Family

It’s been a while since I moved to my permanent site, but I don’t think I ever elaborated on the wonderful family I live with. In my village, my name is Amo RaChosi. This is because I live with the RaChosi family. My host father, Calvin, is a soldier with the South African military and recently returned from an 8-month deployment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. My host mother, Francinah, is a teacher at a nearby high school. I have 4 siblings: 1 in college in Polokwane (age 19), 2 in private school in Hoedspruit (ages 9 and 7), and one still in preschool in our village (age 4). Kgone and Khutso live and attend school in Hoedspruit with their Dad during the week. This is because the military base is in Hoedspruit so it makes it easier for my father’s commute and for the kids as well. On Friday nights, they all return to the house for the weekend. During the week, it is just my host mom, Kepi (the youngest), my host Aunt who looks after the house and me. I will say I enjoy the quiet weekdays, where I come home and no one is looking to play or look through my books or maps or clothes, but I do enjoy the weekends with the kids. Compared to most of the village, my family is rather affluent and like most well off families, send their children to private schools. In South Africa, especially in rural areas, it makes all the difference. At 7 and 9 years old, Kgone and Khutso speak fluent English and Sesotho. I can’t say that about any students who attend my drop-in center. I try to spend as much time as possible with my family, as they are really nice people who I can spend hours talking to over tea and of course, they will be the people I get to know best over these 2 years.