Transportation, Rules and the dreaded PST!

Transportation, Rules and PST!
I don’t think I have conveyed on my Facebook, blog, etc. how incredibly hard the last 8 weeks have been. Even though it has been incredibly difficult, it has not been as hard as I had envisioned it. However, this is only the beginning of Peace Corps. The first 10 weeks of Peace Corps Botswana is called PST (Pre-Service Training). This training is not, for the most part, what we will be doing at our clinics, schools, offices, etc. In fact, only until last week did I have a decent idea of what my clinic wants/expects of me. That is a huge part of Peace Corps. We go to serve in the way they ask us to and in the conditions that they ask us to. But we will get to that later. Our training consists of mainly matters regarding community integration, security/safety and medical issues. Our staff is great and they have really tried their best to make these sessions interactive and interesting. TRY is the key word here. Sessions have been the easy part. I think the hardest part for me has been the loss of autonomy. For the last 6 years I have been trying to prove to my parents and family that I am an adult and should be treated as one. I have been fighting to be seen as an independent individual for so long. The idea here with children is that they do not stop being children until they get married. So naturally, here a young adult has less freedom then a young adult in the states. The Peace Corps stresses over and over how our host parents need to treat us as their own children and how important our safety is. Our host families take this very seriously. Due to this there are rules for Peace Corps Trainees (PCTs, we are not considered volunteers until we swear in on Oct 15th). I have to say there are not that many rules but the few they have they expect us to follow during our 10 weeks of training (including the older people in our group). There are a few that are kept at highest priority.

1. Not staying out past dark, unless we are with our host families. This gets incredibly irritating around this time because it is winter in Botswana and it gets dark here around 6:30 p.m. 2. We are not allowed to leave our village without giving 24 hour notice. If it is going to be an overnight in another village then it must be a week in advance. This is all assuming that we are going with our host parents. We are not allowed to leave Botswana at all during PST. If we do and get caught that is grounds for immediate termination. This gets irritating because of shopping. Luckily we live in a huge village. Serowe has about 60,000 people. However, not everything can be bought here, for example, some electronics. There are a few different kinds of ways to shop in Botswana which I will get to that some other time. 3. We are not allowed to have visitors during training, even if they get their own accommodations. Actually for the first three months and the last three months of our service we are not allowed to have visitors or travel anywhere other than our shopping village.

LOCKDOWN…
That being said, the next three months are going to be incredibly hard for everyone, especially those that are particularly isolated from everyone else. The holidays will also be during lockdown. Like this was not already going to be a hard time for everyone but we also cannot spend this time with other volunteers whom have become our entire support system. I think this will be the hardest time for me in Peace Corps. It is supposed to be our time to really integrate with our community and really become a presence there. We are also not allowed to start any projects or do much work at all for the most part. During this time we are supposed to do a community assessment to assess the needs of the community and find out what kind of projects they would like for us to start and participate in. Some of us will have trouble gaining the trust of the community and counterparts (these are people of the community that assist us and support us during our service). Many of us, get dropped off in a village where there is no other American or even person we know. Add this to the fact that many of us will have to deal with water shortages (actual shortages), no electricity, looonngg walks, having to hitch to places, taking public transport for hours to get to our shopping village just for groceries all on top of having waaayyy too much free time and no one to vent to in the first 3 months!. However, our country director is really good about allowing us to pick one holiday that we can spend with other volunteers in our village of our choice providing we get approval and it is not too far from our own village. Nonetheless, the ultimate trial of Peace Corps will be lockdown. This will be a time where each volunteer will really find out if they want to be here and remember why they chose to do this. Talk about self-exploration…. But lets get to transportation…

Transportation.

