Week 1 25-10-2011
This week I started at accommodation S.S.B (Sondela share block) this is where all our laundry on our lodge gets washed and cleaning services for the chalets, now this week is end of the month so it was quite busy. We went out to our Makhato houses to clean, the workers showed us that there are specific ways to clean and make up a bed, and there are certain chemicals to use in certain parts of the house. We cleaned a lot of houses this week...
They also showed me how to check-out items of the store room for the workers, you have to wright down what they take etc.
Sondela have build 3 more tented camps and obviously they need beds etc, Jay-dee and I booked it out and took it to Mopane our 4 star tented camps...
FOLLOW ME DURING STUDIES AT SONDELA NATURE RESERVE. SEE WHAT I'M UP TO AND WHAT I'M LEARNING. . .
Friday, October 28, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
CHEF COURSE
Week 2 10/10/2011
I have worked a weekend in the main kitchen and aish there's no rush as a rush in a busy kitchen and our kitchen is not just a restaurant with 30 tables and and when its full its full. We serve in our restaurant around our swimming pool and in our farmyard so it get extremely busy and I have experience it first hand... The chefs said I have done very good and i can handle pressure!
Chef Edward our executive chef asked chef Francois and me to make Turkish delight for our 5 star guest house. Now every thing must be perfect for the guest house because it is 5 star. We started...
INGREDIENTS
* 600 g Sugar
* 200 g Glucose
* 4x Lemon juice
* 750 ml water
* 50ml rose water
* 150g corn flour
EQUIPMENT
* Mixing bowls
* Scale
* Rubber moulds
* Pot
It came out a big success we decorate it with chocolate.
I have worked a weekend in the main kitchen and aish there's no rush as a rush in a busy kitchen and our kitchen is not just a restaurant with 30 tables and and when its full its full. We serve in our restaurant around our swimming pool and in our farmyard so it get extremely busy and I have experience it first hand... The chefs said I have done very good and i can handle pressure!
Chef Edward our executive chef asked chef Francois and me to make Turkish delight for our 5 star guest house. Now every thing must be perfect for the guest house because it is 5 star. We started...
INGREDIENTS
* 600 g Sugar
* 200 g Glucose
* 4x Lemon juice
* 750 ml water
* 50ml rose water
* 150g corn flour
EQUIPMENT
* Mixing bowls
* Scale
* Rubber moulds
* Pot
It came out a big success we decorate it with chocolate.
CHEF COURSE
Week 1 04/10/2011
Finally my chef course started and I am really excited... Now don't get me wrong I'm the guy in the bush with short trousers no shoes and no shirt seeing how close I can get to any wildlife and learning their behavior!! But the reason why I like to do the chef course is my best mate is a chef and the way he can make food is absolutely making me jealous, and to be honest I don't know a lot about making food and always liked it...
Well we started by washing dishes and believe you me we washed plenty, the chefs say first you have to know how to clean before you can make food. But I also learned some knife skills like brunoise, jullienne. But unfortunate as any chef I cut my self on my finger and it is deep luckily not necessary for stitches.
We have learned how to cut up a chicken its called portioning you have to feel where the joint is and cut between the joint...
Finally my chef course started and I am really excited... Now don't get me wrong I'm the guy in the bush with short trousers no shoes and no shirt seeing how close I can get to any wildlife and learning their behavior!! But the reason why I like to do the chef course is my best mate is a chef and the way he can make food is absolutely making me jealous, and to be honest I don't know a lot about making food and always liked it...
Well we started by washing dishes and believe you me we washed plenty, the chefs say first you have to know how to clean before you can make food. But I also learned some knife skills like brunoise, jullienne. But unfortunate as any chef I cut my self on my finger and it is deep luckily not necessary for stitches.
We have learned how to cut up a chicken its called portioning you have to feel where the joint is and cut between the joint...
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
It is getting close to the end of this course in a way I'm happy because I get to go to my new course and learn more, and I'm sad because I'm gonna mis the tips ha ha. In this past 9 weeks I learned more than I can imagine, how to set up for conferences, how to waiter how the table cloths must be en the plashing... I learned
My table of contents was
* SAFETY AT WORK
* HYGIENE AT WORK
* SECURITY AT WORK
* PERSONAL SKILLS
* MENU KNOWLEDGE
* GENERAL BILLING PROCEDURES
* PRE-SERVICE PROCEDURES
* PROVIDE A TABLE SERVICE
* PROVIDE A BEVERAGE SERVICE
I now know how to do all of this, so world bring it on... !!!!!!!!!!
My table of contents was
* SAFETY AT WORK
* HYGIENE AT WORK
* SECURITY AT WORK
* PERSONAL SKILLS
* MENU KNOWLEDGE
* GENERAL BILLING PROCEDURES
* PRE-SERVICE PROCEDURES
* PROVIDE A TABLE SERVICE
* PROVIDE A BEVERAGE SERVICE
I now know how to do all of this, so world bring it on... !!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
WEEK 1 13/07/2011
Today I started at F & B and when we walked in we was up for a surprise, we had a conference they told us just to help by taking away the empty plates because they where busy eating breakfast. The people of the conference was from Namaqau wine, the one lady asked me for a dompedro as you know it was my first day at F&B so I did not know how to make a dompedro so luckily the staff showed me so I made and served it. That day we just worked on the conference.
