HEEELLLLO EVERYBODY!

Life is hectic at the moment. Work is stressful. I have been named the Head Trip Director for our Mozambique trip in March. I am in charge of everything you could possibly think of, and when people have questions about the trip, they come to me. I had my first presentation tonight to the trip leaders (3 other people who are helping me market the trip to students on campus). I already have had to organize accommodations, transportation, meals, prices, and activities for 30+ people. I also had to organized team leaders to help me market the trip. I have made flyers, vouchers, posters, designed the trip shirt, made a powerpoint, made a guide for the trip, and successfully ran my first leader meeting all by myself! Needless to say I am a little overwhelmed at the moment! But lets get on to the fun stuff...the debacle that is my life….

On Friday we went on a huge adventure with a group of about 20+ people. We drove to Kalk Bay and hiked up a gnarly trail to the Kalk Bay Caves. I thought we were going for a nice Friday afternoon stroll, but that was NOT the case. As we proceeded up the mountain at a ridiculously fast pace, I wondered if I was on the right hike…did I miss the disclaimer that said you had to be in Everest shape to go on this hike? I don't even enjoy hiking…I never have…I actually HATE hiking, but I was trying to be open-minded so I hesitantly joined the group. Forty miserable minutes later after several curse words that are inappropriate to write in a blog, we arrived to the top of the hill. I looked down behind me and…eh…it was gorgeous…but not any more gorgeous than anywhere else in Cape Town…so nevertheless I started cursing again about how stupid hiking is and so on. But we weren't finished. We still had caves to explore. I had to get down on all fours and wear my backpack on my chest because the tunnel was so narrow. About 10 minutes of crawling (or should I say awkwardly waddling my body through a passage that was extremely too narrow for my body type) we were able to stand up in a huge open cave. It was awesome- there were bats flying around and it was only lit by our flashlights. We continued crawling in stark darkness through another tight passage and about 10 minutes later came out the other side of the mountain! I have NEVER been so thankful for light in my life- crawling on all fours in a confined tunnel in complete darkness was a terrifying experience, but when I came out the other side, I took back all my cursing! We were on top of the world- looking down at two oceans at one time- the Atlantic on my left, and the Indian on my right! Right after we scaled back down the mountain we went to Kalk Bay for drinks on the water (more my style)! I think we deserved it after such a demanding trek up the mountain. When I got back to Obz, my friends Bodo and Eric had a Braii that turned into a dance-party that turned into a night on Long Street! We took our own minibus to the club and Jen, Joma, and I had to sit in the hatch (the back of the bus). It was quite an adventure…but somehow we made it and went to a club called the Waiting Room that had three floors and played 1990's American Hit's (mainly Michael Jackson) and then when that closed at 2 am, we proceeded on to Zula Bar until 4! On Saturday I went shopping on Long Street then went to a crazy club party. Jen and I got invited by our friends Joma and Phillip to a party being thrown by a cigarette company. It was at a broken down old warehouse that they turned into a rocking party. We showed up and there were about 10 ladies in black each standing at their own iBook Apple Laptop, checking people in. It was so official! Needless to say it was another wild night.

