Emancipate yourself from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
~B.Marley
I’ve been in Botswana for nearly 11 months now, and today – for the for the first time – the dog I have been feeding since day one has allowed me to pet her. When I arrived she looked rough – her saggy udders swinging from side to side, tail eternally tucked between her legs – but after some good ol’ fashioned guilt-induced feeding I’ve managed to help her look like a dog again, albeit still a fairly ugly one (as 99% of the dogs here are). It took about 9 months to get her to even wag her tail at me, so I was actually quite shocked today when she tucked her tail between her legs, slowly got down on all fours and then rolled over on her back with her tucked-tail swaying slowly in the dirt. 11 months. And in dog-time that’s, what?- more than 6 years? LOL. They say dogs are unforgiving but it took this dog ‘6 years’ to ‘forgive’ what previous people had done and to trust again.
Of course this small incident rippled into a whole day of thought – as things tend to do here – and still has me awake at near midnight on a Tuesday, which I think is the latest I have ever been awake in Maitengwe. It took a dog (a creature incapable of reflection, logic, and long-term memory) that long to ‘get over’ its conditionings and here I am working on “behavior change” in a community with a history older than my own and an educational system younger than me. So of course, I had to wonder – how colonized is the mind?
Colonize (v):
• to settle among and establish political control over
• to appropriate (a place or domain) for one's own use.
• to establish itself in an area*
Establish (v):
• to set up on a firm or permanent basis
• to achieve permanent acceptance for (a custom, belief, practice, or institution)
The thought of the day, I guess. But it surely makes working with human behavior change, particularly sexual behavior change, a very daunting task.
Well, it happened. I’ve moved into my new house, and am enjoying its luxuries. I have a lot more privacy in addition to the amenities. Although I have to admit, I am enjoying it a bit less than I thought I would – which makes me even happier, knowing that my accommodation really isn’t that big of a deal; I’d hate to think my happiness depends on hot water and black tile flooring! Haha.
My son has found the new house and we’ve continued breakfast as usual. Gosh, he is growing. There is so much less need in his actions (for instance he no longer cries when I drop him at school) which I admit I selfishly miss a bit, but it’s nice to see him progress. The teacher at the orphanage gave me such a wonderful compliment the other day – one that wasn’t necessarily designed to be a compliment (as the best ones usually are). She told me that when he first came to the school, she was scared for him; that he was just lifeless and fragile, and that now he looks so healthy and lively. “You brought him to life,” she said, in broken English. Just hearing that alone makes these 27 months worth it. Then this yesterday afternoon he walked into the clinic after school and said in English: "Kagiso, I love you," as if rehearsed. But it was so cute I had to die. I guess he had learned it in school that day.
But not much is new in the work department. I want to branch out of the clinic and start getting involved in the schools, so I am going to make that a project in the upcoming months. Apparently our secondary school has an active Drama Club, so I may try to put my hand in and see what we can do together.
At the end of this week I will be going to Mozambique and Swaziland (you may have heard of the former, but I bet you haven’t heard of the latter lol) for holiday. I want to soak up the sun before winter hits. Mozambique is known for excellent beaches, fish, and amazing calamari – not to mention Portuguese-speaking Africans. It will also be my first time seeing the Indian Ocean, which is an interesting little tidbit to look forward to. Swaziland is one of the continent’s smallest countries, and one of the world’s few remaining monarchs. The King has 20-something wives and picks a new one each year. It’s with no surprise, then, that Swaziland has perhaps the highest rate of HIV in the world (it ‘competes’ with Botswana for the highest prevalent rate… it all depends on who you read). Anyway, small as it is, it’s said to be quite an experience so I am looking forward to it.
Until then, be well.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
It's been a while...
...you would think I was in southern Africa or something!
You would also think that after over a dozen inquiries into why my blog has been silent since December I would have finally updated it, but apparently it took an email from a random unknown individual in Oregon expressing his nostalgia for an update for me to mobilize and write again. So we thank you, Random Unknown Individual in Oregon, for your readership and mobilizing email. It’s amazing how these things get found, passed around, etc.
Anyway, the reasons for the brief hiatus are at least three fold: one, the holiday season kept me away and, like most habits (at least the healthy ones), staying away is easier than going back. Secondly, nothing has really happened since December… or should I say nothing of significance? Or should I say nothing of what seems like significance? Finally, sometimes it’s just a thorn in my side
But anyway here we are. And for those of you who sincerely missed my blog for the past two months, you’re likely to feel satisfied as I am in the mood to make this a long one.
The holidays were spent very low key, mostly around my village and some small time in Francistown, enjoying the luxuries of “urban” life. I really did nothing exciting. My son is still coming every morning, like clockwork, and we have breakfast together. There isn’t a morning that passes that I am not thankful for him. He is such a great way to start the day. He’s grown so much the past 6 months; in part I am sure to the excessive amount of calories I shove down his throat every morning. For those of you who have kids or who want them, I don’t know how you do it. This kid isn’t even my blood, yet watching him grow up pierces me with this twisted pain/pleasure combination that I can’t describe. It’s like you want them to stay that young and innocent forever but you’re also so happy and thankful to see them growing into something they weren’t when you first knew them. He’s learned so much from me, and me from him, and that is really remarkable to witness. He’s significantly less vacant and much more vibrant. But at the same time… ouch, ouch, ouch. Soon he will be so big I wont even be able to carry him to school anymore. And very soon after that, he will be a grown adult in the middle of a very difficult environment, where the bad choices of a generation create cycles of poverty that reproduce a generation that will make bad choices.
On a lighter note, my mother and little sister came to visit me just a few weeks ago! We rented a car (thank God; I missed driving) and spent the first few days in Moleps, where I trained, meeting the host family and some other colleagues of mine who are serving in surrounding areas. It was really nice for my two moms to meet! My real mom (and my favorite one, don’t worry SK…) brought gifts that were certainly enjoyed. Then we spent a few days in my village, where they saw my day-to-day and met my co-workers. I think a few days here was enough haha. It’s interesting because I have become accustomed to such a slow pace of life, which is not at all me in the US. I am a “gas ass,” in the words of my mother, and am always going here and there. But in Africa you learn how to sit still, and how to do nothing without feeling guilty about it, and those lessons take a lot of time. You see, in the US our value is defined by our productivity – if you aren’t producing, you’re useless (i.e. you’re fired). This is logical and acceptable in terms of our intense capitalism, which is a system inherently dependent on growth for survival. However, the problem is this mentality seeps into our mindset as people and we begin to define ourselves by what we do rather than who are are, and you don’t realize things like this until you’re in environments such as these. It’s taken me the whole 10 months I’ve been here to realize why the heck I constantly feel so down: I am under-producing and judging myself for it. And the real irony is, I am the only one noticing. But the fact is, systems are different here, work is different here, time is different here, standards are different here, etc. – and therefore one’s mindset must be too. It takes a lot adjusting, a heck of a lot of patience, a good bit of understanding, and a whole lot of humility.
