We call in at Vukandlule to watch Mdu’s Maths lesson. The Grade Rs don’t seem to have a teacher, and keep running past and going “baa-aa-aa” through the open window. Then later in the morning, Callie and I have the chance we’ve been waiting for. I open the staffroom door to go out, and there are two brown kids sitting on the steps (goats, not children;-)). We rush out to try and touch them, and they run past us, into the Principal’s office and under his desk. He’s having a meeting, and carries on while Pete, Callie and I chase them out – and get the chance to hold them. Then they go in and attend Mdu’s Gr 7 Maths lesson – educated goats! The same day, there are donkeys popping their heads into the newly painted igloo loos, and 4 dogs having a rough and tumble amongst the children at Assembly. I can see why Mr Nofonte wants to put up a gate to keep the animals out.
This makes us laugh about the sight we saw the day before at Sicambeni. A donkey goes into the house across the road and the lady has to chase it out with a broom. Then it goes and rubs itself against the door jamb of a deserted house next door – first one shoulder and then the other.
On Wednesday, Sicambeni holds a Thanksgiving Day – part of it is to thank the students and part is to thank the community for their support. There is a howling gale and the tent we are meant to sit under can’t be pitched and rips as it is lifted. We sit near the top buildings to watch a wonderful celebration of what the children do – an amazing role play on career choices and how they could benefit the community, traditional dancing, modern dancing, the choir, speeches – everything we enjoy. Then the ballroom dancing starts – 5 serious couples dancing to an old fashioned waltz, stepping carefully on the uneven concrete, against a panorama of sea, sky and coastal forest. Incongruous and yet quite sincere and natural. We are all given gifts and certificates, the students say their goodbyes with aplomb and sincerity, and then the children play indigenous games while we have lunch, carefully prepared by the staff. And then the party starts – our students are whipped off to a great party at Port St Johns, and arrive home in the wee, small hours, having had a big party.
On Thursday, Vukandlule says goodbye. Mr Nofonte thanks “Debbie and the old man” for all we have done. This is another of Pete’s new names – Mr Shumane thought he was “the driver and bodyguard.” We are entertained by the choir, the Gr R teacher who sings most beautifully, the Principal and HOD give encouraging speeches, children dance and we love the “skatamiya” dancing to the music from a cell phone – another of the incongruities that just seem to fit. The highlight for me is a speech from Yolanda, a Gr 9 learner who has so much potential. She thanks the students and challenges the teachers to keep up what they have started. We hand over some agapanthus which we’ve bought as a gift to their garden. We have also given the children a skipping rope to replace the vines – Lerato recommends that we don’t give it to the adults – it will be too useful to be used as a toy – but to give it directly to the kids.
At Cwebeni, we share a farewell with the staff – Thelma, Mzamo and Mbuso have asked us to get a cake for them to share, and we are so encouraged to hear what the staff has to say about our students. They have definitely made an impact – and we look forward to seeing if the impact is lasting.
We choose a place to plant a strelitzia which we bought at the local indigenous nursery – they want it near the staffroom so they can enjoy looking at the flowers.
Friday, we do a final drive around to deliver cakes to Sicambeni and Vukandlule. At Cwebeni, Thelma and Mbuso have accompanied learners to a sports day at Mthatha. The learners and staff are so sad to say goodbye, and gifts are exchanged, phone numbers shared, teaching aids that the students have made and brought handed over, and promises to keep in touch made.
In the evening, we have a dinner in the wine cellar restaurant at Umngazi to say goodbye – a really special evening where we have the chance to say how much we have meant to each other and how much we have learnt. Gifts and cards are exchanged, and Pete and I are spoilt by all these special people who have become part of our family. We are asked to adopt some of them – and we’re really tempted. We have bought small wooden fish and give them to each of the students with a little card saying what sort of fish they remind us of. Pete says they are our special “aquarium.”
And then it’s time to say goodbye to Umngazi and the special people who have made this whole trip possible. We have been so blessed and we don’t have words to say thank you to Michelle and her team.
The weather is grey and drizzly and that’s the only way I can bear to say goodbye – on a beautiful day, I think I might have jumped out of the car and hidden.
A journey, an adventure, a month to remember.
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