Zandile Day 2

Today was frustrating.

When we arrived Zandile was eating her lunch, which took quite long, because she does not use her teeth to chew, so each spoon of mixed veg and rice took about 5 minutes to be swallowed. There was however a glimmer of hope when the moment she saw us she lifted her hands in recognition.

Then came the typical after lunch sluggishness when we could see Zandile was tired, and she had very little interest in playing or doing anything. She also experienced quite a few spasms, which were making it difficult for us to hold her upright.

To top it off I was exhausted and had not sat down since 7.30 this morning so all I wanted was my bed. This probably explains why I was getting annoyed with Zandile's very sweet caregiver who seemed to be hovering and not allowing us to really interact with Zandile.

No time spent with her is a waste, but today was definitely on the 'not so great' list.

But we persevere.

 

My 5 seconds of ninja

Myself and two of my friends were doing some evening shopping on Friday night thinking we were going to have an awesome, relaxed night. 

We had parked just outside the door and as were were walking back to the car, hands full of groceries, our relaxed mood changed somewhat.

Suddenly I was pushed on the shoulder and felt someone tugging at my purse which was tucked under my arm. In a blurred moment I was screaming and then my reflexes kicked in. I swung the 5 litre bottle of water in my hand up towards him, not even sure if I hit him, but it seemed to scare him off. He then proceeded to laugh in my face and walk straight back to the door to wait for the next person. Luckily at that very moment a policeman was walking out the store and he was able to take him away. We then proceeded to burst out laughing, I guess from the shock .

The scarier thing was that no one even blinked an eyelid at the whole scene and the security guards situated right outside were unperturbed by the whole thing and didn't even care that he went straight back to the door. Has this type of petty crime become so normal that security guards might as well be statues and anyone  not wearing a uniform can just walk on by, glad it wasn't them. This whole situation has been a real wake up call. While I was always wary of crime in Grahamstown I have now experienced it first hand and my guard is up and life goes on. 

 

Zandile: Day 1

Nerves and excitement consumed me as 2pm ticked closer and closer. Today was the first day I would be working with Zandile. You might wonder why this should be so nerve racking, but picture being presented with a child who can hardly move and can't express herself to tell you what she wants, and you have to come up with exercises to help her and spend an hour with her in almost complete silence.

We spent the hour lying on the floor with her as she got used to us. I had thought a little about what to do with her and realised that she does most of her exploring with her hands. I dug in my stationary draw and grabbed things of different shapes and textures to try and give her a tactile experience. So like Mary Poppins I pulled out a tube of Pritt, a role of sellotape, a small empty box and my glasses protective box.

With each item she would flinch away as she felt it for the first time, but slowly she persisted and eventually her tiny hands curled around the Pritt and followed the curves of the sellotape. This may seem small, but when you think that it was probably the first time she had ever felt something like that and that she has just started using her hands it's pretty awesome.

This was a good start. You can't expect miracles on the first day or even for the next few weeks or maybe ever, but every moment that Zandile can be positively stimulated is never a wasted moment.

Now I'm going to sound a little cheesy, but being exposed to Zandile and the life she lives has made me incredibly grateful for what I have, because even if I was born with cerebral palsy I would be given a thousand more opportunities than Zandile has been given. It just makes this project so much more rewarding, which sounds a little selfish when you think about it, but at least I'm not sitting back and doing nothing. Every small act could be making a huge difference to someones life.

Day one complete, ideas and work just beginning.

Surprise!!

My friend Ange turned 21...this means a PARTY! But she didn't want to plan one and decided she wasn't going to have one. Enter Cath. I couldn't pass on the opportunity to plan a party and make it a surprise. The mission started with an ordinary Facebook event. Then one brave soul  offered to get Ange to the Botanical Gardens with the idea that she was going be the model of a photo-shoot for a photojourn portfolio. Little did she know that hiding around the corner was a group of people waiting patiently to shower her with love. The whole day we were dodging questions and telling a few white lies to organise the party without her suspecting a thing. This just made it that much more exiting. So exciting in fact that we forgot to close our car boot which resulted in us being hooted at all the way up Somerset street, but we made it and the stage was set.

She had no idea. The surprise was a success and it seems we have made her day. That's a great feeling. Mission complete. Pictures to follow.

The meeting

So on Tuesday I got to meet the child I will be working with in the Masibambane project. This was not the child I mentioned before as he has fallen out the project. Instead I will now be working with a 19 year girl called Zandile. She has severe cerebral palsy and is about the size of a 5 year old. She gets serious spasms and cannot walk. Since she has started therapy she can now use her hands and is beginning to recognize voices and activities. My partner and I were able to spend a few minutes with her is her home and we were immediately shown her difficult life. Her mother has died and she lives in a relative's house with a caregiver. There are many other children in the house, but Zandile is left in another room and does not get the chance to interact with the others. The caregiver is not professionally trained and battles to understand Zandile's needs. I'm nervous and excited to be working with her. It is definitely going to be a challenge, but I have many ideas floating around my head. We start work with her on Monday.   

On the road again

Well that "holiday" just flew by. I'm off to varsity again and it really makes me feel like I'm living two completely separate lives, one at home with my family and school friends and one in Grahamstown. Now I'm not saying I'm a completely different person, but I certainly live very differently.

At home there is nothing like cuddling with your dog on the couch all day watching crazy people on TLC or old romantic comedies and the Ellen show of course (my favourite). And the thought of getting all dressed up to 'go out' is just strange. Maybe that just because I live a small town where the closest thing we have to a club is a sokkie bar where unless you are gifted in the art of lang-arm there really is no point. My friends and I would rather get together and have a braai than go somewhere where we can't even hear each other speak.

At Rhodes on the other hand, if I'm not running around with academic and other extra-mural activities then I'm dressing up and attempting to have a good time with friends surrounded by 100 other people I don't know. This can be awesome don't get me wrong, but when a weekend tires you out more than the week, then whats the point.

I love both my lives and I really feel I have two homes, but it has made realise how 'coolness' is most definitely a culturally defined term. At home I'm no less cool because I choose to spend my Friday night at home with friends or family, yet at varsity it feel as if having a quiet Friday night is lame and boring. What makes one thing 'cooler' than the other? Why should meaningless activities define our social standing?

This is a frequently asked question and one that has bothered me since I have been called lame and uptight because I don't go out every Friday and I have no more than one drink a night and I don't care for making out with strangers, but sit down and have a conversation with me and all of a sudden I'm just as cool as anyone else.

I guess this is a personal struggle and I'm sure (or at least I hope) many people struggle with it two. We all just need to come up with our own Idea of "cool".