Abbot and Costello

Some photos of my brothers (nephews), Dankie and Moclare. While they don't look much like Abbot and Costello, our conversations are generally as elucidating as "Who's on First?".


Dankie outside my house. Behind him are the jerry cans we use to store rain water, which is used for tea as it is much less salty than the pumped variety.



Moclare was much more interested in touching the lens of my camera than having his picture taken.




To date, they have destroyed two decks of cards. Motlare likes to throw them around my room and then run off screaming. Dankie enjoys showing off his counting skills (in both English and Sotho), so I have him call out the number on the cards as I flip them. The face cards gave us no end of trouble.






Dankie demanded that I let him use my camera. I forgot that it was set to video. Hence:

N'wanedi Pt. 2

There was also a lovely dam. Well, two, but I only got pictures of one.






That tree always had a ton of birds on it. It also wasn't always white.

N'wanedi Nature Reserve

Over Easter weekend 17-or-so of us Limpopoites traveled up to the N'wanedi Nature Reserve. We all met in Thohoyandou, an extremely poor but culturally significant town northwest of Giyani (so northward by a good ways from me). We rented a taxi and made the extremely long trip to the reserve. As this was a month or so into site, and we were all still so new to our surroundings, it was one big PCV lovefest.

A lot of photos:



Elizabeth scrubbing pots.
And Seth grilling.
Gender stereotypes, go!



Sean, who can build one hell of a grill fire.


Out-of-focus delicious chicken.


Cate.


Ethan.


Carol, at whose Tzaneen apartment I stay probably a little too often. She is my Peace Corps mom, and has kept me fed and healthy.


There was a troop of baboons near our guest house. One was brave enough to come into one of our rooms. Our friend Elizabeth ran at it screaming. Somehow, that did not result in her immediate dismemberment.














Thatched roof.


We tried to go canoeing on the lake, but there was only one car to transport them and it was out god knows where. So we hiked to the water instead.


Seth and the Baobab.


Sami.














Veronica.

Dankie's 5th Birthday Party

We had Dankie's 5th birthday party shortly after I arrived at site. There was much cold drink and dancing.


Family in the living room. From left to right: Leah, Mme. Mabasa, Macy (mother of Dankie and Motlare), behind her is Silence (the 10yo at private school in Phalaborwa), Motlare, Dankie, Aubrey's fiance, and Aubrey (the Grade 12 student who lives in the same building as I).


Silence, Tla, and Dankie.






Dankie is big on attention, so he spent most of the part dancing in front of everyone. Glorious.


Dankie dancing. Sorry about the poor lighting. We were partying to the glow of World Restoration Service (a.k.a. Jesus TV).