Clowns Without Borders - USA

October

Volunteers: Jamie, Alice, Selena and James (Logistician)

Journals from Alice and Jamie below in reverse chronological order.
-Selena’s Journal is on her blog page

Journal

Jamie’s Journal
Received Oct 25th, 2006

October 20, 2006 – Malealea, Lesotho

Hotso ea morena
E beteng hara rona,
Hotso ea morena
E beteng hara rona.

Voices ring out in harmony echoing in the bare community hall. “May you live in peace. May peace be with you.” We move through the room shaking hands with each other to the rhythm of the Basotho farewell song. Eyes meeting eyes. People seeing the other see them. A connection of recognition and thanks. It is our final day here in Malealea. Our residency with Khalameng Bohlasa, or Eradicating Negligence, the community elected drama group has come to a close after five days teaching, sharing, and learning. The group was assembled in July by the community and the Malealea Development Trust, our partners in the field, to use theatre as a means to address important issues facing the community – HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, rape, drug & alcohol abuse, and theft. There are 32 members, mostly women with the exception of 2 elderly but very charismatic men, who represent learning circles in each of their small villages. Since July, they have been meeting once a fortnight to rehearse and create. Hopefully our intense five-day workshop, will increase their dedication though many have other responsibilities including families at home. We have been teaching them character development, improvisation, and how to create as an ensemble after initially asking them what they want to learn. And though it isn’t the first time on this expedition, I definitely wish we could have more time to work with them. Five days is just a beginning and we are barely getting to know each other and feel comfortable!

I look out over the group as we sing so loud and beautifully. We are all ages. A 72 year-old grandmother with a blanket wrapped around her waist and a toothy grin. Masehlomeng, a beautiful woman in her 40s who performs with such presence and confidence we have dubbed her the Basotho Julia Roberts. Motselisi, the youngest of the group at 20, tall and majestic moving gracefully from one to another. Thabang, 53 year-old a shepherd with gumboots and a wild look in his eyes – ready to jump to anything. Many are infected with HIV and a few have noticeable symptoms of AIDS. The immediacy and importance of addressing these issues is apparent to us all as is the reality that some might not be able to participate next time we come but are here today with 100% of their energy and commitment. Tello, our translator and community partner, is invaluable. Riding up to the community hall each day on his mountain bike (the modern equivalent to a Basotho pony), he has been the real teacher leading exercises in tandem with Alice, Selena, and I as he shapes our instructions in culturally appropriate terminology. The youngest in a family of 5 boys, his dream was to become a doctor only to leave university after 1 year to help out at home. Now, he has become an indispensable part of the Development Trust – an organizer that can bridge the cultural gap between foreign humanitarian aid workers like ourselves and the community. Though he does not have the degree to be in medicine, his gentle disposition, patience and leadership heal others in so many ways…

Over our last 2 days, we create short sketches about HIV/AIDS awareness in small groups. We tackle difficult issues such as gossip, using a condom, going to a clinic or Sangoma (natural healer) and getting tested for HIV. Adapting a structure from theatre for development and Augusto Boal, the ensembles build scenes with defined character relationships (wife and husband, schoolmates, doctor and patient, etc) in a crisis situation. At the climax of the sketch, they freeze and then ask the audience what the problem is and how to fix it. Even in our simulated discussions that follow, there are heated exchanges between members of the ensemble as to when it is okay to tell others if someone has HIV. One of the most entertaining scenes is between a miner returning home drunk after 6 months working in South Africa and his wife who insists that he uses a condom. They begin with a excited reunion only to dissolve into arguing at the mention of a condom. Just as he is about to hit her in anger, the actors stop. Now, we see how all the issues are interlinked: HIV with domestic violence, rape, and alcohol abuse.

During our reflection, the group eagerly expresses interest in learning more about physically creating engaging characters with their bodies. They also are excited to apply the dramatic framework we explored to full-on meetings in the community. We assure them that together they have everything they need to continue improving the skills and using them to inform others. While we are already planning a return to Malealea in March and maybe in July, the future of Khalameng Bohlasa lies in the hands of these amazing and inspiring people…

I have also re-discovered the magic when people come together for a common purpose to change the world around them. The value of human connection and its power to inspire others. In many ways, although this work is very different from the clowning for orphans and vulnerable children that we usually do, together we have created the same atmosphere of celebration, joy, and hope that can only come about when we meet each other and sing, dance, and act in harmony.

