I love being home, but I am constantly thinking about South Africa.  At the stage of my life I’m in now it was the perfect opportunity to give me guidance and light on what direction I want to head down.  It’s crazy that someone as young as four years old can help you find the answers that you have been looking for.  On my facebook page I have a quote “You can’t live a perfect day until you do something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” I found this quote when John Wooden passed away and its stuck with me ever since.  I was able to live the perfect day and it is a feeling that I can’t even describe.  I miss everything and everyone in South Africa, but I know I will be back.

The last day at school.

So today was my last day at Itemba and it was such a difficult goodbye.  My heart hurts, and I’m going to miss them all so much.  Today was great though and the teachers made me a card that all the kids signed.  It was an emotional goodbye to say the least.   I got Jeremy some new shoes one pair for church and school and one to play around in.  His were really tattered and had holes in the feet.  I wasn’t able to give them to him in front of the other kids but Tandi one of the teaching assistants is walking them to his home today, and they are going to email me some pictures.

Last night I was thinking alot and I just wanted to do something more for the kids and didn’t know what that was going to look like, and I decided to pay the money that they all owe the school which in my earlier blog is about a 100 dollars in total.  Which some of these families need to save for months and months before they even have a eighth of that ammount.  I talked about it with Veronica and we came up with a great plan.   She is going to see if the parents come up with they money and if they do then she is going to use that money to buy things for the kids like clothes and shoes.  I am glad that the teachers at Itemba are there for the right reasons and genuinely care for these children.  It is just still hard to cope with the fact that there parents neglect them.

Its hard to know that I am leaving South Africa because I know that I could do so much more.  But these children have changed my life and each of them own a piece of my heart.  Its sad knowing that I might not ever know what happens to them or what they end up doing, but they have changed me more than I ever thought was possible and I will carry that with me for the rest of time.

Time is flying by!

I can’t believe i’m halfway through my last week in South Africa already.  Things here are going great, and it will be really hard to leave.

This week in school has been great, and something truly touching happened yesterday when I was at school.  One of the kids in our class named Deacon who is such an amazing boy but lives a really rough life.  He misses a lot of school because there is no one home to walk him, he arrives to school unbathed and hungry almost everyday, and has been deprived of the littlest things life.  Well during group time he had an “accident” aka peed in his pants.  Instead of the kids in the class laughing at him and making fun of him.  One of the little boys Kilito called the teacher over quietly told her.  Deacon went to the bathroom and was given a spare change of clothes and I sat with him while he cried for about ten minutes.  I expected when he came back for some of the kids to crack jokes at him or make fun of him, but it was the total opposite.  Simone one of the girls in class sat next to him while they did there art project. Lucian gave him a hug, and all of the kids were just extremely kind.  Its amazing to know that even through all the hardship and pain these kids deal with they still are so loving and so mature.  I didn’t think it would be possible to have a softspot for all the kids in the class but I do.  Regardless of how playfull and naughty little kids can be they also have huge hearts and huge imaginations.  They live under a tin roof if that.  Have broken shoes, broken hearts, but they don’t give up, and at five years old are some of the strongest people I have yet to meet.

Its made me realize the things in life that truly hold importance.  That having something to eat for breakfast which to me seems like nothing, but to them is foreign and appreciated.  That giving a hug to one kid or just five minutes of love and attention can truly change their lives.

Today in class I noticed a list on a desk and it was how much money each child’s family owed the school.  Most of them have paid but some of them owe around 50 rand each.  In total it is 500 rand.  That is less than 100 U.S dollars but it is almost impossible for some of these families to pay.

On the note of exploration in South Africa I have been hanging out at the surf school.  I broke my shoe today trying to play soccer with some of the kids.  They aren’t impressed with my skills but they do like when I sing waving flag to them- or they pretend too.  I leave to Cape Town on Saturday and I’m really excited/sad.

I’ll write more soooon!!