Sunday I went to the Green Point Market with all my roommates…bought myself a few things, but mostly gifts for others. Then Iwent to the gym to work off the alcohol in my system. I was in a great mood after an hour run on the treadmill, only to come out and find that the Devil herself broke down. Cruella wouldn't start! I pulled out the choke as far as it went, I gave her gas…A LOT of gas- but she wasn't going anywhere. Of course…the first day of rain in Cape Town since I have arrived was the same day my car broke down and my cell phone broke- what divine luck I have! Thank god I bought the AA membership. I called them to come fix the devil. I waited for over an hour in the rain. I had no money to go sit somewhere and have a snack so I walked around 1000 times in the grocery store salivating at the food that I was unable to buy. After several concerned looks from the grocery checkers, I went back outside and sat on the curb in the rain- about 5 minutes later I was approached by the local 65 year old local crack head begger woman. She asked me for money, and when I shook my head she started cursing at me that I have a car and a gym membership and a cell phone and I can't give her any money?! I was so bleak with life at this point, I retaliated at her…"Look lady….I give you 2 Rand EVERY morning after I work out. And as for my car…it's broken. And my cell phone…oh that's broken too. AND if I did have any money…I would be inside eating somewhere…so LEAVE ME ALONE! Please." When AA finally arrived he popped the hood and there was my battery, completely disconnected, lying on top of my engine! HMMM…INTERSTING…attempted theft! The only conclusion we could come to was that someone actually tried to steal my battery while I was in the gym…who would have thought!!? I was supposed to meet people to watch the final soccer game of the African Cup of Nations but I missed that because of stupid Cruella. I think my roommates felt bad for me so we had movie night. We don't have a living room or a TV so we turned the kitchen into a theater- we connected Scotts computer to the speakers, set it on the kitchen table, and we all brought out our computer chairs and watched SUPERBAD! It was very nice house bonding time.

So I was a little iffy about going back to work on Monday after my hard week last week (all the trip planning), but I somehow managed to get myself up early and go work out to clear my head before work. I got home in time to cook myself eggs for breakfast, and just as I took out the carton, they fell to the floor and all six eggs cracked in a million little pieces. Oh well…I guess I will have cereal…milk is bad. Oh well…I guess I will have a banana…completely bruised. By this time I had no time and made myself a piece of toast with Peanut Butter. I took it to go and as I got out of my car to go to work, all the children at the school I park in front of were starring at me with googly eyes at my single piece of toast. Sorry kiddies…I am FAMISHED! I kept walking, trying not to make eye contact, just as the wind blew and knocked the delicious warm, peanut buttered, toast (that was laying flat in my hand on a paper towel) to the ground. KARMA! So there I was… starving, with no food, wondering if this was God's way of telling me that I shouldn't be eating?

When I arrived at work (with no toast), Sean had 1000 plans for me as usual- one of them was a mission to pick up and drop off Scuba Packs. So…as I was driving around in silence (I forgot my tape deck, and even if I DID have it I don't have any tapes) trying to find the turnoff back to Claremont from Tokai. I clearly took a wrong left turn and ended up in Wynburg- a completely foreign city to me. Don't stress Kate, just turn around and come back where you came from, No Big Deal. I told myself I would simply turn around and retrace my steps. So I turned left at the next possible street only to find myself in line with the minibuses at the WYNBURG MINIBUS STATION! I don't know if you remember my experiences at the City Center Minibus Station but it is a TERRIFYING place. They are the most dangerous places in Cape Town, with exception to the Townships! And so there I was, little Flemmy in her tiny little car IN LINE behind 10 minibuses at the station at 4 pm- the PEAK time for minibus transfers. Dodgy people running all around, sweat beads dripping down my face (in addition to no music, I have no air con), honking, staring, yelling, honking louder, staring harder, yelling more aggressively! I composed myself enough to hold back the tears…UNTIL I tried to get out of line and pass the taxis. Only then did I find myself pulling out into oncoming minibus taxi traffic. So as I pulled out to bypass the line and get the hell out of the ghetto I was in, I was forced to slam on my breaks in order to keep myself from getting smashed by a neon pink minibus taxi! They started honking…I started crying. They started yelling…I started crying harder. So now I was really in a pickle. I was blocking incoming minibus traffic, couldn't reverse back to where I was because the minibus behind me moved into my spot, and I couldn't move forward because I was about an inch away from a bright pink minibus. I was actually so close I could see the hate in the drivers eyes! A minute passed of relentless honking, cursing, and arms flailing out drivers windows…a minute in that environment seems like eternity- ESPECIALLY when the reason the entire station is in mayhem is because of you! Eventually the line moved forward and I was able to speed my way out of "Satan Street"- who knows what it was actually called, but that's what I am going to call it for the rest of my life.

