"End of an era...end of a trip"

Well, my trip has finally come to an end and I have been back for about two weeks now. It is so weird to think that I have been home for two weeks, the trip went by so quickly and I am glad that I have so many memories and good times to look back on. I have seen a few people from the trip so far since I have been home and that has been really nice to keep in contact, it keeps the spirit of the trip alive. There are many things that I reflect on each day that I have been home and I look at my pictures often. It is something that I never want to forget about and I know that with all the different experiences that I had while there, friendships I made and realizations I came to experience the trip will stay with me forever. It has been great to share many factors of the trip with friends and family and I look forward to what this experience will bring me in my future career and life!

Blog post number 7-- One week left!

Going into the last two weeks of the trip, it seems like a whirlwind with how fast these past seven weeks have been going by. I will be teaching the next four days and then we are headed to George to do many different things including, bungee jumping off the highest point in the world where you can bungee jump, yes I realize I am crazy, riding elephants, ostriches, petting baby lions and cheetahs, climbing through some caves and other surprises that we are not yet aware of. I am looking very forward to those activities and I will be sure to get the DVD of my bungee jump so everyone can see how it went. I will be teaching a lesson on Michigan this upcoming week for my students as well as have them write letters to my students that I will have in the fall for my student teaching, hopefully an activity that they will enjoy.

This past week I got to do some typical things that I would do at home, go to the mall, go see a movie, hang out with friends and my host family. I got to meet my host mom’s mom and her brothers, sisters nieces and nephews. We had a huge dinner and many of them were asking me questions about the U.S. We also got to look at wedding photos of my host mom’s mom as she just got married two months ago and she is 80 years old, not to mention she wore the highest heels I have ever seen an 80 year old women in, she is 80 going on 60. I have also been able to go out here to different clubs and bars, so many people and a really fun atmosphere. Something that I have never experienced before in MI happened this past weekend, my friend Mallory and I went out to a club called Cantina Tequila with Mallory’s host sister (my host sister came as well) and Mallory and I were the only white people in the entire club, the entire night. I didn’t notice it until it was pointed out to me because I just felt like part of the community and don’t really look at skin color in the first place but once it was pointed out to me I did realize it. After I realized it, it didn’t make a difference to me in the slightest but it was interesting to think about. I have been to a different club called Tiger Tiger that is just about all white people minus the black people who work there; I find it interesting that still the different clubs are segregated by choice (at least that is what it looks like to me.) To be very blunt I had way more fun at Cantina Tequila than at Tiger Tiger, the people were nicer and it was more enjoyable, not saying that has anything to do with the fact that club Tiger, Tiger was predominantly white and Cantina Tequila was not, just how I felt. They are very strict on the dress code at the clubs that I have been to, I had my NorthFace jacket on because it was cold outside and the bouncer wouldn’t let me into the club unless I took it off because it was not club appropriate, I found that interesting. One awesome thing about going out in SA is the cheapness of the drinks, because one dollar is about seven rand I can get up to five or six drinks for under 20 dollars, in the U.S. it would be close to 50 most likely for mixed drinks and shots in bulk. I have been having so much fun here I really wish that I could stay longer, I do miss everyone back at home and my own bed but I have become part of another culture here and because it is different and new I never want it to end. It has relieved me to know that many of the other members of the trip are having the same behavioral problems in their classrooms as well. I literally have never been so mean to students before in my entire teaching career and college thus far but the students do not respond to quiet they need to be yelled at in order to listen. I have been using different incentives and they do work sometimes but what has really put the students to listening to me from the first direction I give is playing music while they are working. Students/children here are obsessed with Michael Jackson, literally obsessed. So I play his music off my IPod while they are working and unfortunately have to threaten them that if it gets to loud the music will have to be turned off and they will have to work in silence. This is the last week at my host mom’s I will be leaving this upcoming Friday (August 6th) that will be a sad day for us. Lastly the group and I went to rugby game and let me tell you I about died watching those players. They are so rough and tough on each other I don’t know how any of them could stand after the game was over. We met some people that were sitting next to us that were from the U.S. also on a different study abroad program and it was nice to hear an American accent many of us were joking around about. To think that I am earning credits towards my Masters degree and having the time of my life being able to do so many new and fun things here in SA is crazy!

