South Africa 13 - right here, right now

I'm going to be blogging for a very long time about the last ten days - I should really not leave things this long!
So, lets get going!

Saturday 31/05
We headed into Durban at about 09:30 to go to the beach - we went with Kylie (as it was her birthday) and spent the day on the beach just in front of Usaka (where we went before for the school trip).

The weather was gorgeous to begin with - I was quickly in the sea with all the other girls and the water was pleasantly warm, although there were hardly any waves to speak off - which was good for swimming - but I had been looking forward to admiring the surfers - which obviously didn't happen! We had sand in our sandwiches and a good time drying off before the clouds rolled in at around 2pm - so some of us got down to some moat building (with some over-priced beach goodies bought off a woman roaming the beach).

The scenery was beautiful and a good amount of reflecting was done by all of us at various points throughout the day....

I also got a marriage proposal from a man who approached me during afforementioned reflection 0time. A little scary - but he was at least respectful of personal space - which some people have not been. Also Hannah and Kylie spotted him and came to join me (i was sitting a little way away from everyone else) and we eventually shook him off - he would get full marks for persistency as he yelled 'I love you baby girl' at me as we walked away.
I can't do anything other than laugh at this experience to be honest with you!

In the evening we went to a restaurant which had been recommended to us by several people called Moyo. It was insanely cool! They came out and painted your face (see pic from previous blog) and then throughout the meal(we had the buffet and had lots of traditional south african (zulu) food which was soo, soo yummy) there were these three guys who would come over to your table and sing in harmony. Kylie got a rousing chrous of Happy Birthday (nothing to do with us of course...) and later on an ice-cream accompanied with 'In the Jungle'. Throughout the rest of the evening there was some foot-tapping chill-out music being played by a live band. The atmosphere was amazing. And despite the prices being slightly more on the English scale of living it is definitely one of the best, if not the best restaurant I have ever eaten it. Definitely worth a visit if you're ever in Durban.

Also just as a footnote to the whole experience I think I saw Tom Hewitt (of Umthombo) outside the restaurant with a group of young people - but I wasn't 100% sure and he moved on before I could do anything about my hunch....

We got back late that night - but it was all worth it - brilliant night out!

Sunday 01/06
What joy to have a very early start the next morning as we were running the childcare/sunday school for the 4-11's at the church onsite (PCF) which is moving offsite on the 14/06 - they wanted all the adults in the service to hear about the immenient move (including all the sunday school teachers) so we inventive and played a DVD (Over the Hedge for the record) which the kids loved and all stayed very quiet in (i think because DVD's are alot more of a novelty here. specially in sunday school!)

Then we had a lazy day in and Jonno&I stayed behind while the others went to NCF as we didn't have a second car to use and Dean couldnt give us our usual lift! Much letter writing done!

Monday 02/06
Monday was a hectic day at CCP - we essentially had a day long meeting (which I found it incredibly difficult to stay awake in.....I think my concentration span has most definitely decreased since I came to SA!!)
Benson and Rob, the project leaders told us that they had bought another property for Benson to move into so that CCP can move into Benson's house (which is currently being rennovated). Essentially (and I don't understand the ins and outs of this situation) CCP is moving out from the umbrella of Project Gateway and into the full ownership of PCF(which is the church helping to oversee at the moment).
PCF is also moving offsite but that's a whole other story.

This story about the CCP house blows me away.
The decision had been made in management for CCP to break away from PG and to leave the premises they have been using opposite PG. However there is no where immediately for them to move into - and somewhere within walking distance is needed so that the same client base can still easily access the services which CCP provides.

So Benson and Rob are both out looking for suitable houses to buy so that Benson and his family can move out of their house close to CCP.
On the weekend of the 30/05/08 they both find themselves being shown round the same house (they had been looking independently of each other). The lady asks them why they need the house so quickly so they explain that they are working as part of a church etc etc.
The woman breaks down in tears and explains that she knows that today is going to be a good day for them.....and phones the person who owns the house (living in Jo'burg) to explain that there is a third offer on their house which is R40.000 (2000 GBP) below the highest offer currently on the table but that they want to move in asap and the finances can be worked out...
The offer was ACCEPTED and the house was Benson's the next day!

A-Mazing!

So CCP is moving soon - although no date that I know of yet - before the end of July though - so we'll be walking a little further to work everyday before we leave!

In the evening we lazed around basically - I did get another letter tho (thankyou Larson!) which made my evening! :-P

Tuesday 03/06
Spent the day at CCP typing registers - they work with two classes in each of five schools - so we have to have a record of the children we're supposed to be teaching. About two thousand names in all - all in Zulu - interesting spelling with that task right there I can tell you!!

Sat and chatted out in the sun with Ru, Jules and Naomi which was really cool. They are really knowledgable in everything South Africa and (in the case of Ru and Nai) very knowledgable about all things Oasis!

We had combined cell at NCF that eve - got to meet a bunch of new, cool ppl outside my actual cell which was really fun!
Also worked on research for our hol to Cape Town which was a big bonus - and we actually got some decisions and things done (its all booked now so all is good!)