Hello friends,
first praise in front, the threat of the Add boycott was so great fruits worn. Keep it up;) The last days were almost the most eventful since I'm here, I feed you in the following words by and by with all the essentials, as long as I have fun writing ...
After we rumgeeiert again two weeks ago on some white and had a private party for our return to Salvokop nor the desire for action, we spontaneously went in in one of the small yards, because there was totally loud African pop music. A good decision, as it turned out, because gradually fills the yard and we danced merry and intoxicated shortly after starting with the types from the Hood on Zimbabwean music, which was another one of those unplanned but sexy moments.
Pap with Beefstew - tastes better than it looks here
This was Then, the last event in our old shelter, because we are now moved and our new home is beautiful right. The apartment in the former fire station is centrally located in Pretoria Central and exactly opposite from the School of Creative Arts, so I usually run in future no longer big way. Due to the huge courtyard, we also have the opportunity, our own new car (see below) to park safely. But from inside it is fat, we have our own courtyard with outdoor toilet, the ceilings are again quite a bit higher than German old and we have big rooms, huge kitchen and an equally large living room with sound system (!). For all of you who intend to visit me there it in the same building complex also have a dirt-cheap backpackers' hostel, it's not really better!
A home visit:
The size equivalents for "Feast Of The Clowns" was held before last weekend of the so-called "Gauteng Carnival" in Johannesburg, funny to the PCM also a delegation Clowns sent. That meant getting up around Herrgottsfruehe makeup, dress, and then on the bus with the rest of the volunteer crew singing songs nozzles to Joburg. The event itself was fun, a huge parade including us is pulled through the inner city and so I was a first Impression of this city get Viby, in which I would like to go back, definitely soon!
My work is going quite well, after several meetings with the executive offices were approved and welcomed my Renovierungsplaene also my other great visions. Maintains it is the craftsmanship done next week and then from 1 October, the new, five day courses launched. I can get any rate many talented Fascilitators into the boat, I can rely on the generous support of our public relations by the German advertising agency klink + Liedig and I hope get added in this way, a successful project. I was rewarded by permission to date, next Monday with the coordinator of the 'Feast Of The Clowns "by the Soweto apparently quite famous Soweto Arts Festival." Driving on PCM-cost, of course;) Prior to cruise and I walk with Sven and Juliet a little by Lesotho, known as the "Kingdom in the sky" a constitutional monarchy, which are found as Enklavenstaat in the high mountains of South Africa and one of the poorest countries of the world is Unfortunately, -. Chrissi I will kill here for - I miss this the "Red Bull BC One", one of the most exciting break-dance contests of the world, which takes place this Saturday in Soweto. ... Please spare me
time again Solly
I also once again a story from the African Everyday life: It is still customary for a "lobola", ie to pay a bride price, if you will marry a girl. According to my information, the price is currently at an average of 11 cows, bring the lady a degree or other value-enhancing skills, has yet to encounter one or two additional cow to the herd. When I asked one of my employees, if he has not taken his wife bought the lobola tradition, in fact, he has accepted me unimpressed. Of course the whole thing in the country even more common, but obviously also in the city still to be found. .
Since we so with the girls from the German School Pretoria then at the Oppikoppi Festival , we had since then been planned, in some measure to the popular here and just go to that school organized "Oktoberfest". Said and done, last Friday it was at least as wide and full of anticipation, although somewhat skeptical, we entered the Festgelaende with beer tents, Fahrgeschaften and German Essensstaenden, everywhere you could be (strangely Czech!) Drinking beer from Steinkruegen and we Kassel with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut indulged;) 
In summary, the event was certainly a mixture of pseudo-Bavarian Customs (Huete should imply strange carnival tradition) and a penetrating Boer / German-colonial Patriotism. The Ewiggestrigkeit the people present, finally culminating in the fact that the Austrian brass band flown next to "Anton aus Tirol", the "Chicken Dance" and "Wood Michl" and the "Suedwesterlied" sang the anthem of the former imperial German colony Suedwestafrika. And then before that old men are in the Germany jersey, sing along that inspires. Longings for the old "Place in the Sun", anyone? Well, we like this can certainly not be discouraged, but these failures head-shu ettelnd passed over and went through the beer-soaked fun, including Polkas Polonaises and to our amusement. Conclusion: With the Oktoberfest as I could get to know it has been, this event very little in common, but what was clear beforehand anyway. Cheers! 
The whole picture and sound:
On Saturday after I had with Sven pay attention voluntarily to the 20 small children from the "Potter's House" because the women were all on a PCM-event. This means that we were alone, one could say also lost, with a wild horde aged between five months and six years. In addition to our birthday party program, including striking and common pot sandwich meal (Chaos!!) We had to handle, feed, give bottles, take comfort in his arms, to sleep weigh, put away the chaos of kids and in between desperate times short. As two of these Things inexperienced guys we are gone - for the two men we are ready for fatherhood again came out:) The women of the "Potter's House" but now we have this good plus points collected.
