Uphumaphi?

...means..."Where are you from?" to which I would respond, "Ngiphuma Canada!"
:)
First things first -- the week has been fairly slow.  I've been at the Molweni project a lot, which is a building site where a new orphanage is going to be.  So there was a lot of moving (and even laying!) bricks which was really tough work.  But then there's also a lot of sewing (bedsheets and pillows and stuff) that needs to be done but the sewing machine broke down on me so it was all a big bust.
I just found out from Rebecca that the woman that I was helping the nurses with last week at the hospice passed away.  And I found out that Pinki (a six year old at the hospice that is absolutely adorable but very shy) is in there because she was raped by her father, and then by her uncle.  So that just about ruined my day...
Hopefully it will get better though -- I'm off to the Dream Centre where Mobonga has finished my headband (wohoo!) and I am going to teach her how to knit and she is going to teach me how to crochet!
The other thing that is so strange here -- all the kids at the orphanage play with dolls (barbie dolls or some variant form), which are these skinny little blonde things.  The strange thing is that they all braid their hair into tiny little braids like black people do.  That's how they play with the dolls.  They don't stage these little dates between Barbie and Ken or anything, they don't play house...they braid hair.  I find it so ironic (i'm not entirely sure if its ironic and i dont really think it is but who cares)...it just looks so strange.  It's like they Africanize these little American dolls that are sent over from wherever.  I love that they have the ability to do that without even realizing it.  It's incredibly empowering.
The other thing I'm loving over here is that I haven't heard anything about global politics since I left.  Nothing on the radio or TV (we don't have a TV)...it's really kind of nice to be this removed from Dubya or Iraq.  I know that it may be the cause for some ignorance on my part but I really do like ignoring it.  There are so many other things over here to concentrate on that I just no longer feel necessary to keep updated with what's going on in the rest of the world.  I have to say, it's rather refreshing.
OK, i know this has been a relatively short post in the history of my posts, but it really has been a slow week.
Also -- for anyone who has called and left a message...I didn't even know we had an answering machine, but NO ONE knows how to pick up messages...so if you call...don't leave a message! or you can leave one, but I'll never get it!  eek!
But I'm gonna introduce a new segment, other than shoutouts (I feel like I have my own radio show or something!):

Reading Pleasures:  Just finished Life of Pi (beautiful book) by Yann Martel last week, and "The Checkbook and the Cruise Missile:  Conversations with Arundhati Roy" which was absolutely wonderful.  I also finished "Culture Shock:  South Africa" which was pretty enlightening, and am working on "The Native Son" by Richard Wright.

Listening Pleasures:  the first few days here I listened to Sade's "By your side" on repeat for some reason.  Since then it's mostly been PM Dawn and a little bit of Sarah McLaughlin.  Not so much Ani but I have got a bunch of my housemates into her! (go me!)

Shoutouts:

A super huge one to Derek -- who called yesterday and who's birthday it is today -- Happy Birthday!
Amit K -- whose birthday it is tomorrow -- ditto!
Bijal Bhai -- who called a few days ago! 
Benu Masi and Bhailoo -- also called! wohoo! I love phone calls!

C'est tout everyone.  I love and miss you all!  This weekend I'm taking a three day trip to Drakensburg...very fun.  The views are said to be spectacular!
:)