Friday August 1 2008- Greetings from Cape Town and apologies for the delay in blog updating- we have simply had action packed days so I will try and recount a bit for all of our "virtual travelers" out there in internet land.
After our last entry from Clarens we headed to Malealea in Lesotho (pronounced Lisutu). Malealea is a beautiful mountainous location that is largely undeveloped and served as a fantastic backdrop to our first "labor intensive" service project. We stayed in round mud huts with thatched roofs which were actually quite comfortable. During the first two days we worked in two different groups on a road that had been washed out during the previous rain season. This road services a local school and village and needed a lot of work to prepare for next summer. Our students worked directly with local people to improve the road and we shared massive lunches with the entire community on both days which consisted of pap, chicken, spinach, chakalaka, and several other treats- it was once again impressive to watch the group work so well together and the vigor with which they took up a physically demanding task.
Our final day in Lesotho we went for a 6 hour hike to some local cave paintings and a beautiful gorge which certainly tired all of us out but was a great way to wrap up this portion of the program.
We then headed back through Kestell and stayed at a hostel there overnight and enjoyed some TLC from our local contact, Ms. Vera-Anne- she served as a grandmother to our group and helped us do laundry and nurse our tired legs as we enjoyed a massive chicken, mashed potatoes, and salad "comfort feast" crafted by yours truly with some assistance from my favorite sous chefs (aka your kids!)
We then headed to Soweto which is a township outside of Joburg. Soweto was home to a lot of the uprisings and energy that fueled the end of Apartheid. Our first day in Soweto we visited the Hector Peterson museum and memorial dedicated to a 13 year old student who was shot and killed in 1976 and became a symbol of the student resistance- we even had a chance to meet his sister and engage in a great talent and poetry slam with some local youth. We took a walking tour of the Soweto township and saw Mandela's old house and the home of archbishop Desmond Tutu. The next day we worked with the Umbuyisa school of art screen printing some cool tee-shirts for our students and then spent the afternoon working with some children from the art school.
Thursday July 31 2008 - found us flying from Joburg down to rainy Cape Town for our final 3 full days of the program. This morning we went and visited Robben Island and toured the prison for former political figures and I am now sitting at an internet cafe while we wait to go check out the new Batman "Dark Knight" this afternoon.
In short all is well and we have been conducting our exit interviews and program wrap ups with students and it seems that they have all had an outstanding program- it truly has been a privilege to work with each and every one of them and a large thanks to everyone who helped make this experience possible is certainly in order.
Looking forward to a safe and fulfilling final few days,
Thatcher and the BSA Team
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
July 20th - 21st: From the Road
Sunday July 20, 2008
We drove to our contact Khosi's family home in rural Swaziland this afternoon. This morning we visited a local market where our students picked up some gifts for friends and family, for many it was their first bargaining experience and I think they all really enjoyed it.
Khosi's home was small but had several rooms and a generator for electricity, no running water so we used buckets from the well. The students enjoyed a massive game of football (soccer) with the local kids and then we had a giant feast of sausage, chicken, chicken feet, POP (mashed potatoes/maize hybrid), fresh spinach etc. We then slept out under the stars and in the cold crisp swazi-air- quite an experience!
Monday July 21, 2008
Today was a day of driving as we left Swaziland and headed to Kestell, S Africa. We arrived before dark which was our goal and our students have been loving the very sweet Vera-Ann who runs the hostel in Kestell. We played a bit of chess, hearts, and read our books and called it an early night to get ready for our journey to Clarens in the AM.
Tuesday July 22, 2008
The students are on their first MMT (Magical Mystery Tour- scavenger hunt) in Clarens right now. This morning we drove through a national park with sweeping views that reminded me of the vast rocky landscapes of Utah or Arizona- we even saw a few troops of baboons and zebras as we passed along.
The students are all doing a wonderful job of sharing the load, engaging each other and our contacts, and making wise and responsible decisions... knock on wood but we really have had a flawless trip so far aside from a few who are battling a common cold!
Cheers,
BSA
We drove to our contact Khosi's family home in rural Swaziland this afternoon. This morning we visited a local market where our students picked up some gifts for friends and family, for many it was their first bargaining experience and I think they all really enjoyed it.
Khosi's home was small but had several rooms and a generator for electricity, no running water so we used buckets from the well. The students enjoyed a massive game of football (soccer) with the local kids and then we had a giant feast of sausage, chicken, chicken feet, POP (mashed potatoes/maize hybrid), fresh spinach etc. We then slept out under the stars and in the cold crisp swazi-air- quite an experience!
Monday July 21, 2008
Today was a day of driving as we left Swaziland and headed to Kestell, S Africa. We arrived before dark which was our goal and our students have been loving the very sweet Vera-Ann who runs the hostel in Kestell. We played a bit of chess, hearts, and read our books and called it an early night to get ready for our journey to Clarens in the AM.
Tuesday July 22, 2008
The students are on their first MMT (Magical Mystery Tour- scavenger hunt) in Clarens right now. This morning we drove through a national park with sweeping views that reminded me of the vast rocky landscapes of Utah or Arizona- we even saw a few troops of baboons and zebras as we passed along.
The students are all doing a wonderful job of sharing the load, engaging each other and our contacts, and making wise and responsible decisions... knock on wood but we really have had a flawless trip so far aside from a few who are battling a common cold!
Cheers,
BSA
Monday, July 21, 2008
Update # 2: ELEPHANTS!
Dear Bridge Southern Africa Family and friends,
Greetings from Windsor Mountain!
We have a new update from our Bridge Southern Africa Team! Here you go…
Monday July 14th-Today we drove to Eshowe. The drive was a quick 3 hours and we were all sad to head out from Durban. Eshowe had a nice hostel and we treated ourselves to a curry meal at the hostel and watched a local group song & dance performance. After, we went for a hike on the canopy boardwalk and did a few guided reflection activities- the hike was capped off by some swinging from vines and we all had great night of sleep before our big day of driving tomorrow.
Tuesday July 15th-Today was a big day of driving as we made our way into Swaziland. It was the first border crossing experience for many of our students and all went smoothly. We arrived into Mbane at around 8 pm and had a leftover dinner to use up some of our remaining ingredients. It was fun to be back into the cooler weather we had grown accustomed to in Joburg. We got an early nights rest as we are headed to SOS in the AM.
Wednesday July 16th-Our students were once again thrown into the "deep end" today as they were handed the reins to their very own classroom at the SOS children's village. Our students became the teachers for classes ranging from 1st- 7th graders today and did a phenomenal job of classroom management and creating lessons on the fly. It was really fun to be a fly on the wall and watch as our students shared their knowledge and educational philosophies with students from different walks of life. For lunch we hiked up a mountain near our school and had a great picnic on the top as the clouds rolled by overhead.
For dinner we (the leaders) created our own "Windsor Mountain Cafe" (meaning we cooked for, and served the students). We prepared a stir-fry and bread and cheese plate for our group- they loved being waited on and having time to catch up and enjoy each other's company for a few hours without having to prepare the food or do the dishes- they have done such a great job that we owed it to them! It was a nice time for them to connect with some of the students they might not have had a chance to chat extensively with.
