I did my piece of writing for
It’s write easy
last Friday about things that make up you/me
I feel I want to share this piece of writing and also an old clipping from 1973.
1.Things that make up me…
1972 – starting a new year, in an unknown town and a whole new way of living for me.
After coming back from an awesome 3 weeks of touring South America I had to leave my parents home and start a whole new life on my own.I had been living and teaching for four years from home near Pretoria.
I got a teaching job in Potgietersrus,starting January 1972. My first year there I had to stay in the hostel as part of my contract. Coping with teaching grade 2 in English(me as an Afrikaans speaking person) and looking after children in the hostel stretched my nerves to the full.
The hostel had two floors. The ground floor was the easy floor. Children from farmers who lived too far out of town were hosted there. They always went home during weekends.
The first floor had children from Johannesburg or Die Rand who were taken away from problem parents. They never went home during the term. They could only go home July holidays and then December. These poor children had many problems. They were from broken and poor homes.
Why I am writing about 1972 and my first year in Potgieterus has a twist!
On Facebook, I am taking part in, posting a photo a day. A topic is given for each day of the month. Monday the topic was trees. Someone posted a photo of a dead tree next to Moorddrift monument. The camel thorn tree burned down some years back. A young tree is already growing there, very slowly There is a historical background to these trees. There were two big thorn trees growing on the side of the Nyl River. It was a good spot to camp for the group of Voortrekkers-Pioneers. During the night/day a nearby tribe came and killed the whole group. There were 6 children in the group. These childrens heads were bashed against the two trees killing them. This is why the trees are historical importance.
May,1973 I took my std 1 class to this monument and gave them a lesson on the historical background on the moments there. A magazine, Die Landbouweekblad took a photo of us with the two big trees still growing at that time.
I told the person who posted the dead tree, about this picture. She asked me if I could show it to her. After some digging in my boxes which I haven’t unpacked yet, I found the clipping and I sent it to the lady who posted it on Facebook.
I am very proud of myself because I first had to scan the picture and upload it to my computer, then I had to upload it onto facebook.
Now I am going to paste it onto my blog too!
The one in the green dress is me!
Visit Paula’s blog for more Specials
http://bopaula.wordpress.com/2014/07/10/thursdays-special-curiosity/
scrapydo 
What a special story to share, Scrapydo! That is a very precious photo.
Thank you! I am so glad I cut it out and put it with my collection of memorabilia.
I do love these stories of the era, my era, and something about the pictures that get me, especially if they have tale to go with them.. 😉
Glad you can sort of relate to that time. Memories of those days bring back more and more related episodes, when you start writing them down. This is the third year I am doing this writing every Friday. I have a whole collection already
This is roughly my era,, I think it is a good idea… 😉
Very good idea!as soon as you start there is every time more incidents that come up.
So hoor en sien mens dinge wat mens nooit regtig vertel het. Elkeen was besig met sy eie lewe
Ja, daar was nie veel belangstelling van alle kante wat eintlik jammer is. Sodra mens begin dink en gesels kom daar gedurig weer flitse terug. Jy kan ook dalk so n skryfgroep vorm en eenkeer per week lekker sit en skryf en gesels oor al die dingetjies wat gebeur het.
Ooooo neee hulle moes lysies maak van die kos waarvan hulle hou en nie hou nie Ek het meer as ‘n maand gesukkel om dit bymekaar te kry. Die wat niks doen doen niks en die wat hulle kan besig hou is die ure van die dag nie genoeg nie. Dis mos hoe die lewe werk
Dis egter lekker om so n groepie te he wat die stories vir mekaar lees en vertel. Dis veral lekker omdat dit jou eie ondervindings is. Dit kom spontaan, moet net georganiseer word om dit te doen. (Koslysies is nie interessant genoeg nie!)
Nee wat die meeste skryf nie eers meet ‘n brief nie. Net een gebruik ‘n rekenaar en van hulle kan nie eers ‘n sms antwoord nie
Wys jou ook maar hoe die mensdom verander
What a fascinating Thursday’s Special, Ineke 🙂
Thank you, shows how a word or just a thought can expand into a whole adventure
Good Luck with youw new job, your new school!
At the moment I am looking for a new school.
Kind regards from Amsterdam-ZuidOost,
Thanks for visiting and reading my post. This happened in 1972-73. I am retired for some years now!
I did not look at the date.
I am still on my way for retiring, something like ten years to go.
But first I have to find myself a new school.
Kind regards,
Good on you, Hope you find a place soon
Pragtig. Weereens kom kuier die nostalgie ..dankie vir die vertel.
Lekker man! Heerlik om terug te dink aan lekker dae:D
Thanks!
When I first saw the photo I was impressed with the size of trees and smiled at the vintage pic knowing I would find you somewhere in the group, but the story is really shocking Scrapydo. Thank you for a lesson in history and this amazing share. Love, P.
I know it is shocking but that was/is part of history. Today there are situations which are more horrible than those “primitive” killings.
When I found the picture I thought mini skirts were in fashion and can’t believe how short they were
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That is from a long time ago. I can imagine you as a brave young woman working with those children in need. I am sure they learned to appreciate what you were doing for them.
We really loved each other at the end. Some days they hated me for trying show them the better way to do things.
But in the end they appreciated it I am sure.
Yes I think so because they were in need of a mother to help them and that’s what they received from me!
I enjoyed seeing the amazing tree and your old photo. The story of the horrible murders is very shocking, but here in South Africa, maybe we aren’t shocked anymore by such atrocities.. 😦
I agree. Human beings always find a way to kill each other no matter which way you look at it. Here I murder is shocking but in SA murders or killings every day makes no impression anymore. I don’t want to think about all the abuse and death going on in the world 😦