First week and first outing

Hi everyone! Sorry it’s been so long! It was a full first week! Got to spend lots of time with the boys as we worked Saturday and Sunday. They are really great kids we have such a great time with them. I’m learning quickly about football, volleyball, rugby etc! And the smaller kids are just like little monkeys, they climb all over you, no fear of falling or anything! One of the volunteers is giving computer lessons to the smaller boys to get them accustomed to it, just playing games and things like that. They all love it, dying for their turn to come! And the Japanese volunteer is taking them a few at a time for origami which they think is brilliant! I’m waiting for my turn haha! So the weekend came and it was nice to spend time with the boys in  a more relaxed way. We played around, watched some t.v., basically the same things we all do on our days off! It’s obvious that they are used to having volunteers around, for the most part they took to us instantly, unlike the community stars last month who had to feel us out before they opened up to us. One of the most striking things about the boys is their size. Boys of 6 looking 4! It’s impossible to tell ages at all! Other boys look older than they are. But for the most part they are a lot smaller than similar aged children at home. I noticed the same in Helenvale, they just don’t grow so big! But what they lack in size they more than make up for in attitude! Full of personality all of them! On Sunday we arrived a bit early as Church starts at 9. We helped get the little ones ready, washed their faces and dressed them etc. Church was really nice and the preacher made a special prayer for the international visitors on our travels and also for our families. It was really beautiful. After Church the boys changed out of their Sunday clothes, which they all looked very cute in by the way! We had brought the laptop with us in hopes of watching a d.v.d. but there was no player so we successfully got everyone seated in front of the laptop to watch The Incredibles with no rows of better seats or anything! Success!!! And it was a great film too! It helps around here if you’re a big kid yourself haha! I’m really enjoying spending time with all the boys I really think the next three weeks will go by too fast. The first week definitely did! And we now have a definite plan for our time here. We are going to decorate the big boys bedroom with a sport theme, to match the new soccer pitch and goals completed by the previous volunteers. We’ve already got quotes from a supply shop and they are giving us a discount since it’s for charity which is brilliant. As well as that we have a trip to Jeffrey’s Bay planned for this Saturday as the staff wanted to reward the boys for recent good behaviour. So we’re having a BBQ on the beach I think, which will be so much fun! And to fill hungry tummies we are putting money towards the meat to make sure the party lasts all day! I think we will have more money left over as well so we are keeping our eyes peeled for more needs that we can contribute towards. This week I’m looking forward to making a start on our project as well as getting to know the boys better. I’ve asked my Dad to post an Irish flag and calendar which should arrive this week so I can introduce Ireland to them a little bit since they are all asking about it and my family etc! So maybe we will have an Irish afternoon one day haha! Our days off this week then are Monday and Tuesday. Monday we went to Addo and it was fantastic all over again. No lions this time but we did nearly get into a bit of trouble with a young male elephant. We were a bit in his way I think! But all ended well and we got some great close-up shots! And I finally saw a dung beetle! I got so excited everyone must have thought I was crazy! But they have signs all over the park about not running over them on the roads and I’d never managed to see one! So now I have! Tuesday we plan to go to Kragga Kamma game reserve. I love it there, they have giraffes and cheetahs and a baby rhino! For a nature nut I really am in the right place! I think I have to concede defeat on the leopard front, but cheetahs are a pretty great consolation prize!I will try and write more often next week now that I am properly settled in! And I will have stories for you from Liebenhaus I promise! I think that’s all for now though! Keep in touch!xxxx

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