Mother Hen

6/25/09
Today there were 3 people “shadowing” Child Life at the hospital. Two connect girls interning in anaesthesia were instructed to observe us as an alternative to medicine. Dayna (I just learned today that it’s spelt with a Y) has asked to come in and help out this week. I chose today unaware that the other 2 girls would also be with us. Typically, Thursdays are busy theatre days so I knew there would plenty for all of us to do…except that this particular Thursday was abnormally slow. Lauren and Kate did, however, get the opportunity to see me prepare 2 children and accompany 1 child to theatre. Dayna did a fabulous job of entertaining any child in need of some extra attention. Even still, what a mission! The three girls are fabulous and super helpful and Annalise stepped up and also did a great job of delegating, but it was still a lot of work. I suppose it was a saving grace that the hospital wasn’t busy. Doing both might have been the end of me. One of the girls referred to me as “the mother hen”. This got my attention because I’ve never played that role. There has always been someone who has seniority over me, or is just plan more mature than me. Especially now that my coworkers are gone, connect kids are all so much younger than me. The typical connect volunteer is either in between semesters or interning as part of their major. For the first time, when talking about pop culture, I am on the older end. For the first time, I feel legitimately old. The shift, for me, is startling but not necessarily negative. It is simply: life.

After work, Sarah, Dayna and I took the bug to Kalk Bay. Neither of them had been before and I jump at any chance to return. I convinced them to have lunch at Olympia Café (where I had my most fav salad in the world: feta, beetroot and pine nut) and then visit the bakery for (the most delicious cup of) coffee and dessert. I was thrilled to hear that they mimicked my love for both the town as well as the food. We explored the shops and the harbor before heading to Muizenberg to take pictures of the famous guest houses that brightly line the shore. I love these beach towns. Cape Town is surrounded by them. The easy access to the beaches and mountains are at the very top of my list of things I will miss about this city.

harbor walk in kalk bay

LESSON #19: A QUOTE I FOUND IN KALK BAY...“A blessing from a place of safety and comfort from which you may remember who you are, where you came from, and what you came here to do.”

Nearing the End

6/23/09
My final week at RCCH is slipping between my fingers. There is a lot of lose ends to tie up and I am preparing to say goodbye. Even though I’m very aware of my impending departure, it seems surreal. I know I will find my way back here someday. This place is too beautiful to and too refreshing to stay away for too long. I anticipate my goodbyes at RCCH to be difficult. Maybe not immediately, but I will miss them all dearly once I am home.

craig's drip demonstration

(part of a book I put together to prepare children getting a drip placed)

We got home super early from work today since there wasn’t much going on. I went to an early yoga class. It was a great class. I think it was my best one yet. I flowed gracefully through the poses and felt strong. It’s amazing how present I can be with Kate’s guidance. That skill has been useful during my time here in Cape Town. So much is happening here; at RCCH and among my friends. There’s a lot of future for me to dwell on: leaving cape town and the direction of my life. Maintaining a sense of presence has helped me remain calm in a chaotic environment that is constantly pushing me forward. Yoga has helped me appreciate this city and my experience so much more. Paired with the sheer beauty of the landscapes and culture, it’s almost divine. Kate’s words imbedded in my mind, I floated home.

dayna's yogi impression on lion's head

To surmise the lesson: The yoga in the studio is the easy yoga. It’s the yoga outside the studio that is difficult. Dealing with the stresses and chaos of life is where the challenge lies. When we can take our practice in the studio and apply it to real life, we are successful and life’s trials seem less daunting. Be in the moment. Be in tune with your body and respond the way it wants you to. Yoga is a paradigm: the positions are most important part of the practice, but they ultimately don’t matter. What matters is the peacefulness that comes afterwards; the recovery from the workout and the way your body responds to it. When I leave yoga, I feel solid and grounded yet light as a feather.

A New Look

6/22/09
I have been considering chopping my hair for some time. For whatever reason I had yet to follow through. The past few weeks my hair has become unbearable. I break at least one elastic a day, it’s getting too long to stay up, it’s thick and hot and I’m constantly finding hair everywhere! So after work today, I walked into my apartment, thought for a moement, walked out and then straight to the salon next door. I told the woman at the desk that I wanted it all off. She looked shocked and directed me to Nicholas, a quintessential male stylist. We sat down and talked about my lifestyle, what I was looking for and browsed through countless photos before deciding on a style. After cutting off the majority of my hair, he led me to the sinks. There I got a full shampoo, a moisturizing treatment, and a 10 minute massage. Then Nicholas really got to work. The result: stunning! He worked magic. The price: R250 (about 30 dollars)!!

I’m falling more in love with my haircut as the day progresses. It’s so light and easy. I still do a double take at my reflection and am surprised when I reach back there, but it’s super fun and I look nearly my own age! Even though I was a bit anxious, I never doubted my decision. I knew this is what I wanted. I considered waiting until I got home, but what’s the sense in waiting? Besides, I’m taking so much of Cape Town with me, it’s nice to leave a little something of myself behind.

Happy Birthday Pippa (and LMJ!)

6/20/09
This morning we woke up to a movie being filmed on top of the building next door. For at least four hours they shot the same scene: A guy walks out onto the rooftop. Four hours.

I ran my trail at Table Mountain and took care of some admin in the morning. Around noon Lucy, Pippa and I went to the waterfront. Pippa turns 21 today and she wanted a new dress for going out this evening. We had lunch at Hildebrand in the sun by the water. We shared a bottle of sparkling wine. Lucy told me that Champagne comes from The Champagne region in France, and is the only place it originates from. Thus, true champagne is so expensive everywhere because of importing prices. Most bubbly drinks are actually “sparkling wine”, but are essentially the same thing (just much cheaper). I guess I knew that, but never really thought about or paid much attention.

