To all my blog followers, I can not believe I am typing this...but this is my last official blog in South Africa. My 3 months has come and gone in a blink of an eye. I had an amazing adventure in which I hope you all were able to join in by reading this blog. During this experience, I created meaningful friendships that will last a life time, I tried food I never thought I would eat, I saw sites that were amazing and created memories that will be in my mind and heart forever.
I want to say thank you to everyone who has been so warm, open and loving to me during my visit. Without all of you my experience would not be the same. South Africa is a lovely country with rich history and amazing humble people. My life has been placed in perspective. It is a different life style here compared to the hustle of the US. Some people here have a view of Americans, just like us Americans have a view of South Africa. It was great to hear others regarding my country and they were even more intrigued to hear what I thought about theirs. South Africa is beautiful. It has the small scale feel of a BIG city, it has people of all races, creed and color, they have political madness, they have poverty but it is mirrored by the wealth as well. It is a developing nation and yet has the desire and love in it's people to make it wealthy.
I am very sad to leave the people and the land. However, my life is back in the United States and I am extremely excited to see my family and friends. I also can't wait to bring my new found friends to America as well. Give them a great experience as much as they did for me.
So here it is....the NOT top 10 and Top 10 of South Africa.
Top 10 Things I will miss: (in no particular order)
1. Vanilla Ice Cream It is by far the best ice cream I have ever had in my life
2. Workers that I have encountered in the plants are so humble
3. Yvette's cooking and my new found love for coconut curry salmon and bread pudding
4. South African value family values
5. Scenery and land
6. Ambition to learn and strive for more
7. All the free give aways at work
8. The weather....WINTERS...Ha!
9. Currecny exchange (9 dollars for 4 double drinks and 2 shots...seriously???)
10. Absolutely by far I will miss my new friends and family!!!!
Honorable mentions:
KFC signs (they are everywhere)..that is the way you give landmarks!!!
Levi, Savannah and Tegon (the pets at the lodge)
Having someone make my bed and cook for me everyday
Chutney flavored chips
Not top 10 of South Africa
1. Gigantic Bugs that are the size of small children
2. The sport of Cricket....I think I ams till watching the same game since I got here
3. Metric systems..Still can't convert without Siri and she sucks in South Africa
4. My boat of a car. How I ended up with the largest car in South Africa is beyond me
5. Egypt...Yes, the whole country with the exception of a few people
6. Johannesburg signs. I mean come on people. If I am driving 120km on a highway how am I suppose to read a sign that has 50 different arrows pointing in 10 different directions all with words on it? Words might I add that have about 15 letters each ...all consonants.
7. Door locks I have major issues with freaken South Africa locks
8. Having seen all the sitcom shows or movies already since everything is delayed here
9. The post office...what a headache
10. Knowing that I can eat a whole bag of chips that they constitute "family size"
Honorable mentions:
Slow Internet
Shops closing at 5
Traffic lights always out
No lights on the highways or roads!!!
All my love to South Africa, my family and friends!!!
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
The Last Supper
Today is my last supper at the Tladi Lodge. My dear friend Yvette has the lovely opportunity to have Friday's and Saturday's off...so we must fend for ourselves during the weekend. For the last month I have been trying to figure out what to have for my last supper. Only special guests get this treatment and I am very lucky to be close friends with the excellent chef.
DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....................
Tonight's menu will consist of starter: Calamari Salad (yes, that's right people...Calamari), main course Coconut Curry Salmon (IT IS FREAKEN DELICIOUS!) and for dessert bread pudding. I am hungry now! I am extremely happy Kraft placed me up in a bed and breakfast. Not only did I get my room cleaned for me and meals prepared by a 5 star chef, I also got to meet som incredible people. I am so grateful....and fat now. LOL! Thanks Yvette
I just came back from my last FINAL trip in South Africa. I truly thought my last trip was last week to Swaziland, however an urgent request came and the next thing I know I am on a British Airways flight to Port Elizabeth. The factory smells like chocolate and it truly was a Willy Wonka type of feel. PE is known as the "windy" city. Not quite like Chicago (city wise) but a hell of a lot windier. I got off the plane and was blown sideways. PE was super quaint, very pretty and had extremely welcoming and friendly people. The prices were 10 times less expensive then in Jo'burg and the food was AMAZING. I stuffed my face full of chicken curry and pancakes with cinnamon sugar and vanilla ice cream.
