Cheers!

Cheers!, originally uploaded by urbansoulpie.

Bye Bye SA!!!!

Hi!!
Well it's 11am on Sunday and its my last day in South Africa, flying at 6.10pm tonight! Really looking forward to seeing everyone, although I'm sure people are going to get sick on me talking about my travels and showing my photos!

I'll start with last Monday, asusual I'm behind on my blog again! So Monday daytime was spent printing out lots and lots of photos - but there are some good ones so I'm happy! In the evening Lynn, Michelle, Ashley and I went on a township shebeen tour called Dinner at Mandelas. The shebeen was in the first township I visited, (still can't remember the name) we arrived and mixed with the locals, which was interesting! Then we were entertained by street dancers, which was really good! Not sure how they move their bodies in such strange ways, I'm sure mine would never do that, even after years of training! Next we had a traditional Xhosa meal, which was ok, I enjoyed the beef stew and Xhosa bread. The rest of the food (lots of beans and spices) I wasn't too keen on! The next set of performers were a little unusual, it was a group of men dressed in tribal gear (from Zululand) that 'danced' to a beating drum, there was a lot of high kicks and falling on the floor involved! Lastly we were invited to get up and dance with the locals!! I think we were their entertainment at this point, as they all seemed to enjoy watching the white people trying to dance!!! It was a good night and we laughed a lot.


Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning was my last shift at Bap, which was a shame, my time there seemed to go so fast. Was nice to see on the kids on Tuesday and to be greeted by lots of little arms hugging my legs!

Wednesday was a nice day, in the morning I gave out marshmallows and balloons, which the kids loved! So they spent a lot of time playing with the balloons and then fighting over the ones that where left! Sunshine (one of my favourites) arrived back from the Redcross hospital covered in Bandages - from head to toe - I didn't recognise him at first!! Apparently he has a skin condition and will have to wear them for 2 weeks, poor Mr Sunshine!!
During our lunch time, Lynn had organised relay races for the older kids, which was fairly chaotic but the boys seemed to enjoy the races.

Thursday lunchtime was spent doing arts and crafts with the older children, they don't have anything to do all day when school has finished, so was good to keep them busy for a while.
In the afternoon, I found a bubble blower lying around so I took it to play with the toddlers, some really liked them and enjoyed running into all the bubbles, which was funny. I also took some stick on jewels for the kids, the olders toddlers loved thinking they had earings like mine! We had a singing and dancing session late afternoon. The careworkers would often sing and dance with all the toddlers, which is such good fun, they all join in! is a huge part of the Xhosa culture and it really is so much fun!

Friday was a bit sad - saying bye to the kids, will miss them! I wish the things they needed could be bought but they can't. I am so lucky to have loving family and friends, a safe home and opportunities for the future. I've learn't a lot from the children and won't forget my time at Bap, really enjoyed it!
Friday night Lynn, Ashley, Marta and I went out for tea to a local Mexican restaurant, which was ok. Then Lynn had treated us to going to see a play at the Baxter theatre. It was funny, it was 5 Xhosa women singing and tap dancing a play about hating men!!! Strange but I enjoyed it!

Yesterday I spent having a last look round Cape Town and chatting with friends. Lynn had flown home early in the morning so hope her flights are going ok. In the evening I started to pack, which was a nightmare!

So now, I'm here finishing off my last blog from South Africa, packed and ready to go. Had such an amazing time here, will never forget it and I'm so glad I did it. There have been ups and downs but learn't a lot from all my experiences. I would reccommend it to you all!!!!!

My time is running out now so I best go, can't wait to see you all (and bore you with my photos and stories)!!!!!!

Over and out from SA!!!!!!!

Love Han
xxxxxxx

I'm so behind!

Hi Everyone.
I'm so behind with my blog! So gonna try to get it updated today!

So I'll have to start with my last set of days off - (26-29 Nov). On my first day off I came visited Green Point Market again, I could buy so much from there but have been pretty good! They sell lots of African masks, spoons, bowl, bead work, bags, clothes, drums, jewelery etc. In the evening Marieke, Lynn and Me went to see that Christmas lights switched on, which was ok, but the highlight was seeing Freshly Ground (A new South African band) performing - they were very good!
We got back to the house and I was just about to go in the shower when Katie (from my school project) walked in!!!!!!! I was so shocked because she had never planned to go to Cape Town, so I never thought I would see her! Also Howard had come back to Aviva House for a few days before he caught his flight back to the UK. It was so nice to see them!!!!!! So after lots of hugs we headed to Long Street to some bars and to catch up. So it was a late night after being up at 6.30am in the childrens home!

