April 11, 2007 - You are my sunshine...

I don’t feel as if I have as much to report for today. More research was the main order of the day. Of the four computers in our room, I believe that mine is a teenager because the internet service (of which it’s fully connected to) decides to work only when it wants to and not a moment before. And normally not before 10:30a. Luckily for me, there are plenty other things to keep me busy.

The sleepy little neighborhood that I thought Hatfield was is no more. We arrived during a holiday time so that meant that all of the students were away. Now they’re back in abandon and they fill the campus and the roads with their little cars. They’re also all very stunning looking. It’s sort of odd to me, but there isn’t a bad looking bloke or bird amongst the bunch. It’s also a little intimidating, me just being an average American. I asked the others in my group if they saw what I saw and all agreed – South Africa is full of beautiful people!

When lunch rolled around we went back to the Burgundy Café and this time were able to sit outside. Unbeknownst to me though, the table we sat at had my sit in the full limelight of the sun, which is not my favorite thing. Discussion ran to my aversion to it’s rays and Rebecca H. said that she would be more than willing to sacrifice herself to the sun’s beams on my behalf in the future. An offer I’ll most willingly take her up on.

We wrapped up our day at roughly 5p and headed off to the shopping district of Hatfield. Being a group of avid readers, we were looking for more material to support our habit. I’d brought two books with me and had all but finished the second one. At a type of drugstore, I was able to pick up a Kathy Reich novel. If you know the show BONES, then you may be familiar with the fact that she wrote the books that the show is loosely based on, about a forensic anthropologist. I got into the subject a few years back when I read a true story tale by Clea Koff entitled The Bone Woman, about her time spent in Rwanda and other 3rd world nations identifying the victims of genocide. I’d highly recommend it, but definitely don’t read it while eating or soon after. Let’s just say she describes things very well.

I also hit the postcard jackpot at the drugstore and picked up another 30+ cards to send, although I still find myself short 4 or 5. I’ve brought the addresses with me and am trying to complete a couple each evening and morning so that I’m not trying to write the whole lot at once.

Dinner was at a restaurant in the shopping center called Just Friends (with a FRIENDS TV theme). A few of us had been craving cake so we indulged with a Strawberry cheesecake and Chocolate mousse.

Forgot to mention that the other day when we met Cathy, Rebecca H. told a story of one of the students who came with her here to S.A. two years ago. Apparently this student extended her stay, went to Capetown, and eventually married a man she met there, all within a couple of weeks! Cathy, while surprised, told us that that could happen. Her words were that most South African’s want to get into our country and get a green card, so they’re willing to marry us Americans. She basically stated that if we wanted to go home with a husband, all we need do is start talking (they’d hear our accent) and we’d be given offers of marriage. Alissa thought this was funny and has now figured on marrying me off to someone here. I keep informing her that impetuosity is not something I partake of, and I didn’t feel like rocking my friends and family’s take on reality. She has other candidates in the Rebeccas though.

As stated in the beginning the day was fairly regular so this entry will be short. Until next time…