21 JUNE 2012 ISSUE #01

CULTURE SCOPE

YOUTH FOR UNDERSTANDING

SOUTH AFRICA

’S

Welcome to YFU South Africa’s first issue of

the Culture Scope!

This is the official newsletter of YFU South Africa

delivered to you by the Junior Volunteer Council (JVC).

It will be published bi-monthly filled with the news

from all over the country and across the YFU world. It

will feature a cross of all the happenings regarding

YFU’s exchange students, host families and volunteers,

as well as fun information regarding the organisation.

There will just be plenty of fun for everyone.

As we are in the midst of winter, many of our inbounds

prepare themselves for a journey back to their home

countries. They will begin to realise all that has changed

within the year or even six months that they have spent

in South Africa. It is a sad time for many host families

and students, because it is never easy to say goodbye to

your newest son or daughter. As for the students, saying

goodbye to their new families will just be as difficult.

While we reach the end of one thing we can look for-

ward to the beginning of another. On the 31st July we

will be welcoming our newest group of exchange

students, who will embark on a trip that thousands

before them have already taken, but yet it never gets

old.

IN THIS ISSUE:

PAGE 2 - VOLUNTEER TRAINING 21ST APRIL - PRETORIA

PAGE 3 - NEWSLETTER TEAM

PAGE 4 - DURBAN TOUR APRIL 2012 / MY YEAR IN 200 WORDS

PAGE 5 - APRIL UP COUNTRY VISITS / CROSSWORD PUZZLE

PAGE 6 - KNITTING PROJECT / WHAT’S YFUing / FACEBOOK UPDATES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

PAGE 7 - SOME FUN WITH NUMBERS

PAGE 8 - FROM THE DESK OF THE CHAIR

VOLUNTEER TRAINING 21ST

APRIL—PRETORIA

T he difference between giving the per-

fect advice and counseling,

the importance of understanding these two

concepts was one of the many important issues

discussed at the volunteers counselors train-

ing held in Pretoria, conducted by a very

friendly and professional intern at the Pretoria

office, Gabriele Tervidyte.

The question, “what qualities are needed as a

counselor?” was presented, and out of the

many points that were mentioned the group

established that keeping an open mind,

listening, expertise, and not being

judgmental were the skills needed to become

the ideal contact person in YFU and a great

friend, colleague in everyday life.

The team of 8 (it is such a shame that we were

so few) then participated in a two part exercise

that required us to sit with our backs to each

other. Part one required that we

communicate to our partners and talk about

something very dear to us and our partners

remain completely silent for 2min – they only

listen, we then gave our feedback and

discovered that for some, finding what to talk

about was a challenge, and for some, talking at

that moment was the easiest thing to do and

could be done for ever, as well as the

expectation of a response also made it some-

what difficult to carry on talking. On the other

hand, the “listeners” to some extent found it

reasonably difficult to channel their

concentration to the speaker, and also felt the

need to respond with the simple “Mmm” and

“Aha”, this exercise was called Passive

listening.

Part two, Active listening had a same setting

but this time, the partner had the opportuni-

ty to respond, be it commenting or asking a

question. We then also gave our feedback and

found that a few of us ran out of things to say

and some did not know when to “interrupt”.

We then had a half an hour lunch break, giving

us some time to converse and get to know each

other better, and of course enjoy the delicious

food.

Training resumed and the importance of

limiting ones personal judgment while

counseling was discussed.

We were then again asked to pair up, and given

a set of quotes and questions, each pair had to

pick one question and was asked to present and

share our thoughts thereafter.

That then marked the end of the training with

some self-set advice on how to develop.

I personally found the training very

informative and extremely helpful, it was

simple and very understandable, most of all, I

enjoyed getting to know new individuals from

different walks of life who found each other in

the YFU family! Thank you! :-)

By: Selelo Maake (Returnee)

Learning in progress, do not disturb.

Back row: Fez, Thys, Paco

Front Row: Gaby, Rynette, Magda, Barbara, Selelo, Nina, Paulina

2

THE NEWSLETTER TEAM

Tetelo Tee Mabiletsa

I am a 20 year old film and media productions student

at the University of Cape Town. I’m a bundle of

personality with a curious mind and a desire to

exchange experiences and knowledge with the people

I come into contact with. My experience with YFU is

purely based on the fact that YFU is a global family

imparting wisdom of the various cultural diversities

yet we celebrate these differences.

