"Are you fine?"

Sometimes when a South African will ask how you're doing, they will ask, "Are you fine?" I have always thought this was funny, mostly because of the connotations of 'fine' that I am used to in American English. Fine can be used as a retort, "FINE!" Or to describe someone, "He's a fine looking man." So I would laugh a little to myself and then reply that I was doing okay.

And that's about where I'm at right now. I'm doing okay. It's amazing how quickly I'm reacclimating to America. I suppose that makes sense because my last three weeks in South Africa were spent in Cape Town and Pretoria. In my guesthouse by the Peace Corps Office, I got pretty far away from what it was like to take bucket baths and fumble for the candles when the electricity went out.

I find myself translating what things cost in dollars into Rand. Sometimes it's pretty pathetic. I don't know why I do it. Habit, maybe. I did really like paying with a different currency. But, for example, a nice "cheap" out-to-dinner meal with a friend in America might cost what, $15 with tip, right? Well, that's 120 Rand. That could pay for two nice meals in Pretoria! Or a week's worth of groceries and toiletries!

When my plane was first landing in D.C., I was so amazed at how lush everything was. The bright green color of the grass and trees was a nice welcome home after living the closest to a desert that I've ever lived in my life! But when we "de-planed" (I love that term : ) the muggy August air wrapped tightly around me. It didn't help that my luggage was so full that I had to wear a t-shirt, sweater, hoodie and my South African winter coat through my 30-hour excursion back home. (And 30 hours not showering plus four layers of clothes in August, eish!, it was something!)

I took my 'welcome home tour' and visited friends in Boston, Ann Arbor, Detroit and Cincinnati. It was nice to see everyone who had been so supportive of me - and to pass out souvenirs! Since I had expected to be in South Africa longer, I spent my last week going between completing my medical paperwork and furiously buying gifts! Of course, I ran out of money. And then I found out that Peace Corps pro-rates your monthly stipend and takes money back from you for the month you leave. Wow. It's not like we made that much anyway. Oh well. I got some nice gifts for most of my friends and family.

I'm moving along with trying to work with D.C. on a policy for survivors of sexual assault and rape - along with other physical crimes. I started a companion blog (since I'm not tech-savvy enough to create a website) for this effort at: http://firstresponseaction.blogspot.com/. You can also email me at firstresponseaction@gmail.com. The Peace Corps staff person I'm supposed to start this conversation with was on vacation until this past Tuesday. He'd been gone for two weeks, so I gave him this week to catch up on emails. I'll start again next week. I want him to be happy when we talk : ) I'll keep you posted.

In love and laughter,

Casey

Sala Sentle South Africa, Hello Again America

My time as a Peace Corps Volunter is about to end.

I am medically separating from Peace Corps South Africa. In about five hours from now, I will be on a plane bound for the US.

I didn't say it before, but I've thought a lot about it these last several weeks, and I feel it's more productive (than not) to share what happened that caused me to move from Mafikeng.

More than a month ago, I was sexually assaulted at my site. Peace Corps pulled me out in fear for my safety, but it's been all downhill from there. The assault has had cultural ramifications for me and I don't feel safe when I'm not around Americans I know will protect me.

I'll definitely be sharing more in the future regarding this issue because I found out through this process that Peace Corps has NO global policy on sexual assault or rape. For an organization that operates worldwide and in some pretty unstable countries, I think this is appalling. I am planning to devote time when I return to working with Peace Corps, PCVs, RPCVs, etc. on this.

But, for the very short term, I'm just focusing on going home.

Visions of hot showers, unlimited Internet and indoor flush toilets flash through my mind. People ask me what I want to do when I get home. All I can think of is just hugging my parents. A lot. And seeing my family and friends who have been so steady for me through this ordeal. I don't care which food I eat first, now I just want to see my family. (And if we share that quality time over Donatos pizza or Skyline Chili, that's even better : )

Looking ahead, it seems like I have a lot to catch up with at home. My NY Times e-mail updates have been talking a lot about this new healthcare reform process and Sotomayor, so I'll have to get up-to-date with my current events.

I'm also excited to hear really silly news again on a daily basis. Like I saw the other day on Yahoo that Paula Abdul is quitting American Idol. I'm so used to hearing about workers striking, more HIV, more raping, young boys dying from botched circumcisions and the like that I'm not sure I'll know what to do with fluffy news again.

I'm nervous about the American economy since I thought when I'd be back in spring 2011, the economy would be in a different place. But, my Peace Corps experience turned out to be very different than I'd hoped and it's not safe or healthy for me to be here anymore. I will have to play the hand I've been dealt.

I suppose, in general, that this blog as my Peace Corps experience is finished. But I hope to keep this as my life experiences blog, which will include working with PC in DC on a global sexual assault and rape policy. If you are interested in helping or if you're an RPCV or current PCV and would like to help this cause, please comment or email me at caseyfrazee@gmail.com. I've never done anything like this before, but I can only imagine that with the US government, it may take awhile and may be complicated beyond my wildest dreams. But if I can prevent what happened to me from happening to anyone else, that is what I will do. If Obama wants to double Peace Corps, we have to get some basics in place first.

