Week 41: World Map

Drawing a map is an empowering experience. In the course of a morning, I am redefining borders that have been fought over for years. This was not intentional nor do I relish the idea of conflict, however, it is a funny way for me to let go of my perfectionism and be honest about my drawing ability. Really, with the help of a grid the drawing of the world is not as intimidating as one (drawing challenged individual) would expect.

For the second week in a row I was lucky enough to get my co-workers excited about a project I am doing. Throughout the week, I had nearly all of the teachers pick up a pencil or marker and help draw or outline various parts of the world. We also all learned new information. I admitted to not knowing where Botswana was before I found out I would be moving here and felt less guilty about this as I held a mini South American geography lesson.

One of my favorite things about this project is being able to have something tangible to show for my efforts. Many of my endeavors and daily actions I do not have the privilege of getting measurable results. However, assuming the paint holds I have left a little mark on  the school, hopefully for years to come.

PS Pending capable internet, photos coming soon!

Week 40: Plaited, Books, and Gratitude

I got my hair plaited! Aka braided. This took three and a half hours and the dedication of three women. The end result left me with a dull headache and after a look in the mirror, I felt partially bald. However, the community would disagree and they could not get enough of it. This new hairstyle coupled with my favorite purple pants means there is no end to the conversation about my physical appearance. Lucky for me it is all positive. Fun fact these purple pants are also the favorite of many of the teachers who repeatedly tell me that the pants make me look smart. I realize this is the equivalent of saying that they are flattering, however, I prefer to think that they make me look intelligent. Admittedly I feel pretty cool, with my hair plaited, which means that the teachers braided my hair in many very tight braids, however, it was decided to not braid my fringe (bangs) which I think was a wise choice. It is a very odd sensation when I touch the back of my head and am met with either my scalp or a new bumpy texture.

Thanks to the generosity of the Books for Africa Project, my school has received 17 boxes of books! The library has doubled in size and everyone around the school is taking much more interest in it. My school head even pops in to discuss the creation of a “reading culture” at the school, I am blissfully happy. I am particularly excited for reading-comprehension appropriate books for the kids and some of my personal favorite books. For instance we have acquired a HUGE copy of the under rated book Piggies, which consists of adorable drawings of pigs in various climates and settings. 

I am so grateful for all of the people I have met and the ideas they open me up to. This is relevant to many people in my community, fellow PCVs, and I particularly wanted to give a shout out to my friend Liz (Kelebogile) for our honest conversation and her never ending kindness.

Week 39: Visitors

 This week the women of First United Methodist Church of Roseburg, OR donated over 100 dresses and some shorts to the students of Moshana and we were able to distribute the clothing. A big thanks goes out to the “Little Dress Ladies” as well as the PCV Terri Lundy for her generosity and facilitation of this exchange.

I felt like I had a break through with the standard one students this week. I picked them up from their classroom and led them in a silent line to the library building. This set a much more behaved tone then the usual excited screaming rampage that is their favorite mode of transport to the library. This rampage inevitably leads to the desire to continue the same level of excitement and noise once in the library.

Over the weekend I had some surprise guests, leading to a delightful PCV filled weekend, where the conversation never failed to be flowing and interesting as well as the baked goods. I also had the privilege of meeting some other Americans who were traveling in Botswana, who allowed me to continue to expand my view of religion and what it means to different people. To close out my weekend I had an unwanted surprise visitor, but the silver lining was that I was able to see that my landlady and her family always have my back.

Week 38: Ke Lesego (I am lucky)

My Setswana name means lucky which struck me as kind of funny when I arrived since I felt that luck was foolish and hard work was the real deal. As I type those words I cannot help but laugh because now that sounds quite ridiculous to me and I am embarrassed that I thought that. I am a hard worker but if someone from a lower socio-economic status and I worked equally as hard, I would get farther because of the opportunities and privileges that came from where I was born.

Upon seeing my co-workers again, one greeted me with saying, “Your white!” I could not help but snarkily look at my arm and go, “Yup still white.” In her defense she was implying that I have lost some of my tan or at least did not get any more tan since I saw her last.

