This is life!!

This week started with yet again, Tia and I having no clue what to expect. We went down the stairs to the administration floor only to head right back up to the dining area. We were told we were having a spring brunch and needed to help prepare. We decorated with a less is not more mentality and had bouquets of real and fake flowers, tissue roses, and cocktail umbrellas! It worked as a double celebration for the directors birthday and all the staff joined in a festive feast! We were introduced to a second type of koeksister (more donuty with coconut flakes) and a typical South African sausage called boerewors. Only the best for the beginning of spring.

(Our Spring brunch)

Oh but later that morning one of the workers must have been on a major sugar high and started doing something along the lines of the running man/ Irish jig/ high kick!

(koeksisters)

We also helped prepare a handout sheet for an ADP (adolescent Development program) camp we will be doing this weekend!! It is at a nature reserve in the middle of the city with forty 11-15 year olds!! I’ll fill you in on it later!! Wish us luck.

That night we were feeling a minor case of cabin fever so Carrie came and took us to city center. At 6pm we found WIFI (all coffee shops close at 5) in a random bar with a bunch of old white men. One of the men bought us a “welcome to Cape Town” drink (you needed to be a customer to receive WIFI) and we plopped down on the snazzy couches with our backpacks. I can still see us now, hahaha. The night then ended with Carrie taking us to get sushi (I think I’ve gotten it every time I’ve been out) at what she says is the best sushi restaurant ever! I cannot say I am a connoisseur of sushi but once I had it I couldn’t argue with her claim!

Tuesday, we went on a day visit to Atlantis to find the Oppa of some of the children at Leliebloem. After getting lost we found Oppa at his farm but had to trot down the country road to meet him at his neighbors. However, in the process our car stalled about 100 times while we dodged up the sandy driveway. We then waited 10 minutes outside a farm of who knows, before we realized Oppa must have meant the other neighboring farm. Although, not all was in vain since we did use the farms out house! In the end we found the other farm and Oppa showed us where the girls would be living. It was nothing fancy but they had a roof, a place to stay, and a grandpa who wanted to give them the world!!

Oh and that night Carrie and Errol’s friend Ben, got Tia and I set up with a dongle (South African’s internet stick). God bless him because Cell C customer service was wretched and didn’t set the dongle with MB. He persisted and eventually, a day later got it figured out! Which means, we now have internet access in small doses at our apartment, PTL!

All my love from the Cape!!!

Grace and Peace

-Kay

The First Real Weekend!!

Friday night we were welcomed by hurricane type winds and rain so we decided (had no choice) to stay in and have a chill night!!! They assure me they do not have hurricanes or tornados but these winds are crazy! Cindee, one of the social workers was telling us that people don’t own umbrellas because they never stay open. She said it gets this windy nearly every time it rains so people only use rain jackets!! Thank the Lord I brought mine!

Saturday we had a relaxed/sleep-in morning. Finally having time to catch up on Jetlag and finish laundry. That night we were picked up by Greg and Gabi (another connection from back home), PTL!! They were the sweetest/most generous people and took us to Signal Hill. Signal hill is right next to Lions head so we were able to orchestrate our self geographically and put more pieces of the city together. They also treated us to dinner at one of the friendliest restaurants. I’m pretty sure on both our entrance and exit every worker greeted us with a kind word and smile. Oh and one even bowed, hahaha.

(Tia, Gabi and I at one of the lookouts)

We then spent the night at Greg and Gabi’s talking and drinking tea They spent past 2 years teaching English in Korea so they understand what it means to be a foreigner K. We exchanged funny cultural stories and they told us more Capetonian words.

For instance:

Robot= stoplight

Boot= trunk

Cubby hole= glove compartment

Specs= eye glasses (makes sense)

Indicator=Blinker

SMS=text

Petrol=Gas

Scratch= snoop

And they always sat fetch when they refer to getting something or someone (ex. “I will come fetch you at 5 o’clock”)!!!

