My Solo Return to South Africa

The school that I work at, Nova Pioneer, follows the South African school schedule which runs from January - December.  Therefore, to attend Maggie's graduation, I had to actually miss a month of school in June then return in July for the last month of term 2.  Hans and Nate, on the other hand, follow the US schedule so they are home for the summer and will return mid-August.  Hence, my solo return.

It was so hard to say good-bye to everyone at the airport in Detroit.  I couldn't believe that I was voluntarily leaving all of my family to return, alone, to South Africa.  In fact, there were real moments that I contemplated quitting and just throwing in the towel.  I think the thing that got me on the plane was the thought of my co-workers at Nova Pioneer.  I knew I couldn't just up and leave them, and I definitely couldn't do that to our head of school, a wonderful woman named Paula (also American).  So, I got on the plane, in tears.

However, it has been a happy surprise being back.  I realize that I do have a life here -- not as many friends (it was so so wonderful to visit with Ann Arbor friends and PA family!!) but I do have friends and routines, places I prefer to shop at and restaurants that I enjoy. And, people here are really nice and they were really happy to see me back at school.  Which is good since I spend so much time there!  As it is the end of term, it has been very busy -- with assessments, special parent events and just catching up from being gone.  I haven't had too much time to be lonely during the day, though it is very quiet at the apartment at night. 

It's also nice to return to our church here. The first weekend back, we did our Saturday ministry of serving in a poor neighborhood of Soweto.  And it is poor.  But it feels important to be doing something tangible to help and it is a nice way to get to know the people of our church a bit more.  Also a very kind group of people.

I was thinking this morning -- what I am learning about myself, by being here alone? First, I really appreciate the company of my husband and, of course, family.  We had so much fun together, though we were in very tight living conditions.  I definitely will not take those moments for granted.  But the other thing I realized is that it's actually pretty brave of me to be living half-way around the world, all by myself.  I'm doing it....and it's OK. Not great, but OK.  And that feels like a victory. 

Here are a few pictures of happy times with the family:

My four amazing kids!!

Maggie's graduation

With Martha

On Mackinac Island, on Maggie's 22nd birthday

Maggie, leaving for Guinea

My assist teacher, Rego, with some of the class.  They were happy
because they had made kites!

A few visitors from home

We were lucky enough to have a few visitors from home this month -- Maggie and Hans' mom, Annette.  What a joy to see them again!  And, it was so fun to be able to show some out-of-town visitors some of the cool things we have discovered since moving here.  And, it was a chance for the ALA students to meet some of our family which was wonderful.  The first night, we went with a group of students to one of the highest points around for a great view of the city:

Probably, one of our highlights was a visit to the Pilanesberg National Park.  It was so incredibly peaceful there, and we got a chance to see some animals too!  Kudus (a type of big gazelle), zebra, giraffe, a few humps in the water which were hippos, a dot in the horizon was a rhino and some elephant, up close and personal.  Here are a few pictures:

We also had fun exploring downtown Joburg and visited a couple of markets.  Here's a nice picture of Maggie and Annette:

Of course, it wouldn't be a Sowder family vacation without a few great hikes, and Maggie, Nate, Hans and I went out on couple of nice ones:

And, one of the sweetest things, was to be able to take Maggie and Annette to our Joburg church for Easter Sunday.  I've been talking about this visit for so long, everyone knew right away who they were!   So, so wonderful to have them there!

Here's our Easter Sunday picture, and yes, I am that short...and Nate is that tall... I think Hans might be in a bit of a ditch behind us (I think...).

Anway, if this seems like a commercial to come and visit South Africa--- it is!! We'll show you a great time, you can enjoy delicious food, great weather and even a few wild animals!

Derby Day

Derby Day (pronounced in the very English way -- Darby Day!) is a mini-tournament of multi-sports between ALA and Lebone II, College of the Royal Bafokeng and Maru-a-Pula, a college (means high school) in Botswana.  This is the fourth annual Derby Day and a lot was on the line -- each school had already won once, so this would be a first time for a school to win two times.  The competitions were in STEM, chess, basketball (girls and boys), volleyball (girls and boys) and soccer (girls and boys).  I went as a soccer coach, Hans as the STEM coach and Nate competed in volleyball where he is the starting setter (and the first time in a long, long time that a Sowder has played a sport with their hands).

Lebone is in a part of South Africa of the Setswane tribe and it really does have a king.  Apparently, with the help of Lutheran missionaries, they were able to use their wages from working in the diamond mines to buy some land in their area.  This land ended up having 75% of the world's supply of platinum so they become quite wealthy. The more recent kings used the resources to refurbish an older school to become a beautiful college who hosted the 4th annual Derby Day.

