Living in South Africa with Weekend Linky ~ Amanda's Books and More

Friday, August 14, 2015

Living in South Africa with Weekend Linky

Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #139!

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As an American living in South Africa, I've had to adjust to a new lifestyle. In South Africa, most people don't have central heating or cooling in their homes. Usually laundry machines are only hooked up to cold water taps and laundry is hung outside to dry.

Having a gardener and a maid is common among middle and upper class families, since it's affordable and totally worth it. We have a guy who comes twice a month to work in the garden and a lady that comes once a week for half a day to clean the house. They are a great help!

Clean Washing on the Line

Electricity is a luxury and our power gets cut occasionally as the power company, Eskom, does not have enough to power the whole country. It's called, "load shedding." (I shared this information and the photo below on Wednesday.)

Amanda doing homework in the dark
due to "load shedding"

Amanda is learning to play field hockey and netball at school and has participated in mini matches against other schools.

Amanda's Mini Field Hockey Match

Amanda's Mini Netball Match

Living in a foreign country always has its ups and downs. When I began 1camera1mom, I fell in love again with the region we live in. There's so much beauty around me and interesting things to do. I miss family and I miss conveniences that I don't have here, but my kids are thriving and things are pretty good.

And so, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. I just thought to throw that in, because last week's post, "My Favorite Color Is...," was about color and color idioms.

Let me know where you're from and leave me a link so that I can visit your latest blog post! Have a great weekend!

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My Latest Book Review:

The Contaminants
Book 1 in the New Dakota Series
Science Fiction for middle grade

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Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

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Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
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Weekend Linky

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Mrs. White · 501 weeks ago

This was fascinating to read. I love seeing the clothes on the line. I do wish having a maid was more affordable where I live. You are very blessed!
My recent post An Afternoon Drive in the Vermont Countryside

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1 reply · active 501 weeks ago

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tinarobmorley 93p · 501 weeks ago

Thank you, Mrs. White, for visiting today! I can see you love your family. That is my hardest trial being so far away in a foreign country. My in-laws are South African, so my kids have grandparents close by. Last year my youngest asked me what a cousin was. She was learning about the family tree at Kindergarten. I grew up with aunts, uncles and cousins. We are blessed that teachers here can share openly about their faith in the public schools. Amanda's teacher loves the Lord and she's her choir teacher too and they have a beautiful song about Jesus in their repertoire. Many South Africans have a strong Christian background. Reading Bible verses and saying a prayer at the opening of staff meetings and school assemblies is common in our town. I see you guys are also going through a trial. May the Lord bless you and shower you with His grace.
My recent post Living in South Africa with Weekend Linky

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ohmyheartsie 81p · 501 weeks ago

Aww Christine, I love your clothes line, I wish I could have one where we live but CC's prevent us from doing so.
Amanda looks so studious working in the dark!!!
Thanks for stopping by this week to share you blog, hope ou enjoy your weekend!
Karren
My recent post Friday Features Linky Party

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Patrick Weseman · 501 weeks ago

I have seen one filed hockey match in my life. They are real athletes.
My recent post Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

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Maria · 501 weeks ago

Thanks so much for hosting this wonderful link up party. I really appreciate all the hard work you do to make it fabulous. Come share this party at Snickerdoodle Sunday. The party is in full swing. We start at 3 PM Saturday. Here is the link. http://www.sewtravelinspired.com/ Our party goers would love it. While you're there share a comment on a natural wonder near you. It would be interesting to see what your natural wonder would be.

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randomlyrachels 64p · 501 weeks ago

Really interesting to learn a little bit more about what you live! I live in Malaysia, and cold-water only for laundry and dishwashing, along with no central air-con, is the same, but we don't have the regular electricity shut-offs, just random ones. ;)
My recent post Preschool at Home: Week 1

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