Back home, we got ready to celebrate Pippa’s birthday properly. We started with Champagne..sparkling whine actually…and cake on the roof. Her roommates decorated with balloons and banners. From their a whole bunch of us had dinner at Saigon on Kloof st. We were pretty obnoxious by nature, and only made worse by Lucy’s prompting “Happy Birthday” every 10 minutes or so. Luckily, their weren’t many other patrons. Saigon is a Vietnamese restaurant. The food was decent and I was served the most beautifully presented sushi I’ve ever seen.

that leaf in the corner is the wasabi

From dinner, we migrated to Long St. We started at Zula where a band was playing. I was introduced to a “springbok”. Not only an antelope and mascot of the rugby league here in South Africa, but also a delicious shot. It has a mint chocolate flavor. There was a band playing at Zula, but when they finished we moved on to the next venue. We walked up about 2 blocks to Marvel, famous for it’s dancing. I had heard this was the place to be for dancing as they have the best music. What this place was lacking, however, was a dance floor. In fact, for a place synonymous with dancing, it wasn’t a very accommodating venue at all. The front was very narrow; lined by a bar and a row of booths. The back area was a game room. I was about to ask why and where people would dance here when Lucy answered my question. She got up on the booths and began dancing. After a few moments, she reached for Pippa who joined her. Before long, we were all up there and every booth was occupied with dancers. We had such a blast. It was nice to be off the hot and over crowded floor, you would never see a scene like that at any club in the states.

Lion's Head at Sunset

6/19/09
Annalise called me this morning to say that she had been up sick all night. Shame. Dana was going into Sara Fox today so at least I had a carpool partner! Except that I got about 400 feet from Red Cross before I realized that she wasn’t going to Red Cross...and I didn't exactly know where Sara Fox was. After driving around town and trying to call sara fox, we finally called Gabby who led us in the right direction. That beetle has seen it all.

After work Dana and I agreed to hike Lion’s Head for sunset. She hadn’t hiked it yet, and I hadn't yet seen the sunset from there. We asked around and ended up with a group of 5: Myself, Dana, Chiristine (her roommate), Sarah and her dad. Dana was willing to try the chain portion of the hike (straight up instead of around), but the others backed out. She started up and almost reconsidered, but I coached her through it and she did fabulous.

We made it to the top in just under an hour. We had enough time for a quick picnic, and a photo shoot before finding a comfortable spot to watch the sun go down. While we were taking pictures, I saw an opportunity for an amazing shot. Dana was sitting on a rock with the sun setting behind her. I moved slightly to the right and had her perfectly enough line to have the sun divinely silhouetting her. The result was breathtaking and we each took a turn outdoing each other on poses. I think I won with my Airplane, a yoga balance pose…

Roibos = Delicious

6/18/09
After work I ran near table mountain and then headed up the street for a Tea research group. A company is in it’s trial period of selling RedEspresso, expressed Roibos tea. I was excited to check this out as I have come to love Roibos tea. It translates to “Red Tea” and comes from a tea leave indigenous to the Western Cape of South Africa. They have found a way to break down the tea leaves small enough to put through an espresso machine. Thus making, cappuccino, lattes and similar “coffee style” drinks. The drinks are all caffeine free, completely natural, and packed with antioxidants. I found the hot drinks to be just ok, if I want to drink tea, I want to drink it like TEA. However, the iced drinks were out of this world. My favorite is “Fresh Red.” It’s red espresso iced and mixed with apple juice. It’s just amazing. We each got a free package of the grounds. I plan on taking it home and experimenting for myself! I was also informed that they are in the process of selling to some coffee shops in Boston. I would just love to see Roibos in the states! Then I can stop wondering how I’m going to have it shipped to me…

After our tea, I stopped over Doug’s to say goodbye to him. He leaves tomorrow for Italy, and will be there for 19 days. We exchanged some last few photos, had some tea, and parted ways. This “goodbye” thing is getting really old.

3 Months: A Transiently Significant Amount of Time

6/17/09
I really understood how soon I am going home today. We had a great day at work. The sisters and children were in a great mood. The sisters love to teach me Afrikaans. They think I have a nice accent and pick it up well. Their response is to teach me the “not so proper” words. I don’t mind, because they get such a big kick out of it. I’ve come to know these women so well, and have enjoyed the privilege of working with them. 3 months is a long time to spend in once place. What’s more, as the child life team depleted, I worked more consistently with the medical team. The staff at RCCH might have limited resources, but they are tremendously dedicated and skilled in their work. They save and improve the lives of children everyday. The entire community at RCCH has been inspiring and humbling. The families offer just as much inspiration in the ways theat they look after each other and their children. I feel so blessed to have been welcomed so warmly into this place. Implementing the child life program, for the medical team, meant a change in practice, tolerance, and a willingness to learn something new and make big adjustments. Not only did the team take all of these things in stride, but they regard us with just as much respect as they would any other team member. I will truly truly miss having these men and women in my life.

Sarah’s dad arrived earlier this week and offered to take us out to dinner. We went to the Codfather in Camp’s Bay. What a novel idea! It is a raw buffet. Entirely seafood, you pick out the pieces you want, then they grill it and bring it to your table. I had hangklip, a very popular fish in South Africa, butterfish and a type of prawn (shrimp). It was all mouthwatering! We then shared Malva pudding and a chocolate brownie dessert. Yet, another fabulously delicious meal in South Africa!

One Giant Hike and One Small Banana

6/16/09
Today was Youth Day in Cape Town, a public holiday. I learned last night that the holiday commemorates a group of students who protested against being forced to learn Afrikaans in school. Many students were killed in the protest.

I had been hoping to do a big hike for my day off. Luckily, Doug was thinking similar and we planned to meet up in the am. When I got to his house, he suggested we hike Devils Peak. The icon that is Cape Town consists of Table Mountain and a peak on either side of her. The one to the right is Lion’s Head. The one on the left is Devil’s Peak. Devil’s peak was the only one of the 3 I haven’t experienced yet, so I was thrilled by the idea. Had I known the saga that was ahead of me I would have stocked up on sandwhiches, but alas I had no idea. We started at a UCT campus and started up a steep but fairly basic, grassy trail. The weather was mostly sunny, but dark clouds spotted the skies. When the trail led more into the woods, the rain started to fall. Because of the rain from the previous night, there were waterfalls all along the trail running down the rocks and cliffs. It was a marvelous site. Coming out of the woods, we got a fantastic view of the city. Whenever I think I’ve seen all there is to see in Cape Town, I am utterly proven wrong.

