Things I Have Learned So Far...

-Baby zebras are incredibly cute, especially sleeping 5 feet from where you are eating lunch.

-The female Glowing Orb spider, while harmless to most people (some have allergies) can grow to the size of your palm. The male is about the size of a quarter.  You can find both of these living outside the back door.  Surrounded by 10,000 of their children.

-Monkey tastes like roast beef and would probably be yummy on a roll with horseradish and sour cream sauce.

-What South Africans think of Americans.

-How to hear 6 different accents living in one house and understand them all.

-That everyone's families struggle, but love each other like no one's business.

-What Sherry tastes like.

-How to sleep through a confused rooster who insists on thinking 3am is morning enough for everyone to be up.

-How to cook tripe.

-The word 'crap' is considered a swear to some people and they won't necessarily tell you until you've used it so much that they have to say something.

-Enough games to keep 30 1st-3rd graders entertained for at least 30 minutes

-Cricket is a serious game.  Seriously boring.

-Rugby, on the other hand, is AWESOME.

-What it feels like to have random people think the way you speak is beautiful.

-Monkeys are the equivalent of raccoons in the states, only smarter, sneakier, bigger, and harder to catch.

Current Events:

The week was filled Monday through Thursday with Kloof Junior Primary 3rd grade classes joining us at Shongweni Wildlife Reserve for outdoor education, team building, and fun. I got a little sun and feel much better- back to my pre-retirement swim tanned days.  The classes were great and we had a great time teaching them how to make water filters out of sand, stones, and a 2L pop bottle. I was having flashbacks to grade school science class- thanks Mrs. Robinson and Mrs. Binter!  I had a great time.

This coming week is Survival Camp. We are heading 3 hours north to SpionKop Battlefield and Reserve.  It is 4 days with 65 12 year olds.  They have to earn their food- we even bring a dog to search their bags to make sure they didn't bring any! I am in charge of a Medical Emergency Challenge where they have to do a water rescue of a concussion victim.  I am so excited to develop the whole thing and teach them some of the stuff I learned in Wilderness First Response this fall in New Hampshire.  Ill let you know how it goes.

Friday we didn't have any programmes, but I did help Jean sort out the finances for their special needs school for the past year.  I went through her books and bank statements and put together invoices for each of the students that included all fees and transactions for the past year.  It took me all day, but it was a great way to help and I felt like I accomplished something tangible.

I also have been asked to coach a girl from the special needs school in swimming.  She has been chosen to represent South Africa in the Special Olympics in July for the 50 and 100 breaststroke and freestyle.  We have had 2 lessons so far and are going to get serious next week when I get back from camp.  Tomorrow morning (Monday) I am meeting with her and her parents to talk about what to expect from training and to decide on some goals to go after.  We have to fix her breaststroke kick so she won't be disqualified, but other than that- sky's the limit! I am excited to be a part of that every day for the next few months.

Last night (Saturday) Megan (the Padbury's daughter) invited me to go with her and some friends to see their buddies play in a battle of the bands in Durban.  I was more than up for it and didn't ask any questions. On the way there I wondered what type of music we were going to be listening to, so I asked. She told me death metal.  Surprising and not at all what I was expecting, but I was so excited.   I had recently been enlightened to that type of music and like it when I work out or when I want to be loud, but I have never been to a show. We had a great time and I loved it.  I woke up this morning with ringing ears, and I discovered that I don't know how to head-bang, but it was worth it.  I met some really interesting people and would love to go back.  I was not expecting to have God conversations, either, but when people find out I am American and ask what I am doing here, it serves as an incredible opener.  It is amazing how much people will share with me- a stranger who smiles and speaks with an accent they like :)

For now, I am off to church.  I have a lot of praying to do tonight.

ps- Great job yesterday Moose on your triathlon against the Trojans!