To the others from the program (or South Africans who adventured with me): feel free to send me links to photo sites you've created, or blog posts you'd be fine with people seeing, or if you want pictures of you removed from my site (or altered, or attributed, anything for you).

First, picture galleries:

Commonly Asked Questions: addressed.
Things most missed: my people, my car, American cheeseburgers, commonality of Pepsi, my music on speakers (not headphones), faster internet, leisure time, television, safety, familiarity, American breakfast food, customer service (as far as efficiency) our food in general, really...

Things they had up on us: ocean, mountains, customer service (as far as politeness), less ethnocentrism/nationalism, even a bit warmer/friendlier than Midwesterners, their history stretches back further, freedom is fresher in their minds, the oppressed went from 'crushed under thumb' to controlling the parliament and presidency in one election cycle, they are generally less politically correct than us (link), cheaper cost of living (everything there was cheaper except for petrol, soft drinks and shoes)...

Happenings, in bullet form: Climbed Table Mountain, went on a couple of dates (only the last one was certified), heard Africaans spoken, heard Xhosa spoken, heard Zulu spoken, I was asked if I was Canadian, if I was Australian, I was asked was instrument I played, I was asked why I was in South Africa, I was asked why I'd go to South Africa to study law, I was told our country has everything, I was told my country was the most racist, I was told that many South Africans believed 'the US had September 11th coming,' I was assumed to be a racist by the Africaans equivalent of a redneck wearing an Army surplus-type jacket (he told me the Africaans word for our N-word, and informed me that the baton I was looking at could be used to beat them with), I watched US v Ghana in the World Cup with two Americans and 35+ Ghana supporters, I became known as 'the Pepsi guy' by the fine folk of the Wash & Web, I gave some money to beggars, I haggled at the Green Point Flea Market, I ignored some beggars, I got pulled away by locals and had great conversations during most weekends, I was followed by beggars, I hung on Long Street, I was cussed at by one beggar repeatedly (he was stationed between my place of residence and the Wash & Web), I saw 2000+ year old cave paintings, I chased a shoe into the ocean, I marvelled that Africa has the same stupid grey squirrels we do, I went to townships, I tipped more than that nation's customary 10% frequently, witnessed two Camp's Bay sunsets, attended a Springboks rubgy match...

Random facts learned: They listen to what we listen to on about a one year delay, they watch what we watch on about a 5 month delay, pro-wrestling is the most popular program on television, rape is so common that if you don't have all the facts the police won't likely follow through, the Apartheid government lead by the National Party was kept afloat largely due to US foreign policy during the Cold War as the freedom-craving ANC had some Communist tendencies, when you go to a movie in the theater you pick your seat and from the movie I saw they prefer the back rows, the 'Xh' in Xhosa is pronounced as a click...

Blogging from SA -
(goto) - Monday, June 19, 2006: live from South Africa, it's Steven Long
(goto) - Tuesday, June 20, 2006: meat and potatoes
(goto) - Friday, June 23, 2006: musings from afar
(goto) - Saturday, June 24, 2006: Rugby
(goto) - Monday, June 26, 2006: Cape Peninsula, Penguins
(goto) - Tuesday, June 27, 2006: for the lazy
(goto) - Thursday, June 29, 2006: for the people in the back
(goto) - Saturday, July 01, 2006: a bit scrambled
(goto) - Sunday, July 02, 2006: flea market, etc
(goto) - Monday, July 03, 2006: where is the @ at?
(goto) - Thursday, July 06, 2006: band camp
(goto) - Saturday, July 08, 2006: safari, need more?
(goto) - Monday, July 10, 2006: i'll verb you plural nouns later
(goto) - Wednesday, July 12, 2006: straight out of Compton?
(goto) - Thursday, July 13, 2006: too lazy to narrow the field
(goto) - Sunday, July 16, 2006: see what I've seen
(goto) - Tuesday, July 18, 2006: more to say later
(goto) - Thursday, July 20, 2006: in contrast
(goto) - Friday, July 21, 2006: last dose until I come home
(goto) - Monday, July 24, 2006: home