Life at the Farm

I know what you might be thinking, "A farm? I thought you were working at a camp?!" That's totally true. but Buckhaw Brow farm is home, to me, to Camp El Olam, to Hope Valley Farm School, and to many dedicated and lovely teachers, staff, and families. So life at the farm, a wonderful life to be living. I spent my first few days at the farm staying in the home that belongs to Rae and Garth Hawyes, two very wonderful hosts for sure, and their two daughters. This was a wonderful transition from the prison. I am already good friends with Pretzel, Nitro and Biltong the dogs, all the chickens, Miracle the cat, Arizona and Zazoo the horses, and the newest addition Jet, a large and beautiful horse. Jet just arrived on Thursday. I am looking forward to a time in the next few weeks when the horses will all be well introduced to each other and I'll be able to ride Zazoo and Jet!

The sign out by the road, past this sign is a long 3km drive down
a dirt farm path

I am thoroughly enjoying the work at the camp. At the moment it is very laid back, as there have not been any scheduled camps yet. I have been helping with administrative tasks, tie dying curtains for the newly painted hall. Grocery shopping for the meals for the teachers and staff. And in general learning about the camp and how it runs. We have our first camp this weekend and I am so excited to see El Olam in action! After this weekend the bookings really are coming in and the camp will be full of life most weekends and some weekdays from here on out! I will get to help with running activities and program as well as continue administratively. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, when there is no camp taking place I will get to go to the school and help with the children's choir there as well as teach some small groups or classes. I am very excited to be able to have a part in the school as well as the camp!

Life in South Africa is very comfortable, I love the laid back nature of the farm. I am very much enjoying fresh homemade food for dinners. The people are so very nice and welcoming, I feel like they accepted me with open arms! However, there are some differences. Especially in terms of colloquialisms. Here are some things I hear on a daily basis that I would not here in Bluffton.

Olivia and Shauna

"Auntie Ashton!" (Children address everyone as Auntie or Uncle, granny or grandad)

"Hey?"(this is added at the end of many statements ex. "this weather is hot, hey?")

"Tekkies/Takkies"(Tennis shoes)

"Jersey" (sweatshirt)

"Bakkie" (pick-up truck)

And of course there are many more! I still often have to ask, "what does that mean?" because sometimes I get very confused!

Another difference is tea/coffee time. This happens, in the morning, at meal times, in the afternoon, before dinner, after dinner, before bed, basically anytime can be tea time, and I am convinced that I have had more tea in the past week than the rest of my life combined! I am becoming fond of 10AM and 4PM tea time though. I like to just drink regular tea but sometimes I'll spring for South African rooibus tea, sometimes called bush tea. 

One of the biggest differences is that when I finish eating I leave my dishes by the sink, when I have laundry I put it in a basket and it appears washed and ironed on my bed the next day. Of course this isn't by magic, the families here have maids and in my experience they are all black. This is something I am not at all accustomed to. I feel very aware of my "whiteness," something I did think about before coming to South Africa, but had no idea that I would feel so aware of the position it puts me in, completely by coincidence. Thankfully the staff and maids are a part of the family, we greet them with hugs and warm words we have conversations with them while we all do our work. They are an essential part of the workings of home and camp and farm and we (myself and all the others faculty type staff) are so thankful to have them as part of our team. And from what I have gathered, they are just as thankful to have the opportunity to have employment, and if you are in a position to employ others and be a part of their lives by means of a livelihood, then it should be so.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to work here at Camp El Olam and am looking forward to what this year has in store for me! Please look to my facebook.com page and instagram for more updates!

Me and Cara, my temporary roommate until
December!

View while on a drive around the farm