Local is Lekker...

So we got to experience the Springboks devastating loss against Australia … and just like South Africans we had to see how quick we could get some humor out of it all… it’s just the way we are.
So, you are all excited to be leaving for the USA, right? But let me just remind you why I come back every year.

“Mrs. Balls” (moment, sigh)……….. ouma rusks, rooibos tea, all gold tomato sauce, nik naks, Simba chips, real coca cola, Milo, Albany chocolate, kettles (giggle, you will understand when you get there), Rugby, cricket (and I’m not referring to a insect)….
And …

Only South Africans know how to braai, gooi a sokkie and mix their languages and everyone still understands…
Ja nee, it is lekker hey iesh…

So for everyone that is waiting, enjoy the wait and embrace our wonderful country while you still get to braai boerewors on open flames and have cross and Blackwell mayonnaise in the potato salad…
Because soon you will be on a plane heading to the USA, where a barbeque is a means of preparing hamburgers without big flames wearing an apron and “half & half” is a term used daily by most Americans… Where cream soda is brown and the fuel station can’t supply your vehicle with “Petrol” but gas… and everything is BIGGER… just like the movies…

What an experience…

…Hope you are all ready for it…

Author: Lucille Earle

In the beginning!

I found Workaway International through an old school college of mine and Daniel and I was very interested in attending the presentation. After which we had to stand in a long queue to fill out application forms to get into the program. Daniel hates queues, but I insisted we stay… (best decision of my life…I hope!) A few hours later and after Daniel practiced all the patience I’ve taught him, we were out of the ‘patience-mode’ and into ‘anticipation-mode’

‘Anticipation-mode’ thankfully didn’t last long, because just a short few days later, we were in a meeting with Lucille. And I presume that went well due to our sms soon thereafter confirming us into the recruitment part of the program. Our next step was to attend our next interview with the representatives from the Country Clubs in Florida. That interview required a smartly dressed Daniel, with a tie. That didn’t go down so well with him, but after my fluttering lashes and persuasive smile, it was on and we were ready to ‘knock their socks off’, which we did oh so well! Our individual interview was with a lady from Boca West, her name was Darleen. How more American can you get, especially when she said her name with the perfect Southern (I think) accent! I think the success of our interview was that we made her laugh. Just because Daniel had a suit on, and I had heels on, did not mean to say we had to be all professional. We were just ourselves…smartly dressed.

Then there was the ‘eagerness – mode’ we had to endure, waiting to find out if the club would accept us into the program and which club we were going. Rumour had it that Boca West is the best of the best, so we were holding thumbs for that!

It was Daniel’s birthday on the 5th August. I decided to throw him a superhero surprise party, I rented myself a tinkerbell outfit (ok, so it’s not a super hero, but she did make Peter Pan fly…and it was super cute!) There was a lot of excitement in the air for me, and then at 5pm "The” phone call came. WE WERE ACCEPTED INTO BOCA WEST AND WE WERE ECSTATIC!!!!!!!

Author: Daniel Pfeil and Roxane Gordon

We are going to America!

Finally I have received good news about my petition... unlike the rest of you who were all celebrating over a week ago, myself and a few others only find out today that our petitions have been granted, we can now join in the celebration and start preparing to leave within the next month. These last few weeks that you have left are going to fly by. Before you know it you are going to be sitting on that plane with butterflies in your stomachs, a cramp in your butt from the long flight and your mind racing as are not too sure what to expect – but trust me, it is all worth it.

Myself and my friend Kaycee raced off to go and get the first half of our medicals done, it was unfortunate that it was such a miserable day with the rain and the cold wind, but we held our heads high as nothing was going to dampen our spirits now that we have received such good news. We endured 6 flights of stairs as the elevators were down, prodding needles into our arms, no parking anywhere near the medical center and practicing holding our breath while butt naked – good times, but at least we are one step closer!Good luck to all of you will your consulate interviews!

Author: Nolene Lotz

I'm going back!

Hi my name is Michelle and I am an...

Just kidding, I am finally 21 and legal in the States this time around. My moto would be, work hard, party harder. I have green eyes and blah blah blah :)

I'm going "back", I'm going "back", tell the world I'm going "back"...

This is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of the fact I'm ACTUALY going back to the states for another season. Why this song, and why change the lyrics? Well my friends I made last season will know exactly why... You see, it was our "going home" song (literally - it played b4 we left lol) last season, I couldn't wait to get home. Now I find myself desperately but patiently waiting to go back...

For those of you who are going for your first season you will come to understand what I mean. Yes it is hard and there are times you just want to quit, me, I cried for the first 3 months... :) but then you start to really enjoy yourself and before you know it, its time to be "going home".

Make the best out of your time there, enjoy every minute, make friends with everyone, because you never know what an impact someone may have on your life. I got a nickname while I was over my first season... "POLLY", yes polly the parrot because I had a blonde moment but besides that it was given to me by someone I was at first hesitant to become friends with, because he was a returner, and yes returners have RANK, lol. But besides that, we became friends and he gives the best advice ever, when you down in a rut, he will pull you out, when your head is getting to big, he would pop it, basically he would tell you how it is and now, being back home and back in the "real" world I have often used his advice, and it keeps me on track, and I know I can always pick up the phone and he will give a "daughter" ;) some advice.

