After 8 months of living and working in South Africa, we have finally been on a safari and it was amazing! Last Friday we drove 5.5 hours north to Tembe Elephant Park which is on the border of Mozambique. It was really hot when we got there and we had to take a 4x4 safari truck to the camping/lodge area after parking our car. We were greeted by wonderful staff members who sang for us and carried our bags to our tents which had 4 beds, a toilet, and a shower. We weren't exactly roughing it over the weekend! After settling in we had a delicious lasagna lunch before going out on our first game drive. Carlos was our guide/driver who was extremely knowledgeable and quite entertaining. In our truck were three other people, two from Joberg and one ironically enough from Kloof. The lady from Kloof was hilarious the whole weekend and made teased me when I misidentified a tree as a giraffe but I made up for it by spotting a huge elephant right in front of our truck when we came around a corner. It was so exciting to see our first elephant that close to the truck and we acted like little kids again smiling and snapping photos. After the elephant we saw tons of impala and nyala, which are both like deer and got rather boring after a while, giraffes in the distance and a mongoose. Carlos told us about lala (sleep in Zulu) palms which have liquid in their branches that can turn into wine. Apparently the elephants love to eat/drink them before they fall asleep/pass out! After the game drive, we had dinner where our tables were decorated with flags from the countries people were from on them. Most of them were South Africa but ours was the USA of course and there was one other one that we didn't know. For dinner we had warthog, chicken, and veggies which was all delicious in addition to butternut squash soup and dessert.
On Saturday we got up really early and had a light breakfast before going out on our morning game drive where we saw a bunch more impala and nyala. We also saw giraffe, rhino, leopard, and elephant footprints which were interesting to see. We stopped for coffee and tea where we could see the border of Mozambique in the distance. We then left for the second part of the morning drive which was awesome because we saw 2 lion really close to our truck (one which yawned and I got a picture of it) and a herd of elephant who were playing in the lala palms. They were ripping them down and eating them right near us. There were young ones and adults which made for great pictures. We spent an extra hour watching the elephants in addition to seeing African water buffalo take a mud bath. We drove back, had breakfast, and relaxed until lunch and our evening game drive. During the night drive we saw some zebra, which our boss Hannah was really excited about, and some birds and trees that the other people in our truck were excited about but not us. We took some group pictures at the sunset and saw an elephant that our guide Carlos said was in heat because he could smell it from a distance which was pretty amazing. For dinner we had broccoli soup, impala, chicken, and veggies which was again delicious.
It rained overnight which made us think that we weren't going to be able to see any animals or go out the next morning but we were able to see some like a herd of elephant in the distance. It rained for a little bit on the ride but it stopped after a couple of minutes which we were happy about. On our way back, we saw a bunch of giraffes up close which was really cool. We also saw a suni which is a really rare/small antelope. After eating breakfast and packing up, we drove back to our car and saw warthog which we hadn't seen before. It was an awesome weekend and even though we didn't get to see any rhino, we saw a ton of elephant and most everything else!
Elephant Fact: Tembe is home of 3 out of the 40 tuskers in Africa. Tuskers are HUGE elephant whose one tusk weighs 50 kg (110lbs). Unfortunately we didn't see any of these three but we did see some massive Dumbos!!
Before I start this post I want to apologize for not posting the whole month of August. It was a crazy month of visitors and busy schedules so I apologize for not updating you on my life here in South Africa. I have made it a goal to get back into blogging for the last few months I have here and will be posting a minimum of two posts per month for the rest of the year.
As sometimes happens in our community, someone will have a great day, like I did teaching on Monday, but when you come home, you find out that someone had a hard day which was the case for Kellie and Kevin. After telling them about my great day at Leo's, they told me that Israel, one of their AIDS patients that I had talked with and met, was dying. Kellie said that I should go say goodbye to him on Tuesday morning when I dropped her off at work. Kellie and Kevin spent the day saying goodbye to him which was emotional to say the least so I prepared myself to do the same the next morning.
Tuesday morning I got up and thought about what I was going to say to Israel. Kellie and I drove down Botha's Hill to the Respite unit but on the way there, Kellie got a text message from her boss saying Israel had passed away. The rest of the car ride was silent until we pulled into the driveway and I asked if I could come in and say something outside of his room. When we walked into the unit, his body had already been moved out of his room and into the chapel. Kellie and I went into the chapel and saw Israel's body wrapped in a sheet on the gurney. I immediately teared up knowing that the person under the sheet was someone I knew and talked with just a couple of weeks earlier. After a moment of silence I was able to speak to him through my tears. I told him that I was happy to have known him and be a part of his life even though it was very brief. I ensured him that he would be missed by me, his family, and his friends. I told him to go well and remember that he is loved. I told him to watch over his wife and kids from heaven. I then prayed to Go that He would embrace him with love and compassion into his Kingdom. It was a powerful experience saying these words and praying over Israel knowing that a friend just lost the battle with AIDS. The room felt empty knowing that he was no longer with us but also full of love and comfort from Kellie and God who were there to help me grieve and remember Israel.
