I have officially driven in south africa! my family and i were hanging out at the car wash, and by car wash i mean a stream that has been slightly damned up that people back their cars/ buckies (trucks) into and wash them. This is when they found out i have a driers licence... so i was to drive that evening to one of the sister's house. so keep in mind it is an old buckie, with no power stearing, the gear box was complete crap and i am driving on the other side of the road. also there were four in the back of the buckie and two others in the little cab with me. :)
believe me i have seen much worse.
But all was a success... and the boys were praising my driving skills!
but it was an adventure... oh the alignment was also off and the stearing wheel in general wasnt very responsive. I did manage to get a few people to honk at the sight of me driving!
this past monday started 3rd term and the beginning of the morning, everyone teachers and students gathered for an assembly. it was all in Tshvenda , but basically a pep talk to do well in school... keep in mind this is a public school and we were all lead in prayer and a little sermon was given... the whole time i was thinking wow this would never be aloud in a public school in the US.
i am officially half way through and i also have really struggled this week. I have had several very upsetting cultural things thrown in my face this week. I wont really go into them here but belive me it has been so hard and i can see why these kids struggle to even come to school. So many things are working against them... but as my advisor for the program mentioned, this is why we have volunteers to learn about these things and to then get things changed for the better.
So some people have asked for me to tell more about my family. Well i live and share a room with an 18 yr girl, Maduvah. We walk to school together everyday and have become good friends. She is my little insight into the culture/ the school etc.
there is also 2 other sisters one 20 and 35 ish living at the house. But the 20 yr old just went back into town for University. there are also 3 other silings, 2 sisters and a brother who live on their own and have families in near by villages. So visits are frequent.
My mom, Maria, is the hardest working women i have ever met! she gets up around 4 and goes to be long after i do. I am also finding out not only has she raised here 6 children, she is also raising my "brother" her grand son , who is 11, and at least 3-5 other kids.
Plus, there are the 3, 20 year olds who work for the family when they arent in school... so need less to say our house is a happening place. people always coming and going... i quite like it.
Lots of laughing. we had in improptu dance off the other night... lots of smiles and laughing with that.
I am still teaching some of my 11 grade students and everyday we become closer and closer. i think they start understanding more and more. I am only teaching science to them but i am also staying after school to tutor them as well. They are enjoying teaching me Venda... a few more words are added every week.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Venda Venda Venda
As expected there are many things that are different from what i have seen before. i will try and list or explain some of the things.. many of these are some of the things i have become most fond of...
- for example, my house does not have a ceiling. all the rooms have walls and doors but no ceiling. it just looks up to the rafters which hold up the roof. And the rafters/ structure which holds up the roof is definately questionable. i look at in the morning and just wonder how it was done... b/c there is no way it is to code, it actually makes me laugh b/c some boards overlap in weird ways etc... but what is so funny about no ceiling is we all can talk throughout the house at anytime. Like my 7 yr old brother , who speaks some english, loves to chat with me over the walls when he is in the bath tub. This kid is so funny... he always makes me smile.
Also b/c their is no ceiling all noise echos throughout.. so i am getting really good at sleeping with peoples cell phones ringing at 5 am or wrestling on TV at 9 pm. Yes i am in bed before 9.
the sun goes down and you come inside... and when i have to get up and walk to school by 6:30 am, i go to be EARLY!
I have also noticed people here dont really hug each other, little affection in general. i dont see mom's hugging their children etc. My sister here was telling me to show respect for your parents children kneel to greet them.
But what is interesting is that grown men will hold hands as they walk or are standing, it is purely to show friendship. or one man will place his hand on the other man's shoulder. But you dont see couples holding hands or hugging.
I have also noticed children are pretty self sufficent in general. little children 4 or so will walk around together or be outside the house playing together. Even younger are walking around with the 4 yr olds. I think you learn at a young age to take care of your younger siblings and also yourself. you also rarely see cry babies. I am not sure why. But i rarely see it.
Oh second language translation of things is always entertaining. So if we are all sitting in the living room watcing TV and someone gets up the will say "Christa!... I am coming..." as they leave... i realized they say this to mean " i will be back" :)
Or when it is night time and they enter the house they say "good night"... and i realized we only use this when we are leaving or going to bed.
