06 December 2011

Long Flight Essentials

I still don't think it's completely hit me that tonight I'll be boarding a flight bound for California.  Up until a couple of weeks ago this trip seemed so far off, but now today is the day and in about a days time I will be at my parent's house playing with our puppies, reuniting with family and friends, eating in-n-out and adjusting to a 10 hour time difference.  Although I've now made this flight more times than I can count on two hands, it still amazes me how I can be on one side of the world one day and on the complete other side the next.  Modern technology really is an amazing thing!

If there's one thing I can say about the flight from South Africa to California it's that it's long and slow and painful.  It must ring in as one of the longest flights possible, as it takes just about 24 hours of constant travel, sometimes longer depending on the layovers.  By the time I meet my parents at LAX I look something like a living corpse and it normally takes several days before I feel 100% like myself again. 

Still, having become somewhat of a  frequent flyer on this specific route of death, I've picked up some tips and tricks over the years which help in making long flights more bearable, and today I thought I'd procrastinate on packing share them with you!

My List of Long Flight Essentials


1. IPod - This one doesn't really need an explanation, but in addition to the obvious, I've found that my IPod has come in extremely handy when a) there's a cranky baby nearby and b) when I'm trying to sleep and want to drown out the noise of passengers talking next to me, in-flight announcements, etc.

2. Neck Cushion - I never used to use these until I was once forced to sit in a middle seat on an international flight and wasn't able to doze off due to the fact that I was too scared my head would flop onto one of the poor passengers sitting next to me.  These things are comfortable, pretty easy to travel with {I always just hang them around my carry-on strap or handle when on layovers} and prevent the possibility of waking up with a stiff neck upon arrival at your destination.  Basically, it's a win-win situation.

3. Tylenol PM - This item could quite possibly the most essential item on my list.  Jurgen burst into laughter when he saw it, but timing your sleeping correctly when flying to another time zone could mean the difference between you feeling upbeat and excited and you feeling miserable and jet-lagged over the first few days of your trip.  I'm paranoid about taking sleeping pills, so I normally find that taking one or two Tylenol PM's makes me drowsy enough to get in some good zzz's without making me feel lethargic and groggy when I wake up.  I normally try and time it so that I keep myself awake until it's the equivalent of the evening in California and by that time I'm normally so exhausted that {with the help of tylenol pm} I have no problem getting in several hours of quality sleep in-flight.  The big trick here is just finding ways to keep yourself awake until it's an appropriate sleep time in your destination's time zone. 

4. Healthy, Travel-friendly Snacks - I can't stress this enough, since airplane food really starts to make me feel gross and bloated after awhile.  When you're on a plane for an extended amount of time it's nice to have healthy, travel-friendly snacks on hand.  For me this normally means a bag of carrots and celery and some trail mix, but I know people who also pack themselves sandwiches, etc before getting on a lengthy flight.  It's something that people often don't think of, but something that actually is really easy to do and helps to make your trip that much more bearable.

5. Comfy Poncho or Sweatshirt - When I fly comfort is king.  If I want to look nice when I get off the plane I normally pack a different outfit in my carry-on and change right before landing.  International flights are usually cold and it's the worst when you're trying to get comfortable using that tiny blanket they provide you with and just can't seem to get warm no matter how you situate it.  Jurgen bought me a poncho similar to the one above while in Switzerland recently and I feel like it's going to be my best friend on the upcoming flight :)

6. Skymiles - If you're a frequent long-distance flyer I can't say enough good things about signing up for a frequent flyer or skymiles program with an airline you often like to travel with.  For me that airline ended up being Delta since they fly direct from South Africa to Atlanta to Los Angeles, and over the years I've been able to accrue a pretty decent status which makes travelling way easier than it would be otherwise.  As an example, with Delta's skymile program I'm able to check-in using the first class line {which equals little to no waiting time}, I'm able to check an extra bag at no additional charge, in some airports I get to cut the security line, I get to board the flight in the first group called, I get preference for emergency exit rows on international segments and free first-class upgrades on domestic segments.  All of these things add up to a much more enjoyable and a much less stressful trip and since signing up for a skymiles program is free, it just doesn't make any sense not to if you're a frequent flyer.

7. Comfy Boots or Shoes - I normally wear my comfiest pair of boots when I fly because a) they keep my feet warm in-flight, and b) they save much needed space in my luggage.  Again, comfort is the most important thing for me in preparing for any flight and these seem to always do the trick.

8. Pepto-Bismol - I never travel without pepto-bismol {or something similar} when I fly just because I know that the odds of my stomach getting out of whack are going to be pretty strong at some point during the trip.  Airplane food coupled with being forced to sit in one tiny space for hours and hours on end coupled with the altitude and pressurised cabin environment just aren't ideal one's body.  In fact Jurgen just told me the other day that he read somewhere that extended flights are harder on your body than a night of binge drinking, and to be honest, I can believe it's true.  So, just as a precaution, I would recommend packing some sort of stomach med in your carry-on, as you may find that it turns out to be a life-saver.

