Admittedly though, the isolation and solitude were getting
to me, sitting through long meetings where I didn’t understand a single word
being said was nerve racking, and the overly aggressive and flirtatious nature
of men was irritating me (I ask everyone to put a little bit of money aside
every month for me please. I may go to
jail for castrating a man before I leave here.
Since I know I won’t survive an SA prison I will need your help to make
bail—thanks in advance!). Plus, my original expectations of what I would be
doing are a bit different than my present actuality. I was feeling like an
overexperienced, underutilized, and overeducated intern (I actually even was
presented as an intern at a conference).
Ironically, I calculated that I make 5% of what I use to
make (if I include housing and my readjustment allowance I can get up to 10% of
my former income). My mother poignantly
informed me I also only do 5% of what I use to do. True True---but that’s the problem. I don’t
regret my decision to quit my job and take a “dream break” at all though. I sometimes though do question doing this
Peace Corps thing again. I’ve had this experience and got the messed-up malaria
memory to prove it. With that said, I
made a commitment. I also realized I
have spent YEARS stressing and running around doing too much. I am going to chill out, appreciate this
moment, and make an impact wherever I can.
When will I ever have an opportunity like this again? I digress…so where was I was…oh yes I am
emerging victorious….
Anywho, we all go through “slump periods,” whether or not we
are strangers in a foreign land or comfortable at home. So I figured, I would share my “getting
through strategies!”
1) Don’t Stress
I arrived at post motivated to attack my projects head
on. After sharing my one page overview
of my marketing strategy and tactics with someone, he aptly gave me the advice
that it’s not about when I achieve my results but how I achieve them. He urged me to momentarily put aside my
Americaness (he literally took my one pager and moved it to the side and said,
“that’s nice and very American”) and take the time to absorb the culture. By spending time observing and participating
in my local community, I would have a better understanding of how to implement
my projects.
w/ Platinum Stars (Football/Soccer) Supporters
  |
| RBS Athletics (Track) Meet |
 |
| RBS Handball Tournament |
BTW-I have made progress on some of my projects. I relaunched the Special Olympics Facebook
page and developed their social media strategy.
I even wrote their posts for the next couple of months. If you are interested, you can check it out
at: www.facebook.com/specialolympicssouthafrica
2) Exercise
Running in my neighborhood was awkward and I was scared I
was going to get bit by a dog. So I now
run around the tennis or basketball courts at the stadium. I have never been a runner but I am finding
it quite relaxing!
3) Physically Escape
Sometimes I just need to escape from village life. So every weekend, I go to the mall to go grocery shopping. While I am there I also treat myself to lunch
and a movie. I also just discovered that
the Royal Mareng Hotel at the Bafokeng Sports Campus (there is where VIPs/athletes stay when
they use the Sports Campus facilities) is AWESOME---it looks like a “W”
inside!!! I plan to do lunch here
occasionally as an escape as well (I am also trying to convince them to do like
a First Friday type event, we will see how that goes).
Lobby Lounge at Royal Mareng Hotel
Outdoor Dining Area and Patio at the Royal Mareng Hotel
 |
| Enjoying Sugar Crepes and Ice Cream |
 |
| Going to see "Good Deeds" with Nthabiseng (BTW watching Tyler Perry with an int'l audience makes me cringe) |
 |
| Sun City |
 |
| Beach at the Valley of the Waves, Sun City |
 |
| Valley of the Waves After Closing and Everyone Left |
4) Musically Escape
My Ipod has become my best friend. I zone out now and listen to music as I walk
around town, travel to the mall, etc. As I laughed out loud, while eating lunch
by myself and listening to a Dave Chappelle skit, I realized I need to try not
to zone out too much or I will be crazy (or crazier) by the time I leave here.
I also put together a “Motivation and Inspiration” play list
that I listen to whenever I need a pick me up!
5) Journal
Another piece of advice from the guy that told me to be less
American. I wasn’t journaling because I
figured blogging allowed me to record my experiences. I also forgot about the therapeutic nature of
journaling.
6) Record Daily
Blessings
As part of my journal entries, I also include how I was
blessed during the week. I did this as
well when I lived in Philadelphia to help me be less negative about my
experiences there.
 |
| My Guacamole and Salsa |
 |
| Easter Dinner, took me 3 days to make everything because I only have 2 pots, lol |
7) Cook
I am so not the cooking person at home, but I find it
relaxing (and time consuming since I do everything from scratch) here. Plus, eating my favorite dishes makes home
not seem so far away (I picked up a bad habit of purchasing “recovery shakes”
at my gym after working out, so I even make protein shakes to consume after my
workouts)!
 |
| Easter Dinner: Salad, Mac and Cheese, Deviled Eggs, Rice Pilaf, Baked Chicken, String Beans, and Cornbread |
9) Feed my American
Culture Addiction
As much as I love learning about other cultures, being immersed in another culture 24/7 makes me crave American culture. I get my fix by Facebooking, watching movies, and reading
blogs (I am particularly addicted to www.VerySmartBrothas.com and Madame Noire's Ask A Black Man web series).
10) Further Develop
My Hobbies
 |
| A Ring and 2 Sets of Earrings |
When I get bored I make jewelry. I took some classes in Philly last year and
brought the materials with me.
11) Trust in the
Lord…
I think this excerpt excerpt from my devotion, “Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence,” the other
night sums it up…
“Remember that I can fit everything into a pattern for good,
including the things you wish were different.
Start with where you are at this point in time and space, accepting that
this is where I intend you to be. You
will get through the day one step, one moment at a time. Your main responsibility is to remain
attentive to Me, letting Me guide you through the many choices along your path.
This sounds like an easy assignment, but it is not. Your desire to live in My Presence goes
against the grain of ’the world, the flesh, and the devil.’ Much of your
weariness results from your constant battle against these opponents. However, you are on the path of My choosing,
so do not give up!”
--Mei
BTW-To all my PCRVs, PCVs, RPCVs and future PCVs...yes I know my experience isn't very "Peace Corpsie." I do feel truly blessed. I also truly believe, the Lord will never put more on you than you can bear. And I am not one of those people that joined Peace Corps to experience poverty or "roughing it." At the end of the day, we are all here to serve and living conditions don't change that. Plus, as a PCV here told me, I already paid my dues!!!
BTW-To all my PCRVs, PCVs, RPCVs and future PCVs...yes I know my experience isn't very "Peace Corpsie." I do feel truly blessed. I also truly believe, the Lord will never put more on you than you can bear. And I am not one of those people that joined Peace Corps to experience poverty or "roughing it." At the end of the day, we are all here to serve and living conditions don't change that. Plus, as a PCV here told me, I already paid my dues!!!
