Here I am, finally unpacked, finally no more jet lag.
Spending a month away from home wasn't easy, but I enjoyed it so much and want to thank everyone for making it possible. Especially Artbarn School, Linda McMaster, Liz McMaster, Grand and Toy, my Godparents, my friends, and my great parents.
Thank you.
Adieu, now onto my next adventure...
Monday, September 6, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Home Time!
I sit here, in the study of a friends house, very aware that in about nine hours I will be on my way HOME!
I'm in a weird state, as i cannot wait to be back at home, cuddling my cat and talking to my parents. And yet I don't want to leave this wonderful place, all my fantastic old friends and those newer ones I've met. I really feel that I have reconnected with Jozi and the farm and feel more confident than ever about being on my own.
-Besides realizing how much I love to travel!
Well I'm heading out now for some last minute souvenir shopping!
I'm in a weird state, as i cannot wait to be back at home, cuddling my cat and talking to my parents. And yet I don't want to leave this wonderful place, all my fantastic old friends and those newer ones I've met. I really feel that I have reconnected with Jozi and the farm and feel more confident than ever about being on my own.
-Besides realizing how much I love to travel!
Well I'm heading out now for some last minute souvenir shopping!
Monday, August 23, 2010
The Second Lesson
The Second Lesson was such a success. The kids loved the feathers, collages, pipe-cleaners, pom poms and gems
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The Lesson!
On Tuesday, I did my first lesson with a grade 7 class of 19 students!
Leading up to the lesson I was quite nervous, having never taught an entire hour and a half of art before, but I tried to use my experience working at Artbarn School to my advantage.
After setting up the room by putting the desks together to make 5 table groups, each with newspaper on the top and a batch of crayons, I started the kids off with a short introduction about myself and about Canada. Then they each made a name tag.
It was on to the main activity! Each child got a piece of water colour paper and drew a picture of their family in wax crayon. It was very interesting to see how the class managed, as their teacher who was present throughout in case we needed translations, gave them a time limit. After drawing their picture, they painted their pages with water and I taught them how to paint using the water colours I had prepared. And they loved it!
I think one of the best parts was once they had finished, and i came around with a Tupperware full of salt crystals which they sprinkled over their pages. Their reactions were fantastic. They were astonished at how simple salt could create such a interesting effect on their page, right in front of them!
All in all, it was a great lesson. The highest compliment though was principle suggesting I apply for a job there! Also, to do some lessons with the other grades. I wish I had more time here, there is really so much that I could do, but for now I shall stick to my next lesson [which is tomorrow! Eep!]
Leading up to the lesson I was quite nervous, having never taught an entire hour and a half of art before, but I tried to use my experience working at Artbarn School to my advantage.
After setting up the room by putting the desks together to make 5 table groups, each with newspaper on the top and a batch of crayons, I started the kids off with a short introduction about myself and about Canada. Then they each made a name tag.
It was on to the main activity! Each child got a piece of water colour paper and drew a picture of their family in wax crayon. It was very interesting to see how the class managed, as their teacher who was present throughout in case we needed translations, gave them a time limit. After drawing their picture, they painted their pages with water and I taught them how to paint using the water colours I had prepared. And they loved it!
I think one of the best parts was once they had finished, and i came around with a Tupperware full of salt crystals which they sprinkled over their pages. Their reactions were fantastic. They were astonished at how simple salt could create such a interesting effect on their page, right in front of them!
All in all, it was a great lesson. The highest compliment though was principle suggesting I apply for a job there! Also, to do some lessons with the other grades. I wish I had more time here, there is really so much that I could do, but for now I shall stick to my next lesson [which is tomorrow! Eep!]
First Trip to the School
Last week I went over to Welgemeend (meaning well, in Afrikaans) Primary School, the farm workers school, to get to know the children a bit and to book the teaching dates. Coming from a relatively wealthy school in Toronto, and even though I was expecting different standards to what I am used to, it was still quite a shock!
The school has about 5 classrooms with an office and one large creche on the side. The classrooms are warm yellow, but not very well stocked with supplies. I am very excited to start my lessons and to donate all the goodies I have from Grand and Toy and Artbarn School!
The kids went crazy for the pictures. Here are some of my favorites:
The grade 7s teacher, Trevor.
The New Additions
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
yesterday, today and tomorrow
Yesterday, Diana and I went to collect my luggage from the airport
(FINALLY THANK GOODNESS)
and wish Ruth a 'Bon Voyage' as she goes off to Italy for two weeks.
(FINALLY THANK GOODNESS)
and wish Ruth a 'Bon Voyage' as she goes off to Italy for two weeks.
Then, we went to the nursery for some lovely plants for the farm.
We'll definitely be gardening this weekend!
I am loving the tropical flowers and birds.
The birds create a complete change in background music which i couldn't love more.
We'll definitely be gardening this weekend!
I am loving the tropical flowers and birds.
The birds create a complete change in background music which i couldn't love more.
As promised...
