011211, Thursday, what a week…

Braai (note the improvisation for the lack of grill...)

The kids in Sarah's garden tent house...

You, me and Capri

Little big brother uncle Troye

Boys in the garden

Raindrops are just starting to land on my window again.  We had a break for about 2 days, which I tried to use to the fullest advantage, especially since it’s kind of holiday time and time is limited…

Let me start with Monday.  It was just about 9am when I came out of the bathroom and saw this wind coming around the corner from where I was standing and headed straight for my caravan.  At the same time rain started hammering down.  I ran for it, partly to try and keep dry and partly cause I saw this was not just any old wind.  This was in fact a little storm.  We like to refer to it as a little hurricane. 

As I reached my tent, one of the side poles had already flown out, just like that.  Then the centre pole went.  All I could do was grab onto it and ready like a soldier, I was standing with the hammer in one hand and the other hand holding onto this rope, which sort of keeps my tent together.  Then the next side pole went.  And the rain was pouring. 

I was already getting streams of water into my sleeve and realized that I’m not going to be able to stay dry for this little battle.  I was just standing there holding onto this rope for some time, while it wants to take me up like a kite, thinking, this is absolutely crazy, anything could happen now.  In these moments all you can really do is pray to God. Then I jumped into the rain and secured that centre-pole, then the next one.  I was immediately drenched in the first wave of wind and water.  I do not want to be on a sailboat on the ocean during a storm like this.

Then I ran to get my car keys and move my car into the wind and rain’s pathway to try and block the most of it.  That seemed to work.  This mighty storm only lasted a few minutes, after that it was just the rain.  My caravan started leaking all around the rooftop and even my tent’s floor got soaked on one half in those first 3 minutes.  If I had been in my first parking spot, I would’ve been either drifting or sinking at this point.

The rest of the day, what could I do, had to stay and fight the leaks and just hang low.  No chance of going anywhere.  Other people in Coffee Bay had some way more crazy things happening to them.  At Jah drums a couple of their tents blew away, with beds inside and everything.  One tent with beds and all landed on another guy’s tent while he was inside.  Also the whole fence blew down in an instant and sign-boards and who knows what else were flying all over the place.  H-finished houses collapsed and rooftops blew away.  It was a little disaster, I wonder if it was on the news.  I heard about people in Durban dying.

That was Monday.  Tuesday was a better day, even with sunshine and I went to visit my friends at Bomvu and just shared everyone’s crazy storm stories.  Yesterday was beautiful and I did my washing and went to swim in the sea.

Met Buyana and Aphiwe on the beach and they wanted to give me money to take them to Umdumbi for a braai.  How could I say no.  So, I bought some meat – you can now buy nice meat, a bit expensive, at the Nenga store… We went to get Snooks.  (Oh I forgot to mention that on Tuesday Snooks walked with Aphiwe all the way to my caravan and we ate 2 minute noodles before I took her back later).  So the four of us had a little road-trip with Johnny Clegg to Umdumbi and had a nice little braai.  It was a little tricky, cause we forgot the braai grill and we had to improvise with wet sticks, which caught fire every now and then...  It was still a very good braai, I'm becoming a champion.  After that, a good swim in the shallow water before we headed back and went to visit Sarah and Capri in their new temporary tent house in the garden at Bomvu. 

Last night I had to there again to make the best of the little time we have left… Sarah and Capri are moving to Cape Town next year and taking a piece of my heart with them.  I had a great time also with my other friends, my little big brother Troye and my other brother Zukho (aka young Michael) and Travis, my new poi friend.

Donovan has still not made his appearance but I remain hopeful.  Maybe tomorrow.

271111, Sunday morning, early.

Rain is falling.  Again… I just got back from Bomvu about 2 hours ago.  Stayed to watch the sunrise.  It reminded me a bit of that time in London, that New Years when I thought the sun was rising outside, because they showed the video of a sunrise...  So I ran outside only to find darkness and lots of cloudy, rainy sky.  I only saw the sun for real about two weeks later.  That was London for you.

What I really want to write about is my friend Lucy.  She’s possibly been the best friend I’ve ever had.  Wow.  She’s helped me so much with this land situation, been my translator and so much more.  Almost like my agent with the community.  She’s waited with me in wind and rain, walked with me up and down the hills to find the headman and sort out my case.  She’s even gone without me in the pouring rain and waited to have meetings with the community for me.  Making sure I don’t get cheated.  Setting my best case.  I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve a good friend such as this.  I pray so many blessings on this friend of mine.  

The neighbours are playing their tunes again as per usual on a Sunday. They’re not letting themselves be put of by the rain.  Which has been absolutely non-stop.  I’m sure the bridge will be flooded again by now, the third time in one week… Not much I can do other than stay in bed.  I’m not complaining.  Had a little sunshine moment yesterday morning, went for a walk and got some washing done.  

241111, Thursday, somewhere amidst a fat rain cloud

Feels like it’s been raining for weeks.  I’m sure that bridge will flood again any time now.  Thankfully I’m cosy in the caravan and not going anywhere today.  If I’d still been parked at my previous spot, I would’ve been having some problems again at about this time…  But, all’s good here, only one or two small leaks, nothing serious.

