Cathy Theisen, Patti Aaron, 
Nicole and Bryan Aaron

Oxford - Michigan - USA

6 April 2009

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I met up with Cathy, Patti and Bryan and Davids guesthouse and we immediately left to fetch Nicole at her place of stay in Newlands. After collecting Nicole we started out on a winelands/township journey

We travelled to Stellenbosch where we started off by enjoying some coffee at a local coffee shop/bakery. Thereafter we moved on to Mooiberg Farm stall

Nicole and Bryan outside Mooiberg farm stall

Having fun with the ostriches at Muratie Wine farm

Winetasting at Muratie with David acting as our wine taste leader

We travelled to Stellenbosch where we had some takeout food from the Greengate restaurant whereafter we moved onto Kayamandi where we first stopped in at Florence's creche

Florence showing everybody around her creche 

We moved onto the Ikamva lethu Centre where we watched the kids at the centre dancing

Lucky meet Bryan

Bryan comes down to Luckys size. JJ

Having fun with the kids in Zone J

Please click on the above picture to see everyone joining in with the community of the St.Pauls Church
Please do not open this 4Mb video file unless you have a broadband connection

Bryan and Nicole handing out apples for trash in Zone J

After our visit to Kayamandi we all went to the local Spurs restaurant for dinner

It was wonderful to meet up with Cathy and Patti once again as we had last toured together 4 years ago. I had already met Nicole in Cape Town while she was at UCT so meeting her brother Bryan was quite a special experience for me. Together we travelled through the Cape Winelands as well as Kayamandi and in unison got a good impression as to what the region and its people had to offer.  It was very important for Bryan to have met Lucky as I believe he will be making a friend for life in the long run out of this South African township buddy. Saying goodbye to this foursome as they all prepared to go off on safari was a pretty tough experience for me but then what can one do when one is a tourguide who truly gets involved with all those who travel with him.

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL SAFARI
PATTI, CATHY, NICOLE AND BRYAN.

Received 19 April 2009

Hello Selwyn,

We've just returned home from Africa, and another incredible adventure in an 
incredible land. Still quite tired from the long journey but wanted to respond to your email sooner rather than later...

Please know how much we enjoyed spending the day with you! You were 
absolutely wonderful with all of us, but in particular, with Nicole and 
Bryan. You have a wonderful skill at drawing young adults out of their 
shells, and in a way that nurtures their inquisitiveness and respect. I 
was/am so grateful to have had the opportunity to revisit Kayamandi - 
another reason to feel lucky to have crossed paths with you! It was 
incredible to watch Nicole and Bryan interact with the Kaya kids and adults. 
What an opportunity (and a blessing) for all of us. To us all our visit to Kayamandi, was a sobering reminder that happiness is not about having what you want, but wanting what you have.

With heartfelt appreciation for your friendship, wisdom and good humor,

Fondly
Patti
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