The coolest thing happened today. I was coming out of a nap and felt as if I was back in Charlotte. Its a hard thing to try and explain but it was as if I was at home and just waking up after a far too long of a nap, as I did quite often last semester. I felt comfortable as if this area was mine. I guess its just reiterating last weeks blog about the world being my home. This week, especially today, makes me feel like I have made this place a little piece of me. It is one thing to be in an area and enjoy and learn what it has for you, but then to let it be a part of you....that is soo much more. The feelings and longings I have when I return home for this place has completely shifted to so much more now that that transformation has occurred.
I have finally broken free of a "group", and it feels quite great. I find myself alone a lot more than before, but in a liberating, not lonely, sort of way. I find myself walking down the street actually knowing people. It is also a great relief that those people are not international students....a good majority are South African.
This past weekend I actually went wine tasting. Realized for the most part I really still dont like wine....found 2 that I liked, but im pretty sure if I'm not going to fall in love with it here, Im not going to anywhere else in the world. The day and conversation were both very nice. The following day I actually went back to the same place to look at the cheetah and eagle/owl preserves. You could pay to hold/pet them, but I didnt have any cash so I will probably return sometime this semester to do it. The weekend coming up there is a penguin excursion so I will get my feel of animals for awhile,especially after break.
Nothing else really. I have been connecting with my roommates quite a lot lately, which I find great. They are all VERY Godly, and have something special about each one. Maybe through their teachings I will leave here knowing how to semi-cook.... Also one of my roommates are Xhosa...We have been having a lot of cultural conversations lately. Its great to learn traditions and reasoning behind certain actions, ect. I also find that the girls at the Kayamandi Primary School also want to teach us about their language and culture. I learned the words for hat and pot today, and also received a drawing that said love. Slowly I am starting to remember all of their names and they are starting to call out ours. I believe it to be signs of a beginning of a good, yet too short, relationship with the kids.
I do not believe learning enough here will be a problem. The classes are quite complex and writing the papers have turned into a bigger problem than I expected. Most of it because I find it hard to concentrate until its about 11pm and the sun is far away from my eye. By the end of the week I will (hopefully) be able to say I have finished 3 papers on complex issues (about 10 US pages each...)
So that I can actually accomplish that I am going to cut the blog short and update probably right before break.
Hopefully pictures will be coming soon.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The world is my home
This is what some would call crunch time. Though school hasn't even started back home, we are headed into our semester break in just over a week. I have 3 papers I need to start typing up and what not. The weather here has been quite rainy and cold, but soon it will pass and give way to the awesome sunshine and good tanning weather :). Im pretty sure God decided to make it crappy weather this last week to make me stay inside and do research so that I dont have a complete heart attack come paper deadlines. Not too much new besides planning a 4 day Orange river canoe/camping trip and then a trip to a game lodge on the garden route for break and keeping up with school work and then also Kayamandi after-school program.
This week I had 7 girls at my table and until the last 20mins or so was on my own. It has been my favorite day so far. I feel like I really connected with them. I had to teach and ask questions about performing arts. The one thing that kept the communication lines open was High School Musical....if they didn't understand a point I was trying to make or a question I was trying to get out of them I just made a reference to High School Musical and all of a sudden it made sense. At the end of the day we played charades and I really feel like they came out of their shells and became less shy. It warmed my heart when some of them gave me their papers so that I could read over the answers they had given (what is your favorite type of performing art, if you could do any what would it be and why... ect). It was like they wanted me to be proud of them/ wanted my approval.
I have heard from a guy in one of my classes that he helps teach ballroom to some kids in the same township so I am hoping that maybe I can help him out and do that too. It would be soo exciting to be able to dance with the kids. Share a common passion and know that what little I can teach them they can take throughout their life to do positive things.
Another common thing I keep hearing lately is people being homesick. I don't really feel it. I am not sure why. Maybe I am just use to having people I love spread throughout the world or not really having a concrete "home" in the same sense as a lot of those who are starting to miss it. The way I look at it is I am a citizen of the world and should feel at home no matter where I go, because no matter where I am I am the same person and can contact most the people I care about and find comfort in the things I hold dear. I must admit I am starting to miss buffalo sauce and people, but I dont really feel like that is homesickness because it occurs when I am at "home". Skype makes a big difference I think too. Weekly chats with my dad and grandparents and then daily chats with matt and tonight I actually got to see most my family in Florida. My nephews are getting so big and it made me so happy to see and talk to them.
Far too soon will I be back in the States reminiscing on my travels here. I just hope to make the most of it. I plan to stay involved in dance and try and get into the habitat for humanity chapter and then tomorrow there is a date auction (I am just supporting friends crazy enough to put themselves up there) to raise funds for the after-school program and then Saturday there is a trip to see the Penguins! Which is soo weird to think that this time last year I was arguing with someone that penguins did not live in Africa...NO WAY....then google disproved me....and now a year later I am experiencing them first hand.... so until my next adventure! Hope this disorganized and choppy blog holds you over :)
Pictures will be coming soon. I have to get my explorer fixed because it fails every time I have attempted. So everyone cross your fingers!!!
