McGregor Waldorf School

Katleen's Travelogue 3

The past two and a half weeks have been filled with visits which has been fun and rewarding but also very tiring. I had to take a bit more rest in the last few days after feeling very exhausted and suffering stomach pains. In between the visits I had to focus on the Art Auction and the preparation for it. But now I am better and preparing for the next rounds of visits which will take me to the Netherlands for a bit more than a week. But now a review of my visits:

Monday 30 April – Tuesday 1 May

Mary and I went to visit Karel and Yolande Bellinkx in Destelbergen (Gent). Some of you know them as friends of the school who in the past years have invested their time and energy voluntarily to teach at school and support the teachers. Yolande has built a successful practice in ‘Biography Work’ in the last few years and is even teaching a course in the Netherlands now. Karel is in his last year at the Steiner school before going on pension. He has moved from full time class teaching to remedial support. He also takes on more interschool relationship work on. Karel has also studied counseling in the last few years and is building up a practice to counsel parents and children. They are as always very busy with their jobs, their children and grand children but manage to make time for old friends all the same. I just love going there to feel cared for and listened to. I always appreciate their thoughts and opinion.

Marion Otto who came to visit McGregor at the beginning of my career and helped to paint the kindergarten classroom and the new cupboards at the time, came to visit on the Tuesday. She was accompanied by a little girl who was the perfect playmate for Mary. Marion also donated an artwork for the art auction as she has been studying sculpting for quite a few years now. The delicate hands of the artwork broke though as we were packing them in so we needed to make a new appointment to pick up another one.

But these were two days well spent, exploring South Africa, the school and the prospects for the future. Karel and Yolande want to come back to McGregor soon and hope to fundraise at that time.

Friday 4 May – Saturday 5 May

Mary choose to stay at home with my sister so I took the train by myself to Brussels where I was met by Marc Desmet, a long time friend of mine and, together with a group of friends, a sponsor of Babalwa. He works for Belgacom, a big telecommunications business. My father used to work for that company long before the privatization of it and I used to do holiday jobs there. I could not believe the different face it has now compared to 40 years ago. We entered an ultra modern skyscraper in which 3000 people work. I needed to have a security badge (first in my life too!) in order to enter to have lunch with Marc. You can only get into that building when you are invited by someone who works there. The offer of foods for lunch was scrumptious and I really enjoyed the vegetarian platter. After catching up on our lives we drove to Heusden-Zolder where Marc lives. I met Jannes, his son, who as a true teenager spent most of the time in front of the computer and who was embarrassed when I gave him a kiss on the cheek to say hello (like everyone does here!) Marc had invited several friends for the evening so I could present the school. The evening went well with two people singing up for sponsorship. One of them a physiotherapist who spent two years in Swellendam and knew Dr. Frazer, the homeopath in Barrydale. The world is truly small!

Liliane and Lisa

On Saturday morning I worked a bit to then go visit Liliane who also is part of the group sponsoring Babalwa. Liliane has in the last years developed sculpting as a hobby and a way to express those inner workings we all have to deal with. She had gathered all the works of the seven artists friends who wanted to participate in the art auction so I could take them to Wevelgem for the exhibition. I showed the video’s and the powerpoint presentation and had Lisa very interested. They had visited McGregor quite some years ago now when Lisa was still young but then already she was fascinated by those small children in the Kindergarten. She still remembered and asked a lot of questions. She want to become a ‘child minder’ and I think she will be excellent at it too!! I did not have much time with them for Marc had promised to take me home in his car so we could take all the art works and stop in Gent to pick the one up from Marion Otto. So at about 4.30 pm we drove off. And as we approached Gent a lady started talking in the car – my first life experience of a GPS. I am sure many of you know it but it’s a guiding tool so that you can always find your way no matter where you are. You punch in the address you need to reach and you just follow the instructions of ‘de madam’ – the lady – as I called her. She was very polite and asked to ‘please, keep right’ and ‘please, turn left at the next stop’ but she was not infallible. She had us drive too far so we needed to turn back (she did not apologize for that!). A GPS here is built into every newer car and can also be used for walkers, bikers and horse riders… an article in the paper predicting that by 2010 every Belgian will have a GPS. For me a sign of excess; of people having extra money for gadgets like that. And a sign again that the will forces will be weakened further… you do not have to make any effort anymore! My friend said that you can even choose the voice of famous people etc…

Finally home and early to bed for I had only Sunday to prepare for my trip to England.

