Happy New Year!

Peace, love, and happiness to all o' y'all! May 2009 be YOUR year, and may you "move on up" to bigger and better things in every aspect of your life! To quote one of my favorite songs at the moment: "What are you waiting for--spread your wings and soar!"

Family + Disrespect = [THAT DOES NOT COMPUTE!]

Hopefully you had a happy holiday! I successfully avoided melting and a pleasant time with family...for the most part. Based on the amount of EDUCATION I've had to hand out lately, I'm expecting a teaching certification any day now...goodness.

Anyway, let me get my pressure down and just tell the story.

On the weekend before Christmas, one of my second cousins (let's call her Susan) asked my other second cousin (let's call her Sally) to ask me to house-sit for her for a few days after Christmas. Susan is currently in the process of renovating her mother's house, and she wanted someone to be at her home as "security" while she was away for the weekend (Friday-Sunday). As most of the family was headed up there for the holiday anyway, it wasn't really an inconvenience. I had no real plans post-Christmas, and while there were things to be done at home, nothing was overly urgent. So I agreed.

Now, a little background on her house: it's pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Well, not really, but it sure feels that way. It's about 2 hours from my dad's house, in the province to the north of us. The area isn't rural, but it might as well be. She lives in a small suburb, which is very quiet and secluded. It would be the perfect place to either raise small children, or retire, since nothing really happens there, and there isn't much to do. At all. The most exciting thing I did during my time there was visit the supermarket. Really.

Then you factor in the heat factor--a flat valley with little shade and direct sunlight for the majority of the day. Not cute. Of course, she doesn't have air conditioning, so you can't even bear to be in the house without every door and window open. And since this country apparently doesn't believe in window or door screens, this of course invites all of the insect kingdom to come inside. And I do mean all. And all over the place too--even inside my luggage. NOT CUTE AT ALL. NO. HEY GIRL NUH-UH.

And then she doesn't have cable. Which in the grand scheme of things, isn't exactly a life-or-death situation, but when you're sitting in someone's house all day with nothing else to do...well, you get it. (Thankfully there was a video rental store next to the supermarket.)

(In fact, the only really redeeming quality about this place was its multiple bathrooms with showers. My dad's house has a bathtub, which to me is a step backwards--I've been showering since age 9. I've had to re-teach myself how to take a bath. Speaking of which, if you want a laugh, just Google "how to take a bath." People are creative!)

Now, after the first day or so, I was thoroughly bored. I've spent the better part of the last four years staying home and doing nothing, and have gotten sick and tired of relaxing, so to be there, unstimulated, was no fun. Even more not-cuteness. I was there with two of my third cousins (I was not kidding about how HUGE this family is), and even with three of us we ran out of entertaining ideas pretty quickly.

Then comes the deal-breaker.

If you'll remember, Susan was only supposed to be gone until Sunday. Now, Susan doesn't have a car, and relies on rides from family/friends, or public transport. So I would have been totally understanding if she hadn't been able to come back until Monday.

I found out, however, that she, in fact was not planning to return until Wednesday.

How did I find this out?

From my third cousin.

Not Susan.

When did I find this out?

AFTER Susan had already left for the weekend.

TIME OUT. STOP. HOLD UP. WAIT.

Number one: the agreement was that she was to return on Sunday, with Monday as an unofficial grace day. You can't just go changing arrangements as you please, particularly when others are involved.

Number two: if it does become necessary to modify the arrangement, be responsible and TELL SOMEBODY. I should not have to hear about your change of plans from anyone else, be it relative, friend, colleague, newspaper reporter, prophet---I should hear it from your mouth first.

I am an adult, and so is Susan, and I expect an adult relationship with her. Which means that she, or any other adult in this situation, should be responsible, respectful, mature, courteous, and straight-forward enough to let inform me of changes to the program. I am not employed as her house-keeper; I am doing her a favor.

Now to be honest (and to keep the pressure down), again, it's not as if there were fires at home waiting to be put out, that I could not attend to due to my absence. There were no other plans I had made.

And it may seem to some of these people that I am still a child. As the youngest of my father's children I suppose it's easy to see me in that light. The last time a lot of these people saw me, I was in diapers. And currently, I don't have too much going on.

But the reality remains that I'm not 2, or 12---I'm 22. If you can trust me to be responsible with your HOME and all its contents, why can't you be mature enough to talk to me, and see if I am still available to manage with new arrangements? Especially since I was the oldest one who was going to be there, and therefore the one responsible for greater welfare of us all.
Even if you have my personal schedule memorized, it is simply rude not to discuss the situation with me.

I mean you just don't DO that! No matter who it is--stranger, customer, friend, colleague, family, St. Peter--you just do not do that Disrespect can't and won't be tolerated.

Well. As an adult, I know that this is not a situation worth getting angry over. My energy is not expendable like that.

The bottom line is that Susan and I will have a discussion about this, and move on. I believe when you're getting to know people, you set up the framework for the way they treat you. Build the foundation incorrectly, and the whole thing will eventually crack and crumble.

What about you: how do you handle being offended by family?

Palm Tree Christmas/Merry Independence!

I often find the holidays interesting. The term "tradition" is a bit lost on me, since from age 10 or so, my holiday experiences have never been consistently the same. It's quite interesting to see where I end up towards the end of each year. A bit gypsy-like, but interesting--and always enjoyable. I never really plan on doing much, and always end up busy and bouncing from one place to another. For someone like myself who loves variety, it's great.

This year is quite different in a few ways, however. For one thing, IT. IS. HOT. It's been either 90 or near 90 for the past week and a half. Which is ok, if you like warm weather. But I am a child of the snow--fall and winter are my favorite seasons. So this business of Halloween feeling more like Memorial Day and Christmas feeling like the Fourth of July (thus, my new holiday greeting of "Merry Independence!")...definitely going to take some getting used to. It's hard to sing songs like "Baby, It's Cold Outside" or "Frosty the Snowman" when you're wearing shorts and flip-flops and trying desperately not to sweat through another good shirt. Even without the other, more formal traditions--huge family dinner, etc.-- I still had one thing: the cold. I suppose I can get used to it sooner or later, but I'm keeping my pictures of snow handy in the meantime.

