Sundowns vs. Pirates

Ok so it was getting packed on our side and yet more people were coming. Then I learned that their nickname is "the brazillians" no wonder I said to myself as I saw a lot of Brazil jerseys as well. It is too late now to swtich :) No, it is ok I can live with it, this is the hometown team and I have to support them no matter what the nickname is. They have some great fans!!

Here is the crowd cheering and singing as the team takes the field to start warming up!!! It felt good to be back in the stadium! But I wish I knew the words so I could join in...



Here they are shaking hands before the start of the macth and interstingly no anthem or anything they just started the game....OK GO SUNDOWNS!!!


It was very intense and the sitting down part did not last too long every once in a while you would get people yelling at others to sit and it worked for a few minutes but then it was back to standing, I like it better that way anyhow, it keeps you in the game. The first half ended 0-0 Sundowns only need 1 goal to claim a victory and head to the finals.

The second half started and Sundowns started putting a lot of pressure around the 15 minute mark. You could feel it they wanted to score and we knew they would. Finally, they scored around 18 mins and well the crowd went wild, the video above shows a little of the celebration after the goal.



Some 10 mins later the Pirates hit the equalizer it was a great shot but a once in a lifetime kind of shot! Now people are no longer standing, they are standing on the chiars as they are nervous, but intersetingly they are not mad or upset. Yes they are dissapointed but they felt as if they played a good game, I agree. It was refereshing to see them still cheer and have no ill will towards the team. The game ended 1-1 and the Pirates advanced, I quickly ran out as I was going to meet a friend for dinner.

It was great, walking out you saw a lot of Pirate fans that simply said "sorry" maybe next time. They were happy and celebrating but not rude! I had a blast!! I am sure I will be back!! Sundowns One!!!

Inside Loftus

Ok so I was in and it was like being home. I felt comfortable and it was just like being in Argentina or any other place similar you just sat were you felt like it, so I was heading for mid field. The stadium is Blue because it is where the local rugby team plays the Blue Bulls. In fact the US had some very memorable games here last year! You could already feel the excitment in the crowd.

I saw a crowd forming at that end and so I headed in that direction. It was intersting though if you look can see the large frame on the top of the stadium is where I imagine they had a big screen TV during the World Cup now it was just empty.

I was getting closer to the spot I wanted to sit and so I just anchored in and started looking around hearing all the wonderful songs...


There were some intersting costumes too below is a Pirates fan who had is faced painted and was eating a rubber hand, not sure what it was all about but it was great to see that and also the fact that everone got along. Sure things were said but it was friendly despite being a Semi-final match for the ABSA Cup. As I said the winners would face the Chiefs in September.

Here is the graduate, I saw a lot of these both for the Sundowns and the Pirates. I need to find one and have it for a graduation ceremony it would be Classic!


So at first all was well people sat down and we were getting ready for a great match! only 30 mins to go. I was really excited!

Getting into Loftus

It did not take long to get there perhaps 10 mins tops! I got a parking spot close on the street and started to make my way over to the stadium. It was still 2 1/2 hrs before the game but people were already starting to blow their vuvzelas and sing songs. Below is a vendor as you would typically see, selling jerseys (got mine for a better price at the mall) and hats and vuvzelas.

I was seeing a lot of Pirate fans (they are from Jo'burg) as I mentioned and they hail from Soweto as do the Kaiser Cheifs there mortal enemy. Some Cheif fans were there to support the Sundowns but more so because they are worried about playing the Pirates. I guess they are good. Still I was feeling confident and most of the fans I saw were saying we would win 1-0

This was one of the entrances into the satdium and as of yet I was not having much luck finding a ticket, but with all my World Cup experience I was not too worried I knew something would come around.
Yes that's me in the Sundowns jersey flashing their symbol, it is what they do, felt wierd but well gotta blend in :)

This is the Mamelodi Team bus coming into the stadium I made sure to wave hello!! Still more than 1 hr left and no luck finding a ticket. A guy comes up to me and asks "you need a ticket", I said yes. He said I do not have one but I can get you in with a friend just follow me...

Hmmm...sounded a bit fishy, he kept asking me to give him money and that he would get me in. I said first lets go in then I will give you money. He said give me 50 Rand ($7) I said I had no change, and he insisted he could get some. I said well let me go find change and I will come back. Just a bad vibe so I left. The last thing I need is to get in trouble right???

Anyhow a few minutes later there was a guy selling tickets he had one and the face was 40 Rand and he said give me 100 I told him I did not have it, which was true, I only had 40. He started to say that there were selling them for 120, I held on to the ticket and quickly we got swarmed, I am sure had I insisted I could have gotten it from him for 40 but well there were others willing to pay so I gave it back to him. Then as I turned around there were a group of Pirates fans and I ran over as they looked at their tickets and said "any extras" they said yes. I quickly told them I only had 40 and he handed me the ticket!!! SCORE ONE FOR FREDDY!!! It felt good to know I still had it in me :) I am sure luck had something to do with it to, but that is how it is you must act fast and decisively otherwise you are out of luck.....OK so now I am heading in!

