Final Project

The last day of the final project

Two weeks ago I finished my last large-scale project. While I am of course still working on a few other things during the next few months, this activity (of which I am extremely proud) feels like the culmination of my service. So please excuse me while I brag a little bit.

The history of the project

You may recall me writing about GLOW camps before.  G-L-O-W stands for Girls and/or Guys Leading Our World. These camps originated with PCVs in Romania who were trying to get girls more involved in leadership. Over time they’ve become a staple project for PCVs around the world including in Botswana.

Before I hooked up with them, the people who would become my collaborators wrote a grant to do several camps in their area. It was a group of volunteers from multiple cohorts which means that several of the people highly involved would be leaving Botswana before the project finished . When they realised this they sent up a smoke signal to volunteers looking for help. This was fairly early in my service when I was looking for more things to do and had not yet collaborated. With my background in childcare and years of teaching experience these camps seemed like a good fit. Plus I was the only one to respond when they asked for help.

Prior to me joining, the group had done 1 camp in a large village which means the students had fairly high English skills. The veteran volunteers had done GLOW camps before so they had a pretty good idea of how things should run. From what I’ve heard that camp went pretty smoothly.

Moitsi at her first camp

The next camp, which was the first of which I participated, wasn’t as easy. All but one of the upperclassmen PCVs were gone and the one that was present was acting primarily as a runner/gofer, not a facilitator. The students were extremely shy, timid of even the most basic public speaking, and had very limited English skills. We had a few local counterparts to help so we could encourage participation in Setswana but the Host Country Nationals (HCNs) didn’t know the curriculum well enough to facilitate. These factors led to behaviour problems and general disorder.  Personally, I had some thoughts on how to make thing flow more effectively but didn’t yet have ownership of the project. I can come off a bit like a bulldozer so I try to respect others’ roles and inputs by holding my tongue (I should note I’m not always successful at this). While that’s good in general it meant a missed opportunity during this camp to improve things. But, we got through it and the kids definitely learned (the pre and post tests proved that); it just wasn’t nearly as beneficial as it could have been.

Moitsi’s contribution to Plus/Delta

We had 3 more camps scheduled in the coming months so we had a debrief. One of the collaborators has this excellent activity for these kinds of meetings called Plus/Delta. I think it’s a fairly standard practice of listing things that went well and things that didn’t except that instead of thinking of things that went poorly or were minuses you conceptualize them as Deltas, the Greek letter which represents change in mathematical or scientific equations. The idea here is that we focus on the actions we have taken or can take to ensure success. Through this we were able to sort out how to prevent some of the problems which occurred. Some of our actions included slight adjustments to the curriculum and schedule, doing ground rules in a very specific way which emphasised the students as young adults instead of kids, and screening students for prerequisite skills before the camps start.

A few months passed and we went on to the next camps. We were supposed to do 3 camps in 2 weeks but unfortunately at the very last-minute problems arose with one of them and we had to cancel it (that experience taught us many more pitfalls to avoid). But we soldiered on and held camps in two small villages, both of which went extremely well. Those of us running them had turned into a cohesive group that anticipated each others actions; knew the curriculum backwards, forwards, and blind folded (we actually eventually did a camp with absolutely no notes for reference); and were really good at interacting with youth in a way which facilitates both learning and fun.

And that was that. The grant finished and we were done. Or at least that’s what we thought.

After not too long we got contacted by the District AIDS Coordinator for one of the sub districts. He had the budget for another camp and wanted us to run it. Turns out the various communities really loved the material we were covering and wanted more students to experience it. We did a few more camps and started working on a way for the camps to continue after we leave.

The problems with camps

As I stated earlier, GLOW camps are very popular with PCVs. I know of almost no one who hasn’t participated in at least one. They’re extremely beneficial to the students that attend and bestow all kids of knowledge and skills. But there are a couple of problems with the way their done.

A PCV leads a session

The first and most pressing issue is that they are almost always initiated and primarily led by volunteers. HCNs are frequently involved but not always and when they are it’s usually in a supporting role. This goes against the concept of capacity building (the idea that we increase locals’ abilities to improve their communities rather than making the improvements ourselves) which is part of Peace Corps’ current approach. Our group was just as guilty of this as any other.

My other issue with the way that GLOW camps are currently done is that the content can literally be anything. While this flexibility allows creative thinking which leads to invaluable and diverse projects (such as amazing science camps or incredible therapeutic arts camps) it also means the content of most camps is pieced together with no real knowledge of its effectiveness. When each camp is different there’s no way to learn from the mistakes and successes of previous endeavours and every time is basically the first.

