New Way to Meet the Locals

One of the highlights so far was when the director of Human Resources handed me an envelope with R15,000 tucked inside. The "R" I used stands for RAND, which is the South African currency. R15,000 is  equivalent to about $2,000 USD. When you have a nearly empty apartment, a boat load of cash, and a free day, the only logical thing is to spend! So, Chelsea, Samantha and I left the complex at about 10:30am - returned once around 3pm to drop off Round #1 of purchases - and finished our spree around 6pm as the store Checkers (equivalent of a Walmart) was shutting their lights off! It was an exciting day filled with some parking spot hopping (so no one would steal the items we put in our trunk in between stores), getting lost only once, and hitting a curb none of us saw!
We took about an hour to settle and find homes for some of our new purchases and then met up with Meghan and Evelyn for dinner. Sam offered to drive, so we all piled into her little white Hyundai. The restaurant we were meeting people at is called Molly Malone's (very Portsmouth-ish) and is an Irish Pub. No Irishmen to be seen though :) . We met up with Jason from Vancouver, Dee from Australia, Chris and Laura from Canada, and Robin from Australia. Like everyone else I have met so far, they are great people!
Our meal was nice; although, I probably will be careful not to order another burger - not the most delicious. I'm trying to find a beer that I like and hoped there may be some quality choices at this pub. Tonight I tried what is called Black Label. It's considered the "man" beer, while Haans (sp?) is considered the "woman" beer. I have now tried both. I guess I am a man because I prefer the Black Label. Regardless of which is better, it is clear to me, I will not find any beers here that top those from home. What I wouldn't give for a Peak Organic or even a good Sam!
As the night wore on and our eyes fell with the continuing effects of jet lag, we decided to head home. We all said our goodbyes in the parking lot as Sam tried to unlock the car. The lights flickered a bit. The locks did not open. It soon became clear to all of us that Sam had forgot to turn the lights off! Meghan and I went back into the restaurant to see if we could find someone with jumper cables (jumpers). After some cat calls and a few confused stares, we were able to find a man named Ryan from S.Africa who rode in on his white steed and saved the night.
Samantha handled the whole situation like a champ, and it definitely made the night exciting. Upon sharing this story with our director and the leadership team at dinner tonight, we were immediately teased about our approach to meeting the local men. I guess even in 2011, the damsel in distress act still works! However, I can assure you all, none of us will be seeing Ryan from S.Africa again! AND - we'll be sure to shut our lights off!

Rental Cars

I spent the morning growing very overwhelmed with ALL the information given to us about school: policies, handbooks, schedules, safety precautions, horror stories (so we can be prepared), insurance, health care...you name it! I kept reminding myself as I would feel the anxiety stirring in my stomach that I'm not alone and we all will get through it together, but man - it was A LOT! Our Director of the school (Andy Page-Smith) is amazing. From his perspective he probably saw the fear/anxiety in our blank stares, and he said: "Don't worry - you are my responsibility while you are in this country. You need anything; anything happens, you are scared in the middle of the night - you call one of us. We'll be there for you. You are never alone here." PHEW!

After a hot meal served to us in the cafeteria (hot was a key element seeing as it was easily in the lower 30's today), we all boarded a bus and headed to Budget Rental cars. Dun Dun Dun....time to drive on our own!! Sixteen of us paraded into the office ready to get the keys to our wheels; however, very few of us were actually ready to use them! I was given keys to a very new Chevy (light blue) sedan with leather seats, push button start, GORGEOUS! Parked three spots over was this rusted out, beaten up yellow-ish station wagon. In America this thought would never have crossed my mind, but today I wanted to go back into the office and ask if the wagon was for rent! It blows my mind the kinds of cars people drive here (mercedes, BMW, Lexus) given the high rate of hijacking. Despite my hesitation, I ended up driving the Chevy back to my apartment.

