Writer's Block

The chaos involving the wrapping up of the 2010 FIFA World Cup has clogged up my creative flow. I will have some useful material for you soon, but for the time being; let me share with you something that I find inspiration in:

Below is a quote from the book Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller reflecting on why he chooses to be concerned with social issues. I take these words to heart in a way I wish I could fully convey to you:

“The problem is not a certain type of legislation or even a certain politician; the problem is the same as it always has been.

I am the problem.

I think every conscious person, every person who is awake to the functioning principles within his reality, has a moment when he stops blaming the problems of the world on group think, on humanity and authority, and starts to face himself. I hate this more than anything. This is the hardest principle within Christian spirituality for me to deal with. The problem is not out there; the problem is the needy beast of a thing that lives in my chest.

(…)

More than my questions about efficacy of social action were my questions about my own motives. Do I want social justice for the oppressed, or do I want to be known as a socially active person? “

A Few Funny Moments

1. The Dancing Gogo of A Thousand Hills: After a long day at the crèche and clinic at 1000 HCH, as I was driving home I noticed a lone Gogo thumbin’ it on the side of the road. Begrudgingly, I pulled over to offer her a lift (imagine the rhythmic stylings of Paul Simon with Ladysmith Black Mombazo grooving in the background). She hopped, or more accurately – hobbled, into my car and immediately popped her hands into the air and started swaying and singing to the music. She said “This is nice music, my baby” and continued to dance for the next 15km until I dropped her off in Drummond. And I will never begrudge a Gogo in need of a lift again.

2. Gogo Gloria’s Advice for the week:

- Never travel alone. It is not nice. Especially when you are flying. You will see couples travelling together and it will make you feel very sad.

- It’s okay if I don’t marry until I’m 50. You have to wait for the right man. And sometimes you don’t find him until you are 50.

3. Loud Noises: In the silence of grade 4 hard at work on a worksheet about the 5 senses, a child let out the loudest fart I have ever heard in my entire life (even louder than yours, Campanelli).

4. He Who Must Not Be Named: I got to spend over 5 hours reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince aloud to Siya. My life is awesome. Also – the enraptured look on Siyabonga’s face was worth every minute of reading. AND he now is reading them on his own. Hell Yeah.

Ayoba, South Africa, Ayoba!

Just in case you wanted to be tuned into the things filling my mind and radio in the empty moments:

Waka Waka by Shakira featuring Freshly Ground

(Just a heads up to all you peeps not livin’ in RSA right now… Freshly Ground is this kick ass band fromSouth Africa that I have fallen in love with. Check them out here.) Some other things you should know about this awesome song... I learned the dance for it at the fan park last weekend. Also, Sphelele and Sphesihle, two Grade 3 boys at St. Leo, graced Shin and I with the privelege of hearing them sing and dance the entire thing. What a treat. Annnnd... I can't listen to this song without tearing up about how awesome a thing it has been for me to live here and be a part of this. So, thanks Shakira, for inducing tears constantly, since it's pretty much all I hear on the radio these days.



SHOUT for a safer South Africa

This song hasn't gotten as much publicity as the other two, but it is an awesome cover by South Africa artists to promote safety and decrease violence during the World Cup. Check out the cause here.



Wave Your Flag by K'Naan

This song, which I am sure you have all heard, is the Official Anthem of the 2010 World Cup. K'Naan is awesome and was actually in Durbs performing at the Fan Park for the Semi-Final match last week. When we went to the Fan Park to watch a game, it was a safe bet that we would hear this song at least 10 times (I promise that is not an exaggeration. really.) I will always think of dancing in the sand with people from all over the world at the beginning, middle, and end of each game we watched at the fan park. And even though I feel frustration and resentment about this song and about the damage the World Cup may have caused and about vuvuzelas being really fucking loud and annoying, this song makes me heart fill up with joy anyways.



And that's that. Please enjoy.

Three Little Birds

I’ve been listening to this Bob Marley song quite frequently recently. This month went by without even a blink. I really don’t know where it went, but my body feels its lingering presence. I think all of our exhaustion is at a pretty low point. So instead of waiting for rejuvenation, we create it for ourselves.

My own way has been to constantly continue the “Why I love…” list. So here are so more jewels for you (or for me):

1. I love good beer. I love when the Shongweni man gives us a free one for being such frequent and regular customers. I love when we go to the Market and see old men drinking them before 10am because, well, who the hell cares.
2. I love my roommates’ cooking talents and the development of my own. This week I made cauliflower fritters with my very own homemade tatziki sauce and an awesome greek salad. Sinead is currently cooking up a fabulous onion soup recipe courtesy of Jamie Oliver.
3. I love the way the air smells like winter (even when the smell really might just be the burning rubbish. I don’t mind.)
4. I love the awesome gift of being able to share this experience with visitors (such as Sam, Shin’s family, Cat and Chrissy, Meg’s friends and all visitors to come). As many of you know, it is quite impossible to explain an inexplicable experience to anyone who has not seen it with their own eyes. So I am thankful for having a few people see for themselves what our lives are here and what the work we do is.
5. I really love the new Durban Waterfront
6. I love Woolworth’s picnics on the beach.
7. I love going to breakfast with people I love after a long, long night out.
8. I love finding my roommates amidst the crowds when we hearing the fateful opening beats of Toto’s “Africa” at a bar.
9. I have never appreciated cheese so much in my entire life.
10. I love face painting and I love paper mache.