We're on time.

The title of my blog may be a little confusing to some. Because South Africa is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are swapped from what they are in the US. As a result, when I return in December, South Africa will have gone from winter to summer while America experiences a transition from summer to winter. I am skipping fall 2010. Granted South African winters range from ~40F in the morning to upper 60s in the evening, but the concept of skipping a season is cool nonetheless.

My friend Brooke and I have been sitting at the gate for about four hours now. Brooke is also an OU student from Tulsa who will be studying at the University of Pretoria this semester. After leaving Tulsa at 10:45 in the morning and landing in Atlanta around noon EST, we had what will probably be our last Mexican meal for months. We came to the gate, set up our internet, and began doing our own things. I opted to watch the series finale of Lost, while Brooke decided to listen to the World Cup championship game. I thought kind of funny to watch Lost while the world was watching soccer (football) in my future home. While watching, the screen above the counter turned on and Destination: Johannesburg, SA: On Time popped up. I was ecstatic. It's all slowly sinking in. Though I will be gone for five months (the longest I've ever been away from home, or America for that matter), I know the time will fly with all the adventures I will be having and new friends I will be making these memories with. I look forward to sharing some of these with you.

A fellow passenger just asked how long the flight will be. 15 hours, 40 minutes. Maybe I can get some walking and reading in on this aluminum tube suspended miles in the air.

See you in South Africa.