3 week anniversary!

Have been in South Africa now for 3 weeks. It has been the best three weeks of my life. I am working very hard, there is soo much to do, but it is very enjoyable and everyone is so appreciative. There was a three week teacher strike at the end of June and so the students missed out on alot of work. We have been busy trying to catch up, especially with the grade 12's. To add to that, the Department only advised us the night before that students were to start writing exams the next day. It was horrible. How are they meant to do their best when they havent even been taught the content or had any time to prepare?
The students resiliance is so admirable though. Some have been staying up until 4am to try and study as much as they can (and thats even the Grade 8's). That is on top of classes beginning at 8am and finishing at 2:30pm for lunch. Then afternoon classes starting again at 3:30-4:30, breaking for supper and then evening classes (Prep) again from 7-8:30pm. They work so hard.

This weekend i have come to Polokwane (the closest city). We caught a public taxi (a minivan packed with 15 people). It was a very entertaining ride. Each taxi has huge speakers and pumps the best music. You sing and dance the whole way. I am visiting some friends and then tomorrow attending the Manche Masemola pilgrimage. It is a big service and worship day with about 2000 people. The mass goes for 3 hours and then there is a picnic lunch on the veldt. It should be an awesome experience, really looking forward to it.

Lots of love,
Carly

p.s. to all those who are studying or at school at the moment. Do not take education for granted. Make the most of it because you seriously so not realise how wonderful we have it in Australia. Do not waste our amazing resources and opportunities because trust me, there are thousands who are far far worse off than you.
xoxox

Thobela!!!!

Absolutely loving it here!
I have found my second home!!

Totally settled in. My classes are gorgeous. I am teaching grade nine english and grade eight science. Tutoring grade 11 n 12 boys chemistry n biology n helping with english.The grade eights r a challenge. So noisy but that is ok. They are so dedicated to learning and so polite. My classes are huge. About 35-40 children with about 15 desks. They all have to share with about 4 to a desk n often some have to stand. But they work hard as they do not take education for granted.they realise how important it is for their future.

I have made some amazing friends. My school is just one big family. Everyone looks out for each other its beautiful.When I am not teachng I work in the office typing n writing exams. They start on monday.Yesterday another school from polokwane came for the day. There was a welcome dance done by the students, followed by games of netball, soccer n volleyball. I played in our netball team it was sooo much fun.the students thought it was hilarious n were dancing nsinging for me the whole game.

There was music playing all day n we all just danced. Wherever there is music, everyone moves. Such an awesome vibe here.Before they left there was a gospel performance n dancing. I got up n started dancin with them n they thought it was the funniest thing they had ever seen. One girl actually came up n grabbed my skin n said, ' r u sure ur white, because white ppl can't move like that!' hahaha it was soo much fun.

Josey, thabi, tears n ngeni (my four brothers from other mothers) have been teaching me sepedi. I now know most of the basics. Its fantastic being able to communicate with them in their language n they appreciate it a lot.

Hope everyone is well.
Gtg now I have work to do but ill try to update more often.

Sala gabotse!
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Dumela!!!!

Dumela!!!

Arrived in jane furse!Hey all!

Spent tuesday at a museum in jo'burg n on a bus to polokwane. We were picked up by maureen our south african granny and stayed with her on tues night. Such a cutie! Then on wed morn grabbed some supplies n was picked up by Mpho a staffmember from the school.he is crazy but very easy to get along with.

The landscape in jane furse is very vast orange dry n mountainous. It doesn't rain until october so it is very dry. There r the most beautiful vibrant sunsets over the mountains though .there is no grass just orange sand. It is really beautiful though.The school is a lot bigger than I expected. The buildings are like home but the resources r limited .

My room is very comfortable though.they even gave us a kettle hotplate n tv! The Students all come in n use them though they r not supposed to but I feel so rude not sharing. Past the schooolgates though is very different.shanty houses,wells,street sellers,goats n donkeys! There r shops though were we can get supplies.I havnt started teaching yet as they r still working out where we r most needed but I bought some netballs from ur generous donations n they were so excited.there is a game coming up against another school so we have been practising.