Work was very busy in PE so we had very little time to explore, but yet we still managed to have a great time and laugh a lot. And did I mention eat? LOL! It was a great way for me to end my final mini trips in Africa.
Here are some pics...
DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....................
Tonight's menu will consist of starter: Calamari Salad (yes, that's right people...Calamari), main course Coconut Curry Salmon (IT IS FREAKEN DELICIOUS!) and for dessert bread pudding. I am hungry now! I am extremely happy Kraft placed me up in a bed and breakfast. Not only did I get my room cleaned for me and meals prepared by a 5 star chef, I also got to meet som incredible people. I am so grateful....and fat now. LOL! Thanks Yvette
I just came back from my last FINAL trip in South Africa. I truly thought my last trip was last week to Swaziland, however an urgent request came and the next thing I know I am on a British Airways flight to Port Elizabeth. The factory smells like chocolate and it truly was a Willy Wonka type of feel. PE is known as the "windy" city. Not quite like Chicago (city wise) but a hell of a lot windier. I got off the plane and was blown sideways. PE was super quaint, very pretty and had extremely welcoming and friendly people. The prices were 10 times less expensive then in Jo'burg and the food was AMAZING. I stuffed my face full of chicken curry and pancakes with cinnamon sugar and vanilla ice cream.
Work was very busy in PE so we had very little time to explore, but yet we still managed to have a great time and laugh a lot. And did I mention eat? LOL! It was a great way for me to end my final mini trips in Africa.
Here are some pics...
Saturday, September 15, 2012
South African Great Adventure!!!!!
I just need to start this post off by saying....WHAT A GREAT DAY!!!!! It was so cold I couldn't feel my feet, but it was worth the pain.
Today I went to a South African version of Great Adventure. I was told from the beginning not to get my hopes up because it lacks in comparison to the amusement parks in America. Yvette and I went to Gold Reef in Johannesburg. This amusement park's theme was solely based on the mining history of Jo'burg. The park is actually situated on an old mine which one of the "rides" is where you can go down into an old mine shaft. The park was not significantly large, but it had authenticity and value. It was a basic amusement park with large rides (Anaconda which would be similar to The Batman Ride in Great Adventure, some "carnival rides" like the tilt a whirl and basic common rides like the Runaway Train.
I can honestly say today was the first time I waited on line for a ride and when I got to the front of the line I couldn't get on the ride. Now before you all call me a chicken let me explain. No disrespect to the workers at Gold Reef, but they just seemed annoyed and bored with their jobs. On some of the major roller coasters, not one worker came to check to see if our seats were secure and locked. That concerned me 100%. Their work practice was not geared to my safety which made me think about how well they maintain the rides or taught their workers how to react to a safety situation. Besides that concern, I tended to be seated in rides where the lock bar was set but then would click and move when I was upside down. So now that you know that little background information...here is why I walked away from The Golden Loop. It is a ride the simply jets out the gate and goes around a loop, then goes up a ramp and proceeds to go around the same loop backwards. Sounds like fun right?....Well, when I got to the top of the line I was told the only thing holding you in is a lap bar. I just didn't feel safe. At all. There was no over the shoulder harness, no belt buckle, just a lap bar that probably didn't lock. So I walked off. And my friends followed me.
Speaking of friends...Yvette is adorable. I can tell you 100% that my voice will be gone tomorrow because I laughed so hard at how Yvette reacts to rides. Poor thing is so scared but she loves the thrill. Gotta respect that. She went on one ride that she was petrified of but she did it for me. I love her for that. There were certain rides she wouldn't go on which I wouldn't push her. If she was afraid I wouldn't want to make her do something she didn't want to do. Instead I just gave her all my crap to hold. LOL! Yvette has no issues with roller coasters that go upside down. However she is afraid of heights and hates when you are hung in the air or upside down high off the ground. Well, we went on one ride. I had no idea what the ride was but was getting a feeling that it wasn't just a "swing" The reason why I knew this ride would be intense was because the locking system was much more intense then some rides we have been on. I turned to Yvette and said, "You know this ride goes upside down?" She looks at me and says, "No it doesn't" At this point I am thinking to myself I hope she realizes that it does go upside down and hangs. Then I was thinking how is she not realizing this WILL go upside down!!! Then she realized....and she was a great combination of fearful and pissed. I too was not aware of this ride and it was the first time I screamed. I screamed mostly because when I was hanging down facing the ground my harness clicked and moved. That moment was pure terror, but I was still more focused on Yvette. I just knew she was either going to die of a heart attack or kick the shit out of someone. Needless to say we made it and her color finally came back to her face. Speaking of color...we were on line for a "carnival" ride and the line stopped moving. We all had no idea what was going on till a man told us that a kid threw up. At that moment we jumped that line and moved to the next ride. Hahahah
Most of the rides didn't open till noon or later because of the weather, but it was well worth it. We hit majority of all the main rides excluding the water rides. It was only 55 degrees today! My face hurts from laughing so much and it being so cold and I am sure I will be sore tomorrow, but it was all worth every second. Enjoy the pics.......