The kids finished their exams today and I’ve been marking some papers.  Mostly they didn’t do too well.  The problems can be ascribed to a variety of factors.  I reckon I’m also part of the problem since I’m not a trained teacher, but I’d say another major factor is that many of the kids really have a limited understanding of English and general knowledge of the world out there.  Things that seem like common sense to us, is like something from another planet to them. 

One of the questions in the Arts & Culture exam was to explain the word ‘collage’.  All of them said that it’s a place to study after school.  That just made me realize again how difficult a task it must be for them to cope with subjects given in a language pretty much foreign to them.  What chance do they have?  Also, they don’t seem to have much motivation to study very hard…

Other than the school business I’ve been dealing with the land issues.  As expected it didn’t come without complications.  The initial land that got allocated to me had some problems.  It had previously been allocated to someone else and I found out who it is and realized this person won’t be willing to give it up, although the story goes that if someone has land for 3 years and don’t use it, the community has the right to take it back. 

Anyway, so I talked to the headman again and with the help of a very good friend of mine, I managed to find another piece of land. It’s taken some days to sort it out, but today, in the rain, the community got together and decided that it was good for me and they marked the borders for me.  I wasn’t even there when they did it, but the word has spread to me that I have more than one friend that was standing up for me and making sure that things go right.  I feel very humbled to be blessed by friends like these and I wish to never disappoint them.  I am thankful to God for His favour and pray that he will bless this land and that everything here will happen according to His good and awesome will.  I am thankful and amazed at His awesomeness and all He asks from me is to trust in Him. I am hopeful and excited for the future that He has planned for me…

221111, Tuesday. Bye bye Mydog...

So this was the day.  I finally took Mydog to the SPCA in Umthatha to end his suffering.  Every day I thought maybe he would get better, and some days he was better.  But then those days come when he was just in pain...  Distemper.  Please don't let your dog get that.  Get him vaccinated as a puppy.  

I tried to remove myself emotionally as much as possible from what was happening. I pretended to Mydog that this was just another day.  But I think somehow he knew it was his last day.  When we got to the SPCA, the person giving the injection wasn't there, so I could leave him there without going through that process with him.  I don't think I could have handled that.  He's only been my dog for about two months, but he's been such a sweet, good dog and he's going to be missed.   I'll forever remember him standing there, wagging his tail and quietly looking at me as I walked away.  

20112011, Crazy date!

Well Friday was one of those unexpected and unplanned for days of, let’s call it ‘fun’.  In the morning I was able to get petrol (first time since a week ago!), which in turn enabled to drive to the shop (20km outside Coffee Bay)  to draw money and get gas!!  Yes, that’s right, gas problem seems to be of the past now!

Anyway, I had to go back to the school to copy some exam papers and when I was finished and on my way home, I was stopped in my tracks at the bridge.  It was flooded completely and no ways my car was going to make it over that…  (It had been raining for a few days straight)

So what could I do?  I went straight to the Backpacker side.  Bought some tjips at the River store and met up with a little Asefika looking not so happy and in one of his ‘not talking’ moods.  So I offered to share my tjips with him, which he couldn’t resist of course.  After a while he was laughing and talking again.  He hasn’t been going to school for a while now and I asked him what he would like to be doing so he said he wants to come with me.  Actually I also like that idea.

After the tjips we went to visit baby Seza and Snooks also arrived shortly.  Had a glorious time with the kids and eventually ended up checking out a little drum circle and all the kids were dancing around like the fairies they are. 

Later we got a bit peckish and I remembered I had some bananas and a fresh bread from earlier, still in my boot.  So me and Asefika and Snooks had a little late lunch of banana sandwiches, which was in it’s own a fun experience, cause everyone had to slice their own bread and bananas and we made a royal mess in Bomvu’s eating area.

I spent a bit of time with Sarah, doing some experiments with my hair, which is getting a little out of hand…Mmmm we’ll have to wait and see how that works out…

The rest of the evening I was forced to join the party and dance the night away, poor me– there was no ways I was getting over that bridge and safe to my warm bed…but no fears, cause many good people around to offer me a bed on that side.  And it was another good night in Coffee Bay.  Met a lot of people, locals and backpackers and went to sleep a little late.

In the end I stayed in one of Jah Drum’s snazzy new tents, thanks guys for your hospitality!!   And I have to say your new bathrooms are pretty awesome too!  If anyone is still looking for a place to stay in Coffee Bay in December, try the tents at Jah Drums…Sleeps 2 I don’t think they’ve advertised yet, you may be lucky.  Not sure how you’re going to get a hold of them though…

Yesterday was a day for relaxing and catching up on lost sleep, the weather outside was still miserable. Only Aphiwe came around to draw some pictures and read a bit.

Today I went to the headman again to talk about some land complications, I pray we'll have it all sorted out tomorrow! 

161111, Wednesday, land affairs

Today in Coffee Bay, there is no gas (haven't been for 2-3 weeks), there is no petrol (haven't been since last week) and no water from the tap (just today so far - luckily there is also a beach close by and it's hot enough for swimming).  

Today was also the day I had to meet the headman and the elders of the community at the piece of land, so we could discuss the final details and I could hand over the crates of cool drink, beer and brandy for their celebration.  That means they have decided that it’s all good and I’m allowed to use the land for development. 

We agreed that I have to pay for the fence and poles that is already on the land.  That actually suits me, cause that’s one thing I would’ve had to do anyway.   Then I had to give the headman his share and all that’s left now is the money for the chief and getting the papers from him.  After that, it’s getting the permit to actually be allowed to build anything on the land.  That one is going to need a lot of prayer. 

