Saturday, 29 September (Night time athletics meet))

     Yesterday, King's College high school athletics team went out to UJ (University of Johannesburg) to an athletics meeting held there by Helpmahcraw - I am butchering the spelling of that name, but that's probably because I butcher the pronunciation of it.  They are an Afrikaans school who is top of the A league and wins nearly every race.  We're B-league, so we don't really compete against them, but they are amazing to watch.
     Most of our meets, on Saturdays, take place from 9am to 1pm, but this meet lasted from 3pm to 8pm.  At the moment, the sun sets around 6pm, which meant that for the last couple hours of the meeting, we ran under spotlight.  I enjoyed running under spotlight much more than running during day, under the sun; it was cool, but not cold, and bright enough to see, but not so bright that you're blinded, unless you looked directly into the spotlights.
     As well as running under spotlight, we ran on a rubber track instead of a grass and dirt one.  The rubber track is more durable, and more profesional, but it can also give blisters, so athletes either wear shoes while running, or tape the soles of their feet.  I got the chance to try out spikes, shoes built for traction and speed, and found spikes to be nicer to sprint in, although I still prefer to wear running sneakers for the longer distances.  Spikes can also be a potential danger because they're so spiky.  Getting stepped on would not be fun.

Monday, 26 September (Girlfriends!)

These are my friends at school whom I eat lunch with.  Top row, left to right, the names which I know: __, me, Nicola, Charlotte, __, Jade, Christine. Bottom row: Kim, Jessica P, Jessica O, Claudia, Megan (Megs), and Wendy.  

Saturday, 24 September (Athletics Meetings)

     Track meets again today!  I left at 7:15 this morning for Bealieu College and ran in the 800m, the 100m, the 200m, the relay race, and jumped long jump.  I know I came sixth in the 800m, and our team came third in relay, but I don't know how I placed in the other events.  Overall, our school came third out of all the schools competing.
The top picture is our school, in track uniform and suits, waiting for races to start. The bottom picture is me in the 'set' (on your mark, get set, go!) position, before running the relay.  At the moment, I've very sore, now experiencing 'shin splints' for the first time ever.

     Teresa ran and won hurdles at her athletics meeting, and her team also won relay.  Jonathon ran the 1200m, and did well, although he's not sure what place he was; Becca placed fourth in hurdles, and sixth in both 1200m and long jump.  Esther placed second in 100m, 150m, 200m, and relay.  

Friday, 23 September (Little things, big things)

     Certain things around here - like fruits and veggies - are much smaller than what we're used to in America.  However, that doesn't mean everything is small.  Take this building for instance; the first few times we drove past it, I assumed it was a shopping center, or an office building housing many businesses.  Nope - inside are two banks, FNB and another one, and they take up the whole building.  The bottom picture is an advertisement that we saw alongside the road.  Not only the advertisement itself quite large, that's not an actual building it's posted on.  The 'building' is cloth, part of the advertisement itself.

Thursday, 22 September

     This is the our new table, that we bought from the Newsomes.  Back home, we have the really big octagonal table.  In any other house, that table would be difficult to place.  We knew we would need a big table here - big family! - but I sure didn't expect one this big.  Just over three meters, we struggled to get it in the truck, and then into the storage unit, and, until two nights ago, to get it in the house!  We ended up putting it in what we had planned to the family room, and moved the boxes into the original dining room. It takes up a good bit of space, but it works.

Tuesday, 20 September (Card Reader Found!)

I found my card reader! So now I'll post some make up photos.

Friday night I went to the NCCB youth group which takes place at the King's College, and this is a picture of the fountain in the high school courtyard.  I have been warned many times to never, EVER touch the water in the fountain, it is so disgusting.  But it makes for a cool picture at night.






Saturday was move-in day, and our house was filled with boxes and

paper and general mess.

My siblings are absolutely insane.  It is spring here, and although it may be warmer than spring back home, it's still not warm enough for swimming.  I think.  That doesn't seem to stop them, though.

