Blog part one - When Children Bite
I've spent the past weekend working in Stepping Stones. My shifts were 7am-9pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Stepping Stones is a sort of "middle house" where the kids go when they are too old for Happy Feet but not ready for the older houses. There are both girls and boys. It's probably one of the toughest, yet most fun houses to work in. I've been covered in spiders and snot, I've been bitten and scratched, I've had my hair pulled out and I've said "put that middle finger down" more than twice. The children are all extremely energetic.
We were all sitting in the dark, watching a movie in silence. I was very relaxed, sipping on a cup of tea as the kids were peacefully mesmerized with the movie. 10 minutes later, I'm locked outside the house, one kid is hitting me with a china mug and the other is laughing "na na, na na na" from the inside. "You can't come in auntie, go AWAY!"
A few hours later and it's outside time. One of my kids has a bow. It's arrow is pointed between Rachael's eyes, he looks at her like the devil. She repeats "I'm warning you, if you hit me, I'll take it off you." The arrow flies and she takes it off him. He throws a tantrum and screams in protest.
A few minutes later, he grabs Rachaels neck from behind and starts rattling her head back and forth. Someone has to pull him off her and she is left breathless. This happens three times before he finally pushes it too far and is taken away.
Earlier that day, I was slapped in the face and scratched by another kid. She claims "it's just a game auntie" and thumps me in the chest. Five minutes later "you look tasty auntie" as she takes a bite out of my shoulder.
These two kids are deliberately violent, they are always looking for a reaction. Some other kids however, hurt you with no intention. For instance, one boy thinks it's fantastic to run and jump on you no matter where you are and who you are talking to. Suddenly, your on the ground and he's sitting on your chest, pinning you to the ground and shouting "HELLO AUNTIE" while you sooth the pain on the back of your head.
Blog part two - church time, is that real wine?
If your shift falls on a Sunday, you usually take the children to Church. The church is very modern, more so than those back home. It's a short walk away from the home, some of the kids walk bare-foot. I went this Sunday, with the children from Stepping Stones.
All of the children from the children's home sit together, in the back-left corner. I'm not sure if it's compulsory or not - we always sit there. Altogether, we are a group of more than fifty, mainly black children. The rest of the church is packed with a sea of white faces, local families from Durbanville. As we entered, there was a man playing the piano accompanied by a younger man playing an African Drum, it was a relaxing piece of music.
The services are always in Afrikaans. Although it makes it difficult to understand, It's quite interesting. However, I understood that this Sunday, there was a celebration of families. Either that or a celebration to celebrate an upcoming celebration of families. Everyone in the room was given a cube of bread. There was a shot of wine - real wine - for the adults. The children had a shot of water.
Suddenly, the minister starts to recite a prayer. People all around the room begin to huddle with their family. They hold hands, hug each other, pull each other close. Suddenly, our back-left corner feels like a dark pit of isolation. All of our kids are looking around, watching as the rest of the church is no longer a sea of individuals but a collection of loving, unbroken families. It seems, they are praying in thanks. I watch one woman as her lips move fast in prayer, brushing the head of her child.
I felt a shot of pain in my chest. It was so unfair, that our children had to sit and watch. At first I was angry. I didn't know how to feel, until one of the kids melted my heart so much my emotions flipped around and I could have cried happy tears.
There was a younger boy beside him, looking dough-eyed around the room. The older boy pulled him closer, took his hand. They sat like that for the whole prayer, hugging into each other.
They might not have a parent to hold onto, but they have each other. The beautiful thing was the boy understanding that.
Blog part three - Inspired in South Africa
Lot's of things have inspired me recently. South African films, music, art, people, landscapes, events, accidents and incidents. I've been writing and drawing almost every night.
A few days ago, I was sitting outside and writing in my journal. It's a nice little spot, on a concrete bench that sits under a huge floppy tree.
Tree Photo
Bench Photo
Suddenly, little flakes of grey were landing on me. I lifted my head from my journal to find the air thick with smoke. Flakes of ash were heavily drifting from the sky. I hadn't even noticed the smell before then - the air was so thick with it. It definitely wasn't the neighbours having a braii. As it turned out, the local nature reserve had gone up in flames. It's very sad, how something so beautiful can catch fire and burn out. Anyway I managed to write a poem before I darted inside. The nature reserve was beautiful before it went up in flames, it's last moments were also beautiful - as it fell from the sky. I was trying to put the situation into words for my blog but I couldn't do it any justice - so thought why not stick a ryhme to it.
