Physical Manifestations of Home-Sickness

I'm not going to go into detail about the many bowel related issues all Peace Corps volunteers face. All I'm going to say is that for the past week and a half I have been suffering from the opposite of the general issue. Pain, suffering, physical illness... all in large part, I believe, to the "stress" of being at the one year mark of my service. Many volunteers are feeling the strain at this time, my current strain is residing in my pulled neck and leg muscles. Home-sickness here is different than the "I wanna go home"s suffered at summer camp, or the "I want my Mommy"s after a bad day at school. Here it is a weight you carry around constantly, a knot in your stomach, and a total lack of motivation on some occasions. It's hard to describe just what the sufferers of what I am choosing to call PCVHS feel.

Cinco de Mayo feast:

But, here we are. In about a month we will be at exactly our one year mark. Time has moved so fast that it doesn't seem like there will be enough time to finish everything. Just one more year, ka nete? The first year with regards to work moved at a glacial pace. Now I am actually facing the possibility of not having enough time!!!!

I am currently, as aforementioned (thats for you Trish), teaching two classes, B3 and B4. B3's have riveting conversations and get so into the subject matter that you can actually see them taking my prompts and using each other as the main teaching tool. B4's are trouble and still only seek to be abusive to each other. The B3's just finished their Gender sessions, B4 is still trying to get through them, and have started on goals and future planning. They have actually listened (B4) to everything in such a way that they were able to see, realistically, what they need to do and what they can accomplish. We did an exercise that I simplified from MAP called "Gender Box". The kids identified how girls and boys think the other sex should act. We then had a three day discussion using the phrase "I feel---- because----". The conversations roamed over many topics, everyone listened to each other, and even sensitive topics like rape and abortion were approached and discussed condusively. We also did a typical PC exercise called a bridge model where they have to build a bridge of skills and knowledge over the challenges they will face in their lives. B4's took everything we had been discussing from day one and build a rock star bridge. B4's, you are my heroes!

I finished my first project proposal last week as well. Trish helped me a lot on the wording (probably obvious from m blog me and words don't get along). It turned out to be really awesome and I think me and the GRO Foundation can really run far with it. It is a four part project but we are focussing on only two parts right now. Part one is a post-secondary resource book to help students know what to do after high school. Part two are career fairs and workshops for girls to give them the information in a more fun format. So many kids here are smart and graduate with what is considered good grades here but they don't know where to go or what to do. Hopefully this project will allow them access to the information that will empower them to plan for the future and be successful.

The Library is gorgeous. Ntate Phoole put up a new coat of paint and fixed the floor. We have old shelves put in but I am making plans for fixed shelves on the walls also. It's going to be SO much work but the committee is really dedicated to this project and its success. Its good to know that, for sure, at least one of my projects will be sustainable. I Can't wait until the books come. The few books we have at the school now are Voltaire, Jane Austen, Niche, and other classics that most high schoolers in America stay away from. My two Gilmore Girl books have already been lent out, even though the library isn't running . The best part is seeing the kids who are helping me clean or move shelves DISCOVER the books. They get so distracted by all the options and all the stories that they aren't much of a help to me, but thats fine, it gives me energy to see what an impact just looking at books has on my students.

A fun story- Saturday was going to be cultural day at St. Michael's school. Friday I borrowed an adorable seshoeshoe that belongs to my older host-sister and last Sunday my friend Malekhula braided my hair in con rows. Saturday morning I got up, not feeling well but still looking forward to a super fun day. The kids have been practicing for weeks and this cultural day was going to include drama and choir competitions in addition to the dance. I got to school at 8:30 because I was told to be there at 8, no one else showed till 9, we got on the bus at 9:45. The end of our half hour drive resulted in us sitting at St. Michael's for an hour, surrounded by a sports day instead f said cultural day. Turns out no one let Molapo know that Cultural day had been postponed until the 29th. So, we drove all the way back to school. The kids were so disappointed that M'e Noko decided to let them have a party and their own cultural day at the school. Hopefully some good came from this though; the kids will now be able o practice and perfect for the next two weeks!