The next day we started work at 07:30, we had our vibe meeting the vibe meeting happens every morning then they tell you what your duties are for that day. After that we start cleaning and preparing for the day mopping the veranda and cleaning the waiter station. They called us and showed us how to make filter coffee, cafe late, cuppa-chino, express o and milkshakes. I make the best milkshakes in the house... They also showed us how to work with the computer how to put on orders etc. Then we waiter the rest of the day, the one guest told me I must not be a waiter I must be a manager because one of our waiters messed up his order and I fixed it.
Today is Friday and I am going home for the weekend so i am just working till 13h00. When I wanted to start mopping this morning our manager told me before even you think of poring water into the bucket your caution boards must be up, because if you mop and the floor is wet then it is slippery so some one can slip and fall and sue us for many money and your manager can go to jail.
Today I started at F & B and when we walked in we was up for a surprise, we had a conference they told us just to help by taking away the empty plates because they where busy eating breakfast. The people of the conference was from Namaqau wine, the one lady asked me for a dompedro as you know it was my first day at F&B so I did not know how to make a dompedro so luckily the staff showed me so I made and served it. That day we just worked on the conference.
The next day we started work at 07:30, we had our vibe meeting the vibe meeting happens every morning then they tell you what your duties are for that day. After that we start cleaning and preparing for the day mopping the veranda and cleaning the waiter station. They called us and showed us how to make filter coffee, cafe late, cuppa-chino, express o and milkshakes. I make the best milkshakes in the house... They also showed us how to work with the computer how to put on orders etc. Then we waiter the rest of the day, the one guest told me I must not be a waiter I must be a manager because one of our waiters messed up his order and I fixed it.
Today is Friday and I am going home for the weekend so i am just working till 13h00. When I wanted to start mopping this morning our manager told me before even you think of poring water into the bucket your caution boards must be up, because if you mop and the floor is wet then it is slippery so some one can slip and fall and sue us for many money and your manager can go to jail.
F & B(food and beverage) course started.
It's my time to start at F&B and I am really exited because this course helps me to do what I want to do one day. No I don't want to be a waiter or a restaurant manager, I want to work on a big 5 game lodge and be a jack of all trades. Yes I love doing game-drives and fixing fences and taking out bulrush out of a dam with mud up to my face!! But the reality is you have to be able to do every thing on that lodge, you have to be able to do a booking in reception, you have to know how to prepare a conference for 100 people with 6 x meals in one day, you have to know how to make a nice meal for your guests 100 kilometers in the bush and how to communicate with them. You have to know how to clean the chalets and how to make up the bed. You have to know when to make a joke and when to be serious. This is Africa and people from overseas have big expectations, and some will come and it will be the first time in Africa and it is up to you to give them the time of their life's. And in the end of the day it is that guest paying your salary!!!
So that is why I do this mix course and not only one course.....
So that is why I do this mix course and not only one course.....
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
RESOURSE GUARDIANSHIP (BULLRUSH)
BULLRUSH
NAME
Typha is a genus of about eleven species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Typhaceae. The genus has a largely Northern Hemisphere distribution, but is essentially cosmopolitan, being found in a variety of wetland habitats. These plants are known in British English as bulrush, bullrush, or reedmace in American English as cattail, punks, or corndog grass, in Australia as cumbungi or bulrush, and in New Zealand as raupo. Typha should not be confused with other plantsTypha is a genus of about eleven species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Typhaceae.
DESCRIPTION
Typha leaves are alternate and mostly basal to a simple, joint less stem that eventually bears the flowering spikes. The rhizomes spread horizontally beneath the surface of muddy ground to start new upright growth, and the spread of Typha is an important part of the process of open water bodies being converted to vegetated marshland and eventually dry land.
Typha plants are monoecious and bear unisexual, wind-pollinated flowers, developing in dense spikes. The numerous male flowers form a narrow spike at the top of the vertical stem. Each male (staminate) flower is reduced to a pair of stamens and hairs, and withers once the pollen is shed. The very large numbers of tiny female flowers form a dense, sausage-shaped spike on the stem below the male spike — in larger species this can be up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long and 1 to 4 centimetres (0.39 to 1.6 in) thick. Seeds are minute, 0.2 millimetres (0.0079 in) long, and attached to a fine hair. When ripe the heads disintegrate into dense cottony fluff, from which the seeds disperse by wind. Typha is often among the first wetland plants to colonize areas of newly exposed wet mud; it also spreads by rhizomes, forming dense stands often to the exclusion of other plants.SPECIES
The most widespread species is Typha latifolia, extending across the entire temperate northern hemisphere. T. angustifolia is nearly as widespread, but does not extend so far north; some believe it is introduced and invasive in North America. T. domingensis is a more southerly American and Australian species, extending from the U.S. to South America. T. orientalis is widespread in eastern & northern Australia, temperate & tropical Asia, New Zealand. T. laxmannii, T. minima, and T. shuttleworthii are largely restricted to Asia and parts of southern Europe. Typha latifolia has also been recently introduced into fresh water creeks and lakes in Australia where the water is shallow and contains levels of dirty, turbid water. It affects the flow of the water and also filters the water and catches floating or submerged items, possibly damming the water flow.
