I'm back!

Okay, I apologize for not keeping up with the blog in my final weeks. It was getting tough to find time with the internet...and when I did find time I needed a lot of it just to get the essential things done. So, here we are...me back in America after nearly 4 months in beautiful South Africa. As I sat on the plane I continually kept thinking "I'm really going back home". It did not seem like I had been in SA long enough. I will miss my life in Limpopo. I think coming back was harder to going because at least I knew when I would be coming back to the US...I don't know when I"ll be going back to SA. I hope it won't be too long.

What have I been up to the past two weeks?

Glad you asked. Internet access has been iffy. the server at UNIVEN has been down soI've been using an internet cafe (which has it's own issues). I traveled to a town about 2 hours south in the next district. I worked with the other doctoral student on the project (who is also an officer in the provincial TB program) doing focus groups and interivews). We had to be flexible and work with unplanned obstacles (I did not have my translations for my interview guides, electricity was out at the village we visited for patient interviews). Overall I think it went well.

I wanted to go back this week, but will probably have to wait until next week (Thursday or Friday...I want to spend Tuesday following the elections back home).

Okay...what else? Mainly I've been working with project team members. I have not been taking a lot of pictures lately (though there are more I need to add to the wesite). I've started looking for housing back home (my realtor has been looking). It's kinda sad to know that I won't be living in my own house when I return...now I am once again at the mecy of landlord restrictions (mostly I'm concerned about being able to find something nice with enough room for me and Romeo).

That's it for now.

My vote is on it's way to America

I just got word that my ballot which I mailed to the embassy in S.A. (since my last mail to the US did not make it) has been received. Yay! I jumped through hoops in order to cast my ballot. In other news, we completed another interview today. I need to sort out the info I have so far and decide how to precede. Things are not going as planned because the funder has not yet made the promised funds available. We are doing the best we can...we just won't be able to do everything in the way we said we would. Ah...the challenges of international work (or any work with limited resources).

Answered Prayer

I would like to start this blog talkinga bout my journey to vote in the U.S. presidential election. It has been challenging. I had sent in a registration form for an absentee ballot mid to late August. I called the Harris county election office on October 2nd and was told they did not receive it. The representative emailed me another form and said I could email it back. Well, I could not edit the document and save it so I ended up faxing it. I went ahead and faxed my ballot as well. I am nervous about my vote counting. She said she would make an exception for me since I am in a rural area, don't have a car and can not get to the embassy in S.A. Still...that's iffy to me. I am in touch with Democrats Abroad and the prsesident in S.A. said I could end my ballot to him and he would hand deliver it to the embassy. That way I can guarantee they get a hard copy to count.

Okay, so that is one thing. the other challenging issue for me this weekend was that I left my keys in a taxi on saturday - something I had been dreading. Now, Thohoyandou is a small town, but there are hundreds of taxis. I had a feeling I left my keys in the taxi as soon as I closed the door but I kept going. When I got to the office my feeling as confirmed. So, I called my coworker and got the number for the office key and as able to get a copy at the locksmith. I planned to go back later and get a copy of my room key but the person over the guesthouses did not know the key number. So I said I'll go back anyway and see if I recognize my room key in the locksmith's stock of keys. Well, the locksmith was closed. So, I decide it's not the end of the world (I can still ge tin the house because someone else is at home)and I"ll go back home and look for a locksmith in Sibasa. As I am walking back to the taxi rank I pray for a miracle that I will see the taxi with my key - doesn't happen.

I call Cebisa, a friend who is also a neighbor, and told her the situation. She and another neighbor came over to try and help me find a key that matches my room key. Long story short - we did not find a similar key, we even had a hardstore owner to come with the keys he had in stock. Sunday I went to church with Cebisa and her family. We went back to the house and cooked and ate. It was a nice and relaxing sunday. On Monday the person who in charge of the guesthouses informed me that she was in Joburg and could not help me and directed me to someone in maintenace. So I wonder how more interesting this story can get. Well, my period starts. Darn. I construct a makeshift sanitary pad and head for campus. I get in a tax and the driver stares at me. I stare back at him and he reaches over and hands me my keys (hallalujuah!).