Botswana is a country where everyone is always in transit. Many, many people here work for the government and working for the government means you probably travel a lot. Nurses, doctors, teachers, etc often get placed in villages other than their own. This means that many parents live away from their children and family. My language instructor for example has two daughters that live with her in laws a few hours away from Serowe while she teachers here for 10 weeks. Her husband works in the mines and also lives in a different village. This is a big contributing factor in what they call MCP (multiple concurrent partners), a HUGE factor in HIV infection in this country (but this is a conversation for a different day). Volunteers worldwide are generally not allowed to have cars or motorcycles for safety reasons. If we ride bikes or horses we must wear helmets and we are not allowed to ride motorcycles at all as well as the open backs of trucks. These are grounds for immediate termination. Though I heard donkey carts are fair game. : ) There are still a few options for volunteers to get around. In many smaller villages many people do not have cars so there is a lot of public transportation in Botswana.

Combis
Combis are large vans that can seat between 12-15 people depending how hard you try. They have specific routes and are very cheap. In Serowe, taking a combi anywhere always cost 3.50 pula (do the math, unlike me you have Google). Other combis go to and from different villages, usually neighboring villages. Being in a combi makes me want to make myself the smallest I can. Personal space is not a huge concept in Botswana to begin with and that holds true on combis. I could be wedged up next to someone for an hour in a very uncomfortable seat with my grocery bags in between my legs. Our sweat will probably just coexist together so there is nothing left to do but get as comfortable as possible. This is also the case on buses.

Buses
For longer trips there are buses that take us to major villages or cities (there are only two cities in Botswana). Taking a bus in Botswana is not like the states however. For one, someone takes the payment while the bus is in motion, like on a train. Another very interesting, but not unbelievable thing, to note is how much commotion is always going on at each stop. While people are getting on and off, arguing about missing luggage, inquiring prices and directions, etc there are vendors inside of the bus trying to sell all kinds of snacks, frozen water bottles, fast food etc. At the same time there are people outside below the windows also trying to sell things to us and expecting us to lean out of the window to make the exchange. Some of them are very persistent and even set things in our laps to try and get us to buy their goods.

Taxis
These are pretty straight forward. They usually are only found in bigger villages and cities. They tend to have specific routes that are a flat rate but also do “Specials” which mean they go outside their route and sometimes a little further. In Serowe, taxis cost 4 pula each person or 20 pula all together for a Special. However, drivers often try and rip us off because we are white and people here think that all white rich people are rich (also conversation for another day).

Hitch Hiking
Yes, we hitch hike. Our country director has gone through great lengths to get permission from Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington to allow us to hitch hike. They ask us to use it as our last resort but we are allowed to hitch. There are some volunteers who will only have hitching as their transportation in and out of their village. In my case I will have one combi that comes and goes to my village in the morning and then back in the afternoon. Other than that however, I will have to hitch to get my way back in and out from my shopping village that will be about two hours away. I only have two roads in my village of 1,600 and they are both dirt roads. In my experience hitching has been a great experience. People are incredibly nice here. Even though many times they probably only pick us up because we are white but they are still genuinely interested in why we are here and what we are here to do. Batswana for the most part seem to love Americans and politically speaking America and Botswana have a great relationship. The U.S. was the second country to acknowledge Botswana as a country after Britian declared their independence, Britian being the first of course. Batswana also love to test our Setswana. They think its hilarious we can greet them, introduce ourselves and tell them what we are doing in Botswana, all in Setswana. Many times they won’t even take payment.

All in all, it takes a while to get to places in Botswana. The country is the size of about Texas but there are only 2 million people. A huge chunk of the population is in the southern region near the capital where so many people travel to work. The roads, where there are roads, are not always in good condition. When we start traveling to see other volunteers, I believe we will really fortify those relationships with our peers we have been making in our last 8 weeks. You don’t travel 8 hours in a hot and sweaty bus next to a man that keeps asking to marry you for someone you don’t truly care about! LOL

En Español! Transportacion, Reglas, y Entrenamiento!