Hotso ea morena
E beteng hara rona,
Hotso ea morena
E beteng hara rona.

Jamie’s Journal Oct 21, 2006

The wind braces me up the steep mountain path as I dodge donkey dung and loose gravel making my way on foot to the Litsekoeleng Primary School in Malealea. We have been forced to leave our trusty steed, Chongololo (the Nissan 4×4), and walk to this distant school which lies across the steep Pitseng Gorge. This is one journey that not even ponies will expedite – the goat and sheep trails are too narrow and treacherous to take the risk. We pause at the top of the gorge to catch our breath, take in the immense beauty of the Basotho countryside and reflect upon our work here. Situated in a valley surrounded by jagged peaks that turn dark blue when threatening rain, the Malealea Valley is a remote part of Lesotho that has been devastated by the HIV/AIDS crisis. Close to 60% of people tested at the local clinic are positive with the virus. Just last night, we are told that the gatekeeper has passed away from the disease leaving a wife with two children in high school and one in primary. When asked how the wife is doing, Tello, the Malealea Lodge manager, tells us that she has been prepared for a long time with the sickness but still one can never prepare for the eventual reality of death. The Malealea Development Trust – a community based organization with whom we are partnering – has tried to address the many needs of the people living here building roads and dams, learning centers and scholarships, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention programs, support groups for orphans and vulnerable children, and income generating projects and adult education initiatives. It is a beacon of hope in this area that is so incredibly breathtaking to work in even while HIV literally takes the breath away from so many.

After a moments confusion as to where exactly we must go, Ally, our Irish guide and director of the MDT Donkey Library selects a particularly steep switchback for us to negotiate down into the gorge. James spritely leaps into the lead like a mountain elf with my banjo towering above him in a backpack sling. Selena follows, her Brazilian birm bao as an archer’s bow. Alice and I trudge along. Laden down with gear and water bottles like a couple of pack mules. We are quite a sight – somewhere between Robin Hood’s merry men and Gandalf’s wandering ring seekers. As we climb out of the ravine past newly plowed fields of deep red and black soil, the children from the primary school half gape and half giggle at us – a huffing and a puffing up the hill. “Dumelang!” I say hello between gasps for breath. We haven’t even begun our performance and already I am drenched with sweat. Litsekoeleng is the poorest school in the district. Composing of four squat stone buildings, the complex makes the best of what little land and funds are available to the children. Remarkably, the children are also the best educated. They speak English well and excel on their test scores with a majority going on to the high school level. Ally explains to us that they are fortunate to have a very talented principal who greets us with a wide smile and tight hand clasp.

Our show begins with us marching around a corner holding umbrellas that are miraculously dripping with rain drops thanks to a small trick. James cues the music to “Singing in the Rain” and twirl and dance into the small dirt patch that will serve as our stage. The umbrellas have come in handy more than once when we were forced to actually use the as shelter in a torrential Basotho spring downpour before entering a class! But today, the storm clouds loom but do not boom their thunderous roar. The rest of the show unfolds smoothly with the exception of scattering the entire school up the hillside during our chase scene in which I become a slobbering monster in pursuit of Alice. The mayhem is full of shrieks of laughter and by the time we move into the next sketch, they are back in their seats loving every minute of it. As our volunteer “doctor” bandages Selena’s broken foot at the end of the show, we break out into a follow-the-leader dance culminating with the doctor standing on my shoulders. James then clicks the music over to some raging Basotho jive (and by raging I mean accordion hard core) and the entire school joins us in a dance waving sticks in the air and whooping with joy. We wish we could stay all day but suddenly notice an ominous darkness in the sky. The last thing we want is to be stuck on the trail in lightning – weather changes very quickly up here – so we say goodbye and head back down into the gorge. Every now and then, I send bubbles back up the slope…magical messages of wonder carried by the wind…and say a silent prayer that the children find peace and happiness in their life.

Now, back at the lodge before dinner, I listen to the distant thunder accompanied by the rattling of much needed showers for our dirty and stinky group. These performances are just one part of the many amazing experiences we have had during this Five Day Residency in Malealea. I hope to also share with you the inspiring teaching we are doing with the MDT drama group, Khalemang Bohlasoa (Eradicate Negligence), but it must wait until another report…the thunder clouds have finally caught up with me and I must prepare for the deluge!