P.S. There are a lot of details I am not sharing. The main point is God answers prayer.

Quick note

Sorry, I've slacked off a bit. But alot is going on. In between power and water outtages I got sick and that just slowedm e down in general. Then last week my German roommates decided to move on campus (rooms became available in the guest house on campus) . They wanted me to move with them. At first my thought was that staying in Sibasa would be better. It would be quieter now and I could focus on my work. Then I considered how conveneint staying on campus would be: I could go to the office and stay as late as I wanted (there is 24 hr security on campus) and I would be around other students (this has alot of pluses and minuses). So I went to the house to see what the space looked like. There are only three rooms so the girls said they could share (no big deal, they shared a room in Sibasa and the rooms are pretty big). Great, the only problem is tha the one open room does not have cabinets for me to store my things. Plus it is the first room as you enter the house, and there are no locks. I would just feel better if I had a closet. So I decided to take advantage of the peace and quiet and stay in Sibasa for now. My professor is still across the street and my other roommate (the professor) will not be moving for another week.

I am starting to do interviews this week (was going to start today but the head nurse was too busy). I hope things go well.

Catch up from last week

I left for Cape Town on the 6th. My roommates decided to have another campfire before the trip (they were leaving for the Durban trip). A few students from UNIVEN joined us this time.

Sept. 7th - You could hear the bus before you could see it. House music was blasting as the bus approached campus (by the way - music was blasting from the bus 24/7 for the next 6 days). We did not leave until close to 10am. Got to Cape Town close to 12:30pm on Monday. The bus ride was quite interesting...you'll have to email me privately for the details...On a sad note - we saw 4 car accidents on the way up to cape town. One had multiple fatalities. As we were approaching the accident I told the girl seating next to me that it looked like luggage and pieces of an automobile were scattered on the road. She said no, those are people...she was right. I did not look out the window as we passed, but I could hear the cries of the others on the bus.

Sept. 8th - Monday was a rest day. My ears needed rest more than my body (we had been on the bus for more than 26 hours with music on full blast the entire time). One of the first things I did was buy a pair of earplugs.

Sept. 9th - We drove to Cape Point (Cape of Good Hope). It was a surprise to most people that we would have to pay our own way to any of the attractions we visited. So...since this wasn't discussed or planned out before the trip, the group decided to leave and spent the rest of the day at the waterfront. This was fine with me...the only place I absolutely wanted to visit was Robbin Island (and I was told that we would go on Friday). I was just happy to get to Cape Town for only $480 rand...hotel and food included (though I told the organizer not to include me in the food count). I walked to the Convention Center in hopes that Hillsong Cape Town had a mid-week service... they did not. So I joined the rest of the group at the waterfront.

Sept. 10th - We went to Table Mountain. It was nice...beautiful views of Cape Town and robbin Island, saw a few animals up there. Very cold and windy. We went to another mall later in the day (going to the mall was a big deal during this trip). Sometime between yesterday and today I devel0ped the flu.

Sept 11th - No rain today! We went to the beach. Although it was sunny...it was still very cold. Didn't stop anyone from getting into their swim suits and playing in the water. I sat on the beach with a plastic bag and tissue (spent the time reading and blowing my nose). Later today is when we found out that the money situation was more serious than previously thought. The student organizer for the trip had been using his personal money to buy food for everyone. The hotel had gone up on their prices...which left him short on money for food. The most devastating news was that we were not going to Robbin Island. I had considered going by myself, then I figured I should not separate myself from the group...I didn't want to make myself more of an outsider. So....I missed out. Maybe I'll have another opportunity to visit Cape Town....just for the purpose of going to Robbin Island.

We left Cape Town on Friday because of the money situation.