This week I had 7 girls at my table and until the last 20mins or so was on my own. It has been my favorite day so far. I feel like I really connected with them. I had to teach and ask questions about performing arts. The one thing that kept the communication lines open was High School Musical....if they didn't understand a point I was trying to make or a question I was trying to get out of them I just made a reference to High School Musical and all of a sudden it made sense. At the end of the day we played charades and I really feel like they came out of their shells and became less shy. It warmed my heart when some of them gave me their papers so that I could read over the answers they had given (what is your favorite type of performing art, if you could do any what would it be and why... ect). It was like they wanted me to be proud of them/ wanted my approval.
I have heard from a guy in one of my classes that he helps teach ballroom to some kids in the same township so I am hoping that maybe I can help him out and do that too. It would be soo exciting to be able to dance with the kids. Share a common passion and know that what little I can teach them they can take throughout their life to do positive things.
Another common thing I keep hearing lately is people being homesick. I don't really feel it. I am not sure why. Maybe I am just use to having people I love spread throughout the world or not really having a concrete "home" in the same sense as a lot of those who are starting to miss it. The way I look at it is I am a citizen of the world and should feel at home no matter where I go, because no matter where I am I am the same person and can contact most the people I care about and find comfort in the things I hold dear. I must admit I am starting to miss buffalo sauce and people, but I dont really feel like that is homesickness because it occurs when I am at "home". Skype makes a big difference I think too. Weekly chats with my dad and grandparents and then daily chats with matt and tonight I actually got to see most my family in Florida. My nephews are getting so big and it made me so happy to see and talk to them.
Far too soon will I be back in the States reminiscing on my travels here. I just hope to make the most of it. I plan to stay involved in dance and try and get into the habitat for humanity chapter and then tomorrow there is a date auction (I am just supporting friends crazy enough to put themselves up there) to raise funds for the after-school program and then Saturday there is a trip to see the Penguins! Which is soo weird to think that this time last year I was arguing with someone that penguins did not live in Africa...NO WAY....then google disproved me....and now a year later I am experiencing them first hand.... so until my next adventure! Hope this disorganized and choppy blog holds you over :)
Pictures will be coming soon. I have to get my explorer fixed because it fails every time I have attempted. So everyone cross your fingers!!!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Since My Last Post
There has been sooo many things that have happened since my last update. The more I get into school the more I realize how much work it is actually going to be. The semester only spans from the end of july til the end of october. I have 3 papers due around september 3rd, all around 10 pages a piece.
The major thing that I have been working on since my last update has been the Intervarsity Ballroom Dance Competition. At first glance, I didn't think the dance society would be something I was going to take part of while I was here. Feeling like I hadn't given it the chance it deserved I went back. I am glad I did, because all the thoughts that I had from the first meeting were completely washed away with good ones. In one week I managed to get a partner, go through dance bootcamp, and then two practices for the competition. The following Sunday I got to take part in South Africa's National Ballroom and Latin Dance Competition. My partner and I did quite well for our circumstances. For the division we were in we ended up getting 3rd for ballroom, 5th for latin and then a 6th for open mambo. The placement failed in comparison to the overall experience though. I felt I became a true Matie (that is the people that go to stellenbosch). We sang chants and cheered and just bonded on so many levels. I am very blessed to have the partner that I did. He was very excited and we actually had a connection and fun dancing with each other, which is something I have not had since my very first dance partner. Our team ended up taking home the spirit cup and placed 2nd in overall scoring. There was a moment that melted my heart when one of the handicapped dancers came to me and said she liked me and made a friendship with me. For a 1/2 hour we just sat on the sidelines laughing and watching the dancers and then sometimes dancing on the sidelines together. She was sooo loving and couldnt get enough hugs and giggles. The excitement in her face when the jive music came on was very inspirational. It reminded me that dance is not just how technically correct you can move your feet, but how the music makes you move inside. Until that moment I think that is a truth I had lost somewhere along my way.
On a not so high note, I had to confront a far too real stereotype of South Africa this week. While practicing for the competition my Ipod was taken out of the bottom of my bag. It was tucked away and set along the safest wall of the room, but somehow managed to get gone. When I was coming over here that is all people would say to me. South Africa=crime. I would always fight against it and say that it is probably just as bad as Charlotte or New York. I feel that this experience has given those people validation that they were correct. I don't believe that to be so. I must realize there is some truth, but that for the most part, the ideas people have of South Africa are still quite exaggerated.
The more time I spend here the more I feel myself growing. I am still continuing to cook and broaden my horizons of healthy food and drink alternatives. I actually had a request for my teriyaki chicken stir fry!!! That has to be the first time someone has actually wanted a particular food I have made. Felt sorta cool.
