Islamorada, The Keys

Friday we had a staff retreat and did our best at it, spending the entire day at Islamorada, down in the Keys. Fluorescent crystal clear water, jetski's snorkeling, cayaking, bbq, white sandy beaches, sunshine - I need to stop working so hard.

The Keys is an archipelo of about 1700 islands (courtesy of Wikipedia) that stretches down from Florida's Southernmost tip in a gentle arch South-Southwest to West. It divides the Gulf of Mexico from the Atlantic Ocean. Key West, the South/Westernmost inhabited island, is only about 90 miles from Cuba. Key West is the most densely populated, with around 32% of the Florida Keys population. The diving and snorkeling around these islands, which are connected at one point by a 7-mile bridge (quite awesome) , are said to be some of the best in the world.

At Islamorada (Purple Island - population about 6800 - 2006) you can, among other things, swim with the dolphins, go on a chartered fishing, as the island is known for its great fishing. The laid-back attitute here is vastly different from big city Miami a little to the North. It's like "de-cellerating" your motorcycle from 120 to 30 miles/hour. It takes some getting used to.


I had a ball - any day outside in the sun is better thaninside an office. Marco's Theory: Happiness does not come from being in an office, wearing shoes and breathing in air conditioned, circulated air on a daily, routinely basis!

Give Respect, Get Respect

The United Kingdom government has recently introduced a new plan - their Respect Agenda. This cross-governmental drive was established to curb "bad", yes anti-social behavior and nurture the good in society. This includes using bad language, littering, bad parenting, youth intervention and tackling family problems.
Check it out: www.respect.gov.uk

The Plan is based on prevention, with the emphasis on taking action and to this end the Police are encouraged to use force and "any other tools available". It includes having parents take responsibility for their children's behavior in school - this part sounds wickedly awesome to me, at least in theory!
"Problem Families" reported(!) by neighbors could be temporarily evicted from their neighborhoods and send to special camps where they will be "taught" social behavior. Wasn't this similar to what happened in Socialist and Communist societies in the past?

Sounds good and decent on paper, but is this Big Brother's legitimate terrain of governance? I guess it's debatable.

WCCricket - Semi-Final

I enjoy so many other sports, apart from - and opposed to - cricket.
There's a big Marlins game on May 4th. Maybe I'll enjoy baseball...

Auz vs SA.
SA lose by 7 wickets.

World Cup Cricket Semi-Finals

This afternoon, in the bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic home, I listened to Rap music. It was coming from the car a mile and a half behind me, in the middle lane...

Our Masquerade and Carnival Gala

Under construction...

Album up soon.

Final Gala Preparations

The University's annual fundraising event, the 2007 Masquerade and Carnival Gala, happened on Saturday night at the Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne. Our Development Department are intimitately involved in the organizing of this glitzy event, and a fantastic experience to be a part of.

Through the Gala we raise funds for scholarships for talented, but financially disadvantaged students, of whom many are first generations immigrants to Miami and the US. The nearly 500 guests at the event are mostly the top CEO's and other leaders of the largest companies in Miami, community leaders, entertainers, politicians, lawyers, bankers, and those in the field of tertiary education.
The theme for the evening - the Masquerade an dCarnival Gala - is a mix between a Venetian Ball and a Brazilian Carnaval.

Friday we took the students and other volunteers involved in the reception and the Gala to the hotel for a final rehearsal of the program.
Pic: #1 The event planner Adriana rehearsing with some of the students.
Pic: #2 Part of the organizing committee celebrating with some bubbly that the Gala is in sight.

Commensement of Classes at Virginia Tech

After the senseless massacre of 32 students last week at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia (http://www.vt.edu/), the campus is readying itself to start classes again come Monday. The shootin spree of gunman Seung-Hui Cho (23) is the deadliest in US history and the impact of the event has send shock waves accross the country.

Many other universities, including our own, has offered help. Around the clock news about Virginia Tech has been filling newsrooms and the airwaves this past week as America is trying to come to grips with this attrocity. There's many issues and more questions e.g. "Is any campus safe?" What if Al-Queda tries something similar? Why was the obviously sick Ho not detained in a mental institute? Should there be stricter gun control? Etc.

We've become quite calloused at hearing of deaths on the news. Seeing pics of the victims, they become real, instead of statistics -http://www.nytimes.com/ref/us/20070418_VICTIMS_GRAPHIC.html

(Pic: Thousands of students attend a candlelight vigil on the Virginia Tech campus, Tuesday, April 17th.)

Sondag-smiddae Kuiers

Lazy Sunday Afternoon: Visiting with the Ninneman's and friends in Fort Lauderdale at their house, the boss's yacht parked in the background.
Not being used to 80-foot luxury yachts, it was quite the thrill for me watching the best game of the S14 thus far (Sharks vs Blues), in it's living room/belly.

Into the Semi's SA!

Today's pseudo quarter-final showdown between SA and England tettered down to a toothless affair, SA (phew!) brutally dominating.

Following the game on www.cricinfo.com the yawning commentators on the bal-for-ball commentary started amusing themselves with some clever verbal wit - to make up for England's kindergarden display. There was quite a few gems! Here's some:

• " Who spends the most time on the crease of anyone in the English team? The person who ironed the cricket whites." Honk!


• I've heard that the English Cricket Board are making a help-line available for fans who are disappointed with the performance of the English team. The help-line number is 1800 10 10 10. That's 1800, won nothing, won nothing, won nothing."


• South Africa need a huge one run an over now. Where's your money?


• Flintoff snatches back his cap, puts it on his head, keeps his head bowed and he's grateful to have something to hide under.

