Two weeks in USA!

So, I have had a very interesting two weeks!  Orientation was fun-the being with other girls and NYC, the meetings are not quite as fun! Then I went to Natick MA to visit my old host family.  It was SO SO awesome to see them again, and to hang out. I spent Thurs, Fri and Sat nights with them, which by the time it was Sunday, felt waaaayy too short! I left Tarrytown in NY, and got on a train called Amtrak. As I was getting on the train someone said to me, 'hey I think you dropped something...', so i looked down under the train, which was about 2m and there was lying my PASSPORT!!!!! no way for me to get it, yet it was so close to me!! There was literally nothing I could do! :( BUT luckily there was an Aupair in America representative on the platform and she sorta ran and yelled after the train that she would get it and mail it to me! So there was some hope for me, but I was stressing!
I got my South African phone out, and put it on emergency call (because it doesnt work in USA) and prayed  that it would work,and luckily it did-so I called the Aupair emergency line and told the lady on the other end the story, anyway within 15min, Stephanie emailed me, she was the lady on the platform and she said that she had my passport and would mail it to San Francisco. PHEWWW!!!!  So besides that little hiccup, Natick was super fun!
I was in MA when the Boston police was looking for the bombers of the race, so there was a horrible sense around as everyone was still very shocked and upset about it all-but luckily Natick is far enough out of the city that we were not in lockdown or anything and could go on with the day as usual!

Sunday came and it was time for me to finally get on the way to San Fran!!
My flight was at 15.30, but due to the bombings and me not having a passport,I got to the airport before 13.00, just to make sure everything was ok.  The security checks were crazy-more hectic than iv ever experienced! and the flight was looonng!! especially after travelling so much! But I made it here safe and sound!!! 
Lynn picked me up from the Airport and I was welcomed home by huge hugs from the girls, drawings, presents, flowers and 'welcome to san francisco' signs! It was awesome!

Im so happy with my location in San Fran, my host family, my house and room....I am just waiting on a couple more friends!!

I'm here!

So the last 2 days have been a Roller coaster of emotions, moods and state of mind! But im now as happy as can be in NY!!!

It was really hard to say goodbye to Ross, and leave all the familiar comforting things behind, but imnow on an adventure of a lifetime and so far it has been great!

The flight from Jo-burg to JFK was 16 hours-which should be excruciating, but I managed to sleep on and off for about 10 of them, which was awesome as I haven't been tired the whole day!
It took ages to go through customs and Border control, but we finally arrived at the hotel at around 11 am.  There were 7 SA girls and 12 from Brazil so 19 of us arrived and had lunch together.  I then headed straight for NYC!   I must say, as soon as I heard the American accent being spoken everywhere and the New York accent-I really felt like I had just come home!!!???

Anyway...

I took a taxi from the hotel to the train, then took the train to the beautiful Grand Central Station, then jumped on thr green line down to the business district to meet up with a friend. 
I  went straight to the world trade site (OK I did stop at Starbucks for my first in 2.5 years) I didint go into the memorial, cause its kind of closed up and there's a Q you have to stand in to walk through and I had limited time.  I took some pics of the buildings tho :)  I met up with my friend at the Wall street bull and we walked to the flat Iron building and walked around the city a bit. It was SO SO amazing to be back! 

At 5.30 i started making my way back the way i came and by 7pm I was back at the hotel having dinner with some other girls going to San Fran as well!

Here some pics to enjoy! :)

SA and Brazil Aupairs

9-11 memorial entrance

Grand Central

new buildings at twin tower site

STARBUCKS!!!

Flat Iron Building-Madison Square

Empire State building in the background

Grand Central again

10 days to go!!

Aaaaaand the countdown begins!!!
10 days from today will be the 14th and ill be ON MY WAY!

Iv been out of town A LOT which is why my posts are few and far between..sorry...but its also led me to have already packed my bags!! Can you believe it!

So yes, 10 days left and I'm living with only a couple of shirts and pants in my closet as everything is already done.  
Iv got a full schedule coming up next week, it seems the last week is all about seeing those you love,saying goodbyes and visiting the places you are going to miss the most. (I don't know why people leave it to the last minute, it seems silly really!)