Thursday July 17th-
Today it was amazing to watch our students teach with their very own lesson plans, games, and activities. It was great to see what a little prep will do. The afternoon found us playing a massive game of soccer and ultimate Frisbee with kids from throughout the village. Tonight we had a great beef stroganoff and played a few friendly card games while the leaders continued their heated chess rivalries!
Friday July 18th- An emotional day
Our last day at SOS was without question an emotional time for all, as every one of our students had to tear themselves away from the children that they had become connected with. Classes were finished and our students commented on how great it felt to see that kids had actually learnt what they had taught them from one day to the next. After leaving more toothbrushes and a stack of vegetable seedlings for their community garden we headed out the gates back to the legends back packers to get ready for our safari adventure on Saturday.
Saturday July 19th – Nothing but adventure
As it was a relatively relaxed day students had the option of sleeping in or awaking with the sun and heading up the hill that towered over our accommodation. While the majority slept, James and 4 students headed up to see if they could reach the top. Unfortunately they ran out of time and got distracted by a group of monkey’s that were following them, and so headed back down to get ready for the Hlane game park in east Swaziland.
Upon arrival, the group was greeted by Rhinoceros and Hippopotamuses lounging in a nearby lake, after a long lunch and short siesta we headed off in encaged guided four wheel drives, into the lion’s den. Now if you were asked what was more dangerous a lion or an elephant you would most likely say a lion right. Not this time. Our encounter with a pride of lion’s was beautiful. We drove within 5 meters and snapped happily away with our cameras while the young cub played joyfully with its parents, quite beautiful. Now the elephant on the other hand decided that two four wheel drive jeeps needed a little chasing, we were assured by our guides that it was in fact a “mock” charge but all the same I don’t think any of us realized the speed of an elephant as we fled one elephant only to drive into the advance of the other, that quickly turned around creating a convoy of two jeeps driving down a dirt road in between two fully grown bull elephants. Rather exhilarating, humorous and all around high point at the nights evening debrief.
So tomorrow we head to Nhlangano to stay with a good friend of Windsor Mountain and her community.
Student Notes:
Sonia- Sonia finds a way to share her loving personality with all the children we've met. She has the ability to sleep through just about everything which has served to keep her well rested. She has a very positive influence on the community around her.
Wil- Wil has always put forth a positive attitude, ready to help at any moment. He has thrown himself head first into his position as "love and care ninja", putting a smile on everyone's face throughout the day.
Gracey- Her bubbly personality and ongoing energy brings a lot to the group. Her creative ideas such as the introduction of the card game "Mao" and our first ever toga night dinner continue to boos the moral of the group.
Raul- Raul's quirky sense of humor keeps the group laughing at all times. He has always been great with the children and has shown his high energy when we have opportunities to climb the beautiful Swaziland mountains all around us.
Julia- Julia shows a great flexibility through her willingness to try new foods and activities. Her headiness for adventure inspires the rest of the group daily.
Bryn- Bryn has been particularly successful when teaching her 6th grade class. Her friendly and accepting personality influences not only the group but also the children she works with.
Nicole- Is constantly In good spirits and her consistent sense of self projects good values upon the group and children. Her artistic talents are always helpful and appreciated in the group activities.
Alex- Ridiculously helpful at all times, Alex makes at least 1 new great friend every site we visit. He did a wonderful job teaching his 5th grade class adjectives and continues to amaze us with his constant caring attitude towards everyone in the group. He is always the 1st to volunteer for any task and keeps the group together with his constant positive energy.
Liz- gets along with everyone and sets a laid back mood for our program. She handled 54 3rd graders all by herself with some serious skill as she refined her lesson plans each of our 3 days at the SOS children's village.
Becca- is awesome at giving individual attention to the children that we have worked with. She really enjoyed teaching fractions and time to a giant 4th grade class and was very successful at sharing her knowledge with the young students.
Andrew- Andrew provides a great deal of funny and insightful conversations for our group. He was actively involved in all facets of our time with SOS and is developing a mean ultimate Frisbee and soccer game as we interact with the kids.
Lina- keeps us entertained and unified. She is a born leader and full of life. She also took it upon herself to speak to the high school students at SOS about the importance of education and talk about her life in the United States.
Jamie- Jamie has great metaphors for life and she had many wonderful games and teaching techniques which seriously helped everyone in our group become better educators. She has completely fallen in love with Africa and her class of 53 3rd graders.
Holly - Is there anything Holly can't do? She continues to amaze us with her talents and her modesty. She had a great time teaching math and spelling to a huge class of 1st graders. She was the only person in our group to master the six foot unicycle while working with Clowns Without Borders.
Emma - is constantly entertaining the group with her musical talents. Her relaxing influence on the group creates a great atmosphere. She is always ready to try a new activity and was wonderful working with the students at SOS. She also really enjoyed our time at the game park in Hlane.
This is all for now. You can expect a student call on Wednesday, July 30th, and an official email update on Tuesday, July 29th.
Greetings from Windsor Mountain!
We have a new update from our Bridge Southern Africa Team! Here you go…
Monday July 14th-Today we drove to Eshowe. The drive was a quick 3 hours and we were all sad to head out from Durban. Eshowe had a nice hostel and we treated ourselves to a curry meal at the hostel and watched a local group song & dance performance. After, we went for a hike on the canopy boardwalk and did a few guided reflection activities- the hike was capped off by some swinging from vines and we all had great night of sleep before our big day of driving tomorrow.
Tuesday July 15th-Today was a big day of driving as we made our way into Swaziland. It was the first border crossing experience for many of our students and all went smoothly. We arrived into Mbane at around 8 pm and had a leftover dinner to use up some of our remaining ingredients. It was fun to be back into the cooler weather we had grown accustomed to in Joburg. We got an early nights rest as we are headed to SOS in the AM.
Wednesday July 16th-Our students were once again thrown into the "deep end" today as they were handed the reins to their very own classroom at the SOS children's village. Our students became the teachers for classes ranging from 1st- 7th graders today and did a phenomenal job of classroom management and creating lessons on the fly. It was really fun to be a fly on the wall and watch as our students shared their knowledge and educational philosophies with students from different walks of life. For lunch we hiked up a mountain near our school and had a great picnic on the top as the clouds rolled by overhead.
For dinner we (the leaders) created our own "Windsor Mountain Cafe" (meaning we cooked for, and served the students). We prepared a stir-fry and bread and cheese plate for our group- they loved being waited on and having time to catch up and enjoy each other's company for a few hours without having to prepare the food or do the dishes- they have done such a great job that we owed it to them! It was a nice time for them to connect with some of the students they might not have had a chance to chat extensively with.
Thursday July 17th-
Today it was amazing to watch our students teach with their very own lesson plans, games, and activities. It was great to see what a little prep will do. The afternoon found us playing a massive game of soccer and ultimate Frisbee with kids from throughout the village. Tonight we had a great beef stroganoff and played a few friendly card games while the leaders continued their heated chess rivalries!
Friday July 18th- An emotional day
Our last day at SOS was without question an emotional time for all, as every one of our students had to tear themselves away from the children that they had become connected with. Classes were finished and our students commented on how great it felt to see that kids had actually learnt what they had taught them from one day to the next. After leaving more toothbrushes and a stack of vegetable seedlings for their community garden we headed out the gates back to the legends back packers to get ready for our safari adventure on Saturday.
