In the past five weeks I've spent in Africa, most of my time has been with children. So much so that I will probably need a re-introduction on how to socialize with those over the age of 7.
Here in South Africa I've been on project at an orphanage, an educare center (nursery), a kindergarten, and gotten a glimpse into an elementary school. Both on and off project I have noticed habits, quirks, and enthusiasm in the kids here that I have seen in kids back home and in other parts of the world.
Here we go:
1. It's always way cooler to pee outside than in the bathroom. Weather it's behind a tree or out in the open field, dropping your pants outdoors blows peeing in a toilet out of the water.
2. Trading at the lunch table-Someone else's snack is ALWAYS better than yours.
3. Eating candy, coloring, pissing off the chior ladies, making faces at the lady in the pew behind you- ANYTHING is better than sitting still in church.
4. All songs sound best when shouted as loudly as possible and sung as fast as you can, while spinning around in circles.
5. Leg hair, facial hair, gray hair- all fascinating and quickly pointed out.
6. Non-edible food is the best kind to eat, especially when you are daring a friend to do it.
7. Kids are quick to join in the trouble, but even quicker to sell you out when "who did it?" time rolls around. Every rascal for themselves.
8. Poop and all humor surrounding it is hallarious in any language.*
* This one, while annoying, is also a good humbling reminder that whenever you start to think your better or more worthy than someone- at the end of the day- everybody poops.
9. "No" in any language is enough to make up the vocabulary of a two year old.
10. You can teach them how to cover their mouths and their noses as much as you want- your still going to get sneezed on.
Sending the LOVE from south africa!
Xoxoxo
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Five very eye opening, culture-shocking, and noteworthy things I saw this week
As I anticipated and began my travels to South Africa I did my best to assume and expect as little as possible. Knowing I could not possibly predict what I was going to see or experience, the only real expectation I had was that things would be different. And different they are.
Each day I find my self observing and trying to absorb all that is going on around me. At times I can relate things that are universal and similar at home, but most of the time, the difference is overwhelming. I've witnessed something new every day, if not every hour, that I have been traveling. This week, I felt particularly present and aware of my surroundings. I tried to take note when I could in attempt to remember everything (not possible) but found 5 things in particular that stood out.
I found these to be particularly impactful, provocative, and eye opening each in their own way.
1. Over fifty children under the age of 4 lie down, row by row, and take a nap next to each other.
So I moved over to Naced.... Educare (nursery) center this week. There are over 50 toddlers there and their staff was down to three carers as opposed to the normal 6 or 7. Would be an understatement that 3:50 is an unfair ratio.
We arrived at the nursery Monday morning while all of the kids were having their breakfast (porridge, looks and smells more like cement). The best way I have come up with to describe the nursery is: zoo-like, with the noise level of 1,000 screaming 8th grade girls at a Justin Beiber concert. And all 50 kids jump on you like you are Justin Beiber.
My initial reaction: a. Get. me.out.of.here.now. And b. if that can't happen, where can I hide?
Luckily for me my only option was C. None of the above. The bus was gone and when there's 50 kids in a building of 3 rooms, there's no such thing as hiding.
But as I observed and began to settle into the day, I realized that what seemed at first like absolute mayhem was actually very organized chaos. The children respected their carers as well as their daily routine. After a morning of "organized play" each of the kids sat quietly (I swear) waiting for lunch, ate, took their shoes off outside, and went inside and laid down in rows of about 20 to take a nap. Almost every child was silent and still (always a few token squirmers). I was in complete awe. And then they stayed there for an hour.
From one extreme to another, just wild.
2. Multiple children's story books on AIDS displayed in a classroom.
When you pick up a book off the shelf in a children's classroom you expect it to be a nice fairy tale, have some cute animals, and maybe a lesson on sharing or being nice to your sibling (at least that's what I expect). You don't expect it to be about AIDS.
Call me ignorant, but it had never crossed my mind that AIDS would have such a presence that it needed to be explained on a child's level through a story book. I read stories about ballerinas, hungry catippillers, and if it was something with depth it was most likely about potty training.
Opening that first book unknowinglyand figuring out what it was about by page 3 was my biggest culture shock this week. Maybe even thus far.
