290911, Thursday

Wow, haven’t written all week.  This week has flown and also, I’ve been just too busy to even think. 

It’s 5:30pm now, Buyana didn’t pitch up this afternoon, it’s been raining a little.  There has been a few thunder and lightning sessions lately, but not too scary.  This weather just makes me crave all sorts of things I don’t have with me, so I’ve been eating too many tennis biscuits…

I’m trying to remember what happened this week.  On Monday I took a little drive to the Anchorage Hotel in Umdumbi.  There was someone who left me a note saying that they have a job offering for me there, so being in my situation and without a phone, I thought, let me just check it out.  So, I got there and the job was for bar lady, R3 ooo/month and free accommodation.  I was a little tempted, but just couldn’t see myself there.  I was hoping for more pay to make it actually worth it.  In this way I would just become a slave and all my time would be taken, doing nothing useful really.

It’s about 25 minutes drive on a relatively bad road away from Coffee Bay.  I would definitely not want to drive there when it got dark.  Which means that I would totally be isolated there and never see anyone.  The Hotel is also not busy at all, except maybe for December.  There wasn’t even one guest when I was there.  So I would only have the manager to talk to and have to sit around and wait for a customer to arrive.  I won’t be able to do anything that I came here for. 

I’d be too far away from my students and my friends here.  What would be the point?  I told the manager if he could make it a temporary job, for perhaps a month or two, it could work.  I could do some computer work during that time.  But that’s not going to work either.  I’m needed more at the teaching department, although the pay is a problem.  So I’m letting that idea go for now and pray for another solution.

Oh, on Monday also, I gave a Xhosa lady a lift, her name is Angel.  I told her that that is quite appropriate, because I was praying to God to send me angels to protect me.  She happened to work at the Hotel here in Coffee Bay and invited me for a free dinner that evening.  I was so happy to accept that!  Butternut soup, lamb tjops!!! And tiramisu for dessert!!  I haven’t had a survivor’s prize for a while, so that was most welcome!

Otherwise, teaching has been going well.  Really enjoying my classes at the Christian School.  Even though the Macbeth rehearsals drive me a little crazy now and then with my lack of crowd-control skills.  Today went a little better, I think the kids are finally starting to understand that they must keep a bit quiet when I’m speaking. I am constantly tempted to hit someone over the head or kick them in the shins.  Hasn’t happened yet, got to pray for self-control.

And I’ve found some real fun Drama warming-up exercises, that we always start with.  Like today, I put them in groups of four and they each had to do one sound (from a certain theme like jungle/city/beach…) and repeat their sounds to form a rhythmic pattern.  And then they got a ‘conductor’ to guide them in who is making their sound when.  We laughed so much.  In the end we didn’t really get to all the Macbeth we had to, but hey, it’s all good. 

I did have a bit of an incident the other day though, where two students, a boy and a girl started an argument that ended up in a little fist-fight.  I tried to pull them apart and got a bit of a blow on the lip myself.  Dragged them into the headmaster’s office quickly to try and resolve the issue.  Not sure that we had completely.  I think there are some students who have some problems that they find hard to share.  I hope we can break through some of these!

There are 2 children with serious eye problems who don’t have the right glasses and can’t see a thing!  It must be bloody hard to cope like that.  The one should be going to the specialist this weekend and the other has been waiting for his glasses for a few weeks now.  There are many people here in this rural area, who don’t have the money for glasses, let alone the money to travel somewhere they can get their eyes tested.  They end up walking around half blind for most of their lives!

Then, my caravan classes have been going well since I’ve put a ban on anyone entering the caravan.  I got a couple of those boards that you can put on your lap to write – if you don’t have a desk, thanks to another teacher here.  Pretty useful things I must say! 

And Buyana and his brother have been making progress this week.  The progress is super small, they are so far behind, but we are taking baby steps!  Yesterday I took 2 hours to get Buyana to understand that he must just fill in am/is/are in the sentence gaps… In the end I do believe he got it!  And even got most correct. 