Saturday July 19th – Nothing but adventure
As it was a relatively relaxed day students had the option of sleeping in or awaking with the sun and heading up the hill that towered over our accommodation. While the majority slept, James and 4 students headed up to see if they could reach the top. Unfortunately they ran out of time and got distracted by a group of monkey’s that were following them, and so headed back down to get ready for the Hlane game park in east Swaziland.
Upon arrival, the group was greeted by Rhinoceros and Hippopotamuses lounging in a nearby lake, after a long lunch and short siesta we headed off in encaged guided four wheel drives, into the lion’s den. Now if you were asked what was more dangerous a lion or an elephant you would most likely say a lion right. Not this time. Our encounter with a pride of lion’s was beautiful. We drove within 5 meters and snapped happily away with our cameras while the young cub played joyfully with its parents, quite beautiful. Now the elephant on the other hand decided that two four wheel drive jeeps needed a little chasing, we were assured by our guides that it was in fact a “mock” charge but all the same I don’t think any of us realized the speed of an elephant as we fled one elephant only to drive into the advance of the other, that quickly turned around creating a convoy of two jeeps driving down a dirt road in between two fully grown bull elephants. Rather exhilarating, humorous and all around high point at the nights evening debrief.
So tomorrow we head to Nhlangano to stay with a good friend of Windsor Mountain and her community.
Student Notes:
Sonia- Sonia finds a way to share her loving personality with all the children we've met. She has the ability to sleep through just about everything which has served to keep her well rested. She has a very positive influence on the community around her.
Wil- Wil has always put forth a positive attitude, ready to help at any moment. He has thrown himself head first into his position as "love and care ninja", putting a smile on everyone's face throughout the day.
Gracey- Her bubbly personality and ongoing energy brings a lot to the group. Her creative ideas such as the introduction of the card game "Mao" and our first ever toga night dinner continue to boos the moral of the group.
Raul- Raul's quirky sense of humor keeps the group laughing at all times. He has always been great with the children and has shown his high energy when we have opportunities to climb the beautiful Swaziland mountains all around us.
Julia- Julia shows a great flexibility through her willingness to try new foods and activities. Her headiness for adventure inspires the rest of the group daily.
Bryn- Bryn has been particularly successful when teaching her 6th grade class. Her friendly and accepting personality influences not only the group but also the children she works with.
Nicole- Is constantly In good spirits and her consistent sense of self projects good values upon the group and children. Her artistic talents are always helpful and appreciated in the group activities.
Alex- Ridiculously helpful at all times, Alex makes at least 1 new great friend every site we visit. He did a wonderful job teaching his 5th grade class adjectives and continues to amaze us with his constant caring attitude towards everyone in the group. He is always the 1st to volunteer for any task and keeps the group together with his constant positive energy.
Liz- gets along with everyone and sets a laid back mood for our program. She handled 54 3rd graders all by herself with some serious skill as she refined her lesson plans each of our 3 days at the SOS children's village.
Becca- is awesome at giving individual attention to the children that we have worked with. She really enjoyed teaching fractions and time to a giant 4th grade class and was very successful at sharing her knowledge with the young students.
Andrew- Andrew provides a great deal of funny and insightful conversations for our group. He was actively involved in all facets of our time with SOS and is developing a mean ultimate Frisbee and soccer game as we interact with the kids.
Lina- keeps us entertained and unified. She is a born leader and full of life. She also took it upon herself to speak to the high school students at SOS about the importance of education and talk about her life in the United States.
Jamie- Jamie has great metaphors for life and she had many wonderful games and teaching techniques which seriously helped everyone in our group become better educators. She has completely fallen in love with Africa and her class of 53 3rd graders.
Holly - Is there anything Holly can't do? She continues to amaze us with her talents and her modesty. She had a great time teaching math and spelling to a huge class of 1st graders. She was the only person in our group to master the six foot unicycle while working with Clowns Without Borders.
Emma - is constantly entertaining the group with her musical talents. Her relaxing influence on the group creates a great atmosphere. She is always ready to try a new activity and was wonderful working with the students at SOS. She also really enjoyed our time at the game park in Hlane.
This is all for now. You can expect a student call on Wednesday, July 30th, and an official email update on Tuesday, July 29th.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sunday July 13th 2008
Today we headed to our final AM with Clowns Without Boarders and perfected our group perfomance. We are anxiously awaiting our next opportunity to try it out! Nearly everyone in our group has mastered juggling and some have even learned the unicycle.
Our final afternoon in Durban we headed to the beach for a few more hours in the warm weather before we head to Eshwea in the morning.
Right now the kids are calling home and the cooking group is making some breakfast for dinner so we should be eating well once again.
Cheers,
Bridge South Africa
Our final afternoon in Durban we headed to the beach for a few more hours in the warm weather before we head to Eshwea in the morning.
Right now the kids are calling home and the cooking group is making some breakfast for dinner so we should be eating well once again.
Cheers,
Bridge South Africa
Saturday July 12th 2008
This morning we went to Clowns Without Borders in the morning again. The afternoon found us eating a picnic lunch on our way to work at God's Golden Acres- a former resort turned orphanage for children in Durban. It was definitely a different vibe than the Arayan Benevolent Home and gave our students some insight into the different structures of non-profit organizations- this facility had a lot of live-in volunteers so the children seemed a bit less enamored with out students- but everyone had a great day anyway.
Last night we had a great "American" meal- mac'n'cheese, hot dogs, baked beans, and salad and all went to bed happy and healthy.
Last night we had a great "American" meal- mac'n'cheese, hot dogs, baked beans, and salad and all went to bed happy and healthy.
Update # 1: Duck, Duck,... Goose!
Dear Bridge Southern Africa Family and friends,
Greetings from Windsor Mountain!
We had some time to chat with our leaders today and hear about what’s been happening in South Africa, and about how our students are doing. The weather in South Africa has been sunny and beautiful and a little chilly in the evenings. And now that everyone is through their jetlag, team morale is high, everyone is on time, and the attitude is cheery.
A little Day-By-Day:
Thursday, July 10th – Up at 6am. We drove from Johannesburg to Durban. Here we arrived at our hostel and unpacked. Next, we took a drive to North Beach where we went for a swim and body surfed in the great waves! Our students had a fabulous time, enjoying the sun and surf!
Friday, July 11th - Today, we went to see Clowns Without Borders (http://cwbsa.org/), and had a workshop in a township just outside of Durban. Our workshop included lots of juggling and circus acrobatics. In the afternoon, we went to the Aryan Benevolent Home to play with the 150 kids that live there permanently (many are HIV orphans, and other are victims of child abuse). Our students had the opportunity to lead all sorts of games like Tag, & duck duck goose in the beautiful afternoon sun. Tonight, we plan on going to a poetry/spoken word event at a coffee house across the street. Other than that, everyone is very healthy, and overall, we are enjoying great team dynamics. In fact, even our contacts have made comments about our fabulous teamwork. So we’ll keep hoping for fantastic weather
Student Notes:
Caroline “lina” – has impressed us by diving deep into the issues of HIV. At the hospice in Klerksdorp she asked many questions and with the team she continues to engage and share her social and political opinions. We were also pleased to see that she took lead at the Aryan Benevolent Home, jumpstarting our games and fun.
