Week 4: 4 - 9 March

 Things have gotten super busy academically and I find myself feeling guilty when I blog instead of working on assignments. I do think though that this blogging is rather therapeutic and also necessary for keeping me sane. So: Onwards with the weekly recaps/reflections!

This week I find myself struggling to remember all that has occurred. I shall blame it on being tired from Kickstart and developing a second cold. 

On Monday, I had lunch with Liesje in her flat. It was an impromptu decision on my part which resulted in being spoiled with chicken wraps and hot tea while we waited the rain out. I had envisioned sharing my muffins and munching on a banana huddled under a tree somewhere for shelter, but I am very glad Liesje had other ideas! 

Tuesday, as always, held the prospect of ballroom dancing. I have found that I look forward to these sessions more each week. The committee announced that a medal test will be held next term, and I have already decided that I would like to participate. Marcel has happily agreed to be my partner, and I do hope he lands up having the time to keep that promise. 

Wednesday is my Bible study day, an adjustment I am still struggling to get used to after nearly an entire term! There is little to report on that front, save to say that I am really enjoying getting to know everyone better and look forward to whatever is to come. I have a feeling Yadine is going to help keep us all sane; she is full of good advice and kind smiles. 

(I do so dislike that this post runs in a chronological, boring "On Monday... Tuesday..." format, however I am too tired to think of a more creative way of writing the week's news. You will just have to bear with me on that score!)

Thursday was my busiest day and the one which caused me the most stress. It was also the day I think was the most fulfilling, which is rather strange really. Rachel and I completed our first week of service learning (Yay, go us!) We have a total of ten learners for English, Afrikaans and Maths (although one was absent on our first day). Rachel completed the baseline test with the learners in Maths and I took the English and Afrikaans lessons; we have decided to alternate that format weekly. Some of the activities were a bit of a disaster being outdoors in the wind, but I think I was able to adapt quickly and rescue some of the lesson elements. The phonics board game did not go as well as I had hoped in the English lesson, but Afrikaans was a real blast! For a group of home-language Xhosa students, the learners did excellently. What many lack in ability, they make up for in enthusiasm and I was very proud of them. I hope I will be able to show the same energy every week even when I am tired, by Thursdays it feels almost as though I have nothing left to give but I know the children deserve my best. 

Our maths lessons get documented on instagram as part of our project, so if you want to follow along, go check out @superstars_tutoring. The other lessons I will just have to include some pictures of here if I edit them to align with POPI. 

On Friday, I went home for the weekend (or rather for part of it since I caught a lift back with Jemma and Jack on Saturday afternoon to attend Crete's toga party). The Toga party itself was quite a bit of fun! We had a quiz which Gerdi and Timon led which later turned into a song-writing competition and ended with a great debate between the two highest-scoring teams to determine the winner. I was in a team with Liesje, Micheal and Johan. We called ourselves "The Wild Olives" at johan's suggestion (because he had a rather large Olive wreath for his headdress). Other interesting team names include: "Previously Disadvantaged" (Marcel's team which I thought should have been called "Vertically disadvantaged" instead since he always jokes about his height), Wilgenhof's neighbours and the DJs. I am sure there were some other funny ones, but I cannot seem to remember them.  We wrote a fairly decent song I feel, although we did not win. Our growth group took some pictures together outside (sadly the lightong in Crete's "photo booth" was quite bad) and all in all everyone seemed to have a good time. Some Greek food like grapes, olives and feta was provided, but the rest was fairly standard student snacks-- marshmallows, oreos, sausage rolls and chips. The end of the party dissolved into watching the sunset on the balcony, 30 seconds and lots of group singing. I did not stay till the end, but walked home instead feeling rather grateful that unlike some of the other party guests, I did not have to walk across campus in my sheet to reach the safety of my room. I did give Tao rather a fright since I had all but forgotten to tell her I was coming home; she had assumed I was still in Cape Town. I am only glad that it was not a ghost-themed party for which I needed the white sheet or I am sure she would have completely spooked!

Our Afrikaans character quiz (See if you can spot our helper "Hansie Haas")

Toga Party! (With Jem and Liesje)

Growth Group Girls at the Toga Party

Crete's Bear "Kaptein" also dressed to party

Phonics board game with our Gr 2s