Getting Sorted in South Africa

We are still in the process of settling into our new home, our new country, but at least a semblance of routine is in sight.  Brandon began 7^th grade, midstream, this week at the Convent school, and so far loves his new school.  Being a foreigner, he is the center of interest to all his classmates.  Furthermore, there is a heavy emphasis on sports, in which the kids get to run around barefoot, which plays to his interest and makes his parents very happy.

After commencing work immediately upon arrival, Lyn has been on sabbatical from Eshowe Hospital the past ten days until her credentialing status is finalized (the irony is that the bureaucratic screw up occurred on the US side of the transaction).  This should be completed any day, but is now being delayed by a strike in South Africa.   Lyn is VERY eager to work.  And maybe get a paycheck.

This unexpected cessation in work has given us the opportunity to tackle other essential activities (opening a bank account, purchasing a car, securing health insurance) which takes a great deal of time, energy, and patience here --won’t bore you with the details, suffice it to say that we have heard the phrase, “Well this is Africa”, used many times in the past two weeks.  It has also provided an opportunity to explore the region.  Eshowe itself is a fairly small town, though it appears loaded with children, based on the number of schools, and funeral parlors.  The hospital, school and markets are all within walking distance (as is just about everything in town) which makes it a nice change from our life in Seattle, where just about every activity necessitated a drive. 

Fortunately, Eshowe is not very far from more interesting places.  We have already taken three trips to Durban, which is a modern city equipped with all the stores, services and conveniences you would find in any large city in the US or Europe.  It also has a fantastic long stretch of beach with great surfing waves.  Both Brandon and Mike are eager to learn how to surf, while Lyn is more focused on the sharks that reside in the water.   While in Durban, we have made many trips to Gateway mall which is billed as the largest mall in the Southern Hemisphere.    It is staggering in size, shops and the number of people walking about and contains a massive rock climbing wall and wave surfing pool, which is a favorite of Brandon’s. 

We have also made a couple of forays to nearby game parks.  Hluhluwe-Umfolozi is about 90 minutes from our house (if you don’t get lost) and is an amazing place to visit.  On Tuesday, while Brandon was at school, we snuck up for a visit and were rewarded with some amazing sights:   a herd of about 20 elephants crossing the road in front of us and disappearing into the bush; an adult and child rhino eating grass and eyeing us with cautious, timid expressions as if we might charge them (JFC, the adult was HUGE!).  We have also seen giraffe, wildebeests, warthogs, zebras, an assortment of deer and Impalas, and monkeys (mostly in town, as well as in our backyard hanging out in the avocado trees).  No lions or cheetahs as yet.