Limpopo Writing Project Day 5

We have bonded and gelled so much as a group. We truly feel like family. At the end of the day today, we were sharing the love we have for each other.

Ngokoana joined us again today and led the journal time. Solomon shared a moving piece about a woman dying from a botched abortion. Joyce then shared a part of her life that was so beautifully written and heartfelt. The day had just begun and it was already memorable.

We looked at The San Antonio Writing Project website and viewed the video. Then we started to look at Ilna Colemere's Prezi on technology which is an incredible resource. We just viewed the beginning of the Prezi and have already learned so much. We then collectively designed our own Wordle for the Limpopo Writing Project. It can be viewed on the Wordle website.

We had three strong demos today. Joyce began by teaching us about poetry and having us write poems. Then Solomon asked us to consider if the world is falling apart, and how can we make changes for the better. Finally Ramovha taught a lesson on wants and needs. He pointed out that things like IPods and IPads are wants not needs. People were curious about the IPad and IPod so later I showed them mine. We discussed how in the future we might be doing everything on smart phones, especially as the prices go down.

Ramovha welcomed me to the real South Africa, as he explained that he is the 37th child of 44 children. He explained that he has 10 mothers. We marveled at that. We also looked at a map and saw where San Antonio, Texas is located. We ended the day singing and dancing to African songs and Dolly Parton's song, Island in the Sun.

During Joyce's presentation, she showed us a picture of people walking in the rain and to then do a stop and write. Here's what I wrote:

I remember days like that,with thenrain slowlyndripping lightly on my umbrella. I imagine that it is a summer day so that the air is warm and intoxicating and it is ever so pleasant to be walking in the rain. I took the rain for granted all the years I lived in Chicago. Rain came so easily, it was in abundance. Now I live in a water-starved state where we've had enough rain to count only once or twice in the last months. The earth is gasping for a tiny drop of precipitation.