Funny how your whole perspective on everything can change so quickly.

Before yesterday, I was loving South Africa. I would seriously consider living here if Australia wasn’t such an awesome country (I mean comeon, theres no real competition ANYWHERE ). However, yesterday afternoon two things happened that make me really wonder if I want to be here until September.

The first I didn’t learn about until quite late. At about 2:30, Ann left to go home, but to the suprise of everyone at the college arrived back at school at 3pm. About 600m down Mew Way, she had been stopped, shot at and her handbag was grabbed. She left the car and ran to a passing bus, where she learnt that the thieves hadn’t taken the car, so she got back into it and drove back to school. After half an hour of peer counciling we got her to drive home, provided that we (being about 8 of us that caught a minivan into work) form a convoy for her. Suprise suprise, her car wouldn’t start – a bullet had ripped through a coolant pipe and shattered an electrical connection. After another five minute fixer-upper, we were on the road where we found about half a dozen cop cars, and up to 20 policemen, some with bulletproof vests who had come due to a call regarding another crime by the same assailants. One of the policemen knew who it was, and as we left after reporting Ann’s little scuffle, they started to move in and bust some ass.

That shook me a little. Ann is one of the nicest people I know – a sweet natured, small, blonde scottish woman who takes the kids for life skills. She practises naturopathy and Tai Chi, and is one of the best shoulders to cry on around. If the guys who stole R50 from her yesterday only knew that, and the fact that she is now going to leave the college, putting the education of hundreds of township kids – possibly relatives of the idiots that held her up – in jeopardy.

The second thing that has made me think whether or not I really want to stay here as long as I first anticipated has been David’s own reluctance to stay here. I first heard about it a few weeks ago, but since we’ve been back at school he’s been more and more set on leaving at the end of this term (June 30) rather than in August. I think he intends to tack Asia on to his little trip, instead of just flying straight back to the cold, miserable UK. That would mean I’d be here in the placement by myself, in my own house with my own car for two months instead of five weeks. As cool as that sounds, theres a loneliness factor, plus almost every other GAPper around the place is off home. Megan and her cronies in the city are leaving, as are Sarah and Bec in Wynberg and Sarah-Lee and Hannah at Eros. That would leave me with Al in Somerset, 40km away (plus she hates me) and whatever new GAPs the cat drags in. I’m not too worried about that social aspect, but living in that house by myself is somewhat ughy.

Anyway I never saw this doubt coming. Maybe a British summer would be a nice thing to live through, then a British Autumn and start of winter. Maybe…..

Pete

Hehe the wonders of alcohol. Friday afternoon, after school Dave and I went to Cavendish to celebrate the start of a 4 day weekend (It’s Freedom day tomorrow) and to pick up the Wynberg girls who would no doubt be spending the weekend with us. As I was sitting down for a bite to eat, my phone rings. It was Samo, calling all the way from home to ABUSE ME IN A DRUNKEN STUPOR! Lilly and him were upset at my lack of calling and everything, so they decided it was a good idea to ring me from and Australian mobile and give me an earful. I think it worked, considering I’m about to go and see what sort of phonecards are available, but that is so not the point. Abusive bloody friends….. >:o

Anyway Saturday night was a bit of fun too. Megan came over and stayed with us as well as Bec and Sarah, so the house was fullish (compared to its usual 2 occupants) and we all decided to have a big night. Big night it was, because I can’t seem to remember parts of it (namely getting home and having a spaz at dave and sarah) and we all felt QUITE sorry for ourselves in the morning. Pity I’m a tightarse, because at least it would have been a laugh to ring samo and lil – give ‘em a taste of their own medicine.

Anyway off to revel in a lovely Monday arvo… catchya round!

Pete

Now I feel guilty for abusing this stupid thing, so I suppose I’ll explain myself. I actually sat here and stared at the screen for some time – maybe I’m losing it after 20 months of blogging. Or maybe I’m just struggling to write what I want to, or even figure what it is that I want to.

Hmm I think basically it’s that I’m bored and don’t have anything to say. ANZAC day is this weekend, and as a good citizen I rang the High Commission in Pretoria to see if there were any official happenings around South Africa. There sure enough was a big commemorative service in Pretoria, and another smaller one in Durban (both 1800km away), but strangely enough nothing in Cape Town, even though there is a larger expat population here than anywhere. I think I might just rouse the aussies early and climb Lion’s head or something. As long as I get to Gallipoli one year….