A part of our curriculum

By using the same curriculum so many times in many different settings my collaborators and I have been able to address the second issue. I want to be clear here: I am in no way saying that every GLOW camp should look exactly like our’s or use our curriculum. What I am saying is that we have a curriculum and schedule which has been tested and shown to work. We’ve made many adjustments over time as well as monitored student growth closely. If others want a program off of which to go they now have it and if they choose to use what we’ve made they will be able to continue to improve it.

But that still leaves us with the issue of HCN involvement. Our districts have made it clear they want to continue doing these camps when we leave and there’s no guarantee that every one of us will be replaced. This means that locals need to know how to organise and lead a camp.

The final project

Teachers (left) and students (right) learned through the same methods

The first part of the recent project was a training of teachers, school counsellors, and government workers so they could become facilitators. After two days of acting as students themselves they became the leaders of their own camp. My collaborators and I at that point became very hands off; in attendance but only to trouble shoot and offer suggestions. ~90% of the camp was lead by HCNs, and it went amazing! Students had an average growth of 30% and everyone had a great time.

But facilitation isn’t the only part of a camp. A lot of work before hand went into coordinating with various offices to get the space, students, materials, food, transport, teachers, and all those other logistical aspects that go into an event like this. Next time they hold a camp I have full faith that everything will go smoothly.

What’s next

A session for facilitators

Now that we’re finished we’re looking to how to keep this project going: we’ve already passed the curriculum on to a few volunteers in country so they can use it as well, we’re looking at the possibility of training more teachers in another sub-district, and we’re in discussions with a ministry official who is interested in GLOW in general. I honestly kind of wish I had proposed a third year project around this but alas it is now too late. But no matter what else I know at least one district will continue to hold camps which are organised and run by community members.

Photo Post IV

Photo Post 3

Endearmints (which are kind of like Mentos only a million times better) are provided at almost all conferences as well as meeting held in fancy venues. They make tedious tasks oh so much better. My mother has requested I bring her back multiple bags.

Peace Corps Friendships

This week my fellow Bots 14s and I are gathering together. It’s our Close of Service Conference, i.e. the very last time we will all be in the same place at the same time. It’s a chance for us to collectively reflect on our two years here and start our transition into the future, whatever that may hold.

As I have been reflecting I have come to realize that while I frequently mention important volunteers in my life I haven’t celebrated them nearly enough. What follows is a public thank you to the different types of PCVs who have made my service more meaningful.

My Mentee

Anna, the one and only mentee

In Botswana we have a mentorship program that was started a few years ago. Current PCVs are matched with members of the incoming group so that experience and knowledge can be passed on while alleviating fears.

Interactions with my mentor were minimal but my mentee from last year has become one of the most important people in my life. Anna didn’t need much support before arriving but once she arrived we immediately hit it off. During her Pre-Service Training we spent many weekends hanging out in my living room, discussing service and Botswana, and naming all the ways we were alike. The first time she came to my home she wandered from room to room saying “I have that and that AND that.”

As time has passed our relationship changed from experienced PCV advising new PCV to equals supporting each other. Hardly a day goes by that we don’t talk in one way or another. Whenever something happens in my life she is one of the very first to know.

Thank you Anna for being my bestie and confederate in the Flowered Fedora Federation.

My Captain

Captain Molly and Co-Captain Anne

Some of the most meaningful experiences of my service have been through the work I’ve done on Peace Corps teams. While I am not on the more traditional committees (like Gender Committee or Technology for Development) I have been very active in two crews to encourage involvement in and use of third-party programs. With Kings Volunteer I have acted as Co-Captain to the amazing Captain Molly.

Working with Molly has taught me a lot about my self and how to serve with others. She has inspired, motivated, and humbled me. I cannot imagine the last two years without her.

Mollywobbles, thank you for your patience and understanding.

My Collaborators

Steph, Alyson, Deanna, Anne, and Marshall: the GLOW Gang

If I were forced to pick a single project that has been most meaningful I would have to highlight the series of GLOW Camps I did with four other volunteers in my district. Deanna, Alyson, Steph, and Marshall have been dedicated workers and true friends. The five of us as a group pulled off multiple camps in multiple locations which made way for a final project that ties them all together and makes them sustainable.

Gang, thank you for spending so much time perfecting this project. Thank you for always striving for more. Thank you for being the type of people who can both teach and be taught, bring in and welcome new members, and offer support while being supported. Service would not be the same without you and I would not feel nearly as accomplished.

