first month of 2014.

BLOG 12

The first month of 2014.

I have just read through blog 11 to see where I was up to - it is so long since writing I had forgotten some of it. Just as well I keep a record of what I’m doing hey!!

I have a few things to report in this blog

I’ll start with Mkhosi.  I never did get to see him out east, as he was eventually transferred to Mbabane hospital.  He came in on the 9^th Jan. I saw him on the 10^th.  I’ll talk about the hospital later!!  His break was a nasty one. The humerus (I can’t get a spell check – and I’m way out of body part skills – the one that connects the elbow to the shoulder!)  was snapped clean about 3 inches from the shoulder end and his arm was very dangly and another break across radius just below elbow.  He was in a back-slab cast only and awaiting surgery to pin and plate the bone.  He waited until 21^st for surgery.  As well as the break he has damaged tendons, muscles etc. as he got his arm caught in a conveyer due to loose fitting gloves and the fact that he was attempting to remove something that should not have been on the conveyer -  I guess he is lucky to have his arm!!!.    I visited him as often as possible and because of me telling him what to do etc.    He and his brother decided that I could be his mother.    I now have another son, fully grown and trained etc.   His post-surgery x-rays indicated that the bone has been aligned correctly (bit of a surprise here they tell me) and so he has gone back out east for his long recovery.  I will keep in touch and see him when I am out there for my 3 days of sewing.

The hospital - it is like nothing I have ever seen in Australia.   The King of Swaziland thinks he will achieve first world status for this country by 2022.  He’ll be lucky if he gets it by 3022.  I would not even rate the hospital as 3^rd world status.   The dereliction of the building and all surrounds is atrocious and I cannot think of another word that suits.  Filth, rust, broken walls, roofs, ceilings, railings, disgusting filthy walls and floors that are all unsafe to walk on. Everywhere you look it is the same.   Didn’t dare to take my camera with me in case I was questioned and jailed.  But unless I saw this with my own eyes I would not have believed it.  How anybody comes out of there alive is beyond my comprehension.  All equipment I saw was in a state of disrepair – either broken and fixed with tape or bandage or just hanging loose. I needed to use the stair well to access Mkhosi’s ward and I dare not touch the rails as I walked up or down.  Everywhere I went I looked up as well down and it was equally bad in all directions.  If you ever see footage of 3^rd world hospitals or clinics please believe what you see.   I am lucky that I go to the Simunye Clinic if I am out east and it is very clean and in good repair and if in town there is a private clinic / medical centre at the back of me here in Ezulwini. 

Mkhosi was happy with the care he received and that is the good thing I guess.  He was well cared for by his girlfriend as well she was there to tend to him almost 24/7.  He was operated on at the Mbabane private hospital.

WOW !!!

It’s no wonder the locals see a person from America or Australia and they work hard at getting attached so they can then go and live in the lucky countries.   I had another proposal on Wednesday at the Simunye car wash.  Victor!!!  was working very hard to get himself a meal ticket for the rest of his life.  When he realised that no was the only answer he was going to hear he became quite withdrawn and had to be consoled by his boyfriend !!!!!    YEBO  (means affirmative) – you got it.  I passed them as I was going to the car wash and they were strolling hand in hand etc. etc.  They were also waiting for a car to be cleaned.  I got the impression Anson was not happy with his boyfriend trying to get passage to Australia, unless maybe he had planned that I would take both of them back with me. 

Isabel tells me it is normal for men to walk hand in hand here and it doesn’t imply any relationship other than just friends. 

What did that guy say years ago about Australians -  ‘they’re a weird mob’    He hadn’t been to Swaziland.

Sewing group -   back to the same as last year.  Some days are diamonds and some days are stone.  Or maybe more appropriate ‘mud’.

Since our return at the beginning of Jan, I commenced them with knitting and it looked like they were enjoying it and this could be an alternative to sewing if they just can’t make the grade.  Well I have since learned that we don’t very much like knitting.  So that’s fallen in a hole.  And Teresa returned from the US with more than a large suit case of yarn.  More on that later.

I had been given a reasonably decent pile of curtain and furnishing sample fabrics and so we have been working our way through them in a creative way, designing as we go smaller bags, from clutch size to make up purse with zip tops to small over shoulder totes.  I have been amazed by Khunyisile - she has jumped outside of her square and she is the creative one of the team.  She is having a ball.  She sees a piece of fabric and knows what she wants to do but has no idea how to go about it and so we have joined forces as a pair and she is very happy and has turned out some really good work.  The others have to be shown every step including ideas of what to do with each piece.  Not a problem – I am happy to have at least one person I can ‘play’ with.

