Sawubona
Before I get into recording this week's activities I just want to clarify the last paragraph of my post from last week because I am not happy with the way it sounded. You see, what is so difficult or strange about being back in PMB is that when you are out in public you often made to feel like you are in one of those what doesn't belong children's books. People stare at you constantly and sometimes you are treated second class when you are in a public place, particularly at fast food places and other like venues. This is something you get used to and don't normally notice but I was spoiled on vacation and it was kind of a shock to come back too. But I don't want to give a poor impression because its not always the case and service is far better at places where I am recognized like here at the internet cafe or at the store by our house. But South Africa still has a long way to go when it comes to race relations and integration.
Also there was a question this last week about whether or not L'Abri has any wild animals or not. There are indeed some animals out there in the bush such as the bush buck, snakes, and monkies, but there is nothing dangerous living their or in the most of the non reserve areas of SA. There are still leopards in some rural areas down in the central coastal mountains but even their they are seldom seen.
So with that all said let me dig in to last week. I spent most of last week just catching up on rest from traveling and being at L'Abri. Wednesday was Anne's birthday and we spent the afternoon and evening celebrating that with those of us in the house as well as some collegues. Thursday Aerin had off from work and so we went out to a movie and that evening we went out to dinner with everyone again for Anne's birthday.
With the week wrapped up it was time for me to head out to L'Abri again for another camp of prefects, this time, an all girls school. So friday at 10 we left for the bush. This camp was a little less active on account of our clientel but I also got to have a bit more of a role. Nevertheless I am still kind of in my training phase. We only did a short hike down to the swing fall but I enjoy that place alot because it is great fun on the rope swing, a truely gorgeous area to be in, and I am most active there helping one of the guys (siyabonga who looks like an African pirate and who gave me my new nick name Bazumba) with the swing and those on it. Anyway, in the coming camps I will get to do more and more but for now most of my job is either observing activities or hosting our guests. I am still very happy with my new work though.
This weekend Thirza and myself will be facilitating our own YDC camp for the volunteers here in PMB as well as those in Durban. I think we are going to put together a couple activities for them and take them on a couple hikes so that they can have something of a L'Abri experience. It is not a true L'Abri experience though because they will not be waking up at 6 or being made to heat thier own water for a shower.
Well that is all for this week I think. I hear its quite chilly back home but here it is sweltering. Hope everyone is doing well though and enjoying the new president.
Peace
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
hello at last,
I am finally home from a fantastic three week vacation as well as starting at work.
Aerin and I took a trip south along the coast stopping once in each region along the way. Our stops included the heart of Xhosa country at Port St. John's and Jefferies Bay, and continued into the beginnings of Afrikaaner SA in Wilderness and Swellendam. We travelled through African jungle, endless plains and huge mountains and it was quite the site seeing adventure. Our last week we travelled to Zululand with some of our housemates. Now to try and give you all the details I think would be impossible in my time on this computer but to give you a taste we hiked, took a river cruise, rode horses, galloped on the beach, surfed, snorkled, had some briaas, went on a game tour in SA's most beautiful reserve, bummed on the beach and more. It was quite an amazing trip that really revitalized me.
When I arrived home on Tuesday night I was told that I had to leave for my first camp at 8 in the morning. I had no clue to expect out of this but it turned out to be a fantastic three days. We were running a leadership/ team building camp for some high school prefects and it was alot of fun with many activities, good food, and some crazy hikes. My job lies somewhere between camp counselor and guide. In fact, one of the hikes I ended up leading because I knew the way from my time visiting L'abri before and the others were helping campers down some of the more difficult parts. At the end, I got to swing off a rope into a big water fall pool. Our other hike was three hours over a very difficult trial, with the reward of jumping from a 10 meter water fall. I was the first one over the edge on account of everyone else being too scared. The campers agreed that I was quite an insane person which greatly tickled me. Now somehow I was able to come out of my shell and really bond with people which is something for me because I am usually a pretty shy guy. Anyway, I'm feeling really positive about my new job and I can't wait for my next camp this friday.
