Before I publish ‘Greenfields’ perhaps some background to the story would be helpful for readers. In particular, those readers who have little awareness of the situation in South Africa, in the decades of the fifties and sixties. A minority government whose primary purpose, regarding educating the masses, was not to do so. This left a gap in the education system. Missionary religious communities admirably filled this gap. Admirably, because the times required creative endeavours by the educators, for them to fulfill their missionary work.

Confusion

However, it was often confusing for the recipients of this largesse to understand their motivation. It is this confusion that the heroine tries to make sense of.  Reluctantly, she finds herself in a strange world at the tender age of six years. Often she is critical of parents, educators, and a situation that is out of her control.  She soon realises the changes she must make to life away from home, have their lighter moments.

Coming of Age

Her adventure of coming of age in a sometimes hostile world is often hilarious enough to compensate for the separation from home. This is a story that will resonate not only with those who attended similar schools but with anyone trying to make sense of a situation that leaves one powerless now. The philosophical wisdom of the young can be a tremendous source of strength for anyone trying to cope with perceptions of rejection, and the cold comfort of institutional charity.

Creative

The creative attempts by the educators to keep the institutions’ doors open often affected the learners negatively, causing resentments that often resulted in anti-social conduct. Those who adapted well were more often than not learners who, for reasons of expedience and convenience of the educators had a special consideration. This kinder or special treatment was because of their connections or wealth and some, because of scholastic brilliance. The writer does not dispute the challenges the educators faced, considering the government of the day. Her problem is with the spirit with which they carried out their duties.  A great deal more love and less charity would have gone a long way to giving the learners fonder memories.  We have to remember this was the only source of education open to them. Despite this sentiment, it is a story that many will be happy to relate to, for its many whimsical and sometimes strange characters.

Fiction

The story is fictional of necessity, as none of the scenes described occurred in the way that is mentioned. Some references are also hearsay. Although some characters are like genuine people, they are often a mixture of more than one person from the writer’s experience. Dialogue is totally fictional too. The opinions expressed are strictly those of the author. They have developed from personal experience of boarding school, hence my description of it as a fictional memoir.

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