I can't believe how quickly time is flying by right now, I only have 4 weeks left of this Semester before the Christmas Vacation. Its scary, the academic work is starting to pile up and i dont think the horizon will be clear now until i finish my degree in May. Although after Christmas time always goes so much quicker.
I have not been home for 2 months now and it really has not bothered me, so after 3 months it will be nice to get back to some home comforts, i have now been away for longer than when i was in South Africa. I am still missing it dearly, and its strange what we learn and appreciate. The thing i miss the most is my Grade 5 class, i wish i could just go and spend just one hour with the kids and see their smiles and have some awesome hugs from them. I hope for them all that everything is ok and their troubles are somehow getting easier if that is possible. I am still emailing the teacher i was working with who is keeping me updated with Blossom Street news. Once i have some spare time in January or over the holidays i am going to try and organise some fundraising or getting some supplies out to the school.
For me, things have changed ever since i stepped off the plane in Cape Town. I still think i dreamt it all sometimes, there is so much out there, 'Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.;The opportunities are endless if you just believe' Thats something South Africa taught me to believe in...XOXO
Showing posts with label Blossom street. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blossom street. Show all posts
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Saturday, 23 August 2008
You Need Love to light the shadows on your little faces...
Its 5pm on Saturday. Channon and I have just got back from the airport run. About 25 people left on the delta flight. It was surreal and so emotional. This journey has been totally amazing. I left London over six weeks ago having no idea what was ahead of me. I couldn’t have expected anything as amazing as this. It has exceeded my expectations 100 per cent.
The last couple of days have been very hard mentally and emotionally. Yesterday was the last day of placement for me at Blossom Street. I bought all the kids in my grade sweets and we had a little party. The girls did a special dance for me. Every single child had made me a leaving card and it was so hard not to cry the words they had written completely touched my heart. The principal then came to my class and read the thank you card I had written to the staff out and presented me with a letter of thanks and a small gift from the school. He thanked me for all my time and energy and told me he feels like I have really found ’home’ here in Cape Town and he couldn’t be nearer to the truth. Half 12 came and my driver arrived with everyone else already in the van. I went through to the other grade 5 class and stood in the middle of the room and all the children came and hugged me. I saw Apillele one of the little boys who has completely stolen my heart and I just burst into tears. I totally want to bring him home with me. I was just holding onto him and then I had to let go because I didn’t want to upset him. As I went to the entrance the teachers where all standing on the step waving me into the minibus. Mrs Abrahams who I have been working with was crying and it was so hard. They must think I am crazy, they have this western world white girl coming to their school and I am leaving in tears how can I explain that to a 9 year old? They have no idea how much they mean to me, how much I care for them and how much I hope every second that they will be ok. I don’t know what else to say. It has been a totally amazing experience and I have gained more than I ever could have imagined.
