As I quiz my Scouts on different Scout facts, several hands
fly up when I ask “What is the Scout Motto?”
“BE PREPARED!!” the Scouts of the
1st Lekgwareng Scouts Troop shout.
I try to work with my Scouts on different concepts like this, in order
to make them more responsible citizens.
The Scout Promise, the Scout Motto, and the Scout Laws (A Scout is to be
trusted, A Scout is a friend to animals, A Scout is a brother/sister to all
other Scouts, etc.) help to make my kids more conscientious citizens of South
Africa, more conscientious citizens of Lekgwareng Village. I have seen a huge improvement in their
behavior since they joined in September.
Never a Scout myself in America, it came as quite a shock to me when
Scouts suddenly became a huge part of my Peace Corps service. In fact, it has become a cornerstone of my
service. Before doing Scouts in South
Africa, the most I knew about Scouts were thin mints and samoas. Like many Americans, I couldn’t wait for Girl
Scout Cookies to go on sale. Now I can’t
wait for our weekly Scout Troop meetings every Wednesday after school; I hold
them with my counterpart, Sylvia (friends and family, I still appreciate and
crave Girl Scout cookies...you all have my address). In addition to teaching the kids about Scouts
and Scouting history, we play games, sing songs, and just have fun. It’s my favorite hour, hour and a half of the
week.
In life, it is usually a good thing to “be prepared.” After all, “before anything, preparation is
the key to success.” However, if I’ve
learned anything in the Peace Corps, it’s that you really can’t be 100% prepared
for anything. Sorry Baden Powell, sorry
Mr. Bell, but sometimes you can’t be prepared for some of the things that
happen. You’ve just got to be prepared
for what life throws at you and hope you don’t miss. Maybe that’s what they were getting at? Be prepared for anything that comes your way?
For the first part of our school recession, I held a Scouts
Camp, focused on the Scouts earning their Pathfinder Badge, with four other
Peace Corps Volunteers. (The Pathfinder
Badge covers map reading and compasses, camping and cooking, First Aid,
Pioneering, Hiking, and observation as a backwoodsman.) Preparing for this camp was fairly straightforward,
although a lot of hard work, tears, and sweat went into it. I was to prepare my Scout Troop for camping
and cooking (each troop, 6 in total, was responsible for teaching a set of
skills to the other troops). Luckily the
Scouting Organization that we work with closely is not too far from my site, and
came to show my Scouts how to properly set up a tent and go over the other
essentials of camping. I had a meeting
with the parents, went over all of the in’s and out’s of the camp, and
purchased the scarves so that my troop could be in Scout uniforms. All of my bases were covered. I was prepared. Or so I thought. The day prior to my camp proved rather
emotional. Without going into too much
detail, the camp was almost pulled from my Scouts for no reason at all (I blame
it on a power play and red tape). I was
not going to allow this to happen: the kids were so excited, had worked so
hard, and they deserved this. I was
determined to make it work. Following a
tearful and embarrassing scene in the hair salon, my Peace Corps supervisor
swooped in to save the day, and all was a go.
Can we say Clark Kent?
Again, be prepared. I
question this. I was not prepared for
such a last minute emergency situation.
I reacted quickly, and with the help of a good friend and my supervisor
it worked out. Moreover, I was not
prepared for how incredible the camp turned out to be. Sure, we had our mishaps such as being
stranded in town for 3+ hours, but even that turned out to be fun as we played
different Scouts games in the Game parking lot.
In the end this camp was, without a doubt, the highlight of my service
thus far. We all go to summer camp as
kids, whether on a daily basis or for longer stretches of time. Yet, I think we take such small, seemingly
simple delights for granted. I know I
did. This was the first opportunity my
12 Scouts had to experience anything like summer camp before, the first
opportunity most of them had to leave the village for more than an afternoon. Seeing the smiles on their faces was worth
every tear and every minute of sleep I lost due to the stress beforehand. I was prepared for a camp that taught my kids
some Scouting skills and taught the kids some new songs and games. I was not prepared for the overwhelming
elation I felt when my host mother, one of my counterparts for Scouts, bit into
her first S’more after our evening campfire.
Surely it has to be illegal not to have a S’more as a child! I was not prepared for the pride I felt when
four of my Scouts became official Scout members. I was not prepared to see the reaction on my
kids’ faces when they could go swimming (nor was I prepared for the heart
palpitations I experienced while making sure they were all okay in the longest
15 minutes of my life as they swam in the nearby river). The experience was incredibly
heartwarming. Thanks to everyone who
made this camp possible, especially to my family who keeps me going. Thanks also
to Zach, Kyle, Sean, Howell, Deon, and Colin for being great male role models
to my kids, something I obviously cannot do as a female PCV.
