From Windhoek to Joburg, back to Windhoek. Repeat.

Chasing gorgeous sundowners has become the norm in Windhoek, Namibia.

After traveling for a while, you become accustomed to flights - well, mostly have no other choice but to become accustomed. Visiting home becomes a 30+ hour journey (and occasionally 48+ hours with delays), a flight which I recognize I am fortunate enough to take once or twice per year. 

While the statement “I love flying” may be an overstatement, I’ve become comfortable and content on an airplane. I still get filled with excitement and anticipation as I step out of the car when my dropped off at an international terminal. There is something to be said about the anticipation of journeying off to somewhere new, leaving familiarity behind and being whisked away to somewhere anywhere but ‘here’. Each change of scenery is an adventure on its own, even when migrating short distances between one city and the next. 

I’m not sure when I became addicted to the magic of being transported from one part of the world to another, but I will say that I’ve consistently worked towards living a lifestyle that involves having a career with geographic fluidity. Only a few months ago did I come to the realization that since I was 18, I haven't lived in the same city for more than 2 years - including the 6-months I spent studying at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand and backpacking through most of Southeast Asia on the weekends.

Although 5 years ago, or even 2 years ago I would have never imagined myself living and working in Windhoek, Namibia, I can’t say I’ve veered too far from my overall goal. My main takeaway from studying abroad in Bangkok back in 2007, was that I would much rather work and live in different countries, versus traveling the world through the lens of a tourist. Rather, I told myself, I would find a way to work and live in different countries long enough to experience the day-to-day life through the eyes of a local.

And so, the journey continues.

German architecture on the morning walk to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration (MHAI). 

When my one-year position as an Adviser for the South African Supplier Development Council came to an end this past August, I was determined to find another job somewhere in South Africa or a nearby country. After one year, I accepted that I was not ready to walk away from Jozi and all its complexed beauty. I stumbled across an opportunity with a South African-based management consulting firm through a friend of mine (further evidence that your networks are key!) and learned they were hiring consultants for an upcoming project with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration in Windhoek, Namibia. Until my first day at work the Ministry, I had never set foot in the country. About two-and-a-half-years ago, I spent a few hours in the Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport whilst in transit from Cape Town to Accra (and met a new friend in the process), but that was the extent of my Windhoek experience.

So, what am I doing here in Windhoek? To save the both of us time and confusion, I'll point you to this poster that is one of the many signage initiatives we've undertaken at the Ministry. I appreciate this poster because it succinctly gives you an overall idea of the Project's aim. Whenever someone enquires about the work I'm doing here, I send them this photo (see above). You can also read about the project in an article published by The Namibian back in May 2014.

To answer other questions received from friends and family, the 'Turnaround Project' is 18 months and began in June 2014. One perk of is that it gives me the opportunity to continue traveling, without completely leaving Johannesburg. Since we're a Johannesburg-based consulting firm, I fly back to Joburg every other weekend. To be honest, it's kind of a sweet deal. I can live and work in a change of scenery, while spending every other weekend in Joburg - not bad, hey? And of course, there's gained experience and skill, but that's a given.

Yes, Hello Hilton Hotel #Selfie.

The only real unnerving change, is that I don't have an apartment in Joburg anymore. Unlike my fellow colleagues, I have no family in Joburg. So yes, I am now a nomad to the fullest extent. For the first month I resided at the Hilton Hotel Windhoek, but then moved into a fully-furnished flat (or apartment). Before I left Joburg, I gave away most of my extra clothes and shoes. Since the flat I've lived in for the past year was fully furnished, the only items I own at the moment fit into the several suitcases I have, plus my car which I left at my friends house. Other than that, I own no furniture or anything of real value. And to be honest - I love it... no dressers, dining room tables, televisions or mattresses to move or sell! There's nothing holding me back should I choose to up and leave. I can simply pack my belongings and vamoose. Ah, the freedom!

So cheers to 2015. Cheers to more writing, reflecting, appreciating, and simply striving for happiness. I keep it simple. 

Soaking up the sun poolside at the Hilton on a Sunday afternoon.

View from the Hilton, uke and all. 

The Hidden Beauty of Being 'In Transit'

My ukulele and & I during an 8 hour layover in Washington DC.

