I have recently returned from our group’s MST (Mid-Service Training). Peace Corps scheduled our training over our school’s holiday during the first week of October so that we would not need to miss any school; this is nice since I often get aggravated with the DOE for pulling teachers out of school for trainings…wouldn’t want to be a hypocrite. Once again, the training was a smashing success, and I say this with all sincerity. I’ve really enjoyed our Pre-Service Training (PST), In-Service Training (IST), and Permaculture training (no acronym although I am sure Peace Corps is working on one), all of which have been held by Peace Corps. Over the course of the week in Pretoria I had my physical check-up (glad to say I don’t have any parasites living inside of me), got my teeth cleaned (and simultaneously got yelled at for not flossing – come on, floss is pricey), received a new pair of glasses (I accidentally lost a pair some months back), and had some really motivating sessions with my SA24 group members. I returned to site feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to get down to work.
Peace Corps has what they call as “PCV lifecycle chart” that charts the ups and downs of a volunteer’s service; we were introduced to this towards the beginning of our service. I guess they wanted to brace us for our “highest highs and lowest lows.” Now, I am not going to lie; heck, I only lie when I’m sleeping. There are ups AND there are downs during the 26 months of service. It’s like living on a roller coaster. As they say, “it’s the toughest job you’ll ever love.” This is true. I wouldn’t say that I completely conform to this chart – I’ve had my ups where I “should” have downs, and I’ve had my downs where I “should” have ups, always wishing for the ups, always wishing to get out of the downs. Sometimes, though, the chart does prove correct. One of the downs on this chart comes right around 12-14 months in service, and I can affirm that the week prior to MST was a low point…break came right in the nick of time for me, just as it always seems to do.
Just to catch you up…I’ve always been a true believer in the saying that “a dog is a (wo)man’s best friend.” Whoever said this first did not raise his/her dog in Africa. As most of you know, a while back I got my own dog – Butch. Now, as my close friends and family know (and chided me for, rightfully so) I was not the best at training Butch. Not that this is an excuse, but I was really busy. I let him jump, I let him follow me to school, I let him follow me to church, I baked him bread. I was a sucker. One thing I will say though is that I never trained him to be a mean dog. He was always very friendly. He was wonderful company. Fast-forward a few months and I went to help with SA26’s training for a week. Upon returning to site, Butch was attacking people – learners who would visit me, Gogos carrying bread on their heads passing by my house, relatives. I couldn’t believe it. I was constantly worried he would attack a small child or really hurt someone. This was NOT okay. Yes, I loved having Butch, but I love my village and the people in my village more. I was distraught. I knew something had brought on this behavior (dogs are not treated the same way here as they are in the states), but it was past that point. It didn’t matter what had brought on this behavior since that was out of my control. It didn’t help to harp on the fact that something had happened while I was gone. I didn’t have time to be Miss Meghan the Detective. It only mattered that this was affecting my standing in the village, my relationship with my host family, and to be totally frank, my level of stress. I asked one of the teachers who I work with in the neighboring village if he knew anyone who would want a dog, and immediately he offered to take Butch for me, as he was looking for a “guard” dog for his business. He was pleased to hear that Butch was biting. The stress was finally being relieved. However, I was still so ready for a break.
While most volunteers don’t have their dipping points because of dogs (or at least not that I know of), they do have low points at this point in service nonetheless. Why, might you ask? It’s kind of like our mid-life crisis. Now, we aren’t going to go out and buy a motorcycle (sadly we can’t afford it and we aren’t allowed to drive as volunteers). We aren’t going to go and quit our job (remember, we’re volunteers). We certainly aren’t going to go and buy a crazy hairpiece (many of us choose to shave our heads due to the annoyance of bucket bathing…don’t worry Mom I haven’t yet although I do consider it when it’s topping 100 degrees). It’s not this type of mid-life crisis. It’s mid-service crisis. Reflection ensues. What have I accomplished? What do I still want to accomplish? How can I accomplish these things in less than a year? As Peace Corps Volunteers, most of us, by nature, are go-getters. Some might call us over-achievers. Some might say obsessive compulsive. Name calling will get you nowhere in life. The simple fact is that this crisis occurs.
MST seems to be the cure for this. Maybe Peace Corps should change the acronym from Mid-Service Training to Mid-Service Treatment. Just a suggestion. The medical part of MST was nice, and made me feel confident that I’m quite healthy despite new and, at times, difficult living circumstances. It made me happy to learn that I’ve lost a few pounds despite my carb-heavy diet. The dental part took care of any damage all of the coffee, cold drink, and cool times have done on my teeth. Going out with friends made me feel less like a grandmother (despite popular opinion) and more like a 20 something. Catching up with my fellow PCVs made me realize we really are all in this together (cue “High School Musical”). The week of showers reached any spots the bucket bath may not get to (just kidding…like I’ve said before, I’ve gotten quite good at bucket bathing). The good food (how I love bad Chinese food and pizza) kept me satisfied until my next holiday. More than anything, though, the sessions held by Peace Corps staff made me feel good about my service thus far and what I have to look forward to in the upcoming year.
