Fun Week Ends

So I have finished teaching at Vyfhoek now..it was so emotional. I had to fight back tears when I left the school, knowing how these children don't have much of a future to look forward to and I will eventually be going back to England where everyone takes everything for granted.  I enjoyed my time at the school and will miss the children there immensely, they have taught me so much on a personal note and the experience and memories will stay with me forever.  I don't think I could ever forget my time there or the children I met and their stories.
Saturday we visited Dell Cheetah Sanctuary where we had the most amazing opportunity to go into enclosures with Cheetahs, I actually sat down on the floor next to a cheetah and stroked her.  I never realised how big cheetahs are, or how beautiful they are. I was so lucky to be able to do that.
Sunday we went off to Pilanesberg for a Safari for a few days! We saw 6 out of the Big 7! Lion, Elephant, White Rhino, Crocodile, Hippo and Buffalo.  We also saw zebra, giraffe, springbok, kudu, ostrich, baboons, hartebeast, turtles and impala.  It was so amazing to be able to do.  We even broke down a few metres from a white rhino grazing and the boys had to get out and bump start the truck! We also went through a huge herd of Elephants which was amazing! We went to Sun City and visited a Crocodile Sanctuary and got to hold a crocodile ourselves!  We went to stargazing on the Tues evening when we got back and was driven into the middle of nowhere and saw beautiful star constellations and i saw two shooting stars!   We were also surrounded by Jackal, and i'm not going to lie I was scared when Jaco was doing sound recordings back to attract them!
Wed we visited some schools.  The first was a pre school and we were blown away by the resources and grounds the children had....the play area was amazing....we were all dying to release our inner child and play!  Then we went over the road to a Special Needs school and it was an emotional and moving experience for us all.  We met a girl who had no use of her arms but used her mouth for everything.  She cut out a love heart from a piece of paper for us and she did it so perfectly.  Her motivation and determination in life was astounding and made me very emotional.  All of the children in the school did.  The lady showing us round was an inspriation to us all and one day i would like
Thursday we flew out to Cape Town for a few days with Kobus and Elsa so it was like a little family holiday which was lovely.  We went to Table Top Mountain...the view from the top was incredible.  we went to Cape Point and saw where the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean come together.  We also went to Boulder Beach and paddled in the sea with wild african penguins...they were so small and cute waddling along the beach with us!  We went to some great restaurants, I had kingklip and Crocodile which tasted beautiful!  We went to the aquarium and saw sharks, penguins, jellyfish, seahorse...loads. Then sat at the marina and watched the seals play in the water.  We played in swing parks and done some shopping.  We also went wine tasting at the World famous Stellenbosch and Jordan Wineries.  we felt very posh and are now experts in wine tasting!
This trip has been so wonderful and it is sad to think we are coming home a week tomorrow.  This trip has taught us so much and has given us memories that will remain with us forever.  I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity and will never forget this trip of a lifetime.  Now tomorrow we start teaching in our new schools and our final week in Africa begins!!!
Sam xx

Fun week begins!!!

So this week we left our first schools, leaving Vyfhoek was quite emotional. To leave behind children who have nothing when we have so much at home we take for granted has made me appreciate so much.  Some children don't even know how old they are and have no identity. Something I could never imagine or even put into perspective.  However we left on a high as the students from North West Univesity came for a carnival day and brought bouncy castles, face paints, sweets and lots more for the children and their faces were beaming and having an amazing afternoon.  Ollie and I joined in for the tug of war, me and my children obviously won :)
Today we went to Dell Cheetah Sanctuary....words cannot even describe the feeling.  We watched them run early this morning, and their agility is incredible.  We went into an enclosure with two cheetah who aren't tame and was a metre away from these beautiful big cats. We were also able to go into another enclosure where we sat down next to a cheetah and stroked it and some had our hands licked.  Although Tom was seen as a play thing! But it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and was an incredible experience!  The sanctuary are doing amazing things for animals who are no longer in the wild and are bred in captivity as habitats are being destroyed.  But to be up so close and personal with a majestic animal such as the cheetah was priceless.
Tomorrow we are off to Pilannesberg Safari park for a few days so hopefully more opportunities for photos and sightings! Then off to Cape Town for a few days! So i'll write back in a week when we are back!!
Sam xx

Last day at our schools!

Today was our last day at our first schools, central school for me! It was an emotional day for all of us (yes I cried a little) and we were so grateful of all the lovely messages of support we received from teachers and pupils! The children we met were amazing and I will never ever forget them and what they have taught us. I particularly enjoyed being serenaded by one grade 7 today, who sang me a Jason Derulo song in front of his whole class. I blushed a tad! Although it was a sad day, im excited for the next week! Cheetah farm tomorrow, althought getting picked up at 6.45am will not be fun!! Then off for 3 safaris in Pilanesberg, then a trip to Cape Town!! A weeks holiday for us all will be lovely :) And we have heard that there is a swimming pool in Pilanesberg, so let the tanning commence!!
Having an amazing time, loving every second of this trip and sad that it is going so fast!!!
Bex x

Half way through...nearly

So, after some busy days behind us I think its time for another blog update. We have been out and about a lot since the last blog so there is quiet a bit to tell!

Our first school experience is nearly coming to an end and, despite the trips next week to Pilanesberg Safari Park and Cape Town, I am going to miss Vyfhoek Primary School. I have grown really attached to all of the teachers and children at the school and will definitely miss there beaming smiles and wanting of sweets and mints in the morning as soon as we get out of the car! Watching a Setswana dance and song today performed by Grades 2 and 3 brought a smile to my face; it was something I will never forget. However, hearing the story behind one child nearly brought a tear to my eye. To find out that the child's mother was only 12 when she had him, and is now 16 and still in school and shares a house with her boyfriend and his 3 other girlfriends, causing the child to be neglected and forgotten, showed one side, a dark side, of South Africa. I will never forget his face and I hope one day he is able to make something of his life, however, with the large amount of children who currently suffer or will contract HIV/AIDS, and will live a life of hardship, sadly this may not be the case. 

