http://picasaweb.google.com/JennKunz/PeaceCorpsTraining?authkey=Gv1sRgCOv_-MnakNfidw#
It took me a long time to post these. So please appreciate. Nothing especially interesting but it gives you an idea of where I have spent my last week(s) (I really don't know how long I've been here and am too tired to figure it out right now. . .)
Monday, June 22, 2009
A day in Dar, to Homestay tomorrow
Monday June 22, 6:11 PM
I am sorry I haven’t written in a bit. They have been keeping us very busy with Kswahili and safety lessons and all sorts of fun talk about sex.
Yesterday, for the first time, we went into Dar es Salaam. They have been keeping us pretty sheltered in a nun-run complex outside of Dar, other than our trip to the Peace Corps office, which of course was another pretty sheltered space.
It was a Sunday and we were told that it was much less crowded than usual, although a lot of shops were open, I tried to imagine what it would look like on any other day. We walked about a half hour into town in small groups each with a staff member – some took dala dalas in (small buses) but our group decided to walk.
The city is beautiful, though the poverty is evident. The shopkeepers were kind, but in general people kept their distance. I bought a katenga which is a large piece of fabric that women wear either wrapped or get made into dresses our clothes. Some girls in the group got kangas which are slightly smaller and have a saying in Kiswahili on them. I also picked up some shampoo which was much more expensive than I thought it would be – and very hard to find – at least one that looked like it was meant for. . white people hair. I ended up finding a bottle of target brand 2in1 on the back of a shelf unpriced and paid about $7.50 for it. Hopefully I can stretch it for awhile.
I also got a dress, since my skirts are pushing the edge of modesty, and I want to have something to wear once I get to homestay where I will need to respect the more conservative expectations of dressing (including the before-mentioned no pants)
Dar was amass with different people – and different smells. I will have to get used to the strength of scent in this country, especially if I ever need to use the choo (bathroom) and am not near my own house.
In the afternoon part of the group rode a dala dala to a ferry, went to out to a peninsula, and way to a beach near a resort that was safe. We had 2 PCV escorts that led the way as we grasped our packs to our fronts and desperately stretched our Kiswahili skills.
The beach was beautiful, and peaceful, and it was the first break we have gotten since we got to staging however long ago that was. We all swam all afternoon and relaxed on the beach (and some even road a camel – but I was being cheap with my shillings, and decided to save for other things . . like toilet paper. )
We left the beach around dusk and climbed up the hill to where the dala dalas had dropped us off. Half the group got on one that I think had timed it’s return well to pick up our group. The rest of us split into groups of three or 4 after climbing up the long road to some houses, and stuffed (I mean STUFFED) ourselves into the dala dalas to make our way back to the ferry. We all met up safely, though, made our way to the ferry, and with the help of our savvy PCV guides, got ourselves onto another dala dala home. It was a good day.
Tomorrow, we leave for homestay. Early, around 7am. At homestay, each of us will live with a family. We will have our own room, and the family will help us learn Kiswahili, culture, cooking, cleaning, laundry, showering (bucket style) and all the other basics (like for us girls, how to make sure we dress appropriately and act appropriately, as there are SOOO many rules to follow here.)
I am nervous and excited. I will be entering into someone’s home to live with their family when I don’t know much of the language or the culture. I barely have a familiarity with my surroundings. I remind myself that they are excited to meet me and that they want to help me as a PCV, and they signed up to have someone live in their house for 8 weeks.
It will be an experience – I am sure – that will build my skillset of meeting new people even though I feel unprepared to communicate. In 8 weeks I will enter my village alone, without my fellow PCVs to turn to, and have to meet new people every day, until they become familiar, until the become friends.
