Because I don't have much time here... I'm posting my latest mass email... hopefully when things start to settle down and I get to my site I can get everyone's email in my address book... and here's my email and new address!
Hey everyone!
I'm in Zeerust again.... maybe for the last time ever... and it feels kind of weird. It's funny how you can get used to somewhere and find comforts away from home..
First things first and then I'll type up the email I wrote last night before I went to sleep.
* I sent out my new address the other day and forgot to include "South Africa" at the bottom... I think this is pretty important considering Moetladimo is a pretty small area in international thinking.
Megan Owen
PO Box 325
Moetladimo
0891
South Africa
cell number: 011 27 79 089 1154
*I hope you guys know that I appreciate any mail or email contact.. and if you're busy... believe me I understand.... right now, it's really ok that I haven't heard from you.... I mean it is a two way street... a lot of people haven't heard from me. Just remember I'm going to be over here for a long time... so mail will be appreciated at ANY time. Wahoo!
So on to my email... hopefully I won't have to use internet cafe's very often (transport to and from and the actual time are pretty expensive) because today we're all going to look at internet phones! I'm going to get one that can connect to the internet and to my computer... I didn't think I was going to go this route living in Africa and roughing it and all, but I think for sanity and safety's sake.... I'm going to splurge and get this comfort.
The email:
I'm settled in for the night..... it's a nice 80 degrees in my room (according to my clock), the bugs are starting to show their little faces in different corners, there's a breeze coming through the window (that my host mother insisted I open), and I'm all packed and ready to start leaving Gopane.... Spring is here1 It's the changing of the seasons and the changing of locations for all the PCT's (Peace Corps Trainees) in Borakalalo, Motswedi (where all the Education people have been staying), and Gopane. Two weeks ago, at this same time, we were about to board a bus for Polokwane in Limpopo for our site visits, getting to know our NGO's and new living situations, one week ago we were all asleep by 7 pm- exhausted and recovering from our trips- ready to get back into some of the normalcy we have in Gopnae (now that we've been here for weeks and weeks), this week we each have a backpack and have put the rest of our things in the hands of Peace Corps- this is the week we're sworn in as actual volunteers and our two year commitment really begins. Monday was spent with the country director going over policies... Today is spent getting coffee, internet, hanging out, and having some time on our own, Wednesday we leave Gopane, say goodbye to our host families, and head to a 5 star hotel for celebrating and congratulating ourselves on makng it through training!, Thursday we're sworn in (Peace Corps has now been in South Africa for 10 years!) and driven to site by our new supervisors. It has been a crazy couple of weeks to say the least.... I wish I could break it all down into smaller chunks and give details, but I have limited time so I'm just going to hit on key points....
*sorry about the vague and slightly emotional email from last week... my head was in 50 different places all at once... and as usual I was on auto-pilot (as I am a lot of the time here). My site visit went really well as far as my NGO's concerned. I clicked with one of my coworkers, Synette, the 23 yr old financial manager. I didn't spend a whole lot of time with my new supervisor, but she seems really nice and flexible- open to allowing me to choose what I want to do and would like to work on. So far my tentative weekly schedule has me in the office on Mondays and Fridays, with Tuesday- Thursday going around to the different villages they serve (6 in all) checking out their OVC (orphans and vulnerable children0 drop-in centres and going along with some social workers and carers (volunteers) who do home visits to people who need primary health care. On the other hand, my housing situation was pretty difficult...and in all honesty...awful. I won't go into too much detail because I'm trying to look forward, but my NGO is responsible for finding me housing...and put me up in a room in the house owned by a woman on the board of director's. She is crazy. Her house is really nice (not that that really matters) and has all sorts of amenities...TV, a nice stereo system, fridge, etc.... but there was no food and she talked nonstop (her record was two hours straight), she woke me up every morning by yelling my name and walking in my room at 5:30, asked me for money, and a few other things that made me uncomfortable. I have to say that was the first time I really, seriously, thought about leaving Peace Corps. I'm working on finding new housing, now... cross your fingers!
* As respite time and because we needed to head back to Gopane... the night some of us spent in Pretoria last weekend was amazing. I was a wreck. Emotionally drained, exhausted, and so so relieved to see people I knew and who understand just what the whole 4 days had been like (people had similiar stories).
* Back in Gopane... we had another volunteer leave (we're up to 8 now0 and we all were having a hard time adjusting (when debreifing on Tuesday.. I burst into tears in front of 60 other people because I was still recovering from my site visit...awesome.) South Africa is really country of extremes. We spent 5 days weaving in and out of different worlds- the land where we blend in, a city that looks like somewhere in the states or Europe, BMW dealers, chai's, pizza, English speakers, other people who are white...to the land of walking, slow pace, pap and chicken every night, being of celebrity status (we look different and we're from AMERICA!), poverty, goats and donkeys. This country is very much still reeling from the end of Apartheid. RIch vs Poverty (most people), Racism (White, Coloured, African, Afrikaner, Indian, etc. are the big groupings and people are definitelygrouped), citu vs. rural.
* I gave my host family a photo album full of pictures I had taken throughout my time here and the scarves I crocheted each of them. THey LOVED everything and Mma Mable said that her true gift came on a plane from America and that I have become more South African... I have grown... that when I first came I was a mere baby. I have grown. I know I have. I feel it everyday. How I handle things, how I push to learn more.
Ok that's it for my notes....
Thank you thank you thank you again for all you support... I really can't even begin to tell you what it all means to me. I'm lucky, I love you guys more that you know, I'm learning a lot, and I can't wait to be in more regular contact with all of you.
KNow that there is always someone in South Africa thinking about you.....
You are AWESOME!
Much Love,