Building Relationships

Since we have yet to hear from Mokolodi about volunteering there, I decided to volunteer in the classroom each day this week. I am trying to implement ways to help the students learn and am gaining much needed experience teaching at the same time! I am getting to know the students better each day and am learning which ones, especially one boy named Tulmelo, which ironically means 'believe,' who is quite the teaser! I never know if I can believe him! One day, he sneezed during class, and naturally, I said, "Bless you." He thought this was a comical response, because once I turned my back to start writing on the board, he obviously fake sneezed, expecting a response from me. I gave him a look and he countered back, "I have the flu...oh-so-sick!" He wasn't. I have also quickly learned which ones I can depend on for telling me the truth! I am enjoying getting to know my students and building relationships with them. The students are hard workers and I love being able to help them out when I can!

After school is out, I try to stick around and help out at the feeding project and play with the children there. We are all getting to know the children better and am building relationships with them. They are teaching us hand games and Leslie is teaching them some in return. The active ones love to play with Matt and Jack who chase them around. The girls love to play with my hair and I tend to find it tied into knots and quite frizzy at the end of the day! Little ones that don't know English quite yet just hold their arms out for you to pick them up! There's always someone to entertain, or more often than not, be entertained by! I sometimes don't know who is having more fun --- the kids or us!

This is me and Sadi, who I called Lovey for awhile, because she wouldn't tell me her name for the longest time! And she is just so cuddly!

Jayne with Charity and Danielle with Papeiro

Jack and the boys!

On Friday, the boys at the school were playing in a football (soccer) game against another school in Old Naledi. So, we followed them to the field and watched them play! They don't have a coach, but they still did a very good job! When we left at halftime to head home for the day, though, the game was 0-1. I'll be anxious to ask Monday morning about the outcome of the game! It was good to see the boys in a different element, working together outside of the classroom walls. I think they enjoyed having spectators, too!

Team Photo