From Runner to Shepherd

Ever since I have come to South Africa, I have made the 5:00pm evening run a daily ritual.  In all the countless miles and hours I have run around the flat, dusty, African bush, I have rarely encountered anything worthy of remembrance.  [Of course there was the one time that I got an offer from a prostitute on a donkey cart, but aside from that, I can't say much about the others.]  Well, last night’s evening run proved to be different from all else.  Not everyday does a person go out for an easy 60 minute jog and return nearly 2 hours later with a baby goat slung under one arm.   If you know anyone else that can say the same thing, I would like to meet them. :-)

Throwing on my running shorts and top, lacing up the shoes, I dashed out through the front gate towards the field where I typically spend my time running.  Everything seemed to be ordinary…turn the corner past the soccer field where the boys are kicking around a ball, meet the man on the donkey cart as he heads into the village, scare up a few large, noisy birds from the tall grass, and pass a horse and a cow who barely acknowledge my presence anymore…nothing unusual here.  As I approached the same grove of trees that I have done hundreds of times over, I heard something new.  Out in the newly plowed field to my left there came the sound of baby goats bleating uncontrollably…almost in desperation.  I turned my head and stopped. There among the broken corn stalks and mounds of dirt stood three young goats, two fully white and the other white to the shoulders and brown from there up.  The three made hesitating steps towards me and almost, as if begging with there small black beady eyes, asked me for help. 

At the time, the sun was still hovering in the sky and I imagined that soon a shepherd or a mother goat would come to the aid of these helpless, crying babies.  I decided to continue on my run, which I did for another 15 minutes.  After reaching 30 minutes on the watch I turned around and headed back the same way, hoping that the three baby goats would be in a better position than when I last saw them.

As I came back to the grove of trees, I kept my eyes on the place where I had last seen the three.  Then, the same bleating sound came again, but this time from the opposite place where I had left them.  I turned to the sound and there stood the three again.  They continued their sad, pleading sound and moved closer towards me again, this time with more eagerness.  As I stopped again I started to ponder the situation…the sun now had reached the horizon line and soon darkness would fall.  If anyone or thing was coming to care for these animals, that should have been done by now.  However, how could I possibly manage to carry or herd these three baby goats back to my house, which was nearly 3 miles away? 

As I stood there in contemplation, the deciding factor came to my ears.  From among the group of three baby goats I heard them call my name.  “Aaaaadaaaaaaam!  Aaaaaaadaaaaaaam!  Pleeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaseeeeee!”  When their cries reached my ears and sank deep into my heart, I knew that I could not proceed alone; the only way back to my village was with three baby goats. 

I stepped from the dirt road and into the plowed field.  I jogged towards the three goats who did not move from their position.  I was able to come within 10 feet of them, closer than that was not accepted.  I decided to swing around them and force them towards the road.  From there I imagined herding them towards the direction of the village, back to my house, and safely in the kraal with the other animals.  I quickly found out that there was going to be a difference between what I was imagining and reality. 

There appeared to be one baby goat that was in charge.  As the other two would dash into the grass or look towards the field, this one would stick to the road.  The others would quickly turn and follow.  However, I soon realized that much of our energy was not spent on going straight.  Most of my movements were left and right, not forward. I was desperatly trying to push them forward, but they seemed to be insistent on going back to the field.  I soon realized that my method of herding was not working, possibly because I had never herded livestock before and I was unaware of the methods effective on three small goats.  I made a new plan.

Realizing that the one was somewhat of a leader, I chose to capture it in my arms.  From there, I imagined that I could run ahead and the two would follow behind me all the way back to the village, to my house, and into the kraal safely with the other animals.  I targeted the baby goat and dashed towards it.  It made a move to escape, but was too slow.  With my first attempt I had it clutched in my hand, easier than expected.

Now that I had the one goat I decided to implement my second plan.  I ran ahead with the goat in my right hand and my left hand flailing off to the side to keep balance.  After 50 yards I stopped and turned around.  The other two had not moved from their position.  Thankfully, after I stopped the little goat in my right hand started bleating again.  With his sounds and call to the other two, they came running head long towards me. It was working!  They managed to get within 10 feet of me again.  Once they were there, I dashed off again…goat in right hand ,left hand flailing…for another 50 meters.  I stopped and soon the other two followed. 

I continued with this repetition for some time (I was not consciously aware of an exact time at this moment).  I soon realized that despite my exhaustion I had gained little headway.  I estimated my distance to still be around 1.5miles to go.  This is when I first started to notice the darkness that was enveloping me.  The sun had long shrunk below the horizon and the sky was a dark gray blue.  Soon it would be black.  Already the first planets and stars were making their appearance in the sky.  