Then there's the other thing: family! It's the first time in a very long time when I've been almost exclusively with blood relations over the holidays--or just in general, actually. It's nice and a bit weird at the same time. (Sidebar: I have to say I am incredibly grateful for those who have welcomed me into their homes and lives; definitely some of the most precious moments in my life. I thank, love, and miss you all!) I'm so used to basically being adopted into other people's families, that being in my own is...odd. I slip into the role of houseguest/fun family friend/entertainer so easily it's almost second nature (and I miss it!), but finding my "new" role, and where I fit in my own family, is quite different altogether. I don't mean to say that I feel alienated, but every now and then it's hard to feel apart of everything when people share so much history that I don't, or speak in a language I don't understand. But all in all, as time goes by, and places and names become more familiar, I am feeling more at home. And my life-of-the-party trait is always there ready and waiting to be unleashed, so once I feel a bit more comfortable...watch out now!

But yeah. It's hot.

Anyway, whatever you celebrate and where ever you are, hopefully this holiday season finds you happily at peace!!!

Pure, Unadulterated Beauty.

Not gonna lie, I'm a sucker for a killer hairstyle.


If your hair's lookin' good, expect a compliment.



Which is what makes this woman so awesome:

Meet Mrs. Chantal Biya, First Lady of Cameroon.

She. Is. Magnificent.


And look at her giving whoever's sitting next to her the side-eye--it's a look that says "I've done more with a blow dryer than you will EVER accomplish in your whole life!"



Simply amazing.








Happy Monday!


Listen: "One Shot" - Danity Kane

Walking Away

I don't really like getting too personal too often, nor do I like getting overly specific concerning names in situations like this, but I need to get this off of my chest. This going to be a long one, so brace yourself.

***

I transferred to a different high school at the start of my senior year, but thankfully my outgoing and friendly personality helped me make friends quickly and easily. I joined the choir and auditioned for, and got a lead role in, the school musical. Through all of that I made a lot of good, strong friendships, and one of those was with this girl, Nikki. We got along great, everything's beautiful, woo-hoo, senior year!

Fast forward to last summer, when she was home for break, and I was there working. She apparently had to organize a theater production as part of her degree program, so based on our previous experience working together on stage, she wanted me to be involved. During this time I was working with a contractor, installing kitchen cabinets all over NJ, and most of the time I was home by 7 pm each night. Having this in mind, I told Nikki that I would love to be involved, but I wouldn't be able to make any rehearsals or meetings unless they were scheduled after 7 pm, or on weekends.

Here was my first problem: after having told her this, you'd think she'd keep that in mind, right?

Ha ha. She turned around and scheduled weekly rehearsals for Thursday afternoons at 2.

Um, what?! Obviously I was going to--and did--miss quite a few rehearsals. While this was annoying, I decided not to get upset; I could easily learn my lines on my own, and just work on the staging when we did get together. (I should have seen this situation as a sign...)

Now, being the person that I am, I was enthusiastic about this thing--it had been a while since I had been on stage, and it would give me a welcome distraction. I even got some of my friends involved, one of whom became one of the leads, and one of whom, Joe, one of my best friends, became the director of the show.

So then the end of the summer comes, and we all agreed to keep in contact and have a few rehearsals during the school year. Her campus was only an hour away from home, and I had friends heading that way quite often. Everything seemed great.

Now, for the next few months I never heard from her, even though I tried calling and emailing. We had said we'd have rehearsals, so what's up? Let's do it! Of course, life is busy at college and I can understand and identify with how hard it sometimes is to keep in touch with friends from home.

Then some interesting things happened. I heard from my friend Joe, stories about rehearsals going on, rehearsals I knew nothing about. I even saw pictures. It's not like I couldn't have made it: I could have easily hopped on a bus or caught a ride with someone. This of course made me puzzled...why wouldn't I be informed??

She did call me soon after, apologizing for not keeping in touch as she should have, seeing if I was mad at her for said lack of communication, and making sure I still wanted to be involved. No I wasn't mad, and yes I was excited to be a part of it. (I was going to play a black, female, housekeeper--sassiness, feather duster, cornbread, and all--who falls in love with her boss's huband and then gets murdered.)

Then Thanksgiving break rolled around. Nikki finally sent me a quick message saying we should meet up for rehearsal during the break. Sure, fine, no problem.

So I see my friend Joe on the first night of break, we're laughing having a great time etc. The subject of the play comes up, and since it seemed like Joe was hearing more about what was going on, I asked him if he had heard from Nikki regarding the play. He said communication had been spotty, but they had had one rehearsal, and that Nikki had begun looking for other people to fill my role "in case I couldn't do it."

HOLD UP. Looking for other people? Fill my role? What the hell? I JUST got off the phone with her not two weeks prior, telling her how psyched I was to be involved. So why the hell would she be looking for a replacement?!

Of course, he didn't know--after I told him about our phone call, he was as puzzled as I was. Now I was getting upset. Why had I been wasting my time, learning lines, and scouring thrift stores for possible costumes, if she was just going to replace me???

Of course, any attempts to try and reach her were again fruitless. I was beginning to lose patience and respect for her--sad because she was a good friend.

After not hearing anything from her (no contact to me or Joe), I decided to forget about the project, although in the back of my mind I was sourly anticipating that frantic last-minute "I need your help!" phone call from her, and being me, I was preparing myself to help even in THAT situation, should it arise.

But by February, after neither I nor Joe had heard anything, I decided enough was enough: I threw out my script without a second thought.

May rolled around, and by this time I was preparing to move: packing, getting things in order, spending as much time with friends as possible. My awesome friend Tim planned a party for me, and decided to invite her, I suppose as a gesture--he knew about all this, but also realized the magnitude of my moving away. So he sent her an invitation, to which she readily agreed to attend. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, my love," she said.

The party was at Tim's house, which is literally two streets away from Nikki's. You can just see her house from Tim's deck.

And what do you think happened?

The girl never showed up.

No apology, no explanation, no form of goodbye/I'll miss you/etc. She just didn't show up. No follow up phone call. Nothing.

This left me disappointed, and a bit hurt--weren't we once good friends? What happened? Surely it wasn't my fault?

So last night I sent her a message, saying "What ever happened to you??? We're doing a show together, and then I never hear from you again? And then I was hoping to see you before I moved thousands of miles away...what happened? Hope life is treating you well." I kinda wanted some closure, ya know?

So this is what she sent back (a small miracle in itself!): "Hey. I am seriously working nonstop. I have 6 jobs. Life is treating me the way life does. :)"

Um, what?

