First Days

I've had a few questions about how I'm settling into life in Yei and what it is like here, so I thought I'd share some answers with everyone. It is so hard to explain, as life here is so different to life at home.

My accommodation is much, much better than I expected. I'm very lucky to be staying in the room of one of the nurses while she is on leave for a fortnight. Not only is it a great space but it means I'm sharing the house with my friend Nat who is also visiting from Launceston and two amazing nurses (they're truly incredible women!). They've all been so welcoming and are making my adjustment so much easier. And sharing with Nat has meant we can easily work together on projects to support the children. It also means I'm staying right next door to my friends the Pooles, which is pretty special and very convenient. :-)

We are spoilt in so many ways, a lady to wash our clothes each day, cooks to cook for us, electricity for fans and fridges and WiFi! Apparently we even have hot water for two hours each evening. I've never contemplated using it as I'm really enjoying a cold shower before bed to cool down and clean my very dirty feet.

Everyone here continues to amaze me. They have all been so welcoming and answer my never ending stream of questions and understand when I don't know where things are on campus. The simple dedication of the missionary staff and their focus and support for the local people is incredible. As are the kids and the way they look after themselves and each other. Awe and wonder is a phrase that comes to mind often.

Already I've had some amazing experiences. They are so hard to explain as the culture and context are so different. But this afternoon was truly a beautiful teaching moment. Linda facilitated me working with some of the hospital cleaners, teaching them to write their names. Such a basic skill that we take for granted. Their sheer joy at writing their name was beautiful to see. I've promised them we'll keep working on it again tomorrow. I'm hoping to make it a regular part of my day and teach them some other literacy and numeracy skills.

I'm gradually working out where and how I can be useful around the place :-)





Hospital cleaners practising writing their names.


Sunset tonight

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Random Johannesburg Bits

Did a walking tour of Johannesburg this morning, I was the only one on it but also had an Intrepid manager as it was a new itinerary. I was disappointed my driver of the last five days, Sam didn't end up coming on it. He and another guide were meant to be trained in the new route but didn't end up coming due to a van issue. I wasn't able to take many photos due to the nature of the areas we visited, some of the poorest in the city. Such a contrast to my afternoon spent at Sandton Mall, part of the richest square mile in Africa. It really emphasised the inequalities of South Africa, that still exist despite yesterday being 25 years since Mandela was released from prison.


Loved this sticker in the taxi van we caught. Could never have caught a taxi van by myself, they aren't labeled as to where they are going. Instead drivers and passengers use a system of hand signals to indicate where they're going.


The small words describe this as the Department of Social Development, next door to a derelict building...


I'd forgotten Ghandi practised law in Johannesburg for 14 years before turning to India. Another statute I saw earlier in the week but couldn't photograph was of George Harrison the Australian gold prospector who first discovered gold in South Africa.

Tomorrow I'm off to Uganda, then into Yei, South Sudan on Saturday morning.

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Back to Johannesburg

Today was a long day of driving, but it began with a 5:30am wake up call for a nature walk. Our very knowledgeable guide showed us so many little things we'd missed when driving around. Animal and insect tracks; homes and plants and their uses. Twice we saw zebras come within a few metres, though the highlight was at the very end when this family came by.

Driving back we stopped at Blyde Canyon, the world's third deepest canyon. Arriving back in Johannesburg it was so sad to say goodbye to my new friends from Western Australia, Belgium and France but I think I've persuaded them they need to visit me in Tasmania.

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Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre

Yesterday was our leisure day at the Thornhill Lodge. In the morning we went to Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre aka, The Cheetah Project, hesc.co.za, an amazing centre where endangered animals are being bred, particularly cheetahs. We had hoped to see the baby rhinos but they were hiding in their shed :(. Andre our guide was so knowledgeable and I learnt so much. It's so sad to think that rhino sightings cannot be shared at Kruger because of the risk of poachers finding them and that leopards, cheetahs and African wild dogs are so endangered.

The afternoon and evening were then spent by the pool.

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Kruger

Kruger is beyond description, so many incredible African animal encounters, the highlight was when a herd of about 40 elephants, including babies crossed in front of our 4WD. Though I think giraffes are still my favourite African animal.

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Cycle Soweto

Today I learnt so much my jet lagged brain is exhausted! Starting with a brief tour of Johannesburg my day tour (that had nobody else on it!) then headed to Soweto. Where I joined a two hour cycling tour, a business started by a 15 year old who now as a 25 year old has quite a business empire and drives a brand new Landrover

I learnt Soweto (South Western Township) is a town of greatly contrasting homes, not just the shacks I had imagined. I ate some yummy food and drank some gross beer but also discovered Black Label beer is tasty. I cycled down the only street in the world that is home to two Nobel Peace Award recipients and visited Mandela's home. After a yummy lunch of "bunny", stew served in a bowl of bread, I then headed to the Apartheid Museum. It was incredibly interesting, I had no idea the range of people involved in the movement.


The concept of changing your race is one I can't imagine but apparently members of the one family were sometimes classified differently and then couldn't live together.


Nelson Mandela's house.


A very cosy and warm restaurant in Soweto.


Beef cheek and pap (made from maize).








What used to be the men's hostel part of town.


The fancy part of Soweto, some amazing houses, apparently some have swimming pools in their back yards.

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Iceberg Spotting

After a 13.5 hour flight and a long queue at immigration I've made it to Johannesburg. The highlight of the trip happened about five hours in. Iceberg spotting! There was amazing cloud coverage over Antarctica but I still managed to see about twenty icebergs. The photos don't do them justice they looked incredible and some were so blue in parts.