Washing a Blanket: South African Style

Put your soap in the basin. Then, pump and haul water to fill the basin half way with soapy water.

Place the blanket in the soapy water and let it soak for a bit.

Climb in and stomp on the blanket. Make sure to get the whole thing. Moving around the basin in a circle can help make sure you don’t miss a spot.

Pile the blanket onto a rack to let the soapy water drain off. Squeeze the excess water out.

Pump and haul fresh water to the basin. Dump the blanket into the fresh water.

Climb in and stomp the blanket again.

Pile the blanket onto a rack to let the water drain. Squeeze the excess water out.

Take the blanket to the clothes line or fence. It requires 2 people to lift the heavy blanket onto its drying place. Double the pegs and let it dry all day.

Packing Up

As I’m getting ready to leave, I must make a bunch of decisions. I get to take with me 1 bag (20kg) and 1 bag (5kg). What to take, what to leave, what to toss, what to give and to whom. I’m discovering it’s a balancing act. After leaving Mare, I figured this part would be easier the second time around. I downsized when I moved and only had a few extra things when I came here. However, I’m finding it more difficult this time. Since I was planning to leave Brooksby 2 months ago, my bag has been packed, emptied, repacked, repacked several more times. Each time, a few things get added or taken away. With a week left in the village, I have finalized my list of must go and will stay items. I’ve had my bag mostly packed for a few weeks, but now it’s done. I just hope they’re not overweight, which I’m almost positive both are.

I spent my morning washing clothes that I know I will leave in Brooksby. I sorted through my food and cooking items. I have a good idea now of what I will and will not leave. I’ve organized, sorted, and piled. And even so, I still don’t feel prepared to leave. I know it’s going to happen this time. I even have my plane ticket out of South Africa (I still need one to the states though). My going away braai is set for Friday and I will leave Brooksby after the braai. My final report is submitted along with my site review and a formal description of my entire service. And yet, I don’t feel like I’m really leaving.

The teachers are still striking and I am frustrated that I don’t get to do any work for my last 3 weeks of service. It is the time volunteers wind down projects, say their goodbyes, and prepare for their departure. Although I didn’t have anything big going on, I won’t get to finish the little things I started.

This is definitely one time in my life I will never forget.

Mafikeng

I went with one of my friends to Mafikeng today. It was the first time I’ve been there just to go. I didn’t realize how big it is. When I had been there before, I only went to one small area around the bus and taxi ranks. There were stores there and everything I needed. I didn’t explore more since I knew I’d be leaving so soon. However, there are several nice malls, movie theaters, and lots of places I didn’t know about. I think I’m glad I didn’t know about all that stuff. It would have sucked my time and money dry. But it was a nice relaxing trip. And since I don’t need anything more, I didn’t have to worry or stress about getting things done or getting to any place in particular. I’m glad I got to get out of the village and relax a little.

Burn Pile

My host mom had a fire today in the yard. I was so glad because I had a bunch of things I wanted to get rid of. For some reason (I'm guessing it's so she or someone can rummage through the things I'm getting rid of) she doesn't want me to have my own fire in the pit. That is so frustrating. So I added my things to the pit. 1 more pile less in my room! :)

Gigantic Spider

So during the winter, there were several types of small spiders in my room. No big deal. I could easily squish them and they never bothered me. So here I am sitting on my bed and scurrying across my floor is the most gigantic spider ever. Where did it come from? Where is it headed? Ick! It kind of looks a bit drunk as it is weaving back and forth across my floor. When it turned and came at me on the bed, I decided I had to take action. I got out my trusty flip flop and took a swing. I missed and obviously didn’t stomp my feet before I came in last time. Dirt in the perfect flop shape. I continued to swing at the spider leaving a trail of dirt until I finally got the thing. Guts spilled into a gross pile on the floor. YUCK! Maybe I should be glad I am getting out of here before all the other bugs come out again.

Currency Exchange

So, I'm planning my trip home via East Africa.  I leave South Africa Sept. 11.  As I'm making my final arrangements, I realize I need US dollars.  Visas are required in US$ cash upon arrival.  Some activities I have planned are US$ cash only.  So here I am in South Africa, stuck.  I visited the bank 2 Saturdays ago to see if they exchange money.  Yes, they do, but it has to be on a week day.  I haven't had a chance to go during the week yet, but with the teacher strike, I totally can go.  I called the bank to see if I could order money because I don't want to pay for a trip to town if I can't do what I need to do.  Well, I got a run around first, being put on hold several times as well as being disconnected a few times.  Finally, I got a lady who seemed to know what was going on.  This is what the lady at the bank told me.

