The journey begins... April 6, 2007

Well, we’re off…leaving the chilly climes of Wisconsin for the balmy 70° of Pretoria. I’m running on little sleep, 5 ½ hours to be precise, but am refreshingly alert. I am on my way to a new place! I’m at the moment on a coach bus traversing my way down the grey ribbon of highway that cuts through the land between Milwaukee and Chicago. This part of the earth is on the cusp of rebirth. The deadened winter grass slowly turns from brown to green as the rays from the sun work their photosynthetic magic. It’s funny to think that I won’t get to experience a full spring this year but will instead have another fall. Not that I’m complaining mind you, for fall is my favorite season. I will also ring in Easter in a new country. When I was 16, I traveled to Italy for 2 weeks over New Year’s and was able to see first hand the Italian Epiphany Festival with the Christmas witch. It was strange to wander the streets of Venice and see old Italian men dressed up as Ol’ Befana. I wonder what new visual delights will await me in South Africa?

The lack of sleep is catching up with me…we had hoped for a sugar jolt during the layover in IAD but they went from no boarding call to final boarding call in the blink of an eye. The way I figure it, United owes me one Ben & Jerry’s Dublin Mudslide shake, as I had to take off just as I put my order in. So much for one last taste of the States.

The flight from IAD to JNB was surprisingly full of bodies on South African Air. Before now, I guess I hadn’t really realized how many people travel to this part of the world. Pure lack of knowledge on my part. The flight, though long (15 hours), provided great service and entertainment. Owning to the fact that I couldn’t sleep (TANGENT: Did you know that flights turn up their heat when they want their passengers to fall asleep and turn it down again when they want them to wake up? This has the unfortunate opposite effect on me.) I was able to catch up somewhat on recent blockbusters like Rocky Balboa, Dreamgirls, Happy Feet, Ms. Potter, and a documentary on the history of chocolate. A lot of film you might say but when you’re trapped in one seat for that long they help to pass the time. I figure I got a little bit more smart as well seeing as how Ms. Potter follows the life of Beatrix Potter, a children’s author whose stories I delighted in as a child. And w/the chocolate documentary I decided that there should be a chocolate-lover’s travel guide/tour of some sort. They have Italian cooking vacations and Irish pub-hopping tours, so why not provide something for the proud holders of the Chocoholic title.

Landing in South Africa I find that my immediate impression of my new landscape is how similar it is to my old landscape. The area just surrounding JNB undulates ever so slightly and is blanketed with golden corn stalks awaiting the autumn harvest, very much like the Midwest. It’s such a strange feeling of familiarity that causes me to do a double-check that I’m actually in a new country. As we move along though I am struck by the sound of the Afrikaans language that fills my ears. It’s melodic beat makes me think that I’ve just misunderstood what they said rather than just not grasped an entirely new language.

Moving down another grey ribbon highway (this time on the LEFT side of the road) a ridge finally gives way and the earth breaks into a multitude of dips and swells the color of fiery red and wheat. Houses begin to appear and one is definitely able to see the European influence on the architecture here. One short ½ hour later and we’re in Pretoria.

Our destination is the neighborhood of Hatfield. A brief 10 minute walk from the University of Pretoria and 3 blocks from the grocer, post office, and shops. Our arrival at the Cum Laude Apartments is a blessing for we can finally rest after our 2 days journey. Much to my delight our accommodations are significantly more that I expected. We each receive a multitude of keys and open to what amounts to a small studio apartment (they call them bachelor apartments). A quick tally of it’s components and you have a desk, table and 2 chairs, mini-fridge/freezer, toaster oven/hotplate, dishes, pots and pans, iron and ironing board, a single bed, and 3 lockable closets. We each also have our own bathroom as well. The plugs are different than I expected so I’m not sure how I’ll charge my laptop for schoolwork but that’s minimal. At most I was thinking we’d receive shared dorm rooms with a communal bathroom, so this is definitely above and beyond. My room faces the outside to I have a view of green palm trees, blue sky, and tiled rooftops.

After a quick break, where I really do nothing more than lie on my bed, stare at the ceiling, and will myself not to fall asleep, we venture our for dinner. We settle on McGinty’s, an Irish pub, mainly because it’s the first thing someone suggested and none of us are really in the state of mind to care. Our meal takes place during a televised soccer match between Manchester United and Portsmouth. Many of the locals are here and when large cry (cheer) goes up when Portsmouth scored a goal, I’m thinking that they’re the favored team of the bunch.

After dinner it’s back to the apartments, where all I manage to unpack are my towels, shampoo and conditioner, and pj’s. After a long awaited shower, I climb into my pj’s and begin this entry. I manage to make it until 9 p.m. before sleep overtakes me. I fall asleep not to the sirens and college partiers of Milwaukee but the blissful silence of a cool breeze.