“The world is a book and those who do not travel

read only one page.” – St. Augustine

Barbara Buitendach

Born in 1990 and raised in Pretoria, I’m a city dweller in heart

and soul. As an only child I was always searching for friends

until my parents brought their god child Patricia to stay with

us. In 2008 my mother’s friend approached us about hosting an

overseas exchange student and Jana from Germany came into

our lives. We were convinced that we would do it once and that

would be the end of it, but the next year my mother became a

volunteer and contact person and into our home and hearts

came Cadine from Austria. Since then our lives were never the

same again. The whole family became involved and joined as

volunteers. I became a junior contact person and started

assisting with orientations. Suddenly my family grew every

year with new students in the country, into our home and into

our hearts.

I’m a 4th year Vocal Art student at Tshwane University of Tech-

nology. I study opera singing and music theory and hope to go

into teaching next year. My passion is teaching music theory

and/or singing to primary school children. I’m also a Christian

and an active member of the music ministry in our church. I

would love to continue being an older (host) sister (and later

a host mother) for future exchange students.

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and

that which cannot remain silent” ― Victor Hugo

Exchange student to Sweden in

2007, intern in Denmark in 2009

and full-time YFU SA volunteer.

When I say full time, I almost

mean it is foolish how much time I

spend with YFU, but it is a large

part of my life, and I wouldn’t

have it any other way.

When not YFU’ing I am studying towards my

degree in International Relations and Political

Science at the University of South Africa or

watching unreasonable amounts of sport and

enjoying the worlds social media.

I am also on the YFU South Africa Board and part

of the vibrant and exciting JVC. For now that is all

and you will be hearing plenty more of my thoughts

through out our future newsletter publications.

"It always seems impossible until it is done." -

Nelson Mandela

Ngoako Mashitisho

And all the contributions from around the

country also deserve a very special thank

you. Without out you we would just have a

very blank page with all our love on it.

3

Durban Tour April 2012

On the 2nd April 21 YFU students started their journey

from Pretoria or PE to Kwazulu-Natal. In the late

afternoon and evening everybody arrived in

Amanzimtoti .

The first day we visited a croc world. Very interesting but

we all longed for the beach! This was luckily our next

stop. Girls tanning and guys playing rugby.

The next day started in the middle of the night…only the early bird catches the sunrise in the harbour.

We were divided into two groups and we went out on a boat to see the work of the KZN shark boats

followed by a documentary and a dissection of a shark.

On Thursday – the funniest day of all – we went to Ushaka marine world. First the aquarium or the

dolphin show and then relaxing in the water park. The last two days were “chillaxed” beach – bowling –

beach – shopping – more beach…but then Sunday came and our sweet lives found

an end.

By: Nina Klauß (Austria)

My year in 200 words Being an exchange student is not always easy, and during my stay the

question “is this the right thing to do?”, has popped up a few times

(maybe even a bit more...) – luckily those thoughts quickly disappear

again and when they do, I realise how lucky I am, being able to do

this and get this unique experience! That is why I can only use one

word for my exchange year, amazing!

I have been on tours which have given me; endless laughs with my

(host) family and friends, made me get charged by a hippo, playing

“Werewolf” (YFU game) till my head was close to

exploding of keeping laughter in me, almost fallen

five metres down a waterfall, been locked in a cell

on Robben Island, and made me have only a

basin with water for bathing and only a long-drop as toilet for 14 days – the memories are endless!

In only one year I have been fortunate enough to see almost all corners of a new country, been part of another family,

created friends in South Africa and all over Europe, learned a new language, experienced how things work in a very

different country, and had a personal growth I could not have achieved without my exchange year – the list goes on

forever and it is all part of making hold in the famous sentence “Your exchange year is the best year in your life”.

All this, in only one year…

By: Alexander Rauff (Denmark )

Chilling at the beach and there just happens to be a camera.