My favorite which took me a couple of days to figure out and is still hard to inturpret. when people ask you questions and you are explaining something.. they will say " Okay.." but in a slow drawn out skeptical way. This is their way of saying " I see... " and let you know they are listening. but from out side it seems like they are interested or dont believe you.
In general the venda language is actually a demanding language , please and thank you are not really apart of it. so therefore when they translate into english it often comes across. This has taken time to get used to as well, b/c they dont mean to sound demanding it is just their understanding of how to interpret.
i love going to the grocery store here. Reading the labels and signs on things is priceless I have decided that if we had some of these in america we wouldnt eat them. So on the margarine it says FAT SPREAD... which is what it is but yikes. and Glucose biscuits... sugar cookies.. again true but they woudl not sell in the US , well maybe they would.
Oh everyone was worried about me loosing weight in Africa. I dont think that will happen. THey love sweets and fatty food here. Cookies (biscuits), candy, cake soft serve ice cream are everywhere, and i do have to say. so good! Fries are served with every meal at resturants.
Hence the running. :)
- for example, my house does not have a ceiling. all the rooms have walls and doors but no ceiling. it just looks up to the rafters which hold up the roof. And the rafters/ structure which holds up the roof is definately questionable. i look at in the morning and just wonder how it was done... b/c there is no way it is to code, it actually makes me laugh b/c some boards overlap in weird ways etc... but what is so funny about no ceiling is we all can talk throughout the house at anytime. Like my 7 yr old brother , who speaks some english, loves to chat with me over the walls when he is in the bath tub. This kid is so funny... he always makes me smile.
Also b/c their is no ceiling all noise echos throughout.. so i am getting really good at sleeping with peoples cell phones ringing at 5 am or wrestling on TV at 9 pm. Yes i am in bed before 9.
the sun goes down and you come inside... and when i have to get up and walk to school by 6:30 am, i go to be EARLY!
I have also noticed people here dont really hug each other, little affection in general. i dont see mom's hugging their children etc. My sister here was telling me to show respect for your parents children kneel to greet them.
But what is interesting is that grown men will hold hands as they walk or are standing, it is purely to show friendship. or one man will place his hand on the other man's shoulder. But you dont see couples holding hands or hugging.
I have also noticed children are pretty self sufficent in general. little children 4 or so will walk around together or be outside the house playing together. Even younger are walking around with the 4 yr olds. I think you learn at a young age to take care of your younger siblings and also yourself. you also rarely see cry babies. I am not sure why. But i rarely see it.
Oh second language translation of things is always entertaining. So if we are all sitting in the living room watcing TV and someone gets up the will say "Christa!... I am coming..." as they leave... i realized they say this to mean " i will be back" :)
Or when it is night time and they enter the house they say "good night"... and i realized we only use this when we are leaving or going to bed.
My favorite which took me a couple of days to figure out and is still hard to inturpret. when people ask you questions and you are explaining something.. they will say " Okay.." but in a slow drawn out skeptical way. This is their way of saying " I see... " and let you know they are listening. but from out side it seems like they are interested or dont believe you.
In general the venda language is actually a demanding language , please and thank you are not really apart of it. so therefore when they translate into english it often comes across. This has taken time to get used to as well, b/c they dont mean to sound demanding it is just their understanding of how to interpret.
i love going to the grocery store here. Reading the labels and signs on things is priceless I have decided that if we had some of these in america we wouldnt eat them. So on the margarine it says FAT SPREAD... which is what it is but yikes. and Glucose biscuits... sugar cookies.. again true but they woudl not sell in the US , well maybe they would.
Oh everyone was worried about me loosing weight in Africa. I dont think that will happen. THey love sweets and fatty food here. Cookies (biscuits), candy, cake soft serve ice cream are everywhere, and i do have to say. so good! Fries are served with every meal at resturants.
