So i gave my first exam to my students. I have 40 learners in my class.. yes over crouding is a big problem. but i just finished marking the tests and all but 5 passed. I am so proud of them. they are definately getting it! I woke up this morning and realized in one week i leave Venda... i only have 3 days of class left! Where has all the time gone.
One of the things to get to learn about when you truely live with people is all the customs of the region. And one that happens here that is quite known is the circumcision ritual. Basically, what i have picked up on is that when a boy is 9-11 ish older boys who have done the ritual take the boys to the bush.
They dress in the traditional clothes and parade though the town roads, singing a specific chat... you hear them coming from a long distance away. then the go out into the bush. this is winter time and it gets down to freezing at night. they are out there for i think about a week... perform the task.. clearly things are not sterile ... and i cant image in the knife/blade is all that sharp. Ouch.
I know they are also taugh some secret saying or something so other men/ boys know if you have done the ritual... kind of a passage of manhood. There are other things that go on, but stories are vague. b/c it is very secretive.. if you are found spying you are beaten VERY badly.
My mom maria refused to let her boys do it.. b/c no surprise here, infection is a huge problem and sometimes can leaad to death. Maria didnt want her boys to die, so she refused and sent them to a medical doctor.
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