Hey Everybody,
This is probably going to be my last post until January 15th or 16th. I am leaving on holiday next Saturday and I will be gone until the 13th. But I am going to take lots of pictures and Ill be back here posting again in the new year.
So let me see, what have I been up to the past week. Well, a lot of hanging around really.
Monday we put up christmas stuff in our house to make it feel a bit more like the holidays. But it is just so hot here that it really doesn't feel like Christmas to me. There is supposed to be snow this time of year, I know it. One of the interns from Site 11 came over for the day to visit. And we took a trip downtown to buy some things.
Tuesday we did something but I can't for the life of me remember what it was. Wednesday I can't remember either. Aerin and I are sitting here racking our brains but we can't come up with what we did.
Thursday we went to see the new James Bond movie and then we walked over to the house Anne works at to accompany that family to a Christmas festival called Fantasia. We walked around the craft tent part because it was cheaper than going to the rides which were really expensive I guess, and we also got some food from one of the many Muslim food tents. I had an east meets west steak and cheese burger with Middle eastern style seasoning and onions. Then we walked through the Christmas village of lights and I swear, there are displays in front yards back home larger than this. But I don't know what I was expecting, I am in South Africa.
Friday was the hottest day of year and it was far too hot to do anything. We did get Sally to take us to the store though so that we could by food for the week. That night I didn't fall asleep until 5 becuase it was far to hot too be comfortable.
Yesterday wasn't much cooler but we made an outing around 4:30 when it was starting to cool off. The rest of our house came back also so we had people again.
Basically this past week we have made one outing a day with the exception of friday and we have otherwise spent time watching movies or hanging out with our neighbors.
Now the war against roaches has taken on a new level since the weather has gotten warmer here. First they were invading Anne's room nightly, big ones. Then we Doom fogged her room and the next night there was one in my room. So that was the last straw for us. We bought some poison bait and laced our house. I have no clue how effective it is at killing roaches but it has certainly made them vigilliant. They now venture out at even with all the lights on. So with a can of Doom on hand I have gone into battle each night. Friday I killed three of them in a row. Needless to say, I am very paranoid now. Once it gets dark outside, I am on full alert.
Last night I had a very lengthy conversation with one of the staff members who was staying next door. First we talked about how the new generation of Zulu children don't know there own history because they aren't being taught it at school or at home. Then Sfiso got into telling me all about Shaka Zulu, perhaps the most famous of the Zulu cheifs. As interesting as all it was I came to discover two things. The Zulu are a very proud people, who are proud of their past even if this new generation is relatively ignorant. There pride in thier history is so strong infact that they feel a kind of superiority to the other South African tribes. Yet the Zulu also blame their current strife on the betrayal of Shaka Zulu. When something goes wrong here, the Zulu say, its because Shaka Zulu said it would be so.
I also discovered that it is very hard to get a Zulu person to talk about politics in South Africa. Whenever I ask a question they usually tell me they don't know the answer or they tell me something historical as was the case last night. Unfortunately for me, I really would like to know more about the people and culture I am working with but its very hard to do that when I can't seem to get answers to my questions. So I guess I am either asking the wrong questions, asking the wrong people, or I need to change my approach.
Well thats all I have time for. Best wishes for the holidays and we'll talk again in a month.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Sawubona,
I think my last post was one Sunday yeah? So let me begin on updates...
Monday we did not have work because it was an awards ceremony for the entire YFC/KZN, which means there were a lot of people packed into a room that was way to hot. Now we were told that the ceremony was to begin at 9 o'clock in the morning so like good Westerners we arrived at 5 till 9. We forgot that we are in South Africa however because South Africa functions on "Bantu Time". Bantu time basically means you get there when you get there and things will start when everyone arrives. This means that, because people were not only coming from all over Maritzburg but also Durban, the ceremony did not begin untill 11:45. There was then a very long introduction followed by lunch because at every event hear, food is surved. They decided that since the ceremony was running so late, lunch would only be a half hour instead of the full hour originally planned. So after an hour and fourty-five minute lunch we got back underway. Basically we were all kinda grumpy by the end. The rest of the day was spent hanging out at home with some of our Zulu colleagues. By the end of it all we settled for ordering pizza which has become something of a weekly ritual.
Tuesday Aerin and I got up for work and made our way to the office to begin our last week of work at Haniville. We arrived and were sent away because our supervisor was out of town from some reason that day and we aren't aloud to be in the community working without a Zulu person. So we went home and I decided to get some more sleep. After I was fully rested I decided to accompany Anne and three of the foster kids she works with to one of the public pools. That was something of an experience between dealing with the drunk security guard and trying to watch three very small kids in mob of afternoon swimmers. We attempted to teach the two older ones to swim a bit and we were actually fairly successful save for the lack of swimming room. Tuesday night we went with a bunch of the guys who work at the shelter next door to go see Madagascar 2, Escape 2 Africa in the theater. I think cartoons hear are more popular amoung adults here because there were only two kids there and yet the place was still packed. I was disappointed by the popcorn though.
Wednesday was quite a long day at Haniville with kids the entire day again. We had an unusually young age group that day and it made it difficult to play with them. I deffinately like working with kids who are a little older. I have noticed an interesting phonomena though at Haniville and that is the younger a child is, the more English they speak, or are willing to speak. I am not sure why this is or if it transcends all the townships as well but it has certainly raised some questions in my mind.
Thursday we had a lot more kids than we had been having because it was the last day the center was open untill the end of january next year. We did have kids all day again but it was easier to entertain them. Also I failed to mention that in the last two weeks of work I have become a human jungle gym since the kids figured out that I was strong enough to carry a bunch of them and since I play tug of war and what not. So I went home thursday with a very sore back and very greatful for a couch to get horizontal on. We went on one last sugar cane raid in the fields across the street and it was my best catch yet I must say. Sweet and juicy, mmmm.
Yesterday we had one last prayer meeting for the year and then we went to a cold and rainy briaa for the street kids. I have fallen in love with Zulu cooking; we had a delicious assortment of grilled meats as well as shakalaka which is just well, delicious. My same offer stands as before, I'll cook it for anyone who buys me the supplies. We got some movies for the weekend and had a relaxing night at home with Mlu visiting from next door. He calls me mfundu which means "my brother".
Today is warmer and I am told that tomorrow is going to be well over 100 degrees. So much for a white christmas eh.
I was talking with Mlu last night about some cultural things and I learned that there is a lot of blacks hear who truly hate whites. Mlu doesn't really understand why and while at first I thought, "of course, they lived under appartide" Mlu told me that most are two young to remember it. I am thinking that it is mainly resentment at all the wealth whites have hear while so much of the black population is struggling. It reminds me in a lot of ways of America and the more I learn here, the more I see just how similar the dynamics are.
I think my last post was one Sunday yeah? So let me begin on updates...
Monday we did not have work because it was an awards ceremony for the entire YFC/KZN, which means there were a lot of people packed into a room that was way to hot. Now we were told that the ceremony was to begin at 9 o'clock in the morning so like good Westerners we arrived at 5 till 9. We forgot that we are in South Africa however because South Africa functions on "Bantu Time". Bantu time basically means you get there when you get there and things will start when everyone arrives. This means that, because people were not only coming from all over Maritzburg but also Durban, the ceremony did not begin untill 11:45. There was then a very long introduction followed by lunch because at every event hear, food is surved. They decided that since the ceremony was running so late, lunch would only be a half hour instead of the full hour originally planned. So after an hour and fourty-five minute lunch we got back underway. Basically we were all kinda grumpy by the end. The rest of the day was spent hanging out at home with some of our Zulu colleagues. By the end of it all we settled for ordering pizza which has become something of a weekly ritual.
Tuesday Aerin and I got up for work and made our way to the office to begin our last week of work at Haniville. We arrived and were sent away because our supervisor was out of town from some reason that day and we aren't aloud to be in the community working without a Zulu person. So we went home and I decided to get some more sleep. After I was fully rested I decided to accompany Anne and three of the foster kids she works with to one of the public pools. That was something of an experience between dealing with the drunk security guard and trying to watch three very small kids in mob of afternoon swimmers. We attempted to teach the two older ones to swim a bit and we were actually fairly successful save for the lack of swimming room. Tuesday night we went with a bunch of the guys who work at the shelter next door to go see Madagascar 2, Escape 2 Africa in the theater. I think cartoons hear are more popular amoung adults here because there were only two kids there and yet the place was still packed. I was disappointed by the popcorn though.
Wednesday was quite a long day at Haniville with kids the entire day again. We had an unusually young age group that day and it made it difficult to play with them. I deffinately like working with kids who are a little older. I have noticed an interesting phonomena though at Haniville and that is the younger a child is, the more English they speak, or are willing to speak. I am not sure why this is or if it transcends all the townships as well but it has certainly raised some questions in my mind.
Thursday we had a lot more kids than we had been having because it was the last day the center was open untill the end of january next year. We did have kids all day again but it was easier to entertain them. Also I failed to mention that in the last two weeks of work I have become a human jungle gym since the kids figured out that I was strong enough to carry a bunch of them and since I play tug of war and what not. So I went home thursday with a very sore back and very greatful for a couch to get horizontal on. We went on one last sugar cane raid in the fields across the street and it was my best catch yet I must say. Sweet and juicy, mmmm.
Yesterday we had one last prayer meeting for the year and then we went to a cold and rainy briaa for the street kids. I have fallen in love with Zulu cooking; we had a delicious assortment of grilled meats as well as shakalaka which is just well, delicious. My same offer stands as before, I'll cook it for anyone who buys me the supplies. We got some movies for the weekend and had a relaxing night at home with Mlu visiting from next door. He calls me mfundu which means "my brother".
Today is warmer and I am told that tomorrow is going to be well over 100 degrees. So much for a white christmas eh.