I climbed into the van and just put my I pod on ‘Wherever you will go’ came on and I realised how fitting it was. All these children need is love. We came home and it was tough. Annie was already home and she was a mess too. We had lunch and then started to do some packing…Channon and I walked to Little Mowbray to go to the shop and I realised that there is so much more I wanted to do and see and now I am out of time. These 6 weeks have gone in the blink of an eye. The weather was amazing so we slept in the garden before getting ready to go out for the last time as a group. We went to Cubana in Green Point and the whole house came which was awesome as this second group have really all integrated so perfectly and we had a great evening. I didn’t want to wake up this morning as I knew what was coming. The long goodbyes continued. Channon , Kate and I went to La Med in Clifton for brunch and one last outing. A couple of hours later and everyone was standing outside with their luggage and I sware I thought I had a lot of stuff with me it was crazy. We stopped at Home Base 2 for the last time and said our farewells. Cape Town international was pretty crazy and some of the girls had problems with their bags but all worked out. Once they had chacked in it was time for us to go back to the van and home back home. I really don’t think it has hit me yet. Theres only about 7 of us at home now. The fact that I am leaving tomorrow is hard enough but ill be travelling alone and I think that is when it will hit me. I am flying to Johannesburg in the morning and then on to Heathrow tomorrow evening. I don’t know what else to say at this point. There is just no way to describe how 50 people in 2 groups over 6 weeks can all click so well and experience so much together. It has been an emotional roller coaster at times but I wouldn’t change a second of it….. Love K xx
The last couple of days have been very hard mentally and emotionally. Yesterday was the last day of placement for me at Blossom Street. I bought all the kids in my grade sweets and we had a little party. The girls did a special dance for me. Every single child had made me a leaving card and it was so hard not to cry the words they had written completely touched my heart. The principal then came to my class and read the thank you card I had written to the staff out and presented me with a letter of thanks and a small gift from the school. He thanked me for all my time and energy and told me he feels like I have really found ’home’ here in Cape Town and he couldn’t be nearer to the truth. Half 12 came and my driver arrived with everyone else already in the van. I went through to the other grade 5 class and stood in the middle of the room and all the children came and hugged me. I saw Apillele one of the little boys who has completely stolen my heart and I just burst into tears. I totally want to bring him home with me. I was just holding onto him and then I had to let go because I didn’t want to upset him. As I went to the entrance the teachers where all standing on the step waving me into the minibus. Mrs Abrahams who I have been working with was crying and it was so hard. They must think I am crazy, they have this western world white girl coming to their school and I am leaving in tears how can I explain that to a 9 year old? They have no idea how much they mean to me, how much I care for them and how much I hope every second that they will be ok. I don’t know what else to say. It has been a totally amazing experience and I have gained more than I ever could have imagined.
I climbed into the van and just put my I pod on ‘Wherever you will go’ came on and I realised how fitting it was. All these children need is love. We came home and it was tough. Annie was already home and she was a mess too. We had lunch and then started to do some packing…Channon and I walked to Little Mowbray to go to the shop and I realised that there is so much more I wanted to do and see and now I am out of time. These 6 weeks have gone in the blink of an eye. The weather was amazing so we slept in the garden before getting ready to go out for the last time as a group. We went to Cubana in Green Point and the whole house came which was awesome as this second group have really all integrated so perfectly and we had a great evening. I didn’t want to wake up this morning as I knew what was coming. The long goodbyes continued. Channon , Kate and I went to La Med in Clifton for brunch and one last outing. A couple of hours later and everyone was standing outside with their luggage and I sware I thought I had a lot of stuff with me it was crazy. We stopped at Home Base 2 for the last time and said our farewells. Cape Town international was pretty crazy and some of the girls had problems with their bags but all worked out. Once they had chacked in it was time for us to go back to the van and home back home. I really don’t think it has hit me yet. Theres only about 7 of us at home now. The fact that I am leaving tomorrow is hard enough but ill be travelling alone and I think that is when it will hit me. I am flying to Johannesburg in the morning and then on to Heathrow tomorrow evening. I don’t know what else to say at this point. There is just no way to describe how 50 people in 2 groups over 6 weeks can all click so well and experience so much together. It has been an emotional roller coaster at times but I wouldn’t change a second of it….. Love K xx
Monday, 11 August 2008
Women's day Weekend - 8-10th August
I have never done/seen/experienced so much in one weekend ever…
Friday afternoon and placement was finished for the week and it was time for our free weekend. Friday evening we all arrived at Newlands stadium at about 7 to watch Western province take on the Sharks. We had amazing seats so we were very lucky. It was a great game, Nick played really well and I guess if hes a star of the future it was the game to be at as he was starting in number 8. After the game we were waiting for our cab which was going to be an hour so after going to the shop etc we just sat and waited. Then the players started coming out and getting into their cars so we where lucky enough to get our shirts signed and have photos taken with them, once again courtesy of my very friendly American friend Leslie. Afterwards we met up with some people at Oblivion in Claremont before heading to Wadda which was an experience I don’t think ill be repeating too soon. Was a good night though.