I also got a "mommy" while I was there and even some "sisters" and very naughty "brothers", very weird and crazy people, but people I had a blast with, people that became my "american family", and when your sad or upset they are there for you, when you "frekkie" and lost, they laugh at you, tease you and record you :D, but they are always there for you.

So go out there, make the best of your adventure. As our very own famous KC would say... Live, Laugh, Love and never forget to just...

Author: Michelle Lowe

This really is something of a head rush!

Just this week I have 3 doctor appointments, then I'm off to Durban for a few days, then I'm back then then then then then then.......

I know that there is still a lot of time before I leave, but wow it feels like I don't have enough time to do everything that I need to get done before departure. At this point in my life everything is scheduled.

From Docors to visits with friends and this is even before my Visa appointment, which they tell you isn't that scary but believe me - it kind of is.
I was looking at pictures of the club, Boca West, that I'm going to and its so pretty. It almost doesn't look real.

During our pre-departure orientation meeting Charlotte said that as soon as our petition was approved everything would happen really quickly...wow she was right.
There's also packing...which I think is causing unnecessary stress for me....because I know that I'm going to shop over there, and I just really don't know what to take. Besides clothes, that's quite easy. I mean what STUFF am I going to take? and which shoes?

Goodness....while writing this I have a picture of Dali's clocks in my head...all the time melting together and not being real...I really do wonder if I'm the only one who is stressing this much..

Hey but people say opportunity is what happens when you grab luck and run with it. Well we sure are running aren't we?
Well, it's now my scheduled time to sleep, because I have to call doctors again tomorrow.

Till then. Peace, light and love

Author: Melissa Rauch

Laughter is medicine to your soul...

A very big hello to everyone….. Feels like weeks since my last blog, so let’s get you up to date with what is happening.

Orientation was held in Johannesburg on Sunday, 18th September and it was so exciting to see the final selection for this 2011/12 season. Charlotte flew up from Cape Town to hold the orientation and the boys where there on their places, doing a phenomenal job as always. Everyone seemed so excited! Charlotte had explained the then current situation regarding the visas and yet everyone seemed to just be so positive. Which I can add, paid off in the end…

Off to Durban…

…. Charlotte arriving in Durban and we had not received our boxes with the well known “red packs” in. It was time to improvise. The girls getting stuck in and helping arrange, from tape measures to name tags to club posters, all was done in no time and orientation could start...

…what a great vibe in the air. Returners and new participants in such high spirit and full of laughter, many of them sharing a deep, from the gut laugh; the kind that makes your eyes water and leaves you gasping for breath. Which I without a doubt know, many returners have shared a number of times in the past, building great memories…

Makes one think of how life would be without laughter?

And like Murphy’s Law the last participant leaves and here our boxes arrive. Thanks to the loyal staff in our Cape Town office, the ‘red packs” made their way to everyone the very next day…

So here we sit with our red packs waiting for the sms, and in just a matter of a few days we got it! Yipppppeeeeeee……….. Time for visa forms and medicals.

Visa form DS 160 completed and e-mailed, check.

Pathologist, check.

Radiologist, check.

Next on list is visit to GP… and I must add I’m getting super excited!

So I’m off to the GP and will leave you all with food for thought – God certainly knew how important laughter would be for us. Just think of all the things He made that bring us to that point, from the antics of kittens to the wit of gifted humorists, He gives us daily chances to shift or focus from ourselves and just enjoy one another and the wonderful world He gave us. Go ahead, laugh … it’s good for you.

Author: Lucille Earle

Summer in the City...

Over the past few weeks Spring has crept into the Mother City with the warm days and evenings and the green on the trees. Last weekend the weather couldn’t have been better.

Saturday it was off to Port Elizabeth to host the Orientation for the participants from that area. It was great to spend time with all the returners and the newbie’s, who for most would be their first time oversees. The returners did a great job of sharing their experiences with the first-timers and making everyone excited for the trip.

Waiting at the PE airport, Charlotte contacted me to confirm that the petitions were in the process of approval and we can start to prepare everyone for their visa appointments. Exciting news as we were all holding our breaths waiting for the final nod from the US government

On the flight back I realized what this meant… We are going to be VERY busy to prepare everyone over the next few weeks. I took the time to relax and look over the South African landscape, reminding me of what a beautiful country we stay in.

Sunday was a clear crisp day, which was perfect to explore Cape Town. A good friend and I with his son and his friend decided to take the Cable Car up Table Mountain as it had been years since we had both done it and for the boys it was their first experience.

WOW! What a spectacle! There were many jaw dropping moments with views that stretched as far as the eye could see. Amazing! One a side note, I would also like to mention that I suffer from vertigo; strange considering that I am almost 7ft tall. So it was quite an accomplishment for me to take this trip. HAHA! Another cool factor was that there were people from all parts of the world that had come to be there that day and experience what is on our doorstep everyday.

This experience reminded me of one of my favorite quotes: “The passing moment is all that we can be sure of; it is only common sense to extract its utmost value from it... “ - W. Somerset Maugham

Author: Andre Smith