At this point, my patience and sympathy is really running thin. I'm sorry, but it really is. Six jobs--ouch. But honestly, is that REALLY all I get??? I had been this girl's friend since 04, someone she could --and often did--rely on, whehter as a shoulder to cry on or somebody to laugh with. I did whatever I could to help her when asked. I was happy to help her with the show, and even got others involved. I brought a lot of character (pardon the pun) and positive, creative ideas to the show. And then, I was getting ready to move 10,000 miles away. Wouldn't the simple act of wishing me well as I moved on, been the nice thing to do? Nobody asked her to stay for the entire party--an appearance would have been fine. If not that, at least a phone call or message offering some sort of explanation of her change in plans. In her message, there's no hint of wondering how I am--not that I need that, but it'd be nice!--and in my opinion it was really rather cold. It's basically saying, hi, I'm too busy to care about you anymore.

Ugh. After the way this whole thing has unfolded, I'm not really interested in being buddy-buddy with her again. I mean, it's kind of hard--and rather pointless--to build a bridge if there's nothing and no one waiting for you on the other side. It's unfortunate, but I'm not losing any sleep over it. I know that high school friendships, though they may have been great, tend to fizzle out if there are no new shared experiences. After a while your friendship just becomes based on memories--not enough to sustain. But the way this went...I feel like there are some negative undercurrents directed towards me.

I guess I just wanted some sort of confirmation that I didn't do anything wrong, or that there was nothing additional I could have/should have done. Am I crazy? Is there something about me that suddenly makes me repulsive? I don't get it.

What do you think? Would telling her any of this be a waste of time? Should I even be caring? Why the heck am I so sensitive about this stuff?!

If anything, this just serves as yet another example of how NOT to treat people...

Listen: "Waiting for Time" - Sam Sparro

Updates!

So after sorting out the whole mess with my address (they were sending things to Easton), I finally received my official acceptance to the University of Cape Town!

As you can see, this place is gorgeous. Now, I loved, and still love, Ithaca, both the college and the city. It's the perfect suburban college town, with lots of things to do, natural beauty, and great views of Cayuga Lake, especially from campus. But Ithaca pales in comparison to UCT. Located in one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, the main campus is situated on the base of a mountain, and is minutes away from lovely beaches. I've only seen pictures so far, but some of the views from the mountain tops, both of the city itself and the nearby Atlantic Ocean (take THAT, Cayuga Lake!), are absolutely magnificent. I'm definitely going to need to get my camera fixed before heading there.

I got my housing information too, and THANKFULLY I won't have to repeat the, for lack of a better word, interesting freshman dormitory experience. Actually, my experience wasn't too bad--the worst part was the floor bathroom, and the horrifying condition in which it would almost invariably end up during the weekend, when the cleaning staff was off-duty. That's something every college student should experience, I think, but only once, which is why I'm thrilled to have been placed in a campus apartment. I'll have three roommates at the most, but we each have our own, large-for-college, single bedrooms, with a shared bathroom and full kitchen. These residences are usually reserved for second-year students, or students over 21, like myself, which (hopefully) means that there's a better chance I'll have relatively more mature roommates. And I can cook, which means saving money on food, and not wasting food with a traditional meal plan. (With a meal plan, you pay even if you don't eat--say you skip lunch to study? You're still paying. Decide to eat off campus with some friends? You're still paying. Not to mention the un-eaten food that gets made by the foodservice staff, that probably gets discarded at the end of the day...) Being able to cook and having an apartment means I can also entertain...Hey, girl, hey!

So of course, now I'm in the OCD stages--planning, making shopping lists, researching airfare (it's a 14+ hour drive, NOT doing that again with a packed car; plus it's cheaper to fly), getting advice from current students/alumni via Facebook, etc. And of course, counting down 'til February 3....

***

In other news, it's still warm. I feel like it's been summer since June. Granted it was "cold" here in June and July, but it never got below 40 degrees F. Now, I wake up and it's already 68, usually getting to the mid-70s by afternoon. If the weather could stay like this all summer, it'd be great, but I know it's going to get hotter...yuck. The weird part about that is that, it's NOVEMBER. It should NOT be this warm. I love the cold months, so this is definitely something to get used to. (Feel free to email me scanned copies of maple leaves. Kthanks.) I've been checking the weather patterns in Cape Town (CT) as well, and it doesn't seem to get as warm there, which is nice. But I've heard notorious things about CT weather, most notably that it often changes two or three times during the day, and that you should always carry an umbrella and an extra piece of warm clothing to throw on, because at some point, you'll probably need it. If that's true, the unpredictability of that is sort of exciting to me...and I'd rather take those kinds of conditions over sweltering heat any day.

No to mention the fact that I'm missing cold-weather institutions like Thanksgiving and the usual things that come along with it--the Easton/P'burg game, the Bonfire at the high school, the candle lighting in the circle, seeing old friends, the food, and of course, Black Friday. In the stores, I've already seen Christmas decorations for sale... as I walked up and down the aisles in a t-shirt and shorts. My friend Alan asked for a picture of a menorah and a palm tree, and it certainly looks like I won't have any trouble finding that!

***

It's rather interesting to see all of the changes that the world is going through, and to realize my generation, and those that follow, will have be extraordinarily creative--and prayerful-- to find unconventional solutions for our problems. It's equal parts scary and exciting, but I'd rather be excited. Excited to work hard and to make an impact. There's certainly no shortage of issues to deal with...

And it's definitely interesting to see where all of my fellow high school graduates have ended up post-college...some teaching, some traveling, some entering the corporate world, and others that just make you say, wow! My friend Neil, for instance, was recently working in Wyoming with the Deer Habitat Initiative, doing field research in the desert and woods around Saratoga. Another friend moved to Australia. Of course that makes me feel better about moving across the world--at least I'm not the only one! This move made me realize how much I want to travel though. I'd love to live in a few more different countries before I'm 40, and the way things are going, I'm well on my way towards that goal! People keep telling me to write a book...

***

SIDEBAR: If you have children, or know someone who does, you might encourage them to take a closer look at their childcare. I have a friend here whose three-year-old daughter had soap put in her mouth by the director of her daycare simply because they "lost patience." In the mother's own words:

"When I arrived to fetch my daughter, one of her friends (3yrs) says "Morgan's crying , she had soap in her mouth 'cause she was talking". No teacher approached me. No teacher came to get my attention, or for that matter made any attempt to talk to me. So I asked the teacher about this, she confirmed it very firmly. Her words " We Lost Patience" ( these are daycare tachers of children from 2-5 years!) Apparantly after talking through sandwich time, not responding to being humiliated by standing in the middle of a circle of adults and teachers, consistant ignoring of teacher and possibly climbing a fence.....she was sent to the head mistress," who put soap in her mouth.