9. Toiletries Bag - As I said at the beginning of this post {after 24 hours of straight travel} by the time I land at my destination I normally look something like a living corpse {and feel like one to}.  But, usually not having seen my parents in almost a year, I want to try and resemble something of a normal person and I've found that carrying a toiletries bag stocked with all of the essentials normally does the trick.  I typically carry a washcloth, face soap, face lotion, a toothbrush and tooth paste, a hair brush, deodorant and a few make-up basics with me.  Right before landing I slip into the bathroom, have time to wash my face, brush my hair and teeth and put on a bit of make-up and then feel a bit more ready to meet my parents {or Jurgen} on the other side.

I'm curious to know, what are your most-needed travel essentials for long flights?
Anything that I missed?

***
Also, I want to thank all of you who have so generously sent me emails or left me comments offering to donate baby clothes for Enough.  When I posted it, I wasn't sure whether I'd get much of a response, but {as usual} I've been amazed and overwhelmed by bloggers' willingness to help out.  Thank you so much!

If you haven't emailed me yet, but would like to donate it's not too late!  Get more information here.

04 December 2011

All I Want For Christmas: Giving Back Edition

Today I'm linking up with the lovely Joelle who blogs over at Something Charming for her All I Want for Christmas List Link-up.  But, this year, instead of including all of my material Christmas list wishes (which you can find here), I decided to focus on an opportunity to give back in a way which is very near and dear to my heart and which hits quite close to home for me and for many other South Africans.

South Africa is a country full of contrasts and contradiction.

It offers immense beauty against sprawling townships...

 Incredible wealth against dire poverty (with 50% of the country living below the poverty line)...

The birth of one of the greatest democracies against an increasingly corrupt government...

A hopeful and optimistic future against an ugly and difficult past...

{You get the idea}

View of Cape Town's stunning coastline
{via}

View of the Khayelitsha Township located about just 10km from the above photo
{via}

 So, while I normally try and keep it pretty optimistic around here, those of us who live here also have to confront some pretty scary statistics and realities on a daily basis.

Volunteering at an HIV/AIDS infected and affected programme near Somerset West

***
Cue, the part of the story that hits especially close to home...

Enough {yes, her name is Enough}, is one of the many people living in South Africa who falls far beneath the poverty line.  A few years ago she and her family fled to South Africa from her home country of Zimbabwe due to the fact that Zimbabwe had {quite literally} run out of food and was also in the middle of a cholera epidemic

Photo of a Grocery Store I took while in Zimbabwe in June 2008

While the move to South Africa filled them with hope of a better life, life here has certainly not been easy for them as work is extremely scarce {the unemployment rate in SA lingers around 30%} and the crime rate in the center of town is higher than anywhere else in the world {South Africa has a higher homicide rate than Colombia}.

Enough has been helping me with things around the flat one to two times a week since I moved here two years ago and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all that she does.  It makes it that much easier for me to balance work and night classes and I can honestly say that she has become a good friend and someone who I consider to be a member of the family.

{via}

Enough is due to have a precious baby boy in January.  However, already having a 6 year-old daughter, as well as having taken in her brother's 9 year-old daughter out of the kindness of her heart, money is extremely tight and she and her husband are currently {barely} surviving on about $175 per month.  Jurgen and I try to assist her where we can with food and clothing {on top of her weekly salary} but, unfortunately, her and her family's needs extends far beyond what the two of can provide.

... Which is why this year for Christmas I will be asking friends and family to donate baby clothing and supplies in lieu of normal gifts, as I know know Enough will need anything which can be spared more than any material item I've had my eyes on.

But then I thought... why just limit it to my immediate friends and family when I have so many amazing blog friends who might be willing to help support this family too?

So, if you'd like to contribute, I will be collecting baby clothes donations up until the 21st of December {when I leave California to head back to South Africa}. 

These clothes can be old or new, store-bought or handmade, anything at all will be more than appreciated. 


If you're interested in contributing please send me an email here or leave me a comment so that I can get in touch with you regarding my address, etc.

Note to my South African blog loves: if you'd like to contribute I can forward you my Johannesburg address or {if you live close enough} arrange to pick up your donation from you.

I'm planning on throwing her a surprise mini baby shower just after Christmas, so I will be sure to take lots of pictures to share with you all :)

For more ideas on how to give back this season see Joelle's post here

30 November 2011

Cape Town on a Sunday

Having lived in both Johannesburg and Cape Town for equal amounts of time (about 2 years in each), people often ask me which city I enjoy the most or which city I would choose to live in if I had the choice.  I always find it extremely difficult to answer this question as both cities are so different from each other, yet both possess qualities which I absolutely love and others which I'm not so fond of. 

