An intensive course for English teachers was this year located in South Africa- which destination was already decided two years ago, but You know....Covid...
Kursivoidulla tekstillä ne huomiot ja seikat mitkä selkeästi ovat hyödynnettävissä oppimiseen ja ylipäänsä opiskeluun ja elämänhallintaan.
Twentytwo eager travellers were ready at Helsinki airport am Tuesday 6.6.2023- everyone with more or less baggages, nearly empty or already fullpacked suitcases.But place for African diamonds will always fit!
Thoughts about South Africa naturally a bit divided- a country where the corruption, crime, workless people is enorm, but also a place where growing tourism gives opportunity to work, and the open window to Europe perhaps opens the eyes of the politicians- they are under the loup and can be criticized by us.
When we said goodbye at the airport the last day to our guide Greg and skilful driver Johann, the last one thanked us by saying: "I hope You tell Your delightful wishes to friends etc, because more tourists means also more working opportunities to all of us! " After that phrases from an indigenous, coloured person, I don´t doubt any more- to visit south Africa gains everybody! (on the pic Johann on the right, Greg left)
Suvaitsevuus ja avarakatseisuus sekä asioiden kääntyminen parhaaksi optimismin kautta- tämä opetuksena paikallisilta !
The flight with a change in Doha in the middle of the night wasn´t especially comfortable, and during the seven hours´ first part from Helsinki I slept perhaps one hour. Then Doha airport- the hugest one Ive ever been in, with trainconnection inside the airport- my godness!`And suddenly I remebered about the discussion during the footballgames last year and all those things with human rights during the construction works around the footballstadium...I can´t see a point in wasting money on such things like this extraordinary expensive airport with all shops, malls and even parks inside! At least no sustainable development there! (picture below)
OK, the journey continued, and suddenly- at three o`clock in the morning- we were served a late-late dinner. A bit odd in my opinion- I must also mention that when we flew home, we had breakfast at the same time... So 3AM must mean something special for Quatar airlines in feeding people?
1. day tuesday afternoon.
Greg and Johann met us at the airport, our luggage was checked out surprisingly fast, and we hit the road to Cape town in half on hour.
Unfortunally it was a bit rainy and windy, so the planned visit to the famous Table mountain had to be moved to another day, and we only looked at Cape town from the buswindows and a few steps from a nearby hill, from were we could see our hotel. After some hours rest we met again and were transported to a fantastic African show-restaurant with smashing food, music with drums and even dance and a new makeup! What a fantastic beginning of our journey!
Something absolutely brilliant was done by Anni- we all joined a Whatsapp-group and we have been changing pictures, ideas and one day- even location- with each others. We made our
short presentations- I think I`ll remember neatly all the names, but "who-is-who" is not so easy. Except Ari and David - they are a bit different, even if You can`t mention their sex cause of equality questions...
IT-oikein käytettynä on hyvä apuväline - Whatsapp-ryhmästä ollut jälkikäteenkin valtavasti iloa ja hyötyä !
Day 2. wednesday After a well-slept night- yes, we all needed that even if the time is only +1hour from ours- everybody were ready for new adventures- and especially bargains in a jewellery factory! We were treated as rich people - of course, that´s what all teachers are- and got an idea about how diamonds are made and how to count the carats- too diffilult mathematics for me, sorry. But the diamonds were qute and beautiful and expensive- through that many of us made some shopping. I choise the tanzanite for my youngest grandson- he was the only of the lads who asked for a diamond. Finnish "Afrikan tähti" is wellknown by small kids!
Next very interestnig stop was the MOCAA- museum of modern, contemporary african art - built in an old silo near the harbour. It has been as a museum since 2017
"Created by London-based architect; Thomas Heatherwick. The institution's 80 gallery spaces were converted from 42 historic grain silos, storage units which were once used to hold and grade maize from all over South Africa.25.8.2022"
Interesting art in a very interesting building!
-I do not put all the names of the artists here, but I`ve got a list of them if someone needs.. Our next place to visit was the university, which´s parkingplace gave some problems to Johann, until he understood that we finnish people were able to walk a bit even if it is raining... Two teachers gave us a good insight of the schooling system in South Africa and then we all got some interesting rhyme-tasks to solve in groups. "A diamond-shaped rhyme" which even changes in language" - that is something new to adapt directly!
