back at home!

Hi guys!! I just got my first chance to get on the internet. we have been busy!

travelling was great other than getting stopped in customs in south africa for too much yarn. luckily, a rep from monte christo was there to come explain. they finally got tired of us and sent us on our way. we were welcomed to south africa by rain on and off until monday evening.

our guesthouse that we are staying in is so nice and cozy. we are the only ones there and the family who owns it lives upstairs. they are a lovely family and make us feel welcome and like we have been transported to some amazing world with their hospitality and cooking!

so far, we taught--well let me rephrase, tried to control chaos in the schools. the teachers were on strike so the school was in chaos. my team went to orleansvale, a school i've worked in before. i walked into the room and was delighted to see former students from 2 years ago! the sad part...those sweet little boys are now the menaces of the class. to say the kids were wild and crazy is an understatement!!!! i had no control and leave defeated. our school is in the roughest part of that community. the team that hit the other school had a better experience. we were supposed to go back wed but were reassigned. instead, we swept the streets of paarl with the homeless ministry. and no....they don't have street sweepers like the states. i literally swept the streets with a broom and homemade dustpan. i was tired and sore all over by the end.

this afternoon i'm meeting the teacher and headmaster of the autism school here and picking out paint to paint their classrooms. we'll be doing that tomorrow as well as doing a craft with them.

it was nice to see everyone again -- especially the kids that i still have permanently etched in my mind!! SA 2008 team, i saw our 2nd graders--dulan the one who sang like an angel and a few others. no worries..he is still sweet. =) he is now in 6th grade. he found me on the playground.

the team is doing well. we have all been exhausted in the evenings and have gone to bed at 9:00! we'll update the team blog as we can and i'll email as often as i can.