Sorry for the last no message here I go.
I had a great training at the Lilly of the Valley Orphanage, 35 folks, half women working in the orphanage and half grannies and community people, The training went very well.
We spent the next day at the Zulu village, got to see how the people live and work. The beehive hut was very fun but no airconditioning and no windows so it was a hot night. We almost missed our plane to the Kruger beccause of mis information by several locals about how long it would take. We made it and flew on a small plane to a little town, were picked up bya local guide and distributed to the lodge. It is great. We have been on 2 game drives and it has been incredible. WE have seen up close lions, leppards, elephants, rhinos. and lots of zebra, kuku, a puffer snake, turtle and a baby pet bat.
WE have 3 more game drives and a bush walk still to go the food is great and the staff is very fun.
We leave for Cape Town on Sunday and are home next Friday, It seems hard to believe that I have been here already for 3 weeks and have only one left. The trip has been wonderful. I have great pictures to share and will get them out once I get home.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
African Safari
So on Thursday Jacqui and I were off for safari. We went to a wonderful lodge and got into the jeep for safari. We saw a herd of buffulo right off and then 2 Rhinos crossed the road right in front of us. We got some great pictures, which I will share when I get back, unless we can figure how to send them before then. The we came across the zebra, which had the brown shadow stripe, very interesting. We saw kudo, wart hogs, garaffe and lots of birds. No elephants or lions.
We went back to the lodge for a wonderful dinner of Kudu in a cherry sauce.
Next morning we drove to St Lucia wetlands. The B&B was very nice, we met a great South Africa couple who shared lots about the country and political nature. Many South African whites are wanting to leave the country and come to America. The town itself is very touristy and very white. So different from Congo where we hardly ever saw another white person.
We went on a hippo/croc boat trip and got up close and personal to the hippos, including new born babies. The tell us that the hippos come out and roam the streets at night but we didn't see them.
Saturday morning we went for our kayak trip where we were paddling in the same waters as the hippos and crocs. All the S Africans told us we were crazy and that they would never do such a foolish thing, but we and 3 other couples went out. We got pretty close to both but at a very safe distance. It was very interesting to see them at water level. Lots of birds as well, haron, white egerts, a fish eagle flew right over our head, yellow weavers who make their nest in the reeds. When we got out there were lots of little monkeys to greet us. A great trip all around. The afternoon was spent shopping and lounging in the pool.
Sunday morning we got up and headed for Cape Vidal. We took several loop roads and saw more kudu, rinos, wart hog families, baboons and zebra. We got to the beach, the Indian Ocean where we snorkeled in some weautiful, clear, warm water. It was great fun, we saw lots of fish, just like at the fish store, but in real life waters. We had a wonderful time till the tide started coming back in and the current was so strong we could not swim against it. It also started kicking up the sand so it was hard to see. We played in the waves for a bit, till it was time to leave. We headed back to Durban to get ready for the Monday training.
Monday we trained at McCord Hospital. The psychologists and social workers were the audience. There were about 24 who attended all or part of the training. They were a great group and learned quickly. We did lots of practice and they seemed to learn lots.
Tomorrow we go out to Lilly of the Valley orphanage which is in a township in the country to do a training for the house mothers. It will be in Zulu, that is a new one for me.
Well thats all for now.
Joan
We went back to the lodge for a wonderful dinner of Kudu in a cherry sauce.
Next morning we drove to St Lucia wetlands. The B&B was very nice, we met a great South Africa couple who shared lots about the country and political nature. Many South African whites are wanting to leave the country and come to America. The town itself is very touristy and very white. So different from Congo where we hardly ever saw another white person.
We went on a hippo/croc boat trip and got up close and personal to the hippos, including new born babies. The tell us that the hippos come out and roam the streets at night but we didn't see them.
