Kaoru Yamanaka

After living a dream...

Wed, 31 Mar 10 22:35:16 +0200

4 weeks means 28 days, nearly a month. Is this time short or long? To go on holiday, maybe its a nice good long holiday. To work, it could be short to finish a project or too long to wait for a next payment. For me, it was both. I dont feel I had enough holiday as I was working as a volunteer, then, if I think back what I have done at both the children's house and for a WE, it was huge. I have quick gone back my diary and see all the first pictures. I remember every pictures. Of course, because I have seen in several times while I was preparing the diary to update. But its not just because of that. I just remember because I cant forget. I will never forget what happened in this 4 weeks. I felt alive. I really felt an energy in me. Another thing is, for some reason, I felt South Africa very familiar. Actually, when I was traveling a Capetown, a shop officer at the tourist kiosk said to me “You are not a tourist, you are living in South Africa, arent you?” As this country is not safe for a tourist, we have been told to walk around like a local & it looks like Ive succeed!

I am having a relaxing night in Durban tonight. Still cant believe I am going back to England tomorrow. Everything seems like a dream but its not. There are a real life here. My girl is going to live her life here. Kids are continue to have volunteers come and go every month. What we have managed to do was a small thing but I hope it did good to our kids and they remember what weve said. They say everybody says to them that they will come back but never. I have told them I will come and see them when I come to South Africa. I dont make a promise I cant keep and I promised myself that I wont lie to children, never.

I wanted to say thank you for the organization, to Agape manager and aunties, to the religious coordinator, to other volunteer girls who become a good friends and to my lovely, lovely children.

Day 26 - The Last day - vol 2

Wed, 31 Mar 10 21:56:47 +0200

This afternoon, it was only me and one more volunteer girl at Agape. Others decided to stay at the volunteer house to pack and sort everything out then chill out. As it was my last day, I wanted to stay as long as I can. I found my girl and told her, I brought a laptop so I can show her photos. She wanted to see the one I took in England so I showed her the picture of my best friend's wedding, Cambridge, my place, and so on. Actually, another girl wanted to see it too and she was questioning lots of things, then, my girl, she has fall a sleep in my shoulder. The other girl wanted to play a game on my computer so I let her play that & I was just relaxing with my girl in my arm. It was lovely afternoon. We were sitting on the couch and I was holding her head, chatting with other girl sometime, looking around the room, wind breezed... I was just so comfortable. Then... there was a time to go. I told my girl that “I want you to remember that I love you more than you thinks. Dont forget that I am thinking about you all the time even Im not around. Agape is not the only world, there are another world outside and you can go out there. Study at a school is sometime boring but it will help you and make your dream come true in the future so work as best as you can. Then, I am waiting for you to come to London one day, so I will pick you up from the Heathrow airport.” It may sound a dream for her now but I wanted her to think that everything she dreams is possible. She is only 14 yrs old still. I didnt want her to give up on her dream. She said she want to get a job that she can work for a children. I chose my job with a same reason and I have came this far, volunteering in South Africa for children. I never dreamed that I can do this when I was 14. You never know what happens in your future. My sweet girl didnt speak anything while I was talking but there were tears falling from her eyes one after another. Only thing she spoke was why I cant take her with me. It squeezed my heart because I do think and dream about it a lot. How she will react if I take her to a beach, what food does she like to eat after we went out, will she like to go for a cloths shopping with me, Ive got my friend's wedding coming in France, will she like to come with me... it is my fantasy I know but I do envy those have got kids now, it must be so rewarding to see their kids smile everyday.

I gave her big hugs and kisses and got onto the bus...

In the evening, we had a BBQ as a farewell party. One of the girl, Barbie is going for a 2 weeks holiday with her mum who has joined Barbie today in South Africa then three girls are going back to Holland tomorrow and I am going to the Capetown. One girl will stay and continue a volunteer work for another 4 weeks. But we have promised to meet up once this year, hopefully this summer, in Holland. I never been to Holland and now got local guide for Amsterdam and Rotterdam!

Day 26 - Last day vol 1

Wed, 31 Mar 10 21:52:44 +0200

I cant believe this day has already come – the last day in Agape... I still remember the first day and the first week, it went really slow, I felt like it was a month. Then, from the second week, it was a second. So quick for every day and the WE. It just... gone.

Today, there were lots of people in Agape. There were a volunteer team from Coca cola company (sorry, Ive forgot the team's name!). Agape has been chosen to be take care from those team so they have come to rescue us. There are green house which has not been used, lots of field which could be useful, kitchen was a bio hazard so they have done top to floor cleaning with aunties. Theyve asked us what Agape need so we have spoke that there are so many basic needs has not been met here. Cloths too, school stuffs, daily necessary stuffs (like a spoon, mirror, foot step in a toilet, etc...) and so on. Good thing is their project is continues and one of the volunteer girl will be staying for another 4 weeks so she can be in touch with them to work together. They also brought lots of toys too. Actually, we do have lots but kids doesnt look after it well so we are not keen on getting a new toy out. Another day, I have lend 2 glues and 2 scissors to kids and told them I want it all back together tomorrow. Next day, they only brought one glue first so I told them I am not going to start any crafting until they bring everything back. It took about 20 mins but they went back to their house and find everything and brought it back in the end. I dont think they have been told in this way before. They rend some stuffs then just forget about it after they use it. Aunties said they tell kids to look after stuffs but they regularly leave their cloths outside and dont pick them up. Or they deliberately leave the cloths which they dont like. They are only kids. Need to be told repeatedly.

This lunch time, finally I have took a girl who injured her foot yesterday to the clinic. As it was the back of the foot and I have cleaned and put antiseptic then plaster but she was running around the house with her bear foot so plaster has already came off and wound was so dirty. I have told her to clean the foot with a clean water and put a socks on day before which she didnt follow (of course). The clinic was nearly closing but one of the stuff let us in when they noticed we were from Agape. It was a local clinic and all the stuffs and the patient was local South African people. They were all very kind, they gave us a pain killer first, then cleaned the foot, put some antibiotic cream and antiseptic cream, then put a gauze and bandaged. As it has been left for 24 hrs and not well cared, they couldnt close the wound today, she has to come back on Monday to check the wound. I have handed all over to the girl who is staying in Agape for another 4 weeks.
After the treatment, we went to the cafe to have a lunch as it was already 13:00 and we both missed the lunch. I asked the girl what she wants to eat and she chose a jacket potato. First, she couldnt use fork and knife well so Ive cut it in a piece for her and asked for a spoon. She said its taste nice and asked me why we cant come here with everybody. I have explained that it cost a lot if we come with everybody, everything need to be paid and to earn a money, we have to work very hard. They dont see their parents work for a money in Agape (they dont need to think about where the stuffs or money comes from). I didnt want to be mean or anything but Ive thought she needs to know. Btw, I have noticed very interesting things. First, she was not using a folk nor knife but as I was using it in front of her, she was coping me for the last few mouth full and used a folk and knife. Ive told her she is using it well and she was smiling. Actually, I have enjoyed this time a lot. I wished I can give them a time like this more. Specially to my girl.

Agape Got Talent!

Wed, 31 Mar 10 20:32:26 +0200

In Agape, we do a Birthday party in the end of the month for everybody who born in that month. This time, there were 5 kids and Agape manager's BD! We asked the kids what they want for their BD and bought a present for each child. Of course, we brought a cake as well! On the top of that, we wanted to make a party more excited so we have planned a talent show too. The other volunteers did it last month and kids loved it, they said. We asked the one of the older girl to make a poster, cut a paper in a star shape to get children to paint/draw for a competition, and told all the kids the day of the talent show! I have made a paper decoration on the wall with kids using some craft stuffs too.

On the day, we started with a BD party. We sang a BD song in English, Zulu and Dutch (I dont know why they knew it in Dutch, maybe its similar to African so thats why they can understand?). BD boys and girls sat in the front of the every body and opened the present one by one. The boy who requested a shoes got so excited when he saw his new shoes! (His old shoes got a hole but he was still wearing it.) The others got skinny jeans (for two girls), wrist watch and CD. We gave the manager a pamper set & she loved it too. I dont think the kids have much chance to get a brand new cloths or stuffs they like. I have noticed that they share cloths and shoes, rooms are quite empty for a teenage girl's room, no posters nor make-up stuffs, no bags nor accessories on the floor... I strongly think they deserve more.

Anyway... after the BD surprise, we moved on to the talent show! Many kids put their names down but it was same kids doing a different stuffs! The talented ones read poem, sang a song, dance, and even acted!! I was very impressed as they have prepared a lot! The dance has got complicated routines, lots of teenagers read a beautiful poem (one was saying that “Its hard to say goodbye” as it was the very last day for the volunteers ), they sang well and acted well! One of the auntie sang a beautiful song too! & last show was Zulu dancing by 6 teenage girls which I really felt happy about. Lots of kids likes hip hop music and dancing but I think its nice for them to keep the tradition too. (I used to dance a Japanese dance in the summer when I was a child as it was a tradition. Even its not cool nor pretty at all!!!) We prepared a prize for different age group and one for a drawing competition. Lots of girls group won this time (we were not the judge, we asked security guys to do that!) and they were all so excited when they got a prize which made us already happy. I havent seen kids jumping around and screaming so hard when they got a present. Im spoiling my nieces too much, maybe!

Day 25

Mon, 29 Mar 10 23:03:40 +0200

Today, two volunteer girls introduced the trampoline to Agape. Its about 3m wide and 1m from the ground. I was keep saying that it should be used with a net least as its more dangerous to fall onto the ground than fall onto the trampoline in a same position but they never take my word so its without a net. As a children's nurse, we always say lets ban this thing but the company needs a proof that it is dangerous enough (basically, need more child to die before, I guess?) so its still on the market. Agape ground is not very well maintained, thats another problem. Today, the one of the girl cut her feed very deeply with something on the ground (could be a stone, glass, metals, I couldnt find which one as there were so many things on the ground). It didnt bleed that badly but doesnt seems like it gonna close naturally as its about 2cm long and 4-5mm deep. I wanted to take her to a doctor but there were no car. Then in the afternoon I have been told that the clinic nearby only takes a pregnant women today. There are the place for a medical problem but not for a surgical problem. For a girl who injured today, she can wait until next day but what they gonna do if the injury is much severe? Moreover, when I spoke to the manager, she said the clinic cost a money. It should be free I said then she said I can take her if its free. Well, even its not free, I think this place should be well supported to be able to take a child to the hospital when they needed. I think this is a big thing I have to discuss with the organizations. I was worried about that if any of the kids who has got HIV are receiving an ARVT (anti-retro-virus therapy) or not because I have never seen any kids taking a medication on regular basis. There are so much basic needs not been met here (there are no mirror to use in girls room and none of them have a compact to carry, they are carrying a broken glass) and its so silly as the place receives government grunt for each child too on the top of all the money from us and other organizations.

Yesterday, we went to see a reception of the white school. Compare to Agape creche, we can see how much more the child can do in different environment. The children in the white school has been stimulated well in those reception, ready to attend a school and ready to learn more. We watched our creche for a month but they havent done anything different for whole month. Aunties are not a professional teachers. They could do better with more training and it may will motivate them too. I have asked that if our aunties could be trained at the white school reception. The lady showed us a place was not sure about it but they do have an open day. I have spoke to the other volunteer who is going to stay for another month if she can try introduce those things so I hope that could be a good start.

Agape has got good aunties too. I have became very close with some of the aunties.Yesterday, when the girls came for a cooking class, one of the girl said that she needs to be transferred to the other place. She said she miss the one of the auntie. This auntie is maybe much older than her grandmother but she does her best for the children and kids know that. There is another auntie who teaches me Zulu everyday. One of the teacher was not always friendly first then, another day, when I was sitting in the creche in the morning, she walked into the creche then came to me with her arms open, to say good morning and then she gave me a hug. There are many things aunties in Agape can learn from the white school reception but there are something they can learn from us too, I believe.

Tonight is a talent show, Agape Got Talent!

Day 24

Mon, 29 Mar 10 22:57:19 +0200

Today, three of us woke up early in the morning to go to the white school. We wanted to visit all the schools that children are attending then we had a call from the white school that one of the teacher wanted to talk to us. Actually she was a school nurse, she has concern with some of our kids. Basically, they are not doing very well. In here, the school curriculum are different and the white schools are more advanced than the Indian schools. Those who are in the white school at the moment had a very good report and stepped up the school from the Indian school but now lots of them are struggling and always a big catching up each year. More over, they do have an attitude and a behavioural problems. Some come to school to sleep, some has a bad mode swing, some are too quiet and hardly talk to the teacher, and one boy are definitely suffering from bullies but teacher cant discover where it comes from as he doesnt want to talk to them. One girl, they said she needs severe emotional help and a counseling, otherwise she will have a trouble when she grow up. They all suffered something very hard during their childhood but they never seems to had a professional emotional help, thats what school thinking. Agape has got psychologist visit but I do not know how much support these kids were receiving neither. It is a big subject that we have to discuss with our manager.

We went back to Agape and joined others afterwords, and tonight was a cooking night for the last group. Bunch of the girls came to our house after the shopping with an usual stuffs (pasta, tomato source, meat, salad, drink and dessert!!!), they cooked well and tidied up well (as I was watching!). One of the girl wanted to see the picture from Lesotho so I showed them on the computre and they all seems to liked it. I could have shown a picture of England so they will have an idea of the different country. Their life and activities are very limitted. They only know Agape and hardly never go out except school. They dont seems to go and meet other friends at schools much as they all got friends in Agape. It is nice to be with friends all the time in one hand but they dont have a family so I think they least need it. Somebody to talk, somebody to trust, somebody they can engage to. We, volunteers love to take a part of course but we are not here all the time and we will go back to our home after 4 weeks most of the time. It must be hard for kids to experience that. It takes a time to be trusted. Tonight, I was talking with girls I hardly ever spoke before (there are 60 kids and not everyone come to you to talk. Lots of them are very shy, specially the older ones). They are twins and very very funny ones, its shame that I have to leave very soon as we could be much closer if I can stay much longer...

Day 23

Mon, 29 Mar 10 22:48:42 +0200

Its supposed to be still a school day but lots of kids are not going to school. Actually, high school kids were all at school and most of the middle school kids were not. Well, its Easter!

