Why should I start anywhere but with Tendai? She's still the cutest person I've met here.
And she still loves me.
And she still loves me.
Cynthia. Where to start with Cynthia? Well, she is my co-worker at Zanokhanyo. She does a lot of the training, and is an awesome lady. I enjoy spending time with her outside of work, and she has graciously let me meet her other awesome friends. If you ever move to South Africa, you should meet Cynthia. She also knows how to find the best deal on EVERYTHING, which is helpful to me. Because the other South Africans only know how to find the brightest and flashiest stores. Where shoes cost hundreds of dollars. Cynthia? She takes me to places that I would have never walked CLOSE to, and I find awesome things. I love her. She is afraid of nothing. Not even pushy car attendants who threaten me in alleys. She pushes them right back.
Yanga. Yanga is one of Cynthia's housemates. He never lets anyone take pictures of him, but I managed. He is teaching me Xhosa, both language and culture. He is obsessed with chicken and thinks I am an angel. Or a princess. Or from the future. He can't make up his mind, but I'm okay with all of the options. He never ceases to put a smile on my face, and when he talks to his mom on the phone I can't understand a word but she makes him laugh so hard that it sounds like he is going to die. That's a good man, right there. But he won't let me touch his hair. It's the only thing we have ever disagreed on.
Olwethu is another one who I met through Cynthia. When I met him, his hair was in pigtails. He can never recover from that. Ever. But I still think he's pretty cool. He makes me smile, helps me give Yanga a hard time, and is really good at bowling. And eating. And teaching me South African slang.
MUNYA!!! Munya is extra special to me. Why? Well, I met him when he was just a little boy when I first came to Cape Town in 2005. Look at him now! All grown up, about to get his engineering degree, dating a lovely girl, and loving and caring for the people all around him. Munya is the strongest, gentlest leader I've met. I am excited to see where his life takes him. He also has incredible dreadlocks. And he let me braid them. Cornrow type things. It looked cool. And he even asked me if I'll do it again sometime! He wins friend status for that, if nothing else. I cannot get enough of the hair here!!
Busi. I cannot tell you how awesome Busi is. You'll have to meet her yourself. She has a tiny little body but she is the biggest person you'll ever meet. And she sings like a WOMAN. Yea. I love her. I could tell her anything, and I feel privileged that she has chosen to share parts of her life with me as well. She is going to Bible college and she is going to make some white man very happy some day. I'm rooting for some day soon. :)
Yolisa is the daughter of a lady I used to work with. She is intense. She could take you down with her bare hands. I don't care who you are. You would lose. She is also smart, clever, and has the softest skin/hair in the world. She speaks Xhosa and this is useful to me. But yes. Yolisa is oodles of good times.
Kamo is insane. In the best way possible. If you couldn't tell by the face and the harem pants, now know you. She reminds me a bit of 16 year old me, so I am confident she will only get more awesome with age. She definitely has a heart for the poor and the oppressed, which is cool to see in younger people. It gives me lots of hope for the future of South Africa.
Meet Mike. I don't really know Mike, but I think I will. He started not even 3 weeks ago as the new youth pastor at Pinelands Methodist Church. He and Busi and I are the ones doing that now. Thank goodness he is here. He is grounded, entertaining, and people are drawn to him all around. I think he'll be good to know.
Cosi is the baby sister of my favorite South African from when I was here in 2005. She is sweet and yet firm. I think I could learn a lot about how to be an African mama from her. Children love her, and her laugh is contagious.
I'll post more people as I get pictures. This is just the beginning of all of the incredible people that I am privileged to know here. I'll have to get my co-workers soon. They are swell.
Random thought: (you only get one since I plan to put up two more posts tonight, and I don't know how random I can be)
Butter and milk taste significantly different here. Cheese too. And yogurt. And ice cream (which I don't like at all). You get the picture. I am also sick to my stomach more often than a pregnant woman. (no, don't go there) I am starting to wonder if there is a correlation.
Fine, one more. I make an incredible microwaved apple crisp. And you can't have the recipe because you don't have the right brown sugar. HA. (I
Random thought: (you only get one since I plan to put up two more posts tonight, and I don't know how random I can be)
Butter and milk taste significantly different here. Cheese too. And yogurt. And ice cream (which I don't like at all). You get the picture. I am also sick to my stomach more often than a pregnant woman. (no, don't go there) I am starting to wonder if there is a correlation.
Fine, one more. I make an incredible microwaved apple crisp. And you can't have the recipe because you don't have the right brown sugar. HA. (I