The Ferris Wheel that didn't work
Our 4D adventure
BAZINGA!!!!!!!!
Cow rides...free of charge
This was the first ride where my seat lock moved
Anacanda
The ride I walked away from
We all are big kids
Friends!!!
Tower of Terror. ride last 3 seconds but it is awesome
Swing From Hell as Yvette would say
Only in SA. Live Peacocks in the foodcourt
Looking for french fries.....
A male Peacock looking for love.....try the foodcourt
Today I went to a South African version of Great Adventure. I was told from the beginning not to get my hopes up because it lacks in comparison to the amusement parks in America. Yvette and I went to Gold Reef in Johannesburg. This amusement park's theme was solely based on the mining history of Jo'burg. The park is actually situated on an old mine which one of the "rides" is where you can go down into an old mine shaft. The park was not significantly large, but it had authenticity and value. It was a basic amusement park with large rides (Anaconda which would be similar to The Batman Ride in Great Adventure, some "carnival rides" like the tilt a whirl and basic common rides like the Runaway Train.
I can honestly say today was the first time I waited on line for a ride and when I got to the front of the line I couldn't get on the ride. Now before you all call me a chicken let me explain. No disrespect to the workers at Gold Reef, but they just seemed annoyed and bored with their jobs. On some of the major roller coasters, not one worker came to check to see if our seats were secure and locked. That concerned me 100%. Their work practice was not geared to my safety which made me think about how well they maintain the rides or taught their workers how to react to a safety situation. Besides that concern, I tended to be seated in rides where the lock bar was set but then would click and move when I was upside down. So now that you know that little background information...here is why I walked away from The Golden Loop. It is a ride the simply jets out the gate and goes around a loop, then goes up a ramp and proceeds to go around the same loop backwards. Sounds like fun right?....Well, when I got to the top of the line I was told the only thing holding you in is a lap bar. I just didn't feel safe. At all. There was no over the shoulder harness, no belt buckle, just a lap bar that probably didn't lock. So I walked off. And my friends followed me.
Speaking of friends...Yvette is adorable. I can tell you 100% that my voice will be gone tomorrow because I laughed so hard at how Yvette reacts to rides. Poor thing is so scared but she loves the thrill. Gotta respect that. She went on one ride that she was petrified of but she did it for me. I love her for that. There were certain rides she wouldn't go on which I wouldn't push her. If she was afraid I wouldn't want to make her do something she didn't want to do. Instead I just gave her all my crap to hold. LOL! Yvette has no issues with roller coasters that go upside down. However she is afraid of heights and hates when you are hung in the air or upside down high off the ground. Well, we went on one ride. I had no idea what the ride was but was getting a feeling that it wasn't just a "swing" The reason why I knew this ride would be intense was because the locking system was much more intense then some rides we have been on. I turned to Yvette and said, "You know this ride goes upside down?" She looks at me and says, "No it doesn't" At this point I am thinking to myself I hope she realizes that it does go upside down and hangs. Then I was thinking how is she not realizing this WILL go upside down!!! Then she realized....and she was a great combination of fearful and pissed. I too was not aware of this ride and it was the first time I screamed. I screamed mostly because when I was hanging down facing the ground my harness clicked and moved. That moment was pure terror, but I was still more focused on Yvette. I just knew she was either going to die of a heart attack or kick the shit out of someone. Needless to say we made it and her color finally came back to her face. Speaking of color...we were on line for a "carnival" ride and the line stopped moving. We all had no idea what was going on till a man told us that a kid threw up. At that moment we jumped that line and moved to the next ride. Hahahah
Most of the rides didn't open till noon or later because of the weather, but it was well worth it. We hit majority of all the main rides excluding the water rides. It was only 55 degrees today! My face hurts from laughing so much and it being so cold and I am sure I will be sore tomorrow, but it was all worth every second. Enjoy the pics.......
The Ferris Wheel that didn't work 
Our 4D adventure
BAZINGA!!!!!!!!
