Day 7

July 1
I'm so excited! I keep learning more and more Setswana words! I'm even starting to recognize some words when my host siblings are speaking! I just love my family. The kids are helping me get through this awkward transition phase. With both lingual and cultural barriers, bonding with my host family isn't easy. I have found, however, that tickle fights are universal. When I feel lost or confused, and no one is translating into English for me, all I have to do is grab my nearest niece or nephew and make them laugh. Same (SAH-may) and Palesa are my nieces and Thero, Kitso, and Litso are my nephews. The girls speak English, but the boys are still too young to know any. That doesn't matter, and they climb all over me, fighting to be the next victim of the Tickle Monster.

Me, Palesa, and Thero

The girls have also been helping me with my Setswana. I've found that this is a good way to bond. Now, I have pages of Setswana words in Same's handwriting, and I plan on knowing every word. My sisters are great, too. They've been trying very hard to make me feel welcome. They have also been helping me with my Setswana. I'm still working on all of their names, though. As soon as they mention nicknames, the name sticks, but for the longer traditional names, I still have trouble. I remember Bobo, Carol, and Fifi (Refilwe). My brother's name is Rorisang. My mother's name is Dineo, and my father's name is Joseph. The kids are Same, Palesa, Thero, Kitso, and Litso. Then I run into some problems. The eldest's name starts with an "O," Orobah I think. Another starts with an "M," I'm pretty sure her name is Masego (ma-SE-ho). There's also another relative, a sister? Cousin? Not too sure hahaha! Her name starts with a "T." I'm too embarrassed to ask again. Hahaha! I might just ask Banki...

Me with just a few of my family members

 Now, to actually talk about my day. Today was Sunday, which meant one thing, church! Church is kereke in Setswana. I only brought one nice outfit with me, so even though I wore it yesterday to meet my family, I had to wear it again today. I enjoyed church. It was a Lutheran church. I didn't understand a word of the service, but they were always singing. It was great! The only other Americans at my church were Rheame and Ian. We had to introduce ourselves to the congregation because we were guests. We were allowed to do it in English, and the pastor translated. I sat next to Rheame for the entire service, and we both enjoyed ourselves. The service started a little after 10:00 AM, and it was very long. I didn't mind, because that meant less struggling with Setswana alone. I also really missed my group, so it was great seeing Rheame and Ian.
After church, I had lunch at home. While we were eating outside, Amelia and her two sisters arrived. After some introductions, I finished eating, and we went to go find more group members. We found Anahi, Shane, Ian, and Sarah. By the end we had a huge group of kids following us! We played "Keep-Away" for a while and took a bunch of pictures.

Pictures after a tough game of Keep-Away

It was a good thing we all found each other, because we realized we were meeting as a group tomorrow at the kgotla at 8:50 AM, but it takes 30 minutes to walk there. So, we are meeting in front of my house at 8:15 to arrive as a group. Anyway, after I went back home I played a lot with my nieces and nephews. The family watched some T.V. with dinner, I learned more Setswana, and then I played cards with Refilwe and Rorisang. It was a lot of fun, and I'm excited for the start of community service and the resumption of Setswana lessons tomorrow!!