Well, bunjee jumping didn't happen. Apparently it is out of season or something, so we couldn't go. Instead we went paragliding. It was sooooo great!! I got strapped into a harness, attached to a guy named Robi and ran off a cliff, 2600 ft up!! It was so exilerating. Not the crazy adrenaline rush of bunjee jumping, more of a quiet excitment. I could see all of Interlaken and the mountains and the lakes. We went around in circles through thermals, went up and then down and then back up again. I even got to steer!! It was so great. They warned us before we started that it was addictive, and they were right! I would love to go again. Landing scared me before we started, but it was very easy and mine at least was even graceful. Melissa, my sister, ran into some turbulance on her way down so ended up falling over as she landed. Not very graceful, but funny!
Now we are in Rome after an all night train that did not consist of much sleep. We are hanging out at our 'hostel' which is really a campground with a pool and it is great. We needed a relaxing day after the stress of arriving in Italy! Not a very clean place so far and it gets very confusing when you can't understand ANYTHING!! I should be used to that, but it doesn't make getting around the city any easier.
Tomorrow we are going to explore the ancient eternal city. It will be great!!
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Fun in Europe
I am now in Europe and it is a little embarassing that I havent posted for so l0ng but I blame the outrageous prices of internet here. I am having a great time. I spent two weeks wandering around by myself in France and visited my exchange family from 8 years ago. It was fun and relaxing but I got a little clausterphobic at Mt St Michel with all the people. Culture shock is slowly wearing off but it still gets overwhelming sometimes. Now my sister is here and after a couple fun days in Paris we are now in Switzerland. We are in Interlaken and it is beautiful!!! My crazy sister has talked me into going bungee jumping - we go tomorrow¨! I am a little freaked but excited too. We will see how it goes.
That is all for now since this is bloody expensive!!!
That is all for now since this is bloody expensive!!!
Sunday, April 02, 2006
A Good week
I have had a really great week!! No sign of the horrible flu that so afflicted me last week and things went really well with my classes. The reading competition that I am running is now officially over and so now I just have to choose a winner. It is really neat to see how many of the kids participated. It is sort of depressing to see that several of them cheated - they didn't actually read the book but just copied off the book jacket. But I am proud of the other kids who did read and tried hard. On thursday night I was supposed to give a test to my oldest class but it was postponed because we had a huge party that night instead! It was a joint farwell to our social worker and happy birthday Somnci party. (Somnci is me) So it was a lot of fun. I got a huge towel as a present, as well as a cute box of bubble bath and soap and stuff from my superintendant. I don't know how I am taking all this to Europe with me, but I'll figure something out :)
Sisana, our social worker got a new job with the Department of Health so this friday was her last day. This is sad because she has been one of the most open and friendly people on staff and when she was around she made sure I knew what was going on. Fortunately her replacement seems to be even more friendly and open and loves talking english. She is going to be moving into the staff cottage with me so I have a new friend!! She is already sad that I am only here for two and a half more weeks, but we make the most of the time we have.
Two and a half weeks!! This just blows my mind. I still cannot see past living here and working with my kids. It all doesn't really seem real. I am sad that time is going by so quickly but am really excited about Europe and all the fun I will have there. This is probably one of the last posts i will make in SA. So sad!
Sisana, our social worker got a new job with the Department of Health so this friday was her last day. This is sad because she has been one of the most open and friendly people on staff and when she was around she made sure I knew what was going on. Fortunately her replacement seems to be even more friendly and open and loves talking english. She is going to be moving into the staff cottage with me so I have a new friend!! She is already sad that I am only here for two and a half more weeks, but we make the most of the time we have.
Two and a half weeks!! This just blows my mind. I still cannot see past living here and working with my kids. It all doesn't really seem real. I am sad that time is going by so quickly but am really excited about Europe and all the fun I will have there. This is probably one of the last posts i will make in SA. So sad!
Sunday, March 26, 2006
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!! :)
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!! :)
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