Farewell For Now South Africa

Well my friends, the time has come for me to head back to America. A lot of people have been saying "oh my word you must be excited" and "oh my word you must be sad" and jeez louise, oh my word I am so both. 

I have had so many amazing experiences within these past 6 months...

-Seeing a lion up close at Erindi-

-Seeing a man running with no pants through the mountains haha-

-Living the posh life at the J&B Met-

-Having a boa constrictor wrapped around my neck-

-Hiking Lion's Head during the full moon-

-GETTING ENGAGED! <3-

-Seeing Phantom of the Opera for the first time-

-Adventuring through Namibia with four boys-

... and so much more :)

Last picture I took before I left America in September of NYC and now I'll be back there Saturday! 

It is going to be so weird when I first see NYC Saturday morning, and hear people talking like "oh my God can you believe Tebow signed with the Jets!?", and see Starbucks (angels singing). I can not wait to pop out of the terminal and have my family there waiting, then head home and see all of my friends and family and my dog, it is going to be just awesome. Then I get to relive my trip over and over with every person I talk to :). 

My excitement is weighted equally with the sore feeling in my heart that I have because after 6 months I am really leaving this beautiful country (and March has the BEST weather here, ugh torture leaving!) My fabulous friends organized the most wonderful surprise going away get-together last night at Cubana and I had such a wonderful time! Thank you everyone who could be there, it was so special to me.

<3

I don't know what I've done to be so blessed with all of these beautiful people in my life but I am so grateful for each and every one of them. My trip would not have been nearly as perfect if it were not for the fantastic friends and family I've made here. I really feel like I have two homes now, one on each side of the Atlantic. The sunset is beautiful on both sides...

My sunset in Massachusetts

"Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank"

-Anonymous

My sunset in Somerset West

If only there were a teeny, preferably tropical with perfect weather, island in between so I could bring my two homes closer to each other. I did attempt to bring these two world's together through my blog. I wanted to share my experiences with America and the rest of my foreign readers in hopes to educate, fascinate, and make people jealous haha just kidding! Well... sort of... haha. I've had a great time keeping up with this blog, so I've made the executive decision to write a witty guidebook to the Western Cape through the eyes of an American blondie ;) . 

Now it is time for this adventure to end, but only so I can go home and make some money so I can return for another visit! This isn't goodbye, this is see you later :). Now I leave South Africa with...

Countless memories

2,762 photographs

37 new Facebook friends

12 Jack Parow songs

8 new dresses

4 bottles of sweet chili sauce

3 bars of nougat

2 suitcases

1 Engagement Ring <3

*

Until next time South Africa :)

**I would appreciate comments/feedback so I may keep them in mind through my book writing process :)

The Most Amazing Place In The World

Here is my promised ode to my most favorite place in the world,

Food Lover's Market

Fruit & Veg City

Fruit & Veg is like Whole Foods, mixed with Trader Joe's, mixed with a country farm stall. They have everything and anything and it is all so fresh. It has come to be my favorite place to eat here in South Africa, weird because my favorite place to eat is a grocery store. Jorg & I have come to be quite familiar with a couple of the employees, specifically in the restaurant, smoothie bar, and sushi bar. 

Sam & Sam :)

So there's my sweet little tidbit to my lovely F&V :). 

In The Township

Today I was able to go into a township for my first time while I've been here in South Africa. I know it is odd, but I felt like I had to see what was inside of those fences before I left this country, and what I saw actually really made me smile.

For people who don't know what a township is (as I didn't when I first came to this country) it is an area, usually outside of a large developed town/city, that up until Apartheid was reserved only for black people. During Apartheid black people were evicted from 'white only' areas and sent to live in the designated townships. Within the townships there is in most cases a lack of electricity, proper water systems, and proper sewage systems, creating a less than desirable standard of living for the inhabitants. From the roadside the townships look like terribly disgusting shacks made up of random pieces of metal and wood. There are sheep, horses, cows, and goats roaming freely in the grassy patch on the side of the highway next to Khayelitsha. There is also garbage, garbage, and more garbage strewn about everywhere, and due to the trash and poor sewage system is smells awful when you drive past.

For someone as naive as myself, coming from a first world country, I could never have believed that so many people live in such conditions. It is estimated that around 5 million people in South Africa live in the townships. In some cases they stretch for miles. The close quarters coupled with low income and poor education creates a dangerous and violent environment for the people who live there. Townships are plagued with rape and gang violence.

I was very nervous going into the township today, but I'm very glad that I did. I went into the Lewandle township and I have never seen people so excited about a camera in my life. I was nervous to bring my camera, thinking that people might think I'm using their lifestyle for my amusement when really I wanted photos to post here to show the world, but that wasn't the case at all.

