Time was spent this week on the web figuring out the South African tertiary education system. The terminology is different than we are used to and we needed to understand what our PEF students were talking about when they mention various certificates, diplomas and degrees. We also now understand the difference between a university and a FET (Further Educational and Training) institution. A FET is similar to our trade schools and community colleges. A matric student is in their last or 12th year of high school and will take the matric exam to determine if they will receive a Senior Certificate. How well they do on the matric exam also determines if they will be able to get into a university. Added a couple of new terms to our vocabulary list here: school learners are students and school leavers are graduates.
Wednesday, Dominic Tshabalala came from Johannesburg to hold an Employment/PEF meeting with Durban and Hillcrest Stakes. Dominic was formerly a PEF employee in the Johannesburg Area PEF Office, and now works for the Area Employment Office. It was nice to finally meet him in person, since we have only had many telephone conversations. Also nice for him to see how the pieces fit from both sides of the fence. Sandy transcribed three blessings for Patriarch Courtney which as always was a choice time.
Thursday afternoon, to help the branch missionaries, we visited with Anita Govender at her “creche”, a lovely word meaning daycare here. We felt like we were back in Florida, doing prosyleting missionary work again. The cutest little two-year-old boy by the name of Mohammad with huge brown eyes came to join our conversation because he didn't want to leave Anita's side. He hid himself in the knee-well of her desk and Sandy was trying to get him to come out, but he would only say no. Sandy commented that since we were strangers, he probably knew not to talk with us. From then on it was downhill, because now he didn't say “no”, he said “you're strangers”.
Saturday we had an early dinner out with some of the couples to celebrate the 4th of July ourselves. Sandy decided to be brave and try calamiri, since it is so prevalent on all the menus. Her dinner was a small fillet (steak), two prawns and pieces of calamiri. The first two items were fine, but the calamiri was only good for saying that she had now tried squid! It looked like a white hose, cut into 1 inch pieces and it felt like you were chewing a rubber band. Of course, there were no fireworks, no flag raising ceremonies or patriotic programs, or any of the other regular festivities we are accustomed to, but we are most grateful for the freedoms we enjoy in the United States and should never take them for granted.
The 5th was one of the few Sunday's that we didn't have PEF business elsewhere, so we could attend the Phoenix Branch (our assigned branch). It was a wonderful experience to witness the branch president, Ravi Natasan bless his baby daughter, Amelia. It was at Christmas dinner that the Natasan's told us of her pregnancy and now the sweet little girl is here- oh how time goes by, but we know that it wasn't all that fast for Sister Natasan! As we were ready to leave the parking lot, the Phoenix Branch elders asked if they could come and cook dinner for us, since they were preparing some Indian dishes. So we provided some green salad and banana bread and they prepared and cooked the rest. The main dish were samoosas, a small “savory” (meaning without sugar) fried pastrie (SA spelling) which reminded us of eggrolls, but is triangular shaped. The filling is curry, using whatever meat and veggies you desire, lamb, beef or mince (hamburger). You have a wrapper that is about 3” by 10” and put a small amount of filling on it and then fold it as if you were folding a flag. These elders aren't crazy about curry, so they have adapted the recipe and use taco seasoning with mince, onions and shredded potatoes and are very proficient at the folding. Maybe they were Boy Scouts and learned the art flag folding! We enjoyed the samoosas and will try making them ourselves, using a mild curry mixture, soon.
P.S. Thought we would share a little about the the holiday closest to our 4th of July, that is celebrated here. The annual celebration of Freedom Day commemorates the first post-apartied national elections on 27 April 1994 when everyone, regardless of race, was allowed to vote. There is a picture of the national flag of the Republic of South Africa on the sidebar. It was adopted on Freedom Day, 27 April 1994, and first flown 10 May 1994 - the day Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as President. The central design of the flag, beginning at the flag-pole in a V form and flowing into a single horizontal band to the outer edge of the fly, can be interpreted as the convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity.
During one of our past trips to Swaziland, we visited Swazi Candles with the Elder and Sister Wilson. If something can be made from wax, they make it here.
In the shop area of Swazi Candles three men were busy making various African animals. This is the start of a zebra from a ball of wax which was then covered with a thin layer of black and white stripped wax.
This was about two minutes later.
In less than five minutes was the finished product. This gentleman had been working here at this craft for ten years. The other two had three and 20 years experience. 
No comments:
Post a Comment