The Time My Parents Visited Me in South Africa
These past two weeks have actually been quite full, but really, my parents coming for a visit was what the past 14 days have centered around.
They arrived on a Saturday afternoon, for some reason I had it all mixed up in my head as to when they were actually arriving, and how long exactly they were staying. However, through various communications we eventually figured it out, and I picked them up from their Bed and Breakfast place at 6:00. It was great to see them, but really strange and quite surreal also. The things I associate with home and the things I associate with South Africa are categorized separately in my mind, I do believe, and so having those two worlds collide was a tad bizarre, but also very nice. The tragedy was that they were here for a very short time, about 4 days in all, which was not nearly enough, but still quite good. We went to see all the mandatory things in Cape Town: Table Mountain, Robben Island, the vineyards (or at least some of them, there are very many). We also got to see visit an exclusive mansion-turned-hotel for lunch one day – it was absolutely ridiculous, the epitome of pomp and luxury, it really did bring to mind the dichotomy of rich and poor, and which end I end up on more often than not.
My uncle Don and aunt Dale were actually also there with my parents, so it was great to see them again, we went our separate ways on various points of the four days, but the time they did spend with us was very nice, it truly was a great four days.
Islamic / Christian Wedding
The day my parents arrived, right before I left to pick them up I was helping to officiate a wedding. It was interesting in the a) it was my first wedding that I was helping to officiate, and b) that the groom was in fact a convert to Christianity from Islam. And, if you’re keeping track, yes, there are places in which that decision comes with the death penalty. The wedding itself was quite nice, very simple, a bride, a groom and two witnesses. I served as photographer, musician, and Bible presenter and I was happy to help in that way. It’s always nice to help out with a wedding when you feel good about it and you genuinely like the people getting married, and this was the case here.
Week Off
Other than the wedding and a few smallish other things, I pretty much had the past week to spend with my parents, which was extremely generous on Thomas’s part. So the days I had with my parents I was able to spend with them, no problems, and then the rest of the time was fairly relaxed. I still did some work during the week, beings that I had the time on my hands, but it was a nice relaxing week either way. I got a lot of reading done (finished War and Peace – no small feat) and spend a lot of time with friends, so I was happy to have a bit of a rest before plunging into the Easter crunch.
Choir Concert
Speaking of the Easter crunch, I’m getting ready to perform Handel’s Messiah with the Cape Town Philharmonia Choir of which I am a part. It’s actually very exciting, we just had our first rehearsal with the man who will be the conductor for the performance, Bjorn Bantock. With that name you’d think he’s Scandinavian, but he is actually South African, trained in the UK. He seems quite capable, really doing some interesting things with the piece, he’s clearly not afraid to play with the dynamics and tempo, so some of the choruses sound quite different from what I’m used to. It’s actually quite refreshing for me, beings that I’ve been practicing the Messiah once or twice a week for eight straight months now. And you know what? I’m not even sick of it yet – they just don’t make ‘em like they used to... We perform the piece on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and I’m very glad to be able to have some of my friends from church attend the concert. A woman from our church was generous enough to donate money towards the tickets, and so four young adults who otherwise would not have been able to attend the service now are able to. It is definitely something to look forward to in a couple weeks.
New Place
Another item of big news for me around here is that I just moved yesterday. If you’ve been keeping close track of my updates here, you may be familiar with my laments of my former place, so I’m not too upset about a change of scenery. Really the last place was nice in terms of location and overall aesthetics, but just not well maintained, which made it frustrating for all involved – landlords, tenants and renters alike. Whatever the matter, I am now living at a Bed and Breakfast run by Norma Morgan, a woman from our church. She is a dear woman, treating me like her favorite grandson, which is quite the difference my last situation. So, it seems I’m going to need to start exercising in order to not swell up with the loving care of a (bit overbearing) interim grandma.