Anyway, so having two American-mode Americans come and visit an African-mode American was quite exhausting for me, and I think at times very boring for them. Thankfully, once the restlessness set in, we were off to Kasane (KAH-SAH-NEE), which is in the very northeastern part of the country and known for it’s prevalent wildlife. On the road we saw several elephants and some giraffes. (I think a direct quote from my mother, as I was driving 70 mph, was “Giraffes, HOLY SHIT!!!” following by me safely slamming the breaks for a photo op… pictures coming soon, by the way).
Kasane was just breathtaking. We enjoyed a lovely boat ride on the river our first evening where we saw dozens of hippos, baboons, khudu, impala, some crocs, and at least 70 elephants scattered about – eating, bathing, etc. The weather was fabulous and the setting sun and the sky were both indescribable. It was really one of the moments where you’d have be a complete ass to complain about anything; life was just at it’s best on that boat, and moments like that make me wonder why I ever think of leaving this continent (sorry Mom, I know that was not what you were hoping to get out of the ride).
The next day we trekked to Victoria Falls, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. It wasn’t the best time of the year to do so, as the volume of water was at its highest being the end of the rainy season, making the mist from the falls so intense that you could hardly see the falls themselves. This, coupled with periodic drizzle from the sky, made it feel like it was raining from both above and below (I was reminded of Forest Gump when he is serving in Vietnam and comments on the rain coming from both directions). Consequently the three of us were thoroughly soaked, despite our raincoats (pictures of that, coming soon too). But we had a great time and I think we managed to snap a few decent photos while still preserving the integrity of our cameras. Thank God for plastic bags. We were certainly able to see enough to digest the magnitude of the falls, and hopefully I will have a chance to go back on a sunnier day to see them again. It’s not the drop of the falls that is so remarkable, but for how long they actually extend. It just goes on, and on, and on. Google Image: ‘Victoria Falls’ and you will see for yourself.
So the visit was a success and I’ll look forward to my father and other sister coming at some point late this year.
Meanwhile, I have some news regarding my housing. Since I live in government housing, I am technically ‘entitled’ to a geyser (American translation: hot water heater) in my house free of charge. So I have spent the last 6 months hassling the district on a weekly basis to come and install one for me. It took three months for someone to come and fit it to the wall (they attach them to the wall here), and an additional 3 months to convince them to send an electrician to connect it. Apparently they prefer to train people to do one small task rather than have a do-it-all task force. Excellent. Anyway, the geyser arrived and I was FINALLY enjoying hot water, which is one of the things I always miss most when away from the US. Alas, I felt as if I was content with my living situation – it’s modest, yes, but certainly comfortable now and still well above average when compared to my neighbors. So the next day I go to the clinic and my supervisor tells me, “Kagiso, you are being evicted.” Thaaaaaanks. Sure enough, our ARV clinic opening in March 2008 (which it never did) caused the district to hire 4 extra nurses. I guess “if you build it, they will come” may be true, so long as “build” doesn’t mean “finish”. Anyway, all of the nurses are to live in government housing on the clinic compound so that they are close to the clinic on nights when they are on-call. This is indeed very good logic, I just wish this had transpired a few weeks before I did the Macarena in my newly hot shower. And apparently someone was going to come to my house by the weekend and so my departure was to be soon. Sometimes you feel like nothing good happens fast here but everything bad happens before you’re ready… and in all honesty that’s something you grow to love.
So my supervisor – whom I adore, might I add – had three houses lined up for us to go and see. Impressed with her planning, but slightly offended at being left out of the process, we hopped in the vehicle and went to look at Potential Future Home #1. The house was made of 4 concrete walls, with a concrete floor, and while I didn’t notice – I’d wager that it had a concrete ceiling too. There was a hole in the floor where a toilet might have been or may go later, a pipe with running water outside, and that’s it. I think there may have been a window or two. While this is actually what I pictured when applying to the Peace Corps, when one was just blessed with gift of a geyser, one does not want to be pooing in a shallow hole next to where one eats. (Isn’t there a proverb like that of some sort?) So, Potential Future Home #2: 3 rooms total, 3 external doors, all rooms connecting on the inside (like a cheap hotel). Nice windows, nice exterior… no… kitchen? Yeah. Just three empty concrete rooms and a small, attached bathroom with a toilet & bath (gasp!)… but no water. They can’t figure out why the water won’t run to the house. So the first house had water (outside) but no toilet, the second house had a toilet but no water. I was beginning to feel like I was in the game Clue and was looking for one more piece to the puzzle of why this could not get any funnier. So, Potential Future Home #3: we didn’t see it because the current inhabitant (the owner) was not around, but it’s said to be nice. He’s willing to move out but he wants to keep his computer in the house and use it at his will, because the house he would move to won’t have electricity. I would really rather not be responsible for someone else’s computer in my house, nor would I like to have my landlord keying in unexpectedly to watch God-knows-what at any hour of the day, so I was ok not seeing that one.
