just so you know...

I have NOT abandoned my blog! I'm only having a time manegement problem as of late and I promise to sort it out soon, I'll make a plan! And I will definatly post pics so stay tuned...

Until then, enjoy this pic. Just one more reason to come to South Africa and visit me! The Jacaranda's are the most beautiful tree I have seen and are ALL OVER THE PLACE in October, love em! I can also smell Jasmine, yes JASMINE while running in the morning... It's good to be alive! Cheers til soon!

quirks

I was tagged by a friend and the goal is to write six quirky things about myself so here it goes (it was great cause I needed a new post and didn't have one yet for the week)...

1. I love the taste of vinegar. I will have it on chips, cucumbers, salads, beets etc etc...if you gave me the choice between a candy bar and a pickle, the pickle would win out easily.

2. This goes along with number one, but my friends all know that I am the pickiest person in the world when it comes to salad dressing. I will choose a restaurant by if they have homemade salad dressing or not and it's not uncommon for me to ask the waiter, "do you make your salad dressings here?" and if they say no I will not order salad at all. I can taste preservatives in bottled salad dressing and I think it's yuck.

2. I have a thing with clean lines and things being straight. This could be chairs, pillows, box's, clothes in a closet, candles on a windowseal etc.

3. I can't stop doing a puzzle or suduko or a game without finishing it and solving it, if it's too difficult it's better for me just to never start it at all.

4. I like to sleep in a freezing cold room with three blankets. The softest of the blankets must be on the bottom.

5. I am extremely sensitive to smell and smells more than anything for me bring back memories. If I am in a store and I smell a certain lotion it might bring back memories of highschool, or the smell of fresh laundry reminds me of my cousin Jess, and the smell of pancakes reminds me of my dad etc.

6. I love doing my laundry and hanging it in the sun. Even when I am in the states and there are huge dryers a the house I would prefer to hang my laundry in the sun.

Ok, that's it...I guess I am not all that quirky but I am sure there are things that I don't recognise.

As fot the tag...Susie Q, Nicky, Camille, E, Matt, and Mindy...your it!

we danced anyway

Alright, so I am new in South Africa and I was looking for things to do this weekend. I met a gentelmen two weeks ago and he messaged me about a Stake dance they were having. Now for all of you who are single or who have ever been single you know what I am talking about when I say the words "Stake Dance" and you automatically feel that awkward, panicky feeling. Atleast if you are like me. I am not usually shy by nature, but there is something about these things that brings back memories of highschool and college of standing along the side of the wall, drinking punch and looking around like you are totally fine with not being asked to dance when you really wish that you would be so that you didn't have to look and feel so awkward. But then, there is also that uh oh feeling that if the wrong guy asks you how will you get out of it and in order not to be rude you will have to give him one dance atleast and then if he keeps asking you then you will have to make lame excuses like going to the bathroom or that you are tired. Does this strike any memories for anyone?

Back to my story, I said yes to go to the dance because well...I needed something to do on Saturday night rather than sit home. We went to the dance which was first a talent show so I sat with another girl that I knew and just chatted. Then, the music started. I didn't know what to expect, the guy I was with was just a friend (I think) so I didn't expect him to even dance at all. When he asked me for a dance I stood up, took his hand and then...off we went with the Afrikaans Sokkie. As our feet moved quickly and in a series of turns, I couldn't help but notice I was smiling. I didn't care about anything right then. I would even go as far to say that I really enjoyed it. It's nice to dance with someone that knows what they are doing and sometimes it's such a freeing feeling. As he spun me around til I was dizzy, I felt a sense of livelihood and it was really quite nice.

So my point to all of this is that sometimes we expect the worst and then someone comes along and changes your perspective. This has happened to me a few times in the past couple of weeks. I am grateful for these lessons and it's taught me to look for the good in everything because we just might end up with something great! And I am grateful to have learned something new about the Afrikaans culture and about South Africa. It's all going to be uphill from here!

