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.

The 2007 Miami-Dade County Fair

Streetblock upon streetblock upon mile of rides, food vendors, artists and more. In America things are just bigger and more extravagant.

Sarah and I went with some friends and have a fab time at the annual County Fair.
I did one ride - The Crazy Mouse - which convinced me never to ride anything other then a car or bicycle ever, ever again. While I calmed my stomach, Sarah and the others gayly defied gravity on many more ridiculous rides.

I firmly believe we were not made to be catapulted at improper speeds, be flung around sharp corners thousands of feet above Mother Earth, or be subjected to near-death experiences - at a price!!
If you put a fish behind the wheel of a car, he's gonna go: "This feels weird. I don't belong here!"

South Beach with our Guests

In the famous Lincoln Road in South Beach - a bustling, artsy area that reminds somewhat of Camps Bay, Cape Town, there's always something happening.

I had to capture this new fad, call it extreme on-the-spot marketing to attract customers. Real-time models dancing in the shop window - and just another store became packed!

I call that very innovating. Hope the costs of the dancers are made up for in xtra sales.

We spend one last evening with Leslie and Christa here before they left for respectively Trinidad and London. I have not seen vrint Christa since our wedding in February 2005. Nice reminiscing about old times eras and continents removed.

Leslie speaks 6 languages, which impressed me considerably.

In Miami some people are very impressed that I can speak 3 and half languages (Chinese) and learning Spanish. In that context, most Americans speaks English only. But six!

Sunrise

I took these pics this morning at the lake next to our house.

6:30. Best time of the day.

Special Visitors

My liewe ou vriende Christa en Leslie land toe die afgelope naweek in Miami. Onderskeidelik vanaf London en Trinidad.

Dit was fantasties om vir hulle gasheer te kon speel en heerlik om weer ou tye te herleef.

Hulle duik die week in die Keys waarna ons hulle weer aanstaande naweek te siene kry.

Broadway Comes to Miami!

Saturday night I had the wondrous privilege to tick off yet another item on my Must-Do-List. I saw a Broadway Show. Those of you living in London or New York might think "duh", but in most other places in the world that's a big accomplishment. Miami is culturally starved.

We saw WICKED, currently the most popular Broadway show, which tells the story of what happened before the Wizard of Oz happened. Thoroughly enjoyable. No, enthralling and magical.
Miami's newly build Opera House - the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts - was finished last month, a spectacular piece of architecture.
Through friends we were able to meet the cast of WICKED after the show, which was pretty special. I can now say I have met the Wizard of Oz. Down the yellow brick road...

Something said during the play that really stuck: "The Truth lies not in sense and reason, the Truth is what the people believe." Ironically true.

Calle Ocho - The World's Largest Street Fair

Wow!

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

South Beach Sundays

Endangered Species

This is an actual billboard somewhere in London. Picture taken and send to me recently.

Bouwer Update

It's been an incredibly busy couple of weeks. The focus for us has certainly been on prioritizing and time management to fit our studies, marriage, work, more after-hours work, as well as the plethora of other wants and needs into the allocated 24 hour days. (Nothing unique, if I look at many of you.)

Our Sundays together has become a royalty which I value. Soos my goeie ou vriend Helen Punt van Bethlehem dit anderdag stel: "So ons kan nou maar netso wel Carpe Diem, want tyd is min, kyk net hoe het die laaste paar jaar gevlieg?"

This coming Friday Sarah will write the last of her licensure exams - and Math at that. After which, strictly speaking, nothing keeps us in Miami.
I'm going through a busy patch at work and in class. Tomorrow an important presentation for my 2nd MBA-block. And at work we're frantically working towards completing a project successfully by April 21st.

Being a procrastinator by nature I suppose this is a wonderful oportunity for growth. As Aristotle put it: Excellence is not an act, but a habit.

Tremendous Super 14 Weekend

My lekkerste klein plesiertjie tans is rugby. Alhoewel ek nie meer gereeld saam met vrinne om 'n regte braaivleisvuurtjie kan staan nie, verknies ek my in regte(!) sport, lees rugby en krieket.

Met die aanvang van die S14, sluit ek my deesdae Vrydag middagetes in my kantoor toe, want rondom hierdie tyd is daar altyd 'n LIVE wedstryd te kyk op Kuduclub!

Die afgelope naweek was daar min oor te moan - die beste rugby-naweek vir SA-spanne in die geskiedenis van die S12/S14. Nie een SA-span het verloor nie en 4 het inderdaad gewen! Die Bulle doen goed, die Leeus verras en is 'n plesier om te dop te hou en die Sharks speel wedstryde wat 'n dekade weg steeds om braaivleisvure bespreek sal word. Ruan Pienaar, jy's 'n trooper!

