Wow, how time flies when you’re having fun. And a lot of stuff to do. And travels. And workshops. And vacation.

The new North Participants, hereby called NP’s, arrived mid-February, and started off with the same Norec course as the South Participants. As Mbali so wonderfully described, the atmosphere, the people, the tasks and lectures, the food and the excursion to Soweto were all fantastic and so memorable. What a great start to life in South Africa!

As a returning NP, staying in SA also in 2019 before Covid, Klara knows both some people and a lot of SA hacks already. Luckily for me, the rookiest rookie, she took me under the wing, driving the car (on the “wrong” side of traffic) which, I’m not going to lie; scared me a lot in the beginning. (Yes, I drive now. Yes, mom, I’m careful!)

Both the PULSE Team and the rest of the Head Office have welcomed us so nicely, and we definitely already feel like a natural part of the FBF family.

After the Norec course, our first week started with a visit from NMH, the Norwegian Academy of Music, as already described well in our last post.

The following week we had some office work: transfer of knowledge and planning two Educational Band Visits, EBVs, and then we were off to first Plettenberg Bay and then Cape Town.

Such lovely weeks we had in these projects! The EBV focused on the work the tutors do in ECD, Early Child Development, working with kids from 2-6 years old. Discussions, activities and tasks on storytelling, facilitating for kids, body language, teaching skills amongst others were inspiring and fun for us all.

We ended both workshops with Member Wellbeing Day, arranging activities and competitions for the kids, and we all had a blast. In between long work days, there was even time for enjoying the sun and the pool. In Plett we even got invited for a boat ride from the founder of the band, and we had a great time seeing both whales, dolphins and seals!

Staying AND working together tightly for two weeks can make or break a team. We feel like we definitely got to know each other well, and are ready for new adventures together! We learned that:

• Klara never runs out of jokes (but they might be dryer than the Sahara…)
• Maria and Siri act like an old married couple: waking up early and serving each other morning coffee
• Peter likes his coffee “half and half”; half sugar, half water
• Julie can nap anywhere, anytime, and she will!

With just some days in the office after these workshops, Easter Holidays came up, and we spread out on the whole map: Julie went to Norway for holidays and Visa renewal, Maria to Malta and Klara and Siri to Zanzibar.

Well rested after holidays, Maria, Klara and Siri planned the first Tutor Programme Workshop in only three days; hectic, but very rewarding in the end, as we could host it in the most incredible venue: the Leribisi Lodge.

Wow, what a great week that was!

The tutors in the programme brought fantastic energy and eagerness to learn, and we got to play, sing, learn and connect with both fantastic weather and in wonderful surroundings all week. It went by waay to fast, and I think we all went home feeling euphoric and excited for the next time!

…wowowow, yet another week passed, and this blog post did not get posted, as it was not finished… Time really FLIES when we have so many activities, so much to do, and so many fun things to hold on to!

Therefore, the rest of this sum-up of our time in SA so far will be in key words:

• Time off: The four of us spontaneously booked a trip to Zambia and Zimbabwe to see Vic Falls, Chobe National Park in Botswana and much more in just an oval weekend. We had so much fun!

• Office work and Leadership Seminar – yet another fun workshop and planning our next ones

• Tutor Program Workshop #2: theory focus at the office, but our group of tutors yet again brought all the best vibes and made it yet another great one!

• 17.mai, the Norwegian Constitution Day at the Ambassador’s Residence, in our amazing Xhosa-outfits!

We are now soon off to two different Band Visits, in Blouberg and Danielskuil. We’re excited for what comes next!

Xoxo The Rookiest Rookie, Siri