Watermelon Blue

The first picture is of Don absailing. Don is in Cape Town from the States on a Fulbright Scholarship. More donkeys, Taryn and Sarah resting and Spencer spending time with Vuyo.

The Desert Rocks

Pictures of the scenery, Philippa spending time with the leader of the pack and the "river" crossing.

Have you absailed?

I have a few more pictures of donkeys. Thought my mom would like to see them. The house is one of the cottages in which we stayed. Janet is whipping up egg whites for pancakes and is the organizer of this event. Above Joel is carrying Vuyo, felt the need to coddle the dog on a long hike among lots of rocks. Joel just arrived in South Africa from the USA for an exchange in Durban and flew to Cape Town to meet a friend of his girlfriend's that he didn't know.
Gee up above is anchoring for all of us absailing down the rock face.

Keeping Your Face to the Stars

Tromping Through the Cederberg

Well let me start with my Friday first. Met with my clinical supervisor for the first time at the University of Western Cape. That went well and then drove back to work and later went out to see about having my cell phone unlocked and my car would not start. Tried push starting it and jumping the battery. So a friend came and we push started it and got it home. Then rushed around to get ready to leave for the weekend (packing for a dog now too) and had some McDonalds. It is starting to feel more like McDonalds helps me cope with my car than with culture shock. :)

The Cederberg is a huge mountainous area 3 hours or so north of Cape Town, a good outdoor weekend getaway. Twelve of us went and stayed in self-catering cottages. Saturday we hiked for most of the day and then had a braai (pronounced (br-i) (I can't simply translate it as a bbq, because people do feel that it is better than a bbq or grilling). The stars were beautiful and we stood out looking for shooting stars for a while. Vuyo went on the hike and was coddled a bit, people carried him and we carried him across the stream because I was afraid he would pull me down in his struggles, but I suppose he needs to learn to do those things instead of being rescued.

Sunday morning, I made breakfast burritos, tortillas from scratch even. Took a few hours and so the natives were restless, but all thought it was worth the wait. :) We went out for short hike to a rock face and absailed down, packed up and went home. I unfortunately panicked too much on first climbing down the rock and fell against the face, but all went well enough.

It was a great crowd.

The Cederberg reminded me a bit of New Mexico with the desert landscape and mountains. On the drive back saw some mountains blue in the distance and then with the setting sun reflected on them were catching the pink cast of the Sandias.

Not True

After the whole purpose for the previous post and I can't get the computer to upload my picture. Everyone will just have to wait. :(

Something to Tide You Over

My friend Danie sent me a picture of our visit to a winery in Stellenbosch. Since I haven't posted any pictures this week, I though I would throw it up here. I am going to start taking Vuyo for walks now that he has received another vaccination and will than take pictures of the neighborhood.



Another friend came over last night to help me start learning the ins and outs of my car. We adjusted the idle setting and he left me with a shopping list for more work on the car.



One of my biggest frustrations adjusting to life in South Africa is that shops are not open in the evening. Yesterday I wanted to buy a kennel to start training Vuyo with it. The shop closed at 1700, so I left work at 1600 to make sure I got there, it was a little distance away. I could not find this place. Then I saw the name on a building, but could not figure out how to get there. At one point I found myself staring directly at the building on the other side of the railroad tracks. Well, I didn't make it in time. :(

After work I run to the grocery store along with everyone else or wait until the next day. Now it is a little more complicated because I either need to get home to feed Vuyo or drop him off before I shop. Can't leave him in the car because I might possibly find that someone else thought he was wonderful too and nicked him.