Beach People

Cape Town has the loveliest beaches. I love the beach. It comes from living inland. I'm sorry Johannesburg, but if there was one improvement I could make to you, it would be to add the ocean.

Whilst we sat eating ice creams on the beach, I thought to myself:

"Do you think that the little water particles have a life goal to be in a wave?"

I sure think they do...
Like the tiny-est tiny-est little particle right at the deepest darkest part of the ocean. Hes got big dreams too! Imagine the rush of being part of a wave! If I was a tiny tiny water particle, I would want nothing more to be a wave.

Keep Swimming!

With Love,
Kathryn What

A Wishing Tree

This is the wish tree. Jackie and Sivan ran a ma'amad (Morning Prayer) for us one rainy morning, where we all wrote down our wishes for camp, or for the world or for anything really. Some people wrote personal things, others wrote their hopes and dreams for the future. I wrote a little anecdote about my feelings towards the world. We wrote them on blue ribbon.

"I wish we was like peas and carrots again"

You can choose to interpret this as something silly, or you could see the deeper meaning. I wish the world would be as one again. I wish everyone would learn to accept and not tolerate. Tolerance is the worst word in the English language and it irks me when people use it. As humans we shouldn't just tolerate peoples existence but rather accept that different people have different ways of living and expressing them selves. Acceptance. Growth. Humanity.

That was my wish for the wish tree.

Make your own wishes...

With Love,
Kathryn What?

Dear Jozi,

I'm Back!
For the last month I've been hitting up the beautiful city that is Cape Town. Its been a n entire month since I've slept, let alone in my own bed. The late nights, hectic days, intense moments and sheer bliss that is Netzer makes it all worth it.

Machaneh Shirat Ha Yam Started on the 4th of December 2011, with A-Guard. A week long planning session where the councillors organize the two week camp and plan all the activities. We spent most of our time in the bayit (house) being absolutely insane. People at Netzer are the most wonderfully creative and amazing people you will ever meet. The rest of the time was spent in the pub across the road and planning in the Cape Town offices.

Once the kids had arrived, the idea of sleep went right out the window. Many nights were spent in meetings, having emotional breakdowns in the kitchen, eating cereal at 2am or just having a full on jam with Talya and Gozlan.

For our opening night we all made a huge circle and lit sparklers!

This s Marni.
She is one of my bestest best friends in the whole world.
We had the most amazing times on camp and she's the most beautiful person, inside and out.
We had a bet to see who could poop in ALL the toilets.
We both won.
 I love and miss her so much! 

The Hanhalah, who are the people who make sure the whole camp runs smoothly and basically organise everything, did crazy things to some trance music for their introduction.

We had an amazing introduction video, too bad I don't have it on my computer, but if I did, or I get it, I'll post it.

 Camp started off with a bang, and would carry on its magic for another three weeks.

With Love,
Kathryn What?

The Last Party

"This is your birthday song, it isn't very long. But! We added another verse! Why were they born so beautiful? Why were they born at all? Because in 1992 there was no irth control! 
There waaas noooo biiiirrrth cooontrooollllll!"

Happiest of Birthdays to Alice, Amy, Chloe and Chrissy. 

Alice,

I have no idea why we werent friends before. Your amazing insight on the bigger picture really grounded me when I needed it. I'm glad we were friends, and with out you I dunno what  I would have done. I'll miss you when youre out there in the big wide world making a name for yourself. Please don't forget me. 

xxx

Chrissay!

You are themost beautiful person I know. I'm so glad that you are who you are. 

You're funny and wonderful and fantastic and down to earth. You're wild and crazy and loyal and beautiful. 

I wish you all the best in the world. Thank you for everything.

High school would not have been the same without any of your crazy antics!

xxx 

Chloe.

Wow, what an adventure we've been on. We've had the most drama in our friendship and it probably wont ever be the same. I just want to let you know that youre a wonderful person when we see the real you.  I love you very much, but I think you'll do great next year and in life still to come,  as long as you remain true to that fun loving, lovable creature that you are.

 I'll miss you, but I wish you the best of luck for finding just who Chloe is.
xxx

Dearest Kamo, 

You were the biggest inspiration to me during our years at school together. You always managed to make me smile with your silly puns, you always helped me when I need it. Weather it be with home work or with life problems. You would even sing when it was raining. To me this said so much about you and I'm glad you were my friend.