3. A high schooler (in a kilt and knee socks) pick up her 2 year old son from nursery school.
In America we use teenage pregnancy as a hit topic or theme for reality tv, a statistic to frown upon, a scare tactic for health education, and as a wrong.
Here, it is the norm.
4. Two billboards for "safe and pain-free" abortions in a 3 block span.
Pro- life? Non exsistant. Especially in a place where rape is as common as a Starbucks in the U.S.
A truth so raw, you almost don't want to admit it in silence, let alone outloud.
5. Seven Great White Sharks. Up close.
While Humans may be the most evolved creatures on the planet by most standards, they are certainly not the most powerful.
Reality check: we are little. Sharks are big. iPhones, a good job, or a hot new pair of shoes can't help you if a shark wants you for lunch. Even with our intelligence and material loves, we're still powerless over nature. Chomp chomp.
And just a few other noteworthy sightings this week that I probably would not have seen walking the battery: - a kid on the side of the road wearing one timberland boot and one roller blade (he's got his shit figured out) - a south African highway police chase - the big dipper upside down (since I'm in the southern hemisphere) - a mother and a baby whale -a set of class rules, for 4th graders, that included not bringing pornography to school - and a Curves (no men, no mirrors is global... Thank goodness).
Much love to you all!
Xoxoxoox
Chels
Each day I find my self observing and trying to absorb all that is going on around me. At times I can relate things that are universal and similar at home, but most of the time, the difference is overwhelming. I've witnessed something new every day, if not every hour, that I have been traveling. This week, I felt particularly present and aware of my surroundings. I tried to take note when I could in attempt to remember everything (not possible) but found 5 things in particular that stood out.
I found these to be particularly impactful, provocative, and eye opening each in their own way.
1. Over fifty children under the age of 4 lie down, row by row, and take a nap next to each other.
So I moved over to Naced.... Educare (nursery) center this week. There are over 50 toddlers there and their staff was down to three carers as opposed to the normal 6 or 7. Would be an understatement that 3:50 is an unfair ratio.
We arrived at the nursery Monday morning while all of the kids were having their breakfast (porridge, looks and smells more like cement). The best way I have come up with to describe the nursery is: zoo-like, with the noise level of 1,000 screaming 8th grade girls at a Justin Beiber concert. And all 50 kids jump on you like you are Justin Beiber.
My initial reaction: a. Get. me.out.of.here.now. And b. if that can't happen, where can I hide?
Luckily for me my only option was C. None of the above. The bus was gone and when there's 50 kids in a building of 3 rooms, there's no such thing as hiding.
But as I observed and began to settle into the day, I realized that what seemed at first like absolute mayhem was actually very organized chaos. The children respected their carers as well as their daily routine. After a morning of "organized play" each of the kids sat quietly (I swear) waiting for lunch, ate, took their shoes off outside, and went inside and laid down in rows of about 20 to take a nap. Almost every child was silent and still (always a few token squirmers). I was in complete awe. And then they stayed there for an hour.
From one extreme to another, just wild.
2. Multiple children's story books on AIDS displayed in a classroom.
When you pick up a book off the shelf in a children's classroom you expect it to be a nice fairy tale, have some cute animals, and maybe a lesson on sharing or being nice to your sibling (at least that's what I expect). You don't expect it to be about AIDS.
Call me ignorant, but it had never crossed my mind that AIDS would have such a presence that it needed to be explained on a child's level through a story book. I read stories about ballerinas, hungry catippillers, and if it was something with depth it was most likely about potty training.
Opening that first book unknowinglyand figuring out what it was about by page 3 was my biggest culture shock this week. Maybe even thus far.
3. A high schooler (in a kilt and knee socks) pick up her 2 year old son from nursery school.
In America we use teenage pregnancy as a hit topic or theme for reality tv, a statistic to frown upon, a scare tactic for health education, and as a wrong.
Here, it is the norm.
4. Two billboards for "safe and pain-free" abortions in a 3 block span.
Pro- life? Non exsistant. Especially in a place where rape is as common as a Starbucks in the U.S.
A truth so raw, you almost don't want to admit it in silence, let alone outloud.
5. Seven Great White Sharks. Up close.
While Humans may be the most evolved creatures on the planet by most standards, they are certainly not the most powerful.