To be honest, when we first moved to Jo'burg in the beginning of 2010, it was purely career-related, and neither of us was thrilled with any aspects of the move outside of those related to work.  We were committed to being in and out (i.e. back in the western cape) within two years and we both saw it as a time which wouldn't necessarily be enjoyable, but would be completely worth it in the long run.  Now here we are almost two years later and not even considering leaving the city for at least another two years.  Admittedly, this is partly due to the fact that most of the well-paying jobs are here, but somewhere along the line we also sort of fell in love with the city itself, made friends which we've grown attached to, and come to think of this place as home.  Johannesburg has a diversity to it which Cape Town lacks and just prior to our visit to Cape Town at the end of October, I even caught myself saying to Jurgen, "I wouldn't mind staying in Jo'burg for the long-term, in fact I don't even know if I would back to Cape Town if the opportunity presented itself."

Then, at the end of October, we made a quick trip to Brittania Bay (near Cape Town) for a wedding and decided to stay an extra night in Cape Town itself so that we could spend time with some friends we hadn't seen in awhile and also play tourist in a city which we used to call home. 

And then... I fell in love with Cape Town all over again and couldn't think of one reason why I had ever thought that living in Johannesburg any longer than necessary was ever a good idea.  What Cape Town lacks in diversity, it makes up for in beauty, location (its front is right against the ocean and its back is right against Table Mountain), and vibe.  In certain parts of the city you could easily forget you were actually in Africa due to the fact that it so much resembles a typical street in Paris and the laid back lifestyle Capetonians are so well known for is absolutely contagious.

In the end I think it's impossible to choose the "better" city between the two as they both have so much to offer and are so unique to one another, but just to give you a glimpse of why a part of me will always long for Cape Town, here are some pictures I snapped during our short stay in the Mother city.


See what I mean?

28 November 2011

{Two} Thanksgivings in South Africa

Hello all! 

As you've probably guessed, Jurgen is home safe and sound and I'm soaking up every second I have with him before I head to California for a couple of weeks for the holidays {more to come on that soon!}.  We've been quite busy since he got back as he's scheduled to hand in his Phd this coming Wednesday and so he's rushing to add all of the finishing touches to his thesis and I'm trying to add in a helping hand wherever I can.  It's amazing how much time it takes just to finalize references, etc - makes me very wary about ever wanting to write a thesis myself, but we will cross that bridge when I get there.

***
This year we were absolutely blessed for Thanksgiving.  A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to meet up with Martina who I connected with via her blog and then she quickly introduced Jurgen and I to her friendship circle - a group of amazing ex-pats all living in Johannesburg, but originally from various places around the world.  One of the American couples volunteered to have us all over for Thanksgiving, and so on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving we headed over to Namrata and Pat's house for one of the most delicious Thanksgiving dinners to date.

Photo Credit: Martina

Photo Credit: Namrata

Pure deliciousness!

We had an amazing time and were both so thankful to be able to enjoy Thanksgiving with such a fun and spontaneous group of people, who we had only met a week before, but who I already feel like I've known for years :)  Thanks guys!

***
On Thanksgiving day, Jurgen and I enjoyed a quiet meal at home.  Jurgen braaied a chicken and I made twice-baked potatoes, corn on the cob and green beans.  It ended up being perfect for the two of us, though nothing compared to the feast we had enjoyed a couple of nights prior.


I've really been so blessed with all that life's brought me so far and I love that Thanksgiving serves as a little reminder each year to stop and remember how lucky I am, and how there are many people in the world who haven't been so fortunate.  This Thanksgiving I'm grateful for an amazing family, boyfriend and friends (both old and new), a stable job, two incredible homes (one in California and one in South Africa), good health and a bright future :)

Happy {Belated} Thanksgiving!!!


08 November 2011

Lekker by die See

Jurgen and I were in Brittania Bay (a couple hours drive from Cape Town) for a wedding a few weeks ago and decided to hop on over to Paternoster for lunch with friends the next morning.  This little town by the sea is so very near and dear to my heart that it's hard to put into words - but to give you some sort of idea, it's a place where Jurgen and I visited often when we first started dating, and the place where we decided we were going to give this long distance thing a go when I went back to California for the first time. 