Monday 7 May, Tuesday 8 May and Wednesday 9 May

I had to get up at 5.00 am in order to catch the train to Lille Flandres, a station just over the French border. In Lille Europe I got onto the Eurostar, the fast train who goes through the tunnel under the channel (broad strip of water /sea between France/Belgium and England) and takes you to London in just two hours. Another amazement for me. I remember the days when the idea was being pondered and it seemed very futuristic at the time. Going to England when I was young was like going overseas now. It was far away and not something you did often. Now I saw young people boarding the train with school for a day London and a lot of business men and women going for a day’s work.

When arriving in London Waterloo I waited for my friend Safia to come meet me. Safia is a South African who has left the country about three years ago to further her career in England. She took me home to a suburb who is leafy and quiet. I feel at home in England since 20 years ago I spent a year in Holbrook near Ipswich as an au pair. I loved the countryside; the green colors of nature laced with splashes of yellow (especially) and other colors. This was also the day that the weather changed from sunny, South African type days to windy, rainy and cold spring days. I welcomed the change for it really made the green look so much brighter. Since I only needed to meet Gerda the next day, Safia took me to the Tate Modern Gallery – the national gallery of international modern and contemporary art. It is so rare for me to be able to visit such a gallery that I really enjoyed it very much. To be surrounded by color and form in various expressions was food for my soul. I am sorry the picture is not any better but again I forgot my camera to take real pictures. My most favorite pictures were of Joan Mira. It was also real nice to have an exchange of thoughts about art and particular paintings with Safia. And it was free of charge! You only needed to pay for the major exhibition which was by Gilbert & George.

The next morning I took the train from London Waterloo to Winchester in order to visit Gerda Patrick-Smith. Gerda has been a very close friend of the school since the inception and is planning to remain a supporter. I showed her all the visual material I had and we talked at length about everything and everyone Gerda is connected with in McGregor. Gerda travels widely so our conversations were very interesting.

After a really nice supper eaten in the company of Gerda and her sister and a good night sleep, I ventured out into the town of Winchester in the morning (Gerda had business to attend). Winchester is a cathedral city and England’s ancient capital and former seat of King Alfred the Great. The Great Hall, which is the only remaining part of Winchester Castle, houses the legendary King Arthur’s Round Table for over 700 years. A gallery with pictures and text took me through the history of the castle.

In the hall there was a temporary exhibition about Anne Frank’s Diary which is maybe not known in South Africa but well know to me. Anne Frank was a Jewish girl growing up in the Netherlands and transported to a concentration camp during World War II (1940-1944). She wrote a diary until she too died in the camp with millions of others who had been gassed just because they were Jewish, Gypsy or Homosexual under the rule of Hitler. The exhibition related the theme of racism to contemporary situations and was there especially for schools to visit.

I wandered somewhat further into town and found Winchester Cathedral, an impressive place of worship for over 900 years. After wandering through the museum which gives a picture of the story of Winchester’s past, from Roman to modern times, it was time for me to go back to Gerda’s and pack my bag. My way back was unadventurous but long and I was happy to be back with Mary who had stayed with my sister for three nights.

I only had the Thursday to recover before Mary and I made our way to Leuven.

Friday 11 May till Monday 14 May

On our way to visit Wouter, a puppeteer, who a long time ago, visited McGregor and spent some time at the McGregor Family Center to make puppets and set up a puppet show. He still travels through Flanders offering puppet shows to small children in his theatre boat.

Wouter's Theatre Boat

In the meantime Wouter and his partner Christine have become the parents of little Flor, a boisterous but absolutely adorable 1 ½ year old boy. Mary enjoyed spending time with him and playing with his toys. In the afternoon Christine and Wouter treated us to a theatre production which was especially designed for small children. It was absolutely delightful and the two Spanish actors used a variety of media to express a simple story which included the elements of earth, water and wind. The pace was slow but sometimes quickening and the actions varied from lot of movements to stillness. A truly ‘Waldorf’ presentation. Wouter is also the organizer of Florreborre, a monthly smoke free dance party, which offers people also an initiation in one or other form of dance.

It takes him a lot of organizing so I did not see a lot of Wouter but he had invited me to set up a stand with some things to sell and the opportunity to talk to people about the school. So as soon as Mary and Flor were settle with the ouma of Flor, Christine and I went to the OC (ontmoetingscentrum = meeting center, where all kinds of cultural events are taking place. These centers are present in every small and big town throughout Belgium) De Borre. Christine helped me to set up and present Anna’s jewelry attractively and soon the initiation into the Salsa was finished and the dance party (between 9.00 pm and 1.00 am) began.

