This week has been pretty full of work, and trying to get things finished up, but no worries there is still plenty to write about. This update was very much prompted by the now somewhat regular email from Joan asking about a new blog entry. So mom, this one’s for you.I know I expressed some reservations last week about talking with South African girls about HIV and AIDS, and I was somewhat founded in those reservations. When I first broached the topic I was literally floored by one girl’s response that she thought AIDS was somewhat overrated. I’m going to go ahead and blame the English-as-her-second-language thing for the absurd nature of that comment and say that I quickly responded: well I’m going to try and change your mind.
That’s right. Perhaps it’s a little self-righteous and ethnocentric (I never said I wasn’t a humble person) of me to assume that I can present AIDS in a different, more tangible way as a disease they can control, there goes my Americanness bleeding through again. Anyway, I did it! I was able to hit home with facts about how HIV is 3-4 times more prevalent in girls their age than in boys… that got their attention. Did I mention I also got their attention by playing the M&M game? Only they don’t really have M&Ms here so I used this thing called a “smartie” which is deceivingly not a small, sugary candy that comes in a roll. Nay, it is a chocolate coated disc resembling in shape (not quite taste) and M&M. I think it’s the corn syrup that makes M’s taste different, but then again, I always blame the corn syrup.
(Sometimes
in rugby, they lift one guy up by his pants. i want to be that guy.)Went to another rugby game this week, still thinking about making it a career. I’m a little worried about suffering multiple concussions and/or getting torn in half though, so I might just stick to the things I know. Sharks won, which was cooler than the last time when they lost, and this time I even knew when to yell beassssssssssssssst. Also, if the rugby playing profession doesn’t quite pan out for me, I think I may have found another career: the remote controlled car driver. This person is actually INTEGRAL to the games because he drives out a
little remote controlled pickup truck (buckkie, here) with the ball-kicking stand in it when they get to kick field goals (to note: I’m not sure it’s actually called a field goal, I’m just being American and assuming so). Unlike footballs (American kind) rugby balls would not stand easily to be kicked, so they need a T. It’s like the difference between T-ball and baseball, if T-ball had a more harsh tackle and only pass the ball backwards rule.In other sports news: I got this nasty blister from always running on the tredmill. I think I need new shoes (pathetic appeal to mom). 
In other news, we went back to the rural areas to visit the other day!! Remember that brief story about the homestay sister who was pregnant (actually both) well they both had their babies! One is 7 weeks old (it’s been 7 weeks since we walked through the bush with her in labor) and the other is 2 weeks old (the babies, not the mothers, just to be clear). 
It’s close to a 2 hour drive, and we really only drove up for an hour or so, but it was great to see the family. Mama was so happy to see us she thanked jesus in zulu for bring her daughters, her children back. Forgive me for this, but the guy who
brought us, his name was Stu, I’m pretty sure, not Jesus. It was amazing to go back there and reflect on how peaceful it was and how happy it made us, to wake up every day and see the ocean. We also went down to the beach where (brace yourself mom) we saw a dead rotting whale carcass.
It was pretty biodegraded, and we could only tell what it was by the massive vertebra/ spinal column we saw lying next to heaps of unrecognizable whale. Naturally I was pretty intrigued and touched it. Blubber feels exactly how you would imagine it would, just to clear the air. Sorry I don’t have any pictures, there was no camera around. Also, I think it’s kind of impolite to take pictures of dead, decaying things. Tomorrow I’m going to Cape Town to see Lauren, which is going to be pretty epic. I’m just taking a little vacation with 2 weeks to go here in Durban, because honestly, I want an excuse not to spend the whole weekend writing about girls’ issues. Also, if Lauren and I had both come to this bizarre land halfway around the world and not seen each other (a short 1.5 hour flight)
it would have been pretty ridiculous. After Cape Town will likely be my last blog entry, since there are only 2 weeks left, and one will be spent traveling between the Drakensburg, back to Cape Town and finishing things up. It’s been a good run,
Judy
Ps. Mama (real Mama, not rural Mama) called the other day to say she misses me. “Jude, where are you? Jude, you in Durban? Jude how come you don’t call? When you leaving? My neighbor Jude, she crying because you not here” I’m due for a visit sometime early next week. Expect stories!
Two babies is always better than one (as long as they arn't your own!)
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