Return to the Swazi Mountaintop

12 February 2012

There was a time when I didn’t believe in fate. I used to think life was one big coincidence. Then I came to Africa and changed my tune.

Five years ago, if I had visited a psychic and she had predicted where I would be today, I would have laughed in her face and walked out without paying. The life I’m leading now is so extraordinary – so utterly impossible – that I don’t believe it could be a coincidence. There must be some reason, some explanation. There must be some plan, of which I’m not yet aware.

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Ice Cream and Art Deco in the African 'Burbs

05 February 2012

Yesterday I joined the Joburg Photowalkers on an architectural tour of two towns on the outskirts of Johannesburg: Benoni and Springs.

Benoni and Springs – east of Joburg in an area called ’the East Rand’ – are to Joburg what Frederick and Manassas are to Washington D.C., or what Hackensack is to New York City. They are small towns outside of big towns – places where people tend to live out of necessity, convenience, or habit, rather than for the culture or nightlife. In America we call these towns the outer suburbs, or more simply, the ‘burbs.

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From the Melville Cat: The Lucky 5 Star is MINE

03 February 2012

Another guest post from the Melville Cat. Actually, I don’t think he can be considered a guest anymore. He is a regular 2Summers resident now. Read more from the Meville Cat here, here, and here.

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A Beetherfly in My Backyard

01 February 2012

I went onto my deck this morning and found a curious insect resting on a green plastic chair. It appeared to be part beetle, part moth, part butterfly. Let’s call him a beetherfly.

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UMOJA!

29 January 2012

Last weekend I was invited to attend a show called ‘Umoja: The Spirit of Togetherness’ at Joburg’s Victory Theatre in Houghton Estate. I’d heard it was a great show and had been invited more than once before, but somehow always found an excuse to miss it.

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Our Final Assignment

26 January 2012

Yesterday I attended a special event for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF). The event celebrated the end of an eight-year project – called Project HEART – that provided HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services in South Africa. I don’t want to go all technical on you and try to explain what Project HEART was. But if you’d like to learn more, visit this page on the EGPAF site. There’s a great video about Project HEART about halfway down the page.

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Wishing on the New Year

24 January 2012

January 23 was the first day of the Chinese New Year. 2012 is the Year of the Dragon.

I had never celebrated the Chinese New Year before. But it seems to be a big deal in South Africa and I’m all about new beginnings these days. So I decided to attend my first-ever Chinese New Year celebration at the Nan Hua Buddhist Temple in Bronkhorstspriut, a small town about an hour northeast of Joburg.

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A Time to Be Born, A Time to Die

22 January 2012

Last weekend I attended a baptism for Kulani, the son of my friends Florence and Rob. You may remember Florence and Rob – they took me to my first South African wedding last month.

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A Special 2Summers Photo

19 January 2012

This afternoon I found myself browsing through an external hard drive of Jon’s. I came upon this photo.

2Summers enjoying coconut juice, straight from the source, at the Newtown Diwali Festival. (Photo courtesy of Jon/Joe.)

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