Let's Be Tea Leaves

Pre-Service Training may have ended but the acronyms will live on forever. On October 15^th 72 of us took our oath to change from PCT’s (Peace Corps Trainees) to PCV’s (Peace Corps Volunteers)! Now, officially, our two years of service begin!

Many of us took extra long bucket baths to prepare for this day and dressed to the nines in our locally made “German print” skirts or shirts. There was a short ceremony with speeches from the Botswana Country Director, Kgosi (chief) of Serowe (our training village), the Charge d’Affaires from the U.S. Embassy to Botswana, and some of our own volunteers (yep, I can say “volunteers” now!).

The local Kgosi delivered a heartwarming speech about a rock, an egg, and some tea leaves. I know what you’re thinking, those don’t sound all that heartwarming, just wait... You take these three things and add boiling water. For the rock, nothing happens. It is placed someplace new yet it doesn’t change. For the egg, the environment changes it. It becomes something completely different than before the water was introduced. Finally, the tea leaves. When you place tea leaves into the harsh environment of a tea kettle, the tea leaves work with the water to become something new altogether. The tea leaves form a symbiotic relationship with the water to change their environment into something tasty and refreshing!

Therefore, as PCV’s, we should be tea leaves. We are entering new communities to be community mobilizers, mentors, teachers, and collaborators. Our goal is not to cure HIV or to “save” the world; rather we are placed here to work with the community towards common goals; to create sustainable change, and to share ideas, friendships, and cultures. Together, with the people of Botswana, we are going to make some delicious tasting tea!

Lwapa La Me (The Fam!)

As PST winds down and moving to sites is nigh upon us, I'd like to take this post to thank my host family and give everyone a glimpse into the lovely people that have been my temporary home away from home.

Living with a host family is not always easy. Living in any strangers house, even in America feels awkward. Many things become lost in translation (I just recently learned my brother's name yesterday even though he's been present the whole time!). I get strange looks when I put peanut putter on my magwinya (also called fat cakes, basically fried dough or unfrosted doughnuts), get laughed at when I eat paleche with a fork (a maize flour substance that looks like mashed potatoes with the texture of sponges and tastes of nothing), and am followed by children everywhere who express unquenchable interest for anything in my room.

But, I would also be lost without them. My host mother has a big smile for me every time I walk in the door. She asked me how school was and what I learned. She also loves to point out cultural practices like cooking over the fire and wearing traditional clothes.

At the party all of Bots 15 hosted to thank our families

My host brothers (the ones that live at home) cook dinner every night even making extra so that I have leftovers for lunch the next day. My host sister (who lives a few houses away) makes magwinya every day and who am I to complain about these fried balls of deliciousness!

Game was having none of this picture taking! She refused to turn around and smile.

My nieces and nephews, my constant source of joy, annoyance, and information all bundled into one, keep me company (sometimes too much) and teach me Setswana. 

It is one of the greatest feelings in the world to hear Game (2 years old) shout "Laura!" and run to give me a hug when she sees me. She doesn't speak English but will ramble to me all day long! 

Theresa (8) is pure energy. She has taught me multiple hand-claping rhymes and loves braiding my hair. 

Lesego (10) is incredibly helpful from helping me with Setswana homework to drinking tea with me at night, he has become a quick favorite. 

Yaone (13) is the first person to greet me every morning as she warms water for a bath. She taught me the proper way to do laundry and shares my love for the Frozen soundtrack.

And finally the cat, who my family lovingly (or not so lovingly) calls Katse, the Setswana word for cat. My stress-reliever is to come home in the evenings pet this cat and watch the sunset. Surprisingly, last week I found out that this cat isn't even owned by my family! She is actually a neighbor's. And not only that, but she has two kittens who have been hiding under a car in our yard.

Even though I am incredibly excited to move to Kang this week, it will be sad to say goodbye to the family who has taken me in and taught me the basics of Botswana culture. Serowe is about 10 hours from Kang so I may never meet them again, but I will always remember their hospitality and love they've given me!