Thursday 7 February 2008

Unfortunately you cannot touch his snake...

Woo, it's hot today. Which I won't lie is rather delightful considering on Tuesday gone.. it hailed. I asked for a refund on the whole 'South AFrica' deal, but it was rejected. Talking of rejection I am struggling to open a bank account... which is a big ballache for all. I keep perserving and with my small knowledge of South African lingo I'm improving. Unfortunately in very square foot of SA there is another language and dialect; so just when I think I'm getting good- they laugh. In fact they laugh at me a lot- when I'm with Tinkyio one of my colleagues; they laugh. White girl and black man still a novelty in more rural places. When I sit on a 'chair' which turns out to be a 'game' from Limpopo and I break it (clean break); they laugh. In fact, some poor man was privy to the Clare Barrell 'death stare' when he called me a 'silly English tart' it was rude, out of line and unneccesary. You'll all be pleased to know I told him this and he apologised.. he runs the place we are staying (would NOT recommend it) and yet he still apologises. So he should.

SO, where I am?! i am near Pretoria with the team (6 Norweigns and 2 Score members), we are having our training pre departure on Sunday to the first community.. Apel. It is 500k North, perhaps uncomfortably close to the Zimbawean border. I am staying with a host family ( we will all be spread out across the community) and I will have... TWO YOUNGER SISTERS.!! This thought has always made me quiver so we'll see how that goes!! I have been running every morning with one of the volunteers- feels good (note my slightly pious face). I have been training the volunteers which is fine- and most of the time I know what I am talking about!

I am excited to hit the village; less excited about (in no particular order) the lizard in my bed the other night, the pit toilets, no shower for 3 weeks, eating lambs brain and intestines, running a work shop for 100 people.. with no venue. ALl these things are sent to test us.. and I laugh in the face of danger.. (except with the lizard; i nearly cried then spent all night imaging it went up my nose so couldn't sleep- oops.!)

As for the title: apparently a community leader was sorry he could not join us, it was a ritual for us all to 'touch his big snake..'

lost in translation?? I certainly hope so...

3 comments:

Griglet said...

you have searched for years for the cure to your questionable bowel movements, who'd have thought a village in deepest south africa would provide the answer..........god bless lambs head!!!
love you
oink x

B said...

you know it!

Ed said...

"Pious face" pie face more like! xx