Note - hey, I hope all the Houston people are all right. I heard about Hurricane once I got back to the internet Monday.

more pictures

check them out: http://picasaweb.google.com/mona949802/MyJourneyInSouthAfrica?authkey=T3McShzvtV8#

Time management

Okay. I met with the Professor from the Netherlands yesterday (Wednesday). It helped me to prioritize what needs to be done now and what I can focus on later. Sometimes I just need to talk things out with someone else. In other news, I'm getting ready for the long bus trip to Cape Town. I should get alot fo reading done (hopefully)...I also look forward to meeting more of the other students and seeing more of South Africa.

i've settled into a routine

Well, not much to report for the past week. So this post is a hodgepodge of thoughts from the past week.

I did visit two additional villages with the nursing students (can I mention the names here?). The experiences continue to be interesting. I wrote alot of notes in my work journal. I ran from our house in Simbasa to the Graceland lodge were Prof Bart was booked to stay this weeek. He had to reschedule his visit, and since I had to cancel the booking, I decided to run there. I think it was about 5 to 6 k. So no big deal...but as I turned to come back I realized I was going up a steep hill. I figured it would flatten ot at some point. I as wrong...Simbasa sits on a hill above Thohoyandou, so the run back as rough...I ended up walking most of it.

I can get around on my own pretty well. Which means I know how to take the taxis from the house to school and I know my way around the shops in Simbasa and Thohoyandou. I don't have to bother my colleagues much for help getting around. I am still handicapped because of my inability to communicate in any of the "home" languages. Most people know English, but use their home languages outside of work or school. So I still feel like an outsider.

Home is cool...there are not many quiet moments when everyone is at the house. Someone always wants to talk. Julia has a wide range of music which emans we have a never ending supply of music playing...hard if I plan to read or rest.

Okay, people love Barack Obama here. One man asked me if I am coming from "Obama country". They feel he will be the next president. I hope they are right. I watched the news about the DNC...some memorable times in store for America.

that's it for now...take care.

1st day of data collection

Okay, tuesday we were without electricity so I went to the mall in search of some items for data collection (pencil, pens, stapler....). Wednesday we went to our first village (don't know if I can say the name so I'll leave it blank). The 4th year nursing students went with us. Before we began we had a devotional. We sang a song (I could sing along as the song mostly said Hallelujuah and Hosana). One of the students read a scripture from heart (did not have a bible in front of him) then we had prayer. We divided into our groups for the rest of the day. I sat in on the focus group which Rachel led (she administered the gorup for Tiyani...there was not anyone available for my key informant interviews).

Everything was done in Tsonga but I think things went well. I spoke with Rachel and the students about how the focus gorup went. Friday I'll tlak with Joyce and Grace about how their interviews go.

Note - I keep reflecting on how much I am learning about myself. I realize how American I am the more I am here. I am not as patient as I like to perceive myself as being. My devotion today was from Isaiah 40:3-8. It talks about pulling down mountains (representing our [my] proud opposition to the way of God. I needed to pause here for a moment. I have a story I could tell but I am not "proud" of my reaction in it. I have not had many of those moments, but enough to see a pattern.

BTW (by the way) - not everything I notice about my "Americanness" is negative. Just points out that I have a different point of view from those around me.

rainy weekend

Hello,
We had our first group meetings last week (friday and saturday). I think they were very helpful for everyone involved. It was starting to get complicated piecing everyone's projects together and seeing how we all related to each other. I find myself going over notes constantly so I can keep it all clear in my mind (If I didn't I wiould be lost). Friday we went over everyone's interview guides and discussed them. Saturday the 4th year UNIVEN nursing students joined us. They will help with pilot data collection. OUr interactions with them were positive. As bonus, I managed to get invited on the student trip to Cape Town in September (yay!). Hopefully I'll be able to visit Hillsong Church while I am there.

We went to a family party at the Dean's house saturday night. There was a lot of food and dancing (the older people especially danced alot). Her house in a village about half an hour from UNIVEN.

