Making a landing in SA

Yeah! I'm so glad you've clicked to read up on my page-- it's such an awesome thing to be able to connect to home when you're far from it. Be sure to leave a comment and let me know how you're doing :)


Well- I did it, I somehow I made my way through 5 airports, over 24 hours, and an ocean to safely make it to South Africa! (With all my luggage-- that's an quite an accomplishment for this first time solo traveler!) Surprisingly, so far I have loved facing this new experience head on by myself- just me and my thoughts and the new adventures around me.

I got in some prime time people watching while in the airports. Seeing Muslim men take off their shoes and bow to the East in the waiting area, and hearing a Jewish man (with his little hat) cheer 'Mozzeltoff' when they brought extra help to quicken the security line where some of my favorites. There was one truly American cultural phenomena that stopped me in my tracks at the NY airport and I had to stop and take a picture...grossness dispensed in a machine.

While on my first plane I got a real pleasant surprise from the cute flight attendant, "Ms. Dougen, we have a seat upgrade available for you." [He said it was sympathy for knowing I had a long flight ahead of me, but I'd like to think it's one advantage of being a woman traveling alone ;) ] On another flight I had a most interesting traveling seat neighbor, his name was Baa and he was a old African man that was quite smelly but very sweet. It was so funny and surprising when I woke up from a nap to see him wrapped in his blanked from the top of his head to his toes like a ca coon- I guess he the plane was a little colder than his liking.

My host family couldn't be more incredible with their warm hearts and charming British accents. There's Rufus, the 'Papa' who is a professional hunter. He's the kind of person that you would want to share exciting news with first because his jovial expressions more than light up the room. He teases me a lot about being an American and how I am his new project to 'toughen up'. Almarie, his wife and my African mom is so special. She is full of wisdom and wit and takes more than enough care for me. Justus, their son, is a Jr. in highschool and as onry as ever. Inge is their daughter who's a sophmore in highschool, who has such a good mix of tomboyishness and tenderheartedness we connect very well. It's fun to have little syblings around. :) I'll have to get a picture of them up here soon.


We spent the last few days on their Ranch, relaxing and letting me take in the sights. I've seen monkeys, a massssive spider, Kudo (huge African deer with horns), Dika, and Springy (American rabbit on steriods mixed with a small kangeroo). I've eaten Kudo sausage, Leg of Lamb and Sheep Ribs, all firsts for me! The first picture is of their sheep, many of whom just had little lambs that I got to hold. Justus drove Inge and I around on the Safri Jeep all over as we collected plants for their garden. Have you seen those pictures with monkeys that have orange slices in their mouths? That's what I was thinking here, trying to fit in with my environment in the jeep picture. The picture of the massive clay mound is an ANT HILL that are all over, they are at least to my thigh- they make American ants look like wimps!

Tommorrow are headed to the Transky, the 'real Africa' as they say, where they do their ministry. I'm looking forward to it. Miss you all and will post more later. Much love from SA.