Waiting for Ernesto

It's lunchtime on Tuesday and we're taking it easy on our day off.
Tropical Storm Ernesto is now completely over the ocean South of Florida. Gas is nearly unobtainable. Our neighbor has been waiting in line since 6 this morning.
The Central Weather Buro says Ernesto should pick up speed until later when it hits the Florida Keys. As it's winds pick up to more than 70miles/h, it should become a category 1 hurricane. The satellite images are certainly impressive.
I'll update with new images throughout the next two days.
Nice Cape weather!

Tropical Storm Turns Nasty

Sunday night saw us returning home to Miami. Home to a city getting ready for Tropical Storm Ernesto which was about to hit Cuba.
The mandatory evacuation of non-residents in the Florida Keys came into effect on Sunday night, with Ernesto expected to hit the open Carribean waters North of Cuba on Tuesday after drenching the communist island. Feeding off these warm waters, forecasters expect it to hit Floridas's shores as a hurricane, probably a Category 1.
All public schools and universities are closed tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday. Gas is already a rare commodity in our area, as everone is trying to fill up.
No-one's expecting this one to be as strong, although it is heading straight for Miami. We're gonna stay put this time and ride it out. Enjoy ourselves and spend some nice time at the pool and next to the bbq-grill!

Three Hundred Miles Away

Time spend away from Miami is always great, and as they say - change is as good as a holiday.
As Sarah's Fam came down from Ohio for a while, we greatfully headed up to the Northern regions of the Sunshine State for a brief reunion.
Had a fab time as usual, the lineage I married into being outstanding - and entertaining - people! And the North-Eastern part of Florida is simply beautiful, as we fished, hiked, basked, and enjoyed the scenery.

South African Rugby Gathering

I tried my hand at Columbian tapioca pudding after Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby test.
Here's Mike (left) and Grant admiring the end result. OK, they're not smiling in admiration, they're laughing hysterically at the blob in the pot!

Driving In Miami - Part 1

This is a topic that makes my blood boil. Miami wouldn't be half as bad, but for it's drivers.

Driving on the Turnpike (soos 'n N1-tolpad tuis) to work in the mornings, I found that it doesn't matter what time of day you go, or how fast you're going, there'll always be some "dear person" trying to overtake you and force his car in front of yours.
And then you have the big decision makers. "Is this the right lane for me? Will I be happier over there?" So he (mostly men) is constantly re-evaluating his lane choice. Tries to "insert" his car in the space in front of mine, and drives me crazy. "Over here pal! We're zooming here. It's the secret lane that no one but you knows about."

Marriage - The Don'ts

Apart from the multiple benefits of being married, it is also a constant learning school, where you get to know your spouse - and yourself! - better as time pass.
Ours is a blessed, blissful marriage, and we've learned that in order to keep it that way, we should not do home improvement or car shopping together.
(I'm spending these days researching and looking for a new car on my own!)

Sometimes guys just do plain stupid stuff. I tried to rearrange Sarah's closet shelves with a drill and some screws the other night, but it hindsight it was not thought through and was pretty dumb. With this in mind, I saw this cartoon and it caused a few chuckles.

School Starts

Sarah officially started her 5th grade teaching year at the new school on Monday.
We found that this school is rated as a top school in Miami, and that she will be working mostly with the cream of the crop in terms of academically gifted kids. It is not a private school, although half-chartered and half-public. The school has a German and French curriculum as well and is truly international. It's great that she's able to continue/close her teaching career there and we're counting our blessings.
Mileage-wise she's slightly closer to work, although her commute takes nearly twice as long as mine.

DREAMS

So last night I'm dreamin' this dude walks into our house and starts eating our food. So I saved the day, my breakfast - and my gal - by showing him who's started to visit the gym again lately.
Brave, brëe, bultende, bonkige, bulderende spiere. Stotterende, swetende, semi-naakte, swymelende, spoegspattende wegvlugtende reus = Afrikaans rock!

Troutfarming in the Everglades

Saterday evening we had exquisite dinner with our friends Mike and Melanie Joubert.
Mike is a specialist trout farmer and his company's farm is situated right on the edge of the Everglades, about 25 miles South of where we live.
We had a great time learning about the business and an ever better time devouring Mel's delicious trout-cooking.

