This is it.....no more training....and just two days to go until 'IT'!! How scary is that??!!
SS and I did our 'last blast' yesterday..except it wasn't really a blast, more of an amble on the treadmill, just to keep our legs moving. We couldn't NOT do anything as we are so twitchy with adrenaline...but can't overdo it either, so an amble it was - although I must admit to doing an eight minute sprint halfway through to stretch my legs out!!...and I'm sure I saw SS push the button to put her speed up a tad.
But...this is is it...we are done...trained to the hilt..as ready as we will ever be....lean, mean, walking machines!
Surrey Centurion here we come......oh, and for those following this blog, I'm number 5 not 6! But if number 6 finishes and I don't, then I'm number 6!
And, one last instruction, if you haven't coughed up yet, why not??
www.justgiving.com/teaandblisters
Ta muchly.
Thursday 30 June 2011
Monday 27 June 2011
Time is flying.....
I am going to sound incredibly old here, but time is flying by at an alarming speed!
It only seems like five minutes ago when SS suggested a hundred mile walk was a good idea ....I must have agreed to it at some time...and here I am, 5 days away from actually walking them...
,
I always seem to be moaning that I don't have enough time in my life to finish my never ending 'list of to-do's'...but when talking about this in South Africa, we came to the conclusion that God thinks we have enough time, he created the days, hours, minutes, and gave each of us exactly the same amount of time, so I guess it's all down to time management.....or priorities, so, if I was organised and prioritised, I shouldn't have a problem at all!
I'm not sure if I'm organised or prioritised for these hundred miles....I've got my food bag packed (most essential as there isn't a Costa or Starbucks in sight, I've googled!!), my trainers are ready and I've researched socks......but that's about it...have we trained enough???Have we carb loaded enough???I was going to ask the question 'are we mental enough????' but thought that might be misinterpreted!! Apparently, 10% of a race is physical, 90% is mental effort......and we are mental to be doing this!!
I think we are fit enough, and SS and I were discussing this after our penultimate gym session today. We have trained, and trained and trained. We have been out walking nearly every weekend, covering distances between 8 miles at the absolute minimum and 40 miles maximum, we do weights at the gym every Wednesday as well as a cardio workout, and individually we both do more 2 or 3 times a week.....yes, we are fit enough.......but will our heads let us do 100 miles????
Today in the gym was hard...it was hot, and it was stuffy, and we both knew we had to take it steady as we are conserving energy for Saturday.....we gave weights a miss and just did 30 mins on the treadmill, and we've decided that we will do this on Wednesday as well, just to keep the legs moving, and to release the 'happy hormones'. Ideally, we should be having a 'rest week' but both SS and I get very twitchy if we do no exercise....I was like this over the weekend...
We went to Aberdovey, and after being stuck in a car all the way to Wales, and seeing rain on Saturday morning, I was desperate to get out for a run....so Saturday, mid morning, Mali and I grabbed our running shoes (that's me not Mali) and headed for the beach. Once again Mali thought it was a dualathlon and decided to add swimming in (I declined) and headed for the opposite beach, after a lot of yelling (again from me and not Mali) Mali was back on track, we did a respectable 3 miles and ended up in the coffee shop for a spot of carb loading. On Sunday morning I seemed to do the carb loading first, so needed to go and run it off, again Mali decided to Swim before run.....but we both managed a fairly fast and decent 3 miles again...not bad considering we were resting.....
And here we are.....5 days away from the big 100......I've looked at the route map, I've looked at my number - 6 if you're interested- I've seen where the toilets are, I've checked out the hotel for Friday night....all looks ok......so I guess we are relatively organised....but have I done everything on my 'to do list'...or am I still running out of time???
Well...Chris has walked the the dogs today so that can be ticked off, the lodger has put all my South Africa photos into one album for me and done some techy stuff and found 'lost' photos for me (what a star) so that can be ticked off, hmmm.....work emails....those can wait.......ironing....same.....it's 10.22pm, time is flying........
It only seems like five minutes ago when SS suggested a hundred mile walk was a good idea ....I must have agreed to it at some time...and here I am, 5 days away from actually walking them...
,
I always seem to be moaning that I don't have enough time in my life to finish my never ending 'list of to-do's'...but when talking about this in South Africa, we came to the conclusion that God thinks we have enough time, he created the days, hours, minutes, and gave each of us exactly the same amount of time, so I guess it's all down to time management.....or priorities, so, if I was organised and prioritised, I shouldn't have a problem at all!
I'm not sure if I'm organised or prioritised for these hundred miles....I've got my food bag packed (most essential as there isn't a Costa or Starbucks in sight, I've googled!!), my trainers are ready and I've researched socks......but that's about it...have we trained enough???Have we carb loaded enough???I was going to ask the question 'are we mental enough????' but thought that might be misinterpreted!! Apparently, 10% of a race is physical, 90% is mental effort......and we are mental to be doing this!!
I think we are fit enough, and SS and I were discussing this after our penultimate gym session today. We have trained, and trained and trained. We have been out walking nearly every weekend, covering distances between 8 miles at the absolute minimum and 40 miles maximum, we do weights at the gym every Wednesday as well as a cardio workout, and individually we both do more 2 or 3 times a week.....yes, we are fit enough.......but will our heads let us do 100 miles????
Today in the gym was hard...it was hot, and it was stuffy, and we both knew we had to take it steady as we are conserving energy for Saturday.....we gave weights a miss and just did 30 mins on the treadmill, and we've decided that we will do this on Wednesday as well, just to keep the legs moving, and to release the 'happy hormones'. Ideally, we should be having a 'rest week' but both SS and I get very twitchy if we do no exercise....I was like this over the weekend...
We went to Aberdovey, and after being stuck in a car all the way to Wales, and seeing rain on Saturday morning, I was desperate to get out for a run....so Saturday, mid morning, Mali and I grabbed our running shoes (that's me not Mali) and headed for the beach. Once again Mali thought it was a dualathlon and decided to add swimming in (I declined) and headed for the opposite beach, after a lot of yelling (again from me and not Mali) Mali was back on track, we did a respectable 3 miles and ended up in the coffee shop for a spot of carb loading. On Sunday morning I seemed to do the carb loading first, so needed to go and run it off, again Mali decided to Swim before run.....but we both managed a fairly fast and decent 3 miles again...not bad considering we were resting.....
And here we are.....5 days away from the big 100......I've looked at the route map, I've looked at my number - 6 if you're interested- I've seen where the toilets are, I've checked out the hotel for Friday night....all looks ok......so I guess we are relatively organised....but have I done everything on my 'to do list'...or am I still running out of time???
Well...Chris has walked the the dogs today so that can be ticked off, the lodger has put all my South Africa photos into one album for me and done some techy stuff and found 'lost' photos for me (what a star) so that can be ticked off, hmmm.....work emails....those can wait.......ironing....same.....it's 10.22pm, time is flying........
Tuesday 21 June 2011
Technology....
I've just had a new iPhone. It's very nice and shiny...and does lots of weird and wonderful things.....apparently.
I have come to the conclusion that you need a degree in iPhone-ology, or at least have a ten year old nearby if you want to know how to use it..they are sooooo complicated...technology...pah!
Surprisingly, in South Africa, even though they have very little in the way of material possessions, clothing, shoes, food, they all seem to have mobiles attached to themselves. They all seem to be the blocky nokia variety.....the sort I wanted until telephone techy guy talked me out of it. After his spiel on adenoids (or was it androids??) and waps I was completely baffled until he said the words 'free' and 'iPhone' in the same sentence. And, as Cass has been harping on about iPhones I knew that they must be OK, so nodded my head and signed on the dotted line.
Fortunately, our lodger (Chris has said I can't keep referring to him as 'the lodger' I must call him Dan, but for blogging purposes I think 'the lodger' reads better) is a bit of a dab hand at anything techy and has set it up....I can't work it other than answer it when it rings, send a text, and eventually find facebook with a lot of Zulu cursing - hey, its cultural - and I guess that will suit me fine.....I don't always recognise the ring tone either...
SS and I walked on Saturday, and most of our exercise was hunting in our pockets when a phone beeped accompanied by one of us saying 'was that me or you?'!
On Saturday we met at 7am and did our usual circuit of the common before breakfast at Costas. Neither of us wanted to be out walking. SS was suffering with sinusitis and I was knackered after my two and a half weeks in Africa and two full on days at work (8.20pm finish Thurs, 7am start Fri), so we moaned and griped some, but a cappuccino and a plate of toast perked us up enough to go around the common again and head towards the canal at Thornford park end, and into town, ultimately ending in Starbucks before the heavens opened, again!
