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