Ola!!
Last week we were lucky enough to have a week off and go to Mozambique. It was such an amazing experience with many memorable moments. We left school on Friday morning and caught a taxi to Nelspruit, a city near the Mozambique border. We had booked our bus tickets to leave Saturday at 12:30pm, only to find out that afternoon that you had to get your visa beforehand because the bus doesnt wait for you at the border. We rushed into town but the embassy was shut and wasnt reopening until Tuesday. We didnt know what to do, we certainly didnt want to turn around and go home. AFter speaking to just about every person who worked with the bus company, we just decided to try our luck and just get on the bus. Whilst travelling we met another 11 american students who also werent informed about the visas and who also needed to get them at the border. As soon as we arrived all of us ran for our lives to try and get to the front of the queue. It was soooo hot and muggy and we were all sweating like crazy, both from the heat and stress. The man at customs told us our visas were going to take about 3 hours but the bus was only waiting for another 20 mins. WE tried everything to try and make it possible to be done faster but he wasnt going to budge (or take bribes!). If the bus left without us it was another 45 minutes to Maputo and we would have been stuck there. AFter much negotiation and begging we managed to squeeze another 25 minutes out of the driver and we were so lucky that 11 of our visas were done. I was one of the lucky ones and was able to make the bus but he left without 5 of the others. By now it was dark and they had to catch public taxis into the city. It turned out that their visas were completed only 5 mintues after we left but there was no way the driver was waiting any longer. we were so blessed that he even waited that long for us. It was such a crazy experience, running around feeling like illegal immigrants; totally hilarious in hindsight though!
Finally we all arrived safely at Fatima's Backpackers in Maputo (the capital of Moz). It was such a funky little place, full of tourists from all over the world. I met people from America, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil and South AFrica. The language spoken in Moz is Portugese so it was quite difficult communicating with most of the locals as English is not spoken widely. But we made really good friends with one of the guys who worked at the backpackers and so he was able to translate for us.
We spent our first 2 days in Maputo, lazing on the beach, watching the locals play volleyball and soccer and break dancing on the beach and visiting the local fish and food markets. The fish markets are amazing places, full of local fisherman with their freshly caught seafood. I think there was every sea creature under the sun. We bought 2 large fish (2.5 kilos worth) and took it out the back and the locals cooked it traditional style for us. It was so dam good! They were grilled whole with lemon, coriander and spices. Mmmm, jealous? haha
The food markets are awesome too! Full of every fresh fruit, vege, spice and nut you could image. We always grabbed our supplies from here for our meals.
We headed north to a little beach called Bilene to escape the city. The taxi rides were so much fun. We literally had 25 adults, 3 children and 2 chickens packed into this 15 seater combi van. Say goodbye to personal space, and to add to that, one of the chickens laid an egg whilst we were driving!!!
You could call that taxi rides, a bonding experience if you like. There were body parts squished in every direction. If we were to crash we would have been perfectly fine with our personal airbags beside us (two very large women, with extremely large..hmm..assets).
The rural areas are gorgeous. Thatched huts under huge coconut trees decorated with bright traditional artworks. The beach was beautiful. Pure white sand lined with crystal clear water and pine and palm trees, spotted with small wooden boats. However the weather was poor so we only stayed one night and headed back to Maputo where there was more to do.
Spent alot of the time just relaxing with the people at the backpackers. SO good to just chill after such a hectic term at school. I met a lovely man who lived next door and spoke very fluent english (which he taught himself from books and tv). He offered to take us and show us around Maputo. We went for walks to the local art and craft markets and through the city. Its very underdeveloped with alot of the buildings in part ruins. The people are beautiful though. It has a lot more relaxed and safe feel about it than South AFrica.
Mateus (our friend at the backpackers), offered to cook us dinner traditional Portugese style. We bought 2 kilos of massive king prawns and 1kilo of calamari from the market as well as lemons, garlic, tumeric, coriander, onions, veges and rice. We all helped prepare and i was lucky enough to get the job of peeling the 35 cloves of garlic!!! Eish! I felt sorry for those other people in our dorms after the five of us had just consumed about 7 whole cloves each! Yo! It was sooo good though. Probably the best meal i have ever had. Well a huge change from the pap, chicken, bread and soup i have been eating!
Had a really great week. Shame about the weather but anyhoo, it was still alot of fun! I highly recommend if anyone goes to Maputo to stay at Fatima's. Really cool place.
Back at Jane Furse now. Got a huge term ahead of me. The Grade 12's start their final exams next week so i've been doing alot of preparation and revision with them. Im running a 'competition for the creative' this term. Involves poetry, public speaking and graphics. The majority of the subjects are all very content based and they dont often get a chance to express their creative sides and so i wanted to do something practical with them. Starting a new mixed netball competition, which should be alot of fun.
Also i want to thank those whoi donated money. The uniforms are sooooooooo beautiful. They kids were soooo happy. I will post photos asap. Also i have decided to use some of the remaining money to fix up Lesotho Chapel. It is a little hut at the school where the students run prayer and worship sessions, talk and motivate and guide each other . It is the heart and soul of St Marks. I go there every night and we sing songs, pray and talk about God and i always leave feeling totally inspired. Their faith, understanding and spirituality is amazing!! These kids are truly the children of God!
However the thatching on the roof is breaking and the rains are coming soon. The door has come off its hinges and it needs a repaint. So i am going to use some of the money to repair this special place.
I shall post some photos soon. All the best to those writing HSC exams soon at home. I will be thinking and praying for you. Those who have put in the work will be rewarded.
