Welcome to my blog! This is a new experience for me, but I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with everyone here. As I write this first post, I am surrounded by the last minute chaos that typically ensues before a big trip- almost packed bags, scattered to-do lists, and mini piles of clothes and on-board entertainment. Packing for ten months has certainly been a test of needs vs. wants and has challenged me to be more minimalist in my clothing selection (and I still probably packed too much!)
Many of you may understand the pun in the blog title, but for those I haven't had the chance to speak with yet about the area where I am moving, allow me to explain (a huge thanks to Stephanie Echer for her inspiration and creativity with this!) South Africa has 11 national languages spoken among its 50 million residents, Afrikaans and English being two of the more well known tongues. Among these 11 languages is Xhosa, a language spoken by 8 million South Africans (including Nelson Mandela), largely in the Eastern and Western Capes. Xhosa is a beautiful tonal language that is prominent in Port Elizabeth (where I will be moving). Part of what makes this language so enchanting is its "clicks". Yes, this is the clicking language. In an attempt to get a head start on the learning curve, I ordered a "Teach Yourself Xhosa" book and 2 disc set. In the last few months I have made a comical attempt at learning a language that is not only completely foreign to me, but is sprinkled with 3 different "clicks" that I have a near impossible time imitating. On a good day, I can say simple greetings but not much more. But I am only a click away!
Tomorrow I begin my travels to the capital, Pretoria, where Fulbright and the US Embassy will host a 3 day orientation before we arrive in Port Elizabeth (PE). Over the course of the next few months, I hope to share with you my learning process, explorations, joys, and challenges in PE. Thank you for your support and encouragement leading up to this adventure (because anyone reading this has done that in some form) and thank you for continuing on with me in this journey!
Happy reading :)
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