HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY 2016!
A month ago, M's parents came to visit us in South Africa and we would like to honour PCV moms on this Mother's Day by sharing about the trip, in my mom's own words... Q & A style.
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| My parents and I in Simon's Town. Joe was teasing us for being matchy-matchy. |
What is the most cherished moment from your time in South Africa?
My most cherished part of the trip were my interactions with South Africans. It started with learning Cape Town history by Sean at
Verona Lodge, interacting with Yasmina at the
Cape Malay cooking class hosted in her own home and learning Bo Kaap history.
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| Mom learning how to make roti, a type of flatbread that is popular in many Indian and Malay dishes |
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| Michelle learning to make roti. |
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| Joe and Daddy learning to make samosa (or samoosas). |
Then came
Mama Mbatha [NB: J&M's host mom during training]. I adore this woman. She loves Joe and Michelle with her whole heart. She took what life dealt her with smile. Our discussion about rondevels, ancestors and talking to ancestors over tea keeps playing in my mind. Playing cards with the boys in both families
[J&M's current host family and Mama's family] is a big highlight. Their current host family, especially their host brother and gogo
[grandmother], were open and we found info on some of the modern Zulu culture.
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| Playing cards with our host brothers |
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| J & M's Host Family |
The school visits were such eye openers. These kids work hard. They have so much dedication in their hearts to your library, to their traditions and dances, and to the importance of education. These interactions made the trip.
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| Momma reading to learners at recess |
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| Some of my Library Student Assistants |
I also really enjoyed the Catholic church that we attended. The songs were so beautiful. Such harmony. We were not on vacation, but rather a cultural journey.
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| The Catholic Church |
But the most cherished moment has to be the time with Mama. We were there for about 24 hrs but she was so open to us and to see the relationship she had with Joe and Michelle, the love and returned love and respect. It was obvious to us that they have made a difference in SA!!
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| Momma and Mama |
What surprised you while you were here?
Two things surprised me.
1. The crime/ warnings of crime and the barbed wire on everything. The people are such polite and friendly people- Why do they accept crime being so prevalent?
2. The "markets" visits. People, including gogos, basically selling everything on the sidewalks or men saying "I will watch your car" to earn a living. Also their creativity with beading, weaving, metal working, tin can art and wood art.
What was the hardest moment when you were here? (Besides saying goodbye...)
The hardest moment was wanting to do more and not be able to do it at that time. I wanted to buy a lot and 200 blocks to start up
Mama Maseko's crèche or bring the FEMA trailers there so the schools will have fewer kids per class. We wished to help these schools in some way, like in their libraries. For some reason I thought the books would magically unpack themselves. They are still going through the slow process of unpacking, labelling, and shelving the donated books.
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| Daddy telling stories to Joe's Grade 6 learners |
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| Momma and Daddy with my Grade 7 learners |
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| Mama Maseko teaching Grade R |
What is one thing that you want Americans to know about South Africa?
Americans should know that South Africa is a beautiful and friendly country. Their style of singing sets your blood wanting to dance within. The country is so green, even though the soil is sandy and it is during a drought. But this greenness doesn't mean the people have water. Mostly I want them to know that the people in South Africa are friendly and resilient. Their struggles with apartheid have given them voice and strength. Despite poverty and unemployment, they are trying to make a living (as evident in their beading and art from even tin cans).
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| Beautiful South Africa: Cape Town, Western Cape |
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| Beautiful South Africa: Port Shepstone, KwaZulu Natal |
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| Beautiful South Africa: Howick, KwaZulu Natal |