Also in picture and sound:
The small Congolese (Blessing), I tickle the baby-sitting in the video is now my favorite. Whenever I have nothing to do great things, I depended a bit on the "Potter's House" off and now calls me the little "Papa" and kiss me all the time:) Your brother, however, is disturbed total, aggressive, and simply of violent idiot the the other children we meet even the adults and suggests no respect for anything and has no opportunity to break a rule omits any demonstrative. Meanwhile, I have but so few about to experience their family situation, which explains a lot but a stoned still take your shoes: the still fairly young mother is three months alone with the kids from the Congo came here, the father, according to legend of the boy was in front of his Eye executed, ie knife to the neck, a quick cut and his head snapped back. Meal! The PCM-people from the Potter's House, "then told even by some perverse torture (glowing objects and Koerperoeffnungen), had to look on the children. In any Appropriate, the mother's two sisters - and apparently especially the boys - on a regular basis with such shoes. When the boy then walked around the other day with a total bloody gash on the head, has PCM informed the police and since then the mother sits in jail - what has happened now with the children is unclear. The Unfassbarste but at all the fact that the sechsjaehrige (!) The four year boy Blessing raped several times. Age, because it is so aggressive! You can not blame the boy his misconduct but really because he has in his short life probably already seen much more pollution than all of us together - but for something I just can Warped muster no sympathy more past or not. To be honest I can not even believe it right now to ...
Blessing 
much carbon your car!
deep into the African Township Sven and I are immersed, as we - again, free of dirt baby - after the victory of the local football clubs Mamelodi Sundowns Given went to his home. In Mamelodi we first arrived deep in the night and was due to the victory of their club still held strong. If you are driving at night because as a white foreign body with the car in such a clear black area that many people can on the street, call the bustle and the unmanageably complex the situation, the deterrent pictures of the black mobs to mind that everyone knows from movies and news . But after a short time was this insecure feeling away and so we had much more intense experience and insight as in Cullinan, which is partly because we were first of only two whites and secondly Mamelodi fits more into the "typical" picture of a township .
The evening included three different events and mass contact with the local party people. For examples we made friends with a his own words "self-employed" workers, the things people "borrow" that just are not there. In the second set, he asked us whether we need a car:) And then there was Lindwer, a lady that I am a little closer. Have fun speculating, friends ...
In the last club we had the stark experience of how they will steal from total embarrassment. During the approximately five minute stop have you felt all the time, as several hands to go straight and into your back pockets and you had to stop again and again that it takes you your mobile phone from the front pocket. Because of this we are not relaxed even after a short time then went back and after enjoying the sunrise over Mamelodi finally fell into bed very satisfied.
Givens family was incredibly nice and again we noticed that it definitely evokes a certain pride in the people, if we assume so grateful for their hospitality. With people like Givens Granny, who experienced apartheid from beginning to end, which is really something special! In any case, our accommodation was then Givens rooms, a small Wellblechhuette in the backyard of the family home. Otherwise, outdoor toilet, newspapers as toilet paper and washing with the wash bowl. Geil! After the relaxing three hours of sleep we explored the Township; So get breakfast, chill out under the tree, Given the haircut, short time out baptisms in nature, and finally to an African. This weekend was really the best thing since here I am. Basta!
morning drive from then to the mountains, so to speak, the acid test for our lovely Autie ...
Hugs,
Fabi
back to South Africa: In my work has done hell of a lot in the last few days, I am now the proud namely Coordinator of the School of Creative Arts - that my own boss! Given I had opposed had announced several times that he really wants to quit the organization, because it includes rules and fixed working hours contrary, as he then last Thursday in the meeting actually announced his immediate departure, I was surprised a bit, especially because I Kathy Givens exit immediately after officially the new creative direction of SOCA (!) named. Anyway, I am now primaer busy getting to know any important people, the renovation of the total run-down premises SOCA prepare volunteer teachers for the raise various disciplines (eg Sven as a guitar teacher), a private SOCA office building to relocate so telephone and computer organization and a thousand things more. Yesterday I had as a representative of the School to even the staff meeting in which the management of PCM advises once a month about projects, goals and the value of past ventures - and in future I will be there to be there. Well, after less than one months attendance at PCM / TLF I regard this development as a success just now;) 
As I've mentioned occasionally, my organization also regularly makes the so-called "Outreaching". So go out in the slums and the homeless downtown, looking at the prisons and mental hospital, just the conversation with the people, celebrate common Devotions. 
