A hearty greeting from Cape Town, South Africa!   The Dangels crashed down about a week ago and have been a whirling dervish since.  Where to begin… After securing a rental apartment for a week, we have split our time between finding a permanent place and getting the lay of the land.  The people we’ve met have been terrific, almost eerily friendly; they are all too willing to help out, and they are as curious about our culture as we are of theirs.  Perhaps most interesting is the comfort with which they broach the topic of apartheid.  For them, it is merely a part of their past, certainly nothing to sidestep, which allows them to work toward a more inclusive, respectful culture.  Nevertheless, the townships that surface every ten miles, coupled with the high walls and barbed wire around every free-standing home, serves as a stark reminder of past brutality.  As a result, security is no joke, as the locals speak openly about thefts that take place “every now and then.”  So in looking for a place to stay for the year with two children, the puzzle grows even more complex.  On a natural level, there are few places as gorgeous, as dozens of sky-scraping mountains buffet the city on one side and a sheet of turquoise ocean the other.  Whether in the form of exotics birds or the occasional baboon walking across the road, wildlife is everywhere.  Just yesterday, between house visits, we absconded to the Southern most tip of Africa, Cape Point, to check out hundreds of African penguins.  The jovial nature of these feathered fellows was hilarious, as they danced, sang, and swam incessantly for everyone present.  While leaving the point, however, things grew even more interesting when an ostrich decided to step directly in front of my sewing-machine rental car.  Assuring my family that I could handle the situation, I jumped out to confront the brazen beast, only to discover that he was a foot taller than me and twice as determined.  So I reconsidered my strategy, bowing my head and shuffling sheepishly back to safety, pointing out to my kids that harming animals was not the proper approach.  Needless to say the excuse didn’t fly and they’ve been mocking me for days.   So, as you can tell, we are learning a ton in little time, and we haven’t even scratched the surface.  My kids, adorned in their quaint, semi-unsettling school uniforms, started today, and I fire up the rusty teaching engines tomorrow.  And to think you are all at home, enjoying the waning days of summer, which I certainly hope is the case.  And there you have it, a taste of ex-pat life across the pond.  My very best to all of you.   Please stay tuned!