I have been able to upload pictures finally. Check them out at this website:
http://s806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/Brooke_golden/Swaziland%20Community%20of%20Shewula/
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Health Day with Luke Commission
We just finished a health day in our community. It all started when one of the Rural Health Motivators asked me to call Luke Commission, a non-profit group that is from America. They go to rural communities all over Swaziland and do a mobile clinic complete with doctors, dentists, ophthalmologists, and pharmacists. They even gave out wheelchairs!
We were extremely impressed with their organization. They came and did not leave until the last patient was seen (which was at midnight!) and they didn’t run out of ANYTHING. Also, a family planning organization came out (Family Life Association of Swaziland, or FLAS), and Samaritan’s Purse came and gave gifts to the kids.
We worked with Peace Corps to organize transport for those who could not walk. I haven’t seen the official numbers, but I heard that over 200 people did HIV testing. How did they get these numbers? Well, they have a holistic approach, meaning they don’t separate out HIV testing from eyeglasses or whatnot. And if you want to see the doctor about something, they require that you get blood pressure, blood sugar, HIV and TB testing before the doctor will see you. I mean, that really makes sense, since any of these test results can change a diagnosis, right? It is a novel idea here to treat HIV the same as other sicknesses, but for Luke Commission, it works. And people don’t seem to be as afraid to test. Also, the fact that they stay so late brings in those who would rather not be seen going to the doctor during the day (young adults that are at the highest risk for HIV and are generally more afraid to publicly test).
We also had two of the nurses from our local clinic come out to help. It was really neat to see the community coming together about health issues. And there were lots of people happy with their new glasses!
I am now starting work on organizing the next library project with Books for Africa. It should be taking off soon, and it will be really awesome to be part of starting new school libraries all across the country.
Monday is the Swear-In ceremony of the new group, Group 8. Crazy that we have been here a year, huh? And I can say I have been living without running water or electricity for a year now. I miss everyone dearly.
We were extremely impressed with their organization. They came and did not leave until the last patient was seen (which was at midnight!) and they didn’t run out of ANYTHING. Also, a family planning organization came out (Family Life Association of Swaziland, or FLAS), and Samaritan’s Purse came and gave gifts to the kids.
We worked with Peace Corps to organize transport for those who could not walk. I haven’t seen the official numbers, but I heard that over 200 people did HIV testing. How did they get these numbers? Well, they have a holistic approach, meaning they don’t separate out HIV testing from eyeglasses or whatnot. And if you want to see the doctor about something, they require that you get blood pressure, blood sugar, HIV and TB testing before the doctor will see you. I mean, that really makes sense, since any of these test results can change a diagnosis, right? It is a novel idea here to treat HIV the same as other sicknesses, but for Luke Commission, it works. And people don’t seem to be as afraid to test. Also, the fact that they stay so late brings in those who would rather not be seen going to the doctor during the day (young adults that are at the highest risk for HIV and are generally more afraid to publicly test).
We also had two of the nurses from our local clinic come out to help. It was really neat to see the community coming together about health issues. And there were lots of people happy with their new glasses!
I am now starting work on organizing the next library project with Books for Africa. It should be taking off soon, and it will be really awesome to be part of starting new school libraries all across the country.
Monday is the Swear-In ceremony of the new group, Group 8. Crazy that we have been here a year, huh? And I can say I have been living without running water or electricity for a year now. I miss everyone dearly.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Care Packages
Hey,
So this will be quick. Many people stateside are asking what kind of stuff is good to send in care packages. I am going to speak for the whole Peace Corps group here, because this is stuff that is generally popular. However, keep in mind we can get alot of stuff here, so this is just if you really want to treat us ^_^ We know shipping is expensive, so please know we are not suffering on the food end. Also, please DO NOT SEND PERISHABLES!!!! The mail gets backed up every now and then, and odds are they might not make it here without getting really gross.
-kool-aid packets
-crystal light (usually some people prefer sugar or fake sugar, so it depends)
-popcorn seasoning
-american candy (nerds, laffy taffy, jolly rancher, werthers, etc)
-Starbucks coffee or other nice brand- coffee is here, but expensive. We have found some creative ways to filter our coffee, so it is a nice treat.
-dried fruit other than papaya, guava. There is a very limited selection of dried fruit and it is costly.