Alice’s Journal Oct 14th.

Lesotho is also called, “the Kingdom in the sky”. It makes sense to me, because I hope this is what heaven looks like.

Before we left Maseru for Semonkong, we did a show for the SOS children. The youth we had been teaching opened for us, performing the life dream scenes they had created. After the show, the children formed a circle and we held hands to pray. Parliament, one of the older boys, led the prayer, “God, you should bless these people wherever they go. May their tables be full.” We said goodbye to our brave and talented SOS actors and hit the road.

Semonkong means “place of smoke”, referring to the smoke that comes off the giant waterfall hidden in the valley. We stayed in a rondovel at the Semonkong Lodge. A breathtaking place. Outside my window, I could watch ponies, boys on donkeys, flocks of sheep and baSotho people in colorful blankets walk along the path to downtown. People ride ponies everywhere as most of the dirt roads are narrow and rocky…to say the least. We performed shows everyday this past week at schools in and around the area.

What’s that saying? When life gives you lemons, made lemonade!

Tall Glass of Lemonade #1: On Oct 11, we decided to do a pony trek to a school tucked away in the mountains. A Lesotho pony is a couple hands smaller than a horse. I picked the smallest, furriest pony…boy, did I pick the wrong pony. I ended up naming him Lazybones! It was the total opposite of my first pony ride, when I rode like Zorro! Z!And as Jamie, Selena and James disappeared ahead of me, I realized that Lazybones was giving me a chance to admire the beautiful mountains and shepherds of Lesotho.

I made a lot of lemonade on Oct 11….

Tall Glass of Lemonade #2: The show is pretty exciting for the children…especially when it’s a bunch of clowns on ponies. At the end of the show, in all the excitement, one little girl got pushed over. She cried and cried. I found her sitting on a pile of rocks around the side of the school. I rubbed her back, tried to talk to her, but nothing. She just kept crying and shaking. I put on a clown nose and she looked up at me. Then I put it on her. She stopped crying and smiled. Some kids sure make those noses look good.

We have become Semonkong celebrities! As we drive by in our clown truck, people cheer! It has been difficult to contact the schools beforehand so most of our shows are done by just showing up. One principal asked “It’s free? So what do we get out of it?” James replied, “Laughter and joy”. The principal said, “Good, we need it. A lot of our students are orphans.”

 
Yesterday we had a 4 show day! A rare and exhausting occurrence. The first two were for schools. The third was more of a clown improvisation show. Jamie stayed at the Lodge chatting with a “future contact” and James gave two teachers in town a ride back to their remote countryside school.. Selena and I decided to go along for the ride.

Tall Glass of cool, delicious Lemonade #3: When we arrived, one of the teachers, Mr. Marcel Senatla, told the student we were going to perform a show for the students. Surprise!! With nothing prepared, James put on a nose, grabbed his juggling balls and jumped in. Other highlights include Selena playing her Birim Bao and the class dancing along, James piggybacking a teacher and the removal of James’s boot, causing me to faint.

After the show Mr. Marcel talked to the class about our work, saying that we had heard a cry of need from their country and come to bring joy. He then gave me my seSotho name, Mamello, meaning “patience”. James was named Thuso, meaning “help” and Selena’s was Matsepo, meaning “promise”. As Mr. Marcel put it, “God must have patience, help and promise in order to bring peace to Africa”.

Tall Glass of Lemonade #4: Our final Semonkong show was at the Lodge, to thank the staff for their generosity. Show number was a gong show….but it all turned around when Jamie decided to run into the river during the chase scene. I hid behind the trunk…. As Jamie and Selena stood in front of the trunk, looking for me, Jamie “absentmindedly” dumped the water out of each of his boots behind the trunk and directly on my head….It was cold and muddy….but damn, what a funny moment! After the show, we danced with the staff, while the Lesotho sun went to sleep.

Alice’s Journal Oct. 7th: Maseru

A lot can happen in 10 days….
In Ladybrand (which is on the border of Lesotho) we stayed with Beth, Neil and Jane Robertson. A generous family, who educated me in Basotho blankets, history of Africa and kindness. Beth is the Funding Coordinator at the Ladybrand Hospice. The Hospice runs a variety of programs for the 800 orphans in the area. We performed at the Hospice for the orphans who were able to come. Many orphans are at home. They become the head of their household. Beth told us a story of a young girl, age 14, who lost both parents to AIDS. She would come home everyday and lay beside her mother, caring for her. When her parents passed, she only had her brother left, then he died of a severe case of TB. She followed him, partly from also having TB, but Beth and Jane figures she also suffered from a broken heart. I can’t imagine taking care of my whole family and then watching then die one by one. I went to sleep at Beth’s thinking how lucky I am that my family is alive and well.