It rained most of the day Sunday...and we lost electricity for a little bit. I went to shopping iwth Prof Khoza and Solani (the shops do not lose electricity during a power outage). Later in the evening Solani joinedm e and my roommates for our version of a traditional South AFrican meal (Solani will help us out next time). I think we did a good job for our first try.

the water is back!

Yay! The water problem was fixed last night. Even though being without water was not as bad as it could have been (we were able to get water form a facuet in our front yard) I like the convenience of having running water inside the house. Plus taking a hot bath without having to boil it felt so good!

Nothing incredibly exciting...just preparing for our workshop this weekend and pilot data collection next week (pending approval from the district. Prof Khoza and I went to the district health office to ger permission to conduct the pilot).

more pictures

I have posted more pictures at the following website. I carry an umbrella with me most of the time because the pills I am taking make my skin sensitive to the sun.

take care

http://picasaweb.google.com/mona949802/MyJourneyInSouthAfrica?authkey=T3McShzvtV8

picture of me and roommates at the waterfall

left to right: Cato, Turka, Julia, Mikal, me

up in the tree is Julia, in front of her is Cato. then from left to right is me, Mikal, and Turka.

1st weekend in Venda

I have written alot in my journal over the past few days. Let's see...there was another birthday party friday night at the postgraduate housing. I went with Solani. There was alot of dancing, some drinking...not too different from a birthday party back home. I went to Phiphi Waterfalls with my roommates on Saturday. Cato, from UNIVEN (a friend of my roommates) went with us in a taxi. We spent most ofhte day there. It was a good way for us to spend time together...I think they (my roommates) will definately make the most of their South AFrican experience and I hope to do the same.

I got to talk to Cato about student life and a little about the project I am working on. He says TB is not discused openly on campus and that most people think TB and HIV are the same thing. It confirms that the workw e are doing is important. I also asked him about different churches in the area and he said he could arrange for me to visit several while I am here. Sunday, I read from 2 Kings 2. It talks about the relationship between Elijah and Elisha. I have soul notes in my bible. The one that goes iwth this passage talks about the importance of a strong mentor and investing in others what God has entrusted to you. This is so important and appropriate for me. In this project, my colleagues and I will be sharing information with each other that the other may not have. We all can find there is something we have that someone else will find useful.

So, I spent some quiet time on sunday. Did some shopping (I find that I am at the complexs almost every other day...this may change once I'm settled in). We were without water for most of the weekend. Someone is coming today to worko n our geyser.

Notes - I watched a little bit of the olympics...which focused on South African athletes for the most part. Julia copied someof her music on my external drive...mostly French and German music (I specifically asked her to surprise me with something I would not get back home). I think I can learn alot form Turka about making friends. He is always tlaking to people and learning new things.

That sums up the weekend. Now I hope to have a productive week. We have a workshop this weekend and I am meeting iwth one of hte masters students (and possibly another) this weekend. Tiyani will present her proposal on Wednesday.

take care

More settling in

I worked alone in the office yesterday. My oficemates are at a meeting for the rest of the week. So, I felt like I was able to do more to organize myself and get settled. I also completed my vote from abroad form (yay!) I hope everything goes well. I still need to mail the form.

I am learning that I am not as patient as everyone seems to think I am (sometimes I even think I'm a pretty patient person). So I am working on my patience. I met with Prof Khoza Wednesday afternoon and went over my key informant interview questions. She gave me some more suggestions for organizations and I worked on that last night. Also, my housemates and I celebrated Mikal's (1 of the German rommtes) birthday. Two girls from UNIVEN joined us. The Professor teased us about eating too much sugar (he does this often) but he eventually joined us. I think having roommates will help me become more independent quicker.

I moved pictures form my digital camera to my external harddrive this morning. I want to post pictures on the blog...if that doesn't work, I will post to an album in snpafish and post the link.