This picture is the back of our Fresh Friday t-shirt.  Fresh Fridays, we can wear these shirts and jeans and white takkies (sneakers).  The shirt says ISAIAH 

40:31 

THE KINGS COLLEGE & PREP 

RISE UP ON WINGS OF EAGLES

Isaiah 40:31 says: "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Sunday, 18 September (More Unpacking)

     So yesterday I promised an extra picture because I was too tired to post one last night.  Howehhhhhver, I can't find the card reader :).  It's somewhere in the house... I think?  I'm sure I'll find it soon, or we'll purchase a new one, and then I'll add photos.  Today was a day spent unpacking.  The whole morning I worked on pulling out kitchenware, and the afternoon I put away clothes and stuff in my room.  It was so much fun, surprisingly, to unpack the kitchen; finding apricot blueberry basil jam, and salmonberry preserves, and apple butter, and chewy raisins, and then all of our personalized bowls and Mom's ceramic bowls.  Unpacking my room was boring, I only pulled out clothes because we don't have bookshelves for my books and knickknacks, but that'll come soon.  School again tomorrow, and then more unpacking in the afternoon.  In a couple of weeks, we'll be all settled in!

Saturday, September 17 (Move in day, athletics meet)

I am too tired to post a photo - I'll do it tomorrow.  Teresa, Becca, and I all attended our athletics meets today.  It was really cold, so they had to postpone mine an hour, but I think our school did well.  We came in second in the relay.  Today we moved into our new house.  A wonderful four bedroom house with staff quarters, a cottage, a big pool, and on a stunning property overlooking a game reserve.  Again, extra picture tomorrow of the hectic move in routine.  Beds are put together, we've sort of figured the oven out, water is turned on, and I'm about ready to collapse from exhaustion; early morning + athletics meet + move in day = Sara about ready to collapse.  

Friday, 16 September (Night before moving)

Today was a normal day, at least for the first half. School was normal, a good Friday with barely any homework. But, whatever homework we had, we didn't do because tomorrow is moving day and we spent the entire time out of school packing. We have all the suitcases and the carry-ons plus a few extra bags to pack. The suit cases have to go in the car, and we don't have a large trailer so we will have to make a few extra trips back to our B-B to get them all to the farm. Tomorrow Sara, Rebecca, and I have a athletics meet, so Sara is sleeping over at Jessica Otter's house and the De Chalains are taking me and Rebecca to ours. Rebecca is a Reserve in the relay race and I am in Hurdles, relay, long jump, and 100 meter sprint. By the way, this is Teresa writing. Since Sara is at her sleep over, I am the guest writer. Am I as good as her? Sorry it's a day late. We had to pack the car and it was to hectic.

-Teresa

Thursday, September 15 (National Anthem)

Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo,
Yizwa imithandazo yethu,
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso,
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho,
O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso,
Setjhaba sa South Afrika – South Afrika.
Uit die blou van onse hemel,
Uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes,
Waar die kranse antwoord gee,
Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.


Translation:
Lord, bless Africa
May her spirit rise high up
Hear thou our prayers
Lord bless us.

Lord, bless Africa
Banish wars and strife
Lord, bless our nation
Of South Africa.
Ringing out from our blue heavens
From our deep seas breaking round
Over everlasting mountains
Where the echoing crags resound
Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.

Read more:http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/anthem.htm#ixzz1Y2OxQtug


Teresa and I are jumping long jump tomorrow at our track and field meets, Teresa's running hurdles, I'm running relay, and Becca is reserve for her relay.  Improvements are still being made on the house, and it's coming along!

Wednesday, 14 September (Track meets and house developments)

     Track meet today for Teresa and me, she at Beaulieu Prep, and me at De La Salle.  Teresa placed third in her hurdles race and placed fourth in her relay race.  I ran the 100-meter sprint, and placed second or third in our school's league, the B-league.  This also happened to be last out of all the girls running, which didn't make me feel very good about my performance, but I'll do better next time; this was my first meet, after all.  I also ran the relay, in which the person I was passing to and I managed to drop the baton on the change over, but, again, this was my first track meet, and it was a friendly one (no points counting for the school), so I'll do better next time.
     As to our house which we're going to be renting, things are moving along.  Fencing is up, painting is done inside the house, clean up is happening on the property and inside the staff quarters, and electric fencing and security gates are scheduled to happen before Saturday.  Hopefully, we'll be able to move in this weekend!

Tuesday, September 13 (Bryanston, Johannesburg)

     Today was a pretty typical Tuesday school day.  Assembly, Afrikaans, Science, Drama, English, and Math's.  After classes let out, all those doing athletics (track and field) made their way down to the field.  I was raced against the sprinters for a spot on the team, and I came in just barely behind the fastest sprinter. Although I don't know my actual sprint-time, I am now the reserve for the 100-meter sprint.  I was also placed on the relay team, and I am the starter for that event.  Tomorrow is my first track event, and Teresa is attending her second track event, the two of us at different schools.  Jonathon intends to challenge for long or high jump at one point, Esther wants to go out for running and long jump, Becca also enjoys long jump, and Ivan's favorite event is long jump as well.  Hmmm.... I think I see a pattern here.... long jump, long jump, long jump and..... long jump.  :)

     South Africa's coat of arms, or state emblem, is the highest visual symbol of the state. Its central image is a secretary bird with uplifted wings, a sun rising above it. Below the bird is the protea, an indigenous South African flower, representing the aesthetic harmony of all cultures and the country flowering as a nation.