Another project is to make dresses for the orphanage that Robin commenced some years ago.  This week we made 3 proto types to get the size right – as I didn’t have any suitable patterns and just drew what I thought would fit the measurements I had managed to get.  I just wish we could stick to straight sewing as they are not good at anything with curves etc.  and dresses involve rounded areas and possible gathers etc.  I need more patience and tolerance - please send me some by return mail as much as you can find.  Thanks.

I have resorted to getting them to tack first then stitch and I guess this is how I learnt, so if it was good for me then it is good for them.  Maybe I am at fault here – wanting them to run before they can crawl.   At least 4 of these women have been sewing for 3 years and thought they knew it all before I landed on their planet.   I have tried in the gentlest way to encourage them to increase their skill so that they can increase their income potential.  I just don’t know if they get that!!!!

I have finished the 3 items we made so that I can take them to the orphanage tomorrow to see if they fit and what changes need to be made.  Once I cut the dress fabrics, all sewing will be done under supervision and slowly as this could be an ongoing opportunity for them.  They could be given the opportunity to dress the majority of the 30 children if the price is right.

The commencement back into sewing has been hindered with getting children back to school and I was warned that I would be asked to assist with school fees.  The first to ask was told very clearly and simply that I do not lend or give money – I am here to teach them how to make money and giving it is not the answer.  I was then asked in a letter to give – not lend E10,000.  I just laughed.   I think they got the message after that one.

So there we have it -   Christmas lunch was great and they showed me an aspect of themselves that was truly lovely and loving.  Now we are back into sewing mode and they seem determined to push the boundaries at every opportunity. 

I want to comment on the yarn that was donated through the churches in US.  The quality is poor – mostly acrylic and colours that are not inspiring.  Maybe they are from closet cleanouts.  My thoughts on this is that we keep them in poverty is we are asking them to always use poor quality materials that are then sold at a low price. Teresa is also coming with us on the excursion and I will point this out to her as we visit other places where they are making things that are now sold internationally – high quality and great financial rewards for the makers.   I keep saying that I want to get them to a standard where we can use the shwaeshwae fabrics because it is not being done elsewhere YET!!!   Same goes for yarn – I am happy for them to learn on second rate stuff, but we must have the quality for sales.

I have now planned our excursion for March 8^th.  International Women’s Day.  I recently visited the YEBO art gallery – just around the corner from my dwelling place.  One of the women I have met who sews and embroiders is a participant in a 6 week class called ‘voice of women’.  She had hoped that I would be able to join in this - but not possible – I’m not Swazi and it was too late to apply.   The gallery and an associated NGO got funding for this from somewhere???  There are 20 women participating who have an interest in some form of art / craft and they will be living in for the 6 weeks and doing drama, poetry, screen printing, drawing, pottery and lots of other creative stuff.  At the end of the class their work will be exhibited with an opening address at the local Royal Museum on the 8^th March.  The event will take about 2 hours and will showcase what they have done and achieved.  The ethos behind it is to encourage women to have a VOICE in their community – no matter what their community is.  Most of them are rural ladies.  I have spoken to my group about this.  They are so excited to be attending and they plan to dress in traditional gear for the day.    YES – I will have my camera!

I need to have a break now and get myself ready – going out with Teresa for a girl’s night with another 10 ladies. Need to change and get some form of eats ready to take to share.

Back in the morning.

I missed that morning and it is now the afternoon of the next day.  How time flies when you live in Ezulwini.

Have I told you I love Ezulwini?  This is the greatest place to live in this country.  It is sort of rural by location, but has a feel of elite suburbs.  It is where many people want to live but can’t.  They tell me land here is E3000 per square meter.  There is a massive home being built next to where I live and it is the home of a local doctor.   As I drive up our street I see more very large properties all looking very grand and the streets are very badly maintained and there are potholes that have several patches on top of patches.  Some of the roads are just a collection of patches and every time it rains some of the patches go elsewhere to live and so another patch will eventually appear.  It’s all good fun to watch this process.

Section 19 – where I stay on Monday and Tuesday nights.

Bongiwe is an employee of KuDvumisa Foundation in the CHIPS program. She rents a 2 bedroom ‘unit’ from RSSC – Royal Swaziland Sugar Company.  Section is in amongst the cane growing area and only about 6 kms from where I work.  The can around it is ready to be cut soon and so it is difficult to see there you are driving except for the road ahead and the sky above.  There is no other view.  Just as well I know where I am going !!!.  It is a funny unit. As you enter the only door it appears that you are in a corridor – at one end is the kitchen and the other end is the bathroom.  From the ‘corridor’ you have access to the two adjacent bedrooms.  That is it!!!  That’s the unit.  The corridor IS dining and lounge etc.  Bongiwe has a large TV and we watch it from our bedrooms.  She has no chairs of any sort so we sit or lay on our beds for eating, talking, typing etc.

