Dear lovely readers...I hope there are some of you out there! Sorry I haven't written for a week, I can't believe how quickly this week has gone - twice as fast as the one before! It really seems like only yesterday that it was my birthday. It must be the fact that I have started work at the school and have more to do with my days that the time has started to fly.
It was a good week! After my first day at school on my birthday I taught on the tues, wed and thurs; only about 5 hours but it was really good. I have four classes, all grade 8 [with ages from 12-16years], three classes of 67 and one of 70 students. On my first real lesson the class were so excited to have me that I didn't realise I over ran and was there for 3 periods, not 1! They wanted to have photos with me and in the end we went outside so we could stand somewhere and fit the whole class in one photo. Then I went and said 'hello' to the children I had taught last year, it was so nice to see their familiar faces - and to see their reaction when they saw me! One boy who spoke to me was so lovely, he shook my hand and said he was so happy to see I had kept my promise and come back. I think I have gained the respect of lots of them by coming back and telling them I am here for 2 years. This boy asked if I would be teaching Shakespeare again and if I would teach them Romeo and Juliet! He wants me to put on the play with them too, he will be first in line at auditions I'm sure! That would be my ideal, if in January I can take the older classes and study poetry or a play with them, and outside of school do a production of Romeo and Juliet.
At the Home I have been becoming friends with some of the boys. I think they were a little shy of me at first but now some of them are coming out of their shells and talking to me. One is a boy called Simo who I teach in grade 8, the other likes to be called 'Steve' and I taught him last year. He is still grade 10, he had to stay back and do grade 10 again because he failed maths. But he says he has got the hang of it this year and is sure he will move to grade 11 in January.
It turns out Steve is a Liverpool FC fan! Lots of them love 'soccer' [lots of Americanisms out here] and especially English premier league. The one question every single one of my classes has asked is 'do you know David Beckham'? They all expect me to have met famous people because I live in England, I'm afraid I have to disappoint them every time because I haven't met anyone. When I mention working at Buckingham Palace they don't seem that impressed! One of the boys' questions was 'is it true a woman owns England?' Was quite funny explaining to them that we have a queen but no king. They have a zulu king here with about 12 queens! So must seem quite strange to them I suppose...
Anyway, back to the Home! So the boys here all love soccer, they played a tournament here but none of the boys have football boots. They either play in their 'takkies' [trainers] which is bad because they will ruin them, or they play barefoot. They wore a kind of kit but it didn't say St Anthony's on it..it looked like it had been donated to them from an old soccer team...So I'm hoping to raise money for a football kit and a netball kit for the Home. With the actual St Anthony's name and logo on it!
The best day of the week was Saturday, we went on their annual 'holiday' but this year due to insufficient funds they couldn't actually go on holiday...so unfortuantely it was downgraded to a daytrip to a themepark in Jo'burg called 'Gold Reef City'. We hired a coach and left at 5am, arriving at 10.30, 2 hours longer than it takes by car! The children absolutely loved it, I don't think any of them have ever been to a themepark in their lives. It was really sweet to see their reactions, they were all really scared of the rides! Even the older ones found the 'family' rides scary! Was so funny! It was so nice to spend the whole day with the kids and to actually look after them, I felt really part of the group because I had responsibility for the children for the first time. Normally I am a bit on the outside, just observing, but that day I was right in there, holding their hands and taking them round.
There was a nice moment when 3 of the children [2 boys and a girl aged about 8-11] wanted to go on the Giant Wheel so I went off with them. They didn't speak English and I don't speak Zulu so it was quite funny, they were so excited they kept trying to run off. We were in the queue and two little Afrikaan boys, about 8yr, wanted to go on the ride but couldn't without an adult, so they came in the carriage with me. So there was me [secretly terrified of heights and big wheels] with 3 zulu kids and 2 afrikaans, all of which were terrified of heights! The poor zulu kids had never seen anything like it so were shuffling on their seats making it swing, while the 2 afrikaan boys kept telling them to sit down. At one point one of the boys said 'I wish they'd stop speaking their zulu language or whatever it is, it makes me nervous'. I can just imagine his dad saying that...when kids are exposed to that kind of opinion they are going to adopt it too. I suppose race relations are changing but very slowly here. For a moment before that, sitting on this ride with half blacks and half whites, I really felt like I was witnessing the two races uniting through children.
