Finding My Way

Greetings all! It has been a busy first week. Over that last few days, Simone and I have been getting out bodies adjusted to the 6 hour time difference and navigating the various areas of Johannesburg. As I am not from the city, I am thankful that we are residing in the outskirts of Johannesburg but getting around comes with its cultural differences. For one, South Africa, like the UK, operates with the steering wheel on right side of the car and oncoming traffic traveling on the left. That for one is crazy enough, but on top of that I am currently relearning the joys of a manual transmission. Relearning may be a stretch… It has been a little rough at first but now Simone and I have the freedom to drive around to different places as we want and need. This makes me very happy because now we can lighten the burden on Simone’s Father who is being a more than accommodating host.

With driving under control, I feel that we are being to get into the grove of being here for such a long time. It is so essential to get on to a schedule just so days feel like they have more structure and purpose. Of course the major purpose of the trip has been for us to volunteer at Sparrow Village which is a HIV/AIDS orphanage and hospice for children ages infant to 18. Thursday was our first day at this wonderful place and we both can tell already that it this is going to be a life changing experience. Our first day at Sparrow consisted mainly of meet-and-greets, and tours. We meet with many of the administrators of the Village, including Rev. Corrine McClintock, who is the incredible woman who created the idea of the Sparrow Village when she began taking in and caring for dying HIV/AIDS patients in her very own home. Since then, a unique campus of dome shaped buildings (pictured below) has been created to shelter nearly 270 children. Over the years, Sparrow Village has been able to not only improve the comfort leave of things for the children but to provide them with the opportunities for a more rewarding life. And that is where we come into the picture. Many of the children have been enrolled in schools around the area, and to help them earn an education, Simone and I will be tutoring the children in afternoons and assisting with homework. As time goes on we hope to help organize activities for the children and help out in any other ways that they might need us but for now we are just ecstatic about being a part of this wonderful place. (To find out more about Sparrow Village, check out their website at http://www.sparrowvillage.co.za)

Of the other places that we have been traveling to, the best one has to be the gym. Simone’s Dad and girlfriend had recently joined a local gym and after having a discussion with the gym’s management, they were willing to give Simone and I a discounted membership for the four month period in which we are here. Very excited! The place (Fit-Stop) is only about 10 minutes away from the house and will be give us the opportunity to get in better shape while the two of us are on this great adventure.

So far, discovering Africa has been both exciting and rewarding and I know there is much MUCH more to come in the following weeks. Just this weekend, Simone and I will be venturing North with her family to experience life on a bush farm (wild game resorts). I look forward to posting many exciting things from this exciting trip in the coming days!

Al die beste (All the best)