Hard Knock Life

Tuesday of this week I began my internship with Christel House SAfrica and I'm kinda sorta obsessed with my job(s).  I work mostly under the direction of the music teacher, who is very encouraging and joyful in the way only a performer can liven up a room, helping him to produce and cast their junior school (grades 4-7) musical.  Which musical exactly?

Annie.

Yes, I have been entrusted with the huge responsibility of finding the perfect Annie amongst all the students.  The pressure is intense.  I've already been told there is a young hopeful who I may or may not find is perfect for the part, but I have no idea what her name is or what grade she is in.  We start auditions in the new term, which begins the first week of October.  While preparing for auditions and trying to make a budget (in Rand), I have tried to perfect my use of the school/safrican dialect.  Here is what I have come to learn over the last few days (and weeks):

Morning! - From Day 1 at the school, I noticed that no one here really says "Good morning."  Just "morning."  It is said very cheerfully.

TO LET - Signs bearing these words are found across Cape Town, and they mean "for rent."  I definitely thought it was TOILET when I first saw it.

Hire - People don't say "rent a car" or "rent costumes" (as I had asked about for Annie).  They say "hire a ___."  Very good to know.

Rubbish - As in, garbage can rubbish bin.

Educator - The term used for "teacher."

Learner - The term for "student."  It's really interesting that they use these words.  I've heard it at both Christel House and the school we visited with Molo Songololo. 

Screens - Don't know if this is universal, or just with the Labia movie theatre, but cinemas will say "(Name) Screens 1 and 2." 

If I think of more I will update.  Today Caroline, Andrew, and I went to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, which is a 40 minute walk from the manor each way.  It was a great way to take advantage of our first sunny and (fairly) warm afternoon.  Spring is around the corner!  We saw a very cute performance involving two kid breakdancers, did tons of window shopping, admired the docked boats, and posed for funny pictures.

I'm very excited about the upcoming weeks because not only will the weather improve and Annie be underway, but another teacher at Christel House asked me to help start a Drama Society (or drama club, as we would say - add that to the vocab list) by giving the members lessons on play-writing, improvisation, actin, directing, costumes, props, etc.  I cannot wait!  It's exactly what I pictured myself doing, though I will need to channel my educational theatre skills (shout out to Gaby) for it.  I'll post photos once I get to know the students better!


In the meantime, here are some shots of the V & A Waterfront:

The kidz modeling on a sculpture of an upside-down ice cream cone. Bizarre?  Yes.

Some pretty flowers near a restaurant on the waterfront.  I thought they made for great subjects. Oui?

Our home!  (From afar.)  No, not Chapel Hill... Signal Hill.  Why must I always live on/near a hill?

Miami, that way!  Only 12,311Km from there.  Not TOO bad.

The famous clock tower on the waterfront.  Another similarity with Chapel Hill!  Ahh!

A water buffalo (?) made ENTIRELY of beads.  I'll take ten.

The mall.  Looked almost EXACTLY like South Point.  I really thought I was in North Carolina for a hot second.  But then all the prices were in ZAR (making the price of a shirt R450, for example).

Making our way around the mall, Caroline decided to take a break under a muscular armpit and Andrew tried to get this pretty lady's attention.  They were staring at me the WHOLE time.

We had an unexpected end to the day with a visit from Sarah Palin's bridge to nowhere!  Oh, the good ol' USA.