Now sit right back and you'll hear a tale...

Ok...let me start by saying...I totally wrote an awesome "done with volunteering" blog that somehow disappeared into the abyss of the interwebs. I didn't mean to leave y'all hanging for this long.

So get ready, because this one's gonna be a doozy.

First things first...news on the DeAngelo front is good. His body reacted very well to the chemo and he was actually sent back to our volunteer house on Friday. Meaning I got to see him before I left. I was so relieved to see for myself that he was at least ok and we had a nice conversation through a window. He was on strict restrictions and given a four-week chemo plan to remission. He had very few side effects from the chemo and actually on Tuesday (yesterday) was flown back to the states to finish treatment. Again, so glad I got to see him. And so very glad they're back where they belong surrounded by loved ones who had known them more than a couple of weeks.

As for the last couple of days as placement. They were filled with pure joy and fun times. The teacher I was helping never returned (and attempts to contact her were not successful). I'm unsettled they were content with that, but I too have no way to find her. What it meant for me was that I had my 4s and 5s to myself. Thursday was the best day of my entire placement. The kids listened to me. And understood! None of the other teachers ever had to come out and yell or threaten the stick or USE the stick. The kids and I communicated in the ways we knew how, and I knew enough of their songs to start them to the point where one of the kids would take the lead. It was wonderful. It should also be said that I'm not a singer and I have no playground voice (meaning projecting-wise) so these kids really deserve some credit.

I finally felt like I got through to them. They paid attention. Lesson time went really well. For color time instead of using the poster they all have memorized, I called each child up to me - by name - and asked the rest of the class what color a particular part of their outfit was. They did really well. And for the first time I felt like I had done something educational. We also made noodle necklaces which were a hit. We used red yarn. I think I've mentioned the kids LOVE red but it really offset the fact that I could only find plain-colored noodles here. I took individual pix of them wearing their necklaces. The whole process went over awesomely.

Thursday night was our goodbye dinner. We've definitely become quite the group. I have no doubt I will stay in touch with these peeps. We've been through something here. We can't wait to come back.

Friday was my last day @ Gertie's. I asked Nombongo to tell the kids I was leaving. (Nombongo - who I've often referred to as the stick teacher - kept telling me she would miss me. Turns out we're very close in age. Life has obviously been harder on her.) Anyway, immediately after she told them, a little voice asked (in xhosa) "where are you going?" As I tried to explain California and the states, I could imagine how foreign it all sounded. And I wondered if Anda would ever leave Langa...or if Phumelele would go to college...or if Agcobile will really become the mean girl in high school I'm pretty sure she's well on her way to being...

So I got out the stereo. Insert wild cheers here. Thank goodness we had electricity that day because these kids love them some musical chairs. (Thanks again Dad!) It was so much fun to watch them, even the ones who got to play dj. Everyone was so excited for something new. And silly. And fun.

As I washed their faces after lunch, I told each of my kids "Ndiyakuthanda" (I love you in Xhosa). Well of course the first one was a little boy (altho not Ntando) so he flipped and ran and told the other boys that I loved him. I tried to explain that I meant I loved all of them (and continued to tell each one so) but I'm pretty sure the first little boy got a little more out of it. Anda was one of my OG favorites so when she came up for the second time I gave her a hug and kissed her on the forehead. Agcobile and Lerato said something to her and she looked at me and said "kiss" in English and pointed at their foreheads. I knew she was holding out on me!! (She was actually a very big help in leading the songs.)

When I left everyone was in nap position (I took pix so you can see the craziness) but they were allowed to tell me bye and we all blew kisses. Mama Nozi promised to give me kid-specific updates should I ask for them, altho mine will all be going to school next year. But still a nice gesture.

When I got back to the house, I packed, lunched, said my goodbyes and headed to Camps Bay. My spot for the next 5 days. I checked into my hotel, looked at Ashley and said "Daddy, are we bougie?" (a common phrase I use when things get fancy). It was a one bedroom apartment. A block from the beach. Dream fantasy. Great staff. A bar across the street that reminded me of my bar back home. Dreamier fantasy. A hot bartender. (You get the picture.) Needless to say we got tipsy waiting for Katie whose plane was late. Now I know why the bar is called Dizzy's. Katie finally got in around 11 and we crashed.

Saturday morning we woke up to a pretty day, but a super windy one. The wind had been crazy through the night, so we knew Table Mountain and Robben's Island would be out. No fear tho because we had the Biscuit Mill Markets. In a word? Loved. It made me want to move here so I could outfit an apartment in all the adorable furnishings and decor and then eat every week at the awesome farmer's market with the yummy sangria and tasty samosas and lovely French couple with their breads and stinky cheeses.