Thanks to everyone who has followed my experiences thus far. Even though my Peace Corps chapter is finishing, there's still much more to come : )

And thank you to my Peace Corps friends. I will miss you all incredibly, but am so excited to hear upates about the work you are doing!

Stay well,

Casey

I Guess We Were Warned About Times Like These

During the Peace Corps application process, during the 'staging' where volunteers prepare to leave and at the in-country training, they warn volunteers of the big ups and big downs they might encounter. I'm fairly level and try to remain balanced so my experiences so far have been really great (albeit ridiculous at times) and I've laughed a lot. But some days it's just not as easy to find the funny.

Last week was a string of those kind of days.

The big news is that I do not live in Mafikeng anymore. I can't (and won't) say why on this blog except that it's a security matter. I can't say anything because of Peace Corps regulations and I won't just because of my own standards. This site is supposed to be a fun and informative blog about my experiences, not my online journal. But I am safe, so that's good.

Since I have a lot going on in terms of finding a new site and home for the duration of my tenure in South Africa, I'm not in funny-writer mode. But since I still want to be positive, I'm going to leave you with this really amazing video of a group of learners at a middle school in the North West Province performing a Tswana cultural dance. I am so impressed, especially by these boys, and what they can do. Enjoy.

Middle School learners from the North West Province doing a Tswana cultural dance
(1 minute, 34 seconds)

Whey they sing, "ke mang?" is like "it's who?" and as for the rest .... yeah, I don't know. You can make up your own meaning, that's always fun.

Sala sentle,

Casey

My New P.O. Box

I decided it's easier for me to have my own P.O. Box so I can check when I need to (and the key at work kept disappearing...).

My new P.O. Box is 1973. That's the only part different, the rest is all the same. It's updated under Coorespondence too.

Best,
Casey

Sharp Sharp

South Africa is a very interesting place to be with some first world areas, some third world areas and lots of Western influence (mostly from the U.K. and America). I thought it would be interesting to highlight some of these similarities.

• Soapys! These are like soap operas only much more intense! (And they move faster than American soaps.) I think a better comparison is that South African "soapys" are like Tele Novella in Mexico. Very dramatic! Here's a clip to one called Generations on YouTube. There are several others like Soul City, Isidingo and 7 de Laan (Afrikaans soapy).
• English phrases. Like the bathroom is called the 'loo' and apartments are called 'flats.' (I haven't seen an elevator yet, but I have it on good report that it would be called a lift!)
• Cricket, rugby and soccer is actually called soccer. So silly me, I thought that outside the US they called soccer football, but in South Africa, I haven't heard anyone yet call it football. And I thought cricket was played with mallets, but it looks more like a cross between hockey and baseball .... (what are the shin guards for?!)
  

Setswana Words and Phrases (Just for fun!)

• Sharp, Sharp (or just Sharp) - meaning: it's all good, cool, etc.
• Le kae "luh-kai" - meaning literally: where are you?; taken as: how are you?
• Ke teng "kay-tang" - meaning literally: I am here; taken as: good
• Ke a leboga "kay-ah-lay-boh-hah" - meaning: thank you
• Gape "hah-pay"- meaning literally: again; taken as: repeat (I used this a lot!)
• Ema "ay-mah" - meaning: stop
• Ga ke itse "hah-kay-eat-see" - meaning: I don't know
• Ga go na matatha "hah-hoh-nah-muh-tat-hah" - no worries, no problem (think Lion King, Setswana is close to Swahili, where they have the phrase "hakuna mathatha"
  
• Short left or short right - meaning: asking the taxi driver to make a short stop (yeah, I know it's in English, but I still think it's funny)

On a happy note, I passed my language exam (yay!) and I'm officially in Mafikeng at my new site! We swore-in on Thursday and I arrived about 9:30 that night. Now I'm just unpacking and getting into the local culture.

Much love,

Casey

Two Weeks

Dumelang! I have less than two weeks before I am an official Peace Corps Volunteer!

On April 2 I will be sworn-in and on my way back to Mafikeng, where I will live for the next two years. I am incredibly excited! (I should also have better Internet access once I'm in Mafikeng!)

This past week we had a Supervisor's Workshop to meet our new supervisors and then do a site-visit. The organization I'm going to be working with, South African Men's Action Group (SAMAG), is fairly well-connected in the community, so I was able to meet with various partners and board members. The office has 7 (now 8 with me) and it was so great to meet everyone. I am excited to get back there and get to work!

My Setswana language is coming along ... but where I am, the language of business is primarily English. I am still going to try to learn Setswana so that I can speak to people and surprise a few when I'm the American who can converse in Setswana!

In Mafikeng, I'm staying with a big family - mom, dad and 5 kids! The youngest kids in the house, Ororiseng, 9 and Realeboga, 5, are so much fun! I never had younger siblings, so it's been lots of fun to get to know them. They also speak English incredibly well; I'm so impressed!

