Walking into the school grounds was something that I will never forget. In the UK you would have thought that it had been shut down from the outside. The paint was peeling off of the walls. Some of the out buildings were derelict and some of the classrooms still used had window panes missing. When you walked up the stairs to get to the classroom the smell reminded me of car park stair wells. Some of the stairways needed serious attention where steps were crumbling and cracks were forming. And this is one of the better township schools! When we got into the classroom all the students helped move the tables and chairs into position and even wiped down the chairs, including the ones for us to sit on. Michael gave them all an introduction onto why we were here and gave our names and our ages. Didn't go well for me, there was a huge gasp when he said that I was 32. I've never felt so old!
Our task was to help Carolynn with her research on illegal hunting and what level of understanding they had of the laws and conservation. Before getting to the school we had stopped off to buy the class some sweets and drinks as a treat so Michael gave these out while we were interviewing the students one at a time. Michael and Vukani were on hand to translate things from Zulu to English and vice versa. The first guy I had that came up and introduced himself as Robert, he was the tallest of the group and was really eager to answer the questions which I was a bit surprised at until he started chatting me up at the end. The guys are very forward here and unlike UK males seem very keen on marriage. We have all had several proposals shouted at us going through Colenso. The others I interviewed were a little more reluctant to answer the questions, but one girl did say that people hunt (poach) so that they can eat because they are so poor. No matter how much you love animals you can understand the conflict, especially after going round the township after with Michael.
The one thing that really fascinated me is that the students were all really keen to have their pictures taken with us, even though they didn't have camera's themselves. One girl just came and sat next to me while I was interviewing and asked me to look up so that Michael could take a picture. She also told me that she really liked my top, I couldn't work out if that's because I said I liked hers and she was being polite or she did genuinely like it. At the end some of the girls just sat down between Nicole and Leanne and asked me to take pictures on my camera.
Watching Michael teach was a great experience. Obviously we see him in his professional capacity as a game guard but he was a really good teacher who has great positive energy. And the students just listened, they laughed along with him, but there was respect for him in the room.
After the classroom experience we went into the township , and Michael took us to the "Tuck Shop" where we had the best chips ever. When we pulled up, a mother goat had just given birth at the side of the road. The umbilical cord was still visible. The kids were so cute! We also saw some young boys walk past who had made cars out of plastic bottles, with lids for wheels. After the shop Michael took us to "The Tavern", which acts as the local pub. I still cannot get over the metal grids that you see separating the bar from the actual room. You even get it in the off licence. Michael was telling us that there is a really bad problem with drink over here and that it can get pretty violent at times with glass bottles being thrown across rooms and fights breaking out. Bit like Colchester on a Saturday night. Vukani and Michael had a bit of a dance to the music and a guy wanted his picture taken with Nicole. We saw lots of really young children who kept waving and shouting at us. I must admit it was strange being stared at by everyone because we were white. One of the girls from the school was catching a lift back with us and just sat patiently in the truck while we stopped off at the various places. In some gardens there were piles and piles of glass bottle, Michael explained that people collected them so they could sell them on to make some extra money. Our last stop was Michael's Mum's house and although she wasn't in he let us have a nosey inside.
Tonight was a proper night in with the girls. We went to Rachel's and ate pizza and ice-cream, had a couple of drinks and put a girlie film on. We watched the Notebook which was a really good film. I really nice end to the day.
At the school gate.
The playground.
Michael teaching.
Carolynn, Leanne, Nicole and Christina with the one of the girls.
The student in the picture was the one that liked my top.
This is the girl that we gave a lift to. She has a 12km walk to school everyday!
The township houses.
Mummy goat after just giving birth.
I really wanted the brown and black one.
More of the township.
The "Tuck Shop" that served us amazing chips.
The silver drum on the roof is a boiler. The sun heats up the water.
Me and Michael.
"The Tavern". Christina and Michael.
Vukani and Michael having a dance.
Michael's Mum's house
Michael posing as usual.
And again!
Not sure what this building is for, but it's the nicest one on Colenso high street.
I personally really like the picture of the cows.
I think this is a belladonna lily.
The one last thing that I have to add to today's blog. When leaving Fiji's this morning Carolynn had another woman driver moment and backed into a van. Boy did the other driver shout. Priceless, even better than that was when she got out at the school and realised that we had written "Good Driving" down the side of the truck. Even funnier, we had put that on yesterday when she got stuck in the mud.
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