Top 10 things to do over a 5-day weekend....

1. Complete my 1st and 2nd Quarterly Reports for Peace Corps (already late...shame).
2. Catch up on sleep.
3. Visit friends
4. (Hand) wash that pile of clothes that keeps staring at me.
5. Go to the mall
6. Have a braai (BBQ)
7. File and buff my nails
8. Watch all of those DVDs my loving family and friends have sent
9. Get over this cold I have just developed
10. Make all of those overly involved recipes that I keep ticking off while looking through the Betty Crocker cookbook during my free time.

What's the deal with boy bands?

I really don't understand this boy band thing! Now I have been guilty
of bopping my head to the latest popular tune that happens to be
playing on my car radio as I'm driving to or from work/school (ahhh...the
good ole days when I had a car!). I've never actively sought out that
type of music. Never bought it. Never researched online for news about
the band. Never attempted to go to a concert or hang up a poster on my
wall. I'm sure that we all (secretly) have our favorite song or group,
whatever the case may be...but I think some South Africans are taking
it a little too far.

For some reason or another, I thought that I would escape the pre-fab
song/hair/boy/wall poster/etc. that I had to suffer through since the
days of New Kids on the Block by joining up with Peace Corps South
Africa. I thought I'd be learning about a new culture through new
sights and sounds...things I've never heard before. Why is it then
that, earlier this week, as I was riding on a late-night taxi, did I
have to suffer from one taxi driver's attempt to be (what he thought
was) cool...one of those car-sized flattv monitors playing nothing but
back-to-back music videos of the Backstreet Boys. Additionally, if I
stay out in one of the various locations (townships) surrounding my
local community, why can I hear boy band songs being blasted throughout
the neighborhood at all hours of the day, particularly between the
hours of 8pm and 7am. Little did I know that finding something in
common with my local counterparts would be as simple as reciting the
lyrics to the song "I want it that way. Tell me why, ain'tnothin' but a heart ache...."

As is often said in South Africa, "Agh, Shame man!"

So is this what a proud mom feels like?

As you may recall, a few months ago (how time flies), I conducted a 5-day "Advanced" HIV training course for a varied audience (in terms of home organization; ethnicity; language; etc.). In preparing for the program, I:

• Took a mini- needs assessment of some of the VCT (HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing) counselors in my organization. I was surprised to find out that many people, regardless of the fact that they were VCT counselors, did not have a strong grasp on HIV and related issues. I guess that's why I put the "advanced" part in quotations. It really was basic information.

• Took into consideration what my boss wanted participants to know: ARVs; Opportunistic Infections; STIs (STDs for the old school); reproductive health issues; HIV and AIDS statistics; and discrimination and stigma issues.
  

• Took into account my learning style and how my experiences as a student have either helped me to understand (or not) the information presented to me. Doing a little research on best practices for adult learning didn't hurt either.
  

• Considered the type of training South Africans typically deal with...particularly the type of learning style used and encouraged at my organization...lecture/memorization...I wanted to make the program as interactive as possible...without eliciting the response, "not another group activity!"
  

Well, if you have been following along with my blog, you would know that the course turned out to be a great success. Many of the fears that I had about facilitating the course ( language barriers, cultural differences, how do you keep people engaged on one topic for five days from 8 am to 4 pm, will people participate, etc.) were elevated. I was surprised to find that people actively participated in each exercise like I've never seen many of them do before. I say this because, in many of the trainings I've observed at my organization, participants can be seen holding unrelated side conversations, falling asleep, and in general...just looking bored. People asked questions and truly seemed to take control of their own learning, which is something I hope to encourage amongst volunteers and staff members alike.

Ok, I totally gave you way more background information than I thought I would. So, anyway, my organization is currently hosting a 13-week counseling course. Unfortunately, I've been unable to participate very much in the course because I'm working on several other projects (not to mention...but I will...the trip with my mother). At first, I was feeling kind of bad for the counselors-in-training, because the same out of date teaching methods were going to be used. I guess I'm not a big fan of it, because that's not how I learn best (always thinking of myself...shame!), and that clearly, counselors are lacking a real understanding of HIV and AIDS. (They know what the words are and can spit them out with the best of them, but they don't truly understand the subject and rarely have the opportunity to engage it.) Well (I use "well" a lot, I've noticed), last week I was finally able to sit in a few classes, and boy was I in for a surprise. Some of the facilitators of the course (who also attended my training) were actually using more interactive teaching methods...many of which I used in the program I facilitated. The whole time I was sitting there, I just smiled at how something I did really made an impression on people enough for them to re-think their training methods. Of course I cannot take much credit for the techniques that I used (I had to get them from somewhere), but it felt good to pass the information along...or to help in the capacity building process...that's a Peace Corps term. I guess this is the first time since I've been here that I really feel like I'm accomplishing something.

