Nostalgia

Can you be nostalgic about something before it is over? I have been feeling a little nostalgic about my time here in South Africa. It is almost over! Only three weeks left. So I have been thinking about some of the things I will miss, what I will not miss and my favourite places here in SA.

Things I will miss:
1) MY KIDS!! watching them learn, learning from them, hanging out with them and watching them. 2) Living in 'Rural' SA - waking up to roosters, having cows and goats wandering around everywhere, the stars, the smells, the rain, the people, walking into the village to the post office or to get something from the shops with the kids. 3) The beach! 4) Learning something new everyday. A new Xhosa word, something new about Xhosa culture or SA history or about the people I work with. 5) Seeing new things every day - a new kind of bird, a new plant, a strange and interesting sight at the side of the road (ie old man peeing, goats doing goat things, and odd piece of garbage etc) 6) African Time - it is more relaxed and laid back here. 7) Combies - you meet the most interesting people when you are squashed together!! ...and much more!!

Things I will not miss:
1) getting buckets of rain water to fill my bath, WHILE IT IS RAINING. 2) The Food. It is not too bad, but everyday for nearly 8 months and you can get sick of anything! 3) Living in 'Rural' SA - no newspaper, iffy running water and feeling cut off.
4) African Time - it is so hard to get anything done!
5) Having no one to talk to. In fact, people may have trouble shutting me up or getting rid of me once I get home!

My Favourite Places:
1) The hall where I teach.
2) The patio behind the hall where I teach
3) the valley and hills behind Mzomtsha
4) Port St. John's, Coffee Bay, Cintsa, Umdumbi and all the other beaches
5) Total Garage in Umtata - the middle of everything!
6) The shower at Joe and Anna's/Brian and Lynell's house - ah the luxery!
7) The front patio at Joe and Anna's/Brian and Lynell's house

But I still have three weeks left. Nine classes with my oldest group, six with the youngest, six planned recreation sessions and a week with the kids off school where I will get to be with them even more. So, no more time to be nostalgic! It's not over yet!! :)

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yesterday was my birthday. It was very nice. I had cake and Sam called me. Annemarie tried to call but the line kept breaking up because she was on an internet phone and Diedre tried to call me but it didn't work at all. But they tried and I love them :)

I have been sick all week. I spent all of Tuesday night in the bathroom. That was fun. I spent the week in bed which was even more fun. Oh well, these things happen. At least I was feeling ok for my birthday and I did not throw up my cake. Count the blessings!

Last weekend was spectacular. I went to Umdumbi with Matt, Tia and Anne. We spent all weekend on the beach. I went exploring on the point and found a whole bunch of really cool tide pools. They were full of crabs and fun fish and plants. It was really cool. THen I found lots of shells which is great cause I have been to lots of beaches but haven't found many shells that were all in one piece. The weather was great and the food at the backpackers was terrific. It was my favourite place I think. Sadly it is likely my last weekend on the beach since it is almost time for me to leave. Sigh.

Well, I still feel crapy so that is all I am going to write for now. Pretty sad since I don't know when I will get on the internet again, but oh well.

Cut off!!

Well, It has been nearly a month since my last post but it isn't my fault! No really!! The computer at Mzomtsha is busted so I have been cut off! I didn't even know what happened with Olympic hockey until I talked to my family on the phone last weekend! So, no email, no news. I am glad this didn't happen back in October - I would have gone crazy! As it is I get a little frustrated at times because I have to depend on South African media to find out what is going on in the world, but I am surviving quite well.

Things here in South Africa are going well. Summer is coming to an end which is sort of sad, but I will be coming back to Canada just in time for it to start again! I can't believe I have only a month and a bit left here! Time has gone by so quickly! I have my lessons pretty much planned for the next month. I have been running a reading contest with the older class and the grand prize will be lunch out at a restaurant in Umtata. Everyone who participates gets a prize so the kids have been reading a lot more than usual. It is really nice to see! The library that Jeremy Zehr started last year gets use for homework and stuff but it is great to see the fiction books getting some use!

There is a thunderstorm coming in (again...) so the power will likely go off shortly. So I guess that is all from me until the next time I get to a computer with internet! I am in umtata for the weekend hanging out with Joe and Anna Sawatzky, the new Mennonite Network missionaries here. Ooh! This weekend I finished my last university paper for my undergraduate degree! My final report for my practicum course is finished!! Funny, since I am not actually finished my placement, but because of my travel plans after my placement is finished I figured this would be the best time to do it. Yahoo!

I planned most of my trip to Europe this weekend too, talking with my sister over MSN. I am very excited about it! We are going to have tons of fun and her birthday present to me is taking me bungee jumping in Interlaken, Switzerland! I had a dream that it was fun to do, so I am trusting that in reality it will be fun too!! There is still the danger of me chickening out, but I think I am up to it. After all this, jumping off a bridge should be a peice of cake!!

Cheers