date: 23.05.08
Clare and I have realised something with this SCORE on the Move project; there is always something! Whenever we do or say something, there is always something that is not good enough or something goes wrong.
Our latest experiences include running out of petrol on our way home from a camping site in the middle of nowhere. We had been invited there a local volunteer, but we should have known better than to listen to him when he said it is only a 45 minutes drive. In rural Africa that usually means 1 ½ hours. The place was amazing, the view and scenery on the way back down the mountains were breathtaking with rural villages clinging to the mountain sides, but Clare and I was to stressed and nervous about not having enough petrol to get back. Luckily we only had to push the car for 1 km, so the timing wasn’t too bad! :)
Another incidence was Tuesday when Clare and I went to nearest town to get some sport equipment. We had communicated with TK that he was to come and get us at 5.30 PM, but since there is always something, TK misunderstood where we were and could not pick us up. In light of the resent violence against foreigners in this country, Clare and I found ourselves at the taxi rank looking for the right taxi to take us home. As darkness was approaching, we found the taxi which could take us all the way to Rabali, no problem…!. As Rabali was getting closer, and we told the driver that he could drop us of at the next short left, his assistance turned around and said “no, there is a closer exit to your place”. Panic came over us and we looked at each other in fear, but then the guy said “you are staying at Onkomas aren’t you? Send him my regards!” lol. The feeling of relief was indescribable, but we cursed the guy for not telling us when we got in the taxi that he knew the place. That would have saved us a nervous 40 minutes drive where Clare and I was whining each other up with bad comments and jokes, and keeping our hoods on so the two lekorash (white person) wouldn’t attract too much attention!
Our stay in Rabali is now over, and it has been quite a different experience compared to Buffelshoek. No pap, no sausages, no power cuts and no outdoor toilets. But a maid, two gardeners, satellite tv and indoor pluming. The food I made my self so pasta, rice and taco has been on the menu.
When it comes to work this community has been a challenge as little sport activities are happening. But I have been showing of my (lack of) volleyball skills with the local boy team and we organised an active youth course at a youth foundation. This local guy came back to this community after studying down in Cape Town and started this foundation to give the youth in the area knowledge and skills to develop themselves. There is for example a IT section, career section and agriculture project running. This guy is just so inspiring and the story to some of the youth involved is heartbreaking. Like the two boys from Zimbabwe who attended our workshop. They stayed at a local orphanage after arriving from Zimbabwe by foot some months ago.
My stay is getting to an end, and I can’t lie; I’m really looking forward to being finished with this project now. I love the communities and the people, but it has just been “too much” as we like to say here. Only one community left so I hope I manage to get my motivation and spirit back before Sunday. It is our last community and I want to make the best out of it!
I also planned my travelling a bit more:
Flying to Dar salaam on the 23. Meeting up with Jan Morten, SCORE volunteer in Namibia and going to Zanzibar with him and his friends for a week, before flying back to Joburg and taking the bus down to Mozambique with Tonje and her friends for two weeks.
Hope you are all good, keep me updated!
Sharp sharp:)
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Pictures from Zambia
Going to the marked with Linds little sister:)
Victoria Falls
Lind and I
Lake Outside KabweJeffreys Bay and Cape Town with the girls
Ready?? Eish... I had never been on a horse and Iva with her big mouth...:)
Biking down to cape of good hope
Cape of Good Hope
Houts Bay Friday, April 18, 2008
Back to reality; 3 months and 3 communities to go!
From Joburg it was back to Limpopo and mid service with the rest of the SOM group. We stayed in a nature reserve way up north, about 18 km from the Zimbabwean border…
It was some good days, but hard getting our minds back to work. There has been some problems within our group which has taken a lot of energy of everyone, but I think we managed to sort things out because this first week in our 3. Community has been really great.
We are now in a very rural community in Blouberg called Buffelshouk. It is a very beautiful area with amazing mountains surrounding us. We asked about going hiking in some of these mountains, but were told by some locals that in one of the mountains people disappear, and in other mountains people are living and they apparently have amazing soccer fields there…
The level of unemployment and alcoholism is very high in this community, and people’s level of English is very low so communication is a challenge. There are now “real” shops in this community, but places to buy the local beer are not hard to find. If you see a house with a white flag, you know you are in the right place.