Children and adults alike were so excited to see a camera and have their photo taken. They were lining up to have their chance at getting a picture. Sadly, it is because most of them have never had a picture taken of them in their life. Hard to believe that we grow up having photos taken of even the most insignificant events throughout our childhood and these children had not had one picture taken of them, ever.

The children were beautiful and so happy in their community with all of their friends. They invited me into their community center to show me a dance show that they were putting on, it was wonderful! From the outside it seems like all there could possibly be in a township is hard times and sadness, but those were some of the happiest children I've ever seen. It was nice to see children happy to be with each other, rather than on a cell phone or iPad.

"There are hundreds of languages in the world, but a smile speaks them all"

-Anonymous

These children who have so little gave me so much. Their smiles and excitement about something so seemingly simple like a photo made me think differently about everything I have in my life that has always come to me so easily. I'll give the children these pictures in return for the insight they've given me.

Things I Will Definitely Not Miss in SA

Obviously I am completely in LOVE with South Africa, but it could definitely use some improvements. Yes I know I'm spoiled and come from a first world country, but really this list is just for fun so South African's, please don't take offense. I think it is only fair to also post the counter part of "Things I Will Miss in SA" which is "Things I Will Definitely Not Miss in SA". .

1. I will not miss paying for grocery bags at the supermarket.

2. I will not miss buying "airtime". Buying time and texts for my phone every time they run out is annoying, contracts helllllo.

3. I will not miss Car Guards. I just hate when they sprint from across the parking lot to make it look as if they were standing by my car the whole time when they definitely were not, and then standing directly behind my car when I try to back out. I'm all for this country creating more jobs but honestly, I'm going to run you over if you don't move.

4. I will not miss the poor excuse for pickles that they have in South Africa. Those aren't pickles you're eating, those are nasty pickly-like rubber substitutes. I can't wait to get home and eat some Vlasics!

5. I will not miss the internet in South Africa. I think that my dial-up might have gone faster. Watching a youtube video may cause one to die of boredom waiting for it to buffer.

6. I will not miss the salesmen at the stop lights. I'm very happy that they've found a way to make some cash... but why don't they sell something people need like I don't know, bread? Instead of car chargers, plush Smurfs, and cheap sunglasses, come on! I don't like being hassled at the stoplights, I really really don't.

7. I will not miss the electric fences, driveway gates, alarm systems, barbed wire disguised as vines, and burglar bars.

8. I will not miss the South African taxis. They are like the suicide bombers of these roads with no regard for stop signs, traffic lights, or human life.

9. I will not miss the South African Home Affairs department. I NEVER want to deal with these people ever again as long as I live. I thought I was on an episode of Punk'd, but it isn't so funny when Ashton doesn't come out and say it was a joke.

10. I will not miss the VAT tax. I DON'T WANT TO PAY YOU AN EXTRA 14%!!! And yes, I'm going to try and claim back everything I can get at the airport SO THERE.


All of those things aside I really do love you South Africa, no hard feelings k?

Things I Will Miss in SA

As some of you may know I (sniffle sniffle) only have 2 weeks left here in South Africa so I have decided to dedicate a post to all of the things (besides my wonderful friends and family here) that I will miss in South Africa. Here we go...

1. Wellington's Sweet Chili Sauce - A delicious sauce that they lather on everything in South Africa, from pasta salad, to chicken, to sushi... I'm pretty sure sweet chili sauce could make dog food taste good. It is the most super sauce that I have come across in all 23 years of my long life.

2. 5FM's Cheese of The Day - This little tidbit on the 5FM radio show never fails to make me get my groove on in the car.  For people who don't know 5FM has a nice section of the radio show where they play a supposedly cheesy song. I don't find the songs exactly cheesy but more like... amazing! HELLO. Ice Ice Baby will never die!

3. Elroy - I owe my sanity and not gaining 450 lbs during my stay to Elroy, the amazing Zumba/Kickboxing Instructor/Dance Nazi at Virgin Active. I have never in my wildest dreams imagined a man could move like that. Not only will I miss his spunk and awesome classes, but also the army of groupies in his classes (who I have given nicknames to my few favorites including The Asian, Rambo, Skeletor, The Surfer's Wife, and the Token Old Man). Any of these innocent-seeming gymmers will cut your throat if you even think about taking their spot in the dance studio.

Elroy- Not an slice of fat on that bod

4. Food Lover's Market aka Fruit & Veg aka HEAVEN - I will miss F&V from the absolute bottom of my stomach. Hopefully I will be doing a blog post dedicated entirely to them before I leave because a short paragraph cannot do it justice. To those who have not been able to experience F&V and you're sitting reading this thinking "big deal, its just a grocery store", WRONG! Its a small slice of Heaven here on Earth meant to fill all of our freshest culinary dreams. So American's can understand, it puts Whole Foods to shame, seriously.

