Half way sad face

Three months down, three months to go.  This makes me incredibly sad.   I can't express how much I am am enjoying this experience as a whole and living in Johannesburg.  I feel like I'm just beginning to scratch the surface.

I finally got out and went dancing this weekend.   It was good to finally dust off my dancin' shoes.   I started off Friday night with an Internations party in Sandton which is the business district to the North with all the Hoity Toity Fancy Pants bars... not really my scene, but I needed some where to go before the main event.   One does not simply show up at the club before midnight (actually I don't even know if it is open before 11).  The IN social was better than the last... this one was at an outside Miami beach-style place called The Sands. I met a bunch of interesting expats from around the world from Trinidad to Austrailia to Ireland.   I hardly run into any Americans,  but I did meet an older banker dude from NY, but he turned out to be a complete creeper so he got ditched real fast.  Old banker dude-  "I love Techno!  I go to Ultra!  Tiesto and Skrillex are the best!"   Me- "um, no. Go away".

I ubered over to And for ToyToy (techno night).  The club reminded me of old Smart Bar days... crowded, smokey, banging techno.  I checked out Black Book... their set was tight.  The crowd was young, but I met some fun kids, including my new side kick, MK. I was supposed to be playing wing woman, but it was a typical techno show, so mostly dudes and unfortunately for him, he's into chicks.  I had meant to only stay a minute to check it out, but it was so good I didn't get home until 3am.   I'm looking forward to the next Friday I'm in town.

Internations-sans American Creepster.  #sotan #legsformiles

Side bar:  I had the best Uber drivers this weekend.   I had one play be his personal South African house music play lists and another that made sure the hotel gate opened for me at 3am.   

Saturday, I really meant to do another Park Run... but I'm too old to be that productive on 2 hours of sleep. Ironically, Facebook alerted me to a memory of a post from the same day in 2009 where I boasted of getting 7 hours of sleep in a 55 hour period.  Ha.   I was just functional in time for the soccer game at 3:30 at FNB Stadium.  It was sports team vs sports team.   One team was yellow and the other were pirates?  Go sports teams!!    We probably should have sprung for VIP tickets and had private parking and separate seating and what not, but we didn't.  Lesson learned.   Our seats were in the sun, but the upside to general seating was we could really feel the vibe and were in the middle of all the dancing and festive-ness.   I took some videos... I'll try to upload. (I can't upload).  I remembered hearing all the horns inside the stadium when the World Cup was televised... its a whole different experience being in the middle of all the horns.   I regret not purchasing one.  Getting out after the game was a little hectic... I think we went out on the wrong side or something and there was no easy way to get to an Uber.  We should have just called one immediately and had him instruct us where to meet him.  We didn't.   So we spent an hour wandering around as the only 2 white girls- pretty obviously Americans- in a see of drunk African locals- mostly men.   I need to research this more and write a whole separate blog, but harassment of women and rape culture is a huge problem here.  There were a lot of cat calls and bullshit and taking our pictures-  I'm still not sure if this is some creepy fetish or I'm going to be sold online.  I didn't necessarily feel unsafe... there was enough people around, a handful of security and I'm a fucking badass. And to steal my running friend's tagline: no one shits on my cupcake.    It was more annoying than anything...especially since I was getting hangrier by the minute.

Sunday, I used my new best friend Meetup.com again and found a hiking group that was hiking the Hennops Trail, touted as the best hike in the province.  I had to be up pretty early, as it was over an hour drive away, in the hills near Pretoria.   The drive was easy until I got to the park and then there was a lot of one lane roads and off-roading and a GPS that had no idea where I was going, even with GPS coordinates (hmm, I don't think the parking lot is in this river).

I'm starting to recognize people from other Meetups which is nice.   Our group had about 25 people.   There was a fast group and an intermediate group.... I fully intended on going intermediate, but ended up right in front with our leader.  Damn it, Type A personality.  The hike was beautiful, hot, challenging, engaging and fun.  I realized maybe an hour into the 4 hour, 11km hike that I have never actually been hiking... up to now, I've only been outside walking with a moderate effort.   I spent more time on my ass than I did  on my feet, but I accept that... luckily I have a lot of padding down there.  Better my ass than my face.  Like my running experience, there was a whole lot of up and the whole up time I was praying for some down.  Until the down came...the up was all physical and the down, very mental.   The hike ended with a fun chair ride across the river, probably not entirely safe, but a great way to end the hike.

