2 weeks for the price of 1! 06/09-19/09

Week 4: 06/09 - 12/09
OK, I've officially left it too late to start writing this: struggling to remember what happened when!
This past week started well - we got an introduction to the rehab centre on Monday and helped to run the residents craft and sports activities on Tuesday!
The activities were rather impromptu because of a lack of resources and time to plan. The sports and craft materials have not yet been budgeted for, so we're not allowed to buy anything just yet
(say it all together now..) T.I.A!

One of the ice-breakers/trust games that was explained in the drama workshop was played repeatedly in the lessons we help facilitate; a lot of fun albeit slightly repetitive!

We were able to go into the disability home this week - driving our car.
We ran a painting group with the residents and found that there were more resources than I'd previously known about.

The residents all really got into the painting which was very encouraging and a lot of fun to see them engaging in an activity.

While we were there we also met two ladies from Denmark who are setting up a charity to send students from Denmark over, specifically to the home, for six months to start up an activity programme with the residents.
This is great news as the residents currently don't do anything during the day because there aren't enough members of staff or motivation for anything to be run; so I am glad that even though my once a week activity session is far from adequate I can hopefully stay in contact with this new initiative and hear of the positive steps which will be taken next year towards a more engaging routine in the home.

On Weds eve we went to an exercise class called NIA (more info here: http://www.niasouthafrica.co.za/)
I tried out one of these classes in Cardiff during my first year and enjoyed them but stopped going because I didn't really have enough time and classes were quite expensive.
The classes here are cheaper and alot of fun so it looks like they're going to be a regular thing :)
I would like to carry on going to Zumba on a regular basis aswell - but we'll see!

Thursday was an interesting day. We were both feeling stressed about work and frustrated about a mis-understanding about study hours. We ended up having an awkward conversation with our supervisor but ultimately we got the day off to study; which was such a relief!
The sun came out, we studied at home, went food shopping and had a study break at Mugg&Bean (the best kind of study break there is..)
I finally satisfied my craving for chocolate mousse cake and was very full for the rest of the afternoon (after only half a slice of cake...the portions are that big!)

In the evening we went to the bible study group that one of my friends from last time in SA has introduced me to.
Had such a great time making friends, meeting new people! The topics discussed and prayed through were very pertinent to Gail and I that we came away feeling refreshed and re-motivated. I officially wish that the group could meet every night!

Then Friday rolled around; and what a bizarre day it was!

The morning was fairly normal, it was Eid (the end of the month of Ramadaan) so the office was quieter than usual (read: there was space for everyone to sit down..) as our Muslim colleagues were celebrating breaking their fast.

The conversations in the classes was quite informal - talked about the solar system and the universe (not the usual curriculum/lesson plan) but a lot of fun nonetheless.

And then, there was the afternoon...
The man who had run the drama workshop the week before had said there was a drama group that he would like us to be able to meet at UCT (the university of Cape Town) this week.
So after work those of us left in the office trundled off to the UCT drama, dance & arts campus in the CBD (centre of town). 
We had rather vague instructions about what was going to happen and consequently ended up wandering around asking random people if they knew anything about this event we knew very little about..there was a drama festival taking place so there were quite few options to choose from!

Eventually we got to something resembling a workshop and joined in.

Some say that we entered the twilight zone when we entered that room, others simply say we got the wrong place (we're not actually sure) but what ensued can possibly only be described as some of the weirdest hours of my life.

To be fair the objectives of the workshop were not clear to me at all- but the structure of the afternoon seemed to just be plucked out of thin air and made into a random task. It didn't make any sense to me and unfortunately is not applicable anywhere that we're working.
You never know whats going to happen in the future though eh!?

So that was that and we managed to escape dazed but otherwise unharmed(!) after 3 hours.

And then it was the weekeennnndd!
C, an American student teacher working at LEAP joined us on Friday evening for the last minutes of  the film 'the notebook 'and slept in the spare bed in my room.

Saturday morning we were going to go to NIA again but sleep was too inviting (esp as C and I had been awake til the early morning talking away)

The day was gloriously sunny and blue so we packed a lunch and went to Camps Bay.

Camps Bay  is such a great beach! It is set in a very fashionable and upmarket area, stunning scenery, foaming breakers on the beach, freezing cold sea, lots of friendly people, the occasional bike enthusiast and plenty of shops and restaurants.