The 4 girls that live in the same complex with me (Chelsea, Samantha, Meghan, and Evelyn) and I agreed to follow each other "home" like a train. Samantha bravely took the role of lead car; Evelyn (our NYC friend who hasn't driven a car in years assumed the position as caboose. Three Honda Fits and Two Chevy (somethings) filed out of the Budget "carpark." Our bus drivers, George and Alfius (awesome guys!) were laughing as we slowly exited. The train broke up no less than 2 minutes later when the afternoon traffic of Fourways (our town) completely infiltrated the spaces between our vehicles. We were all given GPSs to help us get around for the next two years, so it wasn't so scary when we split up; however, it's true what they say about safety in numbers - or at least feeling safer amongst more people. As soon as I turned right onto William Nichol Drive (the main road) and came to a dead stop in the middle of the intersection I felt the nerves come alive! Cars were everywhere. People (obviously of a lower class - with all due respect) were walking up and down the road, right up to cars, trying to sell items. I just smiled, shook my head, and stared straight ahead. The drive was only 2.2km, but it felt like forever; and not just because of the insane traffic. Suddenly, all the warnings of hijacks and  smash&grabs settled in the front of my brain, and I was scared. BUT, as I looked around and saw people of every shape and size driving their cars around me, I reminded myself that they are warnings to keep my aware - not paranoid. As long as I use my head, drive defensively, and be careful - I'll be just fine!

When I drove into our complex, where you have to swipe a card to be let in, I stopped to say HI to Kenneth. He is one of the morning security guards. My friend Katie Scully (who moved to DC last year) very wisely advised me to make friends with these guys as soon as possibly. I took her advice and have met 3 out of the 4 of our guards. Today, I laughed with Kenneth about the fact that all 5 of us just drove into the complex on our own, and then I high fived him as I drove to my parking spot. It made me smile.

Tomorrow's a new day - a free day for shopping around (no school), so we've decided we'll get back out there and try our hand at the roads again. The reality is - no sense in fearing them...they are our reality for the next two years. Might as well get used to them!

I made it!

After many hours of very uncomfortable seats aboard the airline Etihad (has anyone heard of this one before?!), a stop over in AbuDhabi (temperature outside was 120F), and some tears in dark airplane filled with slumbering passengers - I made it! 

I was greeted at customs by a very friendly South African man, had a kind encounter with a stranger at baggage claim, claimed ALL the bags I checked, and was given a very warm and welcoming hug by the head of schools (the man who hired me) as he and my new principal picked me up from Johannesburg International Airport at 5am (about 11pm Eastern time). Things were looking and feeling good. 

It is currently 10:00pm on Wednesday night (4pm your time) and I have not slept (besides some very uncomfortable dozing on the plane) since Monday morning at 6am. Needless to say, this is a short post. I am off to bed. I put my new sheets on, covered it with my cozy down comforter (it is just about 30F here!), and found some hidden cards amongst my luggage from my amazing girls. Although I am missing home terribly, I am feeling good and a bit excited. I wish I could holler across the hall to Lori and tell her I love her and goodnight, but thanks to Skype I was able to do that earlier. So, I'm going to go lay my head down and finally sleep.

Lesson in Getting Frustrated

With about a week and a half to go before I was set to take off for JoBurg (as the locals call it), I received an email from Lesego (he works for the company that is arranging my Visa/Work Permit). In this email he shared with me that I needed to send my original passport in to the South African Consulate in New York City so they could complete my Work Permit application. I had no idea that I was supposed to have sent this passport in with my original paperwork, felt a little stupid for the mistake, and then went to FedEx and overnighted my passport. As I left FedEx I made the sign of the cross and silently prayed nothing would go wrong! Little did I know.
There are about 7 of us "newbies" heading to SA from the states, and all of us received an email on Thursday morning (7/21) from Lesego informing us that our passports/Visas had been completed and would be shipped that day. I was relieved. Several hours later as I was standing in the deli line at Shaw's, I received a phone call from a woman at the South African Consulate.

"You need to send a money order to the consulate immediately in order to get your passport."

Now, if you could have seen my face you would have immediately registered the panic. It was 4:30pm, and I had visions of the possibility of not receiving my passport in time. So, being the emotional one that I am, this panic was easily detectable in my voice. The woman continued to insist that I could only get my passport by sending in a money order. (By the way - I have never done a money order before - so this added to my panic!) As she continued to be very unhelpful and unsympathetic, I became frustrated with her. In hind sight - BIG MISTAKE! As I am standing in the empty wine aisle at Shaw's with tears streaming down my cheeks, she said to me: "Don't get an attitude with me - I am the one with your passport in my hand and you need it on Monday morning." Threats did nothing for my frustration level, and not long after the first threat, she issued the second: "Look, all these people here put together your Visa and you need it and your passport to get where you are going, so don't give me an attitude."
After rudely asking for the total of the money order again, I said "Bye!" with irritation in my voice and hung up.

I proceeded to cry (big surprise) throughout Shaw's, in my car, and to Fed Ex to overnight a money order for $25 to the South African Consulate. There was a VERY kind woman working at Fed Ex, who helped me get everything squared away - amidst my tears. Ultimately, I left Fed Ex hoping this time, my passport would come back to me.