Because of that, we noticed that how older ones are taking care of a little ones these days. As themselves hasnt got a parents, they look after a little ones very well. They feed them, change a nappy, play with them, make sure the little ones all have a lunch before themselves eat anything... One of the volunteer actually saw that older one put the left over of the little ones onto one plate and ate it too...They are one big family and I think its great that older ones take care about the babies (as long as aunties are around and not too much responsibility). I think we are missing those in our country. Family are not a one big unit, specially when the child grow older.

We had another film night today. I took one boy and one girl to make them decide the film but the girl was choosing too girly movie and the boy was choosing a quite complicated movie... In the end, they chose The Spider Wick and they all loved it. I never watched it before and couldnt watch everything this time neither as we were preparing a dinner for the kids but it was a good film (even from the middle...). We made a burger which they liked (except one girl, she doesnt like another meat than a chicken.) and played, danced, did a game with a country card from my card game. Its call Back Packer Game and we use lots of cards with a picture and a country written. The game itself seems complicated so we just used the card to guess which country they are. Girls were about 12 -13 yrs old but they struggled a lot!! I gave a hint like giving a famous city name, famous events, famous people... but still, they didnt get it! Ive thought it may bit difficult for them but actually, another 2 volunteers joined and they struggled too!! Poor us, we dont know anything about a history or geography!!
Time flies those days....

Day 22

Mon, 29 Mar 10 22:42:22 +0200

Today, it was lovely sunny weather (as we dreamed!) and it was a bank holiday (Human Rights day on 21st March). All the school kids were at Agape for the first time this month so we decided to take them all to our volunteer house for a swimming! We told them to get them self ready after lunch so the mini bus driver can bring them to our place. They were all excited, they came to our place around 2pm with bikinis on and jumped into the pool straight away!!!

This morning, two of the volunteer girls went for a big shopping. Since we slept at Agape last week, we were feeling that there are lots of basic things missing. This time, we decided to buy a washing machine and three irons and the ironing boards. Because here is Africa, everything requires a lot of patience. Last month, volunteers bought mattresses but we havent seen it arrived yet. We wanted to make sure it arrives when we were here so the girls brought back a washing machine with them!! It is the best option but took 2 hours as the shop officers couldnt calculate the amount of the money the girls should pay and arguing with each others...! Well, as long as its done now, its fine with me. Thank you for those who have donated some money for us!

Day 21

Sun, 28 Mar 10 22:37:23 +0200

Next morning, we started early and as we were already in the park, weve thought we have got advantage but unfortunately it was foggy and raining... We saw giraffes quite close but couldnt meet a lion nor leopard. Well, its not a zoo so I guess I have to come back again another time! We came out the park before a lunch and headed to St Lucia lake. We went to the seaside beach for a little walk too then got on to the boat trip. St Lucia is a freshwater lake but it hasnt been connected with a sea for few month so at the moment there are no sea water contains in the lake. You will find lots of Hippos here, they are in the water so not able to see the whole but as they can run 24km/hr, its better that they stay in the water for us... There are few crocodiles too and you can spot it in your eyes. Everybody went upstairs of the boat but as it was quite hot, I stayed down stairs, having a relaxed moment. Well, I was too relaxed and couldnt stop sleeping for a while in the chair...

We had a lunch after the boat trip then head back home. Nice thing with this trip was, all the foods were fresh hand made. We had 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners and every time, our guides brought a fresh ingredient to make a meal. None of the meal was the same neither. I think they have spoiled us too, I have offered to help each time but they didnt let me help! Lovely company and a good holiday.

Day 20

Sun, 28 Mar 10 22:33:25 +0200

In nature, you dont have a time tabel to follow, so what you do is to follow the nature. The animals dont do much during the day as it is so hot and they will just loose their energy. Specially if you want to see something like a lion or leopard, you get up very early and try find them before they find a place to have a looooong siesta. We all got ready for 6:30 start but because it was a long WE (Bank holiday Monday), there were long queue for the ticket office. We finally got in around 7am, tried to avoid a cloud and drove to the end of the park. However, we couldnt go so fast as we were bumping into so many animals!!! We saw a group of buffalo in a distance, then bumping into an Elephant on the road, Zebra after next corner, sleeping Rino just 2ms away... it was a good weather and we were lucky too, I think, we saw three of the Big Five (Elephant, Rino, Buffalo, Lion and Leopard) in the first 10 mins. The guide was actually who lived in a park for a work for 7 years so he knows where to spot the animals but still it is a big park so sometimes he cant find any animals even he drove for 6-7 hrs.
We had a BBQ burger for a lunch, drove the park and bumped into lots Antelopes. They have got a M mark on the back of their bottom and as they are so many, everywhere, they call them a MacDonald of the park. (Actually, theyve been targeted by a lion or others quite often, they are a kind of MacDonald for a lion...)

The park close at 18 18:30 (before it gets dark) so normally, people had to get out before that but we booked our place to stay in the park, which was really convenient. First, our guide was telling us that we got to sleep in the tent so no electricity nor water, no toilet nor shower and we got to look after the fire whole night as animal can come too close if the fire is off. As Lesotho experience was quite close to that, I was really worried about what time I will look after the fire, for whole day. Then, when we arrived the place, there were lots of small village house looking cottage for each 2 of us!!! (with an electricity and water, of course!! Actually, our guide was joking all the time so we couldnt believe anything he says!) We even had a swimming pool so we jumped in as our body needed to be cool down. Two of our guides provided a gorgeous BBQ and we have been fed very well. As we had to wake up early again next day, other girls went to sleep but 3 girls from Agape and the guides were up for a drink and a chat for a while. It was very relaxing night and we chat & laughed a lot. I think I enjoyed this moment most as I miss my friends...

Day 19

Sun, 28 Mar 10 22:21:44 +0200

Now, its a WE again, chop-chop! This time, we went to Hluhluwe Wild Park. It is a game drive in over 100Km wide area. Two South African guys were our driver and a guide. We have been picked up from our project then they drove us to the park. It was 3.5 hrs flat road drive so nothing for us compared to the last WE!! The area is famous for a pineapple so the guide guy bought a bunch of pineapple from the lady who were selling it on the side of the road.

We arrived in a little village house near the park. Here, the family and their friends around hosted our evening. We first introduced each others, then they showed us around the house, one of the volunteer girl tried to milk the cow even! They sang a lovely song for us too and we took lots of pictures together. They provide us a dinner too, chicken, milly meal and a cabbage with a special onion sauce. All the foods are from a garden and they eat by their hand so we followed it too. The sauce was really tasty and I really liked it! After the dinner, they showed us a Zulu dance, even little one was bringing their leg high in the air and it looked so cute. We all had a turn and even after a while, kids doesnt want to stop. They dont have a visitor so often so there is no activity to do. I promised a girl that I will send a photo, she said she will be looking forward for that.

We went to a backpacker near the park afterwords. It was very nice an cozy, fun owner entertained us a lot. We had a drink or two then went to bed around 22:00 cos we have to be ready 6:30 next day...

Day 18

Sun, 28 Mar 10 22:15:21 +0200

This morning, we were all in Agape as we slept over there so we went back to the house with a mini bus before it send children to the schools. My girl was sitting in the passenger sheet with me then she asked me Did you read your letter? I didnt know what she means so I said ?I didnt receive any letter. Then she told me Its in your bag. I searched my bag and I found a little paper which has been fold into a triangle. I told her Ill read it when I go back to the house.

After the mini bus dropped us at our place, we all had a bit of a break in each others way. I went to my room and sat on the bed then opened my letter. The letter said love you in the middle with a colorful curly writing and big drawing of the heart as well. Lots of thank you for the homework class and lots of love as she sees me as her mother. Actually, I have said to all the girls in the room where I have slept last night (include her) that I could be their mum but I know my girl was writing the letter before I said that. As she is so shy and quite to me, I think I was missing her signals. I didnt think she was thinking about me like this. It just make me so, so happy and warm, and made me cry too. I gave her a huge, huge hug and kisses and love when I saw her afterwords, of course!

This morning after the break, we went to the Indian School where most of our children goes. It was a parent's meeting but the manager of Agape couldnt go so we went to the each classes and spoke with a teacher. All the teachers are very nice and understandable to the situation of the children, very helpful and gave us a tip what we can do to improve the problem. Main problem was the younger ones, we been told that they are all come to school to sleep!!! In Agape, the time circle is same for the little ones and the older ones, they eat dinner around 19-20:00 and go to bed after that. We need to discuss about this with the manager and tell her all other kid's result as well. Some are doing quite well but there are lots of kids cant concentrate onto the subject. (Maybe because of the sleeping problem, we have to see if that helps.) Overall, it was very nice to see another school and nice experience to be a parents. Another thing which made us proud was the one of the boy who is in grade 7 (the last year of a junior high school) is actually a prefect. Moreover, he is a head of prefect!! We told him we are so proud of him then we gave him a huge hug and kisses!

We had a cooking group this evening too. This time, they managed to make a pasta with tomato sauce and chicken, their favorite! It was a girls group so quite easy to observe. They cleaned up everything afterwords and start dancing & singing until the car came to pick them up. They love cooking group as they can eat pasta & drink juice & have an ice cream!!In fact, they love going out from Agape as there are not much occasion that they can do so. They are kind of trapped...

Day 17

Sun, 28 Mar 10 22:11:20 +0200

Today, we have planned a big thing, we are all sleeping at Agape with children! Because our volunteer house is not close to Agape, we dont know how children are spending a time after a homework class. We had usual morning with creche kids, went back to have a lunch break and get all the stuffs, came back with blankets and pillows and all the school kids were waiting for us. They dont have volunteers sleep over at their place very often so the manager of Agape said they were so excited. Children choose a volunteer who they want to sleep in their room and I have been chosen by a girl I always do a math together at the homework class. I really love her and wanted to take her back home from day 1 but she doesnt come to talk to me normally so I didnt think she will choose me so it was very nice surprise. Actually, she is just very shy I think because I noticed that when I go to speak with her, she always give an attention to me and when I come close and give her a hug or just put an arm around, she never moves away.

So, today, we stayed after homework class, played with kids just dancing or chatting. When it came close to the dinner time, the manager told all the kids to sit at the couch to pray. Then, they started singing hymns. There were around 60 kids from age 1 to 20 years old, all singing together, a beautiful, beautiful song. I havent heard such a beautiful hymns in my life before. And suddenly, something hit me. - It is not fair. Those kids are all beautiful, lovely kids and why they had to go through such a hard time? Lots of them doesnt know their parents, many kids survived physical abuse or neglect from the family member, several children carry HIV from their mother, one girl actually has been badly sexually abused when she was 2 years old and had to stay in the hospital for 2 years... Why they had to experience so hard things? And why none of their family members are here to listen to this beautiful music and give them a huge applause and hug and kisses? I dont want them to feel that they are poor children but I just couldnt stop my tears over flooding from my eyes. One of the volunteer girl came and tapped my shoulder and my girl, she sat in front of me and put her hand on my knee and smiled. I told her and other kids around me,
You guys made me cry, it was so beautiful

After the pray, we all had a dinner together at the big hall, then went to each houses. Two other volunteer girls were sleeping in the same house as me and they were more excited than kids! They started a pillow fight and all the kids were dragged in by them, we all had to do a Zulu dance and the girls were still crashing into our room and ask us to do sth. (Terrible girls. One of them was Barbie, of course.) So I have started to tell a story (which we normally do on girly nights!) and finally they went to bed (after the second story) around 10pm. All the kids still have to go to school next day and the bus leaves at 6am so they normally have to wake up at 5am. I didnt set an alarm as Ive thought theyve got it but when I naturally woke up in the morning, the clock said it is 5:30am..!. I have start waking up all the kids in the house as nobody were awake yet!! Bus actually left around 6:30am (African time runs little slower than our time) so managed to throw everybody into the mini bus in the end. I bet they wont be awake at school and the manager of Agape never plan the sleep over during the week day...

Day 16

Tue, 23 Mar 10 12:56:27 +0100

Today, we went to see a village surrounding Agape, specially a community of a local people. Most of the children stays in Agape all the time but we gets lots of day care creche children too. They all walk to Agape from the village nearby but we didnt know where they live. The volunteer house is in the middle of the white community so there are lots of big houses but local village was similar to the township. Small block of houses, grow your own veg in the garden to survive. We visited day care centre too. It is for young ones who are looking for a job, socialise, skill work shops. Very nice centre but people have to walk to get there and they all live quite far. We had a drive around the area. There were a lake and a huge dam which provides a water for the area. Beautiful place. Absolutely beautiful country.

We went back to Agape for a homework class then had a film night at our place again. (I cant remember the title but it was a SiFi, Human-looking-Alien brother and sister comes to an earth to save us or sth...kids seems enjoyed it so its ok.) Last time we did a hotdog but its not that healthy so we cooked spagettie bolonaise this time. Kids love pasta. They dont get it at Agape as aunties wont cook it. Boys ate 2-3 plates and they wanted more!!

Days continues...

Day 15

Tue, 23 Mar 10 12:51:17 +0100

After our long WE trip, we didnt plan anything special today. We just went back to Agape and played with all the kids, came back for a homework class, then went out for KFC!!! Im not really fun of a fast food but we were so tired so gave ourselves a rest. But the one of the girl had a collapses with this, she said she cant digest fat very well and never had KFC in her life but wanted to try. She couldnt walk as so weak so we got taxi back home. She had swollen feet and hands in the night, it sounds like an allergic reaction. It didnt get worse and calmed down in the morning so we didnt go to the hospital but very close.

This girl, the one of the volunteer, I call her Barbie because she looks like it and she is a “princess”. (I always say that to her too.) She is 21 years old, young & pretty, fussy with her food and total trouble. If you just look at her without talking, you will imagine a snobbish city girl. But she is not a normal “princess”. Once she start talking, she is funny, full energy (except in the morning) and wicked sense of humor, she loves our kids and always come down to their level, talk to them, hug them and give a million kisses every day.
There is one boy she is really keen on and worried. He lives with his grandmother and come to us for a day creche. Today, we found a big scare on his head. The teachers said it happened during the WE. It looks like already fixed with a glue but it looked like a puss too. I have checked the scare below the glue but that seem clean. But this girl, Barbie found that he has got more scare all around his body and specially, big one just on the side of his body. She wanted him to be seen by a doctor, so, she asked the manager of Agape if she could take him to the hospital. The manager said that grandmother have to agree to pay and as it is not cheep, she doesnt think she will say yes. Barbie said she will take him and she will pay.
They went to the clinic nearby. The surrounding area is a white community so it was only white people in the clinic. They were all very curious why this young white girl was here with a little black boy whose cloths were not a same standard as other kids around. It was a bit of waiting time and nearly a lunch time. Barbie didnt have anything with her but a little packet of juice and an apple. She gave a juice to a boy, he drank it with in 2 sec. Then she start munching an apple, gave a piece to a boy, then munch for herself too.
There was a big fat white guy sitting close by. His eyes was showing disgust, looking at them, particularly a little sick boy. Then, he came towards them and said, “Is this THINGS yours!?” to Barbie. She noticed how he was looking them before. Then she replied to him.
“Yes, this is my BEAUTIFUL son.”
She gave a boy a big, big hug and kisses, and a beautiful smile.

