Sun, Sea and The Windy City

By Renee Van Der Watt

With recruitment well under way it was time for my Port Elizabeth trip this past weekend. I always enjoy my time in the ‘Windy City’, which definitely lived up to its name on Thursday. I might have brought the Cape Town cold along with me but who’s pointing fingers right? J

I stayed at a lovely B&B called Ingleton Lodge, which is run by our very own Workaway 2013/14 participant, Andrea Rathbone. The team at Ingleton really made me feel welcome and I look forward to staying there again soon. Their Victorian room has a bath to die for!

We spent Friday getting the word out all over the city. That red Workaway T-shirt was spotted all over Walmer, Newton Park, Humewood and Summerstrand. PE is a foodie heaven if you know where to look. My favourite area is Richmond Hill, which is well known for its variety and atmosphere. This Saturday saw the buzz of the annual Stanley Street Music Festival. I was quite jealous that I couldn’t attend but I’m marking it in my 2015 calendar for sure.

The highlight of my trip was a tasting at ‘For The Love Of Wine’. This place, in my opinion, is a wine lovers dream! The staff are so knowledgeable and friendly. You can order by the bottle, glass or try a variation of tastings and the wine list is quite impressive. Nothing says great wine bar better than a selection of delicious cheese platters to order. I will most definitely be heading back there.

Saturday’s presentation went well and PE was out in full force. We had an excellent turn out again this year. Returners from the area shared their experiences and excitement has most certainly begun among the potential recruits.

I must just say a very big thank you to Andrea who helped me every step of the way. You are a great host, driver, tour guide and organizer. J

Port Elizabeth, I’ll see you at interviews.

Life in New York at Baltusrol Country Club

By Jasper Burger

One thing I have noticed in my life is that wherever I go, there are people who often take things for granted: people we know, places we work, and even the city in which we live.

If you look close enough and pay attention, there is so much more to learn from the history and traditions of our surroundings.  For instance, at Baltusrol Country Club, many famous golfers have made history:  A historical golfing occasion was when Phil Mickelson won the PGA in 2005 – a true legendary day of golf genius!  Prior to that, American professional golfer, Jack Nicklaus (known by many as “The Golden Bear”) showed everyone how it’s done in the 1980 US Open as he set a new tournament scoring record to win his fourth US Open title, right here on the greens at this beautiful country club!

Occasions such as these should help us realise that we are part of a fortunate group of individuals that have the opportunity to experience amazing things – things that many others won’t have the opportunity to experience.

Apart from work, New York is known for so much. Merely walking around in the city, gazing at the tall buildings within the concrete jungle, and walking through Central Park is phenomenal!  New York even offers a rich and cultured Natural Museum of history for us to enjoy and to enrich our minds. 

The people we meet, both socially and at work, are some of the most important people we’ll meet during our lives.  Although these are people from different countries, with their own cultures, traditions and beliefs, we can learn from each other.

The main message of this post is to never stop being curious and never stop exploring – you’ll be amazed at what you find!