Today, I am reading the master students' proposals. Will try to read and code some articles. Also, I am going on a run/jog with Sonali, Prof Khoza's niece.

take care

take care

now to the real work

I met with Prof Khoza and Rachel today. Racheal is also working on her doctorate and asked me to help with obtaining more background literature. I hope I can help her... She wants to develop a model for the concept "dialogue", which is the term she is using to describe the process of communication between teens and their parents and teachers regarding sexual health.

As far as SANPAD project (this is the organization that funds the TB project we are working on at UNIVEN)...it looks like the next three weeks will be busy. We are planning a workshop next week...then the next week Prof Khoza wants to do pilot data collection...then the enxt week the project's other principle investigator will be in town so we are planning out time with him. I hope I can fulfill the expectations everyone seems to have of me...I'm meeting with one of the master students to help her iwth her literature review and writing style.

Okay, I am getting ready to go for the night...just wanted to take advantage of having a fast internet connection (it is wise to use the internet before 10am and after 5pm...any other time it takes quite a long time to get anything done).

love ya
Ramona

I'm in the guesthouse now...

It's nice. I'm sharing the house with four other people. A professor from Nigeria and three students from Germany (1 guy, 2 girls). They are a part of an exchange program with the social work department and are doing their internships at UNIVEN...they are staying six months. I stayed up late talking to the professor and the guy from Germany (sorry don't know how to spell his name). I think it will go well...the only problem I may have is sharing a bathroom with three other people (the professor has a bathroom in his room). I'm use to having a bathroom all to myself so I am getting use to the idea of sharing. Also people mostly take baths rather than showers so our bathtub does not include a showerhead (something else I need to get use to). Okay, I must go and work on my schedule...I"m meeting with Prof. Khoza this afternoon (I think she is in meeting all day). I hope to post pictures soon.

Ramona

Catching up

Hey! I'm at UNIVEN now. I spent the weekend with Racheal Lebese, who also works on the TB project (I met her last year so was glad to hear that she was going to pick me up from the airport in Polokwane (sp?) on Thursday. I met her husband and youngest daughter, Thembi, thursday night...then I crashed...I think that was my worst day as far as jetlag.


Okay...it's been a few days and I want to include a little bit of what I did each day. So...friday was basically rest. I also went with Racheal to visit her mother. Saturday I went to Tzanen and spent time with Prof Khoza (the principle investigator of the TB project) while Racheal and her husband attended a fmaily meeting. I also met Racheal's oldest daughter, Vuyisani, who is getting married in November (I'm going to miss the wedding by 10 days). Vuyisani is more of the diva of the group...she reminds me of alot of my friends back home (you know who you are). Thembi is more like me...quiet and introverted. I spent alot of time iwth them over the weekend...so it looks like I made my first friends in S.A.

Sunday I went with Racheal and her family to church. It was actually my first time going to a catholic mass anywhere. The thing about catholic mass is that service is pretty similar no matter where in the world you live (I do think there was more singing here than in an American mass). Racheal's family is so kind and made my first weekend in S.A. great. The priest talked about not being selfish...sharing what you have with others. I see that the people who I havemet so far take it to heart.

Okay, this is a long post and only includes a fraction of what is in my journal. I'm signing off now.

Made it to Jo-burg

Okay, the trip to the airport was slightly eventful...Erika had to tkae me to my storage to drop off a few items...then a few minutes after we left I remembered that I had left my passport inside my printer the night before making copies. So we had to go back and get it and I had to move a few things around before I could get to the printer box...that was my only anxious moment. the flight was great...I watched 27 dresses and the other boylean girl on the long flight... I was knocked out on the flight form Houston to Atlanta...I didn't realize that we had taken off...I guess the past few days are getting to me. I had a problem finding the person form the lodge who was suppose to meet me at the Johannesburg airport...we found each other eventually. Okay I am going to get ready to bed. I'll try to keep up with the blog...so stay tuned. Hey, I'm on skype...so if you are already on skype request to add me as a friend (look me up by my hotmail address). It would be great to keep in touch.

take care