I have begun writing for our volunteer run newsletter, and below is my first article. STEPS is an international NGO that uses films to promote debate and discussion around HIV/AIDS related topics.

Trying to Show a STEPS Film

By Dawn Bangert, Bots 14

Everyday I see 374 students at the primary school who would love to watch a movie. These same students I would love to teach about HIV, what better way than to show a STEPS film, winning! The other teacher at my school who came to the training is eager to show the films as well and it looks like all signs are a go. Another PCV friend texted me about the success of their film screenings and I am excited to get things going.

The saga begins with one working TV and an elusive DVD player that is rumored to be somewhere on the school premises.

Attempt Day One: There is an all teacher meeting and I am unable to look for the DVD player as planned.

Day Two: My counterpart is too tired from yesterday’s meeting to look for the equipment and I cannot locate the keys to the storeroom where I suspect the DVD player may be hiding.

Day Three: Counterpart is still tired, but the cleaner has my back and lets me into the storeroom. No sign of DVD player, and Head Teacher has meetings in his office all day and I am unable to look there.

Day four: DVD player has been located. I am ecstatic my counterpart has a new found energy and we begin setting up. The TV works however the DVD player is missing the cables to connect it to the TV. After a brief chat with another teacher we discover these cables should be easy to locate in Kanye and fairly cheap. CRASHHHHHHHHHHH That would be the sound of the table crumpling and the TV crashing to the floor. The score now stands, down two (non-working TV and no connector cables) however up one (DVD player).

Day Five: Begins with a text from a friend about yet another successful STEPS screening and I am begrudgingly happy for friend. Vow to self that if I do nothing else all service I will show a STEPS film.

Day Six: A projector randomly appears and the hunt for a teacher willing to share their laptop begins.

Day Seven: A school laptop appears, I can almost smell a successful STEPS screening in the air that is until I spend the better part of the morning trying to hack into the password protected device. After I try every combination of my head teachers name, position, birthday, and anything else I can think of, I no longer smell success but intense frustration.

Day eight: Work on my VRF and feel like a failure as a volunteer. Also contemplate swearing off STEPS films as over rated and probably not as good as they are cracked up to be.

Day nine: A teacher brings her laptop to school and another teacher asks to show a film. Could this be real? One o’clock approaches, I successfully set up all the technology components. The students settle down, I hit play and in walks my head teacher in a tizzy waving a sizable report that he needs me to type immediately so he can turn it into the education office in Kanye by 2. Based on the combis in my village him getting to the office, let alone with the report in hand, is an impossible task, however, after making sure that the teacher is comfortable leading the discussion, I duck out to bitterly enjoy my success from behind the computer screen.

I may have been too frustrated to enjoy my success in the moment however after sometime away, I am not only happier for my friend but also able to enjoy the fact that a STEPS film was shown at my school. With only a minor attitude adjustment my happiness greatly improved as well as my sense of accomplishment. In the moment it can be hard to remember that we all have different timelines and varying levels of motivation and support from our community members and co-workers. Just because a friend of yours or a facebook status tells you of other volunteer’s success, chances are that someone else is at the same place on the spectrum that you are. It’s a roller coaster, stay strong and reach out for help when you need it.

Week 37: SAFARI!

My first visitors from the states arrived! My adventurous parents arrived in Botswana and the visit was complete with dancing at a traditional Wedding, my dad inadvertently agreeing to take people back to the States, and an amazing Safari trip. We spent three nights at the Mosetlha Bush camp in Medikwe Game Reserve, which is just over the border into South Africa. On our game drives we saw Lions, Cheetahs, Elephants, Giraffes, Zebras, and a slew of other exciting animals. The camp we stayed at is sans running water or electricity but at night it is lit with a plethora of oil lamps that gives the camp a magical feel and through the owners ingenuity there are hot showers (this involves a donkey boiler and some jerry rigged buckets). The cabin that we stayed in was complete with a friendly welcoming crew of bush babies, a small nocturnal primate that has huge eyes and is a very respectful roommate. Our days started with a 5:45 wake up call from our ranger and a 6:15 departure for our first four-hour game drive of the day. On the drive we usually got to watch the sun rise and midway through we would stop for tea and rusks (a somewhat biscotti like breakfast bar). Then it was back to the camp for a relaxing communal breakfast, downtime, lunch and then at 4:00 it was time for the second four hour game drive, where we got to watch the sun set and track leopards!, see various animals at the watering hole and enjoy the breath taking views. After the second game drive it was time to sit around the fire, share stories with the other guests and enjoy dinner. Highlights included following a band of male cheetah’s as they prepared for a hunt, seeing wild dogs (which are an endangered species due in part to rabies, however all I could think of was Brigette Jones “To be eaten by wild dogs”), and baby elephants learning how to use their trunks.

