Peace Corps 50th Anniversary: "Honoring Our Public Health Legacy, Inspiring Future Generations"

Hello Dear Reader,

I'm excited to announce that Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, in honor and celebration of Peace Corps' 50th Anniversary, is facilitating a panel discussion entitled:

"Peace Corps 50th Anniversary: Honoring Our Public Health Legacy,
Inspiring Future Generations"

Thursday, September 8th
13:00 to 14:35 (1pm to 2:23pm EST)

...and guess what?? I've been asked to serve as a panelist to speak about my Peace Corps service and my work in international public health! Too bad I won't be there in person, but I'll be Skyped in (just one more reason I looooove Skype)!

Here's a description of the event:

This event exemplifies the legacy of Peace Corps partnerships and the impact that the Peace Corps has made on global health through the eyes of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who have made their careers in public health.

The event also marks Peace Corps’ commitment to the future and demonstrates the importance of ongoing partnerships with a signing ceremony to recognize the Rollins School of Public Health Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Fellows Program.

RPCVs representing the five decades of Peace Corps service and public health organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Carter Center, and the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University will address the following topics:

1960's - Laying the Foundation – Kathy Parker

1970's - Responding to the Call – Deborah McFarland

1980's - The impact of Peace Corps on a Career in Public Health – Stephen Dorage

1990's - Partnerships – Kelly Callahan

2000's - Shaping One's Perspective – Danielle Morris

Remarks will be provided by Peace Corps Director Mr. Aaron Williams (RPCV- Dominican Republic, 1967-1970), and Georgia State Senator Mr. Jason Carter (of the Jimmy Carter- Carters) who served as a PCV in South Africa from 1998 to 2001!

The event is being co-sponsored by Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health and the Atlanta Area Returned Peace Corps Volunteers.

Pretty cool, huh? Yeah, I agree!

For more details, contact Emory University.

Wish me luck kids!

Dani

I am a product of "The Third Goal"

Hello Dear Reader,

If you've been researching the Peace Corps, you probably know of or at least have heard a little something about the organization's 3 goals:

1) Do good in the hood (I know JFK didn't put it like that);

2) Represent the diversity that is America in "host countries" (no, we're not all like the people you see on "Jerry Springer" or "Keeping up with the Kardashians"); and

3) Bringing the world to America (but that happens already...cue the song "We are the world")...but seriously, (Returned) Peace Corps Volunteers are uniquely positioned to bring their individual experiences home to big city/small town America (no, the world isn't full of terrorists).

Goal #1 (check...and beyond...or so I'd like to think): The importance of/obligation to live a life of service was instilled in me from day 1 outside of the womb (thanks mom and dad). I'd like to think that my Peace Corps service merely added to my volunteer resume and now, over three years post service, I am continuing to building on that amazing foundation.

Goal #2 (ongoing): The awesome thing about my service was that I was one of two African American PCVs in PC-South Africa at that time. Being in this unique position, I was not only able to show South Africans that not all American Black people are rap stars playing out a looped episode of "The Wire", but I was given the opportunity to demonstrate that to my fellow PCVs as well. Sure, this was frustrating at times- I was brought to tears by it, expressed my anger and frustration about it, and made some of the most amazing friends who will forever been in my life (both South African and American).

I say "ongoing", because I am fortunate enough to be able to continue representing who I am...as an American...out in the world. I have grown tremendously from my experiences, and through these experiences, I've become both more patriotic and more broad-minded than ever. I've learned to drop the labels we as Americans cling to so tightly to define ourselves. I.Am.American.

Goal #3 (a lifetime): Better known amongst the PC set as "The Third Goal". The Third Goal- Bring the world to America (but this has taken place from our great nation's inception). Sometimes, however, we tend to forget that we all came from somewhere "out in the world". As it relates to PC, like I said, RPCVs are uniquely positioned to serve as America's constant reminder that the world is not always how it is depicted on CNN/BBC/Fox News/Al Jazeera. No, the world is not to be feared. Instead of confirming our fears of "it's us against them", PCVs are able to put a diverse face to the "Us" and help their fellow Americans see that the "Us" looks/feels/thinks/desires/hopes/dreams/loves/fears/hates/wants change just like "Them".

You see, I am the result of two RPCV's quest to achieve "The 3rd Goal". As I've mentioned before (I'm sure you're sick of hearing it by now), but in the 3rd grade during "International Day", my teacher invited two RPCVs (a couple) who served in PC- Morocco, to share their experiences with me and my classmates. Little did those (now) nameless, faceless RPCVs know, but, by sharing their experiences, they forever shaped mine. Every.single.thing that I did from that day on inspired me to want to see the world beyond the library books, tv programs, and newspapers. And now, it is through my little PC/RPCV blog, that I hope to pass that quiet light of inspiration that was handed to me over twenty years ago, to you.

Happy 50th Birthday Peace Corps!

With love,

Dani (RPCV South Africa 2006-2008)

Black Girls' Special: What am I going to do with my hair when I'm in the Peace Corps?

Hello Dear Reader,

This special blog post is dedicated to all of the Black Girls out there who have considered joining the Peace Corps, but thought to themselves, "What am I going to do with my hair in the middle of nowhere?" For all of you non-Black Girls, don't worry, we all have something to learn in this post!

If you are a Black Girl or happen to know a Black Girl, you will know that hair is, shall I say, a 'sensitive' issue. Let's be honest- for many of us, our hair plays a major role in how we feel about ourselves.

A Black Girl's Hair:

• Determines if we're going to get in the pool on a hot.as.hell.day, or not.
• Determines if we're going to get our exercise on, in fear that our hair-do will not last until our next salon appointment.
• Determines who and how we let someone touch us in fear that our hair might 'get messed up'.
• Determines our Friday and Saturday schedule. I mean we need to make our regularly scheduled, hours long salon appointments.
• Determines where we live. A good hair stylist is hard to find. Will you trust a stylist in D.C. the same way you trust your 13-year long relationship with your current stylist?
• Determines our nightly bedtime routine. Moisturize, comb, wrap, scarf, satin pillow...
• Determines how we feel about ourselves. Is it long enough? Straight enough? Styled just right? Is it the right texture? Will it behave today? I hope it doesn't rain, otherwise I'm in for a bad day. I hope it's not too hot, because I don't want to sweat out my style.

