Wow, no work today - we are not allowed to go due to a violant breakout in our township - "taxi wars" as its being referred as gangs fight over business to run the local minivans - shootings etc which seems very hard to believe after being there yesterday but its very real and the second outbreak over the last month which got very serious so im quite happy to have the day off ....

this crashed so now picking it up again a few days later!! We spent wed afternoon at the beach which was cool - there is a volunteer group teaching some street kids to surf which is entertaining to watch - they are totaly fearless (the kids) - you wouldnt get me anywhere near that water!!! Another chilled evening and again we were told that we wouldnt be able to work now till Monday as he violance had escalated so we went shopping Tuesday and out in the eve to Banana Jam Cafe in Kennilworth (getting the trains here is an experience in itself) then had a meeting friday morning to plan some activities for next week and then i headed back up into cape town - where i am now :) .... Having a chilled weekend with friends and finally enjoying some sun (yipeee) ... its exciting to se how this place is gearing up for the world cup - im staying with a friend this weekend in greenpoint so i look out over the new footie stadium - again its such a contrast to the townships - very bizarre being here - so many different worlds in one city .... the good thing being im actually learning some swahili and starting to use a bit of my rusty french!! there are alot of west african and congolese here (and many refugee kids) so with about 10 languages the norm (including clicks of the tongue) my limited french doesnt seem so bad after all!!!

As you can probably tell im enjoying it here and its nice to be in one place for a while so im extending my volunteering and staying here till the new year (india can wait for me im sure :) .... soooo here till just before xmas then may take a trip up to Mozambique ... (plans changing daily!!!) xx