Day Sixteen: Upington to Kakamas (plus 5 assessments at the Rosendaal School)

Thara and I saw the boys off early this morning. They were in high spirits when they left despite a bottle of Tabasco sauce shattering all over the food in the box it was in. It was another good day with no rain in sight and it seemed to be another fast day for the bikers. The road was pretty for them today and they reached Kakamas safely before noon.

Thara and I did 5 more assessments at the Rosendaal Primary School this morning. Five assessments in one day is exhausting because once they have been done Thara has to then write up the reports on the same day. We saw Grade R children today and it is interesting to see how a lack of stimulation at home affects the development of children. Children in privileged communities can write their names at 3 years of age these days, whereas the 5/6 year olds we tested today cannot write the first letter of their names. Many children also have Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) features which of course could also be the reason for their developmental delays. One little girl we tested was also HIV positive – it really makes one stop in one’s tracks when you realise that little scraps like her will have to deal with a lifetime of illness, pain and genuine suffering. It also makes one very thankful for one’s own health and for the knowledge of how to prevent the possibility of developing HIV/AIDS. There is just no luxury of choice for children born with it.

The societal problems in the poorer areas appear to be massive and even insurmountable and yet the school we visited this morning gives one some kind of hope with the structure and apparent education it offers children.

The Northern Cape is extremely friendly and no matter where we go people are relaxed and helpful (specially when we get lost). We have not ever felt vulnerable (as one does in Jozi) and the worst crime here is petty. It is unusual not to stress over unlocked cars, possessions left in rooms, or even venturing into townships. We had breakfast with a couple at the guest house this morning who are on their way to camp in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Namibia, Etosha and the Okavanga Delta (they laughingly told us they needed to get away from their daughter with autism for a while). Then at the Rosendaal School this morning, the teacher who helped us with the assessment children, told us that she also had a daughter with autism, something she would not wish on her worst enemy. So many children with autism, so many families that are affected by it, so little understanding of what they go through every single relentless day. I, for the second time today, felt thankful for my own life that is not complicated by illness of by having to raise a child with autism. I take off my hat to parents out there!