My New Sunday Funday

My New Sunday Funday

So today was a interesting and very good day! I started off waking up early ( house was still locked) TGFB (thank god for buckets) Started off with a nice morning trip to my bedroom bucket! Then it was time to do wash! Martha Stewart eat your heart out! You've got nothing on me with my bar of soap and tub of water. I was very determined to get my clothes super clean and all stains out! It took a lot of elbow grease but I was very satisfied with how well my laundry came out. All by hand took a good amount of time. While hanging my laundry all the little kids were watching me (they also watched me wash it...laughing a lot) This really made me regret bringing my thongs :/ but oh well. Cultural exchange I guess...the little boys now know what kind of underwear and bras american girls wear! I did ask my host mom first if it was okay to hang my bra and panties outside and she said no problem...so I did! Then I cleaned my hut. I just cannot clean enough here! I clean down my table and sweep every day. And i've started scrubbing my floor on my hands and knees. This experience is gonna make me such a good house wife! I guess when all you have to do is clean u take pride in how clean ur house is...also there is sooo much dirt and cow poo everywhere ya just kinda have to clean often.

Then it was time to get clean up before going to church with Violet my coordinator at the HBC. However, my youngest brother ntivo saw me walking to the house with my towel and stopped playing with his friends and ran into the bathroom to bathe! Hahahaha I thought this was funny sooo something my real brother would have done! Beat me to the bathroom. So I went and read and waited for him to be done. Then I cleaned the tub and bathed. (following two little boys that play in the dirt a lot the tube is covered in mud and dirt I have to clean it a lot...but they are great kids!)

Next was ZCC Kereke (pronounced ZetCC and kereke means church). I had to cover all my arms, head and legs. I really want to learn how to tie a scarf pretty. All the women here wear them so beautifully I want someone to teach me. But I did it...it looked okay but it can book better! When violet picked me up I had a shirt that ended about 2 inches before my wrist...she made me but a longer sweater on to cover the skin that was showing. We got into her car to drive to the church. Her 13 year old son was driving!!! Yep! Actually he did very well and most women in my village well actually all the women in my village dont drive. My host mom is learning but she stalls out a lot! (its all stick here). If a family has a car the man drives. Also I dont think drives licenses are such a big deal...you just kinda drive if u want to. (Driving in SA is scary. Not only is it on the other side but speed limits, stop signs...u dont have to follow them. They are more just suggestions. Not to mention the dirt roads are bumpy and scary enough)

The church was very welcoming! The pastor welcomed me and had someone translate most of the service so I could understand which was super nice and the first time any church has done that for me (i've gone to 4 different churches in SA) The women sit on the ground, the men in chairs. They also separate into two groups before to sing. This church has profits...which are kinda weird/eccentric. They cry, yell out, shake etc. They kneel down, clap their hands loudly and with hangs clapped point toward you (if they get a vision or prophecy about you) and take u away to another area of the church to tell u this. The translator came with me and violet. They explained I could take the prophecy or choice not to and that it was up to me. We got on our hands and knees in a circle and she prayed for me and told me my prophecy. Basically, I am going to suffer because of my menstruation and I will have a intestinal sickness from it. (which is actually true...my period makes me have diarrhea and vomit). She said I must drink Toko tea with a pinch of salt and fish oil for 3 days. Then we went back to the service. She clapped at me AGAIN. She had someone write my prophecy down for me this time! Also at church a little girl walked by me saw me stopped and stared for about 10 minutes! Haha she was shocked to see a white person. Also the church is outside under a tree...which is kinda beautiful they pray under a single tree. The bathroom is bushes. I took pics/video of this all! Still cant figure out how to get it on here so its on FB.

Just a typical sunday in my vil (short for village). Oh how my sundays have changed! This evening, I am blogging, folded laundry, helped ntivo with his english homework, study language, read and go to bed! Oh and obviously drinking a TON of tea!

Also fun fact, its totally normal now for me to use my bra as my purse. Money, cellphone, key to house all go in it. Its just a safe place and always there. All the other women to it. Its just natural now.


So all in all great day! Might not sound like much but i learned and got to see alot! Everyday has new surprises!