Farewell?

Well as some of you know and many of you probably do not know, my time with the Amy Biehl Foundation has come to an end.  I was on a grant from Omprakash which funded me until the end of June and this past Wednesday was my last official day in the office.  It was pretty surreal and I don't feel like I adequately said goodbye.  You see, it's school holidays now so most of the staff hasn't even been into the office for the last 2 weeks.  I left a rather empty office and a quiet building.

But the people that were there, the core office staff, are some pretty special ladies.  Since it's only been the 4 of us for the last 2 weeks, we've really gotten to know each other on a deeper level.  Cikizwa and I sing in the afternoons, Ilchen and I grab coffee from Kamal (our Somalian friend downstairs), Afiefa and I share sweet treats and Zandi and I trade places as receptionist every time she has to run an errand or two.  It's kind of weird to think about not going back in to ABF everyday, to hear them say my name and to take coffee and sweets orders from them.  It still isn't real.

I guess it will really hit when I go back in a few weeks for my official farewell party with all the staff.  I've now been with ABF for almost a year and these people have become more than coworkers and colleagues, they've become family.  They've received me with open arms, brought me into their lives, their families, their homes, their struggles, their joys and I am all the more richer for that.  They gave me a Xhosa name, they share what they have, they invite me to take courses with them, and they even tried to find me an African man so I wouldn't go home.  They are truly special people.  They're not perfect, and I won't lie, there was plenty of office politics and drama, but they did welcome me and accept me like I was one of their own and for that I am deeply grateful.

As I set off into this next chapter (half marathon in Knysna, South Africa and then up to Mozambique for 8 days) I don't want to forget the education and the love that these people have shown me.  I know now that my family has grown a bit bigger since I left...and includes a lot more people with different colored skin...

It's Not About You...

Just thought I'd share with you guys my most recent post to the Omprakash website.  The director of communications wants to republish it so I'll let you read it here first  :)

"Something I’ve noticed throughout my travels is that volunteering is a huge part of Western culture. It’s almost expected to have some kind of volunteer experience on a resume or CV these days and if you don’t, people even question your dedication. With such an emphasis on building a resume and ensuring that one has some kind of volunteer status, it’s important to take a deeper look at the reasons why you are volunteering.

Do you volunteer because you want to build your resume? To gain valuable experience? To create relationships and network in hopes of a future job? Because of a dedication to a cause? To ‘help others’? Whatever your motive is when you volunteer for any kind of organization, I’ve found that expectations can make or break your experience.

Westerners often come to grassroots organizations in third world areas with the mindset that they have all the answers; that they know how to solve the problems of the organization and community in which they are working. And most volunteers do have new and fresh eyes and an educational background to help out. But are they truly meeting the needs of that community?

Surface level problems will be apparent—lack of water at a school, no clothes or shoes for children, old broken sports equipment, poor gardens, etc. And due to certain backgrounds, you’ll have the capacity to implement certain solutions. They key here is creating solutions with the community you are based in. If you just arrive, create a project, take some pictures, make some friends and then leave—will your work be sustainable? You certainly don’t want it to fall apart after you‘ve gone.

When I came to work for the Amy Biehl Foundation for the second time, I thought I knew what was needed. During my previous volunteer stint with ABF, I saw a place to fill a hole with computer classes in the township; but when I arrived, a greater need had surfaced. You see, all 5 centres urgently needed to be registered due to a new law passed in South Africa. Since most people were busy with other time sensitive projects, I was put in charge of ensuring that the centres were up to date with the new regulations and that all the correct paperwork was in on time. Definitely not what I expected.

Pulling from my one and only semester of Business Law, I poured over legal documents, new laws passed and country-wide regulations to ensure that our Foundation met all relevant criteria. (I didn’t expect to use the English dictionary so much in Africa!) Visiting the centres, talking with principles, teachers and groundskeepers ensured that I kept my Xhosa dictionary handy as well. Several months later and the project has mostly been completed from my side. I’ve liaised with government officials, public servants and people who I never expected to come in contact with---and I’ve learned a lot.

It’s not that my computer class wasn’t a true need. I’m still teaching twice a week and the kids are learning faster than I could’ve imagined. They’re learning. I’m learning. And through the whole thing, the kids are improving their computer skills. It just that the registration took priority over what I had in mind. It makes me wonder how many times I’ve jumped into situations because I thought I knew what was best…

Don’t get me wrong, there are many instances when our perceptions of problems and solutions to those problems are effective and beneficial. And yes, every little bit helps. I guess it all boils down to a few simple things when volunteering abroad:

1. Be flexible—don’t think you always have all the answers all the time.
2. Ask questions—figure out what the true needs of the organization or community are and then use your background and knowledge to come up with solutions.
3. Listen—listen well and uncover the heart of the issues--tackle those.
4. Use your talents to do whatever you can to help. The fact that you’re giving it your all will spur others on to come up with creative solutions and join in your development.

And remember, it’s not about you. But you play a huge part in making things happen--don’t be shy :)"

Leaving

Well this time it was weird.  And by weird, I mean that this week I got to experience the other side of leaving.  Usually, I'm the one leaving for someplace new and exciting.  Leaving for university, leaving for Paris with Barbara, leaving for Cape Town to study, leaving for London with my dad, leaving for Cape Town again, leaving Cape Town to go home, leaving Columbia for STL.....  The trip to the airport usually contains my close family and my suitcases in the backseat.  I'm ready for the next adventure, the beautiful new scenery and the challenges that lie ahead.  And yes, I'm always sad to leave behind people I love, but I also know that modern technology makes communication with them pretty darn easy.

