Thanksgiving: On actual Thanksgiving day, I managed to escape my office and met up with 3 other volunteers for lunch. We ate at a chain restaurant called Spur...and although it was nothing like thanksgiving food, it was still nice to be around company!
Our big Thanksgiving celebrating took place that next Saturday. Over 30+ volunteers all got together in Otse. It was AWESOME! I managed to make broccoli casserole; and we had mashed potatoes, pasta salad, green beans, turkey, casseroles, pumpkin pie, and much more!! The volunteers who live in Otse managed to get lots of tables and chairs and we all hung out and ate outside. There were 2 extra houses open; so we all crammed into 3 houses when it came time to sleep. Overall it was a good day full of food and friends!
PLWD Commemoration: I was randomly told by my DAC that I would be helping with the Tlokweng People Living with Disabilities Commemoration, since she would be attending a workshop. So at the end of November, we had about a week to prepare for this event. I was in charge of the “protocol” committee-which meant I would send out the savingram invitations; create the program; and help secure speakers. I helped out here and there; but pretty much I just created the program. As usual, the event was mostly speakers and a free lunch at the end. However, some of the kids from the Tlamelong Rehabilitation Centre, The Dream Centre (School for kids with disabilities), and I am Special were at the event. It was really great to see them dancing around and having a good time. I was the photographer for the event and took some really great photos. (However, when trying to put the pictures on my work computers, found out my memory card got a virus and turned all my files into shortcuts. I had 150+ pictures and hope to find some way to recover them. Anyone know a good program that would work??)
I was also invited by Peace Corps to attend the PLWD Commemoration in Gaborone. The event was similar to ours, just different speakers and entertainers. It was nice to see some similar faces-as some of the kids from our event were also at this one. Unfortunately I had to head out early since my office needed some assistance.
On another note....while visiting BORNUS(Botswana Retired Nurses Society) I heard music coming from the building next door. I ended up wandering over to the Dream Centre and found out it was a school for kids with disabilities. They were coincidentally having a fun day, since it was the end of the school year. I ended up being invited to watch a fashion show, singers, dancers and games being played. I told the teachers that I would love to come back and hope that when the new school year starts; that I will be able to spend some time there!
World AIDS Day: So the beginning part of December has been busy in preparation for our World AIDS Day (WAD) Commemoration. The national commemoration took place on December 1st in Palapye. My DAC and several other DMSAC members went up north for it. However, we had our commemoration in Tlokweng on Dec. 8th. We had preparation meetings every week leading up to the event and I was placed on the protocol committee. Again, I made the program.
During one of the last meetings, I was randomly deemed treasurer and would be in charge of collecting money for t-shirts. Funny thing...I didnt even know we were going to make shirts. So no one gave me money and than the day before the event I was told to go collect money from everyone. I thought it was too late...but my DAC insisted. I managed to collect a bunch of money but than of course, we later found out it was too late and couldnt even find shirts to buy to get printed.
The night before the event we were going to hold a “Pitso” activity from 6:30-8:30. We would encourage community members to come hang out by a fire and discuss HIV/AIDS related topics. Unfortunately not too many people showed up and we started late...but it seemed as though they had a good conversation going. I didnt get home until around 11:30pm and had to be up around 5:30am.
The WAD event started with a walk and aerobics class. Again, as usual we had speakers and a free lunch at the end. Several NGOs including Nkaikela Youth Group, Tebelopele, BORNUS, and Men’s Sector had booths set up (similar to the HIV/AIDS fair we had earlier this year). One thing I really liked that we had was several nurses and doctors provided blood pressure readings, height/weight readings, blood sugar tests, breast exams and HIV tests. There were a lot of people in line and its always good to encourage people to have those types of things checked up on regularly.
At the end of the event, we had catered food and oh...my...goodness. I went through a MOSH pit to get food. People were shoving and pushing. Finally this police officer that I know came over to help me get through the crowd. I had my own bodyguard, just so I could get a plate of food. Ha.
Once everyone left, the committee was supposed to help take down the tents, stack chairs, and take down tables. (This happened last time during the HIV/AIDS fair, where I got really frustrated because people were just sitting; not helping, and all I wanted to do was go home.) Well, people were sitting just like last time; but instead of getting overly frustrated, I just helped out more. All the guys kept telling me to rest and not work; but I kept explaining to them that the more people who help; the faster we can go home. Unfortunately me helping, led to a very awkward exchange in which I think several people thought I was flirting. I still dont really know what happened...but it was just plain awkward.
New Xade: Several months ago, I was approached by another volunteer, Sunny to help out with an Alcohol Awareness Week in her village and I immediately said yes of course! Over time, plans changed and funding was cut, but several volunteers went to New Xade to help out with a youth camp. Mary, Stephanie and I left early on Sunday morning and took an 8 hour bus ride to Ghanzi. We than met up with Luci, Camilo and Sunny and was given a ride on a flat bed back to her village.
On the first day, we didnt really know how many kids would show up or what volunteers would come. However, we had over 50+ kids come play and several local volunteers.We had one volunteer doing an activity and talking about alcohol and substance abuse; while another volunteer did parcour and exercise. Due to cut funding, we could only provide juice and couldnt provide lunch.Our 2nd day was rained out and we only had 4 little ones show up at the church to play. We colored with them for a bit but than decided to head home.Our 3rd day we probably had about 30 kids come and we played football and talked about gender/puberty. Our last day we did team building activities and exercise/nutrition. I helped Mary out with 2 team building activities. One was a jump rope game and the other was called “iceberg,” which involved 10 kids and 10 carpet squares...10kids, 9 squares...10kids, 8 squares..etc. They had to work together and think of ways to all cram on the squares. They ended up being able to get down to 2 squares! It was interesting because Mary and I thought it was going well but we had difficulty with the language barrier. We did have one volunteer to help us translate the directions. But we wanted to be able to hear if the kids were placing blame on anyone or getting frustrated (we pretty much tried to read body language to see if kids were pointing or yelling). Obviously we were encouraging good communication; positive feedback and teamwork.
Overall, I think the week went really well. Not only was it nice to see another volunteers village; but I really do think the kids got something from it! It was also great to hang out with Mary, Stephanie, Luci, Sunny, Shannon, Steve, Camilo, and Hannah. Thanks Sunny for inviting us all!! We entertained ourselves in the afternoons/evenings by playing cards, pictionary, family, mafia, reading, napping, and 4 square! (We came up with some really random and fun calls for 4 square, including-fila, flamingo, bus stop, corners, quick sand, cherry bombs, etc. I think we played outside one day for 3 hours!)
This week has been slow at work and ive had a steady influx of people staying at my house. On Friday, some 40+ volunteers will be having an Indian Christmas Eve dinner and than we’ll spend Christmas day pool side.
A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to everyone at home!!! I'll be thinking of you buried in snow...while I lie on the beach! :)
Next up: Im heading to MOZAMBIQUE in ONE week!!! I have no doubt the next post is going to be full of stories...
Lastly, I randomly came across this article and thought it was definitely interesting....
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/AIDS-HIV-Leukemia-Timothy-Ray-Brown-Stem-Cells,news-9396.html
Also more pictures from World AIDS Day, Thanksgiving and New Xade can be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2470559&id=7813917&l=0b756ecd76
Oh and a friend showed me this video... http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2KyBo1/www.wimp.com/britishpeople/
I expect a similar welcome home in June 2012! :)