- instant oatmeal flavored packets (man these are a nice sweet treat!)
- rice-a-roni (I have found a way to make a rice-a-roni like thing, but it still isn't the same)
-easy mac (Noodles are easy to get here, but the cheese packets are not here, so if you want to save postage, just send the cheese packets)
-new movie DVDs (if a volunteer has electriciy, they will LOVE this, but if they don't, they will still find a way!)
-Magazines (we don't know what is going on...unless we have internet phones)
-new music CDs (we all share music, so anything new would be great!)
- really good sunblock (Peace Corps gives us sunblock, but it is only SPF 30 and it sweats off pretty easy
-nice smelling body spray (nice for girls, we can get deoderant here, but we are out sweating alot
I think that is all I can think of right now...this has been some of the stuff that has been sent to me, and it has been really nice! Thanks everyone!
Love,
Brooke
So this will be quick. Many people stateside are asking what kind of stuff is good to send in care packages. I am going to speak for the whole Peace Corps group here, because this is stuff that is generally popular. However, keep in mind we can get alot of stuff here, so this is just if you really want to treat us ^_^ We know shipping is expensive, so please know we are not suffering on the food end. Also, please DO NOT SEND PERISHABLES!!!! The mail gets backed up every now and then, and odds are they might not make it here without getting really gross.
-kool-aid packets
-crystal light (usually some people prefer sugar or fake sugar, so it depends)
-popcorn seasoning
-american candy (nerds, laffy taffy, jolly rancher, werthers, etc)
-Starbucks coffee or other nice brand- coffee is here, but expensive. We have found some creative ways to filter our coffee, so it is a nice treat.
-dried fruit other than papaya, guava. There is a very limited selection of dried fruit and it is costly.
- instant oatmeal flavored packets (man these are a nice sweet treat!)
- rice-a-roni (I have found a way to make a rice-a-roni like thing, but it still isn't the same)
-easy mac (Noodles are easy to get here, but the cheese packets are not here, so if you want to save postage, just send the cheese packets)
-new movie DVDs (if a volunteer has electriciy, they will LOVE this, but if they don't, they will still find a way!)
-Magazines (we don't know what is going on...unless we have internet phones)
-new music CDs (we all share music, so anything new would be great!)
- really good sunblock (Peace Corps gives us sunblock, but it is only SPF 30 and it sweats off pretty easy
-nice smelling body spray (nice for girls, we can get deoderant here, but we are out sweating alot
I think that is all I can think of right now...this has been some of the stuff that has been sent to me, and it has been really nice! Thanks everyone!
Love,
Brooke
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Some of the Challenges of Adjustment
I was writing a letter to a friend, and these are some of the challenges I tried to describe...I thought it might be interesting.
Peace Corps has been difficult for many reasons. I think the hardest thing by far is that we aren’t allowed to express our thoughts concerning anything political here. Even in this email to you, there are things I can’t talk about politically. Not having that freedom of speech is a real challenge here. I understand that we would not be able to perform our duties here effectively if we were able to speak our mind, but it is really difficult to take the fifth sometimes.
Also, the pace of life and change here is very slow compared to America. Or maybe not slow, just different. We have like a week or so where we are too busy to do anything, and then there could be an entire month where everything you schedule falls through. Generally our priorities don’t always match up with theirs. For instance, right now the World Cup is happening in South Africa. Soccer here is more important than football in the states, so planning anything right now would be futile. Even meeting with teachers has proven difficult. There are stores that just aren’t open, presumably because the owner went to South Africa for the World Cup. Its intense, but problematic for development work.
Until a few months ago, it was general culture shock that was also a big challenge. Not understanding most of what people say, and then still not knowing certain rules until you do the wrong thing has been a challenge. I think just now I am in this phase where I not only miss things in the States, but relishing things that are here which I know I will miss when I get back. One example is bread. I really miss nice wheat bread. The wheat bread here isn’t ground as finely as in America, so you get these random bits of husk that just have a weird texture. They also don’t make those really nice flavors like honey wheat, and rye, and the one with the sunflower seeds in it. I miss those, and I think about them more than I should. However, what they do have here is fresh, HOT bread in pretty much any grocery store. Our host family has a market, and they get bread delivered every day, and sometimes it is still hot. That is wonderful. There is nothing like bread so hot it might burn a hole through the plastic. Anyway, I know I will miss that, so I am relishing it now.
