Dear Readers, sorry to be so inconsistent with these blog posts. I will not promise to be more consistent...because I doubt it's one I can keep, but I will try!
The beginning of IST marked the end of the so called 3 month community integration period, affectionately known to PCVs as lockdown. And at the end of this period, I took some stock and realized that I have integrated. I wouldn't be able to tell you why or how or when, but somehow Bundu became my home and the people there accept me as their own.
I didn't realize how much I had integrated until I had the good fortune to have a couple of visitors. Four of my fellow SA 25's came to visit their old host families who live in my village. I went with three of them to visit one of their host families. While that family greeted their hos daughter and the other americans with hugs and exclamations, I was greeted with a "oh hey Lilly". Other americans visiting them was a huge deal. My visit was nothing out of the ordinary.
I had another friend who was not part of my training class and had never been to Bundu, visit. When he visited, he was struck by how busy and crowded my shopping town was and how he was constantly being gawked at. My response was "oh, I didn't notice". And it was true. My shopping town is busy and crowded and I probably get gawked at a decent amount...but I truly barely even notice it anymore.
On Thursday SA 25 hits its 6th month in country. It has definitely been a crazy roller coaster ride. But now, I truly feel like I belong
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
IST!
For the last...tenish days, I and my fellow members of SA 25 have been at In Service Training. At the behest of the U.S. taxpayers (thanks mom, dad and others), we have been staying an amazing resort. Delicious food, hot showers, wifi, swimming pool, sauna...the works. Apparently PCSA likes to spoil us twice during service, at IST to reward us for making it through the first three months and Close of Service to reward us for actually making it through the whole service.
Besides lounging around at the resort, we have been attending sessions from about 8 to 5. These sessions have been everything from completely useless to incredibly informative. My favorites have been when outside organizations have come in and presented possible programs that we can use at site. I came away with a lot of new ideas and projects to do in Bundu.
It's also been really fun hanging out with my fellow SA 25's. I've had a great time hanging out with my friends, especially the ones who live in the far reaches of KZN and Limpopo and who I won't be able to see a ton of during my service, unless I am willing to travel 6 to 14 hours. A bunch of us are going to stay in Pretoria for a few days to celebrate 4th of July. My plans for next week include a lion park, a spa day, a trivia contest and lots of good food.
Highlights of IST include a trip to the America Club to celebrate fourth of July. The party included the ambassador, many other ex pats, a cotton candy machine, several bouncy houses, a volleyball tournament, and a clown. Another highlight was meeting everyone's supervisors/counterparts and having some fun cultural exchanges, which included teaching south africans to make s'mores.
Right now, I'm feeling a little stir crazy from being cooped up in the resort for ten days. The sessions are pretty draining and I'm excited to have a little down time. Then I will go back to Bundu, all fired up with all these new projects (not mentioning what projects I'm thinking of doing in order not to jinx them).
Besides lounging around at the resort, we have been attending sessions from about 8 to 5. These sessions have been everything from completely useless to incredibly informative. My favorites have been when outside organizations have come in and presented possible programs that we can use at site. I came away with a lot of new ideas and projects to do in Bundu.
It's also been really fun hanging out with my fellow SA 25's. I've had a great time hanging out with my friends, especially the ones who live in the far reaches of KZN and Limpopo and who I won't be able to see a ton of during my service, unless I am willing to travel 6 to 14 hours. A bunch of us are going to stay in Pretoria for a few days to celebrate 4th of July. My plans for next week include a lion park, a spa day, a trivia contest and lots of good food.
Highlights of IST include a trip to the America Club to celebrate fourth of July. The party included the ambassador, many other ex pats, a cotton candy machine, several bouncy houses, a volleyball tournament, and a clown. Another highlight was meeting everyone's supervisors/counterparts and having some fun cultural exchanges, which included teaching south africans to make s'mores.
Right now, I'm feeling a little stir crazy from being cooped up in the resort for ten days. The sessions are pretty draining and I'm excited to have a little down time. Then I will go back to Bundu, all fired up with all these new projects (not mentioning what projects I'm thinking of doing in order not to jinx them).
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