14/07/04

today was the longest, hardest day i've had in a LONG, LONG time - and it's far from over.

*** yesterday ***

between last night and

*** today ***

this morning, i finally managed to get the simulated oracle section of our project complete!
w00t!

i slept really badly, and woke up really early. i continued working, and left at 08.30 for the bus station.

the bus was about half an hour late, which meant that i got to the base approximately four and a half minutes before i was due - just enough time to swallow a quick cup of coffee (without the cup).

aside from getting lost, i'd forgotten to shave properly. not a great first impression.
the interview was tough to follow, as it was all in hebrew. afterwards, the more i thought about it, the more i realized just how inadequate my answers to their questions were - with or without translation, i was off-guard, and i've spent the day really worried about whether or not i'm going to get in.

and if i DO get in, then i can't stay on the kibbutz, as it's too far away. my cousins are going to be almost as disappointed as i am. and i have to find a place to store all my belongings when i'm in cape town.

did i mention today was death-valley hot? it was absolutely disgusting from before i left the house, and EVERYONE (myself included) spent the day sweating like pigs.

i got to mmf's place, and we worked on our QA document and our final presentation for tomorrow.
s'very nice. professional. snide.

around 15.30, i left to wait at the busstop, in the blistering heat. the bus was about twenty minutes late. some experiences i've had in this country i can do without.

i hopped off just in time to do my community service - packing donated clothing into black bags. it is, without any doubt, the most revolting job i can think of doing. people in this city have no problem "donating" shoes that they've stepped in crap with, or fungus-infested / rotting / evolving things that they've found lying around the house, and nobody gave me any form of protection. i've never felt so icky in my life, not to mention the fact that it was about 50^o where i was working.

i skipped out a bit early, after over an hour of gruelling labour, 'cause i just couldn't take it any more.

i just had an AMAZING cold shower, have thrown my clothing straight into the washing machine, and am planning on a serious nap before continuing with the project.