First Week

Hi All,

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days.  I am happy to hear that so many people are reading this thing.  My first week has been a bit overwhelming so I just haven't taken the time to do this.  But, today is my first sick day (and I'm sure not my last) so I stayed home from placement.  The good news is I have time to do this, the bad news is I'm sick.  I just have a bad cold that began to set in about 2 days ago and this morning I couldn't pull myself out of bed.  It's been nice though to have the house to myself . . . I got my first long, hot shower which was amazing and I got to sleep in.  I'm still really stuffed up and waiting for my ears to pop, both of which might not change until I get home.  The reassuring part is that I'm not the only one, almost everyone in the house is affected.  At least 2-3 people are home sick every day for some illness.  While I'm on the topic of illness (I think this is kinda cool so I'm sharing) . . . one of the women in my room has IBS and another has Crohn's.  Cool, right?  I mean it sucks, but it's nice to know that other people are feeling the same way I am because trust me, the food in South Africa is not gut disease friendly.  We all seem to be managing just fine, with our diets consisting of a lot of toast and tea.  

Enough sick talk . . . time for the reason why I'm here . . . my placement is insane, intense, wonderful, exhausting . . . and everything in between.  I'm volunteering in a day care (or creche, as it's called in SA) in a class of 35-40 (depending on the day) five year olds.  Yesterday, because a teacher was sick, I was in the 1-2 year old class and I am so grateful to be with the older kids.  The babies are adorable but the smell was too much for me.  The babies are definitely not kept as clean as Milo is and the smell of 30 dirty diapers was not ok.  The worst part is, I was willing to clean them up but not allowed to.  So many of the babies have diaper rash and other issues that it really isn't safe for me to be risking blood mixture.  I'm trusting that you all get why mixing blood with a South African baby is risky so I'm not getting into the details.  It's just super sad.  So that's why I'm happy to be with 5 year olds even though they are exhausting and disgusting as well (they at least are potty trained).  A few of the kids have open sores all around their mouths, and a few of them have these horrible, deep coughs.  I know it's bad of me but I can't help thinking, AIDS and TB.  Actually, it isn't that bad because it's very much a possibility.  I've never washed my hands and arms so much in my life.  All that aside, they are so flippin adorable!!!  By the end of the first day they were all calling me Teacher Samantha (now they're calling me Teacher Amanda) and all they want to do is be on me.  I've become a human jungle gym.  The first day I was sitting on the floor and this little girl, Mandisa, came up behind me, took my rubber band out and started teasing and braiding my hair.  And they all want to touch my nose and mouth.  I've since started the no touching above the neck rule because it was just too gross.  They are also really into my hands which I don't get, but a lot of the girls love examining my hands and nails.  There is also this little boy, Liam, who I may try to sneak home.  He's super small, a good deal smaller than the other kids, and always off in his own world.  The other day I found him off to the side of the room full on rapping to himself, he had the moves down and everything.  It was the cutest thing ever.  And during recess he always finds some remote corner to build a fort in.  And he loves climbing trees, but the other day he scrapped his chin and it was bleeding a little, I tried to comfort him but I hated that I had to be so careful of not getting is blood on me.  I've just never been one to care about getting anything on me, especially with kids, and I hate that I have to be so aware of it.  It just isn't right, but it is the reality here.  Those are the two kids that stand out the most but they are all adorable.  There are a few girls who I'm having a hard time with because they just give me so much attitude.  They never listen and just laugh at me when I reprimand them.  And they always talk in Afrikaans around me which is just annoying because I know they're talking about me.  I guess you'll have that group of snotty girls anywhere, attitude is universal.  Another thing that amazes me about these kids is how easily entertained they are, they have so few toys and what they do have is either super old, broken, or just so simple.  Outside is a big stack of tires and they are so happy to play with their tires.  And they have about 5 hoola-hoops that are all bent and messed up but they don't care.  Kids back home would be so pissed with a just an old tire or hoola-hoop.  The children here have so little and they are so happy, it's incredible.  So, that's my placement.  

I have to get a little bit better by tomorrow because we've booked shark-diving for tomorrow and I am so excited!!!!  It's going to be amazing!!!!!

Oh, and a picture update . . . I've uploaded pictures to my computer but everything I try to upload them here, to facebook, or e-mail them my computer won't let me.  I can't figure it out and I don't really want to waste too much juice trying to figure it out so I may not be able to get pictures to all of you until I get home.  I'm so sorry but I am talking a lot and I promise you'll all get to see them soon.

Second oh, Dr. Diep . . . if you're reading this . . . I am desperately going to need an adjustment when I get back.

I think that's it for now,  I'll post again to let you all know how swimming with sharks goes.