The next part of the hike was straight up. It zig zagged slightly, but very slightly. The trek consisted of a steep uphill climb. And when I thought it couldn’t get steeper, it did. And when I thought I couldn’t possibly go any further, I did. Doug kept striking up conversation. Jamie was always better at keeping conversational pace with Doug. I thought IIIII was a talker, but the two of them make me seem like a mute. I’m not sure which was more exhausting, Doug or the trail! Luckily, he has many other redeeming qualities.

By the time we reached the steepest part of the trail, I would have thrown in the towel if at that moment I didn’t see the top. I asked Doug if that was it, and (to my dismay) he said we were only 2/3 of the way up. I couldn’t believe it. However, the trail did peak at the top and the view was enough to fuel me onward. The top was pretty flat, we were in what’s called “the saddle” of Devil’s Peak and Table. Devil’s Peak was to our right and Table was on our left. Lions Head was on the other side of that. We were otherwise surrounded by city and ocean. The table cloth was hovering stubbornly over Table, and I privately asked Mother Nature to move it long enough to give me a proper glimpse at one of her finest works. Even though I was tired and worn (and starving!), we pressed on. Finally at the top of Devil’s peak, I stood at the beacon and took in the marvelous view. I could see EVERYTHING. Devil’s Peak was the toughest hike I’ve done, thus far, but the view made it all worth it. At this point the sun had made its way out, but it was still quite cold way up there.

doug at the top

We started our descent down and as we passed through the boulders at the top, I got a glimpse of Table. The cloth had lifted and I had a proper view of her sheer flatness. There is something so beautiful about that mountain; the clean cut of her plateau. It was awesome to see her from a different angle and I privately thanked Mother Nature for the opportunity.

The trek down proved a challenge in its own way. Doug led us down the other side of the peak. It was incredibly steep and all rock. I love the adrenaline rush of being on the edge of a cliff. I also love rock climbing, so I thoroughly enjoyed the task. I noticed the green reserve area where the animals that we see every morning on the way to work are. Doug told me there used to be a zoo on the other side of the hill. The zoo is no longer but they keep the animals since they have become such an icon to locals and tourists alike. I was also on the side of the mountain that suffered the most from the forest fire earlier in the year. It was devastating to see the blackened branches and soot up close, but inspiring to see the (almost florescent) green sprouting beneath it.

a burn survivor

After nearly 5 hours, 1L of water and our one banana each, we made our way back to the parking lot. I had no idea we'd be hiking for 5 hours and therefore, had not brought a sufficient supply of food. I seriously considered turning around a couple times, but my competitive side perservered. There was a tea garden at the base, and we side-tracked there for some much needed sustenance. We cleared our plates in record time and headed to the car. The sun made for a gorgeous day and I spent the rest of it relaxing and eating with my roommates.

waterfall near the base of the trail

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

To All The Wonderful Dad's Out There,

I hope today is a happy one! To Kevin, Grampy, and the Dad's in my family- I hope you are getting spoiled. I'm sending big hugs and lots of love from the Southern Hemisphere.

To my Dad- thanks for always encouraging me to follow my heart and experience the most out of life. Your undying support gives me the courage to do just that.

An Evening Around Town

6/15/09
After work I ran the base trail at Table mountain. My running has become noticeably stronger. I’m sure it has to do with all the hills and hiking I’ve exposed myself to. As I was on the trail, with Table mountain behind me and the ocean in front of me, I remembered a conversation I had with Doug and Jamie a while back. We were talking about our experience in Cape Town. I brought up how most of us in the program set out on this experience on our own. We agreed that it was dissapointing not to be able to share Cape Town with anyone. What the three of us surmised was that no one is ever truly alone. Moreover, what you take from Cape Town will be with you forever; because it changes you, it becomes a part of you. I will indirectly share South Africa with everyone I meet from here on out.

I went down to mugged today for proper internet and a light pre-dinner dinner. Doug called to invite me to hang out. He and Debbie’s group were going to Kauai for dinner and an improve comedy show. I had wanted to check out Kauai for some time and when I have I ever turned down a comedy event?! Kauai is a healthy fast food restaurant. Everything is made fresh. They do a lot of wraps and salads and smoothies. The food was all really good and really cheap. I have a carribean chicken wrap for R34! There were pinapples and peppers and rice and other delicious things in it.

The comedy event was held at the UCT campus here in town. The theatre was very small, seating only about 50 people or so. The show was exactly like “whose line is it anyway?” Where the actors form teams to perform a serious of improve games. They called it, “Theatre Sports”. Some of us were actual judges and rated each performance (even though the points didn’t matter at all). For amateaurs, it was pretty funny stuff.

Afterwards we all went to Doug’s place for tea and dessert. Some of us played a few rounds of “spit”. Here, they call it “speed”. My cousin, Abbie and I used to play that game for hours on end…along with many other card games. It reminded me of her and summers at Hampton Beach. I can’t believe that by the time I get home she will be mere weeks away from being a MOM. That’s crazy…and incredibly exciting!!

Sell Everything

6/14/09
I attended Murray’s church service with him and his family this morning. He had invited me last week since it he was leaving for the states tomorrow to begin his Mercy Ships adventure. His church held a commissioning service for him and he said a few things about Mercy Ships. Murray attends a Baptist church and even though I am not a Baptist myself, I was happy to support Murray and have the opportunity to wish him well. Because I don’t practice any specific religion myself, I am always open to learning about others.

The service was mostly music, which I think is a really fun way to run a service. I might have preferred some Jack Johnson or Mary J, but it was far more tolerable and easier to follow than the whole sit, stand, kneel song and dance.

