Crowd at Rotary International Day at the UN where I made a presentation about the South Africa project on Saturday November 5.

I have found a new favorite site...Pinterest. See some of my boards at http://pinterest.com/laurienoe/children-s-book-characters/

Here are some images from the last 3 weeks.

Obakeng reading to children in Setswana and Maria translating.
Here, Bertha and Elaine speak with children at the Housatonic Community College Laboratory School about a book they presented in Setswana.
The first order of business was for the South African Vocational Training Team to be greeted at the Rotary Luncheon the day after their arrival in the States.

The last 2 weeks began with a very positive visit of accreditation reviewers to the HCC ECE program. It will take months to know for sure but we are very hopeful we will get full accreditation.

Then it was time to join in the work and play of the South African team. They had several observations in early childhood classrooms throughout Bridgeport, they attended the UN's International Teacher Day, they visited public schools, children's museums, parent programs, early childhood resource centers, and pizza parlors. The attended workshops on culture, classroom environments, preschool assessments, and literacy. They presented with the Bridgeport team at a public symposium, and have been filmed by TV crews, and (tomorrow) will be interviewed by a radio host. And this is just the first two weeks.

In their final week in this country the South African team will visit more schools, talk to more people, gather more materials, learn how to access the online classes they will be taking at HCC, and begin to reflect on their experiences.

We all are looking forward to a long relationship that will benefit the children and families in both communities.

The South African team shows up on Saturday. We can't wait. All kinds of activities have been planned from children's theater to preschool observations to a tour of the Park City and a weekend that will include a visit to the Amistad. Their three-week stay will allow them to attend some workshops and discuss early childhood practice; compare some American pizza styles; experience life in a New England family; see the Big Apple; and consider the similarities and differences in early care and education in Bridgeport and in The Royal Bafokeng Nation. I can only hope that we are affording them the richness of experience that they provided for us.

Made rusks....did not turn out at all. Made melktert...I think I have a winner. Tonight we open the Roodeberg and maybe the Amarula too. Need to find mint liqueur to make springboks.

We are home. It's winter...serious winter. Snow today (5-8 inches) and ice tomorrow (.25-1 inch). But everything about our 3-week South African summer lingers. Biltong made it through customs (we are such scofflaws). Shot glasses adorned with images of the big 5 are awaiting the perfect Amarulla moment. My shopping list contains the ingredients for milk tart and rusks. And I am reworking the hundreds of pictures to make meaningful (yet brief) presentations for a variety of interested groups. Once we catch our breaths, the next step is to plan for the 3-week visit of the South African team (our newest friends) who will be here in March.

Colors of South Africa

Knowing we are coming home to a world covered in white, I think I will above all remember the colors of South Africa. The colors of the uniforms, the rich red earth, the green foliage, the painted walls of even the most meager shacks, the colorful language, the tile mosaics, and the many colorful people we have met in the past 3 weeks. The blog will continue as we prepare for and finally get to host the South African team in March and April.

Constitution Hill

Violet Weinberg's cell in the white section of the women's prison.

Original stairwell from the Old Fort jail where prisoners were first brought after arrest.

Nelson Mandela's cell.

Solitary confinement.

Number 4-5 cell blocks.

Thanks to our wonderful host families in Rustenburg for putting us up and for putting up with us for the past 2 weeks. We really appreciate your hospitality. On to Johannesburg for our last day before leaving for home tomorrow evening.

Impala Platinum Mines

The smelter at the platinum mines.

Prepped to go down 1.3 kilometers into the platinum mine. Hot, dark, loud. They produce approximately 4 grams of platinum for every ton of "core" rock they remove from the mine.

Met with our South African team that will be coming to Bridgeport in March/April. Had an amazing dinner within the Pilanesburg National Park. A warthog family came by during dinner.

Preschools in need

Children play at preschools that are in desperate need of equipment and basic repairs. In some facilities the windows are broken, in others bathroom facilities do not work at all. In one school we went to, the ceiling in an unused classroom had fallen in and remained hanging to the floor. It is not unheard of for the electricity to be cut off for days at a time while children continue to attend school.

Barbara, Tim and I went to the North-West Univeristy at Potchefstroom campus where we met with the early childhood education faculty. I can't wait to hear what Lindsay, Heather and Donna did today.

Pilanesburg National Park

Today, in addition to these animals we saw zebra, impala, springbok, wildebeast, an elephant, ostrich, tons of fabulous birds, a black mamba snake, and then...Sun City.

Saturday escape to Groot Marico

Relaxing lunch at a rural guest farm on a river in the middle of nowhere South Africa. Good food, good company, great afternoon.

Dancers at the Groot Marico creche, a Rustenburg Rotary project.

Baking the most delicious rolls.

More preschools

Storytelling

Pap Porridge for breakfast which was served al fresco.

Heather's favorite pose.

Semane PreK and Teacher Training Center

Staff, children and visitors at the Semane Preschool.

Lindsay, playdough and a new friend.

Before a nutritious lunch of hard boiled eggs, cucumbers, and bread.

Semane Preschool

The Library at Lebone II College (K-gr. 12). Beaded light shades and mosaic wall art.

In South African schools, shoes are optional.

The cafeteria at the Lebone II College operated by the Royal Bafekong Nation. Lunches are nutritious including fresh fruits and vegetables at every meal.

It is the first week of school and grade R (kindergarten) students are painting self-portraits.

Bishop Kevin Dowling discussing a memorial to a young patient at Tapologo Health Clinic for HIV/AIDS patients.

Health clinic at "Freedom Park."

Freedom Park.

At The Royal Bafokeng Civic Center.

At a high school supported by the Royal Bafokeng. These girls (except for Donna) were doing math homework. Only about half the students have calculators which are essential for passing grade 12 math exams (no sharing allowed during exams). The final exam is "high stakes." You don't pass, you don't graduate. And yet they come to school - to learn.

This photo with Sarah (3rd from right) is from last Monday when we stopped at Sarah's shop for a little shopping and refreshment of small peanuts, corn and tea. I am hiding in the back above Barbara's left shoulder.

We have arrived in Rustenburg, our home for the next few weeks. We are staying with wonderful Rotary families who have opened their homes to us. Our first night here we all got togeter for a "braai," what at home would be called a barbeque or a cook out. These are real red meat lovers. They initiated the Americans with shots of peach moonshine and talked about the many places we should see while here. Maybe a crocodile farm, a hike into the hills, a moonshine production facility, a platinum mine - and then, Sun City.

On Monday the work starts in earnest as we head to the Royal Bafokeng Nation and the Lebone College.

Spa Park School visit. The children greeted us at a special assembly where they sang for us on their second day of the new school year before we each addressed them.