But for today I am happy.  Everything’s been going very smoothly and the elders are very happy with my idea for a library and eventually a place where the women can do their sowing crafts as well.  So they’re giving me a big discount on the money I have to pay for the chief.  That’s absolutely awesome. 

So if there is anyone willing to contribute anything to the library (which is going to be called “The Rainbow Reading Hut”, whether second hand books (easy reading – especially for children of all ages) or funds to help build the rondavel (it can be done at relatively low cost, around R6 000) please let me know… You can be a part of something absolutely awesome here in Coffee Bay!  There are no libraries at any schools or anywhere even close!!! 

(I would also like to eventually be able to build a volunteer hut for people coming to help, so I reckon if you contribute to the building of the hut, you’ll have a place to stay for free when you visit Coffee Bay…good idea?)

My email address is lavonnebosman@gmail.com 

1111111, What a day! (I wrote this a few days ago...)

Wow I’m not certain I’m able to explain the amazingness of this day, in all the small things.

Woke up around 5, it was light already, but heading for another rainy day.  The thought that I don’t have to teach tomorrow inspired me to get up early again and face another day at school, which I’ve related to the word ‘hate’ for just about every day for too long now.  The red tape.  That’s what I hate.  The kids I love.  But the paperwork surrounding it wasn’t meant for me. Sorry, gotta get out of there.  And I trust in my Lord to make a way for me.  Thank You Lord.

Special class with the 8-9s.  Even Mbuso was there, even though he pitched up late.  I didn’t prepare anything to read for them – actually I’ve been becoming rebellious because I get asked to read/pray every week at the teacher’s meeting, I don’t have anything to share every day. Mostly I don’t want to even speak. (I am actually kind of an introvert…) But when it comes to the children, God always gives me such urgency in my heart.  I feel like it might be the last opportunity I get to give them a message from God and I don’t want to waste it.

 I have special urgency for a certain 2 students, but also for every other single child in class and also the 6-9s and even everyone in the school.  Today, I had no idea what to read and God guided me so.  I ended up with Ephesians 2, which I read from the little Bible and it was like the first time I read these words in the Bible.  God made it so alive to me again.  I pray the children understood it the same way I did.

 It is such amazing words – it says that God loved us even when we were objects of His wrath, (meaning we deserved Him being angry at us and punishing us...) it says that His mercy and grace is so ridiculously big that He even loved us when we were sinners and dead in our transgressions.  And that He made us alive in Jesus His Son for MAHALA!!! (That means for ‘FREE!!!)  Just because in the ages to come, He wants to show us the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in His Son Jesus...

Wow, I even shared that  at the one backpackers with one lady on the dance floor.  Don’t ask me how we got to that topic, but I had the sudden urge to tell her just how much God loved her and she said, “but smoke, drink…”  And I had the freedom to be able to tell her that God loves her anyway, that He even loves her when she’s drunk and when she smokes and that she doesn’t even have to do anything to deserve His love.  I told her that He didn’t like it when she was drunk, but that it didn’t stop Him from loving Her.  And that He is so patient to wait until our eyes open to see that it makes Him smile when we don’t get drunk or don’t smoke and eventually we catch on to try and make Him smile all the time, because He makes us so happy and does so many wonderful things in our lives every day.

And that was just one amazing thing that happened today.  

101111, Thursday, back to the Bronze Age

These kids really wanted to see the concert and was close to causing a mini trampling.

Some super cute grade Rs saying their say.

Dinner tonight:  baked beans
(For lunch I was actually spoilt - I took a container to the school to get leftovers for Mydog - today's special was mash with butternut, I had more than Mydog.

Due to no gas for cooking (or for my fridge),  I have now resorted to a little paraffin stove, seems cost effective, but otherwise extremely slow for cooking, doesn't get very hot, unless I'm just doing something wrong...

Earlier tonight the electricity went off as well and I really felt like we're going just too far backwards for one week.

Been very blessed with water for about 2 weeks now, many other people in Coffee Bay has been without water most of the week!  Today it's raining again like it's the middle of winter.  And I'm feeling it in my body, haven't managed to get well again after the flu..

My kids at school has really been testing my patience this week, I guess it doesn't count in their favor that I'm not feeling well.  Plus I'm really trying to get these question papers done!  Made good progress today.

Also popped in at the end of year grade ceremony of another school not too far.  A mother wanted me to take photos of her twins in grade R.  Very cute.  Was almost thrown into photographing all the kids, but really couldn't cope with that today.  Needed to get to a non-windy place with some warm tea...

081111, Tuesday, feeling a holiday coming on...

Koos the monkey

One of the beautiful ladies

A mama and her Xhosa pipe

One of the other mamas, very happy to see me.

Pretty much most of the weekend I spent resting from my flu or whatever it is... Not completely gone, but definitely getting better.

The kids at the school were driving me a little crazy today, because I had all the grade 6-9s together for an unplanned double lesson.  They have also not had a holiday recently and are not in the mood for working and my discipline management have not improved that much.  I mean it's amazing how quiet they are when another teacher comes close, but when I'm there they like to just be themselves and throw a party.  They are always happy to have a class with me of course.  I'm not sure how productive it all ends up to be, but we'll see in the exams who's been paying attention...

