too sick to go to church with puleng yesterday. she came to our gate wearing traditional Xhosa dress, looking quite elegant and beautiful... and i had to turn her away alone. hard to make choices like that here when time seems short and precious. but rest is crucial also at this point... this flu is vicious and is attacking all of us. i feel better today though after good rest and was able to teach a full day. i did a full hour of sectional for kathy's choir this afternoon... too many kids in one room! when you have optional choir here, everyone joins. this is a good thing, but makes for a challenging rehearsal.

i spent a few precious moments this morning with some kids in grade 1. they kept me company in the 7 o clock sunshine while i waited for the door to be unlocked... ntabiseng, tabisho, tshomofelo, dineo, and yet another masego. they speak little english but know me now and are not afraid. it's amazing what you can communicate with no common language, and it was a moment i will remember, in the quiet before the day began and the wind started to blow red dust everywhere. i took a picture and hope these flirtacious and excited faces will reflect the joy i felt.

the other women on the trip are ready to go home now... i think we all feel the " home stretch" although some more accutely than others. i miss all of you, and in some ways look forward to being back in the states just for comfort. but in many ways, life here has touched me deeply, and i tear up already thinking about leaving. it is bittersweet. my word for the day.


on thursday i have plans to go with dimakatso to a choir rehearsal and then to her house to cook and sleep over. friday is masego's birthday. i will try to do something for her, i don't know what. plus i am going to buy pizza for the teachers for lunch.

our concert is a week from friday, so teaching is winding up quickly as we all think about preperations for that. it will be a fun day.

my camera is broken and i think i lost a roll of film. that sucks if i did. i will try to borrow someone's for the last day at school.

keep the email coming. it sustains me more than i know.