I plan on being tired

At the end of March, I am planning to run a half marathon.

Wait...sorry thats not right.  Let me fix that sentence.

At the end of March, I am planning to run walk an entirely downhill half marathon over the course of four hours.

Much more accurate.

The Longtom half marathon is something that Peace Corps South Africa has been doing for about five years now.  Its up in Sabie, which is beautiful, and I'm really excited that I'll be in this part of the world at the right time to participate.  Also about the idea of even attempting my first organized athletic...thingy that isn't yoga.

The other really great thing about the Longtom is that it is a fundraiser for the KLM organization, which was set up by some PCVs from SA11 (I was SA15.  I've just heard the un-holy rumor that they're now up to SA23.)  KLM pays a complete 5 year scholarship for one rural Mpumalanga student a year to attend a fantastic private secondary school.  Most of the kids are from the areas where my friends and I lived in Peace Corps, and it really is a life changing thing.  The Longtom organizers ask that everybody who participates fundraise at least $100.  So as you can see...I am now passing that information along to all 3 of you who read this.

Here is the information from this year's organizers:

Each year the Longtom Marathon Fundraiser provides two-thirds of the cost of the five year education for one learner at Uplands College. KLM relies heavily on the funds raised through the Longtom Marathon Fundraiser and needs the continuing support of PCVs to carry on their important work. Volunteers participating in the marathon are expected to fundraise a minimum of US$100 for the KLM foundation, but don't worry, that can be spread out over 4, 10 or even 20 donations.  Each $5 donation helps out! Although $100 is the minimum requirement we expect that many of you will go above and beyond that. To encourage you to do so, the Longtom Committee has also identified target fundraising goals which are:

·        $100 - base

·        $250 - bronze

·        $500 - silver

·        $750 - gold  

Here's how you can donate:

1.     Go to the KLM foundation website http://www.klm-foundation.org  

2.      Click on the Donate photo in the upper left corner.

3.      This opens up a secure https connection for people to donate.

4.      In the Longtom Marathon field put "Rebecca Fielding-Miller" so they know the donation was made in my name.  (In fact, feel free to put "Rebecca Fielding-Miller, MSPH")

$5 would be fantastic, $25 would be even better.  I never do this, but this is one of those times where I can honestly vouch for the organization.  I know this area, I know these kids, and I know that going to Uplands College really will change a kid's life.  Plus...13.1 miles.  Thats really far!  Even if it is all downhill.

www.klm-foundation.org

At some point during that sojourn

Somebody in Johannesburg managed to get ahold of my credit card information and steal about $3500.  God knows how, as you can clearly see from the timeline that I had 0 extra minutes for the purchase of anything.

This may mark my official retirement from public transport in Africa.

I'm Not Leaving

     The first thing I need to say is that I now work in an office that sits behind a door which is clearly (and sparsely) labeled "STI" in big red letters.  There are also numerous posters and pamphlets on how to recognize syphilis (hint: your downstairs is in an advanced stage of "OMG...what is that?") and what to do if you have TB. (Take your meds.  Everyday.  Try to avoid coughing on friendly neighborhood peace corps volunteers whose only mistake was to share a kombi with you on one fateful day...)

     The above visual markers are a sign that I have begun my transition from random grad student researcher to person-with-actual-job-dom.  I think I like this state, I've never experienced it before.  For one thing, it comes with a salary which I find awfully novel and exciting.  For another it kind of makes me feel like all those late night hyperventilations over biostats and car trips to Trader Joes whose sole purpose was to memorize/procrastinate on memorizing all the different classes of ARVs might actually have paid off.  Who knew?

     I will be enjoying this salaried state of existence for another 6 months here in good old Swaziland.  (Sorry mom.  At least its not the DRC!)  After that...more grad school.  I decided that what I really, really want out of life is a PhD.  And to spend 3-4 more years being broke and living in a classroom/committee setting.  But it turns out I really like research, and if I want to keep doing research, then I'd better get a degree that says I'm good at it.  Besides...how awesome does Dr. Fielding-Miller sound?  Pretty good, right?

Brief Sojourn to America

I am in the US for all of six days for some grad school considerations and family time.  To get here, I decided to take public transport from Mbabane to the Jo'burg airport since a) I had meetings in the morning and the nice van left at 7am, and b) it is cheap and so am I.  I also thought it would be entertaining to keep track of what the process entailed, so I kept notes.  Which I will now present to you.

10:30am, Monday: Meeting starts, 90 minutes late
11:45am -- Meeting ends.  My ride ditches me and sends me with a different lady to go to an atm for needed cash.
12:00 -- I find the different lady who is to drive me to the atm for cash.  We find said atm.  She takes me back to the meeting hall instead of the taxi rank.
12:15pm -- random toothless man we wave down on the side of the road drives me to the taxi rank.  The previous kombi (minibus) left 10 minutes previous.  I am promised we will leave by 2.
2:20pm.  Switch kombis, but still at the taxi rank.
2:30 -- Kombi leaves Mbabane.  I am told I will switch again at the border.
2:45pm -- Arrive at the border.  Stamping and queuing.
3:00pm -- Get in new kombi.  Forced to airless back.
3:15pm -- Leave for Jo'burg
6:20pm -- Forced to switch kombis again at large mall in Jo'burg.  I lose my shit with the driver.
6:30pm -- Switch kombis again in the middle of freeway.  Old man loses his shit in a mixture of zulu and sotho because I am white.
6:45pm -- kicked out of kombi to travel last half mile on foot.  Begin sobbing.  Almost run over.
7:05pm -- South African Airlines begins trying to figure out what the hell a buddy pass is.
8:20pm -- Flight leaves.  I am in business class.  Success!!