Siyahamba

Today we were back on project after what feels like the first time in a very long time. Instead of having so few children, there were 28 when Holly and I arrived this morning. We had to leave Kinrae a little later than usual today because Bolekwa hadn't shown up by the time we were supposed to have left.

There was a big fire in Masiphumelele on Sunday night and over 1500 shacks are said to have been destroyed. Because Bolekwa didn't show up, she must had been affected by the fire. Shirley, the principal at Masi, didn't make it to the educare and neither did a bunch of the children. Shirley was at the library organizing supplies for people who have lost belongings in the fire. The sense of community around here is so heartwarming and palpable.

With all of the children and with the help of Shirley's stand-in, Mama Winnie, the educare and the structure of the day worked out really well. After lunch I gave my lecture on coughs, colds, and meningitis. Mama Winnie translated to the other carers from English to Xhosa. Mama Winnie told us a story about a child that had been at the educare once who had meningitis. It's been nice to give lessons based on subjects that are so relevant to them. It seems as though each of the children always has some sort of cold symptom here and they just keep spreading it among themselves.

There was one new girl who joined the educare today. She came in sporting two black eyes, shyly standing behind her new foster mom. The little girl just moved to Masi from a safety home in Langa, called Nomzamo Place of Safety (coincidently, the name of one of the sites in Gordon's Bay is also called Nomzamo). The girl was very quiet in the morning but was laughing and playing with another girl by the end of the day. 

The children sang the English words to Siyahamba today and I was so surprised. I traveled half way around the world and heard the children sing a familiar song... except it was just another day to them because it is actually a South African hymn.

Since Bolekwa wasn't at Kinrae today, I did the dishes from the weekend since I got back first from project and cleaned up after Brian made our lunches.  Tonight Jane made us dinner and later we went to karaoke night at the Brass Bell.