Feeling a bit discouraged, and already mourning the loss of my beloved geyser, I told my supervisor: “Give me two hours and I’ll find a house.” So off I went with the help of some of my boys. I met an old lady whose sister owns the house next to hers. From the back it looked big – too big, 3 bedrooms – but I did notice a geyser so I was interested. We phoned the owner (who stays in Francistown) and she agreed to reduce the rent to a reasonable price if I agreed to only use the living areas and one bedroom and allowed her to use the other two bedrooms as storage rooms that would remain locked. That seemed fair enough so she arranged for me to go and see the interior the next morning. I went home and told my Zambian neighbor about it and he said, “What about the front?”. Oh… right. I got so excited about seeing a geyser that I forgot that houses have more than one wall, or at least that they should. He kindly reminded me that houses are like women: sometimes the back can be great, but it’s not until you see the front that you know what you’re getting. What a life lesson, thanks, I’ll hold on to that one. Anyway, I got anxious and went back to take a peak. WOW. If this house were a lady, I’m glad she turned around LOL. The house is surrounded by a barbed wire gate (Peace Corps will be happy) that is mostly covered by nice hedges and the yard has several beautiful trees (I think one may in fact be an orange tree). There is also a really nice front porch… I love front porches! Sure enough the old lady saw me and came over with the keys, and while I told her I was coming in the morning with my supervisor, she told me just to come and look anyway. Holy Moly. If Peace Corps has a clause on houses being too nice, mine probably is against regulation. BIG living room with black tile floors. Two chandeliers. Large kitchen with two refrigerators, microwave. Hot water. Bathtub. Fully furnished. Modern artwork on the walls. Where the heck am I? I don’t think I’m in Maitengwe anymore, Toto. And all for just barely more than the other places we were looking previously. I guess what they say is true, if you want something done right, do it yourself. I’m sure, knowing my luck, that the house will catch on fire and burn to the ground as I am writing this, but if not I think I am due for a very significant upgrade.
Then, of course, came the Peace Corps guilt:
“Kagiso, do you really need such a nice house when you were doing fine in the one you had?”
“Kagiso, how do you feel having this nice place when you’ll be surrounded by mud huts and people boiling water over outdoor fires?”
“Kagiso, why do you like such nice things?”
“Kagiso, now people are going to think you are even more rich that they already do.”
“Kagiso, Kagiso, Kagiso…”
Oh back off already, self! Denying myself black tile flooring and two chandeliers isn’t going to enable me to cure AIDS, and whether I bathe my dirty body in a hot bath or a cold bucket isn’t going to affect the work I do. So why not take advantage of a good opportunity? If anything, two chandeliers will give me better lighting under which to read client files and a hot bath is going to reduce my personal stress and increase my professional productivity during the day… right?!? The way I see it, the whole community benefits.
In all seriousness, it will be nice to be off the clinic compound. While the convenience of living there is great, I have felt fairly removed from the community. Yes, nearly everyone knows my name. But few know me, and I don’t know much about them either. Because my current neighbors are all clinic employees, they are of a different educational background and therefore enjoy a different status and lifestyle. Moving off of the compound, even if to nicer conditions, puts me in the middle of the community and my day-to-day life will be closer to them. The only downside, and it’s a serious one, is my son. His coming to my house every morning is a direct result of my house being adjacent to the orphanage. Because the new house is a good 5+ minutes away from the school in the opposite direction of his home, he is unlikely to come every morning – if even at all. That part pinches, a lot. But, in real terms, I am not far from the orphanage or his house, and am significantly closer than the other houses we looked at.
I am due to move in by 1 March, but based on how things operate here - I'll believe it when I lock my new front door.
I hope all is well at home (even though I've received enough magazines to know that it's not). But, it's not all doom and gloom. Wé're resilient people and we've bounced back from a lot before. As long as there is gas at the pumps and food on the shelves, we're ok. Don't let the media induce too much fear! They thrive on that... I realize that every time I leave the US - that we are so fear-filled, and fear-motivated. Turn off the TV & don't let it get to you!
You would also think that after over a dozen inquiries into why my blog has been silent since December I would have finally updated it, but apparently it took an email from a random unknown individual in Oregon expressing his nostalgia for an update for me to mobilize and write again. So we thank you, Random Unknown Individual in Oregon, for your readership and mobilizing email. It’s amazing how these things get found, passed around, etc.
Anyway, the reasons for the brief hiatus are at least three fold: one, the holiday season kept me away and, like most habits (at least the healthy ones), staying away is easier than going back. Secondly, nothing has really happened since December… or should I say nothing of significance? Or should I say nothing of what seems like significance? Finally, sometimes it’s just a thorn in my side
But anyway here we are. And for those of you who sincerely missed my blog for the past two months, you’re likely to feel satisfied as I am in the mood to make this a long one.
The holidays were spent very low key, mostly around my village and some small time in Francistown, enjoying the luxuries of “urban” life. I really did nothing exciting. My son is still coming every morning, like clockwork, and we have breakfast together. There isn’t a morning that passes that I am not thankful for him. He is such a great way to start the day. He’s grown so much the past 6 months; in part I am sure to the excessive amount of calories I shove down his throat every morning. For those of you who have kids or who want them, I don’t know how you do it. This kid isn’t even my blood, yet watching him grow up pierces me with this twisted pain/pleasure combination that I can’t describe. It’s like you want them to stay that young and innocent forever but you’re also so happy and thankful to see them growing into something they weren’t when you first knew them. He’s learned so much from me, and me from him, and that is really remarkable to witness. He’s significantly less vacant and much more vibrant. But at the same time… ouch, ouch, ouch. Soon he will be so big I wont even be able to carry him to school anymore. And very soon after that, he will be a grown adult in the middle of a very difficult environment, where the bad choices of a generation create cycles of poverty that reproduce a generation that will make bad choices.
On a lighter note, my mother and little sister came to visit me just a few weeks ago! We rented a car (thank God; I missed driving) and spent the first few days in Moleps, where I trained, meeting the host family and some other colleagues of mine who are serving in surrounding areas. It was really nice for my two moms to meet! My real mom (and my favorite one, don’t worry SK…) brought gifts that were certainly enjoyed. Then we spent a few days in my village, where they saw my day-to-day and met my co-workers. I think a few days here was enough haha. It’s interesting because I have become accustomed to such a slow pace of life, which is not at all me in the US. I am a “gas ass,” in the words of my mother, and am always going here and there. But in Africa you learn how to sit still, and how to do nothing without feeling guilty about it, and those lessons take a lot of time. You see, in the US our value is defined by our productivity – if you aren’t producing, you’re useless (i.e. you’re fired). This is logical and acceptable in terms of our intense capitalism, which is a system inherently dependent on growth for survival. However, the problem is this mentality seeps into our mindset as people and we begin to define ourselves by what we do rather than who are are, and you don’t realize things like this until you’re in environments such as these. It’s taken me the whole 10 months I’ve been here to realize why the heck I constantly feel so down: I am under-producing and judging myself for it. And the real irony is, I am the only one noticing. But the fact is, systems are different here, work is different here, time is different here, standards are different here, etc. – and therefore one’s mindset must be too. It takes a lot adjusting, a heck of a lot of patience, a good bit of understanding, and a whole lot of humility.