Sunday Shopping

So today I woke up around 9:30 am it felt great!!! I really needed it, so after I ate breakfast I wanted to go buy some essentials and search for a Mamelodis Sundown Jersey. I went to Menlyn park just a 5 min drive from the house and started to wander around. I found a store that sells all kinds of jerseys from South Africa including Rugby gear so I bought a Mamdelodi jersey and a polo rugby for SA. On Fridays we are encouraged to wear the green and gold so I have something now! As soon as I put on my Mamelodi jersey I was getting some serious looks and a dozen our so guys that were really happy to see it a couple of fist bumps later and I felt like I was a local :)

Then I bumped into a Pirate find (literaly) and he said "sorry" so by now I was feeling confident and having no idea about the history or anything I said well I will be sorry later for you because we will win, he just laughed and we went our separate ways. More on this later.

So walking through the mall I came across GAME!!! See below



It is pretty much like Target but with a lot of pink! Loved the place and has good value. I typically try not to buy things I do not need but it happens just like in Target. I bought an old Phil Collins CD I use to have. Then I saw this


The Turbo Flavor Wave...move over Foreman her comes Mr. T! This is even better because some of you may or may not know but he is actually my nieghboor back at Prairie House. Well he comes in from time to time and I usually just say hello. Super nice and well GLAD to see he is making it work! No I did not buy it :)


Saw some pretty reasonable patio furniture as well and may have to get some for the new house. Well overall the visit was a success. I went upstairs and had some lunch and then it was off to the game. I was told to get there early if I wanted to find a ticket.

Fede's Got Wheels!

I rented this car for the week and it was great to be able to move around and get some errands done today! Yes it is a bit awkward driving on the other side of the road but I have done it a few times even here last year. Tomorrow is a big match at Loftus stadium Mamelodi Sundownds

http://www.sundownsfc.com/home.aspx vs. Orlando Pirates. The Sundowns are the local team so I plan on giving them my support!! The pirates hail from Soweto and are usually the favorites to win the leauge. More on this tomorrow!

Saterdag

That means Saturday! I am trying to learn some basic words in Afrikaans so far so good!
Goed, Dankie! I'm Fine, Thanks!

Here is the end of that long road you saw in my last post now I turn right and keep walking! The expressway is right there beyond the sign.


There it is main road to Jo'burgn and also the opposite way to Polokwane! I was in that town last year and hope to get back it was very nice.

Along the way back home ran into this vicious gaurd dog :)

I think he was more upset because I woke him up.

Finally made it to the campus here it is from the outside in the backdrop is the DST or Department of Science & Technology another good group in South Africa. Only half a mile to go... So far it has been a great Saterdag!

Tot Siens! Goodbye!

Walk from the store

So after I saw another home this morning which was beautiful and the owners super nice they dropped me off at Glenfair which is the mall closest to me. Walked around for a bit to see what stores were there and found a cleaners/laundromat!!! That was huge.

On the side of the road I saw this pretty flower that was coming from this tree. Apparently there is a lot more greenery to come once the summer is here!! Excited to see it.

Here is the bus stop just around the corner from the Mall but I hear they are on strike so not sure of it is worth the wait. It also does not got my way...

One of the many corner vendors you will find in Pretoria!

Ok so part of my walk consists of walking down that road and that is just the start to getting back home. So I am getting my workout on!

I was trying to get a picture of the "petrol" prices (right corner, it got cut out) its about 9 Rand a liter which is about $3.85 a Gallon.

Saw a Dussie

I was walking to meet a real estate agent at the front gate when all of the sudden I finally saw a Dussie!!! Very cute and I am surprised I got this close, as soon as I moved one step close they took off!!





When I cam back a few hours later they were just laying in the middle of the road and I wanted to get another picture but this time they took off right away!!

Chicago

In my office right on the top of my book case is a wonderful gift from a family friend to remind me of home! Love it!

About to finish up my first week at work and it has been a great experience! There is so much to do and I am excited at the chance of being part of a great opportunity here at work. I was happy to get back in the lab the last few days as well. Doing research brings you alove because there are always challanges you face. Nothing is easy and well it was great feeling that again!

Tommorrow I will check out this place to rent.. looks very promising and it has a pool table inside!!! It is also a 5 min drive to work, can not ask for more...

Until tomorrow!

My Anniversary

Today was obviously a special day so I started it out right, a healthy breakfast...

