I know I've written very little about what happens in the holidays here, so given that it is now the longest holiday of the year, I thought I'd write some of what goes on!
I mentioned in a previous post (Holiday Times) that most of the kids go home for the holidays. As I understand it, the kids don't go back to the place that put them in Home in the first place. There is a wonderful team of social workers here that look for other options for the kids. This may be relatives such as older siblings, aunties/uncles or grandparents that could potentially give the children a permanent home. Some children have foster families that they often spend weekends or days out with and I think some of the kids also have South African (local) volunteers that are also potentially becoming foster parents. And one of the ways the Home can test the 'compatibility' of the relationship between the child and adult is to send the child to live with whichever care-giver it is almost as a trial run. And this is what happens in the holidays.
Some kids don't even have these options. No suitable family members and no volunteers or foster family. Luckily kids are allowed to spend time with friends from school. One child I know spends most weekends staying at a school friend's house and thankfully is able to spend most of the holiday with that family, because the other option is being left at the Home. There are only 20-30 kids that stay behind every holiday, but this isn't all as sad as it may seem. These kids don't have a free day for the whole holiday. Seriously, I've seen the holiday plan and it is mental! They get to go to a musical, there have been cable car tickets donated for Table Mountain, so some kids get to do that, they're going to a crocodile park, camping, movie nights, climbing Table Mountain. All sorts!
As an international volunteer, you can sympathise with the kids sometimes. We won't see our family for up to a year. I haven't spoken to my parents, brothers or friends for nearly 4 months, and I won't for another 8 months. I won't get to spend x-mas or my birthday with family around me like I have done every year of my life. But unlike the kids, I'm doing it optionally. And I can technically go back any time I want. I could pick up the phone and phone my Mum or Dad or friends right now (well I could if I had enough airtime!). I could go to the internet cafe and skype my family. But, and this is going to be a slightly harsh 'but' so if you are related to me, please don't disown me (!) I don't actually miss any of my family or friends. Except my Granny. I miss her a lot! I have absolutely no plans to phone or skype in th forseeable future because I'm doing fantastic without them (sorry guys!). But I think it's probably different for those left behind. For me it is a whole different life (that I will never be able to live again after this year-this fact terrifies me) but all my family and friends have to live their normal Manchester life and day to day routine without me. For my brothers, they have never had to do that. My parents haven't had to do it for 18 (I imagine long) years. It must be tough, I don't envy them! But what an interesting experiment it is! As much as I really really never ever want to leave this life here, I can't wait to get back and see how much things have changed while I'm away. I'm almost certain that I'm now the shortest child in my family (although thankfully not the shortest person-thanks Mum!) even though I'm the oldest. In pictures, my littlest brother is looking awfully lanky and out-of-proportion like teenage boys do when they grow suddenly. I want to see how the kids I used to look after have grown, and how much they've learnt at school. .
I think I've also changed a lot already in such a short time. There are things I do or don't do now automatically. I would never think to call it a BBQ. It is a braai, always and forever. Lekker has become a part of daily language. I'm also proud to say I sometimes think in Afrikaans. Just the odd word that I've picked up here or there. There are behaviours as well. I automatically clean my plate and cutlery after I've eaten (we obviously don't have a dish washer!) and now I've got a technique for washing my undies without injuring myself, I just listen to my ipod and get on with it. It's quite relaxing, I might carry on doing it in England! I would also never even think about going out on my own after dark, it's just to dangerous. I think one of the biggest changes is that I've become so independent from family and at looking after myself, but I've also become slightly dependent on other people in general. And I actually love living with other people. I love that if I'm bored, I can just wander over to another living area and find someone to chat to, or play cards with. I also love that I can see my best friend's bedroom door from my bedroom window (in a none-creepy-stalker way obviously).
No comments:
Post a Comment