Peace Corps has been difficult for many reasons. I think the hardest thing by far is that we aren’t allowed to express our thoughts concerning anything political here. Even in this email to you, there are things I can’t talk about politically. Not having that freedom of speech is a real challenge here. I understand that we would not be able to perform our duties here effectively if we were able to speak our mind, but it is really difficult to take the fifth sometimes.
Also, the pace of life and change here is very slow compared to America. Or maybe not slow, just different. We have like a week or so where we are too busy to do anything, and then there could be an entire month where everything you schedule falls through. Generally our priorities don’t always match up with theirs. For instance, right now the World Cup is happening in South Africa. Soccer here is more important than football in the states, so planning anything right now would be futile. Even meeting with teachers has proven difficult. There are stores that just aren’t open, presumably because the owner went to South Africa for the World Cup. Its intense, but problematic for development work.
Until a few months ago, it was general culture shock that was also a big challenge. Not understanding most of what people say, and then still not knowing certain rules until you do the wrong thing has been a challenge. I think just now I am in this phase where I not only miss things in the States, but relishing things that are here which I know I will miss when I get back. One example is bread. I really miss nice wheat bread. The wheat bread here isn’t ground as finely as in America, so you get these random bits of husk that just have a weird texture. They also don’t make those really nice flavors like honey wheat, and rye, and the one with the sunflower seeds in it. I miss those, and I think about them more than I should. However, what they do have here is fresh, HOT bread in pretty much any grocery store. Our host family has a market, and they get bread delivered every day, and sometimes it is still hot. That is wonderful. There is nothing like bread so hot it might burn a hole through the plastic. Anyway, I know I will miss that, so I am relishing it now.
June Updates
Well, in a week we will have been in Swaziland one year! We are actually planning a little get together for all the volunteers- CHRISTMAS IN JUNE!!!! Since June 25 is exactly one year since we entered Swaziland, it is six months from the actual Christmas, and a pay day, and it will be cold (unlike the real Christmas was), we thought a little party would be appropriate. Lets see, that is the fun stuff we have planned…now about work.
We just finished a workshop with our rural health motivators, who are women selected in the community to do home visits and teach health and hygiene. These women have been working since the eighties, and they have yet to receive any in-service training, so we worked with World Vision, another Non-Governmental Organization in the area, to provide them with some lessons. They learned about Child and Patient Rights, the Child Growth and Immunization card, Home Based care, HIV/AIDS and TB (signs/symptoms, transmission, drug identification, and how to protect themselves) and PMTCT (prevention of mother to child transmission). It was a lot of information. We met with them again a few weeks ago and have started to introduce solar disinfection, since gas is very difficult to get here, and we are backed up to a nature reserve, making firewood collection difficult. They were so happy to hear of a use for old bottles! We are now starting to work with the primary school teachers to answer their HIV questions and give them resources so they can better explain HIV to the children. With Swaziland Government paying for free grade one education, the schools have been very busy trying to accommodate all these new students. It has been a bit of a challenge getting all the teachers at each school together, but once the dialogue starts, we hope to really help clear up any issues/misconceptions. We are also hoping to do the book project again- this time with the primary schools.
Another project I worked on with two other volunteers that was finished up in April (I left for Cape Town, and they had to finish up the tough work without me, sorry guys!) is the Welcome Video for the new group coming the end of June. If you would like to hear about Swaziland and a bit about what Peace Corps is like here, you can find these videos on www.youtube.com Just search for Peace Corps Swaziland. There should be about 24 or so videos up on different topics ranging from what a homestead is to teaching at a school. I hope these videos will be interesting to you.
Well that is an update if I have ever seen one. Sorry we don’t update more often…rumor in our community has it that we might be getting electricity soon, which would make it much easier to update, so maybe then you will see more, but I won’t make any promises!