Hence the running. :)
Pap and such
So if i ever repeat stories, sorry, it is hard to remember what i have told you and you all are also probably accustom to my poor spelling and typing. :)
I get asked often what my staple food is? Huh? i eat somethign different eerynight... well here it is porriage... Pap. And pap is a corn based substance... not runny. it is cooked over and open fire and stired vigorously, which is very hard b/c the viscosity of this stuff is ridiculous. But when it is done it is eaten at every meal with everything, chicken, sausage, beef, you name it. it doesnt have much of a taste but sure fills you up.
one of my favorite things about this place is that when i walk home from school or where ever in the afternoon. Music is blasting from most homes. I have a nice sounds track all the way home... reggee, gospel, house, african dance... it is great! yes i have purchased cd's for you to hear some of the music i hear on a regular basis.
We ride in taxi's when we want ot come into town, which is about 8-10 or so miles i am guessing.. no sign to tell me so i am guessing. and when i say taxi it is not like the american taxi cab you are thinking of.... oh no! it is about the size of a Euro van and we cram.. i mean cram people, babies, children, cargo, food, luggage, chickens (live)... into this thing. personal space no longer exists on these things. i think the record we hit was 23 adults and 3 babies, and who knows how much cargo! it is always entertaining.
These guy.. the taxi drivers love to listen to music as well. each taxi has a personalized name written on it.. for example "Doll Eyes" or " Be Happy" etc... and we have began to know which ones play the best music. well the other day i had the middle seat between a local and the driver and I started singing along to a song that was playing. they loved it... soon the three of us were laughing and singing to the song. Venda people love to laugh... so even though i cant always get an entire conversation.. we can usually find something to laugh about.
So my house does have Tv with a few channels. Since i have not had Tv for the last year I always just watch what they have on... First off WWE . yes american wrestling federation... the one hulk hogan was on... they LOVE that here. I have been asked "who is your favorite wrestler" i didnt know that still even exsisted. so fun to sit and watch it with the 11 year olds.
Who also have a favorite kung fu movie... it is so bad. i think it was made in the late 70s early 80s and it is dubbed over in english and bad english translation at that... the fight scences are priceless... i have now seen parts of it about 5-6 times.
Soaps are also huge here... there is one i can handle "Generations" which is on every weekday night. the plot isnt too bad and i actually think that i will have to text my sister here to keep me updated when i leave :)
Also, i have finished my winter class... and big kudos to all of my former teachers, all my friends and family who are or were teachers. Eh... it is hard hard work.
I get asked often what my staple food is? Huh? i eat somethign different eerynight... well here it is porriage... Pap. And pap is a corn based substance... not runny. it is cooked over and open fire and stired vigorously, which is very hard b/c the viscosity of this stuff is ridiculous. But when it is done it is eaten at every meal with everything, chicken, sausage, beef, you name it. it doesnt have much of a taste but sure fills you up.
one of my favorite things about this place is that when i walk home from school or where ever in the afternoon. Music is blasting from most homes. I have a nice sounds track all the way home... reggee, gospel, house, african dance... it is great! yes i have purchased cd's for you to hear some of the music i hear on a regular basis.
We ride in taxi's when we want ot come into town, which is about 8-10 or so miles i am guessing.. no sign to tell me so i am guessing. and when i say taxi it is not like the american taxi cab you are thinking of.... oh no! it is about the size of a Euro van and we cram.. i mean cram people, babies, children, cargo, food, luggage, chickens (live)... into this thing. personal space no longer exists on these things. i think the record we hit was 23 adults and 3 babies, and who knows how much cargo! it is always entertaining.
These guy.. the taxi drivers love to listen to music as well. each taxi has a personalized name written on it.. for example "Doll Eyes" or " Be Happy" etc... and we have began to know which ones play the best music. well the other day i had the middle seat between a local and the driver and I started singing along to a song that was playing. they loved it... soon the three of us were laughing and singing to the song. Venda people love to laugh... so even though i cant always get an entire conversation.. we can usually find something to laugh about.
So my house does have Tv with a few channels. Since i have not had Tv for the last year I always just watch what they have on... First off WWE . yes american wrestling federation... the one hulk hogan was on... they LOVE that here. I have been asked "who is your favorite wrestler" i didnt know that still even exsisted. so fun to sit and watch it with the 11 year olds.