There is going to be no gas for cooking for an unknown period of time...  So tonight I made a nice fire and had an awesome braai all by myself under the full moon.  My mother left me some yummy tjops and I couldn't wait any longer to get my teeth into that.  Mydog was also pleased.  I must say, I haven't made too many fires before, but tonight everything was so perfect you'd think I'm an old pro.  Very proud of that attempt and the potatoes were also superb...

Yesterday there was a  Christmas braai for all the pensioners at the lodge, so of course I had to go check in and say hi to some mamas...

041111, Friday, it is confirmed: Yes, still winter (and a windy one at that)

5 ‘O clock on Friday afternoon.  I should really go out and visit some friends.  But it’s unpleasant outside, it’s been windy since 2 days ago and I feel certainly under the weather.  When I got home from teaching this morning, I went straight to sleep for about 4 hours.  I feel better now but it might only be the medicine talking. 

Just drove the 20km to Ngcwanguba for gas, only to be told that there might only be gas again on Tuesday… Nice.  I’ll try not to cook until then.  Hopefully the wind dies down so I can make a fire. 

Today is the 4th of November.  My younger sister would’ve turned 32 today if she hadn’t driven into a tree that morning before Christmas in 2005.  Still seems surreal, I guess it was never meant to feel real.  That event has impacted my life so much, it is possibly one of the greatest  factors why I’m sitting right here where I’m sitting today.  In Coffee Bay, at my little caravan table, typing on my laptop, looking out at the banana trees outside my window.

The morning before my sister died, the last time I saw her, we were walking across the road when she told me about a dream she had about me the previous night.  She said that in her dream she couldn’t believe that she had me as her sister and that she was so proud of me.  She put her arm around me and shouted to someone she knew opposite the road.  She said: “Hey Coenie, this is my sister, did you know this is my sister?”  And she went on about how proud she was of me and I said to her, but why, I haven’t done anything to be proud of, you’re the one that we’re proud of!  (She was a chef and had just opened a restaurant in Greyton, which was getting great reviews – she was only 26 and this was the first attempt at anything like this)

Anyway, so I’ve always felt that these last words of her to me was some form of prophetic message about my future and not my past.  And the realization of how short life can be – it can really end in any instant, made me driven to follow my dream in any way I can.  I’ve always dreamt about travelling through Africa and taking photographs and connecting with the people of Africa and share in God’s love with them, so that’s why I gave up my security and comfortable city existence and closeness of friends and here I am in Coffee Bay. Some days are really not easy and a lot of struggle, but I’m happy and I see moments of God’s glory shining through.

I can’t tell exactly where this dream is going from here, only God can tell you that.  It might be that I just stay here and do whatever I can, or perhaps, who knows, I might still see the rest of Africa as well…

All I know is that God has a plan for me and I have reason to believe that it is a good plan… 

011111, Tuesday, Still winter?

Tuesday evening and it feels like not much has been happening.  Actually it feels like I’ve just been drifting in a bubble for some days, not really touching ground.  It’s been windy and chilly and I feel like a slight cold might have gotten a hold of me, so I’m boiling some water for tea with a lot of lemon juice squeezed into it.

 I’m really missing having a decent camera most of the days, running out of old favourites and am really looking forward to December when I can have a camera and good lens again!  (Not sure if I said this before, but insurance is replacing my camera and lens! Hallelujah!!)

I’m supposed to be setting up exam papers for Arts and Culture, grades 7 and 8 right now, but I’m finding it near impossible to get focused on that.  I honestly don’t think I was made to be doing this sort of school thing.  School curriculum’s has never been anything I wanted to get into.  I really pray that for next year I can spend my time in a slightly different way.  I’d like to be teaching children, but definitely not in a school setup.  Extra classes for English or reading/writing is good for me.  And working with individuals or very small groups.  There’s just too many other thing I’d like to be doing instead of trying to figure out this curriculum thing… (Forgive me, but I’m just really not a school teacher!)

I’d much rather be doing further research on the whole Permaculture thing (check www.trees.co.za) and I get excited about dreaming of having a piece of land that I can live on as well as start a garden and the little library and whatever else God wills to go along with it.  I have given up on the school’s garden for now.  It’s just too far out of sight and out of mind to inspire me any longer.  I’d like to start something small from scratch and do it decently.  And let it grow from there. 

So, if all works out I’m planning on going to see the headman or chief soon to talk about some land.  (These guys are apparently very busy and even if you’ve made an appointment it doesn’t guarantee getting a hold of them.)  I’m having second thoughts about renting Lucy’s land, since I’ll be paying her rent and I’m just thinking about the future, if perhaps I can’t pay her anymore, what will happen to the library?  So, it would be better to have my own land if that is possible!  So, we’ll see…

I’m very thankful for two people who have blessed me with some money in my account!  I don’t know who you are, but thank you very much and I will use that money wisely!  And may God bless you a hundredfold!

News on Mydog:  I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but apart from becoming really picky about his food, he seems to be doing a little better each day… 

301011, Sunday, soup time

Sunday evening and nothing more wholesome to do than cut up some garlic, chillies, ginger, tomatoes and carrots and put up a pot of hot steamy lentil, samp and bean dahl soup with curry and masala...  And of course missing some faraway friends who have seemingly forgotten to remember their good old friend in the wild wild East... Thank God for the one or two who have not forgotten!  It's a cruel, crazy, beautiful world as Johnny Clegg would say.  Gotta love every moment.

