bollerud: April 2007

Bikers Rhea & Ruby

Like Mother Like Daughter

Ruby and her friends taking in the sun

Yeah!!! I think I finally figured out how to post a photo (I'll see for sure if I did it when I check the blog). This photo was taken at the women's only public hot tubs in Santa Cruz. Ruby had a great time running around naked (her favorite thing to do). We had a fun visit to Santa Cruz, visiting friends and the beach. Ruby loved the sand and managed to get it into every crevice imaginable!!! We are now back in Bend and enjoying the warm spring weather. I started working a few weeks ago in the Labor and Delivery Unit at the hospital. I will be working two 12hr night shifts a week. It's a very busy unit with around 160-200 births a month! This place is growing rapidly. Ruby has been handling it well and actually sleeps better with Patrick than she does with me! Take care
Rhea

Back from Africa

Ray and I just got back from a trip to Africa. We spent two weeks in Botswanna "on safari" and two weeks on our own in South Africa. It was a great trip. I will post some photos if I every figure out how to do it! I also have about 4 hours of video that I can't figure out how to replay yet. :)

In Botswanna we saw incredible animals and birds. Each day we would get up at 5:30 am and head for the "truck" after a quick cup of tea. We'd drive around for about 3-4 hours catching the animals in their morning ablutions. Then to the lodge for breakfast (huge), nap (brief), lunch (huge) and tea (with cakes). Then off into the truck for the evening game "drive". Back for a shower, drinks and dinner (huge buffet). In one month, we gained a combined total of 18 pounds! The lodges were beautiful sites. At night we weren't allowed to leave our "camp" without a guide because of the wild (and potentially dangerous) animals wandering around!

It was thrilling to see the wildlife in their natural habitat. Since there is no hunting in Botswanna, they don't see us as predators (or dinner) and, therefore, just go about their business. We got quite close, actually really, really close to elephants, lions, giraffes, every variety of impala, kudu, wildebeest, wart hogs, and the most beautiful birds imaginable (over 150 varieties!).

We were own our own for two weeks in South Africa. It was totally unlike anything we prepared for. It is very European, quite cosmopolitan (in Capte Town and surrounds). Both Botswanna and SA are very oriented toward tourists - extremely friendly and welcoming. We always felt comfortable and safe. We did the Apartheid Museum, a township tour and went to Robbins Island where Mandela was jailed for 18 years. The effects of colonialism and apartheid are stunning...the poverty of the black people cannot be described in the townships. At the same time, the policy of reconciliation truly seems to have taken hold. We sensed an openess and friendship - not resentment or hatred. The country was truly blessed to have the leadership of people like Mandela and Tutu. Now they are working on black empowerment and affirmative action but there is still not much black middle class. While housing is open to all, in reality because of economics (rather than race), most black people live in townships (shanty towns on the edges of cities).

Our experiences were quite paradoxical - taking a wine tour (accompanied by gourmet lunch - of course), driving in the Klein Karoo (desert and mountains), gorgeous beaches, and visiting a school for over 500 poor children in shipping containers, literally. It's hard to know how to think about it. We certainly want to go back and would love to figure out how to be helpful.

Kathy and Ray

I forgot to add the picture. here it is

Nick with Kenneth and Nat

This is Nat, Kenneth, and myself -Nicholas, outside the bollerud home in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Kendra and I sampled naturally carbonated natural springs, visited the Battle of Saratoga national park, the horse racing museum, all over the wonderful town - about which, Kenneth knows everything, and every morning we had bagels for breakfest. I also saw Andrew for the first time in 10 years. All together I'd saw it was a very satisfying first stop on my journey home, and certainly long overdue. Thank you Ken and Nat. Next stop is D.C.