Yesterday was my birthday. It was very nice. I had cake and Sam called me. Annemarie tried to call but the line kept breaking up because she was on an internet phone and Diedre tried to call me but it didn't work at all. But they tried and I love them :)
I have been sick all week. I spent all of Tuesday night in the bathroom. That was fun. I spent the week in bed which was even more fun. Oh well, these things happen. At least I was feeling ok for my birthday and I did not throw up my cake. Count the blessings!
Last weekend was spectacular. I went to Umdumbi with Matt, Tia and Anne. We spent all weekend on the beach. I went exploring on the point and found a whole bunch of really cool tide pools. They were full of crabs and fun fish and plants. It was really cool. THen I found lots of shells which is great cause I have been to lots of beaches but haven't found many shells that were all in one piece. The weather was great and the food at the backpackers was terrific. It was my favourite place I think. Sadly it is likely my last weekend on the beach since it is almost time for me to leave. Sigh.
Well, I still feel crapy so that is all I am going to write for now. Pretty sad since I don't know when I will get on the internet again, but oh well.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Cut off!!
Well, It has been nearly a month since my last post but it isn't my fault! No really!! The computer at Mzomtsha is busted so I have been cut off! I didn't even know what happened with Olympic hockey until I talked to my family on the phone last weekend! So, no email, no news. I am glad this didn't happen back in October - I would have gone crazy! As it is I get a little frustrated at times because I have to depend on South African media to find out what is going on in the world, but I am surviving quite well.
Things here in South Africa are going well. Summer is coming to an end which is sort of sad, but I will be coming back to Canada just in time for it to start again! I can't believe I have only a month and a bit left here! Time has gone by so quickly! I have my lessons pretty much planned for the next month. I have been running a reading contest with the older class and the grand prize will be lunch out at a restaurant in Umtata. Everyone who participates gets a prize so the kids have been reading a lot more than usual. It is really nice to see! The library that Jeremy Zehr started last year gets use for homework and stuff but it is great to see the fiction books getting some use!
There is a thunderstorm coming in (again...) so the power will likely go off shortly. So I guess that is all from me until the next time I get to a computer with internet! I am in umtata for the weekend hanging out with Joe and Anna Sawatzky, the new Mennonite Network missionaries here. Ooh! This weekend I finished my last university paper for my undergraduate degree! My final report for my practicum course is finished!! Funny, since I am not actually finished my placement, but because of my travel plans after my placement is finished I figured this would be the best time to do it. Yahoo!
I planned most of my trip to Europe this weekend too, talking with my sister over MSN. I am very excited about it! We are going to have tons of fun and her birthday present to me is taking me bungee jumping in Interlaken, Switzerland! I had a dream that it was fun to do, so I am trusting that in reality it will be fun too!! There is still the danger of me chickening out, but I think I am up to it. After all this, jumping off a bridge should be a peice of cake!!
Cheers
Things here in South Africa are going well. Summer is coming to an end which is sort of sad, but I will be coming back to Canada just in time for it to start again! I can't believe I have only a month and a bit left here! Time has gone by so quickly! I have my lessons pretty much planned for the next month. I have been running a reading contest with the older class and the grand prize will be lunch out at a restaurant in Umtata. Everyone who participates gets a prize so the kids have been reading a lot more than usual. It is really nice to see! The library that Jeremy Zehr started last year gets use for homework and stuff but it is great to see the fiction books getting some use!
There is a thunderstorm coming in (again...) so the power will likely go off shortly. So I guess that is all from me until the next time I get to a computer with internet! I am in umtata for the weekend hanging out with Joe and Anna Sawatzky, the new Mennonite Network missionaries here. Ooh! This weekend I finished my last university paper for my undergraduate degree! My final report for my practicum course is finished!! Funny, since I am not actually finished my placement, but because of my travel plans after my placement is finished I figured this would be the best time to do it. Yahoo!
I planned most of my trip to Europe this weekend too, talking with my sister over MSN. I am very excited about it! We are going to have tons of fun and her birthday present to me is taking me bungee jumping in Interlaken, Switzerland! I had a dream that it was fun to do, so I am trusting that in reality it will be fun too!! There is still the danger of me chickening out, but I think I am up to it. After all this, jumping off a bridge should be a peice of cake!!
Cheers
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Happy Valentines Day!
We had a huge valentine's day part-ay here at Mzomtsha last night. It was a surprise for the kids and we staff members spent all day decorating the Hall and then keeping the kids away from it. It was a lot of fun. There was dancing, music, food and lots and lots of fun. It went until after 11pm!! And then we had to clean up!! So the kids are all pretty tired today - so am I! I had fun taking pictures at the party. The kids love it when I "shoot" them. The problem was that when I tried to take some video of the dancing they all dove infront of the camera trying to get me to take their pictures. It was frustrating and funny at the same time.
