August 30th 2015

Ke rata go bina! (I love to dance!) Dance has been part of my life for as far back as my memory will allow. I have now taken lessons in around 25 different styles, and I keep coming back for more. Let’s be frank: I was never particularly amazing at any one style, but the rewarding feeling I get from a few hours of giving it my all and connecting with my inner dance goddess has allowed my life as a dancer to progress, despite giving up on my (family’s) dreams of me becoming a professional. I never got my splits, or nailed my double pirouette, and I will probably spend the rest of my life trying to figure out correct frame, but you run into me on a dance floor with my friends and you’ll see that I am meant to be a dancer. Without a dance partner or a studio, and without a dance club in sight (or the ability to go out after dark), I’ve been struggling to find ways to complete my nearly daily urge to break it down. Thankfully, two brilliant solutions presented themselves to me this week: zumba and a wedding. I can not get enough of zumba. 8 or so of us have been using our healthy outlets time during training to get in the groove and sweat out all the stress and anxiety that comes from living in another country and having absolutely no control over your life. This Sunday we decided to add a session to our morning and invite host country nationals. What we didn’t expect was all of the neighborhood children to join as well! We had a crowd of nearly 20 shaking it to latin/club mixes. Our lovely instructor has taught us my new favorite quote: There are no mistakes, only unanticipated solo’s. This is probably the most accurate quote to describe pretty much anything artistic I pursue. And I love it. Upon arriving home from zumba I found my PC friend and neighbor at my house with her host-mom to invite me to a wedding. Not wanting to pass up such a great opportunity, I quickly changed and hopped in the car. What an event! I was not quite anticipating the level of celebrity I would achieve at this wedding, but the experience was too good to pass up. Weddings in Botswana, are very different, and very similar, to weddings in America. For starters, anyone can just show up. There is no guest list. There is no seating chart. There is no caterer, there is no bartender, there is no wedding planner. There is just the family to prepare all of the food and to spread the word. There are elders to dictate the event, and there are neighbors, friends, and cousins, to arrive and celebrate. Alcohol is typically frowned upon here as substance abuse is a very real problem, which means there isn’t much cultural “drinking in moderation,” so one of the celebratory parts of weddings in the states wasn’t part of the party. But everyone still ends up having a fabulous time. When we arrived around noon, people were everywhere, and dancing was happening in the middle of the compound. We were quickly ushered into the dance line (think a train of people in two lines doing simple steps to the music while snaking around the floor) and I could not stop smiling while all of the youth at the wedding tried to teach us what to do. Soon two of the older women were beckoning us to the center of the floor for more one on one dance instruction, and I tried my best to keep up. We then watched as the groomsmen exited the house onto the dance floor and proceeded to dance their way to their van. We followed them in our car to the brides house, where we once again go in the dance line and proceeded around the courtyard until the bride and bridal party joined us, singing and dancing. Our next stop was the quarry where the bridal party was taking pictures, and we found out quickly we were expected to join in. This was a little strange, being in a cotton skirt and shirt, still a little unkempt from zumba earlier, sweating from the sun, and being told to jump in next to the gorgeous wedding party in their white and black pristine outfits. But we managed to sneak out after a couple of pictures and had a good laugh. Back at the grooms house, another processional and dance line continued, as the wedding party has choreographed dances to entertain the people at the wedding. Everyone went to sit and greetings, introductions, and speeches, were made before food was brought out. This was probably the best wedding food I’ve ever had. It was all traditional Setswana food, but it was homemade by the families, and even though they were serving to an unknown number on a hot day, each and every plate was heaped high with each type of food at the exact right temperature. There was beet salad, coleslaw, rice, potato salad, chicken, beef, stew, sempe, and squash. We ate around 3pm, and I was ready for food by then. Following the food was more dances by the wedding party, after they changed into their second outfit for the night. By now it was starting to get dark, so we went home after being told the event would go well into the night. Not to mention I undoubtably pulled a muscle in my back during zumba, so I was ready for some advil and a nap. It was quite the experience and I’m looking forward to attending more cultural events in the future. Next weekend in particular is ditubaruba! More once I’ve gone :) All in all the day was a great success. Training was just more of the same this week, with the addition of occasional internet access. We are starting to venture further into HIV sessions and assignment area specifics as we are almost finished with our global core sessions. Our most important and impactful session this week was hearing from a man who has spent the last 17 years living with HIV, and is now a speaker and HIV counselor. He was incredibly inspirational and put a meaningful face to the work we are all anxiously waiting to begin. I’m looking forward to continuing to meet and work with Batswana (the people of Botswana) on this tragic epidemic. Keep checking the dates of posts to see when I actual wrote each one. I’m still trying to do one a week even if they aren’t uploaded all right away. I’ll try to get pictures on the blog when I can, but for not it’s too complicated with my internet situation. Thank you again for all the love! Best, Bethany

