http://www.makepovertyhistory.org Jen - South Africa

Jen - South Africa

A blog on the project to South Africa working in an orphanage

Thursday, April 26, 2007

sorry for the delay in blogging

sorry!

I ahve put no blogs on here hardly at all since ive been away

who knows perhaps one day i may write up my diary entries for you all to see

I realise the picture of the trampoline didnt come up either, i dont know why!

Im still in south africa, and i fly home tonight! Its going to be so hard to leave

I spent yesterday in tears as i said my goodbyes to TLC, the babies and the volunteers. the volunteers have become my friends and the babies have come into my heart and i loved them all! they all had their own personalities and indiviual uniqueness! they were all so beautiful! It was so hard to leave.

anyway, i have put up a picture of me with 3 of the babies during a night shift!

Sunday, March 11, 2007

pictures

here is a picture of me with 2 of the babies on the trampoline

south africa 09/03

Ive been given half an hour off in a 12 hour shift today. Ive never known i an eat myself, hold onto a baby and wash up all at the same time, i really can multitask!
 
Oh by the way, WE NOW HAVE ELECTRICTY AND WATER!!!!! I CAN SHOWER!! WOOHOO!!! amazing isnt it, you get so used to living in the british culture, having 3 meals a day, electricyt to watch TV, computers etc, water to wash up, to bath in, to wash your hands. Then i come here and its such a culture shock!
 
I am so tired today, ive been here since 8am and was asked to clear out the main storage room, this meant lifting boxes of aqueous cream (about 30 tubs ot a box) from above my head to the floor and then having to stock take everything in the room! The stuff they have in there are mainly donations and i admit i have never in my life seen so much cream, the problem we have is that most of the cream that is donated is out of date and shops give it to TLC because they cannot sell it, the question is though, why do the shops think that our babies deserve out of date produce?
 
anyway enoug waffle. This week i am creepy leader, this means that i am in charge of 10 toddlers for 7 hours a day. As you can imagine this is VERY tiring and i end up shattered b the end of the day. The toddlers are hardwork, specially at the moment becaue they are getting to know me and are testing the boundaries. I must admit, i did put a child in 'time out' (a crib that is away from the other children) because she bit me today! She was fine afterwards though. it must be so hard for the children to be constantly under different peoples rules. What is acceptable behaviour for one person may be inappropriate to another. For example, one volunteer may allow a child to leave their milk if they dont want it, wheraes another volunteer may put the child in time out until they drink their milk. Must be confusing for the children.
 
bless them though, the other night they were lying on the sofa before bedtime and one of the little toddlers Erik, he said to me "I love you jen' awww he was so cute! Even though every day he is a handful, he has his moments.
 
So what to tell you about the nursery itself, well the babys are all doing well, we have a bout of ear infections going round the nursery at present which is bad news, lots of screaming babies! Lovely.
 
Im enjoying my time here and the days are going with a blur, the day is so hectic and busy that you sometimes dont even get a chance to sit down and play with the babies, its like a conver belt and you fed, change, put to bed, repeat. there just aint enough hours in the day.
 
My accent is getting a hit too, people here think its hillarious when i dont pronounce my 'th' 'sh' 'er' they find it funny. Apparently i dont talk like a proper english girl!
 
I have a day off work on Tuesday, I think im going to Johannesburg zoo with Melinda and her mum (the little girl I picked up from the hospital last year)
 

Thursday, March 01, 2007

tomorrow



its tomorrow guys! hardly any time at all!!!

the next post will be from south africa!!

luv Jen



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Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Friday

so this is it!
I fly on friday! not long to go at all!!!! :-)
i cant wait to get out there again and see the kids!!!!
will try and update this when i can
speak soon
Jen

Friday, January 19, 2007

On the countdown

hi

Not long to go now! 1 month and 14 days (42 days) till i fly out!
I'm looking forward to the trip, but im a little anxious, its the first time i have done this sort of thing on my own so its a bit worrying - in case i get lost, or i miss my flight! You know the usual things to get worried about!

Ive spoken to melinda's adopted mum twice on the phone now, they are picking me up from the airport so i can see little melly moo! (thats now her nickname!) Shes getting really big now! shes 17 months old! I cant believe it!

There is so much to organise! I have to make sure i have the medication from the doctor that ive been told to take with me, they said i should bring antibiotics with me just in case - so a trip to the doctors is in order.

Im so busy at the moment that i dont seem to have time to think! Ive wrote a few bits and pieces down that i need. i just ahve to hope and pray that i will be okay with finances and stuff whilst im out there. I should be ok, just gotta make sure i dont over spend!

I got a camcorder for my birthday so i will have video footage of the babies. For christmas i have been given a day out at a safari - pilanesberg. So lots of photos and videos will be taken of that too!

Im excited bout this trip, i cant wait to see the babies! there are hardly any of the original crew there from when i was back there in 2005. Gatsha and Fana went back to their mum the other week! she was so pleased to have them home.

I think the only ones still there are: Lillian, Lerato, Thulani, Faith and Jolene! Thats 5 left out of 35! Pretty good going if you ask me!!!

Right i best be off, im currently on a night shift, thats why the unusal time!

Jen

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Major Update

hello!
Tickets are booked!!!!!!

Change of plan thought, i am now going out in MARCH!!!!
I fly out March 2nd, and return 27th April!
I honestly cannot wait! Part of me is nervous though, its the first time i have travelled on my own - before it was been with soapbox. I'm also a little worried as 2 months is a long time to be away and im a little anxious i may get homesick!

Currently, i am trying to organise the final bits and pieces, emailing south africa has proved rather idfficult for me as i would prefer to ring and sort out things, emails arent very personal and i often feel a little rude, i never know how to word things!!

i will try and keep this updated!
love Jen

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

South Africa 2007!

Hey
So heres the news
I'm going to TLC for 2 months next summer.
Im hoping to be flying out during the beginning of July and returning the end of August.
The paperwork for TLC has been done, I'm looking into the cost of flights etc

There is a company called 'Key Travel' who arrange cheaper flights for people going out to do charity work, i cotacted them and they have provided me with a really good deal on flights.

So far its looking good for me to be back in South africa - only problem there may be is in getting time off work
I start my new full time job in September, health care assistant at a hospital near me. I havent asked them yet for the time off so hopefully fingers crossed it will work itself out! If it doesnt I will quit the job, go to South Africa then start university - maybe!

I cant wait to return to South Africa, I feel that part of me is still out there

Oh, and just to give you one more piece of news! I told St John Ambulance my plans and they have donated me £500! Nice one! Thanks to the Lord Westbury fund in St John Ambulance for the VERY kind donation!

thats all for now
Jen