High School Confidential

The tour group we have chosen - "Drifters" - is based in South Africa and uses local guides and their own lodges and camps.  They also support the next generation and have chosen a school in Zuzuland not far from their False Bay lodge, so that groups are able to visit and donate to the cause.

We were there in their last week of holidays, but some of the high school graduation class were there to do extra study, and to perform for the tourits.

The school  itself is a series of long low buildings, with classrooms having their own door to the outside.  Many windows are cracked and broken, and walls are peeling paint over cememt blocks.  Razor wire rings the school, and the play grounds are full of broken glass and strewn plastic.

But rooms are a reasonable size, and most children sit at a desk, although some were on benches and shared a table.  A large blackboard held mathematical calculations related to business: the difference between mortgages and loans, what microfinancing was, what to include in a business plan.  The teacher was a large man with a calm face in a timy gentle smile.  I get the feeling he has no other expression.  The students noisily talk over each other, tease, laugh, taunt, joke.  Every once in a while, the teacher uses his hands and voice for calm (it's never completely quiet)

We are to stand at the front and introduce ourselves after which we all receive applause.  I get a significant amount of cheering when I say I am married to Martin and that we work together, but I really got a cheer where I said my birthday is the same as Nelson Mandela's.  I admit that I had a feeling it would get a response, otherwise I would not have mentioned it. For once I was willing to just enjoy a quiet birthday with no big deal attached, but somehow here I felt it was a positive thing.

Other particularly enthusiastic cheers came when our German woman said she was a social worker (does any other population value social workers as much?) and to our young Austrian, who is a little younger than these students and so more or less a "peer".

Then it was our turn to sit and be entertained by their singing.  Suddenly this ragtag clutch of teenagers, some in their uniform and others not, came forth with strong voices in harmony, unaccompainied and untimed.  It was wonderful.  At one point they did a little repetitive dance and two students shyily came forward and enticed their Austrian counterpart to join them,  It was very sweet and nice to have our youngest group member made something of.  Two proud parents and three enthusiastic travel partners clapped along. Then photos, hugs and cheers before we leave them to their students and make a donation for their future.  For further information, contact Drifters:
http://www.drifters.co.za/displayCustomLink.aspx?name=DriftersContact