I was talking with Mlu last night about some cultural things and I learned that there is a lot of blacks hear who truly hate whites. Mlu doesn't really understand why and while at first I thought, "of course, they lived under appartide" Mlu told me that most are two young to remember it. I am thinking that it is mainly resentment at all the wealth whites have hear while so much of the black population is struggling. It reminds me in a lot of ways of America and the more I learn here, the more I see just how similar the dynamics are.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
SAwubona,
Its been two weeks since my last post but they have flown by for me and getting here this week has been difficult with something coming up everyday or just being too tired to make it here. I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving, I know I did. For those of you reading my local newspaper, don't worry too much. So far I have not witnessed or been impacted by anything in the paper and as for the crazy police here which are constantly in the paper for beating people or running people over (for those of you who don't read), I am on the safe side being white and foreign; Its a sad fact but its true. And of course I am law abiding. Still, I find myself feeling very nervous whenever I am around them.
Now lets try and catch you up to speed.
The work is really starting to wind down for the year. Work after my last post was pretty much done by Aerin and I alone because our supervisor was at a training thing all week and the two interns are very lazy. Also, school is now over for the year so our groups of kids got smaller and smaller.
Thursday Aerin and I took the day off to cook a Thanksgiving feast for our house mates as well as Sally. We started in the morning with a trip to the shop to get our turkey plus a few last minute items and then we began with the baking and continued right on through until dinner at 8. Let me say that it was quite an adventure because neither of us has ever prepared a thanksgiving dinner before. The turkey was by far the most interesting part from the bath to thaw it to the dressing it and baking it in our tiny toaster oven. But when all was said and done with in the kitchen Aerin and I were a really good team and Sally told us we could tell our parents it was a great meal. Which it most certainly was if I don't say so myself. Everyone went to bed with full stomachs that night.
Friday we had a very small prayer meeting in the morning. Then there was some quiet time until 1 when I went to go play soccer. My usual team was not there so I played on a team with the street kids. They are a frustrating bunch to play with because, for as much talent as they have, they all want to be the star of the game and because of that, they don't play their positions well. So it was often two defenders in the back (Myself and another) against four or five attackers. We had our hands full but between us and the keeper, we put up quite a defence. Even my coach who is always full of "constructive" critism of my playing told me that I was brilliant on defence that day. So I left the game knowing that I was byfar not the best person on the field, but I was finally improving a noticeable level. I returned home to a going away party for two of our volunteers which lasted much longer than it was meant to and by the end, I was beat and ready to kick back until an early to bed.
Saturday we went to the beach in durban with 65 kids from the Site 11 township. That was a very long, very crazy day. I don't really like spending alot of time on the beach to begin with because i hate having sand everywhere, but I also felt very useless. Not only did I really not know the faces of the kids I was supposed to be watching, the beach was also insanely crouded. At one point a small boy asked me to take him out to the bigger waves and as we were out there talking I realized that he was not one of ours from Site 11 but just some random kid from Durban. That was a bit strange for me. I did get nice and toasted though by this African sun. I have only had a handful of burns in my life and only one or two of those that even hurt, but this time I my entire torso was brought up to a nice bright red and now I am really peeling.
Sunday our number in the house was cut to 4 and the new quiet is very nice. It was cold and rainy so we got some movies and watched those for the day and slept alot because the weekend/week was so tiring.
Monday and tuesday at work were very different than normal. Not only did we have a very different group of kids from normal, we had them the entire day. It felt very much like being a camp counselor only we had absolutely no help from our supervisor who spent the entire day next door. Still, those turned out to be the most fun days of work I have had.
Wednesday we accompanied a group of school kids from Anne's new project to the zoo. It was a very depressing zoo, all run down and small but it was cool to see some new animals that I have never seen before like a Tapir, and something that looks like a giant mongoose but isn't. I also got to pet a very tame Giraffe. It saw us coming and walked right up to the fence and then reached out its head to us. At first we weren't sure what to do but in the end we decided to pet it. It was almost like a giant dog with a long neck. It even licked my back from above me. Their was also and Orangatang (I have no idea how to spell that) that through a branch at me and almost succeed at hitting my head.
Thurday we were back at work though only for a short time because Thabo was very busy and needed to drop us off late and pick us up early.
Friday we had what the dutch call Sinterclause or something of that nature. Its a gift exchange and we all got eachother presents which we hid around the house and went looking for. That was a lot of fun. And we also enjoyed some dutch sweets as well.
Saturday was just Aerin and I so we did some errands and got some movies.
Now my time is nearly up so I must take my leave. I'll try and post sooner next time.
Bye
Its been two weeks since my last post but they have flown by for me and getting here this week has been difficult with something coming up everyday or just being too tired to make it here. I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving, I know I did. For those of you reading my local newspaper, don't worry too much. So far I have not witnessed or been impacted by anything in the paper and as for the crazy police here which are constantly in the paper for beating people or running people over (for those of you who don't read), I am on the safe side being white and foreign; Its a sad fact but its true. And of course I am law abiding. Still, I find myself feeling very nervous whenever I am around them.
Now lets try and catch you up to speed.
The work is really starting to wind down for the year. Work after my last post was pretty much done by Aerin and I alone because our supervisor was at a training thing all week and the two interns are very lazy. Also, school is now over for the year so our groups of kids got smaller and smaller.
Thursday Aerin and I took the day off to cook a Thanksgiving feast for our house mates as well as Sally. We started in the morning with a trip to the shop to get our turkey plus a few last minute items and then we began with the baking and continued right on through until dinner at 8. Let me say that it was quite an adventure because neither of us has ever prepared a thanksgiving dinner before. The turkey was by far the most interesting part from the bath to thaw it to the dressing it and baking it in our tiny toaster oven. But when all was said and done with in the kitchen Aerin and I were a really good team and Sally told us we could tell our parents it was a great meal. Which it most certainly was if I don't say so myself. Everyone went to bed with full stomachs that night.
Friday we had a very small prayer meeting in the morning. Then there was some quiet time until 1 when I went to go play soccer. My usual team was not there so I played on a team with the street kids. They are a frustrating bunch to play with because, for as much talent as they have, they all want to be the star of the game and because of that, they don't play their positions well. So it was often two defenders in the back (Myself and another) against four or five attackers. We had our hands full but between us and the keeper, we put up quite a defence. Even my coach who is always full of "constructive" critism of my playing told me that I was brilliant on defence that day. So I left the game knowing that I was byfar not the best person on the field, but I was finally improving a noticeable level. I returned home to a going away party for two of our volunteers which lasted much longer than it was meant to and by the end, I was beat and ready to kick back until an early to bed.
Saturday we went to the beach in durban with 65 kids from the Site 11 township. That was a very long, very crazy day. I don't really like spending alot of time on the beach to begin with because i hate having sand everywhere, but I also felt very useless. Not only did I really not know the faces of the kids I was supposed to be watching, the beach was also insanely crouded. At one point a small boy asked me to take him out to the bigger waves and as we were out there talking I realized that he was not one of ours from Site 11 but just some random kid from Durban. That was a bit strange for me. I did get nice and toasted though by this African sun. I have only had a handful of burns in my life and only one or two of those that even hurt, but this time I my entire torso was brought up to a nice bright red and now I am really peeling.
Sunday our number in the house was cut to 4 and the new quiet is very nice. It was cold and rainy so we got some movies and watched those for the day and slept alot because the weekend/week was so tiring.
Monday and tuesday at work were very different than normal. Not only did we have a very different group of kids from normal, we had them the entire day. It felt very much like being a camp counselor only we had absolutely no help from our supervisor who spent the entire day next door. Still, those turned out to be the most fun days of work I have had.
Wednesday we accompanied a group of school kids from Anne's new project to the zoo. It was a very depressing zoo, all run down and small but it was cool to see some new animals that I have never seen before like a Tapir, and something that looks like a giant mongoose but isn't. I also got to pet a very tame Giraffe. It saw us coming and walked right up to the fence and then reached out its head to us. At first we weren't sure what to do but in the end we decided to pet it. It was almost like a giant dog with a long neck. It even licked my back from above me. Their was also and Orangatang (I have no idea how to spell that) that through a branch at me and almost succeed at hitting my head.
Thurday we were back at work though only for a short time because Thabo was very busy and needed to drop us off late and pick us up early.
Friday we had what the dutch call Sinterclause or something of that nature. Its a gift exchange and we all got eachother presents which we hid around the house and went looking for. That was a lot of fun. And we also enjoyed some dutch sweets as well.
Saturday was just Aerin and I so we did some errands and got some movies.
Now my time is nearly up so I must take my leave. I'll try and post sooner next time.
Bye
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Hello Hello,
These blogs seem to be getting farther and farther apart don't they. To be honest it is hard to make it here some times and this week I had a good excuse because I was sick with a stomach bug for three days being Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Basically the whole house had it but I think I had it pretty much the worst. Luckily I brought meds with me for exactly this sort of thing and even though I was reluctant to take them the first day, I broke down and took them day two and three and now I'm feeling like new again. So on to the up dates, yeh?
L'Abri was quite awesome. It is in a pretty remote area set up in some mountain (everything here is either in a mountain or valley). Our first night there was fairly cold and wet but we sat around a fire on a very nice back porch which over looked the valley below kinda (it was truly an African jungle so you couldn't see very far down) as well as a mountain opposite us. There were lots of giant bugs which didn't actually bother me and we heard a bunch of monkies fighting each other not far into the woods. I tried taking pictures of them pretty much in vain but I did catch the reflection of what looked like an animal eye and I plan on pretending it was on of the monkies. The next day we saw part of the camp program that they run and we went on a hike up the other side of the valley through jungle so thick that at times you had to crawl on the ground to fit. This hike included crossing a rope bridge (one thick piece of rope for walking on and to thin ropes for balancing) that was strung over a very sheer drop into a raging river carving its way through the rock. We didn't make it to the top unfortunately on account of it getting dark soon. We did not see any wildlife on the hike but we did find a porcupine quill and earlier that day we saw the largest grasshopper I have seen in my life. It was probably as big around as a half dollar at its thickest part and was easily as long as my hand. I took pictures so as soon as I can get them here I'll post for you though the picture really doesn't show you how big it was. Or last day we took a hike down into the valley which I am now thinking I should describe as a gorge. The trail down was very steep and we had to climb ladders, cross bridges and repel a bit on a rope (It wasn't any serious repeling with harness or anything, just a rope to hang on to while making your way down over some big ledges). Thank you uncle Marty for all the actual repelling experience you gave me, I had a very easy time of it. Eventually we made it to a huge pool complete with water fall and a rope swing. Aerin was kind enough to take a video on my camera of me on the swing. Then a small group of us off trailed it with our guide along the river through the jungle to two more water falls. That second part proved to be a pretty intense hike and after making some narrow escapes, I finally well into the water on our way back. Luckily my camera stayed dry.