The list goes on.

I bet that if you're considering joining the Peace Corps (or living abroad), you've given pause to what you'll do with your hair. I'm sure that there are plenty of other Black Girls who wouldn't even consider joining or considered PC, but the well-being (etc) of their hair was was found to be too great of a barrier.

Don't worry, I too had this internal discussion! I knew that, first thing out of college, come hell or high water, I was going to join the Peace Corps...so I needed to make a plan for the queen's crown! My vision of my PC experience was to be in the middle of the bush somewhere and figured that I'd look pretty crazy searching high and low for a box of PCJ (little did I know that, even in that 'bush' experience I'd been dreaming of, a home perm kit or salon is never out of reach). Mind you, I was also a budding womanist and figured that I needed to get in touch with my ruuts (roots)! When I finally came to a conclusion, I was in Cape Town, South Africa attending a summer-long human rights program and in serious need of a touch-up. It was going to be now or never...so I did the best I could and threw a French braid at my mane. That summer, my new friends grew to hate the French braid. So did I. It wasn't until just after my Senior pictures that I cut the permed ends off of my hair and became fully "natural". Oh My! And the funny thing is that I didn't end up joining PC until three years later!

Black Girls...I should have probably prefaced my story by saying that this was my journey, and mine alone. Doing the 'natural' thing has served me well...10 years strong. But Black Girl, don't despair if you can't imagine giving up your luscious locs. During my time in PC, I served with Black ladies who had locs, perms, presses, home cuts (me), beauty shop do's, shaved heads, braids, twist outs, and everything in between. So fret none (yes, very country, I know!). Your hair does not have to stand in your way from you too living your Peace Corps dreams!

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

From one Black Queen to another...

Yours Truly,

Dani

Staying connected to home while living abroad

Hello Dear Reader,

I hope that this blog post finds you well!

When I served in the Peace Corps from 2006 to 2008, staying connected with my friends and family back home was, well let's just say...expensive! If I wanted to communicate with my friends and family back home, I could 1) write an email if and when the internet was on its best behavior; 2) do what we in Southern Africa call a 'missed call', meaning let the phone ring a couple of times so caller ID would register your number, and hang up before anyone on the other side picked up or 3) Hope that someone on the other side would pick up the home sickness in the atmosphere and like you enough to call. Back then, I knew nothing about Skype and the internet speed wasn't fast enough to have reliable access to AOL instant messenger or gchat. Sad face.

During my service, I relied very heavily on option #2- the missed call. The challenge with this option was that my parents were often the only ones who could afford to call me back on a regular basis. As a result, my parents learned more about my personal and work life than they probably would have otherwise...boyfriend problems and all.

When I accepted my position in Lesotho, my parents were not too thrilled at the thought of gazillion dollar monthly phone bills (+/- $800/month) for the duration of my employment. Luckily, somehow, Skype came into my life...the single greatest invention for improving the quality of life for expats, only second to SOS insurance!

Ahh Skype! I (heart) Skype! With Skype, combined with 'fast and reliable' internet access, I'm able to keep up with everyone. I not only have the program, but a US number that people without Skype can contact me on (i.e. grandparents, my bank when I have fraud alerts on my accounts after using it in some random country, etc.), Skype calls forwarded to my Lesotho cell phone, group video chats, and low cost international calling rates when my fiance is on site visits and away from his...Skype! No, I'm not getting paid by Skype, don't worry. It's just that Skype has revolutionized my life abroad...don't even get me started on Facebook (although I think it's the devil!)!

Speaking of the Devil (not FB), but my dad is actually calling me right now. Hold please....

No fathers were harmed in the taking of this Skype screen shot

As you can see, Skype just allowed me to have a brief conversation with my daddy-o for a quick hello...and to tell him about my up-coming trips to Ethiopia and the US of A! Awesome, huh?!

I told him that he'd be making a guest appearance on my lil' ole RPCV blog, specifically talking about how the addition of Skype in our lives has allowed both them and me to be more comfortable with their only daughter living abroad and away from home for extended periods of time. He also wanted me to highlight the fact that, Skype is free, thus eliminating the need to keep calls to me as a line item on his budget!

On another note, with the advent of FB, smart phones, and inexpensive internet service on cellphones, currently serving PCVs are also able to afford to and are able to keep up with friends and family back home! For instance, PCVs in Lesotho, some of whom are so remote that, in order to get cellphone reception have to walk up the tallest hill, can even keep in touch on the regular! (P.S. That's something you can tell your 'nay-saying' parents when they bring that up as a reason why you should not serve in the Peace Corps.)

Oops...I need to cut this blog post short, I see that my BFF (an RPCV- South Africa) currently living in South Sudan just popped on Skype...gotta run!!!

Gchat with you later!

Dani

Love & The Expat

Hello Dear,

When I was in 3rd grade, my teacher hosted 'International Day' for our class. In addition to eating 'ethnic' foods and gaining a new appreciation for the various cultures represented by the student body, my teacher invited two of her friends...RPCVs from Morocco...to share their experiences of life abroad. That one day opened my eyes to the world beyond my classroom...my neighborhood...my home town...the USA. Literally, the day that changed my life! I knew at that very moment that my life would, for sure, include service in the Peace Corps and beyond that...a life lived as a global citizen.

After school that day, I rushed home and told my parents about the amazing people I met and how I was definitely going to 1) have a pet monkey (don't know where that came from), 2) join the Peace Corps when I grew up, and 3) travel the world for the rest of my life. Everything (almost) that I did from that point on shaped the volunteer experiences I took on...the education I sought out...the jobs I took...the things I read...the vision I had for my future (right down to the type of husband and kids I was going to have...I have an imagination, ok?!).