Thank you to everyone to sent school supplies and other treats. The kids are very excited for the supplies and I am already happily munching, decorating my house, and wearing my new goods.

Week 36: “Standing Outside the Fire”

  I feel like I am where I am supposed to be at this point in my life, however, that doesn’t mean that some days are hard, really hard and then others are great. I went to see a friend in her village this week and we were sitting on her front stoop listening to music when “Standing Outside the Fire” came on and I was reminded why I decided to join the Peace Corps. Every moment of every day may not be fulfilling and life altering but I am reminded of a professor I had at University who would remind us to “Not loose the forest to the trees.” When I get caught up in the day-to-day, I loose sight of the forest and the amazing experience I am having. I get caught up in the fact that I am missing my friends’ graduations, going to brunch in wicker park, and being in the same time zone as most of my family. However, what I am gaining is so much more, when I return my friends will still have their degrees, brunch can always be had, and my family will be a phone call away. In the mean time I am having enriching experiences that are cushioned by a lot of downtime where I get to fill my day with whatever I please.

This week the students were on holiday for Easter and thus there was not a lot of work to be had in Moshana. Consequently I set off to Kanye in hopes of getting paint donated for a world map project I am trying to complete at the school. As I walked into my first hardware store, I was reminded how much I dislike asking people for things especially donations. However, I was met with a generous shop keeper who after a very confusing conversation for me, donated 20liters of paint and various other supplies. I was touched by this mans’ kindness and so excited for the project to get off the ground. When the man asked where my car was parked so he could carry the paint to it, I laughed and said I was taking the bus. This was quickly deemed not a great idea and a friend of mine came to my rescue with her car. If only I was better at carrying things on my head, I am sure I could have maneuvered the paint.

Week 35: Confinement

In Tswana culture it is tradition for a woman to stay inside her house (or her mother’s house) for three months after giving birth. At this point in my life I cannot imagine having a baby and equally so I cannot imagine staying inside for three months. I got a bit sick this week and as a result spent two days in my house leaving only to use the pit latrine and refill my water buckets. The first day of this, I was also quite disoriented, slept most of the day and when I did wake up and looked at the time I was always confused as to am or pm and what day of the week it was. Day two I read the majority of Call the Midwife, baked bread, did some writing, watched the Darjeeling Limited cleaned up a bit from the sickcapedes the day before, all with frequent intermitted rest breaks and still I was quite restless and grateful it was only a 48 hour type of thing.

“I’m your Doctor” These were the words my landlady proclaimed as she lovingly raced towards my door. My land lady is the sweetest and this week when I was sick she took over checking in on me and much to my disliking making me drink oral rehydration salts as well as gave me an intestine rub. I was able to stave off her efforts to take me to the clinic (Peace Corps has their own doctors that they pay for insurance and paperwork reasons) In my effort to dissuade her giving me drugs I showed her my Peace Corps medical kit, which I felt demanded too much energy for me to go through, as a result I could see her out of the corner of my eye going through the kit and in my head I remember thinking, oh it would be so much easier for me to read through the labels they are all in English, however, I was passed out on my bed and could not muster the energy to walk the few steps towards her. In the end she came over with what looked like allergy medicine and I was able to thank her for all of her hard work and ask if I could see the kit, so as not to be pill popping inappropriate medication, of course I left the last bit off. My energy was then completely depleted by the Med Kit fiasco and when she tried to give me an intestine/tummy rub, I was all hers and in my sick stupor this did not even seem strange to me. Seeing that what ever was wrong passed, perhaps it was all the intestine rub and I have my land lady to thank for that.