Primer día SIN agua

Hoy llevo a casi 38 en el calor del desierto de la Kahalari y no hay agua. He pasado todo el día sudando en mi ligero vestido del verano, yendo a aula caliente a aula caliente de la escuela, sonriendo por las estudiantes y ayudando a los maestros. El calor aquí es seco y fuerte; la fuerza yendo del sol africano.

Esta mañana me levanto y me lavo la cara con el aguacito que tenía en mi balde (o es cubo - no se?) pequeño. Calenté mas agua para mi tácito de café y corrí afuera hasta la escuela. Podía sentir todavía el calor de este día, engullí mi cantimplora completamente mientras el sudor se corrió de bajo la cara mía. Pensé nada de la desgana de mi familia aquí cuando me levanto a saber que no había agua…pero cuando regrese a casa de pie agostada de los rayos del sol y confronte otra vez la falta de preocupación que aquí estamos en el verano con una temperatura de 30+ grados y no había agua para beber? Bueno – supongo soy una Americana, y tenemos nuestros valores en el agua. Estamos bebiendo agua día y noche, es como somos. Así somos siempre con la botella de agua a nuestros lados.

Entonces, esta tarde no fui a correr. Que lastima, porque no hay agua. No hay agua para bañarme después de la corrida. Pues fui a la casa de mis amigas pequeñas (tienen 10 años) para ayudarles con su tarea de ciencias con el calor todavía irradiando en mis hombros quemados. Regrese a la casa para cenar y ver mi telenovela preferida, Generations. Después de esto fui a visitar al grifo, no agua. Como mis labios le echaron de menos el sentido húmedo del agua fría.

Tengo de todo, electricidad, comida, mis cosas, pero no tengo algo para beber. Es increíble para pensar a la fuerza que el agua tiene en nuestras vidas, es irremplazable. Pensé hoy en la foto que alguien me ensene de 3 chicas sentado en el desierto, arriba de un montón pequeño de escombros y arena. ¿Allá tienen agua? No sé, pero las caras se aparecieron fuertes y capaces. Las caras de mi familia, una madrea y 2 chicas.

Yo se tenemos nuestro propios retos, esto es, pero yo sé que al fin de hoy, en todo que tuve and no tuve, aprendí el valor del agua. Además, tengo la fuerza de mi familia y estaré perfecto y aguantando todo que la naturaleza hace nacido.

Sewawa (Setswana), Frog (English), Rana (Español)

This is what I occasionally look for as I walk down the road...frog pancakes!

Es facil a decir que tengo una afinidad a las sciencias, y esta rana es que vi durante mi camino a la escuela...panqueque de rana!

1st prize = COW! / 1o premio= VACA!!

Just entered my 1st raffle where I could win the following prizes: 1st - cow, 2nd - sheep, 3rd - goat :) haha

Ok Papa Severo...prepare la finca de Ayacucho por un premio de vaca, obeja, o macho cabrío!! Jaja...vamos a ver si ganes este contesto :)

Somewhere over the rainbow...

Today is October the 16th. My birthday just passed and without a doubt I thought of Chelsea. She and I had always shared a birthday week for so many years. I don't know if it's because I've been spending so much alone time, thus allowing me to reflect more, or because I'm in this beautiful semi-arid environment of Southern Africa. Chel loved nature and watching the world of science live ALIVE around her.

I see so much of her in our friends and myself. We shared such a love for understanding science and health. If anyone has even accompanied me to the gym you know that I don't leave till I've hit a good drenched sweat, Chel was just the same. I remember her even mentioning to me in the Y one time that she loved to shower before she came to the gym since she loved how her hair felt after a workout. She made me smile.

I just finished this book called, Origins: How the nine months before birth shape the rest of our lives by Annie Murphy Paul, sooooo interesting, and such a Chel-book. To add to the fire, I've found myself entrenched these last few days in a South African HIV/AIDS Care & Counseling book, casting aside for the moment my copy of Great Expectations - once again so Chel.

