Moral of the Story: Fly Between Cities

Another week down. Just 2 more to go. I can't believe this experience is coming to an end.


Last week was a very short work week for me. With the public holidays and my trip to Johannesburg, I only worked on Wednesday and Thursday. We made the most of it, though. On Wednesday, we went and set up appointments for upcoming weeks. Thursday we had an appointment at a high school with 11th and 12th graders. This was, by far, our largest group yet. There had to be close to 200 kids in the room. We came fully prepared with our new projector. Step inside the room and immediately notice that there is no electricity in the room. So much for all the money spent on that thing. I again led the discussion, cracked some jokes and talked with the kids. Sifiso came in afterwards and clarified everything in Zulu. Again, you know when you've made a connection when the students ask questions. After the presentation, a couple students came up to ask us questions. Two girls said that they'd like to come in to the office and apply. A group of boys had questions about the application process. I'd say that was some fine work on our part.

Sifiso talking to the massive group

  

Students asking questions

Me speaking to the group

Friday I had the day off because I was going to Johannesburg to visit my cousin, Claudelle. She, along with her husband and two children, have been living in South Africa for about a year and a half. I was excited to see them as I haven't seen them in 6 years and haven't met their son. I decided to take a taxi van there and a flight back. The reasons I decided to do the taxi van were: 1) Save money 2) Experience the transportation of the locals 3) See different parts of South Africa. A normal drive to Johannesburg is about 8 hours. I was told that these drivers know all the back roads and can get you there in 5-6 hours. Even better. I told my cousin to meet me at the taxi station in the heart of Joburg at 2:30 pm. I got on the taxi and it left at 8:30 am. It was all down hill from there. The seat I was in had 0 leg space. My legs were at a bent position for hours at a time. Imagine that uncomfortable pain and not being able to do anything about it. 20 mins into the trip and we got pulled over by the police. That took about 20 mins. The taxi made one stop after two and a half hours. It made another another after another two hours. I was thankful for both of these as it gave my sore legs some time to stretch. I almost fell on my face after the first stop because my legs wouldn't extend. Let's say that 2:30 pm then came and left. I had no idea where we were and how far away we were. I was in contact with my cousin who was waiting for me. Finally, after an 8 hour trip we arrived at 4:30 pm. This taxi station was in the heart of Joburg. It didn't help that Neville's last words to me were be careful when I got there. The next 30 mins were spent trying to find my cousin. Finally we met up and headed home. The plans she had made for the day had to be scrapped. One of the biggest mistakes of my life.

Only good thing was scenery. Notice the change from lush green hills to dry plains

When we reached her home, it was in a very nice gated community. One of the residents had an orange Lamborghini parked outside. Their house was also very nice. I unloaded and met my nephew and niece. I tried to get them to call me Varun Uncle, but Thahini (the daugther) said I was too young to be an uncle. It was worth a shot. The night was spent relaxing and catching up with the family.

My niece, Thahini, preparing some ice cream for me

Nephew, Krish, with his cars

Saturday we started the morning by all of us going to Bush Babies. Bush Babies is a monkey reserve about an hour away. I thought it'd be walking around seeing monkeys in cages. It was quite different. It is a mini forest where the monkeys are free to roam around. We were immediately greeted by a monkey that checks your pockets for stuff. There are signs everywhere that say monkeys are kleptomaniacs and to secure all items. The tour was led by a guide that would point out the different monkeys that we saw. It went around different paths and across wire bridges. It was a really neat experience. Afterwards, we headed home for some lunch. Following lunch, Claudelle, the kids and I went to the Lion Den. This is a reserve for different animals with lions being the main attraction. You drive your car around these paths and look at the different animals. There were antelope, meerkats, lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes and others. At the end, you're allowed to go into an area with a bunch of lion cubs and pet them. Kind of felt bad for these cubs as their first months are spent with countless people touching you and flashing lights at you. We headed back home for a relaxing evening. Pizza was ordered, beers were poured and conversation was plenty between my cousin, her husband and myself. 

The monkey checking pockets

A monkey just enjoying his meal

King Julian the Lemur

My cousin and her son

Sandeep, the kids and I 

Check out that back drop

Antelope, I think, at Lions Den

Go Voltron Force!...anyone get that?

I bet he is so embarrassed this is on the internet

The cheetah just waiting to pounce

My cousin petting the lion cub

My turn. No, they're not dead

Mr. Giraffe wanted a close up

 Sunday morning I went with my cousin's husband, Sandeep, to his tennis lesson. Now I haven't had any proper tennis lessons in my adult life and I can just volley back and forth. The lesson began with a quick, intense warm up. Next was a volleying session. What happened afterwards I was not expecting. The teacher decided to teach me the basics and theory. He showed me a completely different way to hold my racket and  form. I felt bad taking over the lesson from Sandeep but this was extremely helpful stuff. At the end of the lesson I was sore, sweaty and tired but grateful to this teacher for giving me this lesson. I am definitely going to try and continue with lessons when I get back home. After a shower and breakfast we headed into Joburg for some shopping. My cousin took me to a market where I could haggle for merchandise. It was great and I have begun my gift purchases for people back home. Lunch was at this all-African cuisine restaurant called Moyo. It was completely outdoors with servers dressed in typical dress, a group singing African songs and women doing face painting. It was your typical tourist stop. The service was bad and the food was just okay. We left the restaurant and headed to the Apartheid museum. This was a moving experience. It gave a little history of South Africa and Joburg and then went into the history of apartheid. There was, of course, a big section dedicated to Nelson Mandela. This visit had to be cut short, unfortunately, so that I could get to the airport. It was extremely sad having to say goodbye to all of them. It was such a fantastic time visiting with the entire family. From playing cars with Krish, playing PSP with Thahini and conversations with Claudelle and Sandeep, the trip was a memorable experience.

Entrance to museum. They randomly assign you as white or non-white and you use that entrance.

Free at last!

Three great men of our time: Mandela, Tutu and Me

A picture of all of us outside of the museum

I flew back and Lwazi picked me up from Durban. After food and some shopping we came back to Eshowe late Sunday night. It was a great weekend...except for that damn taxi ride.