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...
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