Alex

I have been home over a week and only now do I feel ready to complete my blog. Coming home has been traumatic. Leaving my three wonderful "sons", Emmanuel, Ntuthuko and Lucky at the airport was awful, a tearfest. How many times, I wonder has this airport seen three black guys and an mlungu sobbing. Then rejoining my beloved family, Anna, David and Jenni was equally heartrending. Coming home to a house without Vroni, it's emotional heart was beyond words. Has South Africa turned me into a "lake of tears"?
After Zwelibanzi's Assembly on the 18th I went to Dloko with the girls to say goodbye once more (the Zulus excel at welcomes and farewells!). More singing and speeches. I had been given so many gifts. The girls were so glad we had returned once again. I have so much love for the staff and students of this school. I hope Gillespies relationship will be longlasting. Dloko has so much potential.
In the evening we had organised my farewell at Hai Bo (it was meant to be for the students as well, but they very kindly let it be mine). We were all there. The amazing Jabulani warriors, Jean and Jenn, Jake from Umthombo, Emmanuel, Lucky, Ntuthuko, Siza, Vusi, and later the Medics we had befriended in Tekweni. It was a wonderful send off with us singing our newly acquired repertoire of Zulu songs, Siza moving us with his singing, Lucky reciting his wonderful poetry and Pete showing that you don't have to be a Zulu to sing beautifully. I did the obligatory Waldo wise words speech and many eloquently replied We did lots of Zulu and even Xhosa dancing and we shed a few tears before heading back to Tekweni. The usual poor communications rather blighted the ending but it didn't matter.
The next day there was only the farewell at Sisco to deal with, so after packing I headed down there to meet up with the students and the fabulous Sisco guys. A late start as always but then the proceedings took off as we have come to expect. A pastor had been brought to bless us, and bless us he did....many times. The natural eloquence is amazing. He apologised for not being able to sing before telling us to hold hands as he sang "You raise me up" in an amazing gospel voice. We all joined in and what in many ways would have been seen as cheesy back home, became incredibly moving. I have the image of us holding hands in a circle with these inspiring workers and our friends, the street kids etched into my memory. In many ways it symbolised everything we achieved. It represented unity and mutual love and respect. It showed how a helping hand could be grasped but that the receivers hold it with dignity. The circle showed that there were no barriers between us and the singing of a western "anthem" drove home how ethnocentric we can be here when these people look beyond their continent.
I hope this doesn't seem too contrived to those who read this. If you have been to South Africa, I suspect you will be more understanding.
I left my friends for my journey to the airport in a state of abject fear for the future for of all of us but with a determination to carry on the fight.
How do I view this amazing journey now, a week after returning?
First of all, let me say how inspiring the ex students of Gillespies have been. I have praised them throughout this blog but you need to know how remarkable their achievements have been. They tackled things that most people in the west would recoil from. They worked with street kids and did outreach work in the most dangerous parts of Durban and never held back. They did drama Classes in Umthombo. They worked with children who had been raped in Illovo with Bobbi Bear. They "ran" Place of Safety with HIV babies and abandoned chlidren as if they had been doing it all their lives. They taught Grade 12's at Mangosuthu University. They worked in creches in Umlazi. I salute them. I feel humbled by their achievements. They are my dear friends and I love them dearly. Thank you to them for starting this Project with such enthusiasm and compassion.
Then there were the "adults" who came to initiate the skills exchange. Jane , the whirlwind, moved through the special school sector like no one they had ever seen. She talked about Autism and the importance of good sleep patterns. She even came back. She has left an indelible mark. Mimo. the Jabulani angel, inspired us when we needed it with her empathy and wisdom. She taught creative Writing in the most inspiring way but what impressed most was her ability to embrace all of us. She became an instant Ma to Lucky, Ntuthuko, Emmanuel et al and the girls adored her.
These were hard acts to follow but Jenn and Jean were not daunted. They came, saw and conquered the hearts and minds of everyone who came in contact with them. They fitted into the Project seamlessly and the work they did in Sisco was stunning. Their naturalness and giving natures touched us all deeply and they helped us cope as we flagged towards the end. They were our saviours.
Finally let me say how much I owe to my Zulu friends, both old and new.... Boni, Khubs, Lucky, Emmanuel, Vusi, Siza, Zinhle, Mbutho, Thabani, Andile, Josta, the Makhatini family, Velo, the ZHS and DHS teachers, Umthombo, Themba and many others. You proved how important the JGHS Project has been in all our lives.
Our new friends...Ntuthuko, Progress, Avela, Bright, the staff of Ridge Park Secondary, Sisco, Isaac's Jewish friends,Place of Safety,Tekweni and countless others. You let us see why we were there. You showed us love, you held us and you inspired us. You prove that it is possible to break down stereotypes and to think outwith your culture. You made us look at our own country more critically. You showed us why optimism is so important. You challenged and touched us. You gave us a reason for being there and doing what we did. You are the reason we will be back.
Hambani Kahle, Baba x