I walk along this dirt to get to the elementary school I've been assigned to and often find myself looking down to the ground for this swashed dead frogs. I know that's gross, but it's actually really interesting once the body has dried flat like a pancake and as you walk by it's like looking down as a body line from a homicide crime scene. That's just really comical to me. I thought of Chel there too.
Then it was today as I was unloaded at the "Tribal Office Sign" with my Sunday groceries from the Kombi (or taxi) which I had caught from town, I began to really think about Chelsea now given the time to walk home alone back to where my house sits off the main road. On the way I began to wonder how Chelsea would have enjoyed an experience like this and how much I wished she was here to share her company with me. It made me sad. As I turned the corner for the final stretch home, unexpectedly “Somewhere Over the Rainbow…” hauntingly streamed out someone’s window and then the tears simultaneously began to stream out my eyes. Her spirit felt so present as the hot afternoon breeze brushed by me and the music played on.

I think day by day, week by week, year by year, we are all fulfilling some dream of Chelsea’s. Growing up together we all influenced on one another and shared so much of each other even though we may not have realized it, thus in essence we are little pieces of Chel’s humor, charisma, boldness, and strength. Wherever she may be, the next time I see a rainbow here, I will look out at it and I will for certain be thinking of Chelsea.

To Karen and Ruben: much love from Africa, I’ll be thinking of you both. Next time I make it back home, I’ll be sure to catch up with you.

Probably the sweetest birth card I have ever received

My little sister, Nazla, produced this video birthday card that documents not only the first time we met back in February of this year, but heart felt messages from all my other sisters, Miriam and Pamela (Patti is missing but there in image and video), both my birth parents, Severo and Isabel, and all my nephews, Nicol, Jeins, Ellin, and Yostin. Nazla compiled pictures from my first few months here in South Africa and video even of my travels to Peru this past May as well. I saw for the first time, video of me travel to the small town from which my father Severo came from. It was spectacular all the messages of love and hearing the sentiment in there voice, this being the first time they were able to wish me ¡Feliz Cumpleaños! or Happy Birthday!

It brought a tear to my eye to see ALL my family in there (even mama Alison and papa Robert and the Big Herm). At the school I got hugs from all the teachers and the learns all sang to me. It was fabulous to hear from everyone starting from the early morning of my birthday till the next day even, whether it was via Gchat, text, BBM, Skype, GVideo chat, email, Facebook, phone calls, you name it...my phone was buzzing and ringing non stop for 24 hours. It great to see how much you are missed by the ones that love you and even if I am miles and miles and MILES away I really am just one click of a button away from hearing from you all :)

Mucho amor y abrazos fuertes!

Lo haces en la escuela en tu cumple cuando estas aburrrrrida :)

La negrita Fifi debajo el sol africano...mira chicos como tu tia Suzanna se puede dibujar tambien :)

Magwinya! The perfect birthday gift :)

At 10:10 AM the bell will sound at Robanyane Toto for break time, this is also lunch time for the learners. I am friends with an SBG member who comes daily with her snacks for the kids to come buy. I have totally fallen for one goodie called Magwinya or Fat Cakes. It's sort of like fried doug but it has a bit more flavor in it making it savory and just fine to be eaten by itself.

This treat would probably explain the comment I got when I was introduced to my friend's mom who instantly said, "Fifi you are FAT...and you look EXPENSIVE!" I smiled and just said, "ke a leboga," trying to not look offended. Moving on from that comment, I think us Americans dwell too much on the worry of being fat, though I'm sure she meant it in a healthy way. I should have said "Ke a leboga to Stoney (best gingerale ever!) and Fat cakes" which make a dueling team for my (possible) growing Buddha Belly and are the motivator of my long runs under the hot African sun.

No doubt I will be treated by Kentsenoa (or myself) to this goodie today on my birthday (I'm getting so old- how did that happen). My host mom called me at just 6 AM (before my alarm even went off) to sing me happy birthday AND my phone has been buzzing ALLLLL night. Thanks guys for the love :) today will be great!

Kentsenoa told me that before I leave here she will teach me how to cook them - can't wait! Watch out America...God's gift to Man and cellulite may be invading when I return!

R.I.P. Nelsoncito

When "Lil Peewee" (aka Phoebe) died last year or so...I thought I would never find her replacement. But when I got here and had the chance of getting my neighbor's puppy, I jumped at the opportunity. I was determined to name the little dog Wilson or Nelson. So I decided on "Nelsoncito" because using the name Nelson in a place like South Africa seemed sacrilege.

Nelsoncito was born in the little house behind mine here in my village and has a sister, who has thrived and gotten really fat and is super friendly and when it comes to survival of the fittest she has it! Ke itumeste (I'm happy) that she will be around, maybe I'll ask the family if I can have her instead.

Nelsoncito always had to be coaxed out of the shadows to come get his food, he was so shy and skinny. He'd easily jump through the chicken wire fenced that creates a barrier behind my house and my neighbors. After every meal I bring my bones and anything else the family has leftover to the fence and whistle for the puppies and their parents to come and get it. They all learned to not be scared of me like most dogs. It's sad, how different the attitude towards pets here is.

One day I took both puppies and said, "That's it you're getting a bath!" Everyone who was at or around the house came to watch me wash these pups as they squirmed and wiggle and expelled little yelps and howls as I scrubbed and scrubbed. Everyone laughed and pointed at me like they had never seen a dog get a bath. They probably had never seen a dog bathed. The owner later thanked me for washing the dogs and said they both came back smelly lovely.

Dogs (and any pets for that matter) in developing countries are treated differently. The dogs here are simply for watching out for the house and taking in any leftovers from dinner. They don't eat apple cores, they shy away from peanut butter, BUT if you have a BONE or any MEAT they'll guzzle it right up. I was determined to change that and make him into a good little American-Peruvian dog that would understand when I decided to talk to him in Espanol and would know that when food (any type of food) fell to the ground that he would need to gobble it right up.

But as his owners warned me: "you can have him IF he survives." Given all the cold nights and crazzzzzy thunder storms, where I've felt even shaken up. It's easy to see how a little skinny pup didn't make it through the elements where he's barely eats and gets no warm shelter inside.

So now Nelsoncito rests below us and without a doubt his spirit now stand strong up somewhere that huge dark sparkling starry starry African night sky and runs around and plays with Sugar, Henry, Homer and Peewee while they enjoy having tea and crumpets (and of course ALL the leftovers they can get).

Vacation run! Lo que vi cuando estuve en vacaciones :)

The other morning I went for a run in Kuruman. It's a shopping town where you go buy all your groceries for the week...or in some Volunteer's cases for the month! It's such a difference from where actually live. It's nice residential housing (well...depending on your architectural tastes - can't say I'd want to buy any of those houses). It's lush and green unlike my sandy lawn and it's mixed population of a lot of Afrikaaners and "coloureds."

This is what I saw on my morning run: green lawns, lots of high gates, and lots of signs for "ENTER AT OWN RISK! Beware of guard dogs." Hmmm...

Ran by each house and up to the gates just to ruckus and meet the pups :)

What I see when I go running / Lo que veo cuando voy corriendo :)

This is the scenery that I see as I run away and out of my village in the Northern Cape.

Esto es el terreno que veo cuando voy a las afueras de mi pueblo aca en la provencia de Northern Cape.

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La Primera Lluvia

Acabo de terminar corriendo en mi tiempo normal por la tarde, 40 minutos a la montaña, ida y vuelta. Me acerque el grifo (caño o paja? No sé cómo se dice en Perú, es donde se va para colectar el agua) afuera de la casa y miro hacia el cielo…que negro y nubloso fue. Se empezó un viento tan venoso que conmociono a todos los pollos, burros, vacas, y perros a empezar a correr y gritar. Yo regrese a mi cuarto con mi balde de agua, cuando el relámpago y trueno empezó y mi nueva "mama" Mokwena entro gritando, "Yooo Yooo Yoyoyoyo…cuidado niña! Ten cuidado cuando hay tormentas eléctricas! Tienes que hacer esto." Ella corrí hacia mi espejo grande que tengo y tiro una manta grande sóbrelo.

Qué raro. No entendí.

Ella empezó a explicarme la importancia, es que cuando el relámpago se caya desde cielo esta acción de tirar la manta sobre el espejo darme protección de los rayos. Si por acaso el relámpago salto desde el espejo…hmmm la cultura africana.