Thats why Im saying, she is a “real” princess.

Day 14

Tue, 23 Mar 10 12:04:04 +0100

For the first time in this 2 weeks of SA holiday, I didnt sleep well and I know why. Its house dust mite!!! Im not afraid of sleeping anywhere myself but my skin is delicate than its owner, every time I gets bitten when nobody else does!!! Now, Ive got red spots all over my body (except face. I dont know why but its like that all the time. Maybe its not tasty.) and its sooooooooooo ITCHY!!!! More bad thing is, I wont be able to put my bikini any more during this holiday cos it looks so ugly (Actually, nobody wants to see it even without the spots so better just stay in the shade).

Anyway... with an itchy body, I went back to meet up with others to see a traditional healer after a breakfast. First she show us a dance then told us, if we want to be seen, come in and see her one by one. We placed a bit of money each (like 50p-£1), then she will ask your surname and tells you a future. Let me share what she told me... “You are healthy” “You are equal to everybody and that makes you a lucky person.” “You will succeed in whatever you do so just go and do it” “You will get married soon because it is a time for you to do so.” “You will marry and have a children.”You will live healthy and have a long life.” … well, we will see!!!

Had a lovely lunch then we went for a horse ridding. Normally, its only to walk around the circle in the field with somebody holding the reins but we went up the hill and on the horse on our own! It was lovely day and even the girl who was scared about the hight and didnt want to go for a horse ridding wanted to try & really enjoyed it. View is honestly, absolutely STUNNING! After an hour, we arrived at a local church and joined missa/mass (Lesotho people are Catholic), then rode back to the back packers. On the way back, the road was more flat so we made a horse run for a while too. I have learnt horse ridding when I was a kid but havent done for so long time then you dont forget those things, I still could run a horse, which was really great!!!

After that, we had to head back to the back packers in a Drakensberg then go back to our volunteer house near Durban. We started driving, stopped at the pub which locals at the highest place in Africa and had a drink, then continued our journey. The road was absolutely nightmare, one of the girl who didnt do very well on the way to come had a breakdown. She has some condition that makes her headache because of the hight, had a back pain, then, got car sickness... it was raining outside, we stopped for a while but there were still long way to go... then, there was a big van coming down from the top and stopped by us, it was the owner of the African's highest pub! He has kindly offered a lift at the front sheet for a girl until we arrive a back packer in the Drakensberg. At the traditional healer this morning, we all been told we are lucky, I think we are!

The journey was very long, we were in a car for 7-8 hours in total. When we arrived our volunteer house at 20:30, all we wanted to do was to collapses in the bed...

Day 13

Fri, 19 Mar 10 09:06:12 +0100

It was little misty in the morning but we could see the sky getting better after an hour already. We had lovely full English breakfast at our back packers then, head to Lesotho with a 4×4Jeep. We were eight girls with a driver, then one English/Australian guy joined us for the trip from the back packers. (Good. More English speaker!) Our driver/guide was South African guy and he was very good explaining all the history about this area. Lesotho is call “The kingdom in the sky” as there are high mountains surrounding the land and lowest land in Lesotho is already 1400ms above sea level. In the past, Zulu people (who lives in Kwazulu Natal area in SA now) and people in North-West area (people lives in Lesotho now) had a big fight. People in the area has been forced to leave their own land because Zulu had a white people in their back and very strong. They went into the high mountain to escape from them and build a kingdom where nobody will interfere them, which is the kingdom in the sky – Lesotho. We (obviously) went in to the mountain by a car but in the past, the main transport was a horse or a donkey. They start having a trading after 1920s with local South Africans and build a check point at the entrance of the mountain for people and a horse/donkey to have a rest, which we saw but nothing left, just ruins now because of the change in a transport system. They are still using a donkey to carry the stuffs and a horse for a transport but big/heavy stuffs can be carried by a car.

The road we took was very steep and narrow, rock every where, carve every where. You can imagine how hard to not to bump your head to the ceiling in the back of the Jeep! One of the girl was quite sick even in the normal sheet and this journey continued for about 2 hours... We were so glad when we finally reached the top!

Lesotho has 25% flat land and hill for the rest, same as Japan. But in Japan, people normally live in the flat land then here, people build a house in the hill. You can see lots of small villages when you pass by. Also, shepherds too. In Lesotho, boys normally become a shepherd from early age and girls stay at home, help mother to become like her. Arrange marriage was common in the past, a groom's father had to pay 24 cows to a bride's father. (One cow is about R2,500 - £250 - so R60,000 -£6,000 – for a wife!!) Now, young people more like to choose their own partner so this tradition has broken, actually. The country are keen for an education and as girls stay home, they tend to attend a school easier than boys. The problem here is same in other country, when young people educated, they likely to leave the country. We saw lots of kids and parents but not much young people.

We finally arrived our back packer safely (thank you for the driver!), we were invited for a traditional party, so we went to the village nearby (15mins hill walk...). There are about 30 ladies in a room and they show us traditional handmade stuffs they use in the kitchen in Lesotho, sang a song and dance for us. They asked us to sing as well, we didnt know what to do, we are not an entertainer! We managed to squeeze out a song & they liked it.

Meal has served quite late in an evening so we were all going crazy, it was very nice meal too, I must say, even we were not that hungry! There were no electricity so we were using an alcohol lamp which I quite like. We had a problem with a bed number because the weather was not great and there were too many people on the trip. I have slept with other two travellers in the village house, which I can show the picture tomorrow...

Day 12

Fri, 19 Mar 10 08:51:04 +0100

Nearly the WE, chop-chop! Friday morning, we decided to take our creche kids to our volunteer house for the swimming. We had a huge problem last time with the numbers but this time it was only 8 kids remaining as we took lots last time so no problem. Though we had one autistic child and one special need child this time so I think it was good we had less number of kids. Then, unlike the last time, there were 3 kids who didnt want to get undressed, (they cries like we are going to throw them out from the window!!) then two out of remaining five didnt want to go into the pool, so it was very quiet day I must say, unlike the other time. Nice thing was that the autistic boy was first running away from all of us and didnt want to go into the pool at all but after 30 mins or more, finally he was happy to be hold and got into the pool! He gradually released his arms and legs then in the end, got into the pool by himself! (I think he is about 10 yrs old, btw.) Just needed a time to get ready.

Then in the afternoon, we have been picked up by a Jeep for a WE trip! Actually, today was a travelling day, nothing but sit in a car for 3.5 hours! We drove throw a beautiful landscape up to the North-West of Kwazulu Natal area to the Drakensberg. It was hilly and you could see it continues for ever and ever. Shame we didnt have a time to stop for a while. Im sure we will see more tomorrow.

The back packers we were staying was very nice & clean. It runs by South African ladies. Very friendly people. Dinner was also nice and all the girls had a big portion of a sponge cake! Big surprise today was I met a Japanese girl who is traveling around Africa on her own. Since I came to SA, I havent seen any North Asian people even in a city or a beach so its funny to meet somebody, specialy Ja girl in the middle of nowhere! She has traveled Namibia and Botswana for a month then now travelling South Africa. She said she had to quit a job to get the time off (I know that! Thats why I cant go back to Japan!!) but going to a nursing school from April. Good for her! It is very rare to find a person like us (going to an exotic country not on a tour!) but I normally travel with somebody, very brave of her!

Tomorrow, we will head to Lesotho!!

Day 11

Fri, 19 Mar 10 08:46:53 +0100

Today was a planned trip to the beach with a creche children. Three aunties were coming so we let them decide how many kids we are taking. In the end, there were 32 kids!! Imagine, going to the beach with 32 kids!! First of all, there were not enough space for us all to fit into the mini bus as there were 10 adults include the driver. Well, we squeezed in into the space in the end but this wont happen in England, we will be caught by police in 2 mins!
Anyway... after 40 mins drive, we arrived in Durban sea side. Kids were all so excited, it worth anything if you see their eyes and faces. Two of the aunties were in a sea with us too, they were enjoying a lot, which was nice to see. They do this every month, its lucky they can do it every month around the year!

In the afternoon, we brought back 5 boys to our volunteer house, its an cooking evening. We asked them what they want to eat but they havent prepared before the day so took a looooong time to sort everything out. After we arrived, they were more keen to watch TV (as you can guess. They are only 10-13yrs old!) but we put them back in the kitchen & surprisingly (for me), they were all following an instruction from us & prepared a very nice meal! (I had to fetch them back from the sitting room several times but well, they did well, I must say!) We all sat & ate & chat & laughed. One of them were very keen to watch DVD which the one of the volunteer brought from home. It was a street kid's dance movie (called “Honey”) and The Diversity (from the Britain Got Talent) was in. Not just because of that but it was an interesting movie. Kids here likes a Hip Pop Dance very much too, there are no barrier in music and dancing. We didnt have a time to watch until the end so feel sorry for him but it was not a movie night, cooking night so I think its fair.

Ok, its gonna be a loooong WE story from tomorrow...

Day 10 part 3

Fri, 19 Mar 10 08:38:13 +0100

After Bobbie Bear, we have head ourselves to Uthombo which based in a middle of a Durban city. I have wrote about Uthombo when I visited there last WE so wont write too much but basically, they are the team to help the street kids. They run a rehabilitation programmes and go out to the street regularly to be in touch with street kids. At the moment, whats happening in a Durban street is very serious. Because of the World Cup, government wants to “clear” the street. They dont want the world to see lots of street kids in the middle of the city so they have arranged a “shelter” for them during the World Cup period. Uthombo is against this because they know what happened in the shelter like this before. (All the crimes you can name include murder.) They said they are going for a meeting and get a permission for them to open Uthombo for street kids to sleep over. (Uthombo is a day care centre, no permission for overnight stay at the moment.) Another plan of the government is, to put the street kids into the truck and drive them away from the city and drop them in the middle of nowhere. Beautiful. It is great that South Africa is hosting a world famous match but there are consequences which people wont know from the TV screen during the match. Hopefuly there are more spotlights and help for the projects like Uthombo during this period than just showing a beautiful hotels on the sand beach side of Durban.

We went to a marine world located at the sea side for a dinner. When you step inside, its a whole different world. Very westernised, pretty shops and restaurants... no local people but lots of rich people enjoying their holiday. I have seen smiler thing in Bali too. Development of a tourism will help the country, that is true and that is the only thing I can think positively from those building. Our kids were also looking inside of those amusement park from outside when we came to a beach the other day. Felt very sorry for them that we are building something the local people wont able to enjoy because of the cost.

The dinner was in the Cape Town Fish Market. I think Ive saw the same restaurant in London, I wanted to try so it was good. We were about 40 people all together, enjoyed a food and drink, chat a lot, sitting at the beach side restaurant... it is a beautiful country with full of unknown further, I think. Can wait to see.

Long day has finished with a bit of reality again. We left the city around 20:00 then there were nobody in the street except the security guard. Really, nobody. Then, we saw a bunch of kids with something like a baseball bat in their hands just before the motorway, wonder what they are doing...

Bit of real Durban city...

Day 10 part 2

Fri, 19 Mar 10 08:34:06 +0100

After the talk from director of the I Care, we went to see a Mother of Peace. Mother of Peace is a children's home like Agape (our volunteer place), There are 55 children divided in 10 houses then live with an auntie in a house. The difference between the Mother of Peace and Agape is our place run by local South African ladies but here, its Dutch organised placement. When I went into the classrooms and the houses, I felt like Im in an Europe. Very clean, organised, structured schedule. We cant say which is better because its like saying which language is better. There is no better, just a difference. Certainly, there are something should be get better world wise – equality. Men and Women, Black or Colored skin and a White skin, different Nationalities, different languages, different cultures are all should be respected as long as an equal humanity has exist.

We can see how kids are treated in this country through a Bobbi Bear too. This is an organization launched by an English-origin-African lady called Jackie and the Bobbi Bear helps a sexually abused children. In South Africa, there are numbers of rape victims reported (and unreported) in regular basis. It is known crime in any other country but in here, huge number of victims are children. Moreover, the age ranges are from 6 months to any age and its occurs to both boy and a girl. Offenders are most likely to be a family member – father, step father, uncle etc – or family's close” friends” which makes difficult for a child to report and delay the discovery of the crime. In here, there is a superstition that you will be cured from HIV/AIDS if you have a sex with a virgin. It sounds ridiculous but people are still strongly believe in it. Bobbi Bear will be called and attend the hearing when there is a victim found or reported by police. The special thing in this organization is, they use a teddy bear doll. As the victims are a little children, it is difficult for them to express what happened verbally. Member of the staff from a Bobbie Bear will come with a food and a drink, cloths (underwear) and all other kids and a bear. When a child is ready, they ask a child to draw what happen to them onto the bear, using pens and plasters and anything to help them express their feelings. We have been shown the bears which actually drawn by children they rescued. We were all speachless. Its most horrible things which could happen to a child, no doubt.

Jackie was a very good talker. She told the girls about the history of South Africa too and said that we made a mistake in the past then now their children are here to fix it. Also, in her word ;

“You have no idea what you all are doing – to pay and leave your home and family and come to this country and face a local people as an equal human - means to them. You have no idea how much this means to the people who suffered an Apartheid. Thank you. Thank you for coming.”

She made me cry.

Day 10 part 1

Mon, 15 Mar 10 12:40:25 +0100

Today was a volunteer day, something I was really looking forward to. We meet all the volunteers who are working in different projects. There are 8 project with 32 volunteers in total this month. Some projects are located far (like our place) so we are able to visit 5 projects today.

First, we visited Palm Tree. This is a children's home run my an English lady who lives here in South Africa. It started with her adopting one South African child then it grew to 17 kids in a home in 12 years. Volunteers are here to help caring a children, preparing a food, feed them, bathing them, playing with them and take a charge in a home schooling. Some kids are behind their study and not able to be accepted by a local school so they are trying to educate to the entry level. House had a quite good space though 17 kids had to sleep in a tight place. There is a project going on to extend the building which funded by a local lotally. Hope they will get it sorted soon so they can live in more comfortable condition.

