Till Friday 3 April 2009 - Monday morning and the whole process starts again with 53 children from a small Primary School in Riviersonderend!With each school party you witness different levels of affluence between the children - some arriving with wheelie cases, torches, all the equipment they should need for two nights in the 'bush', unfortunately these being the minority, many with the belonging stuffed in black bin liners, some arriving with toes poking through holes in shoes, ripped clothing accompanied with the occasional crusty nose!
At Brandfontein this week, the children make a discovery on the beach of a dead baby dolphin. Although quite grizzly, it enables Alliston to increase the Environmental Education that day, giving the kids interesting information on the dolphin species and allowing them to touch and see the mammal up close.
This school was unable to provide a male teacher, leaving the boys unsupervised after lights out, this proving detrimental to my beauty sleep - as the boys were still playing havoc at 1.30 am. After several visits previously into the dorm, to try and settle them down, I was losing patience. On my final visit discovering a smell of synthetic burning, and convinced I'd seen one of the boys with a lighter, I took the decision to wake the female teachers to discipline them appropriately.Due to the disgraceful behaviour of the boys, I was in their dorm bright and early in the morning with a cunning plan. Sternly told to pack their stuff, tidy the dorm and put their gear on the bus! The boys were going home - or at less that was the threat, the final decision laying in Allistons' hands!
After a severe tongue lashing in Afrikaans, the decision is made to allow the days programme to continue with the boys under the illusion that they are going home. The goodie bags usually given on the final day being withdrawn unless they are well behaved, as punishment the boys were also sent up the beach to collect rubbish whilst the girls enjoy swimming in the harbour.
The evening became equally entertaining - ready to serve tea to the children and the teachers were missing, I request a fast running volunteer to sprint up to the dorms and advise them we were ready to eat. The response being that they have an ill child and need to eat down at the dorms! Yeah right! Counting the children, we have our original number of 53! Even so it doesn't take three people (including our paid volunteer) to look after one sick child. Needless to say no food was sent to the dorms and the teachers go hungry! Leaving Bridgett and I (both non Afrikaans speaking) to deal with the group of unruly kids.
Completely exhausted myself, we have spent the day doing our very best to tire out the children - playing a nautical themed I remembered from my days as a Guide. The game and other activities pay dividends as all the little rascals sleep like babies!
Completely exhausted myself, we have spent the day doing our very best to tire out the children - playing a nautical themed I remembered from my days as a Guide. The game and other activities pay dividends as all the little rascals sleep like babies!
Having not really bonded with this particular school, I was taken aback as three children play with my hair on the way back to the school drop off and then unexpected cuddles from the older children as we say our farewells, a quick pep talk following from me about working hard at school.
The final 45 Agulhas Kids in Parks were collected from Berea, and a total contrast to the previous group. My last day spent with the children being Thursday, as Kevin Moore from Kruger training was arriving to see Bridgett and myself, and take me back to Bontebok. That day confirm the existence of mermaids - finding four on the harbour beach - note to self must advise Cape Nature! Joining the children writing our names in the sand - Bridgett, Simone, Tracy, we take the liberty of adding an 'E' and the BEST team is formed. Ahead of schedule for once, we all take a stroll down the boardwalk and then head back to base and it is soon the end of my Kids in Parks experience. After a quick speech on the bus, and one of teachers commenting that I was great with the children, just the right temperament, the kids disembark, some of the little tots giving me a cuddle as they pass and yes you have guess it........ the water works start. And another tearful goodbye is had with Simone, Bassier and Auntie Katrina.
Driving back to my abode at Bontebok National Park with Kevin. Thursday night, I have an unexpected invitation to join him and his Wife at the Swellendam restaurant, Mattsens.
Friday is spent catching up with my friends at Bontebok, 50 odd emails pending in my inbox and reflecting on the precious last two weeks. Completed exhausted, but totally fulfilled.
I came to this diverse country to emotionally mend, yet I firmly believe my heart already belongs to another.........the children of South Africa.
Photos from top - The Best Team - Bridgett left, myself, Simone right. Auntie Katrina and Bassier in kitchen. Mermaids on beach.
