"I Just Wanted to Hear Your Voice"

from Katherine

Our family returned to South Africa on January 14^th after spending 5 weeks in the U.S. with family and friends. We had a great time and loved seeing so many old and new friends. Thanks for a tremendous time!

A few days after we returned my cell phone rang and when I answered I heard a familiar voice say “I just wanted to hear your voice.” Wow! Someone cares enough our relationship that the sound of my voice would satisfy their soul. I will try to tell you what that means to me although I am not sure words are enough.

I think almost everyone in South Africa has a cell phone. You don’t have to have air time to place a “please call me” request. Most often when our phones ring it is a request from someone to please call them back because they don’t have air time.  This time my friend used her own air time to call just because she wanted to hear me. To know for herself that I had indeed returned to her homeland, that I was well and that we would once again be together. My heart soared.  My friend was waiting for me to come home so that we could continue our friendship in person. I am loved.

Great day!

From Katherine

Today I was invited to speak at Mdatya Primary School’s prize giving (end of the year awards day). Mdatya is the school where I assist the Grade 3’s with literacy by reading in English each week.It is a very exciting time with lots of important people making long speeches. Lots of grade R (kindergarten) learners were asleep in their chairs. 

When it was time for prize giving the assistant principle started with academic excellence for grade R. a name was called and a little boy came forward followed by his great grandmother and grandmother. Greatgran walked almost completely bent over and using a walking stick (literally a stick). When the threesome made it to the front the child received his framed certificate and posed for a family photo. As soon as the picture was taken Greatgran stood perfectly erect and began to sing and dance. This went on for several minutes with the whole crowd singing and swaying, then Greatgran dances back to her seat standing tall.

The next prize for academic excellence was for a tiny girl in grade 1. Her grandfather walked with her to the front and after their photo was taken granddad smiling from ear to ear planted a big kiss on her cheek. So sweet!

The reason for the story… I rarely see African men show affection to their children or grans. It was a real treat for me to see this elder in the community forget about who was watching and let his girl know how proud he is of her.

Many of the older adults in the Mzamba community (and throughout Africa) were either unable to attend formal schooling or had a leave school at an early age. They are incredibly proud of their children and grandchildren for working hard at school. I am proud of them too. They learn in crowded classrooms with no electricity and very few supplies, and many of them speak 2 languages. Something I am still working on!   

An Uninvited Guest

from Katherine
Elliott and I were at home having lunch when an adult vervit monkey jumped on top of the lower section of our dutch door and ‘invited himself to lunch.’

Our neighbor Phil had brought a bunch of bananas to us just the other day. I was saving some to make banana bread so they were sitting on the counter about 3 meters from the door and out of sight. We have had lots of people tell us about their monkey encounters. Even though I think they are adorable, I don’t want them in my kitchen. Having been warned we were being careful, or so I thought. He leapt from the door to the sink then to the counter where he grabbed the bunch of bananas anf then made a run for it!

Cason and I have seen monkeys in the yard, but just passing through. Not this fellow, I guess he could smell the bananas and wanted them ALL! So glad he did not come after the bread was made then I would have been upset. Now I am just amused.

Walky Talky

from Elliott
I guess I have been somewhat of a 'chicken snob.' I think I found where all those chicken parts that Chik-fil-a doesn't use - my market in South Africa! It has been quite an education...

Most people buy their chicken either live (they actually fit nicely in a shoulder bag for the walk home) and whole or frozen in bulk.with a variety of parts included. I was looking at a 5kg bag today trying to determine what the parts were and the only thing that looked familiar was the drumsticks.

Then there was a different bag that upon close inspection was something that I recognized. The bag had the name of the farm and then in big letters - 'WALKY TALKY."  No it was not referring to the radios we used as children to mimic soldiers or police. It was a bag of chicken feet and heads. Just in case you are not following, the WALKY refers to chicken feet and the TALKY refers to the head. YUMMM!!!! Unfortunately, the bag did not offer any handy serving suggestions!

How did lunch measure up?

from Katherine
I arrived a little early to Sirhashini last week for our enrichment time. The children were still having their lunch. Two neighbor ladies prepare the rice and broth and deliver lunch to the school in the biggest pots you can imagine; on their heads of course!

The school does have plastic plates for the children but no forks or spoons. No water either so no hand washing. A few of the children bring a spoon, most eat with their fingers. One boy used his ruler! I was surprised that he had a ruler that kind of school supply is a luxury in this part of the world. It worked great as a shovel for rice. He got every bite and then cleaned his ruler very well!

Entrepreneurs: Africa Style

from Elliott
I read a brief article in the local paper the other day. At first my reaction was one of frustration over the rampant vandalism and theft we have in this country.  But on second pass, I found myself excited about the evidence of the entrepreneurial spirit I see in many folks around here. Here is the article –

”The Municipality is taking immediate steps to rectify the situation at the Port Shepstone taxi rank where the toilets have been closed due because of vandalism. As reported last week, this resulted in commuters relieving themselves in buckets provided by an entrepreneur at R1 a time."

 -from The South Coast Fever

Not Quite 100%

I have written about a colloquialism here where someone might say as a matter of agreeing with a request you might make - "100%" Well, the corollary to that here ought to be "Not quite 100%" Many times, a significant effort is made but it just doesn't quite get to 100%. Not bad, but often it is the remaining 1% or so that makes all the difference in the world.

In this case, we visited a school that had a classroom block that had been completed about 3 months ago. Since most schools do not have piped water they will collect rainwater off the roof and store it in these 5000 liter tanks which have a tap on the bottom to draw water to drink or cook with. Great idea!

Only problem is that they are missing one section of pipe (about a meter)  that connects the gutter/downspot to the intake on the tank. Opportunity lost!

Unfortunately, this school is quite remote and will certainly wait a long time before the government contractor returns with the 'missing link'.