To decompress after this adventure I went back to the gym. I went to Ab Attack (I don't know what was worse- Ab Attack or Satan Street). So as I was lying there on my mat after an absolutely miserable 30 minutes of crunches I looked up to find that the rest of the class had already left the room and flocks of new people in boxing gear had come in. I quickly gathered my stuff, put my head down, and bolted for the door, weaving my way out of the room through all the intimidating fighters WHEN the instructor (on his microphone) asked where I was going. I looked around to see if people where looking at me only to find everyone in the class staring at me….uh uh uh…I am not taking this…uh..class…ehhh! "OH YES YOU ARE LUV…GRAB A MAT!" Ooookay I guess I am in Fight Night. Was he hinting that I NEED Fight Night?! Oh well, I probably do. I like to think of myself as a coordinated individual, but when coordination is paired with rhythm then oh my my- I was nothing short of pathetic. I was in a room with 30 ripped boxers, and I was the flabby fat girl in the back punching with the wrong arm, kicking at half the height as everyone else, and at the complete wrong times! Told you I shouldn't have taken this class…damn Asian persuasion! So this was my Monday… I guess I am off to a good week-hey? My aunt called me that morning and during the conversation asked me if everything was okay? Everything was fine, but I guess I didn't sound as chipper as usual- I must have subconsciously known I was going to have a looooong day!

Tuesday was another high stress day at work, but I went to the Waterfront with Jen and Elena for sundowners in the harbor-very relaxing. We listened to live music and sat on a deck over the water for dinner and drinks!

So now it is Wednesday and I am exhausted. I worked a 12 hour day today (8am-8pm) but it was cool. We got up early and took a group out on the boat and drove to Cape Point. It is a very touristy spot, but since we went to it by boat we were able to see the entire coast line…it was very cool! When we got back I had to put together the final parts of my presentation and the leaders marketing materials! So this is my life since I have last written, a lot of working, but still many adventures!

I wonder why I am such a disaster here. Why do I come across so many misfortunes? Why am I so awkward in every aspect of life in Africa? Who knows? But someone told me that it all adds to the adventure…and it is so true. Maybe I am a complete embarrassment and maybe I do look like a fool most of the time, but it just makes for good stories to tell and better, more comical memories. I sometimes think it is because I don't have my friends from home here to guide me…to tell me not to miss the exit, and tell me to get my lazy fat ass up and get out of the room before the next class comes in, and so forth. But maybe that is the greatest part of this adventure…that I am doing it alone. I think I have grown more in the 6 weeks I have been here than in any other time of my life. I have more responsibly at work than I ever thought someone in their right mind would trust me with! I am the Mozambique Trip Director for heaven sakes!!! (probably for the sole reason my boss doesn't have time to do it himself)

I think I have been so focused on writing about my comical misfortunes that I have strayed from writing about Cape Town and all her splendor. So I just want to remind you that I am easily in the most beautiful place one can imagine. It is a blend or first and third worlds where the elegance of rich suburbs lies next to the sprawl of the townships. Someone told me that Cape Town is a bit like good coffee. Gets into your blood stream. Picks you up. Makes you want more. It is so true…I think I am actually addicted to Cape Town! Because all the new students have arrived for the start of the semester we have all been given student survival guides. This here is a typical week in Cape Town as told by the student guide for UCT: Monday night is student night. You don't actually need to be a student, you just need to think like one-or is that drink like one? Tuesdays are the rest/get back to work day so evenings are spent relaxing at home, eating out, or at a half price movie. Wednesday is student night. Again! Expect a FULL midweek bash in Claremont, Camps Bay, or Observatory. And after Wednesday it is considered the weekend! So basically Tuesday is the only night one gets to rest in Cape Town…wild-hey?

Well I miss you all, but I still don't want to come back. I hope all is well with you all and please write me and let me know how you are all doing.

Cheers,

Kate