Murray delivered a great presentation on Mercy Ships and its mission. He showed a very moving video to accompany his talk. I almost considered boarding the ship myself! I had the honor of taking photos.

Henry, a good friend of Murrays from the ship, gave a wonderful sermon on missions and callings and the like. A past chaplain on the ship, he spoke easily and his messages were captivating. Henry talked for about 30 minutes, and I took away two very profound words: “Sell everything.” Henry spoke at length to explain this according to the bible, but this is my personal interpretation. When we are driven to do something, there are often many things that stand in our way. To sell everything is to give up everything we have and know and are comfortable with to dedicate ourselves fully to our “mission” in life. Henry assured us that “God will not take anything from you he can’t return.”

I couldn’t help but feel like that message was directed to me. I thought about, first of all, coming here. This project is something I have always dreamed of doing. All signs pointed to “yes” that I should come here. The lease on my apt, my vacation time, the United States HQ of Connect being in Winthrop! Even still, there were so many things in my way, the biggest being finances and my job. I knew all along that fulfilling this dream would mean giving up stability, reassurance, friends and family, and the comfort that I had fallen into in Boston. I weighed my decision for countless hours. I remember the exact moment that I decided to go for it. It was a sudden feeling that it was the right thing to do, that it was my calling. I was walking home from the train station and listening to my ipod. The next song that played was Jason Mraz, Make It Mine. The first verse says, “Wake up everyone. How can you sleep at a time like this, unless the dreamer is the real you? Listen to your voice, the one that tells you to taste past the tip of your tongue. Leap and the net will appear.” There was definitely a force bigger than myself pulling me in this direction; telling me, “go for it. The rest will fall into place.”

This “sell everything” concept can be applied to even life’s smallest decisions. If you feel compelled to something; something you feel strongly about, you can’t let anything stand in your way. We must make the effort, venture out of our comfort zones and take risks in order to grow and be successful. The bigger the effort, the bigger the challenge, the bigger the success.

jamie and some of our coworkers

A 1304 Outing

6/10/09
Today was the slowest Wednesday I’ve experienced at RCCH. There were only 8 outpatients, on top of our 15 or so inpatients. The morning and afternoon passed fluidly and the atmosphere was cheery. This could also be due to the weather. It was abnormally warm for June today. The temps were in the 70s! After work the roomies and I piled in the beetle and headed to Camp’s Bay. Since it’s the winter season here, there weren’t many people on the beaches (including obnoxious vendors). I took a small, but much needed, nap while the tide came in and South Africans conversed around us. These people possess a truly beautiful accent. It is so graceful and fluid. It’s also very soothing. It is probably my favorite accent in the whole world, and I will sorely miss being surrounded by it.

Once the sun began to set, we went to Tuscany’s for a cocktail. Sitting outside, we were entertained by a guitarist who sang Bob Marley songs. I shouldn’t really say “sang” though, because what he was doing wasn’t really singing. He was all over the place, up and down the tables. He was dancing and spinning and changing the pitch and accent of his voice randomly. At first we were confused, then a bit disturbed. In the end we were just laughing uncontrollably. It was hilarious. In 2 and a half months, he was the first street performer I gave money to.

It Comes With Time

6/9/09
Jenny mentioned at our weekly pain management meeting that UCT is showing a strong interest in preparing a qualification/education program in child life. This is really exciting news since it falls in line with the goals for this child life project.

It has been incredible to watch this program grow and progress. Everything has gone according to plan and has been more successful than we dreamed. I never doubted the success of this program, but what I didn’t expect was to meet so many wonderful people. Some of them have made me question myself and the way I live my life. Many of them have become treasured friends, and all of them have made me a better person.

I had wanted to talk with the staff for the last couple weeks about the pre-meds they give the kids before theatre. They are often completely sedated, and thus unavailable for any prep and education. Over the last couple weeks there have been children that I thought could benefit from education but are, instead, passed out all morning only to be woken up to a mask over their face. Jenny was, to no surprise, completely on board and we made a plan to address this.

I also brought up the use of the treatment room for "educational" and meeting purposes. My only issue is when a group of people crowd around a child and just stare, or worse: with horrified looks on their faces. I suggested that they be "prepped" before entering the room and when possible, stand behind the child instead of at their feet. Again, the team was entirely supportive.

After work Annalise and I picked up a new girl, Dana, from Sara Fox. Sara Fox is a residential home for children, many of them need medical care. Every now and then kids from C2 are sent to Sara Fox and transported back and forth for further treatment. As a team, we had discussed visiting Sara Fox and possibly continuing work with the children while they are there. Before heading home, I decided to stop by Pick-N-Pay. Since Dana and Annalise were already in the car, I asked them if they wanted to go as well. Suddenly my car was packed with 5 other people and myself. As we were all trooping in Annalise said, "Aw I love group shopping trips it's so much more fun!" I agreed. I agreed because I remembered pick-n-pay trips with my friends. As I watched them all bustle around the fruit and cereals and cookies, I felt like I was watching a rerun of my life 3 months ago. I suddenly realized the cyclical reality that was taking place: New connect people were suddenly everywhere I looked. They were learning about how to weigh fruit and what color milk was the one they drink back home (and what the hell was it doing in a bag?!). Then, there was me, on the other side. It's probably the closest thing I'll ever feel to being a "native" amongst "tourists" here. What brought it all home was their reaction to my shopping. I hadn't realized they had seen me in the check-out. They were saying "you're such a smart shopper...I saw your cart, you totally know what you're doing...How did you do that so fast?" At first, I was taken aback--way back. I stammered and then laughed because it really didn't register. The only thing I could say was, "It comes with time." I know ‘life goes on’...but I've never actually seen it 'go on' while I'm still present.