Anyway, so having two American-mode Americans come and visit an African-mode American was quite exhausting for me, and I think at times very boring for them. Thankfully, once the restlessness set in, we were off to Kasane (KAH-SAH-NEE), which is in the very northeastern part of the country and known for it’s prevalent wildlife. On the road we saw several elephants and some giraffes. (I think a direct quote from my mother, as I was driving 70 mph, was “Giraffes, HOLY SHIT!!!” following by me safely slamming the breaks for a photo op… pictures coming soon, by the way).
Kasane was just breathtaking. We enjoyed a lovely boat ride on the river our first evening where we saw dozens of hippos, baboons, khudu, impala, some crocs, and at least 70 elephants scattered about – eating, bathing, etc. The weather was fabulous and the setting sun and the sky were both indescribable. It was really one of the moments where you’d have be a complete ass to complain about anything; life was just at it’s best on that boat, and moments like that make me wonder why I ever think of leaving this continent (sorry Mom, I know that was not what you were hoping to get out of the ride).
The next day we trekked to Victoria Falls, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. It wasn’t the best time of the year to do so, as the volume of water was at its highest being the end of the rainy season, making the mist from the falls so intense that you could hardly see the falls themselves. This, coupled with periodic drizzle from the sky, made it feel like it was raining from both above and below (I was reminded of Forest Gump when he is serving in Vietnam and comments on the rain coming from both directions). Consequently the three of us were thoroughly soaked, despite our raincoats (pictures of that, coming soon too). But we had a great time and I think we managed to snap a few decent photos while still preserving the integrity of our cameras. Thank God for plastic bags. We were certainly able to see enough to digest the magnitude of the falls, and hopefully I will have a chance to go back on a sunnier day to see them again. It’s not the drop of the falls that is so remarkable, but for how long they actually extend. It just goes on, and on, and on. Google Image: ‘Victoria Falls’ and you will see for yourself.
So the visit was a success and I’ll look forward to my father and other sister coming at some point late this year.
Meanwhile, I have some news regarding my housing. Since I live in government housing, I am technically ‘entitled’ to a geyser (American translation: hot water heater) in my house free of charge. So I have spent the last 6 months hassling the district on a weekly basis to come and install one for me. It took three months for someone to come and fit it to the wall (they attach them to the wall here), and an additional 3 months to convince them to send an electrician to connect it. Apparently they prefer to train people to do one small task rather than have a do-it-all task force. Excellent. Anyway, the geyser arrived and I was FINALLY enjoying hot water, which is one of the things I always miss most when away from the US. Alas, I felt as if I was content with my living situation – it’s modest, yes, but certainly comfortable now and still well above average when compared to my neighbors. So the next day I go to the clinic and my supervisor tells me, “Kagiso, you are being evicted.” Thaaaaaanks. Sure enough, our ARV clinic opening in March 2008 (which it never did) caused the district to hire 4 extra nurses. I guess “if you build it, they will come” may be true, so long as “build” doesn’t mean “finish”. Anyway, all of the nurses are to live in government housing on the clinic compound so that they are close to the clinic on nights when they are on-call. This is indeed very good logic, I just wish this had transpired a few weeks before I did the Macarena in my newly hot shower. And apparently someone was going to come to my house by the weekend and so my departure was to be soon. Sometimes you feel like nothing good happens fast here but everything bad happens before you’re ready… and in all honesty that’s something you grow to love.
So my supervisor – whom I adore, might I add – had three houses lined up for us to go and see. Impressed with her planning, but slightly offended at being left out of the process, we hopped in the vehicle and went to look at Potential Future Home #1. The house was made of 4 concrete walls, with a concrete floor, and while I didn’t notice – I’d wager that it had a concrete ceiling too. There was a hole in the floor where a toilet might have been or may go later, a pipe with running water outside, and that’s it. I think there may have been a window or two. While this is actually what I pictured when applying to the Peace Corps, when one was just blessed with gift of a geyser, one does not want to be pooing in a shallow hole next to where one eats. (Isn’t there a proverb like that of some sort?) So, Potential Future Home #2: 3 rooms total, 3 external doors, all rooms connecting on the inside (like a cheap hotel). Nice windows, nice exterior… no… kitchen? Yeah. Just three empty concrete rooms and a small, attached bathroom with a toilet & bath (gasp!)… but no water. They can’t figure out why the water won’t run to the house. So the first house had water (outside) but no toilet, the second house had a toilet but no water. I was beginning to feel like I was in the game Clue and was looking for one more piece to the puzzle of why this could not get any funnier. So, Potential Future Home #3: we didn’t see it because the current inhabitant (the owner) was not around, but it’s said to be nice. He’s willing to move out but he wants to keep his computer in the house and use it at his will, because the house he would move to won’t have electricity. I would really rather not be responsible for someone else’s computer in my house, nor would I like to have my landlord keying in unexpectedly to watch God-knows-what at any hour of the day, so I was ok not seeing that one.
Feeling a bit discouraged, and already mourning the loss of my beloved geyser, I told my supervisor: “Give me two hours and I’ll find a house.” So off I went with the help of some of my boys. I met an old lady whose sister owns the house next to hers. From the back it looked big – too big, 3 bedrooms – but I did notice a geyser so I was interested. We phoned the owner (who stays in Francistown) and she agreed to reduce the rent to a reasonable price if I agreed to only use the living areas and one bedroom and allowed her to use the other two bedrooms as storage rooms that would remain locked. That seemed fair enough so she arranged for me to go and see the interior the next morning. I went home and told my Zambian neighbor about it and he said, “What about the front?”. Oh… right. I got so excited about seeing a geyser that I forgot that houses have more than one wall, or at least that they should. He kindly reminded me that houses are like women: sometimes the back can be great, but it’s not until you see the front that you know what you’re getting. What a life lesson, thanks, I’ll hold on to that one. Anyway, I got anxious and went back to take a peak. WOW. If this house were a lady, I’m glad she turned around LOL. The house is surrounded by a barbed wire gate (Peace Corps will be happy) that is mostly covered by nice hedges and the yard has several beautiful trees (I think one may in fact be an orange tree). There is also a really nice front porch… I love front porches! Sure enough the old lady saw me and came over with the keys, and while I told her I was coming in the morning with my supervisor, she told me just to come and look anyway. Holy Moly. If Peace Corps has a clause on houses being too nice, mine probably is against regulation. BIG living room with black tile floors. Two chandeliers. Large kitchen with two refrigerators, microwave. Hot water. Bathtub. Fully furnished. Modern artwork on the walls. Where the heck am I? I don’t think I’m in Maitengwe anymore, Toto. And all for just barely more than the other places we were looking previously. I guess what they say is true, if you want something done right, do it yourself. I’m sure, knowing my luck, that the house will catch on fire and burn to the ground as I am writing this, but if not I think I am due for a very significant upgrade.
