FIRST DAY AT WELCOME!!!

First day at the school went brilliantly. We got the the school at 8:30 and the kids had prepared a show for us with poems singing and dancing. 

We were split into pairs and I was with Francis so that we could go into the classes to meet the kids. We got class 4b which is around age 11. They were all so happy to see us and we're so sweet and ready to learn. We got them to write a response to the pen pal letter that some of the first years wrote to them. We then played with them outside at their interval. We took lots of photos and they were really keen to see them once we had taken them. 

We them left the school to go to the cheetah sanctuary and we got to pet a cheetah which was really cool. We also got to see other animals that the sanctuary help to protect. 

Welcome again...

Returning to Welcome Primary a year later after being at the school last October was amazing. I was rather surprised that some of the children came up to me saying that they recognised me. 
After a fabulous welcome assembly filled with songs and poems, Mark and I went to work in Grade 5B where we gave them scrapbooks that the Primary 6 & 7's at Burntisland Primary had made for them filled with letters, pictures and traditional Scottish recipes. The children were so happy to read the letters from the children and respond back. 
After that we went out to join the children at break time where we played football with them and got to know them better. 
They were all so happy and loving every moment of it and it's clear to say that I think we all did too! 

Let's Get Loud in Langas!

After an amazing morning up Table Mountain we were brought into the centre of Langa. 

We got a tour around the centre of Langa, by our tour guide Chappi. Where we got taken to the visiting centre and were shown the theatre and the art department eg pottery and sand painting. Then we went on to learning African drumming where Mr Clunie rocked the cow bell with Miss Roslender as back with the maracas. Later we wondered into shacks where we saw a lot of poverty and children who had no shoes walking over broken glass and sharpe stones, this was quite upsetting to see.Our tour guide Chappi bought lollipops for us to hand out to the children. We started to head up to a hostel with people who also living in poverty. There, we went to see a youth club called 'Happy Feet' consisting of  boys and girls who spend two hours of their day to practice dancing. It was definitely worth the visit as they were truly incredible. It was then our turn to learn to dance like them. To top off the night, Matt G asked the Mexican restaurant waitress "for a fanta and your number"! 

The Backpack

We were all so excited when we arrived in Cape Town airport🇿🇦✈️. Our friend Mario was kindly waiting for our arrival. Afterwards the group split into boys and girls and then we headed to our accommodation. The 'Backpack' is such an amazing place as it is situated just below Table Mountain🗻. The weather is fantastic at 26 degrees Celsius☀️. Can't wait for the trip to Table Mountain tomorrow! 😁

Touchdown!!!

After a very long flight from Istanbul to Cape Town everyone barely got any sleep and is extremely tired as we arrive at Backpack. Even though everyone was tired nobody could resist having a dip in the pool before pizza while watching the rugby with some very eager South African fans!! Early night all round is needed.

Time for take off..The waiting game

We all arrived at the airport today, some very early and some very late (like Lana), all with out purple hoodies on, all very excited! 

It was quite stressful trying to get through security all together and quickly but we have finally gotten through to the departure lounge! We went to Costa and MAC (although we didn't buy anything from MAC, too expensive!!) and we're now waiting on our first plane to Istanbul! We all can't wait! 

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Hoodie fitting

The third group of Balwearie pupils unveil and model the 2015 hoodie choice as we count down to leaving for Cape Town on Friday. Getting real now!