Life in Pretoria Update

So what are we doing? Some of you may be asking this question. We are STILL in Pretoria, however we know where we are going. Next Thursday we will be leaving for our new site (number three for those keeping score at home) in Kwazulu Natal (KZN). We will be working at a Salvation Army hospital in Mountain View, about 80km east from Vryheid. Another 40 km to our east is the area known as Nongoma which is where the Zulu king resides. If you're picturing James Earl Jones in Coming to America, I don't think the Zulu king will be quite that awesome. His power is mainly ceremonial at this point. But, the pro of being so close to the king is that a number of cultural ceremonies are centered in Nongoma. So we've got that going for us, which is nice.

At this new site we will be living in a rondavel, which is a traditional circular African dwelling. Pictures shall ensue. Our living quarters will be a little cramped, but we have a flushing toilet, running water and electricity. In Peace Corps, who can ask for anything more. Our rondavel will be located on the Salvation Army hospital compound. On the same compound is a primary school and high school, and some of the high school students are boarders. So although we won't be in a village per se, it will be nice to have a sense of community just in our compound.

We are still enjoying our time in Pretoria, but we are excited to finally get to our new site and start working. The timing is fortunate though because this weekend we will be able to go down to Durban to celebrate a friend's birthday. We leave Saturday and get back in Pretoria Tuesday afternoon, with one last day to enjoy everything Pretoria has to offer (McDonald's!).

If we don't post before next week, we will definitely give an update as soon as we get settled in at our new home. Take care everybody and enjoy the fall (because Summer is coming here!).