We visited the Tree Clinic next. This runs by Bobbi Bear, which we visited afterwards and the clinic has funded by a same person as Bobbi Bear, Jackie. The reason whet they call here the Tree Clinic is, there are no building. The purpose of the clinic is, they wants to educate ladies who has low self esteem (which is a cultural result) and a luck of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. So, every Wednesday, local ladies gather together under the big tree in the middle of nowhere and sing together, pray together and study together. Bobbi Bear prepare for a simple medical check and treatment too. Also, not every time but most of the time there are some foods or cloths to give out for the people who joined. (Some people walk 2 hours to join the clinic maybe because of that so they run even its raining or what). Today, it was very special because Jackie's niece married here in a traditional Zulu way. I will put photos up so you can see who it goes. I dont know why but every place I go on holiday, I bumped in to the traditional wedding. I think Im just lucky!

After the clinic, we visited a big building in a middle of the beautiful field. This place is used by 3 projects - I Care, Mother of Peace and Bobbi Bear.
I Care is a rehabilitation programme for a street boys in Durban. They also run a place called Hope Centre, the outreach daycare clinic. The kids who been found on the street and not able to go back home for many reasons will be taken to this centre. Then there are a rehabilitation programme which takes 3 months to complete. Some of them are addicted to a glue or drugs, some of them needs an anger management or simple discipline training because they had nobody to teach them as they lived in a street for so long. Some need a medical help and so on. The project will try to tackle the problem at their home so the boys can go back to their own place and community during this period but if that is not possible, there are a home for them to stay and attend a local school. They own 3 houses with house mother and father in a each house. Then they can attend skills training to be ready to live in a society, not on the street any more.

Story continues...

Day 9

Mon, 15 Mar 10 12:29:53 +0100

Day 9

Today is Tuesday again so we had a meeting with our religious coordinator. One of the topic was about the messy accident happened during the holiday for one of our volunteer and the worker from Agape who lives at our volunteer house with his family. Not going very well but not everything will get sorted in a beautiful way, we all know that. Our coordinator was very good, she asked us all by one by one if there are any problems. She is doing this job for 2 years now, she said. Great experiences. I wish I chose a job to work world wise. (Well, I am, but England is not a foreign country for me so I dont feel that.)

After the meeting, we went to see a local high school. Family can choose which school they want their kids to attend but there are three kind of school here – a White school, an Indian school and a Black school. Our kids are black South Africans but some of them goes to a White school and lots of them goes to an Indian school. The reason is, you need to show a certain level of an achievement and the result to be accepted by a higher level school (which is normally a White school) and also you have to be able to pay a fee. Lots of local families are suffering from poverty and kids are tend to miss a school in early years. This is the one of the reason that schools are still seems like divided in a race.
Today, we visited a school with lots of black South African kids. The school looks fairly big but there are over 1000 kids in this school and 70 – 80 kids per class. School fee is R200 (about £20) per annual but lots of kids stay free as the family cant afford it. The school are covering the cost from the government fund, they provide everything from stationeries to the school uniform. School uniforms are very smart and teachers prefer it because lots of children hasnt got many cloths to change for everyday. Education is very important in South Africa so government has set the target for each year and teacher have to make sure each children are ready to go up the grade every year. (Otherwise, the government fund will be cut. Lots of pressure for the teachers.) I spoke with a one of the student. She showed me a note for biology. I asked her what she wants to become and she said a surgeon. I have told her, you have to work very hard but keep your aim high. It was great day.

We went back to Agape in the afternoon for the homework class but there were a bit of accident happened. One of the girl was sitting in the chair with her arm around the stomach. I have asked her it was a period pain because she was 14 years old but it was not clear. I have quickly examined her but bowels are soft and no temperature. Then there were many volunteer came to her, we spoke with auntie then they gave us a drug for a bowels which help it neutralise but she was crying for the pain so I had to run (well, driver drove a mini van for me) to the supermarket to get a paracetamol. (They were using Aspirin all the time but it is not recommended for a kids now.) I have spoke with an owner and the aunties about her condition, gave an instruction about paracetamol, told a girl to tell aunties when her pain get worse then it was time for us to go back. The owner asked me should she bring her to the doctor then I spoke with her if the pain comes back or she develops temperature, she better seen by the doctor. I was glad to be asked about the doctor because I was afraid that who these kids can survive if they has got serious medical condition. Big relief.

Tonight, we went for a treat for ourselves to the one of (only one) restaurant in the shopping centre nearby. It was Tapas/Mexican meal (or sth), meal was fine but we more enjoyed that no cooking & washing up sometime!

Still 2 days to catch up but Im on my WE now!

Day 8

Mon, 15 Mar 10 12:21:04 +0100

We are finally on week 2! Actually, I cant believe its only our second week, it was so much happening on the first week and feels Im living here definitely a month!

Ok, Ive got lots to catch up so lets chop-chop. Today, it was a beautiful weather (as usual!) so we decided to take our kids back to our place for the swimming. (Weve got a swimming pool in our garden. How lucky are we??) We are six of us so first we decided to take 10 kids for the safety reason (kids we were taking was a crèche kids, 4m – 3 years old and swimming pool is 120m deep at the most shallow place and 2m at the deepest. Weve got to carry and watch them all the time. There are no paddling pool.) but there are so many kids left in our creche, some of them wanted to take more. I have strongly suggested that its only us and no aunties which means we cant communicate verbally as crèche kids doesnt understand English nor Dutch (nor Japanese), we shouldnt push the numbers up and we can take other kids another time but they didnt listen to me and just took two more kids in the bus. They are all working with kids back home but not in the hospital setting. Maybe for them, accident is not a common thing to come across but for me, it every day tragedy. I think if theyve heard a wailing of the parents over the child's dead body once, they know what I mean. Even we planned carefully and done everything we can, accident could happen. So, I dont think we should make the situation more easy for it to happen.
Then, what actually happened was, me and other volunteer (the one who brought two extra kids to the bus in the end) found a boy facing down in the water on the edge of the pool where the stairs are. He is about 2 years old and if we were 15 seconds late, he could be drown. Another incident happened by a bigger one, he was playing at the edge of the pool but slipped or couldnt catch the edge when he jumped to the side and fell into the water. I was just the side of the pool he fell so pulled him up but I think Ive had enough today.
Apart of the incident, kids seems happy in the water and we had a good time. Im only hoping that people realise that safety is the first priority next time.

It was busy today as weve planned a movie night for a middle age group (6-13yrs old) too. We had 12 kids tonight so we prepared hot-dogs and salad then watched “Up!” together. It was from 6-8yrs old today and unfortunately there English was not that good so it was difficult for them to follow. Theyve started playing during the movie so we just let them play as we only wanted to have a nice evening with kids, doesnt matter if they didnt like a film, not a big deal. Btw, they liked mayonnaise in the hot-dogs with a tomato ketchup!! I will put a mustard but not a mayonnaise.. Actually, Dutch girls love mayonnaise & I think former volunteer made them addicted to that. They put hell of a lot until you cant see any sausage!!

And our chaotic life continues...

Day 7 pm

Mon, 15 Mar 10 12:15:29 +0100

So, day 2 afternoon... for the lunch, we went to the house of our guide/driver's mums. We didnt know what we were doing, didnt know where we were heading but just walked after him then arrived at the pretty house with full of dishes on the table. All the dishes were made by our guide's family and it was real South African food. Most of the taste was very sweet and easy to eat. All the vegetables are from their garden. In SA, people normally grow their own vegetable's and can live without supermarket help. But those who wants to make a money with these business, its not interesting situation. So, now, the land was taken away and they have to go to the supermarket. SA is the place that famous with everything on the land. Theyve got a diamond, a gold, oil and coal, beautiful landscape and seaside with full of sunshine to attract the tourists... No wonder the people who has got money doesnt want to leave here.

The house was in the middle of the black community. After 1993, Apartheid has been stopped officially but it doesnt change the people's life straight away. In SA, people still live in the community where their colour belongs to. The money does change the situation slightly and happening slowly. We walked around the town and people were very curious that why white people (actually Im coloured in their category) is in the black community. But they were smily and happy, soon as we start talking, they were very chatty and we had a laugh.
We went to the township after the lunch too. It is the place the black people been forced to move by government because of the community near the town for the family whose men was working in the town was very poor housing and not a pretty looking. The township only has got one entrance and exit. If you block here, there is no road to get in nor out. All the houses were small brick housing. In the generation, education brought a change and black children has been succeed and got a job. They start building more bigger house just outside the township. Things are changing. Just need more time.

We have head back to our house afterwards. It is only a week since I have landed this country but it feels like already month has gone. Very intense week. Unbelievable.

Love from Sunshine country

Kaoru

Day 7 am

Mon, 15 Mar 10 12:12:08 +0100

So, now, day 2 in Durban.Weve fetched a simple breakfast at the store and went for a quick tour of the street where street kids normally stays by a car. Durban street has been divided in three parts. The road closed to the beach is owned by a white people. There are lots of tall modern hotels on the beach side and a marine world with funky pools which only those who got money can afford to enter is also there too. Then next streets are for Indians, then after that, its black streets. In the part of this black street, there are lots of non-used half-broken empty buildings and thats where those street children lives. Though there are about 6000 kids on the street so not everybody got a shelter. There are lots of girls on the streets too. Girls got different issues from boys. Rape by family member or family's close friends are quite common in this country. (Actually, its not only girls who are the victims.) There are lots of pregnant girls on the street too. Hunting for girls or kids for a business (prostitution, for example) dose exist very clearly but no official help. Most stupid things Ive heard today was, there is a brothel above the Durban police station!!! Police lets the business run above their office and more over, officers does go upstairs for “a rest” too. This is the one of the reason the local people doesnt believe in police, I guess. How and where to start tackling in this country???

As all the world may know, the 2010 World cup will be held in here, South Africa. There is lot of modern stadiums and hotels in contractions at the moment. Here in Durban, there are beautiful stadium right next to the city. It is great thing that South Africa has been picked up for a world famous activity but this is giving a huge pressure for the people who work here for kids. Ill come back to this later at the volunteer day.

Before we head to the lunch, we have passed through the informal settlement which still exist in a huge area just outside the city. Those are the houses made by a galvanized iron/tin roof. (I think its easier to just look at the pictures than explain by words) We dont know how many people are living there but it was a huge place. Durban is quite hilly land and those who got money (most likely to be a white foreigners) built the house on the top of the hill (as you can imagine why), then just below the huge modern house, you can see those informal settlement (by those who born and lives in South Africa for their lives). Isnt it crazy? Lovely places and convenient places are all taken by those who got money then poor people are all pushed away from the city and they live about 20-30mins away suburb without own transport. Silly. Totally silly.

Now, we are going for a lunch!

さて。ダーバン２日目です。スーパーで簡単な朝食を取ったあと、ストリート・チルドレンがたむろする地域を車で見て回りました。ダーバンの道は３種類に分かれていて、海岸沿いは白人がオーナーの、高いモダンなホテル群や、スライダーつきプールなどがあるマリン・ワールド（もちろん、それなりにお金を持っている人しか入れない）が並びます。次に並ぶのがインディアン街、その内側が黒人街になります。この黒人街の一角には、使われていない、半分壊れかけの廃墟がたくさんあり、ここがストリート・チルドレンの溜まり場となっています。とは言ってもダーバンには約６０００人と言われるストリート・チルドレンがいるので、もちろん全員が屋根のある場所に住めるわけではありません。ストリート・チルドレンの中には、女の子も大勢います。女の子は男の子とは違った問題を抱えています。家族もしくは家族の知り合いによるレイプはこの国では珍しくありません。（ところで被害者は女の子だけとは限りません。）妊婦のストリート・チルドレンも大勢います。女の子もしくは子供を狩る組織（売春斡旋など）も明らかに存在しますが、助けを差し伸べる公式の手段に欠けます。この国に来て一番莫迦莫迦しい話は、ダーバン警察署の２階が売春宿だと言う現実ですよ。警察自身が売春を認めているも同然。（法的には違法です。）なにしろ、警察官自身が２階で”休憩”してるんですから。こんなだから地元の人は警察を信用してないんじゃないですかね。まったく、どこから、どうやって手をつけたらいいんですか、この国は??

おそらく世界中が知ってると思いますが、２０１０年のサッカーワールドカップはここ、南アフリカで行われます。国中で立派なスタジアムやホテルが建設されているところで、ここダーバンにも目を見張るスタジアムが建てられました。（ちなみに日本の試合はダーバンだそうですね。）南アフリカが世界中が注目するワールドカップの開催国に選ばれたこと自体は歓迎するべきことだと思いますが、このおかげで今、ここダーバン市内のストリート・チルドレンたちのために働く人たちには、多大なプレッシャーが圧し掛かっています。この話はボランティア日に。

お昼の前に、未だ市外に存在する、大規模な非公式住居街に足を伸ばしました。トタン屋根の粗末な小屋が所狭しと立ち並ぶ地区です。（百聞は一見にしかず。写真を見てもらえば言葉で説明するよりも早いと思います。）合計で何人の人が住んでいるのか解りませんが、かなり広範囲に渡っていました。ダーバンはかなり山あり谷ありの土地ですが、お金を持っている人（主に外国から移民してくる白人）が山の上に大きなモダンな家を建て、そのすぐ下にこうした貧しい人々（この土地に生まれ育った南アフリカ人）の家が建っていることはざらです。これっておかしくないですか？景色のいい、便利のいい場所はお金持ちが住み、お金のない、移動手段もない人たちが市外から２０分も３０分も離れた場所に追いやられている。絶対おかしいです。

・・・というところで、お昼ご飯です。

Day 6 pm

Mon, 15 Mar 10 12:06:39 +0100

After the lunch was the time we were all looking for – shopping! (ofcourse! We are girls!) There is a big hand craft market called Victoria street market in the middle of the black community area. It is nice to just have a look even you are not planning to buy anything but Im sure you will find something you like. There were lots of wooden animals and other things like a bowl, salad server, or a table made by wood. (They were keep pushing us an antler work but I think I will be caught at the Heathrow if I try bring it back.) I didnt plan anything but ended up buying stuffs too. Ive got a little gift for my nieces and sth for myself today and I think I will get something for other family member too. One of the volunteer girl was really good at negotiating the price! It is stressful sometime but if you can enjoy it, we will love shopping here!