On Saturday morning I went to Bishops to watch Max a guy from the island whose on exchange here play rugby, and also Dean which was good. Great to see everyone and the atmosphere there is pretty awesome and Rugby is all that’s on the horizon when it’s a match day.
Saturday lunchtime we met our ride to Langa, the township which we would be staying in that night. I was a little apprehensive as we arrived as this was the first time we had been without proper CCS protection so to say. Annie , Erica and I bought food and we had a bbq and we gave out dinner to some of the surrounding families near to where we where staying at ‘Radebe’s B and B and Coffee Shack’. All the people we met where amazing, we walked about and visited some people’s shacks/homes. Definitely worthwhile and it was only a shame we had to stay in after dark due to safety issues. I ended up sleeping in a room by myself which was scary but I just locked the door and there where bars on the windows so I soon dozed off before Alexander called me at 6 am when he ha arrived home.. Talked to Mum on Sunday morning which was nice to have a catch up and fill her in on everything I have been doing. Its hard to explain it all in a few words because there really is no way of doing it. A month here and now it really does feel great. The kids at my placement have given me so much just through seeing them everyday.
On Sunday Gavin our guide from Cape Extreme collected 6 others and myself and we set off for a wine tour around Paarl and Stellenbosch. We visited 3 different wineries which was great and Stellenbosch is a beautiful place. Anyway who goes to University there is truly privileged…We are trying to make a plan to go and spend a night there this weekend if possible before the others leave.
Paul one of the guys here said the other day ‘we need to stop abusing the rand’ and that was such a fitting thing to say…I have been really lucky with the exchange rate over here that during free time I guess we have indulged a bit. I feel like this has been a huge part of the experience as after definitely getting our hands dirty at placement it is what is needed to unwind and discuss the day. Today was the start of my 5th week at Blossom Street. I spent the second half of my morning helping Glenda and Kara two of the new volunteers with a new initiative they decided could help the school. - To set up a library. We organised all the books so far, they where all so old and falling apart there was dust everywhere but I think it’s a fantastic idea just one basic thing we take for granted. Most of the books are from the 70’s and have been donated from other libraries including schools in the UK and the States. Its crazy!!
I just chatted with Tahira the placement co ordinator and she is going to set me up with an afternoon placement this week. In either and AIDS/HIV childrens hospital or a mental illness institute so I am very excited and hope it works out because I have been thinking a lot about what I want to do when I return home and I definitely want to see another aspect of a placement outside of the education sector. So I will let you know how that goes and where abouts I am placed.
During my stay in Langa I found this quote on one of the flyers in the coffee shack I think its very fitting for what im feeling right now ….
‘The use of travelling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are’ - Samuel Johnson
Love K xx
Friday afternoon and placement was finished for the week and it was time for our free weekend. Friday evening we all arrived at Newlands stadium at about 7 to watch Western province take on the Sharks. We had amazing seats so we were very lucky. It was a great game, Nick played really well and I guess if hes a star of the future it was the game to be at as he was starting in number 8. After the game we were waiting for our cab which was going to be an hour so after going to the shop etc we just sat and waited. Then the players started coming out and getting into their cars so we where lucky enough to get our shirts signed and have photos taken with them, once again courtesy of my very friendly American friend Leslie. Afterwards we met up with some people at Oblivion in Claremont before heading to Wadda which was an experience I don’t think ill be repeating too soon. Was a good night though.
On Saturday morning I went to Bishops to watch Max a guy from the island whose on exchange here play rugby, and also Dean which was good. Great to see everyone and the atmosphere there is pretty awesome and Rugby is all that’s on the horizon when it’s a match day.