August 22nd 2015

I am continuously reflecting on how blessed I was to be in the position I’m in. I am living out my dream of doing development work revolving around sex education in a foreign country. Literally. That is what I’m doing. Or at least, what I’m training to do. If you had asked me two years ago to tell you what I imagined myself doing when I “grew up”, those would be the three qualifying criteria. And here we are. It’s amazing how dreams manifest when you set your mind to them. Not only am I doing all of those things, I am living in a homestay with a family that is kind, loving, and selfless. They are helping me each day so that I can learn the cultural customs, how to cook traditional food, and how to perform the chores I’ll need to live in my own house after training. I am always well taken care of and I often go to bed with a full heart, thinking about how similar my homestay family is to my own in the way they show love. The people of Botswana (Batswana) are filled with kindness that I see each day. Often when we are walking to training we will be stopped by mothers and grandmothers for a quick chat to learn our names and which family we are staying with. They are always laughing with joy to hear us stumble through our Setswana phrases, and more than willing to teach us a new phrase or two. When we arrived in Botswana, we were told we had won the Peace Corps jackpot, and I’m starting to see why. I’m already captivated by my nightly sunsets from the front porch, the moment I take each day to slow down and appreciate where I am. Training is still going well. I’ve gotten 5 shots at this point and I still have at least 3 more to go to finish my series of vaccinations. Each day we start out with a virtue which people can volunteer to reflect on (inspired by The Virtue Project). It’s been a great way to get to know my fellow trainees as well as to reflect each day on my service and how each virtue with help me to succeed. Training days can be long, but sessions are typically only 2 hours at a time, which feel short compared to grad school classes. I’m lucky I was just in school because it definitely prepared me for 9+ hour days of training. The one fun part about training is Healthy Outlets which is where we plan activities near the end of the day for people to de-stress. So far I’ve done yoga and zumba, which I had never tried before and—surprise!— I loved it. Besides being in training I spend most of what free time I do have at my house with my host family. I’ve already gotten hooked to a South African soap opera (basically all that’s watched here) called Generations. I’m also slowly learning how to make the most common dishes here. There are two or three different types of porridge that are staples in Botswana, and I’m learning all the different ways to make and eat them. I’ve been eating huge meals. Perhaps I’m a bit too well fed. The trainees also spend a lot of time going to the strip mall or the grocery store or even the post office to run errands. Most importantly, the grocery store here sells cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, so my obsession from Oz has continued! I’ve been trying to make deals with myself so that I don’t buy it all the time. For instance, my end of training treat to myself is going to be a magnum ice cream bar. Thank goodness for ex-british countries. Speaking of treats, this past week I went to a tailor and bought fabric so that I can have a traditional dress made! I want to buy two or three while I’m in country, so I thought I’d get my first one before swearing-in! As a group we have also gone on a big hike a bit outside the city, and spent a fair bit of time at a hotel with an outdoor bar area and pool which gives us some privacy from the general stares when large numbers of us congregate in public. We had an afternoon of project planning that turned into making s’mores with a family, and we are starting to get to know each other’s host families. Although I’m in bed almost every night by 9, I really don’t mind the quiet and slow pace I take when I get home. When everything is new, it doesn’t feel boring to just sit and take it all in, it feels refreshing. There is still so much I want to do and learn while I’m in training, but right now I know it’s best to take it one day at a time and to not worry about what is ahead, only what I am doing now. Being present in the current moment is what I have been focusing on the most, and that seems to be serving me well. I should have internet once a week or so through mid Oct. (except when I’m on my site visit for two weeks in Sept.). I appreciate letters very much, especially since my internet access is so random and short, and you can send them to Bethany Lewis, PST PBag 000243 C/O Peace Corps Gaborone, Botswana People kept asking about care package items. Right now the running list is: gluten free snacks (like KIND bars!) good lotion (it is pretty dry here) USB’s filled with media (TV/Movies/Books/New Beyonce) Pictures! packets to make lemonade etc out of water bottles The news! Clippings of important articles (ie. Buckeye victories) or magazines you’re finished with. Even if the news is old, it’s still new to me! There isn’t any global or US publication in print here so any news is appreciated. Maps I can hang on the wall: USA, Botswana, Africa, World If you are going to send anything make sure to either send it before the second week of September or to wait until I have my new address in October. Even an occasional fb message or email with an update on your life would be wonderful. Since my access is limited it’s harder to just scroll through news feeds to see what everyone is up to.

