When I arrived I was picked up at the airport and taken to my current home. I'm staying in a little cottage on the property of one of our Partners. With this cottage (which I can stay in for 2 months while settling in and potentially longer as a fully fledged tenant - TBD) I have wifi, TV, a gardener (Mark) for the gorgeous backyard and a house keeper (Grace). The family also stocked my kitchen with some food for my arrival. They are amazing!
Pics of the cottage:
My friend and colleague, whose team I joined here, and his wife, had me over for dinner the first night I arrived, which was such a lovely welcome. I also had lunch with my "landlord" family the next day. Equally welcoming and lovely!
I have a rental car for the first month until I purchase a vehicle. I picked up a GPS so I can find my way around the city and I am getting used to being on the left side of the road as well. And calling the traffic lights, robots, one of the many South African-isms I am getting accustomed to. This is absolutely a driving city, so unfortunately there is no getting out of buying a car; something I was trying to avoid in life as long as possible! Especially because gas is more expensive here (luckily gas is taking a dive right now so that's helpful at least!), but being able to safely and easily get around the city is great. I feel like I am able to keep my independence because I can go out on my own if I'm driving. No one will let me walk anywhere on my own.
I miss walking! Yesterday, I went on a walk around the neighbourhood. That was delightful. It felt great to use my legs and also just to explore where I am living. I am having a hard time getting acquainted with Joburg because I can't wander around and learn the streets like I would want.
But I am getting used to the level of security that is everywhere. So many gates with electric fences, bars on windows, keeping my windows rolled up, purse in the trunk (or boot as they say). It's becoming normal to take these precautions. I'm just trying to make sure that while I keep myself safe, I don't let myself live in a state of fear.
With all this security, I feel quite secure. The only times I feel a little uncomfortable is at the stop lights because there are often people begging or trying to sell things, walking around the cars. But I just keep my windows up and they all move along when I wave them off. Or driving at night by myself, but I just go through the red lights if it's late and no one is around so I'm never really sitting around at night. Which makes for quicker drives home too - score!
It's been a busy week. I'm getting settled in at work, establishing my role and organizing next steps. I've had the chance to connect with a number of people from the office. Luckily, there happened to be an all-staff event planned on Friday, so that was a great chance for me to get to know more colleagues. Then on Saturday two fellow Canadians in the office invited me to the spa for a mani/pedi followed by breakfast and shopping. Another example of the amazing welcoming attitude I've encountered so far - so nice! This also meant I was able to explore the Parkhurst neighbourhood, which is a nice row of independent shops and restaurants.This is a nice change to the malls I've been used to seeing since I arrived. There are malls everywhere!!!! I long for the experience of Queen W. shopping and restaurants! Although the price of food and good wine here makes me happy to ditch the Queen W prices - so cheap!
I went out for a nice dinner at one of those many malls, Rosebank, with an old friend who I met in Toronto and had moved here a year ago. It was so nice to be able to see another familiar face all the way over here. And tomorrow, I will be meeting up with yet another Toronto friend who moved to Nairobi last year and will be in town for the day. I can't wait!!
Hopefully soon, I'll have more old friends passing through town. I'm always accepting visitors! ;)
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