The excitement started weeks before I arrived at the spectacular Paulet House in KwaNojoli (Somerset East).
The whole process of writing my unique story and submitting it for consideration for the Jakes Gerwel Foundation/LitNet/Huisgenoot’s Kommadagga Workshop on short story writing, was infused with hope and anticipation.
Theo Kemp could never imagine the breathless exhilaration when he sent the email requesting a virtual meeting with Fourie Botha (one of the mentors), Izak de Vries (one of the sponsors), and himself.
I practically levitated from my seat when Theo sent a confirmation email just a few hours after the interview that I was one of five writers to be part of this extraordinary experience.
A whirlwind of preparations eclipsed the nervous energy and, as I boarded the sponsored flight from OR Tambo, I realized that this was literally a dream come true.
Three weeks in the magical world of Paulet House seems a long time when you arrive at her front door, exhausted from the flight and the two-hour drive from the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha. But she soon enchants and inspires you with her centuries old charm, her spectacular gardens, and the calm atmosphere of one who is in charge.
As our last day lingers, I marvel at how much we’ve learned. Every single writer has been moulded and encouraged to write more, step out of our comfort zones, and produce stories with an impact.
Fourie Botha and Thabiso Mahlape (our valuable and knowledgeable mentors) shared their experiences and wisdom freely with us without being harsh with their critique, nor prescriptive with their preferences.
In the background Chef Gilbert, Sienna, Nash, and Charmaine, kept us physically nourished with exquisite food, cleaning services, doing the laundry, and any other need we may have.
Together we also celebrated South Africa’s Rugby World Cup win and bonded every night over glasses of wine and personal tales.
This is a once in a lifetime experience. Today, I feel a little melancholic. The time has warped by and saying goodbye to Susan, Daneel, Thato, Tshego, Thabiso, and Fourie will be bittersweet. My home is missing me, but this experience is lasered into my memory. I will miss everything and everyone here. I can only say quietly and humbly: Thank you.
Theresa de Necker completed her B.A. Law degree in 1991 at RAU. During her student years she was a keen journalist for the campus paper as well as the editor of her hostel’s magazine. In her second year she won the first prize in a writing competition with an English short story she had already written in school. After her studies she worked for a while and then travelled and worked overseas, including on a moshav in Israel as a farm worker. Back in South Africa she started her own enterprise and obtained, in 2001, her honours degree in human resource development. Over the next 22 years she would write mainly reports, subject guides and text books, but also newspaper reports, academic pieces, blogs and stories. To her, the Jakes Gerwel Foundation’s short story residency is the chance to hone her skills in storytelling and to work on the ‘finesse’ of her writing as well as the discipline to write productively. She has a passion for history, archaeology, ghost stories and cats and hopes to publish her first book soon.
