So Christmas came and went. It was a little disappointing that we didn't have snow for Christmas. I went to Busi's family from the 24th to the 26th. It was nice to meet her family and friends and extended family and see where it is that she came from. It was also nice to see a different part of Cape Town. I'm sad I didn't get to spend Christmas with my sister and the babies this year, next year they're spending time with Simon's parents. All in all it was a nice experience. The next hurdle is figuring out what to do for New Years. I think that we're going to have a small party at one of the girl's host familys place which should be nice. Then we'll have a sleepover so that no body has to worry about walking at night or being without transit.
Right now I'm at work. Yesterday was a VERY busy day. I didn't get much sleep the night before either. I'm working at an abused women's shelter doing reception (if I haven't already told you before). The women here are very nice, but hearing the women's stories day by day is a little upsetting. Today was quiet though which was nice.
Yesterday we went to one of the girl's houses and had dinner. It was really lovely.
That's really all the news I can think of for now.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Birthday, Christmas, Work and Love
So it was my birthday. I had a lovely birthday, we went into a different part of the city and did what girls do best. SHOP. Nobody bought anything though because we were checking out all of the expensive designer shops and one must look before they buy! Although I went to a market last week and I did buy a new dress. I'm going again on the 3rd to pick me up some more swag, because there is a BEAUTIFUL dress there that I MUST have.
Moral of the story is that I had a lovely birthday. Thank you everyone who sent me lovely birthday wishes. I appreciated it so much. This includes the girls who are on the program with me! Cheers!
I started work at an abused women's shelter doing reception work with another girl. We're both doing full days at the moment until we get used to the ins and outs. But like most work places, different people are telling us to do things differently (or even opposite) and that leads to us A) getting confused and B) doing something wrong all the time. A few more days and we'll be professionals knowing all the ins and outs I'm sure. The ladies who work there are all lovely people and they've been very inviting. It's the same place where we also hold a lot of our workshops so we're getting to know the place pretty well. There's also 4 girls who work at the daycare at the centre, and 2 more who work in a call centre which is located in the same complex. Because it's festive season, most people are on leave so it seems like we pretty much have taken over the place!
Yesterday we had an HIV/AIDS workshop and it was really lovely. I'm not sure what more I can say about it.
On the 24th, I'm going home with Busi to her family's home until the 26th, then we're going to THE BEACH. I'm pretty excited for Christmas lunch beacuse I've been hearing all about it. Christmas is pretty huge in Cape Town. There's a house down the street from us that is absolutely COVERED in lights. I tried to take a picture of it, but I don't think the pictures do it justice. Our host family went on vacation and now the project supervisors are staying with us to make sure we stay out of trouble. It hasn't been TOO terrible yet. It's been lovely having Jackie stay with us, and Shameema will come after Christmas. Then I'm not sure how they will divide up the rest of the time, we shall see.
I only have a few more minutes of time, so I'll use it to wish everyone all of my love! Merry Christmas and if I don't get a chance to say it beforehand, HAPPY NEW YEAR. Stay safe, have fun and be happy!
Moral of the story is that I had a lovely birthday. Thank you everyone who sent me lovely birthday wishes. I appreciated it so much. This includes the girls who are on the program with me! Cheers!
I started work at an abused women's shelter doing reception work with another girl. We're both doing full days at the moment until we get used to the ins and outs. But like most work places, different people are telling us to do things differently (or even opposite) and that leads to us A) getting confused and B) doing something wrong all the time. A few more days and we'll be professionals knowing all the ins and outs I'm sure. The ladies who work there are all lovely people and they've been very inviting. It's the same place where we also hold a lot of our workshops so we're getting to know the place pretty well. There's also 4 girls who work at the daycare at the centre, and 2 more who work in a call centre which is located in the same complex. Because it's festive season, most people are on leave so it seems like we pretty much have taken over the place!
Yesterday we had an HIV/AIDS workshop and it was really lovely. I'm not sure what more I can say about it.