When the rides stopped at 4pm we went back to the coach and finally got some food and drink! I couldn't believe we had all gone over 7hrs with out so much as a sip of water! The kids didn't even complain about it though. The coach park was right next to the Apartheid museum but we didn't have time to go in. I would really like to go back and visit it. There are these huge pillars outside it, each with a word in bold black letters 'equality', 'freedom', 'respect' and three others I can't remember. Parked next to ours was another coach of white teenage boys, a college trip or something, and as I walked over holding the hands of the zulu children again I thought they were staring. You know people are always wondering who you are and why you are with them, esspecially as they can hear they are talking zulu to me, I think they wonder if I can understand them or not! The white guys were still sitting there waiting when we started handing out the food and drink to the children. I took charge of the big cannister of juice [like a 30l plastic drum which was pretty hard to lift!] and all the kids were queuing up to have their cup filled. Again it was a simple action but I felt so proud and part of the community, like I was useful and had a part in caring for the children. It felt really poignant, simply standing in a car park overlooked by these huge pillars remembering the terrible past and adjusting to the present and future of race in SA, handing out drink to 86 zulu children while 20 white teenagers looked on..wondering. It felt like the perfect place for them to witness this act, the white kids I mean, the change in their world which they need to see and understand. That a white lady can live with zulus, hold their hands, drink from the same cups as them, eat the same food, and [eventually] learn to speak their language. From what I had heard from afrikaans people before I came [stuff like, you must wear 2 pairs of surgical gloves at all times when round these people] this must have been an eye-opening sight for those boys. I really hope I did make them open their eyes, and their minds.
Monday, 26 October 2009
Monday, 19 October 2009
And so, I commence my 23rd year...
Today has been a very memorable end to my 22nd year, and is the start of an even more memorable year to come I am sure. It is the first time I have really felt homesick, and only the first time I have cried since arriving...but I managed to make up for it by crying at least 6 times today, and mostly in public - oops.
As I went to sleep last night I was really anxious about what the morning would bring. I am such a 'birthday person' that the idea that it could pass largely unnoticed was such an upsetting thought! I was here last year on sept 8th which is the feast of Mary's birthday and in the Home they celebrate the birthdays of all the children staying here on that one day. I couldn't believe it and thought it was so sad that they should lose a part of their identity in this way. From what I had heard they don't really bother with any birthdays except the 21st and so I was really worried mine would go unnoticed too.
But I woke up and opened all the cards that I had been sent with in my suitcase...and had my first little cry! Then as I was making my breakfast there was knocking on the door and I opened it to find my fave sister, Sister Pauline, standing there to give me a hug and wish me a happy birthday! And she had come to invite me to supper at the convent at 6.30...so already there was hope for a bit of a birthday celebration :)
Next I went down to the main building and when Thabile and Sthabile saw me they sang me happy birthday and gave me a hug. Mr Nzuza came out to wish me happy birthday too, and said that they are so lucky to have me and really appreciate that I have come out to live with them, and that I am part of their family...so as you can imagine, this was my first tear in public!
I decided that my birthday treat to myself would be a trip down to St Lewis, the secondary school. I was so happy there last year and the kids are so much fun that I knew I would get a warm welcome there, especially if I mentioned my birthday ;) So I trotted down the track and went in to reception, then was met by the head of English. He gave me the timetable for the grade 8 classes [equivalent year7] and took me round to visit the 4 classes I will be teaching.
When he introduced me and said that I was from England and staying for 2 years the reaction was amazing - they all start clapping and whooping and banging the tables! Apparently they don't do this for every new teacher...I am rather a novelty to them as the only white teacher to ever have worked in their school. As I went round the other classes the reaction was always the same, and when I mentioned my birthday they sang to me in English and then Zulu - another tear in my eye!
When it came to the last class I decided to stay with them as their teacher had not materialised for their next lesson and so they would have spent it just sitting around anyway [this is quite normal in the school. Half the lessons never even take place, and there is no such thing as cover teachers...well, until I came along!] So I just chatted with the class and they asked me lots of questions. They tried to guess my age, which ranged from 19-28 years! I told the boy who said 28 to get out of my classroom and not come back! But most guessed 21/22 so I clearly look my age! Then to fill time I asked them if they would like to entertain me with singing and dancing, to prove that they are the most talented class in St Lewis. Immediately they started coming up, some rapping, dancing, singing and doing comedy. It was really lively and great fun - just what I remembered!
