A day in the life
Trip Start
Jan 13, 2003
1
11
32
Trip End
Sep 01, 2003
Benoni,
South Africa
Monday, January 27, 2003
Up at 7am to wait for the transport. By transport I mean that bakkie from my First Day entry, or the pick-up (for the extra wind-blown look). Sometimes it smells of fish, sometimes you slide around on squished vegetables, and sometimes there is a bed or washing machine in there too.
Anyway, that's the transport, which, I might add, can turn up any time between 7.30 and 8.30. It may be falling apart, but somehow it manages to come and go very quietly. We'll be sitting by the door watching out for it, only to find that it has been and gone right under our noses. So often we have to walk.
The walk isn't so bad, especially in the morning while it's cooler. It's 2km, partly through a field of grass. We don't go through if there is anyone already down the track. It's just common sense, like using shadows to see if someone is too close behind when you walk in town. The general rules are: avoid going through the taxi-rank, go around clumps of people in the street rather than through, and always walk like you know exactly where you are going, even if you don't.
Also, don't walk anywhere when it is dark. Outside the village gates is out-of-bounds after 5.30pm.
In general the walk in 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 to get to the centre for 8am. Walking anywhere on my foot is a real drain on my energy at the moment, so we work in the library in the morning, and only work the crèche 11 to 1.30. The library gets so hot and close, and then we go out into the midday sun and get half blinded.
Then the crèche, where we take our little groups. They are learning the rules a little. Salim (aka Spawn of Satan) is still out-of-control. The other day he got hold of a steak knife - someone stupid had left it around the corner by the sink - so we had a scary 5 minutes trying to get it off him without getting stabbed. Yikes!
Then all the kids play together til 12.15, when we go outside for lunch. Most are good, but it only takes one (usually Salim or Christine) and then it's a chain-reaction of bad behaviour.
Still not able to tell Christine and Sabrina apart, especially when they are wearing identical clothes. I'm sure the parents do it for kicks... Terri had to stick a red star to Christina's head the other day. You can usually tell if one is being naughty cos it'll be Christina.
The parents come at 1pm, or at least they should. It's a shame - some of the kids blatantly aren't cared for: their teeth are little black stumps, and their way of sorting out arguments often involves taking belts off. They don't know any different. A 5 year old says, "I fucking hit you, I fucking hit you!" as a threat. Or if they are playing at families, the 'parent' will hit the 'baby' to make it stop crying.
It's not all bad though. They can be really sweet. When one of the girls has a doll, they'll bring a blanket over to me or Katie and get us to strap the baby to their backs with the blanket, African style. Most of the time they just play together and fights only occur when there is a squabble over who gets to ride the push car.
At about 1.30 we take Siyabonga up the street to the Centre. Incidentally, Siyabonga means 'We thank you' in Zulu. We then walk back, or get the transport - a bus this time, jammed full of rowdy schoolkids heading back to the village.
When we get back we have a bit of 'us' time - Katie usually writes home/in her journal. She still not happy here I don't think. I read or chat with someone in Rainbow. I spend some time setting homework, so it's all ready for 3.30. Then we take our usual groups until 5.30. Sometimes I have to find the kids, cos they don't turn up at Starlight, the house where there's a little room I use. Sometimes they are asleep, especially towards the end of the week. By the end of their hour session they sometimes whine to go, but often it's hard to get rid of them for the next set/dinner.
Then back to Rainbow for the evening. There is a job rota on the wall, so all of us have a job to do (sweeping the floor, cooking, washing up). There is a little garden round the back, so sometimes we sit out there. Yesterday evening we had a braai - South African BBQ which was yummy. Boerewors (sausage things) and chicken, with the omnipresent pap, and chakalaka (spicy sauce).
Bedtime involves a ritual slaying of mozzies, which won't be a problem once winter comes and it gets colder.
Katie was ill today, so I did the library alone. She was feeling well enough to make dinner in the evening, but came across a problem which I reckon will take a bit of learning to get right - how to cook for 12 people. She made far too much rice. Oh well. That learning curve again.