Since I have had trouble uploading photos, here are a few pictures. There's my homestay, local school kids, tribal dancers and then a few from a Braai that Peace Corps had for us, it's like a bar-b-que.

Oh, and sorry about my green scarf being in two pictures! I actually do have other clothes, I just really love that scarf! And apparently the only time I take pictures is when I'm wearing it!

Much love,

Casey : )

p.s. I got a cell phone! The number, when dialing from the US is: 011-27-71-278-4962. The actual number is 071-278-4962, but you have to add the country code and such.

I wouldn't normally put my cell phone out there like this, but what are the odds someone will spend the money to prank-call me in South Africa?! (Or, in Setswana, 'diatura!', too expensive!)

My current Seabe homestay

Grade 1 schoolchildren at a Seabe primary school in the Mpumalanga Province

Tribal dancers
(If you look closely, you can see the pink feather dusters in their hands!)

Almost-Volunteers Nisah and Casey at the Braai

Almost-Volunteers Anne and Casey at the Braai

What I've Been Up To...

In case you're curious, here's the Cliff's Notes version of what I've been up to these last month:

• Met the royal family of the Ndebele tribe (in-deh-bell-ay).
• Moved in with my host mother, a 72-year-old retired teacher, who commonly refers to herself as an "old lady" - it's pretty funny.
• Started learning Setswana, one of South Africa's 11 official languages.
• Organized a Cooking Day to share recipes! Tons of fun and delicious too : )
• Attended my first African funeral or home-going as it's called here.
• Watched a dozen (and counting!) colorful African sunsets - seriously, they're all so beautiful!
• Saw a ton of stars in the night sky that seem so close b/c there is like no light pollution! It's gorgeous!
• Did my laundry by hand! (At first it was novel ... on week 4, it's getting tiresome. Do you know how difficult it is to hand-wash a bath towel?! Crazy.)
• Met the Seabe tribal chief.
• Ate a pomegranate! Seriously, I never did that before!

More later!

Peace and Ubuntu,

Casey

p.s. Everyone loves when I wear my Obama shirt - the whole world (or at least my new little slice of South Africa : ) is excited he's the new US president.

p.p.s. Related to the last post ... Eleanor is a boy : ( New name: Elea-norton ... ?

Yay for African Freckles!

Hello and Dumelang!

It feels so good to be able to get to a computer again! Since we arrived in South Africa on February 4, we've had really limited access to phones or computers. They want us to be immersed in the culture (which is good), but it's so nice to be on the Internet again!

Through March, our access will still be limited. We are finished with training and move to our "sites" on April 2. Hopefully there I will have better access to Internet and I should also have a cell phone.

So I've had lots of new "African" freckles pop up in the last several weeks! : ) Since I don't have the ability to tan, I really enjoy seeing new freckles.

We are in really rural South Africa and if I showed you a picture, it would look a lot like the American South. Lots of farmland, small houses far apart, etc. I do have running water and electricity at my homestay, so I consider myself very lucky. Sometimes the water has a tint of brown, but it hasn't done anything to me yet!

I'm excited to begin really travelling and see places like Cape Town, Durban (the Indian center of the country) and go to a game reserve to see the animals! Right now, all I've seen are chickens, donkeys and cows...

Oh - and big bonus for me - I'm not allergic to African cats! My host mother has like 5 cats and I don't sneeze around them! I'm thinking of taking the littlest one with me. What we'd consider pets in America, cats and dogs, are really mistreated in some South African cultures and this little baby cat is so cute! I'd hate to see her be abused. Tentatively, I've named her Eleanor : )

So far our training has been focused on adjusting to our new climate (in the 70s, 80s, it's beautiful!), bugs (yuck! I've been introduced to 'flat spiders', gross), illnesses, local community, learning language and learning about HIV/AIDS in South Africa.

I'm learning Setswanna, which is spoken in the NorthWest Province, Limpopo and Mpumalanga primarily. It's the inverse of Arabic in that they use a ton of vowels. Like to say 'taxi' it's 'takisi' but I'm getting the hang of it. My host mother speaks really fast, so I'm trying to keep up with her.

She did give me my Setswana name, Lesogo ("lay-say-hoh", the 'g' is pronounced gutterally like an 'h'). It means luck! How cool is that?! She's also quite the chatter in the neighborhood, so I get greeted by people I don't even know, "Hello sister Lesogo." It's kinda fun : )

I find out on March 13 where my "site" will be and the following week I do a 5-day site visit to check it out. I'm so excited! I will let you know as soon as I can after I find out.

In an effort to be word-conscious, I will wrap-up (especially since I don't have any pictures transferred yet to break up the words :).

Lerato to you all! (lerato is love, "lay-rah-toh")

Casey : )

p.s. thank you to people who wrote me letters! I love them! I've read a few so far and I'm saving more for when I really need them. Thank you : )