HELLO!

 Hi, team! This is so exciting! Here's a photo of me and my counterpart, Jabulile. She looks great. I look a little ragged out because it was cold and rainy this day. But now you see her. She's wonderful!

 Babe wanted me to take his photo with his cows. There are so many!

 Babe and my host bhuti (brother) have been plowing with the team of oxen and this old-school farm implement. Make follows along and plants more maize behind. This is the field behind our homestead.

Here's a photo of the mountains in the distance behind my homestead. Beautiful! The photo's not great.

I just got two packages from Meaghan (I am eating M&M's from it, which is AMAZING) and one from each of Jack's aunts. Thanks, Marcie and Leslie! You are all so wonderful!!

Here's a blog entry I wrote a while back:

September 17, 2012

Sanibonani!

I’ve now been at site almost four weeks, which is crazy. I’m trying not to think of things in terms of time — one month down, what have I accomplished? A Group 8 volunteer told me that it’s important to not think of Peace Corps in terms of two years. You really ought to take it day by day. It’s early yet, but that seems like sound advice.

PC promotes something called “intentional relationship building,” which they abbreviate to IRB (big contrast to its meaning in the public health world). The idea is that a big part of what we do is just getting to know people. The term itself sounds like a robot programming mechanism. NOW WE WILL INTENTIONALLY BUILD RELATIONSHIPS SO AS TO ENDEAR OURSELVES TO THE HUMANS. In all seriousness, it serves as a legit reminder that we’re doing things even when we’re not “doing things” in a traditional workplace sense. I suppose that’s part of what I’ve been up to.

I attended a support group on Friday, which was really nice despite some nasty cold, rainy weather. The women at the group were extremely friendly and welcoming. The children who joined later were also lovely, and there was a kind of hilarious photo shoot where one of my new friends pulled my hair over her head so she could be blond. This might be on the Facebook somewhere …

I’m still spending a couple of days a week at the clinic, and I make sure to get out of the ol’ hut every day. I don’t have a table yet; that’s the next big capital purchase. We’ll see how soon I get that done. As many of you know, I tend to procrastinate where the comforts of home are concerned. The local carpenter has a sign with a coffin on it. I haven’t yet spoken to him of my needs.

We had several consecutive days of cold, rainy weather last week. I know what you’re thinking: cold + rainy = Africa? It’s true. It happens. Today was gloriously sunny, and the mountains are starting to look green and beautiful. I’m sure in the heat of summer I’ll long for a nice cold rain.

I’ve started running by myself when my host brother’s not available. So far, everyone has left me alone. I say hello to people who walk by, and no one’s given me any trouble. I think it bodes well for the future. Also, major props (do people still say “props”?) to my parents for sending the rubber workout bands. I loooooove them.

Thanks for all the wonderful mail and packages, friends, while we’re on the subject. Jack’s mom sent this excellent mug with his and my photo on it and delightful snacks (gone within a week, I’m embarrassed to admit), along with a great NYT crossword book. Jack sent art supplies, envelopes and my favorite gum. Nice work, people. Thank you!

Xes and O’s from the SWZ.

Salani kahle!