It also happens to be just about the most romantic place you could ever imagine, filled with little white houses and quaint little restaurants scattered along the beach.  And, as an added perk, the fishermen sell bags and bags of crayfish tails (same as spiny lobster) on the side of the road, for next to nothing.  I remember once we scored 20 tails for R200 in total, i.e. about $25.  Long story short I love this place and could write about it for hours, but instead I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

Voorstrandt Restaurant aka the most adorable restaurant ever.
Such characters! - Jurg snapped this one for me on our way out of town :)


Other things making me happy this week:
  1. Only two more finals and then I'm finished with the semester!
  2. I have all of my documents together for my visa renewal and am going to submit everything tomorrow (a much bigger accomplishment than it may seem)
  3. Today at the gym I realized that I've somehow lost 1.4 kgs (about 3 lbs) since Saturday meaning that I'm only 1.6 away from reaching my goal weight :)
  4. Jurgen will be home in one week!!! (saved the best for last!)
How is your week going so far?

06 November 2011

Truffula Trees

Although Pretoria claims the title of the "Jacaranda Stad" ("city" in Afrikaans), Johannesburg can't be far behind.  After having our first big rain of the season last week, Spring is in full swing and the city is absolutely bursting with pops of violet and lavender everywhere you look. 

I've always loved Jacaranda trees, although when I was little I used to think that they were actually truffula trees like the one's in the Dr Seuss book, The Lorax - which naturally only added to my fascination with them.  As I was driving home from lunch the other day, I couldn't help but stop and snap a few pictures of the street leading up to my flat and take in the beauty that is Johannesburg in the Spring time.

View of the city from the top - look at all of the purple puffs :)
My flat block

Fun fact of the day: Did you know that Johannesburg is the most forested city in the world!?  Well if you didn't, you do now!

And, only 9 more days until Jurgen is back in Johannesburg! 
9 days too long in my opinion, but definitely better than 20...
I miss that boy more than he could ever imagine.

03 November 2011

Recipe: Pasta & Greens with Herb-and-Goat's Cheese Pesto

Asparagus is back in season in South Africa and I've been jumping at any opportunity to incorporate it into meals since it is my absolute favorite veggie.  I found this recipe a couple of weeks ago in Woolworths' Taste Magazine, decided to give it a go, and have probably gone back to it four or five times since.  Not only is it quick and easy (it probably takes about 10 minutes to cook after the chicken is defrosted), but it also incorporates all of the major food groups and is low in fat.  I know, I know, you can thank me later ;)


Serves: 2
Preparation: 10 minutes
Cooking: 10 minutes
Level: Easy

You will need:
  • 2 boneless chicken breasts
  • One bunch of tenderstem broccoli tips
  • One bunch of asparagus (halved)
  • Olive oil for stir-frying
  • 1 cup vegetable stock (broth)
  • One handful baby spinach leaves
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 250g fettuccine, cooked until al dente
  • One handful of pine nuts and/or sunflower seeds
  • 100g soft goats cheese (low-fat cream cheese can be substituted)
  • 1 clove of garlic (crushed)
  • 1 tsp basil pesto
Method
  1. Once chicken is defrosted, stir-fry in 1-2 tbsp of olive oil for about 10 minutes.  Season to taste and then set aside.
  2. Stir-fry the broccoli and asparagus in 1 - 2 tbsp olive oil over high heat until tender crisp.
  3. Pour vegetable stock in with the veggies and bring to a simmer.  Add the spinach, remove from heat and check the seasoning.  Mix in chicken.
  4. Combine with hot, drained pasta and mix with pine nuts and sunflowers seeds.
  5. Top with a spoonful of goat's cheese pesto and serve.
For goat's cheese pesto:

Blend goat's cheese, pesto and crushed garlic until smooth.  Add salt and pepper to taste and then serve on top of pasta.


And there you have it, all of the different food groups wrapped up into one amazing dish!

P.S: If you haven't already, pretty please click that vote button in the top right-hand corner of the screen.  It would mean the world to me if you did!  Thanks :)

31 October 2011

44 Stanley Ave

On Sunday morning I met up with Martina and her boyfriend Rob for breakfast at 44 Stanley Ave in Jo'burg.  I had never been there before, and while at first glance the outside of the street looks like a long row of run-down warehouses, once you duck into the little alley way the inside opens up into Jo'burg's best kept secret.  It's filled with quaint little cafes, boutique shops and used book stores that one could get lost in for hours.  We ate at Salvation Cafe and I think it's safe to say that we all found our food to be delicious.  I will definitely be taking Jurgen for a visit as soon as he gets back :)



And in super exciting news, my blog has been registered for the South African Blog Awards!  I am beyond excited and grateful.  It's open for public vote, so if you all could do a me a huge favor and click on that "Vote" button on the upper right-hand side of my page I would be eternally grateful.  Once you click it, it takes you to a page were you are asked to enter your email address to cast your vote and then an email will be sent to that address for you to confirm.  You can only vote once throughout the competition so make it count ;)  I feel so lucky to have all of your support!  Voting closes on the 9th of November at midnight (South African time).

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday!