I just got back from a training held in the port city of Durban which is also the place where my camera got lifted in August. In fact the hotel wasn't more than a hundred yards from where my camera got lifted, fortunately the training went without a hitch safety wise. And overall I would say it was our best training. Gone are the jitters and uncertainty about where we are and what we are doing, if the last few months have given us nothing else they have certainly given us perspective on what it's like to be a PCV here. Plus the "all you can eat" spread was awesome.

 

Other than that life is going well. Still doing a miscelleny of things for my organization including starting a website (on myspace for now since I don't think they are computer saavy yet to manage a server) so if you want to see it, I will put it on my Favorite Links list.  I am also trying to help get a donkey cart constructed for them, and help set up a shabeen as part of our initiative to help local businesses become tourist saavy. Its the type of work which is never ever dull, but it can be hard to organize.

 

The First Scout Group of Thomo had its first meeting on 22 November, 2008. I am very happy although only a few kids (all boys) showed up and I had to conduct the whole thing in Xitsonga, which was a challenge for all of us I think. Still I am excited, soon I will be looking for ways to get funding for us and hopefully the Scouts of South Africa will be able to help set up a camp or two to help them (and myself) learn how a Scout Group works. Currently they want to go to the local Nature Reserve and we are going to try to make it happen, so they can visit a really beautiful place only a few miles from where they live that they've probably never been to. One big challenge will be finding some local adult leadership, I have ideas but nothing concrete yet. Next meeting is this Friday so hopefully some more kids (including girls) show up.

 

Finally, in March I have signed myself up to run in the Longtom Marathon. (http://www.longtominfo.co.za/) It is in March and a lot of Peace Corps volunteers are doing it. The proceeds go to a scholarship program for village kids to go to a private school (which is quite good) rather than to one of the local public schools (which throughout south africa are struggling mightily.) Its really the "big annual event" for Peace Corps South Africa so if anyone is interested in sponsoring me (to be in the race I need at least $100 USD) please let me know and I will pass on the information. I will be running the half-marathon I think because I have never run a marathon before and there is other stuff I want to do with life aside from train. Still my hat is off to those PCVs who will be going the full distance and even those who opt to walk it (13 miles can be quite a long walk in the african sun and 26 can be brutal.)