School in the 3rd World

This blog is still in progress... I get little spurts of time, but come back for the complete story! Visiting Schools in the Transkei. It's was shocking to see how many miles all these kids would have to walk on the highways just to get to school. We arrived just as the bell was ringing and it was fun to see the last of them scurring up the road to be on time (I was sure able to relate!). To start of the day they would line up in their classes and sing songs that made any choir I've ever heard sound pitiful. With the most beautiful voices and harmonies they sang, then heard a morning devotion, that would be given today by their new American friend (me) by translator. Above is a picture of their precious kindergarten class that we got to set in on and watch. They couldn't have been more adorable as they happily sang songs about their colors and days of the week while sitting on cratored cement floors with no matierals or toys except some little wood pieces they called their blocks. It was so funny as they each took turns introducing themselves, the boys especially would pridfully shout (and the teacher welcomed their loud enthusiasum), "Ey um sp-e-cial, ey um unique, my name es ____, ey um fieve yeers ould and ey um a bouy." The teacher was very kind to me and I keep thinking how she asked me if I ever got to come back if I could bring some matierals. I would love to do that.

This is a clip of a Pre-School we vistited, all orphans, who are learning their number '5' and vowels. The teachers bouncy and loving personality was so beautiful.

Life in the Transkei

Well, here it is, a view of the Trankskei. Its a vast (mini) mountainous area that is covered with townships packed with many people living in 3rd World devastation. We got to work with a man named Dan, a missionary here from Kansas, who helps to organize sponsorships for children in extreme poverty, most of whom are orphans. The town committee helped Dan get a list of 50 children that we were there to get their information and picture, but when other people from the township heard word we were there, the line was endless! In effort to not make anyone angry, we took every one's information, about 150 children in the end. (It's harder to hide from angry people when your whiteness sticks out so badly, so we gladly agreed!) Since I couldn't speak their language (African) I got the best job, while Justus and Inge took their information, I got to take their picture and give them candy.There would be children that would come who looked in a daze, which I learned was a symptom of mal-nutrition. So many of the kids had the most beautiful, charming smiles, but when it came time for me to get their picture, they would give the most serious looks. I was beginning to feel like I was failing at my job, then I learned that was pretty common place, that many in their culture believe they look ugly when they smile. I still gave it my best attempt, I tried tickling, and butchering their word for laugh, 'flacka' since they don't have a word for 'smile'. Another neat thing I got to see in action was Dan starting 2 new soup kitchens for orphan children. It was pretty simple, he would get them a stove, kitchen utensils, the food and a recipe, and set up shop for a local 'Momma' to be in charge of. 'Mommas' are respected woman in the community, it's a title of honor. I got to go to the grocery store with him, which was an experience in itself! The place was packed and it is common and comfortable in their culture to push around people, and cut in front of you in line. I was totally out of place and if Dan hadn't told me I was being way too polite we probably would have been in there twice as long.

We got to talk (well they did, and I got the English version later) to some of the local women in the communities of the new soup kitchens, and one of them was a teacher who said it wasn't uncommon for the children to start crying at 9 or 10 o'clock because they were so hungry. The two new locations are ideal because they are close to schools, so orphan children have a place they can go to when it's time for lunch. I can't imagine what kind of a struggle this is on a daily basis. This is just the tip of my experience there, so much more to tell and for me to still process.

Making a landing in SA

Yeah! I'm so glad you've clicked to read up on my page-- it's such an awesome thing to be able to connect to home when you're far from it. Be sure to leave a comment and let me know how you're doing :)


Well- I did it, I somehow I made my way through 5 airports, over 24 hours, and an ocean to safely make it to South Africa! (With all my luggage-- that's an quite an accomplishment for this first time solo traveler!) Surprisingly, so far I have loved facing this new experience head on by myself- just me and my thoughts and the new adventures around me.

I got in some prime time people watching while in the airports. Seeing Muslim men take off their shoes and bow to the East in the waiting area, and hearing a Jewish man (with his little hat) cheer 'Mozzeltoff' when they brought extra help to quicken the security line where some of my favorites. There was one truly American cultural phenomena that stopped me in my tracks at the NY airport and I had to stop and take a picture...grossness dispensed in a machine.

While on my first plane I got a real pleasant surprise from the cute flight attendant, "Ms. Dougen, we have a seat upgrade available for you." [He said it was sympathy for knowing I had a long flight ahead of me, but I'd like to think it's one advantage of being a woman traveling alone ;) ] On another flight I had a most interesting traveling seat neighbor, his name was Baa and he was a old African man that was quite smelly but very sweet. It was so funny and surprising when I woke up from a nap to see him wrapped in his blanked from the top of his head to his toes like a ca coon- I guess he the plane was a little colder than his liking.

My host family couldn't be more incredible with their warm hearts and charming British accents. There's Rufus, the 'Papa' who is a professional hunter. He's the kind of person that you would want to share exciting news with first because his jovial expressions more than light up the room. He teases me a lot about being an American and how I am his new project to 'toughen up'. Almarie, his wife and my African mom is so special. She is full of wisdom and wit and takes more than enough care for me. Justus, their son, is a Jr. in highschool and as onry as ever. Inge is their daughter who's a sophmore in highschool, who has such a good mix of tomboyishness and tenderheartedness we connect very well. It's fun to have little syblings around. :) I'll have to get a picture of them up here soon.


We spent the last few days on their Ranch, relaxing and letting me take in the sights. I've seen monkeys, a massssive spider, Kudo (huge African deer with horns), Dika, and Springy (American rabbit on steriods mixed with a small kangeroo). I've eaten Kudo sausage, Leg of Lamb and Sheep Ribs, all firsts for me! The first picture is of their sheep, many of whom just had little lambs that I got to hold. Justus drove Inge and I around on the Safri Jeep all over as we collected plants for their garden. Have you seen those pictures with monkeys that have orange slices in their mouths? That's what I was thinking here, trying to fit in with my environment in the jeep picture. The picture of the massive clay mound is an ANT HILL that are all over, they are at least to my thigh- they make American ants look like wimps!

Tommorrow are headed to the Transky, the 'real Africa' as they say, where they do their ministry. I'm looking forward to it. Miss you all and will post more later. Much love from SA.