It was a grueling session for the boy and we had to play some bats and balls after that for some stress release.  Oh, he came around just now to tell me that he didn’t come today because of the rain, he’ll be back tomorrow.  That’s my dedicated student!

The rest of the week I’ve just been trying to figure out how to set up tests for grade 6-9…  Not really what I was made for, it is clear.  I haven’t even been for a walk on the beach once!  Pray for good weather tomorrow!  Then we’ll take the kids to ‘Hole in the wall’… 

Saturday, a little later...

Something I’ve learnt about this place the past week is that if you have anything, there’s going to be someone who wants to steal it from you.  That’s the story.  Especially shiny things or things that work with electricity.  You also get a faint start at imagining  what it must be like to never have or have had any of these things.  For a lot of people in the world that is just something unimaginable.

This truly is a world apart.

I’ve also learnt that I have to move.  This place has served it’s time now, this camping place I mean.  No, I’ll still stay here for sometime still, I owe my landlord some money in any case.

But God has given me a new dream.  He wants me to open an after -school English extra classes school.  Not a big school.  Only for children who are really serious  about learning English.  And eventually it can spread out to become a place where they can learn other skills as well.  The possibilities are endless. 

Library is still a priority, as is sowing centre… And veggie garden.

I’ve been feeling that the caravan is too small and now I’m also paranoid that some of the boys may want to rob me.  Yesterday I was teaching Buyana and his brother, when another boy who I’ve seen in the street and know by name, just waltzed into my tent without a word.  He seemed kind of surprised to see us and just stood there, so I asked him in Xhosa what he was doing there and he just said ‘andiyazi’ (which means I don’t know).  So I asked him if he was hungry and gave him some fruit and sent him on his way.  I want to believe that he was just there because he was hungry or want to learn, and really doesn’t know any English, but had a strange feeling.  And when he left the boys said he was a little tsotsi and wants to steal my stuff.  I think these boys seriously want my ancient ipod and laptop although they don’t even have electricity to charge it…

So I’ve decided another rule for them, no one allowed in the caravan anymore, they’re getting all too comfortable.  The other day Buyana left with my torch without even asking.  He did bring it back, but still, I actually use it at night.  I don’t know what he thinks, probably thinks I’ve got enough light and don’t need it.  And our communication is still at a very beginners level, hard to make sense to each other.

But anyway, about the space thing.  My friend Lucy said she would be happy to rent her land to me for R500/month, although I’d like to give her more if Im at all able to.  And fix the place up quite a bit.  

It’s perfectly situated, right below the Coffee Bay school and next to the road in the centre of the village and a river runs at the bottom of it.  She’s built a rondavel and a little flat house which is not quite finished yet, still needs glass in the window, cement and paint on the outside and of course there is no form of water or bathroom or electricity or fence. 

But if we make it a group project it could work!  I wish someone would come to visit to see the potential.  But I’m going to look for Lucy tomorrow and ask her what she thinks about the idea.  And if there are people out there who are keen to help, we could do with some volunteers to come and paint and start a garden and stuff like that!  People could contribute and we could get a bathroom of some sort running there…  I’d better also find out if the Municipality would allow that… How’s that for an idea!

240911, Saturday, weekend, finally!

Just gone eight and I’m typing by candle light, trying to be quick cause I might be the only one right now in the campsite without electricity and my batteries are going to run flat.

 I think I was the cause of it going out in the first place.  Yes, I shocked myself earlier, just a little bit but it was quite a shock, I wondered afterwards if I was perhaps a little in shock.  I tried to move the tent light to the caravan while it was on, because my other lights don’t seem to work for some reason today all of a sudden.

Anyway, so now I’m wondering how long this little inconvenience is going to last and if it’s going to end at all or if it’s just one of those things I have to adapt to in this here place.

There seems to have been a couple of attacks this last week on myself from various sized arrows.  I have been struck a couple of times but I am not defeated.