Saturday lunchtime we met our ride to Langa, the township which we would be staying in that night. I was a little apprehensive as we arrived as this was the first time we had been without proper CCS protection so to say. Annie , Erica and I bought food and we had a bbq and we gave out dinner to some of the surrounding families near to where we where staying at ‘Radebe’s B and B and Coffee Shack’. All the people we met where amazing, we walked about and visited some people’s shacks/homes. Definitely worthwhile and it was only a shame we had to stay in after dark due to safety issues. I ended up sleeping in a room by myself which was scary but I just locked the door and there where bars on the windows so I soon dozed off before Alexander called me at 6 am when he ha arrived home.. Talked to Mum on Sunday morning which was nice to have a catch up and fill her in on everything I have been doing. Its hard to explain it all in a few words because there really is no way of doing it. A month here and now it really does feel great. The kids at my placement have given me so much just through seeing them everyday.
On Sunday Gavin our guide from Cape Extreme collected 6 others and myself and we set off for a wine tour around Paarl and Stellenbosch. We visited 3 different wineries which was great and Stellenbosch is a beautiful place. Anyway who goes to University there is truly privileged…We are trying to make a plan to go and spend a night there this weekend if possible before the others leave.
Paul one of the guys here said the other day ‘we need to stop abusing the rand’ and that was such a fitting thing to say…I have been really lucky with the exchange rate over here that during free time I guess we have indulged a bit. I feel like this has been a huge part of the experience as after definitely getting our hands dirty at placement it is what is needed to unwind and discuss the day. Today was the start of my 5th week at Blossom Street. I spent the second half of my morning helping Glenda and Kara two of the new volunteers with a new initiative they decided could help the school. - To set up a library. We organised all the books so far, they where all so old and falling apart there was dust everywhere but I think it’s a fantastic idea just one basic thing we take for granted. Most of the books are from the 70’s and have been donated from other libraries including schools in the UK and the States. Its crazy!!
I just chatted with Tahira the placement co ordinator and she is going to set me up with an afternoon placement this week. In either and AIDS/HIV childrens hospital or a mental illness institute so I am very excited and hope it works out because I have been thinking a lot about what I want to do when I return home and I definitely want to see another aspect of a placement outside of the education sector. So I will let you know how that goes and where abouts I am placed.
During my stay in Langa I found this quote on one of the flyers in the coffee shack I think its very fitting for what im feeling right now ….
‘The use of travelling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are’ - Samuel Johnson
Love K xx
Saturday, 26 July 2008
From Capetown with love
Good Morning...
It is about 9 am in CapeTown and the sun is shining!! I desperately wanted a lie in today as 6:30 am wake up calls tire you out but no such luck i think my body clock is set to wake up early now. The house is very quiet as a big group went off to do the Garden route for the weekend and another couple have just left for a wine tour.
Yesterday was the end of another week at Blossom street. Time is flying by..On thursday afternoon we took a tour to the Cape Malay quarter and learnt about the slave trade and also went to the slave house/museum in the city centre. As we learn more about the history of this country it becomes clear why the people living here are living the way they are surrounded by violence and crime.
Last night we decided to go to this local wine bar which is more of a chilled out place with a fire and sofas etc. We called the cab as usual and Annie Leslie and myself got in. The driver had no idea where to go and we ended up in back streets and he was shouting etc. It was a pretty scary situation we are all aware of what is going on but the thing that struck me was driving through a residential area which was only really in an average area, every house had the 'ADT Security' signs outside or posted on their gates and walls. To think everyone has an armed response unit ready to be at their property in 3 minutes is quite a numbing thought. We met some local people and randomly it turns out a girl i went to school with years ago on the island was a really good friend of theirs. Such a small world!!
