We’re at Cindee’s for a few days cause its Spring Break. I’m leaving in a month and Mary and I are going to have to part. This is going to be a bit rough on her, and me for that matter.

Five months later I’m quite burnt out, but I guess that’s to be expected. This morning I fell asleep while the kids and I watched Mr. Bean. Mary took photos. I was pretty much gone to the world. However, I shared my bed last night with both Mary and Jake, Jake sleeps like an awake boxer and Mary insited on sleeping on top of me, so it wasn’t as restful as it could have been!

Well some of you might have heard the big news of yesterday. South Africa’s president Thabo Mbeki resigned, more or less forced out by his own party (the ANC). Mbeki has been warring against fellow party member Jacob Zuma for several years now, vying for power.

Much of their disputes centred around charges of fraud and corruption that had been launched against Zuma. Many say these were politically motivated, although that’s not to say they aren’t true. Zuma’s supporter’s are quite radical, and have said that they would fight to the death if Zuma was convicted. It’s all very messy.

Certainly just by reading and watching the news it is hard to make out what is just propaganda and what is truth. I’m not well versed enough in his politics, but I know Zuma is quite left-wing and appeals to many of the poor people of the country. He has given a little bit of hope to some desperate people. His supporters are very vigilant.

But Zuma is not a nice man, and it is almost certain in a few months he will be the next president of South Africa. Many fear if this takes place there will certainly be violence against the white population of South Africa, similar to what has happened in Zimbabwe. I’m not sure of the validity of that fear, but Zuma is quite radical, and his supporters are often quite thug-like in their actions.

Politics aside Zuma’s track record is quite shocking, and leaves little room for optimism. Last time I was in South Africa he was in court on charges of rape, launched against him by the HIV positive daughter of a family friend. He was acquitted of this charge, but made such shocking statements as he knew the girl wanted to have sex based on what she was wearing, and it was not Zulu culture to a refuse a woman. During this case he also said he was not concerned that she was HIV positive since he had a shower after having sex with her.

All the while he was the head of South Africa’s Aids Council. Fantastic.

Anyways, that’s the future president of this country.

Right now politics here are quite uncertain. There is always potential for a dangerous situation to arise, especially living in a rural area. Political strife between and within parties often insites voilence on the part of supporters. Anyways, prayer is appreciated, for us on the farm, and for everyone in the country.

As I said to Keith yesterday, “I just hope Paws and Tipsy are on their A-game.”  Although, I’m not sure that little Jack Russel would do much when it comes down to it, but boy can she bark.

Superman has been spotted in South Africa. I know, this is a startling turn of events. Look though, he seems pretty friendly. His race and age are also a bit different then originally suspected.

However, the most unprecedented development is that there seem to be two of them! What does this mean? Perhaps there is an entire army of small Zulu Supermen in our midst. (I did not coach this pose at all. Completely natural, folks.)

Oh P.S. Hi from all of us. We’re enjoying a cloudy and cold day here on the farm. It’s Friday.

I’ve been thinking lately how its becoming fall in Canada, and how much I miss the weather of late-September and October. Well, maybe I’ve got my wish cause these past few days have felt like it. It’s spring here though, shouldn’t it be getting warmer?

CC (who works in the house and garden for Ruth) took the kids and I down to the dam and river. He had offered a couple times. I’d asked if it was safe, and he said sure, as long as we go in a group. He’s a sturdy Zulu boy whose competed provincially in karate, so I figured why not.

You can see the dam and river way in the distance from our balcony. Walking there was a really good time for me, cause I got to leave the property! We walked down a dirt road that got more and more like a path and less like a road. The landscape here is barren and rough, but as we got closer to the river got quite beautiful. We walked past abandoned homes, through fields of charred sugar cane and tall grasses. How I wish I had a nice camera with me.

We walked for a long time. CC said it wasn’t this far, and I warned him that especially Simon would not make the trek without help. His promises to carry tired children did not materialize as such, and I now have some very sore arms. Also, I came home to a rather irate Pastor Salina, who apparently had not been told that we were going, as I had been led to believe. I thought CC had run the idea past him, especially since Pastor was standing outside when we left.

However, apparently he had not been told. Oh dear. A little drama to deal with. I apologized and assured him I would never have left if I had thought he hadn’t been informed. Oops. Apparently it’s very dangerous down there and a woman was killed last year. The farmers don’t go down without guns and dogs. Pastor informed me that if he had known he would not have let me go. Sorry! But nobody told me this!! And I was so happy to just be able to walk more than fifteen feet from the house.

I’ve mentioned this before, but I am a bit skeptical of some of the fear here. How do you minister to a community if you don’t leave your home? People all around us in this rural community live and walk and do life. I understand it’s a dangerous place. I won’t argue that fact. But when do you decide to draw a line between being smart and isolating yourself from life!

Sometimes it’s hard to live in a situation where everyone wants to have a say on what you do and how you do it. I appreciate advice, don’t get me wrong, but having half a dozen parents is a bit draining, especially when your used to doing life independently.

I look forward to some freedom. But, walking through the bush today, made me realize that Africa has grown on me. It doesn’t feel like home– I’m too alone and too many important people are somewhere else, but it feels like a part of me now.

Well the kids were home from preschool and we were all going a little batty-faced.

Even though it was freezing cold outside we decided to bundle up and go play with the new toys in the “back yard” or back-jungle…however you’d like to call it.

Jake put on Granny’s plaid scarf. It was pretty much adorable so I had to take a photo of him.

