Little did she know...

one of my only laments about my time in SA was that I never really saw a proper sunset. and then, my first night(s) in NE I was reminded just how much I a.dore sunsets in my homeland.  my (US) roommate decorated for Christmas while I was gone -holla!  [and got new curtains, HALLELUJAH.] In other news: I am a lucky duck because I get to celebrate Christmas x3: with some of my church family , with my work family, and then spend a little less than 24 hours with my (almost) entire family -I'm talking Brasil relatives and Mozambique relatives all here at the same.time. this is inexplicably happy! I can hardly wait to get home :)  [just missing the BFF brothah from the same mothah supposed to be twin of mine.] I was looking back through my journal and SO MUCH has happened this past year that sometimes I get blown away when I stop and think about it...but that's another post for another time. One thing is for sure though: despite how much has changed and happene

1. Sushi, sushi, sushi. 2. Apartheid museum -apparently i wasn't supposed to take pictures in there. oops ;) 3. Indian (food) -Banjaara's x3 4. "The Help"   -which wasn't playing in the States anymore by the time I left, but was still showing in Joburg ;)  5. Sandton on the Train/Mandella Square  -where we didn't do much more than people watch, and I was ok with that. 6. Pretoria/ Botanical Gardens   -consequently, there was a large group of drunk/high gothic people who were also enjoying the Botanical Gardens. ParTAY. 7. Oyo's (Thai) - Happy Birthday Sarah! (Martha loves it when I pretend to be a Chinese tourist) 8. Braai at Martha's -where we pretended that we could go swimming and I grilled asparagus!!!! hallelujah :)  9. Weekend away -escaping the city sounds and readily playing the role of a tourist with Sabrina and Sarah in a fab little tourist trap.  10. Roof top mar

mentality: reality: hello USA. if it weren't for the starbucks in my hand and the 17 hour flight in the dark, i wouldn't quite believe that i was actually here. culture shock here we come!  (i think i forgot how to drive on the right side of the road)

Seriously, I blinked and suddenly there are only 3 days left until I get back on a plane and start the looooong journey home. I am still in denial of that fact...  I have a lot of blog posts in my head, as well as a plethora of pictures to post, but the internets are sketchy, so... it will be like, blog overload when I get home (maybe). These past couple of weeks have been a crazy whirlwind of activities and life at Lambano as well as with friends from church and town.  What have I been doing? Well, BEHOLD: racing like a boss. and losing like a boss. sorting donations like a boss.  (Yes, we match. Yes, we know we match. Yes, we bought our jerseys on the same day at the same place. No, we are not sisters/twins.) saying goodbye like a boss loving these ladies like a boss. favorite. reading/people watching like a boss Christmas-ing like a boss. Sunday school programs are the best. bowling like a boss. Rugby-ing like a boss hangi

like hearing the voices of my family -from little to big- in all of their talking-over-each-other glory like skyping into my pal's wedding -and having a good enough connection to see the ENTIRE thing like having a pool at my house to jump in on the way to and from here or there for a great reprieve from the summer heat like kids having a cooperative, let's-not-push-liz's-buttons day like a working fan like Uncle Philly to be so handy and helpful and smiling like chatting to pals after forever like rainy mornings like great music that worships God for who he is like the beautiful gift of laughter -and people to laugh WITH and NEAR ;)  like having friends who are really FRIENDS, even after just 2 1/2 months like being safe every day despite the stats that are totally against me like great discussions/venting/gentle reminders it was a second holiday spent away from family. and it wasnt' that i really missed celebrating the holiday (besides missing out on

roommate: we may or may not have been living together for too long in too small of a space.  you can judge for yourself. I PROMISE that we don't consult each other when it comes to clothing or accessories. ;)  No, but, really. Sarah is great and I couldn't have picked a better roommate to share our tiny flat if I had had the opportunity.  God is good :)  cheese. we even have the same cheeser smile. oh help. driving: i do it.  also, Mama Lyn gave me a brilliant paper on the "rules of the road" for SA. huh.lare. and spot on. :)  1. Never indicate -this will give away your next move. A real South African never uses them. 2. Under no circumstance should you leave a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, this space will be filled by at least 2 taxis and a BMW, putting you in an even more dangerous situation. Tail-gating is a national sport! 3. The faster you drive through a red light, the smaller the chance you have

...has gone bye bye with some of the hospice kids who got to go home today. this is Happy for them and Sad for me. they have been here the entire time that i have been, so it's strange to think of them Not Being Here anymore. so many laughs and teasing and hugs that i will miss now that they are gone :P i have to confess that if i am allowed to have favorites around here, getting to know and invest in the hospice kids has been my Favorite Thing.  my other Favorite Thing is going on roommate adventures. sarah and i hit up Pretoria's two extremes: the city square and market (full of bustle and noise and people and taxis), and the botanical gardens (quiet, people picnicking, nature, somebody singing "brown-eyed girl"  -a strange removal from the city just kilometers away). we met up with (make that, hitched a ride with) one of her Swiss friends who is here for work as well. some day, i'll post about Adventures with Sarah, but for now,