Cow rides...free of charge
This was the first ride where my seat lock moved
Anacanda
The ride I walked away from
We all are big kids
Friends!!!
Tower of Terror. ride last 3 seconds but it is awesome 
Swing From Hell as Yvette would say 
Only in SA. Live Peacocks in the foodcourt
Looking for french fries.....
A male Peacock looking for love.....try the foodcourtSunday, September 9, 2012
FANFOKKINPAROW
What a weekend!!! I went to my first South African concert....FANFOKKINPAROW!! It was a concert with multiple bands that performed. Majority was in Afrikaans, but even if you didn't understand the words, you felt the vibe...which was amazing.
It was intense. It was jammed pack of young kids having a great time. Let me explain to you something...the reason why they were having such a great time despite being there for the bands was because of the alcohol. For example, 2 double brandy's and coke, 2 double vodka's and 2 shots came to 75 rand.....which equals 9 US dollars. That's right my American friends 9 dollars. It costs more to buy a beer at Yankee Stadium. That night I kept saying I am going to buy the bar! LOL!
I went with a true friend. Yvette Horn has made my adventure complete. I have so many memories with her and they are still continuing. Yvette's friends met up with us as well. Some I have met, some I just met. They made me feel very welcome and made sure I was safe and enjoying my time.
A night full of friends, love, laughter, drinks and awesome bands....enjoy the pics!!!!!
pre game. Yvette remember this shirt????
my new boyfriend.....
Yvette getting frisky with my camera
crazy amount of people
Yvette and Duncan!!!
the crowd went nuts! And yes, those are his boxers
HAPPINESS!!!!
Cheri, Danielle, and Duncan. Cheri looks like Juliette Lewis.
David and Duncan
the crowd just keeps on going!!!!!
It was intense. It was jammed pack of young kids having a great time. Let me explain to you something...the reason why they were having such a great time despite being there for the bands was because of the alcohol. For example, 2 double brandy's and coke, 2 double vodka's and 2 shots came to 75 rand.....which equals 9 US dollars. That's right my American friends 9 dollars. It costs more to buy a beer at Yankee Stadium. That night I kept saying I am going to buy the bar! LOL!
I went with a true friend. Yvette Horn has made my adventure complete. I have so many memories with her and they are still continuing. Yvette's friends met up with us as well. Some I have met, some I just met. They made me feel very welcome and made sure I was safe and enjoying my time.
A night full of friends, love, laughter, drinks and awesome bands....enjoy the pics!!!!!
pre game. Yvette remember this shirt????
my new boyfriend.....
Yvette getting frisky with my camera
crazy amount of people
Yvette and Duncan!!!
the crowd went nuts! And yes, those are his boxers
HAPPINESS!!!!
Cheri, Danielle, and Duncan. Cheri looks like Juliette Lewis.
David and Duncan
the crowd just keeps on going!!!!!Monday, September 3, 2012
Egypt...FINALLY!!!
Ok..let's try this again. I don't know what the hell the travel company did to my itinerary, but yesterday's flight was a bust. I packed got to the airport in record time only to fight with the rude lady at the counter for an hour. She couldn't talk because she had a sore throat. I kept asking her what she was saying and she was getting annoyed that I couldn't understand her. Well, she had something coming because the last thing I needed at that moment was for her to be rude to me. So in pure Danielle fashion I asked her what the hell a customer service rep was doing at work when she couldn't talk? She didn't like that comment and then insisted on me telling her why I was travelling to Cairo. In my response I told her she was a ticket agent not customs so she can worry about finding my ticket and I will worry about my work. Needless to say I walked away without a ticket. Stupid freaken travel agency. Well, let's just say I was not happy. Nor was my boss or the director. After a massive debate and e-mail bitch fest I am finally waiting to board my plane. Egypt...here I finally come!!!!
I probably will not have very much time to travel. My work itinerary is jammed pack. But here is hoping I will be able to see something in the remaining 3 days I am there. Not only do I want to experience Egypt, I know my fellow blogger's do as well. Maybe I will be able to get some cool pictures. As of now enjoy the picture of the Egypt Air Lounge.
SPEAK TO ALL WHEN I LAND IN EGYPT!!! Enjoy your last labor day off everyone!!!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Happy Birthday Jim
I just want to wish Jim a very happy birthday. I am sad I can't be with him on his day, but I know our great friends are making sure he is very happy. I hope everyone has fun tonight at Sogo's and party it up at my casa on Saturday. I hear the party continues over the weekend in Morristown on Sunday for another birthday celebration. I hope Lauren has a good time as well.
