A Week In Review

My one main concern about leaving PST (Pre Service Training) was having too much down time, and I have to say this week, even though it was for a only few days, the down time had a scary effect on me. For the first time in a while, I was...LONELY! Even though I have a GREAT family here in my village, loneliness hit me full force in regards to missing some of my American friends.

This week was the inter-quarter break at all the schools, so all the students and teachers had a one week break, which meant (I thought) I’d have a great week of just hanging out. I spent Monday and Tuesday with other volunteers in my region, but Wednesday was when the magnitude of being in a rural area hit me pretty hard. I didn’t have easy access to a movie theater, bars, a concert hall, the beach, or any other leisure activity that I would normally fall back on in the States during school breaks.

It didn’t help that Wednesday night I heard the world’s most disgusting noise! Who would of thought a bug can make so much noise scurrying across your floor in the middle of the night. The sound was so loud it woke me up. I thought I was dreaming, but when I dozed off, I heard it again! Well, I had two choices: (1) get out my flashlight to look and see what animal was possibly making that noise or (2) wrap myself in the fetal position until morning and not get a wink of sleep.

I picked choice #1, and discovered the scurrying noise came from two huge roaches (at least I think they are roaches). I armed myself with my flashlight in one hand and my bug spray in the other and began the battle of killing the bugs w/o stepping on the floor (you know…in case there were more and they scurried towards me to protect their friends). I was victorious in the battle, but the bugs conquered me in another way. For the remainder of the night, I flinched at the slightest of noises. I slept MAYBE a total of two hours. I’ve been on edge every night since. I know I’ll calm down, but I keep waiting to hear that nasty/disgusting noise.

Today I went and bought Blue Death, an insect killer powder that has received raving reviews from other PCVs. I just sprinkle it around my “condo” and I should see no more ants and roaches.

I did have a pretty cool highlight on Thursday. I saw my first chicken slaughtered! My Mma Mokgolo (literal translation is “Big Mom”, but it really means my mother’s older sister who is by default my older mother, but actually my aunt) who lives next door sells chickens for people to slaughter and eat. She makes a pretty good living b/c I ALWAYS see people leaving her house swinging chicken(s) by their feet. She charges about R35 (equivalent to about $5) for each chicken. Pretty good price for a whole chicken if you ask me.

Anyway, my Mma (like an expert) held the chicken down by its feet and wings, and quickly sliced its neck. Umm….the chicken’s body being separated from its head didn’t seem to register with the chicken and it continued to jerk around for about 15 seconds as my mother continued to hold it down. I guess that’s where the saying comes from “running like a chicken with its head cut off” b/c if she didn’t hold the body down; it would still flap its wings around even though it was headless.

Then my sister placed the chicken (head included) in a bowl of boiling water. This allowed her to pluck all the feathers off real quick and with ease. After that, she washed the chicken several times to make sure all the feathers were gone. She took the feathers off the head as well, and removed the tongue.

Then my Mma cut up the chicken and cooked ALL the parts (minus certain innards) including the head, feet, intestines, gizzard, and of course the breast, thigh, wings, and legs. I tasted the end product and it was DELICIOUS. There’s nothing like fresh chicken. I haven’t been “gansta” enough to try chicken feet b/c…..well…..their feet. But I have taken a like’n to chicken intestines. Believe it or not, they are pretty tasty. They are cooked with a little salt and onions. Apparently my little sister (she’s 7) likes the head, so they always save that part for her.

I admire South Africans when it comes to slaughtering animals b/c they are not wasteful with ANY parts. The entire animal is eaten one way or another, and I believe that’s the way it was intended to be. My family, of course, would like me to slaughter the next chicken, but I told them baby steps. Let me first pluck the feathers and then MAYBE I can work my way up to the actual slitting of the throat.

That’s what I told them, but to be honest, I don’t think I have the guts (no pun intended) to actually kill a chicken. I feel bad enough killing roaches in my “condo”, how I can physically put a knife to an animal’s throat and go through with it. Mmpm...maybe I’ll become immune to the whole process...one day.

I went to a village soccer game Saturday. The Flying Bats, my village’s team, won by breaking the draw during the penalty kick round. I had a great time building up allegiance for the local Flying Bats. My host brother plays on the team, but had to sit out this game b/c of a red card earned in one of the last games. I think the Flying Bats move on to the semi-finals, but I’m not sure when they play. I never know when there is a game until it is actually being played :)

Today I’m laying low and spending time planning for a trip I’m taking with some friends during the Holiday Break and watching some DVDs. Till next time...