Settling in

 

So this is Muizenberg: a southern suburb of Cape Town situated right on the beach. We have a beautiful view from our fifth floor windows of low dunes and white sand stretching eastwards for miles. We look south onto the Indian Ocean – next landfall is Antarctica. Just to confirm that we really are in the Southern hemisphere (and I have to pinch myself to be sure) we can see the stars of the Southern Cross hanging high above the horizon after dark.

The beach is populated by dog walkers, joggers, swimmers, splashers, surfers – both normal and kite variety – and, just recently a couple of tired and pale-looking refugees from cold dark days in Oxford! In the few days since our arrival, we have gained a hire car (and a bit of colour in our cheeks) and have sampled some of the spectacular scenery of the Cape Peninsula. There are penguins to see on a beach a few miles away and already we have spotted 14 other species of birds new to us without really trying. Richard has twice been in the sea and Catherine is working up to it. So, if one of our primary aims for this time of sabbatical is refreshment, we couldn’t have come to a better place!

Some things are very familiar, with a strong British influence evident. So we’re quite at home driving on the left and dealing with roundabouts (or circles, as they are here). Many brand names in the supermarket are the same, and there is even Marmite! Some things, however, quickly remind us that we are in Africa. The plusher homes are walled and wired with notices proclaiming armed security. Sellers of trinkets come to your window while your car waits at traffic lights whilst uniformed car park attendants at the shopping mall help you with your bags and appreciate a tip of a few rand. It is good to be somewhere very different to live and observe another way of life.

Muizenberg is also home to an excellent theological college – George Whitefield College (GWC) – where we are now registered as part-time students. It’s a lively, welcoming place and in our next post we’ll introduce you to our life as international students.

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