6 year Anniversary

Wow – is it really?? Today exactly 6 years ago I landed on American soil.  What was meant to be a 1 year adventure, turned into a 6 year saga!!

 So many adventures ßà so many trials. But what a journey!

What is crazy is – I have been blogging for 6 years as well!! I wonder if I am the record holder for 6 years of consistent blogging.. hmmm. I think last year I had the longest hiatus from my blog which lasted about 5 months.  Other than that, I have been rocking it for 6 years!

All I can think of today is how blessed I have been.  In South Africa in some ways my life was simpler – definitely more filled with friendships and family.  But in America, life is easier from a material point of view.    All my high school friends will attest to the fact that I talked ad nauseum all through high school about me living in America someday – have you ever come face to face with your dream and wondered: “what now?”  
But here I am. 
Loving it.

The Land of Opportunity

Yesterday I took my fancy new camera to the “Dream Center” in downtown Phoenix.  A local radio station was doing a volunteer run, packing kits for girls who have been rescued from Human Trafficking.  Ever since I heard what a huge problem it is here in Phoenix, I started getting the desire to be involved.  To be involved is just amazing – there is just so much work to be done, the need is great and to see these girls rehabilitated just makes my heart glad.  I can’t rid the world of every injustice much as it infuriates me, like a lot of you.. But I can do what I can do.  It was great – I talked to a few people and didn’t take pictures because there was just no time – I was more interested in being there than snapping it.  Next time!

It is so strange integrating yourself into a new culture. A lot of people hold on with vehement tenacity to their culture, and some just let it go for ease of integration.  Me, on the other hand, I have held on to a lot.  I don’t go to South African functions, eat only South African food etc.. but I do try to find bits and pieces of home.  The parts of my culture that I hold on to is how I was brought up.  The manners, the lessons and the truths I was taught.  Other than a few “isms” I haven’t really adopted a lot of American culture / way of speaking. Sometimes at the office I will change a word in order for people to understand me better.   The sense of humor here is the biggest difference.  Everything is taken very literally – so one has to be careful!

So an “American Story” Continues. Will I live here forever? Perhaps not.. maybe another 8 years then maybe it will be time for Europe. Who knows!

Life’s adventure continues.

Happy Anniversary to me and America for having me!