After the back to back days off, it was time to get back in gear and focus on the kids for the rest of the week. I would be assisting another teacher who was going to work with our Grade 2 kids in the mornings, and the Grade 1's that we usually have just before lunch would remain with their other teacher for the full day. It was a good experience for me to observe a teacher with 40 plus years experience as she handled two classes at once. I was able to provide assistance on several occasions and mainly worked with the kids from my class to help them along with their assignments etc. After classes, I rode with Alison to a couple of sporting goods stores to set the kids up with some shin pads and gum guards...something we were short on and really needed to make sure all the boys and girls were safe for field hockey in the afternoons. The kids are getting better each week and for a group who have very little experience with the game, I am impressed I have to say. That evening I was invited to sit in with the Southpoint guys' community group, and Dale fetched me on the way to our meeting spot...literally just around the corner from my current residence. All of the guys that I know through church were there, and they really have a solid group of young men who all volunteer at church, play in the band or work with production. I say young men and laugh, but the truth is that I am the old man in the group for sure...bunch of high school and college kids! We watched one of Andy Stanley's DVDs and went through the questions at the end that are geared to really get you talking and thinking; and of course there was dessert!
My new home is even closer to the school, so now I can walk to and from without having to bum rides. It's only for a week though, and then it's back to the Pad which is also walkable but not first thing in the morning...more of a walk home kind of thing. Wednesday was a typical school day, and I used some of the break time to study Spanish. We then got the girls outfitted for their hockey match that afternoon, but unfortunately they lost again...showing promise though. I walked home and hit the Spar for groceries on the way; it really is amazing how I can survive here mainly on foot! Fridays have morphed into half days since the girls have their dance club in the afternoons...I can't really be of much help with that you know. I walked to the Pick 'n Pay and got a bunch of the Bafana Bafana bracelets for the kids as rewards for good behavior. They have been trying to rip mine off my arm all week, so I needed to stockpile for the rest of the trip. I went back to East Way to pack a little in preparation to move back to the Pad before the Seniors fetched me for a lovely dinner over at Pam's place. James told us of his adventures over the past week or so as he dealt with the repercussions of the Iceland volcano eruption and the ensuing ash cloud that wreaked havoc on the airline industry in this part of the world for several weeks. He was stuck in Dubai for a bit and missed his chance to visit England before heading over to Switzerland, but it was good to see him back in CT safe and sound. Saturday morning I was up early to finish packing and move back to the other side of Forest Drive...just a hop and a skip from the Loynes' place where I spent the last week. I threw down my bags and immediately went for a jog by the canal that runs through the heart of Pinelands on what was a beautiful afternoon. That evening the Johnsons had some guests over for dinner including Colin and Katja and our good friend Alison from Camp Sonshine among others. We had a great dinner and some good red wine as we talked about all kinds of interesting South African topics; I just sit and soak up all of this new information, never getting tired of hearing the stories and how different life can be here from my home in the states.
Sunday morning was another early one and Pam fetched me for Road Crew at Old Mutual around 6 am. The service was a familiar one and the focus was to be a blessing to others...not just worrying about how we ourselves can be blessed all the time. I believe I heard this same message in Atlanta at Buckhead Church, but it was still a strong point to make and the South African twist at Southpoint did a great job of emphasizing how important this is. I stuck around to help tear down as well, and Brendon dropped me back at the Pad around lunch time. I made lunch and scarfed it down before reading a quick chapter and indulging in an afternoon nap...nice! Back up at 4 pm to get ready for the week and watch my new favorite show, The Philanthropist, before bed. It interests me because the main character is a very wealthy man who travels all over the world helping the less fortunate; he often ends up in third world countries and I am really interested in doing more of this type of thing in the future.
Monday brought a fresh week of school and the new Camp Sonshine field hockey shirts came in today; they look really good and when the socks come in, our kids will certainly feel better with a proper uniform. Monday afternoons are for the boys and girls to practice hockey, and I think they are really coming along. Tuesday was a tough day with the kids as they have been misbehaving a lot lately and are very hard to control with the exception of the same few each time. I find this challenging and am working on letting the frustration go and remembering that they are just kids. At the same time, they have to learn to respect the teacher and focus on learning; most of these kids are already behind mind you. It's starting to get cold in the evenings as winter is fast approaching, and I have been told that the rains will begin soon. Wednesday was more of the same with the kids in class, but moral was high in the afternoon as the new socks came in for the hockey teams. Thursday brought two swift punches to the crotch from an overly excited first grader, and I did all I could to keep my composure...not cool but it was bound to happen at some point when you spend all day with people who barely come up to your belly button. I have been spending my evenings lately watching some good movies like Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes...Robert Downey Jr is on a roll these days. Friday was another half day after a good morning of working with the kids, and I came home and jogged the canal for a little cardio before the weekend hit.
Saturday consisted of reading, laundry and the crosswords...very relaxing! Sunday was a cold and rainy day and Becky did a wonderful job delivering the message at Southpoint in John's absence...very appropriate on Mother's Day. I rode with Liz and Alison to Fairview that afternoon for wine and cheese tasting...delicious. Lots of goat cheese and cabernet, my favorites! On Monday I rewarded some recent better behavior with a soccer ball for the Grade 2 boys and skipping ropes for the girls...they were very excited! I hate seeing them just hanging around the class room during interval with nothing to do, so I figured I could use those things as incentives for working hard and behaving in class. The rain and cold is off and on every day now, and it really throws a kink in our outdoor hockey practices. Luckily we have access to the main hall after 3 pm so we rolled with the punches and got in a few reps to salvage the day. That evening Glenn fetched me and we also grabbed Gareth on the way to meet Amy and Andrew to see Iron Man 2 at the theater...really good flick. Wednesday was rough as the kids were nuts, but I was excited because the boys had their first away field hockey match that afternoon. We piled the team in to Alison's mother's mini bus and rolled over to a nice cricket field where they had it divided up to work for hockey. The boys played a great game and won convincingly; besides being their first time on the road it was their first time to play on grass versus astro...I was proud of them. Thursday was another holiday for Ascension Day, and I met Alison and Liz for lunch at Howard Center's coffee shop. I then spent some time at the book store and printed off some pictures from home so I could share them with the kids on Friday. I read my new book all afternoon and settled in early that evening to be rested for one more day of school this week. We powered through Grade 2 and then Grade 1 before sending the kids off for the weekend. Alison, Liz and I then rode out to a petting zoo to research it for a possible Grade 2 class trip before the end of the term. Not too bad...they had birds, ducks, chickens, turkeys, bunnies, goats, sheep and a pony that the kids can ride; we'll see how it works out going forward.
Saturday was a beautiful day after a full week of rain, wind and cold...yes in Cape Town. I rode with Glenn and his folks to the civic center for the food and wine event; man was that place packed. The food was nice and we really enjoyed the wine tasting. R10 for a glass and then you just go down the lines for free...not too shabby. I watched a little soccer before going to bed early since Sunday morning means a 5 am alarm going off. Brendon fetched me for load in and we started a new series at Southpoint focusing on marriage. It was a great message and I swear it was one of the biggest crowds I have seen yet! Mara's daughter Heather just flew in for an 80 day stint similar to mine, and it was nice to visit with a fellow Georgian for a bit. I came back to the Pad and Glenn came over for a potjie with his folks...love it. I got a surprise call from Allan and Brenda for an afternoon hike and I of course took them up on it. Gotta get outside when you can in the winter time because you know the rain will be back. It was a great weekend as you can surely tell!