After emailing Lesego and informing him of the money order ordeal, and admitting my lack of patience, I learned that mine was not the only passport to not be shipped out. In fact, all 7 of us needed to send money orders in or get in to the city to pick it up. On Friday morning, I received an email from Lesego, which said he had confirmation from the SA Consulate that my passport had been mailed out and would arrive to me on Saturday. PHEW - I could relax!

Wrong! On Saturday at noon, I still have not seen my passport. On the advice of some great people, Katie G and I went to FedEx to check on the status of my passport. To make a long story short, we learned through the help of another VERY KIND FedEx worker that my passport had never left the Consulate. Other packages went out, but not a single package was slated to arrive in NH at my address. She'd done it! That "you know what" from the consulate had followed through with her threats. My passport was sitting somewhere in the SA Consulate, which wouldn't be open again until 9am on Monday morning. My flight was scheduled to depart Boston at 6am. Now I was really panicking; however, I did stay somewhat calm because I reminded myself there was nothing I could do to fix it now. So, I emailed Lesego and Rhonda (HR at the school) and let them know what I had found out. Both were very shocked.

In the end, I spent the entire weekend completely unsure what was going to happen. On Sunday afternoon, I spoke with Rhonda and found out my flights had been cancelled, and I was rebooked on a flight leaving JFK at 10:50pm on Monday. New problem - how to get to NYC on Monday to get my passport and fly out. STRESS!!

My family was amazing. I know my mother was so upset and worried for me. I know my father was irritated that he couldn't fix it for me. And I know Lori and Scott would have done anything they could to make it better for me. My friends - the same! The whole situation was pretty crappy, and it looked like the only solution was to head to NYC to pick up the passport before the flight. SO, because I have the best family and friends, they drove me to New York. After a very sad final goodbye to my incredible mum and dad, we pulled out of my driveway. Lori, Brandon, Katie, Rich (many others offered and would have driven me if they could have - and I appreciate this!) and I drove the 4.5 hours down to New York making the first leg of this journey to my new world fun and incredibly more bareable. I did a little happy dance and let out a huge sigh of relief when my passport was finally in my hands, and then we celebrated with lunch and a cold beer!
My "Operation South Africa" Team, with the direction of Brandon, rented a limo, and we drove to the airport in style! With two bottles of champagne and many laughs (and some tears) we drove the distance to JFK. Then - all that was left was Goodbye.

Less Than A Month To Go

Today is June 26th, which means that one month from today I will be arriving in Johannesburg. Ahhhh! My flight is scheduled to leave Boston at 6am on Monday the 25th. Just under 30 hours later, I will begin my new life in South Africa.
I am in Martha's Vineyard right now with Katie G, Rich, and Danielle. I am having a wonderful time relaxing and hanging out in my comfort zone - with friends, on the water, and surrounded by things I know. Thinking about the fact that I will be in a whole new world in less than one month makes me very anxious. I am excited, and I am looking forward to what is to come, but the anticipation is giving me lots to think about. In some ways I want this month to fly by so I can just begin this journey, but in the same breath, I want each and every one of the next 29 days to crawl - allowing me to savor every bit of my comfort and familiar ways. In the end, whether time flies or crawls, I know this is the right decision, and I know I will be a better person because of it.

New Computer

In addition to the face wash, toothpaste, perfumes, and eye makeup that I have purchased in preparation for life in South Africa, I added a new MacBook Pro to the list today! This computer represents my connection to home while I'm away. This computer will make the nearly 8,000 miles separating me and my old life only a simple click of the mouse away! It may sound silly, but this computer makes the craziness that is changing my life ... do-able!

Leave Of Absence

Thanks to the support and persistence of my principal and friend Jim, I was given an opportunity to present to the school board last night with the hopes of being granted an unpaid sabbatical. The idea behind this is to take it one year at a time. I would take an unpaid sabbatical next year, and then have the opportunity to request an additional unpaid, year-long sabbatical the following year. Although I was shaking like a leaf in fall, I presented a powerpoint presentation - complete with a video of some of my students sharing their perceptions of South Africa. The response was completely positive, and after very little deliberation, the school board voted unanimously to approve my sabbatical for next year. At the risk of jinxing things, I got the impression they would be in support for a second year as well when the time comes! Although I fully intend to see my 2 year contract through, it is a relief to take such an incredible leap with a safety net in place should I fall! I owe endless thanks to Jim for going out on a limb for me and believing in my value to the East Kingston school so much that he would work so hard to keep my job!