I have been asked to elaborate on some stuff that I have written about in my blog. This is nice, because sometimes I feel like I have reached the point where I have nothing else to talk about. So, if you ever want to learn something about what I'm doing here or really anything about this magical place, just post a question in the comment section. Anyways...
1. Tell us a little more about what the after school program you have helped to start is doing. What they're learning what crafts they like.....
The Bhekuzulu Youth Club does crafts and teaches life skills. So far, we have done pretty simple crafts, such as self portraits, picture frames, and bracelets. Unfortunately we haven't the chance to progress because of the rogue church who moved into our old space and now because of the school holidays. However, we are starting with a bang next week and are going to be doing more intricate crafts. This includes beading, sewing bags, and making wire cars (kids' overwhelmingly favorite toy here). We have done a number of lifeskills lessons such as hygiene, teenage pregnancy, team building, and nutrition. Lessons coming up are HIV/AIDS, crime, alcoholism (a HUGE problem in my village/South Africa), manners, etc. I will keep this blog up to date on our goings on, since this is club is my baby and my favorite part of my "job" here.
2. What is a day-in-the-life of a person in your village like? Are all people farmers? Do they all have cows? Goats?
My municipality suffers from a 89% unemployment rate. This means that many people in my village stay at home all day. There is lots of hanging out (men) and cleaning (women). The people who have jobsin my village either work at one of the schools, at the shoe factory in the neighboring village, or maybe work at a store in town (Estcourt). People who work at home may heard goats or cows. There are a TON of animals in my village. Owning lots of cows is really important here, as you use them to pay lobola (bride price) for your wife when you want to get married. Many people don't get married because they can't afford to pay the price to their bride's family. I would say that a sad thing about my village is the prevalence of alcohol. there are many shabeens (bars) in my village, and many of them open before I am even out of bed in the morning. Drunk men are my constant nemesis. I have never gotten terribly bothered by a drunk (in a scary way) but I do get harassed all the time, especially since a bar is across from my house. I have to say though, for kids drinking is hard to avoid. Boredom in the village is overwhelming, so many kids just start to drink to fill up the empty hours.
3. Does everyone have a garden? How is a garden watered, in 100 degree weather? What do people grow in their gardens?
Many people do garden in the village. We are trying to start a garden initiative at my center by helping start "door sized gardens" at people's houses. This means that we are just trying to support people gardening for nutrition at their houses. So far, it has been going well. It is difficult for BSSP to start a garden at our site because the volunteers expect to be paid for their labor in money, instead of the vegetables that are being produced. This kind of defeats the purpose of us having a garden (we would do it to save money for our feeding schemes). People generally grow cabbage, onions, tomatoes, carrots, and pumpkin (really it is squash). You don't need to worry about watering here, because it rains almost every night during the summer.
4. When you are waiting in line to cook, what are the other two families cooking, before you?
My family cooks classic Zulu food. I eat with them a couple of times every week, but do my own cooking just so I can be a bit more comfortable. "Classic Zulu cuisine" includes phutu (maize that looks like a cross between couscous and rice), chicken, beef, spicy fish, cabbage, beetroot, squash, and lots of various things that kind of look and taste like curry. Because there are so many Indians in KZN (where I live), Indians spices sneak into Zulu food. mmmmmmm.
5. Sometime ago, you were thinking of starting a bakery. Has anything come of that thought?
The bakery is coming along slowly. Like I mentioned before, we already have the funding in and all the supplies purchased. We are waiting to have the stoves delivered until we have a building to put them, which I consider to be particularly essential :). Once the building is there, which could be in a couple of months, there will be a training for the bakery employees and we will have a fancy grand opening. I will keep you all posted.
OK, I guess those are all the questions for this time (from my mom, haha). Enjoy International Obama Day tomorrow, I know I will!
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3 comments:
More questions for your question and answer theme:
In terms of how the Peace Corp operates, was the a a PCV in your villages whose tour (or so to speak) ended just before yours began? Or are you the first one in this area?
-claire
that should have been: was 'there a PCV in your village...
I actually have a weird question for you, to keep this theme going. It's been bothering me since I was there.
What's the deal with handshakes? Or just introductions and greetings in general?
Each time I was introduced to someone or met them for the first time, either South African or Mozambican, it was progressively the most awkward and fumbled handshake I had ever botched. Except for when I just got hugs, that was pretty straightforward.
It's like some kind of elaborate display was expected, as if I had just hit a home run or something. Please elaborate in a future post.
Sorry, this question is kind of out of the blue. I hope it isn't racist.
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