As a treat to myself, I'm going to bask in the glow of small accomplishments...but not for too long, because so much more work needs to be done!

Still longing for the days with my mother....ahhhhh

As I'm sitting here at my desk, attempting to prepare all of the details for the launch of the new mobile Voluntary Testing and Counselling (VCT) unit next weekend, the Pisces in me can't help but to day dream about the fabulously, devine time that I spent with my mother. A time when, for a few weeks, I was allowed to live the life of a regular American tourist, doing touristy things, eating great food, sleeping in late, having the ability to determine my schedule, not having to explain anything to anyone (about if my hair is real...natural...or store bought...chemically altered...am I bi-racial, etc, my nationality, my skin color, if I really chose to have my glasses look that way, why I dress the way I do, why I can't seem to get over the gag reflex everytime I eat pap or come close to mogodu, etc.), and most important of all SPENDING TIME WITH MY MOTHER.

So as I day dream, or rather "reflect" (my father's favorite word...ok...let me tell you a little story that is TOTALLY off the subject, but since I'm reminiscing, let's just go there. When I was a little girl, my family would often take short road trips to as far as Florida. My brother and I would often get out of control making tents in the back seat with blankets or fighting about who had too much space on the middle arm rest. In order to get us to be quite, my father would often tell us to reflect (on events of the past or on whatever else that would get us to shut up). So, at a very early age, I learned how to reflect, which brings us to the present moment.) As I reflect, these are some of the images that are conjured up....

Enjoy!

A Dung Beetle doing guess what...rolling elephant dung

Atop Table Mountain...taking pictures of other people climbing

Cape Point (Not really the most southern point of Africa)
10 points if you know where the real southern most point is

Just about the exact point where the "table cloth" forms over Table Mountain

My mother (somewhere) and the Kototsi Family

Tall times 2 in Botswana

Part of Victoria Falls in Black and White
(my attempt at being creative)

I guess this speaks for itself, right?

Around the (Southern Africa) World in less than 40 Days...

Phinda- View from our Chalet

Hanging out with the Mitchelson Clan

Mom at work

D & D were here!- Cape Town 2007

Elephants playing around in Botswana

Me, Mom, Mike, and Tattoo

View of Victoria Falls from the Vic Falls Hotel

"The Smoke that Thunders- Victoria Falls"

My mother and I are back in our respective places of residence after traveling around Southern Africa for the past three weeks or so! I cannot believe that time went by so quickly. I guess that just speaks to the fact that my mother and I are best friends (sorry Jeb...you know I love you!) and we always seem to have so much fun together! It was so comforting to be around someone who needs no explanation for my mood swings around 12:00 noon. She just knows that the time has come for my mid-day feeding. I know that I can wake up early in the morning and have a full-on conversation about what my dog back home is doing at that particular time. You see, people in my local community have yet to pick up on those quirky habits, but it's only been six months in, so there's still time!

So, do you wanna hear about what we did? Like to hear it, here it goes:

Bring Your Mother To Work Day

My mother arrived in South Africa, and immediately came to visit me at site (my community). One of the things she said was a "priority" during her trip was to see where I lived and worked. Since she came to visit my job on a Friday, there was not much going on, as most of our counseling activities take place earlier in the week. She was, however, able to meet a few of my co-workers, see my "office", and view some of the remnants of the Advanced HIV training that I facilitated a few weeks before.

Later on that day, we unknowingly attended a surprise belated-birthday party for me, which was thrown by some of my friends. I was totally caught off guard when I walked into my friend’s house and everyone was singing and there were cakes and juice and lots of smiling people! I am loved! I think this also made my mother more comfortable with "allowing" her "baby" to stay in a strange country, knowing that I am cared for in my new home!

First Stop: Botswana Setswana

After leaving my site, my mother and headed out to Botswana to go on the first of two game drives. We stayed in a fabulously intimate game lodge located just outside the gates of Chobe National Park. As soon as we arrived at the lodge, we were met by one of the lodge managers, who ran down the list of do's and don'ts, which included instructions on when to eat, where to eat, when to be ready for game drives, and where we were to place dirty clothes. If you want you clothes washed only, put them in the bag. If you wanted them ironed too, place them in the basket. If you place your shoes in the basket, they will be ironed too...and oh, they don't wash "small items" (ie. undies). After each comment, our host would snap his fingers as if he was ordering a drink at the bar (I do not know which bar, but for lack of a better description). I told my mom that I felt like I was at summer camp! One day we made the mistake of taking too long to get to dinner. A night watchman was sent to our room to collect us. When we arrived to the communal table, where everyone eats together, our chairs were turned up to mark our absence. We surely learned our lesson! Trust, we were on time for every meal after that!

