Chaotic Start

Let's start from the beginning...

I woke up pretty early this morning to get ready and make sure (for like the 100th time) that I had everything I needed. My uncle brought my little cousins over to say bye and my eight year old cousin started crying, which had me sad from the start. 

My parents, cousin and siblings drove me to the airport and after having some minor problems with the self-check in machines, I had my boarding passes and luggage checked. Both my checked luggage were under 50 lbs (49.5 and 45) so I was glad I didn't have to take anything out. My other cousin and homegirl also came to see me off. Yes I did end up crying. I was super sad, and my little sister was crying too and it was a lot going on. But finally said the final good-byes and if I wasn't in an airport with so many people around, I'm sure I would have been bawling. 

The flight to St. Paul was quick and drama free. Once I got in MN it was hectic from there. There was a delay in MN because of air-traffic control, there was bad weather in ATL. We sat on the plane for like an hour and a half. I was a little worried because my flight was at 19:70 and the flight to ATL was about 2 hours, so it was going to be close. We ended up landing in ATL at about 19:00 so I thought I was good to go, but we ended up sitting on the plane for about another hour. So I ended up missing my flight to Johannesburg. After about 2 hours of talking to the Delta correspondent the only flight to Johannesburg is tomorrow (or today the 13th) at the same time, 19:40. So here I am at a hotel in ATL until tomorrow, tired and drained and just hoping tomorrow goes smoothly and I make it to PE drama free and safe. 

I have a ring that I wear that says Phil 4:13 “I can do all things through christ who strengthens me” and I swear I’ve been rubbing the words off the way I’ve been playing with it so much today with all my nervousness. 

Anyways I'm just waiting until 02:00 ATL time to call the Nelson Mandela Metro. University (NMMU) international student representative since it'll be 08:00 over there and give them an update. Later, bonne nuit! 

Restless

It's 6:18 a.m. and I'm wide awake. Just thinking about leaving...this time tomorrow I'll probably be up and about trying to make sure I have everything together.

Just saw one of the other people fromUNI posted he's at the airport getting ready to leave.

So it's basically a reality now...
Well, more of a reality tomorrow :]

Welcome!

Molo! That's 'hello' in Xhosa, one of South Africa's eleven official languages.

I told myself I would create the first post once I had finally completed all my packing. And that day was today! I also wanted to start during my last weekend in the states before  I leave. I am officially leaving on Tuesday the 12th and will arrive in Port Elizabeth on the 13th. The total travel time is 25 long hours.

After planning for this semester abroad for many months now, the day is quickly approaching. I'm excited to start the journey back to the Motherland where I'll be on my home continent after 16 years. One of the things I hope to gain on my experience is insight on South African culture, especially the history and effects of apartheid. There is so much more but I'm sure I'll mention it in some later posts.

I really want family and friends to be able to keep up with what I am doing given that I may not be able to talk to them everyday. I figure this will be easier to keep up with. Feel free to send e-mails or Facebook me, but this will be the best way to see all the things I am doing while I am abroad from 12 July to 2 December.

So I'll keep this first post short and sweet and hope you enjoy as I go through this next chapter in my journey :]

I'll end with a quote from Steve Biko who was a South African activist. I love quotes so there will be plenty more to come!

"The most power weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed"