South Africa September 2004

Dear Friends and Family,

My life is, using the favorite South African word, HECTIC. In fact, it seems I barely have a minute to take a breath here at school. So let me say, my lovely fast-speed free internet access here at school, is no longer a major availability since I am busy busy busy, so I am afraid its back to the mass email, my apologies. This will be one of my shorter emails as well (I hope) because I am off to help with the Environmental Club and the planning of Arbor Day next week, which I just recently found out origniated in America although I don't ever remember celebrating it but as the American visitor I am part of the planning which includes the Planting of the Reena Tree.
Well, just as I guess you all expect of me but which I continue to shock myself at doing -- I have adjusted here fabulously and very easily. What can I say? After 1.5 weeks here in South Africa, they have given me a full load teaching position, I teach on average 4-6 50 minute blocks of students and I see every grade in the school, from grades 1-7. I suppose I demonstrated a good spirit or something, because they entrust me with these children who -- because of their tough home environments coming from the townships, can be more than a handful. (In order to be hired as a teacher here, you have to have at least TEN years of experience) I have been doing team building activities such as the HUMAN KNOT (if any of you been in any leadership training you know the one where you grab each other hands across the circle and have to untie yourself, yes I supervised over 10 groups of children doing this activity), doing presentations on INDIA, and now working on values such as selflessness as well. The kids seem to be really taking things away from the activities and enjoying themselves, although I am still getting used to and having trouble with Disciplining.. its so draining and frusturating.
I have literally become one of the staff members, and that is why the Principal invited me to stay longer and pay me a stipend because he is intending on hiring someone to do my position in the near future. I will now be staying in South Africa until September 27th -- working, this time for PAY (woo hoo) and I am doing a superexhasiting 8:00-5:00 job!
I was in charge of this Monday morning's assembly -- in which I had the kids perform the Usher song "Let it Burn" because I joked with one kid one day that I knew Usher (they asked me because I said I had seen him perform) and then I said, he used to be my boyfriend. Well the rumor spread all over school and allt he kids truly believe i am telling the truth. We peformed a dramatic version on stage, I said because I phone Usher and he couldn't make ith there himself. I then explained how I ACTUALLY come from American and not India and that I grew up with Hip Hop Culture -- , I read the lyrics of the song I know I can by Nas and had 12 kids write a 4 line poem wiht me about what they are going to be when they grow up and I ended with me -- who wants to start a revolution. We listed to an Indian song Kal Ho Na Ho as well and I talked about Dave's death and the idea that "Tomorrow may not happen" and so we must enjoy life and each moment of everyday so I made the auditorium stand up and laugh and then each hug each other.
Well -- I was given a wealth of compliments from the staff, they said there was such energy in the assembly that they felt uplifted and more ready to tackle the week. They are thinking abotu changing the wya they do assemblies. The children loved it -- I had a girl who came up to me and grabbed me and hugged me and was in tears. She told em how she had a child in her life burn to death, and it still hurts her. She used to try hard at school, she said but now she has given up and my assembly reminded her how thankful she should be for waht the school has done for her and how she should apologize to all the teachers because she has been rude lately and try harder. It was amazing to affect a child in that way.
My weekends and social life have been bustling and are fun as well.. I have met some interesting people -- and done things like go whale watching and have wine tasting and lunch in the winelands. The landscape in Cape Town and on the peninsula is aboslutely breathtaking. I have had my moments of loneliness -- its been so long that i have been without you all, but the children fill my life -- and its a real challenge for me, the one i like and seek that makes me feel accomplished. Something India was not able to do for me at times -- there wasn't that sense of "working."
Okay -- sometimes I really have to motivate myself here -- but I am very grateful at my life here in South Africa and am so involved that i haven't been thinking abotu going back to the US at all anymore. It has such a flow -- that is why I didn't want to leave so quickly after only one month. I am a bit nervous because that means I will really have to focus and work hard to get my grad school applications in and take my LSATs and GREs, but you all know how well I work under pressure and when the stress is on.
Miss you loads -- and expect me back in the United States on October 2nd!
Love Reena