The last little cherry was when I drove to the school this morning and some teenagers were sitting along the road and threw a rock at my wheels as I went past.  It was not such a hectic thing to do, we also threw rocks at cars when I was a child, but they were a bit older.  Anyway, I hooted and slammed on the brakes to give them a fright and they all darted away.  I was a bit angry at that moment because of all the things that happened to me this week, but now I think it’s quite funny.  I mean the electric shock was probably a little worse that that incident.  It’s all relevant hey.

This week has been the most stressful week here in Coffee Bay so far (although I’ve also had too many to mention awesome moments that makes it all worth it and I know that God’s plan for me here is not finished and that He is making a way) and I think what makes it worse is that I know that I’ve only got enough money left to last me another 2 months, if I don’t have anymore emergencies…  Awesome things do happen though, like I believe the insurance is going to pay out so that I can afford a new secondhand camera! Should be able to replace my 50mm f1.4 also, which wasn’t insured... Thank God once again!!!!!!!!! Haleluja!!

So I’m putting it out there and asking anybody who is willing to contribute to me staying here longer, in any way you choose.  I’m going to give you my bank details and if God puts it in your heart, use it.  If not, pray for me, God will make a way.  His will be done. 

Send me a mail of encouragement. (I’m not sure when I’ll be in cellphone contact again….my only form of communication with you for the moment)  lavonnebosman@gmail.com And thank you for just reading my blog even though you might not follow it regularly.  It’s nice to know you’re out there. And a special thanks for reading it even though there aren’t even any pictures on it at the moment…

ABSA

Lavonne Bosman

Savings acc nr. 428174879, Branch 632005

Mydog is sleeping next to my bed again tonight, I occasionally allow that when it gets very cold, which it’s been today, a bit rainy also. 

Anyway, good night and till next time. I’ve got to run to the loo with my gumboots now.

210911, Wednesday, some success!

It's been another exhausting day, some moments of extreme frustration and a small crack down in the bank, but all under control now and looking up.

Had only 2 hours to teach this morning and was out of there at 10 on another mission to Umthatha.  This time I took young Michael with me for safety and company.  I just felt that I didn't want to go on my own today, rather take a local guy with me who I can trust and he can help look out for the tsotsis.

He was a good and patient companion who had to wait for me while I was waiting in queues, first at the Home Affairs, which I thought would go quick, because there were only 3 people in the  queue before me, but it ended up taking a good hour for me to reach the front and then it was from one queue to another and at one point the electricity failed just as they were about to print something for me, luckily came back on after not too long, but then the computers took ages to restart...

I have to say though that the people who helped me were very helpful and had a lot of compassion for my situation.  It is really sad to have a city like Umthatha that could be so potentially beautiful and that has so many good-hearted people, to have at the same time so many wicked people plotting and scheming against their own people and any and all visitors to the place.  And it seems that the Police is also corrupt and accepts bribery to keep the tsotsis safe.  Why is it that way all over Africa?

When I left Home Affairs, I felt hopeful that things are going to work out and next stop was ABSA Bank.  Arriving there and seeing the queue put a bit of a damper on that.  The queue to the information and enquiries was about 25 people long and the other queue to the tellers possibly around 80 people.  I stood in the information queue and was standing for an hour and a half before I got my turn, only to hear that I need a proof of residence to be able to collect a new card.  Which I didn't have of course (I've been staying for 4 months in a caravan park...) and I was hoping to get a printout from them with my previous Cape Town address to use for my phone sim-card...

Once again the lady was very sympathetic towards me and called in the manager to help.  So, I got sent off to the manager's office to hear that they really can't give the card.  I was seriously praying at this point and losing my marbles slightly.  The manager was also very empathic and said that she also had a similar incident with the tsotsis.  There was another lady in the office as well who wanted to hear my story.  So they felt really bad for me and what happened to me while I came here to volunteer and teach the kids of the rural areas without even getting a salary.  So, I don't know what they did, but they got it organized for me that I could get my card after all!!  Praise God!!!

I was so happy and went off with Michael to go and buy some fruit and veggies, cause my diet has been neglected and I've been starting to feel a bit  unwell.  So, tomorrow is a new day!