We just finished a workshop with our rural health motivators, who are women selected in the community to do home visits and teach health and hygiene. These women have been working since the eighties, and they have yet to receive any in-service training, so we worked with World Vision, another Non-Governmental Organization in the area, to provide them with some lessons. They learned about Child and Patient Rights, the Child Growth and Immunization card, Home Based care, HIV/AIDS and TB (signs/symptoms, transmission, drug identification, and how to protect themselves) and PMTCT (prevention of mother to child transmission). It was a lot of information. We met with them again a few weeks ago and have started to introduce solar disinfection, since gas is very difficult to get here, and we are backed up to a nature reserve, making firewood collection difficult. They were so happy to hear of a use for old bottles! We are now starting to work with the primary school teachers to answer their HIV questions and give them resources so they can better explain HIV to the children. With Swaziland Government paying for free grade one education, the schools have been very busy trying to accommodate all these new students. It has been a bit of a challenge getting all the teachers at each school together, but once the dialogue starts, we hope to really help clear up any issues/misconceptions. We are also hoping to do the book project again- this time with the primary schools.
Another project I worked on with two other volunteers that was finished up in April (I left for Cape Town, and they had to finish up the tough work without me, sorry guys!) is the Welcome Video for the new group coming the end of June. If you would like to hear about Swaziland and a bit about what Peace Corps is like here, you can find these videos on www.youtube.com Just search for Peace Corps Swaziland. There should be about 24 or so videos up on different topics ranging from what a homestead is to teaching at a school. I hope these videos will be interesting to you.
Well that is an update if I have ever seen one. Sorry we don’t update more often…rumor in our community has it that we might be getting electricity soon, which would make it much easier to update, so maybe then you will see more, but I won’t make any promises!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
It's been awhile...
Wow, I realize now how long it has been since our last update. Well, much has happened--I will try to recount all of it.
We worked with some youth in our community to do a beauty contest...they did pretty much all of it, and without any outside funding, which is very unusual here. It was a lot of fun. They wanted to bring the youth together and talk about issues, including HIV, and they came up with the beauty contest as a way to do this. It was really cool.
Reid worked with a local Drama group for youth (Sibuko Salabasha) to prepare them for a competition that another volunteer was organizing. He taught health lessons over a twelve week period, and then they went to the competition. There were ten other drama groups throughout swaziland, and our group won first place! They were really incredible...and we don't know anything about Drama, so it was all them!
We went on our Cape Town Trip in April, and it was fabulous! We both finished our runs and got medals. Reid did the Two Oceans ultra marathon (35 miles) and I did the
Old Mutual half marathon (13 miles). We really enjoyed Cape Town. It is such a diverse city! We have gotten used to Swaziland, which is all one tribe of African people basically (except for us ^_^ ) and so going to Cape Town and seeing all the different races was really interesting. I wonder what effect it will have when we get back to the states?!
Now we are working on a workshop for the people in our community whose job it is to go to homes and do home-based care. Here, there are many people who put off going to the hospital or clinic when they are sick because of costs, or just don't know if their sickness is bad enough. (This happens in America too) but then when they wait, they get to a point where they can't use the public transport, and hiring a car to come and get them is way to expensive, so they are at home. Also, hospitals and clinics are very over-crowded, so home-based care is heavily supported here. Therefore, we are working with a clinic to train the people in the community that have been elected to care for the sick and teach hygiene. We will be teaching them basic sickness identification, prevention, and when to seek treatment. We will also be teaching about HIV and TB, and PMTCT (Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission).
On the Peace Corps Office side, we are working to get ready for the new group to come in (and saying goodbye to the last group). It is neat, because I think there are 7 people extending from the last group, so it will be cool to have them around. And I know everyone is excited about meeting the new group when they arrive!
We are also working with the High school doing the library thing. It could be awhile before that really gets off the ground, however. In the meantime, we found another group in our community doing drama (really, they found us) and we will be working on teaching them health lessons as well. It is really interesting how Swazis take to drama here. I would have never considered it before I left, but in a country where employment is so low, you have lots of youth that have lots of time on their hands. Also, in rural areas where most people don't have televisions (or electricity for that matter), drama provides a way for youth to come together, play, and discuss sensitive issues they might not feel comfortable just talking about. I am trying to embed some pictures we finally were able to upload...hope it works out. We are still trying to upload the video of our house...it takes a while because it is so big. We miss everyone, and it is weird to think we have already been here ten months!
Love, Brooke
We worked with some youth in our community to do a beauty contest...they did pretty much all of it, and without any outside funding, which is very unusual here. It was a lot of fun. They wanted to bring the youth together and talk about issues, including HIV, and they came up with the beauty contest as a way to do this. It was really cool.