I then opened my email and saw a picture from my lovely wife wishing me a happy anniversary. It is not the first time we were apart for this momentous occasion but this time it was ceretainly different!

It is hard to believe eight years have gone by, there is now way I could have imagined writing about this 8 years ago on a blog while living in South Africa. However, this tome is so relevant at this point in my life TODAY. That is because life is so unpredictable as is marriage and the onky way to enjoy both is to remain flexible and open and always try to listen and find new ways to communicate with your partner.

It was amazing today as I sat in this meeting and realized how difficult it is for people in South Africa to do business with the US because of the time difference. As a result I think there are a lot of missed opportunities in business and other areas of life. Then I thought how many people in the US do not realize the tremendous capabilities South Africa has in terms of technology and other resources. I relate this to marriage once again because many times (including myself) we get comfortable and foget to explore and ask new questions or seek new answers to our relationships so it can grow into something new. We usually go for what is safe and known to us.

That is why I love my wife so much! She always has been there for me and has been willing to try and do all the crazy things I think up of in life (well not all of them). I sent her a card before I left that was kind of funny but in the note it said thanks for putting up with me not just these 8 years but also in the last few months which I know was very hard on her.

Now I am here alone today but happy that soon she will be here to enjoy this moment with me and I will make sure to make it all up to her when she gets here. We will celebrate those wonderful 8 years and the many more to come.

My office part 2

It is now official...

First Day at Work

This was a really nice day, everything went well with HR and I was up and running in no time. I was introduced to the Laser Materials Processing Group of which I am in charge of around 20 people or so, they all seemed excited for me to be there and I too was very honored and excited. LOTS OF WORK TO DO!!!!! But the seem like a great team!

Here are some pics of my office

Lots of space...maybe too much but very nice!

This is part of the workshop floor we have some outstanding lasers here for great work and research (left building is for laser cladding, right building is for laser welding and cutting) . Can not wait to get in there and work...

Sunday

I got a chance in the pm on Sunday to head down to the soccer field and kick the ball around...it was fun. There were some guys playing on the other end and eventually they invited me over to play with them. My first time lpaying in SA it was a good time! It is so funny how people that play soccer will quickly accept someone. I was greatful hopefully there will be more...

Oh and by the way I scored a few goals :)

On the inside...and around the CSIR campus

This is the living area and kitchen, it is a great open space and I think Steph and Sasha will like it. A bit cold on the inside as it is a brick house and they typically do not have insulation. A good start


This is the hallway from the bathroom (behind me in this picture) which is divded into three areas. Looking at the two bedrooms so vistors are already welcomed :) we have space...

This is part of the club I mentioned and the pool that is outside!

More of the park/campus of CSIR which is beautiful a lot of space to walk Sasha around

The best part is there is a soccer field here (part of it seen down below) I will be out there practicing and I hear that CSIR has a team...we shall see.

Mi Casa

There it is...I will be here for 3 months, unless I find another place sooner. This is the temporary housing that is on the CSIR campus! Very lovely and it has parking too

If you turn around there are tennis courts right across and there is a club to join with a pool and everything. It is hard to imagine this being winter, I'll take it!

Oh yes and it appears as in Argentina all houses are equipped with a girll :) More pictures on that to come...

Jo'burg landing

It was a nice flight into Jo'burg and I actually got a few hours of sleep in. Next to me was a fellow from Botswana and he had just come back from a Land Rover meeting in the UK with some of his fellow co-workers. It was funny because he kept saying he had asked the crew to let him jump off as we flew over Botswana to save him some time. I have often thought of that too, a great way to cut operating costs too. Well maybe some other time.

This is when it finally hit me, this is what I will be calling home for now and it was a bright sunny and warm morning. I felt already like a different person and when I got to the customs agent he asked me how long I was staying, I said as long as you let me :) he smiled and said oh so you have a VISA, yes I said, I am here to work. It was now official and I was on my way!

I was greeted by my dear friend Mr. Burger and we had a smooth ride into Pretoria next stop was my new home.

London pm

So I guess I was in Westminster as well :) no time to find where they have the dog show but it must be close...

Ok so it was about 3ish and I figured it was a good time to head back to Heathrow, it was a great day and a long walk for me and I did not sleep on the flight in as I watched 4 moves in a row, I was getting tired and still had a 10 1/2 hr flight ahead.

More photos from London

This was that Fields store

Reminded me of a scene from a PBS movie that Steph had me watch with her...I wonder if it is the same place? Steph any ideas? or know which one I am talking about...

Looked like a good place to eat and have a pint...so I did!

It was a beautiful day in London indeed. I saw a lot and well I was glad I came in to see it and plan on coming back with a plan to also see the sights :) but that is more fun when I am with Steph so it can wait.