On the 24th, I'm going home with Busi to her family's home until the 26th, then we're going to THE BEACH. I'm pretty excited for Christmas lunch beacuse I've been hearing all about it. Christmas is pretty huge in Cape Town. There's a house down the street from us that is absolutely COVERED in lights. I tried to take a picture of it, but I don't think the pictures do it justice. Our host family went on vacation and now the project supervisors are staying with us to make sure we stay out of trouble. It hasn't been TOO terrible yet. It's been lovely having Jackie stay with us, and Shameema will come after Christmas. Then I'm not sure how they will divide up the rest of the time, we shall see.
I only have a few more minutes of time, so I'll use it to wish everyone all of my love! Merry Christmas and if I don't get a chance to say it beforehand, HAPPY NEW YEAR. Stay safe, have fun and be happy!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunburns.
Today I got a library card! Woohoo! Now I can use the internet for 45 minutes a day for free! No more R8 for 15 minutes (trust me, it's a lot to pay for internet). Today I got internet for R10 for an hour. Our host family is officially going to keep us! That's a huge relief. They are going on a two week vacation, but for the time they are gone, our project supervisors are going to stay with us (thankfully). So we're in a good spot.
All of the Canadian girls are sunburnt. All of the South African girls are sunburnt. I think the only girl who might have escaped a burn is the girl from Kenya. One of the Canadians had heat stroke and fainted. Another one had to go to the doctor and get a wrap. I thought mine was bad because I can't sleep on my right side and my nose is peeling. NOT SO MUCH. I lucked out in the sunburn department.
My email isn't working, I think it might be down? I'm not sure. I'm going to start working at a women's center soon for abused women. Right now we're working on researching the Millenium Development Goals, and once I found out what they were, I realized that they were grafittied around my neighbourhood. Cool stuff. Politically minded people everywhere. We're going to have to hand out a survey to the neighbourhood youth to figure out what types of programs would be beneficial to the community.
my.nose.hurts.
That's all I can think of for an update now, I'll let you know more once work time starts. We're also maybe going to Table Mountain next weekend but we aren't entirely sure yet. Here's hoping it works out, because I think we're all a little too sunburnt to go right back to the beach.
All of the Canadian girls are sunburnt. All of the South African girls are sunburnt. I think the only girl who might have escaped a burn is the girl from Kenya. One of the Canadians had heat stroke and fainted. Another one had to go to the doctor and get a wrap. I thought mine was bad because I can't sleep on my right side and my nose is peeling. NOT SO MUCH. I lucked out in the sunburn department.
My email isn't working, I think it might be down? I'm not sure. I'm going to start working at a women's center soon for abused women. Right now we're working on researching the Millenium Development Goals, and once I found out what they were, I realized that they were grafittied around my neighbourhood. Cool stuff. Politically minded people everywhere. We're going to have to hand out a survey to the neighbourhood youth to figure out what types of programs would be beneficial to the community.
my.nose.hurts.
That's all I can think of for an update now, I'll let you know more once work time starts. We're also maybe going to Table Mountain next weekend but we aren't entirely sure yet. Here's hoping it works out, because I think we're all a little too sunburnt to go right back to the beach.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Cape Town Baby
I have a host family! Woohoo! They're pretty centralized too which is nice. My host mother is a lovely cook and they've been really nice to us. We have separate beds but we share the same room, which is all good (for now haha). We went to town the other day and went to two museums. We went to the Slave Lodge and the District Six museum. They were both VERY informative and wonderful to visit.
Yesterday we had to "explore the community" so we took a taxi to Athlone and it was our job to ask questions at the police station. We went in, they gave us all the information we needed to know and then on top of that they gave us water bottles. I love free things! Most everything is at least in walking distance, which is a nice break from Calgary. The down side is that we don't get our transport paid for, unlike in Calgary. You win some, you lose some. I guess you can't have it all.
Tomorrow we are going to.... THE BEACH! I'm so excited. I can't wait to go to the beach. Busi and I are about to go to the shop and grab some snacks because they're crazy expensive up by the beach area.
Everything is going well, and I think I'm finally starting to get over jet lag, now it's just a matter of adjusting to the heat. I haven't gotten a sunburn yet (thank you sunscreen) but I can tell it is coming. Probably tomorrow... at THE BEACH!