Then finally we went to the beach!! I was happy because I couldnt stay at the beach side back packers on my first day of arrival. We went to the North beach this time, it was beautiful sand beach. No rocks or seaweeds so very safe and clean for kids to play too. We will come back with a kids for sure! The wave was quite high so we just played with a wave, not really for a swimming, well, Im not a good swimmer anyway :p

After this, we have head to the back packers we were staying. It was nice setting, cozy, clean and welcome. Weve asked the reception about the tipical South African meal, theyve suggested “Bunny Chow”, which is a stew in a scooped-out loaf of bread (as the picture shows) & it is a Durban meal. Its funny they make it in the Indian restaurant but well, we were here for the challenge! Actually, it was quite nice, just also quite spicy. (I do like spicy food but after finished the whole meal, I had to say, I had a problem bowels for 2 days...)
City was lively, music and lots of people around, lots of restaurant open just the door step... We all enjoyed our city break, though we like our volunteer house too! Another nice thing was we came across with the volunteers who works in Umthombo at the back packers. They were almost all Dutch girls so dont know what they spoke as they were talking in Dutch but seems they were enjoying the Umthombo experiences.

お昼ごはんの後はお待ちかね　－　ショッピングです。（女の子ですから。）市内の黒人外の中心に、ビクトリア・ストリート・マーケットと言う、大きな手作りクラフトのマーケットがあります。特に買う予定がなくてぶらぶら歩いてるだけでも結構楽しいが、色々見ているうちに何かほしくなること間違いなし。動物の置物を始め、木で出来た器、サラダ・サーバー、テーブルなどが所狭しと並べられています。（お店の人がやたらと角細工を進めるんですが、こんなもの持ち込んだらヒースローでつかまること間違いなしですわさ。）特にお土産を買う予定はなかったんですが、見ていたらやっぱり色々と買ってしまいました。とりあえず姪っ子と自分用の買い物をしまいしたが、他の家族にも何か買って帰ろうと思います。ボランティアの一人が値切り交渉がうまい!（大阪に連れて行きたい!）苦手な人にはストレスですが、これさえ楽しめればここでのショッピングは天国ですよ。

その後は念願のビーチへ!初日に海沿いのバック・パッカーに泊まる予定がキャンセルされたので、かなり嬉しい♪私たちが行ったのは北海岸で、岩もない、海草も浮いていない、安全で、子供たちが喜んで遊びそうな、綺麗な砂浜のビーチでした。子供たちを連れてくる計画を立てること間違いなし！時間的にか、結構波が高く、泳ぐと言うよりも水遊びを楽しむと言う感じでしたが、まあ泳ぎはそんなに得意じゃないので。

この後は自分たちの今夜の寝床のバック・パッカーへ。こじんまりしたいい感じのつくりで、十分清潔で、居心地のいい感じでした。レセプションに地元料理を食べさせるレストランを聞いたら、”Bunny Chow”を薦められました。写真も載せましたが、カットされてない食パン一斤の中身をくりぬいてシチューを入れたもので、Durban名物とのことです。何故かインディアン・レストランに置いてあるのですが。（まあ何事も体験ですから。）しかしその所為もあるのか、味自体はいけるんですが、かなりスパイスが効いていて、辛い!（辛いものオッケーな私ですが、お皿に乗ってるもの全部食べたら、この後２日間はお腹の調子が・・・）
市内は活気があり、音楽が聞こえ、人の行きかう雰囲気があり、レストランも隣の通りに並んでる・・・普段田舎に引っ込んでる私たちみんな、久しぶりの街の雰囲気を楽しみました♪もちろん、自分たちのボランティア・ハウスも気に入ってますけどね。それから、市内で活動するUmthomboのメンバーとバックパッカー先が一緒で、彼らと話が出来たのも収穫でした。ま、みんなほぼオランダ出身の子達なので、がんがんオランダ語が飛び交ってましたけど。うちの仲間はUmthomboの活動なども彼らから直接聞いて、十分会話を楽しんでたみたいです。

Lots of love

Kaoru

Day 6 - am

Tue, 09 Mar 10 12:35:33 +0100

This WE, we went to the Durban city. The place we are staying is not actually Durban, it is suburb of it and takes 40-45mins by car to the city. (So we are all good girls Mon - Fri, there are nothing we can do except write a diary or go to bed after 20:00!) Anyway, so, we were all exited about this, then... driver didnt turn up. Well, it was not his fault, our coordinator gave him an old address. We were 2 hours late in total which was shame because we missed the one of the tour to go and see where street children based and how street girls survive. Apart of that, we had lovely guide from the one of other be-more project Umthombo(which means “Tree of hope” in Zulu) which based in a Durban city to look after street kids. He took us to the office then explained us about their project. They give a rehab programme for street kids, try to sort out the family/social problem so the kids can go back to the family, keep them in a right community and be educated so they will have a chance to get a job and live on their own when they grow up. They have employed a former street children who gone though the rehab programme and we had a talk from him too. Very interesting and glad to see the project is working. But not all the stories were present, just on the day we visited, there were two street kids shot dead by mistake (the guy who shot them thought the kids were following him). Theyve been seeing kids die on the street. Street girls stories are even worth. Tough job.

After that, we went to the Kwa Muhle Museum. South Africa is known with Apartheid. There were strong racial discrimination policy which was in operation until 1993, only 17 years ago. Black south Africans who belongs to this land and country had to carry a card like a passport all the time to show who they are, where they live, why they are in the city and who employed them. (If they couldnt show them when theyve been aske, they will be sent to a jail.) There land were taken away so they were forced to work under the White people, they were not allowed to come to the city except the working hours and they had to leave soon after they finish working. Those who brought their family made an informal settlement near the city but White governor doesnt like it (as it doesnt look pretty) so they removed the houses and their wives and kids away to the place now called township where is 30mins away by car from the city while the men was all at work. Lots of family been separated as they didnt know where their family removed, theyve lost there house, they didnt have a transport to go and find them, they didnt have a right to ask the people who did it. There are a picture with white men who look so proud in the front of the last informal settlement house, just before their removal, hanging in the museum. Poor us, how many times we need to make those stupid mistakes?

For the lunch, we went for a South African cuisine. We are cooking by ourselves whole week days so we havent had any traditional African food yet. The meal was quite simple, they like sweet taste beans and pumpkins, chickens and in special occasion, they eat beef. There were beef dish today but this meet looked bit odd. They said its because its chin but it was really funny looking. Ive took a picture so u have to see it. It was jelly-like meat so not my cup of tea, unfortunately but other stuffs were very nice.

& story continues...

週末はダーバンに行って来ました。私たちが生活している場所は、正確にはダーバン市街で、市街地までは車で４０－４５分ほどかかります。（なので月－金は、いい子にしてますよ。夜８時過ぎたらやることと言ったら日記を書くか、寝るしかないですから。)ま、そんなわけで、この日はみんな朝からテンション高かったんですが・・・ドライバーが来ない。とは言っても彼の責任ではなく、コーディネーターの人が、間違った住所を教えたせいなんですけど。結局予定よりも２時間遅れてしまい、今回のツアーの目的でもあった、ストリート・チルドレンの生活を直接見ること、特に女の子がどうやって生きて行っているのか直接聞くことが出来なかったのは、本当に悔やまれます。それ以外は順調で、be-moreの他のプロジェクトの一つであり、ストリート・チルドレンの援助をするダーバン市街基盤のUmthombo（ウトンボ－”希望の木”と言う意味のZulu語)で働く現地の方が、私たちのダーバンでのガイド（兼運転手）でした。彼に連れられ事務所に行き、Umthomboの仕事内容を教えてもらいました。彼らは子供たちにリハビリ・プログラムを提供し、家族もしくは他の問題で家に帰れない子供のために家族を探し出し根本問題に取り組み、最終的には子供たちは家族に、もしくは彼らに合った地域施設に保護してもらえるよう取り計らいます。教育もきちんと受けられるようにすることで、仕事を得る可能性を高め、社会生活を学ぶため、一人前になるまで出来るだけ家族と一緒に過ごせるようにします。Umthomboには、以前リハビリ・プログラムを受けて、今はUmthomboで職員として働いていると言う人もいたので、彼にも色々と話を聞きました。プログラムがこうして実を結んでいるのを見ることは、とても嬉しいです。ただし、すべての話が、”いい話”ではないです。つい今朝がたも、ストリート・チルドレンが二人、間違って射殺されました。（撃った男性は、子供たちが自分の後をつけていると思ったとのこと。）職員の人たちは、何人もの子供たちが路上生活の末亡くなるのを見てきています。女の子たちの話はこれよりも深刻です。きつい仕事だと思います。

この後はKwa Muhle（クワ・ムレ）美術館に行きました。南アフリカは言わずとしれた、アパルトヘイトが置かれた国。この有色人種差別政策は、１９９３年、たった１７年前まで公式にこの国に存在していたんです。この国に生まれ育ち、この土地に生きていた黒人の南アフリカ人たちが、自分の名前、住所、職場名、市街地にいる理由などが記載されたパスポートの携帯を義務付けられ、もし警察に提示を求められた時に持っていないと、刑務所に入れられたんです。自分たちが住んでいた土地は奪われ、白人の元市街地で働くしかなくなり、でも、仕事時間以外市街地にいることは許されず、仕事が終わると追われる様に家に帰されました。家族と少しでも近くにいたい、と、市街地そばに粗末なバロック小屋を建てた集落が形成されましたが、見掛けが悪いと、白人政府から嫌がられ、男の人たちが働いている間に、女・子供はトラックに乗せられtownshipと現在呼ばれる、車で３０分ほど離れた郊外に移動させられました。多くの家族たちが引き裂かれ、男たちは自分の家族がどこに移動させられたのかもわからず、家を失い、家族を探すための移動手段もなく、それを白人政府に聞く権利すらありませんでした。美術館には、最後の一つのなったバロック小屋の前に誇らしげに立つ白人たちの写真が飾られています。人間は何べん同じことを繰り返したら過去から学ぶんでしょうか。

お昼は南アフリカ料理店に行きました。普段は自炊なので、現地料理は実は食べる機会がないんです。料理は込み入った感じのものではなく、地元で取れる野菜と肉を使った料理で、割と甘いです。（豆とか、かぼちゃとか。）牛肉は特別な時にしか食べないようですが、今回の牛肉料理に使われていた肉が、ちょっと変わっていて、あごの肉と言ってましたが、なにやらひげが生えていて、変なんです。写真を取ったのでそちらを参照。お肉の脂身やジェリー状のものは苦手なので、私の好みではなかったですが、他の料理はいけました。

・・・続きます。

Lots of love from the sunshine country.

Day 5

Tue, 09 Mar 10 12:22:48 +0100

It is very common that things doesnt always go straight forward. This morning, driver was sick so replacement transport came an hour earlier than normal, no bus to take us back home for a lunch so we walked about 40 minutes under the sunshine! The road was really hilly (Im worried that one day our school mini bus with 40 kids + us will flip over) but well, it was a good exercises, Im proud of myself that I didnt have pain in my thigh!

This afternoon, we had a big meeting regarding the one of the worker at Agape who lives in volunteer house with us. He is African man with a German wife & a little baby. As a new volunteer, I havent come across much trouble with him but those who are already spent two months here had a bit of hard time. Interesting thing is, they called a pastor as a mediator. The owner and the manager of Agape was present and they are both South African ladies. The owner also had a problem with him, he was very rude on the phone already when they were trying to sort out the problem and arranging this meeting. Conversations was very passionate and emotional, lots of praying and human love involved. As this supposed to be a formal meeting, it wont be like this in the world I know, it will be more dry, cold conversations but this seems like their way. Also, people likes to tell their whole life story in the meeting too. Different culture, different way to deal with.

The meeting finished around 20:00 so it was late evening for us, we cooked quick pasta then did a little party for the one of the volunteer who turned 19 at midnight. (I wish I did those things when I was their age too. Dont think there were opportunity nor information if you live in Japan when I was their age though.) She is staying for four months so she is trying to save a money and not getting any sweets for herself so our present was a packet of crisps, chocolate bar, lolly pops and a can of beers!! She loved it!

物事がうまく行かないのはよくある話。今朝はいつものドライバーが病欠のため、代わりのドライバーが迎えに来ることになり、いつもよりも１時間早く用意することに。また、お昼休みに家に帰る交通手段がないため、山あり谷ありの道を炎天下の中４０分歩くことに。(この道をいつもスクールバスに子供４０人と乗ってるんですが、いつかひっくり返ると毎日怯えてます。）まあでもいい運動になりました。太ももが張らなかったのは自分でもびっくりです。

この日の午後は、ボランティア・ハウスに一緒に住んでいる、うちの施設で働く職員のことで、長いミーティングになりました。彼はアフリカ人で、ドイツ人の奥さんと小さな赤ん坊と一緒に隣に住んでいます。自分を含め、今月新しく始めたボランティア４人とは、特にトラブルと言うトラブルは起こしていないのですが、私たちより前に既に２ヶ月一緒に生活している子達とは、色々あったようです。ミーティングには施設のオーナーとマネージャー(二人とも南アフリカ人女性)も出席しました。興味深いのは、オーナーの懇意にしている牧師さんが仲介人として呼ばれたことです。オーナー自身が問題の彼と既にひと悶着あり、ミーティングをセッティングするための電話の対応もとても横柄だったことが大きな問題になっていたので。話し合いはとても熱がこもった、かなり感情的な話し方で、途中でお祈りの言葉や、人間愛が関わってきました。一応公式の話し合いだったわけですが、今まで自分の知っている公式の話し合いは、ドライで儀礼的な会話が交わされていたなあと、まあここではこういうやり方が本筋なのかと思いながら聞いていました。後、こちらの人は、自分の人生を語るのが好きで、ミーティングでもそうでした。ところ変われば、品変わる、と言うか、やり方が変わると言ったところでしょうか。

ミーティングは午後８時までかかったので、家に帰ってからチャチャッとスパゲッティを作って食べ、夜中に１９歳になったボランティアのこの誕生日パーティーをしました。(ホンと、彼女の歳に同じ経験をしたかったなあとつくづく思います。まあ私が彼女の年のころは、そういう機会も、情報も、なかったと思いますが。）彼女は４ヶ月このプロジェクトに参加する予定で、お金もセーブしないといけないので、お菓子類は一切買わないようにしてるんです。なのでプレゼントは、ポテトチップス、チョコレートとキャンディー、それとビールでした。彼女も喜んでくれましたよ♪

Lots of love

Kaoru

Day 4

Mon, 08 Mar 10 12:38:42 +0100

I normally go to bed around midnight and its still 23:00 but really really tired, will fall into sleep very soon...