Typha plants grow along lake margins and in marshes, often in dense colonies, and are sometimes considered a weed in managed wetlands. The plant's root systems help prevent erosion, and the plants themselves are often home to many insects, birds and amphibians.EDBILE USES
Typha has a wide variety of parts that are edible to humans. The rhizomes, underground lateral stems, are a pleasant nutritious and energy-rich food source that when processed into flour contains 266 kcal per 100 g. They are generally harvested from late autumn to early spring. These are starchy, but also fibrous, so the starch must be scraped or sucked from the tough fibers. The bases of the leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, in late spring when they are young and tender.IIn early summer the sheath can be removed from the developing green flower spike which can than be boiled and eaten like corn on the cob. In mid-summer, once the male flowers are mature, the pollen can be collected and used as a flour supplement or thickener. Typha has also recently been suggested as a source of oil. However, the plant's airborne seeds have also been known to create skin irritation and can trigger asthma.
OTHER USES
The disintegrating heads are used by some birds to line their nests. The downy material was also used by some Native American tribes as tinder for starting fires.Some Native American tribes also used Typha down to line moccasins, and for bedding, diapers, baby powder, and papoose boards. One Native American word for Typha meant "fruit for papoose's bed". Today some people still use Typha down to stuff clothing items and pillows When using Typha for pillow stuffing, dense batting material is used, as the fluff may cause a skin reaction similar to urticaria.
Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Monocots (unranked): Commelinids Order: Poales Family: Typhaceae Genus:
RESOURSE GUARDIANSHIP (FIREBREAKS)
Firebreaks
Firebreaks is very important to have especially if you have a high fire zone… Firebreaks is when you cut grass and not only grass but trees etc next to the roads, next to the fence for the fire not to jump over into your farm or onto your land.
A firebreak (also called a fire road, fire line or fuel break) is a gap in vegetation or other combustible material that acts as a barrier to slow or stop the progress of a bushfire or wildfire. A firebreak may occur naturally where there is a lack of vegetation or "fuel", such as a river, lake or canyon. Firebreaks may also be man-made, and many of these also serve as roads, such as a logging road, four-wheel drive trail, secondary road, or a highway.
The big problem with firebreaks is if they cut some of the trees in that area or in the line that they want to cut is endangered and if you cut that tree you can get a big fine or they can close your farm or resort. On the resort I am now we’ve got the violet tree that is part of the endangered list. a Good way to show your manager that you’ve got endangered trees on the farm is like this
It’s also important to show your manager or give him as much proof as possible.
And very, very important always mark the trees if they are doing fire checks!!!
Johan Wessels
RESOURSE GUARDIANSHIP (HIV AIDS)
INTRODUCTION
The virus responsible for the condition known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), is named HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). AIDS is the condition whereby the body's specific defense system against all infectious agents no longer functions properly. There is a focused loss over time of immune cell function which allows intrusion by several different infectious agents, the result of which is loss of the ability of the body to fight infection and the subsequent acquisition of diseases such as pneumonia. We will examine the virus itself, the immune system, the specific effects of HIV on the immune system, the research efforts presently being made to investigate this disease, and finally, how one can try to prevent acquiring HIV…
HIGH PROVINCE RATES
In 2008, more than half (55%) of all South Africans infected with HIV reside in the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces.
Between 2005 and 2008, the total number of people infected with HIV/AIDS have increased in all of South Africa's provinces except KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Nevertheless, KwaZulu-Natal still has the highest infection rate at 15.5%. In the province with the lowest infection rate, the Western Cape, the total number of people with HIV/AIDS doubled between 2005 and 2008.
Condom use has increased twofold in all provinces between 2002 and 2008. The two provinces where condoms were least used in 2002 were also the provinces where condoms are least used in 2008, namely the Northern Cape and the Western Cape.
HIV/AIDS prevalence among sexually active South Africans by province are:
- KwaZulu-Natal: 25.8%
- Mpumalanga: 23.1%
- Free State: 18.5%
- North West: 17.7%
- Gauteng: 15.2%
- Eastern Cape: 15.2%
- Limpopo: 13.7%
- Northern Cape: 9.2%
- Western Cape: 5.3%
TO AVOID GETTING HIV
HIV is a virus that infects people by getting inside their blood cells. To avoid getting HIV, you must prevent the blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast milk of someone who is infected from entering your body through your mouth, vagina, anus, tip of your penis, or breaks in your skin…By having sex the best way is to prevent HIV is to know your partner and to go together for HIV tests. And always be safe always, always use a condom!!!!! !!
RESOURSE GUARDIANSHIP (Red billed Quelea)
My project on the red billed quelea bird.
