A post of epic proportions

Saturday:

Hello!
This is Brenna, writing from our apartments in Polokwane. We started off this morning late, at about 9:00 am (late being compared to waking up at 3:00 US time on a plane). The apartments are a little cold due to lack of “geezers,” the hot water heaters here. We started off our morning with lots of cereal including strawberry rice krispies which turned the milk as pink as the Pepto-Bismal we’ve used to cure plane sickness. Then we went to the airport here and dropped off one of the rental vans, which are as big as minibuses and about as hard to drive. It’s still taken some time to get used to turning into a different side of the road, Ms. LC almost had a cow this morning when she thought Mr. Davis turned onto the wrong side of the road. After that, we went to the mall a few kilometers down the road. There, we went into some clothing stores and ate. The mall wasn’t very different from many of the malls here in the United States, except it gets a little confusing when things cost $200 rands, which is only about $24 American dollars. After the mall, we were finally able to go to the village. Everyone was excited to go because we felt like we hadn’t really seen the real South Africa yet. It was weird to drive for about 30 minutes from the mall, and be in a place that was completely and totally different from it. In the village, everyone was really friendly, our Sotho greetings went over very well, although it felt like even the goats were gaping at us as we walked by. We met some of the host families we will be staying with, including mine which has a bath tub with running water. Score! The houses are all very nice, and the village has some beautiful views as well. Everyone is excited to spend some more time there. Well everyone is making fun of how fast I type (But they’re really just jealous) and we’re waking up at 6:00am tomorrow so I’m gonna say goodbye here. We’re having a great time and missing you all!
-Brenna (aka Itumeling)


Monday:

Hey! This is Erica writing from my incredibly cozy bed (yay for having 5 blankets!!) We just got back from a packed day, so I’m going to try to keep it mildly short. Last night, we all had an experience that paralleled none other. What was this experience? Well, sadly it wasn’t ostrich riding (although that sounds like fun), but it seemed just as new. This experience was going to the Zion Christian Church (the ZCC) in Moria. Now, the LC’s had told us that the church would be different than any we had ever gone to, but no one had really been able picture it. As we drove into Moria, through the car windows we saw ladies dressed in bright yellow shirts and long green skirts (this is the uniform for women who have been members of the ZCC for a long time). The church service is held outdoors, with the women on one side of the ministers and the men on the other. The women (including myself) had to sit up straight with their legs straight out underneath them. It was rather uncomfortable to sit like that for a long time, due to the rocks and the awkward position, but it was really cool to listen to the minister talk in Sotho. There was a translator just for us which was pretty cool, but it was kind of hard to understand him. All of the ministers stressed how important it was to welcome the Americans because God wants us to love all people. After the sermon we got onto our knees and prayed (at this point I had a healthy respect for all the people that could sit so still for an hour and a half!). Then, people came up to the center where the ministers were preaching with young children and mentally retarded people. The ministers said something in Sotho and the whole congregation chanted and the people that were standing up there were swatted at with some sort of green paper. I’m not quite sure what the symbolism of that was, but I believe it was the ministers trying to force any evil spirits out of those who were most vulnerable. Then, the ministers talked a little more and when the service was over a swarm of people (and I mean at least several hundred people) tried to shake our hands all at once. It was pretty cool but kind of weird at the same time. I liked it though because even the little kids wanted to shake our hands and they were so cute! Some people got really into it and kissed our hands, but they were all girls so I guess it was ok. After that a large band paraded around for about 45 minutes. It was pretty funny because we kept on thinking that they were done, but then they’d start right back up again. It got pretty cold so we just huddled together for warmth a little and Ms. LC bought us fat cakes (yummy yummy!). The whole service lasted about 3 hours and although parts seemed a little tedious at times it was fascinating to experience how different cultures worship. Well, my fingers are freezing so that’s all for tonight. Hope that you are all doing well.
~Erica (aka Khotso, or “peaceful”)