5. Wine - If my previous blog posts don't sufficiently portray my intense love for South African wine, then here we go... I LOVE SOUTH AFRICAN WINE. All of it. From the Four Cousins (make fun, but it tastes like glorious juicy-juice!) to Lourensford to Haute Cabriere, I love it all!!! I also love the experience of wine tasting here, maybe even more than the wine itself.

6. Vida e Caffe - The more fun South African version of Starbucks (granted its actually based in Europe but whatever). The people who work there are always super cheerful, sing to you, compliment you, basically make you feel awesome about yourself before you stuff your fat face with one of their delectable croissants. However it isn't the baked goods that entice me, it is the glorious Chocolate Frio (blended ice + Lindt chocolate + milk) a calorie bomb so delicious it should be illegal.

7. Jack Parow - While I might not understand 90% of what you are rapping about I still enjoy your musical stylings to the fullest extent. I will miss driving around blasting Hos Tokoloshe and singing along even though I am basically just making sounds that correlate with the Afrikaans, especially in Bellville haha. I will try to introduce you to America... I'm not making any promises though.

8. Animals - Ok so they're really aren't lions and giraffes running around everywhere, but I've never seen more amazing animals than I have here in SA. I've seen 4 of the 5 'Big Five' (no leopard :( FAIL), and elephants, monkeys, ostriches, hippos, buck, and even cows, woah.

9. The Landscape - Not to get all mushy but the Western Cape coastline steals my heart. It is so beautiful that sometimes I cannot believe that a place like this really exists and that I've been lucky enough to have spent so much time here. The way the mountains border the turquoise ocean is mesmerizing and gorgeous. I will really miss it here.

10. The Sunsets - I've found that no matter where I watch the sunset from here in SA it has always been beautiful. Whether I've been at Strand Beach watching the sun set next to Table Mountain or in Camp's Bay seeing the sun set over the open ocean it has always left me speechless.

Dear South Africa,
I'm really going to miss you.
Love, Sam

Our Twelve Apostles Getaway

Our wonderful friends Morne and Nicolene gave us a fabulous weekend getaway at the Twelve Apostles Hotel in Cape Town, where Jorg & I laid in the lap of luxury this past weekend and it was absolutely heavenly. 

Not too shabby I'd say

Upon arrival at this glorious five star haven we were offered a beverage and taken to check-in. They have dried fruit at the check-in desk, dried mangos = LOVE. We then enjoyed a capucchino at the Leopard Lounge's veranda which overlooks the sea. We were then taken to our luxury suite (oo la la) where we were greeted by a congratulatory bottle of champagne. 

"To Mr. Steinhage and The Future Ms. Steinhage"

Our lounge

We quickly changed into our bathrobes and scurried off to the pool, jacuzzi, and spa. After working at a spa myself I can't help but inspect every other spa down to the last detail. The spa at the 12 Apostles was beautiful. Complimentary fruit, muffins, scones, dried fruit, and juices, and an extensive list of extremely pricey spa treatments. Seeing as my money tree hasn't been thriving so much lately we decided to skip on the spa treatments, but take full advantage of all of the free goodies. There was a jacuzzi, cool dip, and a really neat anti-gravity salt bath where you could float (sounds lame but it was so cool).

We enjoyed dinner at the Leopard Lounge, finished off with a couple of Springbokkie shots (peppermint & Amarulla YUCK). The next morning we made our way to the all-you-can-fit-in-your-tummy breakfast that had absolutely everything, buffet or made to order, they even had Nutella on the breakfast bar! This place thinks of everything I tell ya.

Eventually we had to make our way back to the real world. All in all it was a five star weekend for this chick.

Crafty Africa

Oh African Sundays, how I will miss frolicking around your markets...

I have never seen markets like South Africa's markets. They honestly sell some of the cutest, kitschiest, most creative things that I have ever seen. Basically if Pinterest were a market, it would be in South Africa. I've been to Hout Bay Market, Kamersvol Geskenke, Lourensford, Hathersage, Blaauwklippen, and so many more. It is nice to get unique things that someone spent time making. Homemade and heart-filled. I love spending sunny Sunday mornings with friends at the various markets in the area.

Sadly, I can't fit everything in my suitcase, so I'm just going to have to steal all of their ideas and recreate their crafts pretending they're my own ideas muahahaha!

If only I were so crafty. :)

Only 19 days left here in South Africa... :( sigh. Welp, I'll just have to make the most of them!