Here's what we were up to in June and July!
Bob & Liz Cowan visited from the US. They were great ambassadors for South Africa when we first considered moving here. Every good thing they told us has been TRUE!!
Some of the young single adults from church (and John) came over for a game night. We have so much fun with these great people!
John began his certification in scuba diving.
Here he is at Miracle Waters where he did his first 3 open water dives and explored a submerged school bus, an SUV, and a plane.
Kate attended a "space dance" at her school
For the first time, I received a paper check for rands here in South Africa. I emailed my personal banker to ask how to deposit a check. I received the reply "Due to the confidential nature of your request, we are unable to answer your question over email." So I went to the bank where we have an account and asked if I could cash the check (for about $40). The teller said "No" because the check was written from an account with another bank. So I filled out a deposit slip. Then I went to the teller. She passed out to me a blank deposit slip and told me to fill it out. I said "I just gave you a filled out slip." She said "But you wrote in red ink." So I completed the slip in black ink and sent it through. Then she looked up my account and said "This check is made out to Michael (that's how she read "Michele") and the name on the account is Jeffrey so I can't accept it." I said "I'm MICHELE and I am also on the account but since you can't have joint accounts in South Africa, Jeff's is the name on the account. Please look somewhere else and see if you can find my name." She did and she found me and accepted the deposit. ...Apparently there is a bit more bank fraud here in South Africa than I'm used to. ...Just hoping I don't get another check any time soon!
John had another scope and biopsy that demonstrated that going off fish and nuts has completely eradicated his throat issues!
We said goodbye to Mavis with lunch at Mugg & Bean (Charnell, Michele, Stephanie, Pumza, Mela, Meno, Mavis). We miss her and her family but are excited to see them in Utah!!
Kate attended her friend Hayley's birthday party. Probably about 40 kids plus their parents there!
This human hamster ball was a hit!
Our friends the Berichons returned to the US this month. I will really miss all the laughs with Stephanie. John will miss Grace who became his good friend as they did math and gymed together several times a week.
Nomthi's birthday at Licorish (Michele, Nomthi, Marilyn, Charnell)
And Ephraim & Nomthi's 25th wedding anniversary celebration. Highlights were hearing everyone's advice for a long and happy marriage and listening to their friends sing. Oh I love it!
Our vet sponsored a family braai. They were running a contest of "who looks most like their dog?" Guess who won?! (Since we think Emma is beautiful, we'll take that as a compliment)
Emma, Mosa (vet's nurse), Wendy (vet), Kate holding our prize basket
Remember when I said that the dog would NOT be allowed on my bed?!
Kate prepared for riding class. She had fun at pony camp during a school break.
Our friend Pume is the lead "urchin/diva" in "Little Shop of Horrors" ie. she sings lots of amazing, soulful solos! Last stop on the tour was Joburg. Charnell and I went to see her.
Marilyn taught Kate and Michele how to do silk painting.
Here, Kate is modeling the silk scarves we made.
For the 4th of July, we went with the Calls downtown to an American style BBQ restaurant (they even "imported the smoker from Texas!"). And it was delicious!! (Charlotte and Kate).
Then we attended a party at the Magnums' where we showed all our South African friends how Americans celebrate. Kate did well in the bubblegum blowing contest.
John and Angus almost won the crepe paper wrapping contest.
This is Busa, Mela's daughter. So she literally is planning to marry John. She writes him notes, tells her school friends that she and her husband John have a dog named Emma, and gives him hugs every Sunday at church. Busa calls me "Auntie Michele" but I could get used to "Mama Michele." She is SO cute!
The rolling blackouts continue. Kate and I went to see "Inside Out" and about 30 minutes into the movie, the theatre went pitch dark. We all had to use cell phones to get out and then stand in lines to get vouchers from cinema employees with tiny flashlights to return another day.
Some very sad news: Two friends have been attacked at gunpoint at their homes recently. They live on agricultural holdings which are rural and not very secure. One friend was shot a few times but is recovering well.
And a Zambian family at church was using candles during a blackout. They fell asleep and their home caught fire. The father and 2 children survived. The mother and another child died from smoke inhalation. With Nomthi, I've spent a lot of time with this family. They have lost everything. It is so very sad. But to see their family pull together has been beautiful. One of the most powerful memories I will have from my time in Africa was listening to the mother's 11 siblings sing together at her memorial service.
Love, Michele
John & Jeff go on a Trip!!!! (Special guest writing by Jeff)
In late June, John & I went on a trip. We were supposed to go to Nose Be off of the northern tip of Madagascar to go sailing for a week. The trip started out normal. We flew from Johannesburg to Antananarivo (the capital of Madagascar) on South African Airways.
For our first stop, we went to the heart of the financial district (above). Yup, 4 buildings over 4 stories....I got to dine on a Zebu Fillet (it was really tough) and John had pasta carbonara which he described as pasta, with gristle and a raw egg on top.
The next morning, we went to Church at one of the 2 stakes in downtown Antananarivo. It was really neat to see how the Church is growing there.
But after Church, we found out that there was a problem - Air Madagascar, the national airline had gone on strike - it is the only airline that flies from Antananarivo to Nose Be. And driving was not an option because there are not proper roads. The tour company, trying to be helpful, offered to put us on a charter for 850 Euros each, one way. We would have to share with another couple (Honeymooners - Charlotte and Macomb from the UK) and two pilots - and our luggage.
There was only one LITTLE problem:
So, being the rational people we are, John and I decided to go with our new friends and see if we could leave Madagascar.... The only places we could go were Johannesburg (no seats), the Seychelles (no seats), and maybe Mauritius. Air Mauritius had cancelled the three prior flights and had already cancelled the next day's - and they said it might not go out on Sunday. We hurried over to the terminal and tried to buy a ticket. The Agent assured us that there were plenty of seats - but only because they couldn't issue any tickets at the airport, as the machine doesn't work on Sundays (TAB!). After assuring us that no one in the airport or downtown could issue us tickets because Air Madagascar was on strike, it looked like we might be out of luck. But then Jeff called Air Mauritius in Mauritius and got someone who would issue a ticket over the phone with a credit card.
This is a picture of the four of us, who are now very good friends after a day of trials smiling as we head out to Mauritius!
What was Mauritius like, you ask? OK, this is a canned shot - but you get the idea
We were really lucky. When it looked like we were going to bail out of Madagascar, I called the same place that Michele and I had gone to the prior year.....and they surprisingly had a room for us!!!! It was the Oberoi - Highly recommended! John loved the virgin mojitos as much as his Mom and I did.
One of the goals of the trip was to get out of our comfort zone. John was very much in his on the zipline course (5 ziplines)
I however, was not so enthusiastic - but I did it!
John is smiling because he had fun. I am all smiles because I am still alive!
We also did some small boat sailing
Saw these amazingly large lily pads
Saw lots of waterfalls
And did a day trip sailing on a big boat - a 37 foot Catamaran
Notice that John did a better job than I, the Captain wasn't hanging out by his shoulder!!!
After all of this fun, we decided we had accomplished what we set out to do and returned home.
And that is the update for June and July!