This was obviously early before I started to question my fitness and my decisions in life

Up! Up! Up!

All the Up was worth it

Across the river in a little metal chair.

In other news, I thought I had purchased a magical pillow this week.  I was so very excited.   Alas, after two days, it was not so magical.   Back to the mall for me, but maybe not to Game/Walmart.   For those who have stayed at the Riot-Little pad in Chitown, you know I have a pillow problem.

This week is going to be mostly 10-12 hour work days to make up for the long weekend I'm taking to go to Cape Town this weekend... so don't expect any updates until next week.  My social calendar is unfortunately sparse this week.

CRUNCH

I'm a little frazzled here in Jozi.   It's not necessarily a bad thing, but things are definitely a little more hectic than I am used to.

I'm at the half way point in my rotation, with only 3 months left-  I'm in full scramble mode both professionally and personally.

My projects, which started a bit slow while I  caught up and was trained in my new role are now full speed ahead.  So I essentially, have 3 months to do 4 different projects.   Challenge Accepted.   I'm having a great experience working well out of my comfort zone.   I'm learning a whole new way of working, that I'm not used to.  In my nutrition role, I'm global.  I'm the only one on my team in my office.   I spend all day pretty much alone emailing and listening in to meetings on the phone.    Here, my days are 90% interaction-  face to face meetings, one on ones, people stopping by all day long.   I didn't think I would enjoy it, all this relationship building, but I really am.   I think I'm going to be lonely when I go back home.  At least Mary will be there and I can bug her all the time.

On the personal side, I'm running around trying to get to every corner of Joburg that I can, meet as many people as I can and experience as much as I possibly can.   Meetup.com and Inter-nations have been my best friends-  Meetup a little more than the Inter-nations.    My list of places I need to go and things I need to see is pages long- and that is just for Joburg!!   That doesn't include the 3 weekend trip T and I have left or the travel with Phil and Dil.   HA!   I just realized that sort of rhymes.

Meet-up led me to Science and Cocktails on Tuesday.   It was pretty fabulous.... a bonus, it was at a Jozi hotspot that I wanted to check out-  The Orbit.     The bartenders were all wearing lab coats, the bar was decorated with smoking flasks and the drinks were themed for the occasion-  I had a Fire and Ice, which was literally served on fire.    The highlight was the talk-  set up in the style of a TED talk a Professor gave a lecture on climate change and how it relates to South African weather.  A little over my head at times (it was 9pm at night), but very interesting, especially the lively Q&A session after.   I learned a lot about El Ninos.   I didn't stay for the Jazz part of the evening- early meetings on Wednesday, but I plan to next time.   Like usual, I made some new friends and I  picked up a couple of travel tips for Phil and I's Cape Town trip.  Looking forward to next month's talk on Eyes and Visual perception.  Woot Science!

To combat some of the stress, I've started a home yoga program, Yoga Camp with Adriene.   I highly recommend it.  It's for all levels, it's stretchy and relaxing and Adriene is funny.  I hate yoga and I'm enjoying this.

There's also been a whole lot of doodling... I guess it's my version of adult coloring.

All this craziness is resulting in me losing my mind... I spent the last two months working on a surprise Valentine's Day gift for Phil...when I was finally ready to buy it today, I was trying to beat the clock on the sale price and didn't notice that Phil's credit card was saved in the account and not mine.   So he bought his own present and I ruined the surprise.  :(


I have several things planned for the weekend- lots of reviews and pictures anticipated, so I thought I'd break it up a little this week.  :)  Have a great rest of the week everyone!

Week 10- Expanding my horizons

Thus far, I've been rushing around trying to see "things" or spending copious amounts of time planning to see more "things".    Yes, lions and waterfalls are super cool, but other than work, I realized that I'm not experiencing the culture or the people.  I'm really only seeing what's on the surface.

