Weekend Wrap Up (AKA SA Wrap Up)

Sniff.   This will be my final post in the Weekend Wrap Up series as I have left SA and returned home to Chicago.    But don't fret... I will still be posting about travel, Chicago, running and other fun stuff.

This is actually a wrap-up of my last weekend in SA.   I've been back in Chicago almost a week, but I unexpectedly am having a much harder time adjusting and re-patriot-ing then I had anticipated.   Surprisingly I wasn't jet lagged at all (thank you liquid melatonin) but I've been really thrown off and depressed about everything that changed without me in the last 6 months.     And missing all my friends and co-workers back in Johannesburg.  I had an indescribable life experience that I will forever treasure.  It is difficult transitioning back from a place I wasn't ready to leave.

Goodbye Jozie Skyline

So  taking you back in time to last week...

Where did all this stuff come from??

The work week was a short one due to Monday being another public holiday.   I spent most of the week wrapping up work projects and saying my goodbyes.    I had really wanted to get out a bit more, but I was really fighting with my luggage (my clothes reproduced ) and my emotions ( I really couldn't go very long with out tears).

Goodbye weird hotel apartment

I did manage to plan a goodbye pizza party for the R&D team (I totally forgot to take pictures), I wrote about 30 personal goodbye notes and had a farewell dinner on Friday with two of my R&D friends.   We were going to go out one last time, but I'm glad we decided against it.  Last minute hung over packing on Saturday would not have been fun.

Goodbye Penny... I'm sorry.

On Saturday, I drove to the airport... the whole time I was praying that I would not hit anyone or anything right before I left.... and I side swiped the pole in the rental return as I was pulling up to the agent.  DOH.    On a side note, I was pretty surprised that Phil was really not phased by the whole story, until I came home are realized that he had just done the same thing to our car in our garage.  I don't feel too bad now.    

Hello champagne

I was really anticipating issues when at the airport, because I find it really difficult not to have customer service issues.  This trip was my first experience with Virgin Atlantic.   I'm normally a American Airlines loyalist, but due to changes in their reward program this year, I've decided to show Delta some love too.   Virgin Atlantic is a Delta partner.

hi little chair

The check-in process was seamless.  No lines at all for Upper Class check-in.  The staff were friendly and efficient and by some miracle, none of my bags were over weight.   My 3 bags were tagged and sent on their way in minutes.   I was directed to the VA Clubhouse, but needed to clear security first.   Here the lines were long, but moved quickly.   I was in the VA Clubhouse in no time.   I intended to buy a couple last minute gifts but I was shaking from the run in with the pole and my back pack was so heavy it was knocking me backwards.   Upon entry I was promptly checked in with a smile and the immediately greeted by a staff member.   He took my bags and showed me to a comfy chair.   He brought out bottled water, champagne and crisps as well as a full cocktail menu and wine list and a dinner menu.  All included!   One glass a champagne wasn't going to stop the shakes so I order one of VA's signature drinks a Virgin Redhead as well as a veggie flat bread.  Both were delicious.  It was soon time to board.   The flight was called and there was no line at the gate, so I was able to hop right on and settle in to my little pod.   The seat was a bit narrow, but the footrest  doubles as a little chair, which is cute and functional if you are not traveling alone.

Second flight prep.

The trip to London was about 11 hours long, but uneventful.  The service and food was fantastic.  My only issue was that the seat needs to be flipped in order to be used as a bed.  It's not that bad, it is automatic and the flight staff is happy to help if needed.    PJs and bedding are provided.   I love airline PJs  (I'm actually wearing them now as I write this).

swing~

In London, it took me a bit to find the lounge and I kept getting literally knocked backwards by the weight of my back pack.   I had been so excited about the spa services, but when I finally found the Virgin Club house and saw the basket swings, all I wanted to do was swing and cry.  Yea.  I'm that weirdo crying in the swing.

Gnocchi and sun-dried tomatoes 

The second flight (9-ish hours) was also pretty uneventful.   The food was decent, the movie selection was okay-  my favorite was The Room.  I was told that it is also a book... the book is probably better.    Speaking of books, I finally finished Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom.   Ok, honestly  I essentially finished it awhile ago, but I had started it on the flight to SA, so I wanted to save the last chapter for the way back in a symbolic gesture of closure.    It's a long, but great read.  I highly recommend it.

Chapter closed.

And that wraps it all up.   I arrived to flowers and signs and a super ecstatic husband, despite my crabbiness and irritability.  We celebrate with a run around our neighborhood, geo-caching and tacos and margaritas in Pilsen.    