August 15th 2015

It’s been just over a week since we’ve moved to our training village and we met our host families. Each day seems filled with activities and we are already beginning to sink into a routine. My host family seems to have been picked perfectly for me—there are children and extra pillows and people who do most things with meticulous intention. I meet new family members every weekend as host siblings travel in from out of town. The Setswana name they gave me is Mpho [Mm-po], which means Gift. I’ve already learned to hand wash my clothes (and how not to) and how to make dinawla and stumpe over the fire, a traditional meal that’s made up of beans and corn. I am lucky to have electricity and running water, but the hot water for bathing I have to fetch from the fire outside. Life is simple in the village, and that makes it easy for me to focus on training and to practice my Setswana with the neighbors I pass on the street. My sleep schedule has adjusted quickly to both the time zone and the culture as I’m up most days at 6 and asleep by 10. We aren’t allowed out after dark so there’s no point being a night owl. Today I slept in until 7:30! Training is reminding me that I am a learner. Even language, which I’ve struggled with greatly in the past, is something I am enjoying stumbling through at 7:30am each day. This past year, my best friend gave me the best advice I’ve ever had about learning a language: to try hard enough to make mistakes, and to laugh rather than be embarrassed when I do mess up. I keep that in mind every day while I’m trying to speak Setswana with my host family, and when I’m learning in class. I’m enjoying the challenge. Even training sessions that are mandated for each PCT (Peace Corps Trainee) are interesting to me. I’m clearly still in the mindset of education, which is helpful for the 9 hour days at training. In-between sessions we have tea breaks and a lunch break where we are able to continue to build relationships with our cohort. It’s becoming a closer circle as we all get to know each other on a deeper level while we go through our differing struggles of being so far from home. It is a bit of a struggle. Although I think the worst of it is surely ahead, I’ve decided to not buy an internet plan at least during PST (August 3rd-October 15th), which means I have not been connected to anyone or anything back home, aside from a phone call to my parents last week. Although I thought I would have many more frustrations, I do miss my daily groupme with my best friends, my daily goodnight texts, my snapchats with my niece, pictures of my nephew, and not having the news. I did not realize how crazy I would feel without the news! Sometimes we watch the news on Botswana TV, but two weeks without global or US news is making me feel the most disconnected. If anyone is looking for things to send in a care package, important current event newspapers or magazines would be amazing. Even if I get them a month or two after the fact, I’ll appreciate knowing. Everything moves slowly here anyways. Not being able to instantly send texts to my loved ones has been an adjustment as well, but I’ve started writing a letter or two every night in order to feel like I am maintaining communication. I have some letters from friends that I was sent with during goodbyes, and I’m so incredibly grateful for them. No matter what my day was like or what thoughts of doubt have crept into my mind, knowing that I have an incredible and unwavering support system back home that took the time to make sure I would have their words of love with me right from the beginning has made all the difference. If you’d like to receive mail from me, please send me an email or fb msg with your address! Or better yet, send me a letter and I can respond. Gluten free eating has been going well so far. There is a lot of porridge and maize meal (which I love) along with vegetables, chicken, and beef. And TEA! I’ve been drinking tea almost every day because it is just like Chai and the locals drink it upwards of 4 times a day. I was lucky enough to be sent to a country with an abundant amount of both cadbury dairy milk chocolate <3 <3 and peanut butter! Gluten free snacks (besides fruit) and gluten free granola bars are mostly lacking at this point, so I’m navigating that still. But all in all I’m confident I can adjust to the food here well and maintain my health. I’ll try to write a blog post once a week or so, so that I can keep everyone updated, internet pending. As of now we have to go to the internet cafe to get on, but soon we should have limited internet set up at training. Feel free to let me know any questions you might have or what you want to know about so I can address them in further posts. Thank you again for all of the love and support. Best, Bethany

