May and June

Clearly this past 6 weeks have been very full...so much so that I have not made space in my schedule to write on my blog. Even though I am 2 days away from being back in Canada and many of you will see me in person soon, I have decided to record a few more of my memories, and thus also share them with those of you who won't be seeing me too soon.

So, after travelling on the local taxis an hour each way for the first week or so of my volunteer work at the University of the Western Cape, I looked into renting a car for an extended period of time to increase my freedom of movement. I found a great little green citi golf (aka cheap little VW) and rented it for a month (May 15-June 15).

On day two of the rental, Valeriane and I drove out to Durbanville (30 mins from where we lived) to meet Rian (a friend from my grief and loss workshop) and 6 of his friends to do a little wine touring in Stellenbosch(an hour outside of CT). Rian drove us around to 4 different places, all very different in feel, in his VW combi. The wine was great...not that I have the language to explain what it tasted like...yet, I did learn some of the wine tasting etiquette which has since proved to come in handy. We finished the tour off with a stop at an orchard which rocked my world with the yummy homemade jam, cream and fresh scones! After a fabulous afternoon touring wine country Valeriane and I returned to Rhondebosch and then I headed out to have dinner with my new buddy Wiepke from Germany.

After a fabulous healthy beetroot and feta salad at the Olympia cafe in Kalk Bay, I headed back home. This is where things got complicated...At precisely 10:47pm that Saturday night, I got rear-ended at such a high speed that the trunk of the citigolf was completely crunched in on one corner. My drivers seat broke and the car span around several times and was deemed unrepairable as the frame had been warped on impact. The police were called but did not show up before the cars had been towed away. Apparently this was a good thing because the guy who hit me was drunk and if he had been breathalized his insurance wouldn't have covered my totalled car. I was very fortunate as I got out of the car with only a couple of sprained ligaments on my spine and a big bruise on my right elbow/forearm. I thank my little angels who were with me that night. Fortunately, a lovely family stopped to see if we were ok, thus being alone on the side of the road at night was no longer an issue. Also I managed to call my aunt and uncle just before my phone died and they came down and rescued me. Love ya Shirl and Johan!!!!

For the next week in my replacement citigolf, I was super anxious about getting hit again. South Africa apparently has the highest percentage of road accidents in the world....and this is really obvious when you are on the road. After a week or so, my anxiety lessened and I got back into the swing of things driving.

My 6 weeks of work at UWC was really interesting. I was fortunate enough to be part of the management team that developed an innovative readiness and response model to assess the 15 schools that are involved in the 2-year partnership with UWC. I was also given the task of developing rating scales for the model and conceptualizing its implemetation. I also developed a series of interview questions for interviews with several differenet stakeholders at the highschools (principals, HIV coordinators, teachers, students, parents). In the last week of my time at UWC I was able to conduct the first 3 interviews of the project which was awesome. Actually, I was so stoked about the interviews that I started to feel sad that it was over! Just when things get juicy and relationships are being developed my time is coming to an end. One great thing is that the team including UWC staff as well as school staff welcomed me back anytime. One of my huge peices of learning during this trip is that I don't give myself enough credit for the professional and life experience that I have already gained. What I've learned is that I am very competent to do this work. What a relief!!!

On a more touristy note, Valeriane and I took advantage of having the car on weekends and fit in a few fun adventures. We visited Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, Kommetije Beach (where that huge pod of whales beached themselves - we actually drove by the masses of cars on that day - if only I had realized they were there, I'd have stopped to be with them), Lions Head mountain located right near Table Mountain(a fabulous hike and incredible view of the penninsula), Hout Bay (where there is awesome fish and chips...mmmmm), Kirstenbosch gardens (just up from my aunt's place - this garden is HUGE and contains only native species...it also has a whole lot of sandstone scultptures from Zimbabwe) and Hermanus (a seaside town 1 1/2 hours east of Cape Town - unfotunately it rained most of the time. We did get a nice walk in on the long stretch of white sand beach though). In Hermanus Valeriane had her first experience at a backpackers...it was pretty funny - let's just say that she is extremely hygenic and the dreadlocked manager who greeted us at the front desk made her eyes bulge with worry!! In the end she was quite pleasantly surprised. Phew!

I also managed to catch 3 plays throughout my time in CT. The first about 5 sisters that go on a road trip togethe. It was pretty funny. The second and third performances were done by a group that does playback theater. The theme was grief and loss(ironically enough) and the actors listened to a few stories from audience members. They then acted out these stories. It was incredible-real opportunities for healing. This form of acting totally attracts and inspires me!! So much so that I think I'd like to join a group when I get home.

Another very special way I spent my time was with my sweet aunt Shirley, and of course Johan(my uncle), Zizi and Bu(my favorite furry cousins). I found myself arriving at dinnertime on a regular basis (some of you may know this practice of mine more than others - I swear I don't mean to!!!!!)