I need my US passport.  Check.

I need my plane ticket out of South Africa.  Check.

I need an account at their bank.  Check.

I need 2.5 days for her to order and receive the cash.  Check.

I need proof of my volunteer status.  Does my ID card with the organization I volunteer with work?  No.  What do I need to prove it?  She had no answer but this,  "You need the paperwork to prove it."  What paperwork?  The paperwork from your organization.  What???

I need proof of money deposits into the account.  What?!?  What does that mean?  Can I use my monthly bank statement?  No.  What do I need as proof?  Something to document that money was deposited into your account.  Like what?  Something to document that money was deposited into your account.  What specifically?  Something from the person who put money into the account.  Like a deposit slip?  That might work.  What if there isn't a slip because it was an electronic deposit? Well, you need proof of deposit.

Well then what the heck?  How am I supposed to exchange money?  I have money.  I have proof of my identity.  Why is this so complicated?  I can leave South Africa, but I won't be able to arrive in Tanzania without US$ for a visa.  I'm so frustrated!

Cock Fight

And the boredom continues as the teachers are still striking.  But I did see an entertaining cock fight while walking around today.

The Gift Of The Cow

This magical moment was made possible by my wonderful boyfriend Adam. Today, I gave a little stuffed cow to the cutest little 3 year old girl named Riah. Riah doesn’t have any stuffed animals. Her toys are few. She plays in the dirt with rubbish she can find like a thrown out plastic spoon. She runs around with the other children in the village and finds ways to entertain herself with whatever she can find. She was so overjoyed for the new toy. She couldn’t stop smiling as she ran around the house making noises (I think they were “from the cow”). She made the cow “prance” around on the floor. She hugged it. Now she has something soft and cuddly to play with. So much joy from such a little gesture. I’m glad I could give her this cow. As I left, she raced out the door and was going to walk me home, still so excited and thankful for the cow. Her mom had to finally pick her up and hold her back since she didn’t want to leave my side. Such a good morning.  Thank you Adam.  :) 

Last Trip To Town

I’ve got mixed feelings having been to town for the last time. Granted Lichtenburg isn’t that great, but there’s something about it I will miss. It, just like Groblersdal, has a certain hustle and bustle of people walking around and all the shops being comfortable now. (Leave your bags at the door. Look around. Stand in line forever if you wish to buy something…)

This morning, I thought I heard the bus, so I ran out to the bus stop. It was cold and windy. An hour later, the bus actually showed up. I was wrong about hearing it, but I wasn’t the only one. There were 3 others who were waiting for the bus as well. We walked to a nearby house and tried to shield ourselves from the wind. We got to town an hour late and I went around to my usual shops. Getting to town an hour late really put a damper on my town activities. I had a nice lunch at Whimpy at my normal 10:15 time before heading to the Internet Café. B.O. It smelled so bad inside, but I went in to do my business anyway. Upon returning to the bus, I read in my book waiting to leave. Not a bad day in town. I just wish I could stay in town longer or go more often. That is one thing I won’t miss about being in rural South Africa.

Vuvuzela

Vuvuzela has been added to the dictionary! http://bit.ly/9fpqr6 

Teacher Strike

The teachers in South Africa are on a National Teacher’s Strike. Teachers unions are huge and powerful here. Every year around this time, they usually go on strike demanding more money and subsidized housing. So…Tuesday the strike began. Teachers all over the country just didn’t show up to school. The students arrive to locked doors and empty classrooms. Some places the teachers have left work for the students to study, other places just stop. My school, the teachers are coming late in the morning and leaving after lunch. So, my last few days have been very short. I wish I could continue to work with the grade 7 learners on their book, but for safety of PCVs, we are told not to go to school or plan any work while the strike continues. This sucks! I’m running out of things to do with my free time and am so bored already.

Balance

I saw the coolest lesson today. The learners were making a balance out of sticks and string to balance a pouch of rocks and a can with water. So cool!

Picture Perfect

I took my first group out in the village today to take pictures. It was a bit stressful, even with the planning they had done. Each learner had to write down what he or she would take a picture of. I also made a list of pictures someone in each group could take that would fit with the text they wrote (in case they got stuck and didn’t know what to photograph). Wow was it difficult to get the learners to take pictures that would match their words. It took over an hour for us to take 7 photos. But, we finally got the hang of it with some of the sharper and more English inclined learners helping out. Hopefully the next few groups will go smoothly.

