Belatedly Titled

The architects of tshiVenda decided they were so tickled by alliteration that it should inform the guiding grammatical axiom for a whole new language. For example, take the word show. A single show is tshienda in the tshi noun class, the seventh of 21. Make that plural and you're in the zwi noun class with zwienda. Now let's say you've got a pair of black (ntwsu) shoes. There has to be noun agreement between nouns and the adjectives that modify them so you have zwienda zwintswu. You're a possessive person so let's throw a pronoun in there: my. Again, noun class agreement, so we have zwienda zwintswu zwanga. Throw in a to-be verb, also taylor made for each noun class, and you got zwienda zwintswu zwanga zwi ~ (my black shows are ~).

It was hard leaving all the other volunteers after training. We were all sort of breaking up. And then of course, as we got in the TVEP car to drive up to Venda (me and a friend got a ride together), Richard Marx came on the radio singing that one about maintaining a long distance relationship. It's funny... I vaguely remember reading a story about a woman's move to her site in some of the PC advertising propoganda. It was written by the Country Director who was accompanying her in the car. Imaging this moment for myself was terrifying. Ultimately, it made me question whether I could hack it. Oddly enough, the drive up for me, and all it meant, was fine, a blessing even. I've got an amazing assignment, an amazing homestay, and a fabulous site. How I managed to get this lucky, I don't know.

I spent last weekend moving in. I've embued my bedroom with...me. This is somehow especially important because there was a former Peace Corps Volunteer who lived there before me. Anyway, my room is covered with photos; I've reorganized the furniture; I bought my own food, including an excellent array of Indian spices.

I ate a termite.

I'm currently typing at the University of Venda. I think I'll hang out here some. They've got a great library and a computer lab, plus, only a short hour walk from my home.

My first day of work last Monday.