My Other

Summer (the “other”) and Anne

In any phase of life there is always one person who stands out as the “best friend”. I had one as a child, in college, in Teach For America, and now in Peace Corps. Summer has been with me through my entire service and we have grown together. We actually didn’t even like each other at first but boy has that changed! Now we celebrate each other’s victories and mourn the loses. She’s the first person I call when anything happens.

Summer, I am so honored that you would want to be my friend. I feel you have truly made me a better person and I hope I have done the same with you. I’m going to miss you constantly when I leave but I am so proud of you for staying a third year and know you will be an outstanding PCVL doing great work with the CDC. These things would be true whether we were friends or not which is why it’s a privilege to have you in my life. I know we’ll continue to dismantle the universe together throughout our lives.

 

My Everyone

This is just a short list of important PCVs. There are many more that I haven’t named plus the people in my community and the PC staff that have made my service what it is. Thank you to all of you. I could not have made it through the last two years without you.

Returning From Away

As I wrap up my service things have alternated between periods of nothingness and periods of intense activity. Recently it has been more of the later.

All of last week plus a few days I was on a much-needed vacation (I will be chronicling my trip to Mozambique on my travel blog starting Friday) and the week before that I was busy with the doctor and hunting down a lost key. This meant I was out of site for about 2 and half weeks. That is way to much time away from home for my liking!

While the people I work directly with knew where I was and what I was doing, there were many around my office complex that had no idea. It was so nice that when I returned this week many people with whom I seldom interact came up to me asking where I’d been. They all told me they had missed me and one even said he was afraid I had gone back to the states without saying goodbye.

I know this isn’t much but those small acts of kindness and interest made me feel truly cared for. My village is so huge (~60,000 people) that I know I’ll never truly be integrated but the people I know at work have made it clear that I’m party of the community. And sometimes, that knowledge can go a long way.

The Moment

This last week during our All Volunteer Conference the PCVs of Botswana were lucky enough to have John Allen, the Peace Corps Safety and Security Officer (for the entire region), briefly in attendance. During his hour-long session he presented us with the process through which Peace Corps goes when there is an incident then opened the floor to questions and discussion. I’ve been thinking about that conversation a lot in the days since and about the challenges PCVs face when it comes to decision-making.

One of the expectations in PC is that we inform them of our whereabouts. While this is a step to mitigate and reduce risk, volunteers frequently feel like it’s big brother watching us. As adults it’s hard to accept that someone else needs to know where we are at all times. This problem is of course compounded by our limited number of leave days and the sometimes seemingly unequal way they are applied (there are many regulations regarding how and when they must be used and it sometimes gets confusing). To avoid the problems occasionally volunteers travel without informing staff. The issue here is that in the event that an incident does occur, PC wastes a significant amount of time establishing the situation before being able to respond.

I think another issue is how easily we forget that there are inherent risks within our service. We establish ourselves in our villages and integrate with the community. We then forget that when we are on vacation, visiting a neighbouring village, or even when a stranger comes to our own we become a target. We also forget that even the smallest risk becomes much bigger when the infrastructure is lacking: response time can become life or death.

I’ve been thinking about these things not only because of John’s talk but also because what’s been going on in my own life. I have made no secret about the security issues I had at the beginning of this year nor the unending troubles I’ve had because of them. During basically every point I have asked myself what I could have done differently. I was talking to a friend last night and said “I feel like I’ve done everything wrong and made terrible decisions.” Their response was to assure me that wasn’t the case. When I looked at the situation rationally I knew they were right but I also recognise that my actions had consequences and there is a price for honesty. Even though I did what I was supposed to things still turned out bad but when I wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t been open and honest about them I remember the horrible possibilities.

This morning I’ve been listing to the song I placed at the beginning of this post over and over again. Every single line in it resonates with me right now. I think the message Toad the Wet Sprocket is trying to get across is that we should be bold and take the path less traveled. However, for me the message is that there will always be a path left behind and we shouldn’t waste our time and energy worrying about it. At the same time every moment we have a choice to make about what kind of person we are and what we’re willing to do. At each of those moments we have to recognise we might (perhaps inadvertently) be putting ourselves on a new path or ending our travels all together. Now I just have to remember this myself.

“For every path you follow there’s another left behind
Every door you don’t kick open there’s a million more to try
And for everything you’ve taught me here’s the one
I’ve learned the best
There is nothing but the moment
Don’t you waste it on regret”

High School or Family?

