3 weeks ago I had to drop my little sister off at college. She is going to NWU Potchefstroom. It is great to see her growing up and getting all independent but while I was there on-campus, memories flooded back from my university days. I touched down on Delta State University campus in Mississippi USA 9 years ago - frightened as hell. I was away from home, in a different country in the care of people I just met...
After an 18 hour flight I landed in Atlanta Georgia and was looking for my coach. I knew what he looked like from a picture he emailed me a month before. He knew what I looked like from a picture I emailed him a month before. I was scared but at the same time so excited. We found each other and started our journey to Delta State University in Cleveland Mississippi, 8 hours from Atlanta by car. I was already exhausted.
Once I arrived on campus I couldnīt get anything done because it was a public holiday. It was Martin Luther King, Jr day and the whole campus was basically shut down. I couldnīt book into my room, schedule for my classes, or even get a post box. So off I went back with my coach to his place in a small railroad town 10 minutes south of Cleveland called Shaw. It is a beautiful little town and as I sat on my bed, I looked out the window smiling and thinking...."Wow this is American soil. Iīve made it." Then suddenly my smile turned into a worrying frown. No more mommy and daddy to help you. No more familiar grounds to guide you. No more friends to support you. I was on my own!!
As scared as I was I survived. I stayed there for 5 and a half years and it was great. It taught me so many things apart from my degree. Independence being the biggest lesson of all. And even though I went through pretty rough patches during my time there, all in all I enjoyed it a lot and can look back and think about it with a big smile. The only regret I have is that I didnīt enjoy it more while it lasted.
So my message to my sister is this: "Enjoy every minute because you can never get that minute back!"
Just a little get-away before the silly season. Chris and I took a week holiday and took off to the Baths in Citrusdal. Itīs this little gem hidden in the Cedarberg where the natural hot springs run come from the mountain at 43° Celcius. Itīs absolutely fantastic because you can sit in the jacuzzi for hours without getting all wrinkley. We booked into "Die Skilpad" which is a little stand alone cottage right opposite the bath house. At the back you have your own braai facilities. No South African holiday is complete without multiple nights of braaiing.
Everyday we made our way to one of the jacuzziīs for our daily bath. The water is full of minerals and as clear as can be without a drop of chlorine. The best part is that you get to fill your own bath with fresh water each time you go. No sitting in other peopleīs water!! There is also a hot water pool which we occupied in the evening while the drizzle rain came down. Next to the hot pool they have a cold pool for any hot summer days.
During the day you can also go on hiking trails. Nature is so beautiful there and the waterfalls amazing. Especially since it never stopped raining while we were there. Look at the photos and you will see what I mean.
This is the perfect little get away being only 2 hours from Cape Town.
http://www.thebaths.co.za/