The big event of this week was the pending arrival of my parents, Pap and Joey. They arrived on Friday after a strenuous week of more school for the kids and other daily activities. Livingstone even got new shoes this week. Some real big tires with lots of nobs on them. Now we are ready for those off road trips Andre has scheduled. I took Livingston down to the tire guy and asked what it would cost to fit and balance the 5 new tires (Livingstone even got a new spare tire). He said he'd do it for 100 Rand (about 10 bucks). Further bartering resulted in giving him Livingstone's old tires if he'd do the fitting and balancing for free. Even threw in an alignment check for free. So, Livingstone was re-outfitted at no cost (I had purchased the tires earlier). Wouldn't find that in Kalamazoo.
Pap and Joey came in on Friday, to great fanfare from their grandchildren. They even got to see the kids sharply dressed in their uniforms. We were excited to show them everything and educate them on the entire socio-enviro-political-historical-geographical aspects of South Africa immediately upon arrival. By the time we reached the flat (about 10 minutes later), they had a thorough overview of what it has taken us 5 or 6 weeks to learn. We quickly introduced them to our ostrich, kudo, and springbok friends, in the form of a braai and a poitje, complete with Ouma bread, inexpensive South African wine, and the de Jagers. On Saturday we watched Kara compete in the Port Elizabeth Track championship, where she finished a respectable 7th in the 1500 meter and once again topped the field in the 3000 meter. Her first place in the 3000 now qualifies her to participate at the next level, which we think is the Eastern Province championships. That event will also be held next weekend at UPE's track. If she places in the top four there, then she is off to compete in Durban (up in Kwazulu-Natal Province), then Cape Town (in the Western Cape), and finally Johannesburg (at which we believe would be the national finals). Now, that's what we think the process is. Of course no one is really quite sure around here. We're taking the little bit we are learning, tossing it through our American perspective, and drawing up these conclusions. Kara isn't quite sure as her coach speaks to the track team only in Afrikaans, as all the other kids on the team are of Afrikaans decent. The coach got tired of translating in English for Kara and just figured she'd eventually figure it out. All I really know is that I have another week of 5:30 a.m. practices with Kara.
We took Pap and Joey up to Addo Elephant Park for some big game viewing. Much to our delight we were again greeted by a slew of elephants. It was great to once again see the power of these beasts. Andre had told us previously that the elephants can live until they are 100 or so, and have a great memory. Many of them still remember the slaughters that took place 50 or so years ago. Seems the elephants were quite fond of the orange groves so the farmers hired thugs to come and shoot the majestic beasts. Sounds like it was on the scale of what Buffalo Bill and the other "heroes" of the Wild West did. Joey was convinced one of these old elephants would start a revolt and stampede the onlookers who were there to observe the elephants play at the watering hole. It didn't matter that we were situated on a high hill about 100 meters above the water hole. As soon as one of these guys started moving toward the hill, she would get agitated. "Bob, Bob, he's coming for the hill!" "Oh, he's not, he's just looking at us." "Bob, Bob! I think he may stampede us! We better get back in the car. Laaaaarrrryy!" (Larry is my Dad) "Huh? Joey? What?" "Larry, get back in the car. The elephants may stampede us." Yeah, or something like that. On our way back to the gate we came across another herd crossing the in front of us. I was all for moving in a bit closer to get some good pictures. Joey was convinced we were going to get rammed. "Bob, is the car in reverse?!" "Yeah, but let's get a little closer." "NO! Bob, keep us in reverse just in case!" "In case of what?" "In case the elephants stampede us!" "Why would they do that?" "Because." "Because why?" "Because they are wild animals and they can." Hmmmmm. Sounds like solid logic to me. My mom was telling me about a family friend of ours who went on a night game drive at one of the game parks in South Africa. Apparently that is the best time to see the lions stalk their prey. She said the friend was very scared because the lions started to stalk the riders in the game drive vehicle. A gun had to be brandished and they narrowly escaped without being eaten alive. Yeah, right. I can just see it: "Okay volks, now hold tight cuz dis is where de lions catch der prrrey. Uh-oh. What was dat?! It sounds like de lions are coming closer! Quick, Lupana, grab de rifle before we get eaten alive! Passengers, duck yer heads so you don't get pulled out of de open truck by a lion claw! Lupana! Quick! Lupana! Dey are almost on us! Luuuuuuuppppppaaaaannnnnnnnna!! Okay folks. You can now rest. De lions are gone. We are safe." I bet this was the conversation between the driver and Lupana about an hour before the drive: "Okay, Lupana, you put de warthog carcass under de truck?" "Yeah boss, de carcass is tied under de truck." "Okay Lupana, when I say, you unhook dead carcass and let it drag behind truck for about 15 minutes. Don't let de dumb tourists see what you do." "Yeah boss, okay." "Den I will tell you to grab rifle and get ready to shoot de lions." "Yeah boss, but you know de lions are scared to death of de truck." "Yeah Lupana, I know. Dumb tourists dink lions want dem to eat." "What I shoot den?" "Nothink. You just be ready to shoot. Make dumb tourists be really scared." "Yeah boss. What we do with warthog carcass once we get to camp?" "You wash it off and cook it over fire for dumb tourists. We tell dem it is, ummmm, fresh rhinoceros kill." "Okay." Fortunately we just barely made it out of Addo alive.
