BRIDGES TO UNDERSTANDING AND WHAT IT MEANS TO ME: Sesethu

Honestly speaking, the first time Bridges was introduced to our school I was chosen as part of the learners that would be participating in the cultural exchange program. Back then, I never knew what Bridges was all about and I started to lose interest in the program because I was involved in many programs at school and I saw them as more interesting than Bridges. I ended up leaving the group that had chosen me.

Later, after the program started to grow and more people got interested in joining Bridges, to me it felt like I needed to go back because so many things were happening and the program itself was interesting as it unfolded itself to all the students in our school. I had a problem with finding my way back to the group because I never told anyone why I had left or knew how to explain what brought me back to the group again.

So as Bridges grew into this one big family of love, support, and encouragement things started to happen and all students began to understand what Bridges is all about. Opportunities started to appear to all learners as 6 students were chosen to go to Seattle. And when all of this happened I was sitting there and observing and blaming myself for letting such an opportunity go when I should have grabbed it with both hands. As I was observing the program, new things were being introduced to the learners like the photographic workshops they attended and the digital storytelling that they just did recently that informed me more about Bridges.

At the beginning of this year I was picked again to be part of the new group where I had been chosen before. I was so happy that I was called again, because to me this was my second chance and a chance I won't let go of. I wanted to be part of the group and be part of the cultural exchange with students in Seattle, not knowing that there was going to be another selection of 6 learners going overseas.

Luckily I was selected to be part of that group that has come to Seattle, and to tell the truth I was so happy but at the same time I couldn't believe that it was me who has been chosen.

So in my own understanding I would say that Bridges to Understanding to me is a home of compassion, a home where people give not because they want something in return but because they know that when you give whatever little that you have you are likely to get everything that you want in life.

As learners in the program, we are taught to love ourselves so that we may be able to love others as well, to help each other, to know where we come from and to show the love and kindness that we have within us to other people and that's what UBUNTU is all about.

I come from a community of informal settlements where it is hard for some families to put food on the table because people are not working. As a result some teenagers get themselves involved in crime, thinking that it's a way of finding food for their families.

So, Bridges played an important role in our lives because it takes us out of the streets and provides us with opportunities, and when we have something to do after school there's no getting yourself involved in the violence happening outside.

-Sesethu

First thoughts on host family and Seattle by Sese

When our trip to Seattle began we were told that it’s only for 3 week and it looks like it is going to be hard for us to leave when the trip comes to the end. Seattle is so beautiful and has wonderful places to visit and interesting people to talk to.

My first impression on my first day was how big and beautiful the houses are and how everybody was so nice and kind. My first day out was at the waterfront where there are beautiful displays of different artists in Seattle and I got to see the space needle.
I took a lot of picture with the students that I went out with.

I was also impressed by how my host family went to pick me up at the airport and brought me flowers. I enjoyed staying with them because they were so kind and loving to me. When I came to Seattle I thought I was going to be uncomfortable staying with another family with people that I don’t know very well, but it turned out to be fun when I got to know more about them and they got to know more about me.

It felt like I was at home with my real family and I was enjoying my time with Zoe (the hosts' daughter).

When I was told that I was going to go with her to school I got so excited and wanted to see her friends and meet new people. The name of the school is Lakeside and I was so blown away when I heard that all students in Lakeside carry laptops to school. Where I come from if a student would carry a laptop to school he/she would be so cool.

I’m so ready to go Garfield high because I hear that its one of the coolest schools in Seattle!

Vote of Thanks from K.T.

When I reached Seattle I first saw the Space Needle for which Seattle was famous. The Space Needle was very high, and I am quite afraid of the heights. From up there I saw the city, mountains, evergreen trees, and water. I also saw the two famous lakes of Seattle: Lake Washington and Lake Union. After that, we went on the ferry and landed on an island called Bainbridge.

My host family was really good. They all were very nice and took good care of me. They always were very concerned for what I thought would be comfortable for me. I like spicy foods and they usually don’t make spicy foods, but as I like them they would make some spicy foods for me and if the food wasn't spicy they would always put some bottle of spicy sauce on the table while having the meal.

There were five members in my host family. I have got two host sisters and one host brother. The main person in the host family with whom I interacted the most was Clare, my host sister. Clare is a nice girl. She would always be concerned for me in the school. She would always show the ways to the cafeteria, restroom, theatre, and gym. While riding the bus from the school to home or from home to school, some of her friends would like to have a small conversation between themselves and Clare would always define what they were talking about so that I didn’t feel left out.

Wherever we go it's not easy to interact in the first meeting, but I think that my host family was really very nice to take such good care of me and I am very thankful to them. When I landed in Seattle I thought it would be very hard, but they all made it very much easier for me.