Then, of course, came the Peace Corps guilt:
“Kagiso, do you really need such a nice house when you were doing fine in the one you had?”
“Kagiso, how do you feel having this nice place when you’ll be surrounded by mud huts and people boiling water over outdoor fires?”
“Kagiso, why do you like such nice things?”
“Kagiso, now people are going to think you are even more rich that they already do.”
“Kagiso, Kagiso, Kagiso…”
Oh back off already, self! Denying myself black tile flooring and two chandeliers isn’t going to enable me to cure AIDS, and whether I bathe my dirty body in a hot bath or a cold bucket isn’t going to affect the work I do. So why not take advantage of a good opportunity? If anything, two chandeliers will give me better lighting under which to read client files and a hot bath is going to reduce my personal stress and increase my professional productivity during the day… right?!? The way I see it, the whole community benefits.
In all seriousness, it will be nice to be off the clinic compound. While the convenience of living there is great, I have felt fairly removed from the community. Yes, nearly everyone knows my name. But few know me, and I don’t know much about them either. Because my current neighbors are all clinic employees, they are of a different educational background and therefore enjoy a different status and lifestyle. Moving off of the compound, even if to nicer conditions, puts me in the middle of the community and my day-to-day life will be closer to them. The only downside, and it’s a serious one, is my son. His coming to my house every morning is a direct result of my house being adjacent to the orphanage. Because the new house is a good 5+ minutes away from the school in the opposite direction of his home, he is unlikely to come every morning – if even at all. That part pinches, a lot. But, in real terms, I am not far from the orphanage or his house, and am significantly closer than the other houses we looked at.
I am due to move in by 1 March, but based on how things operate here - I'll believe it when I lock my new front door.
I hope all is well at home (even though I've received enough magazines to know that it's not). But, it's not all doom and gloom. Wé're resilient people and we've bounced back from a lot before. As long as there is gas at the pumps and food on the shelves, we're ok. Don't let the media induce too much fear! They thrive on that... I realize that every time I leave the US - that we are so fear-filled, and fear-motivated. Turn off the TV & don't let it get to you!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
And Life Just Keeps on Running
We create the pain and the suffering
And the beauty in this world
Heaven’s here on Earth –
In our faith in humankind
And our respect for what is Earthly
And our unfaltering belief in peace, and love, and understanding.
Ordinary people living ordinary lives
Filled with love, compassion, forgiveness, and sacrifice
Heaven’s in our hearts
I’ve seen spirits, I’ve met angels
Touched creations beautiful and wondrous
I’ve been places where I question all I think I know
And I believe, oh I believe, that this could be heaven
Heaven’s here on Earth
~Tracy Chapman
2 – Outreach & education at bars, workshops, the border, the police station, and community events.
3 – Designing the schedule and curriculum for the daily health talks in the clinic that we have recently begun (and convincing each staff member that she is more than capable to deliver the information well… a massive task in itself. I think the fear of public speaking may be the only absolutely universal fear)
4 – Assisting Maitengwe Home Based Care with all their fund-raising and awareness needs. Eish.
2 – Not comparing
3 – Remembering to check my shoes every day for scorpions
4 – Counting how many times a day I hear donkeys squeal (it makes me laugh EVERY time)
5 – Counting mosquito corpses in the morning
6 – Youth development
7 – A book every two weeks (a major feat for me)
I'm now writing this from
On brighter news, a few of us have started a Teen Club in
If you're interested in writing them letters, sending pictures, etc. that can be arranged - they're city kids so for most of them their English is so-so.
That's all for now - hope you are well!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Almost at 30%!
“The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they are okay, then it's you.”
-Rita Mae Brown
-Rita Mae Brown
Things are moving along here, quickly. I am still having some minor complications from my surgery as well as a lovely sty on my eye that appeared yesterday morning. Ironically, all of my ailments are or have been on my left side... (Yes, the appendix is on the right side, but the infected scar is on the left). The weather has been alarmingly cool (which to me feels cold). We’ve been getting rain every day for about 8 or 10 days, and the sky is mostly cloudy when it’s not raining. The day temperatures are quite nice, sometimes requiring long sleeves and the nights have actually been requiring blankets. But the greenery has made Maitengwe look like a whole new place – it’s stunning!
We’ve replaced our PMTCT counselor and I am really enjoying my new counterpart. I didn’t realize how excluded I was from a lot of the work until the new girl came in. Our new counselor is 27. Her first child died of unknown causes within the first year, her second child was still-born, her third child was born deaf, and her fourth child was born healthy (so far) – but it was during this final pregnancy that she became HIV positive. Talk about a bad run, eh? So she is currently 87 pounds, and not incredibly short, but has incredible motivation and dedication. I am enjoying working with her.
Assuming the connection is good when I upload this, I’ll put up some random photos from the past few weeks. There are several of the colors the sky makes in the evenings.
I don’t have PhotoShop, not to mention I am not photographer, so pardon the flaws of the photos. There are also some of the kids cooking Nyeza (these small flying cockroach-type bugs) on a fire in my backyard. Yes, I ate some. What did it taste like? A bug covered in salt and oil.
Here's a video of the kids and their homemade foosball table... innovative little boogers aren't they?
Finally, with the help of two old ladies, I build a bench around my lovely tree out of cow dung, dirt, and water. It was quite an experience – we woke up at the crack of dawn and follow cows around the village, as you have to collect the dung when it’s fresh. And with the right proportions of dirt and water, it becomes very hard. I’ll post a photo. Hope you enjoy.