With respect to the husband and kids thing...I always thought that, by 27, I'd wind up with a Frenchman (don't ask me why), we'd have kids named Jean-Michelle and Gaston (again...don't ask me why), we'd live in a village (but with a little flat in Paris), have a garden, and of course, I'd have a pet monkey like Bubbles (Michael Jackson's monkey friend in the 80's).

Peace Corps (check)! Life and career abroad (check)! My Frenchman, Jean-Michelle, Gaston, and Bubbles Jr by 27...not so much! Well...after learning overtime about the cruelty of taking wild animals out of their natural habitat, made me change my mind from a monkey to a dog...and after the unfortunate incident with Travis the super frustrated chimp, my decision to stick with a dog was confirmed. So instead of the monkey...I have a bovine relative...or rather a pig.

Instead of focusing on getting the French-American family of my dreams, I focused on doing all of the things I loved and figured that the man and the family would find me in the midst of me living my life. There were those along the way who I thought might have a shot at matching me toe for toe, yet again...not so much. So I kept living my life...and enjoying it!

My job was going great and I was newly assigned to an awesome project to strengthen nursing and midwifery education in Lesotho...how rad is that?! And the best part was that, because of my involvement in this program, I was sent to Ethiopia to attend a nursing leadership summit. What?!!!! Ethiopia...the second place I wanted to visit, after Morocco, of course. Little side story: towards the middle of my PC service, we were told that the PC Ethiopia program was about to re-open after being closed for some time and there was active recruitment of currently serving volunteers and RPCVs to help open it back up. What?!!! Uhh...Me!!!!! But alas, that didn't work out...but I managed to secure a spot at this awesome leadership summit in Addis Ababa several years later!

The first day I arrived, I knew I was 'home'. This was the first place that people looked me in the eyes when speaking to me instead of at my ridiculously poofy/curly hair. 'You look Habesha', they'd say. 'Oh, for real?'

The second day, I was minding my very own business when I saw this devastatingly beautiful Ethiopian profile walk in the room. 'Whaaaaaaaaaaaat!!!' Oh Yeah! And he noticed me too!

This beautifully handsome face and lovely spirit eventually caught my imagination over a helping of injera and tibs fed gursha-style. He asked, 'Can I come visit you in Lesotho.' I balked and said, 'Well that's dramatic!' After dinner, the lovely man dropped me off at my hotel and we said our goodbyes. The next day, I caught a flight to Lesotho thinking that I'd never see that classic nose of his again. The day after that, I sent an email with the parting words, 'You're more than welcome to pay me a visit in Lesotho.' And that's where the love story began...

...And during a recent trip to Addis Ababa, my lovely Ethiopian (who obviously took to heart lyrics sung by one Beyonce Knowles) 'liked it, so he put a ring on it'! Woohoo! In the immortal words of Shug Avery in Alice Walker's 'The Color Purple', "I's (almost) married now! I's (almost) married now!"

Move over Frenchman, Jean-Michelle, Gaston and Bubbles! Welcome to our forever Ethiopian man, Tekkle, Yohannes and Bubbles-substitute!

...in the midst of doing what you love...and living your dreams...what you want and need (and sometimes didn't even know you wanted and/or needed) will find you!

And that, my Dear Reader, is my short (kinda) and sweet story of 'Love & The Expat!'

Until next time,

Dani

Expats, dinasours and things...

Hello Dear Reader,

As promised, and then un-promised, and then promised again, I'm back to give you one expat's perspective on living abroad...

Come November 2011, I'll be able to say that I've lived in Lesotho for 3 years. THREE YEARS?!!! Yes, three, whole years! Aside from the foreigners who moved to Lesotho, fell in love with the place and people, and have committed to building a life here, I'm one of the few expats who've been here for so long. You see, the every-day-expat tends to take assignments (job contracts) either with the same organization or a different one for six months up to two years. Three years?...well that's just crazy talk! At least in the Lesotho context, I'm damn near a dinosaur!

At every expat party, you're always either meeting someone new, saying goodbye to a friend, but usually both at the same time. Let me quickly take you to an expat party (in Lesotho). And since I love the highly acclaimed cult classic, The Golden Girls, I'll do it Sophia Patrillo (RIP) style:

Picture it- Maseru, winter 2011. That year was one of the rainiest winters on record. There was so much rain that we had to canoe to work and the village idiot (so not politically correct) tried to build an ark with his blanket as the sail...but I digress.

The young, extraordinarily beautiful Expat Dani (hey, I'm telling this story here) went to yet another expat party to bid farewell to Leena, who was leaving Lesotho after a year of living in the hut on top of Thaba Bisiou (the final resting place of the first king of Lesotho- Moshoeshoe). Dani had been to parties like this- ones where she barely recognized all who were there. Walking through the crowd of new people/same conversation was like dodging a Starbucks in Seattle...you can't! But she was prepared, she brought her handy dictaphone with a pre-recorded responses:

Newbie: Hello, my name is Newbie!

Me: [Turns on pre-recorded message] Nice to meet you Newbie.

Newbie: I work for HIV Kick It. Where do you work?

Me: Oh, you work with Mark and Anna.

Newbie: Oh, no. I'm the new Anna and my friend over there is the new Mark. So how long is your contract?

Me: I don't really have a contract. It's really based on the availability of funding. And you?

Newbie: I have a six month contract. I'm from San Fransisco. I'm trying to plan a road trip to Zambia, Mozambique, Cape Town, Namibia, and Swaziland. I want to go pony trekking and mountain climbing and learn Sesotho and learn how to drive a manual car...and and and...

Me: Oh, that's nice...I see my friend over there. Nice to meet you and if I don't see you again, goodbye.

Me: [Turns off tape player]

The moral of the story: keep extra batteries for your recorder.

Yes, I know that was a very weak attempt at a Sophia Patrillo a la Golden Girls story, but you get the point.