When I met Israel in June at the Respite Center, he spoke English and told me all about his life. He told me that he was from Zimbabwe, he's a twin, and he had been in South Africa for 5 years. He has a wife and two sons who are in South Africa with him. He asked me to pray for his legs to get better and for Zimbabwe as a country. Israel also told me that he worked at the 1000 Hills Craft Village right up the road from our house and I told him I would come visit him when he got better and went back to work. I remember enjoying our conversation and being happy to talk with and get to know my first patient at the Respite unit. I had visited the center many other times and met patients briefly but Israel was the first patient I really got to know and spend time with even though it was brief. Throughout the next couple of months at Respite, I saw Israel a couple of times but always heard how he was doing and updates from Kellie and Kevin. A couple of weeks ago, Israel had been moved to a private room because he wasn't doing well; his TB had become worse and the nurses didn't want him affecting other patients. I didn't see him in the private room which I regret now but I continued to pray for him, his health, and his family. The day before Israel died Kellie found out that his wife was struggling to forgive him for the lifestyle he chose and the effects his decline in health had on him and his family. The decline in his health was the reason the wife needed to be around to help with appointments and treatments and the reason he was sick was because of the lifestyle he chose that she didn't agree with. His wife struggled to forgive him with all he had put her through and the pain he caused her but also knowing that she still loved him and cared about him. No one knows whether the forgiveness came but I pray and hope that both of them had peace for his passing.
Our conversations that one day were brief but meaningful because that is what I remember about Israel and believe that is how he wanted to be remembered instead of his sick and unhealthy last moments. I remember him talking so fondly of his wife and kids and how hopeful he was that he was going to get better and go back to work. I remember him talking about his beautiful country Zimbabwe and how he missed it but was happy to be in South Africa. It was hard for me to say goodbye to Israel on Tuesday but I hope that he heard what I said and he knows how much I cared about him even if our friendship was brief. Even though he is gone, I know that he is in a happier place now and his struggle and suffering over.
After an emotional morning, it was difficult to go to 1000 Hills and put on a happy face for the kids but I knew it is what I had to do. I spent the drive to Inchanga reflecting and praying. As I pulled into the center, I tried to put on a smile and wave to everyone but I was still sad and grieving. Then when I walked into the classroom, I was immediately greeted by smiling, happy toddlers who were full of life and happy to see me. I immediately smiled and saw the direct contrast between life and death. Life of these toddlers was beautiful and happy while the death and suffering of Israel was sad and emotional but I am blessed to experience both in this powerful contrast. As I walked into the classroom and said hello to the toddlers, I reflected on the life of these kids and the death of so many AIDS patients. I thought about all of the kids at 1000 Hills and in the Valley that don't have their parents or their father because they have died. Why are there so many of these kids without parents in South Africa and around the world? Why is AIDS so prevalent in the KwaZulu-Natal province? These are questions we ask ourselves everyday but everyday there is so much joy and life around us in the kids that we interact with and the people we meet. The toddlers and learners who come to school everyday may have numerous struggles at home but when they come to school they should be able to play, laugh, and be loved by everyone around them. I pray that the sickness and sadness around the world will end but until it does, we must focus on happiness and liveliness of children and the joy they bring to the world. We must fight for a better world free from sickness and sadness but also for better education and support for our children.
The beautiful contrast between life and death surround us in South Africa every day. There are thousands of people dying of AIDS but thousands of kids that are running around the schools happy as can be. Life and death is a reality we all face everyday but I encourage you all to embrace them both. Remember and love our friends and family who have died or will die and embrace and cherish the people in your life who are alive. Take time to reflect upon this reality and know that this contrast is hard at times but beautiful at others.
South African Fact: The province of KwaZulu-Natal has the highest rate of HIV in South Africa but the rate of HIV/AIDS has declined in the past 4 years in South Africa and is continuing to decline.
It's a miracle! Two posts in one day! Even though I have met my minimum for the month, I will most likely do one more before the month is over.