Tragic Side Note: we just received word last night that Norma’s housekeeper of 30 years(!) was killed in a car accident. It’s been very tough on Norma who had obviously developed a fairly close relationship with the woman, and now she is stuck to find some one else she can trust to help her out around the house. The public taxis around here are infamous for their dangerous driving, and it was while riding one of these on the way back from a funeral that she was killed. So, it’s been a fairly somber morning around here.
Wine Tasting
As you may or may not know, the Cape region in South Africa has a great number of quality vineyards, some of which I have had the fortune of sampling recently. First off with my parents, then with a new friend Paul who took me to a vineyard called De Grendel (Afrikaans for “the Lock” I’m told – or maybe that’s German…or Dutch). Just as we arrived they were starting their annual ‘Cellar Tour’, and so we got to sample the very first of their 2009 wines! They were pretty good, though it was mostly white wines, and I’m kind of partial to reds – but their 2008 Sauvignon Blanc was pretty good. A good time either way.
All for Another Two Weeks
This entry seems more condensed than previously, but I think I fit in all the important bits. For me the past two weeks have really revolved around my parents being here as well as preparing to move, so mentally I’ve been fairly preoccupied with that. However, life at the church continues on, if you’re interested I’ll be sending out my prayer letter in a couple weeks and will say more about our ministry at Sea Point Congregational when that comes out.
Well, until another two weeks, take care
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Half-Way Through Lent
I guess it is almost that point, isn't it? I confess that I had a little Mardi Gras celebration a in February. I went for all-you-can-eat-sushi at a local (cheap) place. And usually cheap means sketchy in terms of sushi, but here it was actually very good. But Mardi Gras and feasting aren't the same without the company of your friends, and though I did invite some of my friend to join me, none could make it. Whatever the matter, here we are, a mere three and a half weeks from Good Friday.
Heat Wave!
I've shared my sentiments about the weather around here with several of you back home, and all you did was scoff at me and remind me of the weather back in Canada. Well, scoff as you might, it is HOT around here! Unbearably hot sometimes! 40°C hot! I think we can all agree that whether the temperature is far too hot or far too cold, it is uncomfortable to be in. And I know, I know – I did sign up for Africa of all places, so what was I expecting? But still, the heat will affect you, even people who have been living here their whole lives are remarking at the discomfort, so it's not just me. On the hottest days I find myself yearning for the more temperate climates of back home. But just as with the cold, there are ways to deal with the heat. Really, if I just stay at home and take it easy, it's not such a big deal, but then I don't get much work done, so, I can't take too many 'heat holidays', or else I'd get nothing done at all!
Dan and Yvonne
From the 5th to the 10th My aunt and uncle, Dan and Yvonne were here. For them it was a trip that would mark the last time they would be in Cape Town for a good, long while, so I was glad that they were able to spend some time with me. We enjoyed a few nice meals out, and it was very nice catching up with them, hearing about their work and their thoughts about my work. It was a sort of bitter-sweet meeting, they were anticipating their trip home, saying their final good-byes and tying up loose ends, and those are never really easy things to go through. With their being here, for the first time I contemplated what my own return home might be like, but it was still fairly incomprehensible, it really still feels like I just began here. Also while they were here, Dan and Yvonne had the fortune (misfortune?) of hearing me preach! It was my first time preaching at our church here in Sea Point, so it was interesting, but I'll get into more of that later.
Anticipating the Parents!
Having Dan and Yvonne here was a bit of a pre-cursor to having my mother and father here! I won't lie, I am looking forward to my parents arriving, I think it will be really nice to see them. For the past three weeks (or thereabouts) my parents have been on a thorough tour of South Africa, seeing many diverse parts of the country. I must say, I envy them a little bit. The most recently that I was able to talk them was right before they left Dan and Yvonne's in Pietermaritzburg three weeks ago, so I really can't give many updates on their behalf. I'm told their email isn't working, and they are a little distraught about that, but I doubt they would have had too many opportunities to use internet on the road anyway. So word on the street is that they arrive on Wednesday, but we'll see what actually ends up happening. They have my number, so I'm assuming they'll get in contact with me when they get in. Meanwhile it's up to me to be planning their events calendar while they have the time off, so we'll see what I can get up to. I should also say that my uncle Don and aunt Dale will be with them when they arrive, so it will also be great to see them!
