It was exciting and different, an experience of a lifetime.

So I'm back. Back home in Norway. "How was South Africa?" people ask. How do you sum up a year in one answer?
"It was exciting and different, an experience of a lifetime. "

I landed at the airport in Oslo in late July. By the 10th of August I had spent one week at home and was back in Oslo starting my new job; Teaching grade 5 at one of the most multicultural school in Norway. Ethnic Norwegians are a minority with only 3 % so I wasn't too surprised when I got the list over my 20 pupils; 3 from Somalia, 4 from Turkey, 1 from Vietnam and the rest from Pakistan.
I know I didn't choose an easy school to try out my teaching skills, but I don't regret it. No day is the same and (most:)) of the kids are so sweet and funny (not always on purpose). The people I work with are helpful and understanding with all the things I mess up or forget:)

Reverse cultural shock was something I experienced after my year in Australia and I was prepared for it to happen this time as well.
I know South Africa and its people will always be a part of me and I know I will be going back there in the near future. But now my focus is trying to settle down in Norway and figuring out if teaching is what I want to do:)

xox

Be the change

It's almost time to leave this amazing country which has been my home for the past 13 months. I have had an fantastic time; learned so much about my self and about these communities, met so many wonderful people which have touched my heart in so many ways.

Host families have opened their homes to me and made me part of families , their generosity and kindness have meant so much to me. They have given me insight and knowledge about different cultures and ways of life which I could not have received anywhere else.

Communities and their members have accepted this Umlungu as one of them. When my coach from Mt. Frere told me that they wanted to give me their traditional costume to show their appreciation for everything I had done for them, I almost cried. They do not have much, but what they have they always share!

With new friends I have shared culture shock, laughter, tears, experiences and challenges over the last year. Without them and their support I am not sure I could have survived. The support from everyone at home has also been priceless. I guess it has not always been easy to understand or grasp the context of what I'm talking about and experiencing, but knowing that people at home are interested and care about me has meant a lot. Enkosi:)

I am looking forward to going home, but at the same time scared.. Am i ready for Norway?

For now I'll finish of with some inspiring words by a guy called Gandhi:

Be the change you want to see in the world! Good Friends
My soccer team in Tiyani. These boys were amazing!
Good times with my team in Mt. Frere
My inspiring little sister in Mt. Frere Cwete.

xxxx

Tyjani 5th and last SOM Community

With my hostbrother Lonene
B and I. Transport was always a challenge
Up at sunrise for the funeral where I fainted
Changing lives through Sport:)
Soccer training with my Team!

This one is getting old

Good start to the day. Jeger always helps:)
Birthday girl!
Lunch inMakhado with the SOM team
Birthday song and cake for the birthday girl:) Enkosi B!!!

Buffelshoek and Rabali

Buffelshoek; Just recovered from food poisening
Si Siblings in Buffelshoek
Soccer tournament in Buffelshoek
Rabali, our 4th community
Laundery time

Enjoying Africa!

QHA!! We finished SCORE on the Move about 2 weeks ago, and it was a bitter sweet feeling. In one way very good to be done, it has been a very stressful last 5 months with lots of challenges and problems with the group, but on the other hand this last year has been truly amazing and it was a bit sad to be finished. But I am still in Africa so in one way I don't feel finished just jet. Going back til Mt. Frere to say propa goodbye to my host family and friends there, and then to Cape Town where my good friends and colleagues in SCORE are doing GO for the new volunteers. But for now I am traveling, and it has been great!
Zanzibar for a week with Jan Morten, another SCORE volunteer. white beaches and clear blue ocean. Mix of Indian, African and Arabic culture there. very interesting and beautiful place!
And now I am in Mozambique with Tonje and some of her friends. Arrived in Tofo last night and staying for a week. house (or hut) on the beach, 30 degrees and cold beers:) This one she loves Africa:) then is back to South Africa before home n the 25 th of July!!

hope all is well, miss you all and starting to looking forward to going home now. That is a good feeling:)

lots of love!!

There is always something

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:)