First Day in Welkom

We made it! Daddy, Kaci, and I had a safe trip without any big hiccups.  Our first flight was delayed about forty-five minutes and the flight to Jo’burg boarded on time.  I think the most frustrating thing was my fault!  I had packed as much as I could ahead of time, right after Christmas.  For my birthday I got another suitcase and decided to switch bags and use my new suitcase as my checked on bag. The issue was that I forgot to transfer my lotion, toothpaste, conditioner, and sunscreen into the suitcase and had it on my carry-on instead.  Big no-no for airports! The good part was Mommy was still there and able to take it home so it didn’t have to be thrown away.  

I couldn’t sleep much on the plane, maybe an hour total. Last night I was able to sleep for five hours, but I haven’t been tired all day, which is a blessing! So I don’t really feel like I have jet lag yet.  

Kaci, Daddy, and I on our way to Johannesburg

Close to Johannesburg

            Once we landed and went through customs and picked up our luggage, Brian and Lois drove us the last three hours to Welkom.  Fun fact: in South Africa the speed limit is 120 mph on the big road (similar to the interstate, only I don’t know what it is called) and you drive on the left side of the road!  There are also a lot more trees than I thought there would be.  There are pines trees and palm trees, and several others that I don’t know what they are.

            Monday we had orientation the morning, then Uncle Brian took us for a drive around part of Welkom.  Welkom has a lot of mining, although not as much as it used to, but you can still see the mines.  We also stopped at the cemetery.  There are two sections, the baby section and the adult section.  The graves were marked with everything from cardboard or tin to marble headstones.  Often the baby section would have bottles or something the babies had used on top of their graves.  When you look at all the graves it puts a lot more perspective on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. 

           We stopped at a fast food place to pick up lunch on our way back to RHV.  My meal was a quarter of a chicken seasoned with lemon and herbs served on top of French fries.  It was very good, but it was too much to eat for one meal!  When the kids came home from school I helped with homework for a few hours and then played with them for a little while before supper.  After supper we talked and went to bed.  And that sums up my first day in Welkom!