Thoughts from South Africa

We have been here one month now and I would say are more settled in. Where we live in Sundumbili it is mostly Zulu. We sure stand out when we head to the store or go for a walk. Between Sundumbili and Mandeni is a pulp mill and it belches out a huge grey cloud that helps to create our own unique weather (and smell) here in Sundumbili. After a while you do get used to it. The streets and sides of the road are littered with garbage and debris. The local spar store's parking lot is just covered in a thin film of paper and other litter. This adds to the smell here especially on hot days. The days have been really hot and others cloudy and cool enough to wear a sweater. The humidity makes my hair curl up into tight ringlets then the wind blows it and I require a sun roof to fit it into the car. Thankfully frank is very patient...ie through thick and thin or better or worse! we are looking forward to February when the locals say it is so hot, "like breathing in fire!" hmmmm, what a mental picture.

The worries and stresses from home don't seem that significant here in the bigger picture of life. Having food to cook and a car for transportation makes us pretty rich! The Zulu people walk slow and purposefully here and we look funny taking our required 1/2 power walks for the kids PE requirements....I'm sure they think we have lost our minds! Getting through today and this moment is whats important and tomorrow will come, it always does whether we are ready or not. Funny how the bible tells us to just concentrate on today as tomorrow will have it's own worries. This takes real practise to stay in the moment and enjoy the time we are given moment by moment.

Below are some misc pics from our travels around!

Enjoy.

The bananas come after this beautiful crimson flower blooms. The other flower looks like and orchid I think. It reminds me of origami paper work.

Flowers we saw at the Zimbali lodge and estate.

Some unknown flowers and more huge clumps of bananas. You can buy them from people on the street sides for .50cent each in Rand, that's about 6cents each Canadian.

This heron was so happy to stand for his picture. In Eshowe one of the neighborhoods was crawling with monkeys. I would say there were over 20 just roaming through/over, and around the houses. Similar to our chipmunks and squirrels at home!