Being with them and seeing where they lived was nice because we were able explore a different side of Cape Town. And though it is going to sound strange it was freeing because they actually had a shower (all we have is a bath). Not to say there is anything wrong with a bath, but it can be time consuming and well kind of awkward. Not to mention the fact that our cold and hot water taps are separate. They only work one at a time so you need to perfect the water temperature before you get in; turning one on, one off, one on, one off!! I bet by the time I get back to the states I’ll have perfected the whole bathing thing and I may even choose not to shower. It is just nice to have the choice. Although, it makes us realize what the kids at our agency come from and for many it may even be that they don’t a bath!

Sunday morning they took us into Hout Bay and we went to a local weekend market. They had discovered the market the weekend prior and wanted to treat us to breakfast. There were multiple vendors with all different foods but I ended up getting a salmon omelets with a latte from a coffee shop called Bean There. The power did go out for a 20 minute span but luckily we had our food and just had to wait for the coffee. Greg and Gabi said we needed to try Biltong, Milk tart and koeksister r so while we were at the market we sampled all 3. Biltong is basically a moist jerky; milt tart is almost like a vanilla pudding tart; and koeksister is basically a long twisty donut, deep fried in syrup. All 3 being very specific to South Africa. Along with a native fish called the Kingclip. Which in my 23 years of living is the BEST fish I have ever tasted!!!

(Hout Bay)  

We then walked around the bay, stopped at multiple overlooks on the freeway and went to a inlet half way up table mountain. It was a bit of a trek but once we were there, it was amazing! I cannot wait to experience more beauties of this city!! So far it has been a week and I already feel insanely blessed!!! Again, with out these wonderful friends reaching out I would be very lost and most likely suffering from cabin fever!!

(The group that climbed half of Table Mountain Sunday afternoon)

That night we then went to Greg and Gabi’s church and for the most part it was very similar to what you would find in the states. The people were all very sweet and friendly and they had a tea and biscuit time after the service. In fact, we met a man who was moving to New York in September and had the opportunity to talk travels!! I told him that if I knew any one in the area I would connect him! So, for those of you reading, if you know or have any connections in New York, pass them my way!!!

I wish you all could experience the uniqueness of this city but hopefully my pictures and explanation will do it justice!!! I feel this opportunity is so special because we are seeing almost every area of Cape Town: the good, the bad, the sad, the beautiful, etc… I know it will be confusing and hard when we go from tourist to social worker but all I can do is pray for a non-bias lens and eternal perspective!

Be encouraged and remember to floss! (For those of you who know me, know I am very keen on oral hygiene and one of the 15 year old girls had 4 of her front teeth pulled today. I may be neurotic but people it is very important to floss!!!)

Grace and Peace

-Kay

Getting into the Groove!!

So we’ve been here less than a week and I cannot believe all that's happened!! We are still getting used to the agency and exploring the different programs so we don’t have one specific duty. We have done multiple home visits that at times turn into day trips so our time at the (actual) agency has been more limited. However when we are there we start work at 9 and usually go till 4:30. The children aren’t back from school until 2 or 3 so if we don’t afternoon plans we stay around and hang out after work hours. We are still just getting to know the children so a lot of our time is spent outside. There are 3 cottages with 2 units in each building and as we get used to each cottage we will do more things with them. At this point many of the kids have discovered my ability to use sign so almost everyday I am teaching new vocabulary. Some of them have really caught on and I am excited to see how much they know by November.

In the beginning, it was kind of strange because we felt we were being more of a nuisance than anything, just hanging around not doing a whole lot. But as of recently I can tell they understand we want to do whatever to help them so now they are giving us more work. Luckily, the workers are more than happy to have us join them on home visits and we get a chance to leave our “compound.” Since our neighborhood is on the “rougher” side of Cape Town and we don’t have transport we are very dependent on the aid of other people. God bless the ones who have seen “pity” on us!! Lord knows it has been very needed.