Some info on this magnificent bird
The Red-billed Quelea is the world's most abundant wild bird species, with an estimated adult breeding population of 1.5b billion. Some estimates of the overall population have been as large as 10 billion. It is a small passerine bird of the weaver family Ploceidae, native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Characteristics
Red-billed Quelea grow to 11-13cm. During breeding the male is distinguished by its more colorful plumage and red billed. Breeding plumage in male queleas is unusually variable, comprising a facial mask which ranges back to white in color, and breast and crown plumage which varies from yellowish to bright red. for the rest of the year male plumage resembles that of the female, which is cryptic beige coloration. The female's bill is yellow during breeding and red during the non-breeding season.
Food
The food of the Red-billed Quelea consists of annual grasses, seeds and grain. As soon as the sun comes up, they come together in their huge flocks and co-operate in finding a suitable feeding place. After a successful search, they settle rapidly and can cause serious damage to crops. In the middle part of the day they rest in shady areas near water and preen. Birds seem to prefer drinking at least twice a day. In the evening they once again fly in search of food.
Reproduction
Breeding is localized and erratic but often colonies include tens of thousands to millions of pairs. the breeding season begins with the seasonal rains, which come at different times in different parts of their range - starting at the north -western edge around the beginning of November. The breeding males first weave half-complete ovoid nest from grass and straw. After the female has examined the construction and the mating has occurred, both partners complete the weaving of the nest. The female lays two to four light blue eggs, and incubates them for twelve days. After the chicks hatch they are nourished for some days with caterpillars and protein-rich insects. After this time parents change to mainly feeding seeds. The young birds fledged and become independent enough to leave their parents after approximately two weeks in the nest. They are sexually mature after just one year, but many birds die before reaching this stage and males may weave nests that go unused if the female dies.
Enemies and population control
Being such a considerable part of the savanna biomass, Red-billed Quelea flocks and colonies attract huge numbers and diverse types of predator and scavengers. Birds known to live extensively off of queleas include herons, storks, raptors, owls, horn-bills, rollers, kingfishers, shrikes and corvids. Additionally, snakes, lizards and serval types of mammals, especially rodents and small carnivores, are regular predators.
They are regarded as pests by farmers because they can eliminate fields in a short period of time. Due to the numbers and localized decimation of cereal crops, control actions have been undertaken. As many as 150-180 million birds have been killed but this appeared to have no effect on the overall quelea population and only temporary relief from crop damage. unfortunately, many non-target birds appeared to have been killed in these control operations and may have had severe population deprevations as a result
Some info on this magnificent bird
The Red-billed Quelea is the world's most abundant wild bird species, with an estimated adult breeding population of 1.5b billion. Some estimates of the overall population have been as large as 10 billion. It is a small passerine bird of the weaver family Ploceidae, native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Characteristics
Red-billed Quelea grow to 11-13cm. During breeding the male is distinguished by its more colorful plumage and red billed. Breeding plumage in male queleas is unusually variable, comprising a facial mask which ranges back to white in color, and breast and crown plumage which varies from yellowish to bright red. for the rest of the year male plumage resembles that of the female, which is cryptic beige coloration. The female's bill is yellow during breeding and red during the non-breeding season.
Food
The food of the Red-billed Quelea consists of annual grasses, seeds and grain. As soon as the sun comes up, they come together in their huge flocks and co-operate in finding a suitable feeding place. After a successful search, they settle rapidly and can cause serious damage to crops. In the middle part of the day they rest in shady areas near water and preen. Birds seem to prefer drinking at least twice a day. In the evening they once again fly in search of food.
Reproduction
Breeding is localized and erratic but often colonies include tens of thousands to millions of pairs. the breeding season begins with the seasonal rains, which come at different times in different parts of their range - starting at the north -western edge around the beginning of November. The breeding males first weave half-complete ovoid nest from grass and straw. After the female has examined the construction and the mating has occurred, both partners complete the weaving of the nest. The female lays two to four light blue eggs, and incubates them for twelve days. After the chicks hatch they are nourished for some days with caterpillars and protein-rich insects. After this time parents change to mainly feeding seeds. The young birds fledged and become independent enough to leave their parents after approximately two weeks in the nest. They are sexually mature after just one year, but many birds die before reaching this stage and males may weave nests that go unused if the female dies.
Enemies and population control
Being such a considerable part of the savanna biomass, Red-billed Quelea flocks and colonies attract huge numbers and diverse types of predator and scavengers. Birds known to live extensively off of queleas include herons, storks, raptors, owls, horn-bills, rollers, kingfishers, shrikes and corvids. Additionally, snakes, lizards and serval types of mammals, especially rodents and small carnivores, are regular predators.
They are regarded as pests by farmers because they can eliminate fields in a short period of time. Due to the numbers and localized decimation of cereal crops, control actions have been undertaken. As many as 150-180 million birds have been killed but this appeared to have no effect on the overall quelea population and only temporary relief from crop damage. unfortunately, many non-target birds appeared to have been killed in these control operations and may have had severe population deprevations as a result
Thursday, June 9, 2011
RESOURSE GUARDIANSHIP
WEEK 2 17/05/2011
This was more of a not to busy week, because it was voting day so everyone was off the Wednesday but I didn't stay home I came to Sondela asking if I could help the people because I knew all the people is going to stay home, so who will do the job?? So I just helped putting up a fence in die Wild life center, after that I went home. The next day I was given the task to count stock in the storeroom that is all the poison, electrical stock(luckily I worked in a hardware shop so I knew what was what). I also counted the farming tools...
