December/January

Sorry that it has been a while since I updated. I didn’t think it was a big deal until a friend of mine FB me and told me that I was keeping her awake during college lectures. I will try my best to keep it more up to date for you girl. Haha. Work has kept me quite busy with the xmas season and it has been exciting, tiring, and fun at the same time. Since my last blog, I have gotten to go Hillsong Church a couple more times and I am enjoying it. The night service is mainly young kids and college kids who just liven up the worship service. There is this one song about running, and the group run from one side of the room to the other, it is hilarious and so fun! Sometimes you have to put actions to your words…so why not go to the front and join them. I have requested for information to get involved with their community projects and children program and will update you as it unfolds. I cannot wait to hug those little ones, oh my they are so precious! Social life has been put on hold due to work and the summer, so any small groups or possibility to meet new people at church (since it is so large) is a little challenging. They should start up at the end of the month and I look forward to getting to know people around my hood. I have gone out several times with co-workers and enjoyed the dinners with them along with the many bottles of wine that comes with it  My furniture finally arrived and I can say that my flat is completed furnished. It seriously was such a long process to get 4 pieces, but it is done! A couple of days before xmas, I got my shipment of altoids which was incredible! For those of you who do not know, I am addicted to peppermint altoids. No…it is not a small addiction, I can go through literally a box or 2 a day…it is bad. I thought maybe after getting to Africa I would have to wing myself off…but as my friends knew…that was not going to happen. If anyone placed a bet I would cave in, you probably won a lot of money! I also ordered the last 3 seasons of Greys Anatomy for my xmas present, and it arrived just in time for xmas. Thank you Amazon for even making the deadlines in Cape Town. One of my best friends, Jen, shipped me a xmas package unexpectedly, it was such a blessing. She had no clue that her gift would be only one that I would receive from anyone back at home. Living in a new country is fabulous, but when you don’t have any close friends yet, it is depressing when you realize that your xmas is all alone and as people talk about things they got, you just smile. Now it isn’t about the materials, but it is just that someone remembered you and took the time and even the cost to send something….it meant a whole lot! As I opened the gift on xmas morning, I wrote a commentary of the gifts that I was pulling from the box. I thought you would it enjoy it as much as Jen did when she got the email.


Lets see
Opening Fedex box
green box isn't coming out, now shaking it out.
It is taped! Have to go get scissors now
It isn't even open yet and I can smell ALTOIDS!! woohoo!! ahhhh I am so excited
First thing out of box....Christmas lights! or is it.....It is! yeeahhh!
Second thing...Candy Canes! I haven't seen any candy canes in South Africa, my co-workers are going to love them.
Third thing is wrapped in snow flake wrapping. Chocolate? Opening...Not just chocolate, Stumptown CHOCOLATE!
Fourth thing- Peppermin Bark! Maybe that is what I was smelling and no altoids? Yummy Ghirardelli.
Fifth thing...tissue paper gift and no doubt.....it rattles like altoids, it is the size of an altoid box.... IT IS IT IS A BOX OF ALTOIDS!
Sixth thing...wrapped in white tissue...I have no clue what it is....DID YOU MAKE THIS???!! I LOVE THIS!!! I love my lion!!! He shall be called Leo :) He definitely looks like a Leo.
I am losing count...seventh gift...white tissue feels like a candle....nope...it is from Santa's workshop! A penguin! I haven't had a push pop in like.....15 years...nice
Eighth gift...They feel like the last gift...and it wasn't candles...More push pops! Of course we have to have a tree and santa. I have a tree now!

OH MY GOSH JEN! Way more than I could have every wanted or asked for. I love it!!! I love all of it!! Pause...gotta open the altoid box...It is a new box oh I am so excited....they have fun facts on the tissue sheet. The old ones just had sayings, these have facts. The "Curiously Strong Fact: Altoids were first produced in 1780, 189 years before man walked on the moon. Coincidence?" HAHAHAHA....I think not...lol. 2 altoids into my mouth......oooohhh sooo good! Yes, Yes, for sure a fresh box...you can taste the minty freshness...aaaahhhhhh. Okay where were we....Oh yes, Jen thank you so much!