To all my readers, if life is getting a bit awkward and difficult to deal with...Dance!

warm fuzzies...

Yesterday I was having one of those "I really need a hug" days. I said my prayers before I slept last night, asking just to feel a little significance in this great big world and this morning a card arrived from the little girl that I nannied in Connecticut. Today my day went fine and much was accomplished. Heavenly Father really does have a funny way of answering our prayers and He really does work through other people, even little people like Madeline. I am so grateful for her sweet spirit and her intuition.

howzit...

The first couple of weeks here in South Africa have been a whirlwind. I must say that moving across the world comes with it's own set of challenges and I am working my way through those. I think I finally have a handle on the cell phone/car situation. I have met some great new friends and have been spending the weekends with them. Honorable mentions are my friends Nadine (who dragged me everywhere my first weekend here-so fun!) and Angeline and Carel who were nice enough to pick me up and take me in to watch conference and for a good round of Phase Ten, love them! It's so nice to have met new friends who have literally been answers to my prayers.

Not much to report from the orphanage yet because I haven't actually been there (and that makes me sad), but soon now I will get a car and go there and be posting my adorable kids and all that we are doing. I can't wait to get there!

I have taken to driving on the other side of the road, was weird the first couple of times, but it's going to be fine. Whew!

The family I am living with is lovely. Mostly, we have been celebrating Jewish Holidays in the home where I live. Last week was Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. I have loved learning about a new way of life and experiencing their customs as celebration. I did almost mess up the Kosher kitchen by taking an avocado from the fridge that was in the meat bowl and placing it on the milk counter and taking it out with a milk fork. We had to call the Rabbi and boil the fork and everything. SAD...but I am learning and will soon get it straight. Tomarrow evening we will start a 26 hour fast (I must say that's the longest I have probably fasted ever), but maybe it will be good for my waistline? This week we celebrate Yom Kippur.

South Africa as always is sunny and the accents are delightful. I have picked up the words howzit, shame, pleasure (for your welcome), Lekker (Afrikaans for nice, sweet, delicious), lovely, and Cheers and have entered them into my vocabulary for now. Can't wait to encorperate more. Some other fun comparisons to American English...

Sneakers = Tackies
Trunk = Boot
Gas = Pe-trol
Soda or Juice = Cold Drink
I'll do it soon = I will do it just now
I'll do it later = I will do it now now

I am loving being in this place where it is sunny...the Jacaranda's are starting to bloom and as soon as they do I will post pics.

Enjoy what's left of your week and please continue to update me on your lives!


This is at the stake Talent show in Pretoria...now you ladies know why I moved to South Africa...the legs my friends, the legs!

leap of faith...

I’m sitting here in my airplane seat by the window just thinking about the step that I am taking in my life at the moment. I’m starting to realize that nothing in life is by chance and that everything is interconncected. The title to this blog is “Hollikin”. When I was a little girl my mother would take me to George and Louise Sturts house when she went away on vacation or needed some babysitting. I have so many happy memories of their home while I was in their care. George and Louise grew up in South Africa and immigrated to America over 30 years ago. However, they remained their South African roots and with their sweet accents gave me this nick name. I have never been called anything else by them and I blame them entirely for my love for South African people. We just had dinner together last week and I really could listen to them tell stores about Africa for days, they are just the most delightful people. But ok, that’s my childhood background but here is what’s happening now.

I am finally moving to South Africa! As I sit here I am thinking oh wow…it’s actually happening! Recently I finished reading the book The Alchemyst per my Danish friend Sidse’s suggestion. This book validated everything I have felt about my own personal journey in the past few years and also what I have to look forward to. So nice to actually have everything that I feel put into words by someone else! So many people ask me questions like, “How can you just uproot your life and leave home, your family, your friends?” , “Why are you moving to South Africa at this point in your life?” , “Aren’t you scared?”