Andrew – Also asked some very insightful question on HIV strains when patients are non-compliant with Anti-Retro Viral medications. He continues to impress us with his willingness to volunteer for group tasks, and has a shared his guitar skills with us.
Emma – At the HIV hospice she passed out NY postcards and had a great time connecting with the kids at the Aryan Benevolent Home. She is also a Master grilled cheese maker.
Alex – really enjoyed the one-on-one time at we had with the folks at City Year. We’ve also noticed that he goes out of his way to take care of friends even in small ways, like making toast for them at breakfast. He is even keeled and actively participates with our group.
Bryn – enjoyed working with kids at hospice and Aryan Benevolent Home. She is a leader and role model for the team through her positive attitude. She also knows how to have fun and really enjoyed herself playing in waves at North Beach.
Julia – enjoyed the experience working with kids at Aryan Benevolent Home. She lead loads of games including a rousing game of duck duck goose with the kids. We also want to give her notice for being very flexible with what food is available in SA since she is a vegetarian.
Wil – our 3 year Windsor Mountain veteran is our compass. In his easygoing manner, he encourages everyone to have patience and to embrace diversity in the team.
Sonia – Took the lead in putting together our full value contract (this is one our most important team-tools and keeps us focused on who we want to be and how successful we are as a team). She is also an absolute asset in the van, keeping us entertained with riddles and games.
Raul – Is a great leader in daily tasks, since he’s been around we never realized how much fun cooking and cleaning can be. In fact his energy is a fantastic support for the entire group.
Holly – Is awesome at giving out affirmation to everyone around her, including leaders. We were really impressed that she is a very quick learner having excelled at the following: body surfing, ultimate Frisbee, juggling, guitar, and…we hear she rides a mean unicycle!
Jamie – has a gift for putting emotions and feelings into words… we have been blessed by her brilliant metaphors which help the group to process some of the difficult information and realities we are encountering. She is also a skilled listener, light hearted, and quite the acrobat.
Gracie – is always the first to say she’s having fun and her enthusiasm is contagious. We have notice that she is building relationships with all team members and exhibiting the Windsor Mountain ideal non-exclusivity.
Liz – has been really great about sharing her past WMI experience, games and ideas, which greatly improves our trip quality. She also has great energy with the kids, and played a boisterous game of tag, making her well loved by all the kids.
Becca – another WMI veteran, has been teaching and sharing her Windsor Mountain spirit with our team. We were pleased to see she had kids climbing all over her at the Aryan Benevolent Home. We’ve noticed she is always trying to learn from the contacts, by giving them her attention and asking questions.
Nicole – is very patient and has a marvelous sense of humor. She is awesome on guitar and is always volunteering with team tasks.
This is all for now. Our BSA team will keep checking in as they are able, and possibly keep spoiling us with their great posts and pictures. Aside from that, you can expect a student call on Sunday, July 13th, and an official email update on Monday, July 21st.
Greetings from Windsor Mountain!
We had some time to chat with our leaders today and hear about what’s been happening in South Africa, and about how our students are doing. The weather in South Africa has been sunny and beautiful and a little chilly in the evenings. And now that everyone is through their jetlag, team morale is high, everyone is on time, and the attitude is cheery.
A little Day-By-Day:
Thursday, July 10th – Up at 6am. We drove from Johannesburg to Durban. Here we arrived at our hostel and unpacked. Next, we took a drive to North Beach where we went for a swim and body surfed in the great waves! Our students had a fabulous time, enjoying the sun and surf!
Friday, July 11th - Today, we went to see Clowns Without Borders (http://cwbsa.org/), and had a workshop in a township just outside of Durban. Our workshop included lots of juggling and circus acrobatics. In the afternoon, we went to the Aryan Benevolent Home to play with the 150 kids that live there permanently (many are HIV orphans, and other are victims of child abuse). Our students had the opportunity to lead all sorts of games like Tag, & duck duck goose in the beautiful afternoon sun. Tonight, we plan on going to a poetry/spoken word event at a coffee house across the street. Other than that, everyone is very healthy, and overall, we are enjoying great team dynamics. In fact, even our contacts have made comments about our fabulous teamwork. So we’ll keep hoping for fantastic weather
Student Notes:
Caroline “lina” – has impressed us by diving deep into the issues of HIV. At the hospice in Klerksdorp she asked many questions and with the team she continues to engage and share her social and political opinions. We were also pleased to see that she took lead at the Aryan Benevolent Home, jumpstarting our games and fun.
Andrew – Also asked some very insightful question on HIV strains when patients are non-compliant with Anti-Retro Viral medications. He continues to impress us with his willingness to volunteer for group tasks, and has a shared his guitar skills with us.
Emma – At the HIV hospice she passed out NY postcards and had a great time connecting with the kids at the Aryan Benevolent Home. She is also a Master grilled cheese maker.
Alex – really enjoyed the one-on-one time at we had with the folks at City Year. We’ve also noticed that he goes out of his way to take care of friends even in small ways, like making toast for them at breakfast. He is even keeled and actively participates with our group.
Bryn – enjoyed working with kids at hospice and Aryan Benevolent Home. She is a leader and role model for the team through her positive attitude. She also knows how to have fun and really enjoyed herself playing in waves at North Beach.
Julia – enjoyed the experience working with kids at Aryan Benevolent Home. She lead loads of games including a rousing game of duck duck goose with the kids. We also want to give her notice for being very flexible with what food is available in SA since she is a vegetarian.
Wil – our 3 year Windsor Mountain veteran is our compass. In his easygoing manner, he encourages everyone to have patience and to embrace diversity in the team.
Sonia – Took the lead in putting together our full value contract (this is one our most important team-tools and keeps us focused on who we want to be and how successful we are as a team). She is also an absolute asset in the van, keeping us entertained with riddles and games.
Raul – Is a great leader in daily tasks, since he’s been around we never realized how much fun cooking and cleaning can be. In fact his energy is a fantastic support for the entire group.
Holly – Is awesome at giving out affirmation to everyone around her, including leaders. We were really impressed that she is a very quick learner having excelled at the following: body surfing, ultimate Frisbee, juggling, guitar, and…we hear she rides a mean unicycle!
Jamie – has a gift for putting emotions and feelings into words… we have been blessed by her brilliant metaphors which help the group to process some of the difficult information and realities we are encountering. She is also a skilled listener, light hearted, and quite the acrobat.
Gracie – is always the first to say she’s having fun and her enthusiasm is contagious. We have notice that she is building relationships with all team members and exhibiting the Windsor Mountain ideal non-exclusivity.
Liz – has been really great about sharing her past WMI experience, games and ideas, which greatly improves our trip quality. She also has great energy with the kids, and played a boisterous game of tag, making her well loved by all the kids.
Becca – another WMI veteran, has been teaching and sharing her Windsor Mountain spirit with our team. We were pleased to see she had kids climbing all over her at the Aryan Benevolent Home. We’ve noticed she is always trying to learn from the contacts, by giving them her attention and asking questions.
Nicole – is very patient and has a marvelous sense of humor. She is awesome on guitar and is always volunteering with team tasks.