Here are a few pictures and a video of the opening ceremonies:

Nate, playing volleyball. 

Me, Ms. Kofo (the head of student life at ALA) and Mama Angie (the nurse)

Nate, in the main area of Lebone II

Nate and his advisor, Mr. Joe

The volleyball.  Their coach, Tatenda, is rocking those pants!

The girls soccer team

ALA wins!

Yes!  After a great show at STEM (one of Hans' students won first place with her experiment on a baceteria acquired in hospitals and the effect of a local Ethiopian plant to hamper its growth), ties on the soccer sides, and wins on the volleyball court, ALA won the Derby cup back!  It was really fun!  Hans and I were laughing because the ALA cheer/chant was so infectious that even the other schools were joining in!!  And while it was not the romantic getaway Hans tried to convince me it was (ahem, we were with 100 teenagers...), it was really fun to see another part of South Africa and to travel as a school.  The kids are really great and it was fun to be a part of it.

The ALA Decennial

It had been a very hectic couple of weeks, all leading up to this past weekend-- the ALA Decennial Celebration.  There were plans for over 700 people to attend, and there were a  lot of important people here!  Not only were the donors wined and dined, but there were also heads of state, ministers of different parts of African governments from around the continent, Nobel prize winners and more!  It was humbling to be a part of it, and exciting.  There really is a sense that this generation of students will be transformative to the continent and it is a privilege to be a part of it. It feels like we're a part of history in the making, though, of course, the day to day reality is that we're still working with teenagers.  But, I have no doubt, that one day I will recognize one of these students in the news one day.

One of the most powerful moments for me was when Graca Machel, former education minister of Mozambique, second wife of Nelson Mandela, and advocate of rights for women and children, turned to the second year student who was "interviewing" her at the final event of the day, and told her, as a young African woman (and I'm quoting from the a twitter report of it);  As Graca Machel closes the @ALAcademy decennial celebrations she holds the young lady’s hand and says ... ‘I want you to fly but as you fly be rooted in the African soil and African-ness. Always know we will be here to catch you’ #ALA10

It was like a blessing and a passing on from one generation to the next and it sent chills down my spine.  It really was an amazing event to attend and it gave us a renewed sense of purpose.  It did, to be honest, bring some questions to our minds about our particular role here as non-Africans.  This may not surprise you, but the movie, The Black Panther, is incredibly popular here.  The kids love it -- the celebration of African identity and even the tacit put-down of non-Africans.  It puts us in a bit of an awkward spot.   Do we have a right to be here, part of this revival?  If yes, what is our role?  It's more complex that it first seemed when we signed up....

I will say this, as complex as the big picture is, the relationships that both Hans and I have with the students (both big and little!) is real and important.  I love the girls on my hall and I am thankful I can help their journey, even in a small way.  For example, one of the girls on my hall messaged me at the last minute -- can I take her to the mall?  Well, I was going straight to the mall after work, so what do you need?  Unfortunately, I didn't see her response until 5:55pm -- and stores close at 6pm here!  I raced to the Pick N' Pay (like Meijers) and grabbed what she needed -- a pair of black pants and white shirt, in 5 minutes.  When I got back, not only were they the right type of clothes, but I had managed to get the right sizes too!  Mom instincts kicked in and saved the day! And that, is a moment beyond race or country or even post-colonial history.  It's just a mom helping a girl who needs some clothes at the last minute.  And maybe that is the answer to a complex question.

A busy start to the new year

We've had a busy start to 2018.  January started a new school year for me at Nova Pioneer, with a new class of students, in the new school building.  It has been a lot of work to get the classroom ready, the routines established and try to get a handle on the curriculum.  This school system has very high expectations, even for kindergarten, and it's taken a lot of time to feel like I'm not a step behind.  Not only that, but there is a certain language challenge.  Students from the Zulu tribe (or something close to it) can have names with a "click" within the words.  I have not one, but two such students.  In fact, Otlotleng is pronounced with two clicks -- imagine, in a group of 24 energetic 5 and 6 year olds, trying to get that name out!  Poor guy -- I know I'm saying it wrong every time.  The kids are actually learning Zulu this semester and I'm sitting in, hoping to learn a bit more. 

In one of the lighter moments, we read the book Giraffes Can't Dance and I found a website that linked the music to the different kinds of dances that the giraffe can't do (but the other animals can).  The kids favorite -- the tango.  Check it out!

We're also becoming fast friends, as only 5 year olds can.

In ALA news, 23-24 February is the Decennial celebration.  At last count, over 700 people will be coming for this two celebration of the first 10 years of ALA's existence.  Among the honored guests are heads of states, CEOs, ambassadors, alumni and more.  Preparations are in full swing and it is shaping up to be quite the weekend.  I'll be sure to post pictures from that event.

