Dignitary Dinner

Our Language Trainers (mine is Monoko in pink kneeling in front)


This is what you were picturing my Peace Corps service would be like right?

Moletsi 1

Moletsi Kids
Moletsi Granny
Pit toilet and hut
My Bath
Bogobe aka what I constantly eat


This is short but it's an update. I came into town today so I find an internet cafe. In my own village this doesn't happen but I thought I'd give some high points so far.

-I take a bath in a bucket with four inches of water.

-I use a pit toilet. Long drop is the kind you pray for. Short drops are the ones that are way overused. You figure out the names.

-If you want to know what I've had for a meal it inevitable includes pap and some more pap and a little more pap.

-I live with a Granny and her four grandchildren. They're wonderful and treat me so well. The Granny wants me to be very well fed and clean. She gives me lots of food, baths, and puts me to bed at night. They don't speak a lot of English and our evening amusement is often laughing at me attempting phrases in SePedi

-The Peace Corp volunteers are wonderful. They're the greatest support system I could ask for. We often spend hours during the day walking miles in search of a soda or toilet paper.

-I'm dying for letter. Letters a small miracle. Send more letters.

More in weeks to come. I don't know when I'll come to town again so don't expect regular email from me yet.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia has been incredible. There are 88 of us going all together: 51 in education and 37 working with NGO's. The people going are soooo amazing: so well traveled and such accomplishments. I'm beginning to feel under qualified.

We leave for New York in 2 hours and we'll be flying out later this evening. The flight is 17 hours and tomorrow evening we'll arrive in Johannesburg. I believe there is a 9 hour time difference between California and where we're going.

This morning we got our shots and the beginning of our malaria medication. After I stopped by the liberty bell as my one last patriotic duty. Philadelphia is beautiful...lots of old brick buildings and cobble stone streets. It seems that history just oozes from it.

I'm so excited and slightly nervous I suppose. I can't wait to update everyone but don't expect to hear from me on the internet for about 7 weeks (apparently there cutting us off completely from civilization). I love you all!!

The address....

Philadelphia here I come! Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

My new address:

Cait Burkholder, PCV
U.S. Peace Corps
PO Box 9536
Pretoria 0001
SOUTH AFRICA

Write to me and if you really love me send me books :)

The beginning.

One day left!! Tomorrow night: sleepover with the girls. Sunday: Philadelphia. If I have to step in the mall one more time I may shoot myself. Packing and stress sucks.

And so it begins...

With only 6 days left as a liberal American residing in my well preserved bubble, the panic is beginning to set in. On Sunday I will be leaving for Philadelphia for my staging (beginning training) for my two year term of service in South Africa. From there I will be going to New York where I will be flying to Africa on the 17/18.

The response rate to the decision that I have made to do this has ranged from merely humorous to frightfully alarming. Thus far these are some of the best responses I've received. Some names have not been included to protect the stupidity of some of the people who I've talked to:

"Yes, Cait I know you're going to South Africa, but I want to know what country." (I can only imagine if I had told her that I was going to somewhere like Benin or Togo. Utter confusion would have occurred.)

"She's probably going to bring one of those negros home to marry." (Some people I know are not overly enlightened to the new millenium.)

My mom: "They only want your dental records so they can identify you if you're killed."

A response to my mom's response: "Well they would only use your dental records if you were so maimed beyond belief that they couldn't identify you otherwise."

My brother's dentist: "One of my assistants was in the Peace Corp, but she had to come home early because she got a giant goiter."

My brother (disclaimer: he's five and has a speech impediment): "Tait...when you go back from South Africa are you going to live back at Cal Poly."
Me: No, I graduated from college so I won't live there anymore.
My brother (very excited): "So you're going to live with us again!"
Me: "No, I'm an adult now and adults don't live with their mommies."
My brother (contemplating this development): "But mommies and daddies live together."
Me: "Yes, mommies and daddys live together."
My brother: "And grandmas and grandpas live together."
Me: "Yes grandmas and grandpas live together."
My brother (at this moment you can literally see the light bulb go off in his head): "Then you need to find a daddy!!
(He's still searching for one to help me out)

One of my the children in my second grade class who was angry at me: "Ms. Burkholder, I hope you get eaten by a lion!"

As you can see, the list goes on and on. For now I am concentrating on preparing myself for the trip, and let me tell you I'm quite behind.