Ruth’s old boss who just moved to the States donated their old trampoline. It’s smallish, but lots of fun!!

Siya and Mary, you are looking particularily adorable in this photo.

Finally, the jungle-gym that was donated by the local Lions Club.

In other news, the kids and I have got into the habit of watching Planet Earth before bedtime each night. I’ve discovered that watching this with kids is twice as fun! They say the most hilarious things. I need to start writing them down. Also, they ask questions all the time, so I have to provide a constant narration over and above that British guy.

My favorite moment tonight went like this:

Narrator: The barrier reef…

Simon: What’s that?

Jake: It’s a beach.

Maria: Actually, its called a reef. It’s where lots of cool plants live in the ocean. (I’m not sure if this is accurate…but I do my best!)

Jake: No, its a beach! The man said it was a beach.

Maria: Ya, it sort of sounds like beach, but its actually called a reef.

Jake: No!

Maria: laughing…Jake, just trust me.

Jake: How can I trust someone who doesn’t even know what a beach is?!?

Last week was an eventful one on the farm. The night of my birthday the power went off. This is not the first time this has happened. I actually don’t mind it so much when it happens at night, cause it makes the night dark and sleep deep. However, it just happens that the power stayed off for over fifty hours.

Just done the road people had cut down thirteen power poles and stolen the cables.

Last week was an experience, especially since we were nine in the house at that point. Ruth’s mother and sister had been here for about two weeks, and that’s a story in itself. So we’re nine people and four dogs, with no lights, hot water, stove, etc. Luckily Granny decided to go buy a bio-fuel burner. However, cooking big quantities was no easy task. It felt remarkably similar to cooking over a high school lab bunsen burner. Probably equal in efficiency. I boiled water, bathed kids in buckets, gathered candles…it was a regular good time.

I didn’t actually mind living without the basic modern conveniences, except perhaps for my computer.

Anyways. We all survived and lived to tell the tale.I left for Cindee’s around noon on Saturday, and shortly after the farm was without water for two days. I’m not sorry I missed out on that.

In other updates, Siya has his full Grade One curriculum now, so that’s made teaching a whole lot easier. You know, books and stuff make that easier, especially when you have no idea how to teach Grade One! However, I made him too smart and he’s just breezing through these books, especially math. I guess that’s not a bad thing though.

Also, Ruth is trying to arrange for me to be able to volunteer at a baby orphanage in Durban once a week. Not sure how this will possibly happen given what her daily schedule looks like, but we’ll see. If that doesn’t pan out I’ll probably take off about three weeks early, around October 20th, and volunteer somewhere for those last few weeks. I’m looking forward to a change, but also know it will be very hard to say good bye to these kids. (As much as, given the drama we had this morning, I find that hard to imagine!)

I have two months left in South Africa. This makes life, after Africa, seem a bit more real. I’m trying to come up with a plan, but most of all I just need a job… any job to start.

Want to help me decide what my next academic step is? Let’s have a little internet poll:

1) Film school: I’m becoming very fascinated with film lately. Photography and writing. I feel a bit eager to do something practical and hands on, so this is a very viable option right now. I must admit I know very little about the process of getting involved in the film industry, so that’s something I need to look into. It would be a bit wild if I went for this, since its not something I consiered til about a year ago, but life can be fun that way.

2) Masters in International Development: I’d probably need to pick up a few B.A. courses, but it could be done pretty easily. Certainly this route incorporates my passion for international development and justice and I’m sure I’d enjoy working for an aid organization, or the UN. I’m sure that wouldn’t be so bad.

3) Broadcasting: Next to film, I’m also interestsed in radio broadcasting. If I could work for the CBC, I’d be pretty happy. I’ve talked about that since high school when my friend Jenn and I decided we’d be the future hosts of “The Arts Today.” I’m not sure which route is best to take, but again, some research required.

4) Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing: This option would be amazing, but also the most frightening cause well, it is. I worry about whether I can produce work on such an intensive level. Sometimes I feel like I have no ideas! Getting a paying job is also a bit iffy. Ah well, seems like something I might do.

So. The long and the short of the story is, I have no idea. I didn’t even put option number five, which is law school, because I feel I’m a bit ridiculous having so many options that are so different!

But ya, all I need is someone to tell me what to do. So how about an internet poll? Seems as good a method as any! :)

My baby died today. He died at noon. His Auntie came to see him around seven in the evening and couldn’t find him. She called Ruth in tears because no one had even called her to let her know.

I was praying baby would come to me for my birthday. Instead, he’s left us.

I don’t know. What is there to say, really?

Oh Africa, hear your children cry.

(Please note: This was obviously a wild party. Look, Mary had already fallen asleep!)

I’m twenty-two years old today. I’m getting pretty old, I’d say. My age came as a bit of a shock to Ruth, who thought I was much older. Granny, Ruth’s mother who has been staying with us for two weeks, remarked that when she was twenty-two she had three children. My word. See, I have lots to be thankful.

Party plans are as follows: to bake a cake for myself with Siya later this afternoon, then go bounce around together on the new trampoline, and finally wrap up the day by sitting on my own and watching a movie… or something like that.

It’s a wild party. Too bad Siya is sick and in a terrible mood and I’ve just had to send him off to bed. Ah, well…when he wakes up things should be better.

(Sarah already called me at 3:30 a.m. her time. What a sweetie!)

Siya seems very quotable today. I was teaching him how to add 45 + 57. When he realizes its 102, he says, “Whoo. We’re putting up some big numbers now, eh?”