Things that go Boom, Boom, Boom in the Night

When we moved in with our host family, we took a couple of days to get to know the family, adjust to our accommodations, learn some routines and just settle in.  After a couple of days everything seemed just fine.  Then, it was early Friday evening and John and I were walking home from class and heard loud music coming from the direction of our house.  We originally thought it was a boom box on a wagon that had just passed by headed that direction.  Much to our horror, it was coming from a bar/tavern located about 100 yards in back of our house. I cannot even begin to describe how loud the music was other than to say that in our room, John and I could not have a conversation with each other without yelling.  Additionally, the window panes and metal roof were vibrating from the bass noise.  We asked the family about the music and they said yes, it’s a problem but that it happens every Friday-Saturday-Sunday night and that there was nothing that could be done (zoning in a residential is not so strictly adhered to).  I would say we suffered in silence but but it was anything but silent until 3am Saturday morning.  This happened again Saturday and Sunday evenings.  We were zombies in class on Saturday and by Monday, we were totally “out of it!”

We, of course, told our Peace Corps officials and they were sympathetic and they and others suggested that this was “just the South African way of life”.  Nonetheless, PC indicated that they would look into the situation.  As we were growing quite fond of our host family and did not want to leave them, we were hoping against all odds that the PC folks would find some way to deal with the errant tavern owner and get the music down to an acceptable level (just to note, the tavern had HUGE speakers stacked outside and these just happened to be directed straight in the direction of our house). On the following weekend, it was the same situation all over again and we began to feel ill from both the horrible noise and lack of sleep, and also the realization that we were going to have to move to another host family.  We were told on Tuesday that another home had been found for us and that we would move within the next few days.  On Wednesday evening we got the word that we were moving, and we had to throw everything together and leave.  On one hand it was a relief to avoid another weekend of unbearably loud music but on the other hand, it was very emotional leaving everyone in the family.  They are wonderful and kind people and we will miss seeing them every day. Of all the problems that we might have anticipated having in SA, we never dreamed that noise would be such an issue.   Some other PCVs have indicated that they, too, have to listen to bar music throughout some evenings.  Either their music wasn’t as loud as ours, or these younger people don’t mind staying awake until 3am listening to music!

Note: Where we moved to is about 1 kilometer away and we can still hear the bar music on the weekends … loud enough to even know which song is playing! Our building is not vibrating, so I’m going to ignore it.

Where in the World is Susan

It has been over a month since I left Atlanta.The journey began with two days in Washington, DC, a 1-2 hour layover in the Atlanta airport (ironically), and a 16 hour flight to Johannesburg-Pretoria, South Africa (SA).  Received text and this photo from grandkids as we were leaving. Couldn’t ask for a cuter and nicer send off.

Upon arrival, the PC group of 57 volunteers/trainees was bused north 2 hours to a small college campus.  We stayed in small dorm rooms with one person to a room, 8 persons per building, and were each issued a pillow, comforter and heavy blanket (much appreciated!).  Running water (hot included) and indoor plumbing somewhat made up for no heat in building (it’s winter here with evening temps in the 30’s…brrrr!).

The next few days were filled with lectures on every topic imaginable (SA funerals, weddings, gender roles, water/food safety, common illnesses, bucket baths, crime/safety, appropriate family/social behavior, SA history, SA schools, etc. etc.), language classes, placement and medical interviews, medical shots (to include rabies x 3, Hep A & B, typhoid, meningitis, flu and probably a few more I can’t remember), getting to know other volunteers, and some really good catered food.  The beginning language classes consisted of lessons on how to say “Hello. How are you? I’m fine and how are you?” in four different languages.  This is much harder than one might imagine as both the language vocabulary and structure are so different from anything we have ever known. Eventually, I learned that my assigned language is Sepedi, which in turns means that my site will be somewhere in the Limpopo Province, located in the northeast corner of the country.  This is actually pretty good and exciting.  This area has a bit of mountainous terrain and from what I’ve heard, lots and lots of local fruit, particularly mangoes, grapes, bananas and avocados – yum!

After five days, we moved to another location, also north of Pretoria.  There we were placed in the homes of host families where we will stay for the duration of training.  Host assignments was completed by gathering everyone in a large assembly hall and someone reading out a volunteer’s name followed by a corresponding host family name.  There were lots of smiles, laughter and hugging as we were handed over to the care of the host family.  A memorable experience!  Our host family was unable to be present, so their friend and neighbor, Jane, was there to collect John and me.  The PC van dropped us all off at our new home and we began the process of getting to know our family and new surroundings.  Our personal living space consists of one room – about 9x12 -- attached to the garage.  It contains a double bed, bedside table, wardrobe, and chair.  We will share meals and bathing area in the family living space. We should be quite comfortable for the time we are here.

Away we go!

Staging started today as we officially checked in for registration with the Peace Corps (PC).  The PC staff didn’t take one look at John and me and tell us to go home, so I guess we are really doing this.  As the PC staff stated, we passed from being “invitees” to becoming “trainees.”  With a bit of work and luck, in two months, we’ll become “volunteers.”  There are 57 people in our cohort (aka SA24, which stands for 24^th group to go to South Africa) and they are a great, diverse group of people. I can’t wait to get to know them better.  After several hours of orientation this afternoon, the getting-to-know-each-other has actually started with a bang.  Lots of group activities, most of which turned out to be quite fun and effective.  Tomorrow we load up the buses and head for the airport with lots of luggage in tow.  Speaking of luggage, it was fun sitting in the lobby a bit over the last day or so and watching people come in.  We were often able to correctly guess who was and wasn’t a part of our PC group based on the amount of luggage they were carrying.