As for the Preaching...
Yes, I did have the opportunity to preach for the first time at our church. I would have said it went well, my supervisor would have said otherwise, and beings as he's the one calling the shots...we'll go with his opinion. No, in all honesty I am well aware that my preaching has a lot of room for improvement, and Thomas is ready and willing to help me improve in that area, so I'm up to preach again in July, and hopefully I will have gained some ground by then. My sermon was about our call as the Church, and what it might mean to be the Church in this day and age through a reading of the Great Commission. It was probably too formal, academic and inaccessible, which makes sense, if you were going critique my writing at all (and I know, dear reader, it is difficult to imagine my writing having any faults) it would be that my writing is too formal and academic, and thus this is reflected in my preaching. So there you have it. I will be sure to update you on the sermon that comes about in July.
Argous Bicycle Race
The same day I was preaching there was also a bicycle race around Cape Town. And not just any bicycle race, but the biggest one-day bicycle race in the world, I am told! So needless to say, the town was all abuzz with the excitement of the race. And also, Matt Damon was in town to do the race, so there was some excitement around that as well. Unfortunately the conditions for the race were actually quite bad. Of course, it was clear and sunny, but the wind was relentless! I felt bad for those poor riders, biking approximately 150km uphill and downhill in conditions that had some people struggling to stay on their bikes. A good portion of the racers ended up not actually being able to finish the race,much to their chagrin. Many of the bikers were from abroad, so imagine spending all that time, money and energy to get here, and then not be able to finish what you can to do. Very frustrating, I am sure. But I got an opportunity to see some of the earlier bikers ride by (but not Matt Damon, shucks-darn) with Dan and Yvonne after church. Back in the fall in Ontario I did a 50km on a bike around in rural Ontario, I can't imagine doing 150km in the hills of Cape Town!
Friday Night Supper
I think one of my highlights of being here thus far was a dinner we had at my friend Ester's house last Friday. Ester is actually a domestic worker for a well-to-do Jewish family in Cape Town. They treat her very well and allow her to have mini-soirées for her friends when the family is away. So a group of five of us showed up for dinner at their place and ended up staying until 11:00! Ester prepared a feast that included barbecued chicken, lamb and sausage and many side dishes. I don't think we finished half the food. It was incredible. And the company and conversation was great as well. It was a real treat to get to know my friends around here a little bit better. We all come from pretty diverse backgrounds, so relating to each other is sometimes tricky, but it's also sometimes very interesting, and often quite comical. I do think of my friends back home from time to time, and I miss them, but I am very glad for friendships around here. Travelling is a funny thing, sometimes I wonder what good it is to go to one place and make good friends only to leave them in such a short time and miss them terribly when you're gone. I suppose that is part of what is sacrificed when you decide to travel.
Only a Taste...
Again, I must say farewell for now. I realize this is only a taste of my time here. If you would like more details or information, of course, feel free to send me and email or a comment on here. Either way, I remain -
Until next time,
Heat Wave!
I've shared my sentiments about the weather around here with several of you back home, and all you did was scoff at me and remind me of the weather back in Canada. Well, scoff as you might, it is HOT around here! Unbearably hot sometimes! 40°C hot! I think we can all agree that whether the temperature is far too hot or far too cold, it is uncomfortable to be in. And I know, I know – I did sign up for Africa of all places, so what was I expecting? But still, the heat will affect you, even people who have been living here their whole lives are remarking at the discomfort, so it's not just me. On the hottest days I find myself yearning for the more temperate climates of back home. But just as with the cold, there are ways to deal with the heat. Really, if I just stay at home and take it easy, it's not such a big deal, but then I don't get much work done, so, I can't take too many 'heat holidays', or else I'd get nothing done at all!