This was a quiet week but the little we have done I sure learned a lot. This weekend I am going home I'm just going to sleep and enjoy my mom's cooked vegetables... haha
This was more of a not to busy week, because it was voting day so everyone was off the Wednesday but I didn't stay home I came to Sondela asking if I could help the people because I knew all the people is going to stay home, so who will do the job?? So I just helped putting up a fence in die Wild life center, after that I went home. The next day I was given the task to count stock in the storeroom that is all the poison, electrical stock(luckily I worked in a hardware shop so I knew what was what). I also counted the farming tools...
This was a quiet week but the little we have done I sure learned a lot. This weekend I am going home I'm just going to sleep and enjoy my mom's cooked vegetables... haha
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
RESOURSE GUARDIANSHIP
I started with my new course Resource guardianship, this is the course I wanted to do from the start and the reason I came to Sondela. Resource guardianship is to manage a farm and to see to it that your animals are well and safe its game ranging. You've got a lot of responsibilities the fence, the roads, the dams and a lot more this is what I love and what I want to do one day...
WEEK 1 10/05/2011
Our first week we started and I was very exited. We started right away with no time to loose, they showed us how to spray E.M and how to use the machinery. When you spray you have to spray everywhere on a wall the full wall not just a peach of the wall. E.M helps keeping away flies and pests it also keeps away bad smells...
After that we went to the main gate's dam to have a look at the bullrush that is taking over the dam, bullrush is a type of grass(biesies). So they said we will come back tomorrow with roundup its a poison that we spray over it so that it can die. We also went to the Marula dam its just a small dam for animals to drink and in that dam the Kikuyu grass is taking over, we just got into the dam and started to roll it out its very very heavy because its a lot of mud and wet.
So that was week one...
WEEK 1 10/05/2011
Our first week we started and I was very exited. We started right away with no time to loose, they showed us how to spray E.M and how to use the machinery. When you spray you have to spray everywhere on a wall the full wall not just a peach of the wall. E.M helps keeping away flies and pests it also keeps away bad smells...
After that we went to the main gate's dam to have a look at the bullrush that is taking over the dam, bullrush is a type of grass(biesies). So they said we will come back tomorrow with roundup its a poison that we spray over it so that it can die. We also went to the Marula dam its just a small dam for animals to drink and in that dam the Kikuyu grass is taking over, we just got into the dam and started to roll it out its very very heavy because its a lot of mud and wet.
So that was week one...
SPECIES CARE
I haven't been on my blog for a long time because we are very very busy . . .
I started with my new course in the Wild life center learning how rehabilitate sick animals and injured animals and to care for them...
In my first week I saw and learned how to prepare feeding for the animals, for example you get different types of cutting boards like red is for raw meat, brown is for cooked meat, yellow for chicken, blue for fish. And we also learned one very important lesson and that is cleaning because you work with sick animals.
The feeding was quite a tricky situation because we've got different types of animals, carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. So not all carnivores eat the same amount of meat not all herbivores drink the same amount of milk . It all depends on the animals body weight etc. On the second week in the W.L.C we started to prepare the food by supervision. We also started doing spot checks in some animals cages, spot checks is cleaning the cages you look at the animals behaviors and every thing in the cages...
In week 3 we started with plant care Elani and I planted some cuttings in the serval teens/cage, but the servals thought we planted it for them to play with so the plants didn't survive...
Wild life center was very nice and I learned a lot!
I started with my new course in the Wild life center learning how rehabilitate sick animals and injured animals and to care for them...
In my first week I saw and learned how to prepare feeding for the animals, for example you get different types of cutting boards like red is for raw meat, brown is for cooked meat, yellow for chicken, blue for fish. And we also learned one very important lesson and that is cleaning because you work with sick animals.
The feeding was quite a tricky situation because we've got different types of animals, carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. So not all carnivores eat the same amount of meat not all herbivores drink the same amount of milk . It all depends on the animals body weight etc. On the second week in the W.L.C we started to prepare the food by supervision. We also started doing spot checks in some animals cages, spot checks is cleaning the cages you look at the animals behaviors and every thing in the cages...
In week 3 we started with plant care Elani and I planted some cuttings in the serval teens/cage, but the servals thought we planted it for them to play with so the plants didn't survive...
Wild life center was very nice and I learned a lot!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
SITE GUIDE
Week 5 23/03/2011
Today I'm sad people it is my last day in this course I'm moving on to the next one.
I will like to thank my facilitator Salaminah Manaiwa for her patience... She thought me a lot she is awsome!!!
Today I'm sad people it is my last day in this course I'm moving on to the next one.
I will like to thank my facilitator Salaminah Manaiwa for her patience... She thought me a lot she is awsome!!!
