Happy Mother's Day To Me!!!!

For the past couple of months, I've been contemplating, questioning, and calculating exactly how to fill the void in that part of my heart only reserved for "(wo)man's best friend". If you know anything about me, you know that I love animals of all types, but particularly with dogs! You would also know that I have a child of the four-legged kind at home that I've had since the 9th grade, Medin! He is indeed the sunlight of my life, but due to the fact that I'm living my Peace Corps Dreams, his grandparents decided that it would be best that he lives with them. In fact, he's been on an extended visit with his grandparents ever since I went away to college. Although we haven't lived together for a while, he is still my heart and no one can ever take his place.

Ever since I arrived at my permanent site, however, I've noticed that something's been missing... I said to myself, and just about everyone who would listen, "I think it's about that time to get a pet". My fellow Peace Corps Volunteer, Elayna patiently listened to me as I hummed and haaa'd about wanting to fill that void...and just how I was planning to do it. First, I thought about getting a bird...a parakeet. Birds are great, I've had one in fact, but still, something was missing. I thought about a parrot that enjoyed physical interaction...but depending on the breed, it might expect to live longer than I will...and I don't want my kids putting me in a home because I stuck them with a loud and moody bird. I finally had to do a little sit down with myself, realizing that all of the characteristics I was looking forward to in other types of pets were all wrapped up in a doggy package. So, to make a long story short, I've decided to get a dog...and English Bulldog to be specific! I've even found someone who raises them. I received a phone call on Monday morning, telling me that the puppies were born on Mother's Day! That's a good sign, right?! The puppy is the one in the middle (in the group shot). I think that he'll be coming home with me at the end of June! I'm excited! Overjoyed! I'll finally have a warm, snuggly button to keep me company! Yeah!!!!!

Just because I know you're in your respective locations, shifting in your seats to ask a few questions, I've decided to answer them for you:

Yes- I'm going to have time for a dog...all I've got is time! In fact, my supervisor said that I can even bring him into work with me. I'm taking an evening course to become a HIV pre and post-test (VCT) counselor with my organization...so in addition to growing up, he'll really fit in with my organization, because he'll be a trained counsellor as well! He'll be my best buddy, child, VCT counsellor, and co-worker all mixed into one!

Yes- I've already chosen a name: Twobob (slang for boyfriend) Karabo (Setswana for "The answer). The name "Twobob" is also slang for 20 cents, no relation to 50 cent (the rapper). I might even glue a 20 cent coin onto his dog tag. There was a really popular song that came out a couple of years ago by a group called Malika. The woman in the song is singing about a guy she really likes. I like the group, I like the song, and I think the meaning is funny. My co-workers helped me pick out the middle name.

Yes- I will be bringing him home (to the USA) with me, so if you know me personally, you'll have the chance to meet him! He might not understand your accents though, as he will not be used to other American accents (an mine is slowly shifting to be proudly South African) and I'm going to teach him Setswana: No Twobob! Go potty Twobob! Sit Twobob! Are you crazy Twobob?!

Kind of- I'm a bit nervous about having a dog in South Africa. I know that having Twobob will be a cross cultural exchange in and of itself, just based on the different ways Americans treat pets versus South Africans. In America, it's common place to see someone walking their dog down the street with a collar and leash. Dogs are on commercials. You probably wouldn't gasp when you saw a dog inside of the house, sitting on furniture, or riding down the street in a car. In my community, dogs are treated like, well, dogs... Dogs are for protection. Dogs are for little kids, but as soon as they (the kid or the dog) grow up, the dog is left to fend for itself. People in my community don't walk dogs on leashes down the street, or at least not that I've seen. One of the volunteers, Steph, often brings her dog Diesel to trainings, so it's not too strange to see around my organization. In fact, if you walk down the halls of my office, you'll see comic strips of a cat that used to hang around and became the unofficial mascot...but I think everyone in my office is a bit off kilter in the first place and should not be taken as the norm (with respect to animals).

As you can see, I'm two bob short of a Rand right now thinking of my new little friend! I'll make sure to keep you posted on how he's doing! Charlene and I have already set up play dates for Aisha and Twobob! Ish!