So i feel like time is flying, im learning , things are starting to make sense...Next Saturday alot of my group are leaving to go back home and the new intake will be here so will be nice to meet some more new people and we have a busy week ahead with placements, talks and on monday we are visiting Robben Island which im really looking forward to...I hope you all enjoy the weekend and those of you at home, the manx sun is shining. I am heading to Newlands today to watch a Western province game and i think Bishops are playing the 'curtain raiser' so will be nice to get some fresh air and do something different although my camera which i bought the day i left London is broken already along with 3 other girls here so im pretty gutted/irritated about that. I will update you all later... Will Love from Capetown :) xx
It is about 9 am in CapeTown and the sun is shining!! I desperately wanted a lie in today as 6:30 am wake up calls tire you out but no such luck i think my body clock is set to wake up early now. The house is very quiet as a big group went off to do the Garden route for the weekend and another couple have just left for a wine tour.
Yesterday was the end of another week at Blossom street. Time is flying by..On thursday afternoon we took a tour to the Cape Malay quarter and learnt about the slave trade and also went to the slave house/museum in the city centre. As we learn more about the history of this country it becomes clear why the people living here are living the way they are surrounded by violence and crime.
Last night we decided to go to this local wine bar which is more of a chilled out place with a fire and sofas etc. We called the cab as usual and Annie Leslie and myself got in. The driver had no idea where to go and we ended up in back streets and he was shouting etc. It was a pretty scary situation we are all aware of what is going on but the thing that struck me was driving through a residential area which was only really in an average area, every house had the 'ADT Security' signs outside or posted on their gates and walls. To think everyone has an armed response unit ready to be at their property in 3 minutes is quite a numbing thought. We met some local people and randomly it turns out a girl i went to school with years ago on the island was a really good friend of theirs. Such a small world!!
So i feel like time is flying, im learning , things are starting to make sense...Next Saturday alot of my group are leaving to go back home and the new intake will be here so will be nice to meet some more new people and we have a busy week ahead with placements, talks and on monday we are visiting Robben Island which im really looking forward to...I hope you all enjoy the weekend and those of you at home, the manx sun is shining. I am heading to Newlands today to watch a Western province game and i think Bishops are playing the 'curtain raiser' so will be nice to get some fresh air and do something different although my camera which i bought the day i left London is broken already along with 3 other girls here so im pretty gutted/irritated about that. I will update you all later... Will Love from Capetown :) xx
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Comfort comes after a struggle...
Hey Hey Hey...
Its wednesday and i cant believe i am already halfway through another week at my placement. This morning i taught my first lesson to the grade 5 class. The subject was District 6 which was something that came about in an area as a concequence of apartheid so it was quite a delicate subject. It actually went really well so i feel more relaxed now. The teachers at the school are just briallint and i cant say enough good things about the children. Then it was story time so i took my class outside and read them the story about 'Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves' as the sun shone down.
Today we had a special assembly to celebrate Nelson Mandela's birthday. The whole school sat out in their yard and they where so well bahaved it was amazing to watch as the principal along with some grade 7 pupils helped to deliver the story. We heard Mandela's history and everything he has achieved and then everyone sang happy birthday to him. It was very moving to see how he is worshipped and honoured by the community and children that are so young. Estelle one of the other CCS volunteers was asked to go to the front and light a candle for Mandela which was left burning throughout the ceremony. When i went to leave at 12:30 the kids where all running up to say bye. They are just so lovely..today was one of those days where we walked out smiling when we where collected...
We where home for half 1 or so and today we had some perspective programming which prepared us for our tour of the Malay and slave museuams tomorrow afternoon. We had a Cape Malay lunch and talk by Tahira the placement manager at CCS South Africa. It was really informative and we got to hear about her culture and all the different traditions they have..The sun is shining and some of the group have gone to hike table mountain or to Camps Bay beach. Its pretty chilly but really good atmosphere in the house although i am one of the minority who is not battling with an illness at the moment which is a bit rubbish. I think we may be going to venture to a place on Loop Street this evening called 'Bang Bang' interesting name for a place.... Lots of Love , K x
Its wednesday and i cant believe i am already halfway through another week at my placement. This morning i taught my first lesson to the grade 5 class. The subject was District 6 which was something that came about in an area as a concequence of apartheid so it was quite a delicate subject. It actually went really well so i feel more relaxed now. The teachers at the school are just briallint and i cant say enough good things about the children. Then it was story time so i took my class outside and read them the story about 'Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves' as the sun shone down.