My Peace Corps Family

 

I’ve heard it said many times before that Peace Corps is like high school. While there is truth in this (there are certainly cliques and a strong rumor mill) I’ve always chosen to look at PC as more of a family. Certainly there are members of your family you don’t much care for (like a creepy uncle or obnoxious cousin) but ultimately there are bonds that will tie you together forever. Within my own biological family, my father and his sister didn’t talk for close to two decades because of a trivial argument that happened in the 70s. But eventually they got over it and she became our closest extended family member emotionally.

This concept of family is how I’ve viewed my peers here and how I hoped they viewed each other. Given our AVC theme of “re mmogo” (we are together) I don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way. It might be naïve and idealistic but I believe we all genuinely want our brothers and sisters to succeed.

This is not to say that we are involved in every aspect of each other’s lives. It would be overwhelming to have 130 people over for holidays and in all families various reasons make it so only small clans know certain information. Again using my own relatives as an example, when my cousin had a difficult pregnancy and the whole extended family weighed in with their theories of the cause it became much easier to understand why her sister waited five months to tell anyone she was going to have a child. Some things are not your family’s business and others are painful to share. Bring into the mix the potential of protecting others’ trust and you get to a point where no one can know anything.

Sometimes it’s hard to remember this though. We all get hurt when we feel excluded or perceive that others are getting special treatment. However, I would hope that we could remind ourselves that we often don’t have the full story and we shouldn’t leap to incorrect conclusions. Further more I would hope that if anyone had suspicions they would approach the individual themself. If they’re not comfortable being so direct they should find a trusted aunt or uncle to act as an intermediary in lieu of playing fabulist.

What I have seen instead is my family members telling tales about their cousins. In several cases the one perpetuating the narrative has come to very wrong conclusions on minimal and misleading evidence. The bullying that goes along with this has made us lose good family members. Many more have suffered depression and isolation. When this happens we all miss out because we can no longer lean on each for support, learn from one another, and grow together.

When family stops supporting each other and instead seeks to destroy one another the fabric that binds us together gets torn. We stop being a family altogether. Instead it is high school where today’s storyteller might be tomorrow’s character.

If we are to act like a family we must remember that no individual ever has the whole story. Even if it’s our weird nephew or overbearing aunt, we should always extend the same benefit of the doubt we want others to extend to us because what we say to one another can have much larger consequences than we realise and just as easily be turned on us. We can be a family again. We just need to remember “re mmogo”.

Blue Death

Before you say anything I realise the title of this post sounds like some bad, angsty, adolescent poetry. I promise I’m not about to recite Sylvia Plath or allude to cutting myself to see the pain. Instead I’m going to talk about bugs!

Creepy Crawlies

I know of no one (PCV or HCN) who never gets bugs in their home. The number and types of insect roommates depends on many factors: where you are in the country, where in a village you are, soil type, height of foundation, age of home, type of house, etc. I know lots of people who get scorpions and huge spiders. Others have problems with cockroaches and mosquitos. In my old house I saw a lot of preying mantises on my porch, friendly spiders in the corners of rooms, and termites marching across my living room floor. My new house has ants. And I mean, like a lot of ants. I would even go as far to say there’s an infestation.

After my first night in the place, when I woke at 2 in the morning to a bed crawling with them, I knew something had to be done. I asked the advice of people near and far and now finally (more or less) have the problem under control.

Keep ‘Em out of my Bed!

One of the benefits of being in the Peace Corps is they give you free stuff. Because malaria is an issue in parts of Botswana, every PCV here receives a mosquito net. In addition to protecting against the insects carrying the parasite, keeping a net properly tucked into your bed keeps out all kinds of pests. Some times when PCVs get together we have kind of informal competitions about what got trapped on top of our nets. “I found a cockroach once.” “Well, I found a scorpion!” However, because Botswana has made tremendous efforts in eradicating malaria it’s only an issue in certain parts of the country and very few Batswana use nets. I’ve also heard people say that they remind them of the shades people place over graves here which makes them feel like they are sleeping in a tomb. So locals use other methods for keeping the bugs out. For my ant problem, the holes of my net are too big to keep out the teeny-tiny buggers.

Poisons XXX

In addition to killing things with your shoe, the most common means for insect control is poison. During PST Peace Corps provides a can of an aerosol poison called DOOM to every host family. It’s highly effective for quickly killing whatever is crossing your floor. DOOM also makes a fogger product for treating larger areas. When I discovered my ant problem I first tried the spot spray. While it would help with the pest that were there at that moment, 10 minutes later 50 more would show up to feed on their carcasses.