 
We cross the border. Lesotho. Our first place to visit is the LCCU (Lesotho Child Counseling Unit) in Mazenod. It is run by Lydia Muso, who has 13 orphaned children living with her. We performed for the LCCU children and their friends. We also performed at the LCCU for the children from the surrounding schools.

 
Learning to Fly #1: I think for birds you eventually just have to jump out of the nest and realize you have wings. Lydia pointed out one of the girls who was new to the LCCU. She had been abused by her father and the police put her in Lydia’s care. She was off by herself, scared, chewing on the feet of a broken Barbie doll. I’m not fully confident in playing with the children yet…I’m still finding ways of connecting with them…as often language isn’t an option. After the show, Selena broke out her Birim Bao and started hammering out some rhythm. Myself and a couple girls started to dance silly, or as I like to call it “Birim Bao interpretive dance”. The shy girl put down her broken Barbie doll and joined it. She was laughing and looked up at me with the biggest smile. We flew together.

 
This past week was spent at the SOS Children’s Village in Maseru. We taught a 5 day residency to 100 children (two large groups in the morning) and 10 youth in the afternoons. Days started early… not classes… just waking up. Lesotho R&B music consists of a guy yelling in seSotho, a pumpin’ bass and loud accordion music. It’s pretty awesome…. But not so awesome at 6:30 am, the time when the youth in the house next to us like to blast it. Very different from the sleep-until-noon teenagers back in Canada. So I figured it was all good to practice my accordion at 7:30am !!!

 
The workshops consisted of warm-ups, games, improvisation and group creation in exploration of life dreams. At the beginning of the week we had them draw their life dreams. By Friday, today, the youth have created short scenes in which they are their dream (doctor, astronaut, DJ, scientist, pilot) overcoming some sort of challenge. John Tuma, the SOS director, wanted it to be more career orientated as the youth here are nearing their time of departure and they will be moving into the “real world”. The kids here support each other and play with each other because they are their only family. When the orphans come to SOS it’s because they don’t have any extended family to take them in.

Learning to Fly #2: Today I returned the pictures that the students drew of themselves in their future careers. Jamie asked me to tell them they have to support each other, remind each other of their dreams and believe in themselves. This past week, I started thinking about my own future, my own dreams. And I realized…I don’t’ know what I want to be when I grow up….but OH NO, I’m already grown up!!! What happened? How was I going to tell these kids they can be their dreams when I don’t even have one??? Then I thought of my parents and how they supported all the crazy things I’ve wanted to do; physical theatre school, stilt-walking, accordion lessons and that time I really wanted to be a magician (but kept dropping hidden ball from the cup). I realized that I knew I wanted to make others laugh and I did have support. I just kept doing the things I loved. I have no doubt these children will do the same. They have the support of their family here at the SOS children’s village. Tomorrow we head for Semonkong for a week of shows, shows, shows! I’m also very excited for the Pony Trek!

 
Learning to Fly #3: Tomorrow morning we will be doing a show for the SOS children that we have been teaching. We haven’t done a show in over a week…. But we’re clowns! Like I say to the kids “whatever you do, will be great!”… but I think we’re going to go over some stuff tonight…you know, just incase.

Jamie’s Journal Oct 3rd.

Today is Lesotho’s 40th anniversary of its independence. The town of Maseru is in full festivities with the exception of 4 dedicated clowns who check their email and answer to loved ones. We are a bit too tired after another full day of teaching workshops to party it up but at least I shimmy a little in my seat. Finally, I have found a little space to write a report from the field about our time here….

October 3, 2006 – SOS Children’s Village, Maseru, Lesotho

We awake this Tuesday morning not to the distant crows of roosters but rather to the pounding beat of seSotho jive in the adjacent cottage. It is barely 6:30 AM and the youth at the SOS Children’s Village have already begun the day listening to the repetitive rhythm of bass and accordion punctuated by a vocalist’s shouting above the din. They must have the bass turned all the way up on the stereo for the vibrations shake my bed like a California earthquake. I stumble out of bed and, after a quick but piercing hot shower, prepare a pot of oatmeal for the rest of the team.