We knew we had to walk as this was our last 'big' training session before the 'centurion' race on 1-2nd July. Our 100 miles in Surrey...raising money for the children at Happy's school in uMlaze, Durban. We aim to buy more wheelchairs for these children, and, after visiting there, I know how desperate they are for them, and for money to upkeep the ones they have.....we must give this race our best shot!
So, we managed 20 miles before we parted company, and then I went and collected Mali and Golda and did another 3 miles, before having to do the ironing...the last remnants from my time away!
SS and I are very grateful to all who have sponsored us so far, but if you haven't, and you could spare a little, please visit our justgiving page....
www.justgiving.com/teaandblisters
It's very easy to do..despite the technology.....!
I have come to the conclusion that you need a degree in iPhone-ology, or at least have a ten year old nearby if you want to know how to use it..they are sooooo complicated...technology...pah!
Surprisingly, in South Africa, even though they have very little in the way of material possessions, clothing, shoes, food, they all seem to have mobiles attached to themselves. They all seem to be the blocky nokia variety.....the sort I wanted until telephone techy guy talked me out of it. After his spiel on adenoids (or was it androids??) and waps I was completely baffled until he said the words 'free' and 'iPhone' in the same sentence. And, as Cass has been harping on about iPhones I knew that they must be OK, so nodded my head and signed on the dotted line.
Fortunately, our lodger (Chris has said I can't keep referring to him as 'the lodger' I must call him Dan, but for blogging purposes I think 'the lodger' reads better) is a bit of a dab hand at anything techy and has set it up....I can't work it other than answer it when it rings, send a text, and eventually find facebook with a lot of Zulu cursing - hey, its cultural - and I guess that will suit me fine.....I don't always recognise the ring tone either...
SS and I walked on Saturday, and most of our exercise was hunting in our pockets when a phone beeped accompanied by one of us saying 'was that me or you?'!
On Saturday we met at 7am and did our usual circuit of the common before breakfast at Costas. Neither of us wanted to be out walking. SS was suffering with sinusitis and I was knackered after my two and a half weeks in Africa and two full on days at work (8.20pm finish Thurs, 7am start Fri), so we moaned and griped some, but a cappuccino and a plate of toast perked us up enough to go around the common again and head towards the canal at Thornford park end, and into town, ultimately ending in Starbucks before the heavens opened, again!
We knew we had to walk as this was our last 'big' training session before the 'centurion' race on 1-2nd July. Our 100 miles in Surrey...raising money for the children at Happy's school in uMlaze, Durban. We aim to buy more wheelchairs for these children, and, after visiting there, I know how desperate they are for them, and for money to upkeep the ones they have.....we must give this race our best shot!
So, we managed 20 miles before we parted company, and then I went and collected Mali and Golda and did another 3 miles, before having to do the ironing...the last remnants from my time away!
SS and I are very grateful to all who have sponsored us so far, but if you haven't, and you could spare a little, please visit our justgiving page....
www.justgiving.com/teaandblisters
It's very easy to do..despite the technology.....!
Wednesday 15 June 2011
A meerkat called 'Happy'....
It's Wednesday evening...I have been in the UK a little over 24 hours, and yes, its good to be home..but I'm feeling a little flat...
I keep thinking 'this time two weeks ago I was doing......' and 'this time last week I was doing....' - but hey, life goes on, and I've got to put into practice everything I have learnt!
I put my culinary skills into practice and made bunny chow for supper last night, and did 'zulu chicken and dumplings' tonight, no-one's been sick yet....
I've remembered 'blessed are the peacemakers' and I haven't decked Chris for taking in a lodger ( who is very nice and house-trained)...( that's the lodger not Chris...although Chris is both nice and house-trained)....
I've got back into the gym swing -of- things, and met SS at 8.30am this morning, an hour of that nearly killed me....and then I remembered that I'm training to do a race on the 1-2nd July to raise money for the kids at Happys'...I should be doing this willingly not grudgingly......but boy did my legs ache......even more after I ran a circuit of the common with Mali and Golda too. Saying that, it was nice to be outside doing some exercise....even though I have lifted kids for two weeks, I haven't felt like I have really done anything to get the joints or muscles moving, so it was great..even if a little tiring..to be out running.
And now I'm off to bed..where my cuddly meerkat is on the pillow! I bought this meercat at the airport in Johannesburg and it's gorgeous! I had a few Rand left, and when I saw it for sale, I thought, why not! I'd worked hard for the last couple of weeks, looking after these people, and disabled kids, I needed a treat, and perhaps a reminder of my time here! And a meerkat too! My favourite animal. So I bought this lovely, furry toy, and put him in pride of place on my pillow. When I went to bed last night, and showed Chris my meerkat, it was only then that we noticed my meerkat only had one eye!! Can you believe it....a disabled meerkat.......we decided to call it HAPPY.....................
I keep thinking 'this time two weeks ago I was doing......' and 'this time last week I was doing....' - but hey, life goes on, and I've got to put into practice everything I have learnt!
I put my culinary skills into practice and made bunny chow for supper last night, and did 'zulu chicken and dumplings' tonight, no-one's been sick yet....
I've remembered 'blessed are the peacemakers' and I haven't decked Chris for taking in a lodger ( who is very nice and house-trained)...( that's the lodger not Chris...although Chris is both nice and house-trained)....
I've got back into the gym swing -of- things, and met SS at 8.30am this morning, an hour of that nearly killed me....and then I remembered that I'm training to do a race on the 1-2nd July to raise money for the kids at Happys'...I should be doing this willingly not grudgingly......but boy did my legs ache......even more after I ran a circuit of the common with Mali and Golda too. Saying that, it was nice to be outside doing some exercise....even though I have lifted kids for two weeks, I haven't felt like I have really done anything to get the joints or muscles moving, so it was great..even if a little tiring..to be out running.
And now I'm off to bed..where my cuddly meerkat is on the pillow! I bought this meercat at the airport in Johannesburg and it's gorgeous! I had a few Rand left, and when I saw it for sale, I thought, why not! I'd worked hard for the last couple of weeks, looking after these people, and disabled kids, I needed a treat, and perhaps a reminder of my time here! And a meerkat too! My favourite animal. So I bought this lovely, furry toy, and put him in pride of place on my pillow. When I went to bed last night, and showed Chris my meerkat, it was only then that we noticed my meerkat only had one eye!! Can you believe it....a disabled meerkat.......we decided to call it HAPPY.....................
Monday 13 June 2011
Ngiyaphila
You may be wondering at the title of this particular post....
Ngiyaphila (pronounced 'N -gee- a- peel- a) is a zulu word and means "I am alive".....and this is how South Africa has made me feel.......alive, and happy to be so!
I have just a few minutes before I leave Westville, heading towards the airport, and ultimately the UK, and it's a time for reflection on my time here.
Two weeks isn't long enough. Yes, I've missed Chris and Cassia heaps, but I've loved every single minute of being here. I've loved the work, I've loved the people, the culture, the food, in fact there isn't anything that I haven't liked......(perhaps it could have been warmer....perhaps I could have shot the Ibis), I could quite easily stay here...in fact I would definitely consider returning to do more of the same.
The biggest change I've felt here, I think, is in me as a person. By nature I know that I am very set in my ways ( I can see Chris nodding), and incredibly selfish with my time ( I can see Chris nodding again but I will mention golf), but I can return home with a different perspective towards life, and thank God, that I do have opportunity in my life that others don't have....I have seen poverty, I have seen illness, I have seen desperation in some of the people here.....yet I have also seen courage and determination to live to the best of their ability - and to praise and thank God for it.
Ngiyaphila - I am alive....and extremely grateful.
Ngiyaphila (pronounced 'N -gee- a- peel- a) is a zulu word and means "I am alive".....and this is how South Africa has made me feel.......alive, and happy to be so!
I have just a few minutes before I leave Westville, heading towards the airport, and ultimately the UK, and it's a time for reflection on my time here.
Two weeks isn't long enough. Yes, I've missed Chris and Cassia heaps, but I've loved every single minute of being here. I've loved the work, I've loved the people, the culture, the food, in fact there isn't anything that I haven't liked......(perhaps it could have been warmer....perhaps I could have shot the Ibis), I could quite easily stay here...in fact I would definitely consider returning to do more of the same.
The biggest change I've felt here, I think, is in me as a person. By nature I know that I am very set in my ways ( I can see Chris nodding), and incredibly selfish with my time ( I can see Chris nodding again but I will mention golf), but I can return home with a different perspective towards life, and thank God, that I do have opportunity in my life that others don't have....I have seen poverty, I have seen illness, I have seen desperation in some of the people here.....yet I have also seen courage and determination to live to the best of their ability - and to praise and thank God for it.