So as I fast approach my 3rd year in Lesotho, I have earnestly started the process of asking the question, "What next?" Should I stay and become a permanent fixture in Lesotho? Should I strike out and start the next, new adventure in another country, or should I go back to the US and finally stop putting off furthering my studies in a Ph.D. program (and move back abroad after wards)? Hmm... I mean the whole point of accepting this expat life was to explore myself and the world (hopefully at the same time). Even now, I'm not ready to settle down in one place for too long...and most lifetime expats will say the same...they don't want to go home for long and don't want to settle in one place long enough for it to start looking/feeling like home.

Again: Hmmm.....lots to think about!

And on a completely different note, but will perhaps be followed up with another post about Love & Life Abroad (a series even), next Thursday, I'm headed back to Ethiopia to spend some much needed time with my awesome boyfriend. Think eleven days of the bright lights of Addis Ababa...hot springs...tibs and injera...Ethio-jazz...schistosomiasis-free lakes...Oh My!

So until next time, Dear Reader, if you have any specific topics you'd like for me to address, feel free to post as many questions as you'd like. I'll do my best to address them.

Oh, and yet another note, my friend who watched me go through the final, frustrating stages of my Peace Corps application process just contacted me after some time. And guess what: She just completed her Pre-Service Training (PST) in Peace Corps Belize. Furthermore, her cousin will soon be entering PC- Cape Verde. ...And Peace Corps still lives on in my heart!

Can't wait to hear from you! Yes, I mean YOU!

Dani

Jay-Z did it too...

Hello Dear Reader,

Yes, I'm back (said with head hung low in shame). After a great deal of persuasion and promises of a lifetime supply of Reese's buttercups, I've been talked into re-activating this little blog o'mine...even though my PC service ended 3 years ago...even though I've started up other blogs...even though I promised you in the previous post that I would be out like a light...suffice it to say...I'm back and we'll see how this goes!

You may be wondering...where in hell have you been (maybe not, but I had to start this post off somewhere, right?) and what can life look like after Peace Corps?! Well, that's an easy question to answer, Dear Reader! I've been going strong in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho for the past going on three years!....and a few other places in between:

Lesotho

Egypt

World Cup Feva in South Africa (in Rustenburg no less...my PC site)

Ethiopia

Zambia

I am the proud mother of a stinky, burping, snorting, sleeping, scooting, squish-faced Bulldog named Beef-Wellington!

...and after 7 months of training, I no longer have a dream deferred...

I just completed the Publix Georgia Marathon!

So as you can see, I've been kinda busy over the past 3 years! In starting up this blog again, I hope to express to you in not only words, but images as well, what one Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) did with her life post service. Furthermore, I hope to encourage you, through my own experience, to get out and see the world...learn through doing...expand...stretch...grow...challenge yourself...actively engage your world...and realize that the world is not only what you see on the O'Reilly Factor or even CNN.

...and if you have any questions, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to give you an unfiltered answer. I've always enjoyed a two way conversation, myself.....

Until next time!

Danielle

Err...Uhhh...2 years later!

Hello Dear Reader,

It certainly has been a long time since I last posted on this here Peace Corps blog...almost two years in fact...a whole Peace Corps service (again). While I'm no longer in Peace Corps...the dream has continued. As I mentioned in my last post, I accepted a job working in Lesotho...and guess what?! I'm still here! Another thing I mentioned...keeping up with the past two years since we last spoke in a new blog...yeah...BIG FAIL!

So, I guess you're probably wondering...why in heck are you writing on this blog...two years later? Don't you have something else to think about...like life...a new job...something? To answer your questions...yep...I've got other things to do...and my life has moved on...but in a strange twist...I'm still very much connected with Peace Corps...Lesotho!

When I first moved to Lesotho, I met and became very good friends with a group of Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) serving in this great country. I've had the opportunity to compare and contrast my service with theirs...share in their highs and lows...truly see (with my own eyes) how Peace Corps service can vary from one person to the next/from country to country/and so on and so on. I've even had the opportunity to bring some of my PCV-Lesotho friends to Rustenburg in order to show them around; and introduce them to many of the amazing people I grew to love during my two years of service, who continue to have a strong presence in my life today. (World Cup 2010: Ghana vs. Australia; Ghana vs. USA: both in Rustenburg)!!!!

As I mentioned, two years ago, I moved to Lesotho and made many wonderful friends (many of whom are current PCVs). If you're counting the time like I am...that means that it is now time for many of my dear friends to close out their service (COS) and strike out on their own: away from the safety and security of Peace Corps, into a world full of possibilities, to use the many valuable lessons learned from their service for the next great adventure(s).

Just as I was a little over two years ago, my (soon to be "R") PCV friends are reflecting on their service and wondering what the next steps hold. Often times, I'm called to give pause and reflect on my own service. I guess this mental (and emotional) trip is the reason for this unexpected visit to "Liv(ed)ing my Peace Corps Dreams" blog. Reading through my old posts...thinking about where I was at the time...compared to where I am now...the same person...with a deeper/better understanding of how I fit into this crazy world...with a whole lot more room to grow.

This really will be my very last post...but before I exit stage left...I thought I'd leave a few tid-bits for you (PC applicant, Trainee, PCV, wanderluster extraordinaire) to nibble on:

1. No matter where you are...no matter where you go...no matter who you are...no matter who you meet...we all want to be loved/accepted/appreciated/live out our dreams (varies from one to the other).
2. Patience is not only something to strive for because we've always been told it's a "virtue". Patience is, in fact, an invaluable tool to carry and use often in life's tool box. (I'm still working on that one).
3. The lessons I learned in Peace Corps have, after two years, stayed with me and will continue to shape my experience with each step I take.
4. Be kind in all that you do (in spirit, in mind, in heart).
5. Never loose the ability to grow: stretch yourself, live outside of the box (with one foot in so you can relate to others), "don't talk about it, be about it", and stop putting off your dreams (if you can think it, you can do it and the only one stopping you is you)!

