Five Americans and one German journeyed to Cape Town, South Africa to participate in the South African bi-annual Self Psychology conference. Peter Buirski, Cathy Krown Buirski, and Pam Haglund of Denver, Dennis Shelby from Chicago, Bob and Ruth Shapiro from New York and Martin Gossman of Berlin presented papers. The driving force behind this ongoing international exchange has been Amanda Kottler who many people have met at the annual conferences in America. The ongoing international exchange of ideas has resulted in at least one marriage - Chicago's Mark Smaller tied the knot with Kim Richardson - formerly of Cape Town several years ago.

The American participants all related feeling deeply moved by the conference participants' intellects, sincerity, openness to ideas and willingness to discuss thorny topics. About 90 delegates met at a conference center on a mountain over looking a lush valley with the ocean far off into the distance. The setting, the South Africans' warm hospitality and openness fostered an intimate and exciting exchange of ideas and theoretical points of view. I personally am not a big fan of conferences, but this one was different, despite a day full of presentations, the time passed too quickly, and excitement seemed to always be in the air.

All of the American folks added few days at one of South Africa's famous game reserves. The combination of wildlife in the Bushveld and the sparkling intellectual climate of Cape Town resulted in a rich experience of contrasts. Encountering Elephants, Rhinoceros, Lions and Leopards - often with youngsters in tow (to name a few) going about life in their natural environment defies description. Living for a few days in a world where it truly is kill or be killed, puts a new perspective on some of the heated theoretical debates our profession is notorious for!

The next conference will be in 2006. The South Africans would love to have more international delegates. They have several on-going study groups and keep abreast of theoretical developments. You will encounter a group of sophisticated clinicians and scholars eager to engage in friendly debates. And of course there is abundant food that lacks the "processed" taste that permeates American products and the South African wines are giving California stiff competition. So think about South Africa in 2006, it is a wonderful country full of wonderful people, and breath-taking scenery.