Dan and Yvonne
From the 5th to the 10th My aunt and uncle, Dan and Yvonne were here. For them it was a trip that would mark the last time they would be in Cape Town for a good, long while, so I was glad that they were able to spend some time with me. We enjoyed a few nice meals out, and it was very nice catching up with them, hearing about their work and their thoughts about my work. It was a sort of bitter-sweet meeting, they were anticipating their trip home, saying their final good-byes and tying up loose ends, and those are never really easy things to go through. With their being here, for the first time I contemplated what my own return home might be like, but it was still fairly incomprehensible, it really still feels like I just began here. Also while they were here, Dan and Yvonne had the fortune (misfortune?) of hearing me preach! It was my first time preaching at our church here in Sea Point, so it was interesting, but I'll get into more of that later.
Anticipating the Parents!
Having Dan and Yvonne here was a bit of a pre-cursor to having my mother and father here! I won't lie, I am looking forward to my parents arriving, I think it will be really nice to see them. For the past three weeks (or thereabouts) my parents have been on a thorough tour of South Africa, seeing many diverse parts of the country. I must say, I envy them a little bit. The most recently that I was able to talk them was right before they left Dan and Yvonne's in Pietermaritzburg three weeks ago, so I really can't give many updates on their behalf. I'm told their email isn't working, and they are a little distraught about that, but I doubt they would have had too many opportunities to use internet on the road anyway. So word on the street is that they arrive on Wednesday, but we'll see what actually ends up happening. They have my number, so I'm assuming they'll get in contact with me when they get in. Meanwhile it's up to me to be planning their events calendar while they have the time off, so we'll see what I can get up to. I should also say that my uncle Don and aunt Dale will be with them when they arrive, so it will also be great to see them!
As for the Preaching...
Yes, I did have the opportunity to preach for the first time at our church. I would have said it went well, my supervisor would have said otherwise, and beings as he's the one calling the shots...we'll go with his opinion. No, in all honesty I am well aware that my preaching has a lot of room for improvement, and Thomas is ready and willing to help me improve in that area, so I'm up to preach again in July, and hopefully I will have gained some ground by then. My sermon was about our call as the Church, and what it might mean to be the Church in this day and age through a reading of the Great Commission. It was probably too formal, academic and inaccessible, which makes sense, if you were going critique my writing at all (and I know, dear reader, it is difficult to imagine my writing having any faults) it would be that my writing is too formal and academic, and thus this is reflected in my preaching. So there you have it. I will be sure to update you on the sermon that comes about in July.
Argous Bicycle Race
The same day I was preaching there was also a bicycle race around Cape Town. And not just any bicycle race, but the biggest one-day bicycle race in the world, I am told! So needless to say, the town was all abuzz with the excitement of the race. And also, Matt Damon was in town to do the race, so there was some excitement around that as well. Unfortunately the conditions for the race were actually quite bad. Of course, it was clear and sunny, but the wind was relentless! I felt bad for those poor riders, biking approximately 150km uphill and downhill in conditions that had some people struggling to stay on their bikes. A good portion of the racers ended up not actually being able to finish the race,much to their chagrin. Many of the bikers were from abroad, so imagine spending all that time, money and energy to get here, and then not be able to finish what you can to do. Very frustrating, I am sure. But I got an opportunity to see some of the earlier bikers ride by (but not Matt Damon, shucks-darn) with Dan and Yvonne after church. Back in the fall in Ontario I did a 50km on a bike around in rural Ontario, I can't imagine doing 150km in the hills of Cape Town!
