Settling in?

It is Sunday morning here & I have found a fabulous internet cafe in an enormous shopping center called Gateway. It makes the Merry Hill seem like a row of corner shops.

Yesterday I spent the day with Charlotte - my contact from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. (Charlotte -me & one of her daughters above) Charlotte lectures on the diploma - degree & masters nurse training course. She was absolutely fantastic - really put herself out for me & with her lovely daughters - took me on a guided tour of the Durban & surrounding areas. She has me for 7 days as of Monday 10th March. I am facilitating a seminar on Saturday 15th for a large group of undergraduate & post graduate nurses. The more I hear about services here - the more obvious it becomes that people with Learning Disabilities are not on the governments agenda. There is no dedicated training as far as I can establish. Children with LD - if they receive any input - are loosely catered for by Educational Psychologists. When I asked "what happens when they leave school" - I didn't get much of an answer. The governmental post school provision is limited - patchy & institutional. I asked Charlotte if I could visit somewhere that caters for adults. She wanted to save me the distress as she said that "Those places are really not nice Kate". I will work on her?

We drove round the city - spent a while at an African Craft market (I bought an apron - still thinking about cooking - how sad am I?) I rummaged around & we all ate from the Hawker stalls. What did I have? A Greek cheese & spinach pie. Given how often I go to Greece - God knows why I choose Greek food in Africa. Anyway - it was very nice. We supped Frappes by the Marina in Durban City & talked nonstop for hours.

The weather is glorious - really hot & very humid. I can't quite believe that I am here. I mean - I find myself driving around & checking myself & saying out loud - "Bloody Nora - I am driving a car alone in Africa & loving it". Last night I went to a nice Italian restaurant alone. I said I wasn't going to do that because I would look like a saddo. But the restaurant was 5 minutes away - I have been before & is within the safe enclave of Umdloti where I am staying. I resisted the Oysters - had muscles & steak instead. And in between courses I read a text book on Challenging Behavior. I can honestly say that I have never read a text book in such a fantastic location before.

I have given myself a week off W/C 3rd March - and hope to organise a Safari for a few days & a bit of sight seeing.

I do love it here & being off the hamsters wheel of life - even for just 4 weeks is so so needed.

Lets see what tomorrow brings?

Whatever it brings - I will cherish it.