Who also have a favorite kung fu movie... it is so bad. i think it was made in the late 70s early 80s and it is dubbed over in english and bad english translation at that... the fight scences are priceless... i have now seen parts of it about 5-6 times.
Soaps are also huge here... there is one i can handle "Generations" which is on every weekday night. the plot isnt too bad and i actually think that i will have to text my sister here to keep me updated when i leave :)
Also, i have finished my winter class... and big kudos to all of my former teachers, all my friends and family who are or were teachers. Eh... it is hard hard work.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Kruger National park and more
So it looks like most of my lastr blog did not get published.. ahh the joys of the internet around here. :) at least i have it.
So last weekend the other 8 volunteers and i went to Kruger national park. Much like our national parks except filled with lions, elepahnts and girrafes.. oh my! It really was amazing. I loved every minute of it. African elephants are HUGE... and when you see one right next to your car.. holy cow... massive! we also saw girrafes and antelope on our game drives.
One evening we took a boat ride to see animals and we saw hippos and crocodiles... which made truely believe Steve Irwin was crazy to want to try and man handle those animals. But lucky us we had the 2008\2009 tour guide of the year, literally, on our boat. He is south african and happened to be on holiday so we got a free tour! hooray. this guy knew is stuff. I cant even begin to tell you everythign i learned from him. wow and big bonus he and his wife invited me to stay with them when i am done up north if i wanted to come and see there area more! love these south african people,. so friendly and welcoming.
Overall it was a great weekend to experiance a differnt part of SA
Oh so every morning on my walk to school at 6:30 am... one of my favorite things is the "camp fire" smoke and smell in the air. everyone lights up there fires early in the am and there is always a little haze in the air. the women of the house are out sweeping there drive ways at this time as well... i just found out that sweeping with a broom is symbolic to show they are married and this is their house. As i walk everyone greets me, waves and smiles.
These Venda people truely are very kind and warm people.
But it does get lonely. I am having lots of fun but it is still tough, b/c of the second language barrier... and sometimes i can tell my humor just doesn't quite make it. Sometimes you wish you coudl just explain yourself further but realize you can't or that i am just not making sense.
Oh so when the 20 year olds cant join me for a run.. my 11 year old brothers have quickly jumped in to replace them. :) the other day i was off down the road and a couple minutes in i hear foot steps behind me and low and behold it is Patatshezo... and he caught up to me and 2 others did as well.
Then once home they followed my every move as we stretched.
Which reminds me. Several night ago we were all out around the fire laughing etc. And Zjudo, was "stretching" i look over " Christa! i am training!!" so i came over and we promtly began to do yoga poses... yes Jamie i hope you are reading this b/c then i have 6 boys all lined up next to me in Downward Dog. Ha! next were handstands, back bends, etc. We were all laughing so hard by the end...
Who needs mother tongue when you have yoga!
So last weekend the other 8 volunteers and i went to Kruger national park. Much like our national parks except filled with lions, elepahnts and girrafes.. oh my! It really was amazing. I loved every minute of it. African elephants are HUGE... and when you see one right next to your car.. holy cow... massive! we also saw girrafes and antelope on our game drives.
One evening we took a boat ride to see animals and we saw hippos and crocodiles... which made truely believe Steve Irwin was crazy to want to try and man handle those animals. But lucky us we had the 2008\2009 tour guide of the year, literally, on our boat. He is south african and happened to be on holiday so we got a free tour! hooray. this guy knew is stuff. I cant even begin to tell you everythign i learned from him. wow and big bonus he and his wife invited me to stay with them when i am done up north if i wanted to come and see there area more! love these south african people,. so friendly and welcoming.
Overall it was a great weekend to experiance a differnt part of SA
Oh so every morning on my walk to school at 6:30 am... one of my favorite things is the "camp fire" smoke and smell in the air. everyone lights up there fires early in the am and there is always a little haze in the air. the women of the house are out sweeping there drive ways at this time as well... i just found out that sweeping with a broom is symbolic to show they are married and this is their house. As i walk everyone greets me, waves and smiles.
