By now,
in our second day at Isilimela Comprehensive School, during the lunch period,
you would find our students in a loud hive of energy in Ms. Mimi’s art room,
eating with Isilimela Hands for a Bridge and the many others who congregate
regularly in that space midday—talking, eating, shouting, standing, and then, a
group of Isilimela learners teaching Roosevelt students or the other way round a
dance, a shake, an elaborate set of moves.
Roosevelt students met up in the small park by Mama Viola’s to play soccer and fall in love with the curious, unflappable children who came to them there. One student said it was the best time of her life in that little park. Perhaps all gatherings in that park were deliriously joyous.
Before they would go home yesterday, students were already feeling the highs of their start here: today, moods were still high though experiencing the jagged demands of their jetlagged bodies in the South African heat. And students getting their hair touched was a shared, curious experience.
They performed in the hall before Isilimela classes, drawing repeated cheers. The Q&A afterwards was a window to life and schooling here in Langa and as well as what our students chose to represent in answers. The first assembly was followed by a series of historical questions about America in various eras. Someone wondered if we trusted our president. How is our infrastructure in America. How many languages do you speak. Tell us about religion where you’re from. What sports do you play. Two questions evoked audible gasps and a tumult of reaction from the audience: a) do you wear school uniforms, and b) what time is it in Seattle right now.
Someone wanted to know whether or not it was safe in America. One of our students said Seattle is mostly safe as long as one knows to avoid certain areas. Some Bellville homestay families in the past have expressed a shocked curiosity about our students staying in Langa. Were such shock to be expressed again, I’m sure our students will think back to the delirious joy of a neighborhood park.
Roosevelt students met up in the small park by Mama Viola’s to play soccer and fall in love with the curious, unflappable children who came to them there. One student said it was the best time of her life in that little park. Perhaps all gatherings in that park were deliriously joyous.
Before they would go home yesterday, students were already feeling the highs of their start here: today, moods were still high though experiencing the jagged demands of their jetlagged bodies in the South African heat. And students getting their hair touched was a shared, curious experience.
They performed in the hall before Isilimela classes, drawing repeated cheers. The Q&A afterwards was a window to life and schooling here in Langa and as well as what our students chose to represent in answers. The first assembly was followed by a series of historical questions about America in various eras. Someone wondered if we trusted our president. How is our infrastructure in America. How many languages do you speak. Tell us about religion where you’re from. What sports do you play. Two questions evoked audible gasps and a tumult of reaction from the audience: a) do you wear school uniforms, and b) what time is it in Seattle right now.
Someone wanted to know whether or not it was safe in America. One of our students said Seattle is mostly safe as long as one knows to avoid certain areas. Some Bellville homestay families in the past have expressed a shocked curiosity about our students staying in Langa. Were such shock to be expressed again, I’m sure our students will think back to the delirious joy of a neighborhood park.
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