Dumela is hello!

Blog 1- June 2nd

Well folks, I made it!

It took 33 hours to get here, and BOY I am tired, but all is well and life is good. Its 10pm here so I should probably sleep soon, but not before writing my very first African blog post! Even typing that feels very very very much like I'm in the twilight zone. This has all happened, I've successfully arrived, luggage and all, and yet it hasn't really sunk in that this is my life now.

I feel like the travels in and of themselves were an adventure.

Our last day, a Friday, was pure madness. It was VERY sad to say goodbye to everyone post training. To all the other interns: I'm sending you my love, I miss you already! Training was done at noon, I had a rushed interview with the Chronicle Herald, packed up my dorm room, said goodbye to the other YIPers, and drove back to Fall River for some final countdown packing/last minute phone calls. I didn't even bother sleeping, I had to be at the airport at 330am on Saturday morning.

My flight plan: Halifax --> Toronto --> Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) --.> Johannesburg (South Africa) --> Gabarone (the capital of Botswana).

Total travel hours: 33.

So some things that happened.

First of all, thanks to a miraculous turn of events, I had 4 hours in Toronto so I got to see the most beauteous human who ever lived. This was THE most perfect thing before setting off on my trip. I left Canada with the happiest heart and actually felt ready to go! Ewa, thank you, I love you!

The trip from Toronto to Addis was BY the longest thing ever. 13 hours!!! But I have to say, I learned two very valuable things. Well, I already knew them, but it was a lesson in practicing them.

1- Never make assumptions

2- Patience is a virtue

When I first got on the plane, my heart sank. Picture how crammed a domestic flight is, and add in a bunch of toddlers and babies, and that was the aircraft. We were sardines! And THEN, I got to my seat and found I was sitting beside two women, and a 13 month old baby. I had no space, the baby was crying, all I wanted was sleep, and I was feeling pretty badly about it all.

BUT THEN,

We took off, the baby (who was actually the cutest, most sweet little infant I'd ever seen) calmed down, and I started talking to the women. They were both from Ethiopia, and MAN did they ever have stories to tell. It ended up being a communal effort to keep the little guy happy, he slept with his legs across mine, and in the end everything worked out just fine. The baby didn't make a peep, I got tons of much-needed rest, heard some GREAT tales about arranged marriages and the immigration process to Canada, and all-in-all it was pretty decent! I realized how badly I misread the situation.

Learning learning learning.

I also LITERALLY had kankles when we arrived. Like, ACTUALLY.

And I have never appreciated and shower and toothbrush more in my life!

And here I am in AFRICA!

I should sleep.

Peace and love!