June 10th marked the beginning of our third year in Africa. Some of the things I missed in America when we first moved here I no longer notice. Now that I am back in America for five weeks I am finding humor in things I had forgotten about or never noticed before.
Like tv commercials, there are very few of them in Africa which I appreciate but I had forgotten how funny some of the American ones are.
And I had forgotten about the customer service you receive in restaurants, like that they will re-fill your drink without asking, or that refills are free, in Africa you ask and you pay each time. I could go on and on how fast service is in America and how I don't ever have to repeat myself when I order.
Stores in America I find overwhelming, from the options, to the lower prices to the feeling that I need to over buy since this is my only time in the US to get these things. Of course there are stores similar in Africa, but the way I felt going into Target when I got back to the U.S., I had not felt in Africa. I am a bit out of it using the credit card machines at checkouts, forgetting to sign my name on the electronic spot, always waiting for the cashier to hand me a slip of paper to sign like in Africa. And I never swipe my own card in Africa but it's all self service here. Feels funny to hand your card to a waiter to take back and run your bill as in Africa they bring the card machine to your table.
Waiting for someone to load my car with groceries was another thing I got a laugh at. In Africa someone loads your groceries after pushing your cart out of the store. Of course this does not happen in America but it sure would be nice, along with having someone to direct you to open parking spots and guiding you in and out of them. I had forgotten what it is like trying to shop with kids then load the car...exhausting.
It was nice to get back to fast internet in America again and having wifi everywhere is something I had taken for granted before moving to Africa.
I had forgotten how light it stays outside at night when the sun does not go down till 9pm. In Africa with no day light savings time it will be dark earlier in the summer compared to the U.S.
Since Grant is now walking it had been a pleasure to have carpeted floors, something I did not think I would miss.
Air conditioning is a biggie, of course we missed not having it in Africa, but I had forgotten how it can be such a drastic change from inside to outside. Having to bring along a jacket to go out to eat or to a store I had to remember again. It feels weird to dress for one temperature indoors and another for being outside. I have become so used to one consistent temperature no matter indoors or outdoors in Africa.
Having lived in Missouri my whole life I am surprised I could forget the humidity but when you come from winter weather to muggy, heavy, hard to breath Missoui summer, it takes some getting used to. Pretoria, South Africa, has very little humidity so even on a 90 degree day, you can step into the shade and cool off a bit. Back in Missouri we have not been outside as much as I thought because of the humidity making it too uncomfortable.
I did not expect to be re-teaching Adalyn about American life again. We have only been gone a few years but she did not remember yellow school buses or what water fountains were ( she thought they were a sink). She has asked what floor vents for central heat/air are when she saw them and what the outside air conditioning unit is.
I do miss restaurants with kids areas like we have in Africa and the conveniences of having people do things for you. I miss the indoor/outdoor living as I am always forgetting to close doors here letting pets and air conditioning escape. Eating out is cheaper in Africa and I am always shocked at what restaurants want you to pay in the US, though it all seemed reasonable when I lived there.
When we moved to Africa it took a while to get used to electric fences around every building and neighborhood but I rarely think of it now. The severity and amount of poverty in Africa just does not exist in America. And although it is nice to not be bombarded with such sad images all the time in America, the constant reminder in Africa made me a more grateful person each day and I think I appreciated my life more. I do feel safer in America, putting my purse in the seat next to be as I drive and not watching my surroundings as much. I have adjusted to driving on the other side of the car and road just fine, only mixing them up in parking lots mostly.
Of course we miss experiencing all our American adventures with Mark, as he is back in Africa working, but I bet he is enjoying his month vacation without any demands by the three of us. It is nice to see our family and friends again, especially the kids with their grandparents. Not sure when we will be back to America again so I am trying to take it all in and savor the amazing things that make America great to me, which of course is far greater than this blog can ever say. Spending the 4th of July in this great country just might make me cry this year.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Trip to Kruger National Park
We decided to take our first trip to Kruger National Park for a safari this past weekend. It has taken almost 2 years of living in South Africa to visit Kruger due to the malaria risk a majority of the year. Plus the fact that I was pregnant 2 months after arriving here then I did not want to take a newborn, meant that we had to wait. During the winter months, May-September, the malaria risk is is extremely low so you can visit without anti-malaria medication.
