La Vie Boheme

Well, as in any bohemian life, traveling hither and yon, there are bound to be ups and downs, and now it's time for the ups! I have been ok'd by Wits on a provisional status which will allow for me to apply through SAQA and then my degree status will be determined by the school. I don't care about the degree, I just want to go. So, things are well! Now I just have to get written confirmation of that, and we'll be set to get visa, etc. Whew!

I visited my sponsoring Rotary club today, and they were absolutely delightful! We heard from the #2 Secret Service agent assigned to LBJ during the JFK assassination--definitely interesting! Mr. Nash, my sponsor here, was sweet, and I gave out business cards and had a good time. They're such a delightful group of folks. If you ever get asked to join the Birmingham-East Rotary, do so!

Finally, I wanted to publicly support a really good cause that the United Methodist Church and several other organizations have entered into. It's called the Nothing but Nets Campaign and I will add it to my list of favorite sites. The organization raises money to buy mosquito nets for families in Africa. In case you were unaware, malaria, NOT AIDS, is the number 1 killer in most of Africa (someone dies every 30 seconds) and it is TOTALLY PREVENTABLE and TOTALLY TREATABLE. That's right, if you or I caught malaria, we would be sick with flu-like symptoms, but in the end, we would be just fine. Amazing. So, please do check out the site. A donation of $10 will provide a net for 4 people. And you say there's nothing you can do...

So, if you call me in the next few days, expect excited Lisa! Seriously, I'm totally keyed-up. Finally!

"Slow down, you're moving too fast..."

I knew there would be foibles in the process, but I certainly never expected that the next one would come within 12 hours of my last post. I received an email from Wits asking if I had applied through the South African Qualifications Authority, a group which evaluates transcripts to determine whether or not an applicant is suitable for a certain program. From what I gather, this is much like our "Highly Qualified" status. Anyway, the process takes around 6 months. 6 MONTHS???!!!???!!!

Ok, I'm not freaking out. I called my Rotary coordinator and he is taking care of it, we hope. Anyway, I think lost might have been better than might not happen. So say a little prayer for me and for the folks processing my application. Send positive thoughts. Meditate day and night. Whatever works for you--I could use it.

On the other hand, my friend Jon David got his acceptance, so I know I'll have a friend in Cape Town. We talked about travel plans and going to Mozambique, and I think we're both sufficiently excited...much fun lies ahead!

Thank Goodness!

Whew! We had a close call. On last Tues., Nov. 8, I called the Wits education department to check in on my application. Since housing applications are due Nov. 30 and cannot be processed until school acceptance is made, I thought I'd give it a little extra check-up, just in case. Glad I did! Turns out, my application had been misplaced! You can imagine my reaction. I immediately contacted my Rotary sponsors, who took care of everything. I had an email in my inbox this morning telling me that my application had been located and that I should hear something from Wits by Thursday. Thank goodness! I know that this is just one of many foibles that will likely occur on the route to getting this all set up, but I'm surely glad that this first one is over.

Things here are well. This weekend, Katie, my mother, and our friend from church came to visit BSC. Katie and Mommy stayed for the weekend, and we did some visiting with various and sundry friends. I am working on my last three weeks at BSC, trying to get everything put together as far as recruited students goes. Tonight is my last night of work at the BR (which isn't saying much since I can't remember the last time I was there). As for scholarship news, I have gotten my Rotary business cards, which are really neat. I think they did a great job. I'm working on my final doctor visits, international drivers license, TB test, etc. Plenty to do, and as always not much time in which to do it. I officially leave Birmingham Dec. 4 (which is only a month from when I leave for Turkey, Greece, and Rome!). More fun times ahead.

Photographs and Memories

My mother might be the only person who catches that song reference, so a cookie for you if you get it before she does.

Just thought you might like to see some pictures of my last trip!


The Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, where I spent an hour waiting for an appointment and had a lovely talk with a bicycle officer.

The Mississippi River in New Orleans.

Abbott and me a little blurry at Cafe du Monde.

Me getting my fortune read--bones, cards, and palm!