Monday - February 7, 2011
We have all the students here now. The last three who were in Joburg and Pretoria for a few days arrive via Greyhound bus. They enjoyed their trip but it was intense at times and they got lost a lot. Our other worry was Kevin from Kansas who had to get out through ice storms but his flight was not cancelled so his was among the group we saw at the airport in P.E. They were a happy group to have arrived and finally be in South Africa.
This weekend they had bush camp somewhere up on Addo National park. This experience is set up by the International Education Office at NMMU and gives all the international students to experience some of the African terrain and get to know other foreign students. The Eastern Cape, which is the state that we are in, has been in a drought and under water restrictions. However, this weekend they got a lot of rain and especially where they were in camp! At first they thought that this was a lot of fun but then they realized that things were getting wet in the tents. Fortunately, it was rather hot so getting hypothermia was not going to be much of a problem. Most seemed to have enjoyed it but some were a little thrilled especially with the rain.
We have some packer fans who found a sports bar down in the Boardwalk area, which is about 2 kilometers down the road, that would stay open and let them watch the game. Now the game starts at 2:30 AM S.A. time but that was okay if you are die-hard Packer fan. They arrive back at Langerry between 5 and 5:30. We never heard them when they came back so they were good, quiet, no problems. You know that they will be sleeping this afternoon when they have some free time.
The local paper mentioned Punxsutawney Phil, which I found surprising. It took a little digging on my part but I found Eastern Cape Joe a distant relative of Phil’s who also for tells the future weather. It turns out that Joe saw his shadow and there will be six more weeks of summer. LOL
Port Elizabeth has tidied itself up and the place appears spiffier and I think even more friendly than it was last time. Many different people have toted us about … to the hospital and what not and have been exceptionally kind. But back to the hospital for a minute, you see Bruce pitched face down 4 cement stairs on to a cement floor, passed out for a few minutes and wound up in the emergency room. Several fractured face bones later, some days of dizziness and nausea and he is on the mend. The CAT scan indicates that he is all right except for swelling where the fractures are which cause pressure on his inner ear and causes occasional dizzy and sick spells.
We have had a couple of days of spectacular surf with lovely splashing waves and kite boarders cavorting in the water and in the air when the wind is right. The students have been out to the beach to catch the rays swim a bit. They love it! Bruce and I haven’t been yet.
I am sure we are in SA because I have had calamari and it was wonderful. We see the calamari fishing boats at night with their bright lights attracting tomorrow’s lunch. A good lunch it is! The hake and other line fish aren’t bad either!