After reading my friend Tanyetta's story about how her child, along with the rest of his class, was left unattended outside during recess (Tanyetta was later told that she had "unrealistic expectations" after assuming that someone would always be doing their job--watching the children), and hearing this one, I encourage all of you to check on your childcare! We don't want things like this happening unneccessarily to any more children. Don't be afraid to take action!

***

I'll end this post by with a question. Last month my dad and I took a trip to the south-eastern part of the country to visit some old friends of his, a couple who he's known since before I was born. It was a very nice trip, but one thing left me slightly puzzled/uncomfortable.

While casually chatting with the Mrs. on our first night there, I mentioned that I cook.

The next day, and for the rest of the week, she levied the daily kitchen duties to me. I was to decide and plan a menu for each night, and cook it.

Now, I like cooking, and I think--and have been told--that I'm good at it. I cook here at home because my dad doesn't know how (he can, however, turn eggs into baseballs simply by boiling them for 3 HOURS).

But, well, for all intents and purposes, we were on vacation at this couple's home. We were visitors.

Now I understand the whole friends-who-are-family thing, and how I would be included in that, as I am their friend's son. And I certainly don't mind helping out in the kitchen. And to be fair, both Mr. and Mrs. worked during the day. I cooked, and everything was delicious, of course :-)

But, as a visitor, specifically a first-time visitor, should I be expected to be responsible for every meal, even down to the grocery shopping? Isn't the point of being a visitor, and a guest in someone's home, to take some time off??? I mean, sure, we're familiar, but that familiar? So soon? In my opinion, I should know you for at least a month before it's ok for me to know where you keep your sugar honey iced tea (thanks, Tanyetta!). Am I crazy?

***

...Ironically, I'm off to cook now.

Listen: "Radio" - Beyoncé

Beautiful!

Regardless of your personal politics, or what you thought of the election's outcome, I know you will appreciate this:





























































































Listen: "Eye to Eye" - Tevin Campbell

Cravings! (Thanks, Tanyetta!)

Foods I've missed from the US:

-Bagels!
-Bacon Blue-Cheeseburgers from Brew Works
-Subway
-Pizza (Not that Domino's crap-- pizza made by REAL Italians)
-Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (don't hate, you know you love it.)
-Ellio's!


-Taco Bell (After 1 AM, Taco Bell becomes extremely delicious, and is almost always worth the time spent in the bathroom afterwards. Trust.)
-Plantains! (Although maybe I can find those here, so there's hope.)
-Breyer's/Edy's/Ben & Jerry's


There are probably a few more, but I'm making myself really hungry right now, and there's already enough drool in my keyboard....





Listen: "Gettin' in the Way (Live)" - Jill Scott

Right Your Wrongs

I'm pretty certain that everybody has a story or experience in which they offended someone, but for whatever reason has yet to apologize for their actions. Perhaps you didn't realize the effect you had until it was too late. Perhaps you think too much time has passed for your apology to sound sincere. Maybe you're struggling with that guilt everyday but have no idea, or are too ashamed, to make things right. Perhaps you feel that the gap between you and the people you've hurt is too great to mend.

My advice is simple: just do it. Even if it's been years and years, just do it. Often we don't realize just how far reaching our actions can be--they have to power to influence people for years and years. Even if you can't be there in person to express your contrition, make a phone call, write a letter, hire a skywriter--do something. Perhaps that simple action will make all the difference. And even if it doesn't, maybe you'll even sleep a little better at night knowing that you've done your best. Part of growing, I believe, is not only learning how your mistakes affect you, but realizing their effects on others, and humbling yourself enough to admit your imperfections. Imagine how much more fulfilling our relationships with each other would be if everyone was willing to admit their faults. Or how much more we would respect each other if we were willing to do whatever it takes to make things right. So, do it! You have the power!

I guarantee you that you'll be a much happier person if you do. By showing others enough respect to admit what you've done wrong, you'll be better able to respect yourself.

A Day in the Life, Pt. 3

Shopping

Yes, this is important, so wipe that look off your face.

Shopping is very interesting here. It starts from the most basic of levels, some of which I'd never even seen before, to levels which I honestly thought I wouldn't see until I became a multi-billionaire. Here you will find everything.

One thing to get used to is the "hawkers," people selling their wares on the side of the road. Come to almost any intersection, and you'll find a man/group of men trying to sell various items. If my camera hadn't decided to retire (grrr), I'd have pictures for you, but instead I'll just list some of the things I've seen for sale, roadside: coat hangers, sunglasses, water bottles, tires, wicker furniture, baskets, candy, fruit, cell phone chargers, garbage bags, toys...just to name a few. This is also where a lot of advertising takes place, as companies or small businesses will often place people at various intersections to pass out fliers or coupons. I can't imagine having to be out there, standing amidst crazy traffic, trying to sell things to motorists who for the most part, ignore you, but I'm told that for these people, it's either stand there and sell, or, well, starve. Some of them can't get jobs for whatever reason and are forced to find some way to provide for themselves and their families. I must say I comment their courage, because the way people drive around here...

That being said, there are, of course, more "traditional" methods of purchasing items. There are many shopping centers/complexes, just like any other country, I suppose. If you've seen one supermarket/hardware store/whatever, you've basically seen them all.

There are of course the mainstream department/specialty stores that you'd find in any mall (occasionally I'm surprised to see what I thought was exclusively a US store, i.e., the Body Shop). I do, however, miss some of my favorites: H&M, and Express Men. I liked these stores because they always had something that catered to my needs/wants/size. Clothing there was classy, refined, and elegant, while still being fresh and youthful, and best of all, AFFORDABLE. Their T-shirts don't double as wearable billboards, and thankfully aren't full of crass sexual innuendos. I've found similar stores here, though, so on that front I can rest easy and won't become a fashion disaster anytime soon. You don't really see traditional African articles of clothing in those types of stores though; for those you would probably need to find some sort of open-air market, or find somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody, etc.