We are staying at the Children’s Village for 5 days as part of a Life Skills and Empowerment Workshop in which the children explore their dreams and aspirations through theatre games and exercises. Due to the scheduling of the residency during Lesotho’s Independence week, we have the unique opportunity to conduct classes throughout the day, working with all the children with the exception of those who are under the age of 6. Of course, this is not entirely true as the little ones get plenty of interaction with the clowns in between classes as well as plaster their faces against the window of the hall where we teach to see what’s going on. Later, we hear them mimicking the exercises in their own groups near the playground!

SOS Children’s Village is a model developed in Germany that provides care and shelter for children who have no other recourse. There are 10 cottages in which 10-15 children live together with a “mother.” Although we prefer to work with community based organizations that have identified vulnerable children who are still living in the community, these orphans are equally in need of compassionate, loving, and nurturing care as well as inspiration and guidance. The director, Mr. John Tuma, explains that many of the older children and youth (those above 15) do not have a positive vision of the future or any idea of who or what they want to grow into. As SOS is working to reintegrate the youth into the community, we find ourselves crafting our workshop to focus on self-identity, awareness of the group, and the visualization and physical embodiment of their life dreams. While we wish we could offer more concrete career counseling, the first step is to identify and believe that your dream is possible - especially when life has dealt one with the incomparable blow of losing one’s parents and the resulting sensation of despair, isolation, and lack of self-confidence.

After a morning of two workshops for the younger children, we meet with 12 youth who straggle to the hall a half hour late. It is 2:30 and though we were about to give up on them, we welcome them enthusiastically. Cell phones pour out of pockets and are placed on a table in a multi-colored mosaic of modern technology. Alice begins with a warm up to get us out of our heads and into our bodies. Isolations, vocal exercises, . Feeling like a challenge, she leads us in yogi sun salutations that stretch jeans and have the boys giggling as they try to balance in a lunge. We then move into a series of exercises designed to develop group awareness and focused energy. The Star Game where one person runs across the circle and then jumps in unison with another shouting, “Awoogah!” Group juggling paying attention to the energy in the room when we increase the number of balls from 1 to 6. We come together in a tight circle and see how high we can count without saying a number at the same time. Today, after many failures, we make it almost to 20 – an improvement over the mere 12 yesterday. Finally, the workshop turns to the Life Dreams exercise for the day: the identification and physicalization of an object that is necessary to achieve one’s dream. Pilots find goggles and flight instruction manuals. Doctors measure out dosages in syringes. Accountants type away at computers. DJs listen to headphones. Ocean explorers don scuba equipment. We pass the pantomimed objects around in a circle as each youth builds upon the action of the group. Sometimes one decides to break or destroy the object which opens up a brief discussion on how it feels to see one’s dream disrespected by another, but usually the object returns to the owner in good condition. The exercise is both affirming and helpful for the youth to see their dream living outside of themselves before bringing it back it back home. An hour and a half has flown by. Nobody exhibits any eagerness to leave but our time is up. We talk briefly about the exercise and then finish with a ritual of sending a squeeze around a circle with our eyes closed.

As I walk back to our cottage, tired from a full day of teaching, I am filled with a sense of joy. The workshops are progressing far better than we could have expected in this first partnership with SOS Maseru. Alice, Selena, and I are working together like a well-oiled teaching machine reinforcing one another and giving support when needed. It is vacation yet our attendance has been consistent. No one is forced to come. They want to. I see the reason in the faces of the children and youth and how they greet us throughout the day. In the smiles, the laughter, and the concentrated silence. In the confidence of Khekheletsu, a young teenage girl who comes on her own will to 2 workshops a day and stands proudly to say, “I am a doctor!” In order for one’s dreams to come true, one must take the first step in believing in them. Khekheletsu, like many others at SOS, is well on her way.

“Grow into your ideals less the world rob you of them…” – Albert Schweitzer, humanitarian, doctor, philosopher.

Alice’s Journal, Sept. 25th

Now we really are a vehicle full of clowns…. Jamie, James, Selena and I have started the second expedition! Having James as a logistic coordinator has been fantastic. While he is gathering props, making a backdrop and making calls, we are able to develop new routines. We’ve added a bit where Selena hurts her ankle and Jamie and I try to bandage her but we “accidentally” wrap the child to her leg. Then we dress the child up as a doctor to properly bandage the wound.