The ears of wheat are emblems of the fertility of the land, while the tusks of the African elephant symbolise wisdom, steadfastness and strength.

At the centre stands a shield signifying the protection of South Africans, above which are a spear and knobkierie. These assert the defense of peace rather than a posture of war.

Within the shield are images of the Khoisan people, the first inhabitants of the land. The figures are derived from images on the Linton Stone, a world-famous example of South African rock art. The motto of the coat of arms -!ke e:/xarra//ke- is in the Khoisan language of the /Xam people, and means "diverse people unite", or "people who are different joining together".

http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/national-symbols.htm#ixzz1Xl79Pud3

Saturday - Sunday, September 10-11 (Johannesburg, Gauteng)

     Yesterday was Teresa's first track meet, with her running hurdles, and she placed 3rd out of ten girls.  Way to go Teresa!  Later, we picked up the dogs and took them out to the property again, spending a couple of hours out there.  At half past 5, Dad dropped me off at Monty (Montecasino, but it's much more than just a casino) for bowling and hanging out with some friends from school for Jess Otter's birthday.  My favorite part of the casino was the top parking lot.  At night, no cars park up there, so it's quiet, and you can look out over the city.
     I slept over at Jess' house, and today we visited her church, GodFirst.  It was the first church we've gone to where the music hasn't been overpoweringly loud, so Mom and I enjoyed it much more.  As a church, we watched the first half of the South Africa vs Wales rugby game after the service, and then we trooped home for lunch.  This afternoon, we visited/explored the Northgate mall, as well as attaining some more information for getting phones on a contract.  Now, we're just relaxing.  My siblings are playing Scattegories, I'm playing with my computer, and Mom's cooking dinner.

Friday, September 9 (King's College, Bryanston)

     Today at school it was Springbok day, which meant no one had to wear their uniform and instead we wore white takkies (sneakers), jeans, and either a Springbok (national rugby team) supporting t-shirt, or our Fresh Friday t-shirts.  Mom picked us each up a shirt for R40 so we could wear it and fit in.  Personally, I don't care for it, but I'll wear it to show support for my new country.

     This evening, we have a guest coming over, a colleague from Dad's work.  Ivan is over at Dominique De Shalane's house (that spelling isn't correct).

Thursday, September 8 (King's College, Bryanston)

     After school today, we had athletics, which is the only sport happening right now.  Since we've never had a chance to participate in athletics before, the teachers picked our sports for us, and taught them to us.  Becca did relay, hurdles, and running, Ivan did long jump, and running, Esther did high jump, and running.  Jonathon, unfortunately, wasn't able to participate, since he couldn't find his track shorts.  I was sent to the high school long jump place, where I was told my jump was 'brilliant', and I think that with time, there's a possibility of me competing in that event.  Teresa did sprinting and hurdles, and she made the team for hurdles!  Her first competition is on Saturday!

Wednesday, September 7 (Bryanston-North Riding, Johannesburg)

     LOTS of traffic this morning, heading to school.  We got there late, but it was OK 'cause we're the new students, so we're given grace.  The school day went well again, we all met new people, had new classes, and enjoyed the day.  After school, we headed out to the kennel where our two new dogs are, and brought them to our property.  We ran around there for two hours, or so, enjoying the playfulness of the dogs, enjoying dipping our toes into the pool real quick so as to cool them but not freeze them.  :p  We went out for dinner to a new favorite pizza place, Pizza Del Fiorno.  

Tuesday, September 6 (Bryanston, Johannesburg)

     First day of school!!  We all got up early this morning, ate breakfast, and headed off to school; we had to get there by 7:15.  Jonathon's favorite part of the day was computers, of course; he loves anything having to do with technology.  Teresa liked PE; they played lots of games.  Esther enjoyed meeting all her new friends: Isabella, Coleen, Chloe, and others, and her favorite subject was science.  Becca's favorite subject was computer class, and she also met lots of new friends.  Ivan liked recess best; of course. :) He's very social and made lots of new friends.
     I was very grateful to get out of our apartment and away from my siblings.  Africaans was confusing (I couldn't understand a word), chemistry and maths were review, English and history were my favorite subjects.  Across the board, the pupils loved the 'new kids'' accents, and we were asked to repeat names and 'just say something!'
    