There is a quote that says, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams”

For me, that happens to be in the southern hemisphere half way across the world.

Now I do realize that it sounds a little strange for a 28 year old woman from Salt Lake City, born and raised in the LDS church and a nanny to just up and move to Zion with not an idea of where that will lead while most of my friends are married, living in Salt Lake with three kids and one on the way, but I will explain now why I feel so passionately about this. I am by nature a passionate person, I care a deeply about my dreams, life and people. In 2004 I stepped off the plane in Johannesburg . I had plans to volunteer in an orphanage for two months. Much like other people that have ambitions of working in an orphanage, I thought to myself that it was going to be a “neat” experience. I in no way expected the change in my life that only began that September. I have not been the same since.

I distinctly remember sitting on the platform of cement, trying to connect with the orphaned children that first day. It was awkward because they didn’t understand my English. They looked at me as if I were a celebrity (which as a third year University student dressed in khaki pants from walmart and sneakers, I most certainly was anything but), and they looked straight into my eyes as if asking, “what is your purpose here?”

One of the children, Mpho was his name walked towards me and held out a card in his hand. I read it and it was the lyrics to National Anthem of South Africa. I still carry this card in my wallet. I asked them to sing. They didn’t understand. So I started to sing America’s anthem shyly, but in effort to create some unity, anything to help me connect with them. Then I motioned for them to sing and as I stood there, I heard something other than the beautiful children’s voices singing the four versus of this anthem (in different languages of South Africa). To me it was clear in that moment that there was no other place in the world that wanted to be. This place, South Africa spoke to my heart and it is never to go away. Obviously because I am on a one way flight back to Johannesburg it still hasn’t.

I again returned with my friends in 2006 for four months. Same experience, more attachment. Now I was really in trouble, South Africa had ignited a fire in me that I have never experienced anywhere else in the world. That’s when I decided, k…I am going to go back to America and take care of my stuff, finish my degree and get back here as fast as I can.

I spent the past two years in Connecticut aching to go back, taking care of the stuff and traveling to some other destinations. In January of this year I again felt that burning desire to go to South Africa, and it almost felt like I was planning my journey to “home”. South Africa somehow in all of this became just like home, with different friends and a different family. Is it possible to have both? I am here to answer that question, absolutely. Somehow over these journeys I have come to the realization that South Africa will never take away the love I have for my family, for my religion, for the people that I associate with all over the world, but this country does offer me the chance to be my best self and share even more with those that I come into contact with. It’s the only way to justify who I am and why I would give up everything in my life to be there.

I have absolutely no idea what living in South Africa will bring about in my life. And yes, I am scared. It’s not a safe country, the president just resigned Sunday Evening, the economy is unstable, HIV/AIDS rates are the highest in the world , and I have unresolved differences to face. But those things are just things, and I would say in most situations, the heart overpowers the mind. It’s the only way to get from where you are now to where you want to be. My mind, of course along with all of my friends (in and out of South Africa) can’t understand why I would just walk into that situation. All I can really say is that for the first time in so long, maybe ever I am being completely true my heart. It’s the most compelling opportunity I have faced, the biggest crossroad, my chance….and I am taking it!

If you’ll note that the tagline to this blog says “The Luckiest Girl in the World” it’s because I am. How many people are given the chance to follow their exact dreams with the support and blessings of their family and friends, a close relationship with Heavenly Father, and let me not forget to mention in a place with the most beautiful sunsets I have seen and elephants? I am so incredibly lucky and grateful.

