End of Week 2

It is the end of week two and I cannot believe how fast the time has flown by!!! This week has been a little more challenging as I have caught a cold and have been pretty sick.  Many of the locals that I have talked to have mentioned that due the weather many new people get sick.  The weather in Cape Town is quite erratic.  They say this is the place you can experience all four seasons in one day.  I have learned that to be true!! Yesterday was a beautiful and sunny day, and this morning it is cold, rainy, and overcast.  They do not have the medicines here I am used to unfortunately; I was really hoping for some Nyquil to help me sleep, but I managed to find some cough syrup and something similar to alk-seltzer that a pharmacy recommended and I am on the road to recovery!! Woohoo!! 

On the top of my favorite things this week is an experience I had with a boy in Grade 3 named Siya.  Here he is:

Before I get to the story I must tell you what I did not mention last week.  These children LOVE seeing straight and long hair.  It is so new and different to them. In class last week I was sitting at the girls table and the entire class someone had been playing with my hair.  Naturally I had assumed it was a little girl, but at the end of the class I turned around, and there was Siya!! It was so adorable.  

Onto this week's class.  The children were given a project which was to make drawings of people and then to cut out pieces of fabric to use for clothing.  Siya was drawing his person and as I was sitting next to him helping him he asked me of my name again and then tried to spell it on his own.  He spelled ARICA.  I told him that was close, but then showed him how to correctly spell it as ERICA.  He then continued to finish his drawing as I went about the rest of the class tending to him and other children.  At the end of the class he came to me and handed me his drawing.  Here is what he gave to me:

Needless to say I will be framing this when I get home!! He absolutely made my day.  I was so touched by this and gave him a big hug and let him know how thankful I was for him making it for me.  These children are so greatful for even the smallest of things.  It makes me really reflect on the things we have in life and how often we take them for granted.  All Siya seemed to need from me was some positive attention and affection.  Someone to let him know they were watching over him.  I will always remember this little boy.

I have also been able to form some good friendships with other volunteers since I have been here and was able to meet some other volunteers from the states.  Most of the volunteers seem to come from Austrailia, England, Canada.  The two I met had grown up together on the West Coast, one now living in Los Angeles, CA and the other in Harlem, New York.  There names are Tyson and Rebecca.  They were two of the most friendly people I could have come across on my trip and I am so fortunate to have met them.  They were only here for two weeks, but no doubt made a difference with some of the children, and with me.  It is so wonderful to meet other people from all over the world and all walks of life and come together for the same purpose to serve those in need of help.  I hope to remain in touch with them and maybe see them again somewhere in the world helping give of their time and many talents.  ~es

South Africa - Volunteering

For those who may not know I am currently in Cape Town, South Africa on a volunteer mission for the next six weeks.  I am working in the Capricorn Township just outside of Muizenberg.  The township is considered a "shack" town where the houses are made out of pallets, metal scrap, and pretty much whatever can be salvaged.  The township is full of waste with many of the people in the community having no desire to clean the streets up.  It is very common to throw things on the ground or street.  There is garbage everywhere you look.  In this particular township there are approximately 30,000 tenants.  Some have electricity and water, but not all of them do.  Many stray dogs roam the streets and many of the shacks also are comprised of gang members.  The township is not a safe place to be alone.  We must always be with at least one other person so that we can look out for each other. 

In my first week volunteering I have been able to work in two projects.  The first is the original project I signed up for which is an Arts Project.  I am working three days a week at a Primary School with children ages 5 to 13.  I get to spend a portion of each day doing art projects with each of the classes; and I love it. The children are very active and have such a need for some type of attention and/or affection. The second project I have had the opportunity to do is orphan care at another center about two blocks away and it has also been SO wonderful.   For those who know me, they know how much I love children.  This orphanage has about 220 children ages 2 to 5.  It has only been one week and I have already grown quite attached to many of them.  I wish I could take them home with me!!

One of the great things I have learned about these children is that they LOVE having their photo taken.  As a photographer that has been so wonderful.  These children often do not get a lot of love and affection and they are so greatful for so much as a hug or even just looking at the photo I have taken of them.  They are so greatful for even the smallest amount of attention you can give to them that I sometimes am overwhelmed with emotion that they have so little. 

I have also been able to visit some of the sights in South Africa and I am learning how beautiful this country is!! Sorry for such a long post, but I hope you enjoy some of these photos! ~es