Where I'm Living

Finally got some time for a second post, plus permission to post pictures of where I'm staying.  Currently, I'm staying at my employers' house until I can find my own place.  The plan is to check out some places this weekend and also maybe next week since the school is closed for a week of vacation. 

So, back to where I'm staying.  The house is amazing, very nicely decorated and huge!  It's in Ruimsig which is on the northwest side of Johannesburg.  The backyard (or garden as South Africans would say... I'll have a vocabulary lesson at some point) is huge as well.  There's a pool, a trampoline, a play structure, an actual garden (or vegetable garden), a sand box, a place to eat.... I could probably do a whole post on the yard. 

Inside on the main floor there's the guest room (where I'm staying), a bathroom, a small bar area, a TV room, the kitchen, dining room, living room, and "scullery" (where they have a pantry, laundry machine, dishwasher, and sinks).  Notice the space heater in my room.  South Africans don't have central heating so winter can actually seem quite cold, even though it's nothing like Canadian or Michigan winters.  The temperatures have been about 15 C in the day (about 60 F), sometimes a bit warmer, and down to almost freezing at night.  Getting up in the morning is not pleasant and I'll be happy when it's spring.

There's also a lovely patio with another eating area, a sitting area and the braai (South African grill/barbeque, in this house it's actually in the wall on the patio, but I believe they can be freestanding like our barbeques).  Upstairs are the bedrooms, another TV room, and possibly an office (I've only been to the TV room upstairs). 

The guestroom, my room for the time being

The TV Room, the TV is actually up in the top left corner

The dining room

The living room on the left and the kitchen table on the right

The living room and fireplace

The patio with the braai in the middle in the wall

The patio again (eating area in front and sitting area in back).  You can see two plastic covers to protect from rain and wind at the back and the one on the right is up.

The driveway and entrance gate

The front of the house and part of the garage

How do you pack for a year?

The most common question I got, after what are you doing in South Africa (by the way, I'm going to be supervising ABA programs for 4 children with autism), was how are you going to pack for a year?  So this is my first post, complete with pictures, about my packing.  

I guess the answer is slowly (I organized things over the course of a few days), carefully, and knowing that I could not bring everything I wanted.  Also knowing that most things I want could be bought in South Africa was helpful.

Everything laid out ready to be put in my two suitcases and duffel bag.

The things that didn't make the cut.  Not too much left!

Everything I brought.  Not pictured: clothes I am wearing, and camera.

Now all I need is for my checked bags to come in tomorrow and I'll be set!

P.S. Blog name credit goes to Dan.