Zees ees mah Mama

Not many people can say they've been to a parent's graduation ceremony/celebration.  As of yesterday I can say I've been to both of my parents'.  My dad got his MBA when I was four or two (very young).  I don't remember much of that graduation.  And yesterday, my mom had her completion ceremony (a graduation ceremony of sorts) for her associates degree.

She's started getting her prereq's when I was a freshman in high school seven years ago.  And still drove me everywhere, went to all my stuff and was an awesome mom.

Congrats Mom!

Sometimes

Sometimes I wish I was a tiny little fairy thing solely for the purpose of living in one of these flowers.  And the fact that they grow in tropical climates is always a plus.

It's terminal

Since I've been home I took my camera to the doctor.  Turns out buying a new one is the exact same price as fixing it.  So I have a new toy to play with.  Good thing it doesn't work that way with children.  That would be weird.

What you'll find in a tourist market in Cape Town

Frozen dairy items in South Africa

Ice cream

Frozen yogurt

Frozen yogurt

I'd rather be here...

I just arrived back home, but there's snow and below freezing temperatures.  So here's where I'd rather be:

These are my children

I am holding my future husband here.

Most of these photos were taken by a man who lived in Blikkiesdorp (a township/slum) on one of my groups cameras.  We came into this township to interact with the kids and we had a bunch of stations set up.  Mine was story time, but I never even opened a book.  These children just want attention.  So that's exactly what we gave them. 

Tragedy Strikes

My wonderful camera turned four on Christmas.  It has been extremely good to me, but unfortunately it has taken ill and may not make it.  It's been sick for four days with no hope of getting better.  But the good news is that it will be seeing the doctor once I get home to find out if its terminal.

Cuz this is Af-ree-kah!

Fir + Palm = South African Foilage

Table(cloth) Mountain

When the clouds roll in, it looks kind of like snow on Table Mountain, but it also looks kind of like a tablecloth.

Table Mountain

I might eat that again...

 

I would just like to point out that not everybody uses Calories as the energy unit for food.  Here in South Africa, they use kilo Joules.  They also use the metric system and Celsius, but who understands that?

I know this doesn't look very good and it didn't taste very good either.  That is about as much as I ate of it.  This is Ostrich Bobotie (bowbow-tee).  It tasted like chili and there was squash on top.  Now, I don't like squash.  I also don't like chili.  Perhaps that's why I didn't like it.  I was told the ostrich burger was delicious.  Guess I should have ordered that.

PENGUINS!

This was Boulder's Beach.  There are penguins and boulders.  I was about 10 inches away from the penguins.  There were also large boulders to climb and jump off of.  So what did I do?

I climbed huge boulders with the help of my friends and a local.  I waded into the ocean and swam to another large boulder.  I climbed that boulder and sat up there for a while.

And then I jumped.

It. was. awesome.

Welkom in Suid-Afrika

(Welcome to South Africa)

So far I'm loving it.  Its been one day but its awesome.  I'm wearing shorts and I've been warned against sunburn.  When I left Chicago, there was snow. 

2012

I think there was a movie with this title.

I'll be back with some posts soon.

Like probably tomorrow.

Happy New Year!