After putting my groceries away I hiked lion's head. The weather was PERFECT for a hike and I was itching to get out. I love having mountains in my back (and front) yard. Hiking is something I really enjoy. I made it to the top of Lion’s Head in 33 minutes. On the top I laid on a rock at the ledge and closed my eyes to listen to the waves. It was fantastic. I find myself wavering between wanting to go home and wanting to stay here. My hikes have given me a lot of time to think. When I’m on the mountains, above the city and alone with my thoughts, I’m in a remarkably calm and centered place. I feel like I can do anything after I hike. It makes me feel strong and incredibly independent. The mountains and the oceans are two things I am desperately sad to leave behind. I could hike these mountains and sit on these beaches everyday for the rest of my life and not tire of them. They are beautiful, fun, and unbelievably soothing. Mother Nature has given Cape Town some of her best work. I feel closer to her and her magic here than I have anywhere else. Even just running the base trails gives me an overwhelming feeling of happiness. Maybe there are amphetamines in the air...

taking in the view of seapoint from the top of lion's head

54 Minutes!

6/8/09
The hallway where are office is at RCCH is bustling. It’s a very small hallway, but in the beginning we had the 3 rooms to ourselves and spread out. Two of the rooms are meant to be offices while the 3rd is meant to be a procedure room. We have the majority of our stuff in the first office. We use the sink in the procedure room to clean our toys and we lay them out to dry in the second office space. A new pain management director has started in the last few weeks and her office will be in our hallway. Her name is Angie. She's nice, and really interested in what we do, but she's kind of abrasive and headstrong. She and her boss have been preparing the "procedure room" for actual use. I have been rearranging and reorganizing our space. We can still use the procedure room to clean the toys but we will have to lay them out in our office. This is actually not an issue at all. We have a significant amount of space, especially by Child life standards.

Annalise revisited G1 (cancer unit) again today. Ever since my referral for a drip (IV) preparation, we’ve been working to develop rapport on that unit. It was that pt who not only requested that we return, but he also requested the return of Craig, the teddy bear we used in the session. The sisters are beginning to recognize us and we are getting to know a few of the other children there. Today we ended up in the grassy courtyard just outside the unit. It was an absolutely beautiful day, and perfect for outside play. Before we knew, there was a swarm of children out there tossing balls, blowing bubbles, playing UNO, and mending Craig.

Since it was nice out, I decided to hike up Platteklip a second time. I aimed to beat my previous record of 1 hr and 11 minutes. I did it in 54 minutes and 11 seconds! It was tough work, that’s for certain. I pushed myself incnredibly hard and just kept moving the entire time. That trail is the longest and steepest trail I’ve ever hiked. What’s more, about 85% of it is the sun. I was completely wasted by the time I reach the top. However, my time and the views rejuvenated me. I am still overwhelmed by the views up there. Cape Town is truly a gorgeous gorgeous place. The combination of mountain and ocean make for a sight that there are no words for.

Kirstenbosch

6/7/09
I slept in way late today. It felt nice to relax and not rush out for anything. Doug and I had talked about having lunch with his dad and brother, Bruce, who was in town for a business meeting. Doug came by just before 1:00p and we set off to meet his dad and brother at the Royal Cape Yacht Club. It was a clear, sunny day so we sat outside on the dock while we ate. Doug’s brother is nothing like him; much more serious and strongly opinionated. Our meal was fabulous and the weather perfect. It was a great way to start a Sunday.

After lunch, Doug and I went to Kirstenbosch. Kirstenbosch is the most famous botanical garden in all of Africa. It’s not hard to see why. It’s enormous and the fynbos is stunning. With the Table Mountain mountain range as a back drop, the gardens hold brick walkways, forest trails, fountains and natural springs. We had a nice, relaxing walk as the sun set on the weekend. Doug showed me the spot where they buried his mother’s ashes. What a lovely resting place. I was grateful that he shared that with me and he talked about how much he misses her. I can’t imagine what it must be like to lose a parent, and my heart goes out to him. We walked Kirstenbosch for a couple hours before heading back into the city. It was a rejuvenating weekend and I feel ready to tackle the week ahead.

tree hugger

Muizenburg

6/6/09
I finally got to sleep in this am. I literally can’t remember the last time I was able to do that. Every weekend has been jam packed this past month. I wouldn’t change a moment of it. I’ve done so many great things and hey, I’ll sleep when I’m dead, but it was nice to relax.

Sarah went on the connect sponsored “wacky wine” camping trip weekend, and Lucy is still in Zimbabwe for work. With the place to myself, I got out of bed at my leisure and went about my morning. Doug phoned just before noon and we made a plan to get my car sorted out. He also invited me to see a play at Camp’s Bay Theatre that evening with him and his Dad. I thought it sounded like the sweetest idea, and was excited to see a South African play. That’s something I love to do back home and had wanted to check out the scene here.

FYE: Doug arrived at perspectives and I went down to meet him. Because it was abnormally warm, I seized the opportunity to wear shorts. As I sat in the car, there was a massive tearing sound and I felt a burst of cool air up my leg. I looked down and my shorts had, indeed, pop-ripped open exposing my entire thigh. It wasn’t even on the seem, just straight up the middle of my right thigh. Doug’s response: “Oh my sack!” The poor guy was so puzzled. He struggled between curiosity and being a gentleman. The gentleman in him always prevails! We laughed and I ran up to change. Well, there’s one less thing I have to pack to go home!

Doug and I rocked up at Simon’s to check on the bug. Because it was nighttime, I hadn’t realized the previous night that he lives practically in the parking lot of RCCH! The beetle didn’t start at all. The boys looked at her for a moment before we all decided not to play around with her. I called my rental guy and he made his way over. While we waited, we had tea and relaxed at Simon’s. His neighbors popped by, his girlfriend (or “Cherry” as they say) also stopped by with her 2 year old daughter. They were both adorable. Doug chased the little girl around until he was out of breath. She of course, thought he was the best thing since sippy cups. He was plodding around like a goon, giving us all a good laugh. When he finally stopped, he stood by us and said, “That’s how I normally run, too.”

