My taxi valentine

5 am and I'm laying in the hostel bed thinking about the variety of experiences that I have had so far. I'm not sure that I could make the claim that this has changed me, but it definitely is reminding me of parts of myself that I have left behind, either in my mind or in my spirit. It's as if I'm meetings an old friend to do something new.

My major point of growth for the day was helping our driver find his way to the Eastgate mall,  ALA, and back. Eastgate was merely a stop to exchange money. This was our driver's first day driving foreigners, specifically white foreigners. He is used to driving groups from Soweto. He missed a turn and you could tell that he was so nervous. So I got up and moved to the front seat next to him, at that moment we became a time. His nervousness made him utterly lost in terms of directional capability, but he remained a safe driver. I became the navigator. We had an unspoken bond, and no one in the back knew quite how bad it was, but although a bit stressful for me I was thankful for it. I say stressful because I didn't have a map, just vague directions and a vague sense of direction in a city and country that I have only been in for one day and where they drive in the opposite side of the road. The experienced stretched me, I made wrong choices of guidance but we fixed those choices together, secretly, some not so secretly. Our vulnerability created warmth and humor. And in the end, we got where we needed to go and I got to interact with a couple people on the street, I was even asked to be someone's Valentine. And offered anything I want in the world. :)

Day 1

We landed at 7am local time in Johannesburg. I met some great characters on the flight including a South African/Portuguese journalist and a Canadian who married her husband while they were both working the carnival. From the airport we headed right to our hostel.  The summer weather was giving us shining beams and we headed off to a tour of downtown Johannesburg and Soweto.

We ventured off to see homeopathic healing beliefs and townships. As well was Nelson Mandela's house and the Apartheid Museum. I feel I like I have a lot to process, but I'm not sure I can try to articulate on such little sleep. I wouldn't do it justice.

One of the most touching things that happened to me was as I was walking through the neighborhood of Kliptown in the township of Soweto, a woman came up and started walking next to me. In a low voice she whispered how she was struggling. The toddler strapped on her back looked at me with this deep, wise eyes. The expression in his eyes was different then I seen in young children. It was like he was already wise about the troubles of the world, and knowingly telling me that I was too small to solve them.

London

Happy Valentine's Day from London!  Tis the first that I am spending abroad, and with an authentic German candy bar the size of my head. In other news, on the flight here we had twos people dressed as Scooby Doo and the Honey Monster do laps inside the plane mid-flight. British people have the silliest kind of humor.  I felt like I was on the U-Bahn at midnight in Berlin.

Butterflies in the stomach

This trip has me so excited, I am getting butterflies realizing the reality.  I had an interesting night packing and finishing coursework for an entrepreneur class that I'm taking. The morning quickly rolled around and I had sleep maybe 2 hours, to be on the generous side. Then I shoved everything into my backpack and started the drive from Sacramento to San Francisco. It went by without a hitch. I rolled up to a friend's house took an hour nap in her driveway and then ate some dark chocolate with her to try to bring me back to a non-sleepy state.  

The first part of my journey.... 

And my first leg of the flight. To London for Valentine's Day!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, I am so lucky to be alive. <3

Packing...

"Life is not about weathering the storm, it's about learning how to dance in the rain."

Today I left work a little early to work from home, so that I could pack for South Africa and pick up a package from my apartment office.  I thought I would only be picking up one package that had the power adapter, which I have neglected to pick up for the last week due to the fact that I haven't been home during office hours.  Dragging my bags, I expected to pick up one package but to my surprise I had six packages waiting for me.  My wonderful friends had sent me random gifts of love.  The last five days have been so work heavy that I wanted to cry from exhaustion and I could feel the bags under my eyes.  These reminders of love lifted my spirits so that I could make a space for me to be excited about my upcoming travel. 

And after a trip to Target's sale section, the bank, the post office, and the library I am ready to start my packing endeavor.  

My fun and safe travel pack for South Africa includes:

X  Backpack 

X  Water Bottle

X  Passport

X  Copies of Important Documents

X  Eye Mask/ Ear buds

X  Digital Camera

X  Jeans (2)

Long Socks (2)  whoops, forgot those, will need to buy some

X  Light Jacket

X  Socks (3)

X  Underwear

X  Sports Bras (3)

X  Cloth Shorts (2)

X  Khaki Shorts

X  Tank Tops (3)

X  T-Shirts (2)

X  Long Sleeve Shirt

X  Mosquito Repellent

X  Malaria Pills

X  Sunglasses

X  Wrist-Watch

X  Sneakers

X  Bathing Suit

Flip-flops forgot these too....

X  Inhaler

X  Medications 

X  Shampoo/Conditioner

X  Razor

X  Toothbrush/tooth paste/floss 

X  Mouth Guard

X  Deodorant 

X First Aid Kit 

X Cash

I hope this will be okay, and I am leaving plenty of room in my checked bag.... :)

Final Countdown

I feel like this is a race against time and I am winning. I have no idea how I have been able to function on so little sleep the past few days or even that I can manage to articulate in full sentences with the amount of work that I have been putting into various projects.

I did not fall asleep while driving hoe after a 10 hour work day in the city, and I am still dragging my weary eyes over personal logistics for South Africa and some last minute work details.

Human spirit for the win.

Thank You

Now that I am unable to sleep:

Thank you. Thank you for showing me that my closest friends really do have the best judgement, and that my initial assessment of character was correct.

Thank you for showing me that maturity does not lie in age, but in the manner in which you approach and engage with others that are giving you their time and energy. People's time and energy are the most valuable things that someone can give.  Through those two things, someone gives you portions of their life and their love. Don't underestimate that, it is powerful and significant.

This is a great chance to take that time and utilize it to strengthen and deepen meaningful relationships and experiences. Thank you for giving me that future time to invest in current and new relationships.   Although initially selfish, your actions are for my benefit. A large painful consequence is better for realization than small occurrences that add up over any given period of time. Without being willing to give, you were willing to take.  A sign indicative of a young, young mind on a journey. A journey that I have long surpassed.

One of the main things that has changed from that time is my ability to recognize the power that identifying the positives can have. I am happy and glad, and feel free. Free knowing that I was honest and genuine.