Reality check: we are little. Sharks are big. iPhones, a good job, or a hot new pair of shoes can't help you if a shark wants you for lunch. Even with our intelligence and material loves, we're still powerless over nature. Chomp chomp.
And just a few other noteworthy sightings this week that I probably would not have seen walking the battery: - a kid on the side of the road wearing one timberland boot and one roller blade (he's got his shit figured out) - a south African highway police chase - the big dipper upside down (since I'm in the southern hemisphere) - a mother and a baby whale -a set of class rules, for 4th graders, that included not bringing pornography to school - and a Curves (no men, no mirrors is global... Thank goodness).
Much love to you all!
Xoxoxoox
Chels
Monday, October 1, 2012
Happily Humbled
If you had told me three weeks ago that I would use the words "excited" and "public shower" in the same sentence I would have assumed you had gone nuts. How quickly things can change. After excessive use of waterless shampoo and baby wipes, I hop into that shared shower with more eagerness then I could have ever imagined. Swift kick in the ass from humble right off the bat.
There is nothing glamorous or sexy about life here in Gordon's Bay, but I couldent have a bigger grin on my face. Theres no more fluff, no more distractions, just raw real life.
I spend my day at Ikhayalethemba Orphanage, in the Nomazamo township located just outside of Gordon's Bay. Townships, or informal settlements, are plentiful there. In a nutshell they are an extremely large collection of shacks. It's hard to explain, but try to imagine 1,000s of tiny wooden and metal huts smushed together as close as possible with no proper roads, electricity, plumbing, sanitation, and lots of roaming goats. It is free to live there, so people build their houses wherever and however they can. Needless to say, I felt like a real jerk driving in the first morning after I had bitched about having to drink instant coffee with my breakfast.
23 of the happiest, most loving, and most resilliant children I have ever met live at Ikhayalethemba. On a high horse? Spend five minutes with these children and you'll hop off really quickly. Here you cannot impress with your job, your wardrobe, how much you have, or how much you have done, you are soley loved for being present and being you. They greet you each day with a huge smile and a hug like no other, just because you are there to be with them. The love given by these kids give is an amazing and humbling phenomenon to witness.
In just a week I've been hugged on, jumped on, peed on, colored on, snacked on ( my fingers look tasty? ), drooled on, and just about everything inbetween. I kicked off this week getting peed on by Anelle who then proceeded to jump in the bath tub fully clothed, twice, half an hour into the day. So if I wasent humble or present enough, I certainly am now. But still smiling hard.
I am eager to see what the next few weeks hold, and to let the rest of my journey unfold. but for now I am starting off this week with a humble and happy heart.
There is nothing glamorous or sexy about life here in Gordon's Bay, but I couldent have a bigger grin on my face. Theres no more fluff, no more distractions, just raw real life.
I spend my day at Ikhayalethemba Orphanage, in the Nomazamo township located just outside of Gordon's Bay. Townships, or informal settlements, are plentiful there. In a nutshell they are an extremely large collection of shacks. It's hard to explain, but try to imagine 1,000s of tiny wooden and metal huts smushed together as close as possible with no proper roads, electricity, plumbing, sanitation, and lots of roaming goats. It is free to live there, so people build their houses wherever and however they can. Needless to say, I felt like a real jerk driving in the first morning after I had bitched about having to drink instant coffee with my breakfast.
23 of the happiest, most loving, and most resilliant children I have ever met live at Ikhayalethemba. On a high horse? Spend five minutes with these children and you'll hop off really quickly. Here you cannot impress with your job, your wardrobe, how much you have, or how much you have done, you are soley loved for being present and being you. They greet you each day with a huge smile and a hug like no other, just because you are there to be with them. The love given by these kids give is an amazing and humbling phenomenon to witness.
In just a week I've been hugged on, jumped on, peed on, colored on, snacked on ( my fingers look tasty? ), drooled on, and just about everything inbetween. I kicked off this week getting peed on by Anelle who then proceeded to jump in the bath tub fully clothed, twice, half an hour into the day. So if I wasent humble or present enough, I certainly am now. But still smiling hard.
I am eager to see what the next few weeks hold, and to let the rest of my journey unfold. but for now I am starting off this week with a humble and happy heart.
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