Schmie again.... (edited and augmented)

Life here is great - challenging in many ways - but great. Days are getting longer as they are getting shorter in SA. I have learned that administrative incompetence makes for an international community that trancends all ethinic, cultural, language etc etc boundaries. Simple things like getting paid at the end of the month and getting reimbursed for travel expenses are not simple here. To their credit, the admin staff at TUKS are much more effiecient than here. Perhaps someone can mention that to Riana Venter in passing. Come to think of it, all those at TUKS, thank your lucky stars for her and others such as Petru, Hettie, and Christa. African time would be the speed of light here. Throw in the little variables that we can't speak Turkish (yet)and that Cypriots seem to have a need to keep you happy by telling you what they think you want to hear, you have a royal recipy for frustration. Fortunately, up to now, I have proven Dollard and Millar's frustration-aggression theory wrong. Perhaps one should develop it into sommekind of developmental stage theory. If so, I would be in the frustration-depression stage. Don't worry, its not really that bad, but it makes for lekker blog writing.

Isabella has a cough and we, through other mothers at a toddler's workshop/playgroup found a very good woman paediatrician along with a very helpful pharmacist. A consultation with a specialist here costs 60YTL (New Turkish Liras) which is just over R300. So, it compares well. Daniel loves his school. He is in avery good space and very keen to learn "Torkish". Pirate DVD's cost about R40 and if you exchange them you pay R20.

We are investigating getting Internet at home. R500/month for a wireless connection may sound like much, but it gives one unlimited access. Installation is a bit of a party pooper at about R 4000! This, unfortunately has to wait untill the university pays my reimbursement.

I finally got a car! The Hyundai Accent. This will make a considerable contribution to improving the quality of life. Now the island is our oyster. Today North Cyprus, tomorrow the world!

Now it makes more sense to me to go and enjoy the weekend than to write further. You have a good weekend too!

PS. We have managed to lose both our SA SIM Cards, so you ccannot SMS us anymore, but, use the email and the blog! And if anyone has Janine Vermeulen's email address, please forward it to us?