Ngiyaphila - I am alive....and extremely grateful.
 |
| At Clermont Township, the kids were fascinated by the trailer! SJ covered in face paints! |
 |
| Tired..but happy! |
Sunday 12 June 2011
Clermont Clean-up!
 |
| Painted on the wall outside Clermont community centre. |
For the rest of Sunday we spent our time 'cleaning up at Clermont'. Jude, Char and the other volunteers had organised a community work day. This was to give the community centre a 'face lift' - cleaning the building inside and outside, removing rubble from behind the building, and removing rubbish from all areas surrounding the building.
One thing I have noticed here in South Africa is the amount of litter, literally everywhere. On the roadsides, in the gutters, and especially in all of the townships, piles and piles of rubbish.
Dustbin men, or if I'm being politically correct, refuse collectors, hardly ever visit the townships so rubbish piles up. The locals are unable to take their rubbish to the tips as most don't drive, and even if they do, they can't afford transport. Animals peck amongst the rubbish, children play barefoot amongst the rubbish...to a 'clean-freak' like me..it makes my toes curl, and I think of all the diseases these children have probably got ( and then they cough and sneeze on me.....).
My jobs today involved cleaning the windows, which firstly meant I had to go and collect my own water from the standpipe...and then get it back without spilling too much of it....cleaning the chairs.....doing lunch for what seemed like hundreds of kids.....and helping to attach a metal dustbin to a post so it didn't get nicked - if things aren't bolted down here, you won't see them again!!
It stopped raining for the day, so we were able to complete this work in sunshine which was a blessing as Clermont is surrounded by mud and would have been a nightmare in the rain!!
Tomorrow we start the journey home. Our first flight is 16.55 from Durban and is just a hop to Joberg...we then have just over ten hours on a flight to Madrid, and then another hop over to the UK, and, all being well, and luggage arrival permitting etc etc....we should arrive back in the UK for 10.05am on Tuesday.........
And I get to see whether Chris has fixed the cooker....and meet the new lodger.....
Did I say 'new lodger'...yes I did...it's amazing what happens when you leave home......
I was going to be narked that Chris had taken in a 'waif and stray'...but then I read back through some of my blogs and thought that actually......I'm meant to be learning from my experiences here, and learning about giving and sharing, and compassion, and if someone from one of our churches in a different part of the UK has asked for help for their son who is moving to Newbury, then we should help......I'm still gonna hit Chris (hard)though, coz his timing is pants!
Saturday 11 June 2011
Happy.....
Today (Saturday) was a day off, but we were still up early as we were going to Essingwood market in Durban centre to buy our souvenir's for home! This market closes at 11am, so we needed to 'get moving'!
The market was quite small, set out under some huge trees, with the first third of it being entirely devoted to food.....couldn't do anything until I'd had a box of donuts! These they sprinkled with honey, cinnamon and chopped almonds.....I did feel a little guilty, as, being a Saturday, I knew that SS would be hard training at home, walking the common, as we have our race on 1-2nd July.
The feeling soon passed! And anyway, we are raising money for Happy's, and I'm here in person, doing some work at Happy's..........
Anyways.....the market had a lot of 'Africa crafts' and I was able to find some lovely things to bring home to remind me of my time in this beautiful country.
Once back at Westville, it was deemed my turn to cook this evening, so I prepared food ready for supper, and then the rest of the day was my own. I decided to sit and sort my photo's and emails.
Below are a collection of photos of the children at Happy's, who always are happy - big grins every time - smiles even in times of adversity.
The market was quite small, set out under some huge trees, with the first third of it being entirely devoted to food.....couldn't do anything until I'd had a box of donuts! These they sprinkled with honey, cinnamon and chopped almonds.....I did feel a little guilty, as, being a Saturday, I knew that SS would be hard training at home, walking the common, as we have our race on 1-2nd July.
The feeling soon passed! And anyway, we are raising money for Happy's, and I'm here in person, doing some work at Happy's..........
Anyways.....the market had a lot of 'Africa crafts' and I was able to find some lovely things to bring home to remind me of my time in this beautiful country.
Once back at Westville, it was deemed my turn to cook this evening, so I prepared food ready for supper, and then the rest of the day was my own. I decided to sit and sort my photo's and emails.
Below are a collection of photos of the children at Happy's, who always are happy - big grins every time - smiles even in times of adversity.
Friday 10 June 2011
Rain!
If anyone else tells me that it doesn't usually 'rain like this in South Africa' I shall hit them! It has been torrential for the past 24 hours.....we even had thunder and lightning overnight.
At Westville hall, the garden is beginning to look a little sorry for itself, leaves blowing across the lawn and puddles dotted around..... but at Happy's school, and at Lamontville, another township I visited this afternoon....the puddles are more like ponds, and the grassy patches (you can't call them lawns!) have turned to churned up muddy patches. The children are still outside, playing, or running to one anothers houses, most are barefoot.....I am in my coat, sweatshirt, t-shirt, scarf and trainers - I think it's awful, they all have big smiles!
This morning was spent shopping and writing my lesson for the children at Happy's school as I was teaching there this afternoon. I had a class of 24 children, and my life lesson today was 'make the best of any situation you are in' - which these children certainly do...the lesson they are teaching me with everything they do, is certainly more powerful than what I could ever teach them.
In fact, I was having this conversation with Simon, the other English volunteer, as we were driving home from Nosipho's last night. Being here for 2 weeks, I don't know whether I have made a different to these people I have met. I don't know whether I have changed anything for them. And I can see that sometimes, changing things, putting our view on 'what's good for them' can actually be harmful......what these 2 weeks have done is change me...it has changed my perspective, and I hope it has made me a better person.
So, I taught these children, and based my lesson around the bible story of King David and what he did, and had to contend with, and how he had to make the best of the situations he got himself into -reiterating the memory verse that the children had learnt last week of Psalm 37 v 5, and then we had lots of colouring and cuddles!
I had also taken my camera in to Happy's as the children love having their photos taken, especially when they can see themselves on the monitor afterwards! Apart from the young man who was translating for me..he didn't like his photo, and I ended up taking his four times until he was happy with it!!
From Happy's I went with Jude straight to the township of Lamontville, about ten minutes away from Happy's school, where the COPT had built another community centre. On a Friday evening, Jude runs a youth club. Tonight she had 22 children. We played 'beetle drive' with them for an hour which they really enjoyed, and then spent half an hour talking about a 'life lesson'. This week it was based on 'Love your neighbour' - and explored who is your neighbour, and what is love, and peace. These kids where very bright, all Zulu's, and all spoke very highly of wanting peace in their lives. In true teenage fashion, they then all proceeded to argue with one another...!
At 7pm we left for home....and as a treat at the end of a busy week, we booked ourselves into a local restaurant called 'Nourish' - as no-one wanted to cook, and I had snot and dribble over me so no-one wanted me to cook!
'Nourish' is famous for it's steaks and chicken, but after spending 2 weeks here, and seeing chickens cooped up in cages at the sides of roads, or squashed on roads, and insides of animals, just hung outside of animals from any hook, anywhere, or goats wandering here, there and anywhere, I am practically vegetarian! I stuck with the butternut, pecan, and feta pasta - delicious.
At Westville hall, the garden is beginning to look a little sorry for itself, leaves blowing across the lawn and puddles dotted around..... but at Happy's school, and at Lamontville, another township I visited this afternoon....the puddles are more like ponds, and the grassy patches (you can't call them lawns!) have turned to churned up muddy patches. The children are still outside, playing, or running to one anothers houses, most are barefoot.....I am in my coat, sweatshirt, t-shirt, scarf and trainers - I think it's awful, they all have big smiles!
This morning was spent shopping and writing my lesson for the children at Happy's school as I was teaching there this afternoon. I had a class of 24 children, and my life lesson today was 'make the best of any situation you are in' - which these children certainly do...the lesson they are teaching me with everything they do, is certainly more powerful than what I could ever teach them.
In fact, I was having this conversation with Simon, the other English volunteer, as we were driving home from Nosipho's last night. Being here for 2 weeks, I don't know whether I have made a different to these people I have met. I don't know whether I have changed anything for them. And I can see that sometimes, changing things, putting our view on 'what's good for them' can actually be harmful......what these 2 weeks have done is change me...it has changed my perspective, and I hope it has made me a better person.
So, I taught these children, and based my lesson around the bible story of King David and what he did, and had to contend with, and how he had to make the best of the situations he got himself into -reiterating the memory verse that the children had learnt last week of Psalm 37 v 5, and then we had lots of colouring and cuddles!
I had also taken my camera in to Happy's as the children love having their photos taken, especially when they can see themselves on the monitor afterwards! Apart from the young man who was translating for me..he didn't like his photo, and I ended up taking his four times until he was happy with it!!
