End of week one, off to the coast!

Friday September 10th - Sunday September 12th, 2010

Morning dawned with alternating sun and clouds. The breakfast treat which Kwena greeted us with was chocolate chip muffins to go with our eggs.

Friday at our village schools is only a half day, but there were lessons for us to teach. Teta was left without the teacher to teach fractions. Since the younger students do not speak English, this was “fractions by pantomime.” Dorothy taught classes in English, math and reading with varying degrees of success. Teresa had a new group who needed practice in English conversation. She successfully did this using her photo album as a means of getting the students to share information about families, foods, and sports.

At the school where Dorothy and Teresa are posted, the last hour was free time when the teachers sat and talked in the staff room and the children just hung out outside. Dorothy and Teresa joined the children, and Teresa organized some games. Soon the children were organizing their own games.

James spent the morning doing paperwork and working with Olga on planning.

After a quick lunch at the Guest House, Dorothy, Teresa and Teta left with a driver for a three hour drive to the coast for a weekend at Port St. Johns. James stayed at Malungeni for the weekend to catch up on paper work and planning, and, hopefully, to rest.

Thought of the day ‘Your dreams need YOU to make them real’

Learning as we go...

Thursday, September 9th 2010

As I awoke in the morning, I gave thanks for the day and was reminded through the peaceful silence of the many influencing events that have lead me to be blessed with this opportunity of service. It is such a humbling experience to work along side like minded people and be immersed in a paradigm that is sometimes hard to comprehend. It is also awe inspiring to know that there are people willing and eager to act as agents of change-prepared to think outside the square and look to other means and assistance of developing a life style that sometimes seems intangible for them.

Team 12s day started in the usual manner with a breakfast of oatmeal, fruit, toast and French toast. Oatmeal, which was the popular choice, was a good way to start the day as it seemed a bit cooler than usual. When breakfast was done we quickly cleared up and headed back to the meeting room for the morning meeting as Dot and Teresa were supposed to be picked up before 8.00am – Mr Momoza the principal of the Upper Mtumbe school was running a bit late and collected them at 8.30. Tetas ride was there just after 8.00 and she was whisked off to her work site. I felt like a parent again seeing the children off on their first day at school. I could sense their apprehensiveness but was buoyed by their quiet excitement.

For me it was a paper work day and after having a meeting with Olga and Koena, went for a walk to visit the Bakery. The bakery was one of the capacity building projects that isn’t operating any longer. I could feel Olgas sadness as she showed me the Bakery which is fully equipped including new equipment sponsored and installed in 2004. There are a couple of finishing touches needed for the bakery but another frustrating thing for her is that she wishes that there was a willing workforce who are prepared to give some time to help and move this Cooperative venture forward.

The team had varying days in their schools. Dot was happy that she wasn’t kept in the resource room for a long stretch and actually managed to teach one of the lessons she had prepared. She was a bit bemused though when she was asked if she was going to teach another planned lesson that was supposed to be taught on Friday. Teresa also started at Upper Mtumbe in Mr Momozas class. She was happy with her day which was high-lighted by students singing a song of encouragement meant to cheer a peer on when they struggled with a response in class. She felt positive about the discussions she had with her students and only needed to use her ‘mum’ look once when a student was going to use a cell phone in class! Teta’s day was also positive as she wasn’t left in sole charge except for the teacher having to go and use the copier. She was even able to take individual photos of her students with their name tags and was also happy that she had gotten to do a Wordfind puzzle in the Xhosa language-sadly for her though, an opportunity didn’t present itself for her to dance to Michael Jackson.

After school Olga organized a taxi for the team to head into Mthatha to do some shopping and also to use the internet. Dot was able to get some resources for her Science lesson on ‘dissolving things’ and Teresa and Teta had a ball @ the mall shopping and getting supplies. Olga and I did a food supply shop for Koena who had left us with a list for our final week. As we traveled back to Malungeni I pondered the stark contrast between the mall and the village from which we had come. The mall with affluence and busy employment seemed a world away from our humble home of Malungeni. I contemplate – What is the answer?

Dinner tonight was another hit with mash potato ‘made with butter, milk and aromat’, a lean type of sausage, a lettuce, cucumber and granny smith salad and a tomato, sugar and onion dish that could be used as a paste, a relish or a soup.

Our visitor for the evening was a cultural talk from Bonke. This young man shared a bit about his life and is one of the success stories of Malungeni - living proof of someone who has followed their dream and overcome adversity to live it. He talked about the roles of Xhosa men and woman, some cultural practices such as weddings and circumcision. Particularly interesting for me is the dowry that he needs to get together so his wife can be released to go and live with him (this ranged from money to alcohol and finally cows. A reported total of R50,000 paid off in 3 instalments!!!Thank goodness too that there is no interest on that!). Bonke was also a previous global volunteers host coordinator and is committed to coming and sharing whenever there is a team - May it long continue…….

