African Journal: Playing catch-up

[thatcrazycajun]

For those who have been moseying over here the past month or so hoping for new entries in the ongoing saga "Life As A Rookie American Ex-Pat in Africa," my apologies for having left updating for so long. I will try to encapsulate what's been going on since last entry as follows.

• On Saturday 9/21, we drove down to Johannesburg to attend a mini-convention being put on by Science Fiction & Fantasy South Africa, the only SF/F fan group we've found so far on this continent. We got started at least two hours later than planned, and driving out of Mbabane found ourselves in the thickest, grayest fog you never want to have to drive through. We spent the whole first hour of the trip unable to see more than a couple hundred meters in any direction; an ambulance two car lengths ahead of us faded out of sight several times. We finally got to Jo'burg about 2 PM and spent the better part of the next hour trying to pick the right lane of the off-ramp to reach our destination...and failing, having to drive at least a mile before we could find the next off-ramp and turn around. We finally found the house three-ish and were warmly welcomed despite our lateness (we'd missed more than half the scheduled events from 10 am onward), and invited to take part in games: writing a SF or fantasy story of exactly 99 words — no more, no less — beginning with the words "The frog had no legs"; a game of Pictionary where we had to identify famous spaceships from movies, TV shows and novels from one person's drawings; and a talk by a local author about the definition of science fiction. Our hosts praised us for being willing to drive so far for the shindig and invited us to stay with them next time; then we spent a little more time getting lost (this time after dark) before finding the hotel we'd booked a room at less than a mile away. We drove back the next day after doing some shopping, left Jo'burg far too late in the afternoon and ended up barely making it back to the border post before it closed for the evening.


• The end of the fiscal year 2013 brought a ton of extra work for my poor Songbird, massive Mission employee turnover and an influx of new workers at the Embassy, bringing with them a whole horde of children — more than this particular post has ever had at once, we're told. A welcome party at the Ambassador's residence was held, featuring a bouncy castle for the kids and pot-luck food for everyone, and Your Humble got talked into (maybe) taking over the Embassy newsletter, since its previous editor, the former Community Liaison (see below), had left. One couple ended up getting a house just a few blocks from ours in the Thembelile neighborhood of Mbabane, and as Songbird was their social welcome officer, had to ensure the place was ready for them and stocked with welcome kit (towels, small appliances, bed linens, TV and kitchenware) to use until their own stuff arrived by sea shipment. Your Humble was dispatched to fetch their first week or so's groceries and stock the kitchen and fridge, and then we both met them as they arrived. A young couple with a darling little six-year-old girl, they had just relocated from Florida for the wife's job in the Mission, and we got along pretty well...well enough, at least, for me to inveigle the husband (a bit more of a hardware techie than I) into helping me install the multi-system TV and DVD player we'd shipped from the States in place of the Embassy loaners we'd been using. The loaner screen had a strangely fuzzy picture, but ours proved crystal clear once we had it up and running...which is a good thing, as watching TV is pretty much the only thing to do around here at night.


• Over the past two weeks three job vacancies were announced by the US Embassy here for which family members of Fed employees were eligible: a human resources administrative temp job, another as assistant to the General Services Officer (GSO) and a third as Community Liaison Office (CLO) coordinator. The GSO maintains the Embassy and housing for Fed personnel as well as running the motor pool; the CLO helps new personnel and their families get settled in their new homes, finds schools, plans events for the Embassy community and tours of the area among other things. I interviewed for the AGSO and HR temp jobs at the same time on Friday 9/27 and the CLO position on the following Tuesday 10/1, just in time for the Congressionally-triggered federal shutdown.The interviews seemed to go pretty well...but today I was e-mailed a PDF letter informing me that the HR job is on hold pending a budget resolution, and the other two jobs went to other candidates. Sigh.


• My first real, actual graphic design client, a local owner of a computer store-cum-Internet café, wanted some new banners designed for the front of the establishment. I worked up a set of six banners and sent them via e-mail...and after over a week waiting for a response was informed that the designs were "too retro, for lack of a better word" and not what they were looking for. Still trying to come up with a more up-to-date alternative based on sketchy guidance after two weeks. Sigh again. Onward...


• On the bright side, the Embassy folks may still want me to redesign and/or edit their newsletter on an ongoing basis, and say they may want writing samples...but the shutdown has put that on hold as well. And another person my Songbird works with says she will sit down with me soon to discuss a revamp of one of the agency websites.


• As mentioned in the previous post, Songbird has developed an abraded cornea. It started a week and a half ago with her feeling like there was constantly something in her left eye. A visit to the nearest opthamology-trained doctor (not an actual opthalmologist, alas — such specialists as can be approved by the Embassy for treatment to US standards are thin on the ground here) yielded a first diagnosis of viral infection. She got eye drops and an ointment, plus pills and seemed to be getting better...then the thing got worse over the next weekend, giving her excruciating pain. A second visit to the same doctor brought a new diagnosis: an ulcerated scratch, from FSM only knows what source. New prescriptions (this time, drops every 30 minutes during waking hours [!!] and ointment), plus staying home the remainder of the week. So far, she seems to be getting better again...but a third exam on Monday will tell the tale. If things don't improve, we may be sent to Pretoria or Nelspruit for a second opinion. And wouldn't you just know today happens to be World Sight Day? Will keep you all posted.


• The seasons are changing here, as they are back home...only in reverse. Being in the southern hemisphere and halfway round the other side of the globe, while our friends and relatives are breaking out the sweaters and hot apple cider, we here in southern Africa are heading into local spring...and the rainy season. Highly disconcerting...although a warm Christmas would be nothing new to me, having grown up in the Gulf Coast region. And because Songbird's boss and her relief have both requested December time off, and the Ambassador is unlikely to allow all three leads in the office to be gone at once, we're stuck here unable to even go down to the beach, let alone home for the holidays. Grr.

So...any questions?

Comments

[sodyera.livejournal.com]

Transmitting Healing Energy for Songbird's eyes. What colour are they?

And I hope the T-Pty coup attempt subsides soon so you can get that newsletter gig.

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

What color are Songbird's eyes? I've been trying to figure out the answer to that question for 12 years now...Seems most of the time they are a very dark brown, but sometimes they seem to vary from almost black back on up to hazel.

[patoadam]

Hope Songbird's eye is getting better!

[asg-qa-s7.livejournal.com]

Best wishes for Mary's recovery. Glad to hear you got out & met the local fen & sampled shopping in Jo'burg.

Cheer up on Mary being stuck as duty officer; seniority on station accrues, and rotations happen. Your family's turn will come.

"We also serve
Who stand and wait
Swinging on
the Garden Gate."

[netpositive.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting updates - as someone who's been wondering a lot about different countries/cultures recently given the... disconnects in my own, it's good to hear your take on this. Not to mention just being glad to hear you are doing mostly ok! :) *hug*