From Happy's I went with Jude straight to the township of Lamontville, about ten minutes away from Happy's school, where the COPT had built another community centre. On a Friday evening, Jude runs a youth club. Tonight she had 22 children. We played 'beetle drive' with them for an hour which they really enjoyed, and then spent half an hour talking about a 'life lesson'. This week it was based on 'Love your neighbour' - and explored who is your neighbour, and what is love, and peace. These kids where very bright, all Zulu's, and all spoke very highly of wanting peace in their lives. In true teenage fashion, they then all proceeded to argue with one another...!
At 7pm we left for home....and as a treat at the end of a busy week, we booked ourselves into a local restaurant called 'Nourish' - as no-one wanted to cook, and I had snot and dribble over me so no-one wanted me to cook!
'Nourish' is famous for it's steaks and chicken, but after spending 2 weeks here, and seeing chickens cooped up in cages at the sides of roads, or squashed on roads, and insides of animals, just hung outside of animals from any hook, anywhere, or goats wandering here, there and anywhere, I am practically vegetarian! I stuck with the butternut, pecan, and feta pasta - delicious.
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| Chicken or goat? I'm staying vegetarian! |
Thursday 9 June 2011
Food for thought..
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| Shops like this one in Marionhill are dotted around all the townships, and sell anything from apples and bread, to beer, sweets and crisps - if you have the money. |
They serve them 'over here' smaller than in the UK, but with maple syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon...delicious...I ate four......all this work is making me incredibly hungry... and my jeans very tight!
Food doesn't appear to be a problem over here, for some reason I thought it might be...there is plenty of it, the problem is that the poor don't have the money to buy it.
COPT, as a charity, doesn't give out money when people ask for it...and you get asked a lot....(if you stop at road junctions for example....instead they give out food. All cars have packets and packets of dried noodles or what we would call 'pot noodles'. Apparently these are classed as nutritious and they eat them dry with the flavouring sprinkled on them like crisps, apparently they are also very filling. The other option is to give out slices of brown bread.
Again, after eating 4 pancakes this morning, and not having to worry about where my next meal is coming from, does put these peoples lives, and mine into perspective.
On this blog I was also going to moan about how cold I am at night....our room is quite damp, and the bed linen feels very damp, bordering on wet in the morning. I sleep in my pyjamas, a t-shirt, sweatshirt and socks. My family will tell you how high I have the heating turned up at home (yes, even in the summer months, even though I turn it down before Chris gets home!), here there isn't any heating...I just have a very hot coffee before I get into bed, and one as soon as I get up....in fact, I try to spend as little time in bed as possible as it really is a cold damp place.....
I'm doing two weeks of this, then I get to go home, to comfort.
Am I spoilt...or just lucky?
Compared to most of the people I am seeing here, I am extremely well blessed.
The rest of my day was spent with Nosipho, the young lady with rheumatoid arthritis. As promised, Simon and I returned to take her shopping as she needed some new clothes and toiletries.
We collected her from her care home, and drove her to a shopping mall, about 20 minutes away. The extremes between rich and poor were very obvious here...you have expensive shops in the mall, yet on the freeway just outside, you have beggars trying to sell you trinkets or even plastic coat-hangers for R1 (10pence).
It was an experience shopping with Nosipho, she was looking for a jacket, and did want to try them on, but being unable to move her arms independently, or even lift them above shoulder height with help was a challenge, we persevered, and a few hours later, we had not one jacket but two, and a pair of jeans, a pair of pumps and some toiletries. We had a tired Simon, a thirsty Nosipho and a bemused me...this was the first time I had ever been shopping and not bought me anything!!
Wednesday 8 June 2011
Going to the zoo, zoo, zoo.....
Yet another early start - 6am.....pitch dark and raining.....but at least it meant the Ibis wasn't up!
Today we were taking the Marionhill creche kids to the Zoo for their school trip - an activity sponsored by COPT. We were to be the taxi drivers and helpers, needing to be at the creche for 7.45am to 'load the kids'.
Health and safety seems a little slack in South Africa, and so I had 2 adults and 6 kids and me crammed into the car with 5 seat belts between us......
The zoo was in the centre of Durban city...about half an hours drive away from the township....and was a hair-raising experience!
Driving in Durban is a case of 'anything goes'. The infrastructure is basically ok, the freeways are pretty well maintained...the roads in and out of the townships are full of potholes and I did get stuck once...but traffic lights have no logic to them!! Firstly the locals call them 'robots' so I have no idea what they are on about.....and the rule is...if they are green you go....if they are red, and you think it's safe, you can go...if it's night and they are red, you can go.....if they are red and flashing, you can go, and they have no amber....????
Secondly, the car I am driving is a Toyota avanza.....and I'm not a car snob ( we have a skoda!!!), but c'mon.....this is a manual, with a top speed of 40 kph....it's pants, and I still managed to make a kid puke three times!
Anyway, we got to the zoo, 18 children and 7 helpers, and did have a great morning there, dodging the rain...and the wild monkeys which come and go as they please in and around Durban....these monkeys helped themselves to the kids picnic, running off with a yogurt, a sandwich and half a banana, healthy monkeys!
The highlight of the day was seeing my favourite animals...the meerkats....oh, and of course the smiles on the children's faces!
By early afternoon they were all shattered and ready to go back to the township for a rest, so they were all bundled back into the car.
Sicky kid was given a plastic bag specially for the journey home...but typically didn't puke....he wee'd instead!!
Once home, and after suitable refreshment at Westville 'Mugg&Bean' (cheese and bacon muffin!) I headed with Jude, the English volunteer to Clermont township where we held the after school club for an hour.
The room we used is larger than most of the houses in the township and has electricity. It is made of cinder blocks and has a tin roof. When we got there, it was pouring with rain, so much so that it had come through the roof, into the lights, so we couldn't use the electricity.....the floor was wet, and the building was damp......this was one of the better houses in the township......made from cinder blocks, not wood....with a tin roof, not cardboard......food for thought eh?
I spent an hour in that room....these people live like this 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.......
The evening was spent in Marionhill Township where a couple had cooked a meal for us volunteers....Pinder had told us what a superb cook his wife Vesta was, and she had invited us round to show us.....and she was! We had some Zulu specialities, including a chicken curry, a potato salad and a spicy bean salad - scrummy.
This was followed by a English/Zulu class with lots more Zulu songs and slapping and clapping to end a very long day!
A couple more new Zulu words for today;
Siyabonga - 'thanks' in general - on behalf of lots of people, or to lots of people
Yabonga - 'thank you' specifically to one person.
Today we were taking the Marionhill creche kids to the Zoo for their school trip - an activity sponsored by COPT. We were to be the taxi drivers and helpers, needing to be at the creche for 7.45am to 'load the kids'.
Health and safety seems a little slack in South Africa, and so I had 2 adults and 6 kids and me crammed into the car with 5 seat belts between us......
The zoo was in the centre of Durban city...about half an hours drive away from the township....and was a hair-raising experience!
Driving in Durban is a case of 'anything goes'. The infrastructure is basically ok, the freeways are pretty well maintained...the roads in and out of the townships are full of potholes and I did get stuck once...but traffic lights have no logic to them!! Firstly the locals call them 'robots' so I have no idea what they are on about.....and the rule is...if they are green you go....if they are red, and you think it's safe, you can go...if it's night and they are red, you can go.....if they are red and flashing, you can go, and they have no amber....????
Secondly, the car I am driving is a Toyota avanza.....and I'm not a car snob ( we have a skoda!!!), but c'mon.....this is a manual, with a top speed of 40 kph....it's pants, and I still managed to make a kid puke three times!
Anyway, we got to the zoo, 18 children and 7 helpers, and did have a great morning there, dodging the rain...and the wild monkeys which come and go as they please in and around Durban....these monkeys helped themselves to the kids picnic, running off with a yogurt, a sandwich and half a banana, healthy monkeys!
The highlight of the day was seeing my favourite animals...the meerkats....oh, and of course the smiles on the children's faces!
By early afternoon they were all shattered and ready to go back to the township for a rest, so they were all bundled back into the car.
Once home, and after suitable refreshment at Westville 'Mugg&Bean' (cheese and bacon muffin!) I headed with Jude, the English volunteer to Clermont township where we held the after school club for an hour.
The room we used is larger than most of the houses in the township and has electricity. It is made of cinder blocks and has a tin roof. When we got there, it was pouring with rain, so much so that it had come through the roof, into the lights, so we couldn't use the electricity.....the floor was wet, and the building was damp......this was one of the better houses in the township......made from cinder blocks, not wood....with a tin roof, not cardboard......food for thought eh?
I spent an hour in that room....these people live like this 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.......
