Meeting some homegrown goodness…

When I met Kathleen Hohl (the Communications and Events Director for MATC) at the Ambassador award’s dinner we quickly realized we had a mutual friend. Jill, one of the college librarians, who I had become friendly with after meeting her at an ISO (International Student Organization) meeting where she was the advisor, had told Kathleen about me. Jill had mentioned that she heard the Consul General from South Africa (who is based in Chicago) was coming to MATC and that she knew a South African student that would probably want to meet her. Kathleen who had arranged most of her trip was quick to invite me to meet her.

I showed up ready to sit back in the wings and listen and take notes. I was also writing a story for the paper about Consul General Tulelo’s visit which would be in celebration of Freedom Day in South Africa. Vuyiswa (The Consul General, or as most affectionately named her CG) walked in and Kathleen introduced the whole room to her. She immediately started quizzing me about my background and which part of SA I was from. She is an honourary KZN (Kwa-Zulu Natal – the province I’m from) girl, so we immediately bonded over warm weather and wonderful people.

Big hugs

Kathleen is standing next to me

 Finally someone pulled us out of our conversation since CG had to do an interview for the cameras. Afterwards we headed to the auditorium where she was giving a speech about the new South Africa, asking people to re-invest in South Africa and just a little about herself.

During her speech

It's great to be around South Africans :)

After the talk she approached me (only) and invited me to the fancy dinner they were having that night. I accepted graciously then snuck off to find Kathleen and let her know my dilemma. "So I know I cannot refuse an offer like that, but I did have accounting class that night…so what do I do?" Kathleen replied it’s one class – no big deal, and that she would email my instructor. Well, yes it was just one class, but I had missed the previous week being at the Ambassador award’s ceremony in Madison. She told me she would sort it out. Which she helped me to do. Luckily I don’t have a habit of missing class so my teacher understood. (Oh, and I got an A in Accounting, just so you don’t worry too much about me.)

We then headed off to lunch, no big deal, the president of MATC, the CG of South Africa, her assistant, and other wonderful people and me, oh wait and her security guard (a Milwaukee Policeman.) Lunch was great!

CG Tulelo and I

That night I rubbed shoulders with some big shots in Milwaukee, I even saw the mayor of Milwaukee. Who, of course, I didn’t recognize until he went up to speak. I also got to hear my national anthem which I sang every word of. I had a man and his wife approach me afterwards and tell me they saw me singing all the words and thought it was wonderful that I am so proud of my country. Love it! I also made the South African consulate website (see below) Basically my night was amazing! I also meet a South African lady who is married to an American. Her and I then figured out that she also knows the crowd that was at the Parlotones the other night. She informed me they are having a Potjie weekend of sort right here in Milwaukee in August! Guess I have plans in August now.

CG and I at the event
(The link to the article is below)

http://www.southafricachicago.com/?p=681
http://www.southafricachicago.com/?attachment_id=697

If you watch this you will get to see me (briefly)
http://www.mptv.org/localshows/black_nouveau/latest_episode/

Whoa! Stop the Press!

Another award ceremony I recently attended was the MATC Times Press Awards. This is the annual awards ceremony for those that have dedicated time to the college newspaper. It was my second time attending the awards. This year the theme was casino night. So we got to play all sorts of games, with poker chips (that costs us nothing.) It was fun and I learnt that I had NO future in gambling. Although I did win once or twice at Blackjack, I also lost about 4 or 5 times.

I also received an award for my contribution to the Times, which is pretty neat! 

My award, My Editor-in-chief and Me

High Roller

I guess something was funny...

Roulette

Lamp of Knowledge awards

I recently attended an awards ceremony for graduates that were receiving the lamp of knowledge award. It is basically an award that each department decides to award a student that is graduating that semester. It was inspiring to hear some their stories! I also received my school’s version of my Ambassadors award which is a pretty sweet looking award. I also had the opportunity to speak a little, which is getting less nerve wrecking.

