The first of the month and the 15th of the month is when everyone gets paid around here. So last Saturday was a mad house in town! Basically, the lines at the banks and ATM are hours long and then once everyone is done there.. it is straight to the grocery store to stock up on food for the month. ( many of the wives like to spend as much of the money as possible, so then their husbands dont waste it on other things, like alcohol... this is what a local told me) I had forgotten that it was pay day and just made for an entertaining saturday...
I started off with a nice run in the morning on my usual route... out to a very distinctive tree and back. The usual. And then came home to get ready to go to town. So i went out to grab a taxi... as it stopped... i saw how paked... i mean overflowing with people the taxi was... i suddenly remembered... oh no...
Fortunatly i am not a big person... the guy in front open the door and there are already two guys and the driver up front... so they move on over and i hop in! the all four grown adults in the front, basically sitting on each other. As we are crusin along... a farmiliar song comes on the radio so of course naturally i begin to sing along. The 3 next to me all look at me in suprise then smile /laugh and join in! These are the things i love about africa!
Then i decided to go to the grocery store basically just to entertain me... it was a real zoo. so i got my usual 3-4 items and got in que with the rest of the town! it is so funny. Lines dont really exsit here. And if you are not on top of the person in front of you / being aggresive. Someone will come right on it front. But it dont really mind, b/c my personal space was destroyed weeks ago!
It is funny the things we find rude, like cutting in line, that are just a part of their life. Also the language is a very demanding language. Please and thank you arent used. So often when peopel translate , it is done directly so their english comes across as , in our minds, rude. But i have begun to realize it is not the intention.
One of the things this whole experiance has brought to light for me, is what being a minority is really like. And until you actually experiance it, you will never really know what it is like. And no offence to the white peopel in the US but you have no idea what it is like. And it is a feeling that you cant describe. But that is something all of the volunteers and i have discussed and i know i will remember that in my future experiances and being sympathetic towards others.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Mail !
So i can get mail. and yes this is alittle late to post this... I have offically 4 weeks left. And mail takes about 2-3 weeks to get here. But my mom mentioned to me that i should post it on my blog... i have recieved letter from some people! thank you for those... means so much.
Christa Nenaber
c/o Zote Project
PO Box 57
Sibasa
Limpopo Province
0970
South Africa
Christa Nenaber
c/o Zote Project
PO Box 57
Sibasa
Limpopo Province
0970
South Africa
Friday Assembly
Every Monday and Friday morning we have an assembly. Since most of it is in Tshivenda i dont know all of what they are saying. But i am starting to understand quite a bit of the language.
Something this learners do... that i dont think most high school students in America do is that they sing. I love it! They have great rythmic songs they sing as they are all gathered together.
I look forward to that on these mornings.
Today the principal spoke and then announced the top 3 people from every class and announced their scores. These students were awarded with school supplies. It was really neat b/c you could tell the students were pround and i think it does give motivation to the other learners.
It is interesting b/c 40% is concidered passing here! but it was exciting b/c some of these students who were announced were getting into the 70% !
I think in all of my posts i have rarely mentioned the other volunteers! Which is hard to believe because these people have become fast friends/ family. Believe me when you have had a hard day b/c of the culture it is so nice to have at least ONE person from the western world who can relate to you!
All of the vounteers that have been here, while i am here, live in another village, Manamani. Which is about a 45 minute walk away. We try and meet in town or at each others willages a couple times a week. This is when we share a funny stories for the week, etc. This was also the crew i went with to Kruger National park. They are from all over. ireland, New zealand, Canada,USA, Mexico... etc...
It is amazing how quickly you get to know each other when you are throw into an experiance like this. As they all take off it is really quite sad.. but i look forward to seeing them all sometime in the future...
Something this learners do... that i dont think most high school students in America do is that they sing. I love it! They have great rythmic songs they sing as they are all gathered together.
I look forward to that on these mornings.
Today the principal spoke and then announced the top 3 people from every class and announced their scores. These students were awarded with school supplies. It was really neat b/c you could tell the students were pround and i think it does give motivation to the other learners.
It is interesting b/c 40% is concidered passing here! but it was exciting b/c some of these students who were announced were getting into the 70% !
I think in all of my posts i have rarely mentioned the other volunteers! Which is hard to believe because these people have become fast friends/ family. Believe me when you have had a hard day b/c of the culture it is so nice to have at least ONE person from the western world who can relate to you!
All of the vounteers that have been here, while i am here, live in another village, Manamani. Which is about a 45 minute walk away. We try and meet in town or at each others willages a couple times a week. This is when we share a funny stories for the week, etc. This was also the crew i went with to Kruger National park. They are from all over. ireland, New zealand, Canada,USA, Mexico... etc...
It is amazing how quickly you get to know each other when you are throw into an experiance like this. As they all take off it is really quite sad.. but i look forward to seeing them all sometime in the future...
Jika Majika!
