mind eating the extras, either!  I have also started the journaling program at the other school I am working with.  Last week, I discussed the reading program – D.E.A.R. – with the teachers.  Some of them have made the corners in their classrooms, which I was glad to see.  I have realized that I will definitely need to be patient on implementing it.

            In addition to working at the schools, I have started teaching the ABET class on Mondays and Tuesdays after school; this is the village’s adult education program.  The secretary at the school in my village goes there, so it really fell into my lap as luck would have it.  Although there are only 6-7 students on a given day, I am really enjoying working with these men and women.  We have had some really wonderful discussions so far.  I never thought that I would be teaching things like Life Skills, HIV/AIDS, how to develop positive relationships, etc. but I find myself doing so and loving it.  I am also teaching them English; last week I taught how to write Diary Entries, and this week I taught a lesson on poetry. 

            For some random notes… I love that when I have a bad hair day, I can simply wear a duku and I manage to get multiple compliments.  I’ve started practicing carrying items on top of my head (pots, buckets, bowls), which I love!  The women here make it look wicked easy, but it takes major skill!  I still need to keep my hands close to whatever I’m carrying to make sure that it doesn’t fall off of my head.  Hopefully I’ll be an expert soon!  I’ve also started to bake with my host mother.  This week we made banana bread which for some reason or another I manage to burn every time.  Luckily, it was salvageable!  Next week, we are going to try carrot cake.  I’ll be sure to let you know how it turns out!  I just finished reading Randy Pausch’s “The Last Lecture” and I am currently reading Mitch Albom’s “Tuesdays with Morrie.”  Both are great reads and are very inspirational.  If you have the time, be sure to pick them up. 

            This morning two other PCVs and I ran a 9k in Giyani!  It was my first race in SA and it went really well!  We were able to talk to the local running club, who we plan on running with a few times a month.

Sala Gabotse!

Love and Miss you All Very Much!

Meg J

Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore…

Dumelang!  (Hello in Sepedi)  Yes, I am learning Sepedi now; maybe in 2 year’s time I will come back to the states with a few different languages under my belt (not betting on all 11, which is the number of official languages in SA).  Not that I’ll be able to use these languages in the states, but it’ll still be neat to know them.  Sepedi is my host family’s and my village’s spoken language.  My host brothers are constantly teaching me new words and phrases, which is great.  It also serves as entertainment for them since they get a kick out of my American accent.  Sepedi is also one of the school’s where I’m working primary languages.  I am still able to practice speaking Xitsonga as the other school I am working at speaks it as its primary language.  I constantly have to remind myself which language/greetings I should be using when I go between the two villages.  Knowing how to speak these different languages is great; I love going into town and using the greetings, whether it be Sepedi, Xitsonga, or Setswana.  You wouldn’t believe the looks on people’s faces once they realize that this “legkoa” can speak something other than English/Afrikaans (and no, I do not know Afrikaans…it’s wicked hard!  It reminds me of a mix between Dutch and German.)

I have been at site for about 3 weeks now, and I am starting to feel settled as well as very happy at my new home.  My village is great, and the people are so welcoming.  Ubuntu exists just as much here as it did in the North West Province.  The kids in my village finally have my name down pat, which is nice.  Whether I’m riding home from school (side note – never buy an unassembled bike…dish out the extra R100 for the already assembled bike, you’ll be happy you did) or going to the tuck shop, I am bound to hear “Nyeleti” or “Meghan” at least 20 times.  Very rarely, aside from the kids who are under 2, do I hear “legkoa” in my village which I’m really happy about.  I’m still working on getting everyone’s names, but I’m sure it will come with time. 

I feel very lucky to have been placed at the two schools where I am working.  Both schools have a wonderful principal, a very kind staff, and terrific learners.  Since I am working at two different schools (in different villages), the principals and I have created a schedule (a time table) in order to divide my time equally.  I go to the one school Mondays and Tuesdays, and the other school Wednesdays and Thursdays.  I switch on and off at the two schools every other Friday.  The past weeks and up until December Peace Corps has given us a packet of assignments to complete to help us integrate into both the schools and the community, and to find what the greatest needs are/where we can be of greatest help over the next two years (Peace Corps terms this “Phase 2 Assignments”).  This time includes, but is not limited to, interviewing the teachers, interviewing the principal, talking with the SGB (School Governing Body), talking to the students in the village, finding out different projects that exist in the community, etc. 

