***To clarify: this post was written on Jan 23 but since I did not have internet until today it was uploaded on the 24th***
Oh. My. Word. I’m living in a dream…I expect to wake up any minute now because it all seems too good to be true: the beautiful blue skies, the warm 80 degree heat, the 12 hours of sunlight, the mountain that greets you when you walk out the front door, only having to walk 2 minutes to get to the grocery store, being able to buy $25 worth of food for only $10 (thank you exchange rate!), the great group dynamics, everything…I am floored. Needless to say my anxiety has definitely been diluted down and pushed to the back of my mind while being replaced with oodles of…how shall I put this? Hmmm…ah yes - ecstasy! Yup. Totally high on life right now and loving it.
Saying goodbye to my family was definitely difficult, especially knowing that I won’t be able to be with them for 5 full months, but I was glad that I got to be with them before they sent me on my way. Besides, it is never goodbye – it’s just a “see you later” kind of thing.
On the other hand, the plane ride over here was nowhere near as bad as I was anticipating. In fact it was kind of enjoyable. Plenty of time to journal and relax. Not to mention the mini-personal TVs we had with free movies, TV shows, music and games definitely helped and I managed to squeeze roughly 3 hours of sleep out of the 19 that we were in the air. Once we arrived we were taken to the van with a huge trailer for our luggage only to discover both trailer tires virtually had no air in them. Thankfully, Dan saved the day with his bike bump and we all made it to Kimberly House safe and sound at 1 am. Although we were all exhausted the rush of excitement had everyone up till about 3 or 4 – whoo hoo!
Today was absolutely outstanding! Woke up, wandered around Observatory (the suburb we now live in, which is fondly nicknamed Obz for short), got some groceries, went for a run (it was hot), did some hardcore, six pack abs (oh yeaaaaa), ate surprisingly tasty pizza with the group for lunch, showered (sooooooo amazing), got locked in the bathroom (no surprise there), took the train to the beach for 2 hours, showered again and did not get locked in this time (there is hope for me), went out for dinner with a small part of the group and ended the day by hitting up a bar called Stones where I got to sit outside on the ledge of the balcony (totally safe, I promise – I know you’re freaking out as you’re reading this mom) :)
Oh. My. Word. I’m living in a dream…I expect to wake up any minute now because it all seems too good to be true: the beautiful blue skies, the warm 80 degree heat, the 12 hours of sunlight, the mountain that greets you when you walk out the front door, only having to walk 2 minutes to get to the grocery store, being able to buy $25 worth of food for only $10 (thank you exchange rate!), the great group dynamics, everything…I am floored. Needless to say my anxiety has definitely been diluted down and pushed to the back of my mind while being replaced with oodles of…how shall I put this? Hmmm…ah yes - ecstasy! Yup. Totally high on life right now and loving it.
Saying goodbye to my family was definitely difficult, especially knowing that I won’t be able to be with them for 5 full months, but I was glad that I got to be with them before they sent me on my way. Besides, it is never goodbye – it’s just a “see you later” kind of thing.
On the other hand, the plane ride over here was nowhere near as bad as I was anticipating. In fact it was kind of enjoyable. Plenty of time to journal and relax. Not to mention the mini-personal TVs we had with free movies, TV shows, music and games definitely helped and I managed to squeeze roughly 3 hours of sleep out of the 19 that we were in the air. Once we arrived we were taken to the van with a huge trailer for our luggage only to discover both trailer tires virtually had no air in them. Thankfully, Dan saved the day with his bike bump and we all made it to Kimberly House safe and sound at 1 am. Although we were all exhausted the rush of excitement had everyone up till about 3 or 4 – whoo hoo!
Today was absolutely outstanding! Woke up, wandered around Observatory (the suburb we now live in, which is fondly nicknamed Obz for short), got some groceries, went for a run (it was hot), did some hardcore, six pack abs (oh yeaaaaa), ate surprisingly tasty pizza with the group for lunch, showered (sooooooo amazing), got locked in the bathroom (no surprise there), took the train to the beach for 2 hours, showered again and did not get locked in this time (there is hope for me), went out for dinner with a small part of the group and ended the day by hitting up a bar called Stones where I got to sit outside on the ledge of the balcony (totally safe, I promise – I know you’re freaking out as you’re reading this mom) :)The beach was phenomenal. Ohhh my goodness. I took pictures, of course (which will be uploaded once I can get to an internet café because it will need more megabytes than updating my blog) but they do not do any of the ocean or Table Mountain (the mountain that can be seen anywhere in Cape Town) justice. My jaw dropped and my heart raced for a good few minutes as we approached the magnificent beach that overlooked such a vast ocean. After conquering the monstrous waves by diving right in and getting tossed around for 15 minutes, my mini group and I decided to go down a little path and it was on this path that I had the prime opportunity to slowly absorb my surroundings. Seeing such beauty humbled me for I was reminded that God created all of this with pure beauty. I was beside myself and now that I am sitting here at 2:15 AM, SA time (though I won’t have access to post this until tomorrow afternoon or late tomorrow night, hence the date of the 24th or 25th of the post even though I’m blogging about the 23rd. Confusing, I know) I could not have asked for a better day. Yes I know, I know it won’t always be like this. In fact, I read on my friend’s blog that there are 4 stages of homestickness: the honey-moon phase, frustration, depression and acceptance. Needless to say, I’m in the honeymoon phase and I am going to soak it up as much as I possibly can. Mmmmm…South Africa :D
Well, seeing how I do have to get up in 5 hours to begin a long week full of registration and group activities, I am off to bed. Watch for updates with pictures – and for those of who don’t believe that I will keep up my picture/blog resolution – just watch me and be pleasantly surprised :) This is Janelle, signing off. Over and out.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8
Much love to all,
Janelle
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