The Journey Inward

This felt like a very long week because the kids have been busy finalizing their arcade games and forces and motion writing pieces and also practicing a song in sign language and an antibullying presentation for the Community Celebration that they’re leading. I was ready for Happy Hour Friday evening! We went to Square Time this time and sat upstairs outside. It was really nice. I asked for restaurant suggestions and everyone typed theirs into my phone. I’m excited to try them out. One of the teachers ordered pizza and I took a picture of it for my friend back home who had asked about the pizza here. It is super thin crust, almost like a tortilla. Very yummy, and that’s saying something coming from a NJ girl!

I had picked up some travel brochures at Hertz on Thursday when I was waiting for my Uber after returning my rental car, so between these trips and local activities and the restaurants, I will be putting together some fun weekends!

Later that evening, I went to a friend’s house for a braii (barbecue). I contributed the wine, which I rarely drink, but had fun picking out a red, white and dessert wine made here in South Africa. South Africa is known for its delicious wine. Roland made the most delicious chicken over charcoal that was so moist and flavorful. Yuri prepared the roasted vegetables under Susana’s tutelage and Susana made an incredibly light and refreshing lemon meringue pie. It was such a fun night and although they were disappointed at the chill in the air, it felt like Fall to me, which I sorely miss, and I was happy to be in a sweatshirt and under a blanket outside!

While I was there, my niece sent the funniest text. Her Albanian brother in law was watching tv and saw her dad (my brother) on tv. He sent pictures to her and she sent them to our family. My other niece was busy trying to translate. None of us are too sure what the topic was, but it seemed like an amicable panel!

Saturday morning I attended a Baby Sprinkle for T, who is due right before Christmas. It was such a fun time and I was so happy to meet her mom, sister, inlaws and one of her good friends. E, A and I had a blast together outside of school and the food was delicious. I was close to my beloved zebras, but didn’t have time to stop in because I had to go pick out our costumes for the staff party in December at our principal’s house.

One of the things I got the baby was a “bear blankey,” which I get for every baby. It is a thing as some of you know how much my youngest loved her bear blankey growing up and it has a position of prominence on her bed in Oregon to this day! I sent a picture to the kids! I cracked up at this product description at Baby City, too. I love how they name things here!

I got my very first facial later that day, unless you count the one Tracy and I got in our early 20s at a training facility near where we lived. I broke out the next day and had blemishes for weeks after!! It was the most relaxing hour, complete with massage, and at one point I fell asleep. She put goo after cream after device on my face and we chatted about it, but honestly, it was over my head a bit!! I’ve never been a big skincare person, though I do have a modest morning and bedtime routine. I had terrible skin from the age of 10 on, but Nonele told me my skin was very nice, just needed moisturizing, which it probably did before, but definitely does now, as it is so dry here!! I’ve only been told I have nice skin four times before today, twice by men, once by my friend who wears no makeup at all and is naturally gorgeous and once by a woman selling makeup at Ulta. It’s not something I can believe. It’s the skin version of body dysmorphia maybe!

Bad weather was moving in, so I got my grocery shopping done and took a 4 mile walk while speaking to Jan.

Here are some random things…first, I found a tiny baby gecko in the house yesterday. He was sweet and I didn’t shoo him out. If he crawls over my face in bed, he’s done for, but he was downstairs and hopefully stays there. I saw this bird on my walk and thought it was beautiful! The parents order from local restaurants if they want their kids to buy and not pack a lunch. Of course, as I walk around when I’m on duty, I have to look at all the things they’re eating and ask questions and find out where to buy. This wrapper made me laugh so hard. He ordered the cheesy egg, hold the cheese! So just Egg. The final picture is our estate manager with some of the guards on her birthday! Our estate WhatsApp chain was going wild all day with birthday wishes for her. Very sweet! I’ve only ever texted with her, so this was my first time seeing her!

Other random things that have no pictures…some of the potholes on the streets around me have gotten awful and are very plentiful. You have to zigzag all over the road to avoid them. As if driving here isn’t crazy enough! Yesterday morning I noticed someone had filled them in with dirt. The roads were indeed much better. Then it rained later in the day. And now we have muddy potholes. Nice thought, though!

Drivers here not only don’t care about pedestrians, but show no sign of remorse when they have near misses. Workers here get around by minibuses or walking or the occasional bicycle, so there are always people out on the streets. I walk every day and have started walking on all the streets around me. I very quickly realized that drivers will not move over or swerve around you. I always walk facing oncoming traffic so I can move up onto the grass if need be. Every once in awhile, there’s a sidewalk, which I appreciate. I’ve had some closer-than-I’d-like calls, but the other night I had a VERY close call. I was facing oncoming traffic like always when I was suddenly sideswiped to the point of feeling the hairs on my arm touch the speeding car. I was so confused where he had even come from, but I watched as he continued passing cars by coming into the right lane where he had just narrowly missing me. Now I move onto the grass for cars coming in any direction.

When I was driving to the shower yesterday on the Garsfontein, two major intersections had non-working robots (traffic lights). There were no police direct traffic or signs in place to warn or recommend how to go. People just move up and take a chance when they’re ready. I had to make a right turn from the left lane across two oncoming lanes of traffic and two lanes of perpendicular traffic. It wasn’t scary per se, but it was a strange dance. When I got to the shower, I asked why the lights might be and the ladies just shrugged. It’s South Africa, is the common refrain! They said that sometimes one of the parking attendants will come out and direct traffic, with no experience and no authority, and will actually make it worse because he then flags the drivers down for tips! I encountered just that on my way home!

T is back after three months at sea! He and G sent pictures of the pups snuggled into the backseat of the car as they road tripped to Arizona for her marathon today! I’ve got my app and tracker ready to follow her progress!

Today it is raining, raining, raining. We are under a level 9 advisory for rain, wind, hail and flooding. It’s the perfect morning for a slow start…lingering in bed, reading over breakfast, writing and leaving the bed unmade in case I want to get back in! Which I’ve done twice so far! My neighbor, Sue and I were supposed to go out for tea, but she cancelled last night when she saw the weather. Walter was supposed to come for the day and we were going to explore some of the forts at the tops of the four corners of Pretoria. Not only is that not happening, but it is not safe to travel today. So it’s cooking and watching tv (while I still have electricity), reading, writing, and prepping for school this week. I may break out one of my crafts! I’ve reached out to my cleaner and gardener, my neighbors, my colleagues, and my friends to wish them safety and warmth today. We will all look out for each other!

The manager of our estates sent out a message asking us to open our weep holes. She was not asking us to cry, but rather to make sure the holes in our garden walls were clear so water could escape. Mine are not open. Apparently, people stuff them up to keep dassies from getting in their gardens.

The little laughing doves have been taking shelter under the eaves of our houses. This one was on my bedroom window ledge. I absolutely love the rain running down the clay tiles.

I finally started Breaking Bad last night and this is the perfect day to lie on the couch and binge!

Okay, it’s 2:30, I’ve switched from pajamas to sweats and I’m hitting publish!!