Matric Dance

The famous tractor arrival

Matrics arriving on the back of a flower truck

A rather large dress

My favourite dress

This date stalled the car 3 times driving up

Hippy Van (and matching outfit)

.... A little over the top? NEVER

The hall... amazing

.. Again

Enterance

Marina and I dressed up

Back again, but not too much to report. Starting to feel a lot more home-y here and relaxed, less exciting new things to talk about. Last week we had a very low key time. Just hung out, watched lots of Grey's anatomy, read (I am trying my best with Wuthering Heights) had a couple nights out and did a lot of swimming. (Marina and I have a new laps routine we do every day- quite impressed with ourseleves!). Friday we weren't feeling too good (rather big night on wednesday we were still recovering from) so we ended up renting the 3rd CD of the Tudors season 1 and watching in on the HUGE tv in the matric tv room- a great series i reccomend it.

Saturday was the day of the Matric Dance (aka prom) which is HUGE here- so big in fact that they have it now (2 months into their matric year) because the girls are so excited about it they are unable to concentrate- therefore having it now gets it out of the way. The gr 11 year organizes it for the gr 12s so they don't have to worry about it but there is an incentive to do a good job. A huge pink tent was erected on the hockey field but it blew down over night sending everyone into panic mode. We ended up going down and lending a hand moving all the chairs/tables/decorations/lights etc etc from the field to the Hall (the tables were VERY heavy). Once they were back on their feet Marina and I headed out to long street for lunch (lunchs at school on sat. are rather grim) and had an awesome time and amazing food that we had been missing. (especially nachos!). Plus we found out that the resturant has 1/2 price apps. and 13.50R coctails during happy hour so it may be a new hang out! We had a nice relaxing afternoon- swimming, a trip to camps etc and then got ready for the dance as we had been invited to the coctail party before hand and it was a formal event.

The coctail party ended up being more like "watch the arrivals" which are the BIGGEST part of the dance here. The majority of girls arrived in REALLY nice cars, one of the best being a pink thunderbird, but some went all out. There was a horse and carriage, a horse box (not sure if it was a compliment), A tractor (couple sitting in couch on forklift), matching harley davidsons, plenty of old fashioned cars, a hippy van, the hot white st. cyprians van (cough cough), an old fashioned bug etc etc. One girl arrived in a shopping cart with her date pushing her. The dresses we mostly beautiful- very big and fancy and in some cases quite low considering they had to introduce their dates and look their headmisstress in the eye- akward. The theme was an indian type thing- beatiful, as you can see by the pictures (dosen't even capture it!). roses everywhere and beautiful rugs and pillows etc etc. From what I hear the food was amazing and the after party (at this fancy club in camps) amazing.

We headed out into town since we were all dressed up and had a fun night that ended with us all sharing some delicious thai noodles! :)

Sunday we went to the beach with some friends we met through the bishops boys. It was a beautifully hot day and really nice to be out on the beach while it is NOT windy. Hung out and read on the beach and then headed back to bishops for hanging out and swimming and watching mtv because they have it there.

Back working today- felt like the weekend went too fast, but very nice to be out of the school for so much of it. Not too much going on this wee k except it is the head of prep's birthday so a party for that and I am very lucky (and greatful to Firdaus) to be attending a service held by Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Friday morning. Should be a life changing experience.

Marina and I celebrated because we fully booked our march holidays today- after all the stress flights are booked and buses are organized etc etc. (my bank account did not celebrate) just gotta work out my 12 hours in joburg... anyone know anyone?

Hope all is well in Ottawa- love to you all!

xx Heather