View of the foundation of the rondavel, day 1.
I’m back! I’m back, I’m back. Sorry for been quiet for so long, but
I’ve been away in civilization for a month and had to deal with some issues of
the heart (in short I can say that this was one love story that didn’t work out
too well – but the ending isn’t entirely unhappy, at least I have my freedom
back...) Not going to dwell on that subject too long.
When I arrived
back, about a week ago, I was met with a caravan that leaked very badly in my
absence, with the result that I had to spend a good couple of days washing out half rotten and moldy sheets and things, cleaning cupboards and what ever, trying to create order again
in my surroundings and my life.
All is under
control again now and I have settled back in. On Saturday I had my first session teaching with the NGO and
this week I spent a bit of time preparing for the other school to start again
next week. I have to do a lot of
planning and make a lot of copies for the kids, since they don’t have handbooks
and we have to create everything for them.
Other than that,
exciting things are happening.
I’ve got a good builder now, who has started with the foundation of the
rondavel on my little piece of land.
(The rondavel that is going to function as a little library / reading
hut) I can see the land from my caravan and the guys are working hard. It’s going well, but could be going
better, because I don’t have a bakkie to transport all the building materials
like the cement bricks and cement, so I have to get other people to help me out
when they have the time. This is
causing some slight delays, but we are keeping on.
Also, we have
decided to make our own mud bricks (the cement bricks are only for the first
2/3 layers of the foundation). So,
the guys dug up the soil for that also today and now we have to organize for members
of the community to come and make the actual mud bricks. It’s just going to work out cheaper
this way than using cement bricks or buying mud bricks from someone else.
Let’s hope our
cement and foundation bricks will arrive shortly!
When I was in
Mosselbay on the way back, one woman gave me 4 big bags filled with some
bedding, clothing, toys and baby stuff.
I was trying to think of a solution of how to fairly share it between
the people. Then I got the idea to
sell it, but for very cheap, as in R2, up to about R20 for something. This way the people would be able to
afford what they want and only take what they really need and leave the rest
for someone else.
So I gave the
responsibility to my friend Lucy, because I know she has a good business
sense. And then she can also make
some money for herself. So the one
day I took her to her home with the bags and on the way we gave a lift to two
other ladies as well. These ladies
wanted to see what was in the bag, so we stopped right there next to the road
and one two three, all the contents were spread out on the grass and pretty
soon there were about ten ladies browsing through and choosing what they wanted
to buy.
Within half an
hour, most things were sold and we left with only one small bag of things and
said goodbye to a bunch of happy mamas on their way home to take welcome
presents for their children and family.
I reckon we should start a little thrift shop…
I was of course
more than very happy to see my little ones on the other side of the river and
they were also equally happy to see me, and made me feel most welcome again..)
Other than that,
it’s very hot here and a little bit windy, but one is happy to be able to go
for a dip in the ocean. I’ve
already lost all the weight that I gained in the silly season out there in
civilization, so that’s another good thing.
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