SITE GUIDE
Week 4-5 14/03/2011
Hallo my friends.
This week we started on Amphibians Frogs / Todes
Both never drink water and like humans the females are bigger than the male hahaha!! Todes have rough skin and frogs have smooth skin, Todes have shorter hind legs and frogs is longer Todes spend more of the time on land and frogs more in water. You will the African bull frog, Bush-veld rain frog and then Red backed tode and your Plat-anna.
After that we started with Geology, its the study of rocks and process of over the earth and the history. You get 3 types of rocks Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic. Igneous from motten rock called mayma which is emplaced into and onto the crust during volcanic activity... Its nice to know your surroundings!
Wednesday they took us to do game capturing to set up the boma I did not know it is so many work but luckily we finished. The following morning we were on the farm 5:30 ready to catch some wildlife. We caught Blesbok, Zebras and blue wilde bees, It was really nice and I learned a lot...
I was working this weekend doing game drives and guess what? I got my first tip R100-00 it felt if I won the lotto it felt awesome to get a tip it shows you know your job and how to communicate with your guests...
Hallo my friends.
This week we started on Amphibians Frogs / Todes
Both never drink water and like humans the females are bigger than the male hahaha!! Todes have rough skin and frogs have smooth skin, Todes have shorter hind legs and frogs is longer Todes spend more of the time on land and frogs more in water. You will the African bull frog, Bush-veld rain frog and then Red backed tode and your Plat-anna.
After that we started with Geology, its the study of rocks and process of over the earth and the history. You get 3 types of rocks Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic. Igneous from motten rock called mayma which is emplaced into and onto the crust during volcanic activity... Its nice to know your surroundings!
Wednesday they took us to do game capturing to set up the boma I did not know it is so many work but luckily we finished. The following morning we were on the farm 5:30 ready to catch some wildlife. We caught Blesbok, Zebras and blue wilde bees, It was really nice and I learned a lot...
I was working this weekend doing game drives and guess what? I got my first tip R100-00 it felt if I won the lotto it felt awesome to get a tip it shows you know your job and how to communicate with your guests...
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
SITE GUIDE
Week 3 07/03/2011
Good day my followers.
We started this week learning about Insects,learning all about them. We learned the different types of insects like ground beetles that have a chemical defense, dung beetles that roll a ball of dung then you get your wood boring beetles, blister beetles, fire flies, lady birds and tok tokkies. In the entire kingdom there is 300 000 species. Insects are divided in 3 type of body part, the head the thorax and the abdomen.
The following day we learned about scorpions and spiders. Spiders and Scorpions carry the same venom cytotoxic... The venomous spiders in S.A is the voilin spider, yellow sac spider and the black button spider. Then with scorpions how to identify a scorpion is by the thickness of the tail the size of the pincers and the abdomen (body). Your 4 types of scorpions, burrowing scorpion, bark scorpion, thick tail scorpion and your sand dwelling scorpion. Scorpions without tails are known us false scorpions and book-scorpions, we have got 172 species of scorpions in S.A.
Then again we started with Astronomy, astronomy is your universe planets, stars etc. We learned the 9 planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
It was a nice week and yet again learned allot... Chow for Now
Good day my followers.
We started this week learning about Insects,learning all about them. We learned the different types of insects like ground beetles that have a chemical defense, dung beetles that roll a ball of dung then you get your wood boring beetles, blister beetles, fire flies, lady birds and tok tokkies. In the entire kingdom there is 300 000 species. Insects are divided in 3 type of body part, the head the thorax and the abdomen.
The following day we learned about scorpions and spiders. Spiders and Scorpions carry the same venom cytotoxic... The venomous spiders in S.A is the voilin spider, yellow sac spider and the black button spider. Then with scorpions how to identify a scorpion is by the thickness of the tail the size of the pincers and the abdomen (body). Your 4 types of scorpions, burrowing scorpion, bark scorpion, thick tail scorpion and your sand dwelling scorpion. Scorpions without tails are known us false scorpions and book-scorpions, we have got 172 species of scorpions in S.A.
Then again we started with Astronomy, astronomy is your universe planets, stars etc. We learned the 9 planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
It was a nice week and yet again learned allot... Chow for Now
Sunday, March 6, 2011
SITE GUIDE
WEEK 2 28/02/2011
Week 2 started and I was very happy because before the weekend has started our facilitator's assessed us, they assess you about the week they ask questions about what tree is that? Is the tree indigenous or not? Tell me a story about the tree? And the scientific names. And not only trees but birds, grass and mammals, so it was a lot of work in 1 week, So either you are competent or not competent... I was competent and it felt great !!
So as week 2 started with no time to loose we started with reptiles learning all about the the names and the order they are in, like in South-Africa we've got 3 types of reptiles CHELONIA, SQUAMATA, and CROCODYLIA. Chelonia animals with a shell,like a tortoise. Squamata animals with scales like snakes and lizards. Crocodylia is just basically crocodiles. We learned what type of venom there are with snakes you get your Heamotoxic your Neurotoxic and your Cytoxic.