To say thanks to Michael for sticking with me all day, I took him to the Mcdonalds Drive-thru, (he's never had Mcdonalds before, let alone drive-thru!).  It was quite a treat for him and he was so surprised when I ordered the food from a talking machine and he couldn't even see the person.  He kept on looking back to try to understand how it all happened so quickly!

200911, Tuesday after the ordeal, another Tsotsi and a small fish

I think I can cope now, it feels like everything’s going to be all right again, thanks to many supporting messages on Facebook and everyone else being really supportive. 

My friendly landlord lent me some cash for petrol etc. that my dad will return back into his account again.  I can’t do any internet or other banking transactions at the moment without my phone or ID or bank cards…

So this afternoon when Buyana was here, we went to get some petrol so that I can drive to Umtata again tomorrow after morning classes.  Then I quickly had to go see someone and on the way a fisherman stopped us with a nice big fish for R25. I’ve never before actually bought fish from the locals, it isn’t really in my budget, but today I needed something to cheer me up.   I had R50 on me left over from the petrol money, so I said all right, Buyana goes to the shop while he cleans the fish and I go to do my business quickly. 

After a while  Buyana came calling me, holding up a small fish.  So the guy cheated us by first showing us the big fish, then selling us the small one for the same price.  So we quickly drove and caught up with him and I told him, no man do the right thing here.   I said I’d buy the big fish for R25, not the little one.  So finally he handed it over.  I was not about to get robbed in daylight for the second day in a row.

So, me and Buyana went home, he quickly cleaned the fish, we picked up some wood on the beach and got a little fire going while I boiled some potatoes for a bit of a  salad.  We had a moment of playing djembe drum, I showed him a basic rhythm and then our food was ready.  Fresh fish from the ocean with lemon juice and garlic and some potato salad.  Now I feel much better thank you. 

Tuesday, after a most troublesome day

Well, yesterday was about the most horrible day I've had in quite a while, definitely my most horrible day in the Transkei in 4 months.

I went to Umtata to take Mydog for a checkup at the SPCA.  My friend, Lucy, also drove with to do some shopping.  I left her at the plaza, while I went on to the SPCA where everything went smoothly.  On my way back, I stopped at a shop to grab something to eat.  As I got back into my car, a man stood at the back of my car saying:"Mam, mam, someone scraped your car with a trolley and walked off."  As I had just gotten into the car, door not even closed yet, I automatically jumped out to see the so-called scrape, which there was no sign of, so I though oke, strange, thanked the guy and got back into the car.  I didn't even think anything further of it and drove off.  Only when I parked again, did I see that my bag is gone!  I couldn't believe it... I kept on looking and thinking, no it can't be, it must be under the seat or something.  But alas.

So, in my bag was my camera (my professional camera with my favorite lens, if you can imagine how much that cost!), my ID, Driver's license, wallet with debit and credit cards and my phone.  So I had no money, no proof of who I am and no ways to get money.  And my most prized possession, my camera is gone.

I first rushed off to the police station, hoping they could send someone on the street to look around for my bag, but of course no, I just had to go and wait in the queue.  I saw that that was going to take ages, so I first went to the bank to cancel my cards and then to a cell phone shop to bar my phone.  Some people were really terrible and offered no help whatsoever, but there were some really kind people like the people from the Cell C shop at the plaza.  They really helped me out and I'm very thankful for that.

Also at the ABSA, there was a friendly lady who directed me promptly to a special phone I could use to cancel my cards and the guy I spoke to on the phone was just great and empathetic to what just happened to me.

Back at the police station, it was a terrible wait in the queue as I knew I had little time and there no one was really going anywhere.  In the almost 2 hours that I waited there, the queue had only moved by 2 people and it was nearing closing time.  There was nothing I could do.  Finally, one policeman came around to ask what people's problems were to check if they're in the right queue.  When the people around me heard of my complaint, they were very kind to me and the man next to me, (who looked like a tsotsi himself, but obviously wasn't)  was so kind as to go to the officers in charge and beg of them to help me first as he could see my case was a bit serious and the time was running out!

So finally, the head officer, I assume helped me to take down my complaint and lay my case.  It took ages, but eventually I got my case nr and affidavit sorted out.