What I picture with the words ‘blue death’

The advice I received from every Motswana I know was “get Blue Death.” As scary as it sounds it’s actually not too bad. I sprinkled this powder along every joint between the floor and wall and suddenly my bathroom stopped exploding when I turned on my water. I was concerned that essentially living surrounded by poison would be bad for my health (I usually try to use organic pest control) but it hasn’t so far. My fears were appeased when I realised it’s recommended to sprinkle it in your sheets to treat bed bugs (a problem I thankfully don’t have).

Sharing the Turf

The ants aren’t completely gone. I don’t think it’s possible for them to ever be. But now they stay out of the inside of my home, sticking instead under the house and to the porch. They’re now only an issue when I’m doing laundry on my back porch or sitting with friends outside.

Photo Post 2

Traditional foods

A close up on traditional foods displayed at a booth on nutrition during a health fair in Serowe.

Packing Perspective for Bots 16

I don’t believe in advice. You are the only person who know what’s right for your life and to rely too heavily on others’ opinions creates a lack of self accountability. I do however believe in perspective. Witnessing the experiences of others can inform, shape, and guide your decisions about what to do or avoid. So with just over 6 months until your swear-in and almost 4 months exactly until you get on a plane, here is some packing perspective for Bots 16. Obviously not everything in this list is necessary and a lot will depend on the specifics of your site (which unfortunately you won’t know until halfway through PST). But hopefully it’ll give you an idea of what to bring and what to leave behind. The list was compiled with the help of  Alyson Chun, Steph Pillion, and a male PCV (who will further be referred to as MPCV)  as we waited for kids to arrive for a GLOW camp.

Technology

• Computer: Peace Corps claims you don’t need one but you definitely do. 4 times a year you’ll be required to fill out your Volunteer Reporting Form (VRF) which requires its own program (the Volunteer Reporting Tool or VRT). There is no app for it. You’ll also rely heavily on your computer for entertainment, communication, writing grants, and potentially projects. I use my excel a lot but I might be the only one.
• e-reader: Almost everyone I know reads way more here than they do in the states (even people like me who already were bookworms). There’s this awesome program called Calibre which allows people to share e-books. There’s a copy of a calibre library floating through the PC community here that has literally thousands of books.
• Hard drive and flash drives: MPCV says “[bring] more memory than you think you need.” This cannot be said enough. I brought a tera bite hard drive which is almost full and a good friend of mine who has been here less than a year has a 3 tera bite one which is completely full. I’m planning on buying an additional one just for my photos. You will use your hard drive for media like movies and music and flash drives for files and documents.
• Camera: I actually brought two: a DSLR (which I use primarily for vacations and pictures of projects) and a point and shoot for everyday use. A fancy camera isn’t strictly necessary but it’s really nice to be able to share your service with people back home (third goal!) through photos.
• Dry Bag: I don’t have one of these but Steph uses her’s all the time. We went camping last weekend and it rained the entire time. She was able to protect all her electronics.
• Recharger: In addition to the chargers for your all your stuff it’s a good idea to bring extras (I’ve broken both a kindle charger an iPhone charger). I’m also very jealous of the people who brought travel chargers (I’ve been told they’re called battery packs) that can be plugged into the wall then used to charge multiple devices for what seems like forever. While most volunteers have electricity (I only know of two or three that don’t) power does go out.
• Projector Adaptor (for Mac users): During GLOW camps and other projects you will be hooking your computer up to projectors.
• Speakers: In addition to helping with watching movies or playing music, these are super useful when giving presentations or showing films (like STEPS or Inside Story).
• MP3 Player: I know a lot of people worry about things like this being stolen but as long as you are relatively careful in Botswana you’ll be ok (not saying it doesn’t happen, just saying it’s some-what rare). I listen to podcasts or music on every bus ride and I know lots of people who listen while they walk around their village. I would not advise walking with it in your hand but put it in a bag and keep the headphones out and you’ll be ok. It doesn’t have to be an expensive one either. But long bus rides are hell without it.
• Headphones: Bring many pairs. They get broken or lost easily. I’ve gone through 4. You can buy them here but the ones that are readily available are really poor quality and the ones that are nice are very expensive on a Peace Corps budget.
• Protection: I’m not talking about condoms or guns. With all of these electronics you’ll want to keep them safe. Cases for your hard drive, computer, MP3 player, and e-reader are pretty necessary and I encourage ones for you camera and speakers as well. Insurance is also a very good idea.
• Adapters: Botswana uses three types of plugs: D, G, and M. D and M are very similar and D can usually be used in an M socket. My first house had only G plugs and my new house has only D. If you’re only going to buy one I would say get G because you can get adapters here to change from D/M to G easily but it’s harder to find the other way around.
• Check your wattage: Botswana uses a standard voltage of 230 V at a frequency of 50 Hz. Most things from the US will work fine but probably not hairdryers or electric razors. If you want to use these things you’ll need a converter.