No, I'm not Buddha with those last points...just an old RPCV...reflecting on two of the best years of my life...and wishing the best to my soon-to-be RPCV friends who are about to close one exciting chapter... and are sharpening their number 2 pencils to write the next one!

Over and out...

No...really...I mean it...I'm no Micheal Jackson (R.I.P.)...but this is it (sorry for that one)!

Your friend,

Danielle, RPCV (South Africa, 2006-2008)

P.S.: Lace up your sneaks and come running with me as I pursue another dream- running a marathon! Eek! And the dream continues!

Expat Dani

Dumela (Setswana- PC South Africa) or rather Lumela (Sesotho-Expat Dani in Lesotho) Dear Reader:

As soon as I accepted my new position, which would officially make me an expat, my parents and I began our feverish quest to find out what life would look like in my soon-to-be-new-hometown of Maseru. Oh sure, I've found the basic details like population size, weather patterns, geological make up, Peace Corps Volunteer doings, etc., but information about what to do, where to go, how, why and when have escaped me. I did find this cool map of Maseru though. So since I haven't found the type and amount of detail necessary to quench my thirst (read: My parents wondering if this is Peace Corps service Part Deux and what they did to make me want to move to a place that doesn't even have a mall), I've decided to start this whole blogging thing all over again to chart my journey of discovering what it means to be an expatriate...in Lesotho.

If you want to follow along, visit my new blog Expat Dani. Now that I'm starting this new endeavour, this will serve as the official last post on Living My Peace Corps Dreams (Yes, the end of an era...a moment of silence please.........). Onward and Upward we go!

And the dream continues.

Hello Dear Reader-

It certainly has been a long time since I've posted anything...but I promise you'll understand why if you keep on reading. On July 18th, I took a United Airways flight from Jo'burg to Germany and Germany to Chicago and was met by my beaming father. I could not believe I was finally back home...on American soil...for good(?) Since being home, I've had the opportunity to travel from D.C. to New York, to Atlanta several times over, catching up with friends and family who kept me grounded and were eager to share in my two years serving in Peace Corps South Africa. I recounted stories, filled in the gaps that were evident and inevitable in this blog, and answered the daunting question: "So what next?"

So what next?

Starting in March, I began searching for jobs that would allow me to build on my Peace Corps experience: international public health/social equity/life abroad. In the end, I received two competing job offers. One offer was from a top medical school working in global HIV prevention programing. The position would be responsible for providing technical support to South African health care providers in the area of the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT). It would require 3 to 5 trips a year to South Africa. The second offer, of which I accepted, is to serve as the Program Coordinator for a prominent US-based university that implements PMTCT programs in Lesotho. I will be coordinating program planning and implementation activities for the university in Lesotho. Yes, this means that within a month I will be relocating to Maseru, Lesotho indefinitely! You heard it right, I just left and now I'm going back, not as a volunteer but as a paid employee! I am so excited!!!! This is what I've wanted to do and now I finally get a chance to do it!

Still living out my dreams!

Leaving Site...

...was very hard to do. On Friday, July 11th, my office threw me a going away lunch to reflect on our short but full time with one another. There were plenty of laughs and a few tears fell as memories were shared, friendships were solidified, and it was understood by all that "the world is round. Just as we met at one point, we will meet again". I kept that bit of wisdom with me as I began the lengthy process of "closing my service": saying goodbye to friends (therapists, co-workers, interpreters, comedians, dance partners/teachers, tour guides, mothers, fathers, sisters, aunts, etc), writing the necessary reports for Peace Corps, closing out my FNB bank account, and completing all of the final medical check-ups (including the three take home stool samples-homework if you will). Once again, I found myself having to pack for the long trip back home. (Review post entitled: A different kind of packing list...) This time, however, my bag was a little lighter and zipping it was a cinch. The real souvenirs from my Peace Corps experience...my two years living in South Africa...are immeasurable. They won't ever go out of style like a polka dot sweater. They will never fade from my mind like the soles of those leather shoes. I will never worry about leaving them behind. My souvenirs will live eternally in my heart, continuously giving me the strength to grow and follow all of my dreams...

Then

The third grader I was...the little girl who's world instantly expanded (imagine the possibilities) after listening to two Peace Corps Volunteers talk about their two years spent in Morocco. Setting a life-long goal of joining the Peace Corps and living a life of service at home and abroad. (Did they know that in one moment they changed someone's life?)

Now

The woman I have become...lived her Peace Corps dreams.

COS Conference and Last S2S (plus more than one) Meeting

One June 22nd (Sunday), me and the rest of the S2S crew (and much more than one more) attended our last official meeting in Pretoria at a really happenin' Indian spot in Hatfield to catch up with each other, say goodbye to the first of our crew to leave (LaQuita "Mapule" Rogers), amend and second meeting minutes, eat good food, talk about our digestive systems and other bodily functions, have fun, and eat (did I mention that already?)! What a wonderful way to (start) say[ing] goodbye ("Mzanzi fo sho" style) to people who, for the past two years, became your (this is a run-on sentence like no other):

family/friend/support system/accomplices/advocates/"I need to get the hell out of site for a weekend" go-to-person/"If I get caught doing this, I'm gonna get Adsep'd (Administrative Separation-PC kicks you out)" point-person/sms (text messaging) buddy/phone when I can friend/the only person who truly cares to hear about your toilet habits over dinner/shopping buddy/travel mate/and the list goes on and on!

One (you, Dear Reader) might think that this meeting, the COS (Close of Service) Conference), and the process of saying "goodbye", would be a sad sight to see, but rather a celebration- full of laughs, jokes, funny stories, food (great food!), and "goodbyes"...for now. There were actually no good-and-proper goodbyes, because friends like these will be in your life forever...in body and/or in memories to last a lifetime.

Pictures:

1)Brad "Thabo" and Judy
2)Me and Krupa
3)Brenda, LaQuita, Liz and Me
4)Carolyn, Charlene, and Marti & Dave Fine
5)Bree, Krupa, and Brenda
6)Me and Judy (front), Brenda, LaQuita & Liz (background)
7)LaQuita, Liz and Me doing, as Liz and her family call it, "Dad eyes".

