Yes, somebody genuinely asked me that.
Moving to a different continent was not easy. It still isn’t easy, but I’ll get there. The people I’ve met have been fascinated by my “accent”, my stories of living in SA, and my love for snow. It’s been over a month since my family went back home and I can’t believe how fast the time is flying. It still doesn’t feel real that I actually won a greencard and am living in America. It’s a weird feeling knowing your friends are still at Rhodes studying and partying it up while you’re on the other side of the world, and my family being at home without me.
I’m so lucky to live in this day and age where I’m only a whatsapp or skype call away from everyone back home. I’m even luckier to have such amazing and supportive friends and family.
Mal & Tom are my new family here and they are absolutely incredible. With their huge hearts, amazing connections around the community and Tom’s cooking skills; I couldn’t ask for more! I don’t know what I would do without them here. They have given me a place to call home, their amazing dogs to love, and unexplainable kindess.
After my family left I needed something to be doing. Chilling in bed watching tv, drawing and walking the dogs was great for a couple days until I started losing my mind. So I started looking for jobs. Application after application, interview after interview and thanks to my uncle’s connections in Asbury Park, after a week I had a part time job! But when you convert dollars to rands, and you think about how much you could be earning as each hour goes by doing basic jobs here, I needed to find another job for the days I wasn’t working.
I’m now working as the assistant manager at the Showroom; a little independent cinema in Asbury, and loving it! Part time I work at Tao Massage as a wellness assistant/ receptionist kinda thing. It’s been a super busy month but it’s great having something to be doing and accomplishing everyday.
In the couple months of being here I have experienced the following:
Had t
he most amazing times with my family. Taken the train to New York.
Seen the Empire State building.
Ti
mes Square, Soho, Noho, East Village, Upper East & West side, Brooklyn, Liberty Island.
Central Park.
The Met.
Ramen noodles.
Bagels.
S
tarbucks. J
ohnny Macs (an awesome bar).
Had to say goodbye to my family.
Received my Social Security card.
Opened an American bank account.
Got a gym membership.
A
merican sim card.
Started working for two jobs. S
urvived my first “blizzard”.
Met awesome people.
Met ignorant people.
S
hoveled snow.
B
ecame a regular at America’s Cup – the local coffee shop conveniently situated near my two jobs.
H
ealth insurance.
E
xperienced freezing cold weather.
Shoveled more snow.
Gotten used to constantly being covered in dog hair (living with 5 dogs).
I’ve had amazing times, and I’ve had hard times.
For some reason this post feels like annoying me and won’t work so ignore the random spaces, lack of spaces and messed up sentences. I’ll work it out eventually.
It’s been an adventure so far, and I cannot wait to see what is to come.
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