Friday, March 13, 2009
Sometimes
I like to make Canadian bird calls to the South African birds to see if they're confused...I think it works
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Pretty Kitty
I woke up this morning opened my window and there was this cat staring at me. “Awww,” you say, “how precious” And you’d be right. This was an adorable, kitty except for the massive bone hanging out of its mouth. Ok, I get that cats are carnivores, but this was no mouse or even a rat bone. It was, at the very least, the bone of a small child.
But what is the question?
In an attempt to meet people here, I’ve decided to join some clubs and maybe take some sort of…class. So I looked on the school website for what clubs they had and found out they had, among others, a dance society. I emailed this dance society along with a bunch of other clubs saying something along the lines of
“Hi! I’m Canadian. What do you do and how do I do it too?”
I got a reply back from the dance society (and the other clubs too, but we’re focusing here, people!) with the basics on how to join. Then I realized that I had a bunch more questions, so I kept emailing this guy back and forth. I really don’t know how he put up with me, but now I’m really excited to meet him. I’m not going to lie…a big part of that excitement is that he got my Hitchhiker’s Guide reference. But really now, it takes a special person (I know, I tested this by making the same reference to a bunch of people and receiving only confused looks in return). Yay for potential new friends!
“Hi! I’m Canadian. What do you do and how do I do it too?”
I got a reply back from the dance society (and the other clubs too, but we’re focusing here, people!) with the basics on how to join. Then I realized that I had a bunch more questions, so I kept emailing this guy back and forth. I really don’t know how he put up with me, but now I’m really excited to meet him. I’m not going to lie…a big part of that excitement is that he got my Hitchhiker’s Guide reference. But really now, it takes a special person (I know, I tested this by making the same reference to a bunch of people and receiving only confused looks in return). Yay for potential new friends!
Monday, March 9, 2009
More burning
Sunday March 8, 2009
Is it just me or is it bad when you can see a forest fire from your bedroom window? I don't think I've ever been this close to a burning forest. I was having dinner saturday night and I glance up from old episodes of Degrassi High to see a red glow from behind the mountain, "oh dear" I think to myself, "how unfortunate." Halfway through episode 2 I glance out my window again to see the flames peering over one side of the mountain. To put this into perspective Degrassi High episodes are 22min long without commercial breaks, so that fire is moving really freakin' fast. Anyway today, the entire upper ridge of the mountain is in flames. Now this is a small mountain by Vancouver standards, but it's big enough that I don't giggle when I say mountain. If I was able to get my pictures from my camera to my computer I would show you just how massive this fire is. I'll tell you one thing, I would not want to be one of the brave people fighting that fire tonight.
Side note: I feel like my feet are constantly dirty. I think it's the linoleum. I've never missed carpets' uncanny ability to lock in dirt more than I do now.
Is it just me or is it bad when you can see a forest fire from your bedroom window? I don't think I've ever been this close to a burning forest. I was having dinner saturday night and I glance up from old episodes of Degrassi High to see a red glow from behind the mountain, "oh dear" I think to myself, "how unfortunate." Halfway through episode 2 I glance out my window again to see the flames peering over one side of the mountain. To put this into perspective Degrassi High episodes are 22min long without commercial breaks, so that fire is moving really freakin' fast. Anyway today, the entire upper ridge of the mountain is in flames. Now this is a small mountain by Vancouver standards, but it's big enough that I don't giggle when I say mountain. If I was able to get my pictures from my camera to my computer I would show you just how massive this fire is. I'll tell you one thing, I would not want to be one of the brave people fighting that fire tonight.
Side note: I feel like my feet are constantly dirty. I think it's the linoleum. I've never missed carpets' uncanny ability to lock in dirt more than I do now.
Friday, March 6, 2009
PROTEIN!
Something struck me today. I was working, editing a forestry handbook, and I noticed something very different from forestry in Canada. When they go into the human labourer aspect of forestry, it’s not just making sure your employees are comfortable and trees don't fall on them. It's make sure they don't get HIV/AIDS. I mean obviously, I knew AIDS was an issue here before I came, but it didn't occur to me just how much it affects people's everyday lives. Especially to the extent that you would have to worry about something that huge, as well as all the normal hazards, while you were at work.
I think the reality of all of this hasn't sunk in yet 'cause I'm not in real Africa...I'm in tourist destination Africa.