Describing the incurving balls Andrew Hall was able to produce: Hall to Anderson, no run, that one shapes away from Anderson, lovely shape, Monroe-esque curvature there, and Anderson's naturally tempted.

Unfortunately, SA gets to play Auz in the semi's...

Savannah, Georgia

Ever seen the Kevin Spacey-movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?

Easter Weekend's Southern Experience

Sarah took me on a roadtrip to Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South-Carolina. A stunning area, with beauty way different from that which is in my frame of reference. The "South" is something different.

Our computer is finally running and I was able to download some of the pics we were able to bring home of this beautiful area.

Click on the link in the righthand column - "Marco and Sarah's Photo Albums" and then choose the album "Easter Weekend 07" for some pictures of Savannah and Charleston.

World Cup Cricket

Dis die lekkerste lekker om soggens met jou dagtake op kantoor te begin en heeldag die Live kriekettelling erens in 'n hoek van jou rekenaarskerm te hê.

Die Proteas se geploeter is weliswaar die tipe kyk/leesstof wat maak dat ek my toebroodjies byt en per abuis na my kollegas hap, maar dan is dit makliker om jouself te verdiep in werk - iets waarvan ek tot oor my ore toe van vol is. (Dis fantasties, ek kla g'n nie!)


Pic: (From cricinfo.com) Die Kiwi's het baljaar wyl SA weereens lyk of hulle ten spyte van 'n oorvloed talent nogmaals gaan vou by NOG 'n Wereldbeker. More (Dinsdag) dan D-Dag vs. Engeland.

Welcome in Georgia!

I never thought I'd say this, but I found a town that can compete with Stellenbosch. Historical grandeur galore, small town charm and absolute beautiful parks, gardens , old buildings and river views made this a wonderful experience. More than 800 of the town's historic buildings has been restored, making the town look just as it did 150 years ago.

Savannah, founded in 1733, was named by Frommer's as North-America's most beautiful town. It's splendid. Many movies, e.g. Forest Gump, was shot here, and I stood next to the bench where Forest told his life story, waiden for de bus, yes sir.

The free spirit resembles Key West and the sight of the big ol' live oaks, dripping Spanish moss, stately mansions, magnolia trees, marshes and horse-drawn carriages meant that my film cartridge was full before the end of our first day!

I've been in this country for about 2 years now, and still I often catch myself shaking my head at the sheer abundance of simple natural resources - space, water, forest, rain - this part of the world is blessed with.

Even the main road here - the I-95 - is in places swamped on both sides by forest, tall green towering on both sides, providing shade for the weary motorist. The road North from Jacksonville, crossing the St. Mary's River, past sleepy Brunswick, into Chatham County is stunning. I had a ball driving.

Sarah can drive for 9 hours straight. Start and get there!
I'm more of a "Let's stop everywhere, stretch, and enjoy the ride"- kinda driver. Can't sit still for more than two hours. Fun driving together, let me tell you... Oh boy!

Savannah is part of what Americans call the "Deep South". As you'll recall, the South lost the Civil War and this whole region, including Gerogia and S-Carolina, is drenched in history. Down here, no-one refers to any war, it's called the "Recent Unpleasantness".
The War did end the region's prosperity as one of the leading economic hotspots in the country, back then. Most of the little places we visit are "sleepy"-something. None really ever recovered and tourism is today the main source of income in the towns that were not burned by General Sherman in his march South - Similar to Lord Kitchener's "Scorched Earth"-tactics in the Second Boer War.

Sherman gave Savannah to President Lincoln as a Christmas present. Kan jy dit nou oorvertel!

A deep channel in the Savannah River connects the town to the ocean. We could nearly touch a massive freighter as it made its way to the terminals of the Georgia Ports Authority.

Pic: On the right above - The famous Paula Deen's (Food Network) restaurant - The Lady & Sons. An hour before the booking counter opens, this line of people are already piling up, waiting to taste the most well-known Southern cooking in the country.

Brief Moments with my Boet

'n Vinnige kuier saam met my broer Tian en vriende nadat hy in Miami geland het vanuit die Republiek. Hy vertrek weer Maandag na Tampa vir werk. VLnR - Grant, Tian, Dayna, Sarah and Megan.

Easter Weekend Roadtrip

Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South-Carolina are absolutely beautiful places!!! Ditto S-Carolina's official motto - "Smiling faces, beautiful places". Truce Bob.

Our computer's hard drive was wiped and we've been playing the waiting game the past couple of weeks. Those data retrieval guys are slow. No computer or Internet at home though. Apologies all round for our lack of e-mail responses, and the late Blog postings.

Be back in a few days. I'll post pics of our trip in a day.
Thanks for visiting our Blog!

Formal Evening

Our University recently had their Faculty Appreciation Dinner at a stunning venue in West-Miami.

Here's me and Development Department colleague Andrea with our Vice-President and direct boss, Mrs. Teresa Albizu-Rodriguez. An incredible personality and born leader, she epitomizes every quality I believe a competent, dynamic leader should possess, and more. She makes things happen.
Second picture - me and the love of my life.


Third picture - some of the ESOL and Education Faculty.

Spring Break Roadtrip

We're leaving straight after work tonight on a roadtrip up the East Coast.
School is out and Sarah has the week off, while Good Friday is my break.
We're heading North, our final destination being the old historic town of Savannah, Georgia in the "Deep South". From there we're planning on doing a daytrip to Charleston, South-Carolina. I've always wanted to see these towns and Sarah is gonna play tourguide.

We're wrapping up preparations at the office for our fundraising Masquerade and Carnival Gala, an annual highlight on the Miami social calendar, but my thoughts are already on that open road.

Food for Thought!

Grappetje.