But this time, I wasn't the one leaving.

Yes, we went to the airport, but the backseat didn't have my bags in it. No, this time I had to say goodbye to one of my 3 sisters leaving for my home country.

In a lot of ways, Alyssa and I are alike--same music, same clothes, same nail polish colors, same jewelry, same hair, same faith, same views on life, same love of sugary batter, etc etc.  The only thing that isn't the same is our shoe size (and trust me, that's a huge bummer).  Her leaving means me saying goodbye to my other half.  She finishes my sentences, understands my rambling jargon and doesn't leave when I start dancing in the kitchen.

It's funny, sending her off to the good old US of A...I feel like I'm the one at home saying goodbye to her and wishing her well on her new epic adventure to foreign lands.  Life here will remain the same for us (minus her of course), but she'll be meeting new people, seeing new sights and having new adventures.  It's exciting and I'm SUPER amped and happy for her, but I'll surely be missing my other half.

Guess this is what it's like for my family and friends back home...always having to say goodbye, not knowing when you'll see them again.  It's not exactly fun, but the promise of adventure and learning new things, keep me excited to see where this journey takes my little lizard breath (sorry lyss, I had too:) )

So Bon Voyage my seester!  I can't wait to see where your next adventure takes you, love you and miss you already.

My African Autumn

It's autumn here, but not like autumn in Missouri.  Every now and then, I get a glimpse of what fall looks like in the good old Midwest and today was one of those days...

The leaves here don't burst into color quite like they do in the States, but they do show a bit of evidence that the weather is changing.  The air however, screams the changing of the seasons.  I can see my breath as I make my way to the train station on the misty mornings.  The cool and cloudy days bring crisp breezes filled with the wafting scents of decomposing leaves and fires from the hearth.  On the days when the sun does decide to show its face, the yellow-y sunbeams pierce their way through the remaining leaves on the trees.  Those that have already shown their color and fallen to the ground make a satisfying crunch under my brown leather boots.  On the most brilliant of autumn days, the colors of the air seem to be a bit more orange and the sky a bit more blue.

Autumn is a time to whip out my heavy scarves and remember to bring my rain coat to work (it is the rainy season here, afterall).  It's a time for long walks through the parks on Sunday afternoons (thanks Lyss).  It's a time for Saturday afternoon football (or futbol) games in that old sweatshirt.  Fuzzy slippers, big mugs filled with coffee or tea, warm blankets, chili cook-offs, fresh baked bread and other sweet treats....that cold and runny nose when you walk through town and the early morning fog that the morning train must pierce through all accompany this season.  Nickel Creek or Imogen Heap fill my headphones and I can't seem to get enough of the aptly named Autumn Film Project.

I'm stuck in May, going on November.  Family meals and Thanksgiving should be coming up soon, right? It's days like these when I wish I was back in Columbia, about to hop on my bike and ride down the Katy Trail to the winery on the bluff with my bestie, Becca.  Days like this when I'm reminded of all the times we biked around campus and ended up at Flat Branch for some pumpkin ale to finish off the ride.  Days like this when I wish I could see the splendor of Missouri in fall....

But as I see the changing of the seasons around me here, I can't help but feel a renewed sense of self.  The last few months have been pretty tough in a lot of ways and I feel as though I'm finally pushing out of that season.  This new autumn has ushered in a new outlook on life and a renewed joy in the people and places around me.  And now as I plan for the next steps in my life, I'll sit on the porch with my green mug of apple cinnamon tea and take in the sights and sounds of my African autumn....

Cultural Conundrum

Hundreds of children and adults alike streamed into the building, almost as fast as the water streaming down the road outside.  A little rain wasn’t about to deter this crowd from attending the first ever Mr and Miss Sinako Beauty Pageant.  Masixole had been working on this event for over a month and today was the final product of his hard labor.  Kids chatted with excitement as the dj played their favorite songs to enhance the atmosphere for what was about to unfold.  Many of the guests, in tattered clothing, still wet from the rain outside and many without shoes; had never been to a beauty pageant before, let alone one with contestants from their own community.

I was thrilled that Masi asked me to judge the event.  He was so excited about it, that I couldn’t help but share in his excitement of the event.  In all the hubbub the day, he forgot to make a judging sheet for us to score the contestants---so he asked me to make one up as he was running out of the office to the venue.  I obliged and in true form, the event looked a little bit like controlled pandemonium when I arrived at the center with the two other judges.


The pageant was held in a community centre in the township of Nyanga and I was one of 2 white people in the entire building.  Now, this generally wouldn’t bother me as I’ve become quite comfortable in these situations, but today was different.  Today I was sitting at a table in front of everyone as a judge.  Masi had done a wonderful job of making sure everything was in order and 3 giant plates of food and a jug of juice were brought out for the sole purpose of feeding the judges.

Here’s where my conundrum comes in....

There I sat, in front of hundreds of people who probably didn’t have breakfast and many would go without lunch as well—with a whole plate of food just for me.  I felt guilty even eating one chip. I wasn’t even that hungry...I had a full nutritious breakfast, a great lunch and a coffee break already.  I knew I would go home to a hot meal and I knew there would be leftovers for the next day.  I could tell by the look in some of the kid’s eyes that they wished to have some of the food.  I just wanted to pull the group of little kiddos sitting to my left, over to my side and dish out the goodies to them.  I didn’t need it, they did.  I wasn’t hungry, they were.

