Initial Thoughts

Lookin at me, blogging already! But I thought people would appreciate first thoughts since internet is lacking for the moment. Excuse tenses because it was written here there and at all sorts of times.

Day 1-Jan 14
Well I made it to South Africa! I am sweating from running around the airport to go through customs, recheck baggage and then find my gate all the while not really knowing what time it was. Man, I should have remembered a watch! Not to mention there was a guy on the elevator, after going through customs, offering to help and saying “just follow me.” Well, I decided to take that as “how about I won’t follow you and I’ll go THIS way.” Of course my way was right. Wish I could always walk away from men like that. It’s hard to remain a confident looking person when you are tired and would actually really love some help.
I thought that I was going to be really upset when I left my family after all of the overwhelming feelings I had preparing for this trip and this day and this flight. I guess because deep inside I have been preparing for this trip for years now. I thought the flight to Dakar would never get there, but I was able to sleep the majority of the trip from there to Johannesburg. Now I am waiting to get on the last flight (yayyy) to Cape Town. The woman told me the gate number and everything, so I really hope that I am at the right one, because the screen tells me if it somewhere else, actually it isn’t on the screen.
Go figure that the woman wrote the wrong one. Luckily I wasn’t the only one confused and the correct gate was just over one gate from the incorrect one. I must say it is weird being the first. I was so happy to meet Lenard at the airport. He picked me up and I am staying in Cape Town for the weekend. Let me just say that “Toto we are NOT in Kansas anymore.” I rode by some townships already coming in. It is all only going to get more real, and I am only going to feel more at home and less like I am in the Land of Oz.

Day 2-January 15th
I am not quite sure what I dreamt about last night, but I know that it kept waking me up. It was as if I was dreaming about sleeping but either way I was happy that I could fall back asleep each time. My alarm went off and I actually got up (after a few snooze hits that is). I must say I was proud of myself. Either the double espresso or pure excitement is all that is keeping me up now. I am excited for the other students to arrive and see their reactions for everything.
Ok, so the rest of the student got here. Everyone is awesome, however when I mention that I will miss sweet tea or Bojangles they look at me funny. Yes, I am the only southern girl with the Stellenbosch group! Today was pretty sweet. Got to go on the beach in a skirt and t-shirt and stick my foot in the sand. I broke down and bought a sun dress already. Do I have an addiction? How can you blame me though?! The gorgeous weather inspired me. Looking out the window eating dinner at a pizzeria to see the ocean=blissfulness. Look one way you see the ocean, look the other and you see Table Mountain. I’ll take that any day.