That is when it happened.  Out of the corner of my right eye I saw him, a jackal.  With his black and gray hairs, full tail held high, he made his way towards the two baby goats now about 50 meters behind me.  My heart stopped for a second, then soon beat hard, pounding against my rib cage.  I think the small goat in my hand sensed my anxiety because he too also stopped making a sound.  I watched as the jackal approached the two unsuspecting, praying for the best.  When the jackal was within 10 feet of the two baby goats, it stopped.  It turned its head towards me, put its eyes into mine, and turned back from where it came.  It swiftly slid back into the field and made a round sweeping circle into the broken corn stalks and crouched out of sight. I knew that it was not gone for good.  

I now realized what I had to do.  The darkness was creeping in all around me, just as the jackal was soon to do upon the baby goats.  This method of run and follow was working but far to slow.  At this pace I would never get back before night fall and besides, it seemed that the other two goats had gone their limit.  They refused to follow anymore.  I decided on my third plan for the day, I would go and try and capture one more goat, then surely the remaining would follow the majority back to the village, to my house, and into the kraal safely with the other animals. 

I dashed towards the other two goats, still with the one in my right hand, left hand flailing to keep my balance.  I targeted the smaller goat, the one with the brown from the shoulders up.  I ran at him with full speed (well at least as fast as can be done with a goat in one hand).  I seemed to only be able to match its pace, never able to overtake it!  I stumbled through the plowed dirt and corn stalks.  At one time I was so frustrated at the small creature that I managed to kick its hind leg knocking it off balance.  Before I could grasp it though, it was up and running again.  I stopped to catch my breath and realized that this whole time we had been running away from the targeted direction, further into the field, and directly towards the jackal!  I yelled at the little goat…”you stupid thing!  Don’t you know what is good for you? I am trying to save you!  Your stupidity is going to put you right in that jackal’s mouth!”

In my frustration I decided that this was useless.  Already the sky was being filled with speckles of star light and there was nothing else I could do.  I decided that I would try to walk towards the village and hoped that the others would follow in line.  They did not! Now that I had given them chase, they looked at me as if I were the jackal!  They started to graze upon the cornstalks appearing to settle themselves in for a night’s sleep.  It was hopeless.  I realized that despite my best efforts, I could not save all three.  I retreated back to the village with the one goat in my right hand, the left hand still flailing.  Occasionally I glanced over my shoulder hoping to hear the bleating sound of two more goats…silence.  They had decided to stay where I left them.  I could only hope that they were safe. 

I dashed back to the village as quickly as I could.  I had to stop occassionally to walk and catch my breath.  The weight of the small goat seemed to increase by the second.  I estimated that I had been clutching it in my arms for over an hour.  Eventually I returned back to the village under the cover of night, hoping not to be seen, for the sight of a running white man with a bleating baby goat in his arms, would certainly cause suspision and gossip.  I did happen to run into the same man on the donkey cart, now leaving the village, and the group of boys leaving the soccer field.  I stopped to explain the situation to all of them and wipe the confused look from their faces.  

I returned home, my right arm numb, the baby goat looking exhausted and confused as the boys I met while passing the soccer field.  I burst through the kitchen door to find my host mother and friend sitting at the table.  They looked up and their faces transformed into the same confused look as those I had just seen.  I explained the whole situation to them and they agreed that what I had done was right.  Certainly the jackal would have gotten them; it would not have been the first time.  This settled my fear that I had broken some cultural or civil rule that says it is unlawful to take another person’s goat without their permission under any circumstance.  I felt the present situation justified my actions.  Before I left the kitchen room to place the goat in the kraal with the sheep, my host mother said, “When you leave to go home, you will have to take that goat with you on the plane.” We all laughed at the thought of me sitting on the plane with a goat. 

Presently, Sherman, the name of my new pet goat, is safely in the kraal among the sheep.  It will take him some time before he adjusts to his new environment and before the sheep accept him as their own.  It will also take some time before I become a true shepherd.  I am sure, when it is all said and done,  we will be family. 

I still hold onto the hope that Sherman’s siblings made it through that first night and were retrieved by their rightful owner in the morning.  I am sure they are both safely with thier mother and herd.

And that is the story of how one man went for a run empty handed and returned with a goat.  If you ever thought it wasn’t possible, now you know the truth…anything is possible here.

Unexpected Spoken Appreciation

When we were being trained in South Africa as new Peace Corps Volunteers, one of the things they told us about was “unspoken appreciation.”  They told us that despite the hours of committment and devotion to our communities  and the improvements and changes we make as volunteers, expect unspoken appreciation.  Expect to leave your community with your own personal satisfaction in knowing that you did contribute something over the two years, but do not expect that you will be thanked for it.  This isn’t to say that the people of South Africa are not a thanking people, this is far from the truth.  Many people will be thankful for what you have done, but afraid or unsure of how to express that thanks to you. 

