Thobela!!
It's been a while since I've been able to post a blog. There is an internet cafe in the closest town to me, but it is usually closed once I'm finished with class and it is a SUPER DUPER slow connection.
So yesterday we recieved out site placements, so my nervousness/excitement/anxiety is finally over.....well almost. Next week we will visit our new homes, I can't pronunciate the village and I don't have the sheet with the name on it. My shopping town Acornhoek sits right next to Kruger National Park!!! Which means I'll be in (pretty much) the most beautiful part of South Africa, next to The Cape. I'm very happy! My village is not near Acornhoek, but that is where I'll go to buy my basic necessities.
So next week will consist of me meeting my new supervisor, my new host family who is providing me with a room seperate from the main house, the village chief, the schools/teachers, and other things that need to be taken care of. I'm also excited about getting to see more of this country. My site is very far from where I've been training the past month.
The one bummer about my site location is that I'll be required to take Malaria medication because of my close-ness to Kruger National Park :(
Once we get back from out site visit, we'll have two more weeks of training which will also include my Language Test. I've really picked up on the language and I try to speak it as much as possible with my family and friends. All the pieces are starting to fall into place. It's a good feeling, let's just hope I can pass the test :)
My host family here is still AWESOME and I'm going to miss them alot. I know that I'll be able to come in visit them which is a comforting feeling. The food is still good and I'm learning how to cook some of the local cuisine like bagobe (pap), potato dishes, mashed pumpkin, and maize rice (which tastes JUST LIKE GRITS so you know I'm loving it!). I'm also getting alot better at hand washing my clothes and taking bucket baths. Hand washing clothes is a very tedious and arduous back-breaking task. My 16 year old cousin says I need to "not be so lazy" when washing them. I guess I wasn't scrubbing hard enough, but my back and hands didn't feel that way.
My internet time is running out. I hope I'll be able to get to an internet cafe some time next week so I can post some of my pictures.
I miss all of you and hope all is going well in the States. I'm staying healthy mentally and physically.
Gabotse!!!
5 comments:
Hey Latosha,
I'm happy for y'all to finally see your new homes. It was an exciting, and semi-scary time for all of us. It's cool that you're so near Kruger- definitely pretty, though probably no where near as pretty as the NorthWest ... in the THORNVELDT. (Are you jealous?)
Anyway, it was great to meet you at your training, and from the very brief interactions I had with you- you struck me as someone who is going to be a great volunteer.
- Megan Clapp (aka Lerato)
Yo! Wasssuuuppp! Ha! Why is it a bummer to take Malaria medication? I mean isn't it pills? I'm glad that you are going to start taking the medication. I need to look up the Nat'l Park you'll be near...hhmmmm. Ha! That cousin of yours is probably thinking "hhmph...lazy American!"...Ha! How's your hair? Are you going to cut it off?
TOSHHHYYY! I've missed you sweetie! I'm glad to "read" that everything is going ok. Things seem to be really exciting for you. So you move around a lot? I kinda thought you'd be stationary. How often will you have to move? Enjoy yourself Tosh & take your medicine! Love you!
Latosha,
We miss you a lot, but what you are doing is great!
Jamie
(Jordan HS)
Hey LaTasha!
Your blog is fabulous. Thanks for leaving you mailing address. We will see how the international postal system works! The South African people sound pretty special and I'm glad they recognize what a terrific person they'll have for the next couple of years. I'm so glad you've had a great family to live with and that you're happy with the area you'll be living and working. I did my first voter registration last week for the "real" election and I missed you! The polls show a very close election and we'll need every vote we can get!! Till next time.
Mark Mine
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