Blog post 6

Almost into the last two weeks of my trip! It is going by so quickly I forget that I have to fly home in a few weeks, it seems like I live here now--others on the trip are feeling the same way. I have been teaching everyday different lessons with the students, using different tactics to get the student's attention (and keep it) I have been joking with the teachers that work at the school about the students and different ways to keep the class under control. For so many complaints that I had about the US school systems (particularly in MI) I have no complaints now. The school I am at with 40 students in the classroom those with learning disabilities and there are plenty of them, they cannot get the attention that they deserve. Many students in the grade 4 class cannot read, literally cannot read. Today I worked with a student one-on-one for about an hour on sound-letter knowledge, sight words, phonemic awareness and the poor student could barely read the word "went." My teacher has had psychologists come in, meetings with his mum but the schools just pass him along because they do not have resource rooms. It is tough to see the students struggle but positive times make up for it. This past weekend was a tour of the Western Cape again going to different beaches and staying at a bed and breakfast right on the beach, seeing white lions and having plenty of group bonding, I do not want the trip to end! This weekend we are going to watch a rugby game and I am meeting family members of my host mom- really excited!

Blog post number 5- reflection

Into week three of the trip! It is amazing me how fast the trip is going. I have been in the classroom now for about a week. I have been teaching every day so far and it has been very eye opening. My host mom and I have lots of discussions during the class day about differences in the schools in America and the resources that we have. These schools do not even have text books. There is nothing but a few notebooks for the students that they must share and a teacher edition that gives no activities or worksheets or anything to assess the lesson. Teachers are to create everything themselves. They have over 40 students in a classroom, NO prep period, teachers are all the coaches for the sports after school, there is very little time for the teachers to prep for their classes until after or before school and even then the resources they have are scarce. The students in my class are very generous in sharing pens, pencils and erasers. Many of the students are extremely behind because they have just been passed along. I am in a fourth grade classroom and many of the students cannot even multiply 43x3, it is very sad to see but all I can do is help them. My teacher works very hard using the curriculum that she has and every year or every other year they change it on the teachers so they must start over. It is a waste of money and little resources because everything is being changed. An upcoming change for this next school year that will actually be a huge benefit to the schools of SA is they are getting rid of OBE (outcome based education.) OBE only works in schools that have the resources of text books, overheads, computers, etc. In middle class or lower class schools the limited resources do not allow the teachers to teach to their full potential especially with class sizes, so the schools are not seeing the results that they should and the gap between the wealthy and poor schools keeps growing. I hope that changes can come to the schools by getting rid of the OBE system and poorer schools can start growing to the top. Class and race is a big part of schooling and many parents do not pay their school fees, either because they cannot afford the payment (R 650 a year = 92 dollars a year) that is where people in this country are at. Going into length with this topic with Addy (my host mom) she said that race is a big part of this problem. Colored people (which is a politically CORRECT term in SA) are not paying the schools fees but black people (another politically CORRECT term in SA) are paying the school fees because they have always been at the bottom of the pole during Apartheid (which ended ONLY 15 years ago) education is the number one priority of parents for their children so they can be managers, doctors, lawyers, etc. It is very interesting. In most of the places that I have been in SA black people are always in the kitchen serving or cleaning, VERY RARELY are there black people as owners of shops or working directly with customers, many of us on this trip have noticed this and spoken about it. It is so sad to me how race is such an important factor for people. I do not think that I will ever understand why it matters what color your skin is in society. In my eyes, WHO CARES people are people. Being on this trip I have realized even more that people are responsible for all the hatred and violence in this world. People are brought up to HATE others because of their race or where they are from and the people who suffer the most from this are the CHILDREN. Just because you are white does not mean that you are better than others or just because you are black does not mean that you are only allowed to work at certain jobs. I hope that others can go through the same experience that I am on this trip because they will never again hate or have negative feelings for another human being based off their skin color or other physical characteristic.