Friday 281011, back to school.

Amiel and Marisa enjoying the scenery (my brother and his wife)

My dad at 'Hole in the wall'

Had a lovely 4 days with my family, staying at “Hole in the wall” till Wednesday.  It was the survivor’s ultimate prize of the year.  First time in months sleeping in a walled room on a real bed and even having a real bath every night (and electric shower every morning)!

It was almost strange to have people I know and love around me all the time for these couple of days.  It felt like a strange dream at first and later like we were never really apart.  It takes time to really appreciate the significance of seeing my family for the first time in months after all this weird and wonderful things have happened in my life since the last time we saw each other.  I’ll miss them now even more.

We had crayfish and mussels fresh from the ocean and saw dolphins and whales jumping all over the place from our ‘stoep’ view.  We drove around and saw just about all the things I wanted them to see.  From the beautiful hills and valleys and the dense forest areas and splendid blue ocean and island-like beaches to the abundance of dogs, donkeys, horses, goats, cows and pigs to the humble yet noble Xhosa people of which are the wonderful bead ladies (and I am some more beads richer thanks to my mother and father!) with their bright eyed children and some of the eccentric and amusing local white people who live here. 

We had a great time and I think everyone really enjoyed it despite the initial ‘culture shock’ which was soon overcome.  I’m glad my family got to see this wonderful world that I am so blessed to be living in, despite the hardships and all the broken things that need fixing.

I must say, I don’t complain about being back at the caravan.  It’s home-sweet-home.  Buyana came around just as my parents were leaving and Aphiwe was also here soon after. It made saying goodbye easier and made me feel like I wasn’t being left behind all alone.  I’ve got my little ‘family’ here in Coffee Bay and I feel like I can still stay here for a long, long time.

The news on Mydog is not so good.  I had him at the vet last Friday and it was a rather traumatic experience on it’s own.  First the vet was an hour late, even after I phoned him 2 hours before we got there to make sure he’ll be there.  Mydog was in such pain and couldn’t even get up the steps.

Finally the vet looked at him and decided in about 10 seconds that he had a disease called Distemper, which is apparently very common in dogs and attacks their central nervous system, which could be fatal.  He got a couple of injections (and I had to give him two more the next day with the help of Buyana!) and other medicine and I was told he should show improvement in a week.  But today, a week later, I can’t say that I see any improvement.

 I’ve googled the symptoms and I reckon that it sounds more like a fractured disc that he suffers from.  It’s a bit of a problem, since I’m so far away from the vet and when I make the mission he’s either not there or doesn’t properly check what’s wrong.  And I certainly can’t spend that time and petrol money and vet costs every week in the hope that the vet can do something, cause seems that he can’t.  Now I think the dog needs to be put to sleep, but I can’t tell for sure.  I thought that’s why I went to the vet the previous time.  Now I’ll have to make that mission again and in the meantime Mydog is suffering…

Good news is Outsurance is replacing the camera as well as the lens that got stolen!  The lens just isn’t in stock yet, so I’ll have to wait until December when I see my parents in Bloemfontein before I can take proper photos again.  Looking forward to that. 

201011, Thursday, snaky snake time…

Mydog, get better soon...!

It’s been a good and fulfilling week at the school so far.  I had some nice classes and definitely getting closer to some kids there, even the ones I feared losing because of their rebellion… I was able to share some good news from the Bible with them that lead to lots of discussion because of some of the words they didn’t understand before.  It’s sometimes difficult to judge their English knowledge, because they speak relatively well, but then you are too quick to assume they understand everything you’re talking about…

So I read for them one of my favourite and close-to-the-heart sections, Jeremiah 29:11-14.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me and I will listen to you. 

And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity.”

So we talked about the word captivity and prison and mental slavery, bondage and cuffs and shackles and eventually ended up with Mary Mary’s “Take the shackles of my feet so I can dance”…

Other than that I really enjoyed doing Robert Frost’s  “The road not taken” with them, something I’ve previously tried with my TEFL students without too much success.  So I’m looking forward to seeing tomorrow what they wrote about.  It’s great to get them thinking about choices and individualism and their morals in life…!  Even today we had a random class that ended up with them writing a poem about ‘inspiration’.  I quickly checked a couple of them and there were some really good ones!  I’m going to let them all write it over neatly and then we’ll choose a winner!

Oh, about the snaky snakes… I’ve been aware for a while now that a lot of snakes are going to start coming out now, as the summer dawns on us.  And I’ve been trying to mentally prepare myself for that, as I’m not the biggest fan.  I’ve seen a number of dead snakes already, two inside the campsite and others flattened in the road.  All smallish ones of about 30cm long.  All different kinds.

The other day while working in the garden, we discovered a little earthworm sized snake that we all found rather amusing.  It was really shiny and quite beautiful.  So we found out that it was a kind of worm snake, completely harmless.  This morning in our meeting one teacher told of killing a snake that almost got into her car. 