THANK YOU!
K.T

HECTOR PETERSON WELCOME TO SEATTLE

ONE BIG WARM AND LOVING WELCOME FROM THE BRIDGES FAMILY

On the of January 2008 six students were chosen in our school to attend the Seeds of Compassion Conference which will be held in hosted in Seattle which is America under a nonprofit organization that engages K-12 students worldwide in direct, interactive learning and storytelling to build cross-cultural understanding and it is called Bridges to Understanding.

Luckily I was chosen as one of the students that will be going to Seattle for the Seeds of Compassion Conference with the other students at my school namely :

1. Sesethu Goniwe(that is me of course)

2. Zama Vuntu

3. Phuthikhaya Mareseni

4. Caroline Dyantyi

5. Phumza Sdiki

6. Ntombizandile Mthiya

We are all from Hector Peterson FET(further education and training) which is in South Africa in Cape town.

We left South Africa on the 28th of March and on that day we all realised that a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step as it was the first time for all of us to travel with a plane and probably the first time coming to America.

On the 29 of March we landed in Seattle Tacoma Airport where we had a warm and loving welcome from the whole bridges family and our family hosts. At that time we were all excited and happy to even get the chance to sit down and get to know each other better but at least we got the chance to enjoy a warm welcome from the bridges family. To tell the Truth I have never seen such loving and kind people like the people that live in Seattle. So for me it was so amazing to see that not only your family and friends can love you but other people as well.

To all the students who were at the airport when we arrived and to all the students that we met and most of all to the families for hosting us in their home I thank you so much. I had a great time at the airport and looking forward to enjoying being in Seattle.

WHO AM I (sese's introduction)

WHO AM I ?

My name is Sesethu and my surname is Goniwe.
I was born in 1989 on the 21st of December in Cape Town.
I am holding 19 years and 4 months and hopefully by the end of this year I'll be a fully matured adult and ready to make my own decisions. I am doing grade 11 at a school called Hector Peterson FET which is situated in Cape Town in a small community in Kraaifontein called Wallacedene.

Now here's the best part that I like about me. I am a self motivated hyperactive person that never gets upset sad and angry. If it happens that I get sad or upset I normally find ways of dealing with it before it destroys my day. I am a kind and funny loving guy who is always ready to meet new people and share information with them regardless of who they are or what culture they belong to.
I almost forgot that some people believe that I have a good sense of humor and that is just one of the things I am good at: putting a smile on every new face that i come across with.

During my spare time I listen to house music which is better know as dance or electronic. I enjoy listening to house music because my second in hand goal is to become a DJ.
I also enjoy reading and writing, spending time with friends playing video game and soccer.
I enjoy watching movies a lot especially comedy and action movies.
My favourite movie is Click.

The biggest dream that I have is to become an engineering technician in the field of technology where I will be working with designs, sketches and inventing new products in the world of technology. This is because ever since I was a young boy I was inspired by technology and what it is capable of.

Introduction: K.T Lhamo

My name is K.T. Lhamo. I am the blogger of T.C.V.(Tibetan Children Village) School . I am about 14 years old. I study in the 9th grade. My favorite subject is English. I went to an English medium school for 5 years. In total I have studied in 6 different schools. I am fluent in Hindi, English and Tibetan. I can speak a little bit of Sanskrit, Korean, Chinese. Have been in a lot of place in India like Hyderabad, Goa, Bombay, Ladakh, Bangalore, Dalhousie, and then Dharamsala.

Out here it is completely different form the environment out there. In my host family there are 3 children and 2 parents. In my family there are also 3 children and 2 parents but we live with our grandmother and aunt. At T.C.V. we have a daily assembly when we sing the national anthems, both of India and Tibet. On Thursday our teacher checks our nails; it's like the cleanliness day. We learn everything from books out there.

At Lakeside, they don't have an assembly every day. Out here it is more modern from there as the students carry laptops in the classes, and cellphones in their lockers. In India it is really important to respect our elders. Here the students don't stand up while answering their teacher.

The world is full of different people so we can't expect everything to be the same as we have been used to. So, I think that I have got to see a lot more as you never know; LIFE IS FULL OF SURPRISES!

Lakeside School visit

Pictured here are Susethu and KT (Kalsang Tashi), our bloggers from South Africa and TCV respectively. We met today and discussed possible posts, and tomorrow you'll hear from them each in their own words!
Here's a quick snap I took in the Lakeside Upper School Auditorium, where the 6 South African students answered questions about their lives, schools, and families, and also asked the Seattle students questions as well. The Seattle students enjoyed learning what "netball" is, and the South African students were amazed to compare the cost of education in the US to what it costs in South Africa.