12 May- Time Travel - 1863 in Kalmer

Early start at 7am. Paricipated in a Time Travel activity with students from Global Supplement, some interns and educators, Dan, Ingemo and Joppe, including Bo and Linda and museum personnel, Ebbe and Helen together with support staff.

Much preparation before the Time Travel is undertaken -a mammoth responsibility.

"Above is the exact scene -in 1863, May 12 when Oscar Alarik Forssman held several meetings about the expedition to Cape Colony and the Boer Republic Transvaal. Today, Mr. Forssman has invited the citizens in Kalmar to a meeting outside the public laundry, a place where people normally gather.

Mr Forssman needs forty people to go with him, but only the best and the fittest will do. He started a business in the town of Potchefstroom, in SA. If you want a better life, Potchefstroom was the place. The contract was for 3 years. He asked the British Consulate and a rep from the Transvaal to inform about the situation in SA. They sent 45 people to give this information. Some people think that this might be a chance to get away from the harsh life as a farm hand or a maid in Kalmer. On this day, anyone that is interested can get a free health examination. He would not accept criminals, disabled persons but only those that can work hard and have skills such as blacksmith, woodwork, girls can do textile,cook and clean. People were curios about SA. There were many questions, like living conditions etc.

Mr. Forssman brought two Black ladies to Kalmer. No one ever had seen a black person before. How do they look, feel etc. There being much povery in Sweden during this period. All interested had to sign up for the expedition"

Evaluation in the afternoon at the museum. Some Comments:

Students were excellent participants. The TT was an eye opening experience and it helped with our understanding of the concept. Black Sara was compared to Sarah Bartman. She never returned to SA, was pregnant when she left. Both she and her daughter are buried at the Kalmer cemetery, next to the castle. It was felt that this might not have been her real name, that she was humiliated being in Kalmer, she probably felt " out of place", a different language and environment etc. That it is important to research further and possibly investigate and lobby about her remains to be brought back to Potchefstroom, where she belongs.

While waiting for our vehicle to arrive, Helen had taken the Sheppie delegation on a tour. Saw the castle and some historic sites. On route, we came across a boat with SA flag. It was and is always exciting to meet people from SA.

On our return to Kalkelstugan, we had a short presentation about the establishment and Folkbilding. A day full of impressions and new ideas. Retiring late and early departure the next day.