Videos

Now that I am home and not paying for internet by byte, I have uploaded several videos from my trip.

Ziplining



Otters


Castle of Good Hope


I've also added several pictures that I took the last few days in South Africa with the people I worked with. Click the photo album link on the right to see more pictures.

And lastly, while everyone else in my house complained of gaining weight, I lost weight! 16.5lbs (7.5kg) to be exact. It is an amazing feeling and I love the looks people give me who I haven't seen since I arrived back.

I drove a bit today, running some errands to the grocery store and it felt very odd to be driving. First the snow was a bit difficult for about 10 minutes or so until I got the feel for driving in the snow back. Additionally, the driving laws of both SA and the US are jumbled in my head and I have to concentrate to remember which is which country. If I'm not careful, I'll drift to the left.

I still think in terms of the South African standard of living. I bought a few toiletries at the local pharmacy and a 12 pack of soda for $44. R440? Crazy! Outrageous! Everything is so costly here. I got in the habit of splurging because everything was so inexpensive and now I must retrain my brain. I took some time to admire the differences between Checkers in SA and Kroger here and couldn't believe my eyes. In the US we have the "bigger is better" mentality and in SA, it's the opposite. In the US people want to buy everything in bulk. I didn't even see a 6 pack of soda cans, only 12 pack of cans, 6 pack of bottles, and 2 litres. In SA they have several coolers to buy soda's individually at the grocery. Here you'd have to go to a petrol/gas station to do that or find a smaller grocery.

I am not too jet lagged anymore, I am sleeping through the night, but I think my body just needs to catch up on sleep because the quality of sleep on the bed was not as good as the quality on my good bed here. I am exhausted in the afternoons and take a short nap. I love having my room back and being able to eat what I choose for dinner, but I miss having the staff singing while their work and hearing Xhosa and Afrikaans all around me.

My luggage is sitting in the hallway and I have yet to unpack. I have opened the suitcases and dug out the important things, but I'm in no rush to unpack my clothes, most of which I cannot even wear right now due to the frigid temperatures. It was -12 C today, 11 degrees at 9am.

More videos and pictures to come!

Welcome Home, Minus Luggage

I slept a little bit in the terminal in the early hours of Monday morning. I was awoken by airport personnel to tell me a few gates over there were blankets and water if I wanted them. I packed my stuff up and went to get some blankets because I was freezing. I think the cold outside plus the lack of bodies to keep the airport warm contributed to the cold inside. I also felt a bit sick, from traveling from exhaustion, and jet lagged. At 5:30am Starbucks opened up and I ate a banana nut muffin and a venti hot chocolate for breakfast. Boarded the plane around 7am and we took off about 40 minutes later. I napped on the flight and was soon descending into metro Detroit. It felt surreal, to finally be home. I wondered if I was dreaming and would wake up either in the airport or the plane somewhere. But we landed and the flight attendant welcomed me to Detroit. I grabbed my stuff and headed out the jetway towards the baggage claim. It took me about 10 minutes to walk to the baggage claim where I saw my parent waiting outside the glass doors before they saw me. It was good to see them in person, but again, felt unreal. I hugged them both and we waiting around the carousel for my luggage. But it never came. Neither did the luggage of about half the plane. We all waited in line to file a report. Thankfully, the baggage claim personnel knew the exact problem and when I'd get my luggage. With the grounded planes the night before the airport just could not retag all the luggage quick enough. JFK had a backlog of luggage that it just could not handle. So they put all the rerouted luggage on a plane to Atlanta where there was more personnel to untangle the mess snow caused. Thankfully I was returning home so I had everything sitting in the house and my souvenirs in my carry-on. I left the airport, frustrated, into the cold.

I spent the day with my parents, opening presents and talking about South Africa and events that transpired here while I was gone. I went to bed early and slept through the night. One of my bags, the larger of the two suitcases arrived during the night and the second arrived around noon this morning. I have started to unpack, but I've been busy updating my music library with music from South Africa and putting the CDs my parents bought me for Christmas on my computer. This way I can update my iPod. Been listening to the same music for the past 3 months and I'm ready for some new music.

I'm feeling better now, still a bit jet lagged, but doing okay. Right now everything feels like a dream. I cannot believe I'm home but all my experiences in South Africa feel like a dream now, that maybe I wasn't there. But then I try to do something here and everything feels wrong, familiar, yet wrong. I turned on the right faucet in the shower expecting warm water, but that is the cold water here, not warm. The cars are different, I say different words, and I feel like a foreinger in my own house. I can't remember which drawer my sweaters are in. There are a few changes to the house since I left, but I feel like a guest. But one thing that felt right was my bed. I slide in last night and it was heaven. I sorely missed the memory foam on my bed. It is very comfortable.

I'll update again in a few more days to let you know how I'm feeling. Cheers.