When I got to my car, which I parked close to the police station and in the shade, because Mydog was in my car for about 3 hours, I had gotten a parking ticket of R600 for parking too close to a traffic light, although  according to me, it was miles away and there was no line to show no parking.

In the meantime, I couldn't phone Lucy, or she me and when i went back to the Plaza I couldn't find her, so I just prayed that she took a taxi already and looked out for her along the road.  This morning she came to look for me at the school to see if I was all right.  And turns out she only had R10 with her and had a big mission to hike back from Umtata to Coffee Bay, but she got there safe after 3 hours....

Not a day to be repeated!

I can just add to this that on Saturday morning an Indian man came to me at the shop on the way to the school and said he had a word for me from God.

 It was Psalm 37:1-7
"Don't be worried on account of the wicked; don't be jealous of those who do wrong.  They will soon disappear like grass that dries up; they will die like plants that wither.

Trust in the Lord and do good; live in the land and be safe.  Seek your happiness in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desire.  Give yourself to the Lord; trust in Him and He will help you;
He will make your righteousness shine like the noonday sun.

Be patient and wait for the Lord to act; don't be worried about those who prosper or those who succeed in their evil plans."

160911, Friday, after a busy week

Some scenes at the pension day market in Coffee Bay

 Not sure what kind of beans these are, but I got about half a big tin full for R10...

The scavenger dogs love pension day...

Well, the week’s not over yet.  Tomorrow I have the grade 10 and 11s, my little bit of troublesome classes and extra challenge for the week.  I’m letting them write a test tomorrow, to find out just about where exactly they all are in their knowledge of English.  Cause I must confess, at this stage I don’t feel like I’m helping them very much, they are  on such multiple levels of English, ranging from almost Pre-Beginners to about Intermediate I’d say.  Now try having that in one class of unruly teenagers who really care more about socializing in their own language than English…  I really hope we can sort this out somehow…

Otherwise, successfully finished my first week at the Christian school and steadily falling in love with the kids there.  There are some real characters!  And I’m really enjoying the grade 8-9 class.  All 7 of them.  Their English is quite advanced and we’re able to have all sorts of interesting conversations and laugh a lot. 

There is one particular girl who is quite special and I pray that her life will be one big glorification to her Creator. Liza-Lisa.  A girl with dreams.  She’s quite a big girl with squintish eyes and wears glasses if she can find them.  Also they fit slightly skew over her nose.  She’s quite the comic character and seems to be the only one who has seen a little bit of the world outside Coffee bay to Umthatha region.  She’s even been to Cape Town and Century city and has knowledge of a range of different foods (that we take for granted- like hamburgers, hot dogs, pizzas, whatever) and other subjects.  She also enjoys amusing people and wants to go to Queenstown next year to some or other art/drama school.  I reckon she’ll do pretty well.  I’ll be sad for sure when she goes, but very happy for her.

Today, I had some questions for them in class, one being:  What is your inherent gift?  (I left it to see how many would know the word ‘inherent’, because I’d think they don’t know it, but they tend to surprise me). 

Anyway, so Liza Lisa was the first to answer and said: “My grandfather left me a gun.”  And she went on about this gun and how she uses it to shoot some birds, but doesn’t eat them, she gives them to her dog, or something like that.  Anyway, that got the class into a fit of laughter and I’m not sure if she actually knew what inherent meant and was just playing with us or what, but she sure was funny and everyone enjoyed it including herself. 

On the way home (I finish early on a Friday!)  I saw that it was pension day and went around to hand out some photographs that I took 2 months ago.  I bought some beans, a russian sausage and a new Xhosa skirt that I can't really afford...

Later, Buyana and little brother Aphiwe came over and we were covering the basics of I am, you are, he is etc.   This is going to take a while…  If I’m understanding Buyana correctly, he’s only been going to school for 5 years.  He’s 15 now and in grade 3.  That’s quite far behind.  His reading and writing is really bad.  As is his brother’s.  I don’t know what they’re learning in school every day.  Wish I could focus on them full time.