From the Author: Rhotoke, Limpopo

Suzanne and I are starting our third week in South Africa. We are in Rhotoke, Limpopo province being hosted by a local woman, living in a compound with four other people.

Our days are full of studying and nights doing homework and preparing for the next day, getting water, cooking, etc.

One of the neighbors loaned us their laptop and interet connetion to allow us to check out email.


We are studying Tsonga, as they may place us in the Northern region of Limpopo and/or Mapopolanga provine, near Botswana, or Zimbobwa. We will be sent to our sites, in a couple couple of weeks for a site visit. Two weeks ago we were visiting an extened PC volunteer (PCV) in Polokwane. We stayed in a Game Park and slept with our host in a Roundofall. This is a round house with a ceiling of logs that point to the sky, and a thatched roof. That PVC got the municipality to visit a small town, repair the preschool, and they are pipng water into the village.
Currently we are a school teacher's home and walk to our teacher's home, or to the community center. Graciouness is a way of life here. More bout that later.
There is wifi here at our compound. We get our laptops back, maybe on Monday. Sat, we travel to Pretoria, and hope to pick up a modum, then we will be more connected.
Life right now is immersion into language, village life, and planning our first project we will complete as a team. This will hapen at our next site visit scheduled for March 5. Until then...Sala Kahle (hle) is pronounced by putting tip of tongue behind teeth and softly blowing air our of both sides..Try that without spitting...Takes talent! t means in Tsonga.. Stay Well!

Marty and Suzanne