El viento no nos dejó y pensé que el techo mío iba a salir con la fuerza de la naturaleza. Y las gotas de lluvia golpearon ruidosamente contra mis ventanas por horas por toda la noche. No sé si has leído la cuenta mágicorrealista de Horacio Quiroga, "El Hombre Muerto" (1920). El describe la historia de la muerte de un hombre en un bananal. Él dice, "Todo, todo exactamente como siempre; el sol de fuego, el aire vibrante y solitario, los bananos inmóviles, el alambrado de postes muy gruesos y altos que pronto tendrá que cambiar…" (www.ciudadseva.com/textos/cuentos/esp/quiroga/hombremu.htm). Pues, el punto de Quiroga es para demonstrar la fuerza sobre poderosa que tiene la naturaleza. Y es tormentas así que nos recuerdan el poder que tiene la naturaleza pura. Yo pienso mama cuando hay lluvia y como fue por ella creciéndose en la Selva grande de las Amazonas. ¿Cómo fue la lluvias fuertes de la estación de lluvias que se desbordaron todos los ríos? Por acá todo la tierra es desierto y árida, entonces la lluvia es un bien regalo por la tierra sedienta.

El día siguiente de la tormenta encontramos el pollo de la familia con sus pollitos nuevos todos muertos con la excepción de uno. ¡Qué triste! Porque ahora es un orfanato. Pero es la vida natural de la tierra acá.

Abrazos para todos y sigo buscando una tortuga para Jeins para que se puede jugar con la por 100 años.

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¿Porqué no estoy en Limpopo!?!

Donde se crecen la mejor fruta del mundo....El Mango.
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Seeing Stripes and Seasons from a NEW Hemisphere...

So I'm sitting here reading Elle over my morning coffee and thinking that I've seen way too many horizontal stripes than I need to before it's hit noontime...then I begin to wonder wait what season are we in?

AND...why the hell am worrying about this? Here I am looking through a magazine that showcases Louis Vitton and YSL purses worth 3 or 5 times the amount of my monthly stipend. Haha...omg, I am in Peace Corps.

I think it's really hard to figure out my head, or maybe not. Why am I someone with a heart that leads me to into these low paying nonprofit development jobs and I have as Miss Cass calls, "nice taste." A taste for the finer things in life, or what I think has evolved to a good eye for nice "economical" things. Blame it on the monthly Vogue subscription my mom allowed me to get starting at age 12. However, I do think that this recession has made us all reassess the amount of bill$ we throw down on clothes or a fun night out in the City. And, I will tell you that after living in Manhattan on the equivalent of a poorly paid social worker's salary, I have learned so many ways to cut costs on buying groceries and how to scrounge the sales racks at TJ Maxx and Forever21 from diamonds in the rough. Most importantly how to make a $5 summer dress find into a reasonable look by just added a belt. It's all about "accessorization." One key piece can change it all.

I now relish the moments when people complement me on something I wear and then I can through back at them "$10 baby...Target.". It's like a little mental "booo-yah! In your face!" I'm such a passively aggressive One-upper. Oops.

But...back to the main question: What season am I in here in South Africa? Are we in Spring/Summer 2011 or 2012 since Fashion Week in NYC (as those who follow fashion very well know) kicked off the London, Paris, and Milan fashion weeks for the spring and summer lines for the coming year just this past month. So, we here on the opposite hemisphere must be behind, no? Since that would explain why I feel like I'm seeing a over redundancy of stripes, nude beiges, and platforms (which I'm really not into - though given my height I should be wearing daily). BUT let me pause there as I watch a herd of cattle waddle down the unpaved sandy road in front of my home...where am I again?? RURAL SOUTH AFRICA. And to top it off, I'm in Peace Corps so why even worry about these things?!

Ugh...it's just who I'm am. Until I can find a career which blends my love for the finer things in the fashion world and my love for international development, I'll just sit here and know that for the moment for I have made the RIGHT choice FOR ME. The more meaningful choice.

As a friend used to say to me as I'd become finicky over decisions and life... "Just do you, Suz." Yup, and that I DO.

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