Layover in New York City

I arrived at CPT around 4:30pm (local time) and checked in. It was a bit of a madhouse, but all airports are. After I checked in my bags and got my boarding passes, I headed to security, which was significantly more relaxed than in the US. I took my laptop out of my bag and went to go take off my watch and my shoes when the guard waived me off, said I didn't have to do that. I walk through wearing a metal watch, my shoes on, and a sweatshirt with a metal zipper around my waist and the metal detector did not even go off. It was the quickest security checkpoint I'd ever been through. After that I went through passport control where they stamped my passport to leave the country. After that I meandered towards my gate and waited about 40 minutes before boarding the bus to shuttle us to the plane far away on the tarmac.

I left Cape Town International around 7pm and then flew for about 5 hours and landed in Dakar. I watched some movie with Luke Wilson called Henry Poole (?) that was rather boring and a bit eccentric. I then watched Mamma Mia, which I loved. I munched on some food and then tried to sleep. The plane was only half full so I had two seats on the Boeing 767 to myself. We landed in Dakar at 1am local time (about 11pm in CPT) and then stayed on the runway for about 2 hours while security came on board, the plane refueled, and food was delivered. Finally around 3am local time we took off, headed for Kennedy Airport in New York. Slept on and off and arrived in New York at local time of 6:30am.

I disembarked the plane and headed to the passport office to have my passport stamped. That queue took about half an hour to get through. Then I waited at the carousel for another 15 minutes before my luggage came off the plane. I collected all of it and headed for the last security checkpoint. I handed over my customs form (I did not have to pay duty on my wine because it's under 80 proof) and off I went to the Delta counter to check back in. That is where the issue arose. I could not check in to get a boarding pass because I was too early. I can only check in up to 6 hours before flight time to get a boarding pass. I asked the ticket lady what was I supposed to do for the next 6 hours until I could get the boarding pass, she said to go upstairs and sit in the lobby. I did that once before at the Sydney domestic airport in Australia and I wasn't about to do it again. I wanted to go into the Delta lounge so I asked if I can somehow get a clearance and go to Delta's lounge. She said I might, but I have to go talk the people upstairs, but I could check my luggage for my flight. The bags are bulky so I checked the two bags and went upstairs to talk my way into the lounge. The first person said I couldn't. When I persisted, she said I could talk to a supervisor. Sure, I wasn't going anywhere and I had plenty of time. So I was directed to another counter and asked for Phyllis. Eventually she said yes and printed a security clearance form for me. I could have my boarding pass printed in the lounge. I went through security just fine and am now sitting in the lounge just passing the time away on the internet.

Will update again after I land and arrive home in Michigan. Cheers.

Snowy Delay

It is 10 minutes to midnight on January 18th. And though I should be home snuggled in my bed, I am not. I am stuck at Kennedy Airport in New York City. Why? Because of snow. I waited patiently all day because Delta had moved my flight from 8:45am to 4pm to 6:55pm. At quarter to 7 we boarded the plane and I sat next to a girl name Heather who had mentioned she was interested in volunteering in South Africa (after I mentioned where my travel origin was) through a nonprofit, CCS. How ironic! I showed her some pictures I had with me and talked about my trip and she sounded very interested in volunteering through CCS in either Cape Town or somewhere in South America. While we waited at the gate we chatted and then I took a nap, figuring the takeoff would wake me. I woke an hour later, still on the ground in New York City. It was quarter to 9. The plane originally had an issue with a crack in the door and then once that was repaired it was put in the queue to takeoff. We went to have the plane deiced while I was asleep and we sat again for a long while on the tarmac. Then we pulled up to a gate and were told after 3 hours sitting on the plane the flight was canceled. The FAA grounded flights due to the snowy conditions. It's for my own safety, and I appreciate that, but I am frustrated because I just want to go home right now. Delta irritated me enough times today, most issues were satisfied with the Crown Room lounge, but since it is closed at night (the entire airport is) I must lay here in the terminal and try to see what little bit of sleep I can get. Second night in a row that I'm sleeping whist in transit and not in a bed. Sigh. Nothing I can do but wait until the flight in the morning. I've been rerouted onto a flight in the morning at 7:29 and will arrive in Detroit around 10am. I don't even have my checked luggage with me to get anything to change into. Thankfully I did put clean clothes in my carry-on for today so I am wearing semi-clean clothes. I am lucky that I've been rerouted onto a flight from JFK and not having to pay for a transfer to LaGuardia like other people on my flight have to do.

I find it quite ironic, both times I traveled abroad beyond a cruise I have been involuntarily rerouted on the return flight. When I returned from Australia, a flight carrying 50 passengers was late from Brisbane to Auckland and we waited, which had me miss my connecting flight. This time the weather is too snowy and I have to wait overnight in the airport. At least when I waited overnight in Chicago I stayed a few hours in the Hilton where I could shower and I had all my checked luggage with me.

