final entry Emma,
Thank you for sharing some of your journey with me. It's strange that you are now home, having shared your life through words and pictures for seemingly so long.
Kindest regards, as always,
Shirty
x
Thank You Dear Emma, you are probably on your way home if not there already, but I hope you will pick this message up - I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your journals, they have given me a range of emotions so I can only begin to imagine how you must feel. I'm glad you had a nice break with James - it was very well earned. I hope you feel like you've made a difference, I'm sure you will be missed. Look forward to speaking to you soon. Thanks again love Michelle x
Hello from Zoleka and co. Hi Sonja! Everyone at Zoleka's remembers you, Enathi especially! They all say hi. I haven't had a chance to find out about the computer class yet but I will try to before I leave. Wednesday is my last day here...sure you know how I'm feeling! Hope all is well back at home for you. Emma x
Hi Hi Emma and James,
Great photos keep them coming. Cool adventure, look forward to hearing all the stories first hand too. Tell Jim I'm still running things at Ming's Office.
All the best,
Paul
Did you survive? Emma was reported to be swimming with sharks off the coast of South Africa early this morning (Saturday 18th November). She has not been heard from since.
Making up for lack of travelblog! Thank you for all the lovely goodies in my parcel Mushy. Everything being put to use, me and Jim had them all using the crayons and paper yday. Making the cards and pics for the children at weekend. Cant believe I'm leaving so soon. Spent the morning at the creche with the little ones, now at school marking the English exam...some amusing answers. One wrote a note to herself at the bottom saying good luck. Not been able to update travelblog for a while, been an awesome few days, but hectic travelling place to place and visiting James friends, everyone wants to feed us we're on about 8 meals a day at the mo. Did the driving 50/50...my driving alias is 'mad memmy'!!!!! As basically a 'non-driver' at home has all been a bit of an experience...the roads so long and straight that at night it feels like you're playing one long game of chicken' with the cars coming towards you and my belly goes over. I have taken nearing a begillion photos of elephants, lions, giraffes, hippo, buffalo, ostriches...ill put a few up when get to an internet cafe. Havin braai tonight (traditional South African bbq!!), Hermanus beach tomorrow for last weekend away with a few of the people I've met here. Booked a shark diving sesh that is at 6am saturday, not sure whether the sharks or the thought of 6am is concerning me the most. Love love love to everyone. xxx
Teresa you are a wonderful lady Teresa, thank you so much for the wonderful parcel...and to send it even tho the post office said it was doubtful! Loved my letter too, touching words. Clothes, pants, cars, pens all arrived, it did not look like anything had been touched at all. I have given the cars to my Mama Zoleka's creche where me and James have been helping out with feeding in the mornings where toys are scarce. The pens I have brought into school and am giving them out to the children when they need. The clothes I have not given out yet as thinking where they will go to the best use, will either be to the creche that is only a shack on the other side of Kayamandi or the Trust Centre. I will keep you posted. Lots and lots of love to you. Em xxx
Package sent Friday 3/10/06 Dear Emma, I'm enjoying very much reading your journals. What an incredible experience you are having, which no doubt will enrich you life. It is good to hear you are safe and being well looked after. I sent a small package for the children (including more of Alex's toy cars), do hope you have received this. My local post office seem to think it would be doubtful. Have a super time with James. Wishing you health and safety. Lots of love from us all. xxx
computer class Hello!
This is Sonja from Germany and I simply love reading your blog.
I stayed at Mama Nuku's until September. I taught in Kayamandi High School and we initialized some sort of computer class there, too. Would you mind finding out for me if the other volunteers managed to keep it up? That would matter to me a lot!
I hope you enjoyed your time in Kayamandi as much as I did!
Please give a hug to everyone in Zoleka's family and a big ncamisa to Lulutho!
Enjoy the rest of your trip in the most beautiful country in the world!
Take care,
Sonja
its a mad world as your time in kayamandi draws to a close and you reflect on your time there no doubt you will have had expeirienced a lot of mixed emotions.i have loved reading the travelblog and the pictures of the children have stirred something inside of me.they eminate happiness and of course thats infectous to every one and so you have a very bright and happy comunity inspite of the sadness that some of the children are suffering inside.today we live in a very materialistic society with tremendous wealth and greed that doesnt seem to bring much happiness and contentment perhaps those of us who have been fortunate enough to read this wonderfull travelblog will appreciate the small precious simple things in life and to be able to love and help each other who are less fortunate than ourselves.I Will miss reading your travelblog but then i will be glad to see you home safely i am so very proud of you emma in what you have been doing out there and i am sure you have touched the lifes of many people.An experience with memories to last a life time theres no greater gift than to give of yourself its agreat feeling you must not be sad when you leave but wonderfully happy what you have achieved and knowing that you will be returning to visit this wonderfull place with its warm and friendly people.Much love to you Emma have agreat week next week keep safe and looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks.xxxxxxxxx
'face paint' Em,
Thank you for another excellent diary entry and pictures. It was good to see Kate Young in the forum, but I found her suggestion that Bargey should get his 'face painted' a little disturbing.
