Three Months in South Africa

Molweni!!

Tonight there is a bad storm; I can hear the thunder and see the lightning. Just waiting for the rain. The power has been on and of all day.

It is not the first time I am experiencing a big storm; I grew up by “Stadt” in Norway where this happens all the time. My first day here we also had this kind of storm, and I remember my feelings that night; scared, nervous and excited. I was scared about the thought of living here by my self for 12 months, nervous about the family and community not liking me and me not liking them, and excited about starting to work and learn about a new culture. That was 10 weeks ago and a lot have changed. Tonight I don’t have any of those feelings. I am no longer scared or nervous and unfortunately much of the excitement has gone as well. Things are not new and different anymore, and work is slow and sometimes frustrating. But I now feel comfortable; in my home where I don’t feel like guest anymore, and in the community where people don’t stare that much and now greet me by my name. And I am happy. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and I am trying to appreciate every second of it. Work is a challenge but I knew that, I just have to be patience. And thinking back on these three months, I hardly remember any of the frustrations. What I do remember are the good moments and I know there will be many more to come.

When I write these bogs I try to think about what you guys would like to read about. It is hard. What I found interesting 3 months ago had changed. I think my experiences here have shifted my focus, but bare with me, I will try and keep this blog interesting:)

School Holidays last week so I took a couple days leave and went to Coffee Bay with another volunteer. CB is a small coast village about 3 hours south west of Mt.Frere. We stayed at a very nice and cheap backpacker’s (www.coffeeshak.co.za ) right by the beach and spent our days hiking, relaxing on the beach, surfing, playing pool or enjoying a couple of beers by the fireplace (not sure if I should write this, but half our bill was from the bar..:)) I defiantly want to go back there! The place is a Xhosa village and the hostel were doing a lot for the community. They had for example a school fund where they sponsored children from CB that couldn’t afford to pay for their secondary school. Even though I have been travelling a lot the last months, this trip was great because it wasn’t related to work and we got to be “just tourist” for a couple of days.

But it is good being back and I think this is going to be fun month. I have tournaments every week up until “Cup of Heroes”. COH is a big tournament SCORE is organizing the last weekend of October in the North West Province, and all the South Africa volunteers will be helping out. Think our job will be to prepare the food, so that will probably be my biggest challenge so farJ

Hope you are all doing well and keep me updated on whatever. I have an address and would love mail from you guys, but will not write it on here. Will send out an email!

Dad: check out the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park at www.kznwildlife.com, and St.Lucia at www.advantagetours.co.za. The Drakensberg mountains in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park seems interesting, but might be a detour.. but check it out anyways!! and Swaziland!

Nolita:)