Monday and Tuesday were really slow days at work (again) only more slow than usual and tuesday was not made any better by the fact that I was getting sick. Starting in the new year I am joining a new project I have decided. I am going to join L'Abri as a volunteer there which means I will be there just about every week. And on days that I'm not there I will work some where else. I want to join the after care program if they will take me because I have only heard great things about it.
Wednesday and Thursday I was home sick and I will spare you the details of that.
Friday we went to a very long prayer service in the morning. I didn't mind it until it started getting a little too preachy for me. At noon four of us went to a very old appartied prison which is basically right next door to us. We got a tour and I took a bunch of pictures of that. There were a bunch of famous people imprisoned there when it was in opperation including Ghandi's wife. I don't really remember the other people, but there were a lot. And yesterday we went to the mall to shop for christmas (we are doing a gift exchange here) and then we had a movie night and until 5 in the morning. It was fun even though they were chick movies with the exception of the fourth one for me. It was also really hot yesterday, about 100 degrees or so. It makes me not in the holiday spirit at all because I am used to cold and snow this time of year. Never thought I would say it, but I really do miss it.
Thats all I have time for, Bye Bye, and take care.
These blogs seem to be getting farther and farther apart don't they. To be honest it is hard to make it here some times and this week I had a good excuse because I was sick with a stomach bug for three days being Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Basically the whole house had it but I think I had it pretty much the worst. Luckily I brought meds with me for exactly this sort of thing and even though I was reluctant to take them the first day, I broke down and took them day two and three and now I'm feeling like new again. So on to the up dates, yeh?
L'Abri was quite awesome. It is in a pretty remote area set up in some mountain (everything here is either in a mountain or valley). Our first night there was fairly cold and wet but we sat around a fire on a very nice back porch which over looked the valley below kinda (it was truly an African jungle so you couldn't see very far down) as well as a mountain opposite us. There were lots of giant bugs which didn't actually bother me and we heard a bunch of monkies fighting each other not far into the woods. I tried taking pictures of them pretty much in vain but I did catch the reflection of what looked like an animal eye and I plan on pretending it was on of the monkies. The next day we saw part of the camp program that they run and we went on a hike up the other side of the valley through jungle so thick that at times you had to crawl on the ground to fit. This hike included crossing a rope bridge (one thick piece of rope for walking on and to thin ropes for balancing) that was strung over a very sheer drop into a raging river carving its way through the rock. We didn't make it to the top unfortunately on account of it getting dark soon. We did not see any wildlife on the hike but we did find a porcupine quill and earlier that day we saw the largest grasshopper I have seen in my life. It was probably as big around as a half dollar at its thickest part and was easily as long as my hand. I took pictures so as soon as I can get them here I'll post for you though the picture really doesn't show you how big it was. Or last day we took a hike down into the valley which I am now thinking I should describe as a gorge. The trail down was very steep and we had to climb ladders, cross bridges and repel a bit on a rope (It wasn't any serious repeling with harness or anything, just a rope to hang on to while making your way down over some big ledges). Thank you uncle Marty for all the actual repelling experience you gave me, I had a very easy time of it. Eventually we made it to a huge pool complete with water fall and a rope swing. Aerin was kind enough to take a video on my camera of me on the swing. Then a small group of us off trailed it with our guide along the river through the jungle to two more water falls. That second part proved to be a pretty intense hike and after making some narrow escapes, I finally well into the water on our way back. Luckily my camera stayed dry.
Monday and Tuesday were really slow days at work (again) only more slow than usual and tuesday was not made any better by the fact that I was getting sick. Starting in the new year I am joining a new project I have decided. I am going to join L'Abri as a volunteer there which means I will be there just about every week. And on days that I'm not there I will work some where else. I want to join the after care program if they will take me because I have only heard great things about it.
Wednesday and Thursday I was home sick and I will spare you the details of that.
Friday we went to a very long prayer service in the morning. I didn't mind it until it started getting a little too preachy for me. At noon four of us went to a very old appartied prison which is basically right next door to us. We got a tour and I took a bunch of pictures of that. There were a bunch of famous people imprisoned there when it was in opperation including Ghandi's wife. I don't really remember the other people, but there were a lot. And yesterday we went to the mall to shop for christmas (we are doing a gift exchange here) and then we had a movie night and until 5 in the morning. It was fun even though they were chick movies with the exception of the fourth one for me. It was also really hot yesterday, about 100 degrees or so. It makes me not in the holiday spirit at all because I am used to cold and snow this time of year. Never thought I would say it, but I really do miss it.
Thats all I have time for, Bye Bye, and take care.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Hey guys,
Unfortunately I had to take care of some travel plans today so I only have about 18 more minutes to post. As a result this will be short.
Work has been about the same except we did a lot of home visits this week. I find it interesting how one house will be well built/ well kept and then right next door will be a not so well built house that is filthy. Its also very saddening to me that some people in a poverty situation lose any and all pride and let their homes go to wreck. Today we had kids from the time we arrived to the time we left and it was very tiring. Haniville had run out of water last night and so the school had to close giving the kids a day off. The water trucks were there all day though so hopefully everything will be up and running tomorrow. I also learned today how much english the kids actually understand. Still, many of them have trouble speaking it back.
To answer marsha, I have not seen any snakes yet but I saw a head line in the paper today that read "KZN snake alert" (KZN is the "State" I live in, KwaZulu Natal). There continue to be roaches in our house as of tuesday night. I have not seen one yet but I am not hoping they are gone either because I already made that mistake and was disappointed.
I will be happy to cook chicken Tandoori for anyone when I get home.
Last weekend we went to Tala, a game reserve about 20 minutes from home. We saw a lot of animals there including Zebra, Hipo, Buffalo, many kinds of Antelope, brightly colored birds, monkies and Giraffe. We were lost for a little while in a very rugged 4 x 4 only road and at one point we got stuck trying to make it over some rocks on a very steap hill. It was a nice adventure though.
Last night was the most epic lightning storm ever and we lost power as well. Our house was very dark until we lit some candles. But I stood outside for a while with Aerin and Thirza to watch it... well, some of it. It went on for several hours.
This weekend we are going to L'Abri. Expect to hear again from me in a week or so.
Oh before I forget, we went to dinner the other night and let me begin by saying I was amazed at how much food I got for $20. However, there were clouds of giant flying ants in the outside dining room and after 5 minutes of much laughing at being pelted by them and having them crawling all over us, we decided better to go inside.
Ok, thats all I have time for.
peace
Unfortunately I had to take care of some travel plans today so I only have about 18 more minutes to post. As a result this will be short.
Work has been about the same except we did a lot of home visits this week. I find it interesting how one house will be well built/ well kept and then right next door will be a not so well built house that is filthy. Its also very saddening to me that some people in a poverty situation lose any and all pride and let their homes go to wreck. Today we had kids from the time we arrived to the time we left and it was very tiring. Haniville had run out of water last night and so the school had to close giving the kids a day off. The water trucks were there all day though so hopefully everything will be up and running tomorrow. I also learned today how much english the kids actually understand. Still, many of them have trouble speaking it back.
To answer marsha, I have not seen any snakes yet but I saw a head line in the paper today that read "KZN snake alert" (KZN is the "State" I live in, KwaZulu Natal). There continue to be roaches in our house as of tuesday night. I have not seen one yet but I am not hoping they are gone either because I already made that mistake and was disappointed.
I will be happy to cook chicken Tandoori for anyone when I get home.
Last weekend we went to Tala, a game reserve about 20 minutes from home. We saw a lot of animals there including Zebra, Hipo, Buffalo, many kinds of Antelope, brightly colored birds, monkies and Giraffe. We were lost for a little while in a very rugged 4 x 4 only road and at one point we got stuck trying to make it over some rocks on a very steap hill. It was a nice adventure though.
Last night was the most epic lightning storm ever and we lost power as well. Our house was very dark until we lit some candles. But I stood outside for a while with Aerin and Thirza to watch it... well, some of it. It went on for several hours.
This weekend we are going to L'Abri. Expect to hear again from me in a week or so.
Oh before I forget, we went to dinner the other night and let me begin by saying I was amazed at how much food I got for $20. However, there were clouds of giant flying ants in the outside dining room and after 5 minutes of much laughing at being pelted by them and having them crawling all over us, we decided better to go inside.
Ok, thats all I have time for.
peace
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Viva OBAMA Viva,
this is what i saw on the back of a combi (taxi bus) yesterday morning on the way to work. I didn't even realize that the election was so soon. Let me say though that everyone here is thrilled with the results. They are very excited that a black man is president in America and are very confident that he will do a great job.
Now I realize that I never got around to posting on the weekend. It actually takes some effort to make it here and I was feeling too tired on saturday to motivate myself to walk down here. Actually, there wasn't a whole lot in those three days to write about anyway and it seems that maybe many of you are busy because my usual commenters (if that is a word) did not leave anything, with the exception of Marsha. Tis alright though. No harm, no foul.
I don't really remember last Thursday at all. I think it was just a usual day at work. I do remember making it over the the video store though to get movies for the weekend. Friday was much more exciting. Our morning meeting was very short and informal because the supervisors were all in a meeting of their own. At 11 I headed over to the soccer pitch with most of my team mates. We have left the YMCA indoor league that we were originally playing in and are now playing in an outdoor league of our own that currently has three teams. Each team plays two 40 minute games so we get lots of play time now and we can play with a full 11. We all had very professional jerseys complete with sponsors and we had a huge turnout of fans who not only cheered us on but sang soccer chants which they had made up for our teams. It felt as much like a real soccer match as I will ever play in. I had some difficulty because I haven't played an organized game of soccer with actual positions in a very very long time and my team speaks mostly Zulu (big surprise eh.) In fact, I was the only white player on the pitch. But I played a pretty successful left back defence and a more successful center back defence the second game. One of the strikers on the other team sensed that I didn't really know what I was doing so far as positioning is concerned and he started giving me tips right in the middle of the game. All in all it was very competative but very friendly. My kind of game.