Dinner by the harbour- we eat all the time and a lot and some african specialities and much of fish, octopussy and shrimps and mussles...I got my lactic acid bacteria-pills (Idoform, I can recommend) with me, and my stomach was alright except that day I forgot to take it...
Day 3. -Thursday begun early with the earlier missed visit to Table mountain- Greg had checked that the nice weather will stay until about noon. No big queues at the Cable car, which lift us upwards to 1050m in five minutes, some good reason more to travel outside the touristseason in winter. They said every year people get lost or even try to suicide by jumping from the hillside - things they of course don´t inform officially about. The small fences here and there don´t stop anyone who wants to fall down...Fantastic vieuws and a very special terrain and nature, indeed!
A kind of smog wellcommed us when we were descending down again- a bit frightening not to know where to end...
Next stop was a big private botanical garden- I`ve already forgot the name, but it is located near to Table hill on the west. Lovely when there had been bult/gardened most of all the plants around Africa. I`m not so sure about facts, but it was relaxing to walk around and just let Your eyes swipe over the surroundings!
Then there were the pinguins, only ones who exist in South Africa
"The African penguin is only found on the south-western coast of Africa, living in colonies on 24 islands between Namibia and Algoa Bay, near Port Elizabeth, South Africa.[1] It is the only penguin species that breeds in Africa and its presence gave name to the Penguin Island.
Two colonies were established by penguins in the 1980s on the mainland near Cape Town, namely Boulders Beach near Simon's Town and Stony Point in Betty's Bay. Mainland colonies likely became possible only in recent times due to the reduction of predator numbers, although the Betty's Bay colony has been attacked by leopards.[13][14] The only other mainland colony is in Namibia, but it is not known when it was established.
Boulders Beach is a tourist attraction due to the beach, swimming and the penguins.[15][16] The penguins will allow people to approach them as close as a meter.
Breeding populations of African penguins are being kept in numerous zoos worldwide. No colonies are known outside the southwestern coast of Africa, although vagrants (mostly juveniles) may occasionally be sighted beyond the normal range." source: Wikipedia
Lunch - a bit late so "fish and chips " were just fine but not as delicious as the meals we`ve have had earlier...
A short cut to this most southern point of Cape Town- among many other tourists this time. Then nearest "fast track" back to town and a very interesting meeting with a native - with British parents- English teacher, Bruce Fereday, from a private international school. I think he was prepared for a about one hours presentation, and we all listeners were nearly exhausted, but when we get into a nice discussion there seemed to be no end...Also about apartheid and a lots of politics-there will be a election next year- and about how money just "disappears" on its way to different need. Corruption and also meanless buroucracy.
Day 4 -Friday still a day in Cape Town and visting Robben Island - best known as the jailisland where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years.
The circumstances were awful- the prisoners had to work under the hot sun without any meanings to protect themselves, and skinscores were casual. There were also different cathegories for different prisoners- in the pic below could stay 20-30 men sleeping on madrasses on the floor. The guy who guided us around had himself been a political prison during 1960:ees
Nelson Mandelas cellroom.
I admire this man who gave up his own freedom for his race and human rights. If You anymore can talk about any race?
When left the island, we had Table Mountain in front of our sight.The boattrip took about 30 minutes. I asked why we had to show identitycards before embarking- no "secret service", but to be sure that everyone can be recognised in case of shipswrack etc. The wind can be suddenly strong sometimes. Huh.
After a self payed fast lunch at "New York bagel"-café (cheap and delicious) we had another tour around the theme "apartehaid" at museum "District six". Our local guide had herself as a child must left her home with her parents to a place outside town so her story was a bit heartbreaking of course- now already an elderly lady, but I might be a bit cynic when my thoughts after one hour listening were more like "hey, go on live, don´t fall back on self-pity anymore" Things have change, of course, since that, but stupid is that, the area called district 6 wasn´t immediately rebuilt, and isn´t still, even if it was hurried to get the coloured people out of there. Of course, time will golden all memories, but I can imagine how that society with inhabitants in "mixed colours" was a well secure and calm place for many different people. The communality spirit had been high!