The famous pose

4

APRIL UP COUNTRY SCHOOL VISITS

Our national director, Nina Voges, took an expedition to the Gauteng Province where she was

accompanied by the Gauteng regional head, Rynette, and Paco, who is an intern from the Netherlands.

Together they visited schools in and around the province to expand the YFU relationship with

potential students and host families.

“During the two weeks Rynette, the intern Paco Bleeker from the Netherlands and I, visited 16 schools

in Middelburg, Witbank, Rustenburg, Krugersdorp, Britz and Bronkhorstspruit. The aim was two-fold,

namely to establish contact with new schools where we have never been before. We introduced our pro-

gram to the principals, handed them flyers and posters and explained the concept. In addition we also

set up appointments for presentations during which our in and outbound programs would be explained

fully to the students. While our aim at this time of the year is mainly to find potential host families, we

have also used the opportunity to market the outbound program. We were very well received at all the

schools and they have expressed a positive attitude towards working with us. All the schools provided

us with the opportunity to do presentations.” Dr Voges said.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

TEST YOUR YFU KNOWLEDGE

5

KNITTING PROJECT There was an article in the local Middelburg newspaper, placed by Mid Med Hospital about the people in the hospital knitting blocks for the renovation of the children’s ward. Mariana, our volunteer in Middelburg saw the article and decided that it was an excellent community project for YFU to get involved in. YFU started knitting. Boys, girls and volunteers from both Middelburg and Pretoria knitted with enthusiasm. Between the bags of blocks received from Pretoria and the ones filled in Middelburg we were able to hand over with pride 5 bags of blocks to Matron Annatjie Smit, the organizer of the project. Annika van Rooijen from Austria represented YFU at the tea given by the hospital and the blankets on display were lovely. A big “thank you” to Annika, Emma, Anni, Paula, Alexander and Nils

from Middelburg and Lieselotte, Magda, Barbara, Ouma Barbara and Tannie Isabel from Pretoria for all the effort you put in and to Henri for all the coffee he made while his family was knitting.

WHAT’S ING?

It’s a lifestyle. Whether we’re preparing for

orientations or laughing our butts off with

fellow volunteers, we’re all working together

with a common goal for YFU. Every now and

again, each region engages in activities ranging

from orientations to family days...

25 May – 27 May: Re-Entry Orientation (PE)

31 May – 3 June: Re-Entry Orientation (PTA)

8 June – 10 June: Kruger National Park

25 June - 28 June: Pre-Departure Orientation

(CT)

26 June: Current inbounds leave

31 July: New inbounds arrive

Watch this space for events and activities in

your region!

FOR UP TO DATE NEWS, PICTURES, ACTIVITIES AND

GATHERINGS:

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER - @YFUSouthAfrica

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK - YFU South Africa

VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.yfu.org.za

FACEBOOK UPDATES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

Magda Buitendach (host mom) - “Nog net 8 dae

dan gaan Henri huistoe. My hart wil breek maar

ek weet hy gaan nie vir altyd weg nie, want vir

altyd sal hy in my hart wees!”

Laura Jørgensen (Denmark) - “only 1 week left in

South Africa”

Anaïs Ars (France) - “I don't care about the

animals you know! I just want to enjoy my last

week end with all the exchange students”

Paula Magdenfranz (Germany) - “What an

awesome (host) brother I have.”

Dominik Holzherr (Switzerland) - “Just came

home from another YFU orientation - sadly it

was the last one :( Thank you guys for making

this weekend and the whole year EPIC and thank

you YFU for offering us this amazing

opportunity :). Already sad to lose this YFU

family :(“

Emmiina Partanen (Finland) - “Only one week left

in South Africa! I just did a test packing and

found out that 2 bags and 46 kilograms will be

enough for all my stuff I wanna take back

home:) I'm sooo relieved right now ”