Saturday and Sunday were two lazy quiet days with only 4 of us in the house. I cooked a South African Chicken Tandoori dish on Sunday which only Aerin and I liked because the others complained it was too spicy. It really wasn't that spicy though. It's been my observation that the Dutch are not used to spicy food at all.
This week at Haniville has been murderously slow. Our supervisor wasn't there Monday or Tuesday and coupled with the bad weather, or interns were unmotivated to work and we had almost no kids. Wednesday Aerin went to visit a school so I spent the day working with Thabo again. He and I spent the morning on some very difficult homevisists of which I am not at liberty to disclose the details. I helped him in the office with some typing to make his English sound more proffesional in some letters he had to write. Today was another slow day at Haniville but I am glad the week is over now. I am ready for the weekend. Aerin and I did learn a really fun game today though involving cans and a ball. We both agreed it would have been really fun or gym class.
Some cultural things...
I learned my Zulu name today. It is Umuhle. I am pleased with it because it is a decent enough sounding name.
Zulu food is very dense and filling. Unfortunately I still have a teenage boy metabolism and so I am hungry again shortly after eating.
Zulu men don't like it when you say they are gorgeous.
It is very hard to order fast food.
You can buy CocaCola in a very large can.
South Africa is a country with many faces. There is a comercialized western face that does not betray the fact that you have ever left America. There is also the poor face of a third world country vastly different from the west. There is the face of a victimized people, and the face of a people have and still grow rich by raping and exploiting those of lower class. You cannot live here as a foreigner and not experience a great conflict of concious.
Until next time,
Hamba Kahle!
this is what i saw on the back of a combi (taxi bus) yesterday morning on the way to work. I didn't even realize that the election was so soon. Let me say though that everyone here is thrilled with the results. They are very excited that a black man is president in America and are very confident that he will do a great job.
Now I realize that I never got around to posting on the weekend. It actually takes some effort to make it here and I was feeling too tired on saturday to motivate myself to walk down here. Actually, there wasn't a whole lot in those three days to write about anyway and it seems that maybe many of you are busy because my usual commenters (if that is a word) did not leave anything, with the exception of Marsha. Tis alright though. No harm, no foul.
I don't really remember last Thursday at all. I think it was just a usual day at work. I do remember making it over the the video store though to get movies for the weekend. Friday was much more exciting. Our morning meeting was very short and informal because the supervisors were all in a meeting of their own. At 11 I headed over to the soccer pitch with most of my team mates. We have left the YMCA indoor league that we were originally playing in and are now playing in an outdoor league of our own that currently has three teams. Each team plays two 40 minute games so we get lots of play time now and we can play with a full 11. We all had very professional jerseys complete with sponsors and we had a huge turnout of fans who not only cheered us on but sang soccer chants which they had made up for our teams. It felt as much like a real soccer match as I will ever play in. I had some difficulty because I haven't played an organized game of soccer with actual positions in a very very long time and my team speaks mostly Zulu (big surprise eh.) In fact, I was the only white player on the pitch. But I played a pretty successful left back defence and a more successful center back defence the second game. One of the strikers on the other team sensed that I didn't really know what I was doing so far as positioning is concerned and he started giving me tips right in the middle of the game. All in all it was very competative but very friendly. My kind of game.
Saturday and Sunday were two lazy quiet days with only 4 of us in the house. I cooked a South African Chicken Tandoori dish on Sunday which only Aerin and I liked because the others complained it was too spicy. It really wasn't that spicy though. It's been my observation that the Dutch are not used to spicy food at all.
This week at Haniville has been murderously slow. Our supervisor wasn't there Monday or Tuesday and coupled with the bad weather, or interns were unmotivated to work and we had almost no kids. Wednesday Aerin went to visit a school so I spent the day working with Thabo again. He and I spent the morning on some very difficult homevisists of which I am not at liberty to disclose the details. I helped him in the office with some typing to make his English sound more proffesional in some letters he had to write. Today was another slow day at Haniville but I am glad the week is over now. I am ready for the weekend. Aerin and I did learn a really fun game today though involving cans and a ball. We both agreed it would have been really fun or gym class.
Some cultural things...
I learned my Zulu name today. It is Umuhle. I am pleased with it because it is a decent enough sounding name.
Zulu food is very dense and filling. Unfortunately I still have a teenage boy metabolism and so I am hungry again shortly after eating.
Zulu men don't like it when you say they are gorgeous.
It is very hard to order fast food.
You can buy CocaCola in a very large can.
South Africa is a country with many faces. There is a comercialized western face that does not betray the fact that you have ever left America. There is also the poor face of a third world country vastly different from the west. There is the face of a victimized people, and the face of a people have and still grow rich by raping and exploiting those of lower class. You cannot live here as a foreigner and not experience a great conflict of concious.
Until next time,
Hamba Kahle!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
It has been a long week my friends,
Before I dive into catching you up let me first answer a couple questions. I actually get to see quite a bit of American movies because those are about the only movies that exist in other parts of the world like this and also we can't really go out after dark which is at like 6:30 so we have lots of time to kill at night. As for the roaches, I discovered the sorce one night when our power went out. The circuit breaker is hidden away in a store room at the back of our house used by the boys shelter and that is one creepy room let me tell you. But I immediatly recognized the infestation by all the roach crap scattered about the shelves. And then I saw the biggest roach of my life; it was the size of my pointer finger and I'm not even kidding. But the problem is taken care of for the moment because I told one of the interns and they sprayed and left traps over the weekend.
Ok so now to fill you up to speed before my time runs out. Thursday I ended up not going to the drop in center at all. Instead on the way to work, Thabo and I had to stop at this woman's house and pick up about 30 of these big sacks of corn meal to bring to the communities. So after we got those I offered to help Thabo drop them off and work with him for the day. So we drove all around PMB on errands and for the first time I felt like I was actually doing something. We had to make a couple home visits/ school visits and the conversations took place mostly in English so I knew what was going on. And whats more is that Thabo and I actually had conversations about each visit afterward. I am thinking that if I continue to be bored at Haniville I'm going to propose to Thabo working with him.
Friday morning was our meeting and AIDs training which turned out to be very much a waste of time for me and Aerin because it was nothing we had never learned in health class at school. We were actually quite disappointed by it and it went longer than it was meant to (because this is Africa) so we really had to rush at home so we could leave for the beach. It was a very lovely two hour drive to Shelly Beach through rural South Africa which is a truely beautiful site. I took lots of pictures so now all that remains is for me to get a jump drive so I can post some for you all to see. They really don't do justice to the land scape though. We had some really lovely flats for the ten of us (6 of us plus 4 from Durban) and we divided up the two groups when we got there. Sally and her family had a flat as well. The beach was right out our back yard. Aerin, Thirza and I wasted no time getting into the warm Indian Ocean despite it being cold and windy. Then we all had a huge pasta dinner in one of the flats and hung out until we were all sleepy and ready for bed which was like 9:30. Lame I know but as it turns out this work here really takes it out of you.
Saturday morning after breakfast Aerin and I went for a stroll on the beach. Then we returned and went with a group to the mall. The mall was nothing out of the ordinary. I bought some indoor soccar shoes for my league that I am playing in with the YFC because the shoes I have with me are not made for running or playing soccar. We came home and relaxed for a while and then headed out to the beach even though it was cold and wet. I did some shell collecting because the shells were really cool. (My mom will be proud of me.) Then there was some more relazing at the flat. Aerin and I descided to take a dip before dark and it was very very cold. There was also a stick which had us convinced it was a sea snake for a long time and we were laughing very hard when we realized it wasn't. We came back and played a very fun card game that is kinda like slaps. Then we had another large pasta dinner but different pasta this time. And eventually we went back to our flat for some more games before bed.
Sunday morning we had a big breakfast and went to the beach even though the wind was very strong. We tried to build a sand castle but it collapsed into the moat. Aerin and Thirza went for a final swim in some huge waves and I stayed on the beach and looked for shells. I also made an attempt at flying with big palm branches but it didn't quite work. We took some group pictures and then left for home. I took more pictures when I wasn't dosing off. Sunday night we were all beat and it was kinda dead around the house.
Monday Aerin ended up coming to work with me because she is currently between changing projects. It is much nicer to work at the community with another volunteer because it makes the down time there more interesting. You could really see that the kids are much more used to female volunteers because they were immediatly playing with Aerin. I had my own little group of boys though so I wasn't jealous or anything. I led a bunch of games with them of different kinds of tag and they were all climbing on me. It was very funny.
Tuesday Aerin came with me again and it was another fun day with the kids even though it was cold. And then today was quite a bit like yesterday only much slower. There were only 16 kids. I played a game of soccer with some of them and my team won! Speaking of which I don't think my tournament is going to come together but one of the interns at the Site 11 community is putting together a team and he wants me to do the same so the two communities can play eachother at least.
That is about all I have time for. We have all been very tired this week. It won't be so long before my next post so check back this weekend.
Enjoy the rest of your weeks
Before I dive into catching you up let me first answer a couple questions. I actually get to see quite a bit of American movies because those are about the only movies that exist in other parts of the world like this and also we can't really go out after dark which is at like 6:30 so we have lots of time to kill at night. As for the roaches, I discovered the sorce one night when our power went out. The circuit breaker is hidden away in a store room at the back of our house used by the boys shelter and that is one creepy room let me tell you. But I immediatly recognized the infestation by all the roach crap scattered about the shelves. And then I saw the biggest roach of my life; it was the size of my pointer finger and I'm not even kidding. But the problem is taken care of for the moment because I told one of the interns and they sprayed and left traps over the weekend.
Ok so now to fill you up to speed before my time runs out. Thursday I ended up not going to the drop in center at all. Instead on the way to work, Thabo and I had to stop at this woman's house and pick up about 30 of these big sacks of corn meal to bring to the communities. So after we got those I offered to help Thabo drop them off and work with him for the day. So we drove all around PMB on errands and for the first time I felt like I was actually doing something. We had to make a couple home visits/ school visits and the conversations took place mostly in English so I knew what was going on. And whats more is that Thabo and I actually had conversations about each visit afterward. I am thinking that if I continue to be bored at Haniville I'm going to propose to Thabo working with him.