These Venda people truely are very kind and warm people.
But it does get lonely. I am having lots of fun but it is still tough, b/c of the second language barrier... and sometimes i can tell my humor just doesn't quite make it. Sometimes you wish you coudl just explain yourself further but realize you can't or that i am just not making sense.
Oh so when the 20 year olds cant join me for a run.. my 11 year old brothers have quickly jumped in to replace them. :) the other day i was off down the road and a couple minutes in i hear foot steps behind me and low and behold it is Patatshezo... and he caught up to me and 2 others did as well.
Then once home they followed my every move as we stretched.
Which reminds me. Several night ago we were all out around the fire laughing etc. And Zjudo, was "stretching" i look over " Christa! i am training!!" so i came over and we promtly began to do yoga poses... yes Jamie i hope you are reading this b/c then i have 6 boys all lined up next to me in Downward Dog. Ha! next were handstands, back bends, etc. We were all laughing so hard by the end...
Who needs mother tongue when you have yoga!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
South africa 5?6?
which ever post this is...
well another day of teaching done. I have been teaching 11 grade math and science. So as of today factoring has been my life. yes i am a nerd b/c i really like factoring. it is exciting b/c the learners are really understanding and retaining how to do it! yahoo. so tomorrow the big quadratic equation here i come.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
ZA4
I have officially taugh 2 days of school at Ndaedzo Secondary school in Dzwerani! i have the 11 grade math and science class and they are so much fun.
They do actually listen to me and we are quickly getting to communicate really well. Actually, during our break between classes we always have a good time... lots of questions like "do you know Obama" ... or the list of celebrities... do you know...? it always makes me smile.
I walk to school everyday and on the way in the am the village has a haze from the open fire which almost everyone burns in the morning and at night to cook food. the town often smells of camp fire.
One of the teachers who i have become closest to, Thomas, is an actual chief for one of the tribes around here. He is very well educated and i have learned so much from him about the culture here... one of the things i have learned from others is that when you are a chief you have MANY wifes... which i have mentioned is a common part of the culture here... i am trying to figure out how many... the students laugh and tell me that he has so many too many to count.
Oh one of the things that is left from the apartied is that i am often called Madame, this is b/c i am white and it is a form of formal respect. I have politely asked my teachers to just call me Christa.
Friday, July 3, 2009
za 4
well week 2 is down and i think i am pretty much fully comfortable in Dzwerani. *That is the name of the village i am in)
So last night was very entertaining. there are 3 guys who are technically not apart of the family but work for the family and are at my house everyday... so basically they are family. I love them. They are so much fun... (all three of them run with me now, my running club grows even bigger) so last night they insisted that i take pictures while they killed the 2 chickens for dinner. I have to admit at first i was a little freaked out... but i think eveyone should know where their food somes from. And then they proceeded to teach me how to clean the chicken.... everyday is an experiance. I am telling you there is nothing as good as this chicken, fresh home grown .. can't beat it. The fruit and veggies are the same way, all organic and fresh... so good. Eat your heart out .
My house does have elecricity and a stove, but we still have a open fire out back everynight. most dinners are cooked out there. and then best part is we all sit around together and laugh and act out stories. Even though i can understand everything, i have really enjoyed being apart of it!
more soon.
So last night was very entertaining. there are 3 guys who are technically not apart of the family but work for the family and are at my house everyday... so basically they are family. I love them. They are so much fun... (all three of them run with me now, my running club grows even bigger) so last night they insisted that i take pictures while they killed the 2 chickens for dinner. I have to admit at first i was a little freaked out... but i think eveyone should know where their food somes from. And then they proceeded to teach me how to clean the chicken.... everyday is an experiance. I am telling you there is nothing as good as this chicken, fresh home grown .. can't beat it. The fruit and veggies are the same way, all organic and fresh... so good. Eat your heart out .
My house does have elecricity and a stove, but we still have a open fire out back everynight. most dinners are cooked out there. and then best part is we all sit around together and laugh and act out stories. Even though i can understand everything, i have really enjoyed being apart of it!
more soon.
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