Saying goodbye to Marina
Trip Start
Jan 13, 2003
1
7
32
Trip End
Sep 01, 2003
Benoni, South Africa
Monday, January 20, 2003
I'm thinking about asking to see all the aspects of Kids Haven tomorrow. There's the Bridging school, where I could take small groups and help them with English or whatever. There's also a crèche starting tomorrow - where kids from the local area who are of disadvantaged backgrounds need looking after between 9am and 1pm. Marina was doing that last year. Some of the kids live in the houses opposite the centre, and when we walk past we hear them calling Marina's name.
Two friends of the other vols, Sifiso and Percy, who live in Soweto, came to take us to the airport. They have bought a house in Zone 6 and are doing it up to make a backpackers place. They work as tour guides and Sifiso also works for the airport.
It was sad watching Marina say goodbye to the kids. "Marrina! Marrina, please come back. You will come back, yes?" She could hardly say, "No" but she knows she can't come back. They thought we were all going to leave them so it took a bit of reassuring. I take over from her tomorrow - I hope the kids are ready...
We had a meal at East Rand Mall - it was nice and civilized and I tried a Dom Pedro. Mmmm... The staff did their best to keep us on our toes by breaking the coffee machine in the centre of the restaurant and spraying milk everywhere.
And then Marina was off. I don't really know her - not like the other vols - but I'm still sad to see her go. On the up-side, she did get pulled out of the queue and offered a seat in Business Class. Get her!
Highlight: Amarula
