Kids and Laundry

September 11, 2013

Didn’t realize it was 9-11 till I wrote the date. Not something of note here.

Kids. There’s an ever-changing number of kids here, as they go off to visit relatives, or return from visits or just come over to play. Monday I think I was the only adult here with about 7 little ones ranging in age from 2-13. All played together. One of the games involved rolling tires around the big house, laughing loudly. Then races, 2 at a time, with the other kids first yelling, “on you mark, get ready, get set, GO!!!” then cheering wildly for one of the racers. The 13 year old often let the littler ones win. One youngster had bike tire rim that he raced with a stick. He was good, too! Later the littlest ones went off for some indecipherable game involving baskets and lots of giggles.

When the adults returned, it was time to go get water from the tap. The kids put 5 gallon buckets in a wheelbarrow and trekked off to the tap. I needed water, too, and went along with my own wheelbarrow. The kids took turns riding and pushing on the way. Lots of kids at the tap, with lots of laughter and mock-chases. I turned around to find the 2 year old had followed us. I loaded my water jugs and the kids loaded theirs, and we started off. I went faster, so when I headed back for my second trip, I found Beke, the 2 year old, had hitched a ride with the 80 pounds of water jugs on the kids’ wheelbarrow!

These kids are kind to each other, and everyone works, even the littlest ones, who carry washtubs of corncobs for the outdoor kitchen to be used as fuel.

Outside. There’s a cement drain under a huge jojo tank around the corner from my hut. I empty my wastewater there (except the thunder bucket, which of course goes to the latrine). Crumbs and compost go out the door and over the fence to the chickens and goats, unless it goes into a pan for the dogs. Most mornings Linda (that’s a he) sweeps the dirt with a broom made of branches and cleans up the detritus from the previous day. It’s becoming my new normal.

14 September 2013

Saturday. The whole family did laundry throughout the day. We started with Sibhamu and I doing a couple of water runs (one apiece, then 2 loads for her). At first it was just the two of us working next to each other. What is it about women working together? That kitchen closeness that draws us together and somehow evokes – what? trust? deeper conversations? Not sure, just enjoyed it. Make joined us, and more SiSwati entered the conversation. Babe joined us, and soon it was all SiSwati, and I was still there, but alone. What an amazing transformation! What makes us include/exclude others? What creates/dissipates that sense of closeness? Not at all sure..

The week was really busy. Can’t believe I’ve been here for 2 weeks.  On Wednesday I was introduced to the community, and those who weren’t at the meeting come up and introduce themselves. I’m not hard to spot <grin>, and try to be available. People seem to want help (read hope?). If they are willing to follow through, I think together there is a lot we can accomplish. And as people begin talking of their dreams, there’s a kind of magic that happens. I am trying hard not to get in over my head – there are so many directions I could go. At the least, I can help get resources for those areas beyond my knowledge. Many people want to start small businesses, and I can help them access training about what that means, though I don’t know how to do it myself.

And I’ve started working with the guidance counselor at the high school.  We’re brainstorming ways to motivate kids, to help them understand the importance of school, to find and encourage the ways they shine. Any input cheerfully accepted.

And it looks like I’ll be able to work with the school librarian to apply for a grant to get books for the library. All in all, lots going on!

Sunday. Woke to bird songs accompanying the roosters. The feedback I’ve received about these scattered glimpses has been positive, so I’ve decided to continue, rather than try to make them better and thus delay. Thanks for your patience with my scribbles, and for the comments and emails, which are always most welcome!

Sala kathle (stay well).

Pictures !!!

Michele asked me to post these pictures as she was unable to get them loaded. I love ALL of them!

 

Snippets

4 August 2013

Snippets

I'm writing this  with a keyboard attached by bluetooth to my ipad by flashlight and candlelight.  What a strange combination of technology and - and what?`Just took a candle over to my host family. I balance my keyboard on my SiSwati language manual, and the irony and incongruity amaze me.

Still, I want to share snippets of life here. And to reassure you that when I can, I'll post pictures. This land is incredibly beautiful; the vistas that greet me as I walk to the stesh (bus stop) each day fill my heart. So here are a few snapshot moments.

~"What happened on September 6 (Independence Day)? "The British allowed us to speak our own language in the schools."

~New Normals: waking to rooster choirs, usually before dawn. Dirt roads. Buying veges that have to be picked to be sold. Greeting everyone, every time we meet. Seeing drivers on the right. Choosing outhouses for cleanliness (flush toilets not even a consideration). Eating everything with a spoon (or my hands). Getting used to British words, especially those that could be embarrassing. We say napkins, they say serviettes. We say diapers, they say napkins. And they often stress a different syllable than we do, even when we share words, which makes life interesting as well. I've discovered that if I don't look directly at the speaker, I often misunderstand the message. Interesting self-observation, for sure.

Luxuries that used to be givens:  being able to wade and swim in rivers and lakes. Well water. Heat in the house. Refrigerators and ovens. Cell phones, wifi that works. Fast wifi. SHOWERS.

And we're all becoming adept at reusing rather than recycling. For example, hauling water makes us most aware of waste. So the laundry rinse water can become the floor mopping water. All the waste water goes onto the lawn or plants. Cardboard juice boxes can be made into wallets that won't draw attention. No string is thrown out, nor plastic bags.

It is now August 13. My posts are overlapping since getting them online can be challenging. But a few more snippets before I attempt to get this to my blog:

A little girl,  too short to reach the latch, launches herself (backpack intact) at the gate, climbs up high enough to unlatc it, then drops nimbly to the ground, strolls through, closes the gate and heads down the path to walk the kilometer to school.

Hungry, grumpy pre-schoolers headed home on a bus, bouncing along a dirt road singing aloud for all they're worth. Staff are exhausted and kids are going strong.

Spending the night with a PCV mentor who lives in 1 small room, making use of every inch of space, including the walls which, at small child eye-level, are covered with small child art. Her latrine is rickety and out in a field; her perspective is that it has one of the best views in Swaziland.

This land overflows with people with big hearts and with opportunities for gratitude. All I need do is open my eyes.