Hi Everybody! I’ve been at site for about a month now and I’m just starting to get into the swing of things. These first 3 months are called our CNA (Community Needs Assessment) or 'Integration'. During this time, I won’t start any projects. Instead I'm observing how my orgs work, meeting the community and determining what types of programs will be most beneficial. Essentially this is what makes Peace Corps a grassroots approach to development. My goals for these months simply put, are to build relationships and trust. I spend most days with my organizations and evenings walking around my village. I introduce myself to everyone possible, asking questions to gather information for the written document I'll be producing that will serve as a guide to my service the following 2 years. My sister Stuntu, on the far left, and a group of neighbor girls showing me around the village on my first days here. This is the paved road that run's through our village. It's been a nice change of pace to start some hands on work, yet as I learn about the challenges facing my village, I often feel helpless & overwhelmed. From a lack of clean water to unemployment and a high rate of teen pregnancy, although my service is to focus on mitigating HIV/AIDS, this will encompass so much more. It's hard to wrap my head around things at times, but at the end of the day I am confident I'm in the right place and I'm excited to see what will come over the next few years. The view from outside my door one afternoon My language is coming along, slowly but surely. Turn’s out, my village is actually speaking Shangaan, which is a dialect of Xitsonga mixed with isiZulu. Luckily I've found a friend who is doubling as a tutor to help me out. I have 6 new siblings; Ntshembo, Ntshaho, Stuntu, Amaze, Khenso, and Neo. I continue to be blown away by my families hospitality and willingness to take me in. I found out that they had no idea how long I'd be staying or what I was doing here when they agreed to let me in the first day. I feel lucky to come home each day to a group children waiting eagerly for me at the gate. The kids keep me happy no matter what kind of day I've had. When departing for our site, our training manager Victor Baker said to us; "the days will go by slow, but the weeks will go by fast." I hesitated to believed him at first, but now I have found this to be very true. Life moves at a different pace here, but I have a feeling the following two years are going to go by quicker then I ever imagined.
And lastly, thank you to everyone who continues to send support and love. It mean's more each and every day! -Josie
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AuthorJosie Petersson Archives
October 2018
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