Here are pictures over where I live, kids and schools I have visited during different projects (handing over laptops/fotball shoes etc) and our weekend trip to the coast in St. Lucia.
Thursday, 25 February 2010
A few pictures
Here are pictures over where I live, kids and schools I have visited during different projects (handing over laptops/fotball shoes etc) and our weekend trip to the coast in St. Lucia.
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
The power of witchcraft
It is well known that witchcraft is well practised in Africa, where people either believe in it or deeply respect it. Living in Africa or visiting Africa for a longer period, you are bound to experience the impacts of witchcraft. Since I was a child I have always been aware of witchcraft, hearing stories, seeing the fear and caution it brings out in people. Here is my latest occurence with witchcraft..
The first experience was last week, when I was in Siphosabadletshe High School, one of the two schools where I work and teach a little bit. Whilst in class with one teacher all of a sudden there is a burst of laughter, and a boy (who is 18 or so) gets up and leaves. The laugher is unstoppable, the teacher tries to find out whats going on. Since they all speak in IsiZulu I cant understand anything. I sit puzzled at whats going on, when next guy calmly walks out of the class, without saying anything. I ask the student next to me to explain whats going on. She tells me that the boys had to leave the class because they are sick.
- Sick?! what do you mean sick?”
- They are sick, they want to sleep with girl
- What do you mean, which girl, what kind of sick?
- You know down there, they have been bewitched, they are sick (she says pointing down to the crutch area)
I laugh slowly understanding the guys must have felt "aroused" during class and therefore left, but sick… I wouldn’t call it sick. After five minutes the boys come back as if nothing has happened. With no look of shame or embarrassement.
After class I discuss this with the teacher and ask her what really happened, she explains that its been a problem in the schools where some boys have been bewitched, so they get aroused during class and have to leave. They have spoken to teachers and the principal about it, explaining that they are sick, they have been bewitched and cant help it, and it has become an accepted problem in the school. Rumours have started to spread that even some of the male teachers have this “sickness”, but hide it by putting their hands in their pockets. So I ask the teacher what they’re going to do about it, and she says there is nothing they can do about it. Just hope they get well.
The next case was today, when I visited my second school Cwakeme(for the first time). Waiting for some teachers to come, suddenly we hear this loud hysterical scream from outside. I go to see whats going on, and find a girl screaming, crying, throwing herself wildly. 3-4 guys try to control her and carry/drag her across the field to the grass. Then there is an outburst where 4-5 other girls start behaving in the same way, running around like headless chickens screaming, and the guys are running to get a hold of them to calm them down. I ask the teachers what is going on, waiting to hear them say that they are bewitched. Which was exactly what the teachers told me, so I ask if I can help in any way- “They need prayers, maybe you can go pray for them”. I quickly cross the field and sit next to one of the screaming/crying girls. Not knowing any prayers in English or IsiZulu, I grab hold of her hands trying to calm her, saying "shhhh shhhh shhh.. breathe" repeatedly, but the girl continues screaming. Finally out of desperation, I start stroking her head and saying all kinds of Christian words in Kiswahili and Swedish to which she slowly starts to calm down, but still crying and breathing heavily. I slowly lift her up to sitting and give her a hug, stroking her tears away so that she can have a glance at me. Then SLOWLY she starts to calm down, and the teachers take over. The girls were all driven home.
Its one of those interesting encounters that brings understanding to culture and belief, and also understanding of people. Even the people that say the do not believe in witchcraft accept witchcraft as a reason for illness, and prayer always seems to be the answer.
The first experience was last week, when I was in Siphosabadletshe High School, one of the two schools where I work and teach a little bit. Whilst in class with one teacher all of a sudden there is a burst of laughter, and a boy (who is 18 or so) gets up and leaves. The laugher is unstoppable, the teacher tries to find out whats going on. Since they all speak in IsiZulu I cant understand anything. I sit puzzled at whats going on, when next guy calmly walks out of the class, without saying anything. I ask the student next to me to explain whats going on. She tells me that the boys had to leave the class because they are sick.
- Sick?! what do you mean sick?”
- They are sick, they want to sleep with girl
- What do you mean, which girl, what kind of sick?
- You know down there, they have been bewitched, they are sick (she says pointing down to the crutch area)
I laugh slowly understanding the guys must have felt "aroused" during class and therefore left, but sick… I wouldn’t call it sick. After five minutes the boys come back as if nothing has happened. With no look of shame or embarrassement.
After class I discuss this with the teacher and ask her what really happened, she explains that its been a problem in the schools where some boys have been bewitched, so they get aroused during class and have to leave. They have spoken to teachers and the principal about it, explaining that they are sick, they have been bewitched and cant help it, and it has become an accepted problem in the school. Rumours have started to spread that even some of the male teachers have this “sickness”, but hide it by putting their hands in their pockets. So I ask the teacher what they’re going to do about it, and she says there is nothing they can do about it. Just hope they get well.