Pete

I

(thats as far as I got. Too bad)

Well it looks like i did survive. I still have no actual money, but people owe me big time, so really I’m living in credit. Mmmmm credit.

I must say when my dad used to tell me about what he did as a youngster to kill time, such as hanging out in bowling alleys and pool halls (to his credit he apparently played in a bomb site from WWII), I thought he must have been the biggest loser ever. However, since coming here I myself have been finding myself frequenting the local Stones (a pool hall) a hell of a lot. Maybe I was a little harsh on the old boy – it’s actually a lot of fun and possibly the only game thats performance is directly proportional to the amount of alcohol consumed. Has anyone else sunk the 8-ball on the break? I think not – I am such a champ!

Anyway enough random ponderings, I think its time to retire for the night. By the way, Cape Town is incredibly cold right now….. stupid bloody climate.

Pete

Have you ever lived a weekend of your life on R7.32 (AU$1.46 or US$1)? This doesn’t count when you did nothing. This has to be a full go out friday and saturday night thing, plus actually living in a house of YOUR OWN. none of this ‘live with your parents’ shit.

Well, after this weekend, if I survive, I will have. As of 7pm friday night, I have no money in my account therefore cannot draw and therefore live in the clothes on my back and the poo change i have in my pocket. Wish me luck!

Pete

Yep, it’s the same in South Africa, and the same when you aren’t actually a student anymore. Holidays aren’t nearly long enough.

Obviously, by the fact that I’m posting we got back from Durbs alright. If one thing was learnt from my time there, it was that I’m on a fairly good wicket here. Cape Town shits on the rest of the country. The three sizable cities we passed through – including the 3rd biggest in the country – were all dirty little shitholes in comparison to this one. No Table Mountains in any of them either, or wineries, half decent people or lack of pollution. Oh well, at least Durban had good surf.

Anyhoo I’m back at school today too. Shit eh? On the bright side (or dull, whichever way you look at it) I’ve only got two more terms of this crap to get through. Actually come to think of it thats a rather depressing thought – I’m enjoying myself here quite a lot. Well I’m off, this may not send through afterall so I hesitate to put too much effort into my posts these days.

Pete

So we made it to Durban in one piece. Just.

One of the most traumatic experiences I’ve ever experienced, definately on the road anyway occured a few days ago as I was driving the guys from Port Elizabeth to East London. About 20 minutes after PE, I noticed most of the cars coming in the opposite direction of me had thier lights on, and a few of them flashed high beamers at me. I took it at first of a pre-warning that there wasa speed trap ahead, but slowly started to question myself. 5 minutes later I realised the awful truth: my first South African smashup was ahead on the next hill climb. About a dozen cop cars, a few ambos and a firetruck were on scene as I arrived, so I suppose it was about twenty minutes previously, but I could be wrong. A white bakkie (ute or pickup) had jumped the road skirting on the other side of the road and was empty of anyone. A gold BMW had been rear ended on my side, and had a dazed and hurt driver in the seat still, being attended to by paramedics. A third car, if you could call it that anymore was twisted and mangled over the three lanes. Axles were at 90 degrees to each other, and the framework resembled some sort of modern art. It was a sickening sight, and then we were called forward by the policeman to drive by. Then I saw it. A body, probablly male, hanging out of what I thought was the back windscreen. Hair was thankfully blocking the face of what was surely the first dead man I had witnessed, but the neck was at such an angle I was suprised it was on the shoulders at all. The whole car went silent, and stayed that way for half an hour.

Bec and I talked that night. I think she took it harder than anyone, poor girl. I don’t think I did much to console her, but then I was in shock too. I had driven for 30 minutes before then and drove for another 3 or 4 hours, so I was physically and mentally sore as well as fucked up from the whole ordeal. I don’t know – I’m just grateful that we weren’t a part of the whole thing – I don’t know what I would do knowing I was responsible at least in part for the death of a person, let alone a good friend.

Other than that brief brush with death, the holiday has been awesome. Three nights in Knysna, one in Jeffries Bay (home of surf in SA), one in East London (lesbian capital of the country), and two in The Kraal, a weird backpackers 20km from paved roads, electricity or phone reception in traditional Xhosa style. It was great and I am so glad I pushed for the stay there – I’m pretty sure everyone else enjoyed it as much as me too.

Anyway I best be off…. I should stay in touch a bit more but no promises.

Pete