‘Yuo’, I can feel this is going to be a massive entry, so hang in with me eh?

Firstly. OMFG. Bec, Sarah, Dave and I went to be cultured-up in town on Sunday evening at a showing of Phantom of the Opera. It was brilliant. Granted, it’s likely that I suffer from bias when talking of the show, as it was the first musical I went to see (Mum took me to go see it in 1992 for my birthday) and has therefore become a favourite of mine – even though that has been the only other time I’ve seen it. Anyway, the music left a little to be desired, as the orchestra was largely synthesised, but apart from that the Cape Town production had everything the Melbourne, and presumably the West End production had all those years ago. The set was beautiful, costumes and voices were great and the story was obviously still the same old Lloyd Webber I could remember. Anyway that was awesome.

Now for the shit-kicking. I must stress a lot of this is speculative, although it is pretty confirmed.

Dave and Sarah have been in what one would call a “WTF?” relationship for a couple of months. It’s too difficult to keep up with, but basically it started as him chasing her, and has since reversed. They will be with each other, then regret it and preach about staying friends. I’m confused and sometimes convinced they do it just to keep me in constant doubt. ANYWAY they’ve also been planning what to do after GAP. I’m kicking on to the UK, and Bec seems likely to come with me, but both of them had nothing planned, with Dave going to Uni in October and Sarah not sure of anything (as usual). They decided during the holidays that Vietnam would be a nice place to visit together, during August and September, but as is becoming commonplace, Sarah backed out after being offered another placement – to fill in from Bec James in Kwazulu-Natal who is getting sick of her year-long placement. Dave was, understandably, a little upset about the whole thing but resigned to her not travelling with him afterall. Infact, he resigned to not travelling at all.

Since then, however, they have become amicable again and even started talking of travelling elsewhere. They looked into flights around Africa and the rest of the world, and researched places to stay, things to do etc. I suppose this was all because Sarah had given up hope of doing the other GAP placement – there had been no contact either way and she saw what she had done to poor David. Anyway eventually Dave had renewed hope that something would come of these new plans and even started getting excited again. Then, yesterday the Natal placement rang Sarah and she immediately accepted. David was obviously pretty upset and probablly felt pretty betrayed by who he had considered one of his closest friends. Bec and I felt the same way and let her know about it – I even went to the trouble of ringing her to tell her how stupid she was…. while I was on the crapper.

Last night after talking with Dave for ages, we decided to bring the girls over. Dave backed off a bit in her presence, but Bec and I were pretty blunt. Basically I don’t know why she did it. She says it’s because she is a selfish person, but it has to be something more than that. She could still turn down the offer, but most probablly won’t. Why would you throw away something special, even if it was just a strong friendship (just?) for a GAP placement. Yes, she would be getting qualification in the field of work that appeals to her as a career move, but what is more important? It’s likely that this thing won’t carry any more weight than simple experience. I don’t understand women sometimes – or maybe it’s just this woman.

Pete

Well another week over and done with. It’s actually a little scary how quickly this shit is passing.

Anyway last night I had another first. Dave has made good friends with a few of his COSAT kiddies and yesterday invited them out to do something with us. We met them at Stadium on Main in Kenilworth and Dave thought it would be a good idea to go bowling with them. Although at first it was awkward, as these guys are on the poverty line and were seriously considering not bowling at all (the game was R30), it was so much fun. It was a lot of fun hanging out with new friends – not to say I’m sick of the other GAPpers around the place, but it was nice forging new links. Anyway on with my story. These two guys and a girl had NEVER bowled before, and at first didn’t understand the game at all, but one of them striked on his first ball and Masiswa beat me. Granted, bowling is one of the things in this world I am worst at, but still – losing to a first timer can never be great.

Pete

My parents emailed me yesterday. There’s excellent news, and news that is going to throw a lot of people’s plans off, but oh well – what’s done is done.

Anyway basically the emails were to inform me that they are indeed coming to visit me next month. The little trip for the two of them will be 11 days long, from the 14th to the 25th of June, encompassing my birthday nicely. That’s the good news. The other news is that they are spending three days in Cape Town then going to Kruger park in the East of the country on the 18th, the day before my birthday and TAKING ME WITH THEM! Although I’m excited about it, I was planning on spending my birthday (19th of June) with my mates in the Mother city, but oh well, I’m sure they’ll have a ball without me!

Anyway yeah, my birthday present is a trip to the Kruger, staying in one of the most exclusive and nicest Game parks on the edge of the main National Park. It’s called Sabi Sabi game reserve, and sounds great – because instead of sitting and hoping that the animals will come to you, they make sure you see them, thanks to the whole ‘paying through the nose’ bit. I feel a little uncomfortable getting a birthday present like that but then as dad put it, I really shouldn’t because it’s only my inheritance. They have this policy of spending as much money as possible while still alive which I must say I agree on. A little inheritance for a holiday or something will be nice, but I don’t think I’d accept it if it was a massive sum – I believe in making a name for myself, not skimping on the success of my olds. That said, I think I might skimp in style, just this once.

