Swear In, Site, and a Whirlwind of Activity

This post is going to cover a lot with very few details, so I apologize. The reason for this is that I have unexpectedly found myself at a restaurant with Wi-Fi for lunch so, of course, I am taking advantage of it.

The U.S. Ambassador to South Africa at our Swear In Ceremony

On April 4th, I swore in as  Peace Corps Volunteer along with the other 30 members of SA29. The U.S. Ambassador to South Africa gave a very nice speech and after some lunch, off we each went to our permanent sites. I've been here 18 days now, and most of that time has been spent adjusting to life here. We each received a "Move In Allowance" that paid for the sheets, pillows, plates, knives and everything else we needed to truly live in our homes. South African Peace Corps Volunteers are (mostly) fortunate to have electricity, so I also have a refrigerator and a stoven (basically a countertop 2 burner/oven combo). I cook all my own meals, and share the responsibility of fetching water from a bore hole about 1/4 mile away with my family. I never realized how incredibly difficult of a task this was until I attempted to haul 75 liters of water back to my house in the wheelbarrow. Wow. And to think that South African women do this everyday gives me a whole new perspective. I have been spending a lot of time just observing the everyday workings of my organization and my afternoons are spent at the Drop-In Center hanging out with kids. We play soccer, or scrabble or just hang out if it's too hot. Around 3:30 the kids all eat a meal provided at the center, and then my day wraps up around 4. I end up having a lot of free time, which I spent working out or reading. Recently I plowed through Water for Elephants, The Kite Runner, and a book by David Sedaris called, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. 

My daily commute, minus the cows or donkey usually crowding the roadway. 

At my permanent site, I live with a family that spends most of their time in Hoedspruit. My mom is a teacher, my host-dad is in the Air Force, and the children attend school there. Throughout the week, it is myself and one extended member of the family who takes care of the youngest child who stays home and attends pre-school in my village. I live in a small building out back, but share a pit latrine and water  (stored in 25L jugs) with my family.


Sorry I couldn't write more, but I hope to post again soon!

From our hike last weekend. This is a the "B" Section of my Village.