This is all for now. Our BSA team will keep checking in as they are able, and possibly keep spoiling us with their great posts and pictures. Aside from that, you can expect a student call on Sunday, July 13th, and an official email update on Monday, July 21st.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Wednesday July 9th 2008:
Today we headed to the Apartheid museum in the early morning. It was another beautiful and sunny day which helps to keep the spirits high for all of us. Each student had their own take on the museum but it was truly powerful. The museum is structured such that one walks through each year of Apartheid from it's inception all the way to the fall. We spent approximately 3 hours touring the museum, watching several interactive videos, and having some pretty intense discussions with one an other. I think everyone had a very unique experience in this museum so it might be a great conversation piece when your student returns! It was a museum that I will never forget and I think it provided a perfect closure for our final day in Johannesburg.
In the afternoon we returned to the hostel and took a siesta- I am nearly certain that everyone fell asleep for at least an hour- our days have been action packed and it was a well deserved and needed break. We then walked to a park and played some team building games and circus activities with a former Windsor Mountain leader and good friend, Tim Cunningham. The adventure in the park wrapped up with a great game of ultimate frisbee while some of our students began reading up and preparing for our journey to Durban leaving early tomorrow morning.
Group morale is high and all are happy and healthy!
Until Durban,
Thatcher
In the afternoon we returned to the hostel and took a siesta- I am nearly certain that everyone fell asleep for at least an hour- our days have been action packed and it was a well deserved and needed break. We then walked to a park and played some team building games and circus activities with a former Windsor Mountain leader and good friend, Tim Cunningham. The adventure in the park wrapped up with a great game of ultimate frisbee while some of our students began reading up and preparing for our journey to Durban leaving early tomorrow morning.
Group morale is high and all are happy and healthy!
Until Durban,
Thatcher
Tuesday July 8th 2008:
Today we headed to meet up with the City Year organization in downtown Joburg. The drive into the heart of the city was quite an adventure but we found a parking spot after a few tries and walked over to City Year Head quarters. (www.cityyear.org)
While at City Year our students participated in a round table discussion with the volunteers about the aims and experiences of both Windsor Mountain and City Year. Each of our students explained why they chose to be involved with our program this year and shared a bit about their experiences in South Africa so far.
Afterwards we headed to lunch with the folks at City Year and had lunch out in the sun on some steps in the financial district. (See Photo)
We came back to our hostel and created our Full Value Contract- basically an agreed upon set of shared values and mores which our group strives to hold each other accountable to for the duration of our program. It is amazing how quickly this group has passed out of the "forming stage" and moved into the "norming stage"- people are really coming out of their shells and some strong bonds are being formed between all of our students. Several of our contacts have remarked to me how impressed they are with the teamwork and involvement that our students exhibit.
We are tired but mentally stimulated and have adjusted to the cooler Joburg weather and jet lag is finally letting up a bit!
Cheers,
Thatcher and the BSA team
While at City Year our students participated in a round table discussion with the volunteers about the aims and experiences of both Windsor Mountain and City Year. Each of our students explained why they chose to be involved with our program this year and shared a bit about their experiences in South Africa so far.
Afterwards we headed to lunch with the folks at City Year and had lunch out in the sun on some steps in the financial district. (See Photo)
We came back to our hostel and created our Full Value Contract- basically an agreed upon set of shared values and mores which our group strives to hold each other accountable to for the duration of our program. It is amazing how quickly this group has passed out of the "forming stage" and moved into the "norming stage"- people are really coming out of their shells and some strong bonds are being formed between all of our students. Several of our contacts have remarked to me how impressed they are with the teamwork and involvement that our students exhibit.
We are tired but mentally stimulated and have adjusted to the cooler Joburg weather and jet lag is finally letting up a bit!
Cheers,
Thatcher and the BSA team
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Monday July 7th 2008:
Wow! We are so lucky to have such a fantastic group of students. You might say we threw them straight into the "deep end" today as we visited several locations in Klerksdorp that we will all remember for the rest of our lives.
We started our day early- think 7 am early on the heels of our giant travel the 2 days prior- and the kids were rearing to go at 8:30 am sharp as we drove the 2 hours to Klerksdorp.
We drove through several South African townships on the way which was an eye opening experience for us all. We saw many teenagers and children who were eager to smile and wave at us as we passed their homes and arrived at a hospice (hospice has several different meanings in South Africa) for HIV/AIDs orphans. The children ranged from about age 1-6 and 90% were HIV positive and nearly all were missing parents as a result of this devastating disease. Yet they were children and they were eager to play with us and smile. We couldn't have been more proud of the way our students jumped right in and had a blast spending time with these kids. Our students only wished we could have stayed longer as our visit was capped with the children singing us a couple of South African songs and the national anthem of this amazing nation.
We were all eager to stay longer but we ended up heading to our next stop which was a hospice for AIDs patients that we took a brief tour of. We then heard several lecutres at a hospital on HIV/AIDS- it was eye opening to learn that around 30% of South Africans are infected with HIV and that due to cultural and social stigmas many people refuse to get tested. We heard a lecture from a Peace Corps volunteer named Charlene who informed us of a program she had started that empowers South African teens to educate other teens on HIV prevention and health. Look out parents- we may have some future volunteers on our hands!
We came back to the hostel and had a giant spaghetti feast and a gourmet salad. We then broke into small groups and discussed our experiencesand thoughts for the day.
Words of the day included:
eye opening
heartbreaking
fortunate but appreciative
inspiring
emotionally exhausting
We are having a fabulous program already and as students and leaders we all feel so lucky to be here. The group is forming together nicely and all are healthy and happy!
Good night!
Much love from the brisk land of South Africa,
Thatcher on behalf of the Bridge South Africa 2008 Crew
We started our day early- think 7 am early on the heels of our giant travel the 2 days prior- and the kids were rearing to go at 8:30 am sharp as we drove the 2 hours to Klerksdorp.
We drove through several South African townships on the way which was an eye opening experience for us all. We saw many teenagers and children who were eager to smile and wave at us as we passed their homes and arrived at a hospice (hospice has several different meanings in South Africa) for HIV/AIDs orphans. The children ranged from about age 1-6 and 90% were HIV positive and nearly all were missing parents as a result of this devastating disease. Yet they were children and they were eager to play with us and smile. We couldn't have been more proud of the way our students jumped right in and had a blast spending time with these kids. Our students only wished we could have stayed longer as our visit was capped with the children singing us a couple of South African songs and the national anthem of this amazing nation.
We were all eager to stay longer but we ended up heading to our next stop which was a hospice for AIDs patients that we took a brief tour of. We then heard several lecutres at a hospital on HIV/AIDS- it was eye opening to learn that around 30% of South Africans are infected with HIV and that due to cultural and social stigmas many people refuse to get tested. We heard a lecture from a Peace Corps volunteer named Charlene who informed us of a program she had started that empowers South African teens to educate other teens on HIV prevention and health. Look out parents- we may have some future volunteers on our hands!
We came back to the hostel and had a giant spaghetti feast and a gourmet salad. We then broke into small groups and discussed our experiencesand thoughts for the day.
Words of the day included:
eye opening
heartbreaking
fortunate but appreciative
inspiring
emotionally exhausting
We are having a fabulous program already and as students and leaders we all feel so lucky to be here. The group is forming together nicely and all are healthy and happy!
Good night!