(Pictures from Surf School-Below is Wesley and I, he would always hang out and play soccer with me, he also proposed to me the last day, unfortunately I had to say no)

My last week.

Everything here is going great! I went on a Safari this weekend and it was incredible. When I got there I was greeted with a welcoming glass of south african sparkling wine, and then escorted to one of the best buffets I have ever had.  I had fresh fruit, vegetables, beef curry, butternut squash..DELICIOUS! Then I headed to my room which compared to what i’ve been staying at in the volunteer house (17 ppl sharing one bathroom, mold on the walls, and a pad for a mattress) I was SWEPT away.  I had an outdoor shower enclosed by rocks, a huge bathtub, and a huge bed. After being in the township I felt pretty guilty about it, but it needed to be enjoyed.  I then went on my first game drive.  I saw Elephants, lions, hippos, rhinos, buffalo, springbok literally about three feet from the jeep.  It was like nothing I have seen before.  These animals are amazing.  Then I headed back to the lodge where I was greeted once again with an amazing buffet.  I then headed back to my room to take a bath and literally soak up this experience.  The next morning we went on a sunrise game drive where we saw the same animals and it was equally amazing.  I can’t wait to post pictures!!

This Monday has been great.  I am really sad to leave the kids though.  One of my favorites name is Jeremy.  He is the cutest little boy, I could fit him in my carry on.  His mom neglects him and his dad is out of the picture, he has to fend for him self like an adult would, but still has the best smile in the world, and so much love to give.   The teachers at the school have noticed my attachment with him, and keep making jokes about me taking him home with me.  So if I arrive home with an African child.don’t worry you’ve been warned.  I went on a run after work this morning on a cat walk right on the ocean.  It is amazing to me the beauty that South Africa has, but at the same time the poverty and crime.  It makes you reflect alot!  I am sad that this is my last week, and i’m going to be crushed to leave these kids, but I have learned so, so much about myself.  and have come to appreciate the life that I live more then I thought was possible, and I couldn’t be more thankfull!

I’ll write again soon!! xoxoxoo

(Jeremy)

South Africa Week Two

I started a second program with the grade three class this week which is going great.  We have started talking to them and working with them on fighting and swearing.  Its been pretty eye opening and emotional to hear about their home life, and what they see on their walk home from school to the townships.  These kids lives are so difficult and it is sad that alot of them have no one to turn to.  Today when we got there we had grades two and three because the teachers were on strike.  They just decide certain days of the week to not attend school. and it really upsets me.

I had a long talk with the teacher for the program I do before the girl talk, and I learned about some of my students backgrounds.  Two kids in my class who are five years old were caught smoking in the streets yesterday evening.  One of my kids watched his father be murdered, some of them walk to school alone, come to school dirty, and haven’t had a meal all weekend.  Its hard to know that in a week I am leaving some of these children.  I just wish there was more I could do to help them.

I saw Jamison this weekend which was great! We went to the Old Biscutt mill which is this huge food market.   Other than that I have just been hanging out in Muzinberg on the beach watching the surf school.  I leave for my Safari on Saturday and I can’t wait!!

(Jamison and I, out to dinner in Cape Town)

Week One Done

Hi Guys! So my first week of volunteering is over and it has been going great. The kids are adorable and I have fallen in love! I have been teaching them how to wash their hands and go on the monkey bars. The other day at school the gang house across the street got raided by police, it was quite a site to see, and pretty scary. Its hard to know that these kids have to go home to that everyday when they leave school. One of the kids in my class walked to school by himself this morning, and a couple of the kids mothers just let them stay home. Its hard to know that in just three of four years these children could possibly be involved in the gangs around the township. During recess you look out and you see kids on the street who aren’t in school, and you just wish there was something that you could do to help them. Next week i’m adding onto my volunteer time and i’m starting a program in the primary school with the girls that are 11-16 years old. I’m going to be talking to them about usefull stuff to know and helping them express their issues that they are going through. South Africa is so amazing but you are just surrounded by so much poverty. Its a fifty minute walk into the township everyday and you walk from our decent accommodation into shacks and mudhuts. We are going to restore one of the schools while we are here and we walked in yesterday its the size of a small small room and 35 children are just squished in there. There is no hygiene, runny noses, and lots of germs. Its hard knowing that you can only help them so much. Anyways, thats all for now! I’m excited for the weekend, and what next week has to offer!