Jika Majika is by far my favorite show on TV that we watch. it is only on once a week, or at least i think so. It is like the old american show where people went on and danced.
This is basically a 8 person dance off over the course of the half hour show. There is always a guest judge.. some S. Africa dancer/ coreographer etc. And 8 people are picked out of the audience to show their skillz. AWESOME.
they dance to the local dance music which i am bring home and there is also a specific style that they dance. Yes i will be bringing these dance moves home... i am goign to try and get a DVD of some street performances so learn/ show you all.
My mom maria i have realized is preetty much the go to lady in our village. She gets people what they need, helps everyone, raises extra children, employees those who are willing to work and loans money out. Basically she doesnt sleep.
But the other day i was hanging out by the fire with my sister. Maria had Maduvah enter all the names of the people and the amount peopel owed in a book. there were at least 15+ names and she knew how much everyone owed her.. how she can retain all of these numbers , plus the intrest. yoh! i am impressed.
I had a set of traditional clothes made for me... and yesterday they were dropped off! This was a big day at the house. Everyone was laughing and clapping in excitement. Oh yes dont you worry i will be wearing these out on the town. I love them.. and i of course had them made out of my favorite color. Aqua Blue... surprise surprise.
This is basically a 8 person dance off over the course of the half hour show. There is always a guest judge.. some S. Africa dancer/ coreographer etc. And 8 people are picked out of the audience to show their skillz. AWESOME.
they dance to the local dance music which i am bring home and there is also a specific style that they dance. Yes i will be bringing these dance moves home... i am goign to try and get a DVD of some street performances so learn/ show you all.
My mom maria i have realized is preetty much the go to lady in our village. She gets people what they need, helps everyone, raises extra children, employees those who are willing to work and loans money out. Basically she doesnt sleep.
But the other day i was hanging out by the fire with my sister. Maria had Maduvah enter all the names of the people and the amount peopel owed in a book. there were at least 15+ names and she knew how much everyone owed her.. how she can retain all of these numbers , plus the intrest. yoh! i am impressed.
I had a set of traditional clothes made for me... and yesterday they were dropped off! This was a big day at the house. Everyone was laughing and clapping in excitement. Oh yes dont you worry i will be wearing these out on the town. I love them.. and i of course had them made out of my favorite color. Aqua Blue... surprise surprise.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Rubbish and more
So i do have to say one of the other things that has been really hard to get used to is all the trash eveywhere! I understand that there is not a major municipality that goes around and collects everyones rubbish/trash. But seriously everyone throws garbage anywhere at anytime. So there is garbage all over the place. even our school yard, wrappers from candy, papers, old desks are throw "out" back... town is just as bad. There are garbage cans but most just throw it on the ground. At our house we (well not me) but the house help burn all of the trash in a field that is next to the house.
I do have to say that one of my favorite things here are the sunrises and sunsets. Yes i see both on a daily basis. On my way to school i see the sunrise and the back of my house looks out across a large open field and in the distance are the mountains. they remind me of the foothills of the Rockies. the sunsets are spectacular... there is usually a few wispy clouds which reflect the light and it is really nice. So i make it a point to watch it every night.
Today at school was hysterical. So i went over to a class of 12 graders in their Life Orientation class. They were out in the school yard with their teacher... playing some sort of game. They were clapping and singing a very rythmic song. On one side were the girls and on the other side the boys lined up. Basically, one group (we will say the boys) the lead boy wispered in there ear who their "partner" was and then each girl one by one would walk over and have to try and guess who their partner was.... it was actually really entertaining to watch and you really got ot see the personalities of each student. Who is shy, who is goofy... etc. well i should know better than to be curious about several african kids gathered to sing/ clap and dance... b/c soon you will be asked to dance. Yes before i know it... the class was singing and clapping for me to dance... so here i am dancing for 40+ 17 year olds... it was actually a lot of fun and the kids got a kick out of it. Thankfully i dont mind dancing b/c i can see someone else being just motified by it.
So i have really become fond of my daily tea time with two of the teachers. One is the woman i share and office with and she and i are becoming fast friends. Everyday at 10 am we gather for tea, bread, fruit etc. really quite nice.
And i still have lunch with the all male group outside. So as i mentioned we pay for the lunch in one lump sum at the beginning of the month. and everyday 2 girls bring over our food and we all gather and eat and then when we are done these 2 come and clean up the plates etc. Yes i have a major problem with the fact that two of the students are getting my food and cleaning up after it. But if i try and help they scold me. In general, around the house, around school etc... anyone younger than you is expected to do these things. But i definately do my best to clean up after myself to eliminate all of this.
I do have to say that one of my favorite things here are the sunrises and sunsets. Yes i see both on a daily basis. On my way to school i see the sunrise and the back of my house looks out across a large open field and in the distance are the mountains. they remind me of the foothills of the Rockies. the sunsets are spectacular... there is usually a few wispy clouds which reflect the light and it is really nice. So i make it a point to watch it every night.
