Pre Service Training

OK, I’m a bit more coherent now that I’ve gotten some sleep…

Walking through Philly to the liberty bell I was reading about the history of slave trade that dates back to well before Columbus discovered America. We were creating a free nation, but implementing slavery while other counties were abolishing it. What a great way to bridge to my service in Africa!

Leaving Philly at 2am we were on the road to New York. We drove straight down 42nd street, a blinding contrast to where we were headed. Gathering our bags and trying to get comfortable on the cold hard floor we waited the 2 hrs for the South African airlines desk to open. It already felt like we were in a foreign country. I started a crime wring of steeling luggage carts from the people checking in on their way to South America. We also collaborated on getting our bags as close to 50lbs as we could, trading toiletries and heavy items for lighter less bulky ones, these were the first true collaborations for the 75 of us headed to Botswana.

I’ve finished the first leg of my journey, getting to Botswana and completing the staging event in Philly. I’m now off to Sewore for Peace Corps Pre Service Training (PST). I’ve heard if you get through this you can get through anything! It’s supposedly “cool” to complain about PST. It’s a 5 hr bus ride to our matching ceremony where we meet a Botswana Khosi, chief, who will be the master of ceremonies.  There are 8 kyosia that represent the 8 officially recognized Tswana tribes. At the matching ceremony I meet my host family where I will be staying for the next 10 weeks. I found out today that they may think that I’m dirty if I only take one shower a day and that I may need to explain that I didn’t sweat that day. They take 2 to 3 baths a day! a stark contrast to the likelihood of me only getting 2 showers a week in Azerbaijan.

        

The people in my group are amazing and excited about spending the next 10 weeks getting to know them better. I’m sure we will all help each other get through the trials of PST and our new host families!