I have to give Dad great credit for handling an extremely new situation. Not only was he sitting on a different side of the car but we had to make sure we stayed on the left side of the road in a big city on a big highway. Of course this entailed other changes to immediately get use to as well like you can't turn the wipes on to signal (the signal is on the right) and everytime he tried to shift into 3rd he went back into first. Yep the shift is backwards for us too. Get all that down at once and see how you do. Plus people here to not believe in cross walks. In fact they think they belong on the road with the cars. They walk out randomly in front of cars and right up the middle of the street if they feel like it. Ok....so now we are signally with the wipers, shifting into first instead of third, navigating with a map that doesn't show city streets on roads that don't have street signs, with people walking randoming out in front of you and trying to remember to stay on the left side of the road. Are you sweating yet? Needless to say it was nice to find the hotel. Dad has an incredible sense of direction even under these conditions.
It is beautiful here. People are very pleasant and kind. They seem to take pity on dumb Americans and come up and offer assistance often.
We were stranded in Joburg with a NYU grad student who was on her way to Cape Town as well for an international study abroad program. She was so nice. We buddied up and made our way through the airport stranding to a hotel for the night and back to the airport this morning. Our reservations were in the computer and she had to wait stand by. I felt like a traitor leaving her behind to wait to see if she could get on, but she made it. Unfortunately not all her luggage did, so we left her at the airport to wait for her luggage.
So it has been an adventure so far. Africa is beautiful and Cape Town is a beautiful site even from the left side of the road with the wipers going instead of the blinkers and jerking into first and generally lost. Dad is fun to travel with and frankly I'm glad it was him driving and not me.
We'll keep you posted on our adventures. Love to you all
MOM
5 comments:
Yikes! That is pretty funny about driving-- I am glad you aren't dyslexic. I was actually awake when you were going through all this. Sammy has the croup and her bronchial tubes were super clogged-- we almost went to the hospital because she was so panicked about not breathing. Anyway-- good luck to you! How fun that you can keep us posted!
Good grief! I hope she is doing better. I will add her to my prayers along with driving safely through AFrica
Not fair. I am in Pocatello, walking through 0-3 feet of snow to a school I want to be done attending. When I am done, I need to find someone to fund some world travels for me and the fam. I am willing to try all that craziness. Really.
Say hi to Rich and have fun driving! I am like Mike, I am walking to work in 0-3 feet of snow and wishing I could sell my house and buy a new one! And today our mainline got plugged up and the toilet overflowed - do floor damage thank goodness. Jules, I hope Sammy is ok, we will keep her in our prayers. Tell Rich hi! Mike - let's find that funder and travel.
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