VRR trip

This morning, after a snafu with transportation, we were off to visit our first village reading room. We had to miss the meeting with the kgosi (I didn't know we were having one and didn't wear a skirt, so we weren't allowed in), and so we sat in the truck and...well...sat for over an hour. Max is trying to convince the kgosi to give the reading room a bigger space, with its own plot and electricity. I can see why--the reading room is in a little house in a residential neighborhood, with very very little shelf and chair space. And, as I said, no power. One woman is the only staff for the place, which she expressed as a burden, but there's truly not much work to be done.

Transport. Ah, transport. For some reason, Max cannot drive himself on official business. He must use a driver. And that means, with me and Ashley, we must reserve a double cab to travel anywhere. I don't understand, but ah well.

Family life is a definite challenge--there are cultural disconnects galore, around food and what's considered polite vs. rude. Angelina didn't come as planned last week--we need to talk to her this week. I hope she can make time!

We also found out that Max has only the equivalent of an associates degree--here it's called a diploma. He's hoping to go back to school for his bachelors.