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Published: September 4th 2007
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Dear Friends and Readers,
Ill have to apologize since I haven’t written anything for so long. Things have gone from incredible busy here to dull and lonely. On top of that, I have been fighting off a cold and cough which has been sticking around for more than a week now. I’ve tried to promise myself that I wouldn’t make every posting too emotional or heart felt. Yet, I wasn’t just going to say, “…and then we did this, and then we did this.” Really, it has been hard for me to write as things have just been too fresh in my memory. I am looking forward to committing more of my time to my placement at Fountain House and dropping the hospital. The hospital was just an observation position and I know my time can be better spent as an international volunteer. Here is a little of what I have compiled over the past few days.
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Today is September 1, 2007 which is officially the first day of spring in Cape Town. It was cold and damp. I guess the weather was a representation of the general feeling around the CCS house today. Most volunteers stay for a three week period and of the original 25 volunteers that I have worked, traveled, and partied together with, only 7 of them are staying. Although there will be a new group of volunteers arriving in a weeks time, the people I have met, and now must say goodbye to, will forever share a special bond.
Without a doubt, it takes a very special person to commit the time and effort to our individual field placements. The schools in townships and schools for children with learning disabilities, daycare facilities for infants, as well as the Cape Mental Health Department can only benefit from the work done by our volunteers. And it will be difficult for some of these places to let go of previous volunteers. For others, they might not have even known they had a person there. Either way, the thing to remember is that there was no task too little required of us and each accomplishment may not even have had any tangible evidence. The meaning of this is that, if a volunteer could make a difference by simply teaching a child who has a mental disability or lending a hand when needed, this is something. It is probably bettering the environment of a placement by letting the children know that a person from so far away could come over and show compassion. This is the essence of cultural exchange and empowerment. Most volunteers simply wish they had more time to continue what they had begun whether it was painting a mural, teaching little kid numbers and letters, talking with a specific child or adult.
Having been placed in such a unique and challenging situation such as international volunteering, we have also grown as individuals and have discovered as much about ourselves as we have about the surrounding environment and culture. One of the common bonds that I have noticed is that each person seems to be at a place in their lives when they are looking for fulfillment. Perhaps they are taking time off from work or school, or figuring something out about themselves. Of course, it is much like vacation here at times. We go out to dinner, have drinks, and enjoy the beauty which is South Africa. Hiking Table Mountain and shark cage diving don’t really constitute as volunteering (I have yet to do the largest bungee jump in the world). However, I have spent time with a select few who have made me think about my life, and most importantly, my upbringing.
I don’t really know how to put this, but I had shown some of the women volunteers photos of previous trips and told some of them my “life story” because they wanted to know. What I have concluded is that, if I were ever to write an autobiography, it would be as much about my mom as it would be about me. Let me crow about her for a minute. The volunteers told me that by just looking at her picture, they could tell that she was a good person with a beautiful energy about her. They thought that her story of being a single mother was both brave and progressive. I guess I would never admit to it (because I’m her son) but I’m writing it here. This is dedicated to her.
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From about 4:30 this morning, we have been saying goodbye to the people leaving and making trips to the airport. I have a slight feeling of homesickness knowing that many of the people I have spent time with will be in their own beds within a short amount of time. I made at least one trip to the airport to see a friend off. This kind of allowed me to share the same feelings of going home, even though I will be away for many more weeks to come. I am looking forward to the rest of my stay in South Africa. I will have two more groups of volunteers to meet, bond with, and part from during the rest of my time with CCS, but this is all apart of the situation here.
Cheers!
Mr. Barker
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Jon Pearce
non-member comment
Mom yes, bungee no!
Thanks for recognizing your mother's hand in your amazing life. Someone should write her biography. Also, please don't do the world's highest bungee jump. Also, please go back in time and don't do the shark cage!