Other than that, not much is new - reading a TON of books and really learning and growing. I could go on forever about the details of our home visits but that may just be a downer lol. I hope you all enjoy Thanksgiving. I’ll be spending it with fellow volunteers; I’m baking cookies and cornbread! Scary, I know…
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Hilarious!
I spoiled the election...
Send to your friends, especially those who are not voting!
Brent Keener Spoils Presidential Election
Send to your friends, especially those who are not voting!
Brent Keener Spoils Presidential Election
Rantings & Updates
“When I give money to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no money, they call me a communist.” — Dom Helda Camara
"Tell me what you think about money, and I can tell you what you think about God." -Billy Graham
I’m back! So the infection isn’t anything to worry about, at least not at this point. However, they want to keep me in Gaborone for a few days for “observation” – completely against my will – but I guess the last experience ruined their trust in my body :)
As for America, I am so glad to not be there right now! Haha. Generally speaking, I miss my country (and leaving it is the best way to realize how much you love it), but my oh my elections bring out the worst in us. Why are Americans so hostile about politics? Why are both sides tearing down signs and yelling and resorting to slimy TV ads? C’mon guys, really. Our country so immature in this regard. Both sides consistently resort to emotion-based campaigning rather arguments based on logic, facts, or reason. Barack, with his pretty adjectives and poetic prose and McCain with his never-ending suggestions that if - you - vote - for - the - socialist - black - Muslim - we’re - going - to - be - the - next - Syria - because - the - A - Rabs - will - take - over. It’s ridiculous. And what’s even more ridiculous is how people fall for it, on both sides. How many people can lay out reasons, based on policy, why they support or do not support a candidate? Too few. Too many are voting for Obama because they hate Bush, and even more are voting for McCain because they are scared of Obama (which, let’s be honest – a lot of that stems from his color and his name. A recent NEWSWEEK poll showed that a large number Americans STILL think he is Muslim. C’mon people – he met his Muslim father ONCE in his life, and was mostly raised by his Christian [and white, if that matters to you] grandparents.)
But, wow, the Republicans are really fumbling aren’t they? They’re like a cube of ice on a hot stove – sliding in the wake of their own mess. Unfortunately, in my opinion, their whole school of thought has our country in a very uncomfortable place. Corporations are becoming more powerful than the Government (many of them are so rich they could BUY countries if they wanted to… is that where we want our future? Wal-Mart buying Bangladesh?), poverty in the US is at it’s highest in decades while our global reputation is at its lowest – even among European states, who have historically been our closest allies. Even internally, our divisions are becoming hostile. And, to me, the current administration’s largest shame is how dichotomized they’ve made us – how at one point you couldn’t criticize the war and still call yourself patriotic, how you can’t support talks with Iran without being a terrorist-appealer, how you can’t try to mediate the fact that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer without being a socialist, how if you say you are embarrassed at some of our country’s behavior that somehow means you are un-American or un-patriotic, and how you can’t possibly believe in God and vote Democratic. It’s a shame really. Manufacturers are losing jobs to China, India, etc. so that the big dogs can make a bigger profit – and that’s all very ironic, since these small-town people tend to vote Republican, when that party overwhelming encourages and makes it easier for outsourcing to occur. Same with small-town farmers – they tend to vote Republican when that party – particularly this administration – has favored ‘factory’ farms over Farmer Joe.
And I know a lot of people are weary about having such a ‘radical’ candidate running for office, but it’s merely a response to 8 years of radicalism from the right. When you have 8 years of total disregard for separation of powers, checks and balances, and even international law, you’re bound to have an opposition candidate with a more multilateral view of the world.
“If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator” -George W. Bush, December 2000
But, I guess our country suffers from the same tension that most places do, and the same tension that we endure as individuals – the painful tension of trying to move forward while at the same time holding on to what we were.
“I look at my environment and wonder where the fire went – what happened to everything we used to be?” -Lauryn Hil
Anyway, a lot has been going on at the clinic. My good friend, and the person with whom I work the most closely, is being forced to step down. She is our PMTCT counselor, is HIV-positive, and she has become pregnant (upon accepting her job, she was required to sign a document saying that she will not become pregnant). Since she is HIV-positive and part of her job is to discourage positive women from becoming pregnant, in the Government’s eyes her pregnancy is hypocritical and therefore unacceptable. I have mixed feelings on the issue. In my opinion, the sole purpose of PMTCT is so that women can live a normal life – i.e. become pregnant and still have HIV-negative babies. Additionally, telling HIV-positive women that they should not have babies essentially means the Government is discouraging more than 50% of Botswana’s women from becoming pregnant. And in many developing countries, economic growth is strongly correlated to (or at least heavily influenced by) population growth. Consequently, the issue is quite complex and I see both sides’ arguments. But of course, on a personal level, I am quite disappointed.
The rains have come! Well, just once, but it’s a start. And when it rains here, it isn’t a drizzle – it’s like gray sheets of water slamming down from the sky… so enjoyable, unless you’re in transit. The negative side of the rain, of course, is that now is when all the creatures come out to play. So mosquitoes and bugs in general have been worse, and snakes and scorpions are rearing their ugly heads. A snake has been slithering its way around the clinic compound at night, which is worrying many people as the tracks are quite large. Our doctor killed one at his house last week, and the theory goes that once you kill one the others start to come. Many of the snakes in this area are quite harmless, but Botswana is home to some of the world’s deadliest, including adders. So it may be a long rainy season.
My ‘son’ is doing ok – he and his younger brother are still consistently underweight when they come in for their monthly weigh-ins, but not much seems to be happening as a result. His father is doing very well and has been exceptionally pleasant lately. I’m trying to build a positive relationship with him so that when my Kalanga is good enough, I can politely request he bring the kids in for testing without him wanting to kill me. Wish me luck on that! Having your kids tested seems like Parenting 101 to us, but a lot of men – self included – tend to avoid medical settings at all cost, and of course culture plays a large role here.