On the concrete bench, under my tree,
The sun shines bright, I struggle to breathe,
Like a winters snow, ash falls down,
It drifts from the sky like a broken cloud.
Blog part four - Living without money
It's difficult, not impossible. Every month I recieve R900 (about £60) from Project Trust. This is not a wage but rather pocket money - something to live on. Some people have another grand or two in the bank from personal savings but unfortunately that's not the case for me. I did save extra money before leaving the UK and it WAS spent wisely - it just wasn't enough to last.
It's especially difficult being in a town like Durbanville. Every day, volunteers are going shopping or out for lunch or to the beach. I can't do any of that. I can't even go to the beach because I have no money for petrol (about £1.50 at the most). It's not the easiest situation but I really don't mind.
I can go for walks and see Durbanville and read books and paint pictures and write in my journal and of course, write letters and blogs (although I can't upload them until I have money to go to the internet cafe). It's been nice. Although I AM looking forward to going on little day trips again. I hope to go surfing and to Robben Island soon.
Everyday we are given a plate of food, it's your choice what to do with it and when to eat it. I usually save my plate for dinner time. At breakfast, I'll eat weet-bix or toast - food we are supplied with. I eat eggs at lunch time, another food we are supplied with. It's possible to live here without buying food, just a little frustrating sometimes. Everyone has cravings. There are more than three food markets. Imagine craving chocolate when all you have is a banana.
When I do get money, I'm going to save it for travelling. That's what I've done so far and it's working well! After a weekend of experiencing a part of South Africa, there's no space in my mind for complaining. The thought of my next adventure keeps me going. I. Will. Survive. Chocolate or no chocolate. Although, if you would like to send me a food parcel, it's - Jasmine Bennett, Durbanville Kinderhuis, Kerkstraat 1, Durbanville, Cape Town 7550, Western Cape, South Africa. You will get a post card in return...
Now, I have every intention of going to Durban mid - November. Right now, I have no money for it and my Project Trust pocket money will not be enough to cover it. However, where there's a will, there's a way. I'll be going. If not i'll delete this paragraph... I'm 99% sure I'll be going. Just wait and see. In Durban i'll be meeting Lauren, a Project Trust volunteer working in Clouds of Hope - A children's home in Underburg. Other volunteers from my organisation will be there but I'm not sure who yet. I plan to visit Zululand and do the worlds highest Stadium Swing. You wait and see!
Part five - A live blog
30/10/2013
I'm currently sitting in the upstairs corridor of house 5&6. It's pitch black and silent. I'll be sitting here until 7am. Welcome to night shift!
My presence is necessary in case one of the girls wake up, be it they are unwell or simply can't sleep. I'm enjoying it so far but it's only been an hour, I won't count my chickens. Already two of the girls have woken up. They both sat with me for 10 minutes before going back to bed.
I've brought my duvet, blanket and pillow with me. I've borrowed a mattress from an empty bed. I'm very comfy. It's really cold but i'm managing to keep warm under my blanket.
To keep me occupied for the next nine hours i've brought my netbook, my journal, my sketchbook and some pens. I've also brought a bottle of water and an orange. I have no internet ( this will be uploaded late ) but do have some movies and programs on my netbook. I'm also hoping to plan activities for my Durban trip. I have so much time and nothing better to do!
I would like to do night shift for a long period of time. Sometimes I think I would be better suited at it over day shift. I have no idea what shifts the future holds for me but i'm sure i'll do that at some point.
I only hope I don't see the sillhouette of a cockroach scurrying along the corridor, I get enough of them in flat 2!
31/10/2013
Happy Halloween! The Childrens Home doesn't celebrate Halloween but the Children all know what it is... well most believe it's an evening to worship Satan. I've been asked "Do you believe in God?" and "Why would you celebrate halloween? Halloween is bad" multiple times.
I'm spending my halloween on nightshift. Yes, back in the dark, silent corridor until 7am. It's maybe not the best way to endure halloween...alone.
I've been very productive tonight. It's 3am and i've written two letters, I'll re-read them in the morning to see how awful they are. I'm using torchlight!