Thank you for everything. xxx

Dear Amy,

You never failed to make us laugh with your Amyisms, and your silly anicdotes about life.

I know we had our differences, but these last two years would not have been the same without our crazy asian friend from Ireland. 

Thanks for everything.

You were always the best to party with! xxx

You've all molded me and shaped everyone you've met into the people they are today. I hope you'll look back and remember the good times, more than the bad, but never  forget what we've learnt.
Your hat party was spectacular just like all your faces!

I'll miss you all! Lady chums 2007-2011
xxx

With Love,
Kathryn What?

Dear Jozi,

Have you ever experienced the amazing-ness that is Shortstraw?
Maybe you have, maybe you haven't. I wouldn't know, seeing as no body ever tells me these things.
Just for arguments sake, lets say you haven't.


The song "LYSAGFY" is the best song. Please go listen to it right now. and then read the rest of this post.

I now own your shortstaw virginity.
If you try hard enough, that rhymes.

This is shortstraw:
They have a song about Keanu Reeves. That should be enough for you people. But I'll tell you why I really like their music. It's because its edgy and amazing and I could just listen to it all day long and never get sick of it. That's how amazing it is. They don't give a flying fuck about any of the lyrics which makes their songs awesome.

Shortstraw play music. 

Music that sounds like puppies being born. 

Music that sounds like protesters outside an abortion clinic. 

Music that sounds like church bells ringing on a crisp Sunday morning. 

Music that sounds like angels playing scrabble. 

Music that sounds like a married couple fighting through a thin wall of your apartment. 

Now, doesn't that sound nice?

If you don't believe me, here's a video to prove my point.

This is their first official music video from their official album (below) that released earlier in July this year. I was fortunate enough to be there for this, and let me tell you, it was the most amazing experience I've ever had. Unfortunately  for fear of my camera committing suicide, I didn't take any pictures.

TO BUY THEIR ALBUM CLICK ON THIS SENTENCE AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO BUY IT, AND ITS NOT EVEN THAT EXPENSIVE AND YOU WONT REGRET IT SO CLICK HERE NOW.

Go fuck yourself.

With Love,

KathrynWHAT?

Dear Jozi,

Did I Forget To Mention?

I went to school for the very very last time on Monday.

This means:

1. I never have to wear horrid brown school shoes ever again.
2. I never have to wear a horrid baby puke/diarrhea coloured jersey ever again.
3. I never have to write another history essay ever again.
4. I never have to tie my hair up just because it cannot be down.
5. I can wear all the brightly coloured nail polishes I want and no one can do jack shit about it.
6. I don't have to have an alarm, to wake up at some ungodly hour for the next three months.
7. I can sleep for days.
8. I'm now allowed to blog and tumbl and watch TV and watch TV series ALL DAY and not feel guilty about it.
9. No bed time.
10. No sleepless nights due to homework.
11. No more trying to do something and some old person telling me its shit.
12. Music. ALL FREAKING DAY.
13. I don't have to have useless people on Facebook anymore, so I've cleaned up my friend list and now Facebook is no longer redundant.
14. No more school.
15. I'm just cooler than you.
16. I can go out drinking on a Monday.

To mark the occasion, as all occasions should be marked with pictures and photographs and whatnot. My mom made me pose for "Last Day Ever" pictures.

Never have to go to school again. Freedom is sweet. Like cake. CAKE FOR DINNER! CAKE FOR DINNER!

With Love,

KathrynWHAT?

Dear Jozi

The FADA Fashion Exhibition:

Here I sit with all the new additions of Business Cards from all the recently graduated fashion designers from UJ. They held a fashion exhibition, which I was lucky enough to go to. 

Here are my personal favorites:                                                                                                                    

I love the African inspired chic of this designer. This collection provides a young African women with a way to express her culture in a new, modern chic way. The designs are very contemporary yet subtle The bold pops of blue and red in among the browns and beige really bring out the spirit of Africa. The dress in the middle is my favorite because the  tailoring and the structuring is so flattering and beautiful. This dress is awe inspiring.