To finish off a full and fulfilling 2 1/2 months in Cape Town, I decided to take a quick trip up to Durban (we'll really the South East coast) to soak up some sun and surf(the sea is much warmer there). I spent 2 days visiting my G'pa's sister and her husband in Shelly Beach which was nice. Then I was invited for a visit by friends of my aunt and uncle, Ronnie and Margie Nelson, in Southbroom(a community that reminded me of Qualicum (where I grew up) because of its many golf courses. I was spoiled rotten with decadent food and lodgings as well as access to some really beautiful beaches. After 5 days, I flew back to Cape Town and got ready to come north.

I left Cape Town last Thursday June 23rd and have been in Dubai visiting Geoff again for the past few days. Life in Dubai seems to be one big party and I's have to say I am not keeping up as well as I had hoped. Geoff took me to see the indoor ski hill which was the weirdest thing EVER. Tonight we had a BBQ at his friend Colin's place - it was asolutely INCREDIBLE - Colin has an apartment on the 27th floor of a brand new building and there is an outdoor pool on his floor!!! It overlooks this desert city for miles and miles and has the most beautiful sunset view I have experienced EVER!!

So the plan for tomorrow is to see a camel, the beach and maybe go quadding....always a lavish adventure in Dubai!!

I must say I am VERY looking forward to coming home on Monday. I am ready for the familiarity and solid sense of security that Canada holds for me. I always feel so grateful for my privilege of being Canadian after one of these trips.

Well, there's the low down on my adventures over the past 7 weeks. May there be many more opportunities to share my adventures with all of you!!! Thanks so muc h for being interested.

Wendy

The last month...or so

Hey folks,

Sorry for the loooong delay in writing. Life has been full, and internet expensive (I found this out the hard way at my last place - yikes- now I am on a youtube and picture uploading diet).

So, where did I leave you all? Ah, yes, the sweet little place up in Glen Cairn Heights....

During the two and a half weeks in that little remote paradise I wrote and wrote and wrote, and hiked and hiked and hiked. I got to know the trails on the mountain behind our house so well that instead of going down the hill to the 'quikSPAR' cornerstore, I hiked over the mountain to the neighbouring town of Fish Hoek .... just for something to do (....and because they have cheaper dark chocolate there). I was at home a lot finishing up my lingering U of T assignments and writing up the workshop report for my practicum (which is finally finished...phew).

I also had the pleasure of visiting the township nearby called Masiphumelele. It is an organized collection of shanty houses (houses made from whatever people can find - scraps of wood, corrogated iron, cardboard, bricks) that are so close together they are practically touching. Many of the small places house several families in only a few small rooms. My mum has a friend there named Aurelia who is a Ugandan refugee. She fled Uganda years ago and settled in Rwanda with her Rwandan husband. When the undercurrents leading up to the 1994 genocide began, her husband was shot and she fled to Tanzania with her 3 (or 4) children. She was on the run for a a long time with no money, no food and no support. She travelled through several countries and losing a child on the way, and settled finally in Cape Town. She is one incredibly resilient woman! Since she has been in South Africa, she has started up a 'creche', a daycare for 80 AIDS affected and AIDS infected children 5 and under called "Love and Care". She has become a respected member of the Masiphumelele community, even though she is Ugandan. She did experience violence during last year's xenophobic attacks, but all seems well now. How can people loot the belongings of the woman who cares for their own kids? Quite the story...as always, I feel incredibly humbled around her.

On the 23rd of April, I packed up my things and moved to Rhondebosch, an area of Cape Town that is a 10 minute drive from downtown. I stayed on my own in a small flat in a guest house that a friend of my mum's runs. On May 1st I moved into a sweet little 2 bedroom house with another guest from the guesthouse, Valeriane. Valerie is a doctoral student from Paris, and we get on great!!! I am happy to be living with someone...I was quite lonely on my own in the flat. Funny how one can wish for solitude and when one gets it one feels desperately lonely - I think in my case it was a sure sign of living in transition...Now that I am settled in the house, I feel less stressed. Good stuff.

Now about my volunteer work...while still at the guesthouse, I had the opportunity to take part in a 4 day workshop run by two staff from Khululeka - an organization that facilitates workshops for caregivers/social workers/etc on how to support children and youth through grief and loss. I had met the two trainers at the Art and Heart Training of Trainers and was keen to see what they do (and also to learn more about the organization my mum started with a few friends 5 years ago...you're so inspiring mum!!!). It was an interesting experience...lots of observations of differing cultural ways of approaching grief/behaviour, opportunities to look at my own grief and loss, and recognizing that I have the experience and ability to facilitate these types of workshops. Nontobeko and Alex were great role models.