The evening was spent in Marionhill Township where a couple had cooked a meal for us volunteers....Pinder had told us what a superb cook his wife Vesta was, and she had invited us round to show us.....and she was! We had some Zulu specialities, including a chicken curry, a potato salad and a spicy bean salad - scrummy.
This was followed by a English/Zulu class with lots more Zulu songs and slapping and clapping to end a very long day!
A couple more new Zulu words for today;
Siyabonga - 'thanks' in general - on behalf of lots of people, or to lots of people
Yabonga - 'thank you' specifically to one person.
Tuesday 7 June 2011
Four eyes.....
Being a 'specky four-eyes' has it's disadvantages ...the kids here seem to absolutely love my glasses...they prod them, they poke them, they bash them, they pull, lick, smear and even snot on them.......revolting!
So far I have a chipped lens, a loose screw (or a screw loose?!) and a wonky ear piece. I start the day being able to see clearly, and finish the day in a smeary, foggy haze.
Today I didn't see any children until mid-morning as first thing we were at the HIV/TB clinic at Kwadebeka again to serve tea and coffee to the waiting patients.
It amuses me that sugar is added to the pots of tea and coffee before they are poured out, when I asked why this was done, I was told it was to make it fair, and to treat everyone the same, as when the sugar was handed out separately, one patient had taken 13 spoons of sugar!
Once tea had been served, it was then time to move to Marionhill township to see the Gogo's (Zulu for Granny's) and the children in the creche. Again the children were so excited to see the 'white faces' so there were cuddles and squeezes all round...and more pokes to the glasses!
During the afternoon I went with Simon, (the English volunteer from Kingsclere) to Queensburgh to visit a young lady called Nosipho. Nosipho was an ex-resident from Happy's home, who had moved on, after completing her education at Happy's, into a care home - Chesire care home.
Nosipho is wheelchair dependant, suffering with rheumatoid arthritis which was first diagnosed when she was 9 years old. She is now 33 years old. She is unable to feed herself or perform any personal hygiene, relying on others for all her daily needs, yet she has the best sense of humour, and the brightest smile I have seen in a long time..a truly remarkable young woman.
Whilst Simon did Nosipho's ironing....with Nosipho correcting him all the way (!!), I painted her toenails silver, massaged her feet, legs, hands, arms, shoulders, neck and head, and had a great chat with this inspiring lady.
It was hard tearing ourselves away...but we have promised to return to take Nosipho clothes shopping before the end of the week which should be fun......
The day finished, with Jude, the other English volunteer, in Clermont township, at a bible reading group in the evening. 26 Zulus turned up at 7pm for a read and chat based around a bible lesson. This started with lots of Zulu singing, which was amazing!
I have absolutely no idea what they were saying, but it sounded great, and I joined in with the clapping and slapping, as you do!
I had gone to Clermont, as I was the designated 'taxi' driver. Part of COPT (community outreach programme trust) is to provide transport for those wishing to attend activities provided by COPT. I was given a manual avanza car, and 5 Zulu's and given instructions to get them to Clermont and back.....
......hmmmmm......only a few probs.......I don't drive a manual car......and how the heck do you get to Clermont??
So, with 5 Zulu's giving me instructions in Zulu.."this right, no, other right, here right"....we DID make it there, and back.....as for the car......might need a new clutch!!
So far I have a chipped lens, a loose screw (or a screw loose?!) and a wonky ear piece. I start the day being able to see clearly, and finish the day in a smeary, foggy haze.
Today I didn't see any children until mid-morning as first thing we were at the HIV/TB clinic at Kwadebeka again to serve tea and coffee to the waiting patients.
It amuses me that sugar is added to the pots of tea and coffee before they are poured out, when I asked why this was done, I was told it was to make it fair, and to treat everyone the same, as when the sugar was handed out separately, one patient had taken 13 spoons of sugar!
 |
| Marionhill Township and creche (COPT funded) |
During the afternoon I went with Simon, (the English volunteer from Kingsclere) to Queensburgh to visit a young lady called Nosipho. Nosipho was an ex-resident from Happy's home, who had moved on, after completing her education at Happy's, into a care home - Chesire care home.
Nosipho is wheelchair dependant, suffering with rheumatoid arthritis which was first diagnosed when she was 9 years old. She is now 33 years old. She is unable to feed herself or perform any personal hygiene, relying on others for all her daily needs, yet she has the best sense of humour, and the brightest smile I have seen in a long time..a truly remarkable young woman.
Whilst Simon did Nosipho's ironing....with Nosipho correcting him all the way (!!), I painted her toenails silver, massaged her feet, legs, hands, arms, shoulders, neck and head, and had a great chat with this inspiring lady.
It was hard tearing ourselves away...but we have promised to return to take Nosipho clothes shopping before the end of the week which should be fun......
The day finished, with Jude, the other English volunteer, in Clermont township, at a bible reading group in the evening. 26 Zulus turned up at 7pm for a read and chat based around a bible lesson. This started with lots of Zulu singing, which was amazing!
I have absolutely no idea what they were saying, but it sounded great, and I joined in with the clapping and slapping, as you do!
I had gone to Clermont, as I was the designated 'taxi' driver. Part of COPT (community outreach programme trust) is to provide transport for those wishing to attend activities provided by COPT. I was given a manual avanza car, and 5 Zulu's and given instructions to get them to Clermont and back.....
......hmmmmm......only a few probs.......I don't drive a manual car......and how the heck do you get to Clermont??
So, with 5 Zulu's giving me instructions in Zulu.."this right, no, other right, here right"....we DID make it there, and back.....as for the car......might need a new clutch!!
Monday 6 June 2011
Monday morning........
Yet another early start....the Ibis screeched at 6.30am, sorting mugs and trays etc by 7.30am, we were packing the car at 7.45am and off to the Kwadebeka HIV/TB clinic to give out soup and bread to the waiting patients.
The patients seem so grateful for this soup, but do tell you whether it's 'up to scratch' or not, comparing it to last weeks, or advising if you need to add more salt or not!
In the afternoon I went up to the Marionhill township to 'teach' an English class with Jude, one of the other English volunteers. Jude has been teaching there once a week for some time, and thought it would be nice to split the class - into the over 10 years, and the under 10s.
So Jude taught verbs and past and present tense to the over 10's, and I had six under 10's, probably 5 and 6 year olds, and I spent the hour and a half teaching the alphabet!
I had some 'flash cards' with the letters of the alphabet on, which I asked them to repeat, and then we had to think of an animal beginning with that letter, ie A FOR ANT-EATER, B FOR BEE, C FOR CAT, and the children had to act the part of the animal.....whilst repeating the alphabet to the point of the new letter each time, great fun but extremely noisy......lots of cuddles later .. a few worksheets and coloured pictures.....a sweet each and it was time to leave, the end of another tiring, but fulfilling day.
 |
| Kwadabeka clinic - the security guards on the gates check patients in and out, and check bags. |
In the afternoon I went up to the Marionhill township to 'teach' an English class with Jude, one of the other English volunteers. Jude has been teaching there once a week for some time, and thought it would be nice to split the class - into the over 10 years, and the under 10s.
So Jude taught verbs and past and present tense to the over 10's, and I had six under 10's, probably 5 and 6 year olds, and I spent the hour and a half teaching the alphabet!
I had some 'flash cards' with the letters of the alphabet on, which I asked them to repeat, and then we had to think of an animal beginning with that letter, ie A FOR ANT-EATER, B FOR BEE, C FOR CAT, and the children had to act the part of the animal.....whilst repeating the alphabet to the point of the new letter each time, great fun but extremely noisy......lots of cuddles later .. a few worksheets and coloured pictures.....a sweet each and it was time to leave, the end of another tiring, but fulfilling day.
Sunday 5 June 2011
Sunday Service.......
The Sacred Ibis is a blessed...nuisance!!
It is the worst alarm clock I have ever heard, it may look nice, it may be sacred, but the screech that comes out of its beak is horrendous..it sounds as if something is dying a very slow, and very painful death outside......and this is what wakes us, if my alarm doesn't!
The alarm was set for 7am today, the Ibis started about five to.... I was up early, as I was teaching at a Zulu Sunday school in the township of Clermont!
Sunday school here starts at 8.30am and lasts for roughly one hour.
When we arrived, the children were waiting outside, very eager, something which I haven't experienced in the UK!
There were 24 children, ranging from a crawling baby to 10yrs plus. We started off with some Zulu songs Thogo and Antonia, 2 Zulu translators from Westville, encouraged this, a quick game of hide and seek and 'simon says', and then it was time for the lessons.
The children are split into 2 classes, the under 10's and over 10's, and are taught the same 'life lessons' as the children at Happy's.
