Hectic, yeeaah?!

It's been a very busy few weeks for us here. And the two most vital things that we need to do are proving to be the most difficult: opening a bank account and finding a place to live.

From day one we've gone to the bank and tried to sort out an account but they require docs from Conergy, and our HSBC in Hong Kong, bank statements, etc. Each time we go back, it's not good enough.

We've gone the "private banking" route hoping that we would get better service. Nope. The woman we're dealing with is quite wishy-washy and forgets to bring the forms we're supposed to sign and so we need to set up more appointments.

We also noticed that since opening the account with 200 Rand, there were lots of charges coming off of the account... until there was only 50 Rand left. And we didn't even withdraw anything!

So we went into a branch today and asked about all these mysterious fees. Apparently the card we were given is not even OURS! It's some other person's card and we have total access to his account! Imagine if he had millions in there and we had no conscience!

We think we might just cancel our account completely with this bank, and start with another bank totally from scratch. We're just hoping somebody else doesn't have OUR bank card and starts to spend the $15000 HK dollars we've just transferred into it! Banks close at 3:30 every day so it's too late now to go in and get it sorted. We'll see what happens.

As for finding a place, the rental market is apprently going through the toughest period any agent has ever seen. There are very few properties out there and lots of potential renters, us included.

There are property agents who are placing ads in the newspaper LOOKING for people who are wanting to rent their property out, can you imagine! We've looked at a lot of places, a couple dozen at least, and still nothing. Either it's not the right size, location, price, not secure, or a combo of those.

More news: I got my new (well, second hand) green Peugeot 307 almost a week ago! We've been using that car exclusively and i'm getting much more used to the manual driving, and loving it! Still need to practice hill starts though ;) Especially those reverse hill starts, yikes!

On Sunday we went to Franschoek, a nice little community about 2 hours away in the winelands. We watched the rugby games and then drove back through the mountains and on some dirt paths - the car's now officially initiated! See Matt buying biltong (dried meat, either kudu, ostrich, springbok, beef, and then seasoned with spices) in a local shop in Franschoek.

I will have the car serviced tomorrow and the A/C fixed too. I'm also gettin a tracking device installed. If by chance it gets hijacked or stolen, i can track it on the internet and the police can retrieve it. I've also got the "anti smash and grab" tinted windows put in, which prevents anyone from coming up and breaking the glass with a spark plug to steal whatever's inside the car.

And i got safety bands put in on all the wheels which basically allows me to keep driving for 150 km without having to stop if i get a flat tire. This is useful if you're in an unsafe or unknown area. Sometimes people deliberately put nails or glass on the street to cause flats so people have to stop. But anyways, all these safety features on the car will make it much more safe on the roads.

We're getting into a routine somewhat, playing frisbee twice a week. The people are friendly (nice mix of locals and foreigners) and it's great weather to do outdoor sports, as oppose to the heat/humidity in HK. Can't believe how we put up with it for so long! I've joined the yoga studio just a block away from where we're staying and i've gone about 5 times now, love it!

We've also been cooking a lot: couscous, pasta, curries - we bought those boil in a bag rice packages but haven't attemped it yet. Matt is looking forward to our rice cooker arriving from HK more than i am!! :)

We're also trying to read more of the local papers to be more informed about SA and Cape Town politics. There was a huge protest a couple days ago which clogged up the N2 (one of the busiest highways in town) about housing shortages in one of the townships. It is true what they say about how one can easily forget what lies "across the fence" if you choose not to go there.

I've already started to look for second hand pianos to buy also. I can't wait to have my own piano again to play on, it's been way too long, longest gap in my life i think. I've got a few to see so hopefully we'll have a home to take it too soon!

So besides doing all the househunting and settling in bit, i've been job hunting. There are several teaching posts which i've applied to already, only starting in Jan (beginning of the term here). However i have been warned by a lot of people i've met (locals and foreigners) that finding employment here is very difficult if not near impossible.

It seems people are reluctant to hire anyone who doesn't already have a work visa, but the catch is you can't get a work visa until you have an employer! I already had an interviewer cancel on me after we set a date/time, when she realized i didn't have a work visa.

Apparently most people (those who come from abroad) end up doing a lot of volunteer work. Some end up getting a student visa (much easier to obtain supposedly) and furthering their studies. I'm still hopeful something will come up though, it's really a lot about who you know too. Hmm... sounds all too familiar.

In the meantime, I've also started to ask around for some volunteering positions with various organizations, just to expand my network. I've thought about teaching privately at home, piano or whatever, but need to know more about doing it without a work visa, if that's a good idea or not.

I also wonder if this isn't a good time to get back into the development field of work, perhaps in the edu stream, since there is an obvious need for resources and extra help. In any case, being here and living as we do (although not extravagantly but definitely more luxuriously than most) has brought home the inequality and disparity between people who supposedly share a home city, which is now also mine.

Last night we met up with a friend of mine, Yulanda, who used to work at Treasure Island with me in Hong Kong. She's from HK but in 4th year med school in Southampton. Her and some of her classmates just spent 7 weeks in SA doing a summer internship course in Kwazulu-Natal province, working in rural clinics and hospitals.

While we dined on all the must-try game meats (springbok, kudu and ostrich), it was interesting to hear them talk about their experience, stiching up ears and stab wounds in the ER, and how even if there is a slight suspicion of HIV contamination from patient to doctor, they must start antiviral drugs immediately. However, it was good to hear that the hospitals (the public ones too!) are actually quite first-rate and secure/safe.

Tomorrow we are flying to Johannesburg, coming back Sunday night. Matt has a couple of meetings and on Sat we are going to the Cheetah reserve tour and on Sun we're taking a township tour of Soweto (inc the Nelson Mandela Museum, churches, etc).

I'll be meeting a friend of a friend at Wits University tomorrow, we'll have dinner together with her friend and go and listen to some music i think. Sat night we are meeting one of Matt's old highschool friend from Atlantic College. And of course Friday night is the BIG England vs. South Africa rugby World Cup game!! Still undecided who to cheer for!! ;)