As sad as I was to leave my Troop and to leave the camp, I
was in desperate need of a break. I was
so ready for vacation. Nick and I had
signed up to run the Two Oceans Marathon, an ultra marathon of 56km. The race took place in Cape Town, and I was
going to road trip down with my second family in South Africa. I was really excited! I hadn’t seen Sue or Eddie since Christmas
time, so I was looking forward to the time with them, Cliff, and Porsche. We took our time getting down to Cape Town,
and the relaxation, no-rush atmosphere was wonderful. Just what the doctor ordered. I was in bliss with tea time twice a day, long
naps in the car, and mouth-watering hot croissants. I even had the chance to go to a pretty unique
church service and visit a donkey sanctuary (think retirement home for
donkeys). While I was enjoying the trip
down, I couldn’t help but think about my training up to that point. Had I put in enough miles? Was I crazy for doing such a long distance (as
I type this, I wonder if I am even crazier for my next race)? Was I prepared for 56km, approximately 35
miles?
Fast-forward, and my alarm, rather unwelcome, buzzed in my
ear at 4 o’clock in the morning (I am never
prepared for my alarm clock). Whelp, no
matter if I was prepared or not, this was it: Race Day. It was go time. I pulled on my race outfit and downed a cup
of coffee, hoping it would bolt me awake out of my unconscious state and filled
up with some more carbs. Strangely
enough, I felt calm. I wasn’t nervous,
and I slept until we were dropped off with the thousands of other runners
donning plastic bags in the early hours of the morning. (Maybe there should be a rule that races
can’t start until the sun has decided to wake up?) During miles 0-10, I was still a bit worried
about my preparation. I made sure to
watch my pace, worried that I was feeling too good and that would quickly go
away. I kept waiting for the pain to set
in. Eventually, maybe around mile 20, I
realized I had prepared enough. I could
do this. Sure my feet felt like they
were breaking on the down hills, but I was prepared both physically and
mentally. Despite this, I was not
prepared for how beautiful the race was – the view, or maybe the crazy wind,
literally took my breath away. I had
heard the race quoted to be “the world’s most beautiful marathon.” Certainly this had to be an
exaggeration. Nope. First ultra marathon – check!
The rest of the vacation seemed to follow suit – it was a
truly magical vacation. Utter bliss. During our time in Cape Town, a group of us
decided to go shark diving! This is
something I would never have done five years ago, but I was pumped to try
it. We had a great group going, and the
weather was ideal. Although I was not
nervous when the great whites were splashing around near the cage (that was
cool!), I was NOT prepared when the tuna head, used as chum, came right in at
me. Woof. The day before we left, Nick, his sister (also
Erin) and I went to Charlie’s bakery.
While Nick had raved about this bakery, I again was unprepared for the
deliciousness of the brownie and cookie (I had just done a 56km race so I felt these
treats were well deserved) I purchased.
Probably the best brownie I’ve ever tasted. Like most vacations, I was not prepared for
it to be over. I’m now settled back in
the village, and busy with projects for the next term, but it’s never easy
leaving paradise…
Before the Peace Corps, I did as much research as I could. I even tried to learn the local language that we were supposed to speak. The joke was on us as our group didn’t even learn the language we had been told we would (nor did we go to the provinces we were informed of). No matter how much I did in preparation, I’m pretty sure I could not be prepared, at least not entirely, for what was to come, for what laid ahead of me in South Africa. I was not prepared for many things: I was not prepared to fall in love on an airplane. I was not prepared to get used to bathing in a bucket. I was not prepared to learn more about myself in an entirely foreign country. I was not prepared to become more confident, finding the courage to stand up for myself and what I think is right, and learn how to be a professional in what can sometimes be a rather unstructured environment. I was not prepared to make lifelong friends. I was not prepared to experience some of the hardest and some of the happiest moments of my life. A lot of things I’ve gone through in country I have not been prepared for (being asked to have a complete stranger’s child, being asked to have a grave site/viewing site in my room, being offered chicken feet and worms as a meal). No, none of these things I could prepare for. Can anyone, really? But, I have learned that not much surprises me anymore, and to always be prepared for what could come.
As I think about my future after the Peace Corps, it
shouldn’t come as much as a shock that I don’t feel too prepared. I’m doing as much preparation as I can: I’ve
started applying to different jobs and I’ve even had two interviews so
far. No matter how much research I do,
no matter how many cover letters I send, I don’t feel prepared. But, it’s a huge transition back. Many people say the transition home is more
difficult than the initial transition to the country of service. Maybe I shouldn’t feel 100% prepared. Believe me; I’m ready to be home with family
and friends (and Starbucks and JCrew).
I’m ready to have a salary and not to be in the “fish bowl”
anymore. I’m ready to be in a place that
doesn’t reach 112 degrees and have humidity of 80%. But, there are things I’m not prepared to
leave and I don’t think I ever will be prepared to leave despite how much time
I have: my host family, my co-teachers, my friends, my schools, the kids who
yell “Meghanee!!” as I run past, and the simplicity of village life. The list goes on. As much as I him and haw about it now, I’m
going to miss being crammed in the back of khombis with smiling toothless Gogo’s
who carry your bags for you on their heads.
I’m going to miss the little things.
I guess we can never really and truly be prepared for huge changes in
life. We have just got to prepare as
much as possible for what is to come, for what can come, and hold on tight,
enjoying the ride all the while.
Le rata,
Meg :)
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