Saying Goodbye to Stellenbosch/ Totsiens vir Stellenbosch (dedicated to Zappa and Emma)

(This post will be in English and Afrikaans to help my two awesome English speaking friends to improve their Afrikaans and be fluent in it by the time I get back! Hierdie inskrywing sal in Engels en Afrikaans wees sodat my twee wonderlike Engelssprekende vriende hulle Afrikaans kan verbeter en dit vlot kan praat teen die tyd wat ek terug kom!)

For the past three weeks I have been spending some time in Stellenbosch. On Friday I had to bid the town, that has been my home for the past 5 years, farewell so that I can have 6 months of awesome experiences in Europe. Basically my last three weeks in Stellenbosch was spent moving office, registering at Stellenbosch University, sorting out finances (thanks Natalie!), partying, dancing, braaiing, smoking some hubbly and hanging out with friends. Oh, and updating my research proposal... haha!


Ek het vir die afgelope drie weke bietjie tyd in Stellenboch spandeer. Vrydag moes ek die dorp, wat my tuiste was vir die afgelope 5  jaar, groet sodat ek vir 6 maande wonderlike ervarings in Europa kan hê. Tydens die laaste drie weke in Stellenbosch het ek my kantoor getrek, geregistreer by Stellenbosch Universiteit, my finansies uitgesorteer (dankie Natalie!), partytjie gehou, gedans, gebraai, hubbly gerook en saam met vriende gekuier. Oja, en my navorsingsvoorstel opgedateer... haha!

Braaiing at Sonel and Emma's house

Braaiing at my house

Braaiing at my house

Basically all the farewells started last Saturday at my house in Stellenbosch. I had a braai with my Huis Marais  friends, class friends and some of my oldest friends, which was lots of fun! During the week I had coffee with many of my friends to say goodbye. The biggest celebrations, however, started on Wednesday night in Brazen Head with some friends from Sonop, smoking some hubbly and having a few drinks. There I met four friendly European girls who just wanted to know why I'm leaving the sun for the snow! The biggest party was definitely on Thursday night! The four Masters' girls went for dinner at Manousche (highly recommended). At this dinner I was given a farewell gift that had me in tears! They've secretly been making a notebook with letters from everyone in my class wishing me good luck. It is also filled with photos of them and of Stellenbosch for when I get homesick. I can honestly say that this is one of the few times I've received such a thoughtful and special gift and it means the world to me. I even have letters from some of the staff in the Structural Engineering department in there! After this awesome dinner we went to De Akker to meet up with the boys where we had a VERY memorable night. Even Karel showed up (honourable mention for that). So on Friday I packed my car leaving my house in Stellenbosch behind for 6 months.

Basies het al die totsiens sêery laas Saterdag by my huis in Stellenbosch begin. Ek het gebraai saam met my Huis Marais vriende, klasvriende en van my oudste vriendinne, wat baie lekker was! Gedurende die week het ek saam met verskeie van my vriende gaan koffie drink om totsiens te sê. Die grootste feesvieringe het egter Woensdagaand in Brazen Head begin saam met my vriendinne van Sonop. Ons het hubbly gerook en 'n paar drankies gedrink. Daar het ek ook vier baie vriendelike Europese meisies ontmoet wat net wou weet hoekom ek die son vir die sneeu verruil! Die grootste partytjie was definitief die Donderdagaand! Die vier Meesters meisies het gaan aandete eet by Manousche (hoogs aanbeveel). Hier het ek 'n geskenkie gekry wat my in trane gehad het! Hulle het skelm 'n boekie gemaak met briefies van al die mense in my klas om vir my totsiens te sê en sterkte toe te wens. Daar is ook foto's in van hulle en Stellenbosch vir wanneer ek huis toe verlang. Ek kan eerlikwaar sê dat dit een van die min kere is wat ek so 'n deurdagte en spesiale geskenk gekry het en dit beteken so baie vir my. Daar was selfs briefies in van sommige van die personeel in die Struktuuringenieurswese departement! Na hierdie lekker ete is ons De Akker toe waar die ouens by ons aangesluit het. Dit was 'n ONVERGEETLIKE aand. Selfs Karel het opgedaag (eervolle vermelding daarvoor). So toe het ek Vrydag my kar gepak en my huis in Stellenbosch verlaat vir die volgende 6 maande.

The notebook I got as a farewell gift

I also got a "croc" keyring due to an inside joke between Emma, Sonel and me.

I am now spending some time at home with my parents until I leave on Thursday evening. I've been packing my suitcase and hand luggage... what a mission! I think I will still need about two more attempts to get it right!

Ek spandeer nou bietjie tyd by die huis saam met my ouers tot ek Donderdagaand vlieg. Ek het al my tas en handbagasie gepak... soveel moeite! Ek dink ek gaan nog so twee probeerslae nodig hê voor ek dit heeltemal regkry!