End of one chapter. Beginning of another

So I am offically not a Peace Corps Volunteer anymore. And as much as I loved my job, I am loving the freedom that life outside of PC brings. Here are just a few things I am allowed to do now:

1. Drive a car.

2. Use firearms.

3. Be in a car after dark (not that I do it much, way too dangerous!) .

4. Hang out with the Ex-patriots.

5. Leave my village/town without telling anyone.

and so many more.

I know it may not sound all that exciting but you would miss being able to drive too if you weren't allowed for 2 straight years.

So I have been living it up. Ryan and I got to go to Johannesburg, SA to visit with his friends and see his mom for a day or two. We got there just in time surprise everyone. And here Tom got to be the lucky guy of the night and have all the girls lavish our attention on him.

Then we got to go to Kruger National Park in South Africa. I know it may seen kind of silly considering I've had Chobe National Park in my backyard for the last two years, but it was totally worth it. I got to see my first leopard. This wasn't the leopard, but this lady was the reason I got to see the leopard. She was sitting overlooking a pan and the leopard got wind of her and ran right in front of our car. So cool.

Now Ryan and I are back in Kasane and working hard. We are helping Ryan's folks run the lodge. Here are just a few pictures.

I'll try to update again soon. I know it's been such a long time, but now hopefully we are getting into a routine and I'll have a little more freetime.

Quality of Life

Sadly, today Jerome had to be put down.

In the words of Kathy VD "It's not the quantity of life, but the quality of life." Jerome lived a full and happy life. His last adventure was taking down a bushbuck. He will surely be missed.

Jerome April 2007- June 25th, 2009

I've Moved!

Hey All,

I've offically moved out of Kachikau and into Kasane. Things are crazy at the moment, but here is my new mailing address:

Private Bag K48
Kasane, Botswana

Please send me tons of mail. I've been missing everyone terribly. Love you all.

Mozambique

In February Ryan, Kim, Shaun, Ryan C, Melise, Grant and I all went on a road trip to Mozambique. And what a trip it was. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. We drove down through South Africa and up into Mozambique.

We got to stay at a beautiful place called Blue Water's Beach Resort in Vilenculos. It was right on the beach, so all I had to do was open my front door and there was the beautiful beach below.
I know, it's totally not fair is it? Well personally I feel like I totally deserved a vacation. I've worked so hard the last couple months and this was my last holiday as a PCV. I basically saw it as my reward for 2 years here. But then I was made totally jealous, because I ran into 3 PCVs who actually live and work in Vilenculos. Totally, completely, and ridiculously unfair that they get to live in a place that beauiful. :)
This is Melise and Kim. They are some of the most amazing women in the whole world. I love them to pieces. Melise is one of the best cooks I have ever had the pleasure of watching. She cooked all of the seafood while we were out and about. Delicious! And Kimmi, she is my shining star. She keeps me laughing and we just have so much in common. These chickens are the best!

So this is the group of crazies I went on the trip with.

And here's the bestest boyfriend in the whole world. He treated me like a princess the whole time. He's such a sweetheart. He took me horseback riding and snorkling and we just had the best time.

But I guess it's back to the real world. Got to get back to working on the life skills manual and working with YOHO to turn over the life skills program. We have a camp coming up this weekend in Kasane, and I am really looking forward to it. It is a true balance of YOHO staff with our life skills facilitators. The kids are really going out of their way, and we had 125 applications for this camp. So super excited to get back to work. Gonna be a good weekend.

I know, I know, I know

I know, I know, I know... It's been months since the last time I wrote a blog. For those of you who follow, I am incredibly sorry. I try to write as much as possible, but lately I've been having some trouble, well more writers block.

I know, for those of you who actually know me, when have I ever been without something to say? Well, that really wasn't the problem. It was more than I just couldn't put what I wanted to say into writing. I even stopped writing in my journal.

It's been a rather difficult time period actually. Usually I use my journal to help me process what's going on, but I just haven't been able to do that.