Much love from the brisk land of South Africa,
Thatcher on behalf of the Bridge South Africa 2008 Crew
July 5th & 6th 2008:
Saturday July 5th 2008: Today we met up with our group at JFK airport in New York. It was amazing to finally put names to faces and also to meet some of the parents who are entrusting us with their children! After a few goodbye hugs our group headed to the gate where we waited for our flight to board. We played a myriad of name games, ice breaker games, did the human knot, grabbed a few sandwiches and boarded our flight at about 5pm.
The plane was really nice and all the seats had TVs with a bunch of movie options. The dinner was a decent piece of salmon, some rice, salad, etc... We landed in Dakar, Senegal about 8 hours later and had a one hour layover where we stayed on the plane.
Sunday July 6th, 2008: Landed in Johannesburg at around 5pm and cleared customs. We then met up with James (our 3rd leader from Australia) and headed to the hostel. It was here that we saw our group take the reins from us and prepare an amazing stir fry dinner. Every single student was involved in the preparation of this meal, the clean up, the dishes etc... and it turned out fantastic. It was great to share our first 18 person meal together as we strung together 3 tables at the Airport Backpackers hostel. The students were able to call home for a few brief minutes as we prepared dinner.
It is CHILLY here though! I'm not sure the students were mentally prepared for the cold temperatures but they seem to have plenty of clothes and are in great spirits.
We just had our first group discussion outlining our safety procedures and creating some awareness of the situations we might be facing on our program. We then had our evening discussion in which the students shared their "highlights of the day" and expressed any "consissuements" (concerns, issues, compliments)- lots of laughter and sharing of our new memories and friendships ensued. We went over our plan for tomorrow- we are drivng 2 hours to Klerksdorp and visiting a hospital, working with young children at a hospice, and hearing an AIDS lecture from a Peace Corps Volunteer. As James put it "we're going straight to the deep end tomorrow!"
We seem to have a fantastic group with a lot of positive energy. It is 11:15 pm and I am very jet-lagged so I am signing off....
Much love from the brisk land of South Africa,
Thatcher on behalf of the Bridge South Africa 2008 Crew
The plane was really nice and all the seats had TVs with a bunch of movie options. The dinner was a decent piece of salmon, some rice, salad, etc... We landed in Dakar, Senegal about 8 hours later and had a one hour layover where we stayed on the plane.
Sunday July 6th, 2008: Landed in Johannesburg at around 5pm and cleared customs. We then met up with James (our 3rd leader from Australia) and headed to the hostel. It was here that we saw our group take the reins from us and prepare an amazing stir fry dinner. Every single student was involved in the preparation of this meal, the clean up, the dishes etc... and it turned out fantastic. It was great to share our first 18 person meal together as we strung together 3 tables at the Airport Backpackers hostel. The students were able to call home for a few brief minutes as we prepared dinner.
It is CHILLY here though! I'm not sure the students were mentally prepared for the cold temperatures but they seem to have plenty of clothes and are in great spirits.
We just had our first group discussion outlining our safety procedures and creating some awareness of the situations we might be facing on our program. We then had our evening discussion in which the students shared their "highlights of the day" and expressed any "consissuements" (concerns, issues, compliments)- lots of laughter and sharing of our new memories and friendships ensued. We went over our plan for tomorrow- we are drivng 2 hours to Klerksdorp and visiting a hospital, working with young children at a hospice, and hearing an AIDS lecture from a Peace Corps Volunteer. As James put it "we're going straight to the deep end tomorrow!"
We seem to have a fantastic group with a lot of positive energy. It is 11:15 pm and I am very jet-lagged so I am signing off....
Much love from the brisk land of South Africa,
Thatcher on behalf of the Bridge South Africa 2008 Crew
ALL HERE AND ALL CLEAR!
Bridge Southern Africa Families and Friends,
I just received a phone call from Thatcher at Shoestrings Airport Lodge in Johannesburg, and the news is:
ALL HERE AND ALL CLEAR!
Which means the whole group is safe and sound in South Africa, and the trip is underway. It is just after 8 pm there now; the plan is to eat dinner, have all the students call home, then have the first group evening meeting, then go to bed.
Within a couple of hours, all of you should receive a quick "I'm here and I'm safe" call.
I just received a phone call from Thatcher at Shoestrings Airport Lodge in Johannesburg, and the news is:
ALL HERE AND ALL CLEAR!
Which means the whole group is safe and sound in South Africa, and the trip is underway. It is just after 8 pm there now; the plan is to eat dinner, have all the students call home, then have the first group evening meeting, then go to bed.
Within a couple of hours, all of you should receive a quick "I'm here and I'm safe" call.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Word Match: American and South African English
South African
robot
Howzit
ek say
pavements
hooter
lekker
bru
hey, i say
vie
posie
American
arugula
rocket
dude, man
sidewalks
Cool (state of being)
Car horn
Home
What's up
go
traffic light
(very easy for you Americans; extra credit for international students!)
robot
Howzit
ek say
pavements
hooter
lekker
bru
hey, i say
vie
posie
American
arugula
rocket
dude, man
sidewalks
Cool (state of being)
Car horn
Home
What's up
go
traffic light
(very easy for you Americans; extra credit for international students!)
The Toothbrush Initiative
This just in from James Evans, one of your Bridge Southern Africa 2008 Leaders. James proposes a fun and inventive incentive, totally voluntary, which involves two great things--helping others, and chocolate!
"Fellow travelers.
I was lying in bed this morning 2 days before I head of to Africa (note from Angus: yes, James is going to Africa well ahead of the group), and remembered that one of our contacts (Nancy) last year asked us to bring toothbrushes. A bunch of our students went home after the program and sent these back to her and I am sure they would still need more. The way to go about it is to go to your local dentist/s and ask for any extra promo brushes they may have. Or you may come across a toothbrush sale! This is not something that you have to go out and do, it's just another way to help and we will pass them on in the first few days. I will personally carry a block of Australia's best chocolate to the person that can gather the most. (so much better than American chocolate). But only if you brush your teeth afterwards:).
James"
"Fellow travelers.
I was lying in bed this morning 2 days before I head of to Africa (note from Angus: yes, James is going to Africa well ahead of the group), and remembered that one of our contacts (Nancy) last year asked us to bring toothbrushes. A bunch of our students went home after the program and sent these back to her and I am sure they would still need more. The way to go about it is to go to your local dentist/s and ask for any extra promo brushes they may have. Or you may come across a toothbrush sale! This is not something that you have to go out and do, it's just another way to help and we will pass them on in the first few days. I will personally carry a block of Australia's best chocolate to the person that can gather the most. (so much better than American chocolate). But only if you brush your teeth afterwards:).
James"
Letter from the Leaders
Welcome to Bridge Southern Africa 2008! We are very excited to be taking you through parts of Southern Africa on what will likely be one of the most important trips of your life. No doubt you have signed up with the awareness that many of your experiences in Africa may challenge your current beliefs. We hope that you will welcome such challenges and the insights they provide. Just so you know a little about who is taking you on this adventure we have included a brief synopsis about each of us.