The first week I was there I was sitting outside – I had taken a chair from my previous residence to use as a bedside table !! – I was outside with my chair as it was cooler in the breeze and I was doing Sudoku.  I was eventually joined by 5 young people who were so curious they couldn’t contain themselves any longer.  They had run or walked past me about 20 times before one got game enough to stop and she was about 6yrs, munching on a mango as they do – skin and all.  She leant against me as though I was her GOGO – grandmother.  She doesn’t speak English, so our conversation was limited.  Once I had her there the others joined and were curious about me and what I was doing.  About 100 questions later, I started to show the older ones the art of sucked-in!  (Sudoku!)

2 of them sort of got it and then demanded that I must get them a book each like mine and bring it to them.  This is a cultural way of saying what you want. No holds barred!!  They just come out with it.   I tried to explain in my terms that I MUST NOT !!!   But I will if I choose to.  I kept them on a promise to be good or there is no book and I will talk to the parents to make sure they have been good.    I now have the books and we will do a puzzle or 3 together before I hand over to them. They are delightful kids and I will get their names this week when I am there.   And a photo !!!

We are in the horrible humid season that will continue for another 2 months I am told.  Some days are like being in a sauna, especially at Section 19.  Last week after 3 days of perspiring many litres of fluid and drinking about 3 – 4 litres and hot nights sleeping with a fan I came home exhausted.  On the journey home I stopped at Simunye to get fuel, have the mud remove from the car, pick up another potential husband and get some energy food from the store.  I had two bottles of cold drink and a small bag of wine gums for sugar.  They were gone before I had driven 40 kms. But it got me home.  Thursday I was a bit washed out and did only what was necessary like finishing the dresses.

They were all OK and so this week the girls can be making dresses for real.  I talked to the staff about teaching the young ones to sew.  They were very interested and so I will talk to Robin about a sewing and knitting class for the girls and boys if they are interested.

I almost forgot to report on our volunteers’ brunch on 12^th Jan and Phophonyane Falls.

(I have some photos, but not downloaded yet from camera.  You know this could mean having one of those slide evenings when I return.   I can hear you all shuddering!  OK I’ll promise to get some time to down size photos so I can attach them.)

The journey took about 1.5 hrs and we left my place at 1.00am.  There was only 5 of us. Isabel, Liz, John, me and Lusanda (AVI country coordinator).  Our booking had been made for breakfast and we all wanted lunch because of the time we arrived. They would not change as all the food had been set out for us.  The place was so peaceful.  And it sort of appeared in the bush from nowhere.  To get there were many kms of dirt, mud roads in not very good nick.  I was pleased not to have my little car for this journey.  We were in Isabel’s CRV. The grounds off the resort were like a lush oasis and so beautiful on the eye.  Everywhere we looked the grass was recently manicured and was so lush, numerous tropical palms and other plants.  All around us was rain forest type vegetation.  The buildings were very rustic, mud and bamboo huts with thatched roof tops and some very quaint interior layout and designs.  All very secluded from each other.  The dining area was both inside and outside for weather conditions, we had a lovely setting outdoors overlooking the pool.   After breakfast and many pots of coffee we went for walks to find the falls.  It had been raining for some time on and off over the preceding weeks so there was a lot of water coursing down over the rocks.  Not enough for rafting but quite noisy and fast flowing.  Some of the scenery was beautiful and some of the tracks were tricky, I didn’t think to wear sensible walking shoes so I didn’t go as far as the others did.  Instead I found a seat in the garden where I could just sit and take in the ambience of the place.  It was easy to connect with nature around me and at the same time, difficult to realise that I was in jungle type mountains of Africa.  After our walk we headed for the pool area and made ourselves at home on the cane chairs for a refreshing cool drink and a chat before heading back to the city life.

Isabel took Liz and myself to the Pigs Peak craft place before we went back to town.  I think we all did some shopping there.  Most of the craft places where the same as those in Ngwenya.  I purchased some woven flowers in sisal, very talented craftsperson’s made them.  I also got a small woven basket. 

We eventually got home about 4 ish and had a great day out together. 

It has been thundering now for about an hour and I’m patiently waiting for the rain. 

Where I sit at my table in my unit I am near the main door into the unit and the window of the lounge/dining.  I have a direct view of the house being built next door, but if sit on an angle I can see the building site for the US embassy and in particular the 2 huge cranes.  On Thursday I watched them in action for some time, quite entertaining!!  Especially when the whistle went at 5pm and 4 little men came out of the boxes at the top and crawled down the ladders to the ground.  From where I sit they like toys, some going fast and some slow.  The slow ones need energizer batteries.

It must be time to finish now, I’m getting silly.

That’s it for another week or 3.

Love to you all.  I hope your year has started well and will continue to be well for you.

Hugs all round.

Georgie xxx