Friday morning was our meeting and AIDs training which turned out to be very much a waste of time for me and Aerin because it was nothing we had never learned in health class at school. We were actually quite disappointed by it and it went longer than it was meant to (because this is Africa) so we really had to rush at home so we could leave for the beach. It was a very lovely two hour drive to Shelly Beach through rural South Africa which is a truely beautiful site. I took lots of pictures so now all that remains is for me to get a jump drive so I can post some for you all to see. They really don't do justice to the land scape though. We had some really lovely flats for the ten of us (6 of us plus 4 from Durban) and we divided up the two groups when we got there. Sally and her family had a flat as well. The beach was right out our back yard. Aerin, Thirza and I wasted no time getting into the warm Indian Ocean despite it being cold and windy. Then we all had a huge pasta dinner in one of the flats and hung out until we were all sleepy and ready for bed which was like 9:30. Lame I know but as it turns out this work here really takes it out of you.
Saturday morning after breakfast Aerin and I went for a stroll on the beach. Then we returned and went with a group to the mall. The mall was nothing out of the ordinary. I bought some indoor soccar shoes for my league that I am playing in with the YFC because the shoes I have with me are not made for running or playing soccar. We came home and relaxed for a while and then headed out to the beach even though it was cold and wet. I did some shell collecting because the shells were really cool. (My mom will be proud of me.) Then there was some more relazing at the flat. Aerin and I descided to take a dip before dark and it was very very cold. There was also a stick which had us convinced it was a sea snake for a long time and we were laughing very hard when we realized it wasn't. We came back and played a very fun card game that is kinda like slaps. Then we had another large pasta dinner but different pasta this time. And eventually we went back to our flat for some more games before bed.
Sunday morning we had a big breakfast and went to the beach even though the wind was very strong. We tried to build a sand castle but it collapsed into the moat. Aerin and Thirza went for a final swim in some huge waves and I stayed on the beach and looked for shells. I also made an attempt at flying with big palm branches but it didn't quite work. We took some group pictures and then left for home. I took more pictures when I wasn't dosing off. Sunday night we were all beat and it was kinda dead around the house.
Monday Aerin ended up coming to work with me because she is currently between changing projects. It is much nicer to work at the community with another volunteer because it makes the down time there more interesting. You could really see that the kids are much more used to female volunteers because they were immediatly playing with Aerin. I had my own little group of boys though so I wasn't jealous or anything. I led a bunch of games with them of different kinds of tag and they were all climbing on me. It was very funny.
Tuesday Aerin came with me again and it was another fun day with the kids even though it was cold. And then today was quite a bit like yesterday only much slower. There were only 16 kids. I played a game of soccer with some of them and my team won! Speaking of which I don't think my tournament is going to come together but one of the interns at the Site 11 community is putting together a team and he wants me to do the same so the two communities can play eachother at least.
That is about all I have time for. We have all been very tired this week. It won't be so long before my next post so check back this weekend.
Enjoy the rest of your weeks
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Im beginning to sense a bit of a pattern here. Its another cold, damp wednesday. Now just yesterday it was really hot and sunny. I even got the worst sun burn of my life (which is not saying much because this is only my fourth burn ever.) Today though it feels like October back home in Rochester and this weather is supposed to continue on through Monday which really puts a damper (no pun intended) on things because Friday we are going to Durban for a beach weekend.
So monday at work I got to lead games with the kids. First I tried to teach them capture the flag which was my favorite game when I was younger. We played several rounds and it looked nothing like capture the flag; infact, it was much more like rugby. I would say it was unsuccessful except the kids were really enjoying it until they started an arguement over who had captured the flag at which point we decided it was time to play a different game. I taught them another childhood favorite, 7 up. We had to play nine up though because two girls insisted that I had chosen them to be part of the original 7 and rather than fight with them, we let them stay up. It was fine anyway because we were playing with so many kids. They really loved it. I think they played it for a good half hour before they tired. Monday night we had to walk to the grocery store because one of our drivers is sick and the other has a sprained ancle. So the four healthy people carried a weeks worth of groceries home. Then we had a really late dinner but that was ok because it turns out that there is a really good pizza place we can order from.
Now tuesday was the most exhausting day yet for me. There was a very energetic 8 year old boy waiting for me at the drop in center who had stayed home sick from school with some stomach bug. But you could have fooled me about him being sick. He wanted to run around out back with having competitions between the two of us in any sport he could think of. Then he came with us on our school visit during which I ended up keeping him busy while the others spoke with a teacher. He very proudly lead me around the school by the arm displaying his "white monkey." (I had stepped on a crap in the side walk on the way to the school and so that made me a monkey.) The rest of the day continued like this until the other kids started showing up. I got to enjoy some sugar cane from the field across the street that the kids had gotten after school. A couple of the boys are starting to warm up to me so I'm beginning to feel more positive. It seems like only a matter of time until the rest of them do as well. The interns at Haniville are really starting to annoy me though because it seems like all they do is tease the kids. Last time I checked we were supposed to be there for their support. Oh well, they will be gone in a month (the interns that is).
Now today was freezing cold and very quiet. We only had twenty kids and they didn't even stay an hour. Still I feel tired from the day. I'll be on my way home finally in a couple minutes though and I am really looking forward to relaxing the rest of the evening. Tomorrow we have shop, clean and pack for our beach weekend.
Oh, so thoughs of you know me well will really find this amuzing but it seems that we are developing a bit of a roach problem in our house. A couple weekends ago we had these weird looking bugs in our bathroom that had come in from outside that I thought were roaches at first but it turns out they weren't. A couple days ago however, I saw what was actually a roach in the bathroom. No one believed me that it was there or that it was a roach. Last night however we are all sitting in the living room. Aerin goes into her room and then yells, Cullen get in here and bring a shoe with you. I ask why and she says there is a big bug in here on the floor. I go in there and don't you know there is a roaching chillin out in the middle of the floor. Well I was in bare feet and the thing starts running around so I did what any self respecting male in a house full of women would do... scream. The others all come running and croud into the door to see the roach. Now you can't squish a roach because if you get unlucky and squish a female carrying eggs, well you just multiplied the problem by a thousand. Luckily Mayo was quick thinking and grabbed a glass and some paper to catch the thing. She wasn't quick enough though because it disappeared under the bed. We spent ten minutes searching but turned up nothing. So now I am very paranoid to go to sleep at night.
Anyway, that is all I've got for now. It could be a week till my next post but please leave comments in the mean time. I really like reading them and I only got two the last time.
Peace
So monday at work I got to lead games with the kids. First I tried to teach them capture the flag which was my favorite game when I was younger. We played several rounds and it looked nothing like capture the flag; infact, it was much more like rugby. I would say it was unsuccessful except the kids were really enjoying it until they started an arguement over who had captured the flag at which point we decided it was time to play a different game. I taught them another childhood favorite, 7 up. We had to play nine up though because two girls insisted that I had chosen them to be part of the original 7 and rather than fight with them, we let them stay up. It was fine anyway because we were playing with so many kids. They really loved it. I think they played it for a good half hour before they tired. Monday night we had to walk to the grocery store because one of our drivers is sick and the other has a sprained ancle. So the four healthy people carried a weeks worth of groceries home. Then we had a really late dinner but that was ok because it turns out that there is a really good pizza place we can order from.
Now tuesday was the most exhausting day yet for me. There was a very energetic 8 year old boy waiting for me at the drop in center who had stayed home sick from school with some stomach bug. But you could have fooled me about him being sick. He wanted to run around out back with having competitions between the two of us in any sport he could think of. Then he came with us on our school visit during which I ended up keeping him busy while the others spoke with a teacher. He very proudly lead me around the school by the arm displaying his "white monkey." (I had stepped on a crap in the side walk on the way to the school and so that made me a monkey.) The rest of the day continued like this until the other kids started showing up. I got to enjoy some sugar cane from the field across the street that the kids had gotten after school. A couple of the boys are starting to warm up to me so I'm beginning to feel more positive. It seems like only a matter of time until the rest of them do as well. The interns at Haniville are really starting to annoy me though because it seems like all they do is tease the kids. Last time I checked we were supposed to be there for their support. Oh well, they will be gone in a month (the interns that is).
Now today was freezing cold and very quiet. We only had twenty kids and they didn't even stay an hour. Still I feel tired from the day. I'll be on my way home finally in a couple minutes though and I am really looking forward to relaxing the rest of the evening. Tomorrow we have shop, clean and pack for our beach weekend.
Oh, so thoughs of you know me well will really find this amuzing but it seems that we are developing a bit of a roach problem in our house. A couple weekends ago we had these weird looking bugs in our bathroom that had come in from outside that I thought were roaches at first but it turns out they weren't. A couple days ago however, I saw what was actually a roach in the bathroom. No one believed me that it was there or that it was a roach. Last night however we are all sitting in the living room. Aerin goes into her room and then yells, Cullen get in here and bring a shoe with you. I ask why and she says there is a big bug in here on the floor. I go in there and don't you know there is a roaching chillin out in the middle of the floor. Well I was in bare feet and the thing starts running around so I did what any self respecting male in a house full of women would do... scream. The others all come running and croud into the door to see the roach. Now you can't squish a roach because if you get unlucky and squish a female carrying eggs, well you just multiplied the problem by a thousand. Luckily Mayo was quick thinking and grabbed a glass and some paper to catch the thing. She wasn't quick enough though because it disappeared under the bed. We spent ten minutes searching but turned up nothing. So now I am very paranoid to go to sleep at night.
Anyway, that is all I've got for now. It could be a week till my next post but please leave comments in the mean time. I really like reading them and I only got two the last time.
Peace
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Sawubona!
Thursday was another pretty quite day at work. It was our bible story day so I read the david and goliath story out of a children's bible to the kids (which they seemed to enjoy) and then my supervisor gave a lesson about it in Zulu to the kids. She is going to help me get more involved though this coming week. Tomorrow I am going to teach the kids capture the flag and tuesday I am teaching the life skill of being prepared. Someone will translate for me. So hopefully work will start getting more interesting.
