May 28th & 29th

May 28th

The Soda That Broke The Camel’s Back

So you know you’re ready to go home when the lack of a soda upsets you. It’s always hard to sleep a good night when you at a new house. So after a rough night’s sleep and an early morning wake up to be ready and waiting to be picked up at 8am, and then more waiting and more waiting and then a 15 minute episode trying to figure out how to call locally in South Africa to find out where your ride is – I was just about done.

I was picked up around 10 am (instead of 8am) and I was really just looking forward to a Coke Light and mineral water – it’s a bit dry in Pretoria so I’m completely dehydrated. So we picked up the other girls and then the driver forgot and forgot. By the time I asked again (feeling like a 15 year old who can’t drive and control where she’s going) there was nothing around. So the driver thought of a place and pulled up to a Liquor store – at 10 am. Needless to say the selection was beer, more beer and liquor and more liquor. I popped next door to the pharmacy – and no such luck. It’s seems silly now – but I just needed to pop into a store and get a drink.

So we moved onto the Pretoria Art Museum. Now – I like art – but music and photography as art is more of my speed. Some of the stuff was a little crazy therefore I could breeze through in about half of the time and then waiter for the other ladies.

We then went to a place called POP UP – Persons Opheffings Program, People Upliftment Programme. How interesting. It’s an Christian non profit that is primarily aimed at unemployed women who have no formal training. It costs about $30 rand (less than $5 US) and trains then for a 6-15 week vocational skill including garment making, quilting, arts and crafts, child care, home management, etc. While the women are in the class they are fed and provided free medical and dental care. Completely amazing program. I could really see a YMCA in the US trying to see how they could help this program out with supplies or donations (hint, hint).

On site there is also child care from 3 months to 3 years for the local people around the center (which is a low income area). So for $130 rand a month (less than $20) there children are cared for, fed, given clothing and medical attention. Again, truly amazing. I popped into the center and was talking to the ladies and all of a sudden felt this little body behind me. One of the little ones came up behind me and hugged my legs – he ten proceeded to play peak a boo between my legs. He was adorable. The center is trying to expand to serve up to 6 years old and trying to get full facilities (bathroom and running water). Right now all the kids use little “training potties” which isn’t the most pleasant thing.

We took a trip to the South African Mint – which only prints the coins and I have to say it was a little boring. There was no tour – just a little display and then a shop to buy things. And it was a little “buy a small token to remember the trip thing” the proof sets of last years coins was $200 US and I didn’t even want to ask what the cost of the gold Kruger Proof set was – way out of my budget.

We went back to one of the hosts families house and their daughter (who works for South African Air) took us to the mall for some shopping. After my little weekend spree – I’m all shopped out so I got some ice cream and walked around. And then we went back to the house for some wine and dinner. A nice relaxing evening…

Oh – and did I mention I made the paper in South Africa (see Susan – tell your husband it’s not just Reston/Herndon ;)). Albie, my host from White River, scanned and e-mailed a copy of the paper with a photo of my team visiting a school and then me with one of the kids from “Lucy’s Project.” ;)

May 29th

Apartheid Museum

So as my vocations visit schedule for today really wasn’t related to my vocation, I was thrilled when one of the host’s daughters volunteered to take us to Johannesburg and the Apartheid Museum and for lunch in Johannesburg. It was really the only time we would get to go to J-Burg. The Museum was really interesting. A majority of it was videos and photos and text – and as much as I know my father would have loved to stand and read all of it I really took the quicker route through and focused on the bigger things ;) (being the non-History Channel girl I am). Beautiful architecture and very interesting history.

We went for lunch in Johannesburg and the area we went to reminded me of Clarendon or Georgetown. Very new, very modern construction and parking problems to boot. The restaurant, Moyo, was a lovely outside South Africa themed place and despite the horrible service (we received our drinks after we were finished with the meals) we had a great time. I went to the loo after lunch and let me tell you about the sculptures on the doors that marked the ladies and men’s room. I can’t post them online because they’d be considered indecent. Interesting….

The Rotary meeting tonight in Pretoria was nice – it’s a quite informal club and we did our presentations very quickly as dinner was being served. All of us have been at different house since Sunday so we took a quick opportunity to hit the bar and catch up – unfortunately we didn’t get to catch up because all the Rotarians came over to chat as well but they were lovely to speak with. Except the one drunk married guy – the girls on the team were amazed at the “witty, smart aleck” remarks I kept throwing back at him. Enough, was enough….