ZA 3

Hi everyone,
So i have been in northern South africa for one week now. And suprisingly comfortable. You pick up on how things work rather quickly.
Things are very different but so far so good. My family is very wonderful and welcoming. Suprisingly i have hot running water, which most people dont!
I have been trying lots of different foods, but have found that the fried chicken is the best... and this is true free range organic chicken
as in that i see it killed and cleaned before it eat it. In the evening we sit outside , my "mother" here builds a fire and we sit around and chat. Well i listen more b/c my Tshivende is not very good, but i get better by the day.
I am actually not allowed to do much for my self. All my washing is done for me and all clothes are ironed. I have managed to allow them to let me cook for myself on some evenings.

I am getting used to ALWAYS being starred at, white people are few... as in myself and the 2 other volunteers. So we will here children yell out in Vende "White person!"
But it is all good. The town is actually very safe. One of my neighbor kids has become my running buddy, so he and i run down the main road almost every evening... i can only imagine what everyone driving past thinks...this kid can run for days and i think will make a runner out of me after all.

My school is good too. I am at a highschool and actually one of the "wealthier" schools in the area, but not by much. This week was there final week, and then we start winter school. I taught two science labs and really enjoyed helping the students/ learners as they are called here. The kids all like to come up and ask me "how are you?..." or will just yell out " I'm fine!" ... not all of them are able to speak english so communication can be interesting. But all of them think it is very weird that i am 26... not married and without children! un heard of...
I also had the opportunity to join some of the male teachers the other day outside for lunch. We piled all of our lunches together and enjoyed eating. This is when i became versed in all of thier multiple wives... very common.

So all and all things are good. Everyday is something different to learn or see. BUt the people are very nice and welcoming.

Cheers... hope all is well on "the other side."

SA 2

Quick side note:
Since the drive to Durban is 5 hours or so i saw a few fun things.

- The drivers here are actually really good, better than most american and really curtious. For example, if driving on a 2 lane road and you come apon a car driving slowly... the car will pull into the shoulder so you can over take without a problem.
- Also, there are lots of toll roads, actaully really brilliant b/c the main roads are really well maintained.
- you will see people pack into cars and vans here... i mean sardine style. While we were pulling into one of the toll booths, there is a buckie (truck) in front of us... keep in mind these are small trucks, which i dont know if anyone in the US even could get b/c they are small. 4 people up front, and easily 8-10 all sitting in the back, facing each other. They had a couple of drums and were singing and clapping traditional songs. and having such a wonderful time. As my friends said... "African people are very happy people despite of eveything " It really is true.

ZA 1

Hello all. So I have arrived safely to South Africa and was very kindly greeted off the plane in Joburg but a friend of mine's Aunt. His family has been so generous and welcoming to me i can't even begin to explain!
I have spent a few days in Joburg. Keep in mind it is winter here... southern Hem. So things are rather dry and brown at the moment. Joburg is a big busy city. Even though you can see the poverty all around, venders at the stop lights ( or robots) as they call them, joburg also has a very poshe side as well. Lots of BMW and Mercedes driving around. I spent a few nights, wide awake here... jet lag was brutal...
Then is was off to the South, Durban. Durban is a port city on the coast of the indian ocean. Really a quite beautiful town. They have the ocean front area which is really well designed. Lots of people were out walking on the beach, kite surfing, swimming... all in the winter, b/c it is really mild, even though all the Saffers think is it "freezing" cold. Ha. We even managed to get some fresh.. out of the ocean sushi. It was so cheap. well to me at least. sushi and half a bottle of wine cost me $15 with tip.
The Durban area is much more moutainous and rolling hills compared to the central portion. While i was there i also stayed on my friends Dairy farm outside of the city. The view from my bed room was so brilliant.
Saturday I will meet up with my program coordinator and head off to the Limpopo Provence.
Cheers!