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…