Saturday morning we went for our kayak trip where we were paddling in the same waters as the hippos and crocs. All the S Africans told us we were crazy and that they would never do such a foolish thing, but we and 3 other couples went out. We got pretty close to both but at a very safe distance. It was very interesting to see them at water level. Lots of birds as well, haron, white egerts, a fish eagle flew right over our head, yellow weavers who make their nest in the reeds. When we got out there were lots of little monkeys to greet us. A great trip all around. The afternoon was spent shopping and lounging in the pool.
Sunday morning we got up and headed for Cape Vidal. We took several loop roads and saw more kudu, rinos, wart hog families, baboons and zebra. We got to the beach, the Indian Ocean where we snorkeled in some weautiful, clear, warm water. It was great fun, we saw lots of fish, just like at the fish store, but in real life waters. We had a wonderful time till the tide started coming back in and the current was so strong we could not swim against it. It also started kicking up the sand so it was hard to see. We played in the waves for a bit, till it was time to leave. We headed back to Durban to get ready for the Monday training.
Monday we trained at McCord Hospital. The psychologists and social workers were the audience. There were about 24 who attended all or part of the training. They were a great group and learned quickly. We did lots of practice and they seemed to learn lots.
Tomorrow we go out to Lilly of the Valley orphanage which is in a township in the country to do a training for the house mothers. It will be in Zulu, that is a new one for me.
Well thats all for now.
Joan
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
To the Congo and return
Hello all
I just lost the entire post I was writing so I will begin again
I am in Durban South Africa after spending 6 days in Congo. It was an interesting and fulfilling trip. I have not sent a post because the internet and the electricity is pretty unreliable there. The roads are terrible as well.
I did 2 days training with 24 folks, mostly school administrators for small village schools. 3 of the schools are already doing grief groups as well as Anita's New Hope Center. It is very nice with all the rooms in place. The talking room has drums and great little chairs for the kids, they sang and danced for me. The little girls were playing moms by strapping their dolls on their backs. They had very impressive art that they were happy to show us.
The training was conducted in French and went very well.
We went up to a village where there were 267 kids in 6 classrooms, 60 first graders in one room. all very well behaved.
The school put on an performance for us including singing, dancing, a marching band with all the instruments made out of plastic bottles, and a performance about child soldiers. It was very impressive.
We went to the Kigali Parent school for a visit and who should be in town but our own President Bushie. We got pictures of air force one. It closest we have ever been to te guy. Anyway the school has an incredible grief group with over 300 students, It has been running for 8 years.
Well there are some of the highlights, we are going to go kayaking in the wetlands and will be back on Sunday. I will post pictures and more details the.
I just lost the entire post I was writing so I will begin again
I am in Durban South Africa after spending 6 days in Congo. It was an interesting and fulfilling trip. I have not sent a post because the internet and the electricity is pretty unreliable there. The roads are terrible as well.
I did 2 days training with 24 folks, mostly school administrators for small village schools. 3 of the schools are already doing grief groups as well as Anita's New Hope Center. It is very nice with all the rooms in place. The talking room has drums and great little chairs for the kids, they sang and danced for me. The little girls were playing moms by strapping their dolls on their backs. They had very impressive art that they were happy to show us.
The training was conducted in French and went very well.
We went up to a village where there were 267 kids in 6 classrooms, 60 first graders in one room. all very well behaved.
The school put on an performance for us including singing, dancing, a marching band with all the instruments made out of plastic bottles, and a performance about child soldiers. It was very impressive.
We went to the Kigali Parent school for a visit and who should be in town but our own President Bushie. We got pictures of air force one. It closest we have ever been to te guy. Anyway the school has an incredible grief group with over 300 students, It has been running for 8 years.
Well there are some of the highlights, we are going to go kayaking in the wetlands and will be back on Sunday. I will post pictures and more details the.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
I am here in Africa
Well I made it with all of my luggage. An uneventful 19 hour 2 plane ride trip with 3 movies and lots of reading and a bit of sleeping. I am in Johannesburg and have seen the airport and the hotel. Not safe to walk around a night I am told by the hotel staff and not enough time to go into the city. There is a famous "mall" across the street I am heading for this morning. You all know that shopping is high on my list of the last thing in the world to do.