Many people stop me while I am out to talk to an ‘American’ today at the grocery store a woman had so many questions for me and many of them were about Barack Obama. He is a very big political figure here and many South African’s have very high respect for him. I am actually giving a lesson on Obama tomorrow (July 20, 2010) in my classroom. I think that it is very interesting that he is so big here and I would like to learn more about him myself. Yesterday was Mendala day because it was Nelson Mendala’s birthday, the first president of SA. He is a very good man who has done so much for this country and it is nice to see so many people supporting him. I would like to give A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who gave me school supplies and other items to bring with me to SA. I cannot begin to tell you the smiles on the student’s faces and thank-you that I have received for bringing the school supplies to them. Literally something as simple as ONE pencil and a stapler causes grave happiness for these students. It makes me realize that I think I would like to teach in a more rural area instead of an urban area. My reason is that the children in urban areas do not appreciate what they are given or they take many things for granted but those in rural areas appreciate every little thing and have a more positive outlook on life and ethic because they realize that life is not just handed to you, you have to work for what you have and receive. I had a discussion today with my friend Mallory about taking so many things for granted and I have been in instances where I see that I take things for granted before but for some reason this trip has solidified the fact that I need to realize what I do have and do what I can with what I have to help others. There is nothing wrong with doing things for yourself when you work hard for what you have but it feels even better to give and help others. I just went through all my clothes and shoes that I brought here to determine what I am going to leave for those who are homeless and without clothes, I am leaving much more than I expected but my heart cannot just walk away from this trip with so many things that are worthless to me. I just went to the store and bought them with money in my account, didn’t think twice about it. People here for one pair of shoes are so grateful and appreciative it melts your heart.
Today has been a reflection day for me (July 19, 2010) and I have thought a lot about myself and others. I went into this trip knowing that it was going to change me and I was going to learn a lot but I never thought I would feel so much for these people, my students and this country. The turning point of my emotion toward this country was the first week I was here. We were driving home back to our bed and breakfast it was about 1130-12am. We were at a stop light, many people in the car were sleeping but I had my ipod on and was looking out the window. I see a little boy, he could not have been older than 8 or 9, sitting on the curb with a little bag, old worn clothes a hat and a blanket around him. I was literally speech-less, I woke others in the car and asked if we could help him but we were not able to. I could not stop thinking about that child, where he went that night, what he ate or did the next day. I still think about him and it breaks my heart in half to know that he is still out there possibly alone and hungry. I hope and pray that child is in a warm place right now. Each day I get different letters from my students telling me that they love me and I am beautiful and this and that, it is a positive side to the hard things that I see on this trip. Children are so easy to make smile and when you know that you have made a child’s day, they have taken time to write a letter and color a picture or give you their food from their lunch to show how much they love you and are grateful for you, NOTHING can compare to that feeling. I am so grateful that I am able to get an education degree and continue touching children’s lives as a teacher.
Cheers.

Blog post number 4!

A lot has happened since my last blog post! There has been very little time for me to get on the internet because where I am living there is no internet and my time is limited! To update I have moved out of the bed and breakfast that I was staying at and am currently living with a host family. The family consists of a mom (Addy) and a daughter (Tarryn.) I really love my host family, they are so nice to me, my room is spacious, comfortable and although it is cold outside sometimes and there is not central heating, my bed is warm when I wear two pairs of pants, and two sweaters to bed. The food I have been eating is amazing! I feel guilty saying no thank you sometimes because they feed me so much I am nervous that I am going to gain weight, which is the last thing I want to do. I am very active during this trip also. This past weekend (July10-12) I was in Hermanas where we stayed at a hostel. We went around the town shopping and going out to eat. I went to a club at night and met some very nice South African people, everyone here is very friendly. My favorite part of the trip so far has been my shark cage diving. I went out on a boat on the Indian Ocean about 20 minutes from shore where we were put into a cage, chum and bait were put into the water, and we waited for the sharks to arrive. Because I am such a shark enthusiast it was amazing for me to see these creatures in the wild. The sharks were so close to the cage that I could have reached my hand out to touch them, and I wanted to so badly. The largest shark that we saw was about 4 meters (roughly 12 feet) which is actually quite small for this breed of shark (great white) I saw the shark open its mouth, grab for the bait, swim so calmly around the boat, at one point there was two of them at once…it was a dream come true, a fear tears were shed in such excitement. I could do that job for a living, hands down. A more down side to the trip was one of our township tours, it was extremely eye opening and I am so blessed that I was raised in such a blessed area and family. Many of the people in the township do not have work, their homes are the size of one bedroom and up to 15 people can live in that once space. There is very little food and water or warmth for these people and the children rarely go to school. We were all attacked by the little boys and girls who wanted us to hold them, play with them, wear our sun glasses they were so cute and every single one of them changed me in some way. Many of them were walking around the streets with no shoes, no socks, and some no pants. It was very sad, many of us got extremely emotional on this tour. It is hard to imagine places like this until you really see them. I know that all over the world and right where I live in Detroit there are many people in a similar condition but I have never taken a walk through that area or have children living there come up to me and be amazed by my shoes, or my jacket. Many of the kids were wanting to touch my hair and that has been the biggest point of interest when it comes to me and the children here and my students. Today in my class (which I taught alone because the teacher was absent and they do not have a sub-list) I spent 90% of the day getting the students to stop touching my hair and focus on their work. It was very interesting being a sub in a new classroom let alone a new country! The students gave me a run for my money in the beginning but then finally got used to me. It made me realize that there is nothing else that I could do expect teach, hugs and smiles from students erase all negative happenings in the day. This weekend I am going to a dance with my host mom and her “man-friend” and then Saturday walking up a mountain that is a monument. It will be a busy weekend!

Blog post number 3!

This trip has been getting better and better each day. I am really letting myself enjoy the time that I am spending here and learning about the culture. Yesterday we took a hike down Table Mountain. We drove there and then took a cable car up the side of the mountain that went 1000m a second, we spent time walking around the top of the mountain taking pictures then descended for our hike down. I must say that walking down a steep mountain for three hours leaves you in a bit of pain because of the sore muscles but the dancing that we did today really helped with that soreness. We had dinner at a church and then learned different African dance moves. We learned the dance moves to the song “waka waka” by Shakira, love the song and love the dance; I will have to teach everyone when I get home. Today really felt like I was part of the South African culture, the food the dancing and the music, it was really inspiring. This past week I have really come to terms with the different racial problems that the country of South Africa has overcome, it is really hard to look at things because South Africa is only 15 years into its democracy as a country. Going to the District Six Museum today was really eye opening. District Six was a place where blacks, colored and Indian were moved out of, families separated, items and homes ransacked and possessions taken, all because they were “non-whites.” It’s very hard to look at pictures and hear stories; I really grew up with a blessed life. I am looking forward to going to Hermanas this weekend for whale watching, shark cage diving and sight- seeing, also moving into my host mom’s house on Tuesday. Also we are going to the townships (which are a very rural area of Cape Town) where the quality of living is that of or near poverty, I hope I am able to be positive about the experience but I know that it will be challenging to see that type of lifestyle knowing what I had growing up. This trip has just been amazing so far and I know that I have much more to learn and grow from.

Blog post number 2!

Going on my eighth day in South Africa, so many things have happened since my last blog post! We went to Robben Island right off the Cape where the previous South African government held Nelson Mandela, mentally ill patients and other political prisoners. We took a bus tour and walking tour with a previous inmate as our tour guide, it was hard to hear about everything that these people went through. The boat ride to and from the Island was amazing, we got to be a-top the ferry and could see for miles the view of the ocean and mountains, it was beautiful! We watched the game Netherlands vs. Brazil at the fan park, ate lunch, had some drinks and me and two other girls from the trip were interviewed by a news station and were on the national news, it was ridiculous because we had no idea what was going on. I also met some locals while watching the game and we hung out, had some drinks and learned about South Africa, it was a really fun! Watching soccer games has become one of my new favorite things to do. I also went to an Afrikaans language museum and a wine tasting vineyard where I had the best wine I had ever had in my life. One of my favorite things that I have done so far on the trip was take a tour of the Western Cape I saw so many beautiful landscapes and natural earth that a picture could never give it justice. I was so grateful to go to Fish Hoke beach where I could stand in the Atlantic Ocean, it was amazing. The best day of my life has also occurred here, when we were are Boulder Bay the penguin exhibit I was leaning over the railing like a normal tourist taking pictures and I look to my left…and who do I see? Leonardo DiCaprio, in the flesh, I was speechless at first and then couldn’t breathe, he was just being a normal tourist as well taking pictures of the penguins with body guards surrounding him and they wouldn’t let us say hi, we asked. I stood three feet from him, my favorite actor in the entire world, it was amazing! We also have been eating dinner at Newfield Church (our leader’s church) who makes the most amazing food I have ever had in my life, delicious! Classes have started as well and we only have two classes left before we are done! Next week moving into my host family’s house, going SHARK DIVING and starting teaching, I am looking forward to it all. I am having an absolute blast, not sure if I want to come home.

