Piperita Patty Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 DUMELA everyone!! I'm back from 2 months of WONDERFUL experiences in South Africa. I've missed you all, the MFC and now I really want to share with you some of my memories... I went to South Africa on the 29th June 2008 as an exchange student, so I lived in a host family and I attended the school of my town, Phalaborwa. Basically I was supposed to do the same things the guys of my age use to do there. To be in a new family, meet new people with different cultures, backgrounds, minds, believes and SO many things to share is something amazing! The people over there are incredibly friendly and full of hospitality! When you cross the street and you meet someone you've never met, he/she greets you and he/she always asks you: "How are you, sis?". And they constantly hug you and kiss you, it doesn’t matter how many times you meet them, it could happen twelve times in a day! There are a lot of different cultures and languages as well. Just think that there are 11 official languages and some more unoficial! Over there "South African Time" rules! It means that noone is ever in a hurry, you can take all your time to do whatever you want. “Quickly” is never quick, it can take you one hour as well as two/three hours to do something. The place is truly a m a z i n g ! ! ! ! Savanna is spectacular and wild animals as well! Around my town you could see street signals with “pay-attention:-hippos-cross-the-road” and they really do it! Actually it happened with an elephant with me and lot of baboons...! Phalaborwa (the place where I’ve been) is by the Kruger National Park, which means that it is just outside of the gates of the Park, so the nature round there is very wild and, as I said, you could really “meet” animals on your way. The spaces are huge! One of the closest town was 115kms far from Phalaborwa! And the very closest one is called Mica...! (which is actually the mineral they mine there) The tipical food is pap (porridge) accompanied with sauces (with a lot of chilly!) and chicken or boureworse. Meat is fabby! This is a lady busy making some pap: ....I really enjoyed this time, A LOT. That was an experience I'll never forget and it really brought some more light in my life ps: I've got TONS of pics, I'll choose the best ones and I'll upload them time by time. Anyway: it's nice to come back here!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piperita Patty Posted September 3, 2008 Author Share Posted September 3, 2008 The "small" baobab in front of my house: Even the moon is huge: This is what I meant when I was talking about street signals: Zazu: Impala are EVERYWHERE: Beautiful giant tree: Hippos: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piperita Patty Posted September 3, 2008 Author Share Posted September 3, 2008 Baboons crossing the road: Talking about baboons.... Elaphants: Street shop: Giant ants house: The mine at night (it's something like the "Chocolate Factory" as it's incredibly huge and unhuman): The same baobab....I loved it, I think I've taken 10pics of it...: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piperita Patty Posted September 3, 2008 Author Share Posted September 3, 2008 Nice dastbin, isn't it?! Unknown bird: Elephant crossing the street: Cattle: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piperita Patty Posted September 3, 2008 Author Share Posted September 3, 2008 ciao bella! what namala means?! Have you learnt some african dialect?! gosh why there weren't such students opportunities @ my school?! Glad to 'see' you there! Maybe you meant "dumela"? Dumela means "hello" in Sepedi. Actually I learnt some words in Afrikaans, in Sepedi and in Songa, but just few. And even my school doesn't promote these kind of things, I just found it by myself... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBlackQueen Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 Ciao bellissima!!! I'm so glad you're back, I've missed you tons. And I'm even happier that you had such a wonderful time, I can feel your excitement in your words and the amazing pics. Thank you so much for sharing them with us, and feel free to post as many as you want, always willing to see some new things:naughty: Hope we can chat soon, I want to read everything, and I also have to give you some reports, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piperita Patty Posted September 3, 2008 Author Share Posted September 3, 2008 Ciao bellissima!!! I'm so glad you're back, I've missed you tons. And I'm even happier that you had such a wonderful time, I can feel your excitement in your words and the amazing pics. Thank you so much for sharing them with us, and feel free to post as many as you want, always willing to see some new things:naughty: Hope we can chat soon, I want to read everything, and I also have to give you some reports, right? awwwwwwwwwww!!!! I'm so happy to hear from you too!! We will have our chats, we really will. And you MUST give me "some" roports! besos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phunkygal Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 OMG! That looks amazing! :shocked:Welcome back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 Oh Patty you are so lucky to stay in that village for 2 months! I was just thinking this morning how much I miss Kruger Park and wish I could live there. I don't know if I'll ever get to South Africa again but I want to make the effort. The sounds, the smells and the sights...the park is one of the most incredible places on earth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassiopée Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 Welcome back! It must have been a unique and amazing experience! So different from you usual life! You pics are unbelievable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piperita Patty Posted September 3, 2008 Author Share Posted September 3, 2008 I was just thinking this morning how much I miss Kruger Park and wish I could live there. Where exactly have you been? [..] The sounds, the smells and the sights...the park is one of the most incredible places on earth. SO true... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iadoremika Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 All of those photos are absolutely gorgeous! It looks like you had such an amazing time! I would totally love to take a trip like that one day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allegra Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Super Piperita! Wonderful girl! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzy Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 What a fantastic experience for you. Wow... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendi Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Welcome back Alice!! Those photos are amazing - looks like you had a brilliant time - and looking forward to seeing and hearing more!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Where exactly have you been? I lived in Johannesburg for a year and made several trips to Kruger. I would stay in the camps inside the park. Usually Lower Sabie, Skukuza and Satara. I have driven up as far north as Letaba during the day which isn't too far from the Phalaborwa gate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piperita Patty Posted September 4, 2008 Author Share Posted September 4, 2008 I lived in Johannesburg for a year and made several trips to Kruger. I would stay in the camps inside the park. Usually Lower Sabie, Skukuza and Satara. I have driven up as far north as Letaba during the day which isn't too far from the Phalaborwa gate. Yep, I've been in Letaba. So you have been living a year in total South African time?! ....not bad! I wish I could always have MY time. I mean the right (as far as you concern) time to do this thing, do to that other thing...and it does work! But in Europe it doesn't seem so..... maybe it's "the other side of the world".... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mika Freaka =) Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 lol ah those pics are beautiful! can you believe that i live in SA but havent been to the Kruger National Park! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piperita Patty Posted September 4, 2008 Author Share Posted September 4, 2008 lol ah those pics are beautiful! can you believe that i live in SA but havent been to the Kruger National Park! Yes, I can! SA is BIG! I LOVE your country ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mika Freaka =) Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Yes, I can! SA is BIG! I LOVE your country ! ah thank you lol i always wanted to visit Italy as well!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K@koL@ndon Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 i love the pictures:wub2: sarà stata un'esperienza fantastica immagino... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queenie Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 Welcome back! Amazing place! I´m sure you had a great time there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piperita Patty Posted September 7, 2008 Author Share Posted September 7, 2008 Thaks everyone for all your welcome back! It really was an incredible experience. Queenie, I read about your wonderful performance ON stage! I'm very very happy for you! That was also a GOOD one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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