Today in class, the principal came inside holding a live snake, not big (a Red-Lip or something) and it was less than a second before all the kids stood screaming outside the door.  At least there are other people more scared than me.  It was rather funny I must say and I was glad to be able to study the snake from close-up to help getting myself acclimatized to the idea of coming face to face with one of them on my own.  Cause that is bound to happen sooner or later.  I live in a caravan after all and my tent is not exactly sealed.  Lots of open doors for a slithering being to freely make it’s way wherever he wants to.  I doubt Mydog is going to do anything about it.  So, when  it happens I’m supposed to just lift it with a stick and throw it back into the bush…  We’ll see how brave I am…

Other than that there are also these little black jumping spiders that are apparently poisonous.  They’re quite freaky.  The other day I saw one and wanted to kill it and the thing tried to attack me!  They have no fear these little rascals!  I’ve found quite a few of them around already.

More news is that baby Sezah is taking bold steps at the moment and is fast on her way to walking on her own!  Mydog is really not well again at the moment, he’s in great pain, so I must try to get to a vet in Umthatha tomorrow or Saturday.  Not looking forward to that really.  


What I am looking forward to, is my parents and brother and his wife arriving on Saturday for a few days’ visit!  I pray that they will arrive safely and without any troubles!  And let us have beautiful weather and plenty of crayfish! 

181011, Tuesday, Permaculture and Monday Mthatha mission...

A picture that I just really like...

I was blessed to be able to go on a Permaculture vegetable garden workshop for schools today and believe I have found a new (or perhaps it’s always been with me…) passion in my life.  I hope this is just the beginning of great and abundant veggie growth!

When I got back to the school, I straightaway got the grade 6-7s to help clean up the existing garden, which is not in the best of shapes.  I’ll see what I can do there, I really don’t have the experience, but I really, really hope that I’ll be a quick learner!  Most of the kids were a bit lazy at helping and in the end there were only four boys left who seemed to be potentially dedicated.  I don’t want to make any promises now but I hope we will transform the place. 

Yesterday was another day of fun in Umthatha.  I earnestly prayed that everything would go smooth in the city this time as I had a lot to do and can’t afford going there again soon.  It was a rainy day, so I took Mydog with me, this time made sure he was on the passenger seat next to me, just to be an extra deterrent to any tsotsi who had any ideas about robbing me or something.  Mydog was very well-behaved and patient and didn’t complain once.  I think he quite enjoys sleeping on the seat all day. 

I reckoned that I had enough petrol to get me to the Ultra City just outside Umthata and didn’t want to get petrol before, because the price is much higher here by the coast.  Anyway, can you believe it, I ran out of petrol just about 500meters ahead of the petrol station. 

I thought, great, this is a way to start the day, after getting up so early to be on time and everything!  So I schlepped to the petrol station in the pouring rain, got some helpful petrol attendants to get me a container, filled it with 5litre- I wasn’t up for carrying much heavier and schlepped back.

 As I was walking back, I thought to myself: ‘this is one of those moments when you want to ask God, is this now really necessary? Couldn’t You have protected me from this?’  (Even though it really was only as result of my own foolishness!)  Then the song: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it’  popped into my head from somewhere and got stuck there and I realized that  that it was indeed one of those moments where God is actually carrying me and my footsteps even felt lighter…and I had to thank God for letting things go so smoothly even though I thought it started so bad.

My first stop was the traffic department, which, let me tell you is not anywhere close to where the ‘Yellow Pages’ leads a person to believe.  So first, after asking about 10 people, I took a turn at the wrong department- where a kind security guard let me park inside although it was only allowed for officials.  Then after realising it’s the car licensing and not driver’s licence department, I saw that it was also the place for traffic fines.  So conveniently  I handed in my letter to ask for exemption from my previous undeserved fine and pray they’ll forgive me even though I said that the officer probably only fined me because I had a Cape Town registration number…  I should’ve left that part out perhaps.

The other department was on the complete other end of town and when I got there they said no, I had to come back the next day.  But I could get a temporary driver’s.  This all happened amazingly quick to my utter astonishment!   There was a queue, but I’ve learnt that in Umthata always ask someone, because the queue quite possibly had nothing to do with where you needed to go and indeed this was so, twice.  I could go straight to the front and the ladies all complimented me on my Xhosa skirt.

Next stop was the bank and there the queue was a torture again, but after 45minutes I had my new credit card and the most painful part of the day was over.  From there on everything went well and I got safely home at 6 to be welcomed by the return of my long lost caravan neighbour (who mysteriously disappeared one day) and the inexpressible joy of a hot shower, yay we had water and still do, two days in a row now whoohoooo!!!  Plus fresh rainwater to drink.  Super!

The other little thing that’s providing amusement to me these days very early in the morning is the rooster on the other side of the fence.  It’s first crow seem to be very close to exactly four a clock and then it allows an approximate 10 minute snooze period before the second crow.  After that I lose track a bit, because it’s really too early for me to pay that much attention.   

161011, Sunday, thank God for the rain…

Another old pic...

 Ah, so the water that came back on, on Friday evening was only for the evening and the taps have been dry again since yesterday morning.  Today we had a teaser of about 20 minutes in which the water temporarily came back on.  Of course we never know when it’s going to happen or how long it will last.  Thank God I was actually here when it came back on and Buyana heard a neighbor rejoice that we have water again, so we quickly filled up the empty bottles and I started some washing. 