Stay tuned…I will update often!

home

I'm a born and raised Utahn, but have lived all over in New York and Connecticut and have spent my time traveling the world the past 8 years. Again, I came home to visit for a few weeks and I have to say that I loved every second. I have the most amazing friends in Salt Lake and my equally spectacular family. I so enjoyed the mountains, the LDS Temples and the company. Salt Lake is beautiful in every season (and it's one of the only places that I have seen in the world that has all four: fall, sping, winter, summer). I love that. And I love customer service in Utah, it doesn't exist back east...and I loved all the walks, talks, dinners etc, that I was able to be a part of with friends and family these past few weeks. Really, when I say I am the luckiest girl in the world, I mean it. I really, truely have the most blessed life I could ask for and it's that way because of the amazing, inspiring people that I know. Someone pinch me please! I will miss all of you greatly while I am away, but of course think of you each day and you will be the ones to push me to do what I was meant to do. The apples don't fall far from the tree!

new addition

My little brother Steven and his wife welcomed Kaitlyn Elise Harris into the world on 8.28.08. She is such a delight, a little princess and I've been having so much fun being Aunt Holly and holding her! The best part about being an aunt is that you get all the benefit without the sleepless nights! love having my cake and eating it too!

saying goodbye...

In just two days I will say goodbye to the past two years of my life and three wonderful little kids who's first and last names start with M. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. We've spent this past week and last week in Mexico and I have really enjoyed playing with them in the pool, ditching waves on the beach, making pinatas, playing in the sand and just being us. On each trip because there are usually not enough rooms to have our own I get to snuggle with Madeline (sleeping with kids isn't so much getting sleep) but hey, you must enjoy it before they get to big and they wont let you anymore. Yesterday Marshall was playing with pots and pans in the kitchen. He pretended to make me some soup and gave me a make believe spoonful and said, "Here, I love you Holly". It's those moments that make this job TOTALLY worth it and although sometimes I have put in 90 hours a week and have given up a "normal" social life for basically 24 months, it has been totally worth it. Watching them grow and develop and traveling the world with them and acheieving my own goals to be debt free and move to another continent have made every second with the Mandells worth the journey. Now it is time to move on to a new one, which I know will be equally rewarding. The next few pics are of our last week in Mexico. I don't really post pics of the kids I nanny cause my blog isn't private and I just want them to be safe, but here are some glimpses of our last week in Mexico, our last week together. Feeling VERY bittersweet about that!

los cabos, and a little congrats!

Hola! Here's my little online post card of sorts from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It's my last week as the Mandell's nanny and we are here enjoying the ocean waves (they're giantic as Madeline says) and eating guacamole. Mmmm, Guacamole! I have included my favorite recipe for this delectible dip for you to enjoy til I post more pics of this beautiful place.

GUACAMOLE
Ingredients:
4 Hass avocadoes
3 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
8 dashes hot pepper sauce
1/2 cup red onion, small dice
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
1 medium tomato, seeded and small dice

Directions:
1Pit avocados and remove flesh out of shells into a bowl. Add lemon juice, hot sauce, onion, garlic, salt and pepper and toss well.
2Slice through mixture with a sharp knife until finely diced. Add tomatoes.
3Mix well and taste for seasoning

Serve with fresh tortilla chips.

Oh oh oh...and...

Congradualations!!!

to my brother Steve and his wife Melanie who becomes parents to a little girl today. They are still in labor so I will wait to announce the name, etc...but I am so excited for them. They are going to be such wonderful parents and I can't wait to hold that little baby girl in five days when I return to Salt Lake. Love you guys!

As an interesting little side note...I wasn't as hooked on my book during nap time today and so I started blog surfing and found this fun little morsel. It tells how many people have my same name in the US. Kinda fun! Just click on it and you can find out about your own! Ah, life's little simple pleasures.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 491 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

central park

So for my last New York day for a while I decided to spend it in Central Park, a little excercise and a nice Saturday in the Park was bliss. I went with Jess and we had a great time just catching up, watching street performers and enjoying the scenery. It seriously was a perfect day!

Jess enjoying fresh lemonaide, SO good from the Boathouse on this perfect glorious day!

Is this not the cutest thing ever? I love seeing old couples like this, he's just content while she lays on his lap and he holds her hand, so cute!!! Think he saw me snapping the photo though!