In addition to the Phase 2 assignments, I have started working on “Reading Corners” for one of my schools.  I am working on putting a “Reading Corner” into each of the grade’s classrooms (Grade R-Grade 7).  Once this has been done, I am going to work with the teachers and the principal to implement D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) into the school day.  I always loved this reading program and looked forward to the 30 minutes of reading in the school day (yes, I’m a nerd).  I am hopeful that this will help with the students’ reading/writing.  At the other school, I am working on organizing the library; eventually, I would love to make “Reading Corners” and implement D.E.A.R. at this school as well.  I have decided that I would very much like to help the students with English at the conclusion of the school day.  Thanks to a Miss Lindsay Jarrett, I’ve been playing “Scrabble Slam” with the kids.  They love it, and the best part about it is that it’s educational without them realizing it!  (I think I might enjoy playing “Scrabble Slam” with them more than “Words With Friends!”  Hard to believe, I know.)

It’s currently turning to summer here, which means it constantly feels like I’m in an oven.  I have stopped boiling water for my bucket baths and I have decided to go running in the morning since in the afternoon it’s about 37 degrees Celsius (apparently it gets up to 40 degrees Celsius, about 104 degrees Fahrenheit – shoo!).  As much as I’m one for hitting the snooze button, I’d much prefer a “cooler” run than having to go when it’s crazy hot outside.  Also, it’s a nice way to start the day.  I have also mastered making my own iced coffee, which my host family finds quite interesting.  It’s no Starbucks, but it does the trick.

Since arriving at site, I’ve discovered some additional differences between American culture and South African culture, thanks to the teachers I’ll be working with.  First of all, my fellow teachers were quite disappointed to learn that no one would be paying lebola for me.  Lebola is what a man has to give to a woman’s family before taking her as his wife; this can be paid either in cattle or Rand.  Apparently the lebola fluctuates due to the woman (i.e.  whether or not she is educated).  I am told that the current lebola can go up to R40,000!!  Additionally, South Africa has multiple cultural dances; there are different dances for whether you are a Venda, a Sotho, or a Tsonga.  My host family has taught me how the Xitsonga people dance which surprisingly I am able to do.  In return, when they asked me to show them how Americans dance (hold your laughter please) I taught them some of my favorite dance moves – the “Q-tip,” “making the pizza,” “the shopping cart” and “reeling in the fish.”  To my friends who actually know how to dance (Katie!) don’t worry, I told them I can’t dance very well.  I didn’t want them to think that all Americans dance like me haha.

I am super excited because I have just finalized my Christmas plans.  Nine of us will be traveling together (some of my favorites from our groupJ).  We will be traveling close to Mpumalanga, going to places like Drakensburg, and hiking for the majority of the trip.  On Christmas Day, we will be doing a 9-hour hike!  It will be very hot then, so it should be interesting!  I can already tell that I will miss the snow!  For New Year’s we will be going to Durban, which is known as South Africa’s playground.  I am very much looking forward to this trip, and I think it will be a great time.  I’m hoping that it will help with any homesickness I’m sure I’ll experience.

So no, there aren’t any flying monkeys in my village nor do I have shiny red slippers like Dorothy (that would be quite the fashion statement), but I can certainly realize the difference between being a Peace Corps Trainee and a Peace Corps Volunteer.   It’s quite a new experience going from being surrounded by 50+ Americans on a daily basis to being the only American in a 50km radius.  I can see why previous PCV’s call the first three months at site the most challenging, what with adjusting to your site, feeling like a fish fresh out of water, etc.  Despite this, I must say I feel very lucky and am doing really well so far.  I adore my host family and I love the schools, so I am excited for what the future holds.

P.S. Khombi/Taxi rides are wicked entertaining here!  On my way here, I was in a khombi with 20+ people, 2 babies, and gogo's sitting on top of people's laps.  In addition, we drove most of the way to town with our door opened!

Until next time, sala gabotse!  (Stay Well in Sepedi)

Lots of Love,

Meg J