"Tell me what you think about money, and I can tell you what you think about God." -Billy Graham
I’m back! So the infection isn’t anything to worry about, at least not at this point. However, they want to keep me in Gaborone for a few days for “observation” – completely against my will – but I guess the last experience ruined their trust in my body :)
As for America, I am so glad to not be there right now! Haha. Generally speaking, I miss my country (and leaving it is the best way to realize how much you love it), but my oh my elections bring out the worst in us. Why are Americans so hostile about politics? Why are both sides tearing down signs and yelling and resorting to slimy TV ads? C’mon guys, really. Our country so immature in this regard. Both sides consistently resort to emotion-based campaigning rather arguments based on logic, facts, or reason. Barack, with his pretty adjectives and poetic prose and McCain with his never-ending suggestions that if - you - vote - for - the - socialist - black - Muslim - we’re - going - to - be - the - next - Syria - because - the - A - Rabs - will - take - over. It’s ridiculous. And what’s even more ridiculous is how people fall for it, on both sides. How many people can lay out reasons, based on policy, why they support or do not support a candidate? Too few. Too many are voting for Obama because they hate Bush, and even more are voting for McCain because they are scared of Obama (which, let’s be honest – a lot of that stems from his color and his name. A recent NEWSWEEK poll showed that a large number Americans STILL think he is Muslim. C’mon people – he met his Muslim father ONCE in his life, and was mostly raised by his Christian [and white, if that matters to you] grandparents.)
But, wow, the Republicans are really fumbling aren’t they? They’re like a cube of ice on a hot stove – sliding in the wake of their own mess. Unfortunately, in my opinion, their whole school of thought has our country in a very uncomfortable place. Corporations are becoming more powerful than the Government (many of them are so rich they could BUY countries if they wanted to… is that where we want our future? Wal-Mart buying Bangladesh?), poverty in the US is at it’s highest in decades while our global reputation is at its lowest – even among European states, who have historically been our closest allies. Even internally, our divisions are becoming hostile. And, to me, the current administration’s largest shame is how dichotomized they’ve made us – how at one point you couldn’t criticize the war and still call yourself patriotic, how you can’t support talks with Iran without being a terrorist-appealer, how you can’t try to mediate the fact that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer without being a socialist, how if you say you are embarrassed at some of our country’s behavior that somehow means you are un-American or un-patriotic, and how you can’t possibly believe in God and vote Democratic. It’s a shame really. Manufacturers are losing jobs to China, India, etc. so that the big dogs can make a bigger profit – and that’s all very ironic, since these small-town people tend to vote Republican, when that party overwhelming encourages and makes it easier for outsourcing to occur. Same with small-town farmers – they tend to vote Republican when that party – particularly this administration – has favored ‘factory’ farms over Farmer Joe.
And I know a lot of people are weary about having such a ‘radical’ candidate running for office, but it’s merely a response to 8 years of radicalism from the right. When you have 8 years of total disregard for separation of powers, checks and balances, and even international law, you’re bound to have an opposition candidate with a more multilateral view of the world.
“If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator” -George W. Bush, December 2000
But, I guess our country suffers from the same tension that most places do, and the same tension that we endure as individuals – the painful tension of trying to move forward while at the same time holding on to what we were.
“I look at my environment and wonder where the fire went – what happened to everything we used to be?” -Lauryn Hil
Anyway, a lot has been going on at the clinic. My good friend, and the person with whom I work the most closely, is being forced to step down. She is our PMTCT counselor, is HIV-positive, and she has become pregnant (upon accepting her job, she was required to sign a document saying that she will not become pregnant). Since she is HIV-positive and part of her job is to discourage positive women from becoming pregnant, in the Government’s eyes her pregnancy is hypocritical and therefore unacceptable. I have mixed feelings on the issue. In my opinion, the sole purpose of PMTCT is so that women can live a normal life – i.e. become pregnant and still have HIV-negative babies. Additionally, telling HIV-positive women that they should not have babies essentially means the Government is discouraging more than 50% of Botswana’s women from becoming pregnant. And in many developing countries, economic growth is strongly correlated to (or at least heavily influenced by) population growth. Consequently, the issue is quite complex and I see both sides’ arguments. But of course, on a personal level, I am quite disappointed.
The rains have come! Well, just once, but it’s a start. And when it rains here, it isn’t a drizzle – it’s like gray sheets of water slamming down from the sky… so enjoyable, unless you’re in transit. The negative side of the rain, of course, is that now is when all the creatures come out to play. So mosquitoes and bugs in general have been worse, and snakes and scorpions are rearing their ugly heads. A snake has been slithering its way around the clinic compound at night, which is worrying many people as the tracks are quite large. Our doctor killed one at his house last week, and the theory goes that once you kill one the others start to come. Many of the snakes in this area are quite harmless, but Botswana is home to some of the world’s deadliest, including adders. So it may be a long rainy season.
My ‘son’ is doing ok – he and his younger brother are still consistently underweight when they come in for their monthly weigh-ins, but not much seems to be happening as a result. His father is doing very well and has been exceptionally pleasant lately. I’m trying to build a positive relationship with him so that when my Kalanga is good enough, I can politely request he bring the kids in for testing without him wanting to kill me. Wish me luck on that! Having your kids tested seems like Parenting 101 to us, but a lot of men – self included – tend to avoid medical settings at all cost, and of course culture plays a large role here.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Maybe that curse is true...
I am in Francistown waiting for the train to Gaborone so that I can go back to the hospital and see the surgeon... again. One of my scars is infected, below the surface, and the tissue underneath is still bone-hard, and is it secreting some puss. The nurses at the clinic did some painful prodding and think the infection is quite deep; if they are right, I'll be having another procedure (though this one should be even more minor than the last) to remove the infection. Fun. Let's hope this time it does not result in several more weeks of hospitalization!
A lot has been happening these past few weeks, and so at some point during my captivity in Gaborone I will type an update and post it here when I pass through Francistown to go back home... whenever that may be.
Hope all is well at home!
A lot has been happening these past few weeks, and so at some point during my captivity in Gaborone I will type an update and post it here when I pass through Francistown to go back home... whenever that may be.