I had the older children, and taught with the help of Sarah-Jane, my brothers girlfriend. The life lesson was on friendship and jealousy. I would like to say it was a roaring success but there was very little response from the children, whether they couldn't understand me, or whether they thought my acting out or gesticulations were plain nuts I couldn't tell!! They did however like the colouring and worksheets I had taken!
They liked the biscuits at the end even more......
At 10am we left the children, and headed to the community centre at Marionhills Township. This was built with money donated from COPT, and is used every Sunday for a church service. Today the service was mainly in English, but the bible readings were in english and Zulu, and the prayers and songs in Zulu.
The singing was AMAZING!!!
One person from the congregation would start singing, and the rest would join in, clapping, dancing, and banging their bibles, it certainly was an experience and a sight to behold!
Religion is extremely important to these people... in fact, religion plays a big part in South Africa in general. Wherever you look there is a church! These people have very little to say thanks for, yet they thank God for everything.......makes you think..........
It is the worst alarm clock I have ever heard, it may look nice, it may be sacred, but the screech that comes out of its beak is horrendous..it sounds as if something is dying a very slow, and very painful death outside......and this is what wakes us, if my alarm doesn't!
 |
| The Sacred Ibis. |
Sunday school here starts at 8.30am and lasts for roughly one hour.
When we arrived, the children were waiting outside, very eager, something which I haven't experienced in the UK!
There were 24 children, ranging from a crawling baby to 10yrs plus. We started off with some Zulu songs Thogo and Antonia, 2 Zulu translators from Westville, encouraged this, a quick game of hide and seek and 'simon says', and then it was time for the lessons.
The children are split into 2 classes, the under 10's and over 10's, and are taught the same 'life lessons' as the children at Happy's.
I had the older children, and taught with the help of Sarah-Jane, my brothers girlfriend. The life lesson was on friendship and jealousy. I would like to say it was a roaring success but there was very little response from the children, whether they couldn't understand me, or whether they thought my acting out or gesticulations were plain nuts I couldn't tell!! They did however like the colouring and worksheets I had taken!
They liked the biscuits at the end even more......
At 10am we left the children, and headed to the community centre at Marionhills Township. This was built with money donated from COPT, and is used every Sunday for a church service. Today the service was mainly in English, but the bible readings were in english and Zulu, and the prayers and songs in Zulu.
The singing was AMAZING!!!
One person from the congregation would start singing, and the rest would join in, clapping, dancing, and banging their bibles, it certainly was an experience and a sight to behold!
 |
Marionhills Township  Building new houses out of wooden pallets-below. |
Time flies!
I have been here a nearly a week, that's nearly seven days, a hundred and sixty-eight hours, wow, the time has flown by, I'm halfway through my stay here already - unbelievable! And, I have enjoyed every moment of it!
It's been hard work, it's been emotional, it's been dirty, and cold, but I wouldn't have changed a thing....what an experience!
I wouldn't have even changed the jumble sale I helped at this morning in the township at Clermont, and that was something else! The COPT (community outreach project trust) was raising funds, so was selling donated clothes, shoes, kids toys, and toiletries, for no more than R1 - R3 (10 to 30 pence).
We took the clothes etc, and two trestle tables, and set up in the middle of a street in the township, and it was bedlam.....as soon as we started unpacking the pick-up we were swamped!
I was 'in charge' of the toys'. One minute I had a cardboard box full of them, the next minute, kids were crawling all over me, and the box was empty, not a kid in sight, not a toy in sight, and I had R1 to show for it - 10 pence - they might be little, but my goodness they're quick!!
Lesson learnt, I moved up the table to 'women's clothes', and even though these were selling for R1, the women drove a hard bargain - although, to be fair, it's amazing what some will buy, some of the goods I looked at and I thought 'no way', and yet these women in Southern Africa, with nothing, were arguing over them , desperate to be the one to 'have it', I guess that taught me a lesson......
After 2 hours...we then had some free time, so were taken to Vic Street Market in the centre of Durban. This is a covered Zulu market and was amazing.....you could buy anything from 'hell hot masala powder' ( I resisted) to a wooden giraffe head (couldn't resist!) to zulu canvas paintings....it was amazing.
Next we went next door to the butchers market, which was, well, slightly different to the UK, and has made me want to be a little more vegetarian than I am now! Goat meat and cheese, and lamb is a big thing over here, and that's what you see here, particularly the heads, rows and rows and rows of them lining the counters, hanging from hooks, fresh, boiled, roasted, steamed, with eyes, without eyes, with teeth, without teeth, with entrails, without...you get the picture...this was then followed by lunch...and I had to give lamb bunny chow a miss and go for bean instead!
The afternoon was free time, this was spent at Westville, and it was nice to have time to catch up, do some washing, email, blog, as we have been really busy here and time flies by!
Yesterday morning was spent planning for teaching at Happy's in the afternoon. The children are taught by children from COPT on a Friday afternoon, and have a bible based lesson, but one that also teaches a 'life skill', or 'life lesson'. This week it was about friendship and jealousy, and the organiser thought it would be good to 'act out a play' as the children love visual aids. Hmmmm! So Friday morning practising and planning, and then Friday afternoon to Happy's to perform. Again it was great to see the kids, they now recognise us, and come to greet us when the pick- up drives up, we shouldn't have favourites, but you do get attached to certain ones, and they do come and find you. Again, it's heart wrenching to see them, but you tell yourself that these kids are, in fact, the lucky ones.
We stayed at Happy's till sundown, and then it was time to head to Osharka beach, and supper at Moyo's, and an early night - again!
It's been hard work, it's been emotional, it's been dirty, and cold, but I wouldn't have changed a thing....what an experience!
I wouldn't have even changed the jumble sale I helped at this morning in the township at Clermont, and that was something else! The COPT (community outreach project trust) was raising funds, so was selling donated clothes, shoes, kids toys, and toiletries, for no more than R1 - R3 (10 to 30 pence).
We took the clothes etc, and two trestle tables, and set up in the middle of a street in the township, and it was bedlam.....as soon as we started unpacking the pick-up we were swamped!
I was 'in charge' of the toys'. One minute I had a cardboard box full of them, the next minute, kids were crawling all over me, and the box was empty, not a kid in sight, not a toy in sight, and I had R1 to show for it - 10 pence - they might be little, but my goodness they're quick!!
Lesson learnt, I moved up the table to 'women's clothes', and even though these were selling for R1, the women drove a hard bargain - although, to be fair, it's amazing what some will buy, some of the goods I looked at and I thought 'no way', and yet these women in Southern Africa, with nothing, were arguing over them , desperate to be the one to 'have it', I guess that taught me a lesson......
After 2 hours...we then had some free time, so were taken to Vic Street Market in the centre of Durban. This is a covered Zulu market and was amazing.....you could buy anything from 'hell hot masala powder' ( I resisted) to a wooden giraffe head (couldn't resist!) to zulu canvas paintings....it was amazing.
Next we went next door to the butchers market, which was, well, slightly different to the UK, and has made me want to be a little more vegetarian than I am now! Goat meat and cheese, and lamb is a big thing over here, and that's what you see here, particularly the heads, rows and rows and rows of them lining the counters, hanging from hooks, fresh, boiled, roasted, steamed, with eyes, without eyes, with teeth, without teeth, with entrails, without...you get the picture...this was then followed by lunch...and I had to give lamb bunny chow a miss and go for bean instead!
The afternoon was free time, this was spent at Westville, and it was nice to have time to catch up, do some washing, email, blog, as we have been really busy here and time flies by!
Yesterday morning was spent planning for teaching at Happy's in the afternoon. The children are taught by children from COPT on a Friday afternoon, and have a bible based lesson, but one that also teaches a 'life skill', or 'life lesson'. This week it was about friendship and jealousy, and the organiser thought it would be good to 'act out a play' as the children love visual aids. Hmmmm! So Friday morning practising and planning, and then Friday afternoon to Happy's to perform. Again it was great to see the kids, they now recognise us, and come to greet us when the pick- up drives up, we shouldn't have favourites, but you do get attached to certain ones, and they do come and find you. Again, it's heart wrenching to see them, but you tell yourself that these kids are, in fact, the lucky ones.
We stayed at Happy's till sundown, and then it was time to head to Osharka beach, and supper at Moyo's, and an early night - again!
Thursday 2 June 2011
Food...spiritual and physical.
Another early morning, and again a cold one! I know it's winter here in SA, but I still can't believe how cold it is! There has been a frost every morning as the temperature has been down to single figures, it does warm up during the day but the temperature drops again once the sun goes down which is half past four/five pm and then it's cold again!
I hate to admit it, but I have a vest on! And a t-shirt, and a cardi, and a fleece......