IN SOUTH AFRICA!!!

I have arrived in Cape Town, South Africa! The flights were long…very long. I had never been on a flight longer than about four hours I believe and I was struggling toward the end sitting and not being able to stand or walk around very much…with that said walking off of the flight was amazing! We got in a group and went through customs then got our luggage then were picked up by Corvell (the program leader) and went to McDonalds! We arrived in Cape Town at 10pm and by the time we got our luggage and to the car it was about midnight and the only thing open around us was McDonalds, it was a nice late night treat! I am staying at a bed & breakfast with the other members in the group and my mattress is a heating pad as well but it is still chilly at night. Today (7-1-10) we had a busy day. Up at 8:30 am breakfast, debrief and off to the mall to get cell phones and convertors. After the mall we went to Dor’s a restaurant for lunch and then headed off to a place called Speirs. We get driven around in two big vans that hold about 15 people each they are yet to be named. Speirs is a place that has restaurants, bars, markets AND cheetahs! We had the opportunity to pet the adult cheaters at this conversationb area where the cheetahs stay. The place is for cheetahs that are found abandon in the wild or left by their mothers and are raised at this conversation place. All of the proceeds from the money that Speirs makes go 100% to conserving the cheetah population. We went in groups of four to pet the cheetah and take pictures, it was very surreal. I say that because this is a wild animal that is aggressive and can be fatal but it was so peaceful laying there, purring as we were petting it. After the cheetahs we shopped at the different market stands, I bought a gift for my mom! And then we went to the restaurant and bar that was also in Speirs. I sat and drank wine with two other girls from the trip and just talked for about an hour. After that I met up with the group and then we went to get dinner at the mall, the name of the mall is Tyger Valley and I got a vegan wrap! It was a busy day and we were told that this was a “slow day” so I can just imagine what the other days are going to be like! I also did a money exchange and got Rand that I will be using for the duration of the trip! Overall it was a great day...and at this moment I am writing this blog on four hours of sleep in the past 72 hours, yes it has been a long day but well worth it! We have a busy day tomorrow (7-2-2010) we are going to Robbin Island and a Fan Park to watch a futbol game should be fun! Unfortunately there is no wireless internet at the place that we are staying for the first two weeks and we all have to share one computer that does have wireless so hopefully I will be able to get on often enough to update!

Cheers!

Tomorrow is the day!

Well, tomorrow is the day. I will be flying out of Michigan in about 16 hours. The excitement is definitely building! Both of my parents are taking me to the airport and we are going out to lunch before at a Coney Island. I am looking forward to spending the morning and early afternoon with them before I leave. I will be meeting my friend Alexa at the 'curb' where we check in, then we will go in and join the rest of the group! There are 22/24 of us on the same flight tomorrow, so it will be great group bonding! We are flying from Michigan to Amsterdam in Europe which is about a seven hour flight. We arrive in Amsterdam and have a four hour lay-over, then hop on the flight to Cape Town, SA! I will be in Cape Town at 10pm their time--4pm Michigan time on June 30th.

Looking forward to starting my trip!

xo

Itinerary

Here is our itinerary!!