In another direction, I have started working 3 days a week with the HIV/AIDS unit at the University of the Western Cape. I am working with a team of researchers to develop a set of surveys (and indicators) that will help assess comprehensiveness of school responses to HIV/AIDS - quite a mouthful, I know. We're developing an 8-point scale which will be used to rate where schools are at with regards to their response to AIDS. Interesting work that has required a fair bit of reading and wiriting so far. I am working with some highly experienced educators and community devlopers which is FABULOUS! It is a really neat opportunity. This week, we finalize the surveys and next week we head out to the schools to start interviewing principals, staff, students, parents, and other stakeholders. Should be interesting.....And maybe, just maybe, being part of the team that developed such a unique tool might help me create a job for myself....?? I'm open to it! Although my plans for meeting a gorgoeous South African husband (in order to obtain a working permit - and of course life long happiness) hasn't quite panned out yet. ;)

As for the past 5 days, I have been sick with the flu and caged up in the house. Tonight I went out for a walk and my fabulous aunt cooked me dinner...so I am on the mend. If all is well in the morning, I will head out to the university to meet with the team. If not, I will resume reading my latest novel "The Number" by Jonny Steinberg, an amazing South African author.

So, that's my story for the past month. I will try to update more often so I can savour the moments more thoroughly. Love and light from SA!

Wendy

update on photos

PS - I am having a little trouble uploading pictures. Hopefully I will get some visuals up on this blog so you can really experience the magic of Cape Town.

XO

Glen Cairn

On Monday afternoon I moved out to Glen Cairn (part of Cape Town) to stay in this beautiful house overlooking the ocean. It is quite something...a pool, a straw roof cabana, gorgeous gardens, and a bright house with lots of windows. The view from my room in spectacular...I look east onto the Indian Ocean and I can also see down the slope where the centre of Glen Cairn is. The only thing that is strange for me is that all of the windows have bars on them. Break-ins are common in South Africa because the divide between rich and poor is so huge and people will do anything to survive...perhaps I would too if I were in that situation...

Yesterday morning I hiked up to the peak of the mountain just behind where I am staying. The wind was so strong that I had to hold on to the rock I was sitting on...wild!!  I could see a 360 view of the two valleys and the meandering mountains heading east to west across the Cape (we're near Cape Point). Once down, I explored some more running trails and finished up my workout with Vlad's Abs (you'd be proud of me small balls!)

On the 20th my mum and Gary head back to Duncan, BC, so at that point I will be leaving this beautiful house and living closer to downtown. I am still working out the housing and volunteering details, which feels good because it has been a little anxiety producing not knowing where I will be living and what I will be doing in less than two weeks time. There's always the youth hostels!! I trust all will work out perfectly, as it always does.

Hoping you are all well and that spring is starting to show its face...

Love, Wendy

Kirstenbosch

On Sunday afternoon I met up with some of my new friends and took in some music at the Kirstenbosch gardens. The Kirstenbosch gardens are native gardens (I believe) that are located just up the road from my aunt's house and 20 minutes from downtown. They are situated at the bottom of Table Mountain National Park and are on a slope. There is a huge grassy area that has a large stage at the bottom and which overlooks a chunk of Cape Town (beautiful when it is dark and all the city lights are shining!) There are summer concerts held here every Sunday and we were able to catch the last one of the season. The music wasn't that great but the view and the company was great. It is tradition to bring a big picnic blanket, wine and snacks. We had it all die to the leftovers from Lyska's birthday party the night before. Lyska is my aunt's god daughter and we are cut from a similar cloth. Unfortunately, she heads of for New Zealand this week for 6 months so we won' t be able to hang out. She introduced me to some of her amazing friends though, whom I am hoping to hang out with while I am here.  

Although no friends can replace all of you fabulous people that I know at home. 

Love to you all!

Wendy

More reflections on the workshop

The primary purpose of my trip to South Africa (as many of you know) was to do a practicum placement with the Department of Lifelong Learning at the University of the Western Cape. As part of that practicum I was to participate as an intern/participant in a training called "The Art and Heart of the Trainer". The unique thing about this training is that it was to be co-facilitates by my aunt Shirley and my Mum. The training occurred last week in a beautiful oceanside town called Kleinmond, 1 hour east of Cape Town.

29 facilitators from 5 southern African countries attended the 5-day training to build their skills and refine their art of facilitation. There were variety of participants: some that worked with children; others that were trainers in a business setting; and many that worked with women on women's rights and/or HIV/AIDS issues. Of course, women's rights and HIV/AIDS are closely connected in Southern Africa where the infection rate is very high and where many traditional cultural practices include men having several wives. It was a fabulous training that was rich in learning, both within the workshop program and at tea breaks while chatting to other participants. There were several women in attendance who are living with HIV and who shared their stories. All of these women exhibited their deep commitment to working to improve women's rights(both in the bedroom and out) as well as to reduce the stigma around HIV/AIDS. They were really frank about the underlying issues and very open to sharing their knowledge. I listened carefully and took in as much as I could.

Some of the major themes covered in the workshop were: Feminist Popular Education (grassroots empowerment work); Transformative Learning (asking the question 'how can I engage the hearts of my participants?'); design and facilitation of learning events; lifelong commitment to being reflective about my practice; and self care. Really rich for sure!

The past few days I have been writing a workshop report for the Department of Lifelong Learning which has allowed me to sink deeper into my learning from the workshop and to tie all of the pieces together. I am also in the process of connecting with some of the other workshop participants who are keen to have me co-facilitate in the coming months. So, perhaps I will get to put my learning into practice. Exciting!!