De Borre display

There were also two other women who exhibited – one her own designed and made jewelry and the other sculptures of Goddess bodies – and I had a instant connection with both of them. Then throughout the evening I had interesting conversations with people. Some were parents of a local Steiner school (three parents of one school so I will connect with that school using those personal contacts), another worked at the University of Leuven – Law department and was telling me about Unisa Law professors who came over on a regular basis. Others had a connection with Africa in one way or another and one was very emotional about the South African government not sorting out it’s problems. I did sell some jewelry and received some donations but mostly I made contacts and had a really good time connecting to people. Wouter had also offered to donate 10% of the sale of drinks to the school. We got to bed at 2.30 am and I had to get up at 8.00 am to take the next train.

Visitors to De Borre display

The next train took us to Gierle, where Kathryn and Johan De Doncker, with their children Karen and Mark live. They moved from SA to Belgium five years ago, and were connected to Michael Oak School, where the children went to school and Kathy ran a doll making group. They have settled with the children in the Steinerschool in Lier, Johan teaching music and Kathryn just finishing an Art therapy training course. Their 16 y old daughter Karen did organize a dinner a few months ago as the practical part of an essay she wrote about Nelson Mandela. She had decided then that the proceeds would be for our school. The people I met during this weekend and who had attended the dinner were full of praise at how well organized and coordinated it was. Karen is intending to train further at a hotel school after matric for she seems to have a talent for this sort of thing.

On Saturday afternoon we went to visit the Steiner school in Turnhout. All schools have an Open Day during the month of May. It was very interesting to visit this newly built but otherwise 24y old school and to find out that they still have combined classes because of the low number of pupils. The teachers I spoke to knew Ann Scharfman and Michael Grimley. We went to look and listen to a kindergarten puppetshow, visited the classrooms and Mary went on a horsey cart ride. The displayed work was familiar of course and the kindergarten teacher Mieke gave us two books and a dollies dress for our kindergarten. They are allowing two and a half year old children into the kindergarten now because they otherwise go to a non-waldorf crèche and the teachers feel they have to address the reality of present day families of whom both parents are working.

Gierle

Then after visiting the house and most beautiful garden Kathryn and Johan have recently bought, we went home for supper. I met Wim, a family friend, who is organizing concerts, exhibitions and the like and who was inspired at Karen’s dinner. The people he organizes things for usually want to donate some money for the work he otherwise does free. He would be happy to let those donations flow to further the work of our school. He also organized for a lady who owns a magazine (www.onderox.be) to come that evening. So after dinner I showed our videos and the power point presentation and we talked at length about South Africa and the comparisons with Belgium. Europe is struggling to come to terms with multi-culturalism as the last few decades there has been an influx of people from all over the world. In the end it was decided that the article would be written and that I need to follow up with Wim. Karen, Mark and Wim are coming to South Africa during the whole of July and I have invited them to come to McGregor so Karen can personally hand over her donation and Wim can experience our school first hand.

And so our visit came to an end and the next day I was feeling not well at all and realized that the intensity of the last few weeks had caught up with me. We came back home in the late afternoon.

Tuesday 15 May

There really is little time to rest as I felt at that point quite overwhelmed with all the work still to do: organizing the Art Auction, following up on all the leads and suggestions, writing this diary, preparing to go to the Netherlands. But nevertheless I took a few hours longer in bed that morning.

In the evening I had an appointment with KAV (Katholic workers women), who had agreed to be the local organization needed in order to receive any funding from the municipality and Province. The weather was cold and it was raining but that did not stop about 15 women to go on a meditative walk. We went to a small strip of preserved nature and meditated on ‘Water’. Then we walked to an old preserved and restored entry to an Abby which is close to where I grew up and where I stay now. With some of the women we dug up old memories of our youth when we could play in and around the fields and mote. Now all those fields have houses on them. After hearing the history of the Abby we did a Sacred Dance and reflected on ‘Friendship’. Then we walked to the Cave next to the church in which there is a statue of Mother Mary. This also is a feature of my youth for we used to go there often and run up and down the steps and light candles. We all sat around the candles and meditated on ‘Being the Well’. I then had the opportunity to talk about our school and after thanking them for their willingness to be the in-between, I linked the themes of the meditation – water, friendship, being the well – to the work we do at school. This was very nice also for me as the more I talk about the school the more I can really get to the essence of what we do. I also handed everyone an invitation for the Art Auction and headed home.

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McGregor Waldorf School

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