On the other hand, if I didn’t eat the food, I would be considered rude for not consuming what I had been given.  Masi and the planning team had specifically prepared a full plate of food for each of the judges and it was his “gift” to say thanks.  It might have been different if there were more people of my own race in the audience...or it might not have made a difference at all.  Either way, I was stuck.  Eat the food that I didn’t need in front of people who did need it or be inconsiderate to the people who took the time to prepare it for us.  What was I to do??


As the event progressed, I battled to make a decision, but I gradually ate a chip here and a cookie there, trying my best to show my courtesy and gratefulness to the effort put before me. The two other judges and myself watched as these proud kids ‘strut their stuff’ across the stage.  Every kid had worked so hard on their costume and the girls, their hair and makeup.  It was such a proud moment for them--choosing the top three was much more of a challenge than I anticipated.

After announcing the winners, the boy who won Mr. Sinako of 2011 stood proudly as all the girls ran up to take a photo with him and flash their eyelashes in hopes of getting a personal smile.  Pushing through all the people, an older woman made her way to the front and wrapped her arms around the boy.  Hugging and kissing him, she started to cry---it was his mother who was extremely proud of him.  What a great experience for mother and son!

During all the craziness of announcing the winners, I was able to give a bit of my plate to some smaller kids hanging out by the judging table before the plates were whisked away.  I don’t know if I did the right thing or not, but at least a few kids had something to eat. As I left the event in my warm and dry car, I watched as others walked home in the rain and once again was hit with the stark reality of poverty and wealth. I hate feeling guilty about what I've been blessed with, but today, I just couldn't shake it. I won't be able to change the whole world, but I certainly will try my best to do what I can while I'm still living in this beautiful and challenging place.

Half Marathon? Check!

The air was chilly and damp.  4.30am came a little too early on this Saturday 'morning' but I awoke with excitement and a bit of nervousness.  Today was the day--the day that my friends and I had been waiting for since October of last year.  Today was the day that we were to conquer the Two Oceans Marathon, the 'most beautiful marathon in the world!'

Bellies full from the previous day's carb-loading with 10 other compadres, Maegan and I jumped up and down to stay warm as we waited for the starting cannon.  I never thought I would sing the South African national anthem with quite so much vigor just before 6am, in the dark, in the middle of Main Road with 14,000 other people...but I did.  And I loved every minute of it :)

The boom from the starting cannon shook the stage and we set off on our journey around the beautiful place that I have come to know as Cape Town.  Then first 45 minutes of the race took place before the sun woke up, but even still, there were supporters all along the route clapping, cheering, and blowing air horns to lift our spirits.  The first 2 kilometers were pretty rough, but after the 2.5 mark, I was good to go.  

Maybe this  is a good time to stop and let you know that I have never run more than 10 kilometers at a time in my entire life.  Most of those 10Ks happened to be on flat ground so attempting this hilly half marathon was certainly something a bit more difficult than previous done.  But as any runner will tell you, there's something about the vibe, the spirit of the runners alongside you, the epic beauty of Cape Town that keeps you pushing forward.

At 11K there's something that Cape Townians like to call, Southern Cross hill.  If there was ever an epic hill, this is it.  1.7 kilometers of straight uphill at the halfway point in the race took more than physical stamina to overcome.  As I tried to run "into and not up the hill" (thanks for that advice, Josh), all kinds of runners were encouraging and pushing each other up to make it to the top.  After reaching the summit, the runners high kicked in and I felt like I could do anything.

The rest of the race was a windy route through the 'redwood' forest of upper Cape Town.  Watching the sunlight rise on Table Mountain, changing from orange and pink to soft yellow and ultimately brilliant sunshine kept my mind off the fact that my feet were throbbing and knees were aching.  They weren't lying when they touted this race the most beautiful marathon.  IT WAS GORGEOUS!!!

As I rounded the last corner, the entire cityscape came in view and hundreds of people had come out to cheer on the last few kilometers.  Turning down the last stretch, I saw 8 of my good friends chanting my name which gave me the much needed push to finish strong.  I have to admit, I did get a bit emotional after crossing the finish line and I was congratulating my fellow runners left and right with, "We did it!!!  We did it!!!"

It's still hard to believe that I ran 21 kilometers last weekend...and that it was all over before 9 in the morning at that!  I had an amazing group of friends supporting at key points along the route and great girls to train and run with.  I can now cross this one off the bucket list, but I think I'll just have to sign up for the next one in Kysna in July....  :)

Note: Fret not, I'll have pictures up as soon as I get them.

A Little Gift Filled with Pride

The Little Giving Rascals

Every year, South Africa hosts an international jazz festival in Cape Town.  On the foothills of Table Mountain, music lovers come from all over to hear the wafting tunes of saxophones, bass guitars and soulful songs fill the southern suburbs as they sip their wine and enjoy their picnic baskets.  Unfortunately, for many South Africans the festival is only a dream as the majority of the population is confined to the informal settlements and townships surrounding the city.  The cruel reality of a first world/third world conundrum is evident on weekends such as this.  Unable to afford the ticket prices, transport, or even a full meal for their family the South African citizens of the townships are left to only imagine what it the jazz festival would be like.  

Until now…

The Amy Biehl Foundation has a strong passion for music and using music as a means to connect with children, to help them express their feelings and develop their skills.  This year, we wanted to bring the internationally acclaimed festival to the people through a fun and entertaining day of song and dance.