(This is the non "rough" side of Cape Town)

 Another fun aspect is that the agency has 3 set tea times:10 am, 1am (lunch) and 3pm. It has been odd to adjust to this 15/30 minute break but now I thoroughly understand why my Grandpa (born and raised an Irishman) is dead set on having tea multiple times a day. Just watch,  I’ll come back to the states addicted to English breakfast tea and coffee breaks will be a thing of the past. My love is still present but coffee has become more of a rarity since the only type at our disposal is instant. There are little coffee shops around the city and when we are out I’ll get my 2 dollar (I know, right?) latte but apart from that, tea is my go to.

Last week we were delighted to join Carrie and Errol ( My friend Becki Faulk’s sister and brother in law. We have been so blessed to have them live 5 minutes from us) on our fist Cape Town hike. We were met by their friends Ben and Emily and together we trotted up one of the many peaks. We did the Lions head hike (at sunset) and well… I understood why people say Cape Town is the most beautiful place in the world. It was an hour-ish hike to the top and by the end we could see the entire city. Apparently, it was full moon but since it was cloudy we had a distorted view! After, they took us to tastiest and cheapest restaurant called Indian Food Bizarre and for dessert we had 10 rand Gelato (roughly $1.25).

(Carrie and Errol)

(The view of the 12 apostles from Lion's Head)

Friday we went with some of the workers on an Isinbindi visit!!  Isinbindi is a project where they train youth care workers in a community to do home care and preventative work. They will often work with Child headed households and make sure all needs are being covered. We traveled and hour or so through the mountains up to a mountain township. The Isinbindi office was a little metal transport box in the center of a middle school. They were planning to train 6 more Isinbindi workers and though space will be limited they aren’t worried. We saw the interview standard and learned more about the expectations of a care worker. The workers who drove us may be the funniest/oddest couple. They bicker and pick on each other as if they are an old married couple and every time we drive with them they have snacks, hahaha!! Tia and I will look over at each other and just laugh at the situations we are in. At times we will be stopped on the side of the road in the middle of a township buying Nik Naks (their version of Cheetos) from a women and asking if she knows where a certain person lives. So random but so great!! I just love my job!!

The cook/cleaner will also save us food and Rose, our roommate, will bring us food if she goes to one of the cottages for a special celebration. Usually we prepare and purchase our own food but it is special to know we are being thought of. She also told us she would miss us this weekend when we went to stay with a couple I have connections to. Isn’t she the cutest??

Praise the Lord we made it through our first week!

Be encouraged and message me if anything wonderful happens back home!!

(More Views of the Cape from Lion's Head)

Grace and Peace

-Kay

It's official Cape Town, I have arrived!!

So here it is… I’ve landed and well, loving it. When we first arrived it was different than I expected but after unpacking and getting settled; adjustment has occurred.

We arrived at our agency Monday around 1pm and were met by Melissa and Cindee, the agency’s two social workers. We had a minor orientation/ question and answer but were then free to unpack and settle. There is a small flat (apartment) on the side of one of the children’s cottages we were going to stay in but due to the collapse of the ceiling, we are living with one of the senior care workers. Rose, our roommate, has lived at Leliebloem for years and welcomed us into her home with open arms. She lives in a flat on the second floor of the administration building with a private entrance and though it is a small area, we have beds, a kitchen and bath. It is also conveniently located next to the main gate with a private entrance. Rose also has her Christian music playing most of the day and we have had many wonderful conversations on faith, family, the children and Jesus. I am going to attend church with her next week and she said she will go with me other weeks if I go to ones in the area (our neighborhood is not a place for a tall, blonde, American girl to walk on her own). She has been a ray of love and encouragement in everything she does and always makes sure we are doing well. On multiple occasions Tia and I have talked of how happy we are be with Rose and couldn’t imagine being without her!!! PTL!