In the meantime, we are enjoying the waning days of South African summer -- warm days, cool nights and some nice thunderstorms in between. We're really looking forward to the visit of Hans' mom and Maggie in March -- family!!

I'll leave you with these pictures of our new kitten, Charlie.  Cute and in the way-- as cats will do!

Happy New Year!

After a whirlwind trip to Pennsylvania, I am back "home" in our small apartment at the African Leadership Academy.  It was so great to see family and especially Maggie, Emma and Mia for Christmas -- it was truly a gift.  The only sad part was that Hans and Nate stayed in South Africa.  We sure did miss them.  But, it gave us a renewed appreciation of what family means to us and a definite resolution to make every effort to spend quality time as a family as often as we can.


In Pennsylvania, we all met at my parents' house -- my girls and my siblings.  Amy and Jay (newly engaged!) are in the Philly area and my brother Ben and his wife, Angie, and daughter, Kaya, came from California.  It was a packed house but wonderful to all be together again.

Enjoying seeing Emma, Mia and Maggie again! 💕

Mia, Angie, Emma and Kaya (Angie's daughter)

Maggie, Uncle Ben and Angie

Ice skating in Philadephia

Our annual Christmas day hike -- cold!

Christmas with Uncle Jay

While we were enjoying the cold weather of Pennsylvania, Hans and Nate were off on a different kind of adventure.  They went hiking in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, which is a part of the Drakensberg Mountain Range.  It was some great father-son bonding time, as well as amazing scenery.

Hiking in some beautiful South African scenery

The cabin

However, in the interests of keeping it real, I will say that this was one of the hardest seasons for us ever as a family.  It was really hard to be separated and really hard to see the impact our decision has made on the girls.  They are so wonderfully supportive and we are lucky to have so many friends and family to offer them places to stay, but it's not the same as having a home to return to for the holidays.  I really questioned our decision to move at one point, but, like I said, the girls are supportive.  In fact, at one point, when I offered to give it all up and move back (it was very tearful at times), Mia said, if we need you to move back, we'll tell you, but we're OK.  It was an amazingly mature statement and I really took it to heart. 

That said, looking back at our first couple of months here, it does feel like our presence has made an impact on different lives.  If I could share part of an email that Hans wrote to the pastors of our church, he put it best: 

It’s been a tough Christmas - the first one where the six of us are not together.   God provided a way for Susan to get to the US (she went to her parents in Philly) so she could pour into the girls, for which we’re thankful.  I’m in day 8 of having Nate all to myself…something not all fathers get!

This chapter of life has been quite a challenge on each of us.  I know I shared a bit before, but my eyes well up with tears even now as I think about the journey my family, both individually and collectively, has been on.  All praise to Him for sustaining us.

We still haven’t created any extraordinary programming or other remarkable institutional level things.  Mostly He continues to use us in the lives of individuals. 

I want to continue to boast about how Susan has continued to blossom as an early childhood educator.    She’s referred to as a “Grade R” teacher, which is equivalent to kindergarten in the US.  Her loving heart, patient spirit, and years of experience, have given her the opportunity to literally change the trajectory of several students’ lives.  Seriously. 

As is the case in many educational domains around the world, including some arenas in the US, much of the “philosophy” around teaching young people in South Africa is to “get them to obey” and if they don’t, chide and rebuke them until they submit.  Even at Susan’s school, Nova Pioneer, which is a fairly new (yet already reputable) organization with a small chain of schools in both South Africa and Kenya, struggles with what it means to serve all learners.  Much of what Susan knows about how to effectively shepherd and teach young children is kind of cutting edge to teachers here.  Both her and my numerous trips around the sun (i.e., our age J) have proven beneficial on many levels as well with the average age of most of the educators we work with being less than 30.  In Susan’s case, she already esteemed as a “wise sage” with great ideas and solid instincts.

As “hall mistress” (great title, eh?) at African Leadership Academy (ALA), she also serves as “mom” to twenty-six 16-19 year old ALA girls from around the continent (we live on campus).   It took some time for many of the girls to warm up to her, but, if the praise she received on recent student feedback forms is any indication, coupled with individual notes she’s received from the girls, they’re grateful for her and she’s respected, loved, and making an impact.   Again, she won’t boast about it, but I will.  She’s my treasured wife…and, incidentally, she has some practice with teenage girls J.

As Head of the Science Department, I’ve slowly but surely built a strong culture amongst my science department team members.  They were without leadership for two years and, while I initially had some pushback to some of my ideas around department organization and instructional practices, they all appreciate that someone is at the helm “leading”…and they’re starting to buy in.

