Benoni, South Africa Travel Blogs

The many uses of mielies
Jan 19, 2003

... Versatile things, mielies: apparently there are about 6 different types of meal you can make with them. All the vols then went to Benoni swimming pool. It was very hot on the way, and thunderclouds had gathered by the time we got there. We paid our R3, ...

Return to Kids Haven
Mar 31, 2003

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Back to Kids Haven
May 28, 2003

. . This takes off from my Swaziland pod final entry. If you haven't read it, go click the flag to go read it from the start. (under the map)

Graeme and Lavinia come to visit
Feb 7, 2003

... Project Trust. They are on a grand tour of Southern Africa, visiting all the projects. Graeme is the PT desk officer for South Africa and other countries like Namibia and Botswana. Lavinia is the director of PT, usually she doesn't do the rounds but this ...

A day in the life
Jan 27, 2003

... fun though - the grass is pretty, and sometimes we see guinea-fowl. There is a nice acacia tree to remind us we are in Africa, and another tree that has loads of hanging weaver-bird nests. Anyway, back to the day. We walk/get an elusive lift, aiming ...

Blister = bad
Jan 22, 2003

... to walk everywhere, it's a real handicap. I didn't bring any Compeed from home, and they don't seem to sell it in South Africa. I keep dressing it, using Elastoplast cos it's the only plaster that doesn't rub off when I walk. Whenever I can I leave it ...

Katie says goodbye
Feb 18, 2003

The week has gone fast. - Wednesday I got a lift to the office which was nice. Lew returned my book - I had unknowingly left it in the office a while ago and Lew found it and took it away to read. - Thursday it rained. Yeah, that's about it. Oh, ...

Sad day
Jan 31, 2003

One of the kids died today. He was 12 and he committed suicide. We are all in deep shock, obviously. I only spoke to him yesterday.

Finding my place
Feb 11, 2003

The weekend was pretty good. On Saturday the vols went to Lakeside and had a proper lunch. Suzanne left at 4.30 in the afternoon. I don't know her that well, but the other vols will miss her lots I think. She helped me so much in getting my feet and ...

Going to the project
Jan 15, 2003

Alright, here's how this blog is going to be. I'm based in a project in Benoni, just east of Jo'burg. I'll not be moving from here much, so in terms of travel info, this isn't a very useful blog. Also, due to the fact that I'm working with street ...

Crèche course
Jan 20, 2003

I stand corrected - Marina is coming back in a month. Up early and off to the centre. I stupidly inquired about the crèche. So, first day in the crèche... All the kids are aged 4-6 and they are from local families with at least one of the ...

Fowl language
Jan 18, 2003

... up beside me while he talked. I am now in bed, savouring the fact that we don't have to go to the library tomorrow. Highlights were: Seeing Benoni. Seeing a bird and asking Marina what it was: "Erm, it's a Guinea-fuck." "I think it's '-fowl'!"

Rainbow house meeting
Mar 14, 2003

Midnight shenanigans when I fell asleep in bed with an open litre bottle of water in my hands. Woke up cold and wet in a puddle of my own creation. Had to sleep in the other bed.

Market Theater and Cool Runnings
Feb 4, 2003

Spent the day filing stuff in the office, more of my prepping... On Sunday, Sifiso and Percy - two guys Heidi knows from Soweto - took us to the Market Theater in Jo'burg, but we got the wrong time. This evening we tried again and saw 'Nothing But The ...

Ge and Leen
Feb 3, 2003

Highlight, believe it or not, was having a fight with a HUGE grasshopper. What an exciting life I lead. Fricking hot and sticky today. There are 3 new volunteers arriving - 2 today - so this is my last day in the library. It's pretty much as sorted as ...

Going to Swaziland!
May 21, 2003

. . Click on the flag to go read my Swaziland pod. (under the map) (can't miss it)

First day
Jan 17, 2003

I woke at 6.30 this morning. I can't blame jet lag, as British time would have made it 4.30am. At a more sensible time (8.30am) we took a rather uncomfortable ride to the Centre (the collective name for the offices and Bridging School) in the back of ...

Katie's announcement
Feb 11, 2003

This morning Katie said, "Izzie, I'm going to go home." So I texted Ann, and at 2pm Graeme arrived with Vixs and Aileen. After talking to various people, it was decided that Katie would go home. So there you have it. Graeme is going to Namibia ...

Back to full health
Jan 31, 2003

On Tuesday Ann came to visit. She brought some supplies for KH, which was nice of her. We also got free lunch at Lakeside - bonus!! I think Ann is scoping the place out for a visit by Graeme and Lavinia from PT. Wednesday saw me in the creche and ...

Sunrise girls welcome me home!
Apr 24, 2003

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Bleuch!
Jan 25, 2003

My blister has been getting worse all week, so I've been looking forward to the weekend so I can get it looked at. On Thursday, I worked in the library, and at lunchtime Katie and I walked to Lakeside to get more dressing. Walking there and back hurt ...

Leaving Benoni on the Baz Bus
May 21, 2003

Left Benoni on the Baz Bus at 9.15am. The journey was nice - it's great to be in the company of relaxed travellers for a bit. Talked, read, slept, looked out the window... ahh, the feeling of getting away from it. The bulk of the scenery was familiar ...

Marina returns
Feb 21, 2003

... the office. I walk by myself cos no-one else walks when I do. It's ok. I'm getting to know my way around Benoni better too. It's not difficult since the streets are all in grid formation, but I'm learning where certain shops are, like the Post Office ...

Bus back to Benoni
May 27, 2003

. . . My South African adventures continue in Benoni, click here to read the next entry of my Kids Haven pod. OR click the flag to read it from the start. (under the map)

Doxy
Mar 26, 2003

Quote of the day from Clem: "Zey choose to go out zere and eat cucarachas..."

Saying goodbye to Marina
Jan 20, 2003

A lazy day. Letting the weeks events sink in was good, although after all the activity having nothing to do was a little boring. I'm thinking about asking to see all the aspects of Kids Haven tomorrow. There's the Bridging school, where I could take ...

Back home to Kids Haven
Jul 22, 2003

This follows on from my Mozambique pod final entry. OR click on the flag to read it from the start!