Ivy here. I just have to mention to everyone how adaptable our students have been in the village. They are making a wonderful impression as they have now mastered the greetings and have knocked the socks off of all the grannys and the teachers that they have met. They are patient when our plans change suddenly and have taken everything in stride. Today they were introduced to the first primary school we visited, the Mahlanhle Primary School. Seth and I ‘neglected’ to mention to anyone else on the trip that the traditional welcome for visitors at Mahlanhle involves the entire school singing a song about how beautiful and welcome you are. The song, of course, comes with the requisite dance across the raised platform that the teachers stand on to address the students. Vince (Tumelo) was up first, much to his surprise and the delight of the 200 or so learners singing for him. Everyone had a turn, with Scott Davis (Lethabo) and Ashley (Maphefo) getting a chance to really dance.
As for me, I’m shocked to discover two things- first of all, how much Sotho I remember, and secondly, how nothing has really changed at all in the village. The kids are a little taller, but seeing Mma, Mr. Mametja, Dorcas, and the Marys (old Mary and young Mary) again felt exactly like I had never left. I almost cried at Mma’s house, but she didn’t let me- she gave me a hug and shoved me out of the way to greet the next person in line. But I did get really weepy when I saw Mr. Mametja today. He’s such a wonderful guy. I really missed him.
My computer clock tells me it’s 3:34 pm in the US right now, but I’m just getting ready for bed. It’s been cold most nights here, but tonight is much better. I was actually able to take a bath tonight, and we have the laundry soaking to do tomorrow. I’m excited to show the girls how to do it. Ivy (Mpho)

One of my favorite parts of this trip was definitely going to the big church, even though it was so cold there, It was just really cool to see how welcoming they were to us, they had an English translator just for us, and after the service everyone wanted to shake our hands. I also liked seeing all the kids at school this morning, they sang their welcoming song and we all danced. It was just really joyful and fun.
-Brenna, aka Itumeling


The past couple days have been really interesting. We got a look into lives much different than ours. It surprised me how much people showed their appreciation to us, just to see us in their village makes these people happy. We got to go to the Zion Christian church in Moria, which is like the Vatican of their religion. The mass was interesting and so many people ran to greet us afterwards. Today we visited the elementary schools and a few preschools. All the children were adorable! We discussed projects to do around the village and are still deciding on a few.
-Jocelyn aka Lethabo

This trip so far has been an eye-opener. We have experienced many different things, such as a celebration of the boys coming down from the mountain as men, where we were asked to share a meal and we got our first taste of bagobe (ba-ho-bay). We went to church in Moria, where our presence was acknowledged and we were blessed as we travel. We received a very warm welcome with an assembly just for us at the school. We have attempt to learn the song “Head, ,shoulders, knees and toes” in Sotho. The little children will stop everything to have a “snap” taken. They love to see their picture on the camera. Everyone is so friendly and very appreciative. We have visited with many people and have consumed a lot of tea and cold drink. Now we need to get to work on our projects.
-Bonnie, aka Lebo


Marumo- Mackenzie about host family

After using the pit toilet, for which I had to use my thunderous thigh muscles so as to not touch the seat, I held the door for Ashley. While doing so, I heard a piteous whine from a few feet away. Taking my flashlight, I shined it toward the noise. The beam of light hit a small, but deep hole with (when I stepped closer), a small, cute puppy down in the pit. It was in fact an old pit toilet. To sum up the whole event I ended going down into the pit on a small, broken ladder to grab the pup. It was a “Timmy fell in the well” kind of moment. I have found that in South Africa the dogs are simply guard dogs, and not pets.


Mapefo- Ashley about Moria

Adorned in maxi-dresses and headscarves, the women sat on the dirt ground separated from the men. The minister and two translators gave the sermon. We were later informed that the English translator was there specifically for us. I have noticed that guests are very welcomed and honored in this culture. After the sermon and prayer, woman rushed from all over to greet us. Brenna and I could hardly move with all the eager hands grabbing for ours. They smiled and spoke enthusiastically to us in Sotho; one woman even kissed my hand! It feels wonderful to be so welcomed here.

Tumello- Vince

So hey, I just thought I'd put something on the blog =P