This is Africa - A Photo Blog

Ahhh...life in South Africa! Pictures say it best...

This is our house key and gate-to-blockade-the-front door key - along with the button for our front gate.

All the keys here are "skeleton keys." (I feel like I'm living in the 1950's - without the Mrs. Cleaver niceties). Since they don't actually "cut keys," if you need a copy, you go to the store and say, "I need the #M24B." (which will be a key already made with grooves to match your key). Somehow I don't see how this is a very safe method. Surely there's got to be a lot of #M24B's out there that will unlock my front door?!

Security gate in front of our neighborhood with electric barbed wire (most neighborhoods have a gate)

You are not allowed to pump your own gas. Since unemployement is so high - they create jobs wherever possible. We'd like to know what happens if you commit the crime of self service - but no one here has been brave enough to try it. These guys are serious!

20% of South Africans live in an informal settlement township - with homes much like this...

I realize I'm beating a dead horse here - but I just really, really don't get it. Most faucets have the seperate hot/cold spouts. Isn't it more work to put in two faucets? And there is NO counter space in the bathrooms. This may be the #1 best thing about America - COUNTER SPACE! Please kiss every inch of your bathroom counter and think of me.

Plastic mail "boxes" outside our gate - you may be nice and safe inside the gate, but your mail is definitely at risk

Electricity box in our garage (you buy the electricity at the store and then put the code in the box at your home). For example, 293 credits will last us about a week. We did the math and electricy is about 3 times more expensive than the US. Painful! We are seriously considering not using the lights and walking around with head-lamps - maybe a little too Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?



Steering wheel on the right side of your car (even after 6 months, I still get in on the wrong side)



Typical grocery cart (mini double-decker) - I can fit about 2 things in there


Jensen and me in rain boots (it's the rainy season now).

Not unusual to see baboons on the side of the road - they are smart little suckers and if you leave your windows down will jump in your car and try to steal your keys. HOW do they know the keys are important?



Cockroaches cover the digital clock numbers on the microwave at Africa House. So horrific I can't even discuss this one!

One interesting point on telling time - for 1:15 they don't ever say "one fifteen" - they say "quarter past one" and "half past one," etc. I asked what they would say for 1:50 appointment - and they said, "Oh we would never have a 1:5o appointment...you Americans are too exact!"