James Evans- This will be my 7th year working for Windsor Mountain International, having come from Australia in 2001 to work at Windsor Mountain Summer camp I just haven’t been able to gat away with past travel programs taking me to Alaska, Bequia, and last year Southern Africa. It is with great pride I return for another year. In the past 4 years I have completed degrees in Psychology and Outdoor Education, lived in Eugene Oregon on exchange, led International aid expeditions to Vanuatu and parts of Southern Africa while working for Clowns Without Borders in the process, no that’s not a joke. Check them out on the web. I currently live in Melbourne, Australia as a teacher in Outdoor Education for a secondary school. Lastly, I have just signed up to begin study in a Master’s in International Development, as that is what I am truly passionate about.
Susannah Malarkey-This will be my first time leading a Windsor Mountain International trip! I am very excited to participate in this program…After graduating from Seattle University in 2003, with degrees in Economics and International Studies, I completed two years with the Peace Corps in Ghana, W. Africa, working mainly on small enterprise development projects. I had done a fair amount of traveling before the Peace Corps, in Europe and Central America, but I had never lived in a foreign country for more than a few months. Peace Corps provided that opportunity! It also changed my life for the better in SO many ways…after completing my service, I returned home to Seattle WA for a few months and then moved to Wyoming: first to work on a dude ranch in Moose, and then to work several interesting jobs in Jackson. I currently work with at risk teens in Jackson and I love it! Bridge Southern Africa will be a great opportunity to combine my love of working with youth and my love for Africa. I look forward to meeting you all and to exploring Southern Africa together!
Thatcher Glode -Greetings from San Jose, Costa Rica! My name is Thatcher Glode and I will be a part of the awesome 3 leader team that will help to make up our amazing program this summer. I am wrapping up 3 weeks of travel that found me in Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua and I am chomping at the bit to get to South Africa. I am originally from Colorado and am an avid skier, fly fisherman, experiential educator, and general outdoor and travel enthusiast. I have had the great fortune of leading the Bridge Hawaii program for each of the past two summers with Windsor Mountain International. I studied International Relations at Colorado College and participated in the Semester at Sea study abroad program. During this program I lived aboard a refurbished cruise ship and visited 18 different nations throughout the world: it was an amazing experience and got me fully hooked on the experiential educational and travel adventure! It is truly amazing what we can learn when we open our eyes and hearts to nations and people vastly different than our own.
Entering into this program it is important to be thoroughly prepared. You should be equipped with everything you need to be physically comfortable while travelling. The packing list has been carefully put together by past leaders based on feed back from students. Please pay it close attention and remember to pack light!!.
We have a few ideas of things you can do to get ready for this summer:
1) Find a journal, notebook, or something that you will be able to write on for this summer. Take a few moments and try to sketch out some of your goals for this summer. What do you hope to contribute to our program? What do you think some of your biggest challenges might be?
2) Have an open mind, seriously. When traveling flexibility is imperative. Sometimes a sleeping arrangement isn’t ideal.... a bus, plane, or train runs late... a fluke storm dumps rain for 3 days. These are all part of the experience and often times lead to some of the better stories and memories that we will share.
3) Do the readings and some of your own research on South Africa... if you take even a few moments ahead of time to educate yourself you will enhance everyone who works within our program’s experience... it will be worth it!
A large portion of our program will include working with many young children at orphanages. It is highly recommended that you learn or make yourself familiar with games to play with kids, the less instructions the better. Think about communicating with children that may not speak English too well.
Perhaps now more than ever it is imperative that we begin to work to understand the world around us and we thank and congratulate you and your family for coming with us on our voyage this summer! Until we chat on the phone or meet you at the beginning of the Bridge Southern Africa 2008 journey, may you be happy and excited for your near future!
We will sign off for now with an excerpt from last year’s leader journal “…pretending to be athletic I awoke early one morning from my luxurious sleeping bag to go for a run through the mountains of Lesotho. Frost still lay on the grasses as I passed through the gates of our accommodation, during the run I passed a lone hut where two boys under the age of ten huddled in a hut. They were by themselves without warmth for the night. It was a reminder of how lucky our students were inside their huts, although we see it every day we are still so unaware of our surroundings”
All of our best,
James, Susannah, and Thatcher
James Evans- This will be my 7th year working for Windsor Mountain International, having come from Australia in 2001 to work at Windsor Mountain Summer camp I just haven’t been able to gat away with past travel programs taking me to Alaska, Bequia, and last year Southern Africa. It is with great pride I return for another year. In the past 4 years I have completed degrees in Psychology and Outdoor Education, lived in Eugene Oregon on exchange, led International aid expeditions to Vanuatu and parts of Southern Africa while working for Clowns Without Borders in the process, no that’s not a joke. Check them out on the web. I currently live in Melbourne, Australia as a teacher in Outdoor Education for a secondary school. Lastly, I have just signed up to begin study in a Master’s in International Development, as that is what I am truly passionate about.
Susannah Malarkey-This will be my first time leading a Windsor Mountain International trip! I am very excited to participate in this program…After graduating from Seattle University in 2003, with degrees in Economics and International Studies, I completed two years with the Peace Corps in Ghana, W. Africa, working mainly on small enterprise development projects. I had done a fair amount of traveling before the Peace Corps, in Europe and Central America, but I had never lived in a foreign country for more than a few months. Peace Corps provided that opportunity! It also changed my life for the better in SO many ways…after completing my service, I returned home to Seattle WA for a few months and then moved to Wyoming: first to work on a dude ranch in Moose, and then to work several interesting jobs in Jackson. I currently work with at risk teens in Jackson and I love it! Bridge Southern Africa will be a great opportunity to combine my love of working with youth and my love for Africa. I look forward to meeting you all and to exploring Southern Africa together!
Thatcher Glode -Greetings from San Jose, Costa Rica! My name is Thatcher Glode and I will be a part of the awesome 3 leader team that will help to make up our amazing program this summer. I am wrapping up 3 weeks of travel that found me in Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua and I am chomping at the bit to get to South Africa. I am originally from Colorado and am an avid skier, fly fisherman, experiential educator, and general outdoor and travel enthusiast. I have had the great fortune of leading the Bridge Hawaii program for each of the past two summers with Windsor Mountain International. I studied International Relations at Colorado College and participated in the Semester at Sea study abroad program. During this program I lived aboard a refurbished cruise ship and visited 18 different nations throughout the world: it was an amazing experience and got me fully hooked on the experiential educational and travel adventure! It is truly amazing what we can learn when we open our eyes and hearts to nations and people vastly different than our own.
Entering into this program it is important to be thoroughly prepared. You should be equipped with everything you need to be physically comfortable while travelling. The packing list has been carefully put together by past leaders based on feed back from students. Please pay it close attention and remember to pack light!!.
We have a few ideas of things you can do to get ready for this summer:
1) Find a journal, notebook, or something that you will be able to write on for this summer. Take a few moments and try to sketch out some of your goals for this summer. What do you hope to contribute to our program? What do you think some of your biggest challenges might be?
2) Have an open mind, seriously. When traveling flexibility is imperative. Sometimes a sleeping arrangement isn’t ideal.... a bus, plane, or train runs late... a fluke storm dumps rain for 3 days. These are all part of the experience and often times lead to some of the better stories and memories that we will share.
3) Do the readings and some of your own research on South Africa... if you take even a few moments ahead of time to educate yourself you will enhance everyone who works within our program’s experience... it will be worth it!
A large portion of our program will include working with many young children at orphanages. It is highly recommended that you learn or make yourself familiar with games to play with kids, the less instructions the better. Think about communicating with children that may not speak English too well.
