Val's first impressions

I was thinking in Caveman by the time we touched down in Cape Town. It’s sort of pathetic that I was about to breathe the air of an entirely new country and experience something off-the-charts outside of my comfort zone but all that was processing in my mind were the words  “sleep” and “food”. And the fact that soon I would no longer be breathing recycled air. And that I would be able to stretch my legs to full capacity instead of trying to fool my body into thinking it can twist into all sorts of fun terrible positions in an airplane seat. Would not recommend plane yoga to people who can’t touch their toes.

Allie & Kiya arriving in CPT 
(with Ken jumping for joy in background)

Anyway, after getting my bearings and all of that jazz, it felt fantastic to get all of our luggage and move towards fresh air (see awkward picture of me coming out of baggage claim). Most of what I remember from my first impression of Cape Town was sort of a blur due to lack of sleep and tunnel vision, but if I had to sum it up: stunning, overwhelming, and potentially dangerous to my mother’s sanity. Cause Ma, I might not come back home.  It was balmy and beautiful when we stepped out of that airport. The food in Cape Town is eclectic, healthy and majestic. Seriously. If it were socially acceptable to date food, the food in Cape Town and I would be exclusively dating. People here are friendly and actually ask you how you’re doing instead of treating you like an inanimate object. They are also uncharacteristically attractive which isn’t terrible. I saw a male model (exaggeration but not really if you saw this guy) holding an infant in his arms and the velocity of my double take cracked my neck (not an exaggeration). 

There are penguins. I can get a bottle of wine (sorry again Mom) for 3 bucks and a pair of Nikes for a quarter of the price it would be back home. Also, I’m tanning, which is a miracle in itself. I know I haven’t learned enough yet about the heavy stuff or started my internship, but what I already know is that I don’t know what Cape Town is going to do for me. All I do know is that it’s going to force me to grow and think differently. Which is fine. Half the fun is not knowing and figuring it out along the way, even when you hate the not knowing part like myself. So, I’m excited to figure that out. And also excited to meet my future husband, preferably of the rugged-blonde-male-model-holding-infant persuasion.

But in all seriousness, Capetown’s going to be glorious. I’m excited to be challenged and I know for certain that’s going to happen, maybe not in the most graceful way, but it’ll make me a better person than who I was before I stepped off that plane.