On a South African side note... Happy Spring!!!!! Hanging with my girl Yvette tomorrow. Only 3 more weeks left here. I am already starting to get sad. I am going to miss the country and all the great people I met. But no mushy stuff just yet. First up a weekend of fun and jetting off to Egypt on Sunday. Let all the adventures continue.
Happy Birthday Jim!!! Xoxoxo
On a South African side note... Happy Spring!!!!! Hanging with my girl Yvette tomorrow. Only 3 more weeks left here. I am already starting to get sad. I am going to miss the country and all the great people I met. But no mushy stuff just yet. First up a weekend of fun and jetting off to Egypt on Sunday. Let all the adventures continue.
Happy Birthday Jim!!! Xoxoxo
Monday, August 27, 2012
A great weekend....until....
This weekend was moving day. My friend Yvette moved from her family's large land in South Africa to her own little flat. She moved because the commute (which most of us State people know too well) was just too inconvenient. However one of the things that differs from her commute and what I am use to is the large sign that says "Danger Hijacking Zone the next 10km." Could you imagine working till 9 pm at night, being female and having to drive that alone everyday? Not to mention the fact that there is traffic and it is a good half hour away from work! I think she made the right call.
I got to meet Yvette's family. Such a welcoming and lovely family. I had such a great time with them. I did get to her flat a little late and all the heavy lifting was complete. However we dropped off her mom at the lodge and then Yvette and I went back and unpacked her whole flat. I could tell the amount of work she had to do versus the time was stressing Yvette so we watched Dane Cook and went to town on the apartment. It looks great. It has a very nice home feel to it and I think Yvette is happy. That is all that matters. The next day I went to her family's gigantic land and had some delicious BBQ. Again, the welcoming of their home was great. It was a family away from my family.
Though the happiness and warm feeling ended a little later in the day. Most of you know I am prone to getting sick. I am SHOCKED it took me this long to get sick but it happened. Around 6 pm I started to get the chills, headache and that blah feeling. Yvette and Veronica (The lodge host) even noticed something was wrong. After eating my meal, I went straight to sleep. I don't think I slept more than a constant half hour. I was sweating, than I had chills and a pounding headache. I decided to work from the lodge today. My South African boss called the lodge in a panic to see if I needed to go to the doctor. In the end, I got some rest, drank a hot toddy (yeah that's right) took some tablets and I feel better. I am not going to push it today....but all in all I feel better. I don't know what I had, but I am glad it has come and gone so fast. Maybe I was bit by something....who knows...but I am much better now. I just think everyone was having a heart attack because I was sick. LOL! I must feel better...Egypt in 6 days!!! :-)
Being sick though didn't stop me from designing new templates for specifications! Work work work! I felt bad missing a day because I am so limited here. At least I accomplished a good amount.
Happy Monday.
I got to meet Yvette's family. Such a welcoming and lovely family. I had such a great time with them. I did get to her flat a little late and all the heavy lifting was complete. However we dropped off her mom at the lodge and then Yvette and I went back and unpacked her whole flat. I could tell the amount of work she had to do versus the time was stressing Yvette so we watched Dane Cook and went to town on the apartment. It looks great. It has a very nice home feel to it and I think Yvette is happy. That is all that matters. The next day I went to her family's gigantic land and had some delicious BBQ. Again, the welcoming of their home was great. It was a family away from my family.
Though the happiness and warm feeling ended a little later in the day. Most of you know I am prone to getting sick. I am SHOCKED it took me this long to get sick but it happened. Around 6 pm I started to get the chills, headache and that blah feeling. Yvette and Veronica (The lodge host) even noticed something was wrong. After eating my meal, I went straight to sleep. I don't think I slept more than a constant half hour. I was sweating, than I had chills and a pounding headache. I decided to work from the lodge today. My South African boss called the lodge in a panic to see if I needed to go to the doctor. In the end, I got some rest, drank a hot toddy (yeah that's right) took some tablets and I feel better. I am not going to push it today....but all in all I feel better. I don't know what I had, but I am glad it has come and gone so fast. Maybe I was bit by something....who knows...but I am much better now. I just think everyone was having a heart attack because I was sick. LOL! I must feel better...Egypt in 6 days!!! :-)
Being sick though didn't stop me from designing new templates for specifications! Work work work! I felt bad missing a day because I am so limited here. At least I accomplished a good amount.
Happy Monday.
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