All my best wishes to you, your friends, and all the wonderful, remarkable children, as always, Shirty.
x
exam time Em,
And so, it's exam time - for us all. As the children sit down at your school for their tests, it seems that you too are being forced to examine your own soul to find a place that can comprehend the hardship that some of these children have had to endure throughout their lives. Your readers too have to dig deep, believe me. So, as I said, we are all under examination at this time. I'm sure, as always, you are dealing with this better than most, if not all, but that's a distant observation and hardly offers comfort. I hope you can leave that place of great education but, then again, never leave it at all.
Yours, crippled by guilt, lifted by hope (a wonderful thing), haunted and humbled as always, your friend,
Shirty
ciao bella! hey em, i have only just found this forum thing! i've been reading every single one of your entries for weeks now, being both saddened and incredibly heartwarmed... you have seen and accomplished so much in such a short time, and i'm so amazed that you still find the time to write these wonderful entries. i almost feel like i'm there! i hope you have a lovely time when james comes to visit- i bet the kids are really excited about meeting him ,and i hope they paint his face too!!! lots of love to you, katie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
face 'paint' Em,
Thank you for your explanation.
I saw a video once where the girls were 'keeping cool' with that stuff on their faces.
Keep in touch,
Shirty
x
Face paint As the name suggests, that paint on my face is face paint! Not sure what its made of...sure you'll happily make a few suggestions. Some of the African women paint their face in the day completely yellow or white as it keeps them cooler, then they decorate their faces for dancing or singing, the kids do it just for the hell of it.
I couldn't upload any pics as i came over terribly faint and had to leave, think overdosed on sun and Jenga Bombs at the weekend...feeling back to normal now.
Love love love
Em
x
lead poisoning Em,
Lead poisoning is not only a sickness that cripples the body - it also cripples the mind. Slipping in and out of consciousness, all I could think about was Sparrow, my friend, who had been consumed by madness. He lay shivering, muttering and scoffing at shipmates as they washed away his bile from beneath his rancid garments. It was no more than a day later that Sparrow passed away. I'll never forget the stench of the thick and putrid air on that misty morning.
Fortunately, my dish of the deceased hasn't had the same effect. Although there was a time, just as I was eating my meal at the Taste of Raj last night, that I thought it would be my last. What an awful curry.
We arrived to chaos and was forced to drink standing up for a period of time whilst a table was prepared. When the dishes turned up, mine was room temperature, tough and the sauce was gravy-like in texture. It wasn't spicy nor mild.
I was so saddened because it's a place Laura and I really liked but I would have to think twice before going there again. It's usually so good.
I'm not really sure what to do. Shall we go back and give it another chance, never step foot in the premises again, or tell them the story of my friend Sparrow? I hope you find time to offer some advice, guidance and support in this sensitive matter.
Kindest regards, as always,
Shirty
Thank you Just so that you dont feel unappreciated, 'Thank you' is not a particularly traditional thing to say. The more 'westernised' the person is, the more likely they are to say thank you.
Just because they dont say 'Thank you', doesnt mean that what you do is not appreciated.
Thank you! Thank you heaps for all yor messages and emails, very much appreciated!
The address for those that want it is:
Emma Howes
c/o Zoleka and Philip Mpemnyama
D145 Monde Crescent
Kayamandi
Stellenbosch
Cape Town
South Africa
There will be a place in Kayamandi that would be able to make use of anything: pens; toys; clothes etc. Thank you for the thought. Let me know if anything is sent and I'll keep checking at the post office...
Keep me posted!
Love love love,
Em
x
"Give her a break Shirty!" Em, I don't know how you have the energy to keep us as up to date as you do, some of those Class 7 lads look a handful! Am enjoying your brother and James's anecdotes, even if they are a little harsh - they both have far too much time on their hands!!!! Hope you got my e-mail and that your tummy troubs are over - keep safe, love The Bundy's
wine and cheese Em,
You'll be pleased to hear that Saturday 4th November's wine and cheese night is gathering frightening pace. Kate and Al have already promised to make an appearance, while mad Sue was this week caught on security cameras in Sainsbury's tossing ingredients for a cheesecake into a trolley.
"It's got nothing to do with the wine and cheese night," she raged at check-out girls when quizzed.
Basically, all there is going to be on offer is wine, cheese and cheesecake - it's going to be absolutely amazing. There'll be people there I haven't seen for what must be a fortnight now.
Bring a bottle!
Shirty
x
Campaign for open debate Shirt,
I am in complete agreement with your comments on the previous journal, the potential for open debate is rife and I am pleased to see that the clacton-on-sea contingent are also keen for such a forum. Em, give the people what they want, set us free....we implore you! Jimx
Trouble Em,
Thank you for the latest blog entry. Once again, it was interesting to read of your recent experiences in South Africa.
Here, on this wet but mild Sunday morning, routine continues to dictate proceedings with the masses trying desperately to cling on to what is left of their weekends.
We still haven't gripped your readers by the balls where this comment facility is concerned, have we? You must take the blame for that.
Warmest wishes, as always,
Shirty.
Shirty
non-member comment
final entry
Emma, Thank you for sharing some of your journey with me. It's strange that you are now home, having shared your life through words and pictures for seemingly so long. Kindest regards, as always, Shirty x