Week 2: 21/08 - 28/08

What can I say!? Hectic week no.2! 

The work that the OT's are working to facilitate in the school is starting to make more sense; although both of us have many thoughts on the ways in which the lessons are carried out and what we'd do differently.
We're going to be planning some lessons this week and co-facilitating them so we'll have a change to try some different things out and see what works.

Gail and I went to the community projects in the local township that we're going to be helping out with over the next few months. As I mentioned in last weeks' post I'm in a disability home for age 20 upwards. Those are very exciting, stressful times! In terms of the disability home, as with many residental homes across the globe, there is a great sense of lethargy which means I'm a little short on ideas for activity groups which will include everyone.

If things go to plan....I'll be painting with the residents this week :) They were certainly very open and happy to chat to a young, over-exuberant Brit last week, and a lot more of them understand and can converse in English than I realised which was a nice discovery!

I hope that my determination to get them involved and to keep a grin on my face will get them involved this week!

The adolescent drug rehabilitation centre opens this week! We haven't really been told what the plan is for our involvement is; I'm not even sure that that plan even exists so I'm looking forward to seeing the centre and hopefully get involved very soon.

We're also hopefully going to be involved in a drama therapy workshop which is being run this Fri/Sat? which I'm excited about.

I haven't done any drama (properly) since the end of my formal drama training three years ago when I reached the heady position of Katticus (LVCM)

The letters after my nickname meaning I am a Licentiate of the Victoria College of Music (jst say'n... :P)

Not that the workshop will involve learning lines or any of these enthralling activities but I'm hoping I can test out how rusty I may or may not be with characterisation etc!

Some people might tell you I am an effortless drama queen and centre stage person...
And although I'm not shy about being over-friendly with exaggeration and laughter if the truth be told I'm more of the supporting actress type...

I digress...(you're welcome..)

We went to a school staff meeting on Thursday which thoroughly cemented that workplace politics are the same anywhere around the world, they just have different faces and personalities!

Met up with a friend from Cardiff and her family on Thursday evening who are on holiday in SA at the moment and had a lush Thai meal :) certainly cleared the politics out of my mind!

This weekend has been fun; I got to go to Mugg and Bean (yes mate!) and saw Step 3 (again!) i just love love love all the dancing and music and limp wristed storyline!

We did those things coz it was RAINING (not just raining....)

Today (sunday) is of course gloriously sunny because we need to sit and work!

We have a new housemate and are spending some time with another student who works at the school we're at - so i best go and crack on with the work that I didn't do at the end of this week because I lost focus and it was an emotionally intense day on Friday. 

I think I'm going to almost-end every post on this blog with the following statement because I say it least once a day anyways!....I love Table Mt!!

Peace out x

Week 1: 14/8-21/8

I can't believe I'm back in SA....I am a totally hopeless wannabe South African and really, really, want to find a way to make myself pick up the accent!

Loving:
waking up every morning and seeing Table Mt on my way to placement

moments that make me say 'T.I.A' (for example) travelling on a coach carrying at least 2x the number of people it was designed for with the steering wheel column being held together with rope...
'oh yea these are the parts which fell off earlier' says the driver *waving some metal and plastic items in the teachers general direction*

Newspaper headlines on the side of the road which say 'Vuvuzela now an official word'

where we're and who we're staying with 

having a hire car, even if its not the greatest starter in the world!

MONKEY GLAND SAUCE 
and
SPURS :)

Disliking:
cold mornings

early nights and early mornings - it feels kinda good but soo isn't my comfort zone!

frustrated with re-adjusting to Africa-time and being patient with the time it takes to integrate into a new placement

Placement:

Will the role of an OT (occupational therapist) ever be clearly defined!?

I hate to love finally seeing the MOHO model applied in practice!

I'm nervous about how I'm going to make this placement into everything I need it to be

Feeling overwhelmed by the work to do; lessons in the school, afternoons in a adolescent drug rehabilitation centre (opening in September), a day or so being spent in a disability home in the
community where only 2/20 wheelchairs are of the correct size/support, the residents have little stimulation and interaction, there is a massive range in ability level, physio only comes once a month (ish) and there is very little motivation for change.

Ant looking at an anthill Table Mt....I think so! 

Any experiences that any of you OT readers might have had with activities with disabled clients greatly appreciated...any suggestions welcome....to inspire me somehow! I will be able to get hold of some creative/craft supplies and resources...

Adapting to a different culture:

I've noticed that being in a different culture is like holding a mirror up to yourself.

Not a normal mirror; but one which draws to attention intrinsic values, bias and thoughts that you didn't even know you had.

Looking in the mirror is mesmerizing and somewhat uncomfortable as you figure out what unifies humans as a race, why you hold some of the values that you do and whether you will ever be able to fit in considering some of the differences that you find with those around you.

In my experience, with time and effort the contrasts that you see in the mirror will fade. As you spend time immersing yourself in the culture, and more importantly, building relationships; the differences matter less.

The unifying elements that you discover win through.
Most of the time.

I mean, no-one every understands each other fully anyway do they!?

Can't wait to:

Go to Mugg&Bean (yes this entire trip IS centred around food :P)

Mugg&Bean is a coffee shop chain, for those of you not educated in such delicious things!

Find a routine and working timetable

The winter finally getting out of the way so we can get some sun (but 17 C is the predicted high for next week....so maybe that won't happen so soon :S)

Hope you enjoyed reading, I plan on posting weekly, the format will probably change over time and Gail might be adding some thoughts too!

Peace out x