Ulale kakuhle…Good night!

Thought of the day – Teresa Donovan
‘If I’d never have picked up the first person, I’d never have picked up the other 42,000 in Calcutta’ -Mother Teresa

Different experiences...

Wednesday, 8 September 2010

We rose early Wednesday because Dot and Teta, with James and Olga as their escorts, were leaving early to be delivered to their first day of school. Koena prepared us with a hearty breakfast before we left and packed us lunches with our standby, p.b. and j. sandwiches.

Teresa headed off for another morning of painting and conversations with painters from the community who occasionally serenaded her with song. She painted until the paint ran out again.

The two school experiences were different. Teta was placed in a second-third term class, and early on was deserted by the teacher and left to improvise with twenty-four children who were excited on their first day back after the three week teachers’ strike. She was up to the task with her repertoire of songs and dances as well as a little academic instruction.

Dot, at a different school, spent the day in a combination teachers’ lounge-meeting room-storage room where teachers carried on their conversations in Xhosa. She did, however, meet the teacher to whom she is assigned and received a big homework assignment for the lessons she is to teach on Thursday and Friday.

The afternoon tutoring at the Malungeni community center drew a large number of children again. All four of us were busy supervising coloring, math and map puzzles; and Teta still had the energy to lead dancing.

Our dinner experience was a treat. Koena prepared a large meal because we had as guests the Reverend Spiwo, who initiated the work of Global Volunteers in Malungeni and serves as our program host, and his friend the Reverend Vuyo. We enjoyed the conversation during and after dinner.

We closed out the day with conversation among ourselves and a few work tasks in the guest house.

Thought of the day: ‘There is a good reason we are created with 2 eyes, 2 ears and 1 mouth… -Mark Twain

Are we really in South Africa?

Tuesday, 7 September 2010

Created by: Teresa

Breakfast – another treat from Koena – freshly baked muffins – Yum! Are we really in So. Africa?

Back to the community center for another morning of painting. We were joined by an actual painter – Sikoh, plus numerous other young men – who once again outnumbered the paint rollers. James and Olga head out for Mthatha to purchase more paint and rollers. Dot demonstrated her extreme stair-master skills by climbing solo up and down from her painting table.

Teta – still waiting for pre-school children – added Xhosa words to an English picture dictionary and then taught Michael Jackson moves to the lone child visiting the C.C. (Community Center). Dot, feeling quite limber from her morning exercise, joined the thriller dance line.

Teresa put her mother hat on as one of the younger men asked her about what struggles he can expect in a serious relationship. The conversation segued into the challenges a young man faces in the village: no employment opportunities and much peer pressure to do drugs. This “Teachable Moment” centered around being a force for good for other young men.

We were joined by Rev. Vuyo, a friend of Rev. Spiwo’s who shared with us that it is natural for men to need and have at least two wives; therefore, it is legal in So. Africa. He stressed that women do not have this need and are not allowed to marry more than one man.

After our break for lunch, we returned to the C.C. for an afternoon of tutoring. Olga and James finally returned from Mthatha joining us for an afternoon of teaching map and math skills, play, and much singing and dancing. Dot was quite impressed with the curiosity of some teenagers about economic development and marital relationships. But, Olga put things into perspective best – frustrated by traffic delays in Mthatha and overwhelmed by the chaotic frenzy of the city. She was grateful for the quiet of the village, laughter of the children, and the cooperative learning taking place in the C.C.

Our final activity for the day involved a visit to the village’s Sangoma, a traditional healer. She was called to this vocation by the ancestors when she was 12 years old and accepted her calling at the age of 25. She gave us a keen insight into the strong cultural traditions and beliefs which still exist in Africa.

Back home for another Koena creation – beef stew and rice – and I ask again, “Are we really in So. Africa?”

Thought for the Day (from Teta): Life is like developing a photograph. When you have a negative, you enter the dark room to process it and end up with a positive image and a beautiful photograph. –Reggie, the cab driver

Day two, always more to do!

Monday, 6 September 2010

Breakfast at 7 am and a quick morning meeting. Off to the community center where we started in on our first day of projects. The weather was very windy so none of the pre-schoolers showed up (That would never happen in Minnesota) several boys showed up to help with the painting but we had so many brushes/rollers). I brought my I-pod and speakers and I played music by Michael Jackson and the kids all went wild…painting to the music and Dot joined in the dancing (Teresa has a get video of us dancing to “Thriller” Back for a wonderful Koena lunch then back to the CC for tutoring.

