Onto some better
news. October went by really fast and I can't even believe we are into the
second week of Novemeber. I had a lot going on during the month of October
which is probably why it went by so fast . The first week I was in Namibia.
Then I had a new trainee come and shadow me. Next the Peace Corps Botswana
staff hosted a party for all the volunteers in country and some other special
people. The party was to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Peace Corps and the
40th Anniversary for Peace Corps Botswana. It was a really great day. The new
director, Tim, spoke along with the US Ambassador, and some Returned Peace
Corps Volunteers. Their speeches were great and I am sure very much needed. I think all the volunteers left that day with lifted spirits and a sense of encouragement. There were also plenty of crafts from around the country
being sold and some raffles going on. Unfortunately I wasn't able to buy any of
the crafts I wanted to or try my hand at some of my prizes because the day
before my ATM card had gotten stuck in a machine. Clearly I have been having a
string of bad luck lately. It was really frustrating because I had asked some guy
that was standing by the machine if he was in line to use it and he said no,
then later after my card was stuck and I realized the machine was broken and
got the help I needed, he said his was stuck to. You think he would have told
me that before I went and stuck my card in the machine! So in the end I was a
little low on cash that weekend until I was able to get to my bank branch. But
on a happier note I did win a Peace Corps Patch for participating in one of the
activities they had during the day. I was super excited for the patch which
will go on my backpack with all my other patches I have collected since being here in Botswana. I am getting quite the collection. It was also great to meet some of the new
volunteers. There's one from Ohio! She's soo enthusiastic about the state of
Ohio she even has it tattooed on her! It was actually really refreshing to be
able to talk to her about home. I was also able to spend some time chatting up with a fellow rower! It was great to relish in all my past memories of rowing, which I miss very much. The day was great and I am really thankful the Peace Corps Botswana Staff was able to put this on for us. They did a great job! Just to go along with the 50th, there is a really great project "Live Like A PCV" that some other PCVs came up with for people back home to be able to participate in the 50th Anniversary Celebrations and raise awareness about Peace Corps. I talk about it here and here. If you are interested in trying it out checkout the links, there's only this month and next left in the 50th Anniversary year but you are more than welcome to try your hand at the challenge any time!
Next I headed up to
Bobonong to help another volunteer with a project. This project was dealing
with repairing a house for the chairperson of their HIV+ Support Group. The
lady was in much need of help and the Home Based Care group along with the PCV
in the village raised funds to repair her house. I was there solely as an extra
helping hand. We didn't get as much work done as we wanted to because the
temperatures rose up to 107 F and higher on most of the days, but we were able
to get the roof finished and shift some sand that will be used for the outside
of the house. It was great to be apart of such a great project and it reminded
me of all the mission trips I went on with my church youth group.
After I spent some
time in Bobonong I headed to a Halloween Party another volunteer was hosting.
It was fun and nice to spend some time with some of my group that I don't see
as often. They had some great costumes. Mine was a flop because no one at the party
knew who I was supposed to be. Next year I plan on redeeming myself and having
the most aweseomest costume ever!
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| the best costumes at the party...jealous I wasn't apart of this awesomeness!
Since then I have
just been working on some projects in my community. Today I was asked by the doctor and new head nurse at my clinic to load my Mavis Beacon Typing Program and Rosetta Stone Program
onto their computers. They want to be able to work on their typing skills when
I am not around and work on learning some other languages like French and
English. I think it is really cool that they are so enthusiastic about the
programs. I might even load the Rosetta Stone onto the clinic's computer so
that the staff can use it to work on their English skills.I also have this really great
idea for the preschool and will be meeting with the Owner on Friday. I hope
after I present the idea she will be on-board and we can get things started on
that. My idea is going to take a lot of work, but if we can get the support
needed from the community it will be great! I just hope it happens. Have been
having lots of bad luck lately so maybe this will be my turning point :)
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The next big thing I
am looking forward to is Thanksgiving. Once again I am sad I won't be spending
Thanksgiving with my family, but I do get to spend it with my Peace Corps
Family and it's going to be even bigger than it was last year and we will have
access to a pool, so as a substitute I think it's a pretty good deal :)
"The difficulties in life are intended to make us better, not bitter"
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