A local favourite seems to be chicken feet, which Claire and I experienced today when we took a minibus taxi from the nearest town. These busses are NEVER full according to the driver, and this one was packed with people and over 60 kg of chicken head, neck and feet….
New community also means a new host family and once again I have been lucky. Together with mum, 3 daughters and a grandson I live in a small house with 2 bedrooms and a kitchen/living room. My food so far consists of bread, pap, chicken liver, sausage (boerwors) and potatoes. I once had chicken but ended up taking the head by accident….
The bathroom is none existing, so everyday they put a (small) washing basin in my room. The toilet is outside, but during the night I’m suppose to use a bucket they place in my room every evening…..I’m getting comfortable with the rural African life, but NOT THAT comfortable;)
For information, I have decided on when I’m coming home, and my flight is booked on the 24th of July. We finish the program around the 21st of June and the plan is to travel for a month before I come home. I want to go to Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique, and finish of with a week or so in South Africa.
My mind is starting to focus on going home, but I still have 3 months to go and I’m determined to make the best of it and enjoy it to the fullest! When will I ever get the chance again to wake up at 5 am by the roosters, wash in bucket, eat chicken liver and pap, and sit in the dark every other night because of the power shortage?
Lol. This one, she also loves South Africa; The hospitality and kindness of the people, their different way and phase of life, the smiles on the children’s faces, the genuine interest and appreciation of what you are doing, the amazing sunsets, and the sky at night lit up by thousands of stars.
Wish you all a great weekend!!
XXXX
It was some good days, but hard getting our minds back to work. There has been some problems within our group which has taken a lot of energy of everyone, but I think we managed to sort things out because this first week in our 3. Community has been really great.
We are now in a very rural community in Blouberg called Buffelshouk. It is a very beautiful area with amazing mountains surrounding us. We asked about going hiking in some of these mountains, but were told by some locals that in one of the mountains people disappear, and in other mountains people are living and they apparently have amazing soccer fields there…
The level of unemployment and alcoholism is very high in this community, and people’s level of English is very low so communication is a challenge. There are now “real” shops in this community, but places to buy the local beer are not hard to find. If you see a house with a white flag, you know you are in the right place.
A local favourite seems to be chicken feet, which Claire and I experienced today when we took a minibus taxi from the nearest town. These busses are NEVER full according to the driver, and this one was packed with people and over 60 kg of chicken head, neck and feet….
New community also means a new host family and once again I have been lucky. Together with mum, 3 daughters and a grandson I live in a small house with 2 bedrooms and a kitchen/living room. My food so far consists of bread, pap, chicken liver, sausage (boerwors) and potatoes. I once had chicken but ended up taking the head by accident….
The bathroom is none existing, so everyday they put a (small) washing basin in my room. The toilet is outside, but during the night I’m suppose to use a bucket they place in my room every evening…..I’m getting comfortable with the rural African life, but NOT THAT comfortable;)
For information, I have decided on when I’m coming home, and my flight is booked on the 24th of July. We finish the program around the 21st of June and the plan is to travel for a month before I come home. I want to go to Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique, and finish of with a week or so in South Africa.
My mind is starting to focus on going home, but I still have 3 months to go and I’m determined to make the best of it and enjoy it to the fullest! When will I ever get the chance again to wake up at 5 am by the roosters, wash in bucket, eat chicken liver and pap, and sit in the dark every other night because of the power shortage?
Lol. This one, she also loves South Africa; The hospitality and kindness of the people, their different way and phase of life, the smiles on the children’s faces, the genuine interest and appreciation of what you are doing, the amazing sunsets, and the sky at night lit up by thousands of stars.
Wish you all a great weekend!!
XXXX
This one, she loved Zambia
How many people do you need to fill up a minibus taxi in Zambia?