Turns out the bug needed a new battery and had disconnected a few (apparently very important) wires. I attribute that to the bumpy road I stalled out on. Once she was road ready, and our tea cups were empty, Doug and I made an on-the-spot plan to drive to Muizenburg. He really gets a kick out of my car and was anxious to give me some more proper driving lessons. I let him drive there. He was like a little boy in a dune buggy. We had such a laugh driving to the beach. The car just caters to entertainment, it feels like driving a go-cart at a sketchy amusement park. Oh and the horn! Hah! That might be the most tickling sound I’ve ever heard. Ehver!

At Muizenburg we parked by the ocean, a populated sort of boardwalk, and got some lunch. Doug told me that Muizenburg beach is where everyone goes to learn how to surf. And that means EVERYONE. I’ve never seen so many surfers on one beach. We ate a place called Knead. I had a tasty feta, butternut squash and pumpkin seed salad, while Doug had some South African chicken curry bunny something.

With full bellies, we walked the length of the beach. This beach is made famous by its brightly colored guest houses that line the sand. They are small, boxy, houses raised on pillars used as changing rooms and storage areas for the multitude of surfers and beach goers. The primary colors, sun, sand and ocean make them the most fantastic photograph subjects. We explored a little more before retreating back to the bug. It was now my turn to drive. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous. I felt much more comfortable with her everyday, but still not entirely confident, and I was in a new area…a high traffic area. However, I realize that the only way to get good at something is to practice, and the only way to practice is to just jump right in and do it. Doug’s mechanism for teaching was to put his foot over mine and the clutch. He felt awful stepping on my foot and apologized each time, but it was the best thing anyone could have done. After about 3 pull-aways and some helpful hints (like beetles need to be revved a lot) the experience of driving my beetle became and entirely different one. Suddenly the ride was smooth, easy, and NOT stressful. Doug and I implemented the “visiualization” technique. At each stop light I would visualize the perfect clutch release, and it worked!

Once back in Cape Town, I headed back to my place to change for the show. Doug’s father, Gordon and I met up at Doug’s house and headed to Camp’s Bay. I hadn’t been to Camp’s Bay since everyone left. Looking at the view (my most favorite one), took me back to a time in Cape Town that not only seemed ages ago, but worlds apart. My Cape Town experience can be divided up into completely separate people, experiences, and personal lessons. The first lesson I learned was about finding what I loved most about life; being able to help others and really making a change. I also learned about culture and sociology. Not only at the hospital and in the city, but among my group of friends. Cape Town is spewing with diversity…and so are my friends.

My next experiences were widely focused on living in the moment and embracing life. I practiced this in yoga and applied it to my adventures and people that surrounded me. My experiences were spontaneous, full, and always fun. I learned about the comfort of good friends and how to maintain a balance between them and my independence.

I am only in the beginning of my third, and probably final, stage of my Cape Town experience. It’s very much about myself; what I want out of life, and what I can contribute to RCCH. I am fully and officially immersed in South African culture. I hang out with Doug and his friends almost everyday. I am eating and drinking at local places, hanging out in different houses, driving and learning the roads, and am surrounded completely by natives, instead of foreigners. I am exposed to things most tourists aren’t. Driving through Camp’s Bay and the Waterfront with Doug and his father, I saw that this month’s Camp’s Bay and waterfont were completely different than my first month’s Camp’s Bay and waterfront. The waterfront actually made me a little disgusted. It seemed nauseatingly touristy. I remembered my first day there, I thought it was absolutely fabulous.

The play was great. It was called, The Insatiables, and it was about a feud between three male friends competing for CEO of a company. They were now middle aged men, having been friends since grade school (they call it “standard” –standard 8, standard 9). They spend their childhood scheming ways to make money and defying corrupt authority. There were only 3 characters. Two of the guy friends and their therapist. They were presenting there case before a judge. The play was mainly flashbacks and story telling. It was clever, witty, and entertaining. It was a good thing I was seeing the play at this stage of my trip. The language and culture was so completely South African that there was no way I could have followed the story in my first month of being here.

After the play we had a light dinner at Camp's Bay before heading back to Doug’s. I think I’ve won Gordon over and made up for the weary traveler that met him at the base of Table Mountain a couple weeks ago. Doug and I went to a local bar near his house called, “Home.” I find this such a clever name for a bar...We stayed for one drink before calling it a night. One thing that’s great about driving a manual car is that it keeps me awake at night. No matter how tired I’ve been the last few nights, I’m as awake as I’ve ever been when driving that car.

Beetle Break Down

6/5/09
One of the girls in the program, Deborah, left for home (Ireland) today. Since lucy has been in Zimbabwe and Deborah had to be out of her apartment by the 1st, she had been staying in Lucy’s room. She was great company and a fine roommate. As a parting “thank you” she got Sarah and I some muffins from Mugged. When I saw that one of them was a chocolate muffin, Deborah quickly became my most favorite person in the whole entire world. Sarah hadn’t tried the chocolate one before so I was excited to show her what she’s been missing. She found it just as delicious as I did and we tackled it. That muffin didn’t stand a chance. We lounged around the apartment enjoying our muffin and listening to the rain. It has been miserable for days. Sarah said that she felt like she could sleep for days. I told her the weather can make you feel that way. But this muffin, thankfully, makes me feel like I could fly.

