A Nun and the Pig: Tales from South Africa

A well-written insight into a world in the 1980s that may change some perceptions and enhance others.To take this trip as a teenager, the author was both brave and at times possibly naïve or foolhardy. That he came through it relatively unscathed is a testament to his commitment to experience a number of countries and cultures first-hand at a time that was both dangerous and challenging. He meets some genuine philanthropic characters as well as some that maybe were not so well-meaning but interesting nonetheless.Minor spoiler alert:There are a number of poignant moments in the book that will bring a tear to the eye. Two that immediately spring to mind are an experiment in the school for disadvantaged children that the author works in, involving a simple blood sampling experiment; many in today’s world could take note of the lesson/truth outlined. The other involves an abused and malnourished child called Michael who is baptised shortly before meeting a sad death.A good read with some funny and sad moments as well as a geographical, historical and cultural view of the times and its people.

A well written a truly fascinating book. If you are thinking this might be for you, then absolutely give it a go!

This was very nostalgic for me having volunteered in Transkei in 2001-02. Thank you for sharing your experiences. Great to hear about Transkei in 1980.

I read the book in two days, its so full of stories and lovely anecdotes of his time in and around Mthatha, South Africa. I spent time in the same school, and Treive brought the whole place and people back to me - beautifully. The nun at the heart of it is my north star - she's the most remarkable human being I've met in my whole life. Thanks Treive.

I received a copy of A Nun and the Pig for Christmas and enjoyed it immensely. Treive Nicholas manages to take the reader on a superbly explained journey back to a place and time which were far more complicated than the average person in the West would understand. His warmth for the region and its people are evident in every chapter as he navigates a world so foreign to him, but one in which he soon found his place. Although he finds himself working in a centre for disabled youngsters who have lots of problems, there is so much joy involved. It really is quite uplifting. There are plenty of laughs along the way as the teenage Treive tries to make sense of the strange world. However, he saves the best for last with the final two chapters being incredibly touching and poignant as he mourns an old friend and returns to Transkei 40 years later. Beautifully written, warm and engaging. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. You don’t have to be familiar with the region to enjoy it.

Author Treive Nicholas takes us through his time as an adventurous and sometimes naive young man as an instructor, teacher and carer at a school for African children in need of support, under the watchful eye of the school's head, an American nun whom he comes to greatly admire.The account is an very personal one, sometimes intensely so, as he encounters the real people of Transkei during his work with the children and school staff. It is well written and easy to keep reading, with much descriptive detail of the country, people and events which made an great impact on the young man of some 40 years before.In his steep learning curve, Nicholas tackles the politics of the time head-on particularly when writing of his sometimes-hazardous hitch hiking tour of a number of southern African countries. His comparison of the opinions and justifications of a man of Boer descent and the conditions of apartheid are especially thought provoking, but there is no question as to which side of the argument he takes.The narrative always returns to the encouragement and support of the nun (and The Pig, her dilapidated VW car) and how much he felt he owed her through this transformative part of his life. A good read on many levels. Check it out.