After this I went back to St Anthony's and was met by Thabile telling me that they were taking me out to lunch, to the local Spur restaurant in Newcastle, just what I had hoped! We were meant to go at 1.30, but in African time this meant 4.30!! By the time we got there I knew we would struggle to make it back for 6.30 for supper at the convent. But we had a really nice dinner, me and 5 staff from the Home. The restaurant staff came out singing and playing African drums and gave me a sparkler! Was really good fun...though I must say I noticed that I got strange looks from everyone being the only white person in a group of black people. That's the first time that I've really experienced that...no one says anything but they give you a weird look and you know they are wondering who you are and why you are with them.
I made it back just 10min late for supper and was met by yet another rendition of 'happy birthday' about the 6th of the day I think. And they had put up birthday banners, got me a cake and a present of a bar of chocolate.
After supper I realised I hadn't seen the children from the Home yet and so I popped in whilst the little ones were having tea. They sang happy birthday too and 50 little orphan kids singing to me really was the final straw and tears were streaming down my face! I told them it was because I missed my family, but then realised they must all miss their's too, and so that made me cry again, but for them this time. Their little faces seemed really surprised that an 'adult' as I seem to them, would be crying in public. So they all started coming up to give me a hug, some saying happy birthday, others just trying to comfort me. I couldn't seem to stop crying, but really it was just because they are all so lovely and it's so sad that they are living away from loving parents [although loving parents don't exist anywhere for them, unlike me who speaks to them everyday on the phone].
So it really was an emotional and eye opening birthday, that has left me exhausted mentally, physically and definitely emotionally. But I really have a renewed sense of my place in this Home and where my skills can be best put to use. It's all about the children, they are first and foremost to me, and I can't wait to start having a positive impact on their lives and helping them in any way I can...
x
As I went to sleep last night I was really anxious about what the morning would bring. I am such a 'birthday person' that the idea that it could pass largely unnoticed was such an upsetting thought! I was here last year on sept 8th which is the feast of Mary's birthday and in the Home they celebrate the birthdays of all the children staying here on that one day. I couldn't believe it and thought it was so sad that they should lose a part of their identity in this way. From what I had heard they don't really bother with any birthdays except the 21st and so I was really worried mine would go unnoticed too.
But I woke up and opened all the cards that I had been sent with in my suitcase...and had my first little cry! Then as I was making my breakfast there was knocking on the door and I opened it to find my fave sister, Sister Pauline, standing there to give me a hug and wish me a happy birthday! And she had come to invite me to supper at the convent at 6.30...so already there was hope for a bit of a birthday celebration :)
Next I went down to the main building and when Thabile and Sthabile saw me they sang me happy birthday and gave me a hug. Mr Nzuza came out to wish me happy birthday too, and said that they are so lucky to have me and really appreciate that I have come out to live with them, and that I am part of their family...so as you can imagine, this was my first tear in public!
I decided that my birthday treat to myself would be a trip down to St Lewis, the secondary school. I was so happy there last year and the kids are so much fun that I knew I would get a warm welcome there, especially if I mentioned my birthday ;) So I trotted down the track and went in to reception, then was met by the head of English. He gave me the timetable for the grade 8 classes [equivalent year7] and took me round to visit the 4 classes I will be teaching.
When he introduced me and said that I was from England and staying for 2 years the reaction was amazing - they all start clapping and whooping and banging the tables! Apparently they don't do this for every new teacher...I am rather a novelty to them as the only white teacher to ever have worked in their school. As I went round the other classes the reaction was always the same, and when I mentioned my birthday they sang to me in English and then Zulu - another tear in my eye!
When it came to the last class I decided to stay with them as their teacher had not materialised for their next lesson and so they would have spent it just sitting around anyway [this is quite normal in the school. Half the lessons never even take place, and there is no such thing as cover teachers...well, until I came along!] So I just chatted with the class and they asked me lots of questions. They tried to guess my age, which ranged from 19-28 years! I told the boy who said 28 to get out of my classroom and not come back! But most guessed 21/22 so I clearly look my age! Then to fill time I asked them if they would like to entertain me with singing and dancing, to prove that they are the most talented class in St Lewis. Immediately they started coming up, some rapping, dancing, singing and doing comedy. It was really lively and great fun - just what I remembered!
