On February 7 we packed up and left the Karoo behind. On our way to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) campus we stopped at The Highgate Ostrich Show Farm for a tour. It was nice to make time for fun. We have a lot of fun every day, but we get busy easily. This detour was enjoyed by all!
Our tour guide was quite eccentric and had funny quips for most everything we did. At one point, he told us to stop looking at the ostriches because he was prettier. I must admit, ostriches aren't the prettiest animals, but they are cool! We are doing a play about how the ostrich got it's long neck in the local schools, so it was fun to learn even more. The female is gray and the male black. The female guards the eggs during the day and the male at night. Their feather color helps them blend in to their surroundings. As we teach the kids, this is CAMOUFLAGE!
Aren't those eggs HUGE? One egg is the equivalent of two dozen chicken eggs...wowza! The eggs are used just like chicken eggs, especially by local bakers. The egg shells are so tough that a human can stand on them without causing any damage.
We also got to hold some baby ostriches! They were fun to catch. The students loved holding the baby ostriches and I was a bit worried we were going to end up with one in someone's purse.
We also had the opportunity to sit on or ride an ostrich. Charlene was the first student to pose, and she really wore those feathers well!
At the end of our tour, there was an ostrich race. It was short, but fun to watch! These guys were much more comfortable on the ostrich than our students were!
While our students had good questions and discussions about the ethics of the ostrich farm, a good day was had by all! At times, I almost feel like I should be doing more "work," but I have realized that my presence is the most important part of my job here. Being present allows me to have good conversations with the students, whether it's a conversation about the ethics of an ostrich farm, or a challenging conversation, just being here and also being new to the experience seems to be what the students need. Much like being on duty, the work is ongoing. From the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep (and even in between), I have to be ready for whatever South Africa throws my way. I appreciate when we can make time for fun.
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