No creo que a expresado en Facebook, este blog o otras connecions sociales que increíblemente difícil estas ultimas 8 semanas han sido. Aunque a sido muy difícil no a sido difícil por las razones que vea pensado. Pero apenas son las primeras 8 semanas de 27 meses y estoy segura lo mas difícil esta por venir. Las primeras 10 semanas de Peace Corps (el programa que estoy haciendo al momento ) son entrenamiento. Si llama PST. PST es un etapa de Peace Corps en que aprendimos come protegernos en un país nuevo, como vivir como una persona común en nuestros pueblos, y las metas de Peace Corps. Este entrenamiento no incluye mucho de lo que vamos estar haciendo en nuestras clínicas, escuelas y oficinas. De hecho, la mayoría de los voluntarias no sabemos casi nada de lo que íbamos estar haciendo hasta la semana pasado cuando tuvimos una junta con nuestros futuros supervisores. Esto es un aspecto muy importante de Peace Corps. Vamos a donde nos mandan en las condiciones que ellos nos dictan, pero eso es una conversación para otra día. Nuestros maestros y los empleados hacen mucho por hacer las clases interesantes y informativas pero a la vez todavía son muy pesadas y a veces enfadosas. Pero las clases son lo mas fácil de esta experiencia. La parte mas difícil para mi en esta experiencia hasta horita a sida la perdida de autonomía. En los últimos 6 anos e intentado comprobarle a mis papas y familia que puedo ser un adulto y puedo ser independiente. La idea aquí para las familias Batswana es que sus hijos no son adultos hasta que se casan. Entones, naturalmente nos tratan como niños. También el Peace Corps les dice y dice la importancia de nuestra seguridad y que nos deben que tratar como sus hijos verdaderos. Los Batswana toman esto muy enserio y nos tratan como tratarían a sus hijos propios. Por esta razón Peace Corps tiene muchas reglas para nosotros mientras que todavía estamos en entrenamiento. No somos considerados voluntarios oficialmente hasta el 15 Octubre. No tenemos muchas reglas pero las que tenemos toman muy enserio.
1. No puédenos andar en la calle cuando esta oscuro. Esto se nos molesta mucho en este tiempo porque al momento es invierno en Botswana y se escúrese como a las 6:30 de la tarde.
2. No podemos salir de el pueblo donde estamos al momento antes de informar 24 horas del paseo. Si vamos a salir del pueblo y quedarnos la noche tenemos que avisar una semana antes del día. Todo esto es suponiendo que vamos a ir con las familias con que nos estamos quedando. No pudimos salir del país de Botswana en los primeros 3 meses. Si salimos del país sin permiso nos terminan nuestro cérvico inmediatamente. Esto empieza a ser muy enfadoso porque ay muchas cosas que no podemos comprar en ningún otro lado mas que en una de las dos cuidades de Botswana, como muchos electrónicos. Afortunadamente, al momento, vivemos en un pueblo de mas de 60,000 personas so la mayoría de cosas son fácil para encontrar. 3. También no pudimos tener visitantes los primeros 3 meses y los últimos 3 meses. A la vez, no pudimos salir de nuestros pueblos en esos tiempos mas que para ir de compras a el pueblo mas cercano donde ay tiendas de comida.

Encierro
Los siguiente 3 meses van a ser demasiado difícil para mi y para esos voluntarios que van estar muy lejos de otros voluntarios. Como si ya no fuera suficiente difícil pero también los días festivos van a ser in este tiempo. Solo nos dan un fin de semana para un día festivo que escojamos para pasarlo con otros voluntarios en el país. Según nos dicen este tiempo es para integración en la comunidad, aprender la cultura y para ayar como vivir en nuestros pueblos y como vivir como la gente al rededor de nosotros. Muchos de nosotros nos van a dejar en pueblos donde vamos a ser la única persona American. Algunos de nosotros tendremos dificultada ganando la confianza de la comunidad. A la vez muchos de nosotros vamos a tener dificultades con escasez de agua, unos sin electricidad, tener que caminar muy lejos, pedir le rites a extraños, y durar horas para llegar a un tienda de comida. Aparte de todo esto no pudimos empezar proyectos nuevos hasta después de los tres meses. Los primeros tres meses estamos aprendiendo como funcionan cosas en la comunidad y en nuestro lugar de trabajo. Por eso también vamos a tener mucho tiempo libre al empiezo. Como dica, estos tres meses van a ser unos de las difícil para nosotros. Esta va ser un época de esta aventura donde cada quien va ser recordad por que eso esta decisión y si realmente quiere estar aquí.