Anyways...back to the blog....so myself, and Simon, an English volunteer from Kingsclere headed into Durban city centre to the BEC or Bible Education centre, and their we met Siphwe, a Zulu who is employed by the charity to help in the centre. The centre is in a walkway between shops, and sells bibles, CDs, bible based self help books, pens, jewellery for adults and children alike. They also run a free bible study course from here, in both English and Zulu.
I was very sceptical working here. As a British person, I feel that people don't really discuss religion, or particularly show an interest, but here in South Africa, most people are desperate to learn more, and also desperate enough to come into the shop as they feel being charity based you may have food or money for them....we were really busy, and sold a dozen bibles during the morning alone. Customers wanted recommendations on the best bibles to read, the quickest way of reading all 66 books, advice on the nearest churches, where they could go to get food and support...it was hard work, but uplifting. I even had to do a 'nursing bit' as a lady had tripped down a pot hole in the street, and had come into the centre for help, first time they had had a qualified nurse to offer to the customers!!
During our quick lunch break I was introduced to a SA speciality - 'bunny chow' - wow, awesome food!
It's basically meat curry served in half a loaf of bread! You order what meat you want, beef, chicken or lamb (Beans for the veggies) and you decide whether you want a 1/4, 1/2 or whole loaf of bread.
They then scoop out 2/3 of the middle of the bread, fill it with curry and lots of sauce, then put the middle of the bread back on top and serve - scrummy! So much nicer than rice.
Once we had finished at the BEC, Simon and I headed to the beach, we where meant to be meeting the other volunteers at a cocktail bar of 'high reputation'.....after hanging around for an hour, and eating all the complimentary bread, we thought we ought to order drinks - (a massive frozen pink thing for me called a mbeleco ???)as it looked like they weren't going to show.....we then drove home to Westville to find that they had been slaving away, literally over a hot stove, cooking the 'volunteers dinner' - great timing, we walked in and sat straight down!!
This was another SA meal - a zulu meal known as 'chicken and dumplings'. In a huge pot you literally chuck potatoes, a whole chicken and sweetened bread dough, cover it with curry sauce, and boil it for a couple of hours - scrummy.
The South Africans seem to like their stodge and sugar...at this rate I am going to come home huge as the food is just wonderful.......not a salad in sight!
I hate to admit it, but I have a vest on! And a t-shirt, and a cardi, and a fleece......
Anyways...back to the blog....so myself, and Simon, an English volunteer from Kingsclere headed into Durban city centre to the BEC or Bible Education centre, and their we met Siphwe, a Zulu who is employed by the charity to help in the centre. The centre is in a walkway between shops, and sells bibles, CDs, bible based self help books, pens, jewellery for adults and children alike. They also run a free bible study course from here, in both English and Zulu.
I was very sceptical working here. As a British person, I feel that people don't really discuss religion, or particularly show an interest, but here in South Africa, most people are desperate to learn more, and also desperate enough to come into the shop as they feel being charity based you may have food or money for them....we were really busy, and sold a dozen bibles during the morning alone. Customers wanted recommendations on the best bibles to read, the quickest way of reading all 66 books, advice on the nearest churches, where they could go to get food and support...it was hard work, but uplifting. I even had to do a 'nursing bit' as a lady had tripped down a pot hole in the street, and had come into the centre for help, first time they had had a qualified nurse to offer to the customers!!
During our quick lunch break I was introduced to a SA speciality - 'bunny chow' - wow, awesome food!
It's basically meat curry served in half a loaf of bread! You order what meat you want, beef, chicken or lamb (Beans for the veggies) and you decide whether you want a 1/4, 1/2 or whole loaf of bread.
They then scoop out 2/3 of the middle of the bread, fill it with curry and lots of sauce, then put the middle of the bread back on top and serve - scrummy! So much nicer than rice.
Once we had finished at the BEC, Simon and I headed to the beach, we where meant to be meeting the other volunteers at a cocktail bar of 'high reputation'.....after hanging around for an hour, and eating all the complimentary bread, we thought we ought to order drinks - (a massive frozen pink thing for me called a mbeleco ???)as it looked like they weren't going to show.....we then drove home to Westville to find that they had been slaving away, literally over a hot stove, cooking the 'volunteers dinner' - great timing, we walked in and sat straight down!!
This was another SA meal - a zulu meal known as 'chicken and dumplings'. In a huge pot you literally chuck potatoes, a whole chicken and sweetened bread dough, cover it with curry sauce, and boil it for a couple of hours - scrummy.
The South Africans seem to like their stodge and sugar...at this rate I am going to come home huge as the food is just wonderful.......not a salad in sight!
Wednesday 1 June 2011
Soup, glorious soup!
We set up in a little corner of the waiting room, heated a huge pan of homemade lentil soup on a camping stove and served it with a slice of bread to all those patients waiting.
The soup seemed to be extremely popular, as did the plastic cups it was served in, these have to be counted out, and also counted back in and they do 'disappear' into bags! The security men on the hospital gates are served soup as a 'bribe' to check patients bags as they leave ,for our plastic cups which seems an efficient way of protecting our equipment.
Once soup had been served, it was back to Westville for some freetime, which was washing - everything gets so dusty here, and most clothes we have worn so far are covered in various body fluids!
Westville is a relatively posh area, although we have been advised not to go out alone, and not to go out after dark unless in a group. The house and Church has security gates and is well alarmed.
Westville is also home to one of my new favourite coffee shops!
South Africa has a chain called Mugg & Bean, which is awesome! It's, dare I say, nicer coffee than Starbucks and Costa put together, and not only do they do wicked cakes and muffins, you can get a full English, or full African breakfast if you so desire!!
I just had to try a muffin, as you do, and opted for a spinach and feta, being healthy! It was the size of a dinner plate, and was served warm, with butter, jam (??why??) and a dish of grated cheese....delish...but...and this is the sad part...I couldn't finish it....I was soooo stuffed after half!
Mind you, I'm doing zero exercise...so I probably hadn't ought to finish any cakes while I'm here...... and I might just add that Mugg & Bean have a great motto:
*A CUP OF COFFEE SHARED WITH A FRIEND IS HAPPINESS TASTED AND TIME WELL SPENT*
-who am I to argue?!
So, after lunch, (at Mugg & Bean, and it was a cheese and bacon muffin today), I headed to Clermont Township to help at an after school club in a community centre for 10 years old and upward children.
Clermont Township -typical 'street' and house. The nearest running water is a tap on the main road, down the hill.
We had a dozen children, and the leader, an American volunteer called Katie, taught yoga which was great fun...the kids seemed to think so anyway.....my back muscles aren't so sure! After an hour and a half, we gave out cuddles, juice and biscuits and drove back to Westville.
Most South Africans in this area speak excellent English...but I have been trying to learn the odd Zulu phrase to impress them...I am failing miserably, but I can say;
sawubona (pronounced sow-bone-ah) which to us means hello, to them literally means 'I see you'
the reply is;
yebo (pronounced yay-bow) which to us means hello back, to them literally means 'yes you do'.
Now, it's 8.20pm...and I'm shattered...off to bed as it's another early start tomorrow, I'm working in a Bible Education Centre (the BEC) in the centre of Durban, half an hours drive from Westville. Again the centre is charity run, and provides basic bible teaching classes in English and Zulu for anyone passing by, the locals, visitors, and regulars wishing to understand their bibles more.
It's only Tuesday, yet I feel that I have been in SA for ages as I have crammed so much into the last two days!
It's quite hard knowing where to start.....
Our luggage made it here Monday evening, so that meant even though we had been able to clean our teeth, we had been wearing the same clothes since Saturday....undies have been utilised in the normal, inside out and back-to-front modes....it was soooooo nice to get a fresh set on!!
The accomodation is basic but good. We are staying in a purpose built dorm attached to a church hall in the Westville suburb of Durban, which is in the bigger burb of KwaZulu Natal, about 30 mins from the airport, 30 mins from the coast. The church hall has a huge kitchen/dining area we can make use of and wi-fi connection, and then the girls and boys dorms are situated across the garden area and consist of a bathrom, small sitting area and a couple of rooms sleeping 2, 3 or more people. We pay R50 a week rent ( approx £5) and buy our own food and petrol. There are various volunteer projects (charity based) and various volunteers..at the moment in the house there are 6 English, 1 American and 1 Aussie, with an American living nearby and a South African local who helps out.
The projects are centred around the COPT...or the Community Outreach Project Trust and are all charitable.
The area I am most interested in is Happys school (Maison Lincoln Special School), and from previous blogs, you will know that this is what SS and I are raising money for!
Happy's school is situated approx 30 mins away from Westville, in the township of Umlaze, a very poor, deprived area of Durban...this is the second largest township in South Africa after Soweto. The school cares for approx 200+ children with physical disabilities up until they qualify from their school exams...this can be any age, as it takes some of these children longer than others.
