Training So Far...

I made it over half way through training so far… I’m officially over the hump. YEAH! I’m stoked. So far training has been apparently the hardest part of our 27 months of service in the Peace Corps (at least that’s what everyone keeps saying). It’s rough, because we start Monday through Saturday at 7:30am and don’t end until 5pm. Then I have tons of information to read, a host family to interact with, and language homework to have done before 7:30 the next morning. Plus everything is so up in the air all the time. We get a new schedule each week, but the schedule is never finalized, we are bound to change it at least 3 times throughout the week. LOL it’s just funny, I stopped wondering what the plan was the second week of training because it became too complicated to try to keep up with what is suppose to happen and when. Now I just go where I am told to go, when I am told to go there. It seems to be working out quite well for me.

Language Lessons – I know my family has been asking me how my Setswana is coming along. Well, let me just say Dumela borra le bomma. Leina lame ke Kara, sefane saime ke Tokar. Ke biduwa Refilwe. Ke tswa twa America ko Orlando, Florida. Ke moitaopi wa Peace Corps. Translation – Hello Ladies and Gentlemen. My first name is Kara, my sir name is Tokar. I am called Refilwe. I am from Orlando Florida, America. I am a Peace Corps volunteer. I know it’s not much, but I apparently understand a whole lot more than I can speak. But I plan on spending the first couple months at site (my placement for the next two years) doing intensive language study. I am really hoping that my first 3 months at site will give me a lot more time to learn. My plan is to get a tutor and be semi-fluent by my one year mark. *good luck to me*

My Botswana name is Refilwe. Refilwe means gift. My host mother gave me my name on the day I met her. Sir names in Africa are extremely important, because everyone wants to know who you are connected to within the community. (I didn’t post my Setswana sir name for privacy reasons, plus I am moving to site in like 3 weeks, so no need really). So by giving us volunteers a Setswana name, we are becoming a part of the community. I love my Setswana name, it really makes me feel special, and I always get really surprised looks when I tell people who ask: Ke biduwa Refilwe (I am called Refilwe). Of course, the other day a doctor told me that Kara Natasha was an African name, so I guess I always fit in anyways.

Once I get to site, I am not allowed to leave for the first 2 months. We are basically on lock down. This time is really for us to integrate into our community. We spend most of this time getting to know our neighbors, co-workers, and community members. We also do an extensive observation of the community needs during this time. Our observations will help us to better define our jobs for the next 2 years.

So back to training… So I spend most of my time during training in Moshupa, my training village. I live here, and it is beautiful. There really are no words to describe Moshupa, because it is not at all what I had pictured Botswana to be. It is a very big village, in fact it’s extremely easy to get lost in (isn’t that right Hunter). I live on the right side of Moshupa, near the post office & Blue bar (I know, it’s extremely vague, but people here know exactly where I am talking about). Moshupa has these amazing rocks that my training group loves to climb on our little bit of time off. When we have center days, we get on a bus to Thamaga, which is closer to Gab’s (the capital) and we meet with the other PCT’s (Peace Corps Trainees). I am a CCB (community capacity building) Trainee. I will be working in either PMTCT (Preventive Mother to Child Transmission) or S&CD (Social & Community Development). As you might have noticed, Botswana and Peace Corps in general LOVE acronyms so I am trying to explain them, if I miss one, just leave me a note and I will explain in a later post.

Outside of that, the other trainees, I am sure you have been wondering about them… well they really have become like family. It sounds so cheesy saying that, but I have become so close to so many of them in such a short period of time, it’s hard not to think of them as anything other than family. They have become my home away from home. There are 44 of us in total, and about 23 of them live in Moshupa with me. The other 21 live in two other villages in the area.

I know this is a really long post, but I know everyone wanted to know all about life in Botswana so far. This is only the tip of the iceberg. There is so much to tell. I wrote a couple blogs throughout the time I have been here, so I am posting them as well. I really hope all of you write me. I can’t check e-mail very often, so letters are best. I also got a cell phone. Feel free to call me anytime (just take the 6 hour difference into account) but remember I go to bed early and am usually awake around 5:30am. So calling me when you all are going to bed is totally do-able.

Also, I know a few of you asked about what I would like to be sent… well I have a list. In fact it’s a whole long list, but I am waiting until I get my site placement and address at site before I post that. But please feel free to send me your love and letters anytime. Thanks for checking in with me to see how things are doing. I will have more information as to my internet frequency when I get site placement this Saturday! I’ll keep you updated.

I love and miss you all. Thanks for your prayers and support. Talk to you soon!