After much preparation, securing donations, a venue and catering, the festival was underway.  Guests streamed in to this FREE event as our very own Amy Biehl Foundation marimba band played away.  Their talent, energy and obvious joy of playing these instruments were absorbed into the crowd as they took their seats.  True to African time, the performances started over an hour after the initial start time, but no one seemed to mind at all.

The Milton Jazz Academy came all the way from Boston to provide an outstanding guest performance.  Local well-known jazz artists such as Thembi Mtshali-Jones and Yolanda Yawa graced the stage with their soulful afro-jazz sound.  Amy Biehl Foundation facilitators were given the opportunity to show off their incredible talent by way of an ensemble performance that wowed the crowd.

Even though the event was free, we decided to have a donations box at the entrance to the festival.  Not expecting many donations, I played with local kids while keeping an eye on the box next to me.  These kids were covered in dirt and smelled as if they hadn’t bathed in a while, but they had so much contagious joy and energy!  Making games out of an old soda can and 2 straws, we were entertained for hours as the musicians played away.  As soon as the children saw a few people put money in the donation box, they ran away.  

Confused and little disheartened now that my playmates had left, I sat down at my seat, holding the box.

As I sat, I tried to understand why these children had left so suddenly.  Did they see the time and realize they needed to be somewhere?  Did one child direct the others away?  Was it something I said?  Did a mother call from outside the festival, unknown to my ears?  Still confused, I wondered if I would even see these kids again.  They were so small and needed so much attention and love.

Just as I was getting lost in my thoughts, the group of laughing 7 year olds rounded the corner with smiles big enough to melt any heart of stone.  I watched as each one of them dropped a coin into the donations box.  I explained to them what the donation box meant and where the money was going and they all agreed that they wanted to still give.  These kids have next to nothing, yet they proudly gave the little they had to support.  They were proud to do their part and help the community.

After playing a bit more, the kids left to go home for the day, but I was left with the lasting impression of their gift.  It doesn’t matter how much one has, what matters is that you give what you can—and do so with pride and confidence.   Kind of puts perspective on the time and money we give towards things, doesn’t it?

ABF Facilitators ensemble performance at the Township Jazz Festival

RIP Mark Roux

On 21 March 2011, Human Rights Day in South Africa, my friend Mark Roux was tragically killed in a hiking accident.  Mark and Henry were hiking up Table Mountain (a usual occurance for the 2 of them) when tragedy befell their morning as the rocks gave way beneath Mark.  He fell approximately 40 meters.  Mark was 21 years old and is survived by his parents and 2 younger siblings.

I've known Mark since 2008 when I was studying here at UCT.  He was always in and out of the house where I stay and the family I'm living with treated him as if he were their son.  Mark LOVED the outdoors--climbing, hiking, surfing...anything that was in fresh air.  And Cape Town was perfect for that.  Always a cheery disposition, he never had anything mean or ugly to say about someone else.  He always had some goofy idea or funny comment to throw in under his breath that only a few people caught at a time.  He was very involved in his church and always had time for someone else.

Mark will be greatly missed and the loss of his presence has already weighed heavily on this community.  But, we press on with the promise of seeing Mark again in glory.  Although it doesn't take away from the fact that he is gone, it is such a comfort and joy to know that he will be waiting for us when the Father calls us home.  Mark just couldn't wait to get to the party before us...

We miss you, Mark.  Have fun in glory, dear friend.  We'll be there soon enough.

"I will turn their mourning into gladness, I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow." --Jer 31:13


"...we do not want you to grieve like those who have no hope.  We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him."  1 Thes. 4:13-14

Dignity and Value

Burning Question:  How do you instill in someone purpose, dignity and value into their work?  Into their life?

Without these things, people feel-----Helpless.  Hopeless.  Degraded.  Dis-empowered.

Think about it.

If you don't feel as though you or your work has any value, if you don't believe that you have dignity and purpose, then what is the point?  Without these attributes, people can't and won't take responsibility for their situations and actions.  As a result, we will not try very hard to make a difference, to rise above our situation or overcome hardships that come our way.  I see this happening all the time.  It's everywhere--the people I work with (inside and outside the office), the people I see at the stores, the conversations I overhear in coffee shops and on the trains, the people I hang out with, the people I try not to hang out with....it doesn't matter.  We all at some point or another have these tendencies in life to feel helpless and unable to rise to the occasion.

However, this is a HUGE problem that I see in poverty stricken areas in South Africa (which I guess could be applied to other 3rd world nations as well).  In South Africa, the initial lot of the displaced population was a product of a cruel political regime and thus could not do anything about their situation outright without risk of certain danger and even death.

BUT, times have changed.  Constitutionally, there are now more freedoms, more rights, more opportunities to break the cycle of poverty and improve society as a united country.  Just because the legislation has changed, doesn't mean the people have changed though.  Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of improvements and strides being taken to develop and sustain a growing economy.  After all, that's a huge part of why I'm drawn to this place--the potential for growth and development.  But people don't just change overnight...

Because of the cruel apartheid regime and now broken or time consuming promises from the government lead people to start playing the blame game.  Here again, we find a lack of responsibility as people wait for handouts.  They become reliant on the somewhat random influx of resources and find ways to survive from one to the next.  If you can sit around all day and not have to work--why strive to make a change?  Where is the incentive?