After this "scent of Apartheid-history" we had a time
of shopping in a quite exclusive shoppingcenter, but
though the prices were reasonable even I found a pair of colourful trousers and a shirt.
No pictures of that- it is not included the course!
Later in the evening - last dinner in Cape Town - superfood again!
Next morning start for a wine tasting day- oh my Good- haven´t before been drunk already after midday!!!
Day 5 Sunday
On our way early in the morning with more or less full backpacks and suitcases...
Heading towards Hermanus on the southern coastline but via Winelands and a LOT OF winetasting opportunites and purchases also. As "typical Finnish people-also Paul who learnt well Finnish manners- nobody spotted away anything of those good wines we were tasting! The journey begun by a local train to Rickety Bridge, and after the first tasting back to the little village and next place...
Up to the nose,
down to the toes.
Nobody knows,
only you know where it goes.
(Tiina had written down a poem
she saw somewhere around)
Hermanus late in the evening -such a nice place with an open fire and the atmosphere from some of Agatha Christies´novels... -And must again put a foodpic- despite all drinking we had de facto some lunch also...or was it dinner??? I can´t remember...
ought to be a "whale watching day", but already on Sunday Greg had informed us about the weather forecast- rainy and a bit stormy- no idea to go out on the sea; our trip was cancelled. Ari, our tour leader, had had discussions with Greg about what we could have done instead- after all, Hermanus was a spot chosen by the opportunity of whalewatching.. Finally, we all get together about a seven kilometer long naturewalk along the seaside and everything went well...except lacking communication skills among teachers.... It was decided, that Greg and Johann could pick up later those, who didn´t want to walk back by the same path again, but some discussion about when and exactly where we had forgot to discuss about!
So there was some misunderstandings about places and time and then tired walkers and beginning rain during our small tour.. . -
Tässä saimme kaikki hyvän muistutuksen siitä, miten informaatio ei aina oppilaillakaan mene perille kun se näytti olevan vaikeaa opettajienkin joukosssa! Toista, toista ja toista sekä pyydä kertomaan ääneen annetut ohjeet uusiksi - ihan yksinkertaisia asioita mitkä näköjään meiltä pääsi unohtumaan Puhumattakaan siitä, ettei kaikki aina muista keskittyä kuuntelemaan ....
Luckily everything ended well- Johann had to pick up us teachers in two different times- but then it rested plenty of time before dinner to take a look at the small town and make some shoppings- it seemed to be a center for diving sports , too.
Mitä opitaan tästä- vaikka kaikkien mielipiteitä kuunnellaan ja huomioidaan, on lopullinen päätösvalta löydyttävä yhdeltä henkilöltä jotta aikataulut ja tapaamispaikat löytyisivät...Whatsapp oli varsin yödyllinen yhteydenpitoväline tälläkin kertaa, mutta netin käytössä on huomioitava katvealueet ja yhteys puhelinverkon kautta kun hotellin verkko ei yletä.Kaikki pitivät kuitenkin toisistaan huolta, ja koska tiedossa oli Pirittan liikunnantarve, hän sai rauhassa taivaltaa reilun mailin verran, muiden tyytyessä alle kympin vaellukseen. Kun liikutaan pienissä ryhmissä, opitaan tuntemaan ja vastaamaan kaveristakin!
Out of Cape town - more safe to move around, but all the properties had big, often electric fences, and on our walk we met some "rangers" - a sort of securitas who where there to keep the environment safe. We did´t met lot of walkers, but as I already said- our journey was "out of season"
Then we had dinner again- at a kind of cave nearby
the water. DAY 7, Tuesday Next day a few hours drive, finally over a mountain with fantastic views, and then stop by a big Ostrich-farm.
Fact about ostriches were given by a lady, who´s name I luckily forgot, after we had had our lunch- very wisely on same plate a tiny, too well made, dry beef of hens, and then a big, delicious piece of osrtich-meet. Not difficult to compare...
*the eggs, which are laid, are put into an incubator, and the mothers look after their children when they are eclosed. *some of the birds lives 15-25 years, but those which are meant for food, will be sent to slaughter in an age of 12-15 months. *an ostrich weights about 100kg as ready for slaughter, but an adult can be up to 170kg *You get 40-45kg meet from one animal *In Africa lives three different types of Ostriches. *Their eyes weights more than their brains; which weight appr.40-50grams...