I'm a little startled about how much I miss SA and my friends.  and I'm startled on how lost I feel being back.  It's a process and little by little I'm sure it will improve.    

I will be back soon, will more travel insights (including Victoria Falls) and fun stuff in general. 

:)

Hello Chicago.

Hello strange geo-caching husband.

Weekend Wrap up: Science and Cocktails and Soweto Adventures

As I'm nearing the final count down this week has been a week of more "lasts" and a mad dash to pack. There's been quite a lot of tears and almost tears as I swing between missing my husband and wanting to teleport home and wanting to stay in my new home.

I had two great adventures this week as I begin to tie it all up here.

Cosmos Cocktail

My last Science and Cocktails at the Orbit.   I absolutely LOVE this monthly event and wish I could figure out a way to bring it to Chicago.  Do I have any readers with University affiliations that could help me make this happen (direct message me!).    The event is hosted at a jazz club once a month with a different science topic.   A professor or two gives a lecture, while the crowd sips bubbly science themed cocktails.  The lecture is followed by jazz.    This weeks lecture  was on the Cosmos and Project Spider and was given by  Dr. Cynthia Chiang. The project had UIUC affiliation. Go Illini!! It was both interesting and entertaining and at a level I could follow.  I'm also excited that I've now turned friends onto the event.  

After a little jazz it was off to Mash for a farewell party with the finance and marketing teams.  Time ran away from me again and before we knew it, it was three AM.  Oops.

I look like such a creeper.

So I was a little tired when my friend picked me up at 9am to celebrate Freedom Day by touring Soweto.  Freedom Day celebrates the first day all Africans were allowed to vote in the elections.

We first drove through the township avoiding the cows, chickens and goats in the road.  My friend is awesome, she kept pulling over so I could be a tourist and take pictures.

hey random goat

We headed to the Hector Pieterson museum first to visit a vendor that my friend regularly buys from that  sells beautiful traditional jewelry. I bought way too much but she had some beautiful and unique pieces.  

Next it was to the museum itself where we took a guided tour of the outside and learned the history and significance before doing a self guided tour of the inside.  The museum commemorates the Soweto Uprising where students marched in protest of unfair school laws. As they approached the site in which the museum now stands police opened fire on the children, killing at least 146, but some sources cite up to 700, including Hector.  His picture of being carried out with his sister at his side made international news and marked a turning point in the apartheid struggle.  It was an emotional experience and I cried.  

Next it was off to Soweto theater to see Africa Umoja- the Spirit of Togetherness.  It was amazing!   It told the history of South Africans in dance and song... starting with traditional tribal dance and coming to present.   The crowd interacted cheering and shouting and clapping.  You could just feel the energy and excitement vibrate through the room.  I'm so lucky that there was a performance in Joburg before I left. I'll be checking their website often, in anticipation of their USA tour dates.   Although I'm sure it will cause me to miss Africa and I'll cry the whole time and I'm sure it will be a completely different experience than seeing it in Soweto on Freedom Day.

good advice

Our next stop was Vilakazi street in search of a shebeen.   We asked around at the vendor stands and found the Shack. While the Shack is traditional Shebeen, they must get a lot of tourists (although I was the only one at the time)... it even has its own Facebook page. We asked for  umqombothi, or traditional beer and received a whole demonstration and history lesson.  The beer is made from sorghum and maize and is low alcohol and though to have all kinds of healing properties including fertility (South African Viagra). It is served in a large clay pot which is passed around and shared. My friend said she drank a lot of this in her varsity days.  Everyone kept asking me what I thought (I don't think many people actually drink it anymore).  I actually quite liked it... I like sour, unfiltered styles of beer.   We took our pot into the main room to chat with the locals. They told us stories of the neighborhood and growing up in Soweto and my friend shared her stories of village life.  We finished up the night with dinner at Skaumzi.  We both got the buffet this time.  It was okay, but not really worth the high price tag, especially for me, being a vegetarian.  The service was much better than the last time though... probably because one of our new shebeen friends is friends with the owner.  The night ended with a quick stop a Shova, the art gallery across the street.  The manager's selling point was "I just sold one of these to Tiesto...you can have the same art as Tiesto!!"  Um.  No thanks.

I finished up the week by hopping on a plane to Zambia!

Look for my travel blog on Zambia, Botswana and Zimbawe coming soon! 

Bob update-

So I had a scare on Thursday where Bob was happily munching away one minute and then gone the next.  I searched the flowers and surrounding areas but no Bob.  I figured he ran away.   In the morning there he was perched right on top on a flower!  Silly Bob!