Last week I was the first time even with the outreach here (along with Eli, another German Volunteerin) and was impressed by the experienced there: We went to the women of Marabstad living on the edge of a road to collect old cardboard boxes and paper products, sort them and finally the bundle to sell to recycling companies. According to Edward Zulu, the pastor who coordinated the whole, there are an average of 2 per person edge meet during the week, or 20 cents. In the week! The Accommodations these women are therefore temporary dwellings of the collected Papiermuell, in the evening they sit together around a fire from the uebriggebliebenen Muell. That was certainly the situation in which we have entered as a spoiled Mitteleuropaeer. But instead Sksepsis compared to the misplaced white one so stark feeling of the Welcome-being was mediated, to welcome, we were all "Mamas" (as one adult female is called here, respectfully) hugs and thanks to my modest Sesotho-vocabulary I had the same times a stone at them on the board. We then jointly held a devotion and every other sentence was greeted with a unanimous "Amen". It sounds not so humble as ours, but more like an affirmative "Yes man". In any case, much has been sung together, prayed a bit and hugged each other frequently. After about einandhalb hours we will be back better in our accommodation, with the knowledge that the women have to sleep on the street. That's kind of a Scheissgefuehl! I'll try anyway, regularly participate in outreach and somehow to get with my new SOCA's commitments under a hat. 
After I then met my religious task for the week. By the way: with the sometimes very strong, often interpreting the Bible literalness religiosity of the South Africans manage to get much better than expected. This community is doing some great things and the constant "In the name of Jesus Christ" thing you have to transfer easily. Thus, Julia, a Volunteerin, already longer here is told of a situation where their community has been praying for a repaired DVD player. Despite the unintentional comedy is clear what is meant by that and you have to stop exercise just like that. Also sung very much (and it sounds ever so horny), performed and practiced the belief mad positive and life-affirming. Even the poorest make this a totally grateful impression. As a staunch atheist you probably would still be a problem with the visual language, with my agnostic belief, the local faith can be combined easily but in any case, especially because it is simply a lot of good by releasing him. 
weekend gabs then to Western consumerism Pattern in a rich shopping mall in Menlyn. The prices are sometimes unbeatable, T-shirts for 5 € and less, pants for 8 € and less. And then stop H & M quality. It was interesting experience to go there with a minibus taxi, there is a combination of taxi and public Verkehrsbus and you then herded zuckelst goal. 
Mamelodi 
The streets were then already dusty and bumpy in Mamelodi, so we are at some point rumgerumpelt only. Since it had become dark and the dust, the view even more difficult, I had, for lack of lanes let alone street lighting, encountered problems at all even right to drive. Adventure, baby! 
After about 1.5 hours we finally are in Cullinan and after we were at Thembas Grandmother (witzig!) and have hidden there our car, walked to the scene. Thembas house looks like from the inside about as a garage. The windows with newspaper in the sealed, non-plastered the walls, if you look above to see the roof, barely inventory and outdoor privies. His mother, however, totally happy about our visit and things to get the whole family (including Thembas deaf sister) are introduced and then spared no effort to be a good hostess. Chairs and benches are placed in the largest room, Themba brings his computer for music, gradually more and more people from the neighborhood (we are almost a kind of attraction). It was felt already clear that there are not white Of course, but all were totally open and it was easy to talk. 
The customs of the township people are sometimes a bit strange for my feelings, it was suggested to us that our girls should not drink beer because we were drinking beer guys - not in the Township except glad to see girl drink the same as boys. Whatever, we ham we were told. The road to the bottle shop was then in so far awesome, as always that we had with "bodyguards", so no black guys who have been taking care of us. It is whispered from one stop and that "Van Riebekks" (first dutch settlers) are not welcome, but more has not happened. With our security there, the hosts have definitely taken very seriously, which was pleasant but at the same time unpleasant. I think everyone can imagine what I mean. 
After a really fun party and common food for all - Pap (traditional maize porridge, which I eat almost every day), and Chicken - We went for our home, the car has made us the whole crowd accompanied Sichrheitsgrueden and due to the achieved level, the mood on the way was awesome (!). Sven and I will have the entire way home 90's Hits, ugly mainstream songs and other Oktoberfest gegroehlt Mucke, which ended the evening fees (do not worry, Mommy, I'm not driven yourself). 
the ugliest fish in the world 
on Monday finally moving to our Museum Park, a former fire station instead. That means that I get out of Salvokop and into the inner city. A positive side effect is also that I then compared to the School Of Creative Arts, and am living in about ten seconds of my work. Since I, as coordinator my working hours so they can be classified eh pretty free, I am even more flexible. And then also I live with the small Svenni together, which is the Allerderbste anyway! 