In the beginning of July, a little boy named Manqoba came into our class at 1000 Hills. Fikile carried him in and said he was paralyzed but I found out that he has cerebral palsy that affects his right leg and right arm. Fikile had no clue what to do with him and had to go to a workshop so she just handed him to me. The first week or two he was in our classroom, he was so nervous, didn't speak, and clenched onto whoever was holding him's clothes. For the month of July, there were two girls from England, Mel and Hannah, who came to 1000 Hills to volunteer for the month. They were in my classroom for most of the time and were a huge help with all of the kids. Mel's brother has cerebral palsy so as soon as she saw Manqoba and learned about him, she instantly smiled and took him as her mission. She knew exercises and stretches for his legs, arms, and hands that really helped him stretch out and be able to move more easily. It was a challenge at first to get him used to the classroom because he had never been at school before or around that many kids. With a little love in encouragement, he fit right in to the class. By the second week, Manqoba was making friends, playing on the bikes with the other kids, and eating on his own. One of the biggest struggles was getting him home in the afternoon. His father arranged for him to go home on the 1000 Hills transport kombi (a taxi van which are crazy and unsafe on the roads but this one is obviously safe since it is from the center). After spending all day with Mel and getting to know her, leaving at the end of the day was really hard and scary for our little Manqoba. The first week we didn't know anything was wrong so he just went back and forth to school in the kombi with what we thought was with ease but after one of the adults that goes with them said that he cries the whole time, we had to change our plan. So one day Mel and I went with the transport to bring all of the kids home. It was quite the experience riding in the kombi with all of the kids and seeing where they lived. Luleka and Andsiwa, two of my favorite girls, were on the bus and they live right near each other which is really cute because they are great friends in school. Of course there couldn't be a normal, no problem transport with us there because when there were 4 kids left, we had to switch to the ambulance that came to meet us in the middle of our route because the van was running low on petrol. It was quite the bumpy ride in the back of the ambulance but thankfully Manqoba sat up front with Mel. When we got to his house, we were hoping to talk to his dad but there was only an older sibling so we dropped him off and told the kid that there was a note for the dad in Manqoba's bag.
Throughout the whole month of July, Manqoba made lots of new friends, especially Reabetsoe and Olwethu, and has fit in very well with our class. He is starting to talk and count and loves playing with a small ball and throwing it. Mel was a great help to Manqoba and a perfect fit for him to help get adjusted into our classroom. Unfortunately Mel and Hannah were only here for the month of July but we thank them tremendously for their support and help throughout the month. Manqoba and the rest of the kids miss you both but are doing well thanks to your help! In addition to Manqoba being a great addition to our class, he is going to physiotherapy on Wednesdays at St. Mary's Hospital and Friday afternoons at Ethembeni School which is right behind the 1000 Hills center. I have had the opportunity to go with him and Mthi, a Zulu teacher in our room, to the sessions on Friday afternoons and it is amazing to see what they can do. They usually start by stretching him out and making sure his muscles are nice and loose. For the first couple of weeks, the therapists were working on his right hand that is constantly in a fist and his right arm that is always bent. The therapists showed Mthi and I exercises we can do to help stretch it out which has been great. Manqoba's physiotherapy sessions on Fridays are always a great way to end the week because they inspire me that kids can do anything no matter what their physical or emotional disability are. After only two sessions with the therapists and our stretching throughout the week, Manqoba was able to open his right hand with both our help and him opening it himself with his left hand. It was truly amazing to see this transformation and to continue to see him stop what he's doing to open his right hand before continuing on crawling or playing. Sometimes he does get distracted with something he is doing with his left hand that the right hand closes again but most of the time you just have to say "Manqoba, open your hand" and show him your hand before he stops and opens his own hand. I had never been to physiotherapy sessions before but I'm glad Manqoba has given me the opportunity because the work the therapists and Manqoba are doing are simply amazing! Manqoba is a perfect example of how much life and energy toddlers have and the joy they experience everyday. Manqoba has a dad who loves him and did a great job of bringing him to school and getting him enrolled in physiotherapy. I am excited to see how Manqoba improves throughout the rest of the year both in school and with his therapy.
South African Fact: "Established in 1984, Ethembeni School serves 300 physically disabled and visually impaired children from all over Kwazulu-Natal, Kingdom of the Zulu (South Africa), educating them to reach their highest potential and to become independent and responsible citizens of the community. The name Ethembeni means “Place of Hope” and the motto Phila Ufunde – Live and Learn. At Ethembeni 300 beautiful children live, learn, and give us joy and hope."