So this brings me back to my initial burning question--How do you instill dignity and value in a person and empower them in such a way so that they, in turn, take charge of their situation and rise to overcome.  Community development isn't about coming showing up for a short period of time and leaving.  It's about instilling a sense of longevity and sustainability in the lives of other people that is contagious.

If a person has dignity, they realize that their life and work have value.  If we then have value, we will have respect for ourselves and thus a desire to improve.  If a person sees that the people around them have the same dignity and value as they themselves have, the respect goes beyond oneself.  The beggars, the trash-pickers, the shop sales people, executives, parliamentarians, the ticket checker....they all hold the same value.  While it is up to them to take responsibility for their actions and discover their own value and self-worth, we shouldn't hold back on showing every single person the respect that they deserve.

At the end of the day, we are all human beings with a desire to be loved and treated with respect.

So the answer to my burning question??  Well, the verdict is still out there.  I'm miles away from figuring it out so any and all ideas, suggestions, comments are welcome.  These are just things that have been on my mind and I thought I'd share.

Longevity, Sustainability, and Human Relationships

Some of you may know that I applied for a grant to fund the next 4 months of my time here in Cape Town through an organization called Omprakash.  Omprakash is an organization that 'builds partnerships with grassroots health, education, and environmental projects around the world, and connects them with volunteers, donors, and classrooms that can learn from and support their work.'  One of their main goals is sustainability--something most non-profits lack.  In fact, the average life span of a non-profit organization in South Africa is only 3 years.  New ones are formed all the time, but almost as often as baby organizations close.  The key to long term success in a community development organization is longevity and that can only be accomplished by sustainable funding and resources.

Here's a bit of back story on the organization, one I really believe in...

While volunteering at a hospice center where six nuns care for three-hundred physically and mentally disabled residents, the co-founders met Omprakash: an old gentleman who had been living at the center ever since suffering a severe stroke thirty years earlier. The conditions at the center were far from what most people would call ideal, but Omprakash said that he felt like he lived in paradise, simply because the nuns treated him with such kindness. This comment sparked everything that our organization has become. With a new appreciation for the power of human relationships, we began working to connect our communities in the United States with a handful of organizations in India. Today, this same effort links over a hundred organizations in more than twenty-five countries with classrooms and communities around the world.

The Amy Biehl Foundation has been around for 14 years now and thus it's programs are well established.  But, as with any organization, there is ALWAYS room for improvement and growth.  I think that's what makes my job so exciting--the potential development in a community so dear to my heart.

I have been blessed beyond belief in raising funds to support my stay at the Amy Biehl Foundation up until now and Omprakash has allowed me continue my efforts for the next 4 months.  That's right, I am an official Omprakash Volunteer Grant Recipient of 2011!!!

My proposal included several different roles at the organization, but my main focus will now be on creating and implementing a computer competency course for a group of grade 8 students.  I hope to connect my classroom with a classroom in St. Louis by giving both students the same project and swapping stories.  If all goes well, the kids will be able to learn the differences and similarities of learners their age who live a continent away!  In addition to this, I will still be helping with web development, social media, and marketing and fundraising event coordination.

The registration process is almost done and I hope to hand in my papers by the end of the week and begin my computer class in a week and a half.  Stay tuned for updates, pictures, and hopefully some video coverage of the whole process.  I'll have a profile on Omprakash for those of you wanting to follow more specifics there.

Here's to another round of adventures and learning!

To Single Mothers

This post is a bit delayed due to several factors, mainly the lack of internet in my house.  You see, in South Africa, one must pay for the internet by the megabytes used--the country has a certain cap is allowed to use each month.  February, being the shortest month of the year, apparently was a high media and social networking month because we ran out of internet access a good week and a bit before the end of the 28 days.  (Lesson learned: youtube can be your enemy in this category)

Excuses aside, the past 2 weeks have been quite hectic!  Work has really picked up at the office and there are numerous roles and office politics that must be addressed.  (Reminder: we are all broken people living in a broken world, avoiding issues doesn't solve anything)  I almost have all of my registration papers in order to register the first center in Manenberg so I hope to have that finished by the end of the week!

In addition to work craziness, the last 2 weeks I've been house sitting, aka-playing mom for 4 while working full time.  Hence the title of this blog...

The kids are all pretty much grown and can take care of themselves so there's no need to bathe them, read stories or tuck them into bed at night; BUT there are so many little things that go into a day in the life!  Eish!  Get up early, open the house up (blinds, windows, etc--no central air system so this is a necessary), wake the kids, go on a run (marathon training), come home, make sure kids are still up and getting ready, make lunches, pick up living room, get kids out the door and off to school, take a shower, eat breakfast, pack my bags, take the train to work, work all day, pick up groceries for dinner, train home, cook dinner, eat dinner, clean up dinner, make sure kids have rides to appropriate activities, water the garden, clean the pool, close up the house, etc....I'm sure all you parents and home owners reading this right now are just nodding your head.  "Yep, that's life right there"

By the time 10pm rolls around, I can't wait to jump into bed!  I cannot even begin to imagine how single mothers can raise a child and work full time.  I have the utmost respect and admiration for you ladies.  It was crazy enough the past 2 weeks and all the kids here are capable of doing most of the stuff themselves!  Babies, toddlers and young ones have a new added dimension of chores and responsibilities.  I just don't know how you do it.

Working in the townships, father absenteeism is a huge problem.  Drinking, drugs, sex...it may sound cliche, but the cliche didn't just happen to appear one day.  These are all serious issues in this community and the fact of the matter is that most women are responsible for income and raising their children.  Add on being a single mother in a poverty stricken area and you've got a lot to deal with.