Reid worked with a local Drama group for youth (Sibuko Salabasha) to prepare them for a competition that another volunteer was organizing. He taught health lessons over a twelve week period, and then they went to the competition. There were ten other drama groups throughout swaziland, and our group won first place! They were really incredible...and we don't know anything about Drama, so it was all them!
We went on our Cape Town Trip in April, and it was fabulous! We both finished our runs and got medals. Reid did the Two Oceans ultra marathon (35 miles) and I did the
Old Mutual half marathon (13 miles). We really enjoyed Cape Town. It is such a diverse city! We have gotten used to Swaziland, which is all one tribe of African people basically (except for us ^_^ ) and so going to Cape Town and seeing all the different races was really interesting. I wonder what effect it will have when we get back to the states?!
Now we are working on a workshop for the people in our community whose job it is to go to homes and do home-based care. Here, there are many people who put off going to the hospital or clinic when they are sick because of costs, or just don't know if their sickness is bad enough. (This happens in America too) but then when they wait, they get to a point where they can't use the public transport, and hiring a car to come and get them is way to expensive, so they are at home. Also, hospitals and clinics are very over-crowded, so home-based care is heavily supported here. Therefore, we are working with a clinic to train the people in the community that have been elected to care for the sick and teach hygiene. We will be teaching them basic sickness identification, prevention, and when to seek treatment. We will also be teaching about HIV and TB, and PMTCT (Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission).
On the Peace Corps Office side, we are working to get ready for the new group to come in (and saying goodbye to the last group). It is neat, because I think there are 7 people extending from the last group, so it will be cool to have them around. And I know everyone is excited about meeting the new group when they arrive!
We are also working with the High school doing the library thing. It could be awhile before that really gets off the ground, however. In the meantime, we found another group in our community doing drama (really, they found us) and we will be working on teaching them health lessons as well. It is really interesting how Swazis take to drama here. I would have never considered it before I left, but in a country where employment is so low, you have lots of youth that have lots of time on their hands. Also, in rural areas where most people don't have televisions (or electricity for that matter), drama provides a way for youth to come together, play, and discuss sensitive issues they might not feel comfortable just talking about. I am trying to embed some pictures we finally were able to upload...hope it works out. We are still trying to upload the video of our house...it takes a while because it is so big. We miss everyone, and it is weird to think we have already been here ten months!
Love, Brooke
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Holidays are over...almost
Well, after a very long Christmas break—Swaziland has a holiday called incwala immediately following their Christmas and New Years. It is a ceremony where the men of the country come together and celebrate. There is dancing. Every public building closes. You know how it is almost nice to start back to work after the Thanksgiving, Christmas, then New Years holidays? Incwala lasts a few weeks past these holidays, and so it is a long stretch where not much is open. Well, school is about to start back, along with government offices. Reid will be working with a local theater group who wants to compete in a Peace Corps Theater Competition. We will both be continuing to work on getting funds raised here for the library, as well as working with our community center to get the library ready for books.
Basically, it will be a pretty busy few months! Although the last month has been a bit slow, it is crazy to think that we have been here seven months already. We recently went and visited another volunteer, and she has a 45 minute walk from the public transport drop off in her community to her house, and it is up the steepest hill I think can be made without the gravel falling down the hill. We realized how lucky we are to have our drop off station literally a few steps from our homestead.
We also hope to start a pen pal program with one of the schools in our community and Joaquin school, since Reid is involved with World Wise schools and we got many wonderful letters from the kids in his school to give to kids in our community. We hope that this will be a great opportunity for both the children in America and the children here to practice their English, writing, and cultural awareness skills.
Basically, it will be a pretty busy few months! Although the last month has been a bit slow, it is crazy to think that we have been here seven months already. We recently went and visited another volunteer, and she has a 45 minute walk from the public transport drop off in her community to her house, and it is up the steepest hill I think can be made without the gravel falling down the hill. We realized how lucky we are to have our drop off station literally a few steps from our homestead.
We also hope to start a pen pal program with one of the schools in our community and Joaquin school, since Reid is involved with World Wise schools and we got many wonderful letters from the kids in his school to give to kids in our community. We hope that this will be a great opportunity for both the children in America and the children here to practice their English, writing, and cultural awareness skills.
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