Lost...no, Found in Translation

Ni hao

I have been tutoring a friend in English. His name is Qiao Ming, he's 29, from China and works at a grocery shop. He has a program on his laptop that translates Chinese and English (the translations are pretty funny in English so I can imagine what he thinks I'm saying in Chinese). I also have a Sesotho tutor & Qiao Ming knows a little Sesotho so its interesting to watch us both speak in second languages to do lessons. He has taught me some Chinese phrases (Wo hen hao, I am fine, Qiao Ming zai na li? where is Qiao Ming? and etc)

I have to say that one of my favorite experiences so far is communicating with people who know little English, mainly the caretaker at the farm and Qiao Ming. I find no feeling of frustration that they don't know my language and I hope they aren't aggrevated that I don't know Chinese and Sesotho (though I am slowly learning both). I think they sometimes want to run and just find a translator, for instance Qiao Ming broke his computer so he thought we shouldn't do lessons this week, but I convinced him that we could work it out. It's an all around humbling experience because it's a combination of charades and picture books and patience. I truly take joy in the experience, and everytime I leave he says "bye bye teacher" and I say "zai jian!"

Speaking of which, last Sat my translator wasn't there again for children's classes. It's much more difficult when talking about God and virtues with 18+ kids but we made it work. We did the lesson on trust and truthfulness, I literally said -we're speaking about trust and it's important to speak in truth and don't lie-, because that was pretty much the extent of my Sesotho when it comes to complex topics. Still, the lesson was effective, we did drawing and the trust fall. I had one kid stand on a big trashcan and all the others linked arms to catch them (i'm sure you are familiar with this) so everyone got a chance to go. The funniest thing is I didn't let them look behind them, I just said 1,2,3 and told them to fall, expecting them to be fearless (of course I made sure all arms were locked before I counted) and then the kids said "you go, you go!" And I'm said, no I'm too big -because the kids are around 10 and younger- but they were insisting, so I got up there and they counted 1,2,3!!!

... and GOODNESS ME, I was so scared lol. I was like I'm sorry I can't do it. Of course I contemplated how can I teach these beautiful young believers about trust and not act on it, but that trashcan was higher than I thought lol. So I had the largest boy go (again) and then made sure everyone was there to catch me. I got back up there, put my arms to my side and fell straight back (b/c I had learned from watching that if you sit into the fall it makes it worse)

... and they caught me! from head to toe. What a great reminder of how you can be a student and a teacher. A punk and a prophet, so to speak.

The other wonderful news is that I started my dance club at the office!! Whoop, whoop. And they thought it couldn't be done (I don't know who they are but I'm just saying I wasn't getting much support lol). I went to the local highschool and invited 12th graders to come afterschool and perform in the Talent Show. Now I have 8 dancers, we are dancing to Face Drop by Sean Kingston. I have a few more acts too: 2 poets, a rapper, 3 models, another dance, and a singer. So if I can find a way to borrow a mic and speakers (for free), the 11th of April will be the "Ke rata bophelo!" talent show "I love life!" Wish it luck!! Stopping by the highschool and showing some dance and rap was a little bittersweet because it got me some great acts but also made this kind of fan buzz so when I try to stop by there now, the youth crowd around me and ask me can we play a game or when they see me around town they want to touch my stuff and be my friend and tell me that they love me. Of course I don't mind having conversations with them but it can get overwhelming and I feel very unworthy of the attention. (My friends are saying... what, Andrea, you love attention!! lol yeah but hey I like to earn it)

I haven't been teaching much lately because it's almost Easter break and the kids have had end of semester exams. I'm hoping to do a teacher workshop at each school so I can tell them the methods and games I have been using. Break is April 1-6 and shortly after I'll be moving. It's even more sad now that I have a dance club and really getting comfortable here but on to new adventures I guess. Lihlahleng advised me to start with dance right away at Butha Buthe so I have longer to connect with youth my age.

Besides having a stomach ache this has been a GREAT week, I got some good news from my sissy Liz and an emotive email from my mummy. People have been asking for pictures, they are no longer loading to my blog so maybe I will send them to facebook or wait it out.

I'm feeling renewed, maybe because of the Baha'i New Year. In that spirit, this is the short poem I wrote while in Maseru for Naw Ruz (New Year)

Naw Ruz

Today is the new beginning
Today is the Savior's song
Today is the Promise of Peace
My children, don't you be alarmed
while we set ourselves aflame by the fire of His loving charm

For today is the call
Today is bound only by His will
Today is renewing beauty in His scriptures
My children, tell me do you feel?
the crystal waters of His Fountain will no longer stand still

For today is the dawning of yesterday's hope
but only, my children,
if we make it so.

