Recent Events

Saw Date Night. And it was funny. Gotta love Tina Fey (even if her baby isn't so cute)

See??


And no, there was no popcorn this time. Although the equivalent of Cheetos here are called NikNaks and the package looks like this:



That guy looks like he knows how to hang.

Also started watching this



with my cousin Elaine- its actually pretty good- they do like using her "ladies" though - they are all over the place in that show.

Friday, the office is going ten pin bowling (or "bowling" for you Americans!) at Menlyn Mall- which is the biggest mall I have seen in awhile. Looks like this:



The white screen to the left is actually a movie screen for a drive in theatre on the 3rd floor. Pretty sweet huh?



And before I leave, please listen to what I wake up to every morning...



Jealous? I bet.

Edit: That is not my lawn or dog in the video, just another unfortunate soul that has to listen to that annoying noise.

Weekend Pics

Bottom to Top --> Outside view from the stadium, a SA cider beer (Savanna), a real live version of Malva Pudding with custard (this one was just ok - too cakey), my Aunt Gwen's dog, Chicky, its one of those so ugly, its cute dogs

J A M

This jam comes from Eastern Europe but the fam tells me they played it a lot at a Portuguese festival called Lusito Land Joburg has every year. Its filled with Prego rolls, music, dancing and Caipirinhas. And it starts in 2 weeks! Look out for those pictures.

I took 3 pictures this weekend. Wait til you see what they are of. Working like a dog but job hunting round the world...my list of things to do continues to grow. What an idealistic Aquarian.

Easter Weekend

This past weekend, I was over in Joburg visiting the fam. Here are some pics of my cousins, Ethan and Danielle. I call Ethan my boyfriend (he is 4, I know that is illegal!) and he gets embarrassed when I do it..so I do it a lot and in public. Danielle is into modeling and she is a balla at netball (i think its kind of like ultimate frisbee but on a basketball court and with a ball?)...







And a sweet "trading card" of my cousin..he looks pretty intense here..it IS the Connell way.



I also got a chance to hang out with my mom's side of the fam. I WISH I had taken a picture of the GLORIOUS food that was prepared but I totally forgot. Next time, because that food was da bomb dot com. That was on Sunday but on Monday, we went to the Rhino and Lion Park for a little game drive. Too bad it was rainy and we almost got stuck in the mud (because the roads arent paved) and couldnt watch the lions feed but there will be many more chances. Here are some pics of the other animals we saw...

Look at this crazy pygmy hippo. I just wanted to SQUEEZE it!





This crazy monkey!



Some Crocs



This little thing did NOT like humans. And he kept pacing. I felt really bad. I think he was a meerkat. (As in Meerkat Manor..a terrible show)



A Caracel



I forget what this little tyke is called but people try and keep them as pets because they act just like cats. (Shanty- he reminded me of Monk so much!!!!)



They call these "Dinosaur Birds" - thats not the real name obviously but I like this name better.



Itty bitty wions



This crazy bird. I wanted to push it over but its beak could break my arm. (what am i? a 5 year old?)



Tigers!



Some Cape Buffalo who didn't give a fudge that we were there



A Waterhog - not WARThog...still stanky looking though.



Abou to charge the car! Not really.



All in all a sweet little weekend now, on to the next! Headed to Randburg this weekend in hopes of shopping, rugby game watching and wiener dog playing (FYI- they call them Sausage dogs here - not wieners...oh the cultural changes!) Have a great weekend!

Dumela!

Dumela is the typical greeting you give in Setswana (the language people in Botswana speak) morning, noon and night. I had SUCH a great time there. The people were great, I felt safe (and at times, safer there then I do here!), there was so much to see and do. I wasnt exactly roughing it because I stayed at the Gaborone Sun, which is one of the nicest hotels in Gabs but I loved every second and would definitely go back in a flash.

The first day I arrived, I was taken into the field to do a family analysis for a family that was potentially getting a new house from Habitat. We drove about 2 hours out of the city and passed many streets filled with goats and donkeys! This was taken from the car at lightning speed (the guy driving was literally going 160kph!)

Goats on a main street:



Donkeys & Man driving donkey cart:





The woman we visited has 23 dependants and makes her income selling baskets. Here are some pics from her house. Warning! Heartbreaking images below...

Her house was originally made of mud but could not withstand the flooding that occurs in the flat area around her house. The government (which has really made excellent strides in aiding the "destitute") issued her this tent.



The inside of her tent:





Outside view:




Her Old House:





I'm happy to say that the family was awarded a house and thanks to a partnership with a local NGO, should have their house within the year!

I also had a chance to see a completed Habitat for Humanity house. Here are some pics of that. The woman who lives there keeps an amazing garden and still uses her old house as a storage area.









One of the HFH offices in Botswana


HFH Office in Gaborone (Gabs for short)


And finally some pics of the hotel room. MAYJAH thanks to HFH Botswana for taking care of me especially Julia and Kabelo!





And on my way to the airport, some images that never get old...






On my flight back, I spotted a Peace Corps volunteer. I thought to myself, I would definitely love volunteering here. Everyone in Botswana just does their own thing. You could compare it to a little South Africa (the SA border is only about a 4 hours drive away) but without the racial tension, greed and corruption.

I also scooped up a really neat necklace made from the beans of a tree that only grows in Botswana and a little elephant- so I never forget my trip.

My Huis (My House) + A Friday Night

A little Afrikaans for you..I am learning slowly but surely! Anyways, here are a couple of updated house pics.

The living room thanks to all the hand-me-downs from the fam:



The Room Reveal!



Choosing the right room gets you closet space AND a chair!



Look at what my mom got me in Cape Town!!



And that's about it. I went to a mall last night (I know so 7th grade) with the roommate- we had a nice little outing consisting of wine, thai food, the movie Everybody's Fine (which I bawled my eyes out in- probably not the best movie to see when youre across the ocean from your family), cappuccinos and finally a R50 cab ride with Andres from Maputo (Mozambique)...it was an amusing night to say the least.

Fun fact: There is no liquid butter to put on your popcorn here...there IS on the other hand..salt and vinegar powder, butter salt powder, fruit chutney (chutney = sauce made from fruit put on meats mostly), aromatic (old bay-ish) and cheese powder..FYI if you ever get to a movie theatre on my side. Well I'm off but one more photo before I go.

Packing this

to go here!!!!!!!!




I leave on Monday. Super stoked. Taking it easy tonight but going to the open air market and breakfast tomorrow with the roommate and a braai with the head boss tomorrow! An exciting end/start to my week. No work this Friday or next Monday due to Easter! These people love a good public holiday and I am all about it.