Dumela!

August 1st has always been an important day. Even when I didn't have a big event planned, it signaled the rustlings of new beginnings. A closure to the summer and the start of back to school. August 1st was when I would start to get antsy to buy school supplies and wait for the letter in the mail with my teachers. I may have been three weeks early, but I was always looking forward, ready for the next great adventure. Another great year. 

When you spend almost all of your life in school, August is the start of a year. New hope and new beginnings. It's fitting then, that August 1st was my departure for the Peace Corps. A new start. A new adventure. A goodbye to the person I was, and a blank path laid in front of me as I start the process of who I will become.

Before leaving I had an incredible month of love from friends and family. I was able to have gatherings, parties, dinners out, and fun days with everyone who is anyone. I'm so thankful for each and everyone one who made my last few weeks warm and bright. I love all of you. 

Every moment has the potential for growth on this journey, and my biggest challenge will be allowing myself to trust the process. Allowing myself to be open in the present and unsure of the future. To find the balance between the confidence to do my job and the humble attitude to learn from those around me. That process began the moment I stepped on the plane. 

Bag 1+2 of 4!

Our flights over went well. In total I was in the air for roughly 20 hours. We had a quick stop in Newark for Staging, which included a fantastic last supper at a mexican resturaunt and a taxi/bus sideswipe on the way to the airport, before we all departed together for Botswana. Our cohort is massive--currently 76 volunteers-- and it is still a challenge to learn everyones names. It's reassuring to know that the people that are here understand why I am here. They get why it's worth leaving everyone I love for two years, why I would go halfway around the world to a place I've never been with limited amenities to work for people I've never met. They get why I spent months trying to figure out what to pack and still managed to pack the day before, and why, in Peace Corps, it's best to just roll with the punches. I'm glad to finally be welcomed to the family. 

We arrived in country on August 3rd, after lugging around entirely too much luggage on entirely too little sleep. We spent the first three days in Gaborone (Gabs) where we went through our medical and immigration clearances as well as some extremely fast crash courses in Setswana (Dumela is Hello), the other official language in the country. We have had tons of great food and many ice breakers while we eagerly wait to go to Molepolole (Moleps). Greetings are very important in Setswana, and so we have been trying to practice with eachother before we meet our host families. 

Tomorrow we will travel to Moleps to meet our host families and move into our new homes for the next 11 weeks. I somehow managed to repack my bags for our 6am boarding, although not as well as my saint of a mother did the first time. While in Moleps we will be in Pre-Service Training. During this time I am still considered a Peace Corps Trainee rather than a volunteer. If I make it through all 11 weeks and pass my language test, I will then be a Peace Corps Volunteer. So keep your fingers crosed, because if this is anything like French I'm going to need a lot of help! 

While we are in Moleps, I will have very limited internet. Much less than I had while I was here in Gabs. They said to expect to have no internet for at least the first two weeks, and very limited thereafter. I know this will be good for me in order to disconnect and be present in Botswana, rather than feeling sad about the things I'm missing out on at home. Please feel free to continue to contact me electronically, and I'll simply respond when I gain access again. Pre Service Training is one of the hardest parts of the experience, but luckily all of the volunteers will be in it together. 

I'm sorry for the lack of pictures this time around. I will be sure to add some in later when I have the proper technological access. 

Sala Sentle,

Remain Well,

Bethany