We walked, ate, chatted, read, stared out to sea (which I could quite happily do all day), clambered around on rocks, took photos and people watched.
We ended the day with a smoothie each before heading to a braai (bbq) of a fellow colleague.
By the time we got there a fair amount of alcohol had already been consumed which led to a fair amount of funny conversation :)

Sunday was a lovely day we went to Llanduno Bay, Hout Bay Market and the V&A Waterfront, again with T, who took us down to Cape Point the weekend before!


Week 5: 13/09 - 19/09

Another week, another challenge, more learning!
- Origami activity, sport and yoga at the drug rehab centre. 
- Lesson facilitation and intense meetings galore at the school. 
- A morning in the disability home - frustrated with the lack of daily acivity and routine, therapeutic input and motivation for change; a lot to do - but every drop in the ocean counts.
Been inspired/motivated by this quote I found:

"Treat people as if they were, what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of being." Johann W von Goethe

- Good sunshine and cold evenings

- Went to NIA (as referenced above) twice; once with a group of friends and then just three of us.
- Meeting my family at Cape Town Airport on Friday morning; then getting stuck in traffic on the way back to work, sitting in one lesson, visiting a local crèche, lunchtime, drug rehab (only to find we actually need to be back at school to meet with both our supervisors!)
Alot of driving that day for sure!


This trip continues to be the steepest learning curve I have ever been on.
In terms of my learning about OT; yes thats rolled in there, but mostly I'm finding myself challenged on a personal level - particularly emotionally and spiritually.
Adjusting to our role in the school is interesting - we are in more of a teaching role than a therapist role. The difference in roles didn't match with our expectations (although its sometimes difficult to work out exactly what I was expecting) and its been a difficult transition - moreso for Gail than me, but there's alot to learn for the both of us.

The rest of the learning (if you can ever quantify it!) has come in finding ways to support each other; we are struggling, learning, coping together. 

'Intense' is one of the most frequently used words in my vocabulary when I am asked to summarise my daily life.
From day to day I sometimes wonder how all these thoughts, feelings can be circulating in me without exploding.
Its interesting for sure!

The weekends are a refuge!

This last weekend was busier than most because my family are visiting us at the moment - and they were very eager to get up early and make the most of our days. A fun weekend - but I've needed two cups of coffee already this morning(!)

Saturday - got lost on the way to Constantia because of a genuine fault in Gail and I's map book which had us all on the wrong stretch of road for a good 20mins..fun times!

We did a walk/hike from the Constantia Nek into Kirstenbosch Gardens (and therefore avoiding paying the entrance fee....sneaky sneaky!)
Lots of fun, stunning views, sunshine and good company.

Kirstenbosch Gardens are STUNNING - can't wait to upload the photos and look through them properly - I got very snap happy with all the flowers, scenery, statues, beautiful people I was with etc :)Gail and I are hoping to go back and spend more time exploring the gardens properly - as more time is most definitely needed!

The gardens made me wonder if this is what the Garden of Eden/the world without any pollution and development would have looked like. 'mazing.

There was a plan to go up the cable car on Table Mt for sunset but there were a few too many clouds to make that worthwhile when the time came; so we made our way to a local restaurant which had been recommended to my family earlier on.

It was very nice but unfortunately no veggie option for Mum and S which led to some interesting negotiations with the waitress (we got there eventually!)

Sunday - A group of 7 of us. My family, Gail, S, C and I drove to Stellenbosch - did plenty of wine tasting and then made our way to Moyo restaurant...a tourist experience thats worth having if ever there is one!

I went to a Moyo restaurant with my fellow volunteers (Team Wildcats - i miss those okes!) in Durban two years ago and was determined to introduce my friends and family to the same fabulous experience!

Traditional face-painting, a big buffet with soo much food, music, dancing and a general all round brilliant atmosphere.

We spent several hours there skipped the planned second wine tasting and drove home to chill for half an hour before going to church.

Church was fun but also slightly surreal - because I've known people in the church and started to make friends for about 3weeks now - so to suddenly go 'and here are my family' was pretty intense (for them more than me) but everyone was very gracious and welcoming which was cool!