(Pic of the bedroom after I added my own touch and a little scrapbooking paper)

That first day we were also greeted by a certain Becki Faulk’s sister, Carrie, who took us to a grocery store called Woolworth’s. It was nice to have a little stability during our transition of feeling overwhelmed and lost. Carrie gave us the down low on Cape Town and helped get my VodaCom phone (again, thank you Becki Faulks) set with airtime. It is so nice to have connections while I’m half way across the world and I want to say thank you to all of you who set them up. It has honestly made the world of difference in this transition.

That second day we were given the opportunity to assist The Family Reunification Project at a home visit/investigation. We went into the township’s Delft and Guguletu (both of which reminded me very much of Alexandria). The workers were looking to make contact with family members of the children through the Family Reunification Project. They will use all resources available to re-connect children with family and re-form ties (with both immediate and extended family). It is almost like an investigation from one home to another. Re-tracing steps and talking to any neighbor who has information. It may seem extreme but since the houses are not clearly marked and so many residents are undocumented, it is nearly impossible to find people in the system. It was amazing to see the determination of the workers and they want us to experience full immersion so they encourage our involvement in any way.

(Tia and I out on one of our many adventures around the city!! Notice my 5 rand ($ .75) oranges.)

That day we also spent time with the children once they came home from school. They start coming back between 2 and 3 and it was cool to see them in their element. Nearly all knew English so we hit it off from the get go. Tia was told she looked like a South African soap opera star and well… I got that I looked like Justin Bieber’s girlfriend, lol. Oh and another girl thought I was Kesha from a distant, haha!! I could tell what American Media has done to these children’s minds and it was actually really sad. They wanted to know if we dated football players, were cheerleaders, knew Justin Bieber, wore letterman jackets, and went to home coming. Some of them didn’t even believe we had homeless people and they seemed shocked when I told them I grew up in a mixed race community.

The children also asked if I knew any language beside English so, as always, I started signing. They seemed fascinated and asked if I would teach them so I said we could trade services. If they taught me Afrikaans I would teach them ASL (fare trade if you ask me, right?)

After I showed them a few words we spent most of our time in one of the girl cottages hanging out. I taught some how to shuffle cards and they taught me a fun foot slapping dance. One of them had taken ballroom dance so I showed her the basic swing dance steps and we had a ball (literally…ha). It was fun to interact on their level and have some one on one time outside of the “office”. I will also (hopefully) be doing some one on one work with a 12 year old girl who is not enrolled in school. I will use my 2 years of education training to put together a little lesson plan. Then once

I know her better I can tweak it and work on what she really needs. Although my education major took me off track for a time I will still use it to be the best social worker possible. Every road/detour has brought me to the point I am today and I am amazed at how God can use every area of my life to impact His kingdom. Wow am I glad not to be in control!!!

The next day one of the workers took us out by taxi (a big van full or random people going from one stop to the other) to downtown Cape Town or as the locals say city center. The workers do not feel secure sending us out on our own in our neighborhood so MaryAnn wanted to show us the ropes. We went from market to market and explored the area up and down Longstreet (apparently that is the “Water Street” of Cape Town) where there are a lot of the clubs, hostels, coffee shops and restaurants.  We were definitely a sight for sore eyes and plenty of locals asked MaryAnn what we were doing and why we were in the neighborhood. She said people are just nosey cause they are unemployed /: and we kept walking. Oh…and if anyone tried to “take advantage of us” she was there to put them in their place. She’d say, “They are with me and start speaking Afrikaans!!” Needless to say, I felt veryyyy secure.

 

(Picture of City Center!!!

P.S We often don’t have WIFI access so updates may be rare but when they come there will probably be multiple at a time!!!

Remember, nothing is impossible when you realize you are FREE!

Grace and Peace

 -Kay

Adventures Around Johannesburg

Last Saturday began when yet again, Tia and I were the last of our group to meet in the lobby. Jeff, our advisor, has come to expect the Cape Town girls as, “last one’s in and last one’s out”. We seem to be transitioning very well into the South African mindset when it comes to time. Which has been a bit of a struggle for me since those of you who have spent any time with me know I pride myself in punctuality...hahaha!!!

