Blog moving!

Greetings. This blog is moving to www.ccinterns.blogspot.com I might write here everyonce in awhile, but don't hold your breath!

101 Ways to Bake an American Under the African Sun

36 C (apx. 100F) in the shade today. I am LOVING this warm weather and banishing all thoughts of rain, snow, and ice-storms from my jaded Midwest-American mind. Today's warm African sun found us, us being Shaun, Grant, Paddy, Carolyn and I, repaving parts of the top pool where some of the small rocks were trying to escape for parts unknown. First, we all grabbed a broom and began to madly swipe against the pavement in some approximation of creating orderly piles of loose stone. Then, we created a runny goop from water, sand, and cement mix to sweep into the empty gaps between pavers.

By this point, we were only about two hours into the job, but all seeing stars. Could be the heat, could be the heat shimmering off the cool pool waters and creating a celastial mirage before our eyes. Whatever the cause of our lightheadedness, we thought it best to take a water break and guzzled fluids. Then, we went for the home stretch and finished smooshing the grey goop into the cracks.

A bit cemented, tied, sweaty, and hot, we finished the project still speaking to each other (bonus) and jumped in the big main pool for a refreshing swim (bonus)!

Late night TV--what no one told me

Right. So the other night I fell asleep with the tv on. NOT a good move. I won't go into details, but suffice to say that won't happen again. So I share this embarrassing accident with some South Africans--who KNEW about late night tv here in South Africa and didn't tell this foreigner. And they LAUGHED when I told them what happened. (I was traumatized and they laughed!) Well, this is me telling everyone, unless you want to have your eyes burn and be scarred for LIFE, flip that tv off after 10pm. Heck, when 9.50 rolls around turn off the tv and pick up some knitting, bake a cake, skin a deer--you'll thank me.

This is the end of my public service announcement.

On a better note! Very soon, I'll post some photos of me SCUBA diving. Yes, SCUBA diving! I know most of you think that I am afraid of water (true) and would only go into the water to save an old lady from drowning (true), but I thought...Why not?!!!

And all that jazz...

Six weeks left in SA! Ahhhhh. Nobody panic! No, it's cool--just a bit aware of how little time I have left to get my U.S. life in order, say goodbye to everything South African, and experience the joys of reverse culture shock after living out of the States since 2005 (except for those short return visits). I'm learning a lot about myself and what really makes me happy. I'm also becoming very okay with me--no need to be anyone else just to please someone else. And that is very cool. (I still don't like raw tomatoes, over-long mountain slogs, or grumpy people.) So, what's happened this year...?

• I arrived from London in a fog of rushed visas, overnight flights, and an interesting stop-over in Dubia--where I nearly passed out in the airport from lack of food/sleep.
• My first group was teen boys in a drug rehab programme. The boys were lovely and so well-mannered!
• Things went fast. I got to know the ropes of Rocklands: hosting, low & high ropes in SA, living in the staff house, full programming in SA, etc.
• Volunteers left the staff house, while others arrived.
• South Africa kicked out it's president.
• I visited Cape Town for a few nights.
• Ended a relationship.
• Had my first African Christmas.

I hope the next six weeks brings lot's more fun, adventures, and good chances for me to say goodbye to Africa. But until my plane actually leaves African soil, I will be discovering more of the country, food, and people!

TIA=This is Africa!

First we lost the internet, now we've lost our water--which is a bit ironic considering that we're a short stroll from the beach. There are 165 girls here. You can imagine what that means without water... So, we drove the bukkie to a water source down the road and filled up containers for drinking water. The water will need a bit of a filter, and maybe a quick boil, but it's very nice to have water! Here's a pic of us filling up the water containers.

And, we are running the low-ropes course today with the girls; which will be interesting as it will be 100F (38C) today and no shower to come back to. Hmmmm...

It makes me all very glad for our lights, which have stayed on, and our internet, which is on again after a rock was pulled off the lines. As the Africans say in their very laid-back way, "TIA=This is Africa!"

And then...

So, a lot has been happening in my life. Some of it needs some advice from freinds and fam, so I won't go into that here. Suffice to say that my heart smiles!

I can tell you that Rocklands is looking as stunning as a youth centre can look! All of us are busy around the place with curtain, signs, and improving the low-ropes course. We have a great group in at the moment--and so far no baboons on the big main site. We won't talk about the baboons at the top and what happened with that giant pane of glass...

Right. So good night all and may you consider visiting me at Rocklands very soon. I'll save you some meat from the braii!

Thumps from the Roof

Typing away here in the office (where else but Rocklands would updating my blog be work?!!) and I keep hearing these massive thumps from above. Paddy, Shaun, and our new volunteer, Carolyn, are up there speading some grey goo over the roof in an attempt to eliminate re-inactments of Noah's flood outside the tuckshop door every time a drizzle comes up.

This is the second day working on the goo. Thus far, Carolyn has only been asked about her hands a few times, which is amazing considering what they look like. It took awhile for my brain to register that the grey goo does not wash off hands--because it is...WATERPROOF! Ah-ha-ha! Right. I'm American. Give me a break!

I am using Paddy as my look out spy. I need to find a group leader--ask Paddy to survey the land. Need to find a camper--ask Paddy to cast his eyes over the crowd. It's great!