What I've learned most from my travels and from living abroad is not what I've read on museum placards or from rushing from tourist spot to tourist spot, but from slowing down and taking in the simple day to day...spending the afternoon talking to people in a coffee shop or sitting at a bar in a pub and chatting with the bartender or experiencing the Spanish healthcare system firsthand (really hoping not to have a repeat of that as eye opening as that was).

Now that I'm much more comfortable driving and with the city in general, I decided that I'm on a mission to experience and not just see.

The idea all started with me complaining to my manager that I haven't really made any friends and that I'm dying for social interaction.    He replied with "I've invited you to the Parkrun 2 times now and you don't show up."   Well, this weekend I showed up.  And figuratively continued to show up all weekend.   An aside-  I've been listening to the GirlBoss podcasts this week and the host encourages listeners to state their #girlboss moments of the week and I guess this was mine.... getting a little out of my comfort zone and really taking control of this opportunity I was given.

I woke up early on Saturday, drove about 15 minutes to an area call Modderfontein, got lost, found a giant line of cars and followed them and found myself in the right place.    These Parkruns are 5k fun runs that occur all over South Africa on Saturdays.    The run itself was difficult... it was my trail run, it was at altitude and it was unbelievably steep.    I got dizzy to the point I was a little worried at least twice.   It was a whole lot of fun though.   High energy, friendly people, beautiful views.    In the beginning, the host asked if there was any international runners and I got a huge shout out for Chitown.  :)      At the end my manager and a few co-workers were waiting for me at the finish line.   I'm hoping to do many more before I leave and hopefully at least one official race so I can get some SA bling.

I spent the afternoon at a local cafe drinking cappuccino and reading.   Once the tables around me heard my accent, I was immediately pulled in their conversations.    The manager also came by treated me to coffee and made me feel welcomed.   We all chatted about politics and Chicago Fire and Mandela.   I appreciated hearing so many personal stories and experiences.

 Today I got my Meetup.com on and headed about 4 miles down the road to Kensington for a free historical neighborhood tour.  I met loads of interesting, fun, friendly locals.... who all wanted to talk about Trump and Rham.   Apparently Rham makes the news here only slightly less than Trump.   We saw some amazing mansions, architecture from the 20th century including a concrete fence and gate that was pretty cool, hiked up the kopi (cliff) for some fantastic views of the city and visited a boys boarding school, Jeppe Boys School,  that begun in the 1800's that is still a leading school in Joburg.  The tour was as much about being social as it was about history.   I made a few new friends, was  invited to some future events and to dinner!   My social meter is starting to rise.  :)   I took a million pictures... some of which are on Facebook.   Here's a few of my favorites:

Jeppe School for Boys

20th century cement fence

Oh hai, Jozi

Scottish Memorial on the topi

Jeep School for Boys

Hiking' it on up the kopi

The afternoon was spent exploring the Melville neighborhood which reminded me of Little 5 Points in Atlanta... quirky, trendy, with a new school punk rock vibe.  I found the next best thing to a Bloody Mary... a Bloody Mary Made with beer with a shot of tequila on the side.  I don't do shots and really don't do tequila... so I dumped it in.  The result-delicious.

I'm finding the people here so open and friendly.   When people find out that I'm from Chicago they are genuinely  interested in hearing my opinions and impressions of their home and eager to tell me stories and to answer my many, many questions.   I truly enjoyed meeting so many people this week and truly experiencing Jo-burg.

I'm sitting out on my balcony as I type, enjoying the sun set, drinking Bloody Marys (almost perfected... looking forward to my pepper infused vodka that should be ready next weekend).   Not looking forward to the work week...   I'm enjoying what I'm doing and the amount that I'm learning everyday.   There is just so much to do in so little time that I'm beginning to pull 10+ days to get it all done.   I'm a morning person, so I don't really mind getting in super early and staying later.  I'm my sharpest in the morning and its easier to work when its quieter, before the hustle and bustle of the day begins.

ooo...it looks like Twilight is on the Romance channel again.... it seems like its either Twilight or Save the Last Dance or YaYa Sisterhood. Every. Day.

Looking forward to next weekend, where T and I will be taking a trip to Durban to spend a couple of days on the beach... I was told there is a Parkrun on the beach, so hoping to check that out as well.