These "Afrobats" were awesome. Three Hundred people gathered in the park to watch them including Jess and I.

One problem, the NYPD destroyed their whole show right in the middle of it because they were using a radio? Rediculous!






I LOVE this about New York! Check out this guy's Hammer Pants. Haven't seen those since 1994. So Awesome!



I am going to miss being on the East Coast with Jess. She's amazin'!

pure gold

So you all have been watching the Olypics right? Seriously, Michael Phelps is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I don't care who ya are, this guy deserves to eat 13,000 calories per day! Just watched him get his 7th...SEVENTH, Gold Medal. Only one more race tomarrow and he'll have his eighth...well, we have to beat out Australia in the relay but this is going to be a proud moment! Go USA and GO Mike! WE LOVE YOU! The Olympics Rock! Seriously can't get enough!

sending out an s.o.s

Help me my friends, just what am I supposed to read now? So I finished Breaking Dawn last night, so fantastic by the way. I am going to miss those vampires, especially the E-bomb/Man of every womans dream/Edward Cullen. Can't wait for the Twilight movie priemer but anyways...

...now I have a serious problem. I need a new book that is as good if not better than this one, atleast as exciting? Please Please Please comment if you have any suggestions for what I should read next.

One friend suggested the Jane Austin books, but I have vowed not to read them til I am hitched cause if I do, my expectations for men will become unachievable and I will live in a dream world (maybe I am already there, who knows)

Can't wait to see what you suggest...please be quick...I have a vacay to Mexico coming up and need something mega good to read on the beach!

black and white, go rams!

This is my Senior yearbook photo from ten years ago...


Holy Cow! I can't believe it's my 10 YEAR Highschool Reunion tomarrow!! What the... How did I get so old? Although I sadly can't attend the event, I have been thinking about some of the things that have happened since highschool, hoping that I have atleast accomplished something since then. So I thought I would make a list of ten things I have done in the past ten years (more for me than the reader, I'm not trying to give you a resume here) and then ten things that I would like to accomplish in the next decade-sort of like a ten year Bucket List. Then in the comments box, I would love to hear about your dreams in the next ten years!

in the last 10...
1. Lived in New York, Connecticut, and South Africa
2. Traveled to 24 countries
3. Was a chef at an International Summer Camp
4. Graduated from the University of Utah
5. Taught Cooking Classes to Kids
6. Ran my first Marathon
7. Rode Elephants
8. Owned a non-profit for kids around the world
9. Was a nanny for 5 families, 12 amazing kids whom I will be attached to for life
10. Learned how to use e-mail, facebook, blogs, word, myspace, etc. (when I was in highschool there wasn't e-mail yet...remember dial up, aol etc?-PLEH!!)

In the next 10 (not in order or priority)...
1. Travel to atleast 10 more countries
2. Learn to play guitar (like REALLY learn it)
3. Go to Culinary School
4. Do more with Non-Profit/Humanitarian work
5. Become a Personal Chef and teach more Cooking Classes
6. Get Married/Have a Family of my own (this one is SO not in my control people, are you allowed to set this one as a goal?, start prayin for me k)
7. Run more Marathons
8. Buy a Home and make it cute!
9. Become a much more elegant, graceful, spiritual, charitable, person.
10. Read atleast 12 books a year, every year for the next ten!

By the way, I love Highland High School and I hope everyone who attends the reunion has a stellar time! GO RAMS!

thankyou, gracias, merci, danke, ke a leboha haholo...

to my bff Camille. She surprised me with one hour of bliss (aka full body massage) at a spa here in Greenwich for my Birthday. I partook of that said massage today and it literally feels like my rubber band body was transformed into perfect harmony. I feel great! Camille is so amazing and just one more reason why my life is awesome. Love you dearly friend! So so So lucky to know you!

*Stay tuned by the way, cause Camille is in the process of recording an album and the second it comes out I will post details. Can't wait, she's SO talented!