Cindy Glover

Where are we now...
Our Havens family of four lives in Seattle, Washington in the USA.
Brett (the happy Dad) and husband of eleven years
Emma (the big sister...almost five) - the current reigning princess of the Havens' household! Happy and energetic(physical and verbal !!), loves pink and everything girly, Very spirited (I think that's the term they use!!) Loves to play and "be silly". Crazy about Princesses and Barbie. Goes to preschool.
Hannah (the baby sister... Almost two). More laid back and a little shy. Well, but now she's almost two... So I have feeling that is all about to change! The kids want a puppy.......I'm getting my strength up!!

Last 20 years...
Spent first four years at UCT getting BSc Nursing degree. Load of fun, 13 of us in our year - spent time between campus, GSH, Clifton 3rd, in DIGS and at the Heidelberg in Obs.

Graduated and worked for a year at Groote Schuur in the Trauma Surgical ICU (Intensive Care). In that year ('93) I applied to a Nursing agency to travel to the US to work. Took my state Board exams in Miami that allowed to me to work as a Registered Nurse in the States.

That same year I met Brett - an American who had come to "Africa" to work as a Wildlife Biologist. So in the end, I passed the required exams and landed up in Florida, USA in 1994 with a job, an apartment, a paycheck and a lovely living allowance.
Brett decided to come back to the USA!

So we travelled lots around the States and both worked (I in different ICU's, Brett seasonally as a Biologist). We lay on the beach, drank Margarita's worked a little more and travelled a little more etc. Hiking through the Grand Canyon was one of our "beauties" and then recovering from exhaustion in Vegas with free drinks for those who put money in the slots!! 25 cents did the trick!

We married in 1996 :0)

Finally landed up in Seattle - arrived with a huge moving van full of stuff. Brett said he had packed and unpacked all he wanted for a time (and was tired of applying for new jobs!!!), so we decided to stay in Seattle. I got a job for an Ambulance company working as a Critical Care Transport Nurse and became an Emergency Medical Technician too. Great job, 3 days a week (14 hour shifts). Played lots on our days off.

Then in 2002, our lovely little Emma was born and I fell in love with this beautiful little gift and being a Mom! So I quit my job!! After about a year, I returned to Nursing on a very part-time basis , changed from ICU to Labour and Delivery (a very Mom-friendly environment), working around Brett's schedule so that I could stay home with Emms.

The cutie baby sister, Hannah was born three years after Emma and again I stayed home to soak in the moments. So now we have two little girls aged almost 5 and almost 2 and we are happy with our days!!

Brett's career changed sometime back into IT - works for a research Institute that is involved with clinical trials and disease treatment. I spend my time being a Mommy and playdates, trips to the playground, Children's Museum, Zoo, Aquarium, swimming lessons, dancing and baking cookies!!

I still work part-time around Brett's schedule as a Labour and Delivery Nurse and I also teach the Childbirth and Labour Preparation, Breastfeeding, Newborn care and Infant CPR classes in the evenings to new parents. It's a happy job and I (only sometimes) feel guilty that I get paid for doing this!! I work about 12 - 16 hours a week.

Seattle is a lovely city. Very green, earthy and organic. Beautiful outdoors and mountains. Water everywhere. Earthquakes and an active volcano (Mount Rainier) 90 miles away. It does rain in the winter and that does get old......but currently we are enjoying a beautiful summer, so can't spend time complaining. We hike, camp and backpack, any chance we get.
And that was 100 words or more....

Looking back at the school years...
I have really happy memories from school. I feel lucky to have experienced St Cyps and it's amazing how much we were offered compared to the average school in the USA. So I definitely learned to appreciate things. The US public school system is pretty much about getting "The 3 R's" : reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic. You have to search a load for a school and pay a load to find anything cultural or even sports in the younger grades. So I'm on the hunt for next year when Emma will start Kindergarten.

Shining moments...
Lovely friendships, adored the sports, especially hockey (still play over here!!). Lots of laughs. Sitting next to Ingrid was never a dull moment! And I also remember Lynda standing up throughout Biology so as to burn more calories!!!! Vikki, Lynda, PK and Alison sitting behind us in Science commenting on Mrs Thorburn and her discussions on planets and the sun.

Mrs Thorburn, was a favourite in teachers - thanks to her that I followed my career path.
Also enjoyed Miss Kable - and all the great sporting encouragement.
Madame Jaeger was great too.

Less than shining...
Yes, of course, all part of growing up, right??
Maths.....uuuggghhh.
Don't think I paid enough attention in Science either....I got 15 % for my first Physics exam at UCT!

Stayed in touch with:
lovely friends.........
Sue Mukheibir
Shanaaz
Andrea for a while
Ingrid for a while.
I am seriously sad not to make it home for the reunion, but hope to celebrate over here with Alison.
Hope to catch up with more of you on email (starting with you Vikki - I'll write soon!!!).

Great Hopes...
Being the best Mom I can be (and of course lovely wife too). Enjoying these wonderful moments. Hope to come back to South Africa soon to visit (the 24 hour flight is not for the weak or timid with 2 little kiddies)!!

So that's it in a nutshell - hope you all have the best time at the reunion - please post loads of pics. Also those of you haven't yet blogged - please, please add your news, especially for those of us overseas!!! Thanks :0)

email: thehavens3 (at) comcast (dot) net