Hello Friends and Family,
This is my first official update and I have lots to tell so here we go…
We have been in Africa for 7 weeks, 6 days and 12 hours, but who’s counting?
Well, we are I suppose. Although we are happy, it has been a HUGE adjustment for all of us in so many ways that I won’t ever be able to relate or even know how this adventure has already changed our lives.
Bill’s project is really starting to energize and that in itself is very rewarding. He will have his first launch in Rwanda on October 21 (my 50th). He will meet with the President and Prime Minister, along with hundreds, possibly thousands of Rwandans for the official ceremony. As some of you know, our family spent 8 days in Rwanda in August. It was a trip of a lifetime. While Bill traveled to his 6 school sites, the kids and I traveled on our own visiting several towns in this scenically stunning country. We hooked up in the end for our first safari before traveling back to South Africa.
Rwanda is a short 3 hour fight from Johannesburg but years away in every other respect. It is underdeveloped in just about every sense and almost everyone is very poor. But, I must say that most of the people seemed content if not downright happy. Life is hard work for all, regardless of age or gender. The roads are always filled with pedestrians carrying food and water, on their heads, bikes or backs. I was told that most people walk up to 20km a day for the essentials. And, I must add that it isn’t flat. Not at all. In fact, Rwanda is called “Le Pays des Milles Collines” (Land of a Thousand Hills). Steep hills. To watch the people carry their huge loads up the steep hills was truly unbelievable. Talk about being shape!
I am writing a little story about our adventures in Rwanda which I hope to post someday on our blog (under development). One story that I will share however is about Bill visiting his schools. They are in very, very remote areas that visitors never see unless they are working for National Geographic. At one school he saw a woman wearing a “Pizza A Go-Go, San Jose” T-Shirt. At another school they had prepared a “gourmet” meal for him that he still isn’t quite sure what it was. He was the only one at the table using utensils, politely cutting up the “meat”, in his suit, while the rest dove in with their hands. On the way to the last school their 4 wheel drive vehicle broke down in the jungle. To make a long story short, Bill hitched a ride with a complete stranger, 3 hours to the nearest town AFTER being surrounded by monkeys and glimpsing a leopard. So yes, his job is challenging in many ways!
The kids are in their 4th week of school. Again, interesting. Both go to private, Anglican, single sex schools. St. John’s College for Jeff, Kingsmeade College for Cait. I still wake up at night, wondering why I didn’t think the American International School was a good idea. It certainly would have been easier. The uniform requirements alone are daunting…everything down to pencil cases, summer, winter, sports, dress, casual…oh my gosh you can’t believe the wardrobes (not to mention the expense). We wake up every day and try to figure out what it is they are supposed to wear. And then of course the subjects…Zulu, Afrikaans or French? Rugby or Cricket? How about Net Ball? Prayers, hymns, rules, mass, “yes, sir”, “no, sir”, “pardon, ma’am?” Jeffrey was harshly reprimanded for saying, “Huh?” To say the least, it is different than Hoover and Lincoln.
That being said, we finally are starting to make sense of the homework assignments and schedules. We attended a meeting at St. John’s this week where Jeffrey was assigned to a “house” for his college years (high school to us). We learned about the initiation process, hierarchy, and curriculum. It is extremely impressive and I wonder if when it is time to leave, he won’t want to stay. Caitlin has a big community service project this weekend and has started being tutored in French and Spanish. She has 11 classes a day! Her schedule is completely overwhelming to us. It took us two weeks to figure out what she is actually taking and it certainly seems to be comprehensive. She started training for Water Polo this week and we are all just hoping that she makes the team. Jeff is playing hockey and is taking golf lessons from the resident pro at the new “golf facility on campus”. I think that’s beside the B&B and pub that are also on campus. Speaking of which, Caitlin went to her first High School party and some of the kids were smoking and drinking. The party was at a girl’s house; the parents were there and didn’t seem to care. Jeffrey is also participating in Basketball and Cricket (total humiliation but we sure do give him credit for trying) and lastly, was asked to be the guitar player in the St John’s Jazz Band. He is taking lessons from Oscar, who is teaching him African Jazz,
Our house is modest compared to some but comfy enough for us. The neighborhood is called Saxonwold and is considered to be one of the finest. It is in the “old and leafy” part of town. I counted 75 Jacaranda trees on our street alone and apparently it is quite the sight in November. We have a housekeeper, Eunice, 2 full days a week. She is part of the family already. The kids absolutely adore her. She keeps the house clean and does all of the laundry. Everything gets ironed…..sheets, towels and Bill’s boxers! Brave woman.
Tabo is our gardener/grounds person. He is a sweetheart who plays with Mandi while gardening, tending the pool, sweeping and washing our cars!
Johannesburg is big. Traffic is a mess. Safety, a huge concern. We are constantly being warned about what and what not to do: hide your cell phone and purse while in the car, don’t walk here, don’t walk there, don’t ride your bike alone, always be looking over your shoulder, keep your doors locked at all times, don’t trust anyone. We know that we have to be careful and we do our best and so far we have felt safe. Our house is a fortress: wall, electric fence, guard, you name it so we don’t worry, while we’re home. But apparently we will be car-jacked and robbed at least once while we’re here. You’ll be the first to know.
There is also great shopping in Jo’burg, fabulous restaurants and quite the scene for the arts, which we still need to check out. It is loaded with culture and diversity which makes us feel good. The weather is fabulous.
I would say we are still a bit lonely. Our social scene is dismal but that just means we get to spend more time together and that is a good thing. I noticed today that we’ve made several accomplishments since arriving: I hardly ever get into the left hand side of the car and jab my keys into the glove compartment, I don’t get lost every time I go out, I know how to park at the mall (it’s not easy!), I’ve managed to switch to a standard shift (with my left hand), we’ve opened and actually operated our new bank accounts, got a dog (Mandi! An adorable Rhodesian Ridgeback), We know that “just now” means in a little while and “now now” means a in a long while, I don’t look at the handicrafts that the street vendors hawk so as not to be surrounded, I have 3.5 rand ready to buy The Star from my car each morning and we always have our flashlights on hand, with full batteries, for when the power goes out…which can happen at any given moment. We now have a home phone, cell phones, fax and wireless access. Let me say that acquiring each of these was a huge process. I also survived the first big thunderstorm of the season this week. Only one person was killed, so it wasn’t that bad. I hear that November should keep me on my toes.
Bill leaves for Sydney next week and then travels to Mauritius and Cape Town. He just spent a week in Dubai. This is just the beginning of a huge travel schedule for him. It is tiring but exciting. We are planning a ski trip in Europe over the holidays and may be able to squeeze in a road trip to Mozambique for Caitlin’s 16th birthday. She wants to become certified to dive. I will watch from the beach. We are wildly anticipating a visit from Amy, in November; boy is she going to get the royal treatment.
I think we are all a bit surprised about how entirely different it is here. I think we thought that since English is the first language and that Johannesburg is so cosmopolitan that we would fit right in. We weren’t really prepared for how difficult it has been to become adjusted. We have a long way to go but when I think back to when we first arrived I can’t believe how much we’ve learned.
If you are on this list, we miss you…a lot! If you want to be removed, let me know or if you have any questions, please write. I will get back to you…just now.
With pleasure (pronounced: playzha),
Sally
PS It can take 10 days to 2 weeks for mail…so get those Christmas Cards out early!