Lots of love and God Bless
xoxoxoxo
Last week we were lucky enough to have a week off and go to Mozambique. It was such an amazing experience with many memorable moments. We left school on Friday morning and caught a taxi to Nelspruit, a city near the Mozambique border. We had booked our bus tickets to leave Saturday at 12:30pm, only to find out that afternoon that you had to get your visa beforehand because the bus doesnt wait for you at the border. We rushed into town but the embassy was shut and wasnt reopening until Tuesday. We didnt know what to do, we certainly didnt want to turn around and go home. AFter speaking to just about every person who worked with the bus company, we just decided to try our luck and just get on the bus. Whilst travelling we met another 11 american students who also werent informed about the visas and who also needed to get them at the border. As soon as we arrived all of us ran for our lives to try and get to the front of the queue. It was soooo hot and muggy and we were all sweating like crazy, both from the heat and stress. The man at customs told us our visas were going to take about 3 hours but the bus was only waiting for another 20 mins. WE tried everything to try and make it possible to be done faster but he wasnt going to budge (or take bribes!). If the bus left without us it was another 45 minutes to Maputo and we would have been stuck there. AFter much negotiation and begging we managed to squeeze another 25 minutes out of the driver and we were so lucky that 11 of our visas were done. I was one of the lucky ones and was able to make the bus but he left without 5 of the others. By now it was dark and they had to catch public taxis into the city. It turned out that their visas were completed only 5 mintues after we left but there was no way the driver was waiting any longer. we were so blessed that he even waited that long for us. It was such a crazy experience, running around feeling like illegal immigrants; totally hilarious in hindsight though!
Finally we all arrived safely at Fatima's Backpackers in Maputo (the capital of Moz). It was such a funky little place, full of tourists from all over the world. I met people from America, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil and South AFrica. The language spoken in Moz is Portugese so it was quite difficult communicating with most of the locals as English is not spoken widely. But we made really good friends with one of the guys who worked at the backpackers and so he was able to translate for us.
We spent our first 2 days in Maputo, lazing on the beach, watching the locals play volleyball and soccer and break dancing on the beach and visiting the local fish and food markets. The fish markets are amazing places, full of local fisherman with their freshly caught seafood. I think there was every sea creature under the sun. We bought 2 large fish (2.5 kilos worth) and took it out the back and the locals cooked it traditional style for us. It was so dam good! They were grilled whole with lemon, coriander and spices. Mmmm, jealous? haha
The food markets are awesome too! Full of every fresh fruit, vege, spice and nut you could image. We always grabbed our supplies from here for our meals.
We headed north to a little beach called Bilene to escape the city. The taxi rides were so much fun. We literally had 25 adults, 3 children and 2 chickens packed into this 15 seater combi van. Say goodbye to personal space, and to add to that, one of the chickens laid an egg whilst we were driving!!!
You could call that taxi rides, a bonding experience if you like. There were body parts squished in every direction. If we were to crash we would have been perfectly fine with our personal airbags beside us (two very large women, with extremely large..hmm..assets).
The rural areas are gorgeous. Thatched huts under huge coconut trees decorated with bright traditional artworks. The beach was beautiful. Pure white sand lined with crystal clear water and pine and palm trees, spotted with small wooden boats. However the weather was poor so we only stayed one night and headed back to Maputo where there was more to do.
Spent alot of the time just relaxing with the people at the backpackers. SO good to just chill after such a hectic term at school. I met a lovely man who lived next door and spoke very fluent english (which he taught himself from books and tv). He offered to take us and show us around Maputo. We went for walks to the local art and craft markets and through the city. Its very underdeveloped with alot of the buildings in part ruins. The people are beautiful though. It has a lot more relaxed and safe feel about it than South AFrica.
Mateus (our friend at the backpackers), offered to cook us dinner traditional Portugese style. We bought 2 kilos of massive king prawns and 1kilo of calamari from the market as well as lemons, garlic, tumeric, coriander, onions, veges and rice. We all helped prepare and i was lucky enough to get the job of peeling the 35 cloves of garlic!!! Eish! I felt sorry for those other people in our dorms after the five of us had just consumed about 7 whole cloves each! Yo! It was sooo good though. Probably the best meal i have ever had. Well a huge change from the pap, chicken, bread and soup i have been eating!
Had a really great week. Shame about the weather but anyhoo, it was still alot of fun! I highly recommend if anyone goes to Maputo to stay at Fatima's. Really cool place.
Back at Jane Furse now. Got a huge term ahead of me. The Grade 12's start their final exams next week so i've been doing alot of preparation and revision with them. Im running a 'competition for the creative' this term. Involves poetry, public speaking and graphics. The majority of the subjects are all very content based and they dont often get a chance to express their creative sides and so i wanted to do something practical with them. Starting a new mixed netball competition, which should be alot of fun.
Also i want to thank those whoi donated money. The uniforms are sooooooooo beautiful. They kids were soooo happy. I will post photos asap. Also i have decided to use some of the remaining money to fix up Lesotho Chapel. It is a little hut at the school where the students run prayer and worship sessions, talk and motivate and guide each other . It is the heart and soul of St Marks. I go there every night and we sing songs, pray and talk about God and i always leave feeling totally inspired. Their faith, understanding and spirituality is amazing!! These kids are truly the children of God!
However the thatching on the roof is breaking and the rains are coming soon. The door has come off its hinges and it needs a repaint. So i am going to use some of the money to repair this special place.
I shall post some photos soon. All the best to those writing HSC exams soon at home. I will be thinking and praying for you. Those who have put in the work will be rewarded.
Lots of love and God Bless
xoxoxoxo