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR CROSS-CULTURAL TEACHING IN SOUTH AFRICA, JULY-AUGUST 2009
Date No. of Days Day Activity
30-Jun day 1 Wed Arrive in Cape Town: group 1
1-Jul day 2 Thu Arrive in Cape Town: group 2
2-Jul day 3 Fri "Official Welcome and logistics orientation Robbin Island, District six museum, bo-kaap City centre, Waterfront, opening dinner World Cup: Quarter finals 4pm and 8pm BIG SCREEN"
3-Jul day 4 Sat "Wine route: Stellenbosch, Spier, Paarl, Franschoek WORLD CUP: 4pm Cape Town and 8 pm"
4-Jul day 5 Sun "Peninsula trip: Signal Hill, camps Bay, Hout Bay Chapmans Peak/Ou Kaapse Weg, Boulders, kommetjie, witsands, fishhoek, etc"
5-Jul day 6 Mon "orientation at UCT: historical overview - politics, culture and education Prof Crain Soudien and student presentations"
6-Jul day 7 Tue "Orientation at UCT: Knowledge in the Blood: Prof Jonathan Jansen WORLD CUP: 8pm Cape Town"
7-Jul day 8 Wed "orientation at UCT: transformation - politics, culture and education Meet UCT education graduate students/profs. HIV/AIDS, WCED officials (Roderick Williams and Dr Ronald Cornellisen) WORLD CUP: 8pm"
8-Jul day 9 Thu "Trip to Table Mountain- cable car and
hike down the mountain"
9-Jul day 10 Fri "orientation at UCT: teaching, assessment, and everything else(dept. officials, teacher panels) + educational challenges of SA classrooms (panel of principals, panel teachers, Special ed) POTJIE, GAMES, TRADITIONAL DANCING"
10-Jul day 11 Sat "trip to Gordon's bay, Betty's Bay, Pringle Bay
Hermanus WORLD CUP: 8pm"
11-Jul day 12 Sun "Gansbaai, Cape Agullas Southern Most Point of Africa
WORLD CUP: 8pm"
12-Jul day 13 Mon "Shark Cage Diving or Hermanus Last night at Deo Gratia"
13-Jul day 14 Tue "Check out at Deo: Township tours: Langa/Khailitsha,
Mitchells Plain Meet the teacher/host Function - Go home with teachers"
14-Jul day 15 Wed school day 1 (observations)
15-Jul day 16 Thu school day 2 (observations)
16-Jul day 17 Fri school day 3 (teaching) - Rugby
17-Jul day 18 Sat Mountain contour path hike and Kirstenbosch gardens
18-Jul day 19 Sun host family weekend
19-Jul day 20 Mon school day 4
20-Jul day 21 Tue school day 5
21-Jul day 22 Wed School day 6
22-Jul day 23 Thu School day 7
23-Jul day 24 Fri school day 8 (Rugby)
24-Jul day 25 Sat host family weekend
25-Jul day 26 Sun host family weekend
26-Jul day 27 Mon school day 9
27-Jul day 28 Tue school day 10
28-Jul day 29 Wed School day 11 (indoor cricket)
29-Jul day 30 Thu School day 12
30-Jul day 31 Fri school day 13
31-Jul day 32 Sat West Coast: Vistas: Darling, Citrus-dal, Saldanha
1-Aug day 33 Sun West Coast: Saldanha, strandloper
2-Aug day 34 Mon school day 14
3-Aug day 35 Tue school day 15
4-Aug day 36 Wed School day 16
5-Aug day 37 Thu School day17 (Last day at School)
6-Aug day 38 Fri check out with host family and Leave for George
7-Aug day 39 Sat Explore: Knysna Featherbed, Elephant farm
8-Aug day 40 Sun Explore: Game farm, Xhosa village
9-Aug day 41 Mon Explore: Oudtshoorn, Kango caves, etc
10-Aug day 42 Tues Leave early morning for Cape Town - Deo Gratia
11-Aug day 43 Wed Deo Gratia
12-Aug day 44 Thurs Leave Cape Town for the US

First Post!

Hello!

Welcome to my blog site that I will be updating while studying in South Africa. I have made this blog for family, friends and others to read up on what I am doing as I will not be able to communicate through other mediums besides email. I am hoping to be posting pictures, videos and information that I will be learning and experiencing. Exciting news to come!