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| Cooking samp |
Monday, May 21, was the second to the last service day for all of us. While we were planning special "good-byes" at each of the sites for Tuesday, the students viewed Monday as bittersweet. It would be a 'regular' volunteer day, yet their hearts were filled with sadness at the prospect of leaving.
Jim and I had planned to spend most of our morning at Missionvale and House. Our service learning coordinator from NMMU was visiting those two sites that morning, and we were planning to accompany her.
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| All the teachers wore traditional Xhosa clothing! |
We stopped briefly at Pendla to drop off a few items for Tuesday's event. One of the teachers was in the small shed cooking samp in a huge pot! "Oh!" she said. "
You have done so much for our school. We have planned a surprise for you. You were not to see this yet!"
Needless to say, Jim and I came back to Pendla later in the morning for our "surprise."
It turns out the Pendla teachers and learners had planned the surprise party for us and our students for over a week. Every one of the learners had kept it a complete secret!
Our students were still in the classrooms volunteering. When they saw Jim and me, they said: "
It's Xhosa day. Many of the students are wearing Xhosa outfits." We said, "
It's not Xhosa day. They are doing this for all of you."
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| Our students were surprised! |
We were so touched by all they did. During the morning, the children and teachers sang. They danced. And, gave lots of hugs!
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| The learners sang and danced |
They then took us all into another room where they had laid out the traditional African meal they had just cooked. Being the good teachers that they are, they had written the Xhosa word for each of the dishes so that we could learn!
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| Roasted buns |
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| A yummy pumpkin dish |
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| I love this spinach dish! |
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| I passed up the tripe! (stomach lining) |
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The Pendla learners wearing
traditional white and black Xhosa clothing |
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Beads actually came later historically,
but Oh! are they pretty now. |
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| I get a beaded bracelet, too. |
Mrs. Peter presented both Jim and me with an African bracelet. She said, "
Please remember us." How could we ever forget?
It turns out the Pendla teachers and learners had planned the surprise party for us and our students for over a week. Every one of the learners had kept it a complete secret!
They then took us all into another room where they had laid out the traditional African meal they had just cooked. Being the good teachers that they are, they had written the Xhosa word for each of the dishes so that we could learn!
Beautiful, touching story.
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