Friday was our day of meetings. We were supposed to have AIDs training that afternoon but it was cancelled so I only had to sit through two meetings in the morning. I got home around noon and had lunch and hungout with Aerin and Anne. (Mayo and Thirza are at L'Bri this weekend and Rose is really sick.) So it was kinda quiet around the house. Then one of the interns came over to visit Rose. He asked me if I wanted to go play soccer with the guys and I jumped at the idea. So a bunch of us went over to the YMCA for some indoor soccer. Little did I know we were playing in a league. All of a sudden the guys are taking jersies out of a bag. Now as much as I like to both watch and play soccer, I haven't played on a team since kindergarden. And to make things even more intimidating for me, Americans tend to play what is called two touch (you trap the ball, get open and pass.) Africans don't play two touch. They do lots of crazy stuff with their feet and fake out their opponents and its something that I really don't have the ball control or practice for. But I played anyway and had a lot of fun. The guys just told me I need to practice a lot before our next match in two weeks. So I came home and cleaned the kitchen. The rest of the nights was kinda low key. A couple of guys (Mlu and Kansas) who live nexted door came over and hung out with us.
Saturday we walked to an outlet mall. I bought a phone and Aerin and Anne got some things as well, including a soccer ball so that I can practice with the boys next door. We came home exhausted from the mall because it was farther than we thought and we had a long adventure trying to find our way through a bike race that was blocking our way home. So we watched a movie and had a very quick dinner because our friend Zazi was playing in a jazz concert at 7. So we went to the show and luckily it was the kind of jazz that I actually like. Mlu came with us and he and I shared some stuff with eachother about our cultures particularly pertaining to marriage and dating. We had some entertaining moments at some of the striking differences. For example, Mlu thinks nothing of the fact that he has four girlfriends. He couldn't believe though that if I wanted to marry a girl I didn't have to pay her parents for her. If Mlu wanted to get married he would have to give the father 11 cows amoung many other things. Ultimately a Zulu wedding cost somewhere around 70,000 rand. Which is a ton of money for people here.
Today is another quiet day so far. Aerin and I went to the store to by some food items for tonight and then we came here. I think tonight we are just taking it easy around the house. Hope all of you back home are having a good weekend. Talk to you soon.
Thursday was another pretty quite day at work. It was our bible story day so I read the david and goliath story out of a children's bible to the kids (which they seemed to enjoy) and then my supervisor gave a lesson about it in Zulu to the kids. She is going to help me get more involved though this coming week. Tomorrow I am going to teach the kids capture the flag and tuesday I am teaching the life skill of being prepared. Someone will translate for me. So hopefully work will start getting more interesting.
Friday was our day of meetings. We were supposed to have AIDs training that afternoon but it was cancelled so I only had to sit through two meetings in the morning. I got home around noon and had lunch and hungout with Aerin and Anne. (Mayo and Thirza are at L'Bri this weekend and Rose is really sick.) So it was kinda quiet around the house. Then one of the interns came over to visit Rose. He asked me if I wanted to go play soccer with the guys and I jumped at the idea. So a bunch of us went over to the YMCA for some indoor soccer. Little did I know we were playing in a league. All of a sudden the guys are taking jersies out of a bag. Now as much as I like to both watch and play soccer, I haven't played on a team since kindergarden. And to make things even more intimidating for me, Americans tend to play what is called two touch (you trap the ball, get open and pass.) Africans don't play two touch. They do lots of crazy stuff with their feet and fake out their opponents and its something that I really don't have the ball control or practice for. But I played anyway and had a lot of fun. The guys just told me I need to practice a lot before our next match in two weeks. So I came home and cleaned the kitchen. The rest of the nights was kinda low key. A couple of guys (Mlu and Kansas) who live nexted door came over and hung out with us.
Saturday we walked to an outlet mall. I bought a phone and Aerin and Anne got some things as well, including a soccer ball so that I can practice with the boys next door. We came home exhausted from the mall because it was farther than we thought and we had a long adventure trying to find our way through a bike race that was blocking our way home. So we watched a movie and had a very quick dinner because our friend Zazi was playing in a jazz concert at 7. So we went to the show and luckily it was the kind of jazz that I actually like. Mlu came with us and he and I shared some stuff with eachother about our cultures particularly pertaining to marriage and dating. We had some entertaining moments at some of the striking differences. For example, Mlu thinks nothing of the fact that he has four girlfriends. He couldn't believe though that if I wanted to marry a girl I didn't have to pay her parents for her. If Mlu wanted to get married he would have to give the father 11 cows amoung many other things. Ultimately a Zulu wedding cost somewhere around 70,000 rand. Which is a ton of money for people here.
Today is another quiet day so far. Aerin and I went to the store to by some food items for tonight and then we came here. I think tonight we are just taking it easy around the house. Hope all of you back home are having a good weekend. Talk to you soon.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Sawubona friends and family,
It was one cold and rainy day out there today. And to think that just two days ago it was 38 C (I'm pretty sure that is the upper 90s.) Today its more like 19 C which is a big difference in celcius. I decided to come here after work though because only one post a week proved to take too long for me.
I'm going to be honest, the past few days have been frustrating for me. Its becoming apparent that one of our room mates is a control freak without a sense of humor and its starting to cause some issues in our house. Aerin, Anne, and myself are especially feeling it and its making itself most apparent in the grocery shopping. The thing is though, I don't think she really knows best even though she insists on things her way. I feel like there is a lot of wasted money the way she wants to shop and she even admitted herself she is not used to being on a budget. I'm trying not to get too upset over it but it brings me down when someone is treating you with the attitude of, you're only 17 so I automatically know best. I a couple hours I will be getting yet another female, dutch roommate. She is also 17 so I am curious to see how that works out because we will have two distinct age groups with equal numbers. Three 17 year olds, three 24 year olds. Hopefully our problematic roommate will ease up a little. There are too many of us living in close quarters to have too much tension so hopefully we will figure things out soon.
Work has been frustrating too though. With this rain the past couple days our activities have been limited to the indoors and so all the program is done in Zulu. The people I am working with do absolutely nothing to clue me in to what is going on so I end up just standing there and watching. I have been talking with my project coordinator as well as a past volunteer who is visiting with her mother and they know exactly what I am talking about. Apparently Haniville is known for having this trouble with volunteers. I'm not ready to give up on it just yet but I am concidering joining the After Care program. My biggest hope is for this soccer tournament to work out because I think it will be the chance I need to bond with some of these kids. The prospects are better than I thought because Thabo told me in the car yesterday morning that he hadn't forgotten about it and that he and I will sit down sometime this week after work and start planning it.
I haven't really learned any more Zulu since Saturday, well I learned "Umulu Bohla," "play ball." I am starting to be able to follow conversations a bit though and pick up the jist of what people are saying. The difficulty is how fast people speak. Yesterday after our school visit I got to participate in a Haniville tradition. We nabbed some sugar cane from a truck on the side of the road and brought it back with us and ate it. I'm not sure how many of you have gotten the opportunity to eat sugar cane but it is an experience everyone should try, unless you have weak teeth. Your sugar cane won't be quite as fresh as mine though because mine came straight from a field across the street. Today I had a fat cookie. It is some kind of Zulu treat that is much like a giant dumpling. Not a chinese dumping but rather like a comfort food dumpling.
Well that is about all for now. Tonight we are going out with a bunch of people bowling and shooting pool. You can shoot pool for 1 rand which in dollars is only 10 cents. Or at least that was the case a couple days ago. I'm not sure what the exchange is like now but as of Saturday the dollar was worth almost 10 rand! You should hear from me again Saturday.
Peace
It was one cold and rainy day out there today. And to think that just two days ago it was 38 C (I'm pretty sure that is the upper 90s.) Today its more like 19 C which is a big difference in celcius. I decided to come here after work though because only one post a week proved to take too long for me.
I'm going to be honest, the past few days have been frustrating for me. Its becoming apparent that one of our room mates is a control freak without a sense of humor and its starting to cause some issues in our house. Aerin, Anne, and myself are especially feeling it and its making itself most apparent in the grocery shopping. The thing is though, I don't think she really knows best even though she insists on things her way. I feel like there is a lot of wasted money the way she wants to shop and she even admitted herself she is not used to being on a budget. I'm trying not to get too upset over it but it brings me down when someone is treating you with the attitude of, you're only 17 so I automatically know best. I a couple hours I will be getting yet another female, dutch roommate. She is also 17 so I am curious to see how that works out because we will have two distinct age groups with equal numbers. Three 17 year olds, three 24 year olds. Hopefully our problematic roommate will ease up a little. There are too many of us living in close quarters to have too much tension so hopefully we will figure things out soon.
Work has been frustrating too though. With this rain the past couple days our activities have been limited to the indoors and so all the program is done in Zulu. The people I am working with do absolutely nothing to clue me in to what is going on so I end up just standing there and watching. I have been talking with my project coordinator as well as a past volunteer who is visiting with her mother and they know exactly what I am talking about. Apparently Haniville is known for having this trouble with volunteers. I'm not ready to give up on it just yet but I am concidering joining the After Care program. My biggest hope is for this soccer tournament to work out because I think it will be the chance I need to bond with some of these kids. The prospects are better than I thought because Thabo told me in the car yesterday morning that he hadn't forgotten about it and that he and I will sit down sometime this week after work and start planning it.
I haven't really learned any more Zulu since Saturday, well I learned "Umulu Bohla," "play ball." I am starting to be able to follow conversations a bit though and pick up the jist of what people are saying. The difficulty is how fast people speak. Yesterday after our school visit I got to participate in a Haniville tradition. We nabbed some sugar cane from a truck on the side of the road and brought it back with us and ate it. I'm not sure how many of you have gotten the opportunity to eat sugar cane but it is an experience everyone should try, unless you have weak teeth. Your sugar cane won't be quite as fresh as mine though because mine came straight from a field across the street. Today I had a fat cookie. It is some kind of Zulu treat that is much like a giant dumpling. Not a chinese dumping but rather like a comfort food dumpling.
