Merry Christmas (almost)! After what seems like the longest semester ever I'm finally home with mom, enjoying some hot chocolate and watching the snow fall. Mom has already had me listen to tons of Christmas music, eating gingerbread men and wrapping presents, and I've had her watching cheesy Christmas romances–awesome! I'm definitely feeling in the holiday spirit now! I'm trying to bring it all in and savor every moment since this time next year I'll be somewhere in South Africa and I'm pretty sure that Christmas will be unlike any Christmas I've ever experienced! So my wonderful friend Jen had this great idea to write some blogs about where I'll be going and what better place to start than my future Christmas home!
<–home sweet home
So next year while everyone from your grocer to the mailman says Merry Christmas I may be hearing it in anyone of the ELEVEN official languages. Yep I said 11, official languages. Google could only give me Merry Christmas in 4. I think I need to start practicing!
Gesëende Kersfees–Afrikaans
Sinifesela Ukhisimusi Omuhle Nonyaka Omusha Onempumelelo–Zulu
Siniqwenelela Ikrisimesi EmnandI Nonyaka Omtsha Ozele Iintsikelelo Namathamsanqa–Xhosa
Keresemose o monate le masego a ngwaga o montsha–Tswana
And next year while you may be buried under snow enjoying good old New England weather, I'll be enjoying South Africa's summer! It'll be hot and sunny with short lasting thunderstorms in the afternoons. It'll be so weird not to be constantly cold! I'll be sure to send some warmth and love back to you all!
And next year while you are enjoying your typical Christmas dinner of ham or turkey, maybe some mashed potatoes or green bean casserole I could be eating Mealie (corn bread), seasoned lamb or biltong (beef jerky). South Africa is slightly smaller than Texas doubled so depending where I am the food could be different. From what I've read though, there's a good chance I'll be eating corn. Lots and lots of corn.
<–biltong
And next year while you're walking by bell ringers for the Salvation Army, feeling pangs of guilt wishing you could do more, I'll be walking by beggars who rent babies (for less than $2 a day) from parents to get sympathy from tourists. I'll be feeling pangs of guilt knowing that if I were to give these beggars money the parents and the babies won't see a penny of it. Or I may be feeling pangs of guilt knowing that over 5 million people living in South Africa are living with HIV/AIDS. And I'll be trying to do more. I'll be trying to show love to the unloved and share the hope of Christ with the hopeless. And yet I know I'll still feel like I'm not doing enough.
Ok, hard stuff to think about 3 days before Christmas so here's some other random facts about South Africa that won't break your heart I promise:
- There are over 229 mammal species in South Africa.
- 13 of them are endangered.
- While there I could totally see a rhino or elephant or lion or leopard, which would be scary/awesome! My goal is a picture with a scary animal and a piece of mistletoe–best Christmas card ever? I think so!
- There are about 49 million people in South Africa.
- There are 9 provinces and 3 capital cities.
- 77% of the population is black, 10% are white, 8% mixed and 2.5% Indian or Asian.
- 75% of the population is Christian, 21% no faith, the rest are Hindu, Muslim and Jewish.
- 20% of the world's gold comes from South Africa.
- Has the only street in the world with two Nobel Peace Prize winners living on it! Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu both live on Vilakazi St.
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