As a recap, here are a few of my proudest accomplishments in the past year…
• Surviving a South African summer with temperatures that sometimes exceed 42 degrees Celsius.
• Teaching the kids in my village “I am wonderful” or “I am awesome” rather than the generic “I am fine.”
• Learning to be okay when called “fresh” or “fat.” It’s a compliment…really…
• Holding a girls camp with my fellow PCV and good friend, Jill on HIV/AIDS.
• Being accepted to receive 750 books for the high school in my village as well as one of the primary schools I am working with (thanks Kelsey for organizing the Books for Peace Project!)
• Starting the World Map Project and not falling off of the two tables I need to stand on to do so…so far.
• Teaching Rhulani, the girl across the street, how to blow kisses.
• Learning how to dance AND not caring if everyone is watching.
• Cooking for myself on a daily basis without relying on microwave dinners.
• Becoming an older sister to three brothers.
• Working with the Mother Bear Organization to provide bears to about 130 kids.
• Helping the school gardener to plant vegetables at the school.
• Beginning a Scout’s Troop at one of the primary schools.
• Working to train the newest PC group of Education volunteers – SA26.
• Writing pen-pal letters with a school in the states. (Carrie, more are coming soon!)
• Finding a true friend in the village, someone I can speak with openly and visit if I have a problem.
• Establishing myself as “Sesi Naledi” or “Sesi Nyeleti” rather than “legkoa” or “mulungu” in my village.
So far, so good I’d like to think.
BUT, there is still more that I want to do. During the sessions, we had time to think about what we’d like to accomplish over the next year. My OCD side went off and I thought EVERYTHING!! Then I realized, slow down! Make a list. Side note – If you don’t know me, I really like making lists. Here are some of the things I’d love to do in the next year…
• Strengthen existing relationships I have formed thus far. (relationships with my host family, community, teachers)
• Finish the World Map (I really don’t want to write an extension for this project as it would be the saddest extension request ever!)
• Focus on the school libraries and organizing them once our books arrive.
• Increase teacher training and teacher workshops so as to focus on sustainability.
• Continue to build up Scouts.
• Hold a second camp.
• Instill the idea that a 35% is not acceptable, nor is it passing, and that all of the learners are capable of much, much more.
• Establish a book bag drive for my learners to receive secondhand book bags.
• Run the Soweto Marathon, the 2 Oceans Marathon, and possibly Comrades!?
• Succeed in doing a headstand (now that I can touch my toes, I need to up the ante).
• Attempt to fund a community playground prior to COS.
One of our last sessions at MST had us discuss early COS (close of service) and extension possibilities. With Peace Corps, if you are offered a job or have been accepted to grad school, you can COS 0-30 days early. This is not something that I’ll be doing. The grad school program I am interested in does not start until January, and I’d like to stay until my official COS date.
Also with Peace Corps, you can choose to extend. You can extend anywhere from the end of the school term to the end of the school year to another full year. At this point in the conversation, wheels got to turning in my head. The idea of extending was suddenly very attractive to me. Imagine what I could do with more time here…These wheels became very slow after I Skyped with my adorable 4-month old nephew, Benjamin, 2 of my sisters, and my Mom. Sure I’d love to consider extending here in South Africa. I could accomplish so much more in that time. However, my family means everything to me. It kills me that I have yet to meet Jeannine and Elliot’s Ben Burrito. It kills me that I’ll miss Erin’s first marathon and my Mom’s first half-marathon. It kills me that I’m not there planning every detail of Kim’s wedding. I’ve always been close to and I’ve always valued my family. During my time here I have realized just how lucky I am to be in the family I am and to have the friends that I have. The thought of being away from them for another year is just too much to bear. (My parents are probably thinking, Meghan, student loans are calling your name!!) I know, I know. Hence another reason I most likely will not extend. Do I have responsibilities here? Sure. I work every day to meet these responsibilities. I can find so much work to do here, work that could keep me going for far more than a year. Once my 26 months of service is complete, I feel that I need to get back home and return to what calls me there – my family, my friends, and the need to make a real income.
I guess the wheels still have some time to turn…
For now, though, I’m looking forward to year 2 of my Peace Corps service. I’m excited to write this next chapter, with the optimism that it will be just as good/fruitful as the first. I hope you have enjoyed chapter 1, and I hope you keep reading as I write chapter 2.
Le Rata,
Meg
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