Allow me to clarify, first of all, that this septic situation was not due to our negligence. The local municipal government is responsible, it seems, for providing one tank pump every month for free. Pat has reserved such a service last week, but nobody came in the weeklong window they gave us. Calling again, we were informed that they had lost our request in their mess of paperwork. This being last week, we just renewed our request. By the time we found the unwelcome signs of overflow we got word from the government that the one driver of the pump truck in the area not only was sick, but also held up in court, of all places. Being as noncommittal as possible, they ambiguously suggested that the driver may, perhaps, be ready to work on Friday. Not wanting to make the potentially smelly mistake of assuming that the government would come to our assistance, Pat looked into a private pumping firm but found that they charge more than $100 for a service that is usually free. It would be our option of last resort.
Thankfully, the city workers had come by to save us from our hostage-by-sewage predicament by the time I got to work on Friday. The students, who had been barred from showers, sinks, and flushing toilets, were understandably ecstatic. Another disaster averted at Africa House! In an instant, the normal, relaxed pacing of the complex was adopted once again.
On Thursday Toukam and I did our weekly outing into the dining world of Cape Town. This time we opted for Indian food at Bakhara, a restaurant discreetly located on the second floor of a building 3 minutes from our apartment. It's location may have been hard to find, but its quality was not. From the drink (a traditional Indian mango yoghurt drink) and appetizer (garlic chicken and nan bread) to the main course (pork curry), it was a exhibition of India's best cuisine. It was mildly expensive, but our stomachs, which were filled to bursting, testified to the worthiness of the restaurant, prices and all.
Saturday brought the delicious honor of lunching with Floyd and Sally (my boss and his wife). They wanted to thank me/chat with me as I enter this final week of working for All Nations. I met them at Africa House before they drove me to Simon's Town to eat at a nice seafood restaurant that looked out into False Bay. The weather, though sunny and bright in the morning, had quickly turned into dreary rain and wind. It made for bad visibility, but I found the whole package to be enjoyable despite the outside atmosphere. After ordering prawn salad and a seafood platter we got to talking about everything from movies to travel. The McClungs are really great people, and I loved the chance to talk with them. On the way home, we stopped at the Simon's Town community center to check out a local art fair, which I found pretty entertaining. It wasn't necessarily a showcase of world-class artwork, but it struck me as a cozy display of a locale's artists. One thing is for sure- it was an activity that felt entirely non-touristy, which I always value.
The McClungs and I
Planning for the trip continues to chug along. I am pleased to announce that I had confirmed a bed in Springbok (my first destination) as well as Fish River Canyon (my second). Over the coming days, I think I'll continue reserving places to keep my stressors at a minimum once I leave. I'll also be doing a checkup on my car, packing, and buying supplies. I've pretty much straightened out my itinerary, and I'll post it here soon. Until further developments arise, that's all for now. Hope you like posts short and sweet! Thanks for reading.
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