Hello everyone from Peace Corps Headquarters in Pretoria. I am here in the computer lab provided for the volunteers, using the internet and printer free of charge. I have been in Pretoria for 5 days now completing my mid-service medical examinations and working on Diversity Committee documentation of trainings and facilitations we provided to the 85 new American trainees who will be sworn in as volunteers tomorrow at the American Ambassador's residence...an exhausting week after a previous exhausting week where three of the five members of the Diversity Committee lived at the rural village training site with the trainees in order to be a resource for them and facilitate an exercise....dusty, hot, hot, dry, but satisfying to be able to help them throught this stressful time....we remember it well.



I am a member of the Diversity Committee, 5 current PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers) who help new trainees, current PCVs, and Peace Corps staff with trainings, facilitations, cirriculum and program development. We assist Americans to gain greater understanding of the many diversities in what it means to be an American and how these different identities, i.e. white, black, female, gay, agnostic, etc and different perspectives are impacted as a volunteer in South Africa. These trainings help the group of PCVs become more cohesive and pave the way for the support needed at site that everyone requires but sometimes doesn't know how to provide each other. It has really been rewarding for me to be a part of this aspect of Peace Corps. For those of you who know me well, I am passionate about "building bridges" between diverse groups of people.



Wow, if you ever want great healthcare, become a Peace Corps Volunteer. I am amazed at the quality of care from the South African healthcare system and what Peace Corps allows us to access. I went for a basic mammogram examination yesterday and was given an ultra-sound exam and complete bone density test as well.



The following photos were taken by me while sacks of mealie-meal were being delivered to needy families just before Christmas 2006. You can read the story of my first tangible success, mealie-meal donations to the OVCs in the township where I live, in the blog posted in the December 2006 archives under "Office Party and More," December 18, 2006.

(...this idiot computer was way too slow uploading the pix...will post pix in next entry, hopefuylly)