(Pic: Rugby365)

Key Largo Coffee House

This coffee shop is one of our favorite spots in the Keys. Think mucho rustic, laid-back, and fun.
It's South of Florida on the islands - or as they say in these parts - "on the rocks", around Mile-marker 100.
Weekends there's always a live band playing, the trees, the music and the people blocking out Miami for a short sweet time. Die enigste nadeel - dis sowat 120 myl Suid - 'n dagreis ver met 'n fiks perd. Maar dis lekker, dis lekker, dis tog te lekker hier, musiek op die draadloos en skuim op my bier....

Rugby Alive and So-so in Miami!

I was invited to attend a rugby match in Downtown Miami on Saturday. The Miami Tridents playing Daytona Beach Rugby Club, two of several rugby teams competing in a Florida First Division Rugby League. I was pleasantly surprised.
Additionally, there is a Second Division team and a Women's Rugby League.
The Florida First Division winner then plays the winner of the other states in the region, after which the winners of the different regions fight it out for the National Champs. The US national team
Rugby has a culture to it that stays the same all over the world. It felt real good hanging out with the rugby boys. Thoughts of Taichung Teletubbies!

I had to smile. Someone asked me where I'm from and once word spread that there was a South African, they all asumed I was a well-rounded player. I've been offered a position in the team, as well as an assistant-coaching job!

Pic 1: (Top) Miami players scrambling for the ball on Daytona's tryline. In the background is the Atlantic Airlines Arena, the headquarters of the Heat Basketball Team.

Pic 2: The sticks looking a little tired.

Pic 3: The view from the pitch. Cruiseships docking next to the McArthur Causeway, Downtown lying to the right, South Beach in the distance.

Biscayne Bay

Driving in Miami - Part 3

This morning while driving to work I realised that real FEAR is being stuck in slow-moving early morning Turnpike-traffic after you've had two cups of coffee and a big bowl of oats for breakfast...

Cricketing World Leaders!

It's hard to believe, but the South African national cricket team - the Proteas - are now leading the pack on the LG ICC One Day International Cricket World Rankings. Yes, we're numero uno heading into the World cup to be held in the West Indies later this month.

This came after the South African demolition of Pakistan and Australia's unexpected loss of form. I stayed up untill the wee hours of the morning twice, glued to the screen for the Kiwi's two come-from-behind wins against the Aussies in the recent Chappel-Hadlee Series. The most incredible two matches I've ever watched apart from THAT game last year between Aus. and SA.

Points
Rating
South Africa
128
Australia
125
New Zealand
111

Homework Taboo?

The Washington Post reported last week about the California legislature that has received a proposal that homework be banned in public schools.
Yes, that homework be made illegal, because it places to much of a burden on the poor kids, who has no time to just be that - kids.
That's right. Don't teach children responsibility. The same as my earlier mention of the total lack of accountability we notice parents display, and not just in Miami.
Sounds like cracks in the dam's wall...

Laser Tag

Thought I'd be too old to enjoy this, but it was grrreat!

Here's a bunch of us friends afterwards at the venue in Fort Lauderdale.

The Importance Of Being Earnest...

Jupiter, Florida's East Coast

Die uitgestrekte wit strande van Florida se Ooskus, 90 myl Noord van Miami.

Die foto is geneem sowat 2 myl van Jupiter Inlet, die rykste residentiële area in die VSA. Tiger, Nick Price en ander bekendes het elk 'n ou plekkie hier naby om die mooi strande en warm weer te geniet.

Jonathan Dickinson State Park - Part ll

The park has some nice walking trails and Sarah, Art, Adele and I even tried an hour-long one.

I've found that the term "hiking trail" has a very different connotation in the US of A than in South Africa. A hiking trail in the Republic is typically something you do spending anything from a few hours to a few days doing, often impying that you carry some provisions with you for the journey. Having a nice hut with beds and firewood, as provided by the friendly SA Parks Board, waiting at the end of a day's hike, is something totally foreign to Sarah. In the American Hiking Bible, according to Sarah Bouwer, you carry your own tent and you "rough" it!

Oh yes, the Park.... The Lokahotchee River runs through it, with awesome mangroe swamps, aligators, bobcats, deer, the works! Great cayaking available too.