- one to get passengers on their taxi
- one to take the money
- one to give your ticket
- one to pretend to be the driver
- two to pretend to be the passengers (so you’ll think the taxi is full and leaving soon)
- one who is the actual driver
This one, she loved Zambia! Zambia to me was in many ways similar to South Africa, but in other ways so different. I find SA so diverse; it is both developed and underdeveloped. You have the rural areas we work in, but also a well developed infrastructure and cities which remind me of Western Europe. Zambia had that “Real Africa” feeling, with the roads, people, houses and everyday life.
The bus ride from Lusaka (the capital) to Livingston ( 3.largest city (Correct me on this one Solveig) and major tourist attraction) was a 7 hour long bumpy drive. I honestly thought they were doing roadwork the last 200 km or so, but this was not the case. Heavy rain during the end of the rainy season had made the road even worst than normal. I could not believe this was the main road between these two cities. But one the bright side this was the only bus I took that did not get a flat tire and left me waiting by the road for hours.
In Livingston I met up with Lind. She is also a SCORE volunteer, but works for another NGO with (former) commercial sex workers. I met some of the girls she works with and their stories really make an impact. Like the 16year old girl with the 4 year old daughter. Luckily she has a (Norwegian) sponsor who is now paying for her to finish high school and hopefully she will get good enough grads to go on studying. Of all the girls Lind works with about 2\3 are HIV positive.
10 km out of Livingston is where you find the Victoria Falls. Since the raining season just finished the falls was massive. My pictures do not make justice at all.
After some days in Livingston we went to Kalomo, which is where Vidar and Samuel are working. Well, actually they work in the “bush”; the very rural areas around Kalomo. Every week or so they drive their bikes out to these areas and sleeping in tents for a couple of days. After I night there with pap, beans, and local beer for dinner I took the bus back to Lusaka where I stayed with Gillian, a Canadian volunteer, for a night before flying back to South Africa. I wish I had time to stay longer in Zambia, but I’m glad I got to see all the other volunteers and Victoria Falls. Also, I must admit that being back in Joburg and eating lunch at Mug and Beans at a nice mall wasn’t too bad either;)
xxx
- one to get passengers on their taxi
- one to take the money
- one to give your ticket
- one to pretend to be the driver
- two to pretend to be the passengers (so you’ll think the taxi is full and leaving soon)
- one who is the actual driver
This one, she loved Zambia! Zambia to me was in many ways similar to South Africa, but in other ways so different. I find SA so diverse; it is both developed and underdeveloped. You have the rural areas we work in, but also a well developed infrastructure and cities which remind me of Western Europe. Zambia had that “Real Africa” feeling, with the roads, people, houses and everyday life.
The bus ride from Lusaka (the capital) to Livingston ( 3.largest city (Correct me on this one Solveig) and major tourist attraction) was a 7 hour long bumpy drive. I honestly thought they were doing roadwork the last 200 km or so, but this was not the case. Heavy rain during the end of the rainy season had made the road even worst than normal. I could not believe this was the main road between these two cities. But one the bright side this was the only bus I took that did not get a flat tire and left me waiting by the road for hours.
In Livingston I met up with Lind. She is also a SCORE volunteer, but works for another NGO with (former) commercial sex workers. I met some of the girls she works with and their stories really make an impact. Like the 16year old girl with the 4 year old daughter. Luckily she has a (Norwegian) sponsor who is now paying for her to finish high school and hopefully she will get good enough grads to go on studying. Of all the girls Lind works with about 2\3 are HIV positive.
10 km out of Livingston is where you find the Victoria Falls. Since the raining season just finished the falls was massive. My pictures do not make justice at all.
