Ok, ya, I know it’s been a while, but I have some good excuses this time. I’ve been home for maybe 3 nights in the past 3 weeks and still haven’t seen half of my family so I’ve been a bit busy.
The first big thing was IST (In-Service Training). This marks the end of our 3-month long Integration period and we are now officially Volunteers, with vacation days and everything. IST was about a week of classes and meetings on all sorts of stuff: everything from meeting people from all of the different NGOs in Swaziland to learning about traditional healers. I’m sure most of the information will be useful, but being in class from 8-6 everyday got old pretty quick. This was also the first time everyone in my group had been together since August, so there was a lot of catching up to do. We stayed at this Catholic hostel-type-place in Manzini so it was kind of hard not waking up the nuns late at night. Right after the week of IST the volunteers from the group before us moved in for the All Volunteer Conference, a few days of more meetings with new information for the older group. This was the first (and possibly only) time EVERY Peace Corps volunteer in the country got together and things got a bit hectic. With about 60 of us, it had been about 6 months since I’d been around that many Americans. After about a day it became a bit too much for me, especially considering I had spent the last 3 months in relative isolation, but it was still nice seeing everyone. There was a really dingy-looking bar and the cheesiest club outside of the 70s within walking distance so we were able to entertain ourselves at night.
The US Ambassador invited all of us over to his house for Thanksgiving lunch/dinner and it was amazing. Tons of food, a swimming pool, and a pretty nice house. I don’t remember the last time I had eaten that much and it’ll probably be a while before I do so again.
IST was also when we had elections for the different leadership positions: SoJo (editors for the monthly volunteer newspaper), VAC (the Volunteer Action Committee who are the official means of communications between us and the office), and PSN (Peer Support Network). I was elected to PSN and I’m really excited. The 7 of us on PSN are supposed to be the ones volunteers can come and talk to about whatever problems they have as well as some other stuff. PSN also does a lot with the training of the new group when they come in June so that’ll be fun.
After all the chaos of IST I was looking forward to going back home and relaxing for a day or two before finally getting down to work…or so I thought. It was my second night back when I woke up with my ear on fire and couldn’t go back to sleep. I go to see the PC Medical Officer the next day and sure enough, it’s infected. She also noticed what I thought was a little scratch on my hand and it turns out that got infected too (must’ve been all of the little kids I let poke it). So when you’re sick like that the Peace Corps pays for you to stay at a hostel in town so the PCMO can keep an eye on you (if you’re REALLY sick they put you up at a bed & breakfast). I wasn’t expecting to stay so I’ve been wearing the same shirt for the last 4 days. Two other sick volunteers are also staying here so at least I’ve had some company besides the dogs. (Though I think I got this upper respiratory infection from one of them, thanks Rachel). I’m feeling much better now, but I have to wait around until Monday to get check out again.
Last time I mentioned that book project one of the other volunteers was putting together with that Books for Africa group back home and I’m happy to say two of my schools got chosen. I’ll be working with them to help raise their share of the money and to set up a proper library, but anyone who is interested can help us raise the rest of the money to get the books shipped here. The Peace Corps Partnership information is finally up on the PC website and here’s the link: https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=645-077. Every little bit helps, of course, so please let me know if you have any questions.
Ok, back to being sick. *Cough,Cough*
Monday, December 7, 2009
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