Friday Night Supper
I think one of my highlights of being here thus far was a dinner we had at my friend Ester's house last Friday. Ester is actually a domestic worker for a well-to-do Jewish family in Cape Town. They treat her very well and allow her to have mini-soirées for her friends when the family is away. So a group of five of us showed up for dinner at their place and ended up staying until 11:00! Ester prepared a feast that included barbecued chicken, lamb and sausage and many side dishes. I don't think we finished half the food. It was incredible. And the company and conversation was great as well. It was a real treat to get to know my friends around here a little bit better. We all come from pretty diverse backgrounds, so relating to each other is sometimes tricky, but it's also sometimes very interesting, and often quite comical. I do think of my friends back home from time to time, and I miss them, but I am very glad for friendships around here. Travelling is a funny thing, sometimes I wonder what good it is to go to one place and make good friends only to leave them in such a short time and miss them terribly when you're gone. I suppose that is part of what is sacrificed when you decide to travel.
Only a Taste...
Again, I must say farewell for now. I realize this is only a taste of my time here. If you would like more details or information, of course, feel free to send me and email or a comment on here. Either way, I remain -
Until next time,
Monday, March 2, 2009
Regarding the Month of February
Hey Everyone,
Well, here we are, two weeks later. Some of you may have in fact just received a 'prayer letter' from me, which may carry some cross-over content with this blog, so, be forewarned if you are reading both.
Parents Arrival!
The latest news for me is that my mom and dad just arrived in South Africa a few days ago! I just talked with them this morning and they are quite happy with their stay so far. They did have a pretty amazing story though – not half an hour after they took off from the airport in Amsterdam, a plane crashed at that very airport! If their flight had been any later they probably would not have been able to take off until a good while later, and thanks goodness they were not on that particular flight that crashed, my oh my. Anyway, the folks are going on a 'safari tour' of South Africa, and they are very excited about it. I'm not sure how much of it is actually safari, they actually have quite a diverse tour from what I understand of it. I'm very proud of them, they've been diligently doing their homework before they came reading books and watching movies as suggested by 'Lonely Planet', so they are all set and ready to be here. They'll be in Sea Point from March 18-24, and of course I'm very excited to see them.
J Pre: Listen Up!
Now for something completely different, Listen Up! Is the name of the album that the father of my host family is releasing. His real name is John Pretorias, and he's actually a fairly prominent musician here in South Africa. He was the music behind Nelson Mandela's rise to presidency here in South Africa in 1994 and previously, so he's fairly well known in South Africa. The album is available internationally on iTunes, Amazon.com and etc., but if you want to check out one song, I would recommend 'Rise – to the Occasion of Your Life' it's a song on the album and is under negotiations to be the official song of the FIFA World Cup 2010, which is a pretty big deal around here, so they tell me.
Developments in Ministry at Sea Point
I'm really starting to develop some regularity with my ministry around here, which is nice. I think it's good to have a schedule with some predictability, although that's a lot to ask of pastoral ministry, as a lot of it ends up being crisis management and things you just can't predict. Perhaps I should say that I'm enjoying my predictable schedule while I have it, and just waiting for what the next crisis might be. As Thomas and I have discussed before, the plan for my involvement here is to have a rather 'light' schedule officially, and then to fill the rest of my time as I best see fit. So it's nice to have the flexibility, but it's a lot of responsibility as well.
Right now my schedule looks something like this: Monday – day off, Tuesday – weekly catch-up with Thomas, minister's Bible Study, Wednesday – 'Over 21's' Bible Study, Thursday – miscellaneous visits, paper work, etc., Friday – Youth group, Saturday – meetings and interviews at church, Sunday – chaos and mayhem, also: church. And then there's always an infinite amount of day to day tasks that I could endeavour on, should I so choose. So I'm never short of work to do, which is nice, and I have the flexibility to decide what I should take on and what I shouldn't. So in terms of work load, it's a pretty ideal job, but it is very easy to take on too much or not enough, so one has to be wise in what kind of work to get involved in, and knowing when to say “when.”
