It was a dark and stormy night....

As most of you have probably realized, communication via email is tough for us right now.  We’re having some issues downloading email to our laptop, and can only view it.  Internet time here at GGA costs us big bucks, and time slots are not readily available since all of the 30+ volunteers share 1 computer.  So, keep sending us messages because they really are our lifeline with home, but don’t expect quick responses!

Today I thought I’d tell you a little about the kids here at the residential care site of GGA.  For the most part, they are happy, independent little people.  They play with absolutely anything, including sticks, sharp metal objects they might find, old tires, and plastic bags.  They do seem to have some toys, as I’ve seen the occasional Barbie or toy car, but everything is basically communal property, so it gets broken and wrecked very quickly.  They are very much like normal children in large groups…they fight at times, and are disobedient often.  We have had to be very firm with them at times to establish our authority.  They have so many transient care-givers, that  they push the boundaries with everyone new.  We are finding that learning their names is a big challenge!  A few have easy names like Amanda or Cindy, but 90% of the kids have unpronounceable Zulu names that will take months to learn.  Today the school aged children started school, so they are bussed out to 5 different schools at about 7:30 in the morning.  This made for a quieter day around here.

Today  I spent most of the day working in the “crèche” with the littlest residents of GGA.  There are about 7 little ones between 7 months and 3 yrs.  They are so very sweet!  We got them out of bed at 7:30, changed and dressed them, fed them breakfast, brushed their teeth, and then played with them.  Micayla and Jess loved helping along and are very capable with the kids.  Eleven month old Mbali has bonded with Micayla, and when Cayla is around, she won’t go to anyone else.  So, Micayla carries her around all over.  Mbali is a chubby little thing, so Micaya has had to build up some muscle!  These little ones either sleep with a Zulu “auntie” here at GGA, or else in a crib in a large room containing 5 cribs and several cots.  I have fallen love with a little girl named Amanda who is two, but cannot yet walk.  She has been very sick for all of her life (I think she has aids, but we are not told specifically), but is recently gaining weight and learning to walk.  I know what you’re all thinking, but NO I won’t be bringing her home with me ;)

Another interesting experience here in the last few days has been the various methods of transportation.  I have not worn a seatbelt since we arrived in SA, and consider it fortunate when there is an actual seat to sit on!  Today I went along with the “combi” (12 seat mini van) that picks up kids from school.  First we picked up 4 large boxes of bread from the grocery store, and then we jammed 18 children (plus the driver and I) into the van!  We have also driven in the back of pickup trucks, and moving vans with no doors.  All the GGA vehicles are old and rickety and driven at substantial speeds.  Like the UK, they drive on the left side of the road here.  Dan and I are supposed to “practice” over the next few days so that we too can drive kids around.

So, most of you are probably wondering how I’m really coping out here with no shopping or Starbucks close by.  Well, some parts of our life here are completely indescribable, and I know that my blogging only gives you a little glimpse.  I have no oven or microwave, laundry must be done by hand (the one available washing machine leaves the clothes dirtier than when they went in), everything is always dirty, and the bugs are quite a bit larger than in Canada!  But, other than one or two brief moments of despair each day, I am feeling amazingly positive about this adventure.  My standards of hygiene, safety, and gourmet cuisine have gone way down!  On one hand it’s actually a relief to live a life of such simplicity.  We are busy, but not stressed, and we feel closer as a family.  It seems like we’ve been away much longer than 10 days, and right now 6 months seems like a long time!

--Cathy--

A quick update from me (Dan) tonight as well.  As usual, my day started early, at about 5:45 when some combination of sun, heat, mosquitoes, and noise woke me. I enjoy waking up before my family and before my work, taking the time to read, walk, or pray in the quiet.  GGA is a noisy & chaotic place, so mornings are a welcome break; however, I’ve learned that in Africa, they are far from quiet.  I sit under one of the many HUGE trees at GGA, and the sound of birds & crickets is unbelievable.

Today (Wednesday, January 18) was the first day of school for most children in South Africa, so GGA was abuzz with excitement by 6:45, and the kids were unrecognizable as they had traded their usual clothing for sharp, crisp school uniforms.  It was also registration day for the Preschool that I am helping to run at Kwa Ximba.  At 8:00 this morning, I piled into the “combi” with 8 pre-schoolers (from GGA), 3 other volunteers, 1 Zulu worker, the driver, a pot of rice and a pot of stew for lunch.  We picked up 3 more Zulu workers and 4 more kids on the way, and by the time we arrived at the school, many parents and children were waiting in -the sun to register their kids.  There is no pre-registration process, so we had no way of knowing how many children from last year would be returning, and how many new children would be showing up.  I helped with the difficult task of registration…difficult only because my ears still are not tuned to Zulu.  Believe me, when I ask a parent for their child’s name, and they answer “Qndile Mmenhle Xaba”, I ask them to spell it for me!  Fortunately, I had help from Khanisehle, Petronella, and Goodness, our Zulu volunteer teachers from the community:  three women who co-taught last year, and are paid only a small stipend while they learn on the job, and attend monthly training courses.

We immediately realized that we had more kids coming than we could possibly handle (well over 60), so we had to send most of the children home, with a request that they return next week when we have a better idea how many we can accept.  Now we try to figure out how we can fit a few more kids into this already crowded school (which is really just an old farm house that someone donated to the community).  But these are great problems to have.  Preschool has been identified (by community leaders and NGO’s) as an area of great importance in the struggle to rebuild the community in this area that has been highly affected by AIDS.  Often, these young children (3-7 years) don’t receive normal stimulation and development, because caregivers place more emphasis on family survival.  The preschool can be an opportunity to develop language, emotional, social and physical skills, and start kids off on a successful educational footing. For many of these children, the meal provided will be their best, or even their only, meal for the day.   By the way, the school is next door to a massive slaughterhouse, so we always hope the wind is not blowing our way!  But they provide significant funding to keep the school operational, and many of the employees’ children attend.   

Anyway, after returning home this afternoon, I spent time catching up with my family, helping with the girls’ homeschool work, making phone calls, and organizing lists for tomorrow’s preschool.

This evening, we experienced the first of the dramatic South African thunderstorms that we’ve heard about.   GGA is on the top of a hill, so it felt like we were right in the middle of this incredible pounding…the rain coming down like a solid wall for about an hour, and sheet lightning that completely brightens the sky at least every SECOND!  Once or twice a minute, the lightning hits the ground, and we have had some near misses based on the time difference before the earth literally shakes with thunder.  Power in our building flickered on & off several times, and recently went out for good, so Cathy & I are sitting here in the dark until the battery of this laptop dies.  Mike, as you know, I don’t have long!!! So I’ll call it a night.  Peace.

--Dan--