I am going to try to upload some pictures with this blog post but I don’t know how it’ll go. The computers are slow in the internet café, and I have been typing some on my laptop, saving it to a USB thumbdrive and taking it over so I don’t have to fight with them (and pay for the time) The photos are of the place we are staying (that I am not allowed to tell you, in case you were wondering why it had been left out) and a few from the PC headquarters in Dar. I did not bring my camera to the trip yesterday because I didn’t want it to be a target. I brought almost nothing, after listening to stories of pick pocketing from other PCVs and being warned in particular about Dar. Three of our group where pick pocketed yesterday in Dar. I wish I could have photographed the city. The people. The beach. The pretty camel J But I have 2 years. I will need to become very comfortable with my surroundings, very aware, and probably made sure I know a lot of the people around me, before I show that I have anything of value that can be snatched.
I am sorry this is hastily written, I have to conserve laptop battery life, I don’t have much time as is. I still have some packing to do and some Kiswahili studying, and other reading. We are leaving so early tomorrow!
I hope all is well in the US of A. Please write me letters, as I will likely not have internet access for the next 8 weeks.
Now I’ll go see if I can post this. ..
I am sorry I haven’t written in a bit. They have been keeping us very busy with Kswahili and safety lessons and all sorts of fun talk about sex.
Yesterday, for the first time, we went into Dar es Salaam. They have been keeping us pretty sheltered in a nun-run complex outside of Dar, other than our trip to the Peace Corps office, which of course was another pretty sheltered space.
It was a Sunday and we were told that it was much less crowded than usual, although a lot of shops were open, I tried to imagine what it would look like on any other day. We walked about a half hour into town in small groups each with a staff member – some took dala dalas in (small buses) but our group decided to walk.
The city is beautiful, though the poverty is evident. The shopkeepers were kind, but in general people kept their distance. I bought a katenga which is a large piece of fabric that women wear either wrapped or get made into dresses our clothes. Some girls in the group got kangas which are slightly smaller and have a saying in Kiswahili on them. I also picked up some shampoo which was much more expensive than I thought it would be – and very hard to find – at least one that looked like it was meant for. . white people hair. I ended up finding a bottle of target brand 2in1 on the back of a shelf unpriced and paid about $7.50 for it. Hopefully I can stretch it for awhile.
I also got a dress, since my skirts are pushing the edge of modesty, and I want to have something to wear once I get to homestay where I will need to respect the more conservative expectations of dressing (including the before-mentioned no pants)
Dar was amass with different people – and different smells. I will have to get used to the strength of scent in this country, especially if I ever need to use the choo (bathroom) and am not near my own house.
In the afternoon part of the group rode a dala dala to a ferry, went to out to a peninsula, and way to a beach near a resort that was safe. We had 2 PCV escorts that led the way as we grasped our packs to our fronts and desperately stretched our Kiswahili skills.
The beach was beautiful, and peaceful, and it was the first break we have gotten since we got to staging however long ago that was. We all swam all afternoon and relaxed on the beach (and some even road a camel – but I was being cheap with my shillings, and decided to save for other things . . like toilet paper. )
We left the beach around dusk and climbed up the hill to where the dala dalas had dropped us off. Half the group got on one that I think had timed it’s return well to pick up our group. The rest of us split into groups of three or 4 after climbing up the long road to some houses, and stuffed (I mean STUFFED) ourselves into the dala dalas to make our way back to the ferry. We all met up safely, though, made our way to the ferry, and with the help of our savvy PCV guides, got ourselves onto another dala dala home. It was a good day.
Tomorrow, we leave for homestay. Early, around 7am. At homestay, each of us will live with a family. We will have our own room, and the family will help us learn Kiswahili, culture, cooking, cleaning, laundry, showering (bucket style) and all the other basics (like for us girls, how to make sure we dress appropriately and act appropriately, as there are SOOO many rules to follow here.)
I am nervous and excited. I will be entering into someone’s home to live with their family when I don’t know much of the language or the culture. I barely have a familiarity with my surroundings. I remind myself that they are excited to meet me and that they want to help me as a PCV, and they signed up to have someone live in their house for 8 weeks.
It will be an experience – I am sure – that will build my skillset of meeting new people even though I feel unprepared to communicate. In 8 weeks I will enter my village alone, without my fellow PCVs to turn to, and have to meet new people every day, until they become familiar, until the become friends.
