Wednesday, 30 January 2013
What we take for granted ....
Our embregada (house help ), Maria, learning how to use the vacuum cleaner for the first time! She was amazed!!
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
Shopping for School Uniforms
I had the honour of accompanying Jenn Jestes and 14 of her children to purchase school uniforms for them today. They all needed a shirt and pants. Cost of about $20/child. They were all so well behaved whilst waiting their turn, but so excited to try the clothes on and be handed their two items!
We had to walk a few blocks along a very broken, muddy footpath. I took great delight in holding their previous little hands as we crossed the major intersections. Trying to speak in what little Portuguese I know.
I just can't imagine what it would have been like for each and everyone of these children, to have been lost, abandoned or abused. They are so lucky to have Jenn and Mikey and the other generous people who have come into their lives to help and care for them. I feel privileged to be a part of it.
Please go on line and check out Project Liberty.
We had to walk a few blocks along a very broken, muddy footpath. I took great delight in holding their previous little hands as we crossed the major intersections. Trying to speak in what little Portuguese I know.
I just can't imagine what it would have been like for each and everyone of these children, to have been lost, abandoned or abused. They are so lucky to have Jenn and Mikey and the other generous people who have come into their lives to help and care for them. I feel privileged to be a part of it.
Please go on line and check out Project Liberty.
Monday, 28 January 2013
Discovering Joburg
Luckily, I was able to join my husband on a trip to Johannesburg. After getting the fast Gautrain to Sandton, we walked across the busy street to the Raddison. I say you have to "springbok" it across as the safe walking light is very short!
I Sussed out almost every inch of the famous Sandton Shopping Mall. Over 300+ upmarket shops and restaurants. Mandela Square is in the middle of it. Lots of yummy restaurants encircle the square. After much shopping, I headed back to the hotel for a short rest! :0)
Next day, I joined my new friend ( with her son and Mum) to explore another part of Joburg. We drove to Hartbeespoort. About a hour out of the city. Whilst there, I enjoyed African Markets with authentic souvenirs which I could bargain for. We had lunch there before heading back. Yummy prawns...again!
On Thursday, the four of us took a tour to Soweto. It possessed incredible history and is/was the home of Nelson Mandela and Reverend Desmond Tutu. Their houses were diagonally opposite each other. Imagine two NobelPeace Prize winners from the same small township. Some serious sad things happened there. A massacre of 500 youths from primary and high schools peacefully demonstrating against being made to learn all subjects in Africaans , not their native tongue. Learning about that , brought tears to my eyes and heart as a teacher and a mother! So much history to learn from just this one area. I have bought two of Nekson Mandela's books.... "Long Walk To Freedom" and his autobiography written using letters from his 27 years of being incararated in jail. Google Soweto and Mandela if you want to learn more. Also enjoyed traditional Soweto food for lunch!
Last shopping was to buy "safari gear" so that the elephants and lions don't see me! All camouflage clothes, long and light. I hope we get to go to Kruger Park again soon.
Last night we enjoyed an intimate night of Jazz after having the most delicious tandoori chicken I have ever had! We plan to go back to that restaurant!
Last day, we went to the Neighbour Goods Food Market. We dined on champers and oysters at 10:30 am! And enjoyed paella, olives and South African wines as we sampled, smelled and ogled all the incredible foods on offer.
Now back in Maputo, I have to cook and not dine out each night! That and go to the gym!
I Sussed out almost every inch of the famous Sandton Shopping Mall. Over 300+ upmarket shops and restaurants. Mandela Square is in the middle of it. Lots of yummy restaurants encircle the square. After much shopping, I headed back to the hotel for a short rest! :0)
Next day, I joined my new friend ( with her son and Mum) to explore another part of Joburg. We drove to Hartbeespoort. About a hour out of the city. Whilst there, I enjoyed African Markets with authentic souvenirs which I could bargain for. We had lunch there before heading back. Yummy prawns...again!
On Thursday, the four of us took a tour to Soweto. It possessed incredible history and is/was the home of Nelson Mandela and Reverend Desmond Tutu. Their houses were diagonally opposite each other. Imagine two NobelPeace Prize winners from the same small township. Some serious sad things happened there. A massacre of 500 youths from primary and high schools peacefully demonstrating against being made to learn all subjects in Africaans , not their native tongue. Learning about that , brought tears to my eyes and heart as a teacher and a mother! So much history to learn from just this one area. I have bought two of Nekson Mandela's books.... "Long Walk To Freedom" and his autobiography written using letters from his 27 years of being incararated in jail. Google Soweto and Mandela if you want to learn more. Also enjoyed traditional Soweto food for lunch!
Last shopping was to buy "safari gear" so that the elephants and lions don't see me! All camouflage clothes, long and light. I hope we get to go to Kruger Park again soon.
Last night we enjoyed an intimate night of Jazz after having the most delicious tandoori chicken I have ever had! We plan to go back to that restaurant!