Accommodation Situation
Things also continue to develop in terms of where I'm living. The church leadership and I have decided that my current situation isn't ideal. The general opinion of the leadership at church is that it is important for a minister to have a home that is a place of relaxation and comfort, a place to unwind after being out and about serving the community. This is definitely what my current place is not. So, it makes sense for me to move on at the end of March. It will be a bit difficult to move on. First off, I really hate moving, so I'm not looking forward to that too much. But also, despite the fact that they're really not equipped to be hosting people right now, I've come to like my host family. Their lives are so hectic, I cannot imagine, but they really are good people and they're trying to hold things together. I hope I can leave here on good terms, and I think I will, but sometimes it's difficult to understand what's best for everyone. I do believe my decision to go is the best decision, but it wasn't an easy decision for me to make. Either way, at the end of the month I'm (probably) moving into a little B&B that a nice lady from our church runs. I'm starting to look forward to it, I think it's going to be a very different experience to living where I currently am – a little more peaceful I believe. We'll see.
Cultural Experiences
I'm trying to get out and around to different cultural events around Sea Point. A few weeks ago I went to see a tribute concert for Miriam 'Mama Africa' Makeba, a legendary vocalist from South Africa. The easiest comparison to give to her is Ella Fitzgerald, in terms of genre and time frame, but really that doesn't do either artist justice, that just gives you an idea of Mama Africa was. It was a fantastic show, South Africa really does have some immense musical talent, from beginning to end there were fantastic performers. Unfortunately I was unfamiliar with most of the songs that were performed, but they style and the quality aloud was such that it was easy to get into, almost right away. To say the least, I was very impressed. However, it should be said that the attendants of the show were 98% black or 'coloured', which was actually pretty disappointing. It seems that the white population still has a difficult time appreciating the culture that is inherent to their own society. It's really such a shame, their loss entirely. And of course, that's too broad a stroke to make having seen only one performance. But it is interesting to note that when I went to see the local symphony play the audience was 98% white people, and this tribute concert, in a venue just next door was the exact opposite.
And Finally
I'm happy to say that there are just too many things for me to tell you about in this little blog here. I believe I'm really starting to feel more at home here. Last night I caught my self saying “I can't believe I'm in Cape Town, in Africa...” it's still a bit surreal for me. The place is feeling very comfortable and familiar these days, and it's nice to feel at home in the place where you are living, that's not something that always happens so easily, I am well aware of that.
OK then, take care for now, and I will contact you all in another couple weeks!
Until next time,
Well, here we are, two weeks later. Some of you may have in fact just received a 'prayer letter' from me, which may carry some cross-over content with this blog, so, be forewarned if you are reading both.
Parents Arrival!
The latest news for me is that my mom and dad just arrived in South Africa a few days ago! I just talked with them this morning and they are quite happy with their stay so far. They did have a pretty amazing story though – not half an hour after they took off from the airport in Amsterdam, a plane crashed at that very airport! If their flight had been any later they probably would not have been able to take off until a good while later, and thanks goodness they were not on that particular flight that crashed, my oh my. Anyway, the folks are going on a 'safari tour' of South Africa, and they are very excited about it. I'm not sure how much of it is actually safari, they actually have quite a diverse tour from what I understand of it. I'm very proud of them, they've been diligently doing their homework before they came reading books and watching movies as suggested by 'Lonely Planet', so they are all set and ready to be here. They'll be in Sea Point from March 18-24, and of course I'm very excited to see them.
J Pre: Listen Up!
Now for something completely different, Listen Up! Is the name of the album that the father of my host family is releasing. His real name is John Pretorias, and he's actually a fairly prominent musician here in South Africa. He was the music behind Nelson Mandela's rise to presidency here in South Africa in 1994 and previously, so he's fairly well known in South Africa. The album is available internationally on iTunes, Amazon.com and etc., but if you want to check out one song, I would recommend 'Rise – to the Occasion of Your Life' it's a song on the album and is under negotiations to be the official song of the FIFA World Cup 2010, which is a pretty big deal around here, so they tell me.
