The family grows

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Lulutho and Tash

The fashion show at Zoleka’s crèche was brilliant! Apparently the children have been practicing for weeks, working on their walk and wiggle, they made so much effort with the costumes too. I ended up being one of the judges as they were let down at the last minute. Really not an easy job. Lulutho was very upset with me that he was not chosen for a prize…bless him, I’d have chosen him if there weren’t three other judges, but I had difficulty explaining this to him.

We have a new addition to the family this week…baby Natasha. Lukhono, my eldest host brother, has a two year old daughter who lives elsewhere with her mother. They both came to visit at the weekend, there was a bit of commotion and the mum left Sunday morning leaving Natasha with us. It’s a busy household…Mama, Papa, Kuhle, Enathi, Lulutho, Yolanda who has been adopted, three of us volunteers, and also Lukhono who has a shack of his own, but washes and sometimes eats with us (…the bathroom is busier than 41 Montrose pre-Dave the builder). Tasha is absolutely adorable. I cannot imagine how sad and frightened she must have been, when I think how Talia and my cousin Sophie dislike being away form their mummies just for the day. She has terrible trouble going to bed, but she is so tired she almost falls asleep standing up. She has asked me twice yesterday where is mummy. Apparently she is returning today to collect her so its only been for a few days, but I’ll miss her lots. She has been a delightful playmate for Lulutho…and for me! Lukhono wants Natasha to stay permanently in Kayamandi, but without work he cannot support her. He has asked me to help him draft a CV this week and then find a job so that the lil one can stay. I’m nervous about not getting a result for him.


Computer classes are going very well, tho having trouble letting only 10 children in. We’ve started giving out tickets for break, lunch, after-school. Then 50 kids bang on the door with tickets…the lil winkles try and try and forge them!! Still have at least an hour and a half in every school day when feel totally redundant…either there are no English lessons in the timetable or the work is such that we cannot really help. Madiba has a habit of needing me to help on his computer just as a find some chill-out time in the evenings when the lil ones are in bed. We’ve been drafting letters to send to companies for donations…I’m thinking I’ll be able to carry on with this when I leave here.

I sometimes feel that I'm being pulled in lots of different directions. As a volunteer I am here to help, but after school I am persistently asked by the family or neighbours to help with something or other, fixing a computer (fortunatley they've only been simple probs!), writing a letter, cleaning, working with the other volunteers to translate something from one language to another, paying for things too. I suppose they expect it as thats why we are here, but 'thank yous' are exceedingly rare. As much as you expect this from the little ones, sometimes it would be nice for a slightly different attitude from the adults. When you are not able to help in the way that they want, or you're asked something that is impossible or that you cannot afford, you feel like you have let them down and its not a good feeling when you're trying to do good.

Yesterday afternoon I popped into the crèche for the children’s party. The Stellenbosch Uni students who cleaned the place on Saturday came with balloons and party food for the children. Probably would have been more sensible to have the party before the cleaning, food colouring did not go down too well on the carpet, but the children loved it!

Been busy planning the weekend. The friends I made in Cape Town are coming to stay in Stellenbosch and I’m going to join them at the backpackers hostel for a break and a couple of nights out in town…very looking forward to it!

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Photos

Dancing Practice!
The dancing girls practicing for their performance on Thursday...experimenting with my face to see whether you would be able to see the paint!!

Kuhle and Tash
Trying and failing to get her to sleep

Ikaya Primary, Assembly
Teachers having a boogie!

The fashion show
The girls all done up for their wiggle and walk

Ikaya Primary
Tiki is on the left...another cutie in the computer class. He's Ad's new email buddy!!!

Comments

[Shirty]

A question
Em, What's that on your face? Regards, Shirty

[lamlee]

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.

[Shirty]

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