Saying my speech

Listening to Trevor talk about the Madison experience

Receiving my award

Just say yes already…Part 5

It is important to note now that the first time Tyler and I met I was arranging a trip to Minneapolis. My friends and I invited everyone and anyone we knew to come with. Tyler and his best friend Andy both said they too would be interested in coming. The closer it got the more people flaked on me. Amy went to Florida instead, not that I blame her. Who goes to Minnesota in the winter when it is the only state colder than Wisconsin? Julia went to renew her visa in Germany and so on. So basically it left Tyler, Andy and I. Andy dropped out and then there were two.

The first picture ever taken of us in 2010

I called Tyler and told him he didn't have to commit as I could take the bus down. He clearly never knew me very well ‘cos he later told me he was worried that if he didn't go (he had offered to drive) that I wouldn't get to go. A boere maak a plan, but anyway.

Riding in the car for 7 hours with someone you don’t know all that well is intimidating. Will he like my music, what if we have nothing to talk about, you know all those thoughts. Just kidding! This is me we are talking about I blasted the ABC state song about 20 minutes into the journey, sang don’t stop believing loudly and off key (it’s the only key I have) and only stopped talking to sleep (which I am good at in a car.)

About half way through that trip he began to tell me that one day we would date, and eventually get married ‘cos we were perfect for each other. I told him…that he was creepy, thankfully he was just kidding. That’s thing with him, I realized immediately that we had a lot in common and he made me laugh. But he actually seemed to know a thing or two and in our now almost 3 years of knowing each other he has been right about 2 things…us and my ring.

So the reason I bring this up is after he explained about the scary moment he had to ask my dad, about the moments he started at the ring wondering if I would like it and if it would ever fit on my finger and the scariest moment of waiting for the answer that would change our lives forever he turned to me and said…I told you so. And just that one time, I let him know he had won.

Tyler and I in Minnesota

Yes the way we met was a bit unconventional, I think my parents thought I was nuts for driving 7 hours in a car to take a trip with someone I had just met two weeks ago and had only talked to once, however I was in for an adventure and she was cute so why not?!? I mean she is barely taller than a midget and if she really got out of hand I was sure I could protect myself ;) That said the night I met Robyn I told my friend after she had left for the night that there was, “something different about that girl.” At that time I couldn't tell what, but she had definitely caught my attention and I spent a lot of the next few days thinking about her, I guess that doesn't make hopping in the car with someone you just met any less of a crazy idea, but my curiosity got the best of me because by the time a two weeks had past I absolutely needed to learn more about this girl… Turns out it was the best risk I had ever taken. 

Just say yes already…Part 4

I look at him and my brain goes into overdrive there are questions to be asked before this question can be answered (still haven’t looked at the ring.)

“Did you ask my dad?”
“Yes”

“What did he say?”
“He said yes.”

“When did you speak to him?”
“The other day.”

“Did you ask my mom?”
“Yes”

“What did she say?”
“It’s about time.”

“When did you speak to her?”
“The other day?”

“Did you even look at the ring?”
“No, not yet. Whoa!”

“So it that a yes? Can you answer the question?”
I notice at this point he is shaking like a leaf, and since he is balanced on one knee I am pretty sure he is going to fall over if I don’t answer soon.

*Pause for dramatic effect*

“Yes…did you really think I was going to say no?”
“I hoped not.”

Then, “Did you pick the ring yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Good choice”

So after the longest 15 minutes of my life building up to the whole “pre-question show” I then was faced with the longest 5 minutes of my life where she asked question after question and did everything except for answer the question that I asked first… Although given the way our relationship began and has gone it is only fitting that I had to wait. 

Just say yes already…Part 3

This is my way of forcing you all to read every word.

So after a long day of car shopping we went back to Tyler’s apartment (his bachelor pad, we haven’t moved in yet, follow along.) Me, always being cold asked him if I could borrow some socks.

