of glass throwing and blossoms

I have been a terrible communicator recently. I apologise. Here is a little update on my life.

I went to the zoo yesterday with our pre-school classes. It was hilarious and more of a petting zoo/touch farm than a zoo. But fun nonetheless. here are a few pics

Jae Yeon not so excited on a sheep

very excited on a tree.

Last night I went to a pub with Danielle to have some chill time. I was rather tipsy and feeling merry only to have this guy sit next to us and start chatting. When he found out I was from South Africa he began to tell me about his trip to JHB. The next part is a bit fuzzy, but he managed to start laying into South Africa and say how all the white people are racists and such things. So I quite calmly told him to stop talking about things he didn't know and asked him to leave our table. I was angry and in no mood to rationalise with a dick. He proceeded to try and get Danielle, a fellow Canadian, to agree with him that South Africa was full of racists and Canada had no racism. at this point I was raging, so I threw a drink at him in my frustration at being drunk and unable to articulate all my anger through words. She then told him to leave. So he stands up, turns around and calls me a South African racist, loudly for the whole expat pub to hear. I then threw a beer mug at him. I know I know, not the wisest thing to to, but by now I would have gladly torn his tongue out I was so angry. Now I was close to tears, having been insulted like this, by a person who has no idea who I am or what South Africa is actually like, Danielle is trying to calm me down, and the pub is trying to pretend like nothing happened. Then one of his mates comes up to our table and sits down, then he says "Thank you, that guys is an asshole and no one actually likes him, he offends everyone he comes across and doesn't care, he does it for the reactions." yikes. I was fuming, but that did make me a feel better. So that is my experience of ignorance, I am a bit ashamed I didn't handle myself very well, but I reckon he deserved it.

On a lighter note, the cherry blossoms are in full force and it is a sight for very sore eyes that were so used to bare trees and cold icy days. It is truly breath taking seeing these trees with thousands of little blossoms all over them. It is almost as if they are covered in flower snow. and when there is a breeze or the wind blows then the petals gently fall off and swirl around you. i.love.it. I have been known to stand for ages just letting petals fall around me. I am going to a cherry blossom festival on Easter Sunday. i am rather excited. It is a two hour bus ride from Seoul, the place is Chungju-ho Lake and it is the lake that supplies Seoul with water. The lake is surrounded by mountains and caves. So we are going hiking and cave exploring and ferry boat riding. I can barely contain myself I am so excited.

talking of excitement I went to Varekai last Sunday. the Cirque du Soleil show. IT.WAS.PHENOMENAL. I simply cannot explain the magic they create and they visual stimulation that makes you want to never leave your seat. I want to join the circus and live in bright costumes and have wondrous make up all the time. Life seems so dull after that. I was transported into this magical world of tricks and laughing and bendy people. sheesh. words are so inadequate to describe such an awesome experience.

Love you all and sending many hugs and wonderful Easter peace to everyone

Zoo

Out into the deep blue

Sunday was a whale. (as Cheri would say) The Tanj, Cheri, her add an I went fishing. And not just fishing off the dock, but on a mission to point 60 (according to the GPS), about a 40minute boat trip from East London.

Cheryl and Tania were not such happy campers floating about on the ocean, in fact Cheri spent most of the trip curled up in the foetal position. But we did get a pod of dolphins swimming with us – looks like you're going to hit them, but you never do, and I managed to catch a Miss Lucy (looks like an oversized stripy goldfish), which became my supper on Monday night. And it was delicious. The muscles in my arm were sore the next day from all that reeling I had to do. My slowness in reeling was not due to a lacking in enthusiasm, but rather having no upper-body strength.

Lovely day. And my hands smelt like fish for ages afterwards.

Cheri driving the boat. That life-jacket never left her side.

My fish :)

The compulsory "me and my fish" photo. And 2 on one line nogal!

Tania focusing on the fishing in the background.

Forever Young

Hello hello!

Time for an update!

Saturday was the wedding of Grant Young and Gail Miles. Both are in my Biblestudy and Cheri and Zoo were at school with Gail. Being my first East London wedding, I was quite excited, and slightly in awe of the fact that I've been living here long enough to crack the wedding nod.

The ceremony was at the Ann Bryant Art Gallery, set to start at 3.30pm. I arrived precisely on time and had the momentary panic that I was late when I saw a Mercedes Benz stopped in the road with the emergency lights flashing. Trying to look elegant and unflustered (imagining scenes of awkwardness that would rival "4 Weddings and a funeral"), I moved with all speed towards the entrance and then breathed a HUGE sigh of relief when I saw it was just some random parked in the road.

The garden had been set-out beautifully, with the long walkway up to the main entrance serving as the aisle and the guests were seated on either side. Note 1 for attending an outdoors wedding: arrive early to secure a spot in the shade, or bring a hat. Most of us were sitting with the sun in our eyes. Sunburn can ruin the photo's.

I managed to find a seat that was in the shade for all of 10 minutes and took a moment to admire the flowers they had planted along the aisle (pink and white - it could only be Gail) and waited for the bride.

Arriving fashionably late, we were finally told to stand as the "Wedding March" began. Gail entered at the gate and began probably one of the longest walks down the aisle that I've ever seen. Of course she looked beautiful in her dress which a photo will describe more aptly than I ever could.

When she got to the front, we were all welcomed by Matt (the pastor), prayed and we sang. Note 2 for outdoor weddings: Lovely as they are, save the heels for the firmer ground. Being pegged to the ground is completely over-rated and if anything, makes it more difficult to stay upright. Then the Miles and Young family lit a candle to signify their families that Grant and Gail were leaving.

From there Matt performed the wedding ceremony, the registry was signed and then he gave a very short talk highlighting some passages from the Bible that speak about marriage. They then lit the candle to signify that they are a new family and we then formed an arch to throw confetti as they walked back down the aisle a married couple.

From there they had laid on a tea, where the 4-tier chocolate wedding cake extravaganza was eaten. Delicious. It was made by her younger sister Sandy and tasted amazing! While Grant and Gail disappeared off for photo's, we milled about in the usual pre-reception wait. Note 3 about outdoor weddings: Mosquitoes. Many of them. And hungry.

The reception was at the Osner Hotel on the beachfront. As the bridal couple arrived (to the song "Forever Young"), we all lit sparklers, which was a fantastic effect, until Gail bumped into one and flames appeared on her dress. Momentary panic. The fire was quickly extinguished and thankfully there was enough dress to easily hide the holes in the top layer.

The rest of the evening was great, a brief speech by her dad, Grant's brother and then his bestman also gave nice speeches. The dj interrupted and made an awkward joke about cattle from Bloemfontein, we ate, more speeches. Unusually,the bride also gave a speech, mainly thank-you's, but my tea-habit came up. Who knew addiction could make you semi-famous.

The rest of the evening was great, a brief speech by her dad, Grant's brother and then his bestman also gave nice speeches. The dj interrupted and made an awkward joke about cattle from Bloemfontein, we ate, more speeches. Unusually,the bride also gave a speech, mainly thank-you's, but my tea-habit came up. Who knew addiction could make you semi-famous.

Grant also made a speech, and the dj played havoc with the sound, making him sound like a chip monk at the start of his speech an other small things (apparently it's an Afrikaans thing?!), but he managed to redeem himself somewhat by getting everyone onto the very small dancefloor.

Around 11pm, Grant and Gail left, we all made an arch for them, and then, quite unexpectedly, the music stopped, the lights came on and it was time to go home.

But a good evening, an awesome wedding, and lots of fun.