Tuesday, June 11

This morning we woke up to frost on the ground. Um, what?? We are in Africa, how is this happening?

Our schoolyard, with frost!

I went to the Day Care today (as I do every Tuesday) and they were all cute in their their scarves and hats and gloves, something that you would expect to see in Africa.

When I came back to school I got to play with one of our school volunteer's baby. Esther had found some children from our school wandering the streets today while she was doing some house visits, so she updated me on that and a prior case.

I watched grade 1 and 2 outside today until their older siblings got out of school, and then walked home with Magda, Mpilo, Thulani and Rachel. The Irish volunteers were back at the house and we talked outside (it was a lot warmer then) and then came inside and ate ice cream.

Monday, June 10:

This morning at school we had no electricity again. I talked with Colm about the school and showed him my office and he asked me if he would just be throw into a classroom, and I said that he wouldn't be. So 5 minutes later, as I am walking with him to find Sister Theresa and explaining things to him, we meet Sister Theresa and she said “You're not a teacher by any chance, are you?” and got thrown into the grade 4 classroom, since their teacher was absent. He is a teacher, at least, but I felt bad telling him one thing, and then two seconds later...

Because there was no electricity, I had to go to our little kitchen trailer for hot water. The lady inside was very nice, and was cooking oatmeal for the students for breakfast in the biggest pot I have ever seen.

Today I interviewed many children so we can see what the children need, and their background situations. And also to have proper case studies and files for them. One of the boys said that he liked coming to school and learning because he wanted to buy his family a bigger house. That was heart-breaking to hear.

I also found out that one of the children here had the opportunity to walk onto the field at a World Cup soccer match with a player. He will definitely remember that for the rest of his life, and he was all smiles when he spoke about it. He said it was very loud.

At the end of the day I watched the grade 1 and grade 2's outside while they were waiting for their siblings to get out of school.

The Priests and “Brothers to be” (and Colm who is staying with them) all had no power tonight, and we tried to get them to come over to at least have a hot drink, because it was absolutely freezing tonight. But it did not work out. All of us girls (there are now 6 of us) ate dinner together and watched Miss Congeniality under lots of blankets.  

Sunday June 9:

This morning we attended mass in Finetown, where a lot of our children from school live. Mass is held on the same property as the day care that the Sisters run, and where I go every Tuesday. Actually, our elementary school was first started in Finetown, and they used the big church building for all of the classes. We then went to the Sister's house, and while waiting for the new Irish volunteers, we all watched one of the soccer matches on tv. It is really funny seeing the Sisters all watching soccer and getting excited for it. The new volunteers came, and actually one of them, Mary Theresa, is the grand niece of Sister Margaret. There is also Amanda, Mary Theresa's best friend, and Colm who lives in the same community as them. 

Saturday June 8:

It was a boring day today, as it was just a day to sleep in. Later in the afternoon Magda and I went to the Sister's house for internet access. I also did some work from home. Magda, Anezka, Rachel and I all had dinner together, and we were expecting some new volunteers from Ireland to come tonight, but we finally got a call to say that they were coming tomorrow.