Open post (brother Nathans idea)

OPEN POST say whatever you want

Mailing update [Amy]

If you are sending letters, the address we gave at the party should be fine. If you are sending packages, here is what you should do. Send the packages through DHL, they are the most reliable company for South Africa, and send it to this address. If there is something of real value in the package, you may want to consider insuring it.

Send to:
Dr. Michael Lyman
University of Pretoria
Dept. of Social Work and Criminology
Humanities Building Room 10-11
Lynwood Road
Pretoria
0002 South Africa

Still don't own our car yet!!! What a funny country. Pictures of recent events coming soon! Love you all.
Amy

Driving in South Africa [Amy]

Well besides the bank account being wiped out, our greatest excitement so far is driving here and the process of buying a car. As you know we settled for a 7 seater volkswagon that will require great patience on the part of all of us because it is tight quarters. 8 seaters and above especially "Kombi's" which are large Volkwagon vans are used as taxis here, so when you own one you are at risk for two behaviors when you stop at a stop light. First, someone you don't know may try to get in your car because they need a ride somwhere, or second, someone may ask you to get out of your car because now it is theirs because they have the gun. The first behaviour would be fine with us, the second one propelled us to buy a smaller car. Now to get the car registered in your name..... Well, someone you know calls someone they know to call someone they know, to have that someone meet you at your home. Which he did, just to chat etc. We finally asked him what he did for a living and would not have been at all suprised had he said the South African Mafia. But, apparently he's just a nice South African bloke who helps foreigners buy cars because the law here is odd and hard to maneuver. At least that's what they tell us. I really don't know, you really don't have a choice but to go with it. It is interesting because there used to be a lot of laws on the books that discrimminated against black Africans. So, the black Africans, not trusting the white Africans, found ways around them via a "black market." Now with aparteid lifted, you have both black and white Africans in positions of power, but the white Africans do not trust the black Africans, so they make ways around things. It's funny how what goes around comes around. All I know is that we pay a guy a certain amount of Rand and then we own the car-I hope, or something like that. This is a country for trusting the Spirit and going with the flow, Certainty is not a part of every day life. But a maid is!!! Just came home from grocery shopping to a perfect house. Mike is concerned about my spoiledness level, as housework was not a forte of mine to begin with.
I ventured out alone with the kids today to grocery shop. When you drive here, you are sitting on the right side of the car, with the stick shift, (all the cars here are standard), in your left hand, and you are driving on the left side of the road. It is nuts, but I am getting the hang of it. Thak you to everyone that has posted, hopefully more will, it is really fun for the kids. We are loving it, this week has felt like a month, but time will heal all wounds I'm sure. Take care.
Amy

MAILING THINGS TO AFRICA UPDATE!! [

We have been told by neighbors that the mail situation here is tricky. We are looking into other options like a PO Box or something, so for now, hold off on any mail to the address we handed out at the party.

Bird of Paradise Flowers on Univ. of Pretoria Campus

The Zimmermans from Bielefeld, Germany [Amy]

On their last day our neighbors played soccer with us on campus. We kept up fairly well, but Joshua, age 12, (far left) had moves that we could not stop. We are so sad they have left now, we would have enjoyed them so much and plan to keep in touch. The other two pictures are of us swimming in the pool that is a hop, skip, and a jump from our apartment, and a sampling of the beautiful flowers that we see on campus. Before the Zimmermans left, they brought us some homemade spetzel, (a yummy noodle that Bavaria is famous for). It was sooooo good. I would say, eat your heart out Lynn, but he is in Germany right now eating his heart out! We love you, more soon. Please remember our email also, mjlyma@ship.edu. Send us a note or respond to the blog. It is really helping us not feel too homesick.

Amy