Lesotho...in a nutshell

Finally, I got to go on my long-awaited trip to Lesotho (June 13th-16th)...Well Worth The Wait!

If you review the post entitled "Winding Down, Saying Goodbye" (or something like that), I spoke about my plans for the next month or two. Everything is coming together just like I said I would...with one amendment...my last day of work will by this coming up Friday (July 11, 2008).

And the Winner is...FSP Rustenburg

FSP-Family Strengthening Programme- is a component of SOS Children's Villages that attempts to assist families taking care of orphans and/or vulnerable children with training, food parcels, referrals to social services, fuel, prepaid electricity, etc, rather than taking children out of their biological families. A couple of months ago, I was asked by the FSP team (Hophney, Mpho, and Emmanuel) to help them come up with a poster presentation of their activities. The poster would be taken to an all-FSP meeting in Pietermaritzburg and entered into a competition. Immediately, I started dreaming up what the poster would look like. I had Hophney take me around to just about every office supply store in Rustenburg looking for poster presentation board (you know the ones students use for their science fair projects...the three sided cardboard thingy?) with no avail. I guess those things haven't hit South African shores just yet. Well anyway, the team worked very hard on coming up with and arranging their ideas in just the right way...resulting in me staying at work until 7:30 pm on a Friday! I told Hophney and Emmanuel that if the prize for first place was an all-expense paid trip to Mauritius, it was mine! Hard work paid off, because I received a phone call a week later saying that it was unanimously decided that FSP-Rustenburg was by far the best poster presentation of them all...no luck on that trip to Mauritius...a box of chocolates was as good as it gets! Congratulations FSP-Rustenburg!

Poor chicken!

The reality of life is that, in this vast animal kingdom of ours, there is something called a food chain. Another reality of life is that those nice cuts of chicken, beef, fish, etc. that lay and wait at the grocery store, in their pretty packaging, used to be, before all of the processing and what-nots, real animals. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a BIG meat eater. In fact, I believe that a meal is not a meal without meat, so this is not going to be a story about to eat meat or not to eat meat, but rather about dignity.

My experience serving in Peace Corps-South Africa, has brought me closer to reality, with respect to where my meat comes from than ever before. In South Africa, mala magodu (cow stomach and intestines) is served at funerals, weddings, and any other traditional function you can think of. Plus, my local grocery store always has a surplus stockpile of it, just in case you have that craving. At my local grocery store, you can also find pig feet, pig knuckles, and "Walk-y Talk-y"...can you guess what that is...packaged chicken heads and feet. Grilled chicken feet in particular are a favorite snack that can be readily found on a nice, hot braai stand (grill) at the Rustenburg taxi rank or any other street corner. On just about every other corner, you can find someone with a cage full of live chickens for sale. Personally, I don't want to know the intimate details of what I'm eating: it's mug shot, shoe size, last meal, etc., but hey, that's the reality of eating meat, right? I just prefer the packaged meat...a generic leg, thigh, breast, rump, etc...no face, no name, just...meat.

Well, today, on the way to Tapologo (a really cool and innovative hospice for terminal HIV positive individuals) to drop the SOS mothers off for their practicals, we dropped another mother off at a hatchery about 15 minutes away so that she could get some eggs. On the way back from Tapologo, we stopped to pick the mother up at the hatchery. Instead of the three passengers I was expecting to ride with, there was a surprise 4th passenger, a live chicken looking mighty resigned to the path his life was inevitably headed towards. I immediately became tense and was ready to get back to the Village so that I would not have to serve as the Grim Reaper's usher for longer than I had to! To add insult to injury, to mock the dignity of the soon-to-be dead, this poor, poor chicken, with his wings stretched back farther than I think they're supposed to go, the last thing he was ever going to listen to in his short chicken life was "This is how we do it" by Montell Jordan...Poor Chicken!

Winding down, saying goodbye!

Sorry for taking so long to post on my blog. As you could probably tell from the last post, I've been busy contemplating the next stage of my life. After much consideration, I have decided to and have received approval to end my service (COS) on July 18th. Yes, July 18th! That's next month! Oh, so you want to know why? I guess the simple answer is that I'm just ready to go home. Keep in mind, however, that there are no simple answers, or at least not this one. I've certainly had my fair share of fun in Peace Corps- from my first few months of service living in Bhoek (as it is affectionately called)with my host family and their pit latrine, working at LifeLine, trips to Sun City and else where, the Rusty Dusty, meeting people and doing things that I will never forget, experiencing many "firsts", falling down and picking myself up again, making life long friends amongst my fellow Peace Corps Volunteers and local community members, working at and loving SOS Children's Village Rustenburg, and many, many other things that I cannot possibly fit into this blog. Having said all of that, I have had a "full" experience, nothing that I could have imagined as a 3rd grader looking at Peace Corps brochures. Now that time is winding down, you may be (secretly) wondering if my experience has lived up to the title of this blog...Yes! My Peace Corps Dreams have been realized. I was able to hold on to a dream of serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer for nearly 16 years. I studied, volunteered, worked, etc. along the way, preparing myself for turning my dream into a reality. Now, I am nearly at the end of that dream, or rather, just the beginning. Peace Corps Service might be nearing the end for me, but the lessons I've learned and adventures that I've had have forever shaped my perspective on life: change is not always immediate; people (cultures, societies, outlooks on life, experiences, etc.) are different, but for as much as we are different, we are all of the same...we all want the same thing: to be accepted, to be loved and to love, and to be successful (the definition changes with the individual).

I know that my reflections seem to be incomplete, but I'll continue to work on this rough draft for your sake and mine!

So what does my schedule look like until the 18th?

Pending the travel restrictions to Lesotho are lifted, I'll head there for a couple of days- pony trekking in the cold!

The day before my Close of Service Conference, me and my fellow Setswana-2-Setswana (plus 1) members will get together for our final meeting- almost the entire crew will be ending service early.

