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December 9, 2005 - Telephone report from Coffee Bay


Photos

Unfortunately, no photos are available as there is no adequate Internet connection available here.

Date: Fri, 09 Dec 2005 21:00:48 -0800
From: Karen Raz
Subject: Ema called
To: Everyone

Hi everyone,

Ema called tonight to wish us all a shabbat shalom. We spoke briefly and they are doing great. She gave me a quick update over phone since there is no Internet access from the places they have been staying. I drafted the report below--Amnon--you can post it to the website for now--but my mom will have detailed reports and updates when she gets to a major city.
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Friday December 9th, 2005

We are now staying in Coffee Bay, this is the heart of the Transki Region where Nelson Mandela was raised. It is beautiful here with lots of rolling green hills and small villages. There are many small farms with cows, chickens and goats. The people here don't have running water-- and Internet access is unheard of in these communities so details in this report had to be dictated by phone--I will fill in the blanks later when we can get online.

Last night we had dinner with a local Xhosa family. We ate a meal of corn and local greens, similar to spinach. The children were dancing and the women were singing. Most of the men were out drinking. Drinking is a big problem here as are drugs. There is 80% unemployment and many young people sell drugs to make a living.

We visited Addo elephant park and saw hundreds of elephants. We are loving every minute and are having an amazing time. The villages here are very peaceful, beautiful and safe.

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