i am loving the children and teaching. relaxing into my role and relationship with them has been really freeing. i find they are so musical and ready to do anything i ask. it's harder to get them to share their own ideas and to confident in themselves. i realize most of my teaching instincts are good and creative, and teaching these children might be the most affirming thing that ever happened in my career. granted, it's easy to teach students who are so amazing... but this is a new kind of fun.

i am getting to know the teachers and some of the parents who work cooking for the students' lunches. i spend my free time in the "lunch/cooking" room with them when kathy is teaching. it has been great to get to know them in an informal way. there are 4 who cook every day. monday samp. tuesday rice corn with gravy. wednesday fat cakes and dumplings with soup on top. it costs about $12 to feed all 600 children plus teachers. they don't eat vegetables or meat. it's a bit awkward, bc they prepare a special meal for me. i try to make it cool by sharing my food with the women and then eating what the kids eat... they make fun of me, say i will get fat on traditional african food. i think they are not used to americans trying and enjoying their food. the dumplings were mmm mmm good.

one of the women asked me today, more like told me to give me my sweater when i leave. this is hard. i have so much, yet i don't like being told what to give. and i like my sweater. the difference in class is huge. i am hoping i am able to have relationship with these women and teachers that goes beyond class difference, but i am still american and always will be to them. mostly though, we laugh and have fun. they like to tease me, and i enjoy their company.

in the evenings we go to church and community choir rehearsals. they are SERIOUS here about music. all of them rehearse every night for 2 plus hours. they are all preparing for their competitions in aug and we are the american experts who must help them. it's a really interesting culture... the whole music community in the townships. all these conductors are young men... a few of them known as the township hotties, and in my opinion a little bit full of themselves. i keep hearing about the unfaithfulness of south african men. what is that all about? great musicians though.

no more time. hate being rushed all the time. love to all.

mom thank you for the postcard. came today.