Summer Fun in the Cape!

We've been traveling through Namibia & South Africa for just over a week now and are having an amazing time whilst eating summer fruit (peaches, watermelon, plums, corn)...and we've just entered the Western Cape and are seeing something we haven't in a long time...green! It's amazing and today, after a year hiatus, we hope to see the ocean. So cool!

Leaving the village was sad as so many kids came by and were obviously upset that this was it as we had been their playmates for the last year. We gave away some of our stuff & clothes and decks of cards and harmonica lessons were taught successfully by Eve and were a hit!

Then off to Etosha where we saw the most spectacular lightning ever as well as Leopard, a lion family with cubs & kill and many new creatures for us (Cape Fox, etc.)

Then off to our favourite mountain Spitzkoppe, through Windhoek and down through the desert. Yesterday we had a day of hiking in the Cedarburg Mountains which was great after some long days. Tonight fish & the sea, tomorrow Cape Town!

Looking forward to seeing and hearing from many of you...we'll be home the 22nd and there are plans for a few gatherings. Looking forward to Double Chocolate Porter, Tofu, black beans, mexican food and some beautiful cold weather!

The Learning Centre

Thanks to your support through your donations, the tireless work of a few teachers at my school, and speedy reimbursement & communication with WorldTeach, the learning centre at Omugwelume J.S.S is up and running and looks terrific! Even as our school year closes I’ve had learners in there every day trying it out and they love it!

The funds flew in during October and once I was sure that this was going to happen, we started cleaning out the room. I found the electricity in working order, but the room ugly, with a large termite hole in one corner. So drywall patching equipment was bought, and paint & termite killer to start us off.

Next was a journey to the local big city of Oshakati with my principal and Mr. Haindobo, who fortunately happens to be a part-time builder in addition to his teaching job. We bought many items for the infrastructure of the centre: boards & cement supports for shelves, a large metal security door, benches, etc. Once those were installed, we brought in spare metal tables & we were ready to begin with the audio equipment.

Now we have 4 CD players, some which play MP3s and some with Cassette players. We added security cables to keep them from being stolen, a lockbox to store all the items. I added a few beauty items like curtains (also for security) and tablecloths. Now in our cupboard we have more than 100 CD’s and cassettes and capacity for 13 headsets & splitters to be used. The kids have been in it and have listened to short stories, novels & music for hours at a time. I am so happy, and glad that John & Eve (Chris’ family) could bring over so much of your donations when they came to visit us.

I ended the year with a teacher training for all teachers interested and had a fun scavenger hunt of the room to learn about it. They had a fun time even though they originally thought they were too busy with marking. And I’ve created a schedule & system and put some teachers and learners in charge of it so that it will run next year.