After hearing this during training, I was prepared for it, but didn’t realize how much a sincere “thank you” here and there was needed to keep a PCVolunteer moving forward and proud.  That is why I was so surpised and uplifted last Thursday, September 4, 2008. 

As I mentioned in my previous blog entry (subtitle: What I do in my free time…) I have been teaching a group of adults in my village twice a week (Thursday and Friday) since June 2008.  During the first months of the course I was teaching them how to start a business and to write a business plan.  We also learned about managing money and budgeting.  We completed the course with an exam, where everyone passed the exam successfully and received a certificate of achievement. 

This past Thursday, when we started our new unit on First Aid, we were all in for a surprise.  After the lesson was over for the day, one of the mothers stood up and spoke.  She said that she has really appreciated all that I have done for her.  By providing her with a free education and through my teaching, I have opened and rejuvinated her mind.  She has been given a new sense of life, vitality, and energy to improve her situation.  She is sharing the information with her family and helping them to start their own businesses.  Because of these things, she felt she must tell me, in some way, how much she appreciated what I have done for her.  That is when she presented me with an award. 

The award was beautiful from the moment it appeared.  Encased in a shining blue and gold frame and a proud blue star in the center, the award was shocking.  She said that she had composed a letter for me, all of it coming from her own heart.  She read it for us and I stood there in amazement.  I couldn’t believe if it was true and if the compliments I was receiving were deserved. 

Afterwards, I hugged her and thanked her repeatedly but nothing seemed enough to describe how much it all meant to me.  It was a verbal and physical thankyou.  Something I could cherish and show for the rest of my life.  It was a boost of encouragement and strength that has uplifted me.  I walked away that day standing tall because I knew that my work was not just benefiting me, but others as well. 

We ended the class with the most delicious tea and cakes (the same mother also surprised us with home-made cakes).  We all agreed that September 4, 2008 would be a day to remember.

Below, the award and the written description.

 

BEST TEACHER OF A LIFETIME

MR. ADAM BOHACH

“Thank you so much for everything that you have done for me.   Your courage, strength, and effort are highly appreciated.  I thank God for sending you to South Africa all the way from the United States of America.  You have been the greatest teacher of them all.  You really really deserve an award of the best teacher of them all.

And I promise you that the information you have given me, I will treasure it as the most important gift of them all.  I am saying this from the bottom of my heart.  Thank you so much!

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU SAFE!

From: Kefilwe Morutingaya “

“NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS!”

“NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS!”

 

      Some of you may be wondering what could be keeping me so quiet. It is true that I haven’t given any updates for quite a good stretch of time.  I apologize for that and any worries you may have had.  To calm your fears, you should know that, as the saying goes…“no news is good news”…I only have good news to share!

     I would like to get you caught up on some of the more important things that I have been actively participating in this past month, which have hindered my updates. 

 Thursday, July 24:

    A large white truck pulled up to the school.  A man stepped out and handed a clipboard over to the principal and said, “please sign here.” On that delivery form was listed, 15 CPUs and 15 flat screen monitors! As you may recall, one of my early goals upon arriving at my South African school, was to receive computer donations from various foundations, such as DELL and Vodacom.  Well, that persistence paid off. After one years time, the results of our efforts are being realized.  We now have 15 brand new, beautiful flat screen computers, along with another 20 en route.  Thanks to the kind donations from DELL and Vodacom, our school will be possessing 35 computers within one month’s time. 

    Since that memorable Thursday afternoon, our school has begun preparing the “hall”, soon to be “new computer lab”.  Extra burglar bars were put on the windows and doors in early August.  Presently, we are constructing the computer tables out of metal frames from old school desks, an idea I had to help save school money.  My role presently is preparing the computer skills curriculum for teaching the up and coming IT course for students, teachers, and the community.  Every week someone asks, “When will we start to learn computers?” or “Can I join your computer classes even though I am not from a different village?”  My answers to those people are, “Hopefully soon” and “You bet you can!” (of course not in English).  J

 August 4-8:

     During the first full week of August I had the pleasure to meet with the new Peace Corps Education Trainees, soon to be volunteers.  The group consisted of just over 40 individuals, all varying in age, goals, visions, and personalities, but yet strikingly similar to the group I arrived with just one year ago.  It was a strange feeling to be on the other side of the room sharing my advice and experiences to a group of new Americans, when not so long ago I was doing the listening and learning.  I sincerely enjoyed the pleasure of meeting all those new folks and offering encouraging but realistic words of advice.  I went with the trainees on their school visits, assisting them with teaching and offering explanations for various “non-American” behaviors in the schools.  I also led a few sessions with Paul and Brandon, two other PCVs.  Most of the week’s productivity, however, was found in the informal discussions with the trainees, simply sharing my experiences as a 1 year veteran and offering suggestions and advice for their future as a PCV in South Africa.