(The view from the window of the classroom)

South Africa Day Five

(Laura and I, my friend who I’m volunteering with at Ithemba) and (The girls walking to the township on Orientation day)

So i’ve been in South Africa five days now and its going great!  Yesterday, I had my orientation to the program which involved going through the township i’m working in called Capricorn, and then taking the train into capetown to see Long Street (a street filled with bars and restraunts) Its amazing, and looks right out onto Table mountain.  The train ride back wasn’t as easy because it took over two hours to get home.  Trains in South Africa are quite an experience.   People pack all the way in, its hot, its smelly, but you get where you need to go.  The train was really backed up though because two people had jumped in front of the train, so it was really sad, and really scary.  But we eventually got home.

This morning was great.  I started at my placement with a girl named Laura.  We are working at Itemba.  I’m working in the class with 4-5 year olds.  They are adorable!  The school is right in the township, across the street from a drug warehouse with gang members who sometimes sit outside.  The gate keeper from the school is an ex-gangster and ex-prisoner who had his life taken over by god, and is amazing.  Today when I walked in I helped them with their colours, and counting.  We then sang songs-and I guess its been a long time since my childhood or i’ve been deprieved growing up but I was very, very mixed up on the childhood songs.  Then they got their snack which was a slice of bread, and they went out to recess.  They jump all over you and are just a joy to be around.  We left right before their nap time, but I’m so excited for these next three weeks.  This weekend I think I am going on a township tour of khalitsha which is the largest township in Cape Town, the last time they did a census count was 2002.  Its so large and dangerous police refuse to go in the area because they fear for their lives.

Miss you all!

In South Africa

So I made it to South Africa and am on my third day being in Capetown.  It is an amazing place with so many diverse people.  My first night there I just crashed, but the next day I woke up and went to a European food market which happens every saturday.  They have fresh seafood, and all different types of foods it was awesome.  Then we headed to Stellenbosh which is the home to many wine farms in the area.  We traveled to three.  One of them was named Spier which was huge, it had a cheetah and lion petting zoo, and there restraunts and just acres of land.  The last wine farm we went to was called Jordan and it was beautiful.  It sat on the hill top of the Stellenbosh and we sat outside on the patio.  I loved it.   Today I’ve just stayed in Muzinberg and have just been exploring.  Tomorrow is my orientation with my program and I will get to travel into Capricorn which is the township of Muzinberg, and I’m excited for that.  Tuesday I start volunteering at the school.  Hope everyone is well!

(Pictures at the Jordan Winery and the view from the drive out of Stellenbosh)

Just waiting in Dubai

So my adventure is on its way. I’m sitting in the dubai airport of course three hours early because I’m a ridoculous flyer. I watched three movies on the plane and it was great. the only thing gone wrong so far is that four people have cut me in line rude! Dubai airport is tight though there is a coldstones but its to early to indulge. I’m typing this on a BB storm so excuse the akward type. In ten hours ill be in capetown!

Hey Hey Hey South Africa!

This Wednesday I will be heading to Muzinberg South Africa a township on the coast of Cape Town.  I am volunteering with a program called IVHQ, where I will be working in a local school.   I am really excited, but a bit nervous!  I will be staying in a volunteer house with other people volunteering with this organization.  I am excited for all that this experience has to offer me and the exploring of South Africa that I will get to do.   This will be my main form of communication during my trip so if you care about me and love me, you should read it.  Peace out America, get ready Africa!