Till Friday 20th March 2009 - After a restless nights sleep, not helped by more zebra at 3.00am. I woke with butterflies, today, being the beginning of National Water Week, and my first attempt at organising school visits, 50 children over 5 days.At 8.30 a.m. I set off to Bontebok Primary School, having previously arranged to pick up the children from Grade 6 aged nine to ten. Arriving at the school I find a class of 20 to 30 children sitting outside, panic sets in, what am I going to do with all these kids! Phewwee, luckily they weren’t waiting for me!
With the 10 children, I was expecting, safely in the bakkie and the teacher buckled in at the front with me, we were on our way. Entering the Park, we were greeted by a small herd of zebra. The delight on their little faces, the smile of one girl catching my eye.
If at that moment, I’d had to turn the bakkie round and take them all back to the school, I would have been happy with that smile, it made my day.
Meeting the Rangers at the Rest camp, we split the group into two teams and asked them to come up with a team name, the girls choosing ‘The Mermaids’ and the boys choosing ‘The Rangers’.
Each team started the day with a water experiment, making a water solar still. Then the Rangers took the boys into the river in a dinghy, whilst I took the girls on the Aloe Hill Trail, after 40 minutes we then swapped teams.
After a spot of lunch under a tree, we investigated the inhabitants of the river, finding beetles, worms and snails to name but a few.
With the teachers permission we extended the planned programme, giving the children opportunity to swim in the Breede River. To watch them, laughing and giggling, playing in the river, made my heart swell and I am not ashamed to say brought tears of joy to my eyes.
Each day brought a new group of children and each day a little phrase was said or a real character shone out from the rest. All the children understood English, but are a little shy of speaking it, so on Monday I was really taken aback, when one of the girls made the effort to come up to me and say "Thank you for the chocolate milk, I really enjoyed it"
The teacher being a little unorganised on Tuesday, the kids arriving to school without their kit. Everyone went home to quickly get their belongings, unfortunately one boy didn't return, but undeterred we continued with the programme. Group names The Landrovers v The Rhinos today. One little one, she looked like butter wouldn't melt (on left), was so excited about swimming she jumped in the river in her school uniform! Phrase of the day from one of the older girls, who was very inquisitive asking me whether I had children etc. On the walk she turned to me and said "You are kind to us".Wednesday groups were The Beautiful Dolphins v The Sharks. Phrase of the day, again from a one of the girls "That was the best walk in the whole wide world".
Thursday groups were The Cheetah Girls v The Cheetah Boys. One of the boys was crazy, standing on the river bank, holding his nose, countdown 3, 2, 1 then fall into the river backwards!
On Thursday evening I join Adin Greaves for another Game Drive around the Park. Although completely exhausted, I manage to stay awake. Enjoying the drive and collecting tens of porcupine quills found on the roadside.
Friday groups were The Dolphins v The Lions, and with them a bitter sweet. One of the girls was a quiet as a mouse, so quiet in fact the other girls didn't even know her name. She was such a cutie I could have taken her home, surely her mother wouldn't miss her that much!
Speaking with the teacher, she informed me she had intentionally invited one of the boys, because she wanted to show him a different life. With social problems at home, he and three other class mates were glue sniffing and into drugs at the tender age of 10.
Friday groups were The Dolphins v The Lions, and with them a bitter sweet. One of the girls was a quiet as a mouse, so quiet in fact the other girls didn't even know her name. She was such a cutie I could have taken her home, surely her mother wouldn't miss her that much!Speaking with the teacher, she informed me she had intentionally invited one of the boys, because she wanted to show him a different life. With social problems at home, he and three other class mates were glue sniffing and into drugs at the tender age of 10.
Dropping the final group back to school, I jump in the bakkie and burst into tears. Unsure whether it was from complete exhaustion, the emotions of the week, or the realisation that I could spend a lifetime with the children in this diverse country and not even scratch the surface.
Arriving back at the office, I have little chance to relax before Bridgett (follow GVI Intern from Agulhas) is here to transport to Agulhas and two weeks assisting with Kids in Parks. Bridgett is a bubbly American (from the City of Seattle) in her early twenties, and she barely draws breath on the one and half hour journey. Agulhas is a coastal resort and we take advantage of a local restaurant 'Angelo's' within walking distance of Bridgetts' accommodation. By pure coincidence, we bump into Bridgetts' boyfriend Gerard on the way, who joins us for the best pizza in the Western Cape.