I am going to try to upload some pictures with this blog post but I don’t know how it’ll go. The computers are slow in the internet café, and I have been typing some on my laptop, saving it to a USB thumbdrive and taking it over so I don’t have to fight with them (and pay for the time) The photos are of the place we are staying (that I am not allowed to tell you, in case you were wondering why it had been left out) and a few from the PC headquarters in Dar. I did not bring my camera to the trip yesterday because I didn’t want it to be a target. I brought almost nothing, after listening to stories of pick pocketing from other PCVs and being warned in particular about Dar. Three of our group where pick pocketed yesterday in Dar. I wish I could have photographed the city. The people. The beach. The pretty camel J But I have 2 years. I will need to become very comfortable with my surroundings, very aware, and probably made sure I know a lot of the people around me, before I show that I have anything of value that can be snatched.
I am sorry this is hastily written, I have to conserve laptop battery life, I don’t have much time as is. I still have some packing to do and some Kiswahili studying, and other reading. We are leaving so early tomorrow!
I hope all is well in the US of A. Please write me letters, as I will likely not have internet access for the next 8 weeks.
Now I’ll go see if I can post this. ..
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Today we went to Peace Corps headquarters. It was the first time we had ventured from the walls of the nun – run – complex we are staying since we arrived late evening on Tuesday. It seems like we have been here for so long, and at the same time, that time has flown so quickly. Soon enough we will be heading towards our homestays to live with families and begin a very intensive regime of Kiswahili.
Outside the gates, the poverty is apparent. I find myself observing the people to try to understand their mannerisms. I tried to see what the women were wearing, judging my own clothes in hopes that they are not too tight, short, or otherwise revealing. I know that when I am in my homestay and then at my post, the dress will likely be more conservative than here on the outskirts of Dar. I wish I brought longer looser skirts, and looser shirts. Hopefully on Sunday they will let us venture into Dar with PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer) guides and I can buy a kanga (cloth that is used to wrap around other clothing, or as clothing)
Inside the compound everyone is kind and greets you in Kiswahili – which I stop to try to stammer the appropriate reply. When I practice them in class I feel very confident, but when they are presented unexpectedly in a quick practiced tone, I usually end up replying ‘hi’ with an apologetic smile.
Tomorrow is more safety instructions, and now that I have been through town I truly understand the need for it. And immunizations, 4 more shots for me.
Today we went to Peace Corps headquarters. It was the first time we had ventured from the walls of the nun – run – complex we are staying since we arrived late evening on Tuesday. It seems like we have been here for so long, and at the same time, that time has flown so quickly. Soon enough we will be heading towards our homestays to live with families and begin a very intensive regime of Kiswahili.
Outside the gates, the poverty is apparent. I find myself observing the people to try to understand their mannerisms. I tried to see what the women were wearing, judging my own clothes in hopes that they are not too tight, short, or otherwise revealing. I know that when I am in my homestay and then at my post, the dress will likely be more conservative than here on the outskirts of Dar. I wish I brought longer looser skirts, and looser shirts. Hopefully on Sunday they will let us venture into Dar with PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer) guides and I can buy a kanga (cloth that is used to wrap around other clothing, or as clothing)
Inside the compound everyone is kind and greets you in Kiswahili – which I stop to try to stammer the appropriate reply. When I practice them in class I feel very confident, but when they are presented unexpectedly in a quick practiced tone, I usually end up replying ‘hi’ with an apologetic smile.
Tomorrow is more safety instructions, and now that I have been through town I truly understand the need for it. And immunizations, 4 more shots for me.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Training
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 7:45pm
It is still impossible to fully grasp that for the next 27 months, I will call this beautiful country my home. Walking around the grounds of the nunnery that we are staying at for these first 8 days, it’s hard to even convince myself I am in Africa.
These next days will be long, filled with paperwork, medical information, rules, and a lot of Kiswahili – preparing us for the 8 weeks of training that we will be doing in Tonga. I am so tired from so many nights of not sleeping that it is barely possible for me to stay awake in the hot stuffy classroom, very much absorb what is being told to us. I am hoping to get a full night’s sleep tonight and perhaps feel human again tomorrow.
