Goodbye, South Africa

Well, the time has come and we have to say goodbye to a country and people we love very much!

Here's what we've been doing, followed by what we will miss.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING...

Trick or treating with Ross Wannell

Thanksgiving at our house with Mark Cockriel, Joseph & Daniel Call

Jeff, Heather Call, Jon Mangum

Samuel Call, John, Sara Mangum

Charlotte Call, Kate

Michelle, Michele, Susan, John and Kate at Kate's Primary Program

John as a shepherd at the Johannesburg Stake nativity

Jeff traveled to Malaysia, Dubai and Singapore.  He loved catching up with our friends the Dastrups and Woods in Singapore!

Kate received her school's award for her positive attitude and always being kind

We spent a week in Hermanus, Cape Town, and Franschoek

Kirsten and Lorraine McDowell

Hermanus cliff walk

Grotto Beach

Stony Point African penguin colony (they had just released 23 abandoned juveniles back into the ocean!)

We saw Star Wars in Somerset West

We drove through Stellenbosch

Dinner in Franschoek

Vineyards everywhere.  So good to have time with Dad!

Cooking class at Leopard's Leap

Chef Pieter de Jager

Babylonstoren Farm

After the family trip and Christmas, John flew to Utah for about 10 days.  

WHAT WE WILL MISS...

(the [very] short list)

Visiting Gary Stephens studio

Mugg & Bean brekkies with Denise Gill after dropping our daughters at school

Melissa's Cafe with Lisa Hovgaard and Christine Maritz

Kate's friends at North Sands

The voices

Kate's teacher, Linda Langefeld

Working with Lynda Blore and Maxine Stewart at North Sands

Weekly dog/owner training lessons with Niki Elliott

Bethsia Matjila

Gatherings with this group:  Linda Dunn, Jaydene deKock, Tricia Collins, Jenny Cooke, Emi Dunn, Charnell deKock

 Samuel deKock

Ann & Lauren deKock (Samuel's Nana and Mama)

Abena Danso

Christine and her Golden, Paddy

Car park attendants

Leigh Chazen

Margaret, our favorite Clicks employee

Ciro, of La Cucina di Ciro

Sandrina Haeck

Winston: Best. Gardener. Ever.

CA, of Cheryl Amy Jones Bakery (where Jeff & Kate went every Saturday morning for croissants)

Spiro at Berliner Meats (where Jeff & Kate went every Saturday morning to get Sunday's braai meat)

Cecilia, the owner of Carmella's, a favorite breakfast place

Heidi Bestor and Connie Haskell

Shelley Seymour

Lynn and Lula, Kate's best friends at the Fourways Gardens park

Frank at Northern Cleaners

Yes, we will totally miss the security guards at our neighborhood's front gate who warmly welcomed us home every day and always lined up to give Kate high-fives as we drove through the boom!

George, Alan, Angela

 Edward, Bennett

Elkanyani

Edward, Bennett

Johannes, JoJo

The dog run at K56

Erin Gill

Lawrence the dog groomer

Glenda, receptionist at Animania (who whispered to Emma "You're my favorite client but don't tell the other dogs that" each time we went there)

The FNB Slow Lounge at most South African airports

Chloe, Martin, Charlie, Ross Wannell

Car park shuttles at Lanseria Airport

Justin Mitchell at Avondrood Guest House

Sunday evenings at the deKocks'

Marian Irwin

Angus, Kyle and Michael Klintworth

Rebecca and Michelle Klintworth

Chantal Chikurunhe

Sam Schultz

Pume Ramasimong (...still trying to get her a record deal)

Joshua and Winnie Sixishe, pioneers in so many ways

Refilwe, Thuso, Rato and OR Motlhosi

Rea Lesia

Cecilia Batterbury and her horses and dog Tammy

...The movers have packed everything now but one bed.  Jeff is in Switzerland, spending his first night in our new home.  John just returned from the US.  Our tickets are booked to leave Joburg Thursday night.  ...It's time to go.

"Once the dust of Africa gets in your blood, it changes you.  You are never the same."

We will always be grateful for the time we've been able to spend in this amazing place with its amazing people!!