I leave at 4 this afternoon for Rwanda and Congo. I am very excited about that part of the trip. Seeing the only TDC program in Africa will be very interesting. I hope to leave them with some more tools. I am told that possibly the folks from Uganda will be coming for the training as well.
I just finished reading a book about a young black boys' experience in South Africa duing the apartide. It is pretty eye opening and hard to know that people are treated that way or that whites feel they are so much superior. I think my way of looking at the world will be greatly altered by the end of this trip.
Well that all for now, nothing to exciting till tomorrow.
I leave at 4 this afternoon for Rwanda and Congo. I am very excited about that part of the trip. Seeing the only TDC program in Africa will be very interesting. I hope to leave them with some more tools. I am told that possibly the folks from Uganda will be coming for the training as well.
I just finished reading a book about a young black boys' experience in South Africa duing the apartide. It is pretty eye opening and hard to know that people are treated that way or that whites feel they are so much superior. I think my way of looking at the world will be greatly altered by the end of this trip.
Well that all for now, nothing to exciting till tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Let the adventures begin
Well, I am off to Africa for a month of teaching, travel, adventure and fun.
I leave Monday the 11 from Portland
I arrive some 24 hours later in Johannesburg were I will spend the night and catch a flight the following afternoon to Kigali. Tamera Farris from the scrap book project will join me. The following several days will be spent in Goma Congo, doing some trainning at New Hope center and supporting our only Dougy Center trained center in Africa. They are working with children orphaned by war, AIDS and generalized poverty. They are also helping child soldiers and training widowed mother needing to support themselves and their children. Hopefully the earthquakes and war will hold off while I am there.
I will spend a day in Kigili Rwanda visiting with a school that works with orphaned children as a result of the ethnic cleansing. It should be an interesting day.
It is then off to South Africa where I will arrive in Durban and head off for a 4 day safari and wet land tour. My good friend and travel buddy Jacqui will join me for the rest of the trip.
On our retun to Durban I will do a one day training at McCord Hospital. They are working with AIDS patients. Many are children and many are the parents of children who will soon be orphaned. The following day I will be at Lilly of theValley orphanage for another full day training with those working with the children.
From there we are off to spend a night in a Zulu village, a 3 day safari at Kruger Game Park and the to Cape Town.
In Cape Town we will do some sight seeing, see the tip of the world, penguins, cheetahs and other incredible sights yet to be determined. I will visit with a child berevement center there to see what they are doing.
The Home! It doesn't seem like I will be gone a month but count the days.
I hope to be sharing pictures and adventures for all of you so you too can join me on this adventure.
I leave Monday the 11 from Portland
I arrive some 24 hours later in Johannesburg were I will spend the night and catch a flight the following afternoon to Kigali. Tamera Farris from the scrap book project will join me. The following several days will be spent in Goma Congo, doing some trainning at New Hope center and supporting our only Dougy Center trained center in Africa. They are working with children orphaned by war, AIDS and generalized poverty. They are also helping child soldiers and training widowed mother needing to support themselves and their children. Hopefully the earthquakes and war will hold off while I am there.
I will spend a day in Kigili Rwanda visiting with a school that works with orphaned children as a result of the ethnic cleansing. It should be an interesting day.
It is then off to South Africa where I will arrive in Durban and head off for a 4 day safari and wet land tour. My good friend and travel buddy Jacqui will join me for the rest of the trip.
On our retun to Durban I will do a one day training at McCord Hospital. They are working with AIDS patients. Many are children and many are the parents of children who will soon be orphaned. The following day I will be at Lilly of theValley orphanage for another full day training with those working with the children.
From there we are off to spend a night in a Zulu village, a 3 day safari at Kruger Game Park and the to Cape Town.
In Cape Town we will do some sight seeing, see the tip of the world, penguins, cheetahs and other incredible sights yet to be determined. I will visit with a child berevement center there to see what they are doing.
The Home! It doesn't seem like I will be gone a month but count the days.
I hope to be sharing pictures and adventures for all of you so you too can join me on this adventure.
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