The Tuesday Night Crowd

We had our regular Tuesday night jazz gathering, with a crowd of people this time. This is Don and i at dinner at Cafe Ganesh. The first picture is of the jazz band and the tree inside Asoka's.

What fun to have a weekly outing as fun as jazz and Asoka's makes some of the best mixed drinks in Cape Town.

Five days left, yikes! Starting to work on packing and finishing up sight-seeing as well. Hectic stuff, arranging for two dogs, when people have incorrect information and selling a car (I don't like dealing with selling stuff in general). This afternoon I am going to the District 6 Museum and Robben Island with some friends.

Leaping into a Cavern

I have been horrible, because I keep forgetting my camera and I am on holiday.

My internship ended November 2. The weather hasn't been very motivating though, lots of rain last week. So I spent days transitioning and sleeping, organizing.

Friday I drove out to Stellenbosch with a friend and we made it to one winery. A very small one named Audacia that only produces red wines and the tasting room is very small with couches in an old house. Nice for a rainy day.

Yesterday, I hiked Devil's Peak, took Vuyo to his puppy class and then off to the beach. We went to one of the furthest beaches, but quite nice and secluded...Llundadno. In the evening I went to a potluck meal (not a part of South African culture). It was nice, 9 of us and a bit more formal than a potluck. We ate outside by candlelight.

So I am attempting to see some things before I leave, process all sorts of things in my mind, and pack up and cut off loose ends - selling my car, renting my room.

A Casino Concert

hhhmmm, so my friend received some complimentary tickets last night to see Gladys Knight at the Grand West Casino. Watched a little of an ice skating class before the concert.

Outside the Window

I took some photographs around where I am for individual therapy. The house at #36 is one I took from the car window as I drove from the school. The other two are photographs from the windows of the office and therapy room in the youth center in Lavender Hill.

This is my last week at my internship and I am starting to feel the toll of saying goodbyes and transitioning back to the States.

My car is up for sale and just as I feel we are connecting. Someone made the comment that the petrol here is low quality - quite dirty and it suddenly clicked. Now I have been pouring carb cleaner and fuel cleaner into it and although it will die sometimes on idling, it doesn't jerk and doesn't die as I am breaking.

The saga of paperwork continues. Currently, I am still attempting to register as an intern. Today is finding out if my second application has even been received first. If not, then I have to wait until I return home to get more certified copies of my degrees (I've used up the notarized copies I brought).

My house continues to be fun chaos with three dogs and summer is arriving as I am getting ready to return to winter.

Rugby World Cup Champions

Just over a week ago, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup. They played England, the reigning champions. The Roses and Springboks also played in the qualifying round at the beginning of the tournament.

I watched the game at my church. The two people in the foreground are in my cell group. What craziness afterwards as well. Yesterday, the Springboks toured through Cape Town, ending at the rugby stadium. I didn't go, but I certainly heard people outside.

Not Worth Note in My House

Notes on these pictures are listed below. :)

Traumas and the Therapy of Massages

Clare trying to decide amongst the many drink selections at Asoka's
Clare and Don, my regular Tuesday night partners
And per everyone's request, a picture of me

Came to the Coffee Bean tonight to hang out on the internet and found it was music night, so also listening to some acoustic guitar music.

The Coffee Bean has become and favorite hang out. The local coffee shop with free internet. Pretty much unheard of around Cape Town.

People have been requesting photos of me this week. I am going to try to work on that, but since I am the one with the camera it is a bit difficult.

Lots to catch up on...The Trauma Centre contract with the city of Cape Town to provide disaster relief management and my team was oncall last week. On Sunday we were called because there was an electrical fire at an electrical substation. Five men were injured with one dying later that day. My 2 coworkers and I went to the different hospitals to spend time with the families. On Monday I went to the electrical station to help debrief the employees. It was certainly a draining experience, but certainly appreciate that I am able to sit with people in their grief.

Two friends and I have started a Tuesday night tradition, it started a couple months ago, with a couple gathering and now we are all able to go regularly. It involved dinner and listening to jazz at Asoka's, a little trendy bar that makes very good mixed drinks. This past Tuesday we opted for buying sushi instead of making it. The restaurant we found down the street from Asoka's fortuitously has sushi for 30% off on Tuesdays. Yum!

My visa expired on Monday, and I went to the Home Affairs office and received a stamp good until April, 2008 (if only money grew on trees...)

The other night I turned the furniture in the lounge backwards, after a day and a half of no comments by my two housemates (one is in India for a conference), I silently returned all to their former state.