Pete

Well back to the same old, same old eh? Last week was great fun, but it was straight back to photocopying and stapling on Monday morning, after a chat to Broster about taking more of his classes in the future.

Anyway today I’m sitting in for the Math’s teacher, whose kid is sick with the flu or something. South Africa is so lax in that regard – any family problems and it’s automatically expected that you take one or two days off to sort it all out. Anyway it turns out I’m stuck invigilating an exam, so it’s not such good news anyway.

I think the problem with me is that I get too close to the students and because of that they don’t really respect me s a teacher but more as a peer or even a friend. The problem is when I teach, they take advantage of that and often wag class, or talk and don’t do the work set. It doesn’t really matter, as it’s no skin off my nose, but it kinda pisses me off sometimes.

Anyway back to today. The first exam I invigilated was the C class, which are the biggest bastards of the lot. Half of them talked throughout the exam, which I duly noted but didn’t inform them, and ten of the thirty didn’t stop writing even after constant warnings, in a yell at one point to stop. Once again, no skin off my nose, but when Dumisa get’s his test back with 25% off, I think he’ll think twice about fucking with Pete. Most of the kiddies that screwed with me got 10% docked, and a few got 20% for breaking both the talking and stopping rules. That’ll show em – little shits.

Pete

Most of my time here, all I’ve been doing is whinging about how much teaching sucks. To be dreadfully honest, only a madperson or extreme masochist would even contemplate becoming a full time teacher. However, my time this week has at least improved my view on the matter.

Peter Broster, the head of LEAF college as well as the Chemistry and Mechanics teacher travelled to England on Saturday, to return this weekend, leaving me in charge of this week’s Chem and Mechanics classes. Not only have I had to supervise tests and practicals but actually teach new material, which suprisingly enough was the most rewarding and fun experience I’ve had here. Granted, the work was simple titration stoichiometry and f=ma stuff, but the kids now respect me as a genius (somewhat deserved I think ) and the staff of the program are starting to realise that I am a reasonably useful teaching aide. I had the best experience of my GAP year so far today, in the Chemistry class where I explained Tuesday’s prac, dealt with theory of concentrations and mole stuff, and then set exercises WHICH FOR ONCE THE STUDENTS UNDERSTOOD! I feel on top of the world!

Anyway, Samo and Lil have both been in touch since thier abusive phone call the other week. Both of them apologised, and I’ve spoken to Lil at length, but Sam is yet to hear my ranting in it’s entirety. The fact that Melbourne beat Carlton by over 100 points will surely just add to my eventual rage. He should be afraid, because he WILL feel my wrath – don’t you worry.

Anyway this weekend will be another poor assed weekend in Cape Town methinks. Not as bad as this time last month, but it’ll once again be fun living on very little Ooo Dave, Bec, Sarah and I are all off to see Phantom of the Opera on Sunday week (so that’s where all my money is going to these days) – how fun will that be!

Pete

Hmm it’s been over 10 days. Considering the complete about-face I’ve had concerning everything, I really should have blogged at least a little bit during that time.

Anyway Ann left the college. I must say I was a little taken aback to hear the news, although it’s not all that suprising in hindsight. The sad thing is, it was her husband that pushed her out of the job, rather than her own conscious decision. Bugger eh? Put in perspective, it’s really not that freaky afterall – this sort of shit is what one must not EXPECT from South Africa, but what one should at least be prepared for. Guns are rampant, as is poverty and so the crime rate is proportionately high. However that doesn’t put too many people at ease – I don’t think I’ll be seen out walking the streets of Khayelitsha, day or night.

Dave is 95% sure that he’s going to leave come end of this semester. He and I hae both had enough, or definately will have had enough of the ‘GAP experience’ by then, but while I have until March to be back at Uni, he starts in October, meaning the window left open to him for travelling independantly is a hell of a lot shorter. I understand his decision, but that leaves a lonely old Pete in SA, as theres no way in hell my wallet would survive 6 months in Europe, as opposed to three.

Or at least it did. Bec is a little put off by the mediocrity of her GAP year so far in a priviledged boarding school, looking after girls socks and waking them up at 6am. It would suck. Anyway she’s thinking of taking over where Dave leaves off next term – living and working with me, which would solve all the problems I may have had at any time.

Anyhoo other news is that my parents, who originally thought about screwing me and not seeing me until I come back home in December (which makes sense, it is a GAP year afterall) have decided that perhaps a little African trip in June wouldn’t be such a bad idea. It would coincide with school holidays, as well as my birthday. They’d spend a few days in Cape Town with the gang here bfore jetting off to Kruger game park on the other side of the country (hopefully with me!) and then some time at Vic Falls in Zimbabwe. I’d come back to Cape Town after Kruger, as Dave and I are off on a 21 day overlander to Namibia, Botswana and Zim, ending at the falls. That would start on June 30th so really there would be no point seeing the place with my olds, as they want some romantic solitude, and this is meant to be a recovery for dad (having gone through his 3rd cancer bout this year) not a stressful family vacation (heheh).

Anyway that’s all pretty exciting news. Other than all that, South Africa is same old South Africa. ahhhhh

Pete