Four hours east of Pretoria is an area known as Marloth Park, which is a wildlife sanctuary of 1500 hectares and borders Kruger park.
Years back the park offered residential sites and people began building personal and vacation homes in the area. I was surprised the park looked so rustic and the homes were built around the bush.
We rented one of the vacation homes so we could have more room for the kids. The owners of the home arranged for daily game drives into Kruger through a local company and it worked great to have the safari guide at our disposal to work around the kid's schedule.
On our first drive we saw lots of rhinos, impalas, kudu, elephants and warthogs.
We stopped for a local favorite, waffles and ice-cream, Adalyn was in heaven. After a mid-day break due to the heat and animals taking shelter from the sun, therefore difficult to see, we went back out on another drive. For the afternoon we drove along Crocodile River and spotted a herd of elephants, including some cute babies taking a drink.
Down the river a bit was another herd followed some buffalo. After a sunset drink over the river we went back to the house.
One aspect of the trip that we loved was having our meals catered at the house. The owner of the property has a local chef who cooked us up ox tail one night then another night was ostrich steak, all delicious with the regional favorites of malva pudding and milk tart. Maybe I am just lazy but its nice to not have to get dressed up and take the kids out for a long dinner, but instead eat as we wished at home. Three nights of catered dinner provided enough left overs for lunch so it was great to not cook for the entire trip. At night we could hear the nearby lions roar as we enjoyed dessert by the fire. Of course there is a 9 foot electric fence all around Kruger and Marloth park so we were not worried.
The second day we started out earlier into Kruger and saw a tons more rhinos. A few crocodiles, hippos, lions, giraffes, zebras, and lots of birds and the most poisonous snake in the world (luckily up in a tree).
After a bush breakfast we headed back to the house where Grant and Adalyn were enjoying playing with the babysitter.
Adalyn enjoyed the game drives for about 2 hours then was ready to move onto something more exciting for her like playing with Barbies.
I brought a few Barbies on the game drive, but instead of joining us for the afternoon drives, she preferred to stay back with Grant. The house accommodations provided maid service and someone to watch after Grant as I knew being confined in a game drive vehicle would not be much fun for him....or us. Little did I realize, until the 4th time the babysitter watched Grant, that she could not speak English. After any instruction I gave she always replied, "yes, mom", so I figured we were on the same page. I got a good laugh once I figured it out and then it made way more sense why she did the things she did. I have now learned to ask open ended questions for the next time. I am sure Grant enjoyed the experience, including his 2 baths a day she gave him....still no idea why but whatever, it's Africa.
On the afternoon of the second day we decided not to drive into Kruger again but instead visit Lions Spruit which is a game reserve within Marloth Park. It houses all the big five except elephants. We were able to sneak up on some rhinos and watch zebras drink from a pond.
The lions were too hidden but we had the whole place to ourselves, never seeing another vehicle the entire time. One thing I did not enjoy about Kruger was the amount of cars. Lots of locals self-drive and I felt like it took away from the experience to be driving down the beaten path looking for a leopard and a Kia comes your way.
We rarely saw other safari vehicles and I think having the guide and the open air vehicle makes the experience better. I would never be able to find all the animals myself, plus drive and know all the facts about each animal to share with the other passengers.
Kruger was a great experience I'm glad we could visit but next time I would like to stay farther into the bush, and hopefully see some cheetahs and leopards. Maybe when the kids are a bit older as lots of lodges won't allow small kids to stay and/or enjoy a game drive. I don't want to leave my kids all day with a babysitter so for us a house in Marloth park was the perfect plan. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to do things on their own schedule.
Four hours east of Pretoria is an area known as Marloth Park, which is a wildlife sanctuary of 1500 hectares and borders Kruger park.
