Potch, the Vaal and the Magistrate

Our hosts have opened their very pleasant homes to us. When driving around “Potch”, as they call the city, the most obvious aspect is the one story concrete construction and the security fencing and gates. All windows have decorative metal bars of some sort. The security walls and fencing are decorative, and as distinct and varied as landscaping.
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Home furnishings reflect family and heritage. Photos of children and family members decorate the walls, heirlooms are lovingly displayed. One prominent feature of all homes we visited was the grills for "braai" – the bar-b-que. Braai differs from our bar-b-que in that we were told they last for hours! Emil’s host family, Hein and Annalize Pretorious home has multiple areas for grilling: a gas grill, a charcoal grill, an indoor wood fired grill(!) and outdoor wood fired grill. Family and friends are y the focal point of life here.
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Wednesday morning at the Rotary clubhouse we were greeted by Jaap Styne, representative of the Rotary District Governor, Lionel Heath. He welcomed us with an American flag, maps and words of advice, which basically were to ask for what we need and enjoy everything!
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We spent a leisurely day by the Vaal River in the Northwest Province about 30 minutes drive from Potchefstroom. We took great pleasure in visiting with Lisa Visser, a high-energy Rotarian and non-practicing attorney who works in her family’s mining implement business. We spent a lazy afternoon eating "biltong" (similar to beef jerky, better!) and sipping various fruit drinks. We shared concerns of security, race relations, government and the future. We were delighted that our common knowledge of music, movies and popular culture. This, coupled with discussions of our life experiences, expressed our bond as people.
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We had visitors at the Vaal River. A small flock of sheep strayed by. One young ram was especially friendly.
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Wednesday night dinner was hosted by Magistrate Estee Jansen and her husband Kobus in their ultra-modern home. The guests included Rotarians and light conversation was mixed with much good cheer. We were transfixed as all we met shifted from Afrikaans to English and back as smoothly as one could speak about one subject then another.
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Tomorrow we split up for our first day of professional tours.

Jo-berg, Potchefstroom and the Firehouse

We flew to Washington, D.C. then boarded a South African Airways Airbus. The direct flight to Johannesburg was almost sixteen hours. The plane , not quite full, carried a mixture of tourists, hunters, missionaries of various sorts and those retuning home or going to jobs. The flight to “Jo-burg” is the way to get to Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
We gathered our bags in the renamed Oliver Tambo airport, small airport and headed past security with no problem. We were greeted by Hein Pretorious and Mary Ann Wikner. We purchased simm cards for our cell phones and changed dollars into Rand ($1.00 = R7.23). We were alerted to the police presence by their highly reflective vests, but also struck by the fact that the police men and women were focued on each other visiting like schoolmates, while outside the terminal into the parking area there were none.
We drove through rush hour traffic, then the smoky hills on the outskirts of Soweto. In the fading light I was able to glimpse, the shacks with outhouses backed to the fence along the four-lane divided highway. Some two and one-half hours later we arrived in Potchefstroom (pot-CHEF-strum), a city of about 80,000.
Hein and Mary Ann delivered us to the Rotary clubhouse, an old firehouse. The building is two stories high, the three bays two stories now house walls decorated with club photos, banners from hundreds of club visits and portraits of past club presidents, bedecked like royalty with a chain necklace symbol of office. Most notable is the full bar in the next room with the atmosphere of a neighborhood pub. We were immediately greeted like old friends, with our names being used and handshaking all around.

Thus begins our trek, into South Africa.

The Team's Planned Itinerary

Our study exchange has been planned by the Rotary Clubs of Central South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho. See,
http://rotary9320.org.za/

Our journey begins September 2, when we leave Denver for Washingon, D.C. Then it's almost 16 hours non-stop to Johannesburg! From there we will travel to and be the guests of Rotary clubs in District 9320:

• Potchefstroom, 4 September - 9 September
• Viljoenskroon, 9 - 13 September
• Welkom, 13 - 16 September
• Harrismith, 17 - 20 September
• Maseru, Kingdom of Lesotho (Rotary District Conference), 21- 23 September

See, http://rotary9320.org.za/discon/programme.htm for the schedule of events (including the Rotary District Governor's Banquet with guests of honor the King and Queen of Lesotho!)

• Ficksburg, 23 - 25 September
• Queenstown, 26 - 28 September
• East London, 29 September - 3 October.


• Depart for Denver October 3.

Once we arrive we will update this blog often!

Our Group Study Exchange Team

Rotary International has given us a gift of travel! And what's more, host South African Rotary members and their families, whom we've yet to meet, will share with us their time, their knowledge and their hospitality.

We are District 5450 Group Study Exchange team members Vicky Holdridge, Cheri Tatem, Annie Rose Stathes, Mark Belnay and Rotarian Emil Rinaldi. We have been selected to travel to Rotary District 9320, Central South Africa and Lesotho, from September 4 - October 3.

In South Africa, we will meet professionals in our respective vocations. Our sharing of ideas, practices and experiences with our counter-parts will provide life-long memories and promote international understanding. The ultimate goal of this GSE is to foster world peace - if only, one person at a time. We will strive to make the most of this opportunity as "Rotary Shares!"

Vicky is a Language Instructor at Intercambios in Boulder. She teaches volunteers methods to teach English to immigrants to this country. Cheri is an Exercise Therapist. She works primarily with those with chronic illnesses. Annie Rose is an Artist whose work includes painting and architectural mosaics. Mark is an English teacher at Ranum High School. His goal is to share his awareness of the global issues with his students. Emil is a retired judge and member of the Westminster 7:10 Rotary Club.