I'm excited for this week and thinking carefully how spending time with my family and still keeping some form of routine and work discipline is going to work! (I mean its pretty unusual for your family to be there instead of a tutor during your 'half way visit' :P)

There's a public holiday this Friday and then a 10day school holiday which we're all looking forward to.

My family, Gail and I are heading off to a friends house on the Garden Route for a short break away at the end of my family's time in Cape Town. Then Gail and I will have some time to catch up on work (as always I have more that needs catching up on than Gail!..) and do some more touristy things..then it'll be back to work to do the second half of this crazy thing called placement!

Time is going so quickly!

I hope this post hasn't been too mammoth and apologies to my regular readers who may have noticed my poor timekeeping - after the school holidays (which will no doubt make the timing of my next post a little tricky to predict!) I will strive to resume my weekly posts...more for my benefit than yours - typing up two weeks takes forever!

Thankyou for reading, I think the typing goes some way in helping me stay sane!

I love Table Mt!

Peace out x

Week 3: 29/08 - 05/09

Phew!
Am I glad its the weekend!
If the stress levels are going to increase like this every week I'm not gonna have anything left by the end!

We have had more car issues than you can shake a stick at...over three days we had four separate issues - I'm sure you'd like to hear all about it...
1) We've had v.squeaky brakes since recieving the car so this week we contacted the company and asked them to come have a look so that if the brake pads were too worn we couldn't be held responsible for any damage.

Of course this issue by itself would have been fine, however...

2) On the way home from placement on Tuesday we were sat in traffic moving at snails-pace when a fellow Citi Golf shunted us from behind. Nothing major, no one else involved, driver v.apologetic, damage rather minor - but we took details anyway seeing as its a hire car and we want to avoid extra costs!
Lots and lots of stares from fellow south african drivers as said exchange took place!

Again, not really a problem, just one of those things....

3) We stopped to get gas/fuel/petrol/LRP (delete as appropriate..) on Tuesday - and is fairly standard practice at South African garages/forecourts/petrol stations we asked the guy who filled up the tank to check our oil and water...the responsible hire car drivers that we are....

Side note for readers from other countries....in SA people fill your petrol tank for you, a job born out of a need for employment and a certain laziness on the car drivers side too I'm sure.
The typical tip for a pump attendant upon completion of fuelling = 2-3 rand...more if they have checked oil or water etc.
Oh, and in my experience you might occansionally recieve a mud brown coloured mug with your change if the attendant likes the look of you :P

Moving on, the pump attendant said we needed some more oil so we bought some more oil, he poured it in and off we trundled.
All fine until steam/smoke starts rising from under the bonnet/hood.
So we check the engine when we get home and find some sticky brown stuff smoking nicely.
Decision is made to clean it up tomorrow morning before we leave as its too hot at that moment.

So Weds morning rolls around we clean off the visible oil as much as possible, check the oil cap is on properly and keep a old rag in the car, just in case....
Fastforward about 15 minutes into our morning journey and we're looking worriedly at yet more smoke coming out.
Being girls with no particular interest in the details of a car engine...or most types of engine for that matter we pull over at a petrol station...open the bonnet and find more oil in the engine - and what appears to be a dribble from the oil cap.
So we clean it up again - as much as we can, fiddle with the oil cap for a while, no problem or solution is found so we close up again and carry on

By the time we get to school the smoke is bad, Kat and Gail have been gassed with oil fumes and anxiety levels are high (at what point does oil get hot enough to combust?!?)

(Side note for those who are now worried about oil leaks...we have since been told that oil doesn't combust v.easily without a spark - but caution is advised because it is an engine and there are spark plugs in there..more on those later unfortunately..)

So we phone the car rental company - who were planning to come look at the brakes anyway and inform them of the current situation, they tell us that they'll let us know when they're on the way.

By mid-afternoon we're antsy and so call them again - they're too busy with other cars to come to where we are - can we drive to the offices where there is always a mechanic or two on site?
Not having much of a choice we left school an hour early and made our way nervously across the suburbs

Just under half way through the journey we stop again because the fumes are bad and we're stressed. Man comes to help, said help is suspiciously regarded and held at arms length but he helps anyway.
We are informed that the seal on the oil cap is missing hence the constant smoke and oil in engine, brilliant!

