Catching up from Sept 2006

Arriving in Cape Town

I have been in Cape Town for just under two months, so I thought I would write a "catch-up" entry. I am new to this blog thing, so this quick update is a simplified version of what I am seeing and experiencing with not too many details or thoughts. Consider it an account of the touristy part of my experience. Needless to say, there is much more to Cape Town and South Africa that I am discussing in the following entry and many more things I have no idea about.

Sarah and Josh with our apartment (across from the tall apartment) in the background.

Placement
After traveling with Ange (an MSW’er from Laurier), I arrived in Cape Town on September 5th and was greeted at my apartment by my Josh (another MSW’er from Laurier). To my and Ange’s surprise, we were expected at our placement at 9 AM the next morning and so life in Cape Town began…

I am doing my placement at Ikamva Labantu, a community development agency that has many different services. I work in the Family Services Sector which works with Foster Carers and children. I am involved in planning and implementing a behaviour management training program for foster mothers and facilitating a support group for foster mothers. If you have followed my work over the last few years, you’ll recognize that these projects fit perfectly with my professional interests at home. I couldn’t have asked for a better placement (in Canada or abroad).

I head to placement Monday through Friday, so that part of life is very familiar. We live one block from the ocean, which is a great motivator to walk and run after work…and as the weather gets nicer, I really don’t have any excuses not to keep in shape. Ryan has found a local pool that overlooks the ocean; he has purchased a pair of very geeky goggles and is at the pool to swim laps a few times a week. I tried to join them, but turns out I can’t swim very well, so as Ryan says "I'm more of a terrestrial being".

Sightseeing Updates

Our first road trip in SA, took Ange, Josh and I to the Cederberg. It is a beautiful park about 4 hours north of here (6 hours, if you get a flat tire, which we did). We drove through incredible smelling citrus growing areas on our way and once there, enjoyed an awesome hike that involved caving and climbing. Super cool!
Table Mountain is the backdrop for this beautiful city and something I am hoping to explore a little more while we are here. So far I have only done one hike; Ange, Josh and I climbed the PlatteKlip Gorge one Friday afternoon which led us to an amazing view of the coast and Cape Town.

This past weekend, the Canadian Quad went on a wine tour in three local wine growing areas (Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Paarl). We had a great day of wine, cheese and chocolate tasting. Belgian chocolate tasting! Oh man, I loved the wine, but the chocolate was the best!

Ryan and I also met up with my uncle and aunt (Wietze and Griet), who were Cape Town at the end of an SA tour. We had a hele gezellig day on a tour of Cape Point and then dinner at their hotel (which happened to be one block from here…what a crazy coincidence!). It was so nice to spend some time with family.

Sarah along Cederberg hike (above right) and a "family" picture at Cape Point

We hope to write more often and keep a few more people in the loop…on that note, stay tuned for more…