A Few Stories.......

Special Moments with Dr Seuss

I had one of those special moments the other night reading the Cat in the Hat. It wasn’t because the kids understood well or it was the hoped for bedtime story hour scenario. I have discovered the overflowing library is not used. The books are just not appropriate and the kids English not good enough ! However, picture me surrounded by ten heads as I sat on a chair reading Dr Seuss. The rhythm was fun and kids thought it sounded like singing and loved it. Near the end, I realized a couple of the teens had joined in and were following the story seriously. They asked questions about Thing One and Thing Two and the resulting mess in the house and the return of the mother as if it were non fiction. I answered them just as seriously. We all decided it would be best not to tell Mother what had happened that day in the house. It was as close to studying English as I have gotten, and I appreciated their time and interest. How wonderful to have a moment where I could see the absolute culture gap created by such different experiences and realities in growing up ! These kids had never seen a Dr Seuss book and their reaction was unedited and sincere.

Public Transport

There is a saying “Africa walks” but I believe it is more apt to say “Africa takes Public” Taxis and van ply the streets cruising for fares and have a man whose job it is to entice people into their vehicles. I always have to steel myself to go on public, it’s so unpredictable and wild. After the incident of the three youths high on something yelling/screeching for an entire trip I have been reluctant to go alone. However, today I had to go to Hlotse and meet the South Africa troupe and left early from the orphanage as I know the vans and buses take time to fill (sometimes an hour) before they will leave on a longer trip The bus rank is in the market, and the markets are amazing. Crowded with stalls of sticks, plastic and tin, there are people everywhere, corn and meat cooking on open fires, hawkers plying the bus windows and exotic sights. Herd boys with blankets and sticks, mothers with babies on their backs and ancient grandmothers selling peaches and apples. I got in a Sprinter, the upscale van with the higher roof. This is just an excuse to pack in more people standing. We sat an hour in stifling heat with men trying to sell drinks and chips and reading glasses thru the windows. When we departed a lady with a large derriere balance it on my shoulder. Her strong perfume made my nose twitch and gave me a headache, but I was aware there could have been worse consequences to have a posterior on my shoulder for 2 hrs. I shared my food with my teenage seat mate. I was thrown out at a transfer stop and shoved in a small VW van already overcrowded, seated practically on a mans lap, and my suitcase taken and put in the back. However, I got to the office just fine and all in all felt more at home and less stressed for the journey than I had anticipated. One gets used to anything !

Grandmothers:

Many in Canada are aware of the plight of the grandmothers of Africa. Many groups are working to help them. It is totally different to hear the details of their stories here and meet them. Me Mapoloko of Help Lesotho is starting a grandmother initiative. Needy grandmothers are being identified by the chiefs of the villages and enrolled in our program. They will come to a meeting once a month for a good meal and support, and take food or vouchers home. Many have lost all their own children and are caring for multiple orphans, some of whom are HIV positive. Food is the main issue, but as well there is no money for tuition or uniforms, so many of the orphans do not go to school. One family went without food for 5 days except what they could beg from neighbours. The photo is of one of these grandmothers and there are many more to share when I get home. They have a dignity in hardship that is hard to describe. We will continue to collect glasses for them at VVC throughout the year to send over with volunteers.

A Weekend in South Africa.

I crossed the border to South Africa with four friends last weekend for a mini holiday. We stayed at a fantastic lodge run by English ex-Pats. They purchased the little lodge, im the middle of a 3,000acre farm, six years ago. It was a combination of English Country garden and funk. The roses and stone cottages were set beside a thatched pig house and a mushroom shaped thatched sauna.There were hammocks, a large wooden chess set on the lawn and meals cooked by a Thai chef....incredible. The first night I was overwhelmed by sensory delights, the quiet and the many feasts for my senses....picture swimming under the African stars and hearing a jackal. The Saturday was an outride at the nearby polo farm, then we stayed to watch a game of polo. The next day we had a ride around a 6000 acre game farm in the back of a 4X4 that is hard to describe. We saw wild scenery from another world while spotting wildebeast, antelope , zebra and trucking thru runoff ditches. Also looked for agate and had a history lesson from our Afrikaaner game warden. The Sat night there was a party at our lodge and the cast of characters could have been from a novel, including the polo pro from Zimbabwe. Complete with 70s music and tye dye, it was a journey back to some other time. The trip there was interesting too as South Africa is so visually different than Lesotho. Quite a 48 hours. Now back to concentrate on the children for 2 weeks.Lots of pictures of all of this for those interested !