Tree Hugger with a Cherokee Mind

Happy Naw-Ruz (Baha'i New Year)

I had a splendid time in the "big city," Maseru. I went to the celebration, prayers and feast which were wonderful. Also got to spend more time with the artistic Baha'is that I just formally met my 1st week in Lesotho. I heard Neo Tau sing and play guitar which was beautiful and only wish Adam could have been there to give us the full effect (adamcrossleymusic.com). I have been talking to him through email though and he is so supportive in what I am doing. If you don't know the story of Adam I was his opening act at Tiny Planet (tinyplanetstudio.com) a month b4 my trip to Africa. We didn't know each other till sound check and found out mid concert that he spent a yr in Lesotho so then we had lots to talk about! One of my many confirmations about the trip here!
I hung with 'Me Lihlaleng's son Tsepo and told him that she is my best friend lol and met 2 producers and Mawetu again. We got to share a lot of poetry and it was such a great lift in spirits to get a small session with a dedicated poet. (http://www.thepoetryproject.co.za/) I don't have many poet friends as far as I know. I would like to have a little crew to share with so here's the first step toward that lol. He was equally happy with my pieces and offered to let me record some work next time (album in stores 2012? lol) so that is definitely on the "to-do" list! Also hung with Tau (Thato's little brother) and decided to go to a youth conference with him late April in Jo-berg South Africa, another thing to look forward to!!
I met up with Molontoa (soldier) and went to dinner. He is such a sweetheart. Again it amazes me that I only knew him 2 weeks before he moved away because you get to know people so much quicker in the mountains lol. Oh I also got offered a place to stay if I secure a job in Maseru. Wanda (a Baha'i) has an office that I could use at night and a really cute dog that could be my new best friend :)
Youth Centre hasn't really been helping with this dance thing and since I have only a month left in Mokhotlong before I go to Butha Buthe, then Berea, then Mohale's Hoek, I have taken matters into my own hands and going to have some dance and chorus meetings at my office after school and have a concert at the farm. So I'll keep you updated on that situation and please wish me luck! I was sad to even tell the kids here that I will be moving mid April..whew I get attached easily. I'm trying to have open arms to everything though I know I will miss it here, it feels like home. Speaking of home I have been really missing the two nieces and nephew lately and hope they are doing well. Thanks to Aaron, Jeph, Carol, and my students at PNI who sent me letters/packages that I just recieved!!
Ok to close, the session with Mawetu kicked me in the butt to finish and work on some new pieces. My favorite is my first draft of "Cherokee Mind"

Cherokee Mind by Andrea Hope
I'm a tree hugger
with a Cherokee Mind
so odd in this facade they think I'm lost in time
they call this life upgraded of the highest kind
but I don't get it
we'd find gold beneath our soles but only if we tread it
deeply
enough to know that riches only exist in Mother Earth's kisses
and wonder who decides a shiny rock is worth a million
if they could sell the sunset, they'd pay the clouds to start drilling

..and make a killing
so big mama
give props as you plant crops
and collect drops
of water from the river
they'll be tense when they sense
that we have redefined civil
call them silly, they'll be busy
tryna to price control living
got you feeling
like the green paper is worth more than the 50 yr old tree that made it
it's jaded
reclaim it
and plant a seed in rich foundation
knowing everything we need He gave us free in creation

Precision and Circumcision

Ho joang? (How is it?)

I have been reading and practicing more Sesotho and people have been taking notice so that makes me happy (ke thabile). This will be a short update.

The title is from a line in the Bible that I passed and thought was funny

"Circumcise the foreskin of your heart" Deuteronomy 10:16 (i know what is wrong with me)

Besides keeping up with scripture (i'm in Book of Joshua) I have been trying to be more precise in the manner of learning the language and incorporating English grammar in my lessons at school. As much as I like to be the fun teacher who brings new games (we did simon -well I called it- Mpho Says- this week and kids loved it), I also want to be a force of support and encouragement for their academics. Hence I only recieved 27 out of the 44 homework assignments I gave out so we couldn't play a game that day.

Yup I'm tougher than one of Martin's mama's biscuits! anyone... anyone?!!!

I got my hair braided in something like micros and its curly. Sorry but I couldn't deal with the in between growing thing my afro was doing. Sitting in the shop 2 days after work reminded me why I hate to get it braided but on the plus side it was 30 bucks.

Something else I forgot to mention that I LOVE about the area. I don't know what the population of gays and lesbians is because no one talks about it but I do know that their stigmas about male and female relationships are smaller. I will often see guys who are best friends holding hands, or sitting in each other's laps at a football game, and in the 7th grade class when I asked a boy to use pretty in a sentence; in an attempt to show that he was a man's man he said: The boys in Class 7 are very pretty. No one thought it was odd and I love that no one did.

"It may sound strange, this intuition, but I have found my sacred mission; to live in this world and still believe that there is one sky above, One Source of love, if I've got one chance, one choice, I'll sing from the heart, one song of one voice" Brandy, One Voice

With open arms and open heart,

spread hope,

Andrea Hope (Mpho Mapaseka)