I depart for Africa in 12 days! First stop: Soweto

Posted on March 21, 2013 by The Roaming Bean in International Travels // 0 Comments

soweto

My departure for Africa is in twelve days!!! I seriously cannot believe it’s that close; I am super excited, and also a little nervous, as this is my first completely solo trip into lands I have never been. As soon as I land, I am going straight to Soweto, and it is this stop in particular that I am most looking forward to, from a cultural standpoint.

Soweto is an urban township outside of Johannesburg, and is a place that has been through a lot of negativity in the past, and still has a lot of struggles. I am really looking forward to talking to the locals and getting a better understanding of how life was and still is inside Soweto; I’m sure there is a lot to take away from an experience like this.

While I prepare for my trip, make sure you don’t miss out on any of my African travels by FOLLOWING MY BLOG (click that little box on the top right corner of the page that says “follow the bean” to have my blogs delivered straight to your inbox!), and also FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK for extra posts, updates and pictures that won’t be posted here on my page!! I will be updating one or the other daily (providing internet is available), so don’t miss out!!

About The Roaming Bean (109 Articles)
You're probably wondering what the heck is a "Roaming Bean"... Given that I am clearly not a Bean, and my name is Jen, what gives with this Bean thing, right? A friend of mine called me JenBean as a child, and it kinda stuck. Actually, it really stuck... even my license plate says Jenbean. And seeing as I have this grand lust to wander the world, The Roaming Bean seemed suitable. I've changed my career path more times than I have my underwear (minus all the times I've gone commando).... from animating, to forensic pathology, to international business, to fashion marketing and even to my wonderful and favorite of the bunch, degree in culinary arts, nothing kept my attention. Nothing was fun enough to do every day for the rest of my life. I mean, even though I cooked for celebrities in the heart of Hollywood, CA, why the hell would I want to sweat my ass off in a ridiculously HOT kitchen for most of the day and go home smelling like beef and onions? And the chef hat?? Do you know what that did to my hair?? Enter traveling.... The rainy day I descended down the tower of Notre Dame in Paris, gripping on to the railing for dear life so not to slip and tumble to an early death from the torrential down pour that was causing a small flood in the stairwell, my life changed. When I safely made it to the ground, legs shaky from an apparent lack of fitness it requires to walk up and down 387 steep stairs, I realized my hands were stained a delightful copper color from the rusted hand rail I had so dearly clung to. Desperate to get the icky stuff off my supple hands, and no running water in sight, I did what any other hopeless idiot would have done: I washed my hands in the nearest Parisian gutter. It was that moment that changed my life... I threw away my hair dryer, my rolling luggage and my dignity. I let my hair go natural, I bought a back pack and I CAMPED through Europe for a month and a half. Yes my friends, I crossed over into a savage traveling beast. Ok, a lot of people travel that way. But I didn't. And I'm so incredibly thankful for that rainy day in Paris that made me realize the world is a pretty sweet place. That realization led me on a quest; a quest to get out there, see things, soak up some local culture and eat my way around the world (with minimal food-related illnesses, such as but not limited to raging diarrhea).

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