I worked the weekend I did game drives the 1 second year always go with to to see to it that there is no mistakes. This weekend she and he said I can go alone on the game drives because I know what I am talking about so yeah now I'm alone on the game drives. I am now on 14 game drives 4 on my own, and no bad feedback. One game drive there were Indians from India after the game drive they said in their funny English thank- you you are very good and took a picture of me with the whole family... That is a good feeling now I know they can go back to India with good memory's, and a photo of their guide to show the friends and family.
Week 2 started and I was very happy because before the weekend has started our facilitator's assessed us, they assess you about the week they ask questions about what tree is that? Is the tree indigenous or not? Tell me a story about the tree? And the scientific names. And not only trees but birds, grass and mammals, so it was a lot of work in 1 week, So either you are competent or not competent... I was competent and it felt great !!
So as week 2 started with no time to loose we started with reptiles learning all about the the names and the order they are in, like in South-Africa we've got 3 types of reptiles CHELONIA, SQUAMATA, and CROCODYLIA. Chelonia animals with a shell,like a tortoise. Squamata animals with scales like snakes and lizards. Crocodylia is just basically crocodiles. We learned what type of venom there are with snakes you get your Heamotoxic your Neurotoxic and your Cytoxic.
I worked the weekend I did game drives the 1 second year always go with to to see to it that there is no mistakes. This weekend she and he said I can go alone on the game drives because I know what I am talking about so yeah now I'm alone on the game drives. I am now on 14 game drives 4 on my own, and no bad feedback. One game drive there were Indians from India after the game drive they said in their funny English thank- you you are very good and took a picture of me with the whole family... That is a good feeling now I know they can go back to India with good memory's, and a photo of their guide to show the friends and family.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
SITE GUIDE
WEEK 1 18/02/2011
SITE GUIDE, SITE GUIDE IS ALL ABOUT THE BUSH LEARNING TREES, GRASS, BIRDS, MAMMALS, REPTILES AND STORY'S ABOUT EACH.
WHEN I STARTED, I KNEW THIS IS GOING TO BE EASY BECAUSE SINCE I WAS A LITTLE BOY I WAS IN THE BUSH AND WATCHED NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ALL THE TIME... BUT I WAS IN FOR A SHOCK IT WAS A LOT MORE DIFFICULT THEN I THOUGHT. YOU HAVE TO LEARN THE SCIENTIFIC NAMES YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE CULTURAL BELIEVES OF THE ANIMAL TREE OR WHATEVER AND THERE IS A LOT!
IN WEEK ONE WE LEARNED ABOUT MAMMALS,GRASS AND BIRDS LIKE THE GESTATION PERIODS, WHAT THEY EAT,THERE SOUNDS HOW LONG THE BABY DRINK MILK. I LOVED TO LEARN ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS MY PASSION AND WHAT I LOVE TO DO...
AND THEN WE ALSO LEARNED PEOPLE SKILLS, HOW TO MAKE A JOKE WHAT TIME AND ABOUT WHAT. WE LEARNED HOW TO BE SERIOUS BECAUSE THERE ARE DANGER OUT THERE AND YOU ARE THE GUIDE SO YOU ARE IN CHARGE...
I'VE BEEN ON 6 GAME DRIVES SO FAR AND SO FAR SO GOOD...
SITE GUIDE, SITE GUIDE IS ALL ABOUT THE BUSH LEARNING TREES, GRASS, BIRDS, MAMMALS, REPTILES AND STORY'S ABOUT EACH.
WHEN I STARTED, I KNEW THIS IS GOING TO BE EASY BECAUSE SINCE I WAS A LITTLE BOY I WAS IN THE BUSH AND WATCHED NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ALL THE TIME... BUT I WAS IN FOR A SHOCK IT WAS A LOT MORE DIFFICULT THEN I THOUGHT. YOU HAVE TO LEARN THE SCIENTIFIC NAMES YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE CULTURAL BELIEVES OF THE ANIMAL TREE OR WHATEVER AND THERE IS A LOT!
IN WEEK ONE WE LEARNED ABOUT MAMMALS,GRASS AND BIRDS LIKE THE GESTATION PERIODS, WHAT THEY EAT,THERE SOUNDS HOW LONG THE BABY DRINK MILK. I LOVED TO LEARN ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS MY PASSION AND WHAT I LOVE TO DO...
AND THEN WE ALSO LEARNED PEOPLE SKILLS, HOW TO MAKE A JOKE WHAT TIME AND ABOUT WHAT. WE LEARNED HOW TO BE SERIOUS BECAUSE THERE ARE DANGER OUT THERE AND YOU ARE THE GUIDE SO YOU ARE IN CHARGE...
I'VE BEEN ON 6 GAME DRIVES SO FAR AND SO FAR SO GOOD...
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
FIRST WEEKEND ON DUTY
WEEK 2 FRIDAY-SUNDAY
*FRIDAY AFTERNOON
It was challenging at first but soon we got the hack of it. We were doing welcoming, some of the students went to the gate so if the guests arrive our students greet them and get their name and surname, if the guests go in the students radio us their names and car colour so if they stop we the students by reception greet them by name it was easy in the beginning with 10 cars but then it got more and more and harder and harder. But it was a lot of fun and I learned how to work with guests we stand ed there till 9'0 clock.