This evening I set out to meet Doug and his friend Simon near Doug’s house (in Rondebosch). I plugged the address into the GPS and set out. I ended up down some desolate street lined with warehouses. I called Doug and we desperately tried to figure out where I was. The GPS was failing us miserably. For some reason, it wasn’t picking up a signal and thus, useless. To make the situation more dramatic, the beetle stalled out and wouldn’t start again. Doug struggled to maintain patient, and he did so remarkably. I could tell he was just really uncomfortable with me being lost and feeling helpless. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little scared sitting in my car and waiting. True to his nature, Doug came rushing to my aid in no time. Simon jumped out of the passenger seat and came up to my open door, “See you’re having some trouble here.” He had a scruffy, surfer look to him, and I thought immediately, I love this guy. He and Doug attempted to get the beetle going to no avail. The solution was to tow it. This doesn’t mean you call AAA. This means you tie a rope from one car to the other. Simon sat in my car (someone needed to steer and break, of course!) while Doug and I did the towing in his car. The first time I saw this was in the bush on safari…and I thought it was bush (limited resources, fend-for-yourself) thing. But I have seen a number of people doing this around town as well. Cops don’t even look twice. I found it pretty amusing…and kind of ingenious. We avoided so much wasted time and money with that system. However, I can imagine the mess doing something like that on a regular basis would cause. Still, another once-in-a-lifetime experience.

We left the beetle at Simon’s house since it was the closest, and headed on to meet Doug’s other friend, Mark, at a local pub. When we arrived, Doug swooped me over his shoulders and brought me into the bar. He told the girls waiting in the doorway, “This is the only way I can get her to go out with me.” I had to admit that that’s funny stuff.

Foresters was ridiculously crowded. It’s one of Doug’s favorite pubs because a lot of his friends are always there. It was a big place, with both indoor and outdoor seats. Tonight, there was a big cricket match going on and the crowd was rowdy. I know next to nothing about cricket so I don’t know the details, but I gathered that it was a very suspenseful, very riveting game. The side that the majority of the bar was rooting for won the match. I tried to understand the sport as we enjoyed pizza.

Afterwards Doug and I went to his friend John’s place to meet up with Debbie and those guys. I had met a few of the people that were there in Montagu that weekend. We sat around and ate custard and other various desserts. It was interesting to see Doug over the course of three days, hang out with 3 very different groups of people. Each group highlighted a different aspect of Doug’s personality. In turn, each group responded differently to him as well…it was fun to be a part of and reminded me of my own social groups. I try to surround myself with people who are different than me; people who can teach me things and keep me on my toes and thinking and learning. I enjoy meeting new people and discovering what they can add to my life. I over heard someone say once that, at our age (late 20s) we already have our core friends and that we aren’t going to really make any new ones anymore. I think that’s crap. I think you never know where or when you are going to meet someone who means a lot to you and makes footprints in your life. I also think that it can happen quickly; quick enough that it can be when your 12 or when your 80 and that person would have a very profound effect on your life.

memories...

Nil Per Mouth

6/4/09
At work today one of the boys was scheduled for theatre. It was the older of the 2 boys who have been with us for the last 3 months. He has been to theatre several times and struggles with the “no eating” rule. Here in South Africa they say Nil Per Mouth (NPM). The last time this patient had theatre, he snuck some chocolate and they post-poned him 6 hours. Jamie and I each reiterated the reason for not eating before theatre. The doctors and sisters also talked with him. Apparently none of it really helped because he ate again this morning before his theatre. The sisters really came down on him and I did my best to intervene. His theatre was rescheduled for the following day.

NPM

DON'T FEED ME

I got my car today!!! When we got out at 1, Deon pulled up in a light blue VW Beetle. Annalise and I got in and he took us back to his place to take care of the admin. On the way, he showed me “the ways of the beetle”. I learned, during that ride, that beetles are distinctive cars, especially the old ones. After all the admin was out of the way, it was my turn to get behind the wheel and take us home. I only stalled out a few times.

After work I went to Mugged for a snack and proper internet. The display of muffins looked delicious, and I realized why Jamie made a point to add it to the bucket list. Since the one we had was the bran, I went for the chocolate. It was the best idea I’ve had…maybe ever! That muffin was absolutely mouthwatering, and as I type this right now, I wish I had one.

Pippa invited a bunch of us to boxing with her. She has been going pretty regularly and highly recommended it. Keeping up my streak of activity and trying new things, I joined her. It was a pretty intense workout. We started the class by skipping rope for 15 minutes. That was the worst part of the whole night. When did I ever think jumping rope was fun?! And why is it advertised as a toy?!! We then did a series of cardio; jumping medicine balls and an ab workout. Afterwards, the instructor pulled me into the ring and taught me how to Jab, One-Two, and One-Two-Hook. I learned how to stand, balance and protect myself. We then spent the remainder of the class on the bags. It felt surprisingly good to beat up the bag. In between bags, we did push ups and more abs. The workout was a really good one and a great release. I hope to return again.

Doug called earlier to invite me out with some of his friends. We hadn’t been in touch since the weekend and he was calling to make sure I was going “ok” on my own. I thought it was sweet of him and agreed to meet him out. I got in the beetle, and ventured out. I’m starting to really get the hang of driving her and I think she’s a fabulous car. Driving a beetle is a ton of fun! After meeting up at a Thai restaurant with two other of his friends and then hanging out at his place, he rode in the passenger seat and led me around the block for a mini lesson. He gave me some tips that really made my driving a lot smoother. He taught me how to start and pull away using the hand break (important for hills). It involves a lot of coordination and is an intense thought process at first, but by the 3rd or 4th try, I did a smooth pull away. He promised me that if I could drive this beetle, I could drive any car in the world. Doug lent me his GPS for navigating my way around. Doug has always had a way of making us feel safe. It’s nice to have that kind of company around when you are essentially alone in a big and sometimes scary city.

Contemporary Fusion

6/3/09
I called around for car rentals again and found a great deal with FunCar. I have been emailing back and forth with the guy running the business and will hopefully arrange for me to have a car by tomorrow afternoon. I told him I wanted the cheapest available, which most likely means a beetle; an original beetle. It also means a manual car. I only hope that my basic training in stick driving will be enough…

My roommate Sarah is an avid dancer and has been for most of her life. She had been looking for a studio to take classes at and I told her I’d join her if she found anything. Earlier this week she found a “contemporary fusion” class being taught at UCT (University of Cape Town). I was absolutely wiped after work today, so I came home and took a nap. I’m tired most Wednesdays after work, but this week was especially draining. Aside from the physical demands, I had a lot emotional exhaustion as well with being on my own, orienting Annalise, and a busy work week.

