Sous la pression de mes fans, je me remets à écrire. Le temps venait à me manquer, ainsi que l'énergie. Les semaines 7 & 8 étaient mes dernières semaines avec Surfpop (nnnnooooooon !!!) et je passais beaucoup de temps à Muizenberg, semaine comme week-end. Remontons donc le temps, in english now.
Week 7
I apologize for my possible mistakes, even if some of one will find my broken english cute.
During that week, three new volunteers arrived : Marcel - Léonie - Verena. I think I forgot to mention that Babosh - real name: Babongile: was back in the team ! He brought so much good a positive vibes! Unfortunately two boys left Surfpop : Sibulele and Lukholo. Since they're gone, we've never had grumpy kids. They were smiling and laughing all the time. Those two last weeks were really perfect !
What a funny guy. Nickname: King Babosh So on Wednesday, we've decided to draw and write a portrait of everyone and stick all of them on the wall. That help to know each others better and spend funny moments in the classroom. It's the first time in six weeks that the boys were really quite and focus !
On Thursday, the weather conditions were really bad to go surfing. We asked to the boys what they wanted to do and .... WATERSLIDE ! Of course ... I still didn't do it, but I've more fun watching them. Especially taking a pictures and zoom on their faces. Sorry Marcel :-D
The day after, Bongi went to a primary school at Massi to get new boys and/or girls in the team. I didn't even give him a choice, I went with him. I love going to classroom and see the differences between the countries. For a township's school, I excepted worse. Bongi told me that the primary school is very nice compare to the Highschool. So this is the area and the classrooms :
Then Bongi wanted news little Ayakha so we talked to a grade 1 or 2's class (= 3-4 Harmos) . He excepted maybe ten people, but we had at least twenty students in the classroom and more outside ! The teacher stayed and translate in Xhosa, but everytime she talked I was a bit scared because she speaks very loud ! It was a really great experience. He gave the forms for those kids and he still needs to get back there and pick them up.
After that school session, we wanted to stay around Massi and go to surf. Due to bad weather conditions and NO WAVES at the three beaches we've decided to take time to rest and enjoy the view.
Week 8
On Monday, a new-old boy arrived : Godfrey - real name Sxolile. He didn't come for a long time, at least one year. I did a photoshoot with them on the beach, to complete my portrait but I didn't except that he loved the camera so much, a real model.
After seeing posing, two others boys went to join him : Simle and Babosh. They are so funny ! I've could done that for the whole afternoon. It was the first time and the last time that I've seen Godfrey, he didn't show up the rest of the week.
On Tuesday, we went for a hike at the Skeleton Gorge. Keira was on holidays so she could join me during that day. We began our hike in the Kirstenbosh Gardens.
Seeing those pictures you will think "oh yeah easy walk!". It's a trap.
Go back to your car, I repeat go back to your car.
Keira stopped counting how many stairs we walked after five hundred something, and it was only the beginning. Lots of stairs and when it wasn't the stairs it was the rocks... So hum, to give you an idea of our state after one hour of hike there.
sweaty tomatoes And here is what we were looking at. Pretty cool huh ?
Once we finished the rocks and the stairs, we found sand on that mountain. How is it possible ?? How this sand came there?? Anyway, here is our final destination.
COCACOLALAKE It was so hot that I didn't even think about how cold the water could be, I just went. And I did it great, the color of the water is just amazing. Bongi told me to go under the water and look up. I tried to take a picture but it doesn't really show how it really was. But still, here a picture😀 The most scary part of that "lake", is that you can see maybe the length of your arm and after it's completely dark !
OK. Now it's time to go back to the car. Go down the stairs. I've never had shaking legs like that. Never ever. I was talking to them and ask to stop but they weren't listening to me. I think it's time for me to go back to the kickboxing and train those baby legs !
On Thursday, I had the good idea for my last tour with them : morning hike at the Muizenberg Peak. Best idea ever. Why? First, we had to leave the house at 5.30. Second, my legs were still sore from Tuesday. Third, coffee with the sunrise. The three pictures don't really fit together, but I couldn't choose between them. Once we were on the top, it was a really pretty moment that we've spent all together.
During the afternoon, we were playing with the kids when Babosh began to wear my jersey. Then all of them were excited about doing modeling. Really boys ?? But it was a breaking-ice moment and I really appreciate it.
They didn't care about their appearance, they wanted to make us smile and laugh. I really like that picture, we can feel the dynamic who's going on : pure happiness.
Callista si tu passes par là, cette photo est pour toi ! Mom, dad, family, friends, I'm definitely coming back with Kazi. Look how cutie he is !
During the evening, we went at Noordhoek market to have dinner and some beers during sunset to close the day. I will say it was a nice busy day. We saw the sunrise and the sunset, and we had lots of good vibes with the kids.
Friday was my last day with Surfpop and also my last day with my surf coach ! He hates pictures, but I succeeded !
Ok one, it's done let's go surfing ! It's the first time that I was stressed in the water. I was paddling to the back (I'm getting better by the weeks so I can go to the advance's spot hehe), then waiting for a wave, looking at the ocean. Then a wave arrived, so I turned my board, catch the wave and realize that I was all on the left, where the rocks are. I could get out and walk to go back to the others. So I chose to paddle there and train my muscles. The current was so strong that I barely move. I had to talk to myself to not panic and be positive. That worked, but you could see on my face that I wasn't ok. I've decided to stay at the "babies waves" and be safe.
On the afternoon, we were supposed to cook with the kids, as the weather conditions weren't good. But it actually went better hours by hours and when the kids arrived, some of them wanted to cook and others to surf. Babosh get me when he said " I wanna go surfing with Nomi ! ". AAALRIIIGHHHHT I couldn't say no. So I took some of the boys with me and we went to surf. It was a nice moment with them, just the five of us and our photographer Léonie.
Once again, the atmosphere was really sweet. Lots of smiles and of laughs. Ace cooked for us, I don't remember the name of the meal but it's maze cooked in boiled water and then you add cream and stuff. It tasted better than the ikota !
To end that day, kids had a funny selfie session. I liked to take pictures of them taking a selfie, you can see that the boys are very close and friendly to each other.
love the dynamic here ! Now I'm done with Surfpop, but I will definitely go back to see them as much as possible during my stay ! That project was amazing, good energy, incredible boss & kids !
THANK YOU !
lovely happy team