I'm not sure what else is going on right now. I'm going to work on getting a library card so I don't have to pay R11 for internet for a half hour. It's cheaper to do an hour, but I also want to buy snacks. Talk to everyone soon! Much love!
Yesterday we had to "explore the community" so we took a taxi to Athlone and it was our job to ask questions at the police station. We went in, they gave us all the information we needed to know and then on top of that they gave us water bottles. I love free things! Most everything is at least in walking distance, which is a nice break from Calgary. The down side is that we don't get our transport paid for, unlike in Calgary. You win some, you lose some. I guess you can't have it all.
Tomorrow we are going to.... THE BEACH! I'm so excited. I can't wait to go to the beach. Busi and I are about to go to the shop and grab some snacks because they're crazy expensive up by the beach area.
Everything is going well, and I think I'm finally starting to get over jet lag, now it's just a matter of adjusting to the heat. I haven't gotten a sunburn yet (thank you sunscreen) but I can tell it is coming. Probably tomorrow... at THE BEACH!
I'm not sure what else is going on right now. I'm going to work on getting a library card so I don't have to pay R11 for internet for a half hour. It's cheaper to do an hour, but I also want to buy snacks. Talk to everyone soon! Much love!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Cape Town
Okay, Okay, Okay, so I'm in Cape Town, South Africa.
After quite a while of travelling (9 hours from Calgary to London, 9 hours in Heathrow Airport, 12 hours from London to Cape Town), I have finally arrived. I just got out of the camp where we were with the other (mixed-gender) team who is going to another part of Cape Town. Oh.My.Goodness. I LOVE my all women's team. I had no idea how loud boys could be. I just spent 3 months with almost all girls and I never realized how truly lovely it could be. At the camp, I got to swim in the Indian Ocean (woohoo) in GIGANTIC waves. It was amazing. My internet access may or may not be extremely limited. We shall see. Right now I'm in an internet cafe woo. I meet my host family tomorrow, it's been slightly diffucult to find host families and so everyone else has already met theirs. I think that means ours will just be a little extra special! So tomorrow we get to meet them and we start our orientation around the community.
I'm excited, but we don't start our work placements until January. It's festive season, but that means theres so many other exciting things that are going on that we don't want to miss. Today I went to a holistic market, and there was a booth there that had BEAUTIFUL clothing. I wanted 3 things, but I had zero money. I change my money on Tuesday, so next time it comes around I'll be able to do it. I hope that my positive energy lasts (at least until the jet lag hits) because so far I LOVE CAPE TOWN.
My time is almost up so I must go, but I'm sure I'll be able to update soon enough. Love everyone and don't worry, I'm alive and safe!
Cheers
After quite a while of travelling (9 hours from Calgary to London, 9 hours in Heathrow Airport, 12 hours from London to Cape Town), I have finally arrived. I just got out of the camp where we were with the other (mixed-gender) team who is going to another part of Cape Town. Oh.My.Goodness. I LOVE my all women's team. I had no idea how loud boys could be. I just spent 3 months with almost all girls and I never realized how truly lovely it could be. At the camp, I got to swim in the Indian Ocean (woohoo) in GIGANTIC waves. It was amazing. My internet access may or may not be extremely limited. We shall see. Right now I'm in an internet cafe woo. I meet my host family tomorrow, it's been slightly diffucult to find host families and so everyone else has already met theirs. I think that means ours will just be a little extra special! So tomorrow we get to meet them and we start our orientation around the community.
I'm excited, but we don't start our work placements until January. It's festive season, but that means theres so many other exciting things that are going on that we don't want to miss. Today I went to a holistic market, and there was a booth there that had BEAUTIFUL clothing. I wanted 3 things, but I had zero money. I change my money on Tuesday, so next time it comes around I'll be able to do it. I hope that my positive energy lasts (at least until the jet lag hits) because so far I LOVE CAPE TOWN.
My time is almost up so I must go, but I'm sure I'll be able to update soon enough. Love everyone and don't worry, I'm alive and safe!
Cheers
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