Well that is about all for now. Tonight we are going out with a bunch of people bowling and shooting pool. You can shoot pool for 1 rand which in dollars is only 10 cents. Or at least that was the case a couple days ago. I'm not sure what the exchange is like now but as of Saturday the dollar was worth almost 10 rand! You should hear from me again Saturday.
Peace
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Wow!
I can't believe it's been a whole week since I've been able to post. First I would like to say thank you for all the comments people left. Its really nice reading them. Now I'll fill you in on the week.
Sunday was the Braai. It was a cold rainy day so it kept us inside but it was still pretty fun. I gotta admitt though, I was feeling kind of shy. As it turns out there are no male volunteers in Durban either. There was a guy and his wife visiting from holland though (they work for an organization that sets up dutch volunteers with the yfc.) The two of them came back to our house to stay until tuesday morning so they could see how everything works here in maritzburg.
Monday we went on a tour around maritzburg to see where and how all the various yfc programs opperate. As it turns out we were going to be choosing where we worked. The tour started at the office a block from our house where we met one of the head hanchos around here, Derek. He reminded me a bit of Bob Marley minus the weed. Derek took us around from site to site. We saw yazini (a school health ed program) the girls shelter for homeless girls, the three community drop in centers, the street outreach office, yfc headquarters, the aftercare office, and an additional community we work in. Let me say that there is no place I have seen that is as beautiful as South Africa. However, for being such a developed country, the poverty here is appauling. Never in my life have I seen so many people living in run down shacks. Its one thing to see pictures on tv, its another thing intirely to walk through these neighborhoods in person. I am all for simple living and I think I would be happy living in a small hut like that, but I realize that those people aren't there by choice and that life is really difficult for them. They live in areas like that filled with trash and crime yet they are expected to function in a modern world that revolves around money. It creates a very difficult situation to get out of that we are expected to battle. Most of the full time staff at yfc live in these very communities. After our tour we came home for an hour lunch break to let everything sink in and then we had to make our decisions. I decided to work at the community center in Haniville, a small rural community built on a very large hill on the very outskirt of 'maritzburg.
Tuesday was my first day. I was the last of the volunteers to be dropped off due to my communities location but it gave me some time to talk to Thabo (he does most of the driving) the coordinator of the drop in centers. Thabo is a very funny man who yells at random times when he gets excited about something or is telling a story. So I arrived at the center and I had already met the people I would be working with there the day before. We left immediately to go on a school visit to meet with a particular students teacher. We needed to find out about some medication she had been taking to help her in school so that we could get her back on it because she hasn't been taking it and she is really struggling in school now. Next year she will be going into highschool and we are very worried about how she will do if she doesn't have the medication. When we arrived at the school a class of kids saw us and started yelling something in Zulu. Apparently they thought I was Jet Li. The school visit was unproductive and I had no clue what was going on because everything was said in Zulu. I was filled in later that none of the girl's teachers seemed to know. When the kids came after school they were all very scared of me. If I said "Hi" to them they would turn away and if I said "Sawubona" they would laugh and then turn away. So all in all I was unsuccessful with them on day one.
Day two didn't start out much better. There was a little 5 year old girl name Sinke who came in early because she is too young for school. I tried talking to her but she doesn't know a word of english and she was even more shy. I could tell that she was curious about me though. Some of the boys were the first to arrive and they immediately started playing soccer beacuse that is all they do here. I asked them to play but they didn't know what I was saying so they ignored me. So I sat nearby Sinke and we watched them. Eventually I think her curiousity got the better of her shyness because she started sneaking up behind me. I would turn around and she would scream and run away laughing. But it was the ice breaker she needed. It didn't take long then for her to make friends with me though it took her a while to realize that I didn't know Zulu. Nevertheless I helped her draw a picture durning craft time by holding marker tops for her. She must have decided I would be useful for that. She continued to speak Zulu to me but she learned that I understood pointing much better.
My time on the computer is almost over, but you should know that the kids are used to me now and enjoy playing games with me despite a very difficult language barrier. The girls are much more persistent then the boys though and they really like to get me involved in their games. I think they find it funny to watch me try to follow whats going on. There is one boy though who speaks english very well and he helps me as my translator. I can't wait for next monday to come.
One last thing, I may be starting my own soccer team in haniville to play against the other communitees. I really hope it works out. Hopefully I'll be able to update you in the next couple days. Bye for now
I can't believe it's been a whole week since I've been able to post. First I would like to say thank you for all the comments people left. Its really nice reading them. Now I'll fill you in on the week.
Sunday was the Braai. It was a cold rainy day so it kept us inside but it was still pretty fun. I gotta admitt though, I was feeling kind of shy. As it turns out there are no male volunteers in Durban either. There was a guy and his wife visiting from holland though (they work for an organization that sets up dutch volunteers with the yfc.) The two of them came back to our house to stay until tuesday morning so they could see how everything works here in maritzburg.
Monday we went on a tour around maritzburg to see where and how all the various yfc programs opperate. As it turns out we were going to be choosing where we worked. The tour started at the office a block from our house where we met one of the head hanchos around here, Derek. He reminded me a bit of Bob Marley minus the weed. Derek took us around from site to site. We saw yazini (a school health ed program) the girls shelter for homeless girls, the three community drop in centers, the street outreach office, yfc headquarters, the aftercare office, and an additional community we work in. Let me say that there is no place I have seen that is as beautiful as South Africa. However, for being such a developed country, the poverty here is appauling. Never in my life have I seen so many people living in run down shacks. Its one thing to see pictures on tv, its another thing intirely to walk through these neighborhoods in person. I am all for simple living and I think I would be happy living in a small hut like that, but I realize that those people aren't there by choice and that life is really difficult for them. They live in areas like that filled with trash and crime yet they are expected to function in a modern world that revolves around money. It creates a very difficult situation to get out of that we are expected to battle. Most of the full time staff at yfc live in these very communities. After our tour we came home for an hour lunch break to let everything sink in and then we had to make our decisions. I decided to work at the community center in Haniville, a small rural community built on a very large hill on the very outskirt of 'maritzburg.
Tuesday was my first day. I was the last of the volunteers to be dropped off due to my communities location but it gave me some time to talk to Thabo (he does most of the driving) the coordinator of the drop in centers. Thabo is a very funny man who yells at random times when he gets excited about something or is telling a story. So I arrived at the center and I had already met the people I would be working with there the day before. We left immediately to go on a school visit to meet with a particular students teacher. We needed to find out about some medication she had been taking to help her in school so that we could get her back on it because she hasn't been taking it and she is really struggling in school now. Next year she will be going into highschool and we are very worried about how she will do if she doesn't have the medication. When we arrived at the school a class of kids saw us and started yelling something in Zulu. Apparently they thought I was Jet Li. The school visit was unproductive and I had no clue what was going on because everything was said in Zulu. I was filled in later that none of the girl's teachers seemed to know. When the kids came after school they were all very scared of me. If I said "Hi" to them they would turn away and if I said "Sawubona" they would laugh and then turn away. So all in all I was unsuccessful with them on day one.
Day two didn't start out much better. There was a little 5 year old girl name Sinke who came in early because she is too young for school. I tried talking to her but she doesn't know a word of english and she was even more shy. I could tell that she was curious about me though. Some of the boys were the first to arrive and they immediately started playing soccer beacuse that is all they do here. I asked them to play but they didn't know what I was saying so they ignored me. So I sat nearby Sinke and we watched them. Eventually I think her curiousity got the better of her shyness because she started sneaking up behind me. I would turn around and she would scream and run away laughing. But it was the ice breaker she needed. It didn't take long then for her to make friends with me though it took her a while to realize that I didn't know Zulu. Nevertheless I helped her draw a picture durning craft time by holding marker tops for her. She must have decided I would be useful for that. She continued to speak Zulu to me but she learned that I understood pointing much better.
My time on the computer is almost over, but you should know that the kids are used to me now and enjoy playing games with me despite a very difficult language barrier. The girls are much more persistent then the boys though and they really like to get me involved in their games. I think they find it funny to watch me try to follow whats going on. There is one boy though who speaks english very well and he helps me as my translator. I can't wait for next monday to come.
One last thing, I may be starting my own soccer team in haniville to play against the other communitees. I really hope it works out. Hopefully I'll be able to update you in the next couple days. Bye for now
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Sawubona!
Who would have thought I'd be here again the very next day. As it turns out we never made it to the store yesterday. After driving around town for an hour and seeing a sign that read, Pick n Pay 450 m, we still couldn't find it. All of us were tired and hungry though, and the store was closing in 15 minutes (everything here closes at 7) so we gave up. We stopped at a small store though and got enough to make a meal for the five of us for the night. Yes, I forgot yesterday that we were getting yet another Dutch room mate who comes and goes because she works at L'abri in the bush. (I remain the only male in the house though.) Anyway her name is Maya and today she, Aerin and I have gone out to do the shopping at a store within walking distance of our house. The same store which I stopped at yesterday. Because it is nearby to this internet cafe, and because the two ladies needed to use the internet today we stopped here. Anne and Rose, our other roommates are at work until 3. Aerin and I are cooking tonight but we haven't decided what yet. It is probably going to be between chicken French and Chicken Alfredo.
The past couple days have been chilly and rainy. Well today it hasn't rained yet but it is completely overcast. Since the rain has stopped however, we have had our first opportunity to see some of the local wild life. There are these birds about the size of a pelican with a long narrow beak that appear to be the source of the morning wooping that wakes us up everymorning. Then there are these smaller birds with white squares under their wings and very yellow beaks and legs. They are also very loud. I am told there are monkies here but i have yet to see any.
Tomorrow we are going to a Braai (BBQ) at our project coordinator's house out in the country. We will meet the volunteers from Durban there. That should be a fun little party. Monday we start work at a drop in center. I am both nervous to start the new job and excited to meet all the kids.
That is about all I've got for now. Hope all of you back in the states are doing well. I'm feeling a little home sick for everyone but I must say I really love it hear. At the moment, I can picture myself wanting to move back here on a more permanant basis but I'm gonna need to make it through these next nine months first. Talk to you later.