Last day, we went to the Neighbour Goods Food Market. We dined on champers and oysters at 10:30 am! And enjoyed paella, olives and South African wines as we sampled, smelled and ogled all the incredible foods on offer.
Now back in Maputo, I have to cook and not dine out each night! That and go to the gym!
Monday, 21 January 2013
Riding the Gautrain
My first time on the Gautrain from Tambo Airport to our hotel in Johannesburg . Fast, clean and safe!
Saturday, 19 January 2013
Learning Portuguese
I started my Portuguese lessons yesterday afternoon. Meu professor e o Senhor Arcenio (my teacher is Mr. "Are-sen-you".) I go twice a week for an hour and I get homework!! I can count and write numerals but it takes a bit of practise to listen and understand, especially when shopping! This morning I tried to read and translate the local newspaper. The article was about the heavy rain and flooding last Tuesday and the Emergency Response team's response to it and further possible flooding. Sadly, many people lost their homes. I think I will take the article to my professor and get him to read it back to me and see how I did I in the translation/ comprehension.
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Special visit
Today I went and visited the orphanage called Project Liberty which is run by a young American lady called Jenn Jestes. Jenn has been in Mozambique for 13 years now and had taken in many children. At present she has 20 children aged from one young man going to university, teenagers and little boys and girls. The youngest is 3. Many Jenn has taken in as babies or toddlers who have been very sick and malnourished. I can't even begin to fathom what it is like to a lost and abandon child. Thank heavens for people like Jenn. She relies a lot on donations and volunteer help. That's where I come in.
In true , Aussie tradition... You never go somewhere empty handed. My driver, Silvano helped me source some basic necessities to take. We bought a 25 kilo bag of rice, some condensed milk, sugar, merely meal (corn based meal to make a porridge), pasta, and some soft drink and lollipops for treats. This all cost me about $80 Aus. Here I paid 2.560,00 meticais.
I also took the paper used to wrapped my air shipment belongings in. After chatting with Jenn for a while, I met all of the children who greeted my respectfully with a handshake and two kisses either side of my cheeks. I know I will get to know their names eventually! One little boy was running around with an old bit of carpet around his neck trying to be superman! I will have to find a cape for him!
It has been raining for 5 days now and the children are beginning to go stir crazy inside their very cramped house. (Did I tell you they have two dogs that insist on bring in the middle of them all? Tiger and Bagheera)
I gave them the paper and asked for some crayons/ pencils . They immediately started to draw . One little girl whispered "can you help me?" Which of course I did and then everyone wanted me to draw something.
After a few hours, it was time to go. I got hugs from everyone. I asked if I could come back to visit. "Sim" (seem - yes) they said. "Adeus, Mrs. Dee-Anna!"
As we were leaving the heavens opened up and Silvano skilfully drove us back through torrential rain and flooding streets. People were drenched as they had no protection walking or sitting in the back of "charpas" (sharpas - open taxi
Utes). Many young children were playing in the soccer fields that had become swimming pools or in the drains along the roadside. It was the first day of school for many children and they were saturated in their new uniforms! That or they took them off as they walked home.
Home for midday. What an interesting morning! I look forward to going to Jenn 's on a regular basis.
In true , Aussie tradition... You never go somewhere empty handed. My driver, Silvano helped me source some basic necessities to take. We bought a 25 kilo bag of rice, some condensed milk, sugar, merely meal (corn based meal to make a porridge), pasta, and some soft drink and lollipops for treats. This all cost me about $80 Aus. Here I paid 2.560,00 meticais.
I also took the paper used to wrapped my air shipment belongings in. After chatting with Jenn for a while, I met all of the children who greeted my respectfully with a handshake and two kisses either side of my cheeks. I know I will get to know their names eventually! One little boy was running around with an old bit of carpet around his neck trying to be superman! I will have to find a cape for him!
It has been raining for 5 days now and the children are beginning to go stir crazy inside their very cramped house. (Did I tell you they have two dogs that insist on bring in the middle of them all? Tiger and Bagheera)
I gave them the paper and asked for some crayons/ pencils . They immediately started to draw . One little girl whispered "can you help me?" Which of course I did and then everyone wanted me to draw something.
After a few hours, it was time to go. I got hugs from everyone. I asked if I could come back to visit. "Sim" (seem - yes) they said. "Adeus, Mrs. Dee-Anna!"
As we were leaving the heavens opened up and Silvano skilfully drove us back through torrential rain and flooding streets. People were drenched as they had no protection walking or sitting in the back of "charpas" (sharpas - open taxi
Utes). Many young children were playing in the soccer fields that had become swimming pools or in the drains along the roadside. It was the first day of school for many children and they were saturated in their new uniforms! That or they took them off as they walked home.
Home for midday. What an interesting morning! I look forward to going to Jenn 's on a regular basis.
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