...and, I did fall into sleep after one sentence. This is already next day... How difficult to keep a simple record everyday!

So, Day 4... yes, it is the day safety issue raised. For children who lives here, here is a home. It is normal for them to run around everywhere but it is not really child friendly. The building is not well planned. You have to pass through a very narrow passage between the two building to go to a creche. The creche children is running between the main building and the creche by themselves. One moment, there were no staff in the creche but I had to get a clean nappy and a wipe (which dosent exist here so toilet paper and a warm water in a tapper) from the main building. When I get back to the main building to get more help later, one of the creche children came into the room by himself with a little lump on his forehead. Staff asked me what happened but how could I know? I was running between two buildings for some stuffs & a help. Lucky it was not a huge accident.
Then, another child fell in front of me later on caused by an old loose washing line at the very low height. It nearly caught me too. Im sure we are not the first one. After that, we went to the grass and the old play area which a creche kids then realised there are broken glasses under the play gym.
Building is actually very big and modern but not well designed for the purpose. There are modern toilets but nobody maintenances it. Height of the sinks are too high for a little one so they cant reach the water to wash their hands after theyve been to the toilet... Well, nowhere is perfect.

Btw, Thursday is a cooking class so we had 6 teenage girls in our volunteer house. Weve been to a shopping, they have to choose what they want to eat, shop & cook for all of us. It all looking well until the electricity fell!!! Unbelievable, why tonight??? It seems in a whole area & we can only wait to be solved... so we had to make a quick decision and ordered Pizza again! Its emergency situation, what more we can do without a working cooker on the cooking class night? Some girls were not happy about the situation but they quickly adopted & made a talent show night while we were waiting. They are quite talented, we told them they will do very good in the X factor!!!

Its amazing there are so much to say everyday, I havent said all what I want yet, even you believe it or not!

普段は0時就寝なんですが、23時の時点でもう眠くて眠くてかないません・・・

・・・という一文を残して昨日は寝こけました。毎日の記録を残しておきたいだけなのに、何でこんなに大変なんでしょうか。

さて、4日目・・・そうそう、この日は、安全面の不安がさらに浮き彫りにされました。ここAgapeに住む子供たちにとってはここが家でもあるので、あちこちを一人で歩き回るのは、比較的普通のことなわけですが、子供にとって安全とは言いがたいです。そもそも建物自体が設計される場所などをきちんと考えて建てられていない。幼児室に行くのに建物と建物の間のめちゃ狭い隙間を通らないといけないんですが、子供たちは幼児室と大きな子供たちの部屋を勝手に行ったり来たり。たまたま私しか幼児室にいない時間があり、でもオムツからう○こがはみ出してる子供がいて、オムツと拭くもの(・・・なんて未だかつて見たことがないので、トイレットペーパーとお湯をタッパーに入れて）を本館から持って来て、オムツを換えた後助け手を呼びに行って、「私ひとりじゃ10人以上の子供を見切れないし、危ない。」と言った矢先に、幼児室から抜け出してきた子供がおでこにこぶ作って現れる始末。何があったの?と聞かれたところで、子供が勝手に一人で行き来できる状況で、助けを呼ぶのに行ったり来たりしていた私に、子供がどこで転んだかなんてわかるわけもない。大怪我じゃなかったのが幸いですが、いつそういう状況になってもおかしくないです。
で、そんなことがあった矢先にまた、他の子供が幼児室前ですっころぶ。原因は使わなくなったたるたるに弛んだ洗濯ロープ。丁度床上10cmくらいのところでピーんと張った状態になってしまい、私も危うく引っかかるところでした。もちろん、私たちが最初の犠牲者ではないはず。その後庭にある昔使っていたジャングルジムで子供を遊ばせようとしたら、草の中に割れたガラス瓶が散乱。建物自体はとても大きくて立派ですが、目的に合っていない。トイレのシンクは大人用の高さのため、小さな子供は手を洗おうにも届かない・・・。まあどんな場所も完璧ではないんですが。

ところで木曜日は料理教室の日です。この日は6人の１０代の女の子たちが私たちが生活するボランティアハウスに集まりました。みんなで何が食べたいのか相談してから買い物をし、自分たちで全部料理もするんです。とても順調に行ってたんですが・・・停電までは。前にもあったことみたいですが、何でまたこの日???うちだけではなく近所一帯のようなので、とりあえず待つ意外なす術もなく・・・時間がなかったので、結局またピザを頼むことになりました。ま、緊急事態ですから。料理教室の日にコンロが使えなきゃ、他の手段はないでしょう。ふてくされている子もいましたが、すぐ状況をひっくりかえして、待ってる間タレント・ショーが披露されました。みんななかなかうまくて、X factor(英国の公開アイドルオーディション番組)でいいところ行くよと言っておきました。

それにしても、毎日毎日なんだってこんなに書くことがあるんでしょう？しかもこれでも全然足りナインですが。(信じてくれなくても良いですけど・・・)

Lots of love,

Kaoru

Day 3

Fri, 05 Mar 10 14:30:18 +0100

Day 3

Feel more comfortable and familiar to what Im doing here now. Though still not easy to remember the kid's name, every time they laugh at me so Im quite hopeless!

Today, I was with one of the girl who missed the bus to go to the school. They have to get up 5am cos bus will come and pick them up at 6am. (I was quite surprised that none of her room mate woke her up, btw.) Normally, they have to help the aunties or uncles and do some work if they skip the school. Then she said she cried when the bus gone without her because she didnt wanted to miss the school so Ive asked permission of the manager to do some homework with her. We did some mathematics paper work from the folder for her grade. It was a three-figure number addition and subtraction. She can do it but struggled as it was not in a normal order. They know the one of the number to add/subtract and answer but have to find out what is the other number to make the formula to be equal to the answer.(89-X=31 for example)
Also we did one to two-figure number multiplication. She was taking time then I have realised that she hasnt remembered multiplication table, so she was doing addition for every exercises.(8×3=8+8+8=24 for example) I asked her if she have heard the way to remember the table but she didnt know. Ive asked her age, she was 14 years old (She looks 10-12 yrs old). I dont know English mathematics curriculum plan but I think these are all for under 10 years old exercises in Japan. (not with X but says “fill the number in the square” type of excersises) We did chose the paper work from her grade Ive thought. I dont know if she is specially behind but possible. I think I have to speak with a manager that we, volunteers needs to know what is the school aim for each age as we are responsible for a homework class. (or I can take her back home.)

The children live in Agape is likely to be behind the school work from their back ground. Lots of children been brought here because of the difficult family issues. They often been abandoned by the school before they come to Agape so now they have to catch up everything. We are not allowed to bond with a particular child as it is not fare for other children but I really felt that I want to help her out , give all my little knowledges and experiences.

We normally cook dinner at home but tonight, weve been lazy, we ordered pizza!! It was huge 30cm diameter and only around R60-70(£6-7)!

大分この生活にも慣れてきたようです。ただ、どうにもこうにも、子供たちの名前が覚えられない。毎回笑われています。

今日は、スクールバスに乗り遅れたと言う女の子と一緒に過ごしました。バスは6時に迎えに来るので、子供たちはみんな5時に起きないと間に合わないんです。（しかし、何で同じ部屋の子達は起こしてくれなかったんですかね。）普通、学校をサボると、Agapeのおじちゃん・おばちゃんの手伝いをしないといけないんですが、彼女は学校をサボりたかったわけではなく、バスに乗り遅れた時は泣いたと言うので、マネージャーにお願いして、勉強を見てあげる許可をもらいました。彼女の学年相当の算数の練習問題をやることになり、3桁の足し算・引き算をやっていたんですが、どうも手こずっている様子。普通に足し算・引き算するのではなく、答えが解っていて、何を足したら良いのか、もしくは引いたら良いのかを考える形の問題だったんです。(89－X=31の様に。）
また、一桁から二桁の掛け算もやりました。なんだか時間がかかってるな、と思ったら、九九を覚えていないので、いちいち全部足し算でやっていたんです。(8×3=8+8+8=14 と言う具合に。）彼女に、九九の覚え方は学校で習ったか聞いたら、解らないと言われてしまいました。そして改めて彼女の歳を聞くと、14歳と。(見た感じは10－12歳くらい。)英国の算数(数学)のカリキュラムは解りませんが、日本では10歳までにやる内容だと思います。（Xは使わないで、四角に数字を入れなさい、と言う内容で。)練習問題の用紙は、彼女の学年のものだったはずなので、彼女自身が遅れている可能性もあります。次回のミーティングでマネージャーに、各学年の履修科目と内容を聞いてみようと思います。ボランティアたちが宿題を見ている以上、知らないといけない情報なので。

Agapeの子供たちは他の子供に比べて、家族背景・環境の関係で、勉強が遅れていることが良くあります。多くの子供たちは、家族に何らかの深い事情があり、Agapeに来ており、ここに来る前まで学校に行ったことがなかったと言うケースもしばしばです。私たちは不公平にならないよう、一人の子を特別扱いしないように通達されていますが、彼女のことはほっておけないです。自分の持ってる知識と経験だけでも、すべて彼女に伝えたいです。

普段は家でみんなで料理しますが、今日はちょっとずるして、ピザを頼んでしまいました。直径30cmの大判で、一枚R60-70(780-910円)!!!

Life continues...（つづく。。。）

Love,
Kaoru

Day 2

Wed, 03 Mar 10 12:31:43 +0100

I normally talks too much (as you all know!) & write too much but I really want to keep a record of my trip so I will try write something for everyday.

Tuesday is a day for our big meeting with a regional coordinator and a manager of Agape. A regional coordinator is a Dutch lady who lives in SA but a manager is a local S.African lady who worked as a teacher in Johannesburg for over 20 years. This is a big difference between other projects and Agape. Agape runs by a local people and we join and help them.

Historically, SA had a very difficult and tough time between black/colored & white people known as an Apartheid. This racial discrimination has only stopped in 1993, only 17 years ago. A manager is well educated, confident lady but this is very, very rare. There are aunties who lives in Agape and look after children. They are local ladies and they have difficulty asking volunteers for a help as they have not raised in that way. Be more project started in 2006 and now the workers are more self confident than before but psychological trauma wont be treated so easily, we know that.
On the other hand, there are cultural issues. In Africa, lots of countries are male-dominant. Women have no right to say “no” and they are often be manipulated by men to say “sorry” even they did not do anything wrong. A manager has very well structured plan and principle for Agape but not all the staff have a same knowledge or experiences like her. Her job is to educate them she said but it seems long way to go. But still, future looking good, I felt.

We had a homework class this afternoon but I think Ill leave that story for the next time as it was heavy story to digest today...

普段から（みんな知っての通り）マシンガン・トークであり、書く時もついつい書きすぎと言うくらい書いてしまうんですが、今回の体験はどうしてもすべて記録に残したいので、出来るだけ新鮮感想を毎日記録して行きたいと思っています。

火曜日は地域コーディネーターとAgapeのマネージャーとのミーティングの日です。地域コーディネーターは南アフリカに住むオランダ人の女性ですが、マネージャーはヨハネスブルグで20年以上教師をしていたと言う、南アフリカ出身の、南アフリカ人女性です。Agapeと他のプロジェクトの大きな違いは、ここにあります。Agapeは、現地人が作り上げ、運営している活動に、私たちが参加させてもらっているわけです。

歴史的に南アフリカは、アパルトヘイトが置かれた国として、黒人・有色人種と白人との間には、深い確執があります。この人種差別政策が終結を見たのは、1993年、たった17年前のことです。マネージャーは学歴もあり、自分の仕事を自信を持ってこなしていますが、これはここではとても珍しいことなんです。Agapeには”おばちゃん”と呼ばれて慕われている、子供たちと寝食を共にする、地域出身の女性たちがいますが、彼女たちはボランティアの人たちに何かを頼むのが苦手です。彼女たちの文化では、そんな教育は受けたことがなかったからです。Be-moreプロジェクトは2006年に開始され、今では”おばちゃん”たちも自信を持ってきましたが、これまで受けてきた精神的トラウマは、そう簡単には一掃されません。

また、文化の違いも在ります。アフリカでは多くの国々が男性優位主義です。多くのアフリカ女性たちは、”NO”と言うことを許されず、また、自分が何も悪くなくても、男性に”ごめんなさい”と言うように仕向けられることがしばしばです。マネージャーはAgapeをどんな風に運営して行きたいか、そして時代に沿った道徳観念を持っていますが、ここで働くスタッフ全員にその知識や考えが行き渡っているとは言いがたいです。彼女の仕事の一つが”おばちゃんたちの教育”ですが、長い時間がかかりそうなのははたから見ていても思います。だけど、希望の光は見えていると感じています。

今日は宿題をやる会にも参加しましたが、今回はかなり胃もたれしそうに重い話だったので、その話は持ち越しで・・・。

Lots of love for you...

Kao

Day 1

Wed, 03 Mar 10 12:26:57 +0100

It is nearly midnight & Im almost sleeping so cant tell you all the interesting stories.

There were so much things happened yesterday, I have only managed to write above sentence last night! First of all, finally, we are now six girls in a volunteer house! Three girls joined us yesterday afternoon from Netherlands. They all very nice. Interesting thing is, we all work for children back in our country & still choose to work for kids for our holiday! Mad people!

So, yesterday morning was a first day in Agape for me. Didnt know what will happen so very funny feeling. Exciting? - yes. When I saw about 40 kids sitting at the outside play area on their own little chair, only thing you can do is just smile. They all looked at a new arrival, curious, excitement in their eyes, then smiles like a sunshine. Theyve all got beautiful smile. There are day care too but still lots of them have gone through a tough time but they havent lost their smile. Brave kids.
I have spent all morning with them. There are few things which made me difficult to adopt (like a safety issues. There are often that kids run away from the room and wondering around on their own & they are under five years old) but I have to see and know about their way and the back ground culture I think. We are strangers here.

In the afternoon, three girls joined us and weve got on well together very quickly. It was lovely weather so we all went for swimming in the pool in our garden, sun bathing, chatting... My colleagues were saying Im doing work during my holiday but dont worry guys, I am enjoying my holiday! We have walked to the nearest supermarket (its SPAR so quite pricey, I have to say...) then bought a food for two days. We made spaghetti bolonaise & sweet corn (Dutch girls loves it!), wine offered by new arrivals, another chat and chat and... this is why Im writing this on the next day lunch break!

