South Africa Thus Far

Beloved Friends and Family,

First, let me take this opportunity to welcome you to this blog. Here you will find the things that we would write to you in letters, (if we thought you would get them before Christmas) say to your faces over Skype, (if our laptop and its camera were up and running) or explain over the phone (if we could make calls outside of the Eastern Cape). I promise nothing from these words, and hope you expect nothing, but honesty. Here goes.

You may have heard South Africa referred to as the Rainbow Nation. These two words better encapsulate our new home more than you could imagine. Just about everything is curious to us-to open our eyes is to learn. In many ways, I sympathize with my baby niece and nephews...and every exchange student I've ever met. It's not easy to feel like you're on the outside of a nationwide inside joke. It helps that Jarvis, too, is on the outside :).

So, as outsiders, here is a brief list of the things we are getting accustomed to:

1. Driving...on the wrong side-the wrong side of the car, the wrong side of the street, the wrong hand shifting the gears on the wrong side of the car. However, I can't complain too much...I'm just getting accustomed to sitting on the wrong side.

2. Free range cattle...in the most literal sense of the word...to the point of putting the humans in bondage. These furry friends; goats, pigs, cows, horses, etc. add a video game-like quality to our rides to school...except with potentially pricey and painful collision consequences.

3. Staring...constant staring. Staring is one of the greatest threats to our ability to safely dodge the free range cattle. Everyone stares at everyone here. Part of this is due to the fact that everyone walks or gets a "cab"-which is hopefully your car, to work. The other part is that, while we could be mistaken for some South Africans, we couldn't be for most, and even if we could be mistaken for natives, our driving techniques give us away.

4. Waiting. If you know me, you know that the phrase "real quick" is commonly uttered. No more. There is no more "real quick", "right away", "immediately", "same-day service", etc. You just have to wait. If you're in a hurry, you're the only one.

5. Cravings. Cravings are a regular part of my daily life, but not something I would recommend visitors bring along. The sad fact is, nothing tastes the way it should, or the way you think it will. I have approached many a meal with eagerness and anticipation, and left disappointed and even disillusioned. The sooner you leave your expectations at the door, the sooner you're satisfied. We eat lots of muesli...which is granola. I do, however, feel as though I should make an exception-our B&B owner's cooking. First of all, she spoils us by feeding us five meals a week, and her cooking is better than most restaurants we've found thus far.

6. Togetherness. As newlyweds, we approached this adventure both excitedly and a bit apprehensively. There's no way to predict how spending 24 hours a day with your spouse will make you behave. I'm happy to report, all is well on the home front. Yes, as is typical with family, we often clash within the daily grind of things, but we continually remind ourselves and each other that stress accompanies change...and there certainly have been plenty of changes. I have discovered that nothing holds a mirror to your character more so than marriage. It's not easy to look into a mirror 24 hours a day. I will say, this new life has kept me clinging to Jarvis as my best friend, but more thananything, clinging to the grace of God. I am thankful for a husband that loves unconditionally, and for the knowledge that the mercies of God are new each morning. In this sense, while stress has accompanied some negatives, it has also brought strength.

With these thoughts I leave you for now. We will certainly be updating with more day-to-day details later, but I think, knowing these things, you can get a good flavor for our life here in wint’ry South Africa. We love you. We are so thankful for your prayers.

Let’s talk soon…cheers!

Emily