Today we had a special assembly to celebrate Nelson Mandela's birthday. The whole school sat out in their yard and they where so well bahaved it was amazing to watch as the principal along with some grade 7 pupils helped to deliver the story. We heard Mandela's history and everything he has achieved and then everyone sang happy birthday to him. It was very moving to see how he is worshipped and honoured by the community and children that are so young. Estelle one of the other CCS volunteers was asked to go to the front and light a candle for Mandela which was left burning throughout the ceremony. When i went to leave at 12:30 the kids where all running up to say bye. They are just so lovely..today was one of those days where we walked out smiling when we where collected...
We where home for half 1 or so and today we had some perspective programming which prepared us for our tour of the Malay and slave museuams tomorrow afternoon. We had a Cape Malay lunch and talk by Tahira the placement manager at CCS South Africa. It was really informative and we got to hear about her culture and all the different traditions they have..The sun is shining and some of the group have gone to hike table mountain or to Camps Bay beach. Its pretty chilly but really good atmosphere in the house although i am one of the minority who is not battling with an illness at the moment which is a bit rubbish. I think we may be going to venture to a place on Loop Street this evening called 'Bang Bang' interesting name for a place.... Lots of Love , K x
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
First Day at Blossom Primary
Afternoon all,
its about 3:15 right now we just had lunch and placement feedback with Luann and now we have an hour or so till we need to get organised for our Afrikaans or isiXHOSA lessons. The lessons are important to help us grasp some basic words which we may need at our placements so very worthwhile. Its pretty darn cold today and the sky is grey so lots of tea and coffee.
This morning at 7am i was up and at breakfast ready to board the buses at 7:45. We have 4 minibuses which all take us on different routes to the township placements. Myself Joanna and Alex where dropped at Blossom Primary which is in Silvertown a coloured township area. I didnt really know what to expect so kept expectations low. On arrival we met the principal and vice principal who where extremely welcoming and friendly. There are about 700 children in the school with only about 10-12 teachers max so things can get pretty hectic. Im going to be working with a grade 5 class who are about 10-11 years old. There 44 children in the one classroom which is pretty cramped. The teacher who was called Mrs.Abrahams was amazing, she has taught there for over 35 years..I quickly realised that this was not what i really had expected... The kids all had uniforms on and were so bright. They asked if i had been to th eLondon bridge and where so keen to know everything. It was a very mixed class some living in basic housing and others in shacks. The kids where all so well disciplined and respectful - completely different to kids in UK schools. The classes are taught in Afrikaans and English so the children are ulimately blingual which is brilliant. I got to talk to Mrs Abrahams a bit before break time which they call 'interval' at half 10. We went to the staffroom and had tea and met the other teachers. There was a big discussion about the food situation becuase the school has a feeding programme for the children whose parents cant afford to feed them - the basics even 2 slices of bread. this was pretty heart wrenching as before break the kids all had to say if they had brought food (which is basically 2 or 3 slices of bread, with butter if they are lucky) the children that hadnt brought anything where kind of forced to stand out and i guess this is where i began to notice the difference in how schools are run over here. parents dont give their kids bread becuase they know if they dont the school can sometimes provide so this becomes a little bit of a tricky situation. One boy Jason was pointed out to me, he lives alone in a township with his alcoholic mother. Jason is 10 years old yet he does everything for himself including walking to and from school through a high risk, dangerous area. He came to school this morning and told his teacher that he was worried becuase his mum was out at a friends till 3am leaving him alone and she got attacked whilst on her way home by men with a bottle. She was drunk and didnt make it to work today, He was worrying because he knew no work meant no money which meant no rent. The thought that this is what a 10 year old boy has on the weight of his shoulders is pretty tough to deal with...