Our first stop was the Ndlovu Medical Center, Elandsdoorn, in the province of Mpumalanga. Ndlovu is a phenomenal place, which provides medical care for the Elandsdoorn community and the surrounding townships. There is a maternity ward, consultation room, pharmacy, laboratory, nutritional units, OVC program, NAAP (Ndlovu Aids Awareness Program) and much more. Peter Schrooders, one of the doctors at the centre, let a bunch of clowns stay at his house, while he and his son Kevin motorbiked six hours to Durban. What a cool Dad!

On September 20, we met with NAAP. We would be joining them, performing at a community awareness event. Taking a Deep Breath #1: First performance was a little rocky… mainly because Selena and I goofed on our acrobatics and she ended up scraping open her elbow. So in the doctor scene, Jamie really did get the First Aid kit. Selena was a trooper and just kept playing the scene Jamie bandaged her, while the child and I wrapped up the ankle.

Talk about getting into character….yeeesh.
After the show, Koen can der Lubbe (Project Manager of NAAP) gave us a tour of Ndlovu.

 
Taking a Deep Breath #2: We went into an Intensive Care Unit for HIV inpatients…. It took me a second. A rush of tears came to my eyes and I had to breath them back. Eyes so sunken in. Arms of bone, with a thin layer of skin. Lying there. Just lying there. I smiled. They smiled back. We moved forward.

 
Postnatal room. An HIV-positive mom with her new baby. She has been taking antiretroviral drugs, so the baby is negative. But it will have to be tested again in 4 weeks time. So little. Like a little grape. All wrinkly and confused. It may have a chance… but it will lose it’s mom.

Consultation rooms… a long hallway filled with patients. Patients curled to the outside waiting area. Patients. Patients. Patients. They will come early in the morning and wait all day. The six doctors will see up to 120 a day. Breathe.

 
The next day we performed at the Ndlovu Sports Center, then at a Nutritional Unit. In the afternoon we did some Hospital Clowning. Selena gave us a run down on “hospital clowning for dummies… or clowns in this case”. I was nervous. Weird, I can perform to 900 kids no problem, but one on one… I get nervous. Selena’s patience, play and humor calmed my nerves and we had a great time. We serenaded patients with her Birim Bao and my accordion, flirted with reception, swamped hats in the waiting line and danced with doctors. Meanwhile, James and Jamie sang songs and juggled in the maternity ward. Jamie also pretended his banjo was a newborn baby and they changed her diaper. I can’t believe I missed that!

 
On the morning of Sept. 23 we did one more show with NAAP. NAAP is an inspiring group of youth, dedicated to AIDS awareness. They tour around doing performances directing addressing issues surrounding the virus. They also do VCTs, or Voluntary Counseling and Testing, so when they perform, they are testing folks for HIV at the same time! The best is when they do community events, because they blast tunes and get the community dancing! They are a blessing to the children in Mpumalanga.

 
You really get used to acronyms; OVC, NAAP, VCT, HIV, IBM, YMCA, CBC (for all you Canadians!)
We returned to Joburg to celebrate the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah with the Barnett family, friends of Jamie’s. I am repeatedly blown away by the kindness of the people in South Africa. This generous and artistic family hosted 19 people to share in their celebration.

 
Which brings me to yesterday. We went to the World Camps in Magaliesberg. Children from the townships are brought to the camp for workshops in psychosocial support, empowerment and ADVENTURE!!! The camp in progress was for 130 girls of various ages. We did our show in the dining hall and the laughter filled it from wall to wall. After the show, we did a talk back, answering any questions about our work. One of the older teens put up her hand and said, “you guys rock!”

 
We chatted with Phil Lilienthal (program director) and the rest of the staff. Selena and I then led workshops for all the campers. We took them through warm up, games and theatre exercises in life challenges and empowerment.

Taking a Deep Breath #3: The second group I taught was all teenage girls…. I fear teens, having worked with apathetic Canadian ones. 5 minutes in, as we were passing movements around a circle, they were laughing so hard, I couldn’t move onto the next exercise! They also blew me away with their risks & creative ideas.

 
So Tuesday we leave for Ladybrand. We’re on our way to Lesotho!
The breathing and adventure continues……