Fun and Games

The weeks are now passing by in a blur, I can't believe we only have five more weeks working at Mitchell House (excluding holiday time). The last few days in the Junior class were fun, but as usual everyone had their hands full!

I'm finding it hard to think of things to talk about in these posts, as everything seems normal now. It's funny when somebody from outside the Enrichment Centre comes in for a day because everything seems highly unfamiliar to them, but we're so used to the routine and the children's quirks that anything considered 'abnormal' is a typical day for us. In fact, if a day was 'normal' we would consider it strange!

We've been very lucky to have extra hands over the past couple of weeks because an ex-gap student, Ellie, returned to see the kids. It's been great getting to know her and very interesting to hear how much has changed since she was here three years ago. What's especially encouraging is when she comments on how much certain children have progressed - grown in confidence, improved language abilities etc. Hearing that really makes us feel that we are making a positive difference to these children's lives.

As well as work this week, a lot of games have been played. On Thursday (our cooking day) we decided to join the Senior and Junior classes together and have a braai in the garden. The children cut up the vegetables and made a delicious salad while the teachers took care of the wors (sausages) on the fire. After everybody had eaten we played a couple of games with the classes - 'duck, duck, goose' and 'what's the time Mr Wolf'?' One of the girls in the Junior class couldn't grasp the 'goose' part of the first game, and would just shout DUCK again but extra loud when she wanted someone to chase her.

'What's the time Mr Wolf' was very funny. One person plays the wolf and stands facing a wall at the opposite side of the garden from everyone else. Then the group have to shout: WHAT'S THE TIME MR WOLF? and the wolf will answer something like... 5 O'CLOCK, meaning everybody has to take five steps towards the "wolf". This goes on until the wolf decides it's DINNER TIME and turns round and chases them back, trying to catch someone in the process. Whenever one of the kids played the wolf, they'd always turn round to chase everyone but then run away at the same time... So we'd have to explain that no, you're the wolf, nobody is chasing you.

As well as all that excitement I have also discovered the wonderfulness of raw honey straight from the hive. Kathryn and I both bought a jar each and sit on our beds eating it with a spoon. I disgust myself but I'm just channeling my inner Pooh Bear. Next week I'm in Seniors and it's only two and a half weeks until my family arrive. 

Have a good week!