Pressing on we finally make it to the car hire company, very nice people, fix the oil cap quickly, offer the passenger a beer, knock the sand out of the brake system so they will stop squeaking, take the details of the shunt incident the day before (yes, it felt like a long time ago by then to us too...) and we thanked them and went on our merry way home.

Well I say merry, it was rush hour and I got cut up by like a million taxis (who have their own rules of the road...i/e. no rules..) and had to cut up one driver myself..needless to say we're avoiding that stretch of road in rush hour again.

Car saga over!?


No, unfortunately not...
That evening we went for a meal out with our two housemates and fellow student from the school (C) - as a belated birthday gift for our South African housemate (J) - really nice food (I mentioned this trip is actually all about the culinary delights of SA right!? :P)
But when we drove C home we found we had NO acceleration, interesting - we hadn't noticed that issue earlier!

This problem persisted the next morning on the way to work and even with the petal on the metal we were dead slow and stop.

So once again we phoned the company (with whom we are now on first name terms with now...!) and reported the latest installment of the saga.

This time they were able to come out to our house in the evening...and not just one mechanic either but FIVE!
I tried to make jokes about how many mechanics it might take to fix a car - but this Brits lame attempt at humour/sarcasm got blank stares and 'can we have the keys?'

So I curiously/awkwardly hovered at the edge of the action while things were prodded, pulled out, put back in, changed and checked.
Further attempts at conversation and 'I don't know if this makes any difference but' were met with more stares and occansional Afrikaans muttering; so I just shut up as I didn't have Gail there to translate or feel stupid with...

Not long after the problem was identified as a 'dead' spark plug which means the engine had been firing at half-capacity (two cylinders rather than four I think...) and therefore a 1.4l engine was reduced to somewhere in the 0.something catergory
Hardly the nippy acceleration we've become used to!

You'll be pleased to know that this is the end of the car saga and we hope that it will be the end of it for a substansial amount of time to come!

I now know more about a car engine, will be dealing with my own oil and water levels in the future and will most definitely just keep my big mouth shut the next time a group of men are discussing/dealing with their beloved metal on wheels....

OK, other things that happened during the week....we had a fun planning and facilitating our very own life orientation lesson with one of the classes - which went well
but inevitably has some room for improvement

I didn't get to go to the disability home because of transport issues...this week we're taking our car so that I don't have to make that embarassing phone call
all over again

We went to a drama workshop in the drug rehabilitation centre which was a lot of fun and thought provoking...we'll get to see/use some of those skills over our time
at the rehab centre

Dealt with yet more office politics and got v.frustrated (not helped by the levels of general stress from the car or own expectations etc)
Things will be better this week...we've had a very good weekend to help us relax...

Saturday - Zumba class in the morning, chilled out day at home, then S, our housemate cousin, her school friends and I went out to Long St for a night of partying.
I had never experienced Long St before and really enjoyed the laidback atmosphere and music. Was glad to find a relaxed dress code aswell :)
A few drinks and ances later S and I came home - leaving the younger ones to party the night away (literally!)

Sunday mornning came round too fast but a friend of a friend of S (we're all about the random connections on this trip) came and took us out for the day.
By 10.30AM (!) we were sunbathing and sipping champagne and wine at a vineyard in the shadow of Table Mt - bliss!

Then off to Cape Point for lunch and exploration -- and I actually saw Cape Point this time! Last time the actual point itself was completely shrouded in rain and cloud!
Also saw a whale from a long way off - so exciting...I also managed to spot a whales tail disappearing into the sea on our drive home - but it happened too
quicly for everyone else to look..
Finally we stopped near Boulders Bay (the penguin sanctuary) and took a few photos but didn't pay to go into the sanctuary because we were all pretty tired by
that point.

So we were dropped off home, Gail and I had a nap and some food then went to church-on-main where we had a great evening - met the waiter who had served us wine
in the morning (seriously, what are the chances!?), drank free hot chocolate (the perks of being a visitor :P), met a teacher from the school where our housemate
S is working and generally had a fun time!

This week (although I am well aware that I could very easily write the first half of the next post already...sorry...when you go out on Sunday and mess up your
routine things get a bit hectic on the blogging front...)
- Get more involved with drug rehab/actually find out whats going on
- Go to the disability home and grovel for not being there last week
- Be less stressed (i.e. have less car trouble!!)

I love Table Mt!
Peace out x

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