I was working with several of the younger children who where coloring pictures from the Disney coloring book. I would say the animal name in Xhosa and they would say the name in English. One of the boys (Sthembele sp?) was very smart and I showed him some sign language signs and he mimicked me right back. He even used it correctly with the other children. James, Dot and Teresa # 1 worked on math with the older children. James even caught one of the older boys using his cell phone to do some of the math problems. Teresa #1 and James made paper airplanes that were a big hit as were the Frisbees and jump rope. I tried to show the girls how to do ‘crosses’, even the boys jump rope. We cleaned up and came back to some free time & planning for the next day. The teachers strike has been settled so the kids will be back in school on Wednesday.

We had a guest join us for dinner- Tobeka he is the Reception (kindergarten) teacher. Again Koena prepared us the most delicious meal: lots of chicken, Samp, spinach, potatoes, beets and fish ( I didn’t eat the fish as I didn’t want to risk an allergic reaction. Koena made me a PB & J. There were amazing dumplings, dessert, cucumbers/tomatoes.

We finished the day with a team meeting and free time. Teresa #1 made balloon figures and more paper airplanes. James played music from his computer…GLEE!!!

Now, bedtime….ahhhh zzzzzzz.

A wonderful first day!

Sunday, September 5th, 2010

Created by: Theresa

What a wonderful first full day in the village of Malungeni. We filled the day with so many things! We’ve decided on what our goals for our theam 12th mission: To form lasting friendships through learning the Xhosa culture and language; we want to help the community prosper by improving the community center, and give the children hope for their future by teaching them English through play, stories and tutoring.

We met with the new local chief “Dahlislonga”(sp?) and Mama Chief, and as is custom, we were served something to eat (chicken) and the other women of the community were present. We came back to the guest house for our Xhosa language lesson that I’m sure tested Olga’s ears with our attempts at the clicking sounds used in the Xhosa language.

We were welcomed to the community through prayer, song and dance by the children and women of Malungeni. The harmonizing and vocalizations were amazing. The children swarmed Teresa D. as she passed out the photographs she had taken her last trip here in July 2009. All the children loved having their picture taken and would jump in front of each other to make sure they were in the picture. We gathered for more team building and had dinner and then organized all the supplies the team had brought from home. WOW what a load of donations we have for the children.

Thought of the day (provided by James) Flexible people are hard to bend out of shape!

Molweni! Wamkelekile!

Saturday, September 4th, 2010

Created by: James

Our mission started at 5.00 am for me, Olga and Ayanda our driver – It was probably earlier for the others in the team making their way to East London!

As we drove to meet and pick up the other 3 members of ‘Team 12 Malungeni’, we were treated to a clear but chilly and brisk morning but the promise of a new and beautiful day!

I was able to take in the sights on the trip to East London. Even though it was early morning and I would be otherwise engaged in a blissful slumber, there was a myriad of activity happening from shuffling people on roadsides and town streets to domesticated animals, all busily hustling and bustling to see what this promising day had to offer. We were visually impaired at times by a wispy mist blanketing the roads and landscape-this Olga articulated was a sign of a sunny day. Nelson Mandelas old homestead stood humbly on a distant hill while his present residence, within eye sight of old, was testament to the telling journey of this South African icon.

Four and a bit hours later and we arrived at East London airport. Teresa a former South African Volunteer’s plane had landed and the passengers had already come through baggage collection. There was a joyous reunion of Teresa and Olga but for me a nice realization to meet and know that our mission was one third complete! We decided that we would ring Theresa 2 and find out whether she had in fact made it to East London the night before and that she would be joining us at 11.30 when Dot as she is known by friends arrived. By 11.45 we were all together and mission was complete. Our next mission that we chose to accept was to spend the next few hours making our way back for the return journey to our home for the next two weeks, The Guesthouse @ Malungeni. However the mission wasn’t so much the trip back but was the 5 tired and weary travelers staying awake.

The 4-5 hours spent traveling for me was a time of connection. It was great for the team bonding process to be initiated and for everyone to compare traveling and family stories. Although each and every person comes from diverse backgrounds, we are similarly entwined through actions, thought, consequence and mind – We really are quite alike!
Arrival at the guesthouse bought us more treats; while it was nice to be off the dusty, rickety gravel road that leads into the Malungeni village, we were greeted by the Global Volunteers Community Committee (which was a warm, friendly and inviting gesture), the wonderful thought of a place and pillow to lay our weary bodies and also a beautifully sumptuous home cooked meal by Koena.

The final formalities after dinner were a couple of orientation activities. We went through and introduced ourselves again but we also got to hear a little about two of our hosts – Olga and Koena. Olga also provided us with a run down of the program context in which we were giving service and talked to us about the projects where support is needed.

Thought of the day: James Puati
The seeds we sow become the crop for the future – The more we sow the greater the yield!