Hope all is well at home!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
It's Been A While
It has been a very interesting month, one which I am very happy to have ended. It began with me heading to Kanye for a workshop, with a stop in Francistown to see my friend prior to catching the night train. She and I were walking her new puppy when, out of the blue, a massive black dog came running towards us and began devouring her puppy. My first and not my brightest reaction was to pick up the puppy because in the US - generally speaking - if you remove puppy then the dog is likely to bugger off. Unfortunately the dog decided to go after us. Well done Brent. But the three of us (myself, friend, and dog) all made it out alive; unfortunately my friend's leg was mauled. We were rushed to the Ftown hospital and treated, and consequently I was unable to make the train that night - a small price to pay considering that 3 weeks later my friend still can't walk without assistance. But she will be ok, as is the puppy. I guess the result was a lot better than it could have been, but the sound of large dogs barking will likely not be the same, for either of us, for some time.
A few days later I managed to catch a ride to Kanye for a fashionably-late arrival to our workshop. Within days I began to develop some pains in my lower right abdomen, which at first I thought was a pulled muscle after an intense workout. However the pains continued along with some other symptoms and towards the end of the workshop I was sent to Gaborone for a sonogram, CAT scan, blood work, etc. Apparently my appendix was near bursting so within two hours I was checking out of my hotel and checking in to the hospital for a laproscopic appendectomy. The surgery itself went ok and I was out in a few days. I was driven to a friend's house in Molepolole for further recovery; however, a few hours after arrival I developed a high fever, severe vomiting and diarrhea, inability to walk, and loss of circulation in my hands and feet. I had memories circa 2006 of my malarial experience in eastern Ghana. So, within just a short time the driver turned around and collected me and we met an ambulance half way, who rushed me back to the same hospital - and same ward - in Gaborone. It turns out I had a minor infection and something called pseudo-membrane nescolitis, a condition the Dr. claims he hasn't seen in over 15 years. I am so lucky. So that took 5 days and 6 nights in the hospital to recover from, during which I developed some surface-level internal bleeding (which supposedly isn't too worrisome, though two weeks after the surgery I am still having some bruising and small pain - and not near the incisions). Then they had me stay in a lodge in Gaborone for an additional 5 days for observation. Now I am determined to make it home today! One more day in Gaborone will have me both depressed and bankrupt. (The cost of one meal in Gabs is roughly equivalent to my daily wage... so you can imagine what buying 2-3 meals a day has done to my living allowance. I'll get a small per-diem to help compensate the loss but it certainly wont suffice). So I'll be living very very simply this quarter, something I can certainly afford to do with a little bit of effort.
Despite the range of medical issues that have arisen, I have been impressed with the care here. The hospital I was in was NOTHING like those in Ghana - so there was actually running water and there were no goats going through my bags while I was sleeping. They even served meals! The PC staff has also been great. But I think we are all ready to send me back to Maitengwe, haha. So tonight I will catch the train from Gaborone to Francistown (I have a first class sleeper... which isn't as classy as it sounds but it does provide me with a bed on which to sleep) and I will arrive in Ftown tomorrow morning. After a boring 2+ hour bus ride tomorrow I should be safely and happily at home, where I am told I have quite a large number of mail waiting for me... so a big THANKS to everyone who has sent something in the past month. I am not sure when I'll next come to Francistown. While my house is low on food, my energy is likely to be lower so it will be at least a week before I will feel strong enough to head to Francistown as it makes for an exhausting day of travel.
So that's been my September. Who's had a worse month: me or America? I vote the latter. The hospital and the hotels have done a good job of keeping me up to date with the news. Geeze, I could say a ton about the political and economic situation of our country at the moment, but those of you who agree with me will find it redundant and those of you who don't are unlikely to alter your opinions anyway so I guess my ramblings would be completely futile, eh? :)
A few days later I managed to catch a ride to Kanye for a fashionably-late arrival to our workshop. Within days I began to develop some pains in my lower right abdomen, which at first I thought was a pulled muscle after an intense workout. However the pains continued along with some other symptoms and towards the end of the workshop I was sent to Gaborone for a sonogram, CAT scan, blood work, etc. Apparently my appendix was near bursting so within two hours I was checking out of my hotel and checking in to the hospital for a laproscopic appendectomy. The surgery itself went ok and I was out in a few days. I was driven to a friend's house in Molepolole for further recovery; however, a few hours after arrival I developed a high fever, severe vomiting and diarrhea, inability to walk, and loss of circulation in my hands and feet. I had memories circa 2006 of my malarial experience in eastern Ghana. So, within just a short time the driver turned around and collected me and we met an ambulance half way, who rushed me back to the same hospital - and same ward - in Gaborone. It turns out I had a minor infection and something called pseudo-membrane nescolitis, a condition the Dr. claims he hasn't seen in over 15 years. I am so lucky. So that took 5 days and 6 nights in the hospital to recover from, during which I developed some surface-level internal bleeding (which supposedly isn't too worrisome, though two weeks after the surgery I am still having some bruising and small pain - and not near the incisions). Then they had me stay in a lodge in Gaborone for an additional 5 days for observation. Now I am determined to make it home today! One more day in Gaborone will have me both depressed and bankrupt. (The cost of one meal in Gabs is roughly equivalent to my daily wage... so you can imagine what buying 2-3 meals a day has done to my living allowance. I'll get a small per-diem to help compensate the loss but it certainly wont suffice). So I'll be living very very simply this quarter, something I can certainly afford to do with a little bit of effort.
Despite the range of medical issues that have arisen, I have been impressed with the care here. The hospital I was in was NOTHING like those in Ghana - so there was actually running water and there were no goats going through my bags while I was sleeping. They even served meals! The PC staff has also been great. But I think we are all ready to send me back to Maitengwe, haha. So tonight I will catch the train from Gaborone to Francistown (I have a first class sleeper... which isn't as classy as it sounds but it does provide me with a bed on which to sleep) and I will arrive in Ftown tomorrow morning. After a boring 2+ hour bus ride tomorrow I should be safely and happily at home, where I am told I have quite a large number of mail waiting for me... so a big THANKS to everyone who has sent something in the past month. I am not sure when I'll next come to Francistown. While my house is low on food, my energy is likely to be lower so it will be at least a week before I will feel strong enough to head to Francistown as it makes for an exhausting day of travel.
So that's been my September. Who's had a worse month: me or America? I vote the latter. The hospital and the hotels have done a good job of keeping me up to date with the news. Geeze, I could say a ton about the political and economic situation of our country at the moment, but those of you who agree with me will find it redundant and those of you who don't are unlikely to alter your opinions anyway so I guess my ramblings would be completely futile, eh? :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
