I'm a Cape Townian

I’ve been in Cape Town for almost three weeks already, time really pass by so quickly. I’m really enjoying my time here. A lot has happened during these last two weeks.

I finally know on which projects I’ll be working on. I’ll be working at a primary school called ‘Vissershok’. I’ll be here three days a week. The main thing that I’ll do is to help out with the feeding programme. The kids get a meal every morning between 9.15 and 10.00 AM. Afterwards they have a break till 10.30. This is my favorite moment. Just hanging out with the kids and getting to know them better. I’ll try to build up a relationship with the kids during the first coming weeks, once I get to know them better, I’ll try to set up activities to do with the kids.

On Mondays and Wednesdays I also go to the SOS Children’s Village. YFC provides activities and life skills for these kids from 17.00h till 19.00h. This programme is for kids from 13 years and older currently. What I’ve noticed during these last couple of weeks is that there are a lot of younger kids who are also willing and longing for a programme for their generation. Fortunately I’m not the only one who has noticed this. Amy, a great volunteer from the States, has been in touch with the contact person from SOS and we’ve received an okay to set up a programme for the younger kids. Amy, Bobbi and I will try to make this happen. I’m really excited about this project; first of all because I can see and tell that it’s needed and second of all, I’ll be able to set it up from the beginning. Making manuals etc. and pass it on to new coming volunteers or interns when I leave in August.

Everything is starting to come together for me. The projects, meeting my supervisor (she’s is really great!), settling down in Cape Town… I’m loving every moment of it. This is how my week looks like:
Monday: Vissershok, office, SOS Village & dinner at Rolf’s (YFC centre director)
Tuesday: Cleaning @ the house, office & movie night
Wednesday: Vissershok, office & SOS Village
Thursday: Vissershok & office
Friday: Staff meeting at the office & supervision
Weekend: I can do whatever I want :-)

I love the week planning, it gives me structure what I’ve been lacking to have in Holland. What I really love here is that we have devotion every morning. The person who has devotion shares whatever he or she wants to share. It could be a bible verse or a situation he or she is struggling with. On Tuesdays we have solo devotion in the morning. This is an hour just for yourself. I really love and hate solo devotion. It’s good to have a moment for yourself, but on the other hand it is also difficult to have time to get to know yourself better.

I’ve done so many great and fun things during these last weeks; going to Moyo’s for dinner (a restaurant with an African paradise ambiance), shopping at Century City and meeting lots of great people like the Skippers family. Truly a great family! They are going out of their way to show me everything that Cape Town has to offer. They took me to Camp Bay last Saturday just to see the beautiful sunset at the bottom of the Table Mountain; it was SO SO SO beautiful. I love that family, I feel like I’ve been adopted in to their family. Royston, ‘the dad’, says that I’m a true Cape Townian… There is no better compliment is there?!

Well, I think I should stop now. I know that many of you don’t like to read long stories… sorry!

Take care everybody!

Lots of love,
B-N