Regardless, once we were all together we headed on a tour around Johannesburg with Alfred, the nicest tour/van driver ever. That day we embraced every stereo type known to man on being a tourist and loaded into our 15 passenger van :\ . Alfred showed us neighborhood after neighborhood and went in depth about the Apartheid and racial divide. He drove us into Alexandria, the township where he grew up. The homes were constructed of tin sheets put together to form walls. There was laundry hanging along side of the homes and instead of bathrooms, there stood porta-potty after porta-potty. During the Apartheid, townships were created to divide black, white and colored residents. People of one race would be sent to live in a certain township without the chance to leave. And today although the Apartheid is abolished racial divide and segregation within the townships are just as present. Alfred told us, “If people left Alexandria it was a miracle and as of today few don’t even know what life looks like outside of the neighborhood.”  He is the only one from his family to leave Alexandria and in his opinion the cycle will continue from generation to generation if girls the under the age of 18 continue to get pregnant.

 A Shot of Alexandria

It is amazing to think that blocks up the street there are hundred thousand dollar homes and gated communities. It is going to sound dorky but I kept thinking how similar Johannesburg was to Gotham City (you know, Batman). The change in living conditions was so abrupt and from an outsiders perspective, it seems like change will only come with help from a superhero. If only Bruce Wayne were around to do something, haha! However, this is when we have to rely on the supernatural workings of God and pray that change will come.

*Side note: apparently Nelson Mandela spent some years of his life living in Alexandria.

After our city tour, we ended at the Hector Pieterson Museum outside of Johannasburg. Hector Pieterson was a 13 year old boy, killed outside of a local school during the rallying of school aged children who opposed a change in education. The children were forced to learn in the Afrikaans language after they had already learned in English. Afrikaans was not their native tongue and they felt they were being pushed into disregarding their heritage. After Hector’s death there came more commotion and many died as a result (white and black alike). This suffering however did not happen in vain and the children did win their battle against the school board.

At the Hector Pieterson Museaum

So… before I go into Sunday I need to mention the horrible effects of 7 hour jetlag. I don’t know how this happened simultaneously, but at midnight both Tia and myself were up and definitely not going back to bed! (For those of you who suffer from insomnia you will understand the sheer dread of not being able to sleep when needed.)So…. after 2 hours of listening to Redeeming Love on audio tape we both decided to hit the hotel gym. Needless to say, running did calm/exhaust both of us but we still only got 2 hours of sleep cause we had to be up bright and early the next morning to visit the Apartheid museum. (Now, we are safe to transition)

The Apartheid museum, for those of you who are unaware: is a museum in Johannesburg about Nelson Mandela, South African government, and the history of the Apartheid law (pre/during/post). We did not have much time to explore because of time constraints but this museum went into explanation about the ANC (African National Congress) party and the oppression of both black and colored South Africans. I learned about the history of Nelson Mandela. It covered the steps leading to his 20 year incarceration and then election into presidency. He never relented from the cause and even through great tribulation took the bigger road. There were other men from the ANC who were also convicted of political fraud and locked at Robbins Island with Mandela. During the time in prison there were still battles for freedom and Mandela’s entrapment caused more people to stand behind the ANC. In 1994 the Apartheid was officially lifted but damage was almost irreversible. The separation of white, black and colored people runs deep within South African society and the damage has yet to fully reverse. It is especially seen in the row after row of government funded houses found all over South Africa.

 At a monument outside the Apartheid museum!

Later that day we went to an African “flee” market where sales were only made through a barter system. Every booth you stopped at was headed by a man pushing his product into your hands asking, “how much will you give me for this.” I’m not sure if I should be bragging but I got pretty good at having them go as low in price as possible (which I’m pretty sure is still full price so I didn’t feel too bad). Also, one made me very uncomfortable when he started talking about the hair on my arm. He said his “girlfriend” had hands like mine and then started talking about how he liked tall girls because they were easiest to kiss, smooth right? Needless to say I left as soon as I could and tried to avoid his staring. Haha, oh the memories of Johannesburg!

