THE CONTENTS OF THIS BLOG ARE MINE PERSONALLY AND DO NOT REFLECT ANY POSITION OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT OR PEACE CORPS. I returned from IST (Peace Corps In-service training), head crammed full of all the wonderful activities that dedicated Peace Corps Volunteers accomplish, and, well okay, feeling a bit old and out of touch compared to these fast thinking, fast talking, world-saving youth that join the Peace Corps, apply to PhD programs and strategically plan additions to their resumes for the next decade. When I arrived back at site, I found a packet about GLOW Camp (GLOW is for Girls and [View Full Entry]

---

---

We were at our little community library on Friday to request the use of the space for a meeting with some young people who are no longer in school and struggling to find meaningful employment. We arrived just when a "talk show" was about to begin. We saw no TV crew and had no idea what a talk show is in Botswana, but curiosity drew us to stay. We sat down in the fourth of about six rows of chairs that were there for the audience and faced a couple of tables where a panel of people sat. The programs were [View Full Entry]

---

---

THE CONTENTS OF THIS BLOG ARE MINE PERSONALLY AND DO NOT REFLECT ANY POSITION OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT OR PEACE CORPS. Some Batswana groups seem to be paying attention to the latest research regarding HIV/AIDS and working hard to spread the word. Recent studies have shown that male circumcision can reduce not only the spread of HIV, but also other STDs. It is interesting to note that male circumcision had long been a part of coming of age rituals among the tribes of Botswana. It was abandoned for the most part during the years that the country was a British Protectorate. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Our village of Kopong, much of Botswana, and my own perceptions are definitely studies of contrast. Wealth and poverty are shoulder to shoulder as is tradition and modernization. My thoughts and opinions can be just as contradictory. I sometimes find it both fascinating and fearful. On the family compound where we live is a new, modern, and spacious five bedroom home. The two dogs that stand guard in the yard are probably better fed than the children in the house next door. Our little home of less than 400 square feet is remarkably luxurious as well, when compared to the neighbor&rsq [View Full Entry]

---

---

This blog is my personal views only and is not affiliated in any with the US Peace Corps and does not reflect an views of Peace Corps or the US Government. Hope this entry finds everyone well. I am embarrassed to report that I’m addicted to fast, easy Internet access and continue to suffer severe withdrawals. Yes, the saga of the search for Internet, (as opposed to an Internet search) continues!!! After coming upon many dead ends, bitter ends, split ends, frayed knots and waiting for over a month, a new item came on the market, the Flybox, not to be [View Full Entry]

---

---

THE CONTENTS OF THIS BLOG ARE MINE PERSONALLY AND DO NOT REFLECT ANY POSITION OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT OR PEACE CORPS. My first opportunity to travel after arriving in Molepolole for Pre-service Training was to Kasane to shadow a volunteer who completed her two years of service last month. Kasane is situated on the Chobe River in the far north of Botswana near the Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe borders. It is an interesting mix of Botswana culture and western style tourism. It is a long ride from Moleps to Kasane, about thirteen hours, and there is one stretch of road where [View Full Entry]

---

---

THE CONTENTS OF THIS BLOG ARE MINE PERSONALLY AND DO NOT REFLECT ANY POSITION OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT OR PEACE CORPS. Finally, I am blogging again! We have now been in Botswana for about three months and are sworn in as Peace Corps Volunteers. Sometimes it seems that we have been away from home much longer. It has been a continual learning process and nearly a constant state of not knowing, which is amusing to me because I am aware that I was also in a state of not knowing while back home in the States. However, my illusions of certainty [View Full Entry]

---

---

From La Serena we took a bus to Santiago. In Santiago we changed to an overnight bus headed for Pucon. We arrived there in the morning, took a cab to Ruka Rayen, a rural hostel about a half hour away. It is run by Peter and Margot. There are actually two separate hostels. The other is on the land of Margot’s mother. Margot’s family is Mapuche, people indigenous to Southern Chile and Argentina. They barely survived the genocide of the invading Spaniards. Margot and her mother work to keep their traditions and values alive. Margot is very environmentally aware and wants [View Full Entry]

---

---

We stayed in Cusco long enough to rest and get our laundry done. Everything we wore on the trek was in dire need of soap, water and a clothes line. We also visited the children at the hospital a couple more times. We took an afternoon bus from Cusco, Peru and arrived back in Arica, Chile the following morning. A very friendly cab driver took us from the first bus terminal to the second where we again jumped into an old Chevy and headed across the border. In Arica, we stayed at a hostel that is run by a couple. She [View Full Entry]

---

---

We are now world hikers! We left Cusco early on the morning of Sept. 12 and went by bus to the village of Calca where we stopped at a local market. There we bought bread, honey, walking sticks, and yes, coca leaves which were recommended by our guide to prevent and/or alleviate altitude sickness. Back on the bus after leisurely breakfasting as we sat on the curb, we began our ascent up a winding gravel road. In about an hour our bus driver was casually steering the 32 passenger bus up a narrow, rocky road, crossing streams without bridges in terrain [View Full Entry]

---

---