Leaving South Africa

Hello everyone from Zimbabwe

Well this morning I arrived in Zimbabwe after spending 3 weeks in South Africa.

I had an absolute ball in South Africa, I have forgotten how much I have missed that place. Since I last wrote I was in Mossel Bay, I spent another few days in Mossel Bay with my host family including my two African brothers.

I had an absolute ball in Mossel Bay, it was so great to go back to the school. Its just a pity that I have to leave them, the children are priceless and you can tell by their big smiles that they really appreciated me helping them out.
Those children come from basically nothing but there smiles are priceless and that school really needs someone who is willing to give a little more to help them along. I feel really bad that I just came for a short time as there is so much you do for those children. As I said previously, language was a barrier but its amazing how quick you pick up a language when you are forced to !!

Language was very difficult here, at school they spoke Xhosa and down the street they spoke Afrikaans!! But hey I have plenty of new words to my vocabulary!!

Over my last week at Mossel Bay, I spent time with my brothers and just doing a little sightseeing around the area. It is such a spectacular part of the world and I urge anyone that is thinking of coming to South Africa to do so - you wont be disappointed!
On Saturday I went to the Xhosa wedding, well I was supposed to!! My lift was late so I missed the traditional slaughering of the sheep! (Though I did taste it afterwards) It was still a great day and everyone like they have from day one has made me feel so welcome. I love to sit back and listen to them talk to me about their rich culture and customs that are still followed after hundreds of years. (It makes you realise how young Australia is!) They kept asking me about getting married but I said I cant afford the lobola (in Xhosa culture the husband to be pays the brides father a sum of cows according to what the daughter is worth - if she is educated than you can pay up to 15K AUD!!)

They kept telling me that I need to do the initiation which involves going away to the bush for a month and learning what it takes to be a man by the traditional elders. (Oh yeah you always get circumised!!) They cant have water for seven days during this period, its only after this that you are allowed to marry a woman in their culture. (My brothers did it last year and they said it was by far the hardest thing they have ever done!! - and I can imagine)

My host family were just terrific, they always treated me like I was one of their own.. the whole community has embraced me and I have no quarms about walking around. I actually felt part of their community, the umlungu (white man) of the Xhosa society.
I have noticed they are more than willing to talk about the past, and what life was like back then. My host father said he was going to go into exile just before apartheid ended. They loved to ask questions about Australia especially about aborgines.. tough one!!

It was sad to leave them and Ive said to them that I will try and get back for the 2010 World Cup.

I do urge anyone that is thinking of volunteering/working/assisting in Africa to seriously consider it because there is so much we can add to this continent and it pays you back more than you could ever imagine. If you want to get out of your comfort zone than serious look at - you wont be disappointed!!

After departing Mossel Bay I ended up back in Stellenbosch to stay with Louise and her family for one night before departing for Zim. Talk about great, they have been absolutely tremendous and I have felt very comfortable staying with them and learning what life is like for South Africa for an English speaking family. Rodney has an amazing knowlege of all kinds of facts so I have been constantly asking questions about South Africa as Im keen to find how life has changed since the new government.

On my last night I went to a going away party for the American teachers that have been over here for 6 weeks. It was at a host families beautiful home. It was great to see everyone again for one last time and I do feel like Ive been in this country for longer than 3 weeks. We experienced the local nightlife one last time before I left for J'Burg in the morning.



Since then I have arrived in Vic Falls and Zim has certainly changed a lot. Adam and I had some lunch and it cost us over $2million dollars. (and it wasnt even that good) I have always wanted to be a millionaire.. it is sad how this country has gone to ruins cause the people are so friendly and accommodating... the country has a real nice vibe to it!!

Getting here hasnt been without its fair share of dramas :

- plane an hour late
- took them an hour to pick me up from J'Burg airport last night
-got back and there was no more food, so myself and a couple of English people went cruising around J'Burg at 10pm in his rentacar trying to find food.. (there werent many cars on the street come to think of it! ) Dont worry Mum Im alright, it was an experience.
-They couldnt drive me to the airport, so they rang a taxi and he didnt have a meter. Just a flat (grossly outrageous) rate.. in the end I didnt care I just wanted to get to the airport
-Got to Vic Falls and my sleeping mat hasnt arrived.. got lost (possibiliy stolen) in transit)

But hey its all part of the experience of being in Africa.

We just came back from a sunset cruise on the Zambezi. Its great to finally see Adam especially after he hasnt had any $ for the last two days cause he couldnt get any USD$ here.. the poor bloke couldnt pay for his accommodation and has barely eaten in two days.. (but hey he looks great!! ha ha )

We head off for a three day Game park trip to Hwange National Park which Im really looking forward to.

I hope everyone is well and post a comment.

Troy