After this entry, I will most likely not be able to post anything for a couple of months.  The training period is pretty intense and they want us to concentrate on learning language, culture, regulations, and skills, and not be distracted with much else.  For that reason, they will have us store our computers and pretty much limit our access to the internet until this two month period is over.  So, very likely, this is it until mid-September.  Hugs to all and stay well.  I will certainly try to do the same.

In Their Footsteps

In a couple of days I travel to South Africa to begin training/service with the Peace Corps.  It would not be right to leave the country without recognition to two people who have inspired me the most.  You might guess I am going to mention John Kennedy and Sargent Shriver.  Okay, they are important figures, but who are foremost in my mind are Bernice and Millard Penney.  These dear friends joined the Peace Corps about 25 years ago and served at a rather remote location within the Solomon Islands (the kind of location where the last step of the journey involved a dugout canoe!).  Like John and me, they did this following retirement and amid a collection of well wishes and reactions of “are you out of your mind?” from friends and family.  

Millard at the top

I'm almost there

In addition to planting the seeds of thought for serving in the PC, Bernice and Millard have inspired us in countless other ways. For several years we joined them at Taylor Lake near Gunnison, CO, with a number of their friends for several days of hiking, campfires, sharing meals, singing and great fun (an annual event we have since replicated each MLK weekend for ~25 years with three families in Atlanta).  On our final visit to Taylor Lake, Millard led most of the group up to a mountaintop.  Whereas Millard’s climb to the top seemed effortless, our climb was achieved with a great deal of huffing and puffing and numerous breaks. The memory of that climb and the sight of Millard leading the way has often reminded us of the value of staying fit and healthy and has set a benchmark of what we want to always be able to do.

A few weeks ago, John and I took a day from our busy preparations to go to AL to visit Millard, who had traveled from CO.  Much of the day was spent walking around his family farm land which he had donated to the community to serve as an environmental outdoor laboratory.  Once again, he led and we followed … through woods, and across pastures and fields. It was a wonderful visit and worth every chigger bite (of which there were many!).

So many actions and pieces of advice from Bernice and Millard have stuck with us, more than I could ever write about.  Recently, Bernice sent us a card containing the following quote: “If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much room.”  For each person that “edge” can be found in different ways, but we thank you, Bernice and Millard, for showing us the wisdom and courage to look beyond our comfort zone and to truly live a little more on the edge ourselves!

Chilly Thoughts

When I arrive in South Africa in just a little over four weeks (yes! that soon!), I will be arriving in the middle of their winter.  I don't often equate Africa with cold temperatures, but as you move away from the equator it does, indeed, get cold there ... very cold, in fact.  One current Peace Corps volunteer recently reported that it was 26 degrees outside and 36 degrees inside her home.  She strongly encouraged that us newbies pack long underwear, heavy socks, gloves, scarves, wool hats, and a hot water bottle!  Sounds like great advice.

To Do or Not To Do (where Not is not an option)

I realize that it’s been a while since I have written anything.  Mostly, that is because everything that I have been doing is tedious stuff to prepare for my departure to South Africa.  I didn’t really think that anyone would want to hear about the day or two it took to thoroughly clean the tile grout in the shower of the guest bathroom.  Or the three days I spent sorting and tagging a garage full of items for the yard sale.  Yet, a lot of people continue to ask what I’m doing these days,  so I thought I share a bit of the to-do list that John and I consult multiple times each day.  To be noted is that this to-do list has a life of its own as it shrinks and expands daily.

Items marked with asterisk (*) are items that we have paid someone else to do (writing the checks for payment is still a lot of work).  All of the rest are things that John and I have done with John doing 99% of the actual work and me being the person who cheers him on, keeps the food coming, and tries hard to not complain too much when I’m required to stand around with him while he works on the off-chance that he might need me to hand him a hammer/screwdriver/paint brush/wet towel, etc.

Cancel magazine subscriptions (5 checked off, 2 we’ll do a change of address later to SA)

Obtain a Post Office box

Secure a lock box at bank

Reserve a storage unit for home furnishings, etc.

Schedule a date for movers to haul furniture, etc. to storage unit

Arrange auto-pay for numerous expenses (e.g., utilities, credit cards)

Renew driver’s license so expiration will not occur while out of country

Renew credit cards for ones that will expire within next 27 or so months

Apply for credit card to replace the one that won’t allow for renewal until time is up (shame on you AAA Visa!)

*Replaster walls/ceiling in living room

Paint kitchen, living room, woodwork in foyer and hall

*Repaper walls in foyer

Repair ceiling in kitchen

Repair ceiling in master bathroom

Replace garage door opener

*Replace upstairs air-conditioner

*Replace roof

*Paint house trim (woodwork)

*Repair front sidewalk where tree roots are winning in the battle with sidewalk stones

Arrange for critter control to deal with pesky moles that have turned the yard to mush. (Turns out it was just ONE mole. Interesting fact:  one mole can dig ~12-15 feet/hour!)

Remove chips of old glaze on guest bathroom bathtub

*Re-glaze guest bathroom tub

Re-grout parts of kitchen counter and parts of bathroom shower stall 

*Repair leaded glass on door to front porch

*Repair leaded glass on front door

Replace front door since repair (see above) went awry and entire sheet of glass broke during repair.

Label all three circuit boxes

Sort through everything in house to collect items for yard sale

Prepare/conduct yard sale

Make multiple trips to thrift stores to deliver items that didn’t sell at yard sale

Replace and install new smoke/CO-2 alarms

Clean chandelier and all other ceiling fixtures

Wash windows inside and out

OK, enough.  The above is a very partial accounting of the REAL list that we are working from.  Almost every item has taken 2-5 times the length of time originally estimated to complete.  Who knew???  There’s really a lot more to be done and this doesn’t even account for the very specific and growing to-do list for what needs to be gathered and done relative to preparing and packing for our time in South Africa.  More on that later!