August Vacation

So the Friday after the blow out I left the village and went to Windhoek for my groups Midservice Conference. This time we were in a different resort. Still far out in the mountains though. The place was decent. Day one of the conference was about reflecting on the first year of service. We did all these reflection activities. I wasn't into it. After what just happened at school, this whole situation is on my shit list. Day 2 was about preparing for year 2. Looking back at those notes, I vowed to try to create better relationships with those I work with and to take my health and recreation seriously. We'll see. Day 3 they brought us back to the city and Shannon and I hit the road to hitch down to Mariental for the Southern Girls Conference. This is a 2 day camp for girls that addresses issues like self esteem, appropriate relationships, career choices, health and fitness, gender roles, and hiv and sex education. Day 1 featured classes, another volunteer and I did the appropriate relationships class. The girls were split into 6 groups so they attended the classes on a rotation basis. My class began by discussing the different kinds of love, and more specifically romantic love. We discussed what a healthy relationship looks like, versus an unhealthy one. We discussed the pitfalls of young girls and how to avoid them, like getting pregnant, involving yourself with a sugar daddy, and hanging in the wrong crowd. We ended the class by writing the characteristics of a good man, the type they should be with, instead of the type they settle for. That evening 2 male volunteers spoke to the girls allowing them to ask questions about boys and sex. It was a successful day. Day 2, fun day! The rotation schedule had all fitness stuff, dance class, yoga, some games. I taught the dance class...but no ordinary dance class...a Richard Simmons, Sweatin to the Oldies, Live Edition, dance class! 3 in a row, 40 min each, was a bit much for ya girl, but I held it down! It was a blast, the music was jammin and i was sweatin away. A great work out. I kinda want that dvd now. On that note, if you have any work out dvd's send them this way! Later that night we threw them a surprise dance party. It had the works, "thumpin" music, balloons, streamers, and a t shirt for each girl. They had a blast. Day 3 was alot of sitting around and waiting. The transportation sucked so the girls were waiting around until late that night. Sunday Julie and I hitched up to okahandja in a big rig. Boy was that an experience. It was one of the bigger ones with a bed in the back seat. Me and julie are in the back and another hitcher is in the front. The driver is obsessed with me and starts talking about the house he'll buy us in swakop. My reply to things like this is that i would be a horrible wife since i don't cook, clean, or generally do anything to contribute to the household, but rather that i expect my husband to do it. They are usually appaled by this. How could a WOMAN do this? Julie was trying to explain the concept of shared responsibilities to him, with no luck. Men here don't really find it their responsibility to help with anything around the house, especially the kids. If the baby is crying and the woman is cooking, she better figure it out! It didn't help that he was driving BELOW the truck speed limit. Then he drops us just outside of windhoek so his company doesn't see him unloading passengers, but it was free so whatev. Now we're on the side of the road, seemingly, in the middle of nowhere. A nice lady picks us up and takes us to the peace corps office, free. We grab some stuff from the lounge and head back to the street, with more stuff. This guy picked us up and took us to the hike point to get to okahandja, free. So we are standing at the freeway on ramp waiting for someone to get us. Then a guy with his wife says he'll take us for 40 a piece, we take it and in one hour were there. This week we were the resource volunteers for group 32, the new education group. We basically did sessions with them about school policy and practice and cross cultural sessions addressing issues like bereavement, harassment, and integration. The week went well and they are a pretty awesome group, which helps immensely. Back to school. Term 3.