The next case was today, when I visited my second school Cwakeme(for the first time). Waiting for some teachers to come, suddenly we hear this loud hysterical scream from outside. I go to see whats going on, and find a girl screaming, crying, throwing herself wildly. 3-4 guys try to control her and carry/drag her across the field to the grass. Then there is an outburst where 4-5 other girls start behaving in the same way, running around like headless chickens screaming, and the guys are running to get a hold of them to calm them down. I ask the teachers what is going on, waiting to hear them say that they are bewitched. Which was exactly what the teachers told me, so I ask if I can help in any way- “They need prayers, maybe you can go pray for them”. I quickly cross the field and sit next to one of the screaming/crying girls. Not knowing any prayers in English or IsiZulu, I grab hold of her hands trying to calm her, saying "shhhh shhhh shhh.. breathe" repeatedly, but the girl continues screaming. Finally out of desperation, I start stroking her head and saying all kinds of Christian words in Kiswahili and Swedish to which she slowly starts to calm down, but still crying and breathing heavily. I slowly lift her up to sitting and give her a hug, stroking her tears away so that she can have a glance at me. Then SLOWLY she starts to calm down, and the teachers take over. The girls were all driven home.
Its one of those interesting encounters that brings understanding to culture and belief, and also understanding of people. Even the people that say the do not believe in witchcraft accept witchcraft as a reason for illness, and prayer always seems to be the answer.
Monday, 22 February 2010
First week
First week has passed. What a week! I arrived on Monday, and by the time of my arrival, a bunch of swedish students also arrived, from Procivitas Gymnasiet in Malmo. They were here to do two projects of their own. One team of two came to distriute second hand laptops that they had managed to gather back home, to StarforLife schools. The other group were three fotballgirls, that had gathered fotballshoes back home, which tbey distributed to the StarforLife girlteams. Same week the band members of Triple & Touch who work for StarforLife also came down, so I was able to follow them on their trips too. All in all, I visited 4 different StarforLife schools, of which I am based at one called Siphosabadltshe High School, where I have been placed to work with their partner schools in Sweden, England and Thailand.
Last week, I also taught one of their classes, in a subject called Life Orientation. I had prepared 7 questions concerning cultural differences, that we discussed for an hour and a half. Was very interesting to hear these Grade 12ers opinions and ideas. I had prepared a question on what they thought about marrying outside your own culture. The opinions were divided, although majority agreed that its a positive thing to marry across cultures as it brings an exchange and understanding. One boy answered that love should determine that, and if you really love somebody it doesnt matter where theyre from or what culture or traditions they stem from. They way he said it was very sweet. I then asked him, if he would marry a muslim woman that had come straight from Dubai, wearing a hijab- to which he responded NOOOO, I cant do that.. that would not be possible. Compl. contrary to what he had just said.. What about LOVE?!
This weekend I also travelled with the three other "volunteers" that live with me (David, Bernard and Johannes) to the beach by St. Lucia. That was a small nice gate away. We checked into a beautiful guesthouse, that was like a small little Thailand inside, and went to tan and swim at a quite empty beach. The guys of course burned their pale skins. We also ate very WELL, a lot of seafood, and enjoyed the luxuries of AC, functioning shower with hot water, a soft big bed, hairdryer and lots more.
Jokes aside, Hluhluwe, where I stay, has everything one really needs, its a small town, but the scenery is amazing. I am still waiting to visit Hluhluwe Imfolozi park which is 1 km from where I live. Its the park with the most Black Rhinos in the world.
Besides this, am slowly trying to pick up IziZulu, which is quite difficult cause of the click sounds it has.
My second week, hoping to get into the work more and create a schedule over my working weeks.
Love from a tanned TamTam
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
At the beginning
It took me two days to reach my destination, the small town Hluhluwe in the North Eastern South Africa. Due to a bad snow weather in Frankfurt I missed my connection flight to S. Africa and had to spend a night at the ariport. It was a painful night, all hotels were full, queues took hours.After hours of waiting I finally got booked on another flight with a detour route via London for the following day. You can imagine how tempted I felt to leave the aiport to visit friends in London:)
That night at Frankfurt airport, I found a bench to rest on and tried to get some sleep, which was impossible! The bench was hard and hurt my body, my "summer 2010 South Africa" outfit didnt manage to keep me warm in the cold German airport and on top of this at 4.30 Dennis the young cleaner had to wake me up to ask me a thousand questions and offer me water.
When I finally reached S. Africas capital Johannesburg I had another connection flight to my final destination, but here once again all odds were against me. My bag didnt arrive, and when I ran to check in to my next flight, I was not in their system. Close to tears I had to queue up in another queue where a man informed me that I had by then missed my connection flight and the next flight was the following day. He gave me my two options, to stay another night at the airport to wait for the next flight the following day, or to BUY another ticktet to Durban, which is the closest to my original destination. I clearly showed the man my frustration, tiredness and sadness and thereafter feeling beaten bought a ticket to Durban.
