The Internship

While completing our final semester in the Masters program at the UT School of Social Work, our roles at Botshabelo will be as Clinical Social Worker interns. There we will participate in therapeutic processes with children of all ages, as well as adults and families in the village that surrounds the orphanage. Though we are not quite sure what our days will look like...we are certain that our time in South Africa will be an incredible journey filled with joy, challenge, uncertainty, connection, learning, peace, laughter, sadness, and most importantly, growth.


About Botshabelo

The Cloete family started Botshabelo 20 years ago--out of the darkness of apartheid--where Con and Marian (the couple) spent their entire life's savings to care for the children of South Africa. Con and Marian, along with their three adult daughters, their partners, and their children, established Botshabelo as a place where about 150 children without families could have a place to belong. Ilene and Ayla will also call Botshabelo home for the next four months, living and working alongside these amazing individuals.
Since 1990, Botshabelo has worked to become a self-sustaining community and, more importantly, a place of safety and family to South Africa's AIDS orphans and economic orphans. The community includes an orphanage, school, village, medical clinic and organic farm.

To learn more about our new home, visit: www.botshabelo.org

Friday, March 19, 2010

South By South Africa

Ilene, Sarah and Jennifer met at the Johannesburg airport on Sunday afternoon. Sarah, after thirty hours of travel, looked like hell, especially her feet, which were swollen to a size 14. Jennifer had just arrived from an amazing trip to Cape Town and was ready to jump into Botshabelo. Ilene, shrieking from across the airport, ran up to Sarah and Jennifer and nearly knocked the wind out of them with a giant Ilene-esque BEAR HUG!!!! Ilene had brought Bongani on a birthday outing and managed to treat him to three orange Fantas, a burger and chips and two candy bars in the four hours to and from the airport.

As the three of us arrived at Botshabelo and settled into the spacious wooden flat, we could hardly believe it was all really happening. Ilene took Sarah and Jennifer on a tour and we met up with Ayla in the village. Together at last!!!


Top 30 Reasons Why this Week Has Been AWESOME:

30. Jennifer and Ilene making wishes at the Medicine Wheel that David and Nkosi become famous rappers.



29. “That was a DELICIOUS marshmellow,” said Tshepiso, hands outstretched for seconds.

28. Getting in for free at the caves and free parking at the Cradle of Human Kind because Joseph has connections. Oh ya!!!



27. Being connected through the umbilical cord of humanity...in the most beautiful place on earth.



PS: Can you see the elephant in the mountain?!?!



26. The thirty minute flat ride to the canopy tour, including stopping for petrol AND getting lost (usually an hour and a half trip). Joseph is a “good driver.”



25. Ilene drunk off one glass of wine, complete with random bursts of laughter and the spins.

(Note: Ilene is NOT drunk in this picture)



24. Six full meals a day. It’s the South African way.

23. Getting to know one another intimately (no bathroom door).

22. Ayla and Ilene knocking three things off the To-Do List…especially getting to the museum after trying every single weekend since they’ve been here.

21. Mr. BoJangles.



20. “SARAH’S NOT SINGING!!!” (At the bonfire we were divided into two teams to sing traditional Tswana songs and Sarah got called out for having no idea what was going on…by a four year old.)



19. Being forced to dance…in the circle …one at a time…in front of EVERYONE.

18. Jennifer’s mad group facilitation skills and the bracelets that resulted.



17. Gopalong, Gopalong, and more Gopalong: the cutest short-attention spanned six year old who likes to hit and hug you’ll ever meet.



16. Sarah’s outrageously good and Jennifer’s outrageously bad volleyball skills.

15. The ant colony that formed in the bathroom after leaving soaking pots overnight.

14. Sarah’s and Ilene’s poor choice of clothing for the canopy tour (aka “The Bunch).





13. Evening tea with the Cloete family: learning the kids’ stories, Botshabelo’s story, Marion’s story and a few speculations about Jennifer’s and Sarah’s stories.

12. Totally skipping out on the work part of volunteer work at the Lion and Rhino park, thanks to Joseph oversleeping and traffic. Whoops! Sorry! ;)

11. Ilene and Ayla going native, cooking several traditional South African meals.

10. Finding our soul mates!!! Sarah’s was a an old man vulture, Jennifer’s was a cat missing an eye, Ayla’s was a hungry rat, and Ilene, well, Ilene is still searching…

9. Sticky thumb.



8. Sarah and Jennifer getting the most amazing Botshabelo Welcome Party, featuring five million children jumping all over them, shaking hands, hugging, climbing, screaming their names, showing off their playground skills, and trying on their sunglasses.



7. The miracle of the productive carrot bran muffin; like Hanukkah, it lasted EIGHT days.

6. An amazingly smooth St. Patrick’s Day bash that all came together an hour before it started.



5. “Your hands are no match for my balls!” “Woman, woman, WOMAN!!!” “Yes, Sarah, smack it, Ilene, yes, go!, Ayla, perfect, Jennifer, aaaarrrrgggg!!!”
- Luke, The Volleyball Soundtrack



4. Chocolate-covered rice cakes, the vegan and gluten-free dessert: two for the price of one!

3. Staying up way too late doing paint therapy.

2. Petting lion cubs to sleep on our laps after being charged, scratched and bitten.













And…the number one reason that this week was AWESOME:

#1: “Thanks Jennifer, Sarah, Ilene and Ayla!” … “Pleasure!”

Love,
Short Fast & Easy, Toilet, Glitter Butt and Nechama Sticky Thumb.
(guess who’s who…)
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