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.