In Pennington, South Africa

Hello everyone!!

Greetings from Pennington, South Africa!! We just arrived here, have spent the last 2 weeks up in the NE part of the country at an art therapy training in the bush. It was certainly a jump into things as we arrived in Johannesburg Saturday evening and left the following morning for the training which started that night. Jared and I both helped facilitate the training which was really fun. There were two groups of 30 participants, all from the surrounding rural areas doing mostly social work. A lot of them were volunteers and quite poor but doing amazing work with people who have HIV/AIDS, TB, disable people, rape and domestic violence victiums. I felt like I really got to know some of them, and it was a great introduction into the country where we will be for the next year.

Since we were out in the bush, there was no internet or landline telephones. we went into town twice but since it wasn't on our schedule, we didn't have time to do any calling.

It was mostly hot with spectacular thunderstorms nearly afternoon and incrediable sunsets. I'll post pictures as soon as I get an internet connection for my computer. Which I hope to do this week.

This week in Pennington (near Durban) on the coast, is for relaxing, and getting some things sorted out, like cell phones and internet for my computer, and some more training and then next week we go to Cape Town for 10 days to work.

So I don't quite have an addess yet, not sure if we will end up staying here or moving somewhere else. We have battled somewhat getting a good relationship with our host, who has given us quite a lot and been very generous. We just aren't sure how it will quite work out. so please see jared and i being clear with what we want and standing for that. I've also had some emotional things come up for me that I haven't really wanted to deal with and I think its time I do, so please send me support in facing my inner demons. Don't worry Mom, I'm fine. :)

I'm feeling a bit homesick at the moment and hope when I get to town this week I can call home for a bit. Also, I'm going to get my computer set up with internet so then can call and chat for free through skype. So go to skype.com and download the free program and then search using my email and add me as friend and then we can talk. We are 10 hours ahead here.

I'm sorry to my Corvallis friends that I didnt get down to visit you before we left. It was really crazy before we left. Look at my blog for a few posts about it.

Okay my friends, I hope you are all well, sending you lots of love,

Deb

Out of our apartment, the last two days

Well, we're out of our apartment. I feel like I am going through some sort of test, having to go through all sorts of hurdles and difficulties, only that I've forgotten I signed up for this test. I keep telling myself, I'm almost there, just a little bit more, just a few more days.

We had to stay until 2am at our apartment cleaning it. For a small apartment (500 sq ft) we had a massive amount of stuff in there. And our storage unit is packed (10x10ft). Let's hope there is no earthquake in the next year. So it took awhile to get everything moved out. Thankfully we had some help moving, and a few people helped with some cleaning or we would have been there until 4am.

I'm exhausted. I want to go on vacation. We arrive in Johannesburg Saturday evening and the following evening our training starts for 2 weeks. But the schedule doesn't sound too hectic, so I'll relax then. And I can relax on the 18+ hour flight from Atlanta to JHB. Jared says I can get stuff done now and relax at the same time. I'm sure he is right, I know he is right, but I am still a bit frantic. A lot less than I would normally be though.

So now the two last days...time for finishing packing our bags for the trip, run a few errands, throw the last few things in the storage unit and spend time with my folks who just got back from a 3 month trip across the country and back. We can do it, we will do it and enjoy it too.