Biscayne Bay

A bunch of us spend Sunday afternoon on Biscayne Bay's South Beach. In Miami's weather every day is a beach day.
The picture of Downtown Miami with the harbour in the background, was taken on the way home, going across the Rickenbauer Causeway. The Miami Rowing Club is very close by and this is the beautiful bayview we have during rowing practice.

Same Same, but Different

Ek voel blessed.
Saterdag het ingesluit 'n pragtige strand, 'n heerlike braai, lekker SA vrinne, 'n goeie rugbytoets (skrywer se nederige mening) en my wederhelf terug aan my sy. Ek woon in die VSA en dis nie dinge wat normaalweg in dieselfde asem genoem kan word nie.
Grant en Megan Ninneman, asook Michael en Melanie Joubert is oor ons pad Gestuur is en dis kuiers wat beide Sarah en ek geweldig geniet. Grant is van Natal en Mike was 'n Kovsie, en ons het al drie "uitlanders" getrou. Ons drie kon Saterdag lekker lag oor ons enersydse huweliks-ervaringe en die kultuur-verskille tussen Afrikaanse vroue en hul Amerikaanse eweknieë.

Fidel or Rahul?

MIAMI - The huge Cuban population here has been restless since the news from the island-nation at the weekend that Fidel Castro is seriously ill. He's apparently been operated on, and has given the reigns over to his younger brother, Rahul.
Since then, there's been no news. A lot of speculation, but only a small trickle of information.
Either way, it's big news in the city and the talk on the street.

Hurricane Season Kickstarted

We've just entered the three crucial hurricane months of South-Florida's Hurricane Season with the start of August. We've already been greeted by tropical storm Chris brewing of the coast of the Bahamas, moving slowly West-North-West.
The CWB were watching it closely to see if it would develop into the season's first hurricane. Last night it fizzled out above Cuba to just another depression and South-Floridians breathed again in relief.
It has been predicted last year that this season will be twice as bad as last season, which saw the likes of Katrina and Wilma. As many as 17 hurricanes are expected this season. And I'm hoping that weathermen stay true to historical form and be shown up again as poor predictors of the future.
Pic: (Palm Beach Post) Chris yesterday showing off wind speeds of about 60 m/h.

Ukraine- Excursion to the Lake

One Sunday after church Tonia put together a group to go to the nearby lake about 30 minutes away. What an adventure it turned into to get there! With 20 of us packed in 3 cars (made for 5) we set off. We didn't get far- the next door down- until we ran out of gas. No worries, up popped the lid, 5 guys clambered around under the hood and miraculously it started up and made it to the gas station. Once filled, we were off again, trailing behind one another at reckless speed, jostling over a multitude of potholes, music blaring, and the occasional scream from Kerry.

Not even 15 minutes into the trip we hit a pothole the size of Nevada- off comes the hubcaps and we see them rolling away in the dust. As we pull over, we check the damage and see that tire rims are bent and if we keep driving the tire will blow. No worries! Someone produces a hammer and they begin to hammer out the bent rim. Once complete, the attention is turned to the 2nd rim, only its not fixable. No problem, out of the trunk is a spare tire, and although flate, they continue to change it. Once on, another person produces a bicycle pump and they begin to pump up the tire.

About 5 minutes after we start off again, the hood pops up so we pull over and slam it shut. 3 minutes later it happens again. After the 3rd time of the hood popping up, it is decided that those in the front seat will have to hold the hood down until we get to the lake.

The lake was, well murky. There were loads of people laying in the fields in bikinis, speedos, and underwear. Remnants of bottles, wrappers, and fires, lay scattered around. After staking out our claim next to the lake's edge, everyone stripped and went in. Originally my idea was not to go in seeing as there's something unappealing about still, brown water. Unfortunately, the rest of the group didn't share my opinion an in less than 10 minutes I was picked up and thrown in!

The water was frigid but refreshing. From chicken fighting to volleying the ball around, it was a great way to spend the afternoon with new friends.

No matter what language you speak, a smile will always make a friend!

Ukraine- Nyum, Nyum!

To help alieve the daily feast of borsh and potatoes, our team had decided to help with the cooking on the weekends. On the weekend Susan and I were to cook we opted for speghetti, garlic bread, and salad.

