One Year On

''Dear Katie,On behalf of all the staff at Cross-Cultural Solutions I would like to express our appreciation for your time spent in South Africa. As of today’s date, it has been 1 year since you began your Volunteer Abroad program. During your time in South Africa, you became a part of the local community, sharing your culture with the people you met while learning from them about a culture different from your own.Your work has touched lives and opened minds. Our local staff and the community where you worked will remember you as a caring individual who gave your time to understand a different culture and create positive change. We are touched by the schools, orphanages, and other local initiatives who continually tell us about the positive impact of CCS volunteers.We hope you returned home with a new perspective of your place in the global community and feel closer to the community in which you served. ''

I feel that that email which i received today sums up everything i gained from my volunteer experience in Cape Town. Annie my roomate at 3 hermitage and partner in crime is a fellow blogger and writes amazing posts, here is her latest one... 'One Year On' :

On Friday night, we decided to go out. We called a cab and told the driver to take us to Oblivion, a wine bar that the volunteers frequent. Everything started out fine, until we realized that it was taking much too long and that we were driving around in circles. We were a little nervous, because we were driving down narrow streets in pitch dark in an area we didn’t know. Katie, who is good at directions, tried to help the cabbie from the backseat. Leslie was getting a little agitated, and suggested that the driver call base and ask for directions. Thirty rand later, he acquiesced. He got the address from dispatch, but evidently still did not know how to get to that particular street. Instead of risking looking stupid by calling back, he chose to waste more of our time and money, and was getting frustrated. He slowed down and started following a teenage girl, who was walking on the sidewalk, and yelled at her for directions. She did what any smart girl would do: shrugged, picked up the pace and ignored him. "Your mother's a puss!" he shouted at her angrily. Things were getting tense, and Leslie would. not. shut. up. She was spewing contempt, and getting hysterical about our rapidly increasing fare. Katie and I kept shooting each other looks, wide-eyed. I was saying stupid shit like, "It's probably right up here," in an attempt to de-escalate the situation so we wouldn't end up on Dateline. Eventually, the crazy cabbie actually hit another car. Not hard - it was more like a scrape - but he just kept going. He drove to a little store, put the car in park and hopped out to go in and ask for directions. In doing this, he committed a cardinal sin. He left three females sitting in an unlocked, running car with an open door, in South Africa. He was probably praying that someone would jack it and put him out of his misery.
By some miracle, we eventually got to Oblivion. Thanks to Leslie, I am pretty sure that we only paid half the amount that was displayed on the meter. We ended up meeting a couple of guys that night, one of which was the son of a reverend. Leslie made out with him, and for the next few weeks we would frequently burst into, “The only one who could ever reach me, was the son of a preacher man!” Katie got a little drunk and grilled the other guy on race relations, which was pretty entertaining.

There was so much more to come. There would be a wine tasting excursion, trips to the mall, an overnight in a township, African dance parties in the Afrikaans room, a night that Katie and I never came home and thought we would be kicked out of the program, and many conversations that centered around Leslie doubting my judgment, but laughing at me anyway. After that weekend, we would go on to share a friendship with Tom, a special place in our hearts for Western Province rugby, and more nights at Oblivion and the Dubliner. We would share countless meals of chicken and carbs on the porch, Leslie’s hair dryer, secrets, cabs to Rondebosch for chocolate, inside jokes, our love for the staff, a penthouse suite at the Mandela Rhodes, and tearful goodbyes. Most importantly we share a bond with each other and memories that will undoubtedly last a lifetime. And it all started because of that one little weekend.
Posted by Annie http://annielost.blogspot.com/

Its been an amazing year, I would do anything for a reunion right now...I am also graduating this week so off to Leeds tomorrow morning. So very excited to see everyone in Leeds again...

