Off to a Shaky Start

The following blurbs were extracted from my daily journal written during my site visit during week 6 of Peace Corps Training (P.S.T.) 8/24/08 – 9/1/08

8/24/08
During an informal ceremony of sorts, Peace Corps Trainees were called to the front of the training auditorium to learn of their permanent site assignments and “claim” their spot in South Africa by marking their future village homes with their individual head shots and names. Looking up at the blank wall map, I was filled with anxiety and anticipation. Where will I be stationed for the next two years of my life? Silence fell haphazardly among the crowd of bright eyed faces. I gleamed with pride and fluttered with goose bumps as my name was called second on the list. Finding my place in the country, in the upper N.E. of Mpumalanga Province, I was instantly reduced to a leveling feeling of gratitude and appreciation. My snapshot appeared just millimeters from Kruger National Park. When I was stateside, my dream was to reside near this historical, harmonious ecosystem, and now my aspirations have materialized!

8/29/08
Where do I begin? I am in Africa! I finally feel the effects of culture shock flooding my mind! I am overwhelmed by incessant streams of stimuli that inundate me by storm. I am submerged by pressure and abundant challenges crashing like waves all around me. I feel as though I am drowning. I am gasping for air!

The truth is, I am excited! I am besieged by stress, but I am eager to begin my service as a Volunteer. I finally sense the ubiquitous African energy that surrounds me as well as the substance of my future work with the Peace Corps. The opportunities to offer help and share energy with others in my village is plentiful. The local high school is in true need of an overhaul. Figuratively speaking, beyond cosmetic repairs and patchwork, the foundation needs to be bulldozed and rebuilt from the ground up. Incredible potential exists and needs to be fostered to continue its growth. I need to brainstorm approaches to develop this potential through inquisitive inquiry and the grass roots approach.

I feel nearly paralyzed by emotion and collapsed mental thoughts as I attempt to process the events of the past few days in the village. My mind is a blur. I attempt to bring order to my flailing thoughts, but the dizzying pace of my frenetic analysis sends me into an unsteady tailspin. Where do I begin?

8/28/08

A sudden burst of children’s screams followed by a discord of cheers and a sea of smiles, as 85 learners stood up in unison and rushed towards the tardy commercial bus speeding down the dusty, rural dirt road with marquee lights flashing Kruger National Park. For several months, the learners of this rural Primary School have anxiously awaited this moment through extensive planning, numerous meetings, and even an attempted robbery of the field trip funds.

Once loaded, the learners crammed their overly excited bodies, jolting energetically with excitement and anticipation of what the day ahead had in store. The chaperones took a quick inventory of the stock of learners and the bus driver swiftly departed attempting to make up for lost time. Rounding the corner, a rumble of chattering voices and unified songs emerged from the overly crowded waves of learners packed two to a seat.



The day raced by in a chaotic frenzy, as the bus driver zipped down the paved roads throughout the enormous national park, eluding animals on either side of it’s line of windows. The learners retained a steady pitch of clamor and clatter, piercing ear drums with chants and cheers. A mass of fingers pointing in the same direction, while the bus teetered and the shocks compensated as 85 learners climbed onto one side of the bus to gape out of the windows at the prized game that rested just meters away. Herds of water buffalo were abundant, as were clusters of baboons and groups of elephants. Antelope such as Springbok, Kudus, okapis thrived in inestimable quantities. The highlight of the day arose when a pride of lions was spotted feasting on the carnage of a recently mauled male kudu. The lions gorged on their meal, unaffected by the assembly of tourists and passersby that collected around the kill to catch a quick glance.