Tuesday 15 November 2011

South Africa, part 2

I’m officially over halfway through my time in South Africa now - which seems ridiculously fast! I'm properly settled into the volunteer house...it really feels like home and my routines are all in place which makes things like knowing which shower to use at which times, and when the water will be hot much easier!



On 19th October, I officially switched from Bap to the Home of Hope project, which provides a structured programme for pre school age children suffering from foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). At first I felt really guilty about leaving the Bap babies (and other volunteers!), but now I know that this is right... There are 6 kids at Home of Hope, ranging in age from just 2 to 5, and they're all gorgeous! Having such a small number of kids that I'm with 8am-2pm, Monday to Friday, means that I really know them all very well and can therefore help them more and build up proper relationships with them.




In the last couple of weeks I've also been given a lot more responsibility and am now teaching the eldest 2 boys on my own 3 days a week, which is a challenge but I feel like I'm needed which is great! I also change all the nappies in the house (4/6 of them are in nappies), and the children and I have fallen in love with each other a lot!





My crazy out of work activities have decreased a bit recently - mainly because of my schedule change and it's easier just to chill after work then do stuff at the weekends, but I'm still enjoying my social life a LOT :). So many fun people and so much to do! The dynamics of the house changed quite drastically last weekend, when lots of people left and lots of people arrived (and I got a bottom bunk, finally :D), but I'm feeling really comfortable with the people around me again now which is good...




Will try to update more often and add pics later when it's working!