SATURDAY MORNING
I was exited because they put me by the horse stables to learn about the horse safaris and how to work with the guests on safari. Luckily I always liked horse back riding because I was in for a big surprise...The first guests to arrive was polo players yap polo players. So obviously they wanted to run I just hold on and thought to myself don't fall please don't fall. I didn't fall but was very sore
SUNDAY MORNING
Now believe me when I say I was very sore when I woke up but that didn't stop me. I took a cold shower and put my khakis on and then I was ready for the day... When I got there I washed the horses and prepare them for the day. At 10'0 clock I met 2 Australian people ready for a safari...When we went out they started with the questions why this and why that. I answered all the questions I could about birds our wild life and even about the fence, when we got back they said thank-you and are very happy the way I spoke to them and did the whole safari.
I learned a lot about horses,talking to people,answering difficult questions and doing/saying something at what time . . .
*FRIDAY AFTERNOON
It was challenging at first but soon we got the hack of it. We were doing welcoming, some of the students went to the gate so if the guests arrive our students greet them and get their name and surname, if the guests go in the students radio us their names and car colour so if they stop we the students by reception greet them by name it was easy in the beginning with 10 cars but then it got more and more and harder and harder. But it was a lot of fun and I learned how to work with guests we stand ed there till 9'0 clock.
SATURDAY MORNING
I was exited because they put me by the horse stables to learn about the horse safaris and how to work with the guests on safari. Luckily I always liked horse back riding because I was in for a big surprise...The first guests to arrive was polo players yap polo players. So obviously they wanted to run I just hold on and thought to myself don't fall please don't fall. I didn't fall but was very sore
SUNDAY MORNING
Now believe me when I say I was very sore when I woke up but that didn't stop me. I took a cold shower and put my khakis on and then I was ready for the day... When I got there I washed the horses and prepare them for the day. At 10'0 clock I met 2 Australian people ready for a safari...When we went out they started with the questions why this and why that. I answered all the questions I could about birds our wild life and even about the fence, when we got back they said thank-you and are very happy the way I spoke to them and did the whole safari.
I learned a lot about horses,talking to people,answering difficult questions and doing/saying something at what time . . .
Monday, February 14, 2011
FIRST AID & FIRE FIGHTING
WEEK 2 FIRST AID TRAINING
We started Monday morning in class doing all our theoretical work learning about* Principles of first aid* The human body*Emergency action*Basic life support CPR {CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION}*WOUNDS AND BLEEDING*MUSCLE JOINT & BONE INJURIES*HEAD & SPINAL INJURIES*BURN WOUNDS*POISONING & SNAKE BITES etc...
After that we started with the practical we used each other for the bandaging they showed us how to bandage a snake bite, a deep cut, if there is a knife inside you etc...
The most important for me was the CPR they gave us dummies and showed us how to do it, after they showed us they tested us it was very nerve wrecking but we did it!! AND NOW I KNOW FIRST AID (check this space)
FIRE FIGHTING
They learned us what fire is and how dangerous it can be. They learned us the *extinguishing methods, *classification of fire, *fire extinguishers, *parts and function of a DCP (dry chemical powder) fire extinguishers, *operating portable fire extinguishers ect...
It was very nice and I found it very interesting the way it work and the different types of extinguisher for different types of fires.
We started Monday morning in class doing all our theoretical work learning about* Principles of first aid* The human body*Emergency action*Basic life support CPR {CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION}*WOUNDS AND BLEEDING*MUSCLE JOINT & BONE INJURIES*HEAD & SPINAL INJURIES*BURN WOUNDS*POISONING & SNAKE BITES etc...
After that we started with the practical we used each other for the bandaging they showed us how to bandage a snake bite, a deep cut, if there is a knife inside you etc...
The most important for me was the CPR they gave us dummies and showed us how to do it, after they showed us they tested us it was very nerve wrecking but we did it!! AND NOW I KNOW FIRST AID (check this space)
FIRE FIGHTING
They learned us what fire is and how dangerous it can be. They learned us the *extinguishing methods, *classification of fire, *fire extinguishers, *parts and function of a DCP (dry chemical powder) fire extinguishers, *operating portable fire extinguishers ect...
It was very nice and I found it very interesting the way it work and the different types of extinguisher for different types of fires.
WOP COURSE FIRST 3 WEEKS OF TRAINING
WEEK 1 COMMUNICATION SKILLS
We started straight away with our communication skills, speaking in front of a lot of people. Now in school it was easy because you spoke in front of your friends, but now it is different and new people. Our training facilitator gave us good tips that really made it easy for us, I see a big change in a lot of people...
We started straight away with our communication skills, speaking in front of a lot of people. Now in school it was easy because you spoke in front of your friends, but now it is different and new people. Our training facilitator gave us good tips that really made it easy for us, I see a big change in a lot of people...
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