I woke up just in time to change and call a cab for our dance class. I learned that contemporary fusion is not exactly my style of dance, but still enjoyable. I was feeling a little self-conscious walking into the class. Dancing is a much larger part of culture here in South Africa, so I was certain I would be made to look a fool, but there were people of all levels in the class, and I felt welcomed and comfortable as soon as the class got underway. The moves were very fluid and asked that we be entirely loose and flexible. Both of which I am not entirely (especially this week). None-the-less, we had a lot of fun, met some cool people, and got a really good workout. The instructor had a fabulous accent, and listening to her lead us through the moves made the experience that much more enjoyable. I came home, had some dinner, and even after (my previous) hour nap and coffee, was still in bed at a decent hour.

Solo at RCCH

6/1/09
Today was my first official day of work on my own. I certainly had my work cut out for me. I got a cab early to be there for the AKA surgery. To my dismay, they had taken her early and she was already in theatre by the time I arrived. Initially, I gave myself a really hard time about this. I told myself that it was out of my control, and that she was probably too sedated to recognize my presence anyway. It helped a little, but it was not how I envisioned my first day on my own. I kept saying Caroline would have been there. She would have made it. I remembered a little later that the reason I came in over the weekend was because of the heavy medication she would receive early Monday. That helped a little more. I went on to check on the children in C2. There were two other patients scheduled for theatre that I needed to be there for. I checked in with the first one and she had gone the previous day (Sunday!) instead. At least Jamie had prepped her and mom on Friday, but I was not doing well. I only had one strike left before admitting defeat. I headed to the end of the hallway to find the other patient passed out in his bed (this is a boy who is up at the first light of dawn, and sprints down the hall at the first sight of child life). I would have hit the floor, but I was not about to allow the day to be a total failure without at least a fight. I went to his bed and stirred him gently. To my surprise (and utter delight) he perked right up! He was happy to see me but I could tell the meds were well underway. I took out my “tools” and he remained engaged for the entire session. It also helped that he was familiar with the hospital, the staff, and was expecting the impending theatre visit. I was able to stay with him right up until the very last minute and the anaesthetist (yes, that’s how they spell it here) gave me the ok to leave. I felt marginally better about the day.

It was weird being there on my own. I felt surrounded by the good vibes of my past co-workers and saw them everywhere I went. I felt ready to make this into the program we all dreamed it to be, ready to guide our new volunteer (who starts tomorrow), and ready to make my coming here well worth it.

I met Annalise this evening. She came by our apartment for a run-down on the program and to coordinate our transportation. She was just adorable. She bounced into our apartment all excitement and smiles. I gave her a general overview of the ward and our duties, and what I planned for her. She was agreeable and eager to start. We arranged to get a cab in the morning. I would really like to get a car. Doug has suggested a cheap place, but when I ran it by Connect, they didn’t think it was the smartest option. Melanie emailed me some places to check out, so I will be doing some research. I’m a little nervous about driving a manual, but it’s the cheaper option by about HALF. Will certainly make this trip that much more of an adventure!

Sunday at the Beach

5/31/09
Today I accompanied Doug on a SCUBA rescue lesson. It was interesting. We started the morning at Olympia Bakery in Kalk Bay. I had a wonderful cup of coffee and a delicious feta and spinach croissant. It’s true, I have (finally) become a coffee drinker. I guess it started on the safari. Or maybe it was all the tea with lucy that started to build my caffeine immunity. In order to rev up for the early morning game drives after a rough night’s sleep, I would have a cup of Nescafe. What a beautiful thing, Nescafe. It’s very tasty and didn’t leave me with that awful, jittery feeling. I picked it up again a few weeks later to keep me going at RCCH. With a job as mentally AND physically demanding as that one, it’s no surprise. Also, the coffee and tea here is not only delicious but comes in a variety of flavors. I wouldn’t be experiencing all of Africa if I neglected this…

While Doug swam around the ocean, I sat on the beach, journaled, and mostly thought. I thought about Africa, my friends (both here and at home), my family, RCCH and other random thoughts. It was a funky day-being the first official one on my own. I am so anxious to see what this next month has in store for me. Each one, thus far, has been a world apart from the other. In April there was a whole group of us. We did everything together and planned outings and trips and adventures (small and large). Then people began leaving and May was really just Jamie and I. We spent the month comfortably and casually exploring Cape Town. We really settled in to the city and our “life” here. It was relaxed and blithe. I anticipate my last month to be autonomous and work focused. My goal is to have our program strong and steady so that Caroline, being by herself, can focus on her new role.

After his SCUBA lesson, Doug and I met some friends of his at Skebanga’s, a pub. His friends were in town with their 8 month old baby. We ordered a Mexicano pizza. It tasted like a taco. It was delicious. The place had a great atmosphere. It was nestled in a forrest of trees with the ocean just on the other side. It had a “summery” feel with it’s abundance of windows and decks. The only downside was the flies. I think flies are the dirtiest insects, and they make me want to vomit. I did a good job of trying not to think about them and enjoy the company and food. The baby offered a good distraction. She was a busy little thing and very social.

nordhoek beach from chapman's peak

After lunch, Doug and I drove out to see if we could find any beached whales from the previous Day’s accident. We were unsuccessful, but what we DID find was Nordhoek Beach. The other girls had told us about this beach they found on their road trip to Cape Point. The beach stretched for miles. Jamie and I never found it on our own trip, but here it was! It really was massive. You could barely make out the shoreline from where the beach started. Doug and I walked out a little ways to watch the waves, kite surfers, and horseback riders. It was rainy and cold so we didn’t hang out to long, but instead walked up Chapman’s Peak. Normally, a popular tourist attraction, Chapman’s Peak has been closed for months. It is a road that wraps around a mountain providing glorious views. We walked about 2 miles before reaching a gate and had to turn around. The view of Nordhoek from up there was amazing.

me and doug