Plans

Have been having a very hard time getting online lately, hence no update. The last couple of weeks have been all about making plans and finally starting to move on some of the changes I wanted to make.

1. Last week I started working part time with a woman who does sports development, fundraising, event management, etc. Basically, we raise awareness and funds for sports clubs. I'm focusing mostly on the local and national rugby teams and the affiliated junior leagues for now and we have a big event coming up this weekend that looks like it's coming together quite well. It's fun to be doing this kind of thing again.

2. A couple of weeks ago I started swahili lessons. Now I just need to actually practice and hopefully I'll be spewing bad swahili in no time. Really quite excited about it.

3. I've met a lovely american couple, Robyn and Brandt, who I will hopefully be moving in with soon. Still have some details to sort out and, of course, we need to find a place. Also very exciting. The whole rental system here is completely nuts. First of all, prices are completely out of touch with reality. It's a challenge to find a decent place under $800/mo (usually quite a bit more) but for that amount you can find some incredably dodgy places. Secondly, most landlords want you to pay a whole year in advance. Which is quite a challenge when you pay for everything in cash and the largest note is equivelant to just under $10. I guess it's understandable since they really have no way of tracking you down later if you haven't paid but still, a little excessive and a logistical challenge when you can only withdraw aprox $350 at a time from the ATM (not to mention withdrawal fees start to add up).

4. I have decided to buy a car. Transportation here is a constant frustration and I'm spending so much money on taxi's it's ridiculous. Looking for a small SUV (because it needs to be high enough to get over the pot holes and huge rainy season puddles). This is possibly the most exciting of the exciting news except that I want the damn thing right now but have to wait to find something first. And yes, apparently cars get paid for in cash as well. lovely.

I think that's it for now. Hope everyone's well.