After some days in Livingston we went to Kalomo, which is where Vidar and Samuel are working. Well, actually they work in the “bush”; the very rural areas around Kalomo. Every week or so they drive their bikes out to these areas and sleeping in tents for a couple of days. After I night there with pap, beans, and local beer for dinner I took the bus back to Lusaka where I stayed with Gillian, a Canadian volunteer, for a night before flying back to South Africa. I wish I had time to stay longer in Zambia, but I’m glad I got to see all the other volunteers and Victoria Falls. Also, I must admit that being back in Joburg and eating lunch at Mug and Beans at a nice mall wasn’t too bad either;)
xxx
Monday, March 31, 2008
All over the place
Thursday 20.03: time to leave Ga-Radingwana. Had an amazing time, but after only eating pap, chicken,sausages, peanut butter and bread for 2 weeks, I wasn't to sad to come back to "civilisation" in Pretoria. Hot shower, nice food and cold beer and water that doesn't taste like salt was highly appreciated. Ga-Radingwana was a beautiful place, loved the nature and the people, and concerning work it was a huge progress compared to Apel. The volunteers organised a great workshop and tournament. Clare and I spent our days writing reports, checking up on the volunteers, drinking coke and and eating bread. We also enjoyed my host families satelit tv if there were any power (SA is having a national power shortage crises so the powers been of almost everyday).
Friday 21.03: Time to leave Clare and head for Port Elisabeth.
Saturday 22.03: FINALLY I met up with Ann-Cecilie and Iva in Port Elisabeth. So great to see them. We travelled down to Jeffreys Bay where we stayed at a beautiful backpackers, which was owned by a Norwegian couple. Spent the day shopping, eating and relaxing. Jeff Bay is layback small surfers mekka on the south coast of SA in Eastern Cape, about an hours drive from Port Elisabeth.
Sunday 23.03: Plan was to either surf or go sand boarding, but everything was full, so we ended up in a shitty bar watching the awful liverpool-man utd game, before we decided to drown my sorrows at a nice bar\restaurant.
Monday 24.03: Horseback riding at the beach. Yes, that was one strange experience. Me, who has never been on a horse before got the slowest one in the group, while Iva with her big mouth ended up on Speedy Gonzales. lol. We didn't laugh that much while we were on the horses, but afterwards we realised how funny it must have been for the others to watch us. Ivas horse in almost 60 kmh while she struggled to hold on, and me 10 meters behind everyone having no control or power over my horse. Whenever I would say go, A-C and Ivas horse would take of instead! lol.
Tuesday 25.03: Spent the day on the bazbus traveling all the way down to Cape Town. Not much to say, other than that we were in great pain after the horse ride. Our bums and backs were killing us. But we had booked a hotel i CT, and had a good night sleep!
Wednesday 26.03: Cape Peninsula. We had booked a guided trip with the bazbus down to cape of good hope. What a day. Started in CT and drow down the coast to Houts Bay (I think). Went on a short boat trip to see a seal colony. Must fun was actually filming the girls singing the famous drinking song to Sveinung and Martin: "Jeg har en selunge". The we we went to Boulding beach (I think) to watch the Penguins. then it was of to Cape point, were we actually bicycled half way down. It was a great day, which we finished of with a great dinner down at the Waterfront with a view of the harbour and table mountain.
Thursday 27.03: Spent the WHOLE day shopping at Waterfront.
Friday 28.03: More shopping, but now in Long Street, which is a very popular street in CT with coll bars, restaurants and local craft shops. The girls did the "African shopping" here. Also went up to Tabel Mountain where the view of the city is just breathtaking.
Together with Anders, a Norwegian volunteer working outside CT, we had an African dinner at a restaurant on long street. The girls got to eat pap, which I eat almost everyday in the communities. Don't think they were to impressed! Neither am I, but when you are hungry enough, you eat almost anything.
Saturday29.03: The girls left early back to Norway. So great to have them here, wish they could have stayed longer.
Sunday 30.03: Up at 04.00am. Flight to Joburg at 06.00 am. Then of to Zambia at 10.30 am. Arrived in Lusaka at 01.00pm. Taxi to the craziest bus station in Zambia. With some help I got on the "most reliable" buss there, which wasn't as full as they said. So after about 1 1\2 hours waiting the bus was full finally full, the pastor had finished his speak and blessing, and we were of to Kabwe. After 3 hours and a flat tire I was met by Solveig and Ingeborg at the bus stop. So great to see them again. Ingeborg is actually working in Zimbabwe, but because of the election they are all working in Zambia for 3 weeks. So the plan is to stay with them here till Wednesday. Then I want to travel down to Livingston and Victoria Falls.
