Well, mama Pollack is finally blogging in...sorry for the delay, but the details and distractions of setting up home base have consumed my focus. Figuring out which end is up is no easy task for this gal! Seth has a much better sense of direction and since I've known him, is able to scope out the lay of the land with ease. I'm still geting lost, stumbling along the way. Anyhow, I'm glad to report that we're all making good progress settling into our new lives. New routines are taking form and our bodies are finally adjusting to the new time clock.
The mid-winter weather changes daily. Some days are blue sky and sunny with a delicous light breeze. The back side of Table Mountain and its range are in clear view from our neighborhood - a stunning view. If I squint really hard, the mountain reminds me a little of the Flat Irons in Boulder. History says that Table Mountain started to form about 250 million years ago, making it the oldest of world mountains -older than the Himalayas and the Alps. The weather can change very quickly. The winds pick up and begin to gust with SUPER force. Then the rains fall - in big, torrential buckets. The winds keep howling and I'm glad there aren't any Monterey Pines near by. So far, the air hasn't felt unbearably cold - there's a hint of a warm current blowing by. Mind you, the houses have no central heat, so it's no surprise to find the outside temp warmer than inside! (I'm wearing a wool sweater, a fleece and blanket right now.) Reminds me of my days in Santa Cruz!
The girls are doing great considering they have entered school mid-year. School is giving them some structure which is a good thing right now. After-school activities and sports are really popular, and both girls are figuring out how and in what to get involved. Alex is looking at net ball - an indoor sport that we think is similar to basketball, but we've yet to see it played. Apparently she can play basketball next term. Maya is hoping to join up with soccer and field hockey at her school. Her class is now learning the basics of rugby in their weekly gym class! I've posted a photo of the girls in their new school uniforms. Needless to say, Maya is thrilled with hers (although it changes to a dress in January) while Alex is tolerating her more involved outfit. (She too will wear a "dish rag" in summer!) Every school, both public and private, have their own unique uniforms and they are quite coordinated from head to toe - We can't help but feel like we're at Hogworts!
The largest grocery stores (that we've seen so far) are Woolworths and Pick n' Pay. Woolworths is the bit pricier, a more health conscious chain. For the most part, the general selection is quite similar to ours back home. There aren't as many choices within each department, but the variety is still quite good. There's even some free range chicken and a big kosher meat selection (for the Jews and Muslims). Along with some familiar products, we're tyring lots of new items which is always fun. I'll be curious to see what is available when we leave the big city.
Maya’s school gets out early on Fridays – 1:20 instead of 2:30 pm. (Fewer school hours/week here than home.) Seth and I walked over to pick her up last Friday. We first stopped at the orthodox synagogue right across the street from the school. We had ordered some challah for shabbat (which is baked at the synagogue every Friday). Stepping into the building reminded me of a shuel on the Lower East Side…worn from time, loved by its community and blessed by prayer. The names on the walls were familiar and even the faces in the photographs over the decades were recognizable. Seth hopes to attend a service there soon. The girls and I are holding out for more of a “co-ed” scene!
After we picked up our challah, we strolled over to Grove Primary. In the midst of the crowd of kids waiting for parents, there was Maya, standing with a group of girls from her class. Maya seemed to fit in easily, especially with her new uniform “track suit”. They bid her good-bye in their sweet South African accents, almost in chorus. We walked back to the house, past the kids eating their after-school snacks, past the row of cars in “car line”, past children laughing on the playground...the moment felt wonderfully familiar.
Driving a car in CT is a pretty big change and challenge for me - trying to undo 30+ years of habits and reactions. Although I'm starting to feel more comfortable on the roads, I still have to concentrate quite a bit when behind the wheel. What I do love is our little car. It's perfect on these narrow roads and in the fast moving traffic. It moves easily in and out of the lanes quickly (which we often have to do!), maneuvers so well through the many round-a-bouts, and wiggles into the smallest of parking spaces. At first, the girls were missing the comfort of our van, but it’s quickly becoming quite obvious to them why this little putt-putt is a better fit. It's so great to see their wheels turning (that one's for you, dad!).
My first general impression of the people is their kindess and warmth. Admist a country of much crime and severe poverty, I have found folks to be quite friendly. Everyone from the security guards (and they are everywhere) to the school administrators, has been very sweet and gracious. The other night, we had a visit from Lara, the classroom parent of Maya’s class. She had come to give me the school handbook AND the biggest and most beautiful loaf of wholegrain bread and a bag of homemade “rusks”. The bread is made with organic flour, hand-harvested salt and some special water (that was new to me)!
Well, that's my nutshell for now. I'm going to put on my travel agent's hat now and research some plans for this weekend. We miss you all very, very much!
