May 5 – 11, 2009
I feel remiss in not writing in the blog for so long but we have been so busy and then access to the internet was interrupted – so please take my apologizes my friends and I will whatever this mind – as limited as it is – can remember.
We arrived in Beaufort West by a wonderful woman named Alta. She was a gem during the entire visit and made sure we were well taken care of during the week. We were taken to our various homes for the next several days. What a group of wonderful people they picked us up and thank you to Peter Gibbs for such a nice time in your home.
My host family at Beaufort west was Mathida van Kiekerk and her husband Francoise. Great people and hosts. We attended braai’s nearly every night – met some real “party animals” (I say this in a loving way) and were taken very, very good care of during our visit.
While in Beaufort West we met nearly all of the Rotarians involved locally – and a driver that we all fell in love with! He is about my age and getting married in two weeks. He was full of laughter and actually found humor in my jokes.
The club is a young club and very energetic and wanting to make a difference in the community. We were escorted to a home for the aging (I do not have access to the name at the moment – I am sitting in my room in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe without notes trying to remember – I am sure I will offend someone by forgetting names but am doing my best.
Back to the sights – we traveled to a National Park where we saw – in the wild – at least 10 different animals – including varieties of Springbok, reindeer, zebra, kudu and other animal species. The morning tour was very, very cold for us desert dwellers! The driver provided a warm blanket for each of us to take the bite off the cold. It was a beautiful morning watching the sunrise in Africa – it just does not get much better than that.
We presented at the Rotary Club to a very enthusiastic club in the evening. Again – such nice people. We had another Braai – it was very great – although the meal was very late for us – I think around 9:30 or 10 before we ate. I met a nice couple from the UK that are in Rotary in Spain and travel the world working on and visiting Rotary Projects.
My host (BJ was with the same hosts) Mathida and Francoise were very kind. The last night we were there they had a braai with all the host families attending. It was a great opportunity to discuss with everyone what America is like and learn more about this wonderful community. The community is going through changes. A mining company has purchased many of the local farms with mineral rights and is planning to mine for uranium in the future. Many are looking at this as an economic boost for the area – others are worried that this may upset the water in the area. They described that the incident of cancer is higher on the side of town that they plan to mine and expressed concern about contaminating the water.
Mathida is a lawyer and was busy in court while we were there but when she could she met us for lunch and dinner. Francoise – her husband – is a school teacher and seems to love his work with the children.
We spent one afternoon, evening and day with a local farmer. What a nice man – he is a Rotary member that is not always able to make meetings but hosted the entire team for the night. He took us bowling – lawn bowling. It was such great fun. Our team made up of Barbara, Jenny and I (and a guy from Spokane, Washington) beat a team consisting of Sarah, BJ, and a local farmer that holds safaris on his land, and another guy from Spokane. Se here we are half the world away from Tucson playing a game of lawn bowling with two guys that live in the town where I was raised. Amazing to say the least.
The next day our host took us on an extensive tour of his property – 22,000 acres of property where he raises sheep for harvesting and cattle. It was interesting in that the cattle he raises are adapted well to the desert and survive well. He also has a business on the farm where people can come and hunt spring Bok and Kudu. We drove around and collected seven kudu that has been shot by hunters and took the corpse back to the house to be cleaned. It was interesting and we were not required to shoot anything – much to the relief of the team.
The next day – Friday the 6th we were taken to the conference in Oudshoorn – another county town that hosted the distinct 9350 conference. There was a mix up when we arrived – no one was ready for us – and not expecting us so people started taking us out for coffee – they grabbed our bags and we did not have the ability to appropriately thank our sponsors and host families before they returned to Beaufort West. We were terribly sorry that we were unable to say goodbye and that the confusion created some hard feelings with out hosts. Those of you that read this blog please not that no one intended on hurting any feelings and we wanted very much to say goodbye properly.
The team attended a few sessions at the conference but really concentrated in presenting to the conference a farewell thank you to our wonderful hosts, guides, Rotarians that had showed us projects. At the last session we awarded $1,500 to two projects. One was for a place for the developmentally disabled called Includid and another for a day care and entry level school called Alita. It was a very nice presentation where the team asked that I down play our part and make a simple presentation and thank you. I followed their wishes and the presentation was made up primarily of photographs of the projects, Rotarians and families with whom we visited.
One of the most fun experiences on the entire trip was the dinner on Saturday night at the conference. They had this band play which included a violin, accordion, lead guitar, rhythm guitar and a drummer. The violinist and the accordion player were two amazingly strikingly beautiful women – but then they played – the music was amazing – so clear fund and powerful. I purchased several CDs to take home and purchased one for every member of the team – except BJ who actually purchased one for me – thanks so much BJ it was very kind.
While at the conference we once again met the German team – nice people and we felt a strong kinship with them because they were traveling with us from time to time and know the pressures of moving from one home to the next without a lot of sleep and rest. One member of the German team had to leave and go home after her mother had a stroke. We felt bad that she was unable to finish the week.
We also hooked up with the South African team to Arizona and that was nice seeing them. They presented the same time we did at the conference and described how much they enjoyed being in Arizona.