One thing that puzzles me is that I've seen quite a few people wearing Abercrombie & Fitch/American Eagle clothes, which is somewhat confusing considering I haven't seen one of those stores here, although it's possible they're imported. A lot of that happens here, which is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing in the sense that, if you can't find what you want here, you can have it imported, but a curse in the sense that it's probably going to be more expensive than it would be if you were to purchase the item in its country of origin. I suppose that has something to do with avoiding the fluctuations in currency, as well as covering import/export/customs fees and taxes, but still, annoying. (Anybody want to buy me a MacBook Pro? Kthanks.)

And then there are the stores that come as a sort of surprise. Technically, they shouldn't be, since many companies are international, and obviously for these companies to stay in business here, people would have to be purchasing their various products, but it still is a surprise sometimes. I went to a mall in Hyde Park (north of Johannesburg) a few weeks ago, for instance, and saw an Audemar-Piguet store. In case you don't know, Audemar-Piguet is a Swiss luxury brand of fine jewellery and watches, with prices for watches averaging in the $20,000 zone. They are some beautiful watches, not gonna lie. In the same general area, there was a Lamborghini/Aston Martin dealership, and we were behind a Bentley or two in the afternoon traffic. We all know that the people who can afford such things usually get them, and I'm certainly not demonizing brands like these or the people who enjoy them (my birthday is in 10 months). I think it was just jarring for me to see that kind of luxury brand, thriving in a country where, just a few miles away from the store, you'd surely find someone offering a quick window wash so they could feed their families, or a family walking around barefoot, and not by choice. It's quite a contrast.

Paying for things can also be weird at first, because of the differences in currency--sometimes it's a slight shock to hear and see what things cost here. If my dad and I go out to eat, we average about R150 for the two of us. At first glance, I think, "A hundred and fifty bucks?! For two entrees and drinks? WTH?!" But then I remember to do my conversions, only to realize that R120 equals about $25 or so (at least, it did before the global economy imploded). Perhaps the good thing about that sort of thinking is that I'll be more keen to spend as little as possible.

The "nice" thing is that, coming into this country with dollars, I kinda feel like one of the disciples must have felt as Jesus was feeding the 5,000: you start off with a certain amount, change it over, an it multiplies! What fun. You can be sure I'm going to ride that wave for as long as I can.



Listen: "Damn, I Said It First" - Nikka Costa

Note to Cameraman: Strike While You Have the Chance!

Honestly. I need to find the people who took this picture, specifically the person holding the video camera, and find out why he didn't hit when he had the chance. He was already standing that close to Robert Mugabe (center), so why would he hesistate?! I'm sure that camera is heavy enough to do some serious cranial damage!

Now before you start calling me a homicidal maniac, slow down. Unless you're an insect and have come into my home/vehicle/ general 10-mile-radius without an invitation, you will probably never see my violent side.

And I'm assuming by now that you know who Robert Mugabe is (President of Zimbabwe for the last 28 years); if you don't, now is a good time to come out from under that rock. Long story short, his behavior is tyrannical, and it's alleged that he uses fear, intimidation, threats and often, actual incidences of violence to fix voting to ensure he stays in power (even though he lost the March election, he's holding the presidency in a death-grip, literally). Under his "leadership," Zimbabwe's economy continues to spiral downward, and experiences hyperinflation (1 US Dollar = 505 Zimbabwean Dollars; even Monopoly money is worth more!); the people who can actually afford the food suffer from food shortages (shortages meaning no food, no where); and the nations infrastructure seems to be crumbling. Even while facing international ridicule, sanctions, and pressures, he refuses to resign, even after so long in office.

He and the main opposition party in Zimbabwe, the Movement for Democratic Change (the party that actually won the Election), signed a power-sharing agreement back in September, but of course, any positive results from that event have yet to materialize. Zimbabweans--those that survive, anyway--are leaving the country in droves, fleeing to the nearest borders, not to defect, or emigrate, or protest--simply to live.

This is why we need people like Jason Bourne to be real, and not fictional. There is WORK to be done! Come on, CIA! Or they could use Daniel Craig to knock him out, and then put it in the next Bond film.

But even THEY are taking too long. That's why I'm upset with those camera men. Those cameras aren't light. A good thwack or two.... They had the perfect opportunity and they blew it!


On a serious note, though, something needs to be done. I wish there was some way to convince Mr. Mugabe of how badly his country is really suffering, since he obviously can't recognize. I see TV reports everyday of how people there are starving, being forced to sustain themselves on contaminated water, as they become more and more to ill. It's a shame to see that he is more concerned with his status as president than the people he's actually presiding over. I don't understand how you can ride around in government-owned motorcades (consisting of only Benzes and BMWs) while your people die. I love my German cars, but when you are a leader of a country whose people face extinction due to your policies, I believe there are far better things on which to spend your money.


...If nothing changes within Zimbabwe's government soon, there will be nobody left in the country to govern.

Excited!

Ok, building off the last post--

I'm excited to go back to school! I mean, really excited. Finally doing what I want to do!

I've realized that sometimes, when you've dealt with so many painful situations, there's the danger of becoming so used to those situations, that you never really let yourself enjoy the good things in your life. The yoke has already been unlocked, and yet you can still be carrying it around your neck because you don't think you deserve to be happy. But the past is the past for a reason--it's over and done! It doesn't have to dictate who you are or who you will be. If God opened the door, why are you still standing outside?! Go in, take your shoes off and relax! Like mom always said, you can be bitter, or you can be better.

And I'm so much more prepared. This time around, there's a much smaller chance of the financial problems I had previously with school creeping back up again. This time around, I'm better prepared to handle the stresses of an academic, social, and working life. I've learned how to properly manage my time, and when to say no and spend the night in doing work instead. I know how to deal with crazy roommates. I know that all nighters make you look more worn out than a Ford Pinto and should be avoided at all costs (the last time I did that, by 6 AM I was typing and dozing off at the same time and drooling onto the keyboard; not cool, especially when you're in a computer lab). I know that sleeping in too long on Sunday mornings cuts down on available study time. I know the importance of saving money, especially when in college. I know what works and what doesn't work in a dorm room setting (desktop computers are the devil), and I know how to organize and pack things efficiently. I've been able to use this time off to sharpen my cooking and food shopping skills, so that I can make cheap, healthy meals on my own and avoid meal plan costs (and I can even entertain!). I know what type of "friends" to avoid, and what kind of friends to keep, how to handle different situations as an adult, and I know I'm mature enough to let the drama-prone chicken heads do their clucking far, far away from me!