Monday, September 5 (Bryanston, Johannesburg)

     Mom and I visited the school this morning, seeking answers to questions.  We met with Jonathon and Becca's teachers, and with the Deputy Headmaster of High School.  We learned that I would in fact have to take Africaans this year, but it's perfectly alright for me to fail the class so long as I have tried.  I'm the midst of choosing my classes for next year, and, thankfully, I don't have to take Africaans then.  I can take an extra subject instead, which might be Spanish, but we're not yet sure how that will work out.
     This afternoon, Mom stopped by Waltons, a school and office supply store, to pick up pencils and rulers, and maths sets, and things like that.  Although the trip wasn't entirely successful (it's the middle of the school year, and they don't restock until the beginning of the school year, January), we have enough supplies to last us.  All of us kids are SO excited to start school tomorrow, we're counting down the hours! 

Sunday, September 4 (Constantia Kloof, Johannesburg)

     These is a collage of us in our new summer school uniforms.  Jerseys (sweaters) can be worn, but in mid summer they can get hot so they aren't required.  Black dress shoes required; girls may wear those designed for boys instead of the (in my opinion) more uncomfortable girls t-bar shoes.  Blouse, skirt or shorts, white or knee length, blue socks, and blazer on formal occasions for those fourth grade and up.  Hair must be tied back for girls. Typical school uniform, although I find it very comfortable.

     This morning, we revisited the New Covenant Church, Bryanston, the one which is connected to the school.  The regular children's programs had started back up, so we wanted to experience the full church.  Afterwards, Mom picked up the hair dresser, who did Esther's hair again.  Other than that, nothing happened except Mom, Teresa, and I ran a couple of errands.  We're counting the hours until school starts; 38 hours to go!!

Saturday, September 3 (Bryanston & North Riding A.H., Johannesburg)

     Yesterday morning, Mom and the girls headed out to Bryanston (same general area as our school), to the local market.  It's kind of like a farmer's market, but bigger, and better organized.  People were selling all kinds of interesting crafts, produce, beauty products, hot food, plants, etc.  A musician was playing songs from The Sound of Music.  Mom made contacts for getting her grains for grinding flour and such, and we found raspberries and orange trees and aloe plants that we intend to go back and get in a couple of weeks, once we're settled in our new house.
     After the market, we met Dad out at our new house.  Although we couldn't get into the property we would be renting, we met two of our neighbors and learned a little bit more about the area.  In the wildlife reserve behind the houses, we saw antelope and zebra grazing.  

Friday, September 2 (Johannesburg, Gauteng)

     Busy day today! This morning we met another family, one with two children, a boy in my grade and a girl in Becca's.  They also had a horse, to my siblings delight; we all got to have a quick 'jaunt' on the horse, bareback.  Afterwards, we got our uniforms - another two hours for that, but much simpler than the process at the King's School in Robin Hills.  This evening, I visited Jessica Otter's youth group at GodFirst church.  It was nice to be out with kids my age.  

Thursday, September 1 (Fourways Area, Johannesburg)

     This morning, we signed the lease on a house.  !!!!!  We're pretty excited.  We signed on the Farm house, the older home on a 2-acre piece of land which overlooks a wildlife reserve.  Not as big as our house back home, but since we won't be spending nearly enough time in the house, I think it will accomodate us perfectly.  My siblings, of course, are most excited about the pool, a large one with a small waterfall.  We hope to move in within the next two weeks.
     As for todays activities, we left this morning around half past nine to meet new friends, the Otters, a family with four children: a girl my age, Jessica, a boy Teresa's age, Matthew, a nine year old girl, Rachel, and an eight year old boy, Simon.  We got along really well, and Jessica and I clicked.  We had been invited for morning tea and cake; we stayed for lunch and until 2:15.  The South Africans are very hospitable.
     At two, we headed to the Montecasino, which is much more than a casino.  It's a mall and a park and a whole lot of other things rolled into one.  We went ten pin bowling there with a bunch of other families from school, in our grades.  The Otters came as well, and we bowled two games.  Here, you can bowl barefoot, which I think is much more comfortable.
     All in all, it's been a good day. New house, new friends... :)