I was desperate for a shower, so left the second bundle to soak and grabbed my towel to head for the shower.  When I got there, the water had already stopped and the bucket I was filling to rinse the second load was only a quarter full…  I managed to wash those clothes too and rinse it all in the little bit of clean water as Buyana sat with his hands full of clay, waiting for me to finish with the water so he could wash his hands in it.  Then it started drizzling as well.  I think that might have helped for the washing that wasn’t extremely well rinsed out. 

Later the sun came out a bit and the washing got mostly dry.  I made a dall, lentil, chickpea curry type dish with Basmati and we happily munched away and swayed to our neighbors’ regular Sunday tunes (or should I say tune, cause they seem to have only one) blaring in the background. 

Apiwhe arrived and was just in time for the last helping of food.  Then the boys drew some pictures, read a little bit and I read a little bit for them.  Oh and Aphiwe tried very hard to get me to pronounce the Xhosa words: Bhala (write) and bala (count) correctly!  I tell you, I just don’t hear the difference but apparently there is a big difference…  Hope I get it right some day!

Then it really started to rain, so I got the bucket, tub and a couple of bottle filled.  Awesome.  That means I’m about as clean as I’m going to get right now, without a shower or a bath. 

That reminds me of my other two children, the little Fika and Snooks.  I saw them yesterday evening when I went to Jah Drum with my drum.  They were outside in the road and I invited them to come with me.  So we had a good time, taking turns to play drum and chatting. 

Later we got a bit hungry so we went over to Bomvu to share a plate of chips.  It was so much fun with these two, it felt for a moment like we were sitting in Milky Lane or somewhere, past their bedtime on a Saturday night (not that they really have a bedtime…) and enjoying each other’s company like a little family!  After the chips they wanted to go and dance a little so we went for a couple of songs.  Their mother works at the bar, so it was good to see her too.  Otherwise the night was ours…  Only three quiet backpackers sitting and enjoying the entertainment we were giving.  Snooks and Fika played with the microphone, testing it out and shouting ‘Kaboom!’.  At about 8 I reckoned we head homewards and I took the two little ones home.  I parked my car in the road below their house and watched them as they walked the last bit to the house. 

I reckon I’d like to appoint myself as their unofficial au-pair, just wish I had a functioning home to share with them. Although these two are probably the most advantaged kids in this village (Snooks’ English is already much better than most people here, much older than her), they still possibly have never even had a real bath and many other things we completely take for granted…

I wish I had so much money that I could have a house for these kids where they can sleep in their own warm bed and hot water and electricity to have light to see what they’re doing at night and clean dry clothes to go to sleep in and good hot food to eat and someone to read them bedtime stories.  That would be me of course… 

141011, Friday afternoon, no water again…!!!

 I’m sitting here with my greasy hair and I long for a shower.  It’s slightly on the cloudy side today and I’m not brave enough to face the seawater just yet.  I guess if by tomorrow there is still no water that will be enough motivation for me to go and dive into the sea…   My boys haven’t had water at their house for more than 6 days now…

I’m just reflecting on the kids at the Christian school where I teach.  Many of the kids seem to have a lot of issues and I’m finding it really hard to deal with it all.  This morning I had a serious session with them, reading from the Bible and praying and admonishing them to walk in the light.  It was probably the closest I’ve ever come to giving a preaching ceremony.  They all prayed fervently with me as well, so I really pray a difference will come in their lives…

Everyday there are fights among them because this one stole that one’s papers or pens or cell phone or whatever.  Yesterday someone stole my eraser from right under my nose.  All that was left was the little piece of cardboard that used to cover it.  They steal each other’s notes, doesn’t matter if that person wrote their name on it.  They’ll just scratch out the name so that it’s unrecognizable and replace it with their own name. 

Other than that, some of the boys are cutting themselves with blades and pouring ink into it, giving themselves home-made tattoos of prison groups and wearing studs in their ears and trying to get away with wearing as little as possible of their uniform, always armed with a dictionary of excuses.  It starts with the older boys of about 16 years and then the younger ones of maybe 13 years then imitate them.  Today we had a long meeting discussing how to deal with these problems. 

I think a lot of them also have learning disabilities or perhaps just no discipline at all to even try and study for their tests.  With the results that some of them do well, in the 70s and 80s, while others have an average of about 22. 

(A bit later now, evening 7:43, the water is back on thank YOU!)

I feel a little bit uncertain of how exactly to deal with these kids.  I feel like I need a place and time where I can see these kids individually and have sessions with them like a psychologist. 

Anyway, it’s weekend again in Coffee Bay and I wouldn’t mind a rainy weekend (there is some wild thun-----DER!!!! at the moment…..shoooo that one was dangerously close and scary…!), maybe then the hordes won’t pitch up for their weekly beach party. 

I walked on the beach earlier and there was a young Australian couple walking on the beach, warning me of the broken bottle glass that lies shattered on the beach.  I find that quite sad that DEAT (Department of environmental affairs) don’t seem to care about all the drinking that goes on at the beach or about all the illegal loads of sand that gets taken away here…  Come on guys!  Do something about it!

Ah rain sweet rain… 

121011, Wednesday,the joys of walking

Since there was no petrol from Friday until yesterday afternoon, I walked to school in the morning and have decided that I’ll be doing that every day now, it just means getting up 15 minutes earlier in the morning.  So now my alarm is set for 5:45am.  It also means that I’m ready to fall asleep even before 9 in the evening…  There are children in my classes who get up at 4:30 every morning and I’m sure some even earlier.  That’s a little bit too close to midnight for me…

I normally pass a lot of kids on their way to school.  There is this one particular bunch of kids who find it very amusing when I overtake them at a pace about 3 times faster than their own speed.

