This was more of a topsy-turvy week where things were not quite normal.
The week started in the school. On Monday afternoon we visited an organisation called 'Facing Up' in Lavender Hill on the Cape Flats. This area used to be where the coloured people were forced to live during apartheid and as a consequence is till home to a large coloured population; gang and drug crime is rife.
Facing Up works in a number of local schools - looking to address occupational balance and provide interest groups and address social issues with the children. The organisation was set up by a UCT OT lecturer and is run by OT students while they're on placement. This obviously means that there is an issue with continuity - but gives teachers and pupils in the schools opportunity to take responsibility.
There is the possibility of employing a full time OT in the programme but this has not yet been funded and the logistics would be difficult! It was good to chat to the occupational therapy students who were working there and compare our courses and styles of working
Tuesday we did a painting session at the rehab centre - simple and effective. Unfortunately Gail wasn't feeling so great, but we got through it!
Wednesday was a busy busy day! Gail and I went into Langa - did finger painting at the creche with the 5-6 year olds!
We shot ourselves in the foot rather because we chose to do the painting activity outside; meaning we spent most of the time sellotaping paper to tables and weighting down paint containers. But we all had a lot of fun nonetheless.
Things were slightly less chaotic at the disability home. I started collecting information about the clients wheelchairs and other basic information - ready for wheelchair assessments being completed by a charity group I contacted recently. The rest of the time the residents completed puzzles and did sculpting with play dough.
Gail and I went back to the school for the afternoon and facilitated a lesson plan we'd made. Learning about and discussing through issues surrounding TB. The lesson was good; helped us to see the insight that the learners had into TB as a condition...we also played a learning game with them so that was good.
In the evening I went with C and a friend of hers to a monthly pasta night in Bo Kaap...hosted by one of the teachers in the school.
A lot of fun - met a lot of cool people - mostly foreigners; German, Dutch, Scottish, British, American, Zimbabwean. I wasn't sure which accent was which by the end of the night! Some very cheap food and good company - with an amazing view of Table Mt from the house :)
Thursday - more TB lesson plans... going to get the car fixed (again!) instead of going to the rehab centre..
What was the problem now I hear you ask! Well essentially we ran out of oil - despite having put three cans in over the last 2 months of having the car...mechanics looked again, said that there was still a problem with the oil cap and replaced it (again...I think..)
In the evening Gail still wasn't feeling good and I was very tired so we didn't go to our usual church group!
Friday was a normal morning at school and then we headed to the UCT (university of Cape Town) buildings in a local suburb. We met with an OT lecturer there (the one who set up 'Facing Up' that we visited on Monday) and talked to her for a long while about the organisation, OT in Cape Town and occupational therapy in general. It was a highly insightful and friendly conversation which I learnt a lot from.
Somehow by the end of our conversation we were talking about disability in general; the lecturer told us about an art exhibition at a local theatre around sexuality and disability.
So we said our thankyous and goodbyes and went to have a look.
The exhibition wasn't so much an art exhibition as a collection of photos and description. It was very interesting; just less abstract than i had expected it to be! While we were there we also saw a sign for an integrated dance company performance over the following two nights so we got tickets for that :)
Then we went to a local mall and got haircuts and coffee :) for those of you who haven't been on facebook and seen my more recent photos now is my chance to tell you -- I've had a very short haircut!..I've been thinking about it for ages - haven't had my hair shortshort for years so finally got the guts up the change :) I'm liking it, growing to love it and virtually all the feedback I've had has been good so its all cool!
And then it was the weekend - we drove to the Waterfront on Saturday with CDA and CT(!) took a tour of Robben Island ( a former leper colony, prison and WWII defence point) the words WWII defence point are used lightly though because the guns weren't actually completed till 1947....just abit late by most people's watches..but this is Africa (T.I.A..) so its fine - don't worry about it!
I have been to Robben Island before - however this time was alot nicer because it was warm - meaning the ferry ride didn't make me feel violently ill, the view of Table Mt was much nicer and, well, it was just nicer!
After the tour. The entire trip took longer than I remembered so we were hungry for lunch when we got back (cue yummy wraps and frozen yoghurt!)
Saturday evening we went to watch the integrated dance performance that I mentioned we bought tickets for on Friday. It was really good; the piece that they performed had been commissioned for women's day and heritage day. It was different to the work that I've seen by StopGAP in the UK. This had more ballroom involved and sometimes felt less cohesive than I'm used to seeing integrated dance on stage; but it definitely had flair. Lots of humour, thought provoking stuff - one of the pro dancers was deaf which I didn't know til afterward but really does give it an edge when I think back to the performance! Very enjoyable and highly recommended should you ever be in Cape Town!
To find out more about the two dance companies I've mentioned visit www.stopgap.uk.com/ and www.remixdanceproject.co.za/
Sunday we went to Nia in the morning which made a nice change as we normally go during the week.
Gail and I drove along Chapmans Peak. So much fun to drive and some amazing, amazing amazing views!
Went to Nordhoek beach; sat on the sand dunes and ate lunch and chatted about nothing and everything.
Visted a farm shop in Norhoek and bought goodies - stopped and had ice-cream. A really nice Sunday!
Then we went to church and that was the weirdest thing - we had baptisms in a large paddling pool then split male/female. Def not your average Sun night - but fun nonetheless.
Just time to say, I know I'm waay behind on the blog..I'm gonna work on getting back up to date..annnd I love Table Mt!
Peace out x
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