Week 1: Pretoria

We've been in South Africa for a week now, and I just love it!  Pretoria has been a blast, and although we're already all longing for the coast and the ocean, we've had some incredible adventures and experiences already.

Our very first stop of the week was at UNISA (University of South Africa) - the largest correspondance university in the world.  They have some 250 000 distance ed students!  We were treated to a lecture on Afrikaner History, and I just couldn't get enough.  South Africa is fabulously interesting - it's like being back in Germany for the 20th aniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.  It's history I haven't learned about in school, and I get to experience it firsthand.  Fabulous!

everyone at UNISA

 Afterwards, we went to the Voortrekker Monument.  Around the time when the Brits showed up in SA, the Afrikaner people went on a 'Great Trek' into SA's interior, looking for land to call their own.  There was a particular battle, in which the folk prayed for God to grant them victory.  If he did, they would make a huge monument in tribute.  Thus the Voortrekker Monument. 

Mimi & I outside the monument looking over Pretoria

 Then we decided to have a little fun...

Aaaaaahhhhhh!

 Our next stop on the tour was the Klapperkop Fort.  I'm not entirely sure what went on here, but a battle for sure.  And now they have a really sweet tree growing in the middle of the yard:

group shot!

 On Tues. Jan 18th (the following day) we had another lecture about Afrikaner culture.  Willie was a great speaker, and brought lots of memorabilia to show us.  Gold coins, a map of SA drawn in the 1500's, duelling pistols, a flintlock rifle... And there were more guns to been seen when we reached the Diamond Hill battlefield.

don't be fooled by the smile... enemies beware!

 We then moved on to the University of Pretoria for a lecture on the Truth and Reconciliation Comission.  Our lecturer was personally involved in making it happen and was good friends with Archbishop Desmond Tutu (wow!).  Our last stop of the day was the Sammy Marks House - he was a fabulously rich entrepeneur in SA at the turn of the 20th century.  His house is exactly as it was when he died, which was really neat (and beautiful) to see, but we weren't allowed to take any pictures.

Thursday was a blast as well.  We started the day bright and early (I'm not kidding, my alarm went off at 4:40am!) to hop on the Gospel Train.  Each morning there are hundreds of black people who commute into the cities for work.  In some of the carriages there are church services that go on.  They have a preacher and everyone else joins in with singing and dancing and percussion (they are incredible... seriously!).  It was the best start to an early morning I've ever had. 

Afterwards we went back to the U of P, this time to the music department, for a drumming workshop.  We spent a couple hours banging around on djembe.  SO MUCH FUN!!! 

Next stop in our busy schedule: Parliament.  That folks, is where Nelson Mandela worked on a daily basis.  They're lovely buildings, but I enjoyed the market out front better.  They had all sorts of tables set up for people to sell their wares at - it was hard to say no!

girl time in the Parliament gardens

 This week has been what we Outtatowner's call a homestay.  For the duration of the week we live with families in Pretoria; a few students in each house.  It's an incredible opportunity to get a real feel for life in the country as well as make some wonderful friends.  On our way to our host families the other night, Raf, Steve, Mimi and I stopped at a little park to see if we could catch any wildlife around.  There were zebra's galore!  One was even pregnant!  And quite a few ostriches as well.

eep!  a zebra!

Friday was lovely and chill -  after such a long day we were all ready to relax.  The major event of the day was heading to the Lion Park.  Baba (our bus driver - he's amazing!) drove us through the park full of lions, zebras, cheetahs and hyenas and then (this is the ridiculously cool part) we went to the petting zoo, where we spent a few minutes each cuddling with the lion cubs.  And while you were waiting, you could go feed the giraffe.  It may not appear so, but they have really slimy, raspy tongues! 

Needless to say, I was a little snap happy...

soooo cute!

eep it's trying to eat me!!

And that's all for now folks.  It's a free day with the host families today - we're going to have a braai later (that's a SA barbeque) and then we head to Soweto on Sunday.

Lots of love,
Sandy