And I'm excited to able to stretch my academic and intellectual muscles again! It's been too long!

And besides, Cape Town is gorgeous!

Listen: "Encourage Yourself" - Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers

Dilemma.

So I got a job. And I got into the University of Cape Town, rated to be the best on the continent..

My problem is this: I'd love to go to school now, but who's going to pay for it? I don't have much money, and my dad's planning on retiring very soon, so any contributions he would be able to make would be minimal. There are scholarships and grants which I'm definitely applying for, but they might not cover all expenses. I can get loans, of course. Contributions would be great lol, but it's unfair of me to expect them, and thus unwise to plan on receiving them.

Or I could work for a few years. But then I'd be even more years behind as far as education. By the time I would return, the price would have gone up even more. (But then I will have had enough time to establish a good credit rating and get a good interest rate.) I'll also have some money saved up by then, but will I really want to return to school full time, at, say, 25? Then again, why not? My sister's done it and is doing well. I know I can make it work, but still...

OR I could work while in school, which might be the best option. That way I'd be making money, hopefully enough to defray loan repayments; building good credit, gaining practical workplace experience (especially if I'm doing a paid internship), and accomplishing two of my goals at once. (As I'm writing this I'm realizing that A) this is most likely my best option and B) writing helps me answer my own questions haha.)

I also want a car, and I'd have to finance it myself, but then again first year students aren't allowed to have cars on campus. I could just get a really cheap car, and find a secure place to park it near campus, but then there's the risk of high maintenance costs associated with owning an older car.

Things to think about...

What about you? How did you juggle your education and the rest of your life?



Listen - "Listen" - Beyoncé

Flying Cars

My dad told this funny story the other day; not sure if it's true, but it's hilarious.

Most people get trackers installed in their cars so that, in the event of theft, the car can be located.

Some poor guy--let's call him Joe--got his car stolen by some group of professional thieves. He was at home at the time of the theft. Apparently, the theives loaded the car into some sort of frieght plane or helicopter and took off, intending to resell/disassemble it in another country.

The tracking company, vigilant as ever, noticed that the car was traveling at an unusually high speed, and proceeded to call Joe to see what was going on.

Can you imagine the conversation?

"Hello?"
"Hello, this is Adam with ABC Tracking Services, am I speaking to Joe?"
"Yes..."
"Joe, we noticed some unusual activity with your vehicle, registration number mw3 h46 GP."
"What kind of activity?"
"Well sir, our system shows your car as having a current speed of over 600 miles per hour.....what's going on?"
"WHAT?! What are you talking about?!"
"Sir, our computers show that your car is currently travelling at over 600 miles per hour! May I ask exactly WHAT you are doing, or WHERE you are going?!"

Poor Joe, and hopefully he was able to get his car back, but HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !

A Day in the Life, Pt. 2

Transportation

Today, we’ll be looking at how people get around down here. Aviation and rail travel are pretty standard worldwide, so I won’t cover those here; instead I’ll be concentrating mainly on road traffic.

Like many other countries in the world, the rule of the South African road is to drive on the left hand side of the road. Coming from the States or another place where drivers keep right, it can be quite jarring to keep left. When I first got here, riding in the car was a bit scary: I’d be looking out the side window, admiring the scenery, and then happen to glance back at the road in shock and fear and think, “omg OMG OMG we are going to hit someone!!!! What is going on?!?!” It takes a bit of mental adjustment and practice, but soon you realize that almost everything is a mirror-image to what you would do in the US. Since I’ve been here, I’ve gotten more used to it, but every now and then I’ll have a moment of panic until I remember where I am. One thing working in my favor is that I didn’t do a lot of driving in the States, so I should be able to adjust with minimal issues.

One part of this left-side driving that isn’t as obvious—but definitely deserves to be mentioned because the adjustment one must make in this case is almost more difficult than driving the car--is crossing the street.

We all learn the proper procedure for crossing the street at a young age. I used to walk home from school with my sister from as early as first grade, and by age eight I was walking myself to and from school every day. So the practice of looking a certain way before crossing has been practically etched in my brain for years.

When you want to cross a US street, you’ll follow a Left-Right-Left procedure:

(Like my artwork?)

Makes sense, right? Easy enough. I’ve been doing this for years.

Which is what makes it that much harder to cross the street in a country where the roads are reversed. Instead of Left-Right-Left, I now have to program myself to look Right-Left-Right. Let me tell you, it’s a lot harder than it sounds. I’ve had at least 10 experiences by now where I’ve almost been hit crossing the street, and I actually got mad at the oncoming traffic because they were on the “wrong” side of the road. Then the realization that the driver is, in fact, correct, kicks in, and I feel more stupid than a box of hair.

Another fun part of driving down here is the abundance of things to hit! There’s the obvious—animals, who, in their minds, basically own the entire country, including the roads. They don’t care how fast you’re going or how loud you honk—if they want to be in your way, they will be in your way. Oh, and if they want to hit you, they will.

Then there are the more scary obstacles. You’ll often find street vendors standing in the middle of the road selling their wares. They often walk in between lanes while there is moving traffic, which is really quite dangerous. It’s easy for them to get hit—I wonder what in the world they do when there are large trucks coming. Scary!

Then there are the motorcycles. In normal traffic, they ride within lanes, just like any other motor vehicle. But when traffic is heavy, especially around rush hour, cyclists often ride the dividing lines, in between other cars, because, well, they can fit. It’s not uncommon to be stuck in traffic and see a motorcycle whizzing by, darting in between cars. This is VERY dangerous though, since people often change lanes in stop and go traffic; you’re more inclined to look for a slow-moving car in your blind spot than you are a speeding motorcycle. I don’t even want to think about what would happen if a car and a bike moving like this were to collide. I understand the cool-factor of a motorcycle, but I am very happy in my four-wheeled cocoon, thank you very much. On a bike, if somebody hits you, they hit you, not just the bike. At least in a car, there are a few crumple zones and airbags to cushion the blow.