For more info on Happys, visit,
http://www.help4happys.co.uk/
Monday.
Up at 5.30am...for a surprise!! We had been told that as 2 of the volunteers were leaving on Tues that Monday was a special day, and that we were going on safari! So up and out by 6am. The roof was taken off the 4x4 and 10 of us were crammed into the car to head to Tala nature reserve, an hours drive away up into the hills, a cold, windy drive if you are sat in the back of a 4x4 with no roof......
We arrived at Tala as the sun was coming up and had our breakfast with hippos, impala's, warthogs, kudu's, rhino's, zebra, ostrich, giraffe, wildebeast, crested eagle's, Ibis, and guinea fowl. Then, as if that wasn't amazing enough...we drove on to Natal lion park and saw the huge cats....beautiful!
After this treat, it was time to to a bit of the work which we had come for, and head to Happys!
When you first drive into Umlaze you are hit by the poverty....people living in no more than tin huts at the side of the road..driving into Happy's, conditions are better, but way below English standards, saying that, the kids are, well, happy!
The buildings are mainly brick and timber, there is a communal kitchen/dining area, various classrooms, a boys dorm, girls dorm, a minimalisitic library, a small number of showers, and toilets. Visitors to Happys have set up a football pitch in the centre of the school for the more able bodied, which is a dirt pitch, and there is a lonesome swing.
There is an over-powering smell of urine as you enter the place, and the occasional puddle as you walk around, but all the children, although dirty and dusty do look well fed and cared for, and have huge smiles. As a western person, it was heart wrenching to see, and I class myself as a 'tough cookie', but I had to wipe my eyes on a few occasions, and did want to bring several kids home with me!
The main disability appears to be cerebal palsy, although there are half a dozen albino children here, and this is classed as a 'disability' or curse also.
The main activity I did on Monday seemed to be cuddle! I helped older children with their homework, 'travel and tourism'..but the younger children just wanted to be held, cuddled, lifted up...and to see them smile so much at just being cuddled was truly uplifting..and a lesson in how much our kids take for granted the material things in life...
So...back to Westville, knackered, and covered in snot, dribble, wee, dust, dirt.......
Again up early on Tuesday to head to a local HIV/TB clinic in another township. The charity work here 2 days a week, alternating between Mon - Tues and alternating between serving tea/coffee or soup and bread. This is a service set up by a businessman in the UK. We 'brewed up' in the waiting areas and served for a couple of hours. We thought waiting rooms in the NHS were bad...in SA they can wait for up to 7 hours! They queue to get given an appointment, 'time' then they queue for their notes, then they wait for a slip of paper to tell them which GP, then they wait to see the GP, then they wait for their medication. Then they queue to get given the time of their next appointment, then they queue to hand their notes in....phew!
After the clinic it was time to head to Marionhills, another Township, approximately half an hour out of Westville to help in a charity run creche. The kids here, who looked like 2-3 year olds, love 'white people' and you are smothered as soon as you walk in....so more snot, wee, dribble.....the only way I found to keep them sat still for a while was to sing.....so I taught them 'Heads, shoulders, knees and toes'!!
Then, back to Happy's for the afternoon....
This afternoon, I had a little boy who wanted me to 'read' him the dictionary..??? Fortunately it did have some pictures in, so I was able to say the English word and he could repeat it, and then tell me in Zulu, which I promptly forgot straightaway - language isn't my strong point!
Again a lot of intereaction was involved, lots of cuddles, lifting, pushing chairs, a little bit of football, just quality playtime with the kids. I'm not saying that nobody ever takes notice of these kids...but it's their basic health needs that are met by the staff here, ie they are fed and watered, no-one plays with them, once lessons are over they are left to their own devices....so I have been told if I want to play for the next two weeks then that can be my job.....I have a hop-scotch course to repaint, and a wheelchair basketball hoop to hang....busy, busy, busy!!!
It's quite hard knowing where to start.....
Our luggage made it here Monday evening, so that meant even though we had been able to clean our teeth, we had been wearing the same clothes since Saturday....undies have been utilised in the normal, inside out and back-to-front modes....it was soooooo nice to get a fresh set on!!
The accomodation is basic but good. We are staying in a purpose built dorm attached to a church hall in the Westville suburb of Durban, which is in the bigger burb of KwaZulu Natal, about 30 mins from the airport, 30 mins from the coast. The church hall has a huge kitchen/dining area we can make use of and wi-fi connection, and then the girls and boys dorms are situated across the garden area and consist of a bathrom, small sitting area and a couple of rooms sleeping 2, 3 or more people. We pay R50 a week rent ( approx £5) and buy our own food and petrol. There are various volunteer projects (charity based) and various volunteers..at the moment in the house there are 6 English, 1 American and 1 Aussie, with an American living nearby and a South African local who helps out.
The projects are centred around the COPT...or the Community Outreach Project Trust and are all charitable.
The area I am most interested in is Happys school (Maison Lincoln Special School), and from previous blogs, you will know that this is what SS and I are raising money for!
For more info on Happys, visit,
http://www.help4happys.co.uk/
Monday.
Up at 5.30am...for a surprise!! We had been told that as 2 of the volunteers were leaving on Tues that Monday was a special day, and that we were going on safari! So up and out by 6am. The roof was taken off the 4x4 and 10 of us were crammed into the car to head to Tala nature reserve, an hours drive away up into the hills, a cold, windy drive if you are sat in the back of a 4x4 with no roof......
We arrived at Tala as the sun was coming up and had our breakfast with hippos, impala's, warthogs, kudu's, rhino's, zebra, ostrich, giraffe, wildebeast, crested eagle's, Ibis, and guinea fowl. Then, as if that wasn't amazing enough...we drove on to Natal lion park and saw the huge cats....beautiful!
After this treat, it was time to to a bit of the work which we had come for, and head to Happys!
When you first drive into Umlaze you are hit by the poverty....people living in no more than tin huts at the side of the road..driving into Happy's, conditions are better, but way below English standards, saying that, the kids are, well, happy!
The buildings are mainly brick and timber, there is a communal kitchen/dining area, various classrooms, a boys dorm, girls dorm, a minimalisitic library, a small number of showers, and toilets. Visitors to Happys have set up a football pitch in the centre of the school for the more able bodied, which is a dirt pitch, and there is a lonesome swing.
There is an over-powering smell of urine as you enter the place, and the occasional puddle as you walk around, but all the children, although dirty and dusty do look well fed and cared for, and have huge smiles. As a western person, it was heart wrenching to see, and I class myself as a 'tough cookie', but I had to wipe my eyes on a few occasions, and did want to bring several kids home with me!
The main disability appears to be cerebal palsy, although there are half a dozen albino children here, and this is classed as a 'disability' or curse also.
The main activity I did on Monday seemed to be cuddle! I helped older children with their homework, 'travel and tourism'..but the younger children just wanted to be held, cuddled, lifted up...and to see them smile so much at just being cuddled was truly uplifting..and a lesson in how much our kids take for granted the material things in life...
So...back to Westville, knackered, and covered in snot, dribble, wee, dust, dirt.......
Again up early on Tuesday to head to a local HIV/TB clinic in another township. The charity work here 2 days a week, alternating between Mon - Tues and alternating between serving tea/coffee or soup and bread. This is a service set up by a businessman in the UK. We 'brewed up' in the waiting areas and served for a couple of hours. We thought waiting rooms in the NHS were bad...in SA they can wait for up to 7 hours! They queue to get given an appointment, 'time' then they queue for their notes, then they wait for a slip of paper to tell them which GP, then they wait to see the GP, then they wait for their medication. Then they queue to get given the time of their next appointment, then they queue to hand their notes in....phew!
After the clinic it was time to head to Marionhills, another Township, approximately half an hour out of Westville to help in a charity run creche. The kids here, who looked like 2-3 year olds, love 'white people' and you are smothered as soon as you walk in....so more snot, wee, dribble.....the only way I found to keep them sat still for a while was to sing.....so I taught them 'Heads, shoulders, knees and toes'!!
Then, back to Happy's for the afternoon....
This afternoon, I had a little boy who wanted me to 'read' him the dictionary..??? Fortunately it did have some pictures in, so I was able to say the English word and he could repeat it, and then tell me in Zulu, which I promptly forgot straightaway - language isn't my strong point!
Again a lot of intereaction was involved, lots of cuddles, lifting, pushing chairs, a little bit of football, just quality playtime with the kids. I'm not saying that nobody ever takes notice of these kids...but it's their basic health needs that are met by the staff here, ie they are fed and watered, no-one plays with them, once lessons are over they are left to their own devices....so I have been told if I want to play for the next two weeks then that can be my job.....I have a hop-scotch course to repaint, and a wheelchair basketball hoop to hang....busy, busy, busy!!!
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