Monday is my pre-departure with the agency, where ill get all my flight documents and finalize the small details of the trip, I'm meeting with friends for lunch after that and then going for tea with another friend.  Tuesday I go to get all my Forex stuff sorted, get my $'s and sort out international transfers, then meeting up with my parents. Wednesday I'm spending most the day with a close friend  andFriday my family from out of town are coming down for the weekend. (not just t say goodbye-turns out there is a lot going on here that wend!) SO the weekend will be filled with quality boy-friend and family time, and on Sunday when I wake up my adventure will begin!

Think of me on Thursday-my only "off" day!

Until closer to the 14th...Roxy

All Systems go...

I have been super busy these last two weeks with being in Cape Town for my visa, finalizing flights an visitng family members out of town.

SO yes i GOT MY VISA!!! :) :) :)
I was at the consulate at 9 am on Monday the 11th for my app. It only took about an hour, and she granted it to me straight away!  Within 48 hours, the courier company had called me to say that I needed to come and collect my parcel-it had arrived in PE so soon!

So I went and collected it and I had a lovely new visa inside :)

I went to the post office the next day, and I had a surprise package waiting for me! I LOVE surprises! the package was from none other than my beloved San Fran family! :)

Inside the girls had drawn me a picture and they sent me a book all about San Fran-I though it was the most thoughtful gift, as I can learn all about the places before I go!  There were also some cookies inside the package, but they had unfortunately turned to crumbs ;)

My flight leaves PE at 12.30 on Sunday the 14th!!

3 weeks and 4 days to go!!!

EEEeekkk Excited!

Visa Weekend

So Im leaving for Cape Town early tomorrow morning to go for my visa interview. The interview is only on Monday morning, but we making a little trip of it and going to enjoy the mother city!  I am visiting a friend who studies at Stellenbosch University which Im so excited about.  Shes a lifelong friend of mine, so its going to be so great to catch up, and Stellies is also so beautiful!

On Sunday is the legendary Cape Argus Cycle race which Ross is riding in, so I will have my cheering voice switched on to cheer him through the race :)

My visa app is at 09.30 on Monday morning-so please think of me during that time!

until I have my visa

Roxy

A whole lot of "Last"s

So its about 6 and a half weeks before I leave on my next adventure! This is extremely exciting and I cant wait to be experiencing all kinds of new things-sadly on the flip side of that, lots of things here have to come to an end!

So today is my last day at my job that iv been at for the last 16 months! It hasint been the greatest bestest time, but now that its coming to an end I am quite sad that its over.  Its not like I hate coming here everyday, so it has been good, but I'm also happy that its coming to an end!  

I also had to sell my beloved scooter yesterday :( The buyer picked her up last night-and for me, it was very sad!   It was the first vehicle (even though not a car) that I bought 100% by myself, and last night I had to watch her leave...but nonetheless...onto better things!! 

Yes things are coming to an end in this chapter of my life, but chapters end so that new ones can start!  And I am very excited to start living the next one!!

On a different note, all my visa docs are signed, I completed them yesterday, so next week I will be going up to Cape Town for my interview!  Ross is also riding in a race, which is another reason we are going up. Its going to be a fun time!

until next week..
Roxy
                                             A small tribute to my Tooty scooty.  <3
                                             You will be sorely missed!

HappY ValenTINes Day ♥♥♥

I'm not sure why, but this never posted last week-but nonetheless, I'm going to post it now!

HappY ValenTINes Day ♥♥♥

Happy Valentines to all reading my blog! Today I hope you feel the love from everyone around you!

I am a BIG sucker for valentines day-I'm wearing pink and white, got some pink makeup on, wearing my heart earrings and feeling all jolly inside being the kindest I can be to everyone around me! So I hope you are having a lovely day to! 

I started applying for my visa 2 days ago-which is a long and painful process, but nonetheless, every day is a step closer to it being done! 

The orientation is usually always at a hotel in Stamford CT, but I heard that they have moved it to a hotel closer to NYC-which is great for me, because at least I will be going to something different and it wont ALL be the same! I also found out that there is a girl from the same city as me leaving on the same date-which I never had before either-not because I'm nervous to be by myself (which is completely wrong), but it will be fun to have some company!

Only 8 weeks and 3 days left!!!