M's -US- Blog: A Reflection on The Pre-Iowa Experience: Pre-Departure and Traveling

Imagine, for a few seconds, the implications of and the events that would unfold when eight South African university students from very different backgrounds, cultures, religious convictions, experiences and parts of our very diverse country were to travel together, and not just be in close proximity of one another for two weeks, but in close contact in a foreign, and big, country...

Now, if you were imagining a very chaotic, very confusing situation riddled with conflict and misunderstandings, I won't necessarily hold it against you because, I must admit, that was what I was imagining myself when I first heard of our US trip! However, with enough maturity, tolerance, understanding, acceptance and a willingness, eagerness and ability to learn and experience new things - not to mention the careful planning and execution by both the US Embassy in Pretoria (thanks Irene and Kamishia!) and the people (Del, Kim, Martha, Leah, Joey and Jeremy) of the Iowa Resource for International Service (IRIS).

I must admit that I was quite nervous to meet the remaining four people - having met Mathlodi, Austin and Alastair in Pretoria for our trip to Johannesburg to process our Visa applications - but the trip to the Maropeng Cradle of Humankind and all the fun activities (and informative displays) definitely made it easier to and facilitated communication.

Photo: Waiting to go into the Cradle of Humankind center. From Left to Right: Kamishia, Kauthar, Phumlani and myself.

The pre-departure dinner at Ocean Basket at Emperor's Palace in Ekhuruleni was also an interesting experience as I further had the opportunity to interact with the people that I would be travelling with, not only around the table but also as we were travelling to Emperor's Palace. Dinner was definitely a highlight of my day and was a lot of fun. Mathlodi and I shared an Ocean Basket Platter for Two - one of my personal favourites - and the event was filled with fun and laughter. I also remarked to Irene that this trip would be a great opportunity for me to meet and get to learn people from different backgrounds from my own country - an added bonus when considered within the framework of the opportunities I would have to get to know US culture, history, people and customs.

Dinner at Ocean Basket. From Left to Right: Mandisa, Irene,
Austin, Alastair and Kauthar.

I won't bore you with the specifics of the 24 hours (in total) it took us to travel from Johannesburg (OR Tambo International Airport) to Washington, DC (Dulles Airport) via Amsterdam (Schiphol). But I will say that I became very nervous and worried approximately 5 hours to Washington (as we passed Greenland) as I realised I couldn't find my DS2019 (Yeah, Irene, I know you said: keep it safe!). After having feared for the worst and imagining all sorts of terrifying scenarios I managed to find it - in my wallet - on the shuttle from the terminal to customs at Dulles Airport. Yeah, we (yes, all of us - having been given the fire and brimstone sermon from Irene) were releveaved! We arrived in the United States of America - land of the free and home of the brave! - at about 16:00 / 4PM ET.