Anyway, there are more to come today so Ill stop for now.
Thank you for reading, I do think about UK too.

もうすぐ12時ですが、瞼の上と下がくっついていて、せっかくの楽しかった出来事を書きとめることが出来ません。

昨日は色々ありました。おかげで書けた日誌は上記の一文のみ。何はさておき、昨日でこの先一ヶ月一緒に過ごす仲間6人全員が揃いました。新たに加わったオランダ人の女の子3人も含めて、みんな良い子達で、おまけに全員が全員、自国でも子供に関わる仕事をしているんです。お休みまで子供の面倒を見てるなんて、変わり者の集まりかも。（笑）

さて、昨日の朝は私のAgape（アガペ）初日でした。何が起こるのか予想もつかず、どきどきしていましたが、中庭に並べられた机を囲んで座っている40人の子供たちを見て人間、どう反応するかなんて－顔がほころぶだけですヨ。子供たちみんなの笑顔がまた良いんです。Agapeにはデイ・ケアもありますが、多くの子供たちが過酷な現実を体験してきてなお、これだけの笑顔を見せられるのはすごいと思いました。尊敬、と言っても良いかも。
この日の午前中はAgapeで子供たちと過ごしました。自分たちが今まで生活してきた”常識”から考えると、なかなか納得できないこともありますが（第一に、安全の問題。小さな子供が部屋を脱走して一人で庭で遊んでいたりするんです。5歳以下の子供ですよ。）、まず、Agapeがどんな風に運営されているのか、この国の文化的背景の特徴など、環境を知ることが必要だと感じました。自分たちはここではあくまでもよそ者ですから。
午後に新しいボランティアの3人の女の子たちと会い、すぐに打ち解けて仲良しに。良いお天気だったので庭のプールで泳いで、日光浴して、おしゃべりして・・・。英国の職場の仲間に、お休みなのに仕事に行くなんてご苦労様、なんて言われて旅立ちましたが、みんな、心配無用です。思いっきりホリデーしてますから！その後近くのスーパー（SPARなので、値段がヨーロッパ並みなのが玉に傷・・・）で2日分の買い物をして、夜はスパゲッティ・ボロネーゼと茹でとうもろこし（オランダ人の女の子たちはみんなこれが大好き）を作って食べて、新しい仲間にワインをもらって、またおしゃべりして・・・。そんなわけでこの日誌は次の日の昼に書いています。（苦笑）

今日も色々盛りだくさんだったので、この日誌はこの辺で。
ここまで読んでいただいてありがとうございます。日本のことを思い出しながら過ごしています。

Lots of love for you...

Kaoru

Day -1 27-28/02/10

Mon, 01 Mar 10 12:25:56 +0100

Hi everybody, how is the weather like!?

I still cant believe that I am now in South Africa. I have arrived in Durban International Airport at 13:30 this afternoon. When I came out from the plane, there were sunshine and warm air welcomed me. It was lovely. It made me feel I am alive for some reason.
Some trouble happened (as you always expected!) but in the end, I have ended up in a volunteer house one day before the plan. It was shame that I had to cancel my lodge by the sea (because volunteer house is in the mountain side) but hopefully Ive got a chance to go & enjoy a sea some point. Durban is on the East coast of SA and famous for a lovely seaside.
There were two Dutch girls who has already spent two months here waiting for me at the volunteer house. We didnt stop talking until 5 mins ago btw! They both loved being here & I cant wait to experience it by myself. It was only 20:30 but we were all too tired & already in pyjama!

I dont know what to say as I havent actually started yet but I feel that I have learnt a lot this afternoon. They seems like a lot of things to discuss & sort out with coordinators to make things better. We are here for a challenge. Just, its not that easy nor simple to be a positive influence for somebody, I felt.
We are in a suburb of Durban, about 30 minutes away by a car. I am listening to the music but otherwise, there are no sound outside. What a difference compare to my ordinary life? As Im living in a middle of London now, there are always traffic noises, people walking & talking outside until or even after midnight, construction works all day along when I want to sleep after night shift...

Ok, good night for now, my first day tomorrow!

皆さんコンニチハ。そちらのお天気はいかがですか？

実はまだ南アフリカに”いる”と言うことが信じられません。今日の午後1時半、ダーバン国際空港に無事到着しました。飛行機から出た瞬間、暑い日ざしと熱気が出迎えてくれました。最高です。なぜだかすごく、生きてる感じがしました。
トラブルで始まりましたが（まあそんなもんだと思ってましたけど）、とりあえず計画変更で、一日早いですがボランティアハウスに来ることになりました。海辺のロッジをキャンセルしなくちゃいけなかったのは残念ですが（ボランティアハウスは山間なので。）、まあビーチを楽しむ時間も後で取れると期待してます。ダーバンは南アフリカの東海岸に位置し、ビーチリゾートとして有名なんです。
ボランティアハウスでは既にここで2ヶ月暮らしていると言う、オランダ人の女の子2人が出迎えてくれました。まだ２０：３０なんですが、5分前までおしゃべりが止まらず、そのせいもあるのかみんな疲れていて、早々にパジャマになってます。二人ともここの生活をすごく楽しんでいて、自分もその感覚を味わうのが待ちきれないです。

まだ実際のボランティアは始まっていないので何とも言えないですが、今日の午後でかなりいろんなことがわかった気がします。問題も色々あって、いい方向に持っていくために色々とコーディネーターの人と話し合わないといけないことが山積みのようです。チャレンジですね。誰かの為に何かする、役に立つ、と言うのは、簡単なことではないなと感じています。
ここはダーバン市街から車で30分ほど来たところです。今は丁度音楽を聴いてますが、それを消すとまったくの静寂です。自分の今の日常とつい比べてしまいます。英国ではロンドンのど真ん中に住んでいるので、常に周りには交通に関わる雑音、夜中まで、いや、夜中過ぎても聞こえる人の歩いてる音、もしくは話し声、夜勤の後でも永遠続く工事現場の破壊音が・・・
さて。明日はボランティア初日。張りきって寝ます。（笑）

Lots of love

Kaoru

fundraising page

Tue, 09 Feb 10 12:34:42 +0100

Hello everybody,

Before I fly to South Africa, I would like to start a little fundraising for children I am going to meet over there. It is simple & easy process, any pennies will count because it will all use directly for them. I will keep update what we did with those donation through the weblog. Btw, I am already contributing some to join so it doesnt mean that I cant go if I dont reaise enough money, dont worry, I will be there in 18days!!!

Ok, here is the page.

[url=http://www.justgiving.com/Kaoru-Yamanaka
]http://www.justgiving.com/Kaoru-Yamanaka
[/url]
Honestly, cant wait to go, Im sooooo exciting!!!

Lots of love xxx

Kaoru

皆さん、コンニチハ。

南アフリカに飛ぶ前に、これから会う子供たちのための寄付を皆さんから募りたいと思います。やり方は簡単。興味のある方は下記を参考にしてください。寄付していただいたお金はすべて直接現地の子供たちのために使われます。私が参加している間に何か出来れば、その都度、ブログの方で報告して行きたいと思います。私自身、参加費用に寄付が含まれているので、ここで一定額集まらなければボランティアに行けない！？と言うようなことはありませんので、ご心配なく。18日後には南アフリカの空の下です。＾＾

リンクはこちら。

[url=http://www.justgiving.com/Kaoru-Yamanaka
]http://www.justgiving.com/Kaoru-Yamanaka
[/url]
１　上記をクリックしていただくと、大口開けた私の写真入のページにりんくします。
２　真ん中上、もしくは右下に見える、小さな緑の四角いボタン（"Donate now"をクリックしてください。
３　"1 Your donation（寄付）"の下に"enter your an amount（金額を入れてください）"そして、四角が見えると思います。この中に、好きな寄付額を入れてください。ポンド建てですので、間違っても日本円と同じ額は入れないでくださいね。（えらいことになりますよ。ゼロ2桁違いますから！！！）
4　Giftaidの文字が見えると思いますが、これは、英国で所得税を払っている人に関しては、政府が寄付金の分の税金を返してくれて、寄付に加算してくれると言うものです。日本在住のカタは残念ながら対象になりませんので、次の項目の"Iam/am not a UK taxpayer（私は英国の納税者です/ではありません）"のところでは、"I am not -"を選択してください。
５　"Your details (for your receipt)（詳細）"ですが、メールでの通知がレシート代わりになるので、"Your email"にお使いのメールアカウントを記入してください。その際、（ほとんどの人だと思いますが）Justgivingのアカウントを持っていない人は、"I haven't got an account（アカウントを持っていません。）"をクリックしてください。その後Title（スクロールできます。）, First name（名前）, Last name（苗字）を記入してください。
６　寄付の方法は"Donate with credit/debit card（クレジットカード）"と"Paypal"があります。私自身クレジットカードを使っているので、Paypalはどのようなページが出てくるか解りません。(Good luck!!)クレジットカードを使う場合、上記の文字が書かれた青い四角いボタンをクリックしてください。
７　次はクレジットカードの詳細記入欄です。寄付額（"You are donating ￡＊＊"）を確認し、Card type（スクロール）,Card number（カードの真ん中の長いナンバー）,Name on the card（カードの書いてある所有者の名前）,Start date/Expiry date（開始日・期限。＊期限しかカードに載ってない場合は、期限のみでかまいません。）,Issue number(Switch/Maestroのみ、何枚目のカード化がカードに載ってるので、それを記入。）,3-digit security code（カードの裏に載ってるナンバーの、最後の3桁。）を記入してください。その際、このカードの詳細を自分のコンピューターに記録してもかまわない人は、"save this card for future use（このカードを次に使う時のために記憶させる"をクリックしてください。では、"Use this card"をクリックして次に。
８　次のページは私の場合記録されているのでどう出るのか解らないのですが、カードのアドレスを記入するページのはずです。address（住所）, street（通りの名前）, post code（郵便番号）Country（国）以外には特に書くことはないと思いますが、解らないことがあったら聞いてください。次のページに行くには普通右下に青い四角いボタンが出てくるので、それをクリックしてください。
９　最後は確認のページです。詳細が合っていたら、右下の"Donate"をクリックしてください。ちなみに何が書いてあるのかと言うと、"Great - we're ready to process your donation. Just click 'donate' to confirm, and you'll be able to add a message on the next screen. （寄付までもう一歩です。"donate"をクリックして、完了させてください。次のページにメッセージを残せます。"と言う文章です。
１０　上の四角は私へのメッセージです。良かったら何か書いてくださいね。（日本語でかまいません。）ホームページの方にメッセージが載ります。その下にご自分の名前を忘れずに記入してください。もし金額は伏せたい、と言うことでしたら、"Hide an amount to the public"をクリックしてください。
１１　その下の文章ですが、簡単に言うと、私の写真があるところには、私にメールアドレスを公開する、2つ目はBe-more（私が参加するボランティア団体です。）からのメールを受け取る、3つ目はJustgiving（寄付のためのwebソフトウェアのお世話になってます。）からの連絡を受けるとる、と言うものです。上記のことに賛成であればそれぞれクリックしてください。
１２　最後に"continue（続き）"のクリックを忘れずに。メッセージが転送されます。

ご協力、ありがとうございました。＾＾ｐ

Lots of love xx

Kaoru

Date confirmed!

Mon, 08 Feb 10 16:38:17 +0100

Hello my friends,

I couldn't post anything for a while but finally confirm that I am joining Agape from 1st March! I am looking for a flight at the moment and checking when I want to return as I am hoping to see a little bit more of South Africa before I head back to England. If anybody got an idea, happy to hear from you!

Now... I think I shall continue posting about Ja translation about Agape for my friends and a family in Japan. This time, I would like to give them more detail about volunteering at Agape.

I am hoping to fly on 27th Feb, which means Ive only got 19days to go!!!

Looking forward to post from Agape soon!!!

Lots of love,

Kaoru

************************************************************
皆さんコンニチハ。

ご無沙汰してしまいましたが、ようやく予定が出ました。3月1日からのAgapeプロジェクトに参加します！英国に帰ってくる前にもう少し南アフリカを見てみたいと思っているので、その予定を決めてから飛行機のチケットを取るりたいと思います。南アフリカ情報をもっている方は、ぜひ教えてくださいね。出発は2月27日を予定しているので、実はあと19日しかありません！ひゃ！近々、Agapeからブログを更新できるのかと思うと、楽しみです。

さてさて。今回は前回に引き続き、Agapeのボランティアの活動について、載せて行きたいと思います。
　

ボランティアの具体的な役割

ー子供たちと時間を過ごす。
　ボランティアの一番重要な役割は、子供たちにとって信頼できる大人が側にいることを解ってもらうことです。ほとんどの子供たちは両親を亡くしていたり、それ以外にも辛い経験をしています。愛情を持って見守られていることが彼らに取ってとても大事であり、必要なことなのです。

ー言語と文化の交流
　子供たちの中には流暢な英語を話す子もいれば、片言しか離せない子供もいます。言葉が通じなくても分かり合える方法を探すことは出来ますが、ボランティアとして子供たちに英語を教えることは、彼らの未来を切り開く手助けをすることにもなります。また、お互いの文化を知り合うことは、子供たちに取ってもボランティアに取っても、楽しいことです。

ー宿題の手伝い
　ほとんどのAgapeの子供たちは学校に行っています。ボランティアとして子供たちの宿題を見ること、弱点や、心配な点などを報告し、学校から取り残されないようにすることは大事な役割です。

ー家事・雑務
　お手伝いさんと一緒に日中小さな子供たちの面倒を見ることーお風呂に入れたり、着替えをさせたり、おしめを換えたり、などなど・・・－も重要な仕事です。また、学校に上がる前の子供たちの準備学級の手伝いもします。準備学級は週に何度か行われます。

ーメンテナンス
　Agapeがいい状態で運営されることは大事なことです。ボランティアたちがドアにペンキを塗ったり、庭を綺麗にしたり、フェンスを建てたり、屋根を直したりすることもあります。また、Agapeを良くするために何をしたら良いのか、ボランティアたちのアイデアも求められています。

ー他にも色々・・・
　これ以外にも、子供たちを医者に連れて行ったり、スーパーマッケットに週一回野菜や果物を寄付してもらったり、パーティーを企画したり、近所の遊び場に出かけたり、水泳教室に行ったり、他にも色々な活動に参加することはボランティアの仕事です。

いやあ・・・なんか、書いていて楽しくなってきました。帰って来れなくなったらどうしよう。（笑）

早く現地リポートをお届けしたいです。

Lots of love,

Kaoru

Next trip

Sun, 15 Nov 09 13:30:01 +0100

Hello Hello,

As I have announced last time, sadly I am still under lovely sky of London (actually, it is lovely day for November today, I must say!). I have checked with my work BOSS and be more staff and now I am hoping to go on my trip from 1st March for 4 weeks. I am working hard at work and sorting out my messy life now. Fingers cross!!!