Perhaps now more than ever it is imperative that we begin to work to understand the world around us and we thank and congratulate you and your family for coming with us on our voyage this summer! Until we chat on the phone or meet you at the beginning of the Bridge Southern Africa 2008 journey, may you be happy and excited for your near future!
We will sign off for now with an excerpt from last year’s leader journal “…pretending to be athletic I awoke early one morning from my luxurious sleeping bag to go for a run through the mountains of Lesotho. Frost still lay on the grasses as I passed through the gates of our accommodation, during the run I passed a lone hut where two boys under the age of ten huddled in a hut. They were by themselves without warmth for the night. It was a reminder of how lucky our students were inside their huts, although we see it every day we are still so unaware of our surroundings”
All of our best,
James, Susannah, and Thatcher
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Calendar Notes
Bridge Southern Africa Families,
When reading the calendar, please note the days that the students will call home and the days all families should expect an email update from the Windsor Mountain Student Travel office. Susannah and Thatcher will call everyone when they come up to Windsor Mountain Staff Training and Orientation, between June 12th and June 26th. They want to meet all of you, say hello, answer or address any last minute questions or concerns, and make final arrangements for a rendez-vous at JFK on July 5th. In the meantime, feel free to call us with any questions you have about the itinerary. Everything is in place and it could not be better. Time to get psyched for another fantastic Windsor Mountain Summer!
When reading the calendar, please note the days that the students will call home and the days all families should expect an email update from the Windsor Mountain Student Travel office. Susannah and Thatcher will call everyone when they come up to Windsor Mountain Staff Training and Orientation, between June 12th and June 26th. They want to meet all of you, say hello, answer or address any last minute questions or concerns, and make final arrangements for a rendez-vous at JFK on July 5th. In the meantime, feel free to call us with any questions you have about the itinerary. Everything is in place and it could not be better. Time to get psyched for another fantastic Windsor Mountain Summer!
June Letter to all South Africa Families
Bridge Southern Africa Families,
Greetings from Windsor Mountain!
I have quite a bit of trips news to talk about, but first I would like to commend all Bridge Southern Africa families for the collective patience displayed as recent events played out in South Africa. I'm sure all of you keep an eye on the news, and I expected a deluge of calls--but none came. My approach was to make contact with our people in South Africa, listen to what they had to say, and address family concerns as they arose. The on-the-ground reports we received from our contacts were consistent with the reports of the most reliable media sources at the time, all of which seemed to indicate that the problems were localized, and that in most areas life was business-as-usual. Around May 22nd our report from Johannesburg was that if one were in the city and didn't watch the news or visit certain neighborhoods, then everything would seem completely normal. On May 26th Lebo's Backpackers Lodge in Soweto wrote a letter to all their clients stating that "none of the violence in the other locations has reached our communities". Our friends in-country confirmed this and we can all see now that the issue has faded from the headlines. We recognize that the situation is still a concern and though all parties in South Africa are working towards a peaceful resolution, we understand that things can change quickly, so we are monitoring the situation closely. We have safety procedures in place should circumstances change, and today we can thankfully report that our itinerary is safe, and all the people we plan to visit are ready to welcome us with complete confidence in our well-being, and assure us that our students should feel safe and look forward to an amazing experience in South Africa, Swaziland, and Lesotho.
Leadership News
As many of you are already aware, our BSA 2008 trip developer and BSA 2007 trip leader Sarah Liane Foster will not lead the trip this summer. Don't worry, though! We have replaced her with two wonderful people: one is her male co-leader from last year, James Evans, and the other is Susannah Malarkey, an Africa Peace Corps veteran. Along with our original male leader Thatcher Glode, a 3rd year Windsor Mountain Leader, that gives us three Leaders for Bridge Southern Africa 2008--Thatcher, James, and Susannah--all top-notch educators, and all with extensive in-country experience. Sarah Foster is still on board doing an excellent job as trip developer and will be with us up here in New Hampshire during our staff training and orientation between June 12th-26th. She will communicate the nuances of her itinerary to our leaders and prepare them for the exciting adventure ahead, as well as share the wisdom gained from six years of leading trips with Windsor Mountain.
Trip News!
On Monday, please check your email inboxes for a Bridge Southern Africa 2008 Family Calendar, complete with our full trip itinerary, mail stops, an email update schedule, and a "students phone home" schedule.
Also, after you receive our calendars, please feel free to call us with any questions you have about the itinerary. Everything is in place and it could not be better! I hope everyone is getting excited, because we already are!
Best,
Angus, Sarah, James, Susannah, Lou, Marjorie, and the entire Windsor Mountain Team
Greetings from Windsor Mountain!
I have quite a bit of trips news to talk about, but first I would like to commend all Bridge Southern Africa families for the collective patience displayed as recent events played out in South Africa. I'm sure all of you keep an eye on the news, and I expected a deluge of calls--but none came. My approach was to make contact with our people in South Africa, listen to what they had to say, and address family concerns as they arose. The on-the-ground reports we received from our contacts were consistent with the reports of the most reliable media sources at the time, all of which seemed to indicate that the problems were localized, and that in most areas life was business-as-usual. Around May 22nd our report from Johannesburg was that if one were in the city and didn't watch the news or visit certain neighborhoods, then everything would seem completely normal. On May 26th Lebo's Backpackers Lodge in Soweto wrote a letter to all their clients stating that "none of the violence in the other locations has reached our communities". Our friends in-country confirmed this and we can all see now that the issue has faded from the headlines. We recognize that the situation is still a concern and though all parties in South Africa are working towards a peaceful resolution, we understand that things can change quickly, so we are monitoring the situation closely. We have safety procedures in place should circumstances change, and today we can thankfully report that our itinerary is safe, and all the people we plan to visit are ready to welcome us with complete confidence in our well-being, and assure us that our students should feel safe and look forward to an amazing experience in South Africa, Swaziland, and Lesotho.
Leadership News
As many of you are already aware, our BSA 2008 trip developer and BSA 2007 trip leader Sarah Liane Foster will not lead the trip this summer. Don't worry, though! We have replaced her with two wonderful people: one is her male co-leader from last year, James Evans, and the other is Susannah Malarkey, an Africa Peace Corps veteran. Along with our original male leader Thatcher Glode, a 3rd year Windsor Mountain Leader, that gives us three Leaders for Bridge Southern Africa 2008--Thatcher, James, and Susannah--all top-notch educators, and all with extensive in-country experience. Sarah Foster is still on board doing an excellent job as trip developer and will be with us up here in New Hampshire during our staff training and orientation between June 12th-26th. She will communicate the nuances of her itinerary to our leaders and prepare them for the exciting adventure ahead, as well as share the wisdom gained from six years of leading trips with Windsor Mountain.
Trip News!
On Monday, please check your email inboxes for a Bridge Southern Africa 2008 Family Calendar, complete with our full trip itinerary, mail stops, an email update schedule, and a "students phone home" schedule.
Also, after you receive our calendars, please feel free to call us with any questions you have about the itinerary. Everything is in place and it could not be better! I hope everyone is getting excited, because we already are!
Best,
Angus, Sarah, James, Susannah, Lou, Marjorie, and the entire Windsor Mountain Team
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