After this I went back to St Anthony's and was met by Thabile telling me that they were taking me out to lunch, to the local Spur restaurant in Newcastle, just what I had hoped! We were meant to go at 1.30, but in African time this meant 4.30!! By the time we got there I knew we would struggle to make it back for 6.30 for supper at the convent. But we had a really nice dinner, me and 5 staff from the Home. The restaurant staff came out singing and playing African drums and gave me a sparkler! Was really good fun...though I must say I noticed that I got strange looks from everyone being the only white person in a group of black people. That's the first time that I've really experienced that...no one says anything but they give you a weird look and you know they are wondering who you are and why you are with them.
I made it back just 10min late for supper and was met by yet another rendition of 'happy birthday' about the 6th of the day I think. And they had put up birthday banners, got me a cake and a present of a bar of chocolate.
After supper I realised I hadn't seen the children from the Home yet and so I popped in whilst the little ones were having tea. They sang happy birthday too and 50 little orphan kids singing to me really was the final straw and tears were streaming down my face! I told them it was because I missed my family, but then realised they must all miss their's too, and so that made me cry again, but for them this time. Their little faces seemed really surprised that an 'adult' as I seem to them, would be crying in public. So they all started coming up to give me a hug, some saying happy birthday, others just trying to comfort me. I couldn't seem to stop crying, but really it was just because they are all so lovely and it's so sad that they are living away from loving parents [although loving parents don't exist anywhere for them, unlike me who speaks to them everyday on the phone].
So it really was an emotional and eye opening birthday, that has left me exhausted mentally, physically and definitely emotionally. But I really have a renewed sense of my place in this Home and where my skills can be best put to use. It's all about the children, they are first and foremost to me, and I can't wait to start having a positive impact on their lives and helping them in any way I can...
x
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Memoir on a birthday eve
As I type this I'm sitting in the dark trying to get this post done before my laptop battery dies. The electricity has been playing havoc for a few days now, it flicks off every few minutes and I can't get it to go back on this time. Hopefully the freezer won't have defrosted by the morning!
I've had an eventful few days, have been to Durban for a careworkers meeting and we had sports day here at St Anthony's yesterday. It was good fun, but a bit of a wash out!! Toto [sp?] was right when he guessed it rains down in Africa...it really can rain! And I've seen at least 6 lightning storms since I arrived, really huge flashes of lightning..the children found it funny that it scared me.
I have some more anecdotes to tell but that will have to wait until I have some electricity,
much love x
I've had an eventful few days, have been to Durban for a careworkers meeting and we had sports day here at St Anthony's yesterday. It was good fun, but a bit of a wash out!! Toto [sp?] was right when he guessed it rains down in Africa...it really can rain! And I've seen at least 6 lightning storms since I arrived, really huge flashes of lightning..the children found it funny that it scared me.
I have some more anecdotes to tell but that will have to wait until I have some electricity,
much love x
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Day Six: 13th Oct 2009
It is almost a week since I left England and yet it feels like a month! Time goes very slowly when every minute you are encountering new and strange people...and have to sit in silence while everyone around you talks a language you can't understand!
My work hasn't really started yet, I have been setting up a cell phone and internet - cell phone took one day, internet 4 days! But finally, today it is all sorted and I have internet on my own laptop, wherever I am. And I have been trying to get to know the children, again the language is a big barrier. Strangely enough for me, I have discovered the way to overcome this is through SPORT! There is a sports day coming up at the weekend and the girls are playing netball, so I pretended I knew what I was doing and refereed them one afternoon. Then the next day they were short of players so I joined in!! 5 years since I played but I didn't seem to do too badly. My team were winning 7-0 and the others were getting frustrated so I swapped sides. Then the other team scored again and again in a row [my new team] and so there were more arguments! I knew they were talking about me because I kept hearing 'Auntie Rebecca'...they seemed to think I was the secret to success, haha. So they have asked me to play on the team on Sat! Apparently I am allowed even though I count as staff.
Through netball I have started to become good friends with the teenage girls, tonight I went round to help them with their homework, but basically we just try speaking English and they try teaching me Zulu. They are really pleased that I am trying to learn Zulu and seem to take it as a real honour. I couldn't imagine going to live among them and not making an effort, that would seem so rude! But apparently other people that have stayed there have never learnt more than 'hello, how are you?' So I will keep trying and prove that I am committed and want to be part of the community. It would be so much more interesting if I knew what everyone was saying! Instead of being in my own little world, just watching the world go by, hearing but unable to listen!