6

SOME FUN WITH NUMBERS

29 STUDENTS AT P

RETORIA

RE ENTRY O

RIENTATIO

N

18 YEARS SINCE YFU

SOUTH AFRICA STARTED 4

PA

ID S

TA

FF

IN

TH

E

WH

OL

E O

F Y

FU

SO

UT

H A

FR

ICA

15 - 18 YEAR O

LD

HIGH

SCHOOL STU

DEN

TS PARTICIPATE

IN OU

R EXCHAN

GE PROGRAM

53 EXCHANGE STUDENTS AND

VOLUNTEERS ARRIVING END OF JULY

1 EXCH

AN

GE S

TUD

ENT P

LACED

IN

GEO

RG

E TH

IS E

XCH

AN

GE P

ERIO

D

14 STUDENTS SPENT THEIR

EXCHANGE YEAR IN PORT ELIZABETH

0 - 150 YEARS IS THE

ELIGIBLE AGE TO BE A HOST MOTHER,

FATHER, BROTHER OR SISTER

7

FROM THE DESK OF THE CHAIR

I trust everyone has enjoyed reading our first edition of the Culture Scope! In this section, as the JVC chairperson

(Ngoako Mashitisho), I will sum up the newsletter and just share what ever I feel may have been left out in the

publication, or anything that I have come across in my (our) ordinary lives that may be relevant to everyone.

For this edition I came across a very true and meaningful piece on almost ALL the emotions one goes through at the

end and even during an exchange year. It encompasses the feelings of everyone involved in the exchange process, fami-

lies, friends and of course the exchange student. So here it is, go through all the emotions:

"A year has passed and now we stand on the brink, of returning to a world where we are surrounded by the paradox of everything

and yet nothing being the same. In a couple of weeks we will reluctantly give our hugs and, fighting the tears, we will say goodbye

to people who were once just names on a sheet of paper to return to people that we hugged and fought tears to say goodbye to

before we ever left.

We will leave our best friends to return to our best friends. We will go back to the places we came from, and go back to the same

things we did last summer and every summer before. We will come into town on that same familiar road, and even though it has

been months, it will seem like only yesterday. As you walk into your old bedroom, every emotion will pass through you as you reflect

on the way your life has changed and the person you have become.

You suddenly realize that the things that were most important to you a year ago don't seem to matter so much anymore, and the

things you hold highest now, no one at home will completely understand. Who will you call first? What will you do your first weekend

home with your friends? Where are you going to work? Who will be at the party Saturday night? What has everyone been up to in

the past few months? Who from school will you keep in touch with?

How long before you actually start missing people barging in without calling or knocking? Then you start to realize how much things

have changed, and you realize the hardest part of being an exchange student is balancing the two completely different worlds you

now live in, trying desperately to hold on to everything all the while trying to figure out what you have to leave behind. We now know

the meaning of true friendship. We know who we have kept in touch with over the past year and who we hold dearest to our hearts.

We've left our worlds to deal with the real world. We've had our hearts broken, we've fallen in love. There have been times when

we've felt so helpless being hours away from home when we know our families or friends needed us the most, and there are times

when we know we have made a difference. Just weeks from now we will leave. Just weeks from now we take down our pictures,

and pack up our clothes. No more going next door to do nothing for hours on end. We will leave our friends whose random e-mails

and phone calls will bring us to laughter and tears this summer, and hopefully years to come.

We will take our memories and dreams and put them away for now, saving them for our return to this world. Just weeks from now

we will arrive. Just weeks from now we will unpack our bags and have dinner with our families. We will drive over to our best friend's

house and do nothing for hours on end. We will return to the same friends whose random emails and phone calls have brought us

to laughter and tears over the year. We will unpack old dreams and memories that have been put away for the past year.

In just weeks we will dig deep inside to find the strength and conviction to adjust to change and still keep each other close. And

somehow, in some way, we will find our place between these two worlds. In just weeks.

Are you ready?"

8

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME A HOST FAMILY OR BECOME AN EXCHANGE STUDENT?

Well you have no reason to waste time. Please feel free to contact any one of our representatives in a

region near you.

Cape Town (Head Office):

Tel - 012 423 1677

Email - info@yfu.org.za

Pretoria (Rynette Scholtz):

Cell - 082 464 3957

Email - scholtz1@telkomsa.net

Port Elizabeth (Iris Goeda):

Cell - 082 464 3950

Email - iGoeda@aspenpharma.com

THABO AND PIERRE