It's been nice to talk with fellow Americans about this whole Iraq thing. Up to this point, we haven't been around any other Americans and have felt a bit responsible for both explaining and apologizing to people about America's stance in this "war" effort. It's been difficult, as we want to both be proud of our country yet feel responsible to explain our view on why we think George W. is so bent on attacking Iraq. Of course the media and many people here believe it is because America is tired of paying high gas prices and we need a new petrol station titled something like "Baghdad Gas, Chips, and Beer". South Africa in general does not support the U.S. need to go bomb Iraq, as we are "rich enough as is." You have to remember that this country, like many others in the world, isstill reeling from transformation, the unemployment rate makes Flint Michigan look like a thriving community, and any major impact on global economy would hit hard in countries like those situated in Africa. So, does America really need to increase our oil reserves so we can see a 25-cent drop at the pumps? That's the type of issues I hear on the radio and read in the paper. The issue of the terror threat does not seem to arise here. Like many others in the world, people here want to see solid, viable proof of the weapons violations. Proof enough that the whole world, through the UN, is able to step up and say, "Hey America, you're right. The proof we have is overwhelming. Let's get rid of this joker once and for all." As far as I can tell, that "overwhelming" proof has not been shared with the world. So I sit here and struggle with my role as an American. I did not vote for George W., nor have I supported much of what he has said during his term in office. It's not George W. I pledge my allegiance to, but he seems to be the flag bearer at the moment. So where does that leave me? I had a chance to listen to the American Ambassador to South Africa a couple weeks ago. He was on UPE's campus answering questions American students/staff may have had about South Africa. My assumption was he was coming to give some guidance on how we should function as Americans living in a foreign country during a time of war threat. So, after a few rounds of questions about AIDS, economy, Zimbabwe, and the like, I asked him something like "As our President continues to threaten war around the world, what is the pulse of the South African people in terms of how they view Americans?" I thought this was an issue about which many of us would like to hear. He did not like my question. Appears he thought my question was "completely inaccurate" as HIS President is not threatening war around the world, but rather only with a "madman in Baghdad". He gave a short answer and that was the end of the question-answer period. I thought the question was both good and accurate. If I remember right, our President threatened war with the Taliban and/or Afghanistan and then went and got rid of them. Then we threatened war on Iraq and are getting ready to do it. Also, aren't we already in a "war on terror" and any nation that "harbors terrorists", including the "axes of evil"? I haven't been following as well as I should, but have we threatened war with North Korea yet? Maybe we haven't threatened war on any of the above, other then the "madman in Baghdad". If that is the case, then I guess the first part of my question was in error. The headlines in the local paper the next day read, "'Saddam is Like Hitler,' U.S. Ambassador says in PE". Appears the ambassador also had an interview with the paper while in PE. I, in no way, mean to slight any of the tragic events that have happened to America and American citizens over the past couple of years. Rather, I struggle with my role as an ambassador for America during this time of uncertainty.
We were able to drive part of the Garden Route with Pap and Joey. The Garden Route is a 7 or so hour stretch between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town that follows the southern coast of Africa. It is a gorgeous drive through mountains, vegetation, and scenic coasts. We stopped in Knysna (pronounced nysna) for lunch at a Café overlooking cliffs that fall into the Indian Ocean. I have included a couple of pictures this time. Unfortunately, my memory stick was full so I was unable to get anymore on this short trip. I'll write more about the Garden Route later, as we will be taking another trip along the whole route when my sister Karie and her family arrive near the end of March.
