Kunjani?, Ngiyaphila!

"Kunjani?"My new good friend Siphokazi, asked me a couple days ago at work in Project Gateway, when I came into see her. My first thought was oh dear, what does that mean again? But she quickly reminded me. Kunjani means, how are you? and she helped me again with my response of "ngiyaphila", meaning I am fine, in Zulu. All of you wanting to know how do you say the response, don't remember as I am typing the word and not actually verbally saying the response. So, all of you followers of my blog, "Kunjani?"

This week has been an week of feeling a little down and up. Tuesday, I went to work not feeling like working, and I seemed to be feeling tired still and I had forgotten a binder of research material at the Alty's where I'm still currently staying. I was first in the computer room but a few minutes later Becky, the volunteer/teams person at Gateway, came in and turned on the wireless Internet connection, and then Siphokazi, came into work. We chatted for about 15mins and all of a sudden the power went. We soon learned that all of Gateway was out of power! But at 10am that morning we proceeded to our scheduled HR meeting for us volunteers with or without power. This HR meeting was pretty much just a recap of my HR college course years and years ago! After the meeting was done, some of us sat outside and hung out and waited for the power to come back on. The few of us chatted, and the thought occured to me, wait a sec, I should try and use some of this time to learn a few words in Zulu, so I turned and ask Siphokazi, "Can you teach me a little Zulu?" I haven't found any Zulu classes yet, and I had asked some of the girls at Gateway if they could teach me a little, which they replied the could sometime. So no better a moment than this was going to be like the present! So I got out my little black notebook Mrs. Bennet gave me at the school, and flipped to the back page and handed over to Siphokazi, to start writing down a few words. So she started writing down a word and then say it and have me repeat it. Yebo - Yes, Cha-No, Sawubona-Hello, and so on. Vuyo, the gate entrance guard was sitting with us, and he thought I should also learn some Zulu slang, and he proceeded on teaching me one, which I can't remember, hehe! Siphokazi, was called away, so I was left with Vuyo, to teach me a little! Which he thought that I needed to know the word Imoto-Car in Zulu, and then I asked him a couple words. Vuyo, also thought it would be great fun to play a joke and try and convince me there is a ghost that lives in the one cell block that the volunteer teams stay in while they are there. Notty Vuyo, but I still am enjoying to getting to know you!
Before Vuyo, could teach me too many more words, Sipohazi called out to me to come into the tourism office where a bunch of staff people were gathered practicing some songs for Friday night. September 24, this Thursday, is Heritage Day in SA. And on Friday evening Project Gateway, is planning a Prison History night at the Gateway Chapel. So, again here at Gateway, I was able to enjoying their singing. I love listening and singing along with the people here on Friday, morning chaple services. While they were practicing I asked them about, their Zulu dancing, which they had no problem taking turns dancing for me. Sipohazi, Pretty, Pinky and the other's there all did a short individual dance, all a little different than each others. So much fun was had, while we waited for the power to return. After they were done planning and practicing their songs, we left and met up with some of the other staff sitting outside the Gateway Cafe, called O.P.C. (Old Prison Cafe). By about 12:30 pm, we were told by Mthoko (one of the in charge people), we could go home since we still had no power, Yeah!!
After I got home from work, I realized that God had planned Tuesday, for me to take time to get to know the people I work with better. He knew that desperatly needed the company of new friends and to feel more at home there. Later that nigh, I ended up going out to a student group gathering at the near by Cornerstone Church, I had met a girl their last Sunday and she invited me to this student group gathering on Tuesday. I was hessitant at first, and Joan, had incouraged me to go and after the day at work, I knew and I felt I must go. I need to get myself out there into groups.
Up coming activities for me this week: 1.Thrusday the 24, Gateway Christain School's Fun Walk Fundraiser, 2. Friday the 25, Prison History Night at Gateway 3. Flower show, 4. Move sometime!

Salakahle (Goodbye or Stay well)
Signing off from PMB