Since we last posted...

We had such a great time with Michele's parents in South Africa the past 5 weeks!

We flew to George and then drove along the Garden Route, ending in Cape Town:

Mom at the Robberg Beach Lodge, Plettenburg Bay

The beautiful beach

John did lots of bodyboarding

Church in Knysna.  Fantastic, friendly people!

View of the Indian Ocean from The Heads, Knysna

Dad at Swellendam

Spectacular whale watching in Hermanus

Beautiful drives.  ...Such a change from Joburg traffic!

Avondrood Guest House in Franschhoek

Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town

Table Mountain with the Rogers

Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach

THEN,
A week later, we went to Morukuru Lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve

A highlight was following this new mama lion for an afternoon.  She was tired and it was hot, but she needed to find food.  We watched her rest, track, rest, track, etc.  A day in the life of a lioness.

For Kate, the highlight was working in the kitchen with Osia and Isaac!

In other news:  Jeff and Michele both turned 48.  Forty.  Eight.

Jeff celebrated in our back garden.

 Ephraim & Nomthi; Charnell (Jeff) & Andrew; Caryn & Ryan

Michele celebrated in the bush at Madikwe.

 She was surprised with this cake and singing and dancing by the employees of the lodge.  Awesome!

Kate's school had a family fun day.  They had so many original games to play…wish I would've known about these when I was planning PTA carnivals!

 Kate and her amazing teacher, Mrs. Middleton

Jeff spent a week in Nairobi including a service project in the largest urban slum in the world

We wished our friend Corbin well as he left for mission in New Zealand

John and Grandma passed the Lindt Chocolate "Art of Mousse Cakes" class with flying colors!

And I found this on the floor of the dining room today.  It's called a Parktown Prawn.
http://2summers.net/2013/04/22/close-encounter-with-a-parktown-prawn/
There are LOTS of them here and they come into homes when it rains.
It's the rainy season.

…Well, life can't be perfect, hey?!

Nairobi

Our thoughts and prayers are with our GE friends, their loved ones, and all the people in Kenya who have been impacted by the violence of the past weekend.  

T.A.B. (That's Africa, Baby!)

Quote from travel brochure:

There is a lot that can be said about life in Johannesburg, but a fitting way of thinking of it is metropolitan life, but pushed to extremes.

Some extreme good times:

 At the umembeso (Zulu engagement party) of Jeff's assistant, Celiwe

Neighbors sang welcome songs and danced.  Then we all gathered in a big tent for delicious food, music, and speeches (our favorite line was Ugogo/Granny declaring to the groom's family:  "We have raised a healthy, good, respectful girl.  If she comes home malnourished or mean, we will know it is you we must blame.")

Kate made a friend

Jeff's GE co-workers

Amid singing and dancing, the groom's family gave lobola (dowry) to the bride's family.  Most memorable:  The bride's mother lay down on the mat while a cast-iron pot, crate of sodas, scarves, blankets, food and a goat were presented to her.  (See her hand sticking out of the blanket?).  Kate kept asking (too loudly...ha!) "What are they going to do with the goat?"

The betrothed couple!

Then everyone danced and sang down the streets of the neighborhood.  It was bedtime, so we left.  ...Before any further action was taken with the goat!

Speaking of GE, John spent a day at work with Jeff.  When not attending high level meetings, John raided Dad's stash of cereal and hot cocoa mixes!

GE friends over for dinner:  Ian & Pam and Larissa (who is from Russia and spoils our favorite little Russian)

President and Sister Reber from the MTC came for dinner and games

A Mom & Kate Date to watch animals be groomed at "Twisted Whiskers," an exclusive spa for furry friends

Kate fell in love with this cat who was receiving the "Lion" cut

Caryn's Mom came to visit from Cape Town

And Kathleen came to visit from Alpine!

At Regina Mundi Catholic Church, an historic Soweto anti-apartheid gathering place:  Nomthi and Kathleen standing where Mandela stood a year after his 1994 election

The stained glass shows The Annunciation using white figures inside

and black figures outside.

As a contrast to Soweto, Kathleen and I also toured some of the Randlord's gardens and homes designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

Such a treat to have time with a wonderful friend!

A happy birthday outing with my friend Kresta (whom I first met exactly a year ago when we were on our Look-See in Joburg.  She and her GE-husband Todd sold us on this town!)

Kresta is an art curator and took several of us to the studio/home of Gary Stephens.  

Spring is here!  This is the view from our dining room into our atrium!

Extreme beauty.  Extreme fun.  Extreme ubuntu.  We love it here!

There is a lot that can be said about life in Johannesburg, but a fitting way of thinking of it is metropolitan life, but pushed to extremes.

We often cast that "knowing look" and declare "TAB!"

"TAB" stands for "That's Africa, Baby"!  It's a phrase that means "This is not something I ran across in my former life in the first-world country where I grew up."

Here are some examples of appropriate times to say "TAB":

• After 4 months, 5 trips, and hours of waiting in lines at the SA Revenue Service we finally got our tax registration number--AND the bill for penalties and interest due since we were 4 months delinquent!  TAB:  We paid the penalties because fighting them would've meant more time in the SARS office.

• When the water supply to many of the northern suburbs was off for over 24 hours because a construction worker drilled into a main pipe.  TAB:  We showered at the gym.

• When a fire burned through the fields behind our house and no emergency personnel came, because in Africa, people know that field fires eventually burn out.  TAB:  We closed the windows to keep the smoke and flying ash out of the house.

• When a traffic cop showed up because all the traffic lights were out and directed the 6 lanes of traffic on a 4 lane road.  TAB:  Michele practically stopped in the middle of a right hand turn to blow him kisses of gratitude.  The taxi drivers being halted did something else.

(in case you were picturing a Yellow Cab)

• Since the internet goes down about once an hour at our house, Skyping has become a thing of the past.  TAB:  We have a policy with the OOMA phone that after 3 times dropping the same caller, we give it a rest.

• Some guys attempted to carjack our GE friend Pam.  She was able to manuever her car out, still driveable but damaged.  After a good cry, her conclusion was "Pray for Africa."  TAB:  We agree with Pam.

• The taxis went on strike last week.  Our gardener walked/ran the 11.5 kilometers to our house all the way from Diepsloot and was only 30 minutes late.  TAB:  We drove him home that afternoon and tried to stay clear of the picketers.

• Petrol attendants are still on strike.  The guys who work at the BP by us wear civilian clothing instead of uniforms so if the union guys show up, they can run away quickly.  They just hang around by the shopping center and then come over when you pull your car next to a pump.  It is illegal to pump your own gas here.  TAB:  We give these guys good tips.

• A transformer blew up down the street.  We were without power for almost 2 days.  Michele checked status with the Eskom workers one afternoon:

Michele:  Thank you so much for all your hard work today!  Is there an estimate on when power will 

be restored?

Eskom Guy:  Should be sometime tomorrow morning.

M:  Tomorrow is a public holiday.   Are you working then?

EG:  No.

M:  Then are you saying it will be fixed before you leave tonight?

EG:  No.

M:  (confused) So it will be fixed tomorrow?

EG:  Yes, it will be fixed tonight.

M:  (more confused)  Okay!

 

Eskom in the Hood!

(They did get the transformer fixed in time to make it to the Orlando Pirates soccer game.  It blew up again in the 2nd half, but they came back that evening--a public holiday--and worked all night to fix it again!  Very first-worldly.  ...Go Eskom!)

Yebo.  That's Africa, Baby!