This whole writers block thing started when Ryan and I started talking about our plans after I finish Peace Corps. We both have always known that we want to go back to school. I also want to go home to the States eventually. We want to do some traveling. We have a lot of options and a couple months to decide. I guess the idea of making this life atering decisions just got to me and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't.

These days, Ryan and I have made a few decisions. :)

1. We are going to stay in Botswana for a while after I finish my PC service. We are both going to work at his parent's lodge while we apply to schools and save up a bit of money. The last thing either of us want to do is struggle to find decent jobs when we get home. I know the economy isn't the best right now, and we have the opportunity to work at the lodge here while we make future plans.

2. We are going to do a little traveling while we're still around. I'll have a lot more freedom once I finish PC, so we are going to be able to come and go more often. Probably during our breaks at the lodge.

3. We are going to start applying to schools in the states. We are still waiting until Ryan finishes his Master's thesis before we apply anywhere, but it's certainly on the list.

So I am feeling much better about a lot of things. At least now I know where we are going to be for the next couple months. So it looks like all of you will have to continue care packages and letters to Botswana for a while longer :)

Looking For a New Home

When I got to Kachikau some 17 months ago, I toyed with the idea of getting a dog. I knew that a dog would mean lots of responsibilities and eventually finding it a permanent home. Well the time has come, and Jerome is looking for a new home. Ryan and I have been talking about it a lot lately because I want to make sure he goes to someone who is going to treat him as a pet, someone who will treat him as good or better than I do now.

With that said, it is unfortunate that those requirements cut out a lot of people who have shown interest in taking Jerome. Most dogs in the village are seen as protection and nothing more. They are malnourished, beaten, and left alone to fend for themselves.

This week Jerome had an interview with a family in Kasane who seem interested in taking him. They have a huge backyard and another dog who could use the company.

And today I got a super great Christmas present finding out that Jerome has a home. The family he interviewed with has decided to take him and he will be moving to his new home at the end of January. Although I am going to miss him dearly towards the end of my service, I know it’s the right thing that he will have a home for years and years to come.

Devastating News Upon Return

It’s been a rough couple of days since I got back to Botswana. I knew coming back here wasn’t going to be easy. But I also assumed that everything would be the way it was when I left. I guess we all know what assuming does. So when Ryan and I got into Johannesburg after our long flight from Washington DC, I was finally able to check my email and thrilled to be able to tell my parents I had made it back to Africa safe and sound. That’s when I noticed an email from Kachikau:

Puso passed away.

I am having a hard time with this now. I just am not quite sure how I am supposed to feel about it. Kethipile Puso was my counterpart, the person who came down to pick me up from training and introduce me to my clinic staff. She saw me as a baby PCV with all of my ideas on how to change the world and watched me grow into the independent realistic Peace Corps Volunteer I am today. She was my go-to person, my next door neighbor, my source for cultural information, and my friend. And now she’s gone.

Puso had been sick for a while before I went home to see so many of you. She had been feeling ill for months before she finally went to her home in Maun to see the doctor. And the only information I am getting out of anyone here is that she checked into the hospital and never came out. I am finding it harder and harder to deal with this as the days go by and no one wants to talk about it, to greave with me. Everyone wants to go on with their lives as if nothing happened and as if she was never apart of our lives.

We are trained to deal with the death and destruction that HIV leaves in it wake. But how do I deal with an unknown illness?

Part of me feels guilty I wasn’t here when it happened. To say goodbye.

Part of me is questioning how someone could be taken away from us so young (she died at the age of 27).

Part of me is extremely sad because although I am here in Botswana sharing my knowledge, I am forbidden to share my faith.

It’s not something Puso and I ever talked about because it’s a taboo subject for volunteers to breach. I have no idea where she stood, and I have no idea if on that Day of Judgment I will see her again or forever know I am unable to reach out to her.

Kethipile Puso left behind a group of people who will miss her dearly. I can only pray that she finds the peace she so deeply deserves.