It seems that before we can continue forward with our time here in South Africa, we must first backtrack a teeny bit. From about October 15 to October 24, G & E from Dallas and Mar & Court from Indianapolis came for a wonderful visit. G & Mar are both friends from the Baylor days & both were roommates in Indy.
Some highlights include going on a game drive in Mossel Bay on the Indian Ocean (where an elephant sneezed on E!), wading around in the Indian & Atlantic oceans, lots of yummy seafood, whale-watching, climbing Table Mountain (where Mar climbed around on the cliffs), the Sunday craft market, great wine & driving frantically all over the Western Cape. On top of that, Mar actually went cage-diving with the great white sharks (Ugh! But he loved it.) and celebrated his 35th birthday!
We had a fantastic time with them and are grateful they came to see us & experience this place that is so close to our hearts.
Pictures to follow.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Words of Wisdom
Mr. O, the principal of Raithby Primary, is an amazing man. His love for the children in his school is obvious by the respect & love they show him. I commented on this to him as I was leaving the school after the final session with the kids. He responded with this:
"You should always treat children with tenderness for who they are & respect for who they may become."
Those are words of wisdom his father shared with him & that he lives out day to day with the children in his school. In my opinion, they are words we should heed.
"You should always treat children with tenderness for who they are & respect for who they may become."
Those are words of wisdom his father shared with him & that he lives out day to day with the children in his school. In my opinion, they are words we should heed.
Friday, November 18, 2005
More Raithby Photos...
Here are a few more photos that the kids took during the photo project. There are some of the "beautiful" ones, things they DID like. I've also included a picture of one of the kids taking a picture as well as a shot of all the kids (these last two I took).
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Raithby Photo Project
On November 4 & 5, I (mj) conducted a photo project with 18 sixth-graders from Raithby Primary School here in the Western Cape. My objective in this project was to challenge these children to alter their viewpoint, using photography as a tool to help them. To take interesting pictures, you have to look at things differently than they appear to most people. You have to be creative. You have to get down low or up high or up close. Sometimes you have to do this in life, too, in order to break a pattern or create opportunities.
I was interested in how these children viewed the world around them. How did they perceive their reality? What do they like about it? What don't they like?
Philippians 4:8 was a key scripture for me in this project...it talks about how we must focus on what is good & lovely & excellent & worthy of praise. THESE are the things we are to set our minds on.
On the first day of the project, I gave each child a disposable camera. We talked about some basic rules of photography, such as the Rule of Thirds, & how to use the camera. Mind you, most of these children have never used a camera before. We talked about why altering your perspective is important, in photography & in life. I told them they were going to go take an entire roll of film of the things they didn't like about where they live, what they thought was ugly. I told them I wanted them to SHOW me these things.
I chose one picture from each child to talk about...what I liked compositionally and such. Then on the second day, we looked at these pictures. I then gave them each another disposable camera & said that today they would go out & take pictures of what they DID like about where they lived, what they thought was good & beautiful.
Then on Tuesday, we went through a similar process of talking through their pictures. I also had them get into small groups with an adult facilitator to talk about each others' pictures. I wanted them to tell each other what they liked about the others' photos.
It was an amazing project, one I am polishing & editing & trying to make easier to duplicate in other places. Through the process, it turns out that not only were the kids impacted but also the adults who helped me out. That's what you want.
Below are a few pictures the kids took of what they thought was UGLY.
the rust on the car...
the broken glass...
the trash...
the rotting wood...
I was interested in how these children viewed the world around them. How did they perceive their reality? What do they like about it? What don't they like?
Philippians 4:8 was a key scripture for me in this project...it talks about how we must focus on what is good & lovely & excellent & worthy of praise. THESE are the things we are to set our minds on.
On the first day of the project, I gave each child a disposable camera. We talked about some basic rules of photography, such as the Rule of Thirds, & how to use the camera. Mind you, most of these children have never used a camera before. We talked about why altering your perspective is important, in photography & in life. I told them they were going to go take an entire roll of film of the things they didn't like about where they live, what they thought was ugly. I told them I wanted them to SHOW me these things.
I chose one picture from each child to talk about...what I liked compositionally and such. Then on the second day, we looked at these pictures. I then gave them each another disposable camera & said that today they would go out & take pictures of what they DID like about where they lived, what they thought was good & beautiful.
Then on Tuesday, we went through a similar process of talking through their pictures. I also had them get into small groups with an adult facilitator to talk about each others' pictures. I wanted them to tell each other what they liked about the others' photos.
It was an amazing project, one I am polishing & editing & trying to make easier to duplicate in other places. Through the process, it turns out that not only were the kids impacted but also the adults who helped me out. That's what you want.
Below are a few pictures the kids took of what they thought was UGLY.
the rust on the car...
the broken glass...
the trash...
the rotting wood...
Sunday, November 06, 2005
sometimes...
sometimes, when we are out walking, the dogs behind the fences that we pass bark at the black people in front of us but not at us...
i don't like it one bit.
i don't like it one bit.
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