Settling in...

Today was a day of orientation for Dan in his volunteer role. Starting tomorrow, he will be coordinating and managing the preschool team at the “Kwa Ximba” site about 10 min. from GGA. He will do some teaching, but will mostly administrate and oversee the team of teachers. There are between 45 and 50 students (depending on who shows up!) between the ages of 3 and 6. There is no Kindergarten here in SA, so children must be ready for grade one upon completion of preschool. Wednesday is the first day of a new school year here, and the children are just finishing their “summer holidays”. The preschool is comprised both of kids from GGA and also kids from the surrounding valleys. Since there is no way to communicate with the children in the valleys, no one really knows how many will show up on the first day of school! It will take several days for word to get out that school has started. The entire preschool had to be packed up and stored here at GGA for the summer holidays, since leaving it unattended at Kwa Ximba would result in theft and vandalism. So, the first days will be spent setting everything up again.
It was not a work day for me yet, so I caught a ride into Pietermaritzburg this morning to buy some supplies that we desperately needed to function. I purchased a fan, mosquito netting, basic kitchen supplies which are nonexistent at GGA (wash cloths, a basin, knives ect.), and some groceries. I was thrilled to find that the mall there is very similar to our malls at home (thank God for small miracles!), and even has some of the same chain stores. But, I was proud of myself for finding what I needed, paying for it, and making it back on time to catch my ride home. Several noticeable differences: when you enter any store, any bags from previous purchases get taped up by the guard at the door. There are often 20 people “working” in a store, but only one till open! (sort of like Superstore!)
Tomorrow I will be meeting with the team that I will be working with out at “Nansindela”, which is where we will eventually be living. I will be the assistant to the “Outreach coordinator” and am told that I will work a lot with the Zulu people in the valleys. Should be interesting!
Jess spent the day with Dan and the preschool staff helping to set up the school. She continues to be a real trooper! Micayla spent the day playing with the kids outside again. She has so many mosquito bites that she looks like she has the chicken pox. Tonight should be better, with the netting hung over the bed and the fan on.
The highlight of the day was a late afternoon swim in the pool to cool off. It was a scorcher today! The pool is rather greenish brown and doesn’t look all that great, but it beats the heat!
Funny story…one of the Gogos (grammas who all look like Aunt Jamima) here was mad at me today, and explained in broken English and flailing arms that she needs daily access to our kitchen, which we have been told to keep locked. She said she keeps cleaning supplies there and was angry that we have taken over the kitchen. I did not want to get off on the wrong foot with her, so I had the inspiration to offer her a glass of ice cold Coke from our fridge. A huge smile spread across her face, and she became my instant friend. She not only moved her cleaning supplies to a different location, but also mopped the kitchen floor for me! These Gogos are amazingly hard workers and walk around with buckets, basins and baskets balanced on their heads.