August 27, 2014

I continue to get more and more nervous and anxious as our language proficiency exams quickly approach. We have two exams, one at the end of week four and one during week nine. By the end of training we are expected to have a minimum level of intermediate low which translates to having the ability to initiate and close a conversation, introduce myself or someone else, buy a ticket, catch a bus, and get off at the right stop, respond to simple directions from officials or policemen, and discuss simple topics with friends. I had the goal of achieving intermediate low by the first exam; however, it still feels as though I’m a long ways away. We have finally made it to the bulk of constructing sentences and have significantly enhanced our word bank. I study on a daily basis, but it is just going to take practice and repetition for the next week and a half in order to meet my goal.

All of Peace Corps Botswana is part of the greater health sector even though we have different project frameworks. The project areas are HIV mitigation; maternal, neonatal, and child health; environmental health; and life skills for healthy behaviors, although Botswana does not have environmental health volunteers. As a life skills volunteer, alcohol and substance use prevention and youth sexual and reproductive health will be a large component of what I will be doing. The four main guiding principles of the Peace Corps are do no harm, non-discrimination, respect for persons, and participation. These appropriate and effective principles go hand in hand with the Peace Corps’ approach to development in that it is important to assess the needs of the community to ensure your projects are going to be accepted and meaningful, a bottom-up and people-centered approach.

I particularly enjoyed part two of the gender equality and women’s empowerment session. Working at Women Helping Battered Women before coming to Botswana has shaped the way I view gender issues and has had a telling impact on my work. When considering gender work, people often say “equality.” I believe the conversation should be focused on equity rather than equality. Today in class I used the analogy where everyone takes off their shoes and throws them into the center of the room. The shoes are then redistributed in no apparent order. People end up with two different shoes, some too small, some too big, some smelly, and some not your style. Everyone has two shoes, so you could argue that this is equality. On the other hand, equity is meeting everyone’s individual needs which are all different, so having two of the the correct sized shoe. If we change the gender conversation to focus on equity rather than equality, I believe we will better meet everyone’s needs and create a more satisfied community. It is incredibly important to have gender awareness and sensitivity in all work. There are inherent differences between men and women, whether we like it or not, and these differences and needs must be taken into consideration when providing resources and working with individuals.

For the last hour of the day we participated in team building exercises that five volunteers organized, myself included. I somehow got roped into the planning process because I made one suggestion earlier in the day; I was happy to help. We started by going around the room and stating our spirit animal followed by games that got everyone up and moving around. Although my favorite animal is an elephant, I announced my spirit animal as a dog. I’m a loyal friend and always love unconditionally. In addition, I always assume the best of people and will believe anything you tell me; as a result, I can be incredibly gullible. “If you pretend to throw a stick, I’ll believe that you did and go look for it.” I didn’t realize until today how well-suited a dog is in relation to my personality.