What’s Been Happening
Just returned from a second visit to Cape Town, this time for P.’s work. He was asked last minute to assist with the preparations for Secretary Clinton’s visit to a housing project that USAID has supported. I decided to go along, because, well, I didn’t have anything better to do. Besides, Cape Town is gorgeous and much more safe and relaxed than Pretoria, which means I spent a few days on my own wandering about and relaxing in a hotel near the Water Front area while P. worked long days.
I’ve posted quite a few pictures of the site visit, which was exciting. I’ve never been so close to such an important person (only 10 feet or so at times). The whole process of watching a U.S. diplomat visit a foreign country from the “inside” was both fascinating (it was fun to be so close to the secret service and press corps, to be able to see firsthand some of the work USAID has done, to chat with people travelling with the secretary all through out Africa) and discouraging (the visit felt staged, artificial, and wasteful). I’m not going to blather on about my feelings about the whole thing too much out of sensitivity for P.’s job, but ask me some time in person for my opinions.
In other brief news for anyone curious, the past few weeks have consisted of:
1. Finishing up a successful visit with I. and L. — one that I think was eye-opening and fun for them. It was nice to have someone here to show around our new ‘hood.
2. A nasty kidney infection which kept me flat in bed for a few days while P. left early for Cape Town, and which fortunately was quickly and successfully treated by the good folks at the Embassy Med Unit (perhaps it’s not exactly socialized medicine, but it is paid for by our tax dollars, completely free to me, and SUPER competent — they even handed me my prescription on the spot, also for free.)
3. A friend and fellow EFM (eligible family member as we’re called here) departing for the US … possibly long-term, who I miss quite a bit, especially since she’s my only friend who is also a spouse.
4. Planning a baby shower long-distance for my sister.
5. Job-searching, volunteer-searching, and volunteering.
6. “Winter” turning to “Spring” … which means the days went from about 50 degrees to about 70 degrees. It’s all good weather to me. :)