Op die hiking trail kom ons af op 'n armadillo. Nog 'n ernstige dom dier! Nadat ek hom 'n paar keer gekiek het, is ek toe nuuskierig om Gertjie se gevreetjie te sien, maar hy grawe net gat, sy gatkant steeds in ons rigting. Eers toe ek agter hom gaan staan en kug wat gehasie besef potensieel is daar gevaar naby en toe's dit 'n affêre soos hy army-rolle doen en wegskarrel. As ek 'n slang was...

Jonathan Dickinson State Park - Hobe Mountain

This past long weekend we visited Jonathan Dickinson State Park, between Jupiter and Stuart, about 100 miles North of Miami. We visited - and ascended - Hobe "mountain", the highest natural point South of Lake Okeechobee, all 86 feet of it!
The 10-minute walk up to the peak was strenuous and left us flatlanders quite breathless! Not being used to overlooking anything in Florida, the view was very pretty. The observation tower gives a view of the Atlantic Ocean, the intracoastal waterway, the entire expanse of the park, as well as a glimpse of Tiger Wood's East Coast home on the Jupiter Inlet.


Bottom Pic: Optical Illusion. Although the walkway appears to be slanting upwards, it is dropping down.

Miami's East Coast

Driving straight East from where we live, you'll hit Deering Estate eventually, a preserved area in Pinecrest, Miami.

This is what the East coast of Florida looks like, from Miami Southwards towards the Keys (picture). Far off you can faintly make out the skyscrapers of South Beach.

Instead of sandy beaches, it is mangrove swamps that provides an estuary to many animals. And check out the water! Like a mirror - awesome for cayaking.

These Days...

If anyone can give me Time Management advice, I'll pay you!
With the recent departure of our Director, our Office have taken on several new projects and now it feels like time is disappearing faster than I can make use of it. It kinda slips through the fingers. But its all incredibly exciting.
Still, is this our calling? Each one in his own corner, toiling away. What is ultimately the value added? Sarah and I are contemplating, praying, seeking, for Biblically there is certainly much, much more:

It reminded me of a quote by George Bernard Shaw that always inspires me:

"This is the true joy in life - that being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. That being a force of nature, instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die. For the harder I work the more I live.
I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It's a sort of splendid torch which I've got to hold up for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."

Wave Boarding!

Saturday we went wave-boarding. They went, I tried... Still awesome.
Here's Grant being skillful at dusk, Las Olas area, Fort Lauderdale.

Besige Week-Dae

Hierdie M.B.A.-kursussie verwag baie van vlees en bloed hierdie week. Hy druk my gort kwansuis op 'n knop en my wange trek hol van die spanning net om hierdie week met sy Organizational Diagnostic deur te sien.
My hoof het gister bedank en Ontwikkeling-sake reen neer op hierdie skouerknoppies, juis h-i-e-rdie week.

"Captain, I canna hol' her, we'ra losin' power!"

(Vlge Blog-bydrae sal dus effe vertraag wees!!)))

Anniversary

Sunday happened to be our 2-year anniversary.
Had the shower filled with balloons and a card saying something regarding "showering you with warm wishes or blessings..." Hehehe...

Superbowl 2007 - Miami

After two weeks of city-wide preparations, and pre-pre-pre-pre-final shows, the Superbowl happened on Sunday night - in spectacular fashion - for more than one reason. (It's the American Currie cup-final, Afrikaners.)

Apart from the Halftime show and the TV ads, the game was electrifying. In a bruising encounter, quarterback Payton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17.

Coach Tony Dungy is the first African American coach to win the Superbowl in it's 43-year history. This is big news in the States.

What was very special, was when Dungy stated that it's the first time that the coaches from both teams were born-again Christian believers. and he humbly and clearly gave praise where Praise was due.

Even before he said it, it was clear that there was something different about this guy. Dit was fantasties. And refreshing, in an age where admitting you're a christian in public, is taboo. What an example to the millions of kids who were watching.

Prince entertaining FOOTBALL fans during the halftime show. It's like having Nataniel replace Steve Hofmeyer at Loftus. The mind boggles.

Laastens, en liewer in Afrikaans - Die aankondiger oorhandig toe die troefee aan, soos hy dit gestel het, die nuwe "Wereldkampioene".... But this time the game came second and a coach shifted the focus to more important things.

(Pictures courtesy of SI. The Colts are in white.)

Another Successful Event Completed!

Wednesday evening our Development Department were responsible for hosting a hugely successful Scholarship Award Evening.

Here's me and Andrea in the aftermath of a hurricane-like week leading up to the event.