My underwater debut

What a gorgeous Monday it was. The mountain in fine form with not a cloud lingering above it, a magnificent sunset from a balcony table for two setting that could have been a vista from Lake Como, Italy. I spent most of the day inside however, writing about urban agriculture. A 2000 word essay was due, on top of 500 word essay, on top of a 1000 word essay last week, and looking forward to a test friday and more work monday.

I didn't come to Africa to have my waking moments dominated by word documents! But I shall not complain any further, academics here are worth while.

I am getting scuba certified here in South Africa. It is international and life long, so nothing will be lost in translation.

This is a transcript of an email sent just after I returned from the first day of pool training (after my fingers thawed):

Oh my goodness, what I am not paying in $ I am paying for in physical discomfort. 8am, we got our gear and headed to the pool, excuse me, the unheated pool. In order to

begin we had to swim 200m and show that we could tread water for 10
mintues. The pool is about 50 degrees. It is unheated water subject to
little sun and CPT weather. The ocean, yesterday surfing was not that
cold. So, hypothermia set in and somehow myself and everyone else got
through it.
Following that we assembled and disassmebled our kits several times
before heading to the baby pool d to the baby pool (about 4 ft deep)
then we practiced the necessary skills of scuba, how to retrieve your
mask, your regulator, how to clear the mask and hoses. It took a while
in the freezing water (still freezing even with 7mm thick wetsuits and
hoods and boots) because several of the participants had troubles.

But I love the scuba! I enjoyed the underwater sensation of weightlessness and the colors of the light reflecting in the water, walking on ones hands, dolphin kicking as much as my heart desires, making funny faces/signals at fellow scubas... And the best part, my new scuba name: SCUBA'STINA!

Will hopefully post a picture of scuba soon. For now, this is clouds gathering around Table Mountain a view fro the 16th fairway of the Mowbray Golf Club