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Published: December 13th 2006
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View from the top of Botmaskop
Looking out from the peak towards False Bay with Table Mtn in the distance 3 Days to go 'till we're teachers!
After three and a half weeks of classes, homework, textbooks and all those things we left behind years ago, Cathy and I are once again getting used to the whole school thing. Except that this time we return to fight for the other side!
The truth is that both of us have really enjoyed the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course we've been doing. The course is run over 4 weeks (100 hrs) and during this time we've had the chance to prepare and teach 6 one-hour classes to foreign students. The students have been really great and we've met some fantastic people, some of whom we will hopefully be able to visit during our travels.
Not an aweful lot has been happening because of the full-time course. We usually have the afternoons free, but when we do have class we try to get to the beach during our 1hr lunch breaks because it has been so hot lately (often over 30deg C!). We somehow never remember to bring a swimming costume or towel, which means that we swim in our clothes and sit dripping wet in our afternoon
Early morning over Stellenbosch
Us at the top of Botmaskop at 5:50am, with Simonsberg Mtn and the Franchoek winelands in the background classes. At least it keeps us cool.
Preparing for the lessons has been really good fun. Yesterday Cathy and I dressed up as mimes to practice for a lesson I gave on body language today. We had loads of fun acting and taking photos. You can find a few of the pics in our gallery section.
During our second week of classes we decided to get out of the house and away, so we drove through to Stellenbosch at 10:30pm and hiked the 1hr scramble to the top of Botmaskop mountain for the night. It was a perfect evening: warm, still and full moon. We were pretty exhausted and had to get before 6am to get to class in time, but the view we woke up to was well worth it. It made us feel like God was spoiling us with a personal treat, a spectacular sunrise that nobody else could see!
On Sunday we decided to get away again, and Lani's new car was enough of an excuse for us to take a bit of a road-trip. We drove down to the Cape Point nature reserve to stand on the very tip of the Cape peninsula.
A room with a view
Starting another day the hard way It was a beautiful clear day and we could see right across False Bay to Strand and many kilometers out to sea.
After lunch we jumped back in the car and headed to the Cape Town waterfront. We arrived just in time to catch the yacht cruise out into Table Bay that we had booked for 3:30. During our drive the wind had picked up to 35 knots, which is pretty strong! The boat we were on was a Schooner, with 2 masts and four sails. The strong wind had the boat heeling at an almost 45 degree angle and spray soaking us over the bows. It was fantastic to be out in the wind and spray and to get a completely new look at Table Mountain and the beautiful Cape.
It made me realise again just how much I'm going to miss this place. If there's one thing you do when you're in the Cape, make sure you get out into the bay. Don't pick one of the noisy ferries unless you feel like getting seasick. Go under wind power, and if you're looking for a bit of a thrill skip on the catamarans, which are really
On the edge
Cape point, from our angle relaxing but don't lean in the wind. If you have a good internet connection, download the clip of us on the boat by clicking on the icon at the start of this entry.
Like I said, 3 more day then we're really on holiday! Just gotta hang in there.
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Greg O
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Bruthuz and Sistaz
Go Daz and Cath! sistaz and bruthuz doin it for themselves 4 sho! Supa glad to hear yall passed and stufs goin swell. got my degree as well so back in joeys. u dudes have an absolute blast and ill keep chekin up on ur developments. god bless, and for cryin out loud, have fun! G-man