We also had experience of meeting the South Africa Fuzz. Unfortunately some of the girls had the unpleasant experience of having their money (and wine!) stolen by the Guest House cleaners. When two SA police officers turned up with their guns, we were expected to meet some rough burly men, although one was a lovely women and the other looked like Mo Farah! The incident was resolved quickly thankfully, despite detectives turning up too!

Last night we had the pleasure of meeting the Student Council. After seeing them waiting in their formal attire, and with us in our t-shirts and jeans, we felt slightly under dressed. However, after the early awkwardness had left, it turned into a great evening with good laughs, good food and hopefully the meeting of new good friends!

Now, with 2 days left before our Cheetah visit on Saturday and Safari on Sunday (and yes, we have a swimming pool on safari!!), its back to work before probably one of the best week of ours lives!

Dankie en totsiens!!!

South African musings part 3- the Legend of Kobus Mentz

The first thing to be mentioned in this section of my musings is the fantastic hospitality that has been shown to us by Kobus Mentz and his team at the university out here. Three times we have been taken out for dinner courtesy of the university, which despite being most generous has led to us being quite uncomfortable, especially when we went for a meal with students, who consequently paid for our meal.

We also encountered a breakfast dish which was intriguing, and Lead us to wonder what made our hostel owner think it up! Cheese on toast may be a classic dish, however when creamed sweet corn is placed on the toast instead of cheese it is in fact quite different, and not particularly pleasant! Another interesting breakfast choice was fish fingers- although on the whole the breakfasts have been pretty good!

Today's meeting with the dean of education was an interesting insight to South African education an allowed us to compare British education with the South African system. A quietly spoken man, with a huge presence, we were immediatly made to feel welcome, despite feeling slightly underdressed in a boardroom setting!

Last week also saw us experience the South African police department first hand, following an incident where the hotel cleaners took money from some of the members of the group. An investigation incurred with two officers arriving at the scene to question the girls, and the cleaners, followed by the arrival of two guntoting, toothpick sucking detectives. Pure drama! All was sorted efficiently and the girls were reimbursed- however, we hadn't anticipated a situation such as this occurring!

So I thought it was about time I made a contribution! South Africa is amazing!! But everyone can vouch for that.  It was a very long journey, a good 24 hours of travelling, but we had a great laugh. (Dubai airport is very impressive!!)
So we are now settled in and have shared some great experiences.
School was a bit of a mix of emotions. Our first day we had some of the older children of the school (we were surprised that the primary school had ages from 4-16!)  The older children were just as apprehensive as I was and tried to be distant.  Where as the younger ones were very affectionate, climbing all over us, hugs and piggy backs!! A very different reaction!!
However our second day was a brilliant contrast, we had a breakthrough with the older ones and their guards are almost dropped and a great bunch of characters. Shauney and I also managed to teach a lesson about England and share some of the contrasts of cultures and beliefs.  It was shocking they didn't even know anything about England. But the stories of their home lives is shocking and alarming, something hard to emotionally get your head around.  Walking 10K to school, some are bare foot, others have completely worn away shoes. The children have suffered in horrendous ways and some have bloated bellies from starvation.  Its a real eye opener and has really made me appreciate what I have at home and the contrast of cultures! I'm looking forward to be back tomorrow to see what it brings!
Today we had a day out in Pretoria and visited some historic landmarks which was really interesting.  Even saw some Springbok, Wilderbeast and Ostrich today!  We had an amazing lunch courtesy of North West University and the Faculty of Education, Danki!  Tom and Ollie demolished a huge mixed grill and stromboli!! Could not believe how much they managed, didnt even struggle!
So having a lovely time, the experiences and opportunities words cannot even describe and loving every day and the new things it brings.  This really is once in a life time opportunity! Still have our two day safari drives, our night safari drive, cape town, shark cage diving (Eeeep!), fine dining and our ongoing teaching experiences.  So amazing!! Miss everyone at home, love you lots. Catch you later!

Sam!

Further musings of South African culture

A further examination of roads in South Africa makes even the most pothole filled, bumpy English road seem as smooth a ride as a freshly tarmacced road. In South Africa a highway road is not complete without at least a kilometre of constant, deep potholes. Our guide, Kobus, describes the roads as 'car killers' with cars having to be fixed on a regular basis. 

Something that is of some concern to us is the extreme difference in class amongst the people in the country. On the highway from Potchefstroom to Pretoria we drove past several villages/small towns where on one side of the road were housing estates, with walls and gardens, yet on the other side of the road were shanty towns, with houses constructed of corrugated iron sheets, cardboard and other junk materials. This is also reflected in the towns and cities, where frequently beggars selling newspapers and drinks approach cars stopped at traffic lights hoping for money for their goods. 

It has become clear to me that this country has 4 main loves: Rugby, Braai, God and cricket. In that order. The number of rugby pitches in Potchefstroom alone is incredible, and all the locals follow two teams - Pretoria based super 15 side Bulls, or Bloemfontain based Cheetahs. Braais are a regular occurrence in South African life, however the locals described our effort of burgers and sausages as poor, saying a braai is only complete with steaks being cooked! The country is also fiercely Christian, something we noticed on our first trip to the mall, where the liquor shop remains shut all day. 

The football season is coming to a close in South Africa, with a close run title race between the two Johannesburg based teams Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. The children in the school support these two teams, however I was delighted that several of them knew Leeds United, possibly due to the former player Lucas Radebe captaining the team in the 1990s and early 2000s!