This is where the community comes in.  Township communities (women especially) band together to build each other up and fill in for each other.  They'll watch each other's children, share what little food they have, and talk through the tough issues of every day life.

I'm sure everyone reading this blog knows someone, somewhere who is a single mother.  It's easy to get sucked into the business of our own lives and the hectic schedules, meetings, chores, I know.  But what have you done recently to help a single mother in need.  Single mothers are strong women.  I know, I work with 3 of them and I can't even begin to tell you their stories of trial right now.  While they won't always ask for it, they will appreciate your help.

It could mean watching the kids for the afternoon, taking her out to the movies, or simply sharing a cup of coffee with her in her crazy household.  Reach out.  Use your time and talents.  She will appreciate it.

To single mothers everywhere, I raise my glass and tip my hat.  You are astounding!

Patience is a Virtue

patience: (n) the capacity, habit or fact of being patient

patient: (n) bearing pains or trial calmly or without complaint; not hasty or impetuous

This virtue is something that South Africans (Cape Townians in particular) have not only mastered, but taken to new heights.  While I'm busy trying to file this application for registration, patience is the name of the game.  Persistence and patience make the perfect pair when conducting business here and finding that delicate balance is something that I continue to strive for.

Through all this patience testing I must wait.  Wait. Wait. Wait.

Example A:

This morning I went to the Social Services office in Athlone to speak to someone regarding our site visit.  After waiting in the Q for quite some time, we made our way to the receptionist.  She then pointed to another line we must stand in and wait for someone to come out of the door in the corner.  After reading the Social Grant pamphlet in English and Xhosa (helped with my language learning!), someone soon came out.  We then talked with the officer for 20 minutes who explained to us they layout of the area and such only to realize that the question we asked him at the beginning ("Are you the right person to speak to about registration?") was a moot point because we needed to speak to someone else.  We were told that the correct lady to speak to had left for the day (we arrived at 10am) and that she had an appointment at 8am the next morning.  We could come by around 9.30 when she finished her meeting and maybe catch her in the hall.

I think I'll just call later and set up an appointment.

But there's always room for growth and learning and in addition to my Xhosa lessons, I'm learning about being patient and how to conduct business in a foreign culture.  Fresh out of American business school, it's quite a change of pace from the go! go! go! now! now! now! lifestyle, but if I think back on it, it can be refreshing.

Here, time is certainly not of the essence and time does not equal money.  Time does get wasted here and there, but everyone is a little more relaxed.  I guess I should just sit back, relax, enjoy the scenery.....and keep asking when I can meet with the correct lady from social services :)

Remember, patience is a virtue wherever you are in the world.  Don't be hasty or impetuous.

Evening Light Hiking

Saturday evening, some friends and I went up Lion's Head peak for a little sunset hike.  We started kind of late so basically ran up the mountain, but made it with about 20 minutes to spare before watching the giant orange-red glowing orb drop over the ocean's edge.  Although it was my 3rd time making this hike, the views continue to astonish me.  I wish I could capture the intense beauty of the sunset with a camera, but alas...these will have to suffice until you all come to visit.  We'll do the hike, I promise :)

Breathtaking Views

"You're the God of this city..."

Perfect spot to watch the sunset

Thanks to headlamps, we made it down and successfully avoided scorpions.

From IT to TI (and no, I didn't meet the rapper)

Surprise! Surprise!  I haven't wasted much time since being back in Cape Town.

I headed into work on Thursday to say hi to my co-workers and of course it turned into a full work day :)  The first half was, of course, socializing and catching-up, but the second half meant getting right back in the swing of things. The reunion was sweet and it really is great to travel half way around the world and have a room full of people jump out of their chairs to greet you.  I had my usual long hug with Phumza, my boy talk with Zandi, my crazed greeting from Kevin, slow dance with Easy, a sing-song hello from Ilchen and surprise visits from various others.  Several of them were already requesting another batch of cookies so guess I'll be busy with that soon :)

Over the break, the staff of Amy Biehl realized that there was a very urgent and very important task that needed to be done.  They went down the list of people working in the office and all of them had plenty of other duties to attend to and couldn't drop everything for this assignment.  Soo.....guess who gets this new job--me!

Now before you get too excited about this job, I'll let you know what it is.  I am to register all 5 after-school centers with the provinical government and state in order to receive funding.  Woah...HUGE task!!!  I headed down to the government printers office and bought the Children's Act and necessary amendments which came to a total of around 400+ pages of legal jargon to sift through.  That one semester of business law will be put to the test now!  In a weird way, I'm actually kind of excited about this new opportunity to learn about the legal side of what goes into a non-profit and ensuring that the Amy Biehl Foundation is up to date with all of the safety regulations for the kiddos.

I had a feeling this time around would be different, but I certainly wasn't expecting this!  Bring it on legal documents!  I've replaced my web development role with a much nobler role....Toilet Inspector!  (gotta make sure the kiddos have appropriate waste facilities!)

Swimming Through Air

MADE IT!

Yep, that's right I finally made it through the blizzards, day-long layovers exploring London, the fuel leaks in my jet engine and over the savannas and Serengeti back to beautiful Cape Town.  I have to admit, the excitement wasn't as strong this time as the last 3 times I've made the transatlantic, tri-continental journey, but as soon as I caught a glimpse of Table Mountain (see above banner) from the plane window I couldn't help but smile.