There I am lying on the couch, not even gracefully, wearing a pair of (old) man socks looking like a gangster. Tyler had told me had a surprise for me which he had made. He was originally going to show me on the night of the Ambassador awards but I had wanted to celebrate with my fellow sweet 16 so he postponed this. He starts setting it all up and there are cords and computers and t.v. cables and all and all. And I’m just watching, waiting. Finally I crack what I thought was a funny joke. Which is also (usually) a personal joke between the two of us. I say, “you aren't going to propose now are you?”

When all our friends were getting engaged he kept kidding around that he was going to take me somewhere romantic and then bend down on one knee and…tie his shoes lace. Tell my parents he needed to ask them something and then, ask them how they were. Silly things like that. So I was totally kidding and made the joke.

He momentarily froze, which should have been a clue to me, but I was in gangster mode and gangsters don’t think that quickly. He came back with, “and what would be wrong if I was?”

To which I descriptively responded, “I don’t know, I’m all like lying on the couch in like socks and stuff.”

He then asked, “So I can never propose if you are wearing socks only flip flops?”

I just laughed and he started the video.

It opened with “the Story of Robyn and Tyler.”

Then there were pictures of us, sounds clips of him talking about how we met, how he felt about me and how special I was to him. At this point I was like wow; Ninja boy knows how to work an awesome computer program.

Hearing him say sweet things is not totally uncommon as at every award’s dinner, induction, birthday, belly dance show, valentine’s day etc. he always gives me a card with the sweetest things written inside. He had told me he wanted to do something for the Madison dinner because it was so special but something other than a card. So clearly the penny still hadn't dropped ‘cos apparently he is good at making covers that are believable…unlike me.

The second the last slide (below) pops up and I’m thinking that sounds like it’s going down proposal lane. Since we had already decided to move in together, what else could it be? Unless he is asking for a baby? Oh goodness please don’t be asking for a baby! (This is how my mind thinks.)

Then the last slide pops up (below) and I realize he was also in on my joke. So I turn to him to let him know how funny he isn't. Then I notice he is on bending on one knee, ring in hand. I’m so confused and shocked I don’t even notice the ring. I go, “is this real life? What are you doing?” (Meaning what are you doing on the floor, slowly my brain is regaining ability to think and I’m adding two and two together.) He asks officially, “will you marry me?” (not will you make me the happiest man in world romcom line, he is a realist and he realizes being married to me with have its ups and downs.)

Wow reading this version of the story makes is sound much more funny than it actually felt, perhaps I missed the whole bit because I was probably the most nervous guy in the world at that very moment, but that was probably the most stressful 15 minutes or so of my life building up to that. It wasn't ideally the time that I wanted to do it, but as she said the night of her big award ceremony didn't go quite as drawn up so I called an audible. (Apparently this is a football term, it means something like changing the play in a game…I don’t know…men always seem to need to use sports terms to describe everything.)That said the fact that it even occurred to her at all that I would be asking for a baby makes me laugh, why in the world would I ask for a baby before even being married?!?

Just say yes already…Part 2

Yes, I know I am frustrating. This is called suspense...

I suppose I should tell you why we were looking at a car. After many hours of searching alternatives Dave, Amanda and I figured out that next semester (Fall 2013, which is in August/September) our schedules clash-big Time. Every free moment I have from school, when I would be able to work the kids are in school, and every moment the kids need me, I am in school. I can’t change classes or school since I am so close to being done. The kids can’t change schools since their school is amazing and that would be totally unfair to them. So we began to realize the inevitable after four years, they would need a new nanny and I would begin to remember what a time before I felt like mommy extra felt like. Scary!

I agreed to stay over the Summer since that still works out for both sides. However Tyler moved into a new place at the start of Summer, so we decided since I would have to move out anyway, why not do it in the Summer before my mommy came anyway. Hence the need for a car.

Update: I love our new place and will post pictures after I clean it up enough for my mom’s visit. Living with Tyler has been an interesting adventure, which I will posted about later on for sure. Dave and Amanda have found a new au pair who will arrive in the last week of August. She seems really nice and I think she will be a good fit! She is from Mexico.

I don’t have much to say here, what she posted is pretty much the whole story… that said I cannot wait for the post on why it’s interesting to live with me…