July 11

My alarm rang at 7:00 this morning.  I sleepily turned it off and crawled out of bed.  My ride comes at 8, so I have an hour to get ready.  As I look through my suitcase, I think to myself, “Do I wear long sleeves because it is a bit cooler or do I stubbornly wear short sleeves and sandals because ‘it is summer in Canada.”  This morning it is a bit chillier, so I decided to wear short sleeves with a thinner sweater over top. 

By 7:40, I was ready and waiting outside.  Typically, my ride is a few minutes late, so I had plenty of time.  I pulled out my book and started to read . . . and read . . . and read.  At 9:00, I started wondering if my ride had forgotten about me.   I pulled out my phone and dialed his number, only to hear dial tones and realize that somehow I had ran out of airtime (you have to prebuy airtime here) and the only way I could get airtime was to go downtown.  So I sat and waited for another 10 minutes or so.  I then realized I had 10 text messages that I could still use.  So, I sent off a message and got another in reply, “He forgot U. He is coming.”  So, yes, I was forgotten about.  Good thing the college is only 10 minutes away.  By 10:00, I was at the college starting another day’s work.  I just finished a study book on Pastoral Practice and tomorrow hope to start on one that is used to teach the student’s English language skills. 

Today, I had quite a few conversations with the ladies I work with.  In the office where I work there are five women (including myself) and one guy.  Through these conversations, I came to realize my monetary richness.  If you had a job at a place like McDonalds, you would get paid about 4000 Rand a month.  Sounds like a bit, but when you convert it Canadian money, it works out to about $400 a month.  That is not very much compared to what we get – that is probably how much someone at McDonald’s works a month.  They asked me the cost of my plane ticket as a few of them were interested in coming to Canada.  I was hesitant to tell them as I know how large a sum it is to them.  When I told them, they were stunned.  In Canada, we are rich!  In another conversation, I was talking with someone who had been seriously looking at moving to Calgary for a job opportunity.  She was offered $3500 and to someone from South Africa, that sounded like a lot (35 000 Rand).  However, once she did some research, she realized that the company was not offering a fair wage according to Canadian standards and she would be barely able to make ends meet, especially as she has three young kids. 

The internet at the college was done again today.  Hopefully tomorrow I can update everyone.  I’m just teaching everyone patience!! J

Tomorrow, I am moving to the college.  I will live there for a few weeks and then I will be back here for the last few weeks. 

P.S.  Does anyone know of a Grade 5/6 teacher that wants a job?  I hear there might be one available come September in beautiful sunny Southern Alberta.  Just kidding!!!