119 Week update:

I have now been in the United States of America for 119 weeks, and even though i am sure an update is not really needed, since my blog speaks of every breath that i have taken since i landed here!

"Mind is the master power that moulds and makes, and man is mind and evermore he takes, the tool of thought and shaping what he wills, brings forth a thousand joys - a thousand ills. He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass: Environment is but his looking glass" James Allen...

So on that note.. i believe that i must have the hugest, most active looking glass because my mind never stops!

Kinda cool: It is the coolest thing in the world that you can find just about anything at the pharmacy, from false nails to milk and DVD's.

Kinda disturbing: It is a little disturbing to see ready-to-eat meals in Office depot! (Which is like CNA!)

Kinda Cool: When Americans fondly think i am Australian because of my accent.

Kinda Disturbing: When British people living in the USA think i am Australian and call my accent a twang!

Kinda cool: That fast food places are introducing "slimmers" and "healthy" food claims.

Kinda disturbing: When competing fast food places have ads like: "ours is ALL beef, not like the other guys"?? WTF??

Kinda cool: When you buy medication and even ads on TV, they give you all the warnings and the risks upfront before you buy it.

Kinda disturbing: When they tell you that nausea pills (used to stop your nausea).. one of the side effects and warnings could be nausea and vomiting.. what? how does THAT work?

Kinda Cool: You can get coffee / tea in almost every corner, no matter where in the US you are.Kinda Disturbing: When you ask for coffee with cream you look like a dork because everyone is ordering a double, no foam, Venti whipped half caramel extra milk, soya grande coffee machiato. (that is ONE drink by the way!)
Anyway, I have had a bad time as we all know, and i have had a great time. Speaking of time...
I am constantly amazed by the human psyche.. the passing of time seems to really affect things. I have often wondered if God invented time and memory for the purposes of looking back and reminscing how good your life has been and yet and the same time, looking back at the pain and knowing that it doesnt last forever.
I was reading the book :"As a man thinketh" by James Allen and it was interesting how he says: "A man is made and unmade by his thoughts". Sometimes i wonder if someone faces pain but does nothing actively to get past it, will time alone and the distance that time creates in the experience and the memories bring the healing.. maybe not growth.. but certainly forgetting is one way of getting past pain..
However, should one actively turn your mind to things that will cause the health and growth of your mind and psychological well being? I'd say so.. i think when people let time simply wash over the active memory of an event, they become less prooductive in life, society and relationships.. sure you can "function"..

Who desires and dreams of functioning??? I want to live, right?

Anyway, i write that to say that i look back on my experience in South Africa, look back fondly and i very much miss people dissing me because i am from Eldo's, but went to school in Bostmont, but ended up living in Sandton... and i miss Sam and our after work mango smoothies and Maddy who has a more hectic social life than all of us combined!

I miss Gavin and his ridiculously accurate and vast knowledge of cosmetics and gothic weirdness, i miss Ingrid and her laughter that resonates and echos into the ends of the earth and the millions of people who always follow her like groupies!, I miss my mum who comes to the gate to greet me when she hears the ridiculously loud exhaust of the VR6 pull up to her house - and i wont park in the driveway even at the risk of having my car solen by Zunga and his friends who are sitting on the sidewalk drinking beer at 10am, suspiciously eyeing my "ntza car" and all the little kids who run up to me and ask me to open the bonnet so they can see the engine.. and while that is happening, i step out in my heels and 'Sandton" outfit and then i have to run away from Aunt Gypsy's stupid big brown dog who thinks i am a piece of steak.. then mum is at the gate smiling.. I miss walking through Sandton City and then meeting Dave at Mugg and Bean and having a chat and a laugh with him while his cellphone never stops ringing and buzzing (oh, i miss the Friday night oxtail potjies at Dave's too!)

Ok, i am on a roll now..

I miss Pastor Mark and his deep belly laugh and ability to cheer people up no matter where he is. I miss "Celebration" and being mistaken for being on the "Bold and the Beautiful" because people mis-heard one of the celebs talk about me in the same sentence as the Bold and the Beautiful! I miss Glassen and her 550 pairs of shoes and 6000 earrings and her every saturday nail days and her outfits that cost more than my house!
I miss my dad with his Sunday morning coffee in hand wanting to have philosophical conversations or play chess. And his inability to get rid of ANYTHING! He stores things up like there is no tomorrow! :-)
I miss Florida lake. no, wait.. i DON'T! LOL - I miss going to church 5 times on a Sunday!!! (really?)
I miss driving to Sun City 5 times a week - and not to go lay in the Sunshine, but to go sit in a little back alley office in the scorching heat in my InnStaff get up and make sure the people who ARE laying in the sunshine in their g-strings have the service they deserve (for the money they pay to be there).
I miss Jolene and her fast pace life - when you are around her, it feels as if there is 5 of her and they are all working, talking and walking at the same time! hahaha I miss Shantal and our talks about Krishna, our haloumi salads at newscafe and our weight gain / weighloss strategies - ok the weight gain was never a strategy!!
There are so many people i miss for so many different reasons and so many things that made my life awesome. Marlene and little Hopey who is just so happy in her cute little self! Nadia and her beautiful blues eyes that never stop shining, her incredible intelligence and fun we have together.
I miss Buddy and his classy trendy houses, cars, outfits, our breakfasts all at the joosh places where he knows everyone and everyone knows him, the spirituality that he exudes.
I miss my 49 cousins and all their children and going to a function that we have to hire a hall to accommodate all of us (and that is only my mum's side!)
So those are a very few examples of the life i left behind in coming here.. even though i will never really leave it behind- but i am extracted from it and their lives progress there and mine here..
However, after these 119 weeks, i have made some really good friends.. forged a great life for myself - have a good job and starting to build my own little history and when i am no longer living here... i will be writing a blog about all the things i miss about this life in the USA .. and who knows when that will be?
phew!! - this was a mouthful blog! teehee