A week into my journey..

Well its been a week and its been quite an interesting start...

This is the place i now call home - not sure for how long, as i may be moving throughout the US quite a bit. It's quaint and comfortable and for now is just the type of relaxing, quiet environment i need to settle in...

I promised not to bore you with the small change of my life - But here is a few small change tips before we get into what i have been up to and what life has taught me this week;

• Even if you have a VERY good reason (wink wink) to stop over in London on your way here - its a long tedious flight and Heathrow Airport can be really dull after 7 hours or walking in circles
• Never plan that your already long and tedious scheduled 29 hour journey will be on schedule coz u bound to wait another 3 hours at least listening to people complain in foreign accents
• In the States you cant get JUST a sim card anywhere so either get one at the airport or buy a whole new phone!
• Never look at the map while trying to drive on the otherside of the road until you get your mind around which way to turn into the road when all traffic looks oncoming! (its harder than it sounds honestly!) - Rather get lost for a few blocks then stop and look at the map! LOL
• Oh, some realy useful info is that if you are from South Africa (not sure about other countries) you need to have a USA credit card number in order to order things on the internet. And to get one of those you need an American Bank account - and to get one of those you need to apply for a Social securoty number. mmmm

Ok those are my pearls of wisdom so far...

I have learnt to do my own laundry, drive on the right hand side of the road (sort of - still need some practice), learnt what the interstate is, that people say the same things we say but mean it very differently!, i went to check out malls in Charlotte and while they are huge and have lots of shops they lack people! the movie times are always different so you better plan your day carefully and the best thing of all the bags of popcorn are huge and delicious. You gotta watch your diet in this country.. the portions are unbelievable...

This week i will be venturing some art, culture and nightlife - watch this space...

"While the one eludes, must the other pursue. My life is a fault at last, I fear: It seems too much like a fate, indeed!Though I do my best I shall scarce succeed. But what if I fail of my purpose here? " Robert Browning..

Well, my thinking today is this - since i strive to live everyday of my life (not as seriously as it may come across), with some sort of purpose and passion... as i look around me in this week that i have breathed in a new breath, a fresh wind in my soul- i realise that seeing beauty is not about narrowing our vision, designating only some of its manifestations as worthy. It means expanding our definition of beauty and suspending our judgements, and appreciating the quiet joys, the raunchy glees, and accepting simple truths about ourselves.

Today, although a foreigner and new to everything and everything new to me - i see a new beauty in myself and in what surrounds me and in what awaits me and draws me deeper into my own life and into the lives of others...

Life is beautiful and i will succeed despite fear and apprehension :-)

Jade007