Sanibona,

It would seem that we have come to my final blog. After seven and a half months it is time for me to come home. I was originally planning on staying until July but an number of factors have led me to the decision to come home a bit earlier. With L'Abri closing done, and most of the people who I have lived with going home there is not a whole lot left here for me to do. I have done a lot of soul serching on the matter and I know that is time to finish this adventure and start on my next chapter. So seeing as this is my last blog I am going to share with the things that I will miss, the things that I won't miss, and the things I am looking forward to coming home to.

Things I will miss:

I will miss the beauty of South Africa to be sure. Never in all my life have I seen such amazing landscapes as here and they have been a great insparation to my art. You can hike here and not see the slightest hint of humanity which is a truely amazing concept.

I will miss my work at L'Abri, my home away from home away from home. Always adventures to be had out there in the bush.

I will miss a number of South African foods. Boorewaurst (an Africaaner sausage), Various Zulu meats, Chakalaka, Chicken Tandoori Masala to name a few.

I will miss the resturaunts we frequent, Quincy's and Honcho's.

I will miss paying so little for everything.

I will miss watching Rugby and playing soccer with my team.

I will miss the kindness and hospitality that people have here. Near everywhere you go people make you feel so welcome and there is always someone willing to do a favor for you or something nice without respecting something in return.

I will miss my multicultural house and specifically most of my house mates who have been great friends and always supportive when you need them. I will also miss playing lots and lots of Risk.

I will miss the video shop that has never charged us a single late fee though we never return things on time.

I will miss being able to put too many people in a car.

I will miss all the lessons to be learned living with people of different cultures and backgrounds.


Things I will not miss:

I will not miss being one of the few white people in town and therefore being treated, at times, as a lessor person or looked at like I don't belong.

I will not miss the smells of unwashed bodies, or all the garbage.

I will not miss being woken at sunrise by the shelter next door or by collueges.

I will not miss having no personal space what so ever nor housemates who don't pick up after themselves, nor house mates who are very picky about everything.

I will not miss Bantu time.

I will not miss always having dirty cloths even after I have washed them.

I will not miss the hot sun that makes you want to hide in a dark cave as it burns away at your scalp.

I will not miss all the bugs in my house.


Coming home:

Upon coming home I look forward to American foods and good chinese. I look forward to being reunited to old friends and family. I look forward to punctuality. I look forward to taking up old hobbies and starting some new ones. I look forward to being able to pet dogs again, especially my own dog. And I look forward to not having my interent time run out as mine is about to.

So I will see most of you soon I'm sure. Thanks for keeping up with my adventures; it has been a real treat sharing them. I look forward to even more sharing in the near future.

Peace, Love, Respect