Soul Sunday

I realized how much I miss Durban and South Africa in general. I arrived in Durban last Saturday morning and spent the day chilling and just enjoying my own company. In the evening I met my cousin and her friend and one of my fabulous varsity friends. We enjoyed each others company well into the night and said our goodbyes past midnight. I really needed that.

My Sunday couldn't be more chilled even if I tried. I woke up at about 09:00 and met my friend DeAnne at about 11:30 at uShaka Marine World. DeAnne is American and we met in Korea. We didn't meet often but whenever we did it was usually in a social setting so we always had a blast!!! DeAnne is now working and living in the Middle East.

It was really great seeing her. We took a stroll on the pier and decided that we needed to eat so we headed out to Ocean Basket for some delishhhh seafood!! We spent most of the day together as we only only said our goodbyes around 16:00. 

It was a very inspiring day and DeAnne motivated me a lot. I don't think she knows how much though. She and I connected and in fact met on the foundation of our mutual love of travel. She was in Korea seeking something new and exciting and I was in Korea seeking something new and exciting. She made me realize that life is short and you really have to go out and make the most of it. We spoke about our travels and all the places we'd still love to visit. She's in South Africa for about a week and then she will head out to Zambia, Namibia and Botswana. By the time she leaves SA next month, she will have visited over 40 countries!!! I've only been to 6 and that's why I feel there's so much of the world waiting for me to see!!! 

I was supposed to meet my friend Reneldon (visiting from Korea) around lunch time but my phone died so DeAnne and I decided to take a walk on the promenade to see if we could spot him. And we did... actually, he spotted me and screamed so loud I'm sure everyone thought something bad had happened but actually I think I was the most terrified! After I realized who was shouting my name I almost cried, I was so excited to see my friend and all the friends that were with him. We had a quick somthin' somethin' before saying our goodbyes and posing for a quick pic.

I have come to the realization that I am not ready to settle down. The thought of buying kitchen appliances and furniture freaks me out and I'd like to put it off until I'm truly ready to find a permanent place to call 'home'. You have to realize that in life everyone takes a different route. If everybody got married at 25 and had kids at 28, the world would be a very boring monotonous place. I was glad that DeAnne agreed with these sentiments. 

While enjoying our ice-cream, we talked about possible plans to return to Korea. For me, it is still a definite plan B. Actually, I don't even have a plan A it's just that I have a job at the moment so I have to weigh up whether I want to leave or not. It was really nice to hear DeAnne's ideas and thoughts about life, love and travel. 

I told her she was really fortunate to be in South Africa meeting so many of her friends. It really makes travelling so exciting knowing that you're a citizen of the world and no matter where you go there'll always be someone you know. The world really does seem small. Because of Korea, I now I have a ton of friends all over the world with open invitations to visit. It was really nice and interesting hearing about DeAnne's current life in the Middle East. It makes me wanna do Korea all over again like I did 2 years ago - fresh, bright eyed and eager for something different. 

Of course, I never really know where I will end up. Life happens. Circumstances change. People grow.

13 Things for 2013

With just 2 days left of 2012 I've completed about 90% of my resolution list. There are just 3 things which I will not be able to complete.

I've already compiled my list of resolutions for next year. Just like my 2012 list, my 2013 resolutions are simple, realistic and I am confident that I will complete at least 80% of the items.

Most of the items on my resolution list form a greater part of my Bucket List so slowly and surely I am getting stuff done and making the most of this life ^^


1. Travel, travel, travel!

2. Take an overseas vacation. This is related to no.1 but is more specific. No.1 covers general travel in and around SA.

3. Complete my masters degree. Not 100% sure about this because I have a full time job but it's definitely something I need to complete in order to get that University job in Korea!

4. Do an internship at an environmental NGO or complete my articles.

5. Complete my SETA Assessor training.

6. Continue saving for the Soccer World Cup: Brazil 2014 ^_^  My saving fund is growing and I'm so excited!! ^^ 

7. Read 13 books. Currently on book number 3. 

8. Learn Spanish.

9. Start dancing again. I miss it so much!!!!

10. Exercise/ gym!!!

11. Continue saving for short/long term assets. Done ^^ 

12. Blog more!! This year I wrote a total of 28 posts across all my blogs. Next year I'm hoping to increase that number and get more involved in the blogosphere ^^  We're only in April but I've got 20 blog posts across all my blogs. I'm really on a roll! 

13. Buy a car. But I'm also not 100% sure about this. It would depend on the stability of my job. But nevertheless it's still something I'm working toward!!

Happy New Year Y'all!! ^^

Workin' the Big City: Finding our Feet and Receiving The Call

In my third month back in South Africa, I was anxious, I was bored and I wanted to be fabulous again. I needed something to do and I needed to do it fast. My lifeline came in the form of my dear cousin Rachel (Ray) who invited me on a trip to Johannesburg to visit her sister Gen and her (Gen's) husband, TK. Gen had also previously asked me to visit her and TK. 

Of course I was immediately excited by this. I had never been to Jo'burg before. I was excited to see if everything I heard about the city was true. Some people thought my excitement was quite sad. Jo'burg is, after all, considered one of the party capitals of South Africa. It's also the entertainment hub of the country where all the rich and famous are based, but apart from that there's really nothing else that entices me. 

So off we went on Tuesday June 18 at 10:30 pm, ready to take on this giant of a city. I was all kitted out in my wongas, bohemian beanie and a killer attitude. We took a 6 hour bus from Pietermaritzburg all the way to Midrand (somewhere in between Jo'burg and Pretoria). We arrived at 5 am- cold, half asleep and still lookin' fly. We were picked up about 15 mins later and whisked away to what was to be our home for the next week or so. Randburg. A nice suburb just outside the CBD. My first impressions of the city: big, cold and far too many people. 

My day ended before it began. We were so bushed so we naturally spent half of the day sleeping before waking up at about 3 pm in time to cook and sort our lives out. Highlight of my day was seeing the Coca-Cola Dome (gosh I sound so lame,but there's more lameness to come!) I had to stare at it for a few mins before realizing it was time to go. For those who don't know the Dome, it's a multi purpose events venue, but it's used mainly for concerts and shows.

On Wednesday I decided to venture out a little. I convinced my cousin to go for a walk with me to Northgate Mall (which coincidentally is across from the Dome). In my mind I knew how to get there. Up the road, turn right, turn left and then straight for about a kilometer. Well, a third of the way there I realized this trip is not happening. I admitted to my cousin that I underestimated the distance so we settled on having coffee at a little bread-and-milk mall which we had stumbled on en-route to the 'mall by the dome'. 

While sipping on my cappuccino, I received a call that was going to change my life, at least for the next few months. I was invited to an interview for the job that I have now. The interview was scheduled for the following Tuesday. I was ecstatic and over the moon! After almost 4 months I was finally making progress. I didn't realize it would be so difficult trying to secure a job in the middle of the year. Nevertheless, I was really excited just to be going to the interview!

I finished my drink on the edge of glory. Hyper and excited. I later learned that I was one of two candidates being interviewed and I knew that I stood a good chance of actually getting the job.

I walked back home hurridly so I could start preparing for the interview. I went to bed tired, dreaming of a day well spent wandering around the streets of Randburg and the prospects of a new job.

Read about my other adventures in the big city and see which local celebrities I met!! ^^