Today at school was hysterical. So i went over to a class of 12 graders in their Life Orientation class. They were out in the school yard with their teacher... playing some sort of game. They were clapping and singing a very rythmic song. On one side were the girls and on the other side the boys lined up. Basically, one group (we will say the boys) the lead boy wispered in there ear who their "partner" was and then each girl one by one would walk over and have to try and guess who their partner was.... it was actually really entertaining to watch and you really got ot see the personalities of each student. Who is shy, who is goofy... etc. well i should know better than to be curious about several african kids gathered to sing/ clap and dance... b/c soon you will be asked to dance. Yes before i know it... the class was singing and clapping for me to dance... so here i am dancing for 40+ 17 year olds... it was actually a lot of fun and the kids got a kick out of it. Thankfully i dont mind dancing b/c i can see someone else being just motified by it.
So i have really become fond of my daily tea time with two of the teachers. One is the woman i share and office with and she and i are becoming fast friends. Everyday at 10 am we gather for tea, bread, fruit etc. really quite nice.
And i still have lunch with the all male group outside. So as i mentioned we pay for the lunch in one lump sum at the beginning of the month. and everyday 2 girls bring over our food and we all gather and eat and then when we are done these 2 come and clean up the plates etc. Yes i have a major problem with the fact that two of the students are getting my food and cleaning up after it. But if i try and help they scold me. In general, around the house, around school etc... anyone younger than you is expected to do these things. But i definately do my best to clean up after myself to eliminate all of this.
Mmmm popcorn
So as i have told you everything , for the most part, here is very inexpensive. The volunteers and i all walk around in shock... really that is all i spent for all of this! for example one of the girls had a skirt made for her, that day, and i think it was $20! But my recent treat is popcorn, fresh with oil and salt... and the great thing here they add peanuts with it too... so every bag has a few peanuts as well. yum. So a few of the female volunteers and i have really enjoyed just walking around the town on "shopping spreas" you can get a new pair of heals for less than $20. I have not found any yet but.. i am keeping my eye out ;)
Speaking of shoes. As can be expected roads here are rough, since none in my village are paved and i walk everywhere.. half hour to and from school. so both Dansko and Chaco's are getting a big two thumbs up from me. I can walk all over, and they are holding up but better yet, my feet dont hurt. So upon arrive in the US i am going to see if they can sponsor me for my next trip since i am testing out their product for them.
New discovery ! Double and Triple bananas. I have never seen these in my life. So here yes they exist. It is not two bananas attached at the top. these are attached on the side... and when you peal them.. it peals as one and you have three seperate bananas in one. i was pretty excited.
Despite discovering some corruption in the school i am trying to forge ahead. It has been a really hard week. But i am remembering that i am here for the students and i can't let my feelings about how some things are handled here, interfere with my teaching. onward and upward
Speaking of shoes. As can be expected roads here are rough, since none in my village are paved and i walk everywhere.. half hour to and from school. so both Dansko and Chaco's are getting a big two thumbs up from me. I can walk all over, and they are holding up but better yet, my feet dont hurt. So upon arrive in the US i am going to see if they can sponsor me for my next trip since i am testing out their product for them.
New discovery ! Double and Triple bananas. I have never seen these in my life. So here yes they exist. It is not two bananas attached at the top. these are attached on the side... and when you peal them.. it peals as one and you have three seperate bananas in one. i was pretty excited.
Despite discovering some corruption in the school i am trying to forge ahead. It has been a really hard week. But i am remembering that i am here for the students and i can't let my feelings about how some things are handled here, interfere with my teaching. onward and upward
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Yoh!
Contrary to popular belief, africa actually get quite cold. The houses here... well in my village do not have insulation. It is just brick outside and concrete walls on the inside. Remeber i have no ceiling so any heat which is inside the house... rises straight to the top of the house... it can get to 32 degrees outside...yoh! At night when i am sleeping i am getting really good at bundling myself in blankets to keep warm... i do have to admit i really miss my down comforter.
Then when i get up at 5:15 to bath for school... it is so cold in the house the last thing i want to do is sit in a tub with very little warm water to splash on myself... lets not even get started about the days when i have to wash my hair... yikes! but usually but afternoon the sun comes out and it is nice.. actually lovely!
so one of my favorite thigns lately has been how everyone here get freaked out when my skin turns red from the sun ... "Do you need to go to the doctor..."
I have been assuring them, no really i am fine i just get this way in the sun.. this is then followed by lots of very strange looks. :)
Then when i get up at 5:15 to bath for school... it is so cold in the house the last thing i want to do is sit in a tub with very little warm water to splash on myself... lets not even get started about the days when i have to wash my hair... yikes! but usually but afternoon the sun comes out and it is nice.. actually lovely!
so one of my favorite thigns lately has been how everyone here get freaked out when my skin turns red from the sun ... "Do you need to go to the doctor..."
I have been assuring them, no really i am fine i just get this way in the sun.. this is then followed by lots of very strange looks. :)
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