And now, the cars themselves. The interior is, of course, something to get used to, as the cars here are right-hand drive: (And every now and then, I'll head to the wrong side of the car)

The strange thing is, the only thing that’s really right-justified is the steering wheel, driver’s seat, and instrument panel. For instance, in the this picture, the volume knob is still on the left hand side of the radio, which is nice if you’re in a left-hand drive car, because you can quickly adjust the volume. To me, in a right-hand drive car, this should be reversed, so that you don’t have to reach so far to adjust the volume. But it’s not! Also, the layout of the pedals is exactly the same, no matter which side of the car the steering is on, which is nice, because it makes it easier to operate a car no matter what country you’re in. And, in cars with manual transmissions, the shift layout pattern is exactly the same, which to me is a bit awkward, having to reach all the way over to the left to put it into first gear. But again, knowing that the gears are placed exactly the same eases the transition from right- to left-hand drive, and I’m sure that it reduces manufacturing costs as well.

There are a few differences in the way cars look, too. Auto companies often make different variants of their cars for different markets. Not all companies do this, apparently (most European cars—Porsche, VW, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and others—are the same no matter where you are), but it’s kind of funny to spot the differences:

2008 Ford Focus (US)

2008 Ford Focus (SA-which looks a lot better if you ask me.)

Another example: General Motors is a worldwide company, but here, you’ll only find a few Chevrolets; most of them (as well as Saturns, Pontiacs, and Saabs) are instead branded as Opels or Vauxhalls.

Then there are some companies that offer models that aren’t available in the US:

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

And then there are auto companies that don’t presently sell in the US:

-Renault, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Peugot: they used to sell in the US market, and apparently are considering returning in the near future. (Good luck, y’all, cuz some of your cars are not cute!)

-Daihatsu

-Ssangyong

-Proton

-Seat

As a lifelong auto enthusiast, it’s funny for me to see a car and think, “WHAT is that?!” Sometimes it’s a good funny, but sometimes the cars are just plain ugly.

Ugly enough that I’d rather ride an elephant.

Maybe that day will come soon?

Listen: Joss Stone - "Don't Cha Wanna Ride"

A Day in the Life, Part 1

I'm so BORING sometimes!


I know, I know; you're probably laughing by now. Me? Boring? I seriously had a hard time typing that with a straight face.

What I'm trying to say is that I'm taking a break from writing about myself. Not that that's a bad thing, but one can't spend all of their time looking in the mirror.

I often get asked some variation of the question, "What's life in America like?" But how in the world do you answer a question like that? Is there a conceivable way to quickly summarize a culture? I think not. I usually end up asking people to inquire about something specific, because specific questions are much easier to answer.

In the same vein, I imagine that some of you might have the same question about South Africa. The rest of the world doesn't get to hear/see much about Africa, except for the more dramatic parts (poverty, wild animals, horrible wars, HIV, etc.). So, I'm hoping that the next few posts will help to enlighten you somewhat about life in South Africa.

DISCLAIMER: The observations/comments in the next few posts are made from the perspective of someone who's just moved here. Since I've only been here for about three months, there's obviously no way I can possibly explain the inner psyche of a society, and any gerneralizations I may make are strictly superficial. I still have a lot to learn about the nation's history and people's attitudes in respect to certain issues. This is only meant as a casual, sort of beginner's guide to highlight differences between South African and US daily life. If you're interested, please feel free to comment/email for further discussion. And as always, thanks for reading.

So, part one: Language

As I mentioned in a previous post, there are 11 official languages in this country (do a Wikipedia search for South Africa if you don't believe me, but you should also do the search because at the moment I don't care enough to look up how to spell each language correctly, and if you haven't noticed, that's important to me). THANKFULLY, English is the one language that everybody speaks; while you will probably see a few different translations (on street signs or application forms, for instance), English seems to be the standard for businesses and government institutions.

Which is nice of course, but there are a couple hiccups that an American in transition, like myself, would face, mainly in spelling and vocabulary. For the most part, English vocabulary here matches that of real, British English. So here's a list of everyday terms/phrases/idioms/ along with their SA (South African) equivalents ( this is also what's called a list of lexical differences [who needs the Discovery Channel? Learn with me!]):

USA terms => SA terms

gas = petrol
elevator= lift
traffic light = robot (though this can also refer to actual robots)
the letter "z" = the letter "z;" but it's pronounced "zed." Apparently, this is the way students are taught to pronounce this letter, which if you think about it makes sense--this way the chance of getting it confused with "c," "e," or any other similar-sounding letter is greatly reduced.
barbecue = braai (This refers to the activity of barbecuing/cooking out. In this case, the word "barbecue" refers to a seasoning, sauce, or flavor.)
ketchup= tomato sauce
napkin = servillet (pronounced ser-vee-yet; not unlike Spanish or other Romantic languages. In this case, the word "napkin" refers to a baby's diaper, so if you're at a restaurant you'd better be sure you're asking for the right thing.)
doughnuts = fat cakes (Definitely makes me want to eat less of these!)
water (anyone in PA knows it's pronounced "wooder") = waTer (with a hard "t")
light bulbs = globes
bag (such as those used for packaging food items, like potatoes) = pocket (although a pants pocket is still called a pocket)
crazy (as in, "Things are crazy right now!" or, "That's crazy!") = hectic (not much of a difference, I know, but you when you're the only one saying "crazy," you notice it)
How are you?/What's up? = How'z it?
beef jerky = biltong
spicy sausage = boerewors
truck = van
pickup truck = bakkie
trunk (of a car) = boot
hood (of a car) = bonnet
call (as a verb) = phone ("I'll phone you later.")
pharmacist = chemist
French fries = chips (also refers to potato chips). Now you understand "fish and chips."
marijuana/weed/pot = dagga
apartment = flat
water heater = geyser
Really? = Is it?
jelly (such as grape) = jam (In this case, jelly refers to Jell-O or other gelatin desserts.)
minivan = kombi
high school diploma/senior year = "matric," short for matriculation certificate.
corn = miele/maize
cough medicine = muti
soon/later/in a while = now now
floppy disk = stiffy
flashlight = torch
cookies = biscuits
cupcake = cookie
soda = cool/cold drink
glove compartment = cubby hole
yuck = sies (sounds like "sis")
sneakers = takkies



Then there are the differnces in spelling, which, from my perspective as a former newspaper editor, are slightly irritating, but are slowly becoming second nature:

license = licence
realize = realise
specialize = specialise

Also, there are slight differences in the way words are emphasized; when I'm listening to talk radio, I'll often have to repeat the word quietly to myself to figure out what it was: STRAtegize will become straTEgise, and so on.


I'll add more examples of "funny" words as I come across them. Look for future updates in this series!