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| zebras on the side of the road in Marloth park |
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| 4 year old zebra nursing from he rmom |
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| Kudu |
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| Ostrich rolling in the sand |
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| Pool and Boma area with our vacation rental |
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| The traditional thatch roof was in all the rooms and made for a more traditional feel. |
Years back the park offered residential sites and people began building personal and vacation homes in the area. I was surprised the park looked so rustic and the homes were built around the bush.
We rented one of the vacation homes so we could have more room for the kids. The owners of the home arranged for daily game drives into Kruger through a local company and it worked great to have the safari guide at our disposal to work around the kid's schedule. |
| We saw 8 rhinos the first day and 16 total during our 2 day safari |
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| Warthog |
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| Wildebeest |
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| vultures all facing the same way, so the guide figured there was a kill in their direction |
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| Beautiful young zebra |
We stopped for a local favorite, waffles and ice-cream, Adalyn was in heaven. After a mid-day break due to the heat and animals taking shelter from the sun, therefore difficult to see, we went back out on another drive. For the afternoon we drove along Crocodile River and spotted a herd of elephants, including some cute babies taking a drink.
Down the river a bit was another herd followed some buffalo. After a sunset drink over the river we went back to the house.
 |
| Had to wait for the zebra to move before we could drive along |
One aspect of the trip that we loved was having our meals catered at the house. The owner of the property has a local chef who cooked us up ox tail one night then another night was ostrich steak, all delicious with the regional favorites of malva pudding and milk tart. Maybe I am just lazy but its nice to not have to get dressed up and take the kids out for a long dinner, but instead eat as we wished at home. Three nights of catered dinner provided enough left overs for lunch so it was great to not cook for the entire trip. At night we could hear the nearby lions roar as we enjoyed dessert by the fire. Of course there is a 9 foot electric fence all around Kruger and Marloth park so we were not worried.
The second day we started out earlier into Kruger and saw a tons more rhinos. A few crocodiles, hippos, lions, giraffes, zebras, and lots of birds and the most poisonous snake in the world (luckily up in a tree).
 |
| Hippos |
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| Hippos enjoying a swim |
After a bush breakfast we headed back to the house where Grant and Adalyn were enjoying playing with the babysitter.
Adalyn enjoyed the game drives for about 2 hours then was ready to move onto something more exciting for her like playing with Barbies.
I brought a few Barbies on the game drive, but instead of joining us for the afternoon drives, she preferred to stay back with Grant. The house accommodations provided maid service and someone to watch after Grant as I knew being confined in a game drive vehicle would not be much fun for him....or us. Little did I realize, until the 4th time the babysitter watched Grant, that she could not speak English. After any instruction I gave she always replied, "yes, mom", so I figured we were on the same page. I got a good laugh once I figured it out and then it made way more sense why she did the things she did. I have now learned to ask open ended questions for the next time. I am sure Grant enjoyed the experience, including his 2 baths a day she gave him....still no idea why but whatever, it's Africa.
On the afternoon of the second day we decided not to drive into Kruger again but instead visit Lions Spruit which is a game reserve within Marloth Park. It houses all the big five except elephants. We were able to sneak up on some rhinos and watch zebras drink from a pond.
 |
| Poor rhino had part of his horn broken off |
The lions were too hidden but we had the whole place to ourselves, never seeing another vehicle the entire time. One thing I did not enjoy about Kruger was the amount of cars. Lots of locals self-drive and I felt like it took away from the experience to be driving down the beaten path looking for a leopard and a Kia comes your way.
We rarely saw other safari vehicles and I think having the guide and the open air vehicle makes the experience better. I would never be able to find all the animals myself, plus drive and know all the facts about each animal to share with the other passengers.
Kruger was a great experience I'm glad we could visit but next time I would like to stay farther into the bush, and hopefully see some cheetahs and leopards. Maybe when the kids are a bit older as lots of lodges won't allow small kids to stay and/or enjoy a game drive. I don't want to leave my kids all day with a babysitter so for us a house in Marloth park was the perfect plan. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to do things on their own schedule.
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