I am so excited for tomorrow already and hope that we can do alot with these kids. They are so bright and eager to hear about the western world....I am lucky i was hesitant about my placement but in feedback sess. today the 25 or so of us sat around and everyone had to say how first day went. There was alot of emotions floating about. Some of the girls are working at an Aids hospice and their are very little resources in these places. Annie my room mate is working at one organisation which helps immigrants and migrants. Today she helped a Zimbabwean refugee find clothing, 3 items - shoes a shirt and pants thats it. She got to talk to him about why he is here and she heard how he is currently living under a bridge... I know this is going to sound so cliched but we really have no idea how lucky we really are....xx
its about 3:15 right now we just had lunch and placement feedback with Luann and now we have an hour or so till we need to get organised for our Afrikaans or isiXHOSA lessons. The lessons are important to help us grasp some basic words which we may need at our placements so very worthwhile. Its pretty darn cold today and the sky is grey so lots of tea and coffee.
This morning at 7am i was up and at breakfast ready to board the buses at 7:45. We have 4 minibuses which all take us on different routes to the township placements. Myself Joanna and Alex where dropped at Blossom Primary which is in Silvertown a coloured township area. I didnt really know what to expect so kept expectations low. On arrival we met the principal and vice principal who where extremely welcoming and friendly. There are about 700 children in the school with only about 10-12 teachers max so things can get pretty hectic. Im going to be working with a grade 5 class who are about 10-11 years old. There 44 children in the one classroom which is pretty cramped. The teacher who was called Mrs.Abrahams was amazing, she has taught there for over 35 years..I quickly realised that this was not what i really had expected... The kids all had uniforms on and were so bright. They asked if i had been to th eLondon bridge and where so keen to know everything. It was a very mixed class some living in basic housing and others in shacks. The kids where all so well disciplined and respectful - completely different to kids in UK schools. The classes are taught in Afrikaans and English so the children are ulimately blingual which is brilliant. I got to talk to Mrs Abrahams a bit before break time which they call 'interval' at half 10. We went to the staffroom and had tea and met the other teachers. There was a big discussion about the food situation becuase the school has a feeding programme for the children whose parents cant afford to feed them - the basics even 2 slices of bread. this was pretty heart wrenching as before break the kids all had to say if they had brought food (which is basically 2 or 3 slices of bread, with butter if they are lucky) the children that hadnt brought anything where kind of forced to stand out and i guess this is where i began to notice the difference in how schools are run over here. parents dont give their kids bread becuase they know if they dont the school can sometimes provide so this becomes a little bit of a tricky situation. One boy Jason was pointed out to me, he lives alone in a township with his alcoholic mother. Jason is 10 years old yet he does everything for himself including walking to and from school through a high risk, dangerous area. He came to school this morning and told his teacher that he was worried becuase his mum was out at a friends till 3am leaving him alone and she got attacked whilst on her way home by men with a bottle. She was drunk and didnt make it to work today, He was worrying because he knew no work meant no money which meant no rent. The thought that this is what a 10 year old boy has on the weight of his shoulders is pretty tough to deal with...
I am so excited for tomorrow already and hope that we can do alot with these kids. They are so bright and eager to hear about the western world....I am lucky i was hesitant about my placement but in feedback sess. today the 25 or so of us sat around and everyone had to say how first day went. There was alot of emotions floating about. Some of the girls are working at an Aids hospice and their are very little resources in these places. Annie my room mate is working at one organisation which helps immigrants and migrants. Today she helped a Zimbabwean refugee find clothing, 3 items - shoes a shirt and pants thats it. She got to talk to him about why he is here and she heard how he is currently living under a bridge... I know this is going to sound so cliched but we really have no idea how lucky we really are....xx
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