There's a buzz around Cape Town these days--the weather is warmer, kids are just finishing up school holidays and the air is HUMID!  At night, I listen to the mosquitoes and guinea foul dance around the yard.  In the morning, I listen to the birds wake up with the sun and dip my feet in the pool before breakfast.  People have a bit more pep in their step and are excited about the new year and all that it has to bring.  Quite a change from the  doldrums of winter!

There's something about beginning again.  A fresh start.  A new perspective.  Different climate.  After a long and wonderful period of refreshment, it's time to get back to work and bring everything that I have with added energy and excitement.  Rest and reflection can only be useful if what you learned and reflected on is put in to practice after that period of time is over.

So here's to another round of Cape Town!

It's hard to believe that it's my fourth time here and as much as I want to believe that this year will be the same, I know it won't be.  New challenges, new struggles, new joys, new victories, new adventures, new friends.  It doesn't matter if you  go somewhere new or have been in the same place your whole life.  There's always room for growth, there's always something new and different to learn about the people and places around you.  So be adventurous, meet someone new, ask some questions, explore the world as it is right where you are.

And then tell me about it because this blog is kind of a one way communication....  :)

Face Lift

Well, it's that time again...

I decided to give my little blog a new look and try my hand at web design.  Nothing fancy, but just a little something different for when I go back to Cape Town.  I guess it's kind of like a new outfit or coat of paint--same blog, just a different look.

This break has been great and it has been an absolute joy and blessing to be home with family and friends for the past six weeks.  I was welcomed back into the land of endless cereal aisles and glossy produce by my entire family dressed in Bafana Bafana jerseys and draped with South African flag while wielding vuvuzelas.  It was quite the homecoming!

The rest of my time in America has been spent cooking dinners and baking cookies (something new and different, I know) in my parents amazing new kitchen, sharing coffee with wonderful friends, taking part in the wedding of two of my favorite people, attempting to beat up my littleBIG brother (and failing miserably), eating ridiculous amounts of popcorn, sitting on Cotton House couches, sledding off of epic snow ramps, running in snow storms, eating as much Taco Bell and Mexican food as I can, and laughing with my ridiculous family and friends whom I love so much.

I've been blessed beyond belief with my community here and being able to spend quality time with most of them has been phenomenal.  I'm rested, recharged, and ready to take on life's next adventures.  So watch out Cape Town, I'm coming back!!!

My New Cape Town Family

Wow, I can’t believe I spent the last two weeks of work away at camp and I cannot imagine a better way to finish off the year. Round two of camp was certainly different, but such a great experience. It started off with the realization AFTER we got all the way to camp that somehow 10 extra kids snuck on to the bus. Because we already started off with a larger number of children than before, we didn’t have enough beds for everyone to sleep. We were not about to send any of the kiddos home so in true African fashion, we just told them to share a bed. No complaints there—everyone got to stay!

A few highlights from the trip include waking the children up with water guns, life guarding at the swimming hole, gazing at the bazillion stars in the sky, watching my talented kids perform a play they wrote on gangsterism, and getting married to Easy during an impromptu ceremony in front of the kids. That’s right, you can call me Mrs. Nofemela from now on J

I think it’s safe to say that the theme of this camp week was bonding and strengthening of relationships. The facilitators grew much closer together and really worked like a family to make the camp run well for the kiddos. All of us started the week tired so we took turns filling in for each other when needed. Despite our tired bodies, we ended up staying up until the wee hours of the morning most nights under the stars talking about life and learning from each other’s different backgrounds. It’s crazy to think how differently we all grew up (most of the facilitators live in the townships) and how differently we live our everyday lives, but also how quickly we’ve all become friends. More than friends…we’ve become family.

We greet each other with hugs, we shoot each other with water pistols, we joke around, we ask for help, we share our struggles, we share our dreams. We share a common bond by working together to better the children of South Africa and give them a new chance to build their skills and develop their mindset. These people are my new community, my home away from home. They teach me about their culture and I teach them about mine. We pool our ideas together to make a better camp and a better program for the kids.

And speaking of the kids, I had a great talk while walking back from the swimming hole (I only had to save 2 kids from drowning this time around, but that’s a whole other topic). The 4 little girls, probably around 10 years old, were so giggly and so full of life. They spent the entirety of the 20 minute journey back to camp asking me questions about my name and teaching me Xhosa phrases. I was astounded at how well these small girls spoke English and how quickly they were able to retain everything I told them about America. As we walked through such beautiful scenery (a red dirt road with orchards on the left and vineyards on the right) I marveled at the exchange between cultures. I’m finding it hard to explain the connection that I felt with these girls as we walked home. Here are four small girls who are growing up in difficult poverty. Girls who experience drugs, alcoholism, abuse, gangsterism and so much more on a daily basis (I wish I was exaggerating here, but sadly I am not) and now they are able to be away from the pressures of their home life and can just be kids. You could see the relief in their faces and the safety that they felt by being away at camp.

As wonderful as it is to give these kids a rest and a safe haven from everyday life, it breaks my heart to watch them get off the bus and know that they have to go right back to it. One child said in his evaluation that the best part of camp was the fact that he got to eat everyday. Not only did he get to eat everyday, but we served them 3 meals a day. These kids certainly go through more than I will ever know in their home life, but I’m glad the Amy Biehl Foundation is there to give them a chance to experience new things.

