Hello all!
I know I have not been keeping this very up to date lately nor I am in the mood to give a quick summary of my 6 1/2 weeks here thusfar. I am ordering a laptop today, so hopefully this blog will be much more off the ground as soon as it arrives. I would love to post pictures, but its been difficult to do so these days. Believe, me I've taken too many shots of mountain views already... But I will supply a few items of interest so you get a sense of my progress here.
This week brings new developments as any other previous week has. This past weekend was sheer delight, as I spent the late morning and early afternoon atop Table Mountain, Cape Town's iconic edifice of rock. My housemates and I took a cable car up. And for those of you who are San Franciscans, let me clarify that it was not a cable car like back home. Instead, it is a car suspended from thick cable, and as it travels up or down the cable, the car spins around to afford you a stunning 360 degree view as you are either ascending or descending from the mountain. After a lengthy wait for a guided walking tour that never materialized, I took a walk around the mountaintop taking it all in, seeing an endless sheet of clouds stretched across a wide expanse of the city. But given that it was a sunny day, visibilty was excellent. For the parts not magically shrouded in clouds, the metropolis painted a maze of buildings below. And there were other surrounding peaks to admire as well.
After a full hike around the mountaintop, the 4 Burg Road contingent drove down to Camps Bay Beach, notorious hangout of the Windsor princes William and Harry. And yes, we drove with a car we've communally purchased, a '91 Mazda 323, that is actually in fine condition considering its age. And, we've arrange to have the dealer buy it back. But I digress on automotive matters which actually aside from its transport abilties has little interest for me.
Camps Bay, which I've been to once before during my time here, was just as lovely second time around. And the first time I was there I got quite wet up to the waist trying to cross the sea onto some rocks, unfortunately getting drenched by the tide swelling to its peak. My timing was absolutely dismal. Then, on the trek back from the rocks, I slipped and rawly skinned my elbow and still had to wade back. Yes, I'm a wimp, which is why I avoided any oceanic contact this second time. In fact we spent the most time, nearly 3 hours, parked at this beachfront restaurant sipping cocktails and eating a lazy late lunch. Then we indulged in some sunbathing on the beack itself, which is situated at the foot of the 12 apostles, a collection of a dozen peaks that prop themselves up above the peninsula.
That evening I found myself going out to a 24 hour diner in Rondebosch with fellow ambassadorial scholar, Elliott after a failed attempt to go to a non-existent concert in the Southen Subrurb of Wynberg.
The next day was mostly spent at home while my housemates (who are all ambassadorial scholars and a former Rotaract president) all marshalled with their Rotary Clubs for the Cape Argus Cycling Tour, which is the largest time-trial bike race in the world. I watched from afar on TV broadcast, and made carrot salad.
The carrot salad contributed to a picnic hamper that I enjoyed with my Rotary host counselor and her husband Roy, whom I accompanied to Kirstenbosch gardens in the late afternoon/early evening. We spread out a blanket and settled down to watch the Cape Philharmonic perform. The conductor was a riot, dishing out the stage banter faster than any rockstar. Although it was a little more erudite that your average rock show, nonetheless, he was great fun encouraging audience sing-alongs, and a piece that was evoking a train. Pat and I had whistles on our key chains, and we happilly blew them on cue with the music.
Yesterday I spent all day shopping, price comparing for my laptop purchase, and getting distracted by some fabulous clothing stores. I tell you, Cape Town is extremely fashionable. Or rather, University of Cape Town (UCT) has some fashionistas. It really is like a runway show on campus every day.
And today, another humdrum day of errands. But tomorrow I will be doing my first surfing lesson at Muizenberg beach along with my housemate Melanie. Wish me luck! No doubt I will wipe out so many times I imagine I might swear off surfing completely. But I pledged to myself that I would do it at least once before I leave here.
At the very least, I've found myself involved in many other pursuits. I am having a phone conference next week with a professor who does outreach work in Muslim communities who I may collaborate with in conjunction with the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) and I am also hoping to set up something with another contact in that regard at the University of Western Cape. Having been to the SABMR once since I've been here, i can safely say that after two years of communicating with their medical director, the relationship is soon to pay off. The staff there is a wonderful group who I've had a chance to spend a morning with. And learning about all the issues that the organization faces and the potential for really making an impact will me with excitement and energy. To say the least, I was truly energized by my visit there.
IN addition I am also going to be interning at this very cool art, culture, politics, literary magazine based in Cape Town called Chimuranga. They are a ver progressively minded independent publication on the cusp of taking things to the next level. I think this will also be a very fruitful experience. I will be working on managing the digitization of the archives, as well as working on the web content. IN the future, I will hopefully be doing editorial stuff as well.
Anyway, I've got plenty more to do and 4 assignments due within the next 5 days or so. That means I've got to focus. I hope this has satiated the long-held desire for a post from me. I miss you all very much and I've loved getting wonderful letters from people in the post. I would also love a phone call every not and then too! (hint hint). So long for now!
