Sorry about this delayed blog
post. The internet “dongle” we are using at home doesn’t seem to like our house
and it can’t regularly find a wireless connection to tap in to. Additionally, I
think our house is in a vortex of communication suckage in that we can’t seem
to get a great connection on our mobile phones either. No worries-- that will
all come in time. In any case, I’m at school now. I’m connected. And here’s the
update:
The landscape of
Johannesburg is dramatically different from that in Nairobi. Remember how we
all envisioned Nairobi to be arid and dry upon arrival? Well, winter in Joburg
is just that. Apparently, the combination of weather, altitude, and air
pressure stagnate all the vegetation during the winter so everything stops
growing until Spring (which begins in late September/early October).
The roads are such a
contrast to those in Nairobi--these are flat, beautiful, and HUGE! We have
moved to a massive metropolis. The city is bustling, the roads are robust, and
the music is bumping. The one oddity we’ve seen thus far is that the shopping
(including most grocery stores) close by 6 pm when a mass exodus begins and the
taxis (which we remember from Kenya as matatus) all escort the local workforce
back to their communities.
The house we are in is
amazing! It’s a new build in the area of Fourways. Our house is just minutes
away from grocery shopping, restaurants, good shopping spots, and a MASSIVE
casino! We are in a lovely community a stone’s throw from old friends and new.
The kids have met others they will go to school with next year and those that
will be their neighborhood friends. We feel like we live at the UN with the
number of accents and nationalities we live and work with—it’s wonderful to be
part of such a diverse community.
As you may be able to see
in the pictures, the house has a nice size living room and dining space with a
gorgeous fireplace that’s getting a bit of a work out. Off the living room are
three bedrooms and 2 baths. They do not compare (in size) with the bedrooms in
Indonesia but the finishing is lovely and the house needs very little
preparation for our shipment’s arrival. Just off the living room are two doors
that open up on to a spacious garden. The covered area behind our fire place
houses a built-in braai (the South African word for BBQ) which we tested out
tonight. We are on the hunt for some outdoor furniture as we can envision many
a dinner outside next to our pool. Yes, you heard that—we lucked out and got a
house with a pool! Though some may consider it a fish pond, we believe that it
will cool our weary minds after a long hot day at school!
The back garden is
beautifully landscaped and the side garden has a lemon tree in hibernation. We
are on the prowl for an outdoor dog house for our little Mele who will arrive
here on the first day of school (if, of course, the pet movers don’t screw up
the paper work… again!) It appears as if we won’t have regular house help so
Mele is going to have to learn how to be an outside dog!
Walking in the front door
and up the stairs is a family room space which is soon to house our couch, TV,
piano, etc. The room has lovely windows that overlook the back garden and an
indoor balcony that looks down on the living space below. But the pièce de résistance
is the huge balcony built on top of our 2-car garage. The balcony overlooks the
city of Johannesburg with little obstruction! Without a doubt, this space will
come in handy whether it’s for enjoying the view and a glass of Merlot during a
sundowner or doing some yoga early in the a.m.
Anyway, it’s time to get
back to work.
Next update will be about
our school which is…AMAZING!
