Strange Animals

Hi all,

We got back to South Africa in early August without too much hassle.  As I wrote, Noah slept well on the plane (there is a G-d) and Lucy happily watched "Despicable Me" five times as we crossed the Atlantic.

The day after we returned, I came downstairs to find Noah on Dorothy's back.  He wasn't napping so well, so she carried him around for a while.

Jet-lagged but enjoying the ride

A few days later, a new recruit arrived in Pretoria to work at the CDC South Africa office.  We acted as his "social sponsor." (The Embassy hooks new folks up with ones that have been around a bit. Hard to believe we've been here almost a year!)  Andrew (moved from Chicago, but hails from LA) will be running a lab here. His partner, David, will be coming over in January.  (You got it. We're taking over!)

 As a little introduction to South Africa, we took Andrew on a hike we read about in our hiking book.   

The book didn't say anything about crossing a river on a self-powered gondola!

 Big surprise... Lucy loved it!

Next up, Adam and Noah.  (Lucy and Andrew reel them in.)

Sending it back for me.  Reminds me of an old People's Express flight I took once to LaGuardia.  (Grandparents, please ignore the slightly fraying rope.)

The highlight of the hike...

As we turned a bend, we came upon a... ZONKEY!  (Yes, a donkey crossed with a zebra.)   Fun, eh?

Noah would like to take it home with us.

 Andrew spots some wildebeest (I think)

 Marching along through the veldt

(Wikipedia:  The term Veld (often spelled Veldt) refers primarily (but not exclusively) to the wide open rural spaces of South Africa or southern Africa and in particular to certain flatter areas or districts covered in grass or low scrub. The word veld comes from the Afrikaans (ultimately from Dutch), literally meaning 'field'. More info.)

 To keep the zonkeys from migrating to Sarasota for the winter, they use fences and ladders.

(Lucy's checking her Blackberry.)

 Adam and Noah prepare to cross the river again to return to our car. (See! There's even a safety chain.) 

 Don't try this at home, kids!

The 2011 Hike with Me Barbie

 We celebrated the completion of our hike with a trip to the mall for gelato.  (Wow, the Safari really does run on desserts.)  Noah somehow missed what we were eating and was fascinated by the train locomotive.  His burgundy pants are all the rage in Milan.

On a slightly different note, August 9 was South African's Women's Day, a national holiday to remember a march by women in 1956 to protest legislation requiring Africans (non-Whites) to carry a "pass" (identification documentation) meant to suppress freedom of movement during Apartheid. We hosted a Women's Day party at our place and some (straight) friends decided to celebrate in their own way.

 Bastian (from Germany and married to a South African woman), Marion (from France and married to an American, who is here with US AID), and Andrew (South African and now at Oxford getting some fancy degree).

 On August 10th, Lucy rode the bus to school for her first day of KINDERGARTEN! 

(If you look closely, you can begin to see the start of the "You're embarrassing me, Dad" phase.)

 Not to be shown up, Noah paid good attention to the cow at Clamber Club (a toddler program we go to on Fridays).

Noah helps clear up some bovine nasal congestion.  (Beats a nettie pot any day.)

Bounce King, indeed.

 Another day we hit a local Saturday market (see Hazel Food Market) where Lucy does her favorite sand art. (It's crazy popular over here.)

Dips in Training

The Embassy hosted a "back to school" braii (barbeque) at the US Community Center.  Here Lucy (front row) and other "mission kids" (as they call them) stand with Ambassador Gips, the US Ambassador to South Africa, who lives in fancy digs right next door.

 As if Lucy would pass up the ice cream

 State Department Tug o War... Girls against the boys.  Who wins?

... Not the boys.

(And yes, I helped out. I took this picture after our inglorious defeat. We do look a bit more youthful, reviewing the footage.)

 Noah carried that balloon around for two hours until I think he popped it by trying to make it a chair.

 Lucy and her Kindergarten friends, Jahi and Kennedy

Lucy and Shadé rule the castle

The Safari, on its home turf, jumps right back into things.  xo
Glenn