We each have our own room here in the nunnery. A bunk bed with mosquito nets, a small closet with shelves, a table, chair, sink, a toilet without a seat, and a shower head that puts you precariously close to standing in the toilet in order to shower. There is only one temperature of water, but it is room temperature, not cold, and it is hot here so it isn’t so bad at all. You have to make sure not to open your mouth while showering, because the tap water is unfiltered. We brush our teeth with boiled water and drink bottled water for now. They showed us during class today how we will make large filters for our water. We will have to boil it for 3 minutes, then pour it through a bucket/filter system to filter out the solids.
I had to take out my nose ring. Some current volunteers who are here to help with our training said that women in the villages wear them – Muslim women and Christian women, but it is still against PC policy.
My camera is locked up under my bed. I probably won’t even bring it out until after I am finished my training, even perhaps more than a month into my post. I have my little point and shoot and I will hopefully be able to post some pictures for you soon. I don’t know how much access I will have to the internet. I am writing this now because I know we will be going to PC headquarters tomorrow and have a little time planned in as internet time.
Tomorrow begins the real training. Friday we get more shots. .
It is still impossible to fully grasp that for the next 27 months, I will call this beautiful country my home. Walking around the grounds of the nunnery that we are staying at for these first 8 days, it’s hard to even convince myself I am in Africa.
These next days will be long, filled with paperwork, medical information, rules, and a lot of Kiswahili – preparing us for the 8 weeks of training that we will be doing in Tonga. I am so tired from so many nights of not sleeping that it is barely possible for me to stay awake in the hot stuffy classroom, very much absorb what is being told to us. I am hoping to get a full night’s sleep tonight and perhaps feel human again tomorrow.
We each have our own room here in the nunnery. A bunk bed with mosquito nets, a small closet with shelves, a table, chair, sink, a toilet without a seat, and a shower head that puts you precariously close to standing in the toilet in order to shower. There is only one temperature of water, but it is room temperature, not cold, and it is hot here so it isn’t so bad at all. You have to make sure not to open your mouth while showering, because the tap water is unfiltered. We brush our teeth with boiled water and drink bottled water for now. They showed us during class today how we will make large filters for our water. We will have to boil it for 3 minutes, then pour it through a bucket/filter system to filter out the solids.
I had to take out my nose ring. Some current volunteers who are here to help with our training said that women in the villages wear them – Muslim women and Christian women, but it is still against PC policy.
My camera is locked up under my bed. I probably won’t even bring it out until after I am finished my training, even perhaps more than a month into my post. I have my little point and shoot and I will hopefully be able to post some pictures for you soon. I don’t know how much access I will have to the internet. I am writing this now because I know we will be going to PC headquarters tomorrow and have a little time planned in as internet time.
Tomorrow begins the real training. Friday we get more shots. .
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Staging
Here I am in Philly, tomorrow I leave from JFK towards Tanzania. The flight will be ~18 hours with a 3 hour layover in Amsterdam (a slight recalculation on my previous estimate)
During our staging we were told that our first 8 days in Dar we will basically be 'compounded in' - not allowed to leave. This, of course, is for our safety. It also prevents us from being able to get internet access, phone access, be able to purchase cellphones (which they said eventually might be an option) or contact home in any way.
So don't worry about me if you don't hear from me for a little while. No news is good news.
I am exhausted, and not looking forward to check-out at 6:30am and getting my immunizations at 7am. Hopefully I'll be able to get a good night of sleep tonight. Goodnight all.
During our staging we were told that our first 8 days in Dar we will basically be 'compounded in' - not allowed to leave. This, of course, is for our safety. It also prevents us from being able to get internet access, phone access, be able to purchase cellphones (which they said eventually might be an option) or contact home in any way.
So don't worry about me if you don't hear from me for a little while. No news is good news.
I am exhausted, and not looking forward to check-out at 6:30am and getting my immunizations at 7am. Hopefully I'll be able to get a good night of sleep tonight. Goodnight all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
