Home Again (6-10)

Saturday morning Abby and I were picked up by the regional Ministry of Education’s driver who transported us home. When we stopped for the break at the supermarket, we both purchased food for the week. Another quick stop was where people were selling oranges, milk, and dried kudu. I bought a bag of oranges, which were delicious, and some dried kudu. This time we were taken to our sites rather than to someone meeting us on the main road. After Abby was delivered, the driver asked if I remember him and said he had driven us in January. Since we hadn’t really chatted and saw only the back of his head, I didn’t remember him. I arrived home just before 7:00.

Sunday I didn’t do anything except wash clothes. The desert sand made everything so brown and I had so many clothes to wash that I had to change the water three times and hang three lines worth of clothes. But I was glad to have that done and be ready for normal life again. Since that took most of the afternoon and I had little energy, I was glad I’d planned for the first few days at school before leaving.

At school Monday, teachers were all happy to see me, and all greeted me personally. A couple hugged me, as did a couple of grade 10 girls who stopped by just to greet me. The warm welcome back felt really good. I took the dried kudu to share, which all the teachers appreciated, especially after Angel cooked it. Teachers, especially the women, were also pleased that I’d brought them each a shell from the Port Elizabeth beach. Wilhelmina loves her beaded necklace and wore it almost every day that week and has continued to wear it frequently.

Wednesday afternoon Wilhelmina took me to a special exhibition she had been to and wanted to share with me. It was the annual totem exhibition at which various vendors display and sell their wares. She said there were quite a lot fewer vendors than in previous years. I enjoyed the exhibit of traditional clothes, some with a modern twist. 

Also the display of paper mache clan totems. Other items were pretty much things that are at the local market.

The first week back in class was rough for the learners as well as for me, as we weren’t fully back and needed that week to readjust. Fortunately, that week was sufficient, and we were all back on track ready to learn and teach the second week. As in China where students decided that they were comfortable with me the second term and started to respond more in class, some of the learners have been more interactive. A group of girls in one grade 8 class have decided that they need to high 5 on their way out every day and do so with big smiles. When boys have still been in class when this happens, they have joined in as well. It seems like, overall, the classes are more ready to be serious learners, which I hope continues.

Between the first and second weeks, I had my full weekend to relax at home. It was just what I needed to be fully here and to re-energize. After that weekend, it felt good to be back.

I also had gifts for Helena and Kowmongwa: a necklace and bracelet for her and a leather coin purse and Cape Town cap for him. Both were very pleased and came to thank me specially. I also gave them a collection of soap and shampoo from the guesthouses. He came to ask if the bars of soap were for men or women. I didn’t understand why he needed to ask. She came with the liquid soap and shampoo and asked what they are for. I think she didn’t know the word “shampoo.”

The day I left I confirmed that Helena had been eating my trail mix, currents, and mixed nuts. I’d suspected that for a few weeks but then I’d think maybe I misremembered the levels in the containers and had used more than I thought. But that day, the mixed nuts container had only about ten nuts on the bottom, and I knew I hadn’t left it that way. Then I noticed that the canned foods were missing two cans that were in the back row. So I put all the food containers in the fridge and locked it. She was waiting to help me go to the road and saw me lock the fridge. When I turned around, she was gone. I thought she’d gone outside, but she wasn’t there, and the door to her house was closed. I left a note asking her to please stop stealing my food. When I returned, the note was gone, which I had figured would happen. One of my pots was also gone. I decided not to confront her about the pot and just bought a new one. I put a padlock on the door, knowing that she will know why it’s there. I feel good about how this worked out in such a way that I didn’t need to confront her about the thefts. Having the time apart helped to put that behind.

When I returned, the mahangu/millet had been harvested. I was disappointed to have missed the process completely. Since they had planted late, I had thought that maybe they would still be harvesting when I returned. But all that was left were stalks. They are slowly cutting them down now.

The canvass hen hut was also gone, and the hens are running around again. The goats are also back in the fields inside the fence. They now include seven small kids, and it looks like more are on the way.

Weather is cool in the evening, but inside the house it’s warm enough that I don’t need to wear an extra layer. During the night, it is cold—in the low 50s, and I need to pull up the second blanket. At 6:30 AM it is still cold. When I go to school at 7:30, I wear my sweater, but I take it off before 8:00, as the sun is shining and it’s warm enough. By 11:00, it’s hot—in the low 80s. The learners, on the other hand, think it’s very cold. In the morning, many wear a hoodie, hat, scarf, and/or gloves. Some wear one or more of these items all day. It’s individuality time. I remember this happening at NPA as well as in Thailand where students have a dress code or uniform. External clothes are not mandated; so they take the opportunity to express their individuality that way.