On the first day, we took it easy and lounged around our chalet, because we had a prime view of the game park. Elephants and other wild animals could be seen making their evening trip to the Chobe River for a drink and a dip. The next few days were all about meeting other guests from around the world (Hi Vee and Eric from San Diego, thanks for the snacks!), going on game drives, viewing Elephants, elephants, and more elephants, and catching up with each other.

NOTE: As I spent plenty of time at the lodge bar (drinking water and sprite of course), I tried to practice my Setswana (the language primarily used in my local community), just to find out that I've been taught how to be a lazy Tswana speaker! If you wanna learn true Setswana, go to Botswana or anywhere other than where I am!

Zimbabwe, where an afternoon meal can cost you $576,983 Zim Dollars

Well, I'll refrain from engaging too much into the political discourse that is currently swirling around Zimbabwe, but I will say that my first indication that something was not right occurred as soon as my mother an I stepped off the plane to get our entry visas. We were immediately told that visas must be paid in US currency as Zim dollars were not accepted as a form of payment. They do not accept their own currency, because it is virtually not worth anything. You might as well use it as wallpaper, although I know some wallpaper that is incredibly more expensive.

As soon as we left the airport, I was not exactly sure of what I was prepared to see, because the country is currently experiencing major political problems and 3 out of 4 people are out of work. Well, I must say that Victoria Falls has created a great illusion for foreigners wanting to reclaim their colonial past and forget about all of their troubles (and don't want to be bothered by anyone else's). I'm still trying to figure out what my "colonial past" is..... None the less, we stayed at the beautiful Victoria Falls Hotel, with its perfect view of the "smoke that thunders" or better known as Victoria Falls.

The first day, we went on an elephant back safari...basically, we rode around in a big circle for an hour riding on the back of an elephant. It was a very interesting experience, as for the first thirty minutes, I was so "sea sick" that I could not really enjoy the ride. Once I got over that, I was amazed at the power of these animals! She (Tattoo was her name) was able to carry three people on her back with ease. Tattoo was like a tree cutter and riding lawn mower all at the same time. At every possible moment, she was either ripping off a tree branch or clearing bushes and cutting grass just to stuff it in her mouth and move on to the next plant.

Victoria Falls! AMAZING! You can see the falls from miles (kilometers away). Standing near it was like being in a heavy rain shower. Luckily, the tour guide brought ponchos, because otherwise he would have been treated to a wet t-shirt contest (FYI...white shirts should never be worn near water...I guess I didn't go to enough "college weeks" in Miami or Daytona...)

Durban and Phina...oh my!

Of course, one of the "essential" stops on my mother’s Southern African tour was to visit my friends in Durban. Due to the fact that I'd been trying to get my family to come out to visit them for years, and my friends have eagerly been waiting, they weren't too interested in seeing me at all.

If you are ever interested in going on a luxurious game drive...GO TO PHINDA (CCAfrica )...You will not be disappointed. My mother and I were treated to a chalet all to ourselves with the most amazing views and potential for animal encounters. In the back of our "house", we had our own personal plunging pool from which animals regularly took drinks. The service was great and everyone that we met was so very hospitable!

Cape Town

I must say that, while on this entire trip, it was easy to forget that I was a Peace Corps Volunteer, because I definitely was not staying anywhere that a PC budget could afford. This was particularly the case whilst in Cape Town. We did the obligatory Robbin Island and Table Mountain tour. On the second day, we were treated to a day-long tour with a guide who clearly used his time with us to gripe and complain about how he as an Afrikaners has been displaced within the new government. Maybe I'm not sensitive enough, particularly to this guy, who tried to get my mother and me (as African Americans) to relate to his feelings of disenfranchisement....not a chance in the hell I've read about, nor any other one...well, as I was told in a former life...negativity won't take up (much of) my space today (literally in this blog and in my mind).

The rest of the days were amazing. My mother knew a few people who were in town for the Cape Town Jazz Festival, which was equally cool being around all of that musical energy. The rest of the days were spent giving my wardrobe a much needed boost at our local Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Mall. Additionally, I was treated to a day at the spa(aaaaah)! THANKS MOM!!!!!!!!!!

As you can see, this blog isn't my best effort, mostly because there's so much to say and I'm bogged down with work at this very moment (as soon as I got back to work, I hit the ground running).

In summary, (I promise I learned that this is not the best way to end a report), I had the best time with my mother. She truly brought a much-needed breath of fresh air into my life. We had wonderful conversations. She made me laugh. She allowed me to forget about everything in my life that may or may not have caused me stress! Mom, it was so difficult to let you go. I missed you even while you were with me. My friend asked me if I was going to cry at the airport...I said that I wouldn't...and I didn't...but that's only because I know that the separation is only temporary and that the rest of my family will be coming during the festive season.

THANK YOU MOMMY FOR MAKING THIS SUCH A WONDERFUL TRIP!