Xmas day, I had to work half a day since we are a 365 day site. We tried to make it as fun as possible by providing raffle prizes and a candy trolley that every kind of candy you can get in South Africa. What is funny is that the associates love M&Ms, Twix and Kit Kats…I guess cause it is more foreign? In the afternoon I was invited to a luncheon with Christy’s family. Christy is a friend of a friend I know from Seattle and she has assisted me quite a bit in transitioning here. I have gotten to have tea with her, gone to her church several times, and she saved me from having my 1st xmas in Cape Town alone. The house we went to was gorgeous and had a salt water pool. I can say this was the first time that I have gotten to swim in one and on xmas. The lunch was fabulous and her family is hilarious. Her mom came up with this game where she wanted to tie balloons to your ankles and use a newspaper to try to pop the balloons by swatting it. Unless there is a needle in the newspaper I do not know how she expected it to pop…so we all resorted to stomping the balloons with our feet. So much more effective!

Hillsong

I finally made it to Hillsong Church this weekend and it wasn't a moment too early or too late. God's timing is aways perfect. I was talking with several friends over the weekend and about how I am still trying to find a church that feels like "home." I walk into the church and the screen has a sign that says "welcome home." Is that a sign? The worship was pretty good and the message was on communion. What was a total God thing though was that he referred to Ephesians 2:10 which has been my life verse since AWANA days. My first church service here, and out of all the verses He could reference he brings up that one. Another thing that was funny was that this was the same verse that Pastor Judah spoke on the first time I heard him...really? They were doing this anointing service later in the evening which they only do once a year, so I thought I would go shopping, get my nails done, and then go back. I was a little concerned on making sure I got home before dark, but felt I could make the service and still make it home in time. The 5pm service was off the hook! I guess this is the service that most college kids attend, and it was so fun. The worship was more upbeat and they were dancing all around the auditorium. I thoroughly enjoyed my night there. What is neat about this church is they do have a lot of different ways that they serve the community and I look forward to seeing where I could maybe help out, but for sure have to find a way to get my hands on those adorable little children. They are just so darn cute!

Hillsong Church

Work Wine Tasting

Our HR team was treated to an outing on Friday as a reward for all the hardwork everyone has done for peak. I was so hoping it was wine tasting as that seems to be the thing right now besides sushi. We drove for about 45 minutes and from the moment we hopped on freeway, I knew where we were going, WINE TASTING! We ended up at Hidden Valley Winery and sat there for 3 1/2 hours sipping wine and having a four course meal. It was so delightful!


This is my work roommate Andrew. He is so silly. Jen V you would love him! He is my version of Kevin.

Balcony view of Hidden Valley

Helena on the left and Petronia on the right. They are a riot!

Calamari, YUM!

Chocolate dessert, oh so delicious!

Food coma

Rosemary, Lianne, Helena(doing her ballet,) and Petronia

HR staff

Life in South Africa summed up in this pic

Jeffrey

I have fallen in love with a man named Jeffrey. The first time I met him was on the streets by an overpass and he was selling cards that he makes for R10. It was perfect time as my friends Mary and Joanne bdays were around the corner. I talked with Jeffrey for several minutes as he told me which ones were his favorite and how he came from Zimbabwe and how he makes his living by selling these cards. He is probably in his late 50s, his clothes are pretty dirty, and he has no front teeth top or bottom. I give him credit as there are so many people who sit on the street and beg for money, but here is a man who is trying to make a living using the tools and gifts that God has given him, and for that, Jeffrey I will buy many more cards to come. After I mailed the two cards I first bought from him, I didn't see him in his normal spot for several weeks and was getting quite concerned. I purposely would walk to a different bus stop just in hopes of running into him. I am glad to say that I saw him last week and it was sweet. I saw him and yelled out "Jeffery!!" He comes running from the street to the sidewalk and just looks at me with this facial expression of "you know my name." He then gave me his biggest toothless smile, it was fabulous! He had created some new designs in which I was impressed. He kept calling me "sister" and "thank you my sister." He is one of my highlights for sure in taking the bus every day. I look forward to getting to know him better, and loving on him as Christ so loves him and does know him by name! I am in love with this man, he is wonderful!