On a happier note, some relatives of mine from England are coming to visit! Small world, hey? They’re coming to do this million km cycling race that everyone I talk to seems to be doing. It was 41 degrees today, so I’ll be impressed if they get half way through it without collapsing. Some people are just crazy and I’ll never understand it. In actuality it sounds really cool. My supervisor and his son are doing it, too. I went with them to the registration place yesterday. There were all these booths set up selling cycling gear, vineyard tours and protein bars. There was this one protein bar about the size of a smaller end chocolate bar, maybe a bit smaller than a Mars bar, which these people were trying to claim constituted a meal due to the 10g of protein it contains. I’m sorry, but I would not be able to get over the psychology necessary to make having one bar be my entire meal. No thank you. I will have the 10g of protein found in a delicious steak instead. Slightly less creepy and vastly more delicious!
I think the reality of all of this hasn't sunk in yet 'cause I'm not in real Africa...I'm in tourist destination Africa.
On a happier note, some relatives of mine from England are coming to visit! Small world, hey? They’re coming to do this million km cycling race that everyone I talk to seems to be doing. It was 41 degrees today, so I’ll be impressed if they get half way through it without collapsing. Some people are just crazy and I’ll never understand it. In actuality it sounds really cool. My supervisor and his son are doing it, too. I went with them to the registration place yesterday. There were all these booths set up selling cycling gear, vineyard tours and protein bars. There was this one protein bar about the size of a smaller end chocolate bar, maybe a bit smaller than a Mars bar, which these people were trying to claim constituted a meal due to the 10g of protein it contains. I’m sorry, but I would not be able to get over the psychology necessary to make having one bar be my entire meal. No thank you. I will have the 10g of protein found in a delicious steak instead. Slightly less creepy and vastly more delicious!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Orion's upside down and the sky runs with blood
February 27th, 2009
I intended on having an early night tonight since I had to get up early tomorrow, so I was just sitting in the little café underneath the hostel. The room was really busy what with it being a weekend and all, so I just needed some chill time. Then one of the new girls staying in my room came down and we started chatting. Anyway, she turned out to be crazy. She’s this hairdresser, who’s been traveling around South Africa by herself on a two month trip. Just hanging out, meeting people, cutting hair when she runs out of money and hitchhiking to get around. Am I crazy or does that seem kinda sketchy to you? Ok, well maybe she’s not crazy, but definitely more adventurous than me. I must say, I’m pretty impressed.
February 28th, 2009
My supervisor’s wife is an artist and she was having a show at these botanical gardens in Cape Town called Kirstenbosch today. So, they invited me to come along. It was amazing! There was such beautiful art and the grounds were lovely. After that they insisted I come home and have tea with them. I accepted and ended up staying the night and going to a movie with his sons. We went to go see Seven Pounds. That is an intense movie. I really had no idea what it was about ‘cause the trailers were so cryptic. I can see why now, but wow I was not expecting that. We walked out of the theater just looked at each other and “oh…”
March 1st, 2009
My supervisor’s family invited me to stay over for Sunday lunch and I helped them make a cheesecake. My first! It was all very exciting. I love how people keep adopting me into their homes; first Frankfurt and now here. I feel like a well-loved stray puppy.
March 2nd, 2009
I finally found a place to live. Well, actually, I found 3! I was planning on going to see this one place after work, but I thought I’d check at the international office to see if there was any room in the residences over lunch. They had one that just became available, so I jumped on it. As I’m leaving I get a call from one of the girls I had called before saying that not one of the 3 people she was trying to choose between wanted the place anymore. Then, like an idiot, I still went to see the place I had initially planned to see and, of course, loved it. What can you do though…I’m sure the residences are fine.
March 3rd, 2009
I moved in!!! YAY for having a home! It’s not really what I expected though. I have my own room with a bathroom coming of it. Then my roommate and I share a “kitchen” (people do not seem to understand that I kitchen requires a real stove, oven and fridge…I wanna make cookies darn it!). Then the two of us share a “living/dining room” and another bathroom (which nobody uses ‘cause EVERYONE ALREADY HAS THEIR OWN BATHROOM!!) with 8 other people. My roommate seems nice, even though I only met her for about 38 seconds last night…and more importantly hers was the only clean kitchen in our little group of 8.
After moving, in I went for dinner with a friend to a place specializing in burgers. I ordered a double patty ‘cause I’m an idiot and thought I was hungry when apparently I don’t know the meaning of the word. This was NOT a normal burger. It was the circumference of a normal burger…possibly a little on the small side. However, it was at least twice as tall as it was round! It was so tall it needed to be skewered to stand up straight. It fully needed to be fastened to part of a tree in order to support its own weight. I just don’t see how they can expect a person to eat something like that.