Diana and I, on the mountain top
Andy and Becky, the British volunteers
Diana and her lovely bouquet of wild Proteas
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The Farm
This one'll try and be a short update, I want to go join my godparents and the volunteers who are watching tv.
-Besides I'm exhausted!
Today I arrived in Cape Town. Had a bit of trouble with my luggage, as it stayed in Jo'burg. UGH. We'll have to make the 1 to 1 1/2 hour trip to the airport again to go pick it up, but for now I'll have to survive on what I've got with me!
Which is: A tooth brush, tooth-paste, pj pants, two t-shirts, undies, jeans, a tank top, two pairs of socks and a sweater.
Clearly, I'll be borrowing lots...
Then I came back to the farm, which somehow becomes more and more ravishingly exquisite and beautiful every time I come back, and had a long nap. I had the pleasure of meeting the two volunteers who came from England and started off volunteering in Januuary for six weeks and ended up staying for six months! You just fall in love with the farm, and thats the truth. We went up the mountain in the buki, picking Proteas on our way back down.
[I'll post pics soon!!!]
The best was going out for dinner to a little restaurant in the back of a house. A sweet Italian South African man makes pizzas, (only pizzas, no drinks or anything. We brought wine and juice with us!), that are brilliant and super tasty. I was completely full of love and garlic by the end. YUM.
-Besides I'm exhausted!
Today I arrived in Cape Town. Had a bit of trouble with my luggage, as it stayed in Jo'burg. UGH. We'll have to make the 1 to 1 1/2 hour trip to the airport again to go pick it up, but for now I'll have to survive on what I've got with me!
Which is: A tooth brush, tooth-paste, pj pants, two t-shirts, undies, jeans, a tank top, two pairs of socks and a sweater.
Clearly, I'll be borrowing lots...
Then I came back to the farm, which somehow becomes more and more ravishingly exquisite and beautiful every time I come back, and had a long nap. I had the pleasure of meeting the two volunteers who came from England and started off volunteering in Januuary for six weeks and ended up staying for six months! You just fall in love with the farm, and thats the truth. We went up the mountain in the buki, picking Proteas on our way back down.
[I'll post pics soon!!!]
The best was going out for dinner to a little restaurant in the back of a house. A sweet Italian South African man makes pizzas, (only pizzas, no drinks or anything. We brought wine and juice with us!), that are brilliant and super tasty. I was completely full of love and garlic by the end. YUM.
Taking Flight
And off I went!
After saying a grueling good-bye to my parents, I set off to Amsterdam. The flight was surprisingly easy and the time went by very quickly, I think that is partly due to the friends I made in Toronto Airport who were on the same flight as me. We spent most of our matching 3 hour layover time relaxing in some large sofas in Schipol Airport discussing our lives. They were two Hungarian girls on their way back home to Budapest after spending the summer in Toronto.
As I was waiting for them to get off the plane though, I bumped into a girl I go to school with! Crazy, huh?
She was on the exact same flight as I was on her way to go visit family in the Middle East.
The second flight was a little more annoying, towards the end. After exhausting most of the movies and tv shows I turned to the people sitting beside me. They were a French couple from Paris. And so I had a little extra French practice, and they had some English practuce!
All in all, I was very tired when I arrived in Johannesburg and so grateful for the easy voyage.
It was when my head hit the pillow of the friends I was staying with that I knew it was worth it and
I was home.
After saying a grueling good-bye to my parents, I set off to Amsterdam. The flight was surprisingly easy and the time went by very quickly, I think that is partly due to the friends I made in Toronto Airport who were on the same flight as me. We spent most of our matching 3 hour layover time relaxing in some large sofas in Schipol Airport discussing our lives. They were two Hungarian girls on their way back home to Budapest after spending the summer in Toronto.
As I was waiting for them to get off the plane though, I bumped into a girl I go to school with! Crazy, huh?
She was on the exact same flight as I was on her way to go visit family in the Middle East.
The second flight was a little more annoying, towards the end. After exhausting most of the movies and tv shows I turned to the people sitting beside me. They were a French couple from Paris. And so I had a little extra French practice, and they had some English practuce!
All in all, I was very tired when I arrived in Johannesburg and so grateful for the easy voyage.
It was when my head hit the pillow of the friends I was staying with that I knew it was worth it and
I was home.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Artbarn School and Grand and Toy
Its a hard thing to wrap your head around
in 20 hours I will be boarding a plane that will arrive in Amsterdam!
I'm so excited for my trip to South Africa, and I know that I am fully stocked up on supplies for the kids in Malmesbury all thanks to the generosity of Artbarn School and Grand and Toy
Check them out here:
http://www.artbarnschool.com/
http://www.grandandtoy.com/sites/corp/default.aspx
in 20 hours I will be boarding a plane that will arrive in Amsterdam!
I'm so excited for my trip to South Africa, and I know that I am fully stocked up on supplies for the kids in Malmesbury all thanks to the generosity of Artbarn School and Grand and Toy
Check them out here:
http://www.artbarnschool.com/
http://www.grandandtoy.com/sites/corp/default.aspx
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