Things here are going really really well. I am having a great time with the kids and my relationships with some of the staff members have really started to turn into real friendships. Claudia is a new staff member and we get along well. She know a lot of english and loves to chat with me and practise her english. She is fun and great to hang out with. Sisana, the social worker and I have also started to have more of a friendship. She is really good at including me in conversations and has a real knack for interpreting for everyone without breaking the flow of conversation.
The weather has been a little icky. Lots of rain so the gardner has a never ending job of cutting the grass. He uses a weed trimmer and by the time he finishes the whole lawn- a job that takes several days - it is time to start over because the grass has grown so much!! But yesterday it was hot again and today was also pretty nice. I am hoping that the weather holds so I can go to the beach this weekend! I haven't been in more than two months!!
The weekly church service is just starting here in the next room. There is a lot of yelling and moaning going on already. I have enjoyed these services but I still do not understand most of what goes on - not just language wise either! Time to go join in.
Things here are going really really well. I am having a great time with the kids and my relationships with some of the staff members have really started to turn into real friendships. Claudia is a new staff member and we get along well. She know a lot of english and loves to chat with me and practise her english. She is fun and great to hang out with. Sisana, the social worker and I have also started to have more of a friendship. She is really good at including me in conversations and has a real knack for interpreting for everyone without breaking the flow of conversation.
The weather has been a little icky. Lots of rain so the gardner has a never ending job of cutting the grass. He uses a weed trimmer and by the time he finishes the whole lawn- a job that takes several days - it is time to start over because the grass has grown so much!! But yesterday it was hot again and today was also pretty nice. I am hoping that the weather holds so I can go to the beach this weekend! I haven't been in more than two months!!
The weekly church service is just starting here in the next room. There is a lot of yelling and moaning going on already. I have enjoyed these services but I still do not understand most of what goes on - not just language wise either! Time to go join in.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Crazy Dreams
Wow, can you believe it is already February?! Time is flying!
Things here are going very well. Classes are great, the kids are crazy but good and life is generally good. Joe and Anna Sawatsky arrived on Friday and I spent the weekend helping them at a Bible Conference and getting them settled in Umtata. They have two really cute kids, Issac who is almost three and Moses who is just 8 months. It is nice to have people around again! It is also weird for me to be the one who knows where everything is and has insight into the culture.
Anyway, the only complaint I have is that I have not been sleeping well. I am not sure what is behind this since I go to bed everynight exhausted, but I wake up feeling like I have not slept at all. This has also led to some very crazy dreams! This afternoon I was writing a letter to Pam Hartman, my best friend, and I fell asleep for more than two hours. I had a weird dream that my family was living here in the Transkei. We were driving somewhere and I looked out the window and I saw Caspian the clown walking in the veld. He had lobster claws on his hands and somehow that was normal. It was also normal that he was even there. Then I got home and Diedre and Annemarie were both sewing their wedding dresses on the floor. Then I asked what time it was and they told me it was 8 pm. Then I looked at my watch and it said that it was 30:00 and I got very frustrated because they kept insisting it was 8 oclock but I knew that 30:00 was 9pm. Everyone knows that!! :) Then I woke up and realized that I am going crazy and also that I slept through the recreation session I am supposed to lead every tuesday and thursday afternoon. Oops!!
Well, now I am going to go try to sleep. Wish my luck!
Things here are going very well. Classes are great, the kids are crazy but good and life is generally good. Joe and Anna Sawatsky arrived on Friday and I spent the weekend helping them at a Bible Conference and getting them settled in Umtata. They have two really cute kids, Issac who is almost three and Moses who is just 8 months. It is nice to have people around again! It is also weird for me to be the one who knows where everything is and has insight into the culture.
Anyway, the only complaint I have is that I have not been sleeping well. I am not sure what is behind this since I go to bed everynight exhausted, but I wake up feeling like I have not slept at all. This has also led to some very crazy dreams! This afternoon I was writing a letter to Pam Hartman, my best friend, and I fell asleep for more than two hours. I had a weird dream that my family was living here in the Transkei. We were driving somewhere and I looked out the window and I saw Caspian the clown walking in the veld. He had lobster claws on his hands and somehow that was normal. It was also normal that he was even there. Then I got home and Diedre and Annemarie were both sewing their wedding dresses on the floor. Then I asked what time it was and they told me it was 8 pm. Then I looked at my watch and it said that it was 30:00 and I got very frustrated because they kept insisting it was 8 oclock but I knew that 30:00 was 9pm. Everyone knows that!! :) Then I woke up and realized that I am going crazy and also that I slept through the recreation session I am supposed to lead every tuesday and thursday afternoon. Oops!!
Well, now I am going to go try to sleep. Wish my luck!
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