I'm going to try to sleep a bit, my flight is at 729 and I figure Monday morning the airport will be a zoo so I might sleep while I can. Night.

Departure

The day is upon me. It is 17 January, 2009, the day I leave Cape Town and head back to Detroit with all my luggage and memories of the city. I have met so many amazing people here, have fallen in love with landscape, influenced so many lives, and forever changed myself. I cannot believe 3 months have gone by. It feels like I just arrived not too long ago. I have done so many things, from riding an elephant, petting cheetah cubs, sitting in a communal cell block at Robben Island Maximum Security Prison, standing at the most southern point in Africa, to helping refugees who have hit rock bottom and gone even further down gain employment in South Africa and playing with sick children in a convalescent hospital on Christmas morning. I've served food to hungry refugees, given exhausted refugees clean clothes, and help shed light that a new, safe life will exist for them here in Cape Town. I have given my time, sweat, and love, but most of all, I have given people a hope for a better future, which is the best gift of all.

It is twenty to 2 and I leave the home base at 4pm for the airport. I have to check in, go to the VAT office to get my tax money back and the money exchange to change some of my Rand into Dollars. I am keep some crisp bills and clean coins for a money collection, but I can only take R500 out the country. Plus, I have to declare my wine upon arrive so I shall need some money to pay duty.

I must go finish my evaluation and enjoy some last minute warmth on the porch.

Part of me will always remain in Kapstaad. And part of iKapa will come home with me.

Day Before Departure

I am procrastinating in my packing. I'm afraid that once I start packing, the tears will fall. Because then it will really be over. 24 hours from now I'll be heading to the airport to leave. I don't want to leave anymore. But I want to see my family and I want to go home. I'm just a mess.

Today was my last day at Scalabrini. Clive and another refugee came in today to say goodbye to me. I said my goodbyes to everyone, took pictures, thanked them for everything they've allowed me to learn and grow from within the last 3 months. They thanked me as well with a cake, potato chips, juice, and a gift. They gave me a beautiful bag with a patch in the shape of Africa sewn on it. I love it. I am forever changed by Scalabrini. Which remind me, I still have to write in the Scalabrini volunteer placement log. And finish my evaluation. And pack. So much to do, none of which I am eager to do because each one cements the fact I leave tomorrow. I love flying, but I won't enjoy the takeoff from Cape Town. The tears are welling up in my eyes already. I miss my family so much that I almost feel guilty for not wanting to leave. But my desire to stay means I did everything right. I am looking forward to being home again, but I will have some culture shock re-acclimatising to the US. Some things I've picked up on I think I might keep, like slang words and others I might break. I won't drive on the left side of the road of course since it's illegal in the US, but it will definitely take some getting used to the right side of the road and the left side driver. And the cold...it will be a shock to my body from going to the extreme cold. I will try not to get the flu, but I just might from the long plane ride and the shock of the cold.

Time to turn up the music and pack. I will continue the blog once I return home (not as frequent though) with reflection on how my trip has impacted my life and how my readjusting to American life is going.

Cheers

Another Reflection

I thought I was ready to leave South Africa. But I'm not. I am going to miss this old house that I've been living in, miss the sound of the train rushing by, the wind blowing through the trees in our yard that are older than the house, the beautiful blue sky, the sea, and the mountain. Saying goodbye to people will be hard, but saying goodbye to feelings and emotions that I have from the landscape? It will be heartbreaking. I got a full body massage this afternoon (which was lovely) and while walking back by myself along the road, I took some time to listen to the sounds of people enjoying the evening with a game of soccer amongst friends, by riding a bike with happy barking dogs trailing behind, or by jogging with friends. I took a few deep breaths as I admired the clouds over Table Mountain and slowly meandered home. I'm not ready to say goodbye to Cape Town. It is home. But I have a life to go back to.

Speaking of which, I am looking forward to seeing my family, giving my gifts, sleeping on my memory foam bed, having my laptop back, and eating good food. I am not looking forward to the snow, the cold temperatures, and going back to work. I am afraid I'll get home and these past three months will feel like nothing more than dream that felt so real but never really happened. Time moves so quickly. One second isn't long enough sometimes. One hour can go by in an instant. And three months can go by in a blink of an eye. I tried to slow it down, but only I slowed down, not time.

Tomorrow is my last day at Scalabrini. I want to take pictures with everyone and try not to turn all red from crying. I've been successful at keeping my tears at bay, but as I am less than 48 hours from departure, I do not know how long it'll stay that way. I hope that somehow Brian has made it back from Zimbabwe and will be at Scalabrini tomorrow to say goodbye. I hope everyone comes tomorrow to have pictures taken with me and say their goodbyes. I shall need lots of paper for many email addresses. And lots of tissues.

Tomorrow afternoon I need to pack and fill out my evaluation.

I'm off to try to relax and then bed soon.