And the Amy Biehl Foundation has been so good to me as well. I finished up my last day of work yesterday and can’t believe that my time here is drawing to an end. Only a few more short days in this beautiful city and I’m back to the winter. My last few days in Cape Town will be quite hectic so I may only get to blog one more time before I’m in the northern hemisphere, but you can expect me to continue blogging from that side. There will certainly be a lot to digest and think about once I’m removed from this continent so if you’re still reading and still curious about my thoughts, stay tuned.

Camp Photos

Here is just a snapshot of the camp we took the kids on last week. I'm headed out again tomorrow for round two of fun in the sun with these great kids! I think I'll just sleep on the plane on the way home...too much to do for now :) Enjoy!

Obligatory all-camp photo

Swimming Hole

What's camp without a few goofy faces?

Kids eat a lot of spaghetti

Two very talented singers/breakdancers

200 Condoms Later...

Well this week was certainly one I will never forget! The Amy Biehl Foundation took 93 kids out of their township life to a campsite about an hour north of Cape Town for some much needed time away. The week was spent hiking, swimming (at least attempting to), playing soccer, roasting marshmellows over the fire, conquering obstacles courses, performing talent shows, making new friends, learning new languages, and simply overall bonding in a new and different environment.

It was so great to take these kids out the their usually every day surroundings and transport to some place away from the pressures (the drugs, the alcohol, the abuse, the cracked family structures) to a safe area. One boy told me on the first night, “I’ve never been outside of Cape Town before. It’s so nice to be somewhere quiet. To be away from all the trouble.” Pretty crazy for a 14 year old right?

This was the first time the Amy Biehl Foundation mixed 2 different cultures on a camp. We recently opened a new center in Manenberg (a coloured community) and gave them the opportunity to come on camp with the Xhosa kids. Now, if you are reading this from the States, you might think that I’m being un-PC when I say coloured kids and black kids, but here they are 2 very different cultures. They speak different languages (Afrikaans and Xhosa respectively) and there is a lot of left-over prejudice between the two groups that is left over from Apartheid. These two groups met with some opposition at the beginning of the camp, but by the end, barriers were broken and new multi-cultural friendships were made.

The camp started off with quite an upset when one of the girls claimed that the Holy Spirit had come to her and said that someone in our camp was going to murder someone else. This girl was able to rally most of the kids around her and began to yell and scream in Xhosa. We tried to break up the group and go into our next activity, but the kids were too terrified to not listen to her because of what she said. Girls were crying and saying they were too scared to go to sleep that night or walk anywhere alone in the dark. Boys started to second guess their friends as they tried to figure out who the murder would be. After some deliberation and some sensitivity to the different cultures, we decided to send the girl home. We couldn’t have the kids terrified for the rest of the week or this girl leading the kids. Let’s just say it was a very startling start to our camp. I don’t know how the rest of the facilitators felt, but I sure started to wonder what I had signed up for… Funny enough though, the kids woke up the next morning and seemed to have forgotten the whole episode. They went about their activities as if nothing every happened…and nothing did happen. We took all 93 kids back from camp safe and sound.

World AIDS Day happened to be on December 1^st and because South Africa has the highest AIDS rate of any other country in the world, we decided to tailor our activities to educate our kids. We held a debate during the day with different topics pertaining to relationships and safe sex practices to get the kids actually thinking about the issues. It’s not taboo to talk openly about these things and the kids were more than willing to give their views. In the township culture, many of the kids are sexually active by the time they are 13/14 so they were no stranger to such topics. (This is a whole other issue that I can’t go into now, but a huge problem in not just Cape Town, but South Africa as a whole)

To finish off the day, we split the kids up in to 6 groups and had a giant water balloon fight. Buuuttt, when we were in town looking for balloons, we ran into a few obstacles (mainly the fact that would couldn’t find water balloons) so we had to improvise, South African style. After asking around a bit, we found the local clinic and were able to receive a box of 200 condoms (they are free in this country). While the kiddos ate lunch, Lesedi, Lungisa and myself managed to…yep, you guessed it—fill 200 condoms with water for our AIDS Awareness fight. I don’t think our fight will actually end AIDS, but hopefully the kids have a better awareness?? (Sorry if this topic is offensive to anyone, it is everyday conversation and life here and I feel a bit desensitized to the whole thing now)

Some other highlights from the camp included teaching a few of the kiddos how to swim, an impromptu camp-wide water fight on the hottest day, a facilitator vs camper soccer game (I played soccer with incredible talent…eish!), learning Xhosa songs, leaning about different cultures and seeing the incredible talent that our kids have during the talent show. The camp was so great that I’ve decided to go with the next group of kids going next week. It will be my last week of work and instead of spending it in the office doing office work, I’ll be out with the kiddos—the whole reason we do all the admin in the office. I can’t wait!!! I will try to put up pictures from the camp either later today or tomorrow so you guys will be able to get a little taste of the environment.

I still can’t believe I come home so soon! One more week at Amy Biehl and then a few more days and I’m headed for the good old US of A. Weird…. If anyone has any requests for something from SA send them my way and I’ll see what I can do J

Presidential Cuts

Well folks, I'm off for the week to take the ABF kiddos camping. Hiking, soccer, swimming, team building and just overall bonding are on the horizon for 300 township kids in the next week and I am SO excited to be a part of it. I'll give you the report when I return, but until then, I'll leave you with a sign I walk past everyday.

Did you know that Barak Obama gets his hair cut by Nelly??? Thought so....