A snapshot of South Africa

Last night I went with Scott and Terry (the other Americans here) to a Braai (a BBQ), for Peter's birthday. I had not met Peter yet, but he is in charge of academics at Eden Campus, we will be working together a lot while I am here. The Braai was very nice and there were a lot of foreigners there, including people from France, England, and Canada to name a few. I even met another girl named Liza who lives in England. The Braai was very similar to an American BBQ, we all brought meat and side dishes and the meat was cooked over a fire. We all sat around cooking and eating for several hours.

Rugby is very popular here and during the Braai we watched a lot of the Rugby game (it was South Africa vs. New Zealand, South Africa won 61-17). Afterwards Scott, Terry, and I went to a bar, and met up with Mark and his significant other Peggy. Nothing too exciting, Terry attempted to get my drunk, but I can't say that he succeeded.

It has been windy since I got here, but last night was the worst, I woke up many times in the night to it just howelling outside. I think my plans to wander around the farm today may be spoiled by the wind, it is still really blowing outside as I type.

Here are some pictures from the sunrise yesterday morning. This one was taken out my kitchen window, you can see the bathroom and the very edge of Terry's cottage. (that isn't actually the bathroom I use, I have a normal toilet and shower inside, but that is actually a functioning toilet)

And this is the view from my bedroom window, compete with halmock on the front patio.

The Start

I have made it! and survived more then 24 hours here!

Did you know that they drive on the left in South Africa? Shows you how much research I did before I got here. (In actuality I did a lot of research about South Africa before I came and the fact that they drive on the left seems perfectly logical because they are an English colony, I just never actually found that piece of information out before I left). In addition to driving on the left, South Africa is BEAUTIFUL!! (I left my camera in my cottage and I am too lazy to go back and get it, so you will have to wait till the next post for any pictures). Landing in Cape Town you can see the sea and the mountains there which are absolutely stunning; I hope I get to spend some time over there while I am here. The mountains and the sea are breathtaking. Last night we went down to the sea and watched some kite surfers (very cool), but I think I was more taken aback by the scenery then by the kite surfing.

Despite having been here for more then a day, I can't really say that I have done much: grocery shopping, got a phone, met some people at Eden Campus (where I will be working), watched some kite surfers, slept a lot, and then went to visit another farm not too far from here.

I am living in a cottage on Koo-Boo Berry farm just outside of Karatara South Africa. (If you want to get a feel for where I am you can google map Karatara South Africa - click on the satellite button to actually see a bird-eye view of where I am). I thought I was going to be all alone here but there is another American student here, Terry, and one of his professors, Scott. Terry is living in a cottage just a stones throw from mine, and Scott is living at the next farm down the road - at least for a while, he leaves in two weeks and is going to be a lot of other places before that happens. Koo-Boo Berry is about 4km (3.5 miles) from Karatara and Eden Campus - it doesn't sound that far, but it seems to take forever on a bicycle. I am borrowing a bicycle from Eden Campus which will be my main mode of transport at to and from there, but biking to and from Sedgefield or Knsyna (the nearest towns) which are much farther then that and significantly down hill doesn't sound too appealing.

After landing and running a couple of errands on Friday I got to go to Eden Campus and meet some people there. (If you google mapped Karatara, Eden Campus is the large E shaped building in the Northern part of town). I was half asleep and don't really know that much happened (something about travelling for 30+ hours just kills you). I am really looking forward to Monday when I will get to meet with everyone and (start to) figure out exactly what I will be doing there.