However, I have more time before my trip so I have more time to prepare, which is not bad. (You have to see possitive side everytime.) I am planning to work more on my cards too. Now I have all my stuffs moved to London so no excuse. (just need to unpack my stuffs...) I have updated my cards on my website so if anybody interested in it, please have a look. Though Christmas cards are not yet on the site, I will attach it on this weblog to give a people an idea. (or make them convince to order...)

http://www.docrafts.co.uk/community/profile/profile.aspx?buddy=251377

Now... today, I would like to update my Japanese translation about Agape. It is about volunteer work in Agape.

Have a great weekend!

Lots of love xxx
Kaoru

皆さんコンニチハ

前回お話したように、悲しいかな、私は今日もロンドンの空の下です。（いえ、今日は実をいうと11月にしては結構いいお天気なんですよ。）先日職場のボスとbe moreの方と相談し、延期になっていた南アフリカ行きは3月1日から4週間参加できるよう、今、動いています。只今、まったく持って落ち着かない日常を立て直している最中です。今度こそちゃんと旅立てますように・・・！

ただ、旅が延期になったことで、準備時間が戻ってきたメリットがあります。（人生、常にポジティブに行かなくては。）これまでお話した通り、寄付の一部にさせてもらうためのカード作りを遂行中です。カードだけを取り扱ったwebsiteがあるので、興味のある方はどうぞそちらを覗いてみてください。クリスマスカードはまだ載せていないので、こちらのページに紹介しますね。（買いたいという方、大歓迎です。）

http://www.docrafts.co.uk/community/profile/profile.aspx?buddy=251377

さてさて。前回に引き続き今回はAgapeでの実際のボランティアについてお話したいと思います。

ボランティアたちはAgapeにとって、重要な位置を占めています。彼らはAgapeの子供たちにとって大事な存在であると共に、毎日の生活の中で欠くことのできない役割を負っています。去年火事で建物が焼け落ちた時、彼らがいるのといないのとでは大変な時期を乗り越えるのにどれほどの違いがあるかを証明してくれました。

ボランティアたちがAgapeに来る前、Agapeに暮らす多くの子供たちが学校でいじめに遭っていました。その理由の多くが、彼らと他の子供たちとでは、家に帰ってからの生活があまりにも違いすぎていたからです。Agapeの子供たちは帰ってきても両親は待っていない、そして新しい洋服もない状態の中、彼らに対抗する気持ちが持てなかったのです。しかしボランティアが入ってから数ヶ月が経ち、次第に子供たちは自分に自信を持ち、自立するを覚えました。英語を学び、新しいゲームを学び、そして一番大切なことは、自分の価値を尊重することを学んだのです。

今ではAgapeの子供たちがいじめに遭うことはありません。男の子たちはサッカーチームの一員となり、女の子の中には学級委員を務める子もいます。彼らは自分に自信を持ち、リーダーとなり、他の子供たちのロール・モデルとなることを学んだのです。

では次回は実際のボランティアの活動について、お話ししたいと思います。

Have a great weekend!

Lots of love xxx
Kaoru

Postpone

Fri, 30 Oct 09 12:55:38 +0100

Hello,

Not to have internet access at home makes me difficult to update the weblog at the moment. This problem should be sorted very soon then I hope I can write more frequently!

Today, Unfortunately I have to announce very disapointing news. I have tried my best but I could not get my holiday sorted out for November, therefore, I have to postpone my trip to Agape. Also, I have changed my job this February which is very demanding job and I need more time to settle in my new job before go off for 4 weeks trip too. I am hoping to visit Agape in February time and I am working on it. I will keep update my plan!

Actually, I have more time to prepare for my trip now so I am working on my charity card making project. I have made and sold 6 cards so far. I would like to say thank you to:

Nadia,
Sophie,
Sarah and
Janette

for contributing in my donnation for Agape!

Lots of love xxx

Kaoru

皆さんコンニチハ

今月から本格的にロンドンベースになったのですが、家にインターネットがないので、なかなかブログが更新できません。近々この問題も解決する予定なので、これからはもっと頻会に更新できると予定です。（というか、希望？）

さて・・・。今日はちょっと残念なニュースをお伝えしなければなりません。11月にAgape訪問の予定だったのですが、手違いで有給が取れず、延期せざるを得ない状況となってしまいました。実は2月に新しい職場に変わったのですが、かなり勉強することが多く、まだ4週間の時間を空けれるほど慣れていず、そちらがひと段落してからにしたいという気持ちがあるのも事実です。とりあえず今のところ来年の2月に延期予定ですが、詳細の方は追って報告させていただきたいと思います。

予定が延期となり、棚ぼたですが、Agapeへの寄付の一部にさせてもらっているカード作りの時間が取れることになりました。今のところ6カード販売させていただきました。協力してくれた友人・同僚の

Nadia,
Sophie,
Sarah and
Janette

に、たくさんのありがとうを伝えたいです。

Kaoru

Agape Child Care Center

Tue, 06 Oct 09 15:53:27 +0200

Hello my friends,

I finally managed to send emails to my friends so hopefuly some of them will be visiting this site very shortly!

I am now middle of moving my flat to live in London and no internet connection at my place while I am staying in London. Very inconvinient. (I also have no TV so only thing I can do at home is reading. I have restarted the last book of Harry Potter. 10th attempt. Ive got to finish it this time!)

Anyway... I would like to add more information about Agape for my Japanese friends today.

皆さんコンニチハ。

ようやくこのWeblogのことを皆さんにお知らせするメールを出すことが出来たので、訪問者の数が増えることを期待しています。

只今ロンドンへの引越しの最中で、しかもロンドンの部屋にはインターネットがなく、非常に不便な生活をしています。（おまけにテレビもないので、やることといったら本を読むことぐらい。10度目の挑戦で、ハリー・ポッターの最終巻に取り掛かっているところです。今度こそ最後まで読まねば。）

さてさて・・・今回は前回お約束したとおり、Agapeについてもう少し詳しくお話したいと思います。

**************************************************************

Agapeチャイルド・ケア・センターは、ウォーターフォール（南アフリカ東岸都市ダーバンの近く）に位置する、約45人の子供たちのための孤児院です。ほとんどの子供たちは両親をHIV/AIDSで亡くしています。ボランティアの仕事は、子供たちの世話の手伝いです。小さな子供たちをお風呂に入れたり、大きな子供たちの宿題をみたり、一緒にゲームをしたりすることですべての子供たちとかかわり、彼らを楽しませることが仕事です。また、掃除や孤児院のメンテナンスなど、スタッフを手伝うことも仕事の一つです。

AgapeはHIV/AIDSによって亡くなった人たちの子供たちが大勢孤児となるのを目の当たりにしたHIV/AIDSカウンセラーであるZodwa Mqadiさんにより、1996年に創設されました。彼女は初め子供たちを自分の家で、その後Agapeチャイルド・ケア・センターを創設して、世話をしてきました。

2005年1月に火事でセンターの大半が焼失してしまいました。誰も怪我はありませんでしたが、センターは使えない状態となりました。子供たちは臨時に設けられた船の荷物運搬に使うコンテナを改造した家での生活を余儀なくされました。火事のすぐ後、元ボランティアたちが時間とお金を費やし、チャイルド・センターを再建築してくれました。今は再建築も終わり、子供たちは新しく生まれ変わった孤児院で暮らしています。

**************************************************************

次回はAgapeでのボランティアについて、お話したいと思います。

Lots of love

Kaoru

Be the difference - Be More!

Mon, 28 Sep 09 15:41:51 +0200

Hello again,

As I promissed, I would like to add some Japanese translation of the Be More website for my friends.

再びコンニチハ。

前回お約束したとおり、Be More website日本語版をお送りしたいと思います。
まず初めに、私のweblog上部にある"About Be More"をクリックしてください。今回のメッセージのタイトルと、下記のような英文が出てきます。

"Do you want to volunteer in Africa and make a difference in not only your life but the lives of others? Be More is a British charity that offers volunteering opportunities at schools, orphanages, hospices and street child organizations abroad."

（アフリカでのボランティアを経て、自分だけではなく、他の人の人生を変えてみたいと思いませんか？Be Moreは海外の学校、孤児院、ホスピス、ストリート・チルドレンを支援する団体でのボランティア活動をする、英国のチャリティー団体です。）

Be Moreには私が参加するAgapeの他にも、さまざまなプロジェクトがあります。サイトを見ていくと、子供たちの写真4枚と"Projects", "Why Be More?", "Testimonies", "Who are you?"と言う文字が出てきます。今回は"Projects"を説明したいと思いますので、そちらをクリックしてください。

Projects

Be Moreは発展途上国でのプロジェクトをサポートしています。プロジェクトは地域が始めた、地域を変える、小さなプロジェクトばかりです。主に子供たち、そして地域社会で誰かの手の必要とする人たちのためのプロジェクトが中心で、活動の結果がはっきり出るのが特徴です。

私たちの活動はボランティアと共に支えられています。何かを変えたいと思っている、手を差し伸べたいと思っている人たちと共にです。この関係がボランティアとプロジェクト双方に、見知らぬ文化に触れる機会をもたらしました。また、私たちは金銭面においても、プロジェクトが今後もずっと継続されるよう、サポートしています。ボランティアの人たちによって、私達がより深くプロジェクトに関わり、またボランティアたち自身も得るものがさらに多くなるのです。

現在Be Moreが南アフリカでサポートするプロジェクトは以下の6つです。

Agape

約40人暮らす孤児院。ほとんどの子供たちが両親をエイズで亡くしています。

The Dream Centre

エイズにより緩和ケアを必要とする人々のためのホスピスです。

I Care

家を失くし、ダーバン（南アフリカ東南部沿岸都市）で路上生活をしていた男の子たちを保護し、リハビリ・教育を行うための施設です。

Ithemba

重度の学習障害を持つ子供たちそして貧困家庭の子供たちのためのデイケア・センター。センターでは子供たちのための特別ケア、教育と両親が働きに出ている間に必要なサポートを行っています。

Ready 4 Life Ready Schools

社会的に不利な立場にある子供たち（貧困家庭の子供たちなど）に、生きるために必要なスキル（コンピューターの使い方、仕事の探し方など）を教えるプロジェクトです。

Umthombo

ダーバンで路上生活をする子供たちをサポートし、医療・食料・教育を提供するプロジェクトです。

＊この他にもいくつかのプロジェクトをサポートしていますが、それらは英国在住者以外の人たちに限定されています。

では、次回は私が参加するAgapeについて、もう少し詳しく説明したいと思います。

Love
Kaoru

P.S. なかなか日本には帰れないけど、私は元気です。

New card goodies

Mon, 28 Sep 09 14:41:02 +0200

Hello to eveybody,

I have recently visited a big craft show in London with my friend and got loads of stuffs for my christmas card this year. I will try make as much as possible but its all to sell for my donnation to Agape, nobody (except my little nieces) will recieve christmas card from me this year, sorry mates! You are all welcome to buy one from me though!

I have spoke about Agape to my work collegues and actually, they are really interested in & wants to join too! Too late to plan for this time but hopefully we can plan it together in the future! I have to send a link of my weblog to everybody first, by the way! Too many things to do all the time in my life (as everybody knows!), let me sort it out one by one...

Ive have lovely message from Carol who is currantly in Agape, thank you for that! Really made me motivated!

Please drop me any message, I am looking forward to speak with you soon!

みなさんコンニチハ。

先日友達と、ロンドンで行われたクラフト・ショーに行ってきました。クリスマスカードに使えそうなものをたくさん購入しましたよ。今年はたくさんクリスマスカードを作ってAgapeへの寄付の一部に貢献させる予定です。なので、（うちの姪っ子以外は）私からのカードは届きません。ごめんなさい～。私が作るカードを購入していただくのは一向に構いませんが。（笑）

そうそう、この間職場の同僚にAgapeのことを話したら、彼女たちもボランティアにすごく興味があって、ぜひ一緒に参加したいといわれてしまいました。今年は無理ですが、次回は一緒に参加できたら、それもいいなと思いました。まだ友人たちにリンクをメールしてません。やることが（いつものごとく）いっぱいありすぎて・・・（皆さんご存知の通り）。ま、一つ一つやっていくしかないですね。

それから、今AgapeでボランティアをしているCarolからメッセージを頂きました。ありがとうございます！私のやる気をかきたててくれましたね。

皆さんも、どんどんメッセージ残してください。お待ちしていますｗ

Love
Kaoru

Here I start

Wed, 16 Sep 09 19:48:44 +0200

There are loads of things happened in a past few years but this will become my life changing experience for sure.

Hello and thank you for visiting my weblog. I have spoke with my friends and family so you all know but I am going to South Africa as a volunteer in an orphanage in 2 months time. This weblog will give you a link to the main website of the organization - Bemore. I would like to ask you to have a little tour so you will get more idea of my plan.

I will keep update my diary before, during and after the project to share my dream experiences with you all.

ここ数年でいろいろなことがありましたが、今また人生が変わるような出来事を体験することになるだろうことは間違いないです。

こんにちは。そして私のウェッブログにようこそ。もうすでに話しているのでみなさんご存知かと思いますが、私は2ヵ月後に孤児院でボランティア活動をするために、南アフリカに行って来ます。このウェッブログから私がお世話になるチャリティー団体-Bemore-のウェッブサイトにアクセスできますので、良かったらそちらをたずねてみてください。どんな団体なのか、どんな活動をしているのか、私がどんな風に関わっていくのかをもっと具体的に理解していただけると思います。

ウェッブサイトは英語なので、ウェッブログの方に日本語での説明をおいおい載せて行きたいと思います。

活動前・活動中・活動後を通して、このウェッブログをつうじて私の長年の夢だった体験を皆さんと分かち合えたら嬉しいです。

Kaoru