This dress is exquisite.  I feel like the designer really used the fabric and  technique  wonderfully. 

 The material was quite stiff ranging from brown leather to textured, but it was all balanced out by the soft use of shifon, that created a sense of wind and movement in the garments.

This designer used beautiful float-y fabrics to capture the essence of womanhood and what it really means to be a fashionable woman in todays' society. Not shown in the image are tailored pants, shorts and floral tops. The back of the long dress was open, not revealing too much but still giving the garment that young and sexy feel, perfect for summer.

 This  designer had  amazing functional ball gowns. The idea was that each dress could change by just a pull of a string, from a ball gown, into something a little more fun and versatile. The purple dress worn by the model had a small string in the middle that transformed the dress. By pulling the string, the front of the dress would gather revealing a little bit of leg, but to be more conservative, one could leave the string un-pulled for  a sleek, slimline silhouette.

The bronze and orange dress in the back ground,  would be pulled into a beautiful rose detail with the pull of a string, which doubled as a sleek, thin strap from waist to shoulder.

For more details contact: Marissa van Zyl 

mazeecreations@gmail.com   

I just loved the tailoring in this black jacket, by Mint Clothing. 

For more details contact:

 Riflwe Tema on: refilwetema@gmail.com

Alice Slab Fashion  Design and Stylist.

For the more tailored individual. The work was amazing, inspired by women in the 1950s. The colours came from grass and nature. The slight pops of purple and creme really bring out the femininity of the figure.

Roxanne Pengilly, clothing design.

These gowns were absolutely amazing. The detail was beautiful, and they were made exactly to the specifications that she outlined in her portfolio.

  For more info: roxannepengilly@gmail.com

Chinese inspired dresses and coats by various designers, showcasing their tailoring talent, and bringing cultures together.

 Coats!

Beautifully tailored and each one so different and unique.

Fashion! 

Jozi, there's some awesome new designers on the loose. 

With love,

KathrynWHAT?

Dear Jozi

This past weekend would have marked the sixth time I've seen Desmond and the Tutus this year. the first being at "Thornfest" and they were probably the only reason I went, and the last being the 5 Gum Summer Sessions. Because Cape Town stole "Rocking the Gardens" from us, these guys put together one of the best gigs this year. 

It took place on the roof of The Alex Theater. There was fake grass and if you got there early enough, people were sitting having a couple of drinks and just hanging out. The high building walls and the fake grass made it so urban yet, summery and Cape Town-y. It was well worth the visit.

Of course, it wouldn't have been the same without the bands.

Desmond and the Tutus blew everyone away just in time, because the police showed up to shut the whole thing down. Darn party poopers.

Shortstraw was amazing as always, with their acoustic rock sounds that just get the crowd going. They're definatly one of my favorite bands to jam to, mostly because their music is sweet and the lyrics are just silly.

It was my first time seeing Rambling Bones, and I was not disappointed. I've had their first CD for a while and their beautifuly sung duet of "Baby Shoes" never failed to make me happy again. I've attached it below so that you can feel the musical magic and the warm feeling it brings for yourself :D

Rambling Bones - Baby Shoes

Unfortunately we arrived too late to see all the other bands but after doing some Facebook stalking I've decided that they're actually quite cool. I'll keep you posted on their gigs and music.

This is a photo from the back of the entire event. Amy and myself sat down to have a drink and I thought it was the most amazing thing. You can see the huge building behind the stage, which just reminded us all that partying under the stars in Jozi, isn't that bad.
Who needs Cape Town anyways?
They'd probably be to chilled to party like real rock stars. 

At every Desmond gig I've been to, there's always those crazy people that do crazy things. This time, I met two girls who were determined to get on stage with them. The first went and played her harmonica with the lead singer to "Kiss you on the cheek" and the second, did an amazing stage dive/crowd surf. It was beautiful.

This is me and Amy, taking silly "Who are we?" pictures like total dweeeebs. 

Every event needs one.

This was just after these silly little boys tried to hit on us, and before all these people made it their mission to find out how old we were. It was quite annoying really. But I had a great time with Amy, I really enjoy hanging out with her!

I saw a whole bunch of my Jews there too!

Jew spotting FTW!

With Love,

KathrynWHAT?