 Saturday, August 9:

     After a week with the trainees, I traveled back to Pretoria (the central capital of South Africa, home of the Peace Corps head offices, and a common hang out spot for volunteers like myself).  I spent two days enjoying the city life with friends.  The best day was Saturday, which I spent with my girlfriend Stacy.  It was Women’s Day in South Africa so we took the day to celebrate.  We attended a Women’s Day event just outside the Parliament Buildings along with thousands of others, listening to the assortment of guest speakers and sharing in the good food and atmosphere.  We then made our first trip to the Pretoria zoological gardens.  There we saw nearly all the animals, from big to small and from feather to fur.  The zoo was a well afternoon spent, that is, if you can handle going to a zoo to see African animals when you are located in Africa.  Somehow we also managed to see the new batman movie, The Dark Knight, which was two thumbs up if you haven’t seen it!

     

Sunday, 17 August:

    This day I began another side project of mine.  Ever since I have been in South Africa, people have been very keen on using me as a photographer.  I quickly learned the demands and stresses of the business, and so, I was more than pleased when Morapedi “Prince” Molema (a good friend of mine from the village) came up to me and asked if I could help him start a photography business?  My answer was a resounding, YES!  This Sunday happened to be our first assignment.  We had been invited to a church gathering to take photos and video for a DVD.  Despite taking the whole day (9:30am to 5:30pm…African church is not an in and out ordeal), the event was very enjoyable.  The pastors (baruti) were loud energetic and boisterous and the music was full of the Holy Spirit.  It was a nice Sunday to remember and a great first gig for Bonolo Photography (the name of his new business).  Since that first assignment we have already done two more.  Already the business has helped Morapedi to pay off all the start up costs.  We are excited about the prospects of the business, but also very tired.  It takes a lot of time to wrestle with computers and software to get the DVD just right to sell.  We have already had a few past-midnight working sessions.  Even last night we attended a Grade 12 function similar to prom…we arrived at home just passed 4:00am.  My eyes are half shut as we speak.  Either way I am sure that by the time I leave South Africa, Bonolo Photography will be thriving will be a full-time photographer rather than farmer!

Tuesday, 26 August:

     This was a big day for our village.  On that day, we held the first ever Registration Campaign in Brooksby Village.  The purpose of the day was to bring many government departments and services to the people, rather than expecting the people to go to them.  This day was the culmination of a lot of hard work by many people.  It all began months back in June when I first visited a community development organization, called MiET, which aids rural communities in South Africa.  I asked them if they could help Brooksby Village and they said yes.  After many meetings, phone conversations, and follow ups, the job was completed.  The day was a success!  Two tents were hired along with tables, chairs, and catering.  All of the government departments that were invited came (except for the Health Department…boo!).  Those departments brought services for the people to get birth, death, and marriage certificates, identification documents, proof of residency, child grants, and to register for election, etc.  Thanks to the privately hired transport, people from 4-5 other villages were able to come.  The total number of people in attendance was not certain, but some estimated 400 to 500.  After many interviews it was clear that the everyone, both people from the villages and the departments, were very happy with the days results.  The village people were glad that they didn’t have to pay the high costs of transport to travel to the city to get help; it was done right at their home.  The department people were happy because many people came and their services met the needs of many.  I too was extremely happy with the days results, tired, but happy.  I also finished that great day with a great ending.  Three of my close friends came over and we cooked and ate dinner together.  Another good day to remember.

  

And what I do in my free time…

     As you can see there have been many ‘especially’ rewarding days (everyday has a reward someplace right?) to remember over the last month and a half.  Of course, I am still working at the schools.  Teaching has been getting better everyday.  I have finally found a system for teaching that works for my busy schedule.  Also, the most encouraging thing about teaching is seeing the students’ improvement in using the English language.  Others have even commented on the increased usage of the English language in the village, especially among the youth, since my arrival.  But I am not going to let it stop there, I just got 60 children’s books loaned from the library, bless their heart, and will soon be working with the librarian to start a reading campaign in school.  We have also completed the first two subjects of the Adult Educational Program that I started teaching in the village back in June.  I had 7 wonderful students just complet their final exam on Entrepreneurship and Banking.  All of them passed! I even used the American passing standard (60%) and not the South African standard (40%)!  The highest test score goes to Kefilwe with a 100%!  This week begins a new course in First Aid. 

 Last words for the day…

     As you can see, one thing leads to the next in my life, but I wouldn’t change a thing about my life right now.  I am happier than I have ever been, but also equally exhausted.  It is true what they say about the Peace Corps, “’IT IS THE HARDEST JOB YOU COULD EVER HAVE, BUT ALSO THE MOST FULFILLING”…I am finally understanding what that truly means.  Well, so long for now everyone.  I may be back in a week, a month or two, I don’t know, but I do know that the sun is shining here on us.  Thank you all for your support and please don’t stop!    

                                                                        -Adam “Thabo/Joy” Bohach