The last 2 days

Yesterday was a good day, despite it being freezing outside (it was SNOWING, of course nothing stuck to the ground). I went in to work and started drawing the grid for the map mural. This mural would definitely only take about a day if we had electricity and a projector…but since we don’t it will probably take a full week to even draw it out. Here’s hoping that I don’t mess it up. I was going to use this map from this book by Peace Corps that instructs you how to do it but then I looked at the map and saw that apparently Zaire was still the name of a country and the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia still existed. Hmmm...Later in the day about 90% of the kids in the club showed up unannounced after school and decided they wanted to have an extra day of club. Considering how cold it was and no one told them to come in, it was pretty impressive that they all wanted to be there…Also I think it had something to do with the fact that they are all obsessed with the painting t-shirt project we are currently undertaking. Here are some pictures below. I gotta say, that the best part of my entire time in the Peace Corps is when I am working with my kids. I love them and we all have a really good time. They don’t take anything for granted, they set up and clean up after themselves (going as far as taking a broom out of my hands), and are really amazing and dedicated little artists. Also the fact that they all look at me like I am a famous and beautiful celebrity probably helps, just kidding, or am I? ☺ Also it should be noted that this was the first week in our NEW ROOM for the club!!!

Who knew the Bhekuzulu Youth Club was sponsored by Nike?

Nomthembizethu painting up a storm (she is amazing...)

Great smile.

Concentrating very hard. Do you see a Nike theme here?

Today started out pretty terrible. I really have no problem doing anything that is asked of me. But when it is shouted at me in command form over the phone at the last minute it starts to get on my nerves…Today was the Bristol-Myers Squibb Secure the Future Foundation visit from America. Basically it was a bunch of doctors and scientists who vaguely reminded me of my dad coming to look at our project to see where their business’ donation money was going. First they met some beneficiaries of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission program and then came to our site for a presentation and tour. This visit was do or die because our 2 year funding cycle with them ends in 7 days.

So, I woke up this morning at 7 (when I always get up) to my host sister telling me in an irritated tone that I really needed to get up and what was I doing? Ok ok, here is something that the world should know about me. I am a morning person, but if you wake me up and immediately request something of me within the first 30 seconds of me being up you will be responsible for ruining at least the first 4 hours of my day, if not its entirety. Anyways, my assignment was to finish the presentation for the visitors, print our said presentation in case the projector broke (on loan from the local computer store running on the water pump generator), write the program for the day, and print out a bazillion brochures so that we could properly market ourselves. I was given a good 3 hours to do this, but still, I could have been doing this, for I don’t know, the entire week?! Anyways, this is of course the exact moment where our power begins to shut off every 3 minutes due to a circuit breaker issue (I think?). So, we had to unplug everything so that I could use the work computer that is currently taking up our kitchen table (my house also serves as our office for now until we get electricity). 2 hours later when the power decides its feeling better and wants to work I am back to business, running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I then proceed to wait for my sister who has told me to wait for her until she gets back from town with all the food for the event. She arrives, there isn’t enough room for me in the car, so I just head out by myself.

I get there and find out from the PMTCT coordinator that I was supposed to bring the 4 flash drives sitting in my kitchen that belonged to various BSSP staff even though there is no real reason why we would ever need them today (“why wouldn’t you bring them?!!”). So, I turn around, nearly run home (“the people are almost here!!!!!” hurry!!!!!”) pick them up, and then return 30 minutes later (meaning I was in my house for about 30 seconds). When I get back to BSSP I then hear from the coordinator that the programs that she didn’t actually describe to me how to do weren’t correct. She wants me to go back to the house and rewrite them. At this point I am starting to get a little peeved because everyone and their mother is treating me like their personal assistant. I offer to go back (begrudgingly) but wait! She actually reads the programs and they are fine. Crisis averted. It is then another 2 hours before the visitors arrive (looks like I didn’t have to run to home and back…).

I then spend the next hour preparing food for the 200 or so community members who have just wandered in because they knew an event was taking place (due to the tent and loud speakers). After that the BMS people finally arrive 2 hours late and the fun begins…for real.

We gave them a tour, I did my schpeal about what I do and all that to people who actually knew who the Peace Corps was (this doesn’t happen that often). It’s nice when people flatter you about your time in PC. I think I might get tired of it eventually. However, especially on a hard day like this it is nice to hear ☺. I remember how impressed I was with PCVs before I actually did this. I mean I guess I still am, its just real for me now. Anyways, I made a new friend from BMS who lives in Durban and asked that I come and stay with her soon (maybe in September?). Then it was time for the presentation and then indlamu (traditional dancing!).

The visitors snatched up my brochures and bought a ton of crafts from our PMTCT mothers, which was great. They loved the traditional dancing. Poor guys where nearly naked in 40 degree weather (see below). The BMS staff then left on their bus (there were 30 of them) and drove down to Durban where they got onto their private plane and flew back to America.

Drum roll please…We impressed these visitors so much that the director of BMS Secure the Future Foundation Southern Africa committed to funding our programs for at least another year!!! It’s amazing what a little bit of schmoozing can do. This means that the PMTCT program is covered and I can stop sweating about that one. I AM SO EXCITED! This is definitely a coup. I really have to say that this felt better than when I secure funding on my own through letters and grant writing. This was truly a BSSP staff group effort. Everyone played their part. It is really wonderful to feel like a part of something when outsiders come to visit. I am a part of BSSP. Hell yeah.

Walking to work during the winter


Let me tell you, it is definitely too cold to be dressed like that. However, they are amazing dancers. They are from the local high school and a number of them are in my club!


Wow.

love,
therese