Transportación de Botswana
Botswana es un pais donde la gente siempre si esta moviendo. Mucha gente aquí trabajo por el gobierno. El gobierno mueve sus empleados mucho y mucha veces no en la mismo región donde viven. Esto quiere dicer que madres y padres a veces viven legos de sus familias. Transportación para voluntarios a veces es difícil. Voluntarios de Peace Corps por todo el mundo generalmente no pueden manejar caros. Pero creo que burros son una de mis posibilidades. Jajaj Estas son las opciones de transportación en Botswana.

Combis
Combis son como taxis pero eso como una ven grande para 12-15 personas. Tienen rutas especificas y por lo regular muy barato. In Serowe, el pueblo donde estoy al momento, cuesta 3.50 pula. Un dollar es un poco mas de 8 pula. Los combis van de pueblo a pueblo a veces pero por lo regular los pueblos cercas. Cuando estoy en un combi siento que me quiero hacer lo mas pequeña posible! La gente aquí, por lo general se arrima mucha en publico. En un combi puedo estar casi enzima de otra persona, con bolsas por todos lados y sudando profundamente también! Y como de caliente se ponen! Lo único que nos queda hacer es poner nos cómodos y fingir que la persona a lado de mi no huele feo! jaja

Camiones
Para paseos mas largos ay camiones que nos llevan a pueblos y cuidades mas grandes. En Botswana solo hay dos cuidades. En los camiones siempre ay mucha conmoción. Al momento que los pasajeros se están bajando y subiendo ay gente vendiendo agua, dulces, sándwiches, etc adentro del camino y también afuera! La gente intenta vender cosas por las ventanas. También son muy agresivos! Nos ponen las cosas que venden en las manos para que las compremos!
Taxis
Taxis por lo regular son igual que en otros lugares. También son muy baratos generalmente. Por lo regular no van muy lejos. Pero a veces, porque somos Americanos, nos tratan de cobrar mas porque piensan que tenemos mucho dinero! La realidad es que no tenemos ni para los chicles! Jaja

Rites de Extraños
Si, Peace Corps nos da permiso de tomar rites de personas extraños. Incluso, ay unos voluntarios que solo de esa forma puede salir y entrar a su pueblo porque no hay transportación en sus pueblos. Nos piden que solo usemos este método si no ay mas opción. Lo bueno para mi es que ay un combi que sale y entra de Moletemane, donde voy a vivir, dos veces al día. El pueblo donde tengo que comprar la mayoría de mi comida esta mas o menos dos horas de lejos. Solo tienen dos carreteras Moletemane y son mas como callejones que calles. El pueblo solo tiene 1,600 personas. En mi experiencia cuando extraños nos dan rites an sido muy buena gente y muy amable. Solo quieren platicar con un Americano. Los Batswana quieren mucho a las Americanos. También les encanta tratar de platicar con nosotros en Setswana, el idioma de aquí. Les da mucha gracia. Muchas veces no quieren que les paguemos el rite.

En general, duramos mucho tiempo a llegar a cualquier lugar. El país es el tamaño de el estado de Texas pero solo hay 2 millones de personas. La mayoría de la población vive cerca de la capital, Gaborone. Las calles aquí no son exactamente ideal (en donde ay calles y los camiones) y combis si descomponen regularmente. Cuando empecemos a poder visitar a los otros voluntarios la verdad vamos a fortalecer esas relaciones porque naden va a viajar 8 horas en un camión caliente, sudando, a lado de un señor que te esta proponiendo matrimonio si no le caes bien! jaja