I love teaching again.  My first year A-level biology class (Nate’s level) is my favourite part of the week.  They’re a wonderful group and have made great progress learning and supporting one another, with many laughs along the way. Such a great class.   Some students from countries such as Cape Verde and Angola (lusophone - Portuguese-speaking) and Ivory Coast, Burundi, Senegal, and Central African Republic (francophone – French speaking) have struggled with English their 2^nd or 3^rd language.  The other students as a whole, however, are amazing in their default response to help one another rather than focus on “self” and take advantage of others’ weaknesses in what is a competitive situation.  What a great attribute to naturally have in place considering these kids are going to one day be leaders on the continent!

My two 2^nd year classes (ALA is a two year diploma program) proved a bit tougher to “reach”.  I’m their 4^th biology teacher in four terms – lots of turnover in the biology position.   Their caution and hesitancy to embrace me and my approach is, as such, not without merit.  Some of my unorthodox instructional approaches, coupled with me having to learn the Cambridge Advanced Bio curriculum on virtually day to day basis (much deeper than my Ypsi and Detroit bio classes from 1993 to 2012), have made it a bumpy first term on some levels.  Only in this last month of December did things start “clicking” a bit more.  I give all thanks to God for giving me patience and a kind and gentle heart.  It’s truly been me building relationships with individuals from the class outside of class that’s led to a strong classroom culture and climate within the class. 

I am so happy that Susan and I have daily reasons to lean on Him.  Again, it is not been easy and there’s much uncertainty as to how logistically things will unfold.  How’s He going to provide for us for three years with so many…so many life changes going for Maggie, Emma, Mia, and Nate?  We don’t know but remain convinced that He brought us to this point and He will see us through.  

Our current prayer is for God to reveal how He’s going to provide housing for us this summer.  Nate’s been a trooper but he wants to see his friends.  I’m wondering with all your connections whether you might help us find housing – whether something someone is not using for a few months or something that doesn’t break the bank.  It doesn’t have to be in AA, somewhere in Washtenaw Co if possible.

God providing us with a place to reunite as a family this summer remains one of the questions that He left unanswered when we left in August.  We left knowing this question would need to be answered and trusting Him to do so.

Anyway, that's the "real, not sugar-dosed" reflection of our start to the New Year.  So many changes in 2017-- I can only imagine what 2018 will bring!

Best wishes to you and your families for a happy new year!

Is it really almost Christmas?

It's hard to believe that it's already December.  Nate has finished his first term at ALA, Hans is now finishing grading finals and I finished the end of the year with my class last week -- and that is the end of their school year, too.  The new school year for me begins in January with a whole new class -- just when I was starting to get a handle on this class!  We will also be moving into a new building which is more than double the size of the current one, so it will really be a time of new beginnings for me.  But, the funny thing is that all the teachers that I have been working with are moving to either a different school or a different position so as of January, I will be the veteran teacher at Nova Pioneer North Riding!  I am grateful for this term as I feel like I have a better understanding of the job and I am able to leverage my prior experience and knowledge in a way that really seems to be helping this new organization.  Here is a picture of all the grades (pre-primary, grade R [kindergarten] and grade 1) on the last day:

With a busy first term under our belts, we're all taking a big breath and regrouping.  I'm returning to the States to spend Christmas in Pennsylvania with my family and the girls.  Hans and Nate will stay here and go hiking in Drakensberg and see the world's highest waterfall at over 900m (with a ladder to climb up beside it the whole way -- I must say I'm not sorry to miss that part).

We have settled in but there is no denying that the distance weighs on us at times.  Thanksgiving break was especially hard as I was overcome with mom guilt at not being with the girls.  However, they each found a loving place to be and seemed to be fine with the holiday, so, like most mom guilts, this was mostly useless!

Here at ALA, we did have a very nice Thanksgiving dinner with a number of ex-pats from all different nations (not just the US) and we had a wonderful moment of saying what we were thankful for.  It ranged from being thankful for co-workers at ALA, to family, to new experiences, even email!  ALA is a wonderful community.  The biggest shocker was to discover that while Thanksgiving is not a holiday in South Africa, Black Friday is a huge deal!  What??? How can you take the worst of the holiday and not the best (giving thanks!!)???

It is odd to be coming into Christmas with the weather so warm and so many thunderstorms, rather than snow.  In fact, I've decided to pretend that it's not really Christmas until I get back to the States.  Instead, Hans and I went to one of the highest points in Johannesburg to watch the sunset.

Looking forward to seeing my girls and family soon.  Prayers that Hans and Nate will enjoy some good father/son bonding time.  Best wishes and happy new year to all!