Clothing

• Smaller Sizes: Obviously not everything you bring but many people lose a lot of weight in their first 6 months (again not everyone). Even if you don’t lose weight though your clothes will get super stretched out from hand washing.
• Both Casual and Business: When I read the welcome packet I got the impression that I would never be wearing casual clothes. Boy was I wrong. At Peace Corps functions you will need professional dress but at site it will vary depending on your sector. I would say that Local Government Capacity Building (LGCB) volunteers in general dress the most professionally. We’re working in government offices and our local counterparts’ wardrobes reflect that. Personally I wear business dress every day with heels on meeting days. Clinic & Health (CHT) and NGO volunteers tend to have a slightly less stringent workplace dress codes although still professional. Life Skills (those who work in schools) are on the lowest end of the spectrum with many volunteers wearing flowing skirts or khakis and polo shirts. On weekends and during certain projects you will want jeans and t-shirts.
• Loose and Light: It gets hot here. You will be walking everywhere. Clothes that are loose and light will make your life more comfortable.
• Warm Clothes: I know this seem contrary to the bullet above but for a bout 2 months it’s freakin’ cold. During the day in sunshine I would say it’s light jacket weather but inside it’s quite chilly. I wear long sleeves, leggings, and boots during those winter months. Night is the coldest so warm pjs, sweaters, sweatshirts, sweat pants, yoga pants, and warms socks are really nice.
• T-Shirts and Undershirts: A nice plain coloured t-shirt can be paired with many things for just about any occasion. Wearing an undershirt can make it so you can wear the same over shirt more times without doing laundry.
• Adventure Pants: I do not personally have these but I know many people (particularly men) who do. It’s nice to be able to go from pants to shorts as the weather/temperature changes during the day.
• Quick Dry Material (i.e. polyester): Not all of your clothes need to be made out of this but when the rains come and it takes forever for cotton to dry it’s nice to have a few items that will be ready to wear far before everything else. This is especially true for underwear.
• Extra Bras (for ladies): This might be over-sharing but I have gone through 5 brasiers here whereas they usually last me 2-5 years in the states. I’m not sure if it’s the hand washing (which I would think would be easier on them than machines) or how much I sweat. And just for point of reference these are nice, hardily made, expensive bras I use. I have no idea how long a Target bra would hold up.
• Sport Sandals: Chacos, Keens, and Tevas are the most popular among volunteers. At trainings it’s always fun to identify groups by their common sandal tans. Most people wear their sandals everyday. Personally, I wear them for the walk to and from work, changing into my office shoes for meetings.
• Professional Shoes: Most volunteers only wear these occasionally but you will still need them. Meetings, special events, and Peace Corps trainings are all appropriate places for nicer shoes.
• A Hat/Head Covering: The sun is intense and you should protect your head from it. Baseball caps are great for keeping it out of your eyes but if you have sensitive skin consider something to protect your neck too. Personally, I’m a big proponent of the half buff. It has UV protection, mops the sweat from forehead which prevents sunscreen from going in my eyes, and can be used as a sleeping mask. Then when it gets cold it can keep my ears warm.
• Scarves/Shawls (for ladies): In addition to being a very versatile clothing item which can dress up more casual clothing when need be or warm your neck and shoulders you’ll need a scarf to cover your hair at kgotla meetings and funerals. It’s especially nice (though not strictly necessary with the right wardrobe) to have two so you can cover both your head and shoulders.
• Rain Jacket: There’s an old expression here “there are 365 days in a year and in Botswana 360 of them are sunny.” While that’s more or less accurate (it actually rains about a month in total although it depends on the year) the days without sun are VERY wet. Most of the time you just won’t leave your house or office until there’s a break in the rain but it’s still a good idea to have a windbreaker for splash back or light rain days.