Who would have thought I'd be here again the very next day. As it turns out we never made it to the store yesterday. After driving around town for an hour and seeing a sign that read, Pick n Pay 450 m, we still couldn't find it. All of us were tired and hungry though, and the store was closing in 15 minutes (everything here closes at 7) so we gave up. We stopped at a small store though and got enough to make a meal for the five of us for the night. Yes, I forgot yesterday that we were getting yet another Dutch room mate who comes and goes because she works at L'abri in the bush. (I remain the only male in the house though.) Anyway her name is Maya and today she, Aerin and I have gone out to do the shopping at a store within walking distance of our house. The same store which I stopped at yesterday. Because it is nearby to this internet cafe, and because the two ladies needed to use the internet today we stopped here. Anne and Rose, our other roommates are at work until 3. Aerin and I are cooking tonight but we haven't decided what yet. It is probably going to be between chicken French and Chicken Alfredo.
The past couple days have been chilly and rainy. Well today it hasn't rained yet but it is completely overcast. Since the rain has stopped however, we have had our first opportunity to see some of the local wild life. There are these birds about the size of a pelican with a long narrow beak that appear to be the source of the morning wooping that wakes us up everymorning. Then there are these smaller birds with white squares under their wings and very yellow beaks and legs. They are also very loud. I am told there are monkies here but i have yet to see any.
Tomorrow we are going to a Braai (BBQ) at our project coordinator's house out in the country. We will meet the volunteers from Durban there. That should be a fun little party. Monday we start work at a drop in center. I am both nervous to start the new job and excited to meet all the kids.
That is about all I've got for now. Hope all of you back in the states are doing well. I'm feeling a little home sick for everyone but I must say I really love it hear. At the moment, I can picture myself wanting to move back here on a more permanant basis but I'm gonna need to make it through these next nine months first. Talk to you later.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Sawubona!
I am here in a very crowded internet cafe in pietermaritzburg and aside from my dutch room mate sitting here next to me I am the only white person. I can't say that I mind it, it is just different being the minority (that is population minority because whites here are very wealthy.)
Anyway we landed last night in Durban after some 30 hours of traveling. We were picked up by the project coordinator's husband at the airport and he brought us to our house in Pietermaritzburg which is about an hours drive. It was our first experience driving on the left side of the road and it was a bit disorienting. Unfortunately it was dark so we really couldn't see much of the scenery. You would not believe the number of new BMW's and Mercedes on the road though. It was not what I would have expected. So we arrived very tired but had trouble falling asleep because of the time difference.
This morning we got up and showered (yes it was hot water) and had a small breakfast (peanut butter toast, nothing exciting.) The project coordinator Sally came over and met with us told us we would be working in a drop in center for youth and that we would be starting monday. So I suppose we have the next couple days to get adjusted to the time change. We unpacked our stuff and got settled, met a couple people who work next door and hung out with our two room mates from Holland, Anne and Rose. I am the only guy in a house with three other girls now and there is another on the way in a couple weeks. I can't say that I know when next there will be a fellow male around but oh well. I guess all my female friends prepared me for this. Anne and I went to a store which could have been a store like anywhere back home and then we came here to get on the internet.
Our house is not too bad. It is very old with the highest ceilings I have ever seen. One story, there are three bedrooms a kitchen, living room/dining room and a very large bathroom. I will post some pictures next time maybe if I get the chance. Mom, I found Mike Gleason's picture in the hallway, it was kinda funny.
This part of south africa looks alot like California too me, so it doesn't really feel like I have even left the country. Although I have now discovered that I am something of a novelty to the locals here because there really aren't many whites in Pietermaritzburg. They like to talk to us and are very friendly. A man in the gorcery store attempted to teach me some Zulu. Lucky for me, everyone here knows english and although they will talk to you in Zulu, I can answer in English for now.
Well, I am off to the "big" grocery store now to do our shopping for the week. Talk to ya later.
I am here in a very crowded internet cafe in pietermaritzburg and aside from my dutch room mate sitting here next to me I am the only white person. I can't say that I mind it, it is just different being the minority (that is population minority because whites here are very wealthy.)
Anyway we landed last night in Durban after some 30 hours of traveling. We were picked up by the project coordinator's husband at the airport and he brought us to our house in Pietermaritzburg which is about an hours drive. It was our first experience driving on the left side of the road and it was a bit disorienting. Unfortunately it was dark so we really couldn't see much of the scenery. You would not believe the number of new BMW's and Mercedes on the road though. It was not what I would have expected. So we arrived very tired but had trouble falling asleep because of the time difference.
This morning we got up and showered (yes it was hot water) and had a small breakfast (peanut butter toast, nothing exciting.) The project coordinator Sally came over and met with us told us we would be working in a drop in center for youth and that we would be starting monday. So I suppose we have the next couple days to get adjusted to the time change. We unpacked our stuff and got settled, met a couple people who work next door and hung out with our two room mates from Holland, Anne and Rose. I am the only guy in a house with three other girls now and there is another on the way in a couple weeks. I can't say that I know when next there will be a fellow male around but oh well. I guess all my female friends prepared me for this. Anne and I went to a store which could have been a store like anywhere back home and then we came here to get on the internet.
Our house is not too bad. It is very old with the highest ceilings I have ever seen. One story, there are three bedrooms a kitchen, living room/dining room and a very large bathroom. I will post some pictures next time maybe if I get the chance. Mom, I found Mike Gleason's picture in the hallway, it was kinda funny.
This part of south africa looks alot like California too me, so it doesn't really feel like I have even left the country. Although I have now discovered that I am something of a novelty to the locals here because there really aren't many whites in Pietermaritzburg. They like to talk to us and are very friendly. A man in the gorcery store attempted to teach me some Zulu. Lucky for me, everyone here knows english and although they will talk to you in Zulu, I can answer in English for now.
Well, I am off to the "big" grocery store now to do our shopping for the week. Talk to ya later.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Ok, so if you are on this blog right now you probably know who I am and also know that in the morning I am leaving for Pietermaritzburg, South Africa so that I can volunteer with the YDC helping at risk youth living on the street. If you feel like you don't really know much about Pietermaritzburg and or the YDC you can look them up on the internet. You can find out all about the City just by typing in Pietermaritzburg on Wikipedia or see lots of pictures by doing a google image search. Finding the YDC is a bit more tricky. I actually forgot how to find it on google myself (typing in YDC will give you some place in Austin) but my mom can tell you how. If you don't know my mom then I suppose I will have to leave a link in a future blog.
So some last minute thoughts before I depart from the states. I really can't believe that in the morning I am actually leaving to go halfway around the world for 9 months. The farthest out of the country I have been is two hours over the border into Canada. I can honestly say that having spent time with someone who actually lives there and therefore having done things that tourist traditionally don't do, (bowling with five pins and a botchey ball, and taking my shoes off at the chiropractor), Canada is more unlike the US than one might tipically think. For the record a blinking green light does not mean go apparently. I cannot kid myself though, Canada is not that different.
Here I am about to go off on this crazy adventure. Well, I don't actually think its that crazy, but after talking with many of you it is apparent that I perhaps am crazy myself. Indeed it may be hard to grasp what would posses a 17 year old to up and leave a country that has been concidered so great for so long. So why go? Those of you who know me well know that I have to find out things for myself and come to my own conclusions. Hard headed if you will. You probably also know that I enjoy a good adventure/ change of pace and scenery. Throw in my interest of cultures and current dissolutionment with the west and it kinda all makes sense. I think everyone can agree that if anything, this trip will be a good learning experience.
I haven't even started off yet so I think I'm going to close this entry off soon, but know that since I have started saying my fairwells, particullarly those since saturday, I have realized how much I am going to miss everyone. I wish I could bring some of you along in my suit case. (I would bring everyone but that would get really complicated.) I know however that I need to do this trip without you. Its kinda a time to reevaluate things and find out what is really important to me. I will not be doing this trip alone however because my good friend Aerin (yes she is also my girlfriend, but we were good friends first, and still are) is coming with me. That will be quite different because she and I have never lived anywhere close together. So I guess we shall see how compatible we really are.
That about wraps it up. I hope I haven't been too scatterbrained. I have no clue when next I will post right now, but it will be at least a few days. I do plan on updating at least once a week though so check back often. And feel free to send this on to others and what not. I shall miss you all and see you in 9 months.
Farewell,
Cullen
So some last minute thoughts before I depart from the states. I really can't believe that in the morning I am actually leaving to go halfway around the world for 9 months. The farthest out of the country I have been is two hours over the border into Canada. I can honestly say that having spent time with someone who actually lives there and therefore having done things that tourist traditionally don't do, (bowling with five pins and a botchey ball, and taking my shoes off at the chiropractor), Canada is more unlike the US than one might tipically think. For the record a blinking green light does not mean go apparently. I cannot kid myself though, Canada is not that different.
Here I am about to go off on this crazy adventure. Well, I don't actually think its that crazy, but after talking with many of you it is apparent that I perhaps am crazy myself. Indeed it may be hard to grasp what would posses a 17 year old to up and leave a country that has been concidered so great for so long. So why go? Those of you who know me well know that I have to find out things for myself and come to my own conclusions. Hard headed if you will. You probably also know that I enjoy a good adventure/ change of pace and scenery. Throw in my interest of cultures and current dissolutionment with the west and it kinda all makes sense. I think everyone can agree that if anything, this trip will be a good learning experience.
I haven't even started off yet so I think I'm going to close this entry off soon, but know that since I have started saying my fairwells, particullarly those since saturday, I have realized how much I am going to miss everyone. I wish I could bring some of you along in my suit case. (I would bring everyone but that would get really complicated.) I know however that I need to do this trip without you. Its kinda a time to reevaluate things and find out what is really important to me. I will not be doing this trip alone however because my good friend Aerin (yes she is also my girlfriend, but we were good friends first, and still are) is coming with me. That will be quite different because she and I have never lived anywhere close together. So I guess we shall see how compatible we really are.
That about wraps it up. I hope I haven't been too scatterbrained. I have no clue when next I will post right now, but it will be at least a few days. I do plan on updating at least once a week though so check back often. And feel free to send this on to others and what not. I shall miss you all and see you in 9 months.
Farewell,
Cullen
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