Call it what you want. ‘In transit’. A layover. A stopover. Or time spent briskly walking (or running) to a connecting flight. But, regardless of the decided upon term, these are additional and unnecessary hours tacked onto one’s journey, undeniably the least anticipated portion of the trip. In the span of five short weeks, from the last week in August to the first in October, I spent nearly 24 hours in transit. Yes, that's an entire day's worth of travel twiddling my thumbs in an unfamiliar airport.

At the end of August I closed out my one-year stint with the South African Supplier Diversity Council and spent 36 hours traveling from Johannesburg to Hawaii, by way of London, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Over the next five weeks I made my way slowly back to Johannesburg by way of San Francisco, New York, Washington DC and Dakar (Senegal).  

Now, relative to the entire duration of my vacation, my mere one day in transit may not sound like much in retrospect, but when you’re sitting in an uncomfortable lame excuse of a chair for 8 hours, or being herded like cattle through Disneyland-like queues for hours, (except there’s no fanatical ride at the end), a total of 24 hours spent as only a means to arriving at your ultimate destination - is a fucking long time. 

Pardon my ranting, because as the blog’s title suggests - there is some light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s not a bright white light. 

Rather, the beauty of being in transit is the notion of finding peace and tranquility whilst caught in an alternate universe. You find yourself in a world that is between here and there, departure and arrival, starting point and destination. You’re stuck in limbo, forced to sit and simply ‘be’ in a space that is a trivial chapter when compared to the entire journey. 

In most cases, you don’t leave the airport at all, which makes this alternate universe even more real. You could spend more than 5 hours ‘in’ Frankfurt, Hong Kong, or Tokyo without ever actually exploring the city (all of which I’ve done). In the end, you depart from a city without ever actually becoming acquainted with it. 

Particularly when you travel solo like me, you may learn to realize beauty in the anonymity of it all. Where else can I sit and play my ukulele for hours without fear of being judged by those around me? While I’m not one to care what others think of me in the first place, this trait becomes elevated when I know I’ll never see these surrounding faces again. I can debark from a 15 hour flight feeling confident whilst appearing hideously crazy - no makeup, no contacts, and bed head for days. But again, who cares right? I don't know anyone here, and no one knows me. It’s in these very moments that you learn how to enjoy the company of thyself, because let’s be honest - if you don’t enjoy your own company then who the hell else will? In times of solo travels, I become my own best friend. 

I find beauty in the juxtaposition of reveling in my own bubble, while being surrounded by thousands of people at the same time. In the middle of it, there's endless time and space to reflect and process - necessary exercises for one's sanity when the only constant in your quick-moving life, is change.  

Jozi Love Affair

Views of the Johannesburg skyline from the Living Room in the Maboneng Precinct, CBD

Guess I should go pack my bags now.

Sleepless, anxious nights leading into exhausting, draining days. Emotionally overwhelmed.

Five flights over the next five weeks, passing through four places I've once called home.

An ending that came too soon, while unknown beginnings await. Unexpectedly saddened by the thought of walking away from a closing chapter, while piqued by the new chapter that's about to unfold.

For the lack of a better word, the overused phrase comes to mind: Bittersweet.

Guess I really should go pack my bags now.

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If Jozi was a stage, I guess you could say I left my heart on the dance floor. And you thought I was going to write an entry about a love affair with a boy? Oh no no no. Seriously, who do you think I am? I'm referring to a love affair with Jozi. I can honestly say I didn't anticipate enjoying my stay here over the past year as much as I have. My lack of blogging entries speaks to the lack of spare time I've had to write (because I've been having too much fun!) So much has happened since my last entry in February. I have tons of catching up to do.

My last day at work is this Friday, August 22nd. I'm headed to Kruger National Park for one last hurrah with a group of friends, and then I fly directly to Hawaii on Monday. And by directly I'm referring to a 36 hour flight with three layovers in London, San Francisco, and Los Angeles before finally reaching Honolulu for my Daddy's wedding on August 31st. I expect to catch up on my blogging during that 'forever and a day' span of time spent on a plane... or four planes actually.

For now, I'm procrastinating on my packing. In the meantime, follow me on social media because I'm too lazy to organize and upload photos - IG: shalanemaile and Twitter @ShalalaMaile.