About half of them would try to keep up with me and walk really fast for a couple of meters behind me, swinging their arms wildly, before giving up with lots of laughter.  They find it most hilarious.  I’m hoping to inspire all of them to start walking faster in general.  Most people around here always walk super slow.  It might have something to do with the distance they have to walk every day… Haven’t figured it out yet.

I’m having terrible cravings for a braai tonight… 

101011, Monday admin…

Another previous favorite revisited

Spent the whole day doing computer admin, still trying to sort out insurance stuff amongst other things and thankful for some people who are so much more helpful than others…! 

(Thanks to Genevieve from Gallo Images and Portia and Natasha from Photographic Repairs - thanks for going out of your ways to assist a person far away who you've never even met!)

Also part of my admin is of course washing!  Got nice clean sheets again tonight…  Some day if I don’t live here anymore I think I’m actually going to miss these hand wash moments…  It’s really quite therapeutic splashing around in the soap suds under the morning sun… 

 The boys came around a little late and I just tried to get them to learn: “I wash my hands, you wash your hands” etc.  I’m a little bit shocked every time at how bad their reading skills really are…  Sometimes they can’t see the difference between he and she. 

Oh we also had some laughs with some Afrikaans words that they wanted to know and tried to pronounce!  The funniest was ‘vuurhoutjies’, (matches – for those of you who don’t know Afrikaans)

Yesterday I made them snackwiches, their first ever!  And they were quite impressed.  It was a bit like vegetarian jaffles, except I added a great luxury –cheese, as well.  I made it from my samp and bean/lentils soup that really has now turned into a stew and bread that was going a bit stale.  (I discovered that I’ve been buying half-loaves for R4.50 from the local shop, where a full loaf costs only R6 at Ngcwanguba, although not so fresh and of course too far to go to everyday…)  But yes, I must say I also rather enjoyed it. 

And I love those boys more everyday, especially when they do things like wash their own dishes or clean up after themselves without me even asking.  Or wash my car for mahala (free).  And occasionally they’ll bring me a sweet or a packet of chips or something.  One day Buyana had one of those little chocolate éclair sweets and he bit it through in three pieces to share with Aphiwe and me. 

I wish I had money to buy them new school shoes and some new clothes.  The soles of their shoes are so worn trhough, they’re practically walking barefoot.  And I wish Yum Yum peanut butter would sponsor us like a ton of crunchy peanut butter and jam and make bread available at a cheaper price in this area.  There should be cheaper prices and not so much cheaper quality of goods for poor people!!! 

Here nobody drinks Fanta, -Twizza does the job, nobody eats Nik Naks, it’s Sick Snax or something or other with a fake name. 

Psalm 37:11 “But the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace”

And 37:16  “A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked” 

081011, summer Saturday

Another pic from the past... 

What a truly blessed day today was.  Went for a walk in the morning and came back to have breakfast and play a little bit of djembe drum…  I was almost on my way to the other side when Sarah, Sezah and Michael called me from the fence.  They all came for a little visit and we sat outside the tent with Sezah splashing around in my black washing tub, her own personal little swimmingpool.  Had a lovely time…!  When they left I played a bit more of djembe, I’m working on a certain rhythm that I want to get right. 

Then Buyana and Aphiwe came by and we set off for the beach with the djembe, 2 pairs of pois and a tennis ball and one beach bat (the other bat didn’t survive the last session…)

As we neared the beach our little party grew with another couple of random kids who followed and wanted to join in the fun.  Amazingly everyone had something to do and we all had a great time.  The boys were playing cricket with the beach bat and I was thinking that it would be great if we had an actual cricket bat…!

It wasn’t long before some boarders from the Christian school came by, they were also having a beach day.  And pretty soon, Snooks, Layla and Jesse also pitched up with Liza.  They made a nice little shelter with some towels and branches, very inventive Snooks! 

I was super stoked because I had 3 groups of my children all in close vicinity of each other on the beach and we could all hang out together and share the few ‘toys’ that we took.  It was almost a case of 5 fishes and a couple of loaves of bread as everyone had something to play with.  I guess they were all doing a good job at sharing. 

I was amazed at the one boy with hearing problems and what a natural rhythm he had on the djembe!

Mydog was resting on the sand mostly, I think yesterday’s walk put him in pain again…  Sorry Mydog!

Tonight I’m making soup again, adding some broccoli for variety.  It also includes more samp these days and beans that I bought from the ladies couple of weeks ago.  It’s also sometimes turning into more of a stew than a soup.  Good stuff! 

I’m not going anywhere this evening, got no petrol in my car and the petrol pump in Coffee Bay has been dry since yesterday, so hopefully on Monday we can get mobile once more!  The campsite seems very peaceful tonight, even on the outside I don’t hear any taxi parties going on at the moment – can only be a good sign.  (Most weekends you’ll find groups of people having a party outside the campsite, on the way to the beach.  It normally gets quite rowdy as a lot of drinking goes on there, but I wonder if the police has decided to step in this weekend?  Hope so.

Oke, the soup is looking good and I’m getting hungry now…!