"Family Night" Exploring South Africa with our Five Senses!

Finally!  A way to share what I learned, saw, heard and tasted in South Africa. We had a "Family Night"! My students and their families came to my gym and enjoyed a bit of South Africa. They explored with their senses (taste,sight,smell,touch,hear) as I did while I was there.
     They tasted foods; listened to music; read books from and about this beautiful country and watched my slides on a Big Screen; made beaded jewelry and rag balls; and enjoyed the smells of good food. 
     I served Mealies, Peri-Peri chicken, Malvapoeding (marshmallow pudding), Sweet Potato Peanut Stew, Soetkoekies (cookies) and my new favorite, thanks to Robbie, Melktart!!
    It was fun to watch my students try the new foods and to see the parents create jewelry with their kids. Making rag balls from recycled stuff (just like the kids in Capetown) was an activity that my students were really excited to try.
     The students and their families seemed to really enjoy themselves and I feel like I have finally been able to help others see through my eyes and experiences what a great world we have around us.  

Checking out Miss Darcy's Blog

Hard at work designing a bracelet

Making Rag balls

Rag ball

Dads and Moms lend a hand

Creating

Zulu Township

Making & Watching

Jewelry making

Beading

Closing the night with a toot of the Vuvuzela!

   

Time to think

Well, I have been home for over a month now and I still think of my journey everyday. Some things I think about are: how can I help some of these school that don't have enough money to offer lunch everyday to the students or to have books for their lessons;  how I miss the sounds of South Africa (the languages, music and animals); will I ever have the opportunity to meet up with all the people I traveled with again in one place-it was such a neat group of professionals; will I be able to travel there again to go on another safari it was so cool to see the animals in their own 'place'; how thankful I am that Robbie became our friend and answered so many questions for my students; how I really miss 'Shiney's' smile and passion for her country;   Will I ever truly be able to share the effects this journey has had on me with my students, friends and family (it was so much more than just a trip/vacation). Yes! Someday I will go back!

Back to work! Happy Thanksgiving!

My first week back to school was awesome! The students had such great questions for me. I can't wait to show them all my pictures. Here's a few more pictures from the journey. Hope you enjoy.

Look familiar

Beginning our sunset safari

Nyala (very rare)

My night safari friends!!

6 Ellies and counting

Kudos

Green-backed Heron

Southern Ground Hornbill

Well, the journey is over, but the sharing is just beginning!

Got home to New Hampshire at about 3:00 today (Monday). Boy, I am sure tired! Can't wait to see everyone tomorrow! Here's a few more pictures. I will share some final thoughts tomorrow.

"Sharp, sharp"

Things are good!

On the way to Kruger National Park

Giraffe

Zebra

Left handed elephant

Beautiful Waterbuck at sunset

Four young Rhinos

SAFARI Pics!!!!!!!

Rhino

Fruit Bat at a cafe

3 male Lions!

 

Hyena

Warthog

A very large African Elephant

Hippos

Sawubona (sa-wu-bo-na) hello in Zulu!!

Wow, I have done so much in the past two days! The People to People people sure do want us to experience a lot!!
I went to a lecture about a program called Active Schools Initiative, this is a program where they train community members to teach activities and games to students at some of the rural school. After the lecture we traveled to a school and talked with the principal and saw some students in a second grade class, they were working really hard so I wasn't able to give them the bracelets personally but the principal promised he would.
In the afternoon we went to a Sports Science Center where they help elite athletes to improve their skills (yes even the pros have to practice).
Today I went to a college called Stellenbosch University. I learned alot about how you can become a physical educator in South Africa. Its alot like what I had to do to become a teacher, but alot of schools don't have PE at all. :(
Sorry Ms Nelson I haven't seen any shells.
B/D 3rd grade- the beds are really comfortable, almost just like home. the temp has been in the upper 60s and lower 70s. the SA national flower is called the King Protea. my favorite animal so far has been the penguins.
Mrs. Howard I agree its very sad to think about all the people who lost their homes to build the new stadium but hopefully it will bring in a lot of revenue to help them too.

Second graders working hard!

Miss Darcy donating books to the Active Schools Initiative Program

Mileage Club!!

Best Friends :)

Goodnite! So tired!!

HOWZIT!!

A great day of sight seeing! Thanks for all the comments everyone, its nice being able to hear from you all. It makes it seem like I'm not so far away. I miss teaching and seeing you all every day but I am learning and seeing so much!! We had a great home cooked meal tonight. We went to a local family who hosted us for dinner. It was a nice way to end a day of sightseeing. Want to know what I saw? Just take a look!

Beautiful white sand beach in Cape Town

Lizard on the way to the light house

Ostrich at the beach?

King Protea (South African national flower)

Turtle