Same old
Trip Start
Feb 05, 2007
1
13
25
Trip End
Apr 28, 2007
Barberton,
South Africa
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
I find it quite amusing that the children and I just talk to one another in our own language and expect the other one to understand. I think I am finally starting to retain some of the words, at first all I couldn't retain any of the sounds and I failed at remembering the names of people or places. Now it's not such a struggle. At the beginning of the week I did feel like an animal at the petting zoo. I was helping the kids color down on the ground, where all their work is done, and I think Mbobo (that's his short name from Bonginjosi) was trying to rub off the moles on my face. Then the kids start to play with all my leg hair, I hadn't shaved it for months so it was nice and long, since this experience I have taken the time to shave it. It seems only fair that I should feel like the exotic creature for awhile considering my interest in coming here was motivated from the same curiosity with the unknown. March's theme is "my house", so tomorrow I'm going to lead a talk about why we live in a house. I'm bringing pictures of scary animals and storms with me. This should be interesting.
At the Disabled Center I have once again ended up the only volunteer going, so it's really busy and frustrating because instead of being able to teach people things I just give them work without the time to explain how to do it. The def man I am working with, Bonginkosi, (I think it's a pretty common name), is getting the adding with symbols thing. Sometimes he gets it right, and other times he is way off. We've had to review numbers over ten everyday, he has his good days and his bad. I started a new trend today with coloring in faces that I drew. I was trying to list all the body parts by drawing a face and then everyone wanted a face in their notebook. So I wnet ahead and drew a whole bunch of faces, and as I said the English words, people would use the Swazi word back. So of course I would try the Swazi word, which is entertaining because everyone at the center thinks it's hilarious how I pronounce their language. I had a really good time today struggling with Swazi vocabulary, I think it's important that the people I am working with know they can teach me things as well, and see how much I struggle/fail with their own language. But I do like to think they appreciate my effort at their language.
This weekend the church Bri is coming up, which I am in charge of, and this Friday the house is clearing out, except for me, to go clubbing in Nelspriut. The 45 min drive to Nelspruit in the back of a truck sounds awful, I have already had close calls in the car with my seat belt on. And at this point I have spent enough time with these Barberton Afrikan men for a lifetime.
No is just no clear enough over here. Being a woman over here is not exactly the same at home, and I am still trying to figure it all out. I am not saying the women are oppressed over here or cannot think and speak for themselves in South African society, but since I don't know how to handle the drifting in gender dynamics it isn't easy for me to maneuver in social situations. I have turned to ignoring most of the men I encounter, no matter what the social situation is. It's working better for me. I believe my brother claimed he wouldn't have gotten as homesick if he came to South Africa, which may be true, but if he came as a woman it might be a different story.
As far as pictures go I did finally replace my camera, but putting them up on this website takes too long with how big the pictures are. If you are interested in seeing some of my pictures just email me or join my travelpod guest book and I will send several out at a time when I have the chance.
my email is anneconners@gmail.com
