Cheese, Wisconsin

Hello again. I have about 30 minutes on the interenet, so we'll see how much ground I can cover. Here are some of the ways my mind has been wandering.

As many of you know, my volunteer role at GGA my first few weeks was tutoring and planning evening educational activities for the children. However, a couple weeks in I was approached to take on a new role and I accepted the position. Basically my new role is to help coordinate GGA's Child Sponsorship program as well as with the food drops it does for individuals in the valleys surrounding GGA. Unfortunately, this means I spend less time with the children directly and more time in front of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. I have just completed my first week and I'm really excited about the new role. Though spending time with the children is fantastic, I feel the new position also suits me well. Since as a volunteer you must work every other weekend, I will still spend time with the children then and I can help with evening homework and programming activities anytime I want.

On a slightly different note, I've been really surprised by how Westernized parts of South Africa are, but first let me tell you a related story. So when I was about 5 or 6 years old I went to a Christian camp with my church in Kerrville, Texas. I had been told all these great things about camp. There would be campfires and swimming and somehow, in all of that, my 5 year-old self imagined bunking in a log cabin, chopping our firewood, and taking baths in the river. So when I showed up to this camp I began to cry because there was electricity in the rooms, new showers in the cabins (which were nicer than my house), and food cooked by a kitchen. I know it sounds silly, but I felt a similar pang of disappointment when arriving in South Africa. Before coming, I was really hoping that I would obtain some new, mandatory, Africa-imposed simplicity in my life because admittedly I thought that South Africa would be undeveloped. While it's been a comfort to have some of the things I love from home (hot showers, a good cheese selection, a Time magazine every now and again), I will admit I am a little sad that I don't have to "rough it" more.

One advantage of being here at GGA, however, is that I love the fact that sometimes I am bored. I think it's really good for me. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a RIDICULOUS busy body, so having large, unstructured units of time is both very challenging and very rewarding. I'm reading lots of books and doing other things. For instance, the other day I made a stab at writing down all 50 states and their capitals. While I am proud to say that I was successful with the states, I had a lousy showing with the capitals and ended up writing down things like "Cheese, Wisconsin". But in all seriousness it's been wonderful to have time to sit, think, and relax.

Also, in thinking about Halloween just being a couple days away, if anyone wants to post what they plan on dressing up as I would thoroughly enjoy reading it. :)

A List of Things I Wish I Knew:

1. Zulu
2. How to drive a standard well (no automatics in South Africa!)
3. The lyrics to every Chris Brown/Rihanna/Omarian/High School Musical song ever, so that the kids would think I am cool
4. How to make tortillas from scratch (I really miss them)

...this is a growing list.

Just the basics...

Hello hello from South Africa! Though I've been gone only a little more than 2 weeks, I feel like there is so much to tell, but I will just have to give the basics for now.

After a somewhat stressful trip here (flight delays, rebooked on other flights, having to navigate the Johannesburg airport with ALL my luggage), I made it safely to GGA. My first couple weeks have been crammed pack full of new names, faces, and experiences. As far as my living situation goes, I share a room with 3 other girls, all who are very nice and who are also relatively new to GGA. We're in the process of making the place seem more home-y. I share livingroom and kitchen facilities with about 10 other female volunteers. I cook my own breakfasts and lunches and usually eat dinner from the GGA kitchen, which means I'm trying a lot of new foods such as Zulu cuisine. I'm still gaining my footing and finding my place here at GGA.

Unfortunately, I don't have internet access very often (probably about once every 2 or so weeks), but when I do I will do my best to let you know I am alive and about my goings on here in South Africa. The best way to keep in touch at this point is still regular mail and my cell phone in case of an emergency. But I did want to let everyone know that I am doing well and am enjoying the new pace of life.

Much much love!