human(e) recognition...

"molo sisi!" the security guard greets me with a friendly nod as we pass each other on the uct campus. as i later pull into the garage (what non-south africans would call a petrol station) in rondebosch the guys who work there wave, smile and welcome me. they speak to each other in the beautiful language of xhosa, but switch over to english to chat with me whilst the one attendant fills up petrol for me. we wish each other a great day with big, sincere smiles before i head up main road and they continue their work. i leave an open space on the road and let a blue car filled with boys get into the road in front of me - they smile and wave as a thank you. human(e) recognition makes me feel good!

as i stop for the red light on my way to the suburb of observatory, a homeless old man approaches me begging for money (of course my window is open cause its 28 degrees today, yeah! i hear rumors about snow in norway? hahah). his red shirt and the crazy blondish hair dances around his face with the toothless smile, as he flirtatiously ask me if i lie when i say i do not have any change.. but i just gave my last cents to the attendant at the garage! "where are you from, lovvy", he asks with his scruffy voice as he hears my accent, revealing my foreign identity... i tell him "norway!" with a big grin. "oh NORWAY - yerre, lady! OSLO!! love!! from norway!" he yells, as he dances out of the road cause the light is turning green. he waves at me, i give him a thumbs up out the window and in my rear mirror i can see him disappearing in the distance...

the way people see each other in this country, and how they interact, fascinates me a lot. we are all human beings, put here on the surface of the earth together.. so to all us norwegians, and other scardy cats - why do we treat each other like strangers.....? we should learn! ;)

the good life!

“ice cream, cool drinks, mineral water! ice cold water from iceland!
granadilla lolly! its lolly time! suck on a lolly; it will make you jolly!
who wants ice creaaaaaam; the vanilla is so good the cow wants the milk back!”

the traders at the beaches in cape town are hilarious! such funny and great guys, and very hardworking! from early morning till late day they carry around heavy coolers with all kinds of nice things for us who slack at the beach with no worries.. and as my understanding of afrikaans develops its so funny to hear all the things they say when they talk to each other! hahaha.

the good life of cape town is really a good life! I feel so endlessly privileged - coming here and being able to enjoy the sweet parts of south african life. gorgeous hikes, sunsets, wine tasting, breathtaking scenery, amazing café’s and restaurants and all these wonderful people! the guilt catches up with me sometimes, especially if one considers how the average south african live, and what she is able to enjoy (read; not able to enjoy..) of her own country…. however it is so enriching to be here, and it’s a great experience to feel so fortunate!

lunch at mimi's in observatory- my absolute favorite cafe!! yummy!

we also went down the coast to the little lovely town of hermanus. gorgeous scenery, the best apple juice I have ever had, farmers breakfast and tranquility... we also went on a lovely easter-hike there. breathtaking!

and look who we bumped into! however little miss turtle was having a date with the turtle-sandman so she didnt have time for much conversation!

and if you have to go to wee-wee on top of the mountain.... there's a loo with a view!


picnic with jane&her mother in the winelands with fairview cheeses, bread and chenin blanc........ aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

then this little one came to join us with his friends... how pretty is he!

last weekend I went to fish hoek beach with belinda&the kids. I cannot believe how much they have grown in less than a year – nana is now 4 years old and a little lady! asiphe, the youngest, will turn 1 in may, and she is already walking with some support, speaking a few words and she can even drink with a straw! I am impressed! ;) athi (11) and yandisa (14) are wonderful young people and I hope they have a bright future in front of them! athi loves soccer&school and yandisa is a great runner – she even runs for the western cape! (regional level) we had a great day at the beach, throwing balls, splashing in the shark infested waters (I pretend that its really dangerous there, although its not… – it makes me feel so cool when I walk out of the water with all my limbs, and alive, hehehe) and then licking our fingers at KFC before the sun went down!

mzoli’s – a fabulous party place in the township of guguletu. you order the meat around the corner, they braai (grill/bbq) it for you; you buy beers next door and when the meat comes you CHOW in, you drink your beer and SHAKE your agterplaas/akterutstuss to the pumping beats of the dj’s! mingle, make some new friends and let the vibes carry you away! ubuntu!! ;)


justin blowing the vuvuzela! everyone needs to have some knowledge about this firnulighet before the soccer world cup in south africa 2010!!

this is what africa can do to a german!! jan - you are the hero! T.I.A!

meat and beer - say no more! ikumi and simon!


as we were driving in sea point the other day I spotted this BEAUTY of an Audi RS6!! even tho this body is not my favourite, I had to scream loud, make justin turn around and park so I could go on an inspection! dæven!! pappa, blir du med på råne-tur??

ehrm… and then I came over this sign in stellenbosch!!
maybe we shouldn’t question why south african (and zimbabwean) land affairs are a complete mess - if its controlled by the….

GRØNNSAKSDEPARTEMENTET? ;) (department of vegetables..)
I give myself over to the afrikaans language!! hahaha!

and in less than two weeks I will be in kenya! until next time.......

big fat kiss from traveling cam