Sharp sharp guys, hope you all had a great Easter holiday and that things are propa!
xx
Friday 21.03: Time to leave Clare and head for Port Elisabeth.
Saturday 22.03: FINALLY I met up with Ann-Cecilie and Iva in Port Elisabeth. So great to see them. We travelled down to Jeffreys Bay where we stayed at a beautiful backpackers, which was owned by a Norwegian couple. Spent the day shopping, eating and relaxing. Jeff Bay is layback small surfers mekka on the south coast of SA in Eastern Cape, about an hours drive from Port Elisabeth.
Sunday 23.03: Plan was to either surf or go sand boarding, but everything was full, so we ended up in a shitty bar watching the awful liverpool-man utd game, before we decided to drown my sorrows at a nice bar\restaurant.
Monday 24.03: Horseback riding at the beach. Yes, that was one strange experience. Me, who has never been on a horse before got the slowest one in the group, while Iva with her big mouth ended up on Speedy Gonzales. lol. We didn't laugh that much while we were on the horses, but afterwards we realised how funny it must have been for the others to watch us. Ivas horse in almost 60 kmh while she struggled to hold on, and me 10 meters behind everyone having no control or power over my horse. Whenever I would say go, A-C and Ivas horse would take of instead! lol.
Tuesday 25.03: Spent the day on the bazbus traveling all the way down to Cape Town. Not much to say, other than that we were in great pain after the horse ride. Our bums and backs were killing us. But we had booked a hotel i CT, and had a good night sleep!
Wednesday 26.03: Cape Peninsula. We had booked a guided trip with the bazbus down to cape of good hope. What a day. Started in CT and drow down the coast to Houts Bay (I think). Went on a short boat trip to see a seal colony. Must fun was actually filming the girls singing the famous drinking song to Sveinung and Martin: "Jeg har en selunge". The we we went to Boulding beach (I think) to watch the Penguins. then it was of to Cape point, were we actually bicycled half way down. It was a great day, which we finished of with a great dinner down at the Waterfront with a view of the harbour and table mountain.
Thursday 27.03: Spent the WHOLE day shopping at Waterfront.
Friday 28.03: More shopping, but now in Long Street, which is a very popular street in CT with coll bars, restaurants and local craft shops. The girls did the "African shopping" here. Also went up to Tabel Mountain where the view of the city is just breathtaking.
Together with Anders, a Norwegian volunteer working outside CT, we had an African dinner at a restaurant on long street. The girls got to eat pap, which I eat almost everyday in the communities. Don't think they were to impressed! Neither am I, but when you are hungry enough, you eat almost anything.
Saturday29.03: The girls left early back to Norway. So great to have them here, wish they could have stayed longer.
Sunday 30.03: Up at 04.00am. Flight to Joburg at 06.00 am. Then of to Zambia at 10.30 am. Arrived in Lusaka at 01.00pm. Taxi to the craziest bus station in Zambia. With some help I got on the "most reliable" buss there, which wasn't as full as they said. So after about 1 1\2 hours waiting the bus was full finally full, the pastor had finished his speak and blessing, and we were of to Kabwe. After 3 hours and a flat tire I was met by Solveig and Ingeborg at the bus stop. So great to see them again. Ingeborg is actually working in Zimbabwe, but because of the election they are all working in Zambia for 3 weeks. So the plan is to stay with them here till Wednesday. Then I want to travel down to Livingston and Victoria Falls.
Sharp sharp guys, hope you all had a great Easter holiday and that things are propa!
xx
Monday, March 10, 2008
In the middle of nowhere
Dumelang! Lekay? Arrhona..
