In Service Training

So I have been at In-Service Training for about a week now; we are having a blast and I'm so happy to be surrounded by the many wonderful, enthusiastic and inspiring volunteers of our group. The Life Skills volunteers (there are about 28 or 29 of us) have been having training sessions on very specific and direct ways to infuse the "Life Skills" curriculum into the classrooms of the schools we work at. I'm grateful for all the training we've received and thankful that I finally have a clear idea of what I need to be doing when I get back to site. Now I just can't wait to get home and start all the initiatives that I've been brainstorming for the last few days.

I'll include a few pictures of the group, so you can see my new haircut and all the amazing people I get to spend my days with!

 A bunch of us all dolled up to go out on Saturday night. I'm glad that, even in Africa, I haven't lost my touch of being the collective hairdresser/makeup do-er/clothes borrower of our group. Makes me miss college!

 We are weird and wonderful.

 I don't know why, but I love this picture. 

 During the very important training sessions some of us get a little distracted by each other and, since all of us young ladies sit at the same table, we tend to find ways to occupy ourselves. Mostly this is done through making up quizzes for each other, writing each others' families Valentine's Day cards, or drawing maps of Botswana like the one above... with clearly only the most important things labeled. Please take note of the "lions and zebras" at the CKGR and the sushi in Namibia. 

 Caitlin making friends with the staff at Big5 Lodge, where we're staying for IST.

Me & Becky with our new hairs!

We'll be here for another week, so I'm sure I'll be able to post more. Unfortunately the internet is painfully slow sometimes. Tomorrow the official "in-service training" ends and a few of us will stay until Friday to do training for these videos from South Africa called "STEPS". Basically they are in English or Setswana, and they deal with topics like HIV/AIDS, sexual health and other sensitive areas. We will learn how to show them to groups of young kids/adults and facilitate safe, open discussions about the videos and the impact of their content. I feel like I'm going to go home to Motokwe at the end of the week with so many new tools, I need to remind myself not to get overwhelmed with planning like I can tend to do. 

Also, I missed my sister's birthday about two weeks ago so I just want to give a shout out to the most amazing, affectionate and supportive best friend Laura!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISSY, I love you so so much and I am so sad I've missed so many of your birthdays over these last few years. I will make it up to you big time, I promise!