After teaching high school age learners all about sex and HIV, I have a new found respect for teachers and their patience! Besides a few moments of frustration while teaching, I had a blast and am looking forward to substance abuse and prevention next term. I have finished my first term in which I taught about HIV/AIDS. I spoke with the learners about HIV transmission, affects on your body, HIV/AIDS prevention, and support. By far my favorite lesson was female and male condom demonstrations. Boy was that a kick and I really felt like they learned from it. I drilled into their heads that abstinence was the best thing for them, but if they were going to have sex they needed to know how to properly use protection. It was a fun hands on lesson and a lot of great questions were asked. I loved asking the boys who thought condoms were too small and when someone said they did, I would stretch it up my forearm. The look on their faces was priceless!
I remember sitting in PST (pre-service training) thinking about the PCV’s who were going to MST (mid-service training) and thinking that it was so far away. I wondered how I would ever make it there! Well, last week I finished my mid-service training with the rest of SA25. MST is a time where all of the PCV’s from SA25 gather together for training, medical, and dental appointments.
I was really excited to see the rest of SA25 and see what they were up to and how life was going for them. We were broken up into two groups where we took turns in training sessions or medical/dental appointments. It was nice to have some new training and also have time to spend with the other PCV’s. I can’t believe it is only 9 months away until we meet for our COS (close of service). They say time flies when you’re having fun!
A few of our PCV’s are Jewish and wanted to celebrate the Passover with SA25. Since we were all together for MST we had a perfect chance to have a Passover Seder dinner. We even had the pleasure of having our CD (country director) join us.
Niki and Lilly did an AMAZING job hosting this dinner and teaching us all about the Passover and the purpose of the Seder dinner. We each brought something to share and Niki and Lilly provided the traditional Seder dinner items.
I thought that it was really neat that they allowed all of us to participate in the dinner. Lilly’s grandmother used to hide the matzah (thin, crisp, yeast free bread)and whoever found it was given $20. So to pass on the tradition, Lilly hid the matzah and offered R50 (about $5.71 but a big deal to PCV’s!) to whoever found it. Well you all probably know I hate when things are missing and I went mad until I found it. Lilly gave us the clue that “it’s where I would be” and I figured out that it was in the bookshelf!I was very excited to have been the one to find it!
It turned out to be an incredible evening and I am so lucky to have the chance to be exposed to all of these wonderful traditions!
To finish off MST, our VSN (volunteer support network) (yes PC loves acronyms!!!) put together a PC Prom. The theme was “Party in The USA” and you had to dress like your date.
It was a night full of laughing and dancing. Vivian, our eldest SA25 PCV (79 and a rock star) really showed us kids how to dance! It was so fun to dance with her.
Each of us were also given an advent calendar that was made by our “mama bear” Susan. Susan was our PCVL (Peace Corps Volunteer Leader) and she is getting ready to head home after her 3rd year of service. We took a picture for her as a group to really thank her for taking the time to make this for each one of SA25.
Love and miss you all!
