Site visit cancelled the strike continues..

McGrath THE Country Director of South Africa arrived at the training site to explain to us in detail how training will be structured moving forward.
I was not surprised when she informed us that the site visit and supervisors workshop would be postponed.
The supervisors workshop – A 3-day event where our assigned principal, peace corps staff and us, the volunteers come together to discuss the roles and expectations of all three parties.
Example – The principal should understand that we are not paid staff, we will be involved in secondary projects.
Example – Americans for the most part are anal in regards to time. “when we say 10 o’clock we mean 10 o’clock”. From what I’ve heard that’s not the case in South African rural schools.
Before McGraph arrived, some of the trainee’s asked, “why cant we just do the site visit?” During our sit-down with her it became clear why that was not an option.

McGrath explained, “It’s your principals responsibility to introduce you to your host family, shop owners and police. This cannot be done without having this very important workshop. Your host family also needs to understand that as Americans we are vary independent, that you are not sick or sad if you decided to stay inside your house for a long period of time”. During the strike the principals, teachers and staff are discouraged from participating in any kind of school related activity.
She then switched gears and asked the group for suggestions regarding our last week of training since there was not going to be a site visit. At this point all important material had been covered. Here was the groups list.
1. Trip to Game Reserve
2. Mall Trip
3. Pizza/Pool Party
4. Cape Town…haha


After McGraph spoke I thanked her for taking the time to come out and thoroughly explain the situation. It is now that I completely understand how everything works and why things are organized in such a manor. Something like a strike was not planned for.
It has been an intense 6 weeks. Since the beginning of week 3 we have witnessed this Public Sector Strike that wont go away!!!! This was the week scheduled for our site visits, I have been looking forward to this since day one. I mean yeah the 8-week home stay is important but not like your permanent site, your new home for 2 years.