Safari Ostrich farm in Outsdoorn was opened to public 1956 and they breed about 1500 bird per year, normally there is aprx 600-700 birds on the farm
The eggs are as strong as nearly 100kg could stay on them...It is a piece of work for the chicken to get out also, so thats one reason why they put the eggs in the incubator. The ostrich often lays eggs every one-and-then, so when she finally decides to lay on the eggs, most of them might already be rotten.
Tämä paikka oli eläintieteellisesti ja taloudellisesti kiinnostava kohde- onhan strutsifarmeja muutama Suomessakin. Kestävää kehitystä lie myös se, että eläimestä käytetään lihan lisäksi sulat ja nahka.
Next stop was a world heritage place (natural wonders of the world)- the Cango caves in the same district. One of the oldest mountains around and huge caves, were they had concerts until 1960:s - people breathing, moving around and even picking some of the rare stones to their own collections-was enough to shut down this entertainement. But tourists are still available to go on conducted tours around the caves; it took us a bit less than one hour to get around with the local guide.
This day we were a bit late from our schedules all the time- I think someone else than Johann had made the bus timetables, because even if he drove well and quite fast without any trafficproblems, the time just passed too fast. We reached Knysna and our lodgement after 19 and then had a lovely dinner again- and then a good sleep after a tiresome day!
Day 8, Wednesday
The schools were out, or then having their last tests, so unluckily we could´t pay a visit to any "normal" school, but instead we went to the township located a way up on the hill with a fantastic view over the town and the bay. Our guide and her friend were doing some kind of missionary work för poor children whose parents are not able to take care of them and their school properly. We got a short lesson about how the gouvernement takes part in buildning the township and bit by bit getting electricity and clean water over all. Interesting prospects, and the biggest problem seem to be money that disappeares and the bureocracy which takes time.......Then we had tge opportunity to take a look at school facilities- seven pupils- and the children served us some tea while we had a lesson in Xhosa- the third most spoken language in South Africa.
vieuw over Knysna
Xhosa, which is spoken by 16% of South Africans, seems not to be a very easy language, but we had our lesson...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Air2xeBdAag5mXtQ6
Drums, song, repetition, joyfulness and hope for the future without any affectation- that attitud took us teachers to another world...
Täällä tuli ehkä todistettua se, mikä opetuksessa eniten merkitsee- koko sydämmellä tekeminen - ei ole välineistä tai rahasta kiinni kun tahtoa löytyy. Positiivinen ja iloinen asenne saa myös oppilaat mukaan, ja näitä pieniä jännitti selvästi tämän ison opeseurueean ilmaantuminen heidän nurkkiinsa mutta hyvin he vetivät! Asiat eivät ole sen isompia tai vaikeampi kuin miksikä ne tehdään!
-Containers are used in many ways- here is a hairdresser, and here they sell tools
In the small supermarket a lot of nutritives were packed into small pieces - cause of the lower price it will always give a possibility to have a meal every day.
Dogs, cats , hens and even cows were vandering free around the streets, owned by somebody and complitely tame. Did´t saw any lame or sick dogs or other animals.
I asked about the cows- yes, they do know where they live and where to go for getting milked and fed and have a shelter for the night. They told us, that normal milkingtime in the evening was when people got home from work- then the cows entered also..
Something a bit confusing was the african way to not take care about the surroundings at all- rubbish left all over, and even inside the houses things were a little dizorganised - even worse than at my place sometimes...But then a look at the
people- net and tidy clothing, cleaniness and healthy children . This is something I remarked in the suburbs of Gambia also, ten years ago. Still a mystery for me.
When we left, after having a nice lunch in a private, hospitality home, we saw that schools were out- they had been finishing during the day with last tests. School uniforms stand for equality- no one is better dressed than any other.Could be an idea here also?Then, after a 30 min drive , we went to an elephant park- so yes, now we feel like Africa!!! Here is our team again- that grey hill-looking background concists of three elephants...
To be continued- day 9, Thursday, will open a new page
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