The COS Conference- where volunteers get together to talk about...what else...ending service and tying up loose ends.

My last day at work will be the 14th of July, and I'll head to Pretoria the next day in preparation for leaving the country.

Yes, there will be plenty of "goodbye" parties in between. I'm still trying to figure out how you say goodbye to a place that has become home...to people who have become family...plus packing up 2 years worth of memories into 2 bags (weighing under 60 lbs of course). I'm working on it, but the process is challenging...

In my next post, I'll be sure to post plenty of pictures...

Working on it...

Agh! I've got so much on my mind!

Over the past couple of weeks, my mind has been racing and it's driving me crazy! Mostly, I've been forcing myself to start thinking about what I want to do after Peace Corps. For as much as I'd like to stay focused on the here and now, which has been drilled into my brain over the past year and some change out of necessity and circumstance, I feel compelled to start thinking about what I want to see myself doing post Peace Corps service. Another impetus has been the fact that, over the next couple of months, some of my closest fellow PCVs will be COSing early...Like in the June, July time frame! Batong, gomodimo!

Through my deep interest in reproductive health, women's health, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, public health, social justice, public health program management, and improving access to care, I'm strongly considering the option of heading off to medical school (not without first attending post-bacc studies). CRAZY, I know! So lately, I've been apply for various pre-med post-bacc programs. The thought of going back to school, and particularly going to medical school, is a daunting task. A task, however, that will hopefully take me to where I want to be professionally. I'll be sure to keep you posted as this train of thought develops. If I go back to school, this means that I may have to COS (Close of Service) early in order to start in the summer/fall. Eish!

In addition to applying for post-bacc programs, I've also started a job search. Two years of volunteer work has made me appreciate the paid life. So if you're reading this blog and want to hire a soon-to-be Returned Peace Corps Volunteer...Let's talk! Eish!

Extending service into another Peace Corps-health-related program is also an option. Peace Corps just reopened the Ethiopia and Rwanda programs. I've always wanted to go to Ethiopia, plus, as a Public Healther, my CV and amount of experience would receive a big boost if I had additional work experience in a post-conflict zone. Not forgetting the fact that I would be able to provide some assistance to a project in need of a Peace Corps Volunteer. Ya-rrrrrrrr (roll the "r")

Making other, more personal life choices have been semi-freaking (ok, TOTALLY) me out. Should I, shouldn't I and the implications of both! Agh!

On a more short term basis, I'm trying to plan what may be my final chance to vacation...a trip to Lesotho to go pony trekking. Ever since I learned of such a thing, I've wanted to go! Ke itumetse thata!!!! But ke batla go plan-a pele! Eish! Eish! Eish! I have to figure out what I'm going to cook tonight...cooking is my vice and daily torment!

Usually, writing things down (not necessarily in such a public forum) helps me to relieve some anxiety, but this, unfortunately has not provided me with the comfort that I hoped...plus I'm tired, hungry (didn't bring my scaf tin to work today), and I'm cold (beginning of winter), so I guess that's not helping either. Eish! Ya-rrrrrrrr, Sis!

Ok, well on a more positive note, I recently bought two pair of jeans (not the stretch ones either), and thanks to preparing (most) my meals and living the volunteer life (walking everywhere, carrying my heavy bags of groceries from one side of town to the other, walking very fast as not to be late for work, and exercising with the kids), I can now fit into a size 4 jeans! It's the small accomplishments, isn't it! I feel better already!

Plus, last night, Saziso and I went to a braai over one of his co-worker's houses. There was so much good food, great company, music, and a cute dog named Rudy! The main purpose of the event (organized by Saziso and Clayton) was to link me and Clayton's wife up, supposedly so that Estelle and I could become friends, but really to give the two guys permission to stay out very late! Indeed, Estelle is a very lovely woman and she has a really sweet family (daughter, two nephews and a sister that I got to meet), so becoming friends with her is a no-brainer! It hasn't even been 24 hours, and we're already sending emails and sms's (text messages)to each other!

So writing things down (for me) does help after all!

Look like Mommy?

Isn't my mom beautiful? My father took this picture...I need him to start taking mine!

Running, walking, skipping, jumping jacks...

One of the first few meetings I attended at SOS was a training for the mothers. During the training, the Village Director and the social workers encouraged mothers to look after their health and weight. It seems that, in other villages, SOS mothers tend to gain weight and have deteriorating health the longer they stay. This could be a result of many factors. In the meeting, I suggested that we could start a walking club with mothers. If you really want to know, I've started this club for selfish reasons! I want to get in shape! I want to be more physically fit! What a great way to keep motivated when you have lots of kids reminding you to get up and get a move on!

Initially, it didn't seem like the walking club would get off of the ground (or out of my head), but one courageous mother, Mme Portia, approached me and expressed her interest. It just so happened that soon after we spoke, the kids went on break from school and had ample free time. Our walking club initially started out with Mme Portia (who is a super star) and about seven children. We would go walking several times a week for about 2 hours around the neighborhood. The second time we went out walking, Mme Portia surprised me by having all of the children dressed in the same shirts!

The most children we've had thus far is 14. I've had them do warm up and cool down exercises, jogging, slow walking, fast walking, and relay races. Additionally during walks, I stress the importance of drinking lots of water; a light, healthy meal before exercising; and tips like keeping stomach muscles in while walking. Everyone seems to be enjoying it, but my challenge is to increase the number of mothers participating and even some of the office staff members. I'm working on it! Now that the children are back in school, we (the mothers and myself) are trying to find our own rhythm. The next addition to my plan is to start healthy cooking/eating/snacking sessions for both the mothers and children. Additionally, I've noticed that the majority of the kids do not have proper running outfits or running shoes. If you are out there reading this blog post and can possibly help us out, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure! I'll keep you posted!

