The view from where I'm staying and a sunset nearby...

One of my 'housemates' Sarah and her beautiful baby...

Axium Education session, Saturday at Kwaaimans

160511, Montessori day

Monday, week 2.  I went to Dawn’s little Montessorri school this morning. There were about 10 little ones from about 2 –5 years old. It was nice, they learn a lot there.  These are definitely the more privileged kids of the area.  I realized quickly that I am not trained in the Montessori method and I think it’s good, but I don’t necessarily agree with everything. 

 I’m trying to figure out how exactly I’m going to spend each day here: Fridays and Saturdays are for Axium, Sunday is definitely a rest day, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons I’ll work with 3 teenagers with reading problems.  In between I’ll spend a lot of time doing admin – preparing for English classes, emails checking and answering, writing the blog and diary, taking photos, processing photos-(what’s happening here + landscape/ stock-library), try to study Xhosa and whatever happens in between.  Perhaps for now I won’t commit to too much else, except maybe for spending extra time with some of the little ones who don’t have afternoon care.

 I had such a good experience today, I was supposed to meet Dawn and the 3 boys I have to teach, when the meeting was cancelled.  I was happy to see Josh (the boy from the Coffee Shack’s people), Nobusnooks (Probably not the right spelling) and her tiny brother Asefika playing around.  I met them today at Dawn’s school.  Asefiki and Josh are also like best buddies.  I found out that Asefiki and Snooks’ mother work at the bacpackers just across the road and that the kids hang around on their own till they get bored and go home when it’s probably dark already.  I felt kind of sorry for them, cause they are so small and I think they are just craving for love.  Snooks was also really tired at school today- at one stage she just lay down on the grass for a nap. 

 They wanted me to tell them a story, so I came home and got them The Lion King and the only Xhosa storybook I have.  Snooks really enjoyed it, Fiki was falling asleep on my lap and Josh wandered off on his plastic black motorbike.

I’m thankful for the Xhosa book, cause one of the ladies came past and helped me a bit. I think if I try to read a bit every day, I’ll learn a lot.  Anyway, it was getting dark and drops were starting to fall, so I walked the two little ones home and pray they get some food and have a warm place to sleep.

 So, I can’t help wondering if this is something I should start around here, like an afternoon care centre, with a friendly atmosphere, warmth and food and love and a place where the children could safely take a nap if they wanted to.  Wish I can find a place to do that here, that is also close to their homes, but not so loud as the backpackers…We’ll see, with God nothing is impossible hey!

 I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned before, but I’m very excited at the moment!!!  On Saturday I found a beautiful spot for my caravan and not too expensive!  A little bit away from the hub of Coffee Bay where I’m right now…(I’ll miss the vibe around here, but I reckon it will also be good for my soul to have some more space to myself)

 And the second good news is that my good friends and brothers Donovan and Kenneth are going to actually bring my caravan to me all the way!!!!!  God is GREAT!!!

Thank you my good friends.  May you be blessed!!

140511

Just a quick hello... I had my first teaching English experiences in the Transkei yesterday and today and it wasn't too bad, just did a bit of tense revision, to check if we're all on the same page.  Turns out that some are, of course, but some have a lot more work to do!

My car is so muddy, I'm not sure if it'll ever be clean again!  The guys here say I should trade it in for a Toyota Hilux... I don't even know what that is!  We'll see...

Oke, it's Saturday night and everyone's out having a party.  I'll be heading over to Bomvu now to check out a bit of drumming...

Wish you were here...x

Day 4

I'm starting to feel settled in, sort of got my new little routines going, like when do I shower or where (I know that sounds arb, but it's quite interesting because the bathroom next to me doesn't have hot water, so I have to go into the house and use a kind of private shower-which isn't really that private cause nothing here really is- I'm talking in riddles aren't I?)  I guess you'll have to come here to really understand.  

The kitchen is also interesting, cause you can't leave anything there, it'll get taken, like I keep all my food in my room and my special knife and my cloth and dishwashing liquid etc.  I guess it's a little like camping. You have to plan ahead.

 

I'm renting a room outside a house where I'm not sure how many people actually live, it seems almost like a backpackers.  The place is also right opposite Jah Drum and Bomvu Backpackers and the River trading store, which actually sells bread.  I have yet to go in there and see what else they sell... Coffee Shack is also just a few meters down the road.  I'm hearing the drumming at Bomvu right now, every night at about this time...

My room is a rectangular shape, part built of stone and part wood, wit a tin roof, kind of like a shack.  It's a bit damp in here, but that seems to be the norm in this place.  

This morning I helped a boy who wrote matric last year and wants to apply for a bursary to study mining engineering.  We had to print the papers so that he can complete it before we send it off.  I'm glad I brought my printer.  

Then, I went to Zithulele again to chat with Craig and Michelle and I went with Michelle to one of the schools where she gives extra maths classes.  It was quite interesting.  Firstly, the drive was, 12km on a very bad road, it took us almost 30minutes to drive.  And the school itself was quite shocking.  300 students in a small 3 room school.  The children share broken chairs and a desk between about 3 people.  The principal also made us wait for about 20 minutes for no apparent reason (he just stood outside talking to other teachers and the kids were all sneaking out of their classes!  Can't blame them, their school time was supposed to be out, but they're not allowed to leave until someone rings the bell!)  Anyway, a lot needs to be done.

Just arrived...

I arrived last night (to Coffee Bay)  after a long, long drive in the rain (it basically rained since I left Cape Town on Tuesday all the way till last night -Sunday)  

It's been a crazy day of culture shock and trying to adapt to my new surroundings where it's quite uncertain how long I'll actually stay.  This community is seriously poor, even though there is still a divide between black and white -the latter of course, still being relatively richer.  My first feeling was of selfishness- (myself), like I really just thought of myself when I was packing my stuff.  I really have so much more than the people around me.

The people here are intense, everything and everybody are very tightly knit.  You quickly get the feeling that you are going to deal with a community of politics and that some people you can trust, but not everyone.  And nothing's for mahala! 

Except maybe the views... I walked to Hole in the Wall today (3hrs 1way) and it was beautiful, however exhausting.  The way back was awesome (through hills and valleys of the local villages)

There's so much more to say, but for now that's going into my diary.....

Photos will follow!