Household Items/Accessories

• Head Lamp: Another item I don’t personally have but others see as indispensable. Great for when the power goes out, reading in bed, and travel.
• Stationary: This is something I use a lot but other people don’t use at all. If you like writing letters or want to respond to those from home (a way to encourage more to come) this is a must have. It’s really difficult to find here.
• Journals: Chronicling your service is great but it’s also nice to have a small everyday notebook to keep thoughts on projects, travel plans, and contact information.
• Pens: For some reason there is always a shortage of pens everywhere I go. You can buy writing utensils here but it’s nice to have a few gel pens already. I brought two of my fountain pens from home which I love but I have to be very careful to make sure no one takes or breaks them.
• Photos: I really wish I had physical copies of pictures from the US to show my host family what my life, friends and family at home are like. I know one volunteer who made her own hard bound book to show HCNs to great success. Just be aware of what’s in the photos. Many photos from the states tend to have alcohol in them and people here tend to fall into one of two groups: heavy drinkers or no alcohol at all with judgement towards those who partake. Pictures are also really nice for decorating your house.
• Decorations: When you finally move into your own place after PST it’s really nice to make it feel like home. I brought a few things (like Ansel Adams postcards and photographs of my home state) that have moved all around the world with me which made it more like my house was really mine and not just some place I was living.
• Maps: In addition to being great decor US maps can be used to teach people about the states (second goal!) and world maps can be used for planning travel.
• Sleeping Bag: When you visit other volunteers you’ll need one. It’s also great to have for travel and those freezing cold winter nights (seriously, it dropped below 0° C last year at night). It’s highly advisable to have a compression bag or at least a stuff bag. I have a stuff bag and tie my sleeping bag to the bottom of my backpack.
• Backpack: It doesn’t have to be huge. Most people find a 50-60 liter works perfect. If you have to journey to a shopping village for groceries (which most volunteers do) you’ll need it and they’re useful for travel.
• Everyday Bags/Shopping Bags: You’ll want a bag to take to the office/around your village. A messenger bag or Jansport type backpack (particularly one you can put your computer in) is great. I’ve been told that many guys don’t think about this before coming then immediately wish they had one. Shopping bags are also nice since the grocery stores will charge you for plastic ones.
• Water Bottle: Bring a good one, or several. Alyson brought three and then immediately lost one on the plane. I brought one which I took everywhere until I lost it in January. 24 hours later a bought a cheap one which I promptly gave away so I could buy a good one even though it was expensive. Good brands are Klean Kanteen and Nalgene.
• Crafts/Hobbies: You will have a lot of down time so things to occupy it are nice. Craft supplies are really only available in the cities which might be far from your site. I do a lot of hand sewing and know many volunteers who paint, collage, knit, crochet, and/or create origami. If you have a hobby you’re really into in the states bring stuff for it. While you might not be able to do it all the time (so maybe don’t bring all your gear) you’ll probably find opportunities. I know people who occasionally rock climb, participate in marathons, and do long haul bike trips. If you like yoga bring your mat. While you can get them here in the city or large villages it’s nice to have during PST (during which you won’t have much time or money for shopping).
• Games: It’s so great to be able to play games when you get together with other volunteers. Regular playing cards are very versatile but it’s also nice to bring Cards Against Humanity, Banangrams, dice, and/or a frisbee.
• Sunglasses: You WILL need them.
• French Press: If you’re a coffee person this is a must. I am not a coffee person so I have a percolator instead which is only used for company. Most of the coffee here is instant but you can get grounds. You just can’t get anything to make it with unless you want to shell out the big bucks.
• Good Kitchen Knife: Most of the knives here suck. You can find good ones if you really look but it’s totally worth it to bring one good, versatile kitchen knife.
• Pocket Knife/Leatherman: Another thing I don’t personally have but I wish I did. Many tools in one, appropriate in many situations…
• Bottle Opener: I would recommend a keychain one. You can buy bottle openers here but it’s nice to have one from home that can travel easily. I have yet to find one that would be appropriate to carry with me.
• Blanket/Snuggy: Obviously a personal choice thing. You can certainly get blankets here and PC will actually provide you one on your first night at home stay but it’s nice to have an extra cozy one particularly at the beginning of PST when it’s still somewhat cold (especially at night) and you have no money or time.
• Stuffed Animal: I did not bring my giant stuffed mushroom and I regret it. In addition to being a nice reminder of home, stuffed animals can be used as a pillow and are nice to cuddle with in liue of a pet.
• Hammock: Another thing I don’t have but wish I did. For volunteers who have to wait for months for their furniture, hammocks can prevent perpetual sleepless nights. They’re also nice for weekend relaxing and traveling.
• Sleeping Pad: Don’t have one but wish I did. Great for GLOW camps when you might be sleeping on the floor, visiting volunteers, and camping.
• Zip Lock Bags/Duct Tape/Zip Ties: You don’t need large amounts of these things but every once in a while they’re nice to have and you can’t really find them easily here.
• Batteries: You can find standard ones like AA and D (I think, I haven’t bought them because I don’t have anything that uses them) but if you have an electronic like a head lamp that takes a special size you’ll want to bring them.
• New Media: Movies, music, and books. Current PCVs will have plenty of stuff to share with you but we don’t have the newest anything. Digital is best for all but it’s also nice to have physical copies of a few books and magazines which can be passed around.
• Chopsticks: This is pretty far down the list for a reason. While they won’t be something you use constantly (unless you eat a lot of ramen) they’re small, useful, and not readily available here.
• Educational Materials: Wanna learn a new skill? A new language? Study for the GRE or LSAT? Now’s your chance. You will have time in a way you’ve never had before so bring stuff to better yourself.