Developments in Ministry at Sea Point
I'm really starting to develop some regularity with my ministry around here, which is nice. I think it's good to have a schedule with some predictability, although that's a lot to ask of pastoral ministry, as a lot of it ends up being crisis management and things you just can't predict. Perhaps I should say that I'm enjoying my predictable schedule while I have it, and just waiting for what the next crisis might be. As Thomas and I have discussed before, the plan for my involvement here is to have a rather 'light' schedule officially, and then to fill the rest of my time as I best see fit. So it's nice to have the flexibility, but it's a lot of responsibility as well.
Right now my schedule looks something like this: Monday – day off, Tuesday – weekly catch-up with Thomas, minister's Bible Study, Wednesday – 'Over 21's' Bible Study, Thursday – miscellaneous visits, paper work, etc., Friday – Youth group, Saturday – meetings and interviews at church, Sunday – chaos and mayhem, also: church. And then there's always an infinite amount of day to day tasks that I could endeavour on, should I so choose. So I'm never short of work to do, which is nice, and I have the flexibility to decide what I should take on and what I shouldn't. So in terms of work load, it's a pretty ideal job, but it is very easy to take on too much or not enough, so one has to be wise in what kind of work to get involved in, and knowing when to say “when.”
Accommodation Situation
Things also continue to develop in terms of where I'm living. The church leadership and I have decided that my current situation isn't ideal. The general opinion of the leadership at church is that it is important for a minister to have a home that is a place of relaxation and comfort, a place to unwind after being out and about serving the community. This is definitely what my current place is not. So, it makes sense for me to move on at the end of March. It will be a bit difficult to move on. First off, I really hate moving, so I'm not looking forward to that too much. But also, despite the fact that they're really not equipped to be hosting people right now, I've come to like my host family. Their lives are so hectic, I cannot imagine, but they really are good people and they're trying to hold things together. I hope I can leave here on good terms, and I think I will, but sometimes it's difficult to understand what's best for everyone. I do believe my decision to go is the best decision, but it wasn't an easy decision for me to make. Either way, at the end of the month I'm (probably) moving into a little B&B that a nice lady from our church runs. I'm starting to look forward to it, I think it's going to be a very different experience to living where I currently am – a little more peaceful I believe. We'll see.
Cultural Experiences
I'm trying to get out and around to different cultural events around Sea Point. A few weeks ago I went to see a tribute concert for Miriam 'Mama Africa' Makeba, a legendary vocalist from South Africa. The easiest comparison to give to her is Ella Fitzgerald, in terms of genre and time frame, but really that doesn't do either artist justice, that just gives you an idea of Mama Africa was. It was a fantastic show, South Africa really does have some immense musical talent, from beginning to end there were fantastic performers. Unfortunately I was unfamiliar with most of the songs that were performed, but they style and the quality aloud was such that it was easy to get into, almost right away. To say the least, I was very impressed. However, it should be said that the attendants of the show were 98% black or 'coloured', which was actually pretty disappointing. It seems that the white population still has a difficult time appreciating the culture that is inherent to their own society. It's really such a shame, their loss entirely. And of course, that's too broad a stroke to make having seen only one performance. But it is interesting to note that when I went to see the local symphony play the audience was 98% white people, and this tribute concert, in a venue just next door was the exact opposite.
And Finally
I'm happy to say that there are just too many things for me to tell you about in this little blog here. I believe I'm really starting to feel more at home here. Last night I caught my self saying “I can't believe I'm in Cape Town, in Africa...” it's still a bit surreal for me. The place is feeling very comfortable and familiar these days, and it's nice to feel at home in the place where you are living, that's not something that always happens so easily, I am well aware of that.
OK then, take care for now, and I will contact you all in another couple weeks!
Until next time,
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