Well, it’s been a little over a week since I left for South Africa. I’m beginning to feel settled. It actually feels like I’ve been gone a lot longer, but in a good way, in a way that makes me feel like this is right where I’m supposed to be.

If you describe where I’m at, you get to say lots of fun words. I’m situated in the Kwazulu-Natal Province in Umhlanga Rocks. Umhlanga is the Beverley Hills of South Africa, in fact, although I’ve never been to the Hills, I imagine it looks about the same. Umhlanga Rocks Drive is lined with huge houses overlooking the ocean. Of course, the sad irony of South Africa is that two minutes down the road lies a squatters village.

Until the end of June I’m living with Cindee, a volunteer that has been helping Ruth for quite some time. She just got an apartment about 15 minutes out of the city. I must say, we’re living in luxury. These apartments are used as vacation places during most of the year. It’s winter now here, though. Our apartment overlooks the ocean, and the first morning here we saw dolphins from our balcony.

I feel bad living in such luxury, but at the same time, it’s much safer in this complex, which is a good thing for two girls living on their own. This country is pretty messed up. It’s weird being in a country where there’s violence in the news, happening close by. In case you haven’t heard for the past couple weeks there has been violence against foreigners happening in various areas. Too many people have been killed already. It’s quite sad.

On June 30th, Ruth (and I) are moving out to the land donated to her. The missionary couple that lived there are moving back to America and Ruth has used her savings to purchase the land and their house. This means the fundraising campaign will go towards expanding on that house to build the nursery, preschool, etc. First thing to do is to build a fence, to keep us safe and a volunteer cottage so I have somewhere to live out there.

Now you can donate a brick and actually build me a fence and home. How fun.

Right now my days consist of fetching the kids from school around noon and spending the afternoons/evenings with them. Cindee and I are also in charge of making supper, which seems to be a constant battle given the fridge is empty lots of the time.

I really enjoy having Cindee around though. Our burden is light right now at least; I certainly can’t complain. My days will be much longer and more stressful once we move. I’ll be up at the crack of dawn, and July the kids are on school holidays. Good thing is we’ll have another set of hands for July because Keith is coming to visit. Yay!

Anyways, I’m going to stop this for now, but thought I’d kick off this blog with a little summary of the happenings. The next month while I’m in the city in this apartment I’ll have regular internet. This will be a bit trickier once we move.

Talk to you soon.