Yesterday I played w the primary kids. We played netball,bball,running races and danced they r so cute.Looking forward to starting teachng. I did some typing last night for my friend soli who works in admin. Computers r very new here and he was amazed at how fast I could type. Wat usually tAkes him about two hours I did in 30min.Anyway all is well here in rural south africa.

Enjoying the experience!
Salang gabotse!
Goodbye n stay well in the local language Sepedi.

Jo'burg and Soweto tour

Thobela! (hello)
Yesterday was one of the best days of my life!! Absolutely amazing!
We went to Soweto yesterday which is the biggest non white township outside Jo'burg. we toured through the slums and saw the most amazing people. It was heart breaking though seeing the kids with their snotty noses and pot bellies. It truly is like what u see on those ads and tv. Little ones ran up to me and wanted cuddles and wanted me to pick them up. We played with their toys, sticks with wheels on the end and went inside their homes. They live in absolute poverty but are the happiest, warmest and most welcoming people i ahve ever met.Their faces light up when u wave and say hello.They live in the slums right next to people in mansions. The disparity and contrast is unbelieveble.
Everyone speaks english, even the littles ones so it is really easy to communicate. we also visited various museums, nelson mandelas old house, one of the gaols that mandela and gandhi were kept in. it was such an amazing day!!! I actually stood in Mandelas footsteps!

I also met some of the local students here at the Uni we are staying in. they are doing medicine. They are such beautiful people. One guy, Mashareala, is from Limpopo and he taught me alot about Jane Furse and the some of the local language. Most of the people speak about 5 different languages.

Today everyone leaves for their placements. Most are leaving at about 8 to catch their planes to places but we are going on another tour and then getting a bus at 1:30pm to Polokwane then getting picked up there by Maureen our rep and taken to jane Furse. Well will get in there about 7:30 tonight i think. Im soo excited to actually get there and settle in. Its sad leaving everyone because we have all made such good friends but we are going to try and travel together at the end.

Well all is very very well here. Absolutely love it. Have not had one bad experience at all. I just cant get over the people. they are absolutely amazing!!!

This may be my last internet visit in a while. Mashareala said their may be internet in St marks so i hope thats the case. If not i wil try and update as often as i can when i get into the city.

Salang gabotse!
(goodbye and stay well)

Safe and sound in South Africa!!

Arrived in Jo'burg today!! Soooooooooo exciting and sooo different. Its very brown and there is barbed wire and broken glass lining every wall, but then in contrast, everyone i have come in contact with have just been so unbelievably helpful, humble and beautiful. We are staying at Wits University in Jo'burg. Met some awesome local people and students and they have given us so much valuable information. We have one more day here and then i head out to my rural school in Limpopo. Really looking forward to it. Its so hard to describe the vibe and feeling here. Its just amazing.
Sending lots of love back home. I have been assured by all south africans that my community and province i am going is one of the safest in South Africa. It is the whole communities job to care for us and respect our property so that is really great!!
xoxoxo

Arrived safely in Singapore!

Hey everyone!
Just arrived in Changi Airport about half an hour ago. The flight went sooo quick. Singapore airlines are amazing! I got warm face towels, awesome food, nintendo, 10 of the latest movies, window seat, hot hostess' and plus there was a spare seat between me and the cute chubby asian man next to me so i got to spread out a bit!
I got to watch Blades of Glory! Soo funny. Clearly i forgot i was in a confined public space though. Busted out with my rank laugh about a thousand times and copped the weirdest stares! haha
Made new friends already though. Its awesome.

Got another 5 hours to chill in the airport before i fly out to Jo'burg at like 2am. This place is massive!! High on excitment though!!

Im not sure wen i will next have the internet next in South Africa but i will update as often as possible.
Lots of love
Carly
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Exactly one month today!

It is exactly one month today until i fly out to South Africa! Soooo excited.