Well, we are now officially in Cape Town and getting all settled!!! I will update shortly with the DL but as of now I think I wrote enough (I’m known to be a bit long winded, I apologize). If you remember Keep Leliebloem (Lily Bloom) Children’s home in your prayers and I hope you are having a beautiful and blessed day.

A picture of my bed in our flat. Tia's bed is parallel to mine and Rose had matching bedspreads laid out for us when we arrived. The daisy pillow cases I brought from home along with the pictures and scrapbooking paper. With a few added touches it is amazing how you can turn a space into your own. 

Grace and Peace

-Kay

This one's for Africa!

And it begins… my feet have landed on South African ground. It is strange to think that just yesterday I was on American soil. And somehow after a 17 hour flight (yeah I don’t know much longer you can actually get… The lady who sat next to me on the plane said the longest was 18 hours) I’m here in Johannesburg. The other interns and I will be spending the weekend together with our advisor but come Monday, we are off to our placements.

As I left Milwaukee I was overwhelmed by the out pour of love and support I received from friends, family and even strangers at Costco ;) It is amazing how God orchestrates every person to come into your life when the time is right and say what you need to hear in the moment. I know I am leaving with prayer and support from many loved ones and I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for the cards, the gifts, the prayers, the laughter and yes even the chocolate (which made the 17 hours fly by). I may be working hand in hand with these little ones but through people lifting me up back home, their hands are just as present as mine. They may not be writing case studies, combing hair, coloring or giving hugs but they are pushing me to serve and love as Christ does. 

So…as for the actual trip. There are a few shout outs I have to make in regards to South African Airlines. First, you would not believe what I noticed when they came around offering food and drink… every cup, plate, utensil and tray was washable. That’s right I ate my dinner on a plastic tray with METAL utensils and a little plastic tea mug. It the most pleasant shock to see conservation and resourcefulness made a priority in the air. Secondly, when you went to wash your hands in the restroom, the button you pressed to start the water flow actually stayed on unattended for almost 5 seconds. There was none of that awkward one hand rinse business as you pump the water button. And after washing, you felt like the soap was actually rinsed. Things like that may seem minuscule and silly to most people but I couldn’t get over how it brightened my experience. Sure, extra leg room and wider aisles would be nice but today I will be grateful for my metal fork, plastic tea mug and 5 second spout. It’s the little things that make a difference and as my dove chocolate wrapper says, “happiness never decreases by being shared.”

Also, we made it to our hotel in Airport certified Taxi cars (Licensed and all. Apparently that is something I really need to make sure of), both of which were Mercedes Benz. When I mentioned to the man that he had one of the nicest taxi cars I'd ever seen, he said Mercedes was very common here and laughed! I guess my compliment was short lived! Also, our hotel believe it or not, is after all not too far from home. We are staying at what I assume, is the only Holiday INN is Johannesburg but loving every moment of it. And when it comes down to swanky-ness it's covered. Oh and from the looks of it there is almost no privacy when it comes to early morning room cleaning. We were definitely woken at 9 am (after jet lag it's not fun, trust me) by the cleaner coming to change the bed linens we were sleeping in. Being caught completely off guard we got out of bed, sat on the ground and watched as out warm, broken in beds got stripped clean. And to add even more humor to the situation she only put a fitted sheet back on. Needless to say, the lack of a pillow case and top sheet did not stop us from getting back into bed. However, her return an our later did. When she came to put the rest of the sheets on the bed, we told her we just put them on once we got up. I guess culture shock is already happening, haha. Off for more adventures!!

Grace and Peace

Kay

(Our adventure in Johannesburg started today so more posts will follow!)

4 days and counting!!

http://www.leliebloem.org.za/