As it was still uber windy we headed to Kloof and Long Street for more shopping, stopping again at Green Market. I try out my Xhosa every time I see a black person and get good reactions about it. I love having convos with people here. Cab drivers have amazing stories, whether they be black, coloured or white. I always asked where they lived. What they remember.

We rested back at the apt for a bit before meeting the crew (plus Dave a former volunteer fresh from a safari) on Long Street. We again hit up Dubliner (where we heard Toto's Africa for the first time here) and Jo-Burg where I had to face palm a guy who came on to Lindsey a lil strong. (This move impressed/entertained everyone but I was just taking care of business.)

Sunday we woke up and headed to the top of Table Mountain with Ashley and Nancy. Nancy is a 60-ish year old volunteer with an incredible story. We learned more of it while waiting in line and riding the funicular. Super glad we chose that route after seeing from above the hiking "trail." Of course the views from the top were nothing short of horrendously ugly aka breathtaking.

We spent the afternoon on the beach with the girls and made dinner that night in the apartment. Monday we headed back to the waterfront and once Ashley and Bonnie (another volunteer) got off placement headed over to Robben's Island. The cool part is that former prisoners give the tour. Our's was in the joint for seven years. I'm glad I went but I can't say I was riveted by the experience. Maybe once I finish reading "Long Walk to Freedom" (which I've paused so I could read other books). The funny story was that it was a three-hour tour. That had been delayed. That now had a Mary Anne on it. And then we met a couple from Orange County that was just like Thurston Howell (the third?) and his wife. Luckily there was no Gilligan and we didn't sink. (Obviously.) That night we reunited with Vicky my favorite waitress from Balducci's.

Tuesday we went to Kirstenbosch Gardens. We were so lucky to only have the one windy day and have every day since be incredibly gorgeous. The gardens were beautiful. There was a garden of plants with uses that I found interesting (there were signs to tell you WHAT uses) and a garden of senses (to touch and smell) that explained why it's a hit with kids. During the afternoon I took another beach break. Got to say I love living a block from the beach. Not that I ever thought I wouldn't, but now I KNOW. I've also been listening to Mumford and Sons non-stop since I got here. It was Adele the first night and M&S ever since...I used to super love Winter Winds. And then lately I've been feeling Feel the Tide (which is what I had on repeat yesterday)...and then today I can't stop listening to After the Storm, the chorus of which is:

"And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair."

I don't feel like it applies to any where I am right now, but I'm stuck on it. It's interesting to have come on such a journey without feeling like I was seeking out anything. I'm not here looking for an answer or trying to figure something out. Have I learned things? For sure. Have I gained some clarity? I think probably. From my placement I definitely took away the importance of positive feedback. Eye contact - even with children. How important validation is no matter how old you are. I've always felt like I was good with children, but now I see a different importance in the way what you do and say affects who they are and will become. I feel like I always knew that but now I see it. If that makes sense.

So back to Tuesday. Tuesday night we set out on a hike up Lion's Head (the same mountain we paraglided from). We climbed to the tippy top, using chains and ladders and metal holds drilled into the rock faces. Intense. We watched the sunset as clouds rolled in and then descended in the dark. Intense-r. I definitely proved something to myself. And I am definitely feeling it today. (More the pain than the accomplishment.) I was happy to use my headlamp for more than just walking to bathrooms on random camping trips. I feel very outdoorsy. (She says before heading out on a 4-day camping safari.)

Afterward I got my favorite veggie burger from Caprice (after yelling at the cabbie for taking us the long way and paying him what the fare should have been (Mabsey don't take no crap!) I also gave him a speech about ripping off people that wouldn't have known.) Then we headed back to Dizzy's and Chris and karaoke night. There was a bachelor party there which was weird seeing as it was Tuesday. The singers also chose really weird songs to sing. Like Drops of Jupiter. Someone sang Africa (Toto) and I asked Chris if it was a hit here (he said yes). I then left Dizzy's - and Chris - and Camp's Bay - behind for the next adventure.

I can't say it was easy to leave Cape Town, because it most certainly wasn't. I mean it KINDA was because it was raining. But that city feels so right to me. I hate that it's so far away from my peeps. But onward and upward...northbound specifically.

I'm currently at a guesthouse in Johannesburg. It's no Camps Bay Resort, that's for sure. And I'm pretty sure this internet connex is dial-up (now you know why I didn't post the videos for the M&S songs), but it works. And it's free. We leave tomorrow for the safari. And when we come back I'll most likely blog again from this very computer before heading further north to Zambia. Thanks again for reading this far and know that even if you're not hearing from me every day, I'm having an amazing adventure. Love youse mean it.