And The Adventure Begins....

At last. After over three months spent wondering and pondering, researching, preparing, and talking about a life changing experience, I suddenly find myself in the middle of it. From mid-November to the end of February I lived with the thought that I would be leaving behind good friend, a loving family, and a wonderful country to take up a volunteer Governance and Development Consultancy with the United Nations Development Programme in Mozambique. For someone like me who likes to ponder about things it was a long time to dwell on what was to come. But it was amid a flurry of activity, and a mix of emotions that I first bid farewell to my co-workers (a great group of individuals who I enjoyed working greatly with), my friends in Ottawa (thanks for coming out Friday night), and my fan club in Da Hammer (thank you for Saturday night it was and will always be truly memorable). Having raced to finish up as much of work project as I could, made arrangements to move all my worldly possessions (and those of a particular love interest of mine), and prepared for a move to another continent, it was nice to have so many warm and alcohol laden send offs (I am surprised I made it to the airport).

After bidding farewell to all my friends, I enjoyed a very nice and relaxing meal with my family (something I will surely miss over this next year). It was hard saying goodbye as I have never been separated this long or this far from them, alas I kept my composure and infused it with excitement. I am very proud that we were not all reduced to a sad pile of weepers at the airport. I miss you all so very much already.

My flight was delayed in Amsterdam, which gave me the opportunity to get some extra sleep so that I could stay awake for most of the second leg of the flight to Joburg. I got some amazing views and photos of the Pyrenees, Southern France (Nice), Corsica and Sardinia, The coast of Algeria, the Sahara, and what must have been the remnants of a very large volcano - absolutely breathtaking. I fell asleep for a little longer and woke up to our descent over Joburg. I began to feel butterflies and the thought that I was touching down on a new continent (well new for me), my new home and reality. Anxious more even to see Kat. But those feelings were quickly tempered by my first encounter with African reality - hurry up and wait. Only one customs officer for a 747 carrying over 300 passengers. By the time I picked up my bags and found the driver waiting to pick me up I was already over 2 hours late. The inconvenience was small compared to the reward of being greeted by the one you love.

Arriving at night in an unfamiliar place is truly like experiencing a lucid dream (especially after being stuck in an airplane for 10 hours). Things appear so real, but seem to lack substance at the same time, as if they were being generated or projected by something. Perhaps it was just my mind adjusting to the new reality, perhaps it was the beginnings of jet lag, perhaps it was the effects of a couple of days of heavy drinking, greasy food, and no sleep. Before I could process anything more in my head, the car had come to a stop in front of a gated Villa, the door opened and out came Kat. Nothing else mattered at that point.

Saying that time apart is difficult is an understatement, but I was truly pleased, a bit surprised, and extremely relieved at how quickly we connected. I slept until 1 pm the next day to awaken to a mini paradise. I arrived in the middle of the night so i was not able to discern the maze that I had traversed to get to the cottage where Kat was staying. Here place is small but gorgeous and opens up to an amazing semi wild garden. Above is the main house where her supervisor and her family live, and work out in a sort of veranda. In the middle there is a giant oak tree that provides staggering shade to the rest of the garden though out the day. Next to it a refreshing salt water pool for morning swims, afternoon cool offs, and evening and late night dips hehe. Kat works out back in one of the corners of the garden in a shed (not kidding, it is a nice shed of course which provides wireless Internet to the rest of the Villa). This was my vacation get away for a week, and I could have not asked for better. I slept in most days with periodic visits from Kat, woke up to catch some sun and stroll out for lunch. Melville, where Kat is staying is full of restaurants, bars and shops, very pleasant to waste away a week (maybe even longer). I would try to let Kat get some work done most afternoons offering to help by either providing a massage or foot rub, or whatever else I could, and would attend to myself by reading or listening to some music and napping. We had dinner every evening at a different place, and would pop by her favorite watering hole, Berlin, for some drinks and good fun with one or more of the many friends Kat has made. One night I was told that I that I reminded someone of Tony Soprano, got a kick out of that one, especially as the guy reminded me of that character Sanka from Cool Runnings.

I cannot say I saw much of Joburg, aside from some very nice strolls through Melville with Kat, and on my bus ride out on Monday, but I would not have had it any other way. Simple, intimate, relaxing and gorgeous describes it. We had aspirations of making it out to the Apartheid museum and some other interesting places, but found it much more enjoyable to be lazy and lounge around the entire weekend. I will be heading back to visit for sure, and maybe that time we will make it out of Melville, but if we don't i will not be too broken up about it.

Ten hour bus ride, border craziness, Maputo at last, and UNDP beginnings to come....