Two Year Anniversary Update

We have now been in South Africa for 1 year 11 months, 3 weeks and 2 days (although I had to look that up as we have finally quit counting). Our “HUGE adjustment period” seems to be over and we have slid into the lifestyle here perfectly......well....most of the time, anyway. We are indeed, different people than when we arrived, in more than just age. We talk, act, think, eat, work and play differently. I am not saying that these changes are good or bad, but changes they are. Our friends (yes, friends!) who used to laugh at our American accents now marvel at our South African ones, especially Caitlin’s. And although the kids tease me unmercifully about my misuse of most of the slang words I try to use, I think I’m not so bad. For example: the word “shame’ is used repetitively in conversations as “Oh, that’s too bad” or just “Too bad”. So when someone tells you a story like maybe that their mother is sick or their child failed a test you nod and say again and again while they speak, “Shame”, “Shame”. My big mistake is that if I miss a green light or drop an egg, I yell, “SHAME!” when Caitlin says I should actually be saying, “SH*#!”. And it is true that while I now say “tomato” with a short “a”, I also say potato the same way and that is just wrong in any accent. They have a point, but I also use many other terms perfectly as I will try to exhibit in my update.

Bill continues to have a huge impact on the NEPAD education initiative across the continent. He has recently returned from a 4 week trip through Africa with his boss. She was very impressed by the accomplishments made and the potential to do much more. This did NOT come easily as he had a few very tough obstacles to overcome and many lessons and customs to learn. But he has gone on to do truly remarkable and great things for Africa and Cisco alike. He has traveled extensively through at least 14 African countries. He has friends everywhere we go and greets all with traditional handshakes and then hugs. I have included a website for NEPAD which may give one a glimmer of what it is exactly he does. (this photo was taken in Rwanda at the launch of the e-school)

Jeff improved so much in rugby this year that he played both the “D” and “C” team games, literally running from one game to the next. He plays “hooker”, a specialized position which means that he is in the very middle of the scrum and “hooks” the other guys in the front line together with his arms. This also means of course that he does not have his hands free when the scum actually begins and this has resulted in him getting a few illegal punches thrown to his stomach and face. Tough sport... This position also requires that he throws the ball in from the sidelines during a lineout. That talent was discovered accidentally when he threw a lost ball across the field to his coach who immediately asked him to do it again. It seems that those years of throwing an American football with Bill have paid off. The fact that he has recently become a bit sassier and much more aggressive also helps. I have seen him snarling at and roughing up the other team whereas a year ago this type of behavior would have been downright alien. Although this is not necessarily behavior to brag about, it works on the rugby field. (Jeff is in the center).

(Click here for some general info about rugby rules and positions. FYI, the captain of the SA National team, the Springboks is the Hooker)

He continues guitar, playing in two ensembles; a rock band (Pyre) and the Jr. Jazz Band at St. John’s along with taking two lessons a week. If he is selected, he will study music as a “Matric” subject. Apparently, passing the A levels in this field of study is considered quite a feather in one’s cap. .

Caitlin is excelling in event planning (coordinating and scheduling all of the weekend details for her and her ever growing group of friends). If there was any kind of award for “attention to detail” she would receive full colors. I am just happy that she continues to do well in her academics. I don’t know how, because in between sport and extra curricular activities, like being the MC in the inter house music competition; her time is stretched very thin. Of course any of you with kids know all about that. It is just so nice that she has achieved it here in this foreign land especially after having such a rough start. And back to sport, her water polo team tour next year is to Australia. There is serious excitement around here about that! (Caitlin is 2nd from the left, in black and white)

The one thing the kids don’t have and probably can’t get here is a job. We really do miss that opportunity for them for all of the obvious reasons. It is one of the sacrifices they have made by being here along with not being able to drive (18) and having the freedom and independence they did at home. These all weigh heavily on me during some of my sleepless nights when Bill is traveling. I just hope that in the grand scheme of their lives these are small details that can easily be made up in the years after our return.

Which, of course, is the big question. Well, it used to be, but we have finally decided to stay until August of 2008. At that point Jeff and I “plan” to return for him to start Standard 9 (grade 11). Cait and Bill will stay until Nov. when she’ll matriculate. Then we are all back in California where we started. Hopefully Cait will start university the following fall. This is not a perfect plan as Jeff has lost his spot in his public High School choice. That should be OK as I have learned of some other amazing schools that would also cater to his music interest. And, it means another year of being away from the slopes in Squaw Valley. But that’s OK too and we know some real nice folks that are probably pretty darn happy about that. And, who knows, really, if the curriculum here will cover all of the requirements that universities want? Caitlin may well be short in a subject or two but does she have 7 years of language and a good story, hey?

So for the past two years we have traveled to places we never imagined in our wildest dreams that we would. We have seen things that have shocked, saddened and thrilled us beyond belief. We have great photos and memories and African crafts. We’ve had visitors from our families and many friends (13 more show up on the 1^st of August...our “Service and Safari” group from church). We’ve shown our children that we are about the luckiest people on the planet and have hopefully taught them to be compassionate, global citizens. Most importantly we have had fun as a family and have laughed our heads off, from Jeffrey’s sex education classes taught by Father Michael to the ridiculous situations we have managed to get ourselves into. And we know that we need another year to get it right. What a jol it has been.

Oh! And me, you ask? What about Sally? Well, I am lekker, man....just lekker. I enjoy learning to play bridge, my school in Soweto, Sandy and Gill (aka “The eXtreme Team”, shown in photo, only one day after our death hike), and dog training (except for the total humiliation of my first competition when Mandi streaked out of the ring like a comet and ran around the entire event at the speed of light and that was the good part). I get invited out to coffees and lunches and most of my days have at least one commitment of a social sort. I run into friends at the mall and have even begun to entertain. Our 4^th of July BBQ was a blast even though we ate potato salad and ice cream in winter. All of our guests came appropriately dressed in red, white, and blue and toasted America with vigor (and not ONE rude comment was made about our current administration). And back to the “big question” of whether or not to stay another year? Well, I actually made the final decision. Universities and high school choices are one thing but what self respecting housewife in her right mind would pass up another year of full time help?

Well, it is off to the garden to braai boerwoers and brinjal. Tomorrow night: Bobotie.

Cheers,

The Souders

PS. Our photo was taken at Cape Point on our trip with Susie and David.