Friday The 13th

Well, a bunch of my fellow PCVs are leaving SA today. I am sad to see them go while I am still stuck here, but soon it will be my turn! I must admit, I was waiting for a hitch on this superstitious day. Well, I got it all right. At 10:00, the bell rang for break. The children all ran out into the yard and were playing, but there was no food being served. How strange. Well, at 10:45 when class usually starts, the kids still ran free and lunch had still not been served. Around 11:15, lunch was finally ready. The kids ate and I was expecting them to go back to class when finished, but nope. At around 12:30, the bell finally rang again. Okay, so they are going back to class, right? Nope. They met for assembly, said their prayers, sang a song, and went home. What a weird Friday!

Culture Book

Struggling for activities to do in my last few weeks, I decided to continue working with the grade 7 learners on the computers. In Mare, I worked with the grade 6 and 7 learners to create a culture book and then exchanged with some classes in the US. The students wrote about the school, the village, and the culture in the area. I then typed their answers and added pictures to create a little book. So here in Brooksby, I decided to show the grade 7 learners what my other students did and some of the material I received from the states. They were so excited to do a book too.

I split the learners into groups of 3-4 and gave each group a specific topic. Together, they will create a page for the book about the topic (from specifics on the school to what people in the village eat to transportation and so on). Now they are typing their pages. I am also teaching them how to use a digital camera. Every day, I will walk around in the village with a group of 7-8 students and allow them to take pictures around the village to illustrate their text. They are going to put the photos on the computer, edit them, and insert them onto their page. I will then take all their pages and print them off to create their book. This book will truly be a book made by the learners. I’m so excited for it!

Windy Season Has Arrived!

Okay, so I thought it was windy before. No way. Now it’s windy!!! Sorry to those of you in Kansas, the wind here beats your wind! It takes me longer to walk to school because the wind is too strong. I’m chewing sand all day long. Although my glasses help, sometimes I have to just stop and close my eyes for a minute as the dirt passes. I wish I had my snowboarding goggles here. There is a sand dune in front of my door, a layer of grit on my pillow, grime in my hair. I have to use all my strength to open the pit toilet door. Breathing is hard, but wearing a scarf sometimes helps filter out some of the dust. On the plus side, laundry will dry in 30 minutes or less. Is this what it was like to live in the dust bowl?

Sheep On The Move

A few weeks ago, the outside gate to the school somehow got mangled. It was no longer usable. The principal is not sure what happened, but he is sure it needs to be fixed and moved to a different spot. Driving in and out is horrible with the awful ruts. Normally, there isn’t such a bad problem with animals in the school yard because the gates can shut. Now with the one gate broken, the animals are much more frequent in the school yard. Today when I arrived at school, I was greeted by sheep. The school kids were chasing the sheep from the school yard. Yelling, rocks in hand, the boys looked a bit scary even to me. But I’m not used to sheep running at me. I froze. Even though I saw them coming, I still made a squeal as they came right at me and my frozen legs refused to get me out of the way. Good thing I’m scarier to them than they are to me. As the sheep reached me, they went around me and continued on their way, prancing out onto the road again. Eish!

School Lunch

I have finally discovered the joys of school lunch. All the other PCVs regularly eat lunch at their schools, but I never have. I always brought my own lunch or would wait till I got home. At Mafetatsubela PS, they told me I could not eat the school lunch because it was just for the children. Every day, the cooks would take home big containers full of leftovers for their families. I’m not quite sure how they justified that one, but oh well. (Our saying my fellow volunteers say to explain the confusing or contradictory things we see, “This is Africa.”)

Every day, the cooks at Pudulogo PS offered me lunch, but I refused. Although the teachers here eat the lunch, I just didn’t feel right eating the school food. Well, I finally got some sense knocked into me. I am now in love with the school cooks. They make wonderful meals every day for the children. They have a rotating menu of about 5 meals. I haven’t quite found the pattern yet, but I like all but one of them. I have even grown to enjoy eating the tin fish and pap. My favorite is samp and beans. I also like the soup, cabbage, and milled rice. Rice and soup is good as well. They also cook sour porridge with soup and potatoes (which I still can’t make myself eat much of).

Stoney Ginger Beer

Oh how I love Stoney Ginger Beer. The strong ginger soda bites as it goes down your throat. Coca-Cola, you should produce Stoney in the states. I’m going to miss it when I go home.