So, the trip down was awful and my bag didnt arrive till 2 days after. Anyway I made it here and Im well. Its summer here, although with a rain period. Coming from a cold winter in Sweden with -10 degrees almost every day, the heat here is overwhelming (except when its been raining). But Im not the one to complain, knowing the perfect tan I get out of it!
I rent a hut from the project manager of the organisation (Star for Life), where I have everything I need, nothing more :) My hut has a grassattached roof, clay walls and floor, three small beds in it and a small cupboard. There is a common (WATER) toilet for us volunteers with 2 showers, one indoor and one outdoor. Unfortunetly we've been having water shortage where some times during the day there is no water and you have to shower by filling up a basin/bucket. The other day we drove into town to fetch water from the office to fill up in the tank at "home". But since I got here Ive managed fine with the water. Only once have I had to shower with the few liters a bucket can hold. As for light in my hut, I have 2 torches and a kerosine lamp. Funny thing is that it doesnt bother me as much as I thought it would. I leave home at around 7.30am and dont get back till late afternoon, after which we'll have dinner in the "common" hut with kerosine lamps, and thereafter we play cards and watch the stars outside. Its been long since I saw the milky way this clear. The nightsky is SO clear and beautiful. Then at around 9-10 I withdraw to my hut and might read a little with the ligth of my torch and then fall asleep. I have internet at the office, and inside the main house where the principle stays we charge our phones etc cause he has electricity.
I have the most AMAZING landscape view from where I stay. There is not much around, besides few other huts. In the morning whilst brushing my teeth outside I behold the image of hectares and hectares of mountainous wilderness, with an overview of Hluhluwe National park.
Since I got here I havent been put into work properly. Have visited two schools, in one where I held an english class for a grade 12. Yesterday I had the most amazing dinner at the private five star game reserve Thanda, with a maincourse of crocodile, kudu (a sort of deer), and lots of other delicacies.
Today I will travel close to the border of Mocambique to visit another school which has a perfoming group of students that 2 guys from the project will work with, so expecting a lot of songs and dancing.
There are many expressions that are still to be shared, so keep reading.
Miss you all!
Love and Peace!
That night at Frankfurt airport, I found a bench to rest on and tried to get some sleep, which was impossible! The bench was hard and hurt my body, my "summer 2010 South Africa" outfit didnt manage to keep me warm in the cold German airport and on top of this at 4.30 Dennis the young cleaner had to wake me up to ask me a thousand questions and offer me water.
When I finally reached S. Africas capital Johannesburg I had another connection flight to my final destination, but here once again all odds were against me. My bag didnt arrive, and when I ran to check in to my next flight, I was not in their system. Close to tears I had to queue up in another queue where a man informed me that I had by then missed my connection flight and the next flight was the following day. He gave me my two options, to stay another night at the airport to wait for the next flight the following day, or to BUY another ticktet to Durban, which is the closest to my original destination. I clearly showed the man my frustration, tiredness and sadness and thereafter feeling beaten bought a ticket to Durban.
So, the trip down was awful and my bag didnt arrive till 2 days after. Anyway I made it here and Im well. Its summer here, although with a rain period. Coming from a cold winter in Sweden with -10 degrees almost every day, the heat here is overwhelming (except when its been raining). But Im not the one to complain, knowing the perfect tan I get out of it!
I rent a hut from the project manager of the organisation (Star for Life), where I have everything I need, nothing more :) My hut has a grassattached roof, clay walls and floor, three small beds in it and a small cupboard. There is a common (WATER) toilet for us volunteers with 2 showers, one indoor and one outdoor. Unfortunetly we've been having water shortage where some times during the day there is no water and you have to shower by filling up a basin/bucket. The other day we drove into town to fetch water from the office to fill up in the tank at "home". But since I got here Ive managed fine with the water. Only once have I had to shower with the few liters a bucket can hold. As for light in my hut, I have 2 torches and a kerosine lamp. Funny thing is that it doesnt bother me as much as I thought it would. I leave home at around 7.30am and dont get back till late afternoon, after which we'll have dinner in the "common" hut with kerosine lamps, and thereafter we play cards and watch the stars outside. Its been long since I saw the milky way this clear. The nightsky is SO clear and beautiful. Then at around 9-10 I withdraw to my hut and might read a little with the ligth of my torch and then fall asleep. I have internet at the office, and inside the main house where the principle stays we charge our phones etc cause he has electricity.
I have the most AMAZING landscape view from where I stay. There is not much around, besides few other huts. In the morning whilst brushing my teeth outside I behold the image of hectares and hectares of mountainous wilderness, with an overview of Hluhluwe National park.
Since I got here I havent been put into work properly. Have visited two schools, in one where I held an english class for a grade 12. Yesterday I had the most amazing dinner at the private five star game reserve Thanda, with a maincourse of crocodile, kudu (a sort of deer), and lots of other delicacies.
Today I will travel close to the border of Mocambique to visit another school which has a perfoming group of students that 2 guys from the project will work with, so expecting a lot of songs and dancing.
There are many expressions that are still to be shared, so keep reading.
Miss you all!
Love and Peace!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