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

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

2 Days, 2 Worlds One City!! - CAPETOWN

Hi guys,
So i am finally all settled in Capetown at the home base. So far so good. Am rooming with 3 other girls all from the States. Our home base is pretty big housing 30 of us girls and the boys get to sleep in what they call the 'man cave' outside right by the security. On arrival i was given a thorough explanation of the security, bars, gates and where the panic alarms are situated. We have security but they are not armed as the house manager feels that would attract more attention. We have a direct response to a security company which can reach us in 3 minutes with back up. So all seems rather scary at first... Yesterday we had orientation which started with all the rules and guidelines. what to do what not to do etc.. we where welcomed by Luann our Afrikaans programme manager and she is absolutely lovely. However the 'Welcome to Capetown , probably the crime and murder capital of the world' sent a few shock waves out!! However we all know the situation here... So after orientation in the morning we went on a tour of Capetown, We where driven upto Signal hill where we got what was an absolutely amazing view of the city and devils peak i think. The sun was shining as we drove down to Camps bay.. absolutely gorgeous beach area very cosmopolitan and european cafes and all the posers pretty much Puerto Banus without the boats.. We got to paddle in the sea and then we drove back past Clifton and Bantry bay. You could be in Miami, or anywhere in the world!! You could tell this was the upmarket area..We came home and changed then a few of us went to the Waterfront and had dinner and some wine at a pizza place.. lovely to walk around down there and felt very safe our taxis collected and dropped us right by the entrance...Curfew is 11 during the week and is needed due to the early starts.
This morning alrams went off at 7 and so the day began..it was pitch black and kind of chilly. After breakfast we split into our groups and my group was first to head of on a township tour of the communities which we will be working in. We had a great guide who came with us and the CCS driver. We first stopped at District 6 which is an area filled with history from the apartheid era. Then we travlled to Langa a township.. the poverty was hard hitting and it was something which cannot really be explained until you see it. Millions of people literally living in this 'black' township. The people there where so welcoming. We met this 77 year old gentleman who invited us into his room which he shared with 3 other families. He pays the equilavent of one pound a month for his bed and space. Outside there was rubbish littered all around and children playing one thing that struck me was how happy these people appeared. How friendly they where and how relaxed. I feel like they dont really have any idea what is outside their township let alone around the world..and they are unaffected by this. 2000 people arrive in Capetown each day from other countries in Africa trying to find a better life. We went through Athlone and Guguleto 'coloured' townships and the infamous Cape Flats area. Once we returned to the home base for the second part of orientation which was about our placements and what we will be doing. I will be based at Blossom Primary with 2 other volunteers Alex and Joanna which is very exciting. Tomorrow is our first day and our placement manager will accompany us to introduce us to our supervisors etc. We are collected at 7:45 and the CCS drivers will then do the round dropping everyone at their various placements within the townships.. The drivers are local so Luann explained to us that if at any time their was a problem or they felt it was unsafe to go into the areas they wouldnt hesitate and we would never be placed in that position. Only recently when the Xenophobic attacks occured did they have an incident like this. We then had a history of South Africa given to us by Luann who seems amazing, she told us what it was like living in SA as a white south african during apartheid. She has met Nelson mandela twice and his family numerous times. Very interesting lady i think...

About 5 ' o clock orientation was over so i decided to walk to Rondebosch which is ten mins away with some of the others.Rondebosch is a student area right by the University of Capetown. Its nothing like Leeds AT ALL!! To be honest you do feel rather uncomfortable walking around and its so different to what i am used to. We cant bring our bags with us or display and phones, jewellery or the like. We also have to be back by 6 the time it starts getting dark. If we want to go out after this time we have to take a taxi. Everything is really cheap here compared to at home so far..the americans are all loving the exchange rate too. Its so hard to undestand the great divide in this city. Aprtheid is over but their is still this vibe looming overhead. On the way to langa the black township we passed a ferrari and Maserati dealership...such a huge divide its unexplainable. I am so excited to start my placement tomorrow. No matter what my thoughts and expectations where before i arrived , today i realised that the children definately steal your hearts!! Love K xx

TouchDown!!

Hi All,

So i am finally in Capetown, it seems pretty surreal. Currently sitting in the home base lounge whilst everyone is arriving and settling in. I arrived at about half 11 this morning and was collected at the airport by the CCS driver and brough to the home base. passed through the townships - Langa being one on the way here but will be seeing more tomorrow on the guided tour. The flight was actually alright i didnt sleep for the whole 12 hours but randomly met some dutch students at heathrow who wanted to swap seats with me but ended up sitting with them and some unaccompanied minors so passed the time.

I was shown around the home base on arrival and the staff here are all lovely. The train runs right past our back garden and Rondebosch is only 5 mins away. Will explore more tomorrow. had an amazing view of Table Mountain as we landed in CapeTown and some of the mountains where even covered in snow. Its pretty chilly here but at least theres no rain. Orientation starts at 9am tomorrow so we will have everything explained to us then before placements begin on Tuesday!! All very exciting...!! Love K xx