After gorging myself and not even finishing half the food, I went to trivia night with 4 of the girls we share a “living/dining room” with. This was fun. I love trivia and all the random research I did with my brother a couple months ago about lakes, really paid off. We lost, but we got prizes for coming dead last, so I think I’m ok with it.
March 4th, 2009
The bank stopped all my various cards. I knew I forgot to do something before I left. Well at least I know they’re looking out for me…hmmm. However, I did manage to get a bank account here. Unfortunately, I am not able to put money in it because of the aforementioned issue. Another problem with this is that I have run out of cash before I was able to find out how to get a long distance calling card…making calling the bank…ahem…difficult.
I will eventually get internet access, then skype, then (hopefully) my precious cards back.
I intended on having an early night tonight since I had to get up early tomorrow, so I was just sitting in the little café underneath the hostel. The room was really busy what with it being a weekend and all, so I just needed some chill time. Then one of the new girls staying in my room came down and we started chatting. Anyway, she turned out to be crazy. She’s this hairdresser, who’s been traveling around South Africa by herself on a two month trip. Just hanging out, meeting people, cutting hair when she runs out of money and hitchhiking to get around. Am I crazy or does that seem kinda sketchy to you? Ok, well maybe she’s not crazy, but definitely more adventurous than me. I must say, I’m pretty impressed.
February 28th, 2009
My supervisor’s wife is an artist and she was having a show at these botanical gardens in Cape Town called Kirstenbosch today. So, they invited me to come along. It was amazing! There was such beautiful art and the grounds were lovely. After that they insisted I come home and have tea with them. I accepted and ended up staying the night and going to a movie with his sons. We went to go see Seven Pounds. That is an intense movie. I really had no idea what it was about ‘cause the trailers were so cryptic. I can see why now, but wow I was not expecting that. We walked out of the theater just looked at each other and “oh…”
March 1st, 2009
My supervisor’s family invited me to stay over for Sunday lunch and I helped them make a cheesecake. My first! It was all very exciting. I love how people keep adopting me into their homes; first Frankfurt and now here. I feel like a well-loved stray puppy.
March 2nd, 2009
I finally found a place to live. Well, actually, I found 3! I was planning on going to see this one place after work, but I thought I’d check at the international office to see if there was any room in the residences over lunch. They had one that just became available, so I jumped on it. As I’m leaving I get a call from one of the girls I had called before saying that not one of the 3 people she was trying to choose between wanted the place anymore. Then, like an idiot, I still went to see the place I had initially planned to see and, of course, loved it. What can you do though…I’m sure the residences are fine.
March 3rd, 2009
I moved in!!! YAY for having a home! It’s not really what I expected though. I have my own room with a bathroom coming of it. Then my roommate and I share a “kitchen” (people do not seem to understand that I kitchen requires a real stove, oven and fridge…I wanna make cookies darn it!). Then the two of us share a “living/dining room” and another bathroom (which nobody uses ‘cause EVERYONE ALREADY HAS THEIR OWN BATHROOM!!) with 8 other people. My roommate seems nice, even though I only met her for about 38 seconds last night…and more importantly hers was the only clean kitchen in our little group of 8.
After moving, in I went for dinner with a friend to a place specializing in burgers. I ordered a double patty ‘cause I’m an idiot and thought I was hungry when apparently I don’t know the meaning of the word. This was NOT a normal burger. It was the circumference of a normal burger…possibly a little on the small side. However, it was at least twice as tall as it was round! It was so tall it needed to be skewered to stand up straight. It fully needed to be fastened to part of a tree in order to support its own weight. I just don’t see how they can expect a person to eat something like that.
After gorging myself and not even finishing half the food, I went to trivia night with 4 of the girls we share a “living/dining room” with. This was fun. I love trivia and all the random research I did with my brother a couple months ago about lakes, really paid off. We lost, but we got prizes for coming dead last, so I think I’m ok with it.
March 4th, 2009
The bank stopped all my various cards. I knew I forgot to do something before I left. Well at least I know they’re looking out for me…hmmm. However, I did manage to get a bank account here. Unfortunately, I am not able to put money in it because of the aforementioned issue. Another problem with this is that I have run out of cash before I was able to find out how to get a long distance calling card…making calling the bank…ahem…difficult.
I will eventually get internet access, then skype, then (hopefully) my precious cards back.
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