Listen: Louis Armstrong - "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off"

A Flame, Rekindled

I got a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I suppose I should start at the beginning.

My dad used to work for EasyBiz, the official distributor and supporter of QuickBooks software in South Africa. (He actually mentored the current head of the Customer Support Department.) The support staff there regularly refers customers who are using older versions of QuickBooks to my dad, so he's constantly in contact with the office. So it only makes sense that he contact the office and at least set up an interview for me.

Of course, with my very limited work experience, I'd never actually been on a "real" interview before. I mean, sure, we had mock interviews in high school, in which I excelled, but this here was the real thing. So I polished up my basically-empty resumé, wrote a glittering cover letter, and told myself to relax. Didn't work of course, as I was more nervous than Amy Winehouse without her crackpipe, but on I went.

The interview itself went pretty well. I was extremely nervous for the first few minutes, and when that happens I usually get pretty quiet, which isn't necessarily helpful when someone's asking you questions. But somehow I managed to settle down and open up a bit, and after about 20 minutes or so, was asking some questions of my own.

I took a short tour of the department in which I would be working, Customer Support (via phone, email, and the occasional office visit), and found my would-be coworkers to be very laid back. By the end of the meeting, I felt confident about the job. Apparently, my interviewer felt confident about me, because the next day he called me in to meet his boss. You'd think I would have been even more nervous this time around, right? I suprised even myself with how relaxed I was in that meeting. I was saying all the right things, smoothly and effortlessly, making eye contact, and appearing very confident. THANK GOD because to be honest I had done no real interview prep or anything, so I knew that I wasn't just "winging it;" I had help.

Of course, peppered throughout the meeting were the obligatory "if-we-hire-you" clauses, but afterwards I was told it was an unoffical yes (pending some paperwork).

I GOT A JOB! A REAL job with a steady paycheck! And benefits! And regular hours! Me!

Now, from the outside, it may not seem like a big deal; people get jobs all the time. But for someone like me, who only a few months ago could only dream at the possibility of such things, it's amazing. It's a sort of confirmation that I did the right thing in moving. I'm realizing that those things which I used to dream about, and later started to give up on, can and even WILL happend. It makes me feel like I'm worth something. It's the first time in a long time where I've felt as if I was appreciated on an intellectual level. I mean, not to brag, but I'm pretty smart; in the last few years, I haven't had the chance to display that properly. Now, using my own computer skills, and the things I'll learn in the next few weeks, I'll be able to instruct and assist others. "Contributing to society" won't just be a phrase or some far-off hope anymore.

Then there's that new "grown-up" feeling. I'm sure everybody has days when they wish they could just be a lazy bum and do nothing all day, but I can tell you from experience that it gets old, really fast. You start getting fat, and you start getting stupid. Seriously. (When episodes of Maury mean more to you than the news, it's time for a change.) It'll be nice having a routine: get up, get dressed, go to work, go to the gym (I'm not lying, being a bum makes you fatttt!), go home. It'll be nice to stop feeling so far behind everybody else. It'll be nice, at the end of the day, to feel as if I've accomplished something.

And OH YEAH, a really nice thing about working? MONEY. On a regular basis. A real, dependable income (with the opportunity for raises. Raises! Who'da thunk it?!). Going into MY OWN bank account. No more signing checks over to someone else, no more using someone else's debit card, no more keeping my cash in an envelope buried in the bottom of a suitcase so no one finds it. And just think of the freedom that financial independence allows. No more saying "hm, I'd love to do x, but I might not have money next week for y, " etc. etc. I can budget now! I can save! I can plan; I can DO THINGS. No more "forced" dependence on others.

YAY!!!!!

For the time being, my dad will have to drive me back and forth to work each day,which will work for now, but can only mean one thing in the near future.....I'LL BE DRIVING. MY OWN CAR. We're already looking into a few different options, but I'm looking for something like this:





VW Polo Hatch 1.6 (sort of a mini-Golf, [not sold in the US] and GREAT on gas)


Just think, though! Me! Driving! I've wanted to drive since before I could even reach the pedals. I used to dream of the day I turned 16; I imagined myself camped outside the DMV at 12.01 am on my birthday haha. Obviously, that didn't happen, and I've since had to rely on rides from friends, or public transportation. Which is cool, but there's something special in being able to decide for yourself when and where you want to go, without having to depend on someone else or follow their schedule. Not to mention being in control haha--if I'm hot or if I'm cold, there'll be no one to argue with over the a/c (can i GET witness?!) OR the radio.

All that to say, I hope you people who already have these things really appreciate what you have. Driving, having your own money, or working may seem a matter of course to some, but these things truly are blessings. As unfortunate as my situation may have been, there are still others who have it far worse than I did/do. We should all be grateful everyday for the blessings we see.

YAY!!!!! (Sorry, can't help it.)

(All this has me thinking though...what if I were to work for a few years, and then go back to school? Establish myself financially and build up my credit?That way, I'd be able to finance some of my education myself, and have the least possible debt once I graduate. Nothing concrete, though. Just a thought I'm having. Any thoughts/suggestions?)

---

In other news, I got a BlackBerry! No surprise, really--ever since owning a Treo, I've fallen in love with smartphones, if for no other feature than being able to back up your contacts to your computer (has anyone else ever broken their phone and lost allll their numbers? Yikes!). It's awesome too--instant access to my email (which means I'll reply pretty quickly), GPS, Internet, and my favorite feature, BlackBerry (BB) Messenger, which provides free instant messaging from BB-to-BB, worldwide. If you have one, let's exchange PINs! If not, email me for my number.

I've figured out way to send regular text messages as well--most phones allow you to text an email address, in additon to regular numbers, and since all my email addresses are linked to my phone as well, I can read and reply to your text. This is the perfect way to get around international SMS costs--it's free for me, and it'll cost you the same as any other text. So if you'd like, text me at yk4k@yahoo.com. Just keep in mind the 6 hour (or 7 hour, once you turn the clocks back) time difference (from the east coast) please lol.

A special shout out to my all my readers, and a warm welcome to the freshman class: the Fabulous Lady Tee, and the hilarious Tanynetta! Spread the word!


And my dad says "hi" in his own version of an American accent.



Listen: "We Break the Dawn" - Michelle Williams

You'll Always Be A Part of Me

I'm feeling a bit homesick this weekend, so I thought I'd share some pics of people I miss!