Mozambique n' more

Recently,I along with a few of my fellow Peace Corps Volunteers took an action-packed trip to Mozambique for a bit of rest and relaxation. We all met up in Pretoria for a 6 hour Translux bus ride to Maputo. Everything was going great until we go to the boarder of Mozambique when I realized that, instead of bringing along my PC passport with my 36 month visa for multiple entries, I brought along my personal passport which hadn't been used to visit or leave South Africa since 2005...silly me! Well, I waited my turn to get my passport stamped in and the boarder official looked at me and said, where's your visa, when did you get here? Basically, without my PC passport, it looked like I had remained in South Africa from 2005, the last time I had used it. I got a taste of what it felt like to be ILLEGAL! She threatened me with a HUGE fine as I was sweating bullets trying to explain to her that I was a poor volunteer working with orphans and vulnerable children in Rustenburg and that, really, I did have another passport with an official visa, and really, I did actually leave the country in 2005 as indicated by the exit stamp from O.R. Tambo Airport in Joburg, while my friends were looking at me like...well this trip is over before it began. To make a long and sweat-filled story short, I got my stamp out of South Africa (not too long after requesting for a boost in my allowance from my VERY LOVING PARENTS). On the Mozambique side of the boarder, the bus opperator, who was very nice, assisted (with a bit of sketch)us in getting our visitor's visa processed...we were on our way! After what seemed like forever and two days on the road, we landed in Maputo...new language, new currency to figure out, pushy taxi drivers, the works! All 5 of us, including buldging luggage, were stuffed into a late model Toyota Corolla and driven literally around the corner to our backpackers...The Base. As we stumbled, travel worn and weary, we were greeted at the door by an over zealous front desk attendant who seemed to know exactly who we were, because, without saying hello, he proceeded to tell us that there was not room at the inn. Apparently, the reservation policy at the Base is that you must confirm your reservation 24 hours in advance, which he said that he did, but no one ever received a call. Tired and irritated, two of us broke away from the group and searched frantically for an other place to stay that wouldn't break the PC bank. Eventually, we found a really cool spot...Fatima's...Once we were settled in (read: threw our stuff on the bunk beds), we headed out for food...we landed at a hip pizza spot, although my early Alzhiemers is making me forget the name. Four of us sat on the patio, enjoying the weather, the new language (Portugese), and pleasant atmosphere. Periodically, young guys would walk around the perimeter of the restaurant selling their arts and crafts. Tip: If you look at or entertain the vendors, they won't go away. The result of the evening is that you will be harassed for the rest of the evening. Two members of our party were officially banned from looking anyone in the eye for the rest of the trip. To end the evening, we hopped back into a taxi and, upon arrival at Fatima's, we (read: I) gave the taxi driver a tip he will never forget...an extra 350 Metacal ($15) because I gave him a 500 instead of a 50...We expected the driver to be waiting at the backpackers all day and evening trying to get us to ride with him!

Next day, we got up earlier than the roosters to catch mini bus to Tofo Beach, which was supposedly an 8 hour ride away (read: 10+ hours). While waiting for the bus, however, one of us was violently ill and we watched as one of the other lodgers arranged for an early morning romp with a comercial sex worker...something that we made note of during our entire trip...older, forigen men, usually of European decent purchasing young, black women for their time and other things.

Side Note: As a PROUD, BLACK WOMAN, traveling with a group of other PROUD, BLACK WOMEN, I (we)were confronted with the unfortunate realization that as a whole, Black women are often placed in situations where we can be bought and sold to the highest bidder for a few dollars and encouraged to forget with the addition of drugs and alcohol. Our bodies are for sale to bored and desperate Western tourists or people on the other side of town who want to take advantage of women and young girls who are clearly in a desperate mental/financial/emotional state. Unfortunately, many of us who were traveling together do not have to leave our own communities to see this situation, which is repeated for hours every night on a side street, once the sun goes down. I encourage other PROUD, BLACK WOMEN to fight for yours and other's right to no longer serve as a commodity. Get involved in a young sista's life, encourage her, support her, help her to see her bright future! If you don't, consider yourself as an addition to the problem. Instead, be a solution!

Back to the story: After many hours of riding in a mini-bus that retained a strong smell of day-old fish, head-bobbing-mouth-wide-open-drooling-sleep, stopping at every major and minor town to shop outside of your bus window for bread, fruit, socks, razors, etc., we arrived in the ruggedly, beautiful Tofo Beach! First stop: Food! The amazing part of vacationing in a sea-side town is that you can literally watch as fishermen bring in their catch to local restaurants, and for you seafood lovers, I'm talking about SQUID, SHRIMP (PRAWNS), ANY FISH YOU CAN THINK OF, EEL, CRAB, LOBSTER, you name it! The first evening at our backpackers, we ate an "all you can eat" seafood buffet! I went to sleep dreaming of fish (not a pregnancy dream for all of you down south folk), fish that I would be eating for the rest of my trip.

Ok, to cut this already long story short, we had a wonderful time sitting, reading,etc. by the ocean. Oh, the last night in Maputo, four of us went down to the local fish market. In this market, fisherman (maybe their wives is more like it) sell fresh catches of the day: Any type of fish you want, prawns, crab, lobster, mussels, etc. for CHEAP prices. On the other side of the market, you take your fresh fish to any number of restaurants that cook it for you. Even though it took a long time to get the food, we were all entertained by the festive mood and live music! This, is a MUST when in Mozambique!

In my opinion, however, the trip was much too short considering how long it takes to get there! A great trip none-the-less and much needed at that! I was getting very restless in Rustenburg and everyone, except those at my job, were getting on my nerves and I was amazed at how that short break refreshed me and helped me to see that I can stick it out for a few more months until my service is up! And just in case you're wondering, I made it back into South Africa with no problems, only thing is that I have to leave in the next 3 months (the length of time Americans can enter South Africa without a visa)to get stamped back out! But just in case I happen to go back to Mozambique, I made a few friends at the border who might be able to help me out if I ever run into any problems!



My self portrait













Man & Meat


















That little brown dot is me!























Just a small sampling of the seafood that we got for cheap!