Round 2 on the crazy taxi

I decided on Dec. 3rd that I must get furniture into my flat as I was getting sick of the living room having my voice echo whenever I tried skyping with someone and the empty living room is kind of depressing. I have been relying on my co-workers a lot, but also learning how to be independent and know what is considered “safe” for me. Since the taxi wasn’t that bad last time I took it to the Mill, I thought I would try it to the mall which is a further distance. I get to the taxi ramp where everyone is shouting where they are driving to and trying to get more passengers, and I weave my way through trying to find the one that will take me to Canal Walk/Century City. This was also an exciting attempt, because Hillsong is in that area, so if I found it was safe..I could take it in the future to the church! I find a taxi that says that they are going to that area so I get in only to be kicked out and told I must take the taxi at #14. I am staring at the signs…#14…#14…??? WHAT?? All the taxis are parked in every which way…and I didn’t know there was some kind of order…but I found out there is order to their chaos…and found my way to the #14 ramp. I pointed to jump into the cab, but it is packed! They then point to the front seat area and they have made a seat where the middle compartment normally is…nice! I jump in, say a quick prayer and we are on our way. Now it wouldn’t be a crazy taxi ride, without a crazy taxi experience…so…we are driving and the driver is going like 100+km and I notice the rearview mirror is in the glove compartment, really? I kind of chuckle and keep looking around to see the scenery. The driver gets off at the right exit ramp and then parks the taxi on the curb and tells us all to get out! I look around in utter confusion and then see another taxi is parted behind us, and we are to jump on that taxi. So all 15+ of us get out, walk the curb where everyone is driving and exiting the ramp, and jump into the next taxi. The good thing about this taxi is that the rearview mirror is attached!

I went shopping for over 4 hours but was able to purchase a couch, a dining room table, and a coffee table. When it gets delivered may be another story, but the items are paid. The trip back from the mall wasn’t adventous which I am thankful for as I was tired! The ride home through included a drive through one of the townships which was quite interesting. I haven’t taken pictures up to this point, as I feel wrong taking pics of peoples’ poverty…I am and I am not a tourist. Pictures will come in time, but when it is more appropriate I guess. It is honestly difficult to comprehend, but this specific township is basically across the street from this luxious apartment complex, literally across the street. The houses are built from scrap metal and other items that people think can build their house. There is no electricity or water, and it is basically a one room shack. The sad thing is that, at any point in time, the police can come in and raid the township and destroy it as they shouldn’t legally be there. I hear they normally do this during the winter…how cruel is that? Cape Town has some interesting dynamics along with extreme wealth and extreme poverty that are so close together, it is something I haven’t gotten use to, and honestly hope that I don’t. I don’t want it to be so common and everyday that I become numb to it, I want to be able to look at the bigger pic and see where I can make a difference however small it may be.

Wine Tasting

The last weekend of November I got to go wine tasting with some of my co-workers and it was a blast! What is really neat about wine tasting here is that you actually sit down at a table and they serve you the wine with cheese, chocolate, and crackers. It felt more relaxed and not having to feel like you are in a rush with other wine tasters behind you. The background was magnificent and breathtaking every place we went! We started at Vrede En Lust which is one of the oldest wine farms out here. I ended up buying a bottle of the Red Lady which is merlot and was quite amazing! We then headed down the road to Haute Cabriere for lunch which is suppose to be this really high end restaurant, and the food, WOW! This place has this stair case that led down to a cellar, it was very lovely. Next stop…I think I had to much wine because I forgot to take a pic of the name…but..but they had these musicians playing on the xslophone and drums which was incredible to listen to. Last stop, which I think was the favorite for all of us was Dieu Donne Vineyards. I could definitely see me having a small wedding overlooking the vineyards here, stunning!! The place allowed us to sit on the lawn overlooking everything and sip our wine from there. We had such a blast winding down there and playing several rounds of swing ball (which by the way, I extremely stink at it…never liked playing softball/baseball as a kid.) It was a beautiful day, and a beautiful way to end our day at the vineyards.



View at Vrede En Lust

At Haute Cabriere

unknown winery :)

Dieu Donne Vineyards

Dieu Donne Vineyards backyard view

Thanksgiving in Africa

Africa doesn’t celebrate the American tradition of Thanksgiving, so May had the pleasure of working. I think It worked out better that way or I might have been more depressed than I already was. I can say that I have never really been extremely homesick before in all my locations I have lived, but this time, It was different. I think part of it is that the culture is so different, so thanksgiving to me which includes spending it the last 2 years with my Seattle family means nothing really here in South Africa. Since Amazon is a US company, we did serve turkey to all of the workers and for many it was their first time having turkey which was mind boggling to me. FYI, the turkey we had…was not turkey…not REAL turkey. After work, I didn’t want to go home to my empty flat knowing it was Thanksgiving. When my co-workers asked why I was still at work late, I bursted into tears!! I didn’t realize how sad I was until that moment. I was so sad to not be in Seattle and having turkey with Mary, PJ, Stevey Wonderful, and all the amazing kiddos. I was remembering last year in which it had snowed and the men had to magically get my Jasmine from the bottom of the icy hill, back to the top…and my dear sweet Jasmine…I miss that beautiful car! My co-workers then decided to take me out to Indian food (partly out of obligation and guilt, and partly because South Africans love their wine!) So, I had Indian food on Thanksgiving night with yummy Chocolate Block wine.