First Aid/Hygiene

Peace Corps will provide you with a med kit but not until right before you go to site (even if you ask repeatedly during PST).  Some of these are items for use during PST and some are for throughout service.

• Sunscreen: Peace Corps starts providing this when PST is finished. The stuff they give us isn’t waterproof and although it claims its sweat resistant it is not. I would recommend bringing special face sunscreen.
• Nyquil/Cough Syrup: I don’t know about you but when I was growing up this was the go to for a cold and PC doesn’t provide it. And I know this isn’t its intended use but it’s great for insomnia.
• Emergence-C: I’ve personally never used this product but for those who have it’s nice to bring.
• Shampoo/Conditioner: You can certainly buy this here but again during PST you won’t have much time or money. You’ll mostly want to spend the small stipend you get on chocolate and a few drinks at the bar on a Friday afternoon. It’s also a good idea to use a two in one with dandruff control.
• Tampons/Pads (for ladies): You can get them here but probably not your brand. My brother clips coupons and sends me resupplies in every package. When I’ve run out and had to use local ones they seriously sucked. For details on why they’re crappy you’ll need to private message me.
• Razors: Similar to above. I make my family send me blades for mine because while I can get my brand here they’re expensive and hard to find.
• Mucinex: This is something I wish I had right now. My allergies went out of control for a few weeks and the phlegm was unbelievable. The allergy medicine they put in our med kit didn’t cut it.
• Probiotics: Not something I personally use but if I remember correctly all three of my fellow list compilers advised them.

Food

• Candy: Bring some for yourself and sharing. The selection here is extremely limited.
• Powder Beverage: Crystal Light, Gatorade Powder, MiO, and Kool Aid are all great ways to ensure you hydrate and replenish electrolytes.
• Coffee: As I mentioned in the description for the french press, coffee here is mostly instant. If you want good coffee you need to bring it.
• Trail Mix: You can get it here but not all the time and it’s expensive.
• Raw Nuts and Dried Cranberries: Alyson and MPCV were pretty adamant about this. I haven’t really looked for them before but I guess they’re expensive and hard to find.
• (Chai) Tea: While people drink a lot of tea here it’s primarily Rooibos and Five Roses. Bring some good varieties.
• Sracha: Not available here.
• Ranch Salad Dressing: Get the powdered kind. You can mix it with plain yogurt for salads or use it to flavour things like popcorn.
• Beef Jerky: In addition to how happy it makes me I’ve shared it with a few local friends who are now obsessed. They want me to start an Oh Boy! Oberto import business. The local version of jerky is called biltong but it’s slightly different.

Things Not to Bring

• Peanut Butter: You can get it everywhere: grocery stores, general dealers, and tuck shops. It tastes slightly different but I honestly like Botswana peanut butter better than the stuff I got in the states.
• Solar Generator: Most volunteers have electricity. If you’re one of the rare few who don’t you’ll find out at site announcement half way through PST. You can then have someone send you one if you feel like you really need it but honestly the few without power tend to go charge at a friend’s house or a public place in their village.
• Suit Jacket (for guys): MPCV says if you’re going to bring one have it be an old one. You’ll only wear it at swearing-in and maybe the odd meeting. However, other men report wearing theirs frequently particularly at kgotla meetings. This unfortunately might be a site by site situation.
• Kitchen Stuff: When my group was preparing to come there was A LOT of conversation on Facebook about pots and pans. The four of us all agree you don’t need to bring them. If you want nice ones you can get them in Gaborone or Francistown but we all use crappy ones bought at China Shops or Cash and Carry. It’s true they break after nine or so months but they come in packs of 5 and are really cheap.