My next plan is to see about visiting the local primary and secondary schools, it was so much fun last year I'm really excited about going back. Hopefully I will be allowed 2 or 3 mornings a week to go and teach in the secondary school.
Hope you are all well, missing you all and sending my love xxx
p.s. Thank you Anna and Sarah for my letters! I would love to have you as pen pals, and just as soon as I can find paper and an envelope I will write to you x
My work hasn't really started yet, I have been setting up a cell phone and internet - cell phone took one day, internet 4 days! But finally, today it is all sorted and I have internet on my own laptop, wherever I am. And I have been trying to get to know the children, again the language is a big barrier. Strangely enough for me, I have discovered the way to overcome this is through SPORT! There is a sports day coming up at the weekend and the girls are playing netball, so I pretended I knew what I was doing and refereed them one afternoon. Then the next day they were short of players so I joined in!! 5 years since I played but I didn't seem to do too badly. My team were winning 7-0 and the others were getting frustrated so I swapped sides. Then the other team scored again and again in a row [my new team] and so there were more arguments! I knew they were talking about me because I kept hearing 'Auntie Rebecca'...they seemed to think I was the secret to success, haha. So they have asked me to play on the team on Sat! Apparently I am allowed even though I count as staff.
Through netball I have started to become good friends with the teenage girls, tonight I went round to help them with their homework, but basically we just try speaking English and they try teaching me Zulu. They are really pleased that I am trying to learn Zulu and seem to take it as a real honour. I couldn't imagine going to live among them and not making an effort, that would seem so rude! But apparently other people that have stayed there have never learnt more than 'hello, how are you?' So I will keep trying and prove that I am committed and want to be part of the community. It would be so much more interesting if I knew what everyone was saying! Instead of being in my own little world, just watching the world go by, hearing but unable to listen!
My next plan is to see about visiting the local primary and secondary schools, it was so much fun last year I'm really excited about going back. Hopefully I will be allowed 2 or 3 mornings a week to go and teach in the secondary school.
Hope you are all well, missing you all and sending my love xxx
p.s. Thank you Anna and Sarah for my letters! I would love to have you as pen pals, and just as soon as I can find paper and an envelope I will write to you x
Thursday, 8 October 2009
DAY ONE: 8th Oct 2009
I landed safely at 8.30am and was picked up by two of the careworkers from St Anthony's. The day got off to an unhealthy but YUMMY start with a NANDOS for breakfast! Oh yes, I ate chicken and chips at 9am :s ...made me feel a bit queasy actually.
Got to the orphanage at 3.30pm having slept a lot in the car, was welcomed by a special lunch in my honour with lots of the careworkers and staff - and a 'welcome home Becky' banner! Then I went and saw the kids - got lots of cuddles off the ones who knew me, but 50% of the children are different from last year so they just looked pretty stunned when they saw me!!
MY HOUSE IS LIKE HOME SWEET HOME! I have covered my bedroom with photos, wall hangings and bunting :D It is lovely and clean and I have been given lots of good food - the stuff they cook is awesome, and the cook is going to teach me how she does it :)
I have a visitor in the house with me tonight - an ultra cool nun called Sister Lucia who has leant me her mobile so I could speak to mum and dad [my phone has given up the ghost] and her internet dongle - which is how I am on now!
Hopefully buy my own phone and internet on Saturday.
LOVE YOU ALL - sorry for the rushed-ness of this message :s don't want to use too much of her credit!
xxxx
Got to the orphanage at 3.30pm having slept a lot in the car, was welcomed by a special lunch in my honour with lots of the careworkers and staff - and a 'welcome home Becky' banner! Then I went and saw the kids - got lots of cuddles off the ones who knew me, but 50% of the children are different from last year so they just looked pretty stunned when they saw me!!
MY HOUSE IS LIKE HOME SWEET HOME! I have covered my bedroom with photos, wall hangings and bunting :D It is lovely and clean and I have been given lots of good food - the stuff they cook is awesome, and the cook is going to teach me how she does it :)
I have a visitor in the house with me tonight - an ultra cool nun called Sister Lucia who has leant me her mobile so I could speak to mum and dad [my phone has given up the ghost] and her internet dongle - which is how I am on now!
Hopefully buy my own phone and internet on Saturday.
LOVE YOU ALL - sorry for the rushed-ness of this message :s don't want to use too much of her credit!
xxxx
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