In the meantime I am enjoying the peace and quiet of the house while everyone else is at work. I think I am going to need to find something to occupy myself with while I'm not at L'abri though.
Ok so I know this is a short post for me being away so long but there are really too many details and I am still adjusting into my normal schedule. But let me say that travelling gave me some interesting new perspectives of South Africa because I was able to interact with the white population here. As synical as they are about their country and all its flaws, most of them really appear to have a deep sense of responsibility to prevent this country from becoming like the rest of Africa. They are also trying hard to shed the stigma attached to being a white South African because much of the world views them as racists. While I am certain that these people exist, those whom I met on my trip were down-to-earth, friendly and in most cases extremely helpful when we needed it. Coming back home to predominantly black PMB has almost evoked a question of where do I fit in in this country. You don't really notice how out of place you appear until suddenly you are surrounded by people of your color and culture. Anyway, I would like to believe that I am something more than just the white foreigner and my collueges at work certainly helped me feel like I had a place here.
So there is a huge line behind me and I only have six minutes left. I hope my last comments weren't too scatterbrained for you but the more I think about it now the more I realize how complex the world is as well as finding your own niche in it.
So long for now
I am finally home from a fantastic three week vacation as well as starting at work.
Aerin and I took a trip south along the coast stopping once in each region along the way. Our stops included the heart of Xhosa country at Port St. John's and Jefferies Bay, and continued into the beginnings of Afrikaaner SA in Wilderness and Swellendam. We travelled through African jungle, endless plains and huge mountains and it was quite the site seeing adventure. Our last week we travelled to Zululand with some of our housemates. Now to try and give you all the details I think would be impossible in my time on this computer but to give you a taste we hiked, took a river cruise, rode horses, galloped on the beach, surfed, snorkled, had some briaas, went on a game tour in SA's most beautiful reserve, bummed on the beach and more. It was quite an amazing trip that really revitalized me.
When I arrived home on Tuesday night I was told that I had to leave for my first camp at 8 in the morning. I had no clue to expect out of this but it turned out to be a fantastic three days. We were running a leadership/ team building camp for some high school prefects and it was alot of fun with many activities, good food, and some crazy hikes. My job lies somewhere between camp counselor and guide. In fact, one of the hikes I ended up leading because I knew the way from my time visiting L'abri before and the others were helping campers down some of the more difficult parts. At the end, I got to swing off a rope into a big water fall pool. Our other hike was three hours over a very difficult trial, with the reward of jumping from a 10 meter water fall. I was the first one over the edge on account of everyone else being too scared. The campers agreed that I was quite an insane person which greatly tickled me. Now somehow I was able to come out of my shell and really bond with people which is something for me because I am usually a pretty shy guy. Anyway, I'm feeling really positive about my new job and I can't wait for my next camp this friday.
In the meantime I am enjoying the peace and quiet of the house while everyone else is at work. I think I am going to need to find something to occupy myself with while I'm not at L'abri though.
Ok so I know this is a short post for me being away so long but there are really too many details and I am still adjusting into my normal schedule. But let me say that travelling gave me some interesting new perspectives of South Africa because I was able to interact with the white population here. As synical as they are about their country and all its flaws, most of them really appear to have a deep sense of responsibility to prevent this country from becoming like the rest of Africa. They are also trying hard to shed the stigma attached to being a white South African because much of the world views them as racists. While I am certain that these people exist, those whom I met on my trip were down-to-earth, friendly and in most cases extremely helpful when we needed it. Coming back home to predominantly black PMB has almost evoked a question of where do I fit in in this country. You don't really notice how out of place you appear until suddenly you are surrounded by people of your color and culture. Anyway, I would like to believe that I am something more than just the white foreigner and my collueges at work certainly helped me feel like I had a place here.
So there is a huge line behind me and I only have six minutes left. I hope my last comments weren't too scatterbrained for you but the more I think about it now the more I realize how complex the world is as well as finding your own niche in it.
So long for now
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