That’s’ how limited my Pedi knowledge is after almost 4 weeks in Limpopo. And also “Lafisha” which means it’s hot. And I’m telling you, Limpopo is HOT!! Eish, Apel, our first community, was a nightmare concerning weather. You were constantly sweating. Only way to cool down was to throw a bucket of water over you. That helped for about 5 minutes, and my host family would look at me as if I was crazy..:)
Apel was a semi rural community and much more quiet than Mt. Frere. My host family consisted of a grandmother and her 2 year old grandson. It was a new house, but no water or toilet inside the house so that was a big challenge. The roof wasn’t finished neither so there was an opening between the rooms. One night we found a bat inside the house… lol!! But at least there were no chickens to wake me up at 5 am…
But I loved Apel. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer family, and the community members were so positive and enthusiastic to everything we did. It was our first community and of course there were challenges, both with the community and also among our group. But at the end of the day it didn’t matter. Every night I would stand outside brushing my teeth while looking at the stars and thinking how grateful I am for this experience.
We are now in a rural community called Ga- Radingwana. It’s a small community about half an hour from Apel. But the difference is huge. In Apel they had Spar and other shops, but here you only find small spaza shop. The roads are all gravel roads and most of them don’t look like roads at all. Apel was filled with minibus taxies, here you might see 1 or 2 a day. But this place is truly beautiful surrounded by mountains. We went on a hike on Saturday and I felt like home:)
The community is also doing an amazing job in regards to sport development. For such a small place there is so much activity going on and we sometimes wonder if they need us here at all. But they are so eager to improve and learn more, and the volunteers are now busy planning coaching clinics and tournaments. Clare and I are now having so much free time compared to Apel. But this is a good thing because it shows how good the community is organised and how better the program is going for the volunteers.
And my living situation here is just incredible. Together with TK, our chief team leader, I’m staying in a palace. The family consists of our host dad, his daughter and his sister. The house is so beautiful and we have a toilet inside and satellite TV! I am afraid the next three houses will be a disappointment after this.. lol
Sharp sharp guys. I’m doing great, but miss you all so much. I am really excited about seeing Diva and Ann Cecilie in less than two weeks. It is too bad they will not get to visit me in any of the communities, but South Africa is such an amazing country so know they will enjoy it:)
Take care
XXXX
That’s’ how limited my Pedi knowledge is after almost 4 weeks in Limpopo. And also “Lafisha” which means it’s hot. And I’m telling you, Limpopo is HOT!! Eish, Apel, our first community, was a nightmare concerning weather. You were constantly sweating. Only way to cool down was to throw a bucket of water over you. That helped for about 5 minutes, and my host family would look at me as if I was crazy..:)
Apel was a semi rural community and much more quiet than Mt. Frere. My host family consisted of a grandmother and her 2 year old grandson. It was a new house, but no water or toilet inside the house so that was a big challenge. The roof wasn’t finished neither so there was an opening between the rooms. One night we found a bat inside the house… lol!! But at least there were no chickens to wake me up at 5 am…
But I loved Apel. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer family, and the community members were so positive and enthusiastic to everything we did. It was our first community and of course there were challenges, both with the community and also among our group. But at the end of the day it didn’t matter. Every night I would stand outside brushing my teeth while looking at the stars and thinking how grateful I am for this experience.
We are now in a rural community called Ga- Radingwana. It’s a small community about half an hour from Apel. But the difference is huge. In Apel they had Spar and other shops, but here you only find small spaza shop. The roads are all gravel roads and most of them don’t look like roads at all. Apel was filled with minibus taxies, here you might see 1 or 2 a day. But this place is truly beautiful surrounded by mountains. We went on a hike on Saturday and I felt like home:)
The community is also doing an amazing job in regards to sport development. For such a small place there is so much activity going on and we sometimes wonder if they need us here at all. But they are so eager to improve and learn more, and the volunteers are now busy planning coaching clinics and tournaments. Clare and I are now having so much free time compared to Apel. But this is a good thing because it shows how good the community is organised and how better the program is going for the volunteers.
And my living situation here is just incredible. Together with TK, our chief team leader, I’m staying in a palace. The family consists of our host dad, his daughter and his sister. The house is so beautiful and we have a toilet inside and satellite TV! I am afraid the next three houses will be a disappointment after this.. lol
Sharp sharp guys. I’m doing great, but miss you all so much. I am really excited about seeing Diva and Ann Cecilie in less than two weeks. It is too bad they will not get to visit me in any of the communities, but South Africa is such an amazing country so know they will enjoy it:)
Take care
XXXX
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