Today was day 2 at Kayamandi Primary. The task still proves to be a challenge, but most definitely a learning experience for both parties. The learners english skills are not very good so sometimes trying to get interaction or help with homework can become quite the obstacle. Then again, working with kids who come from your own background still poses lots of challenges.
The next few weeks I am cutting down the social life and hitting the books. Hopefully I will get everything done before the sunshine comes in and takes all my work ethic away. That is all I have for now, so goodnight to all those who actually read all the way through this :)
The major thing that I have been working on since my last update has been the Intervarsity Ballroom Dance Competition. At first glance, I didn't think the dance society would be something I was going to take part of while I was here. Feeling like I hadn't given it the chance it deserved I went back. I am glad I did, because all the thoughts that I had from the first meeting were completely washed away with good ones. In one week I managed to get a partner, go through dance bootcamp, and then two practices for the competition. The following Sunday I got to take part in South Africa's National Ballroom and Latin Dance Competition. My partner and I did quite well for our circumstances. For the division we were in we ended up getting 3rd for ballroom, 5th for latin and then a 6th for open mambo. The placement failed in comparison to the overall experience though. I felt I became a true Matie (that is the people that go to stellenbosch). We sang chants and cheered and just bonded on so many levels. I am very blessed to have the partner that I did. He was very excited and we actually had a connection and fun dancing with each other, which is something I have not had since my very first dance partner. Our team ended up taking home the spirit cup and placed 2nd in overall scoring. There was a moment that melted my heart when one of the handicapped dancers came to me and said she liked me and made a friendship with me. For a 1/2 hour we just sat on the sidelines laughing and watching the dancers and then sometimes dancing on the sidelines together. She was sooo loving and couldnt get enough hugs and giggles. The excitement in her face when the jive music came on was very inspirational. It reminded me that dance is not just how technically correct you can move your feet, but how the music makes you move inside. Until that moment I think that is a truth I had lost somewhere along my way.
On a not so high note, I had to confront a far too real stereotype of South Africa this week. While practicing for the competition my Ipod was taken out of the bottom of my bag. It was tucked away and set along the safest wall of the room, but somehow managed to get gone. When I was coming over here that is all people would say to me. South Africa=crime. I would always fight against it and say that it is probably just as bad as Charlotte or New York. I feel that this experience has given those people validation that they were correct. I don't believe that to be so. I must realize there is some truth, but that for the most part, the ideas people have of South Africa are still quite exaggerated.
The more time I spend here the more I feel myself growing. I am still continuing to cook and broaden my horizons of healthy food and drink alternatives. I actually had a request for my teriyaki chicken stir fry!!! That has to be the first time someone has actually wanted a particular food I have made. Felt sorta cool.
Today was day 2 at Kayamandi Primary. The task still proves to be a challenge, but most definitely a learning experience for both parties. The learners english skills are not very good so sometimes trying to get interaction or help with homework can become quite the obstacle. Then again, working with kids who come from your own background still poses lots of challenges.
The next few weeks I am cutting down the social life and hitting the books. Hopefully I will get everything done before the sunshine comes in and takes all my work ethic away. That is all I have for now, so goodnight to all those who actually read all the way through this :)
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
First Day of Kayamandi
Today was our first actual day at Kayamandi Primary. We have already went on a walk through and toured both the town and the school, but today was our first real interaction day. I am pretty sure that this will be the most rewarding experience I get while I am here. We started off with a greeting game just to get to know one another, and then went into homework help, and then finishing the day with snacks and physical activities. The girls at my table all had the same electricity homework. I was so confused at how that was one of the things they were taught, but sure enough we went all the way from things not to do with electricity to the different types of currents ect.
Most of, if not all, of the student's mother tongue is Xhosa. This is the African language where for the x,c,and q are all different types of clicks. So we will be doing the homework in english, but when they interact with each other or do not understand particular english phrases yet they start speaking to each other in this very native African language. Its quite surreal. This is especially so when right outside our door the dance team is practicing their chants and sooo awesome dance moves.
I can see that this volunteer program will not be easy, there will be struggles. Whether it be with kids just being kids, or just understanding the language or cultural barriers that sometimes exist. Regardless of all that I feel like I will grow so much from just the 3 hours a week I spend with these kids. They will teach me just as much, if not more, than whatever I manage to impress on them.
Most of, if not all, of the student's mother tongue is Xhosa. This is the African language where for the x,c,and q are all different types of clicks. So we will be doing the homework in english, but when they interact with each other or do not understand particular english phrases yet they start speaking to each other in this very native African language. Its quite surreal. This is especially so when right outside our door the dance team is practicing their chants and sooo awesome dance moves.
I can see that this volunteer program will not be easy, there will be struggles. Whether it be with kids just being kids, or just understanding the language or cultural barriers that sometimes exist. Regardless of all that I feel like I will grow so much from just the 3 hours a week I spend with these kids. They will teach me just as much, if not more, than whatever I manage to impress on them.
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