The last day of the conference Graham Todd took me to his home in Cape Town for the night and I met his spouse: Valda. They were very kind and visited thought the evening he sharing his experiences in Arizona as the team leader and me with my thoughts about Rotary programs in D 9350.
Today I was up early, the entire team came to Grahams’ home where we organized our bags and headed in mass to the Alit a school – the project that we donated $1,000 of the !,500 donated to the community. We met the children again, gave hugs to the staff (volunteer mothers) and to the director. Then off to the airport. The team caught their flights home with Jenny taking one of my bags with her for my wife to collect. Jenny is so wonderful – she was the unofficial leader of the team – so much strength and grace. Barb was so fun and moved by the experience of this past month. BJ was the heart of the team – making sure everyone was happy and constantly offering food. Sarah was the most quiet yet fully engaged and thankful for this experience.
Everyone spoke of the quality of our team from district 5500. The maturity, compassion, fun-loving personalities. They always wanted to pitch in and help at homes where we were fed a catered to. This was an amazing adventure for me. I learned about these wonderful team members, the Rotarians of 9350 – the amazing warmth of the distinct and found several opportunities to return and volunteer for an extended time. I will be back to see all of you wonderful people. So are so wonderful and kind.
Thank you to our district – Governor Tom Tilton – the committee and especially Anne Cook, thank you to the leadership and members of Rotary in District 9350 and to my team. You made this trip something that I will always remember. You were absolutely perfect in my mind. A special thank you to Jackie James for working so hard to make this GSE exchange perfect. You succeeded in your efforts.
May 12, 2009
I am now in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, writing this blog. I have met Bryson and his wife Grace at the airport. They both look healthy – although Bryson has lost some weight.. They received the gifts of money, computers, and jewelry and were tearful in the excitement of obtaining these modest gifts. They expressed their appreciation to Don, Kathy, Deb, and Burma for these gifts.
In the evening I went to the local Victoria Falls Rotary Club board meeting where I learned they have five major projects going – these are very hard works and diligent in the stewardship of the funds sent by various organizations. I watched as they thoughtfully decided which projects to fund, how it would get done, and how to pull in other community leaders to participate. Bryson has been an honorary member of the Victoria Falls Rotary Club and I am told by the president he will be made a member very soon because of his efforts on the project. I am proud of him!
I spoke to the president who tells me the visit to our project on Thursday will be attended by the local governmental officials, many of the twenty families that have been working on this project, and Rotarians. This is a huge project for the community and they are very excited. Way to go Rotary Club of Marana and Rotary Club of Casa Grande – you have made a difference and as the president kept saying – we have made dreams real!
In the evening we went to a restaurant called Makuwa-Kuwa a four-star restaurant. As we dined we watched elephants and buffalo drink at a watering hole – it was illuminated by light. What a treat. I thought of the team and how disappointed I was that they did not see the big five up close. They all said they were coming back – then they will do a proper safari. The food was good but the time spent with Bryson and Grace was precious. I feel like they are my children and they struggle everyday to stay afloat in this horrible economy. I find people from Zimbabwe to be very giving, gentle and kind. Especially Bryson and Grace.
May 13, 2009
Today is a special day. Bryson will be picking me up soon to go to the falls at Victoria Falls, then shopping at the market that I enjoyed.
This evening he is having me at his home for dinner where I will meet his mother, brothers, cousins, nephews – I am very excited about being invited into his home and meeting with the family. Who knows, music may even break out.
I have lost all connection to the Internet and my phone is not working either – I will find an Internet café to let people know that I am safe. More later today.
May 14, 2009
Dinner at Bryson and Grace’s home. What a treat! I met all of Bryson and Graces extended family, had wonderful meal, played music and fell in love with these wonderful people. Thank you for such a special night!
I am sorry to report that Grace fell ill after my last entry – and did not spend the day with me my last day in Africa. Bryson appropriately took care of his wife and I spent the evening with the president of the Victoria Falls Rotary and the clubs international committee director. The restaurant was “Mama’s African Restraint.” If you go to Victoria Falls I recommend it.
I want to comment on the Pamusha Lodge in Victoria Falls. The price was fair – they gave me a Rotary discount – the service was great and Wisdom – that is really his name – was great in looking after me and providing transportation whenever I needed it.
Bryson and Grace took me to the airport. I was very, very sad leaving Bryson and Grace and the good people of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. My heart is with them. I wish I could do more to help this community. I am sure that I will return to do more, in the name of Rotary, for this community. It is truly special.
May 27, 2009
I am home now and slammed back to the reality of work and illness. I have a slight cold – through my back out but have enjoyed seeing my wife, Eleana, and my family. While I was gone my daughter Jennifer moved to Tucson.
I met with the GSE team and learned we all miss South Africa and hope to return.
I have been at the office all this week – and miss Africa terribly. It is such a great experience visiting people, learning about them and finding that anything you do, no matter how small, makes a difference for people around the globe. I am proud of the GSE team, their kindness and maturity. I am proud of Rotary for all it does to help others. I am proud of the Marana Club, the Casa Grande Club and their members for helping in Victoria Falls.
This is my last blog – thank you all for sharing this experience with me.
Randy
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