Monday was a strange day! Me and Lynn had booked to go on another township tour so we could stay at the well known Vikki's Bed and Breakfast in Khayelitsha township. Because we work in Khayelitsha and have been on township tours before we weren't bother about the day activities but were really looking forward to staying at Vikki's. She was the first person to set up a B&B in Khayelitsha and is a leading figure in the township for running community/self help projects (such as a bakery and a sewing workshop), so she has a lot of interesting opinions/stories to tell.
The day started badly because Lynn wasn't well, but we set off on the trip anyway. It started at the District Six museum which was very interesting, then we looked around Langa township (a shebeen, hostels, family homes, local 'shops' and met the local people). We arrived at Vikki's B&B in Khayelitsha about 5pm and spent time walking around the nearby area with a guide. The B&B itself was nice, there were 2 bedrooms, a living room, small kitchen and toilet, luxurious for a township home! I began to be a bit concerned about where everyone would be sleeping when more people kept arriving, in total there was 7 people with only 4 beds!! So after eating a traditional Xhosa meal (cold rice, bean stew, chicken, some kind of veg) me having my luck, we were told we would be moving on and would be doing a homestay!!! Not what I paid for or wanted! Anyway we gave it a go but was so disappointed when we arrived, it was just someones house with little kids running around, a messy bathroom and not a nice bedroom for us! So we ended up getting a taxi (hard to get in a township!) at 11.30pm to the V&A hotel at the Waterfront, which Lynn very kindly treated me too!! And it was sooooo posh!!!! Real luxury!!! It was good to meet Vikki and ask her questions, also her children were lovely so it was a shame it went wrong at the end.
After a luxury shower I hit the sack - tired again!

Monday went so quickly! We spent 2 hours at the tour companies offices getting our money back for the tour. They knew it had all gone wrong and we hadn't got what we paid for so a full refund was given - good! (I surprised myself at how good I was at getting my money back - I must be getting tough in my old age!) I was so tired in the afternoon I sat chatting to Howard, cooked my food for my shift at Bap and went to bed early!!

My third shift at Bap has been good again! Although the care workers have been causing problems but thats pretty normal. We had 2 new girls on mine and Lynns shift so it was hard work teaching tham, but again I surprised myself at how much I knew and how many names I remembered!!
On Thursday we got out a water table for the smaller children to play in, and they loved it!!!! They were splashing about and getting soaking!! They seem to enjoy any small activity we do with them because otherwise they just sit on the floor in a small room all day, everyday - shame. Just taking them outside is a treat. One little girl loved having water poured over her head, it was so funny. They all looked so cute and so happy!!
Friday was a good day but so hectic!!!! There were kids coming in and out of the Babyhouse all day! The care workers caused more trouble again by feeding the kids jam sandwiches (for breakfast) whilst we were teeth brushing! A great help -not!
I'm going to be sad to leave Bap, I only have one shift left. Really enjoy the children and have learn't a lot from them, I just try not to think about the chances of any of them having a good future because it is very low. Some might not live many more years, but at least they now have a better life than they did outside the home. I know it sounds silly but if I can give them some love while I'm here I will be happy, because that is what they are lacking.

Came back to Aviva house yesterday. Looked round an exhibition of photos from children at Baphumelele, which was good, visited the market, had a coffee then went back to rest at the house. Some of the others decided to gp down to a festival in the town we stay in (Observatory), it was so busy! Unfortunately like any festival there were a lot of pickpockets and 2 girls had there mobiles, cameras and wallets stolen, so it was mayhem in the house last night.
Today I'm having an easy day, I'm gonna look round the festival (yep I'll be careful) and maybe start packing!

Looking forward to seeing everyone when I'm back, have missed you lot!!! Wish me luck for my last shift at Bap!!

Love H
xxx

An african mama carrying her food

An african mama, originally uploaded by urbansoulpie.