Saturday, January 7, 2012, was the last day of the Workshop so there was a Farewell Dinner.  It consisted of a typical South African Braai which translates to mean BBQ.  There was curry lamb cubes, some sort of really good sausage and small roasted potatoes and onions all done on a huge grill.  In addition, there was a green salad and bean salad and everything was great.  No matter where I go I TRY everything.  What I don't like I spit out and what I do like, I eat more of -- works for me.  I will miss many of the participants who have rapidly become interesting acquaintances. 
Anyway, I met two of the kitchen people, Samatha and Virgil, who were two of the friendliest, nicest people I have ever met anywhere.  One evening we had a fantastic stew for dinner with white rice.  I found out that the spices they use in their stew consists of medium curry, coriander and masala (which is used a lot in Indian food).
Samantha and Virgil, as well as the AIMS crew, Rene January and Fadoua, her assistant from Morocco, told me about the four classes of people in South Africa -- white, Indian (from India), coloured and black.   Samantha and Rene January are colored and Virgil is black.  People who are called coloured have some white genes that may go back to when the early colonists had slaves and the Masters impregnated them.  The people who I've talked to are very open and forthright about the class distinctions and it seems to be accepted as just the way things are unlike in the States where the attitudes can sometimes be different.  People of mixed races are not considered a big deal nor are interracial marriages/relationships.
It was so interesting to talk to Rene January from AIMS.  She is actually employed through Stellenbosch College and was telling me that clerical workers have to be employed 2 years before they receive benefits.  Some universities/businesses require 5 years.
Did I tell you about the electricity in South Africa?  First of all, one needs a 3-prong adapter in order to plug in the european style adapter in order to plug in the US adapter.  What a cluster!   Also, in the apartment we were renting there was a meter up on the wall and I found out that one prepays for "X" amount of units of electricity by sending a SMS to the company with the info needed.  I would think that would really make consumers more aware of the costs and hopefully be more conservative.