Early in the morning she and I went shopping for the veggies. The morning market was awesome- all the hustle around, the smells, the deep sounds of meat being chopped, it all reminds me of Taiwan and is something that I miss and wish we had in the US. The older women all look exactly like I expected in their dresses, creased faces worn from time, head scarves covering silver hair, knarled hands giving change....

Admist all of the chaotic order there are these little babushkas who sell this fried bread that is stuffed with potatoes (who would have guessed!?), cabbage, or meat. This fried bread is delicious and after seeing multiple people walk around with them, Susan and I set out to find the little old lady who was selling them. Unfortunately, no matter how hard we looked, we couldn't find the babushka selling them.

As this girl passed by us holding one, Susan tapped her on the shoulder. "Nyum, nyum!" she exclaimed rubbing her tummy. The look the girl gave Susan was priceless! It was as if Susan had just stolen her last 50 kopecs. Susan tried again shrugging her shoulders, "Nyum, nyum!" and pointing as if asking where? The girl gave a fugitive glance and stole off looking at us as if we were theives. As Susan turned to me she burst out laughing, nyum, nyum means "I want to eat that"- hence the girl though Susan was asking for her bread!

Ukraine- Borsh

Borsh is apparently the staple dish in the Ukraine. Made from chicken broth it is home to cabbage, potatoes, garlic, and the occasional tomato. It comes in a variety of colors- red, yellow, green. Served with mayo it is a different fare. One that I can say after eating it for the last 15 meals my enthusaism is beginning to wan.

Don't get me wrong, soup is good. In fact, last I recall there's quite a vareity sitting in my pantry at home. There's the reliable chicken noodle when you have a cold, the creamy tomato for a light snack, broccoli and cheese which is divine when poured over chicken. They say too much of a good thing is bad. With that said, I think Borsh has come to retirement age.

Ukraine- Arrival to Nezhin

It was so sad to leave Tammy. The morning I was suppose to leave was a typical morning for me. The taxi didn't show, we went to the wrong train station, the next taxi got lost, we missed our train and had to rebuy tickets... Tammy swears I must be jinked as she has never missed a plane, taxi, or train and yet things like this happen to me all the time. :)

When we arrived in Kiev (where we were to meet my team) we were met by 2 older men who were like a van taxi service. Seeing these stairs loom before me, I was so glad to see such "strapping" old men. It was like a comedy act for sure, complete with a Robin Williams look alike. My humor quickly faded when they wanted $50US for a 10 minute ride to the seminary, to which they got lost multiple times! Thankfully Tammy was able to talk them down to $25US but still, Kiev is outragously priced.

Our trip into Nezhin began rather late, like 10:45 pm and still not knowing what Nezhin was, a town or village, was rather sketchy. Everything we had been told about the Ukraine so far had been completely false but Tammy had said that what had been described to me was a village so perhaps that was what Nezhin was. We all piled into 2 vans, most of us meeting for the first time, translators and team members alike.

I had to laugh at Kerry, who kept a running conversation with Vladik who spoke a little English but was obviously overwhelmed. Kerry, definately at her most defining moment having lacked 36 hrs of sleep, was hysterical as she was trying to tell him that she was probably the funniest person he would meet, except he would not know that since he couldn't understand her. To prove her point she then began a whole series of jokes beginning with "How do you get a one arm Polish man out of a tree?" Watching her attempt to act and explain that out and Vladik's polite "mm" to something obviously he wasn't understanding was quite entertaining!

Around 2am we pulled onto this rutty road. There was nothing out there except fields and trees and I thought we had finally come to the end of the world. It doesn't matter where you are, things always look bleaker at that hour. When the sun rose a mere 2 hrs later, I was pleasantly surprised to see that we were in a small town that is very similar to where my mother grew up.

The Life of a Teacher

This posting is an ode to my "hard working" wife, Sarah, who still has a week of her summer holiday left to work on her tan, meet up with friends, gym, and other similar really strenuous activities.
She sent me this picture, taken with a cellphone earlier this morning, from Biscayne Bay, where she and friend Jessica Fox are currently laying out.

Sarah love, I'm sitting in my windowless office, up to my arms in work, and I get this pic. YOU'RE cooking dinner tonight! ;-)