I’m in Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital, about an hour’s drive from Joburg. I’m sitting on the terrace of the Sheraton Hotel, sipping a double espresso and watching the action across the road.

It’s my second full day in Joburg. I’m sitting on the deck of my new house in Melville, soaking up the late winter sun, admiring the small purple flowers on the potted rosemary plant, and listening to a chorus of bird calls. There’s a neon-yellow weaver making a nest at the back of the garden – it’s a bouncy ball of green leaves suspended from a vine hanging off a tree branch.

Full disclosure: I’m posting this the day after I wrote it.

I’m on the plane. Here’s how I got here:

Aug. 5

The initial stages of my journey to the airport were smooth. Dad and his girlfriend arrived a bit late but still with plenty of time. We went to lunch, collected my luggage from the apartment, and took off. I had three suitcases – a small one, a medium-sized one, and a large one. Dad commented that my largest suitcase was ridiculously heavy. I scoffed.

My dad and his girlfriend are coming in 10 minutes to take me to the airport. They’re late, but fortunately I’ve built in a sizable time cushion. I don’t mess around when it comes to international flights. I once trusted the SuperShuttle to get me to the airport for a flight to Africa and wound up checking in with two minutes to spare. Never again.

I leave tomorrow. I’ve packed every pair of underwear I own. Can’t find any on the surface of either suitcase and don’t want to upset the precarious balance of folded clothes. Help.

Today is Sunday and I move to South Africa on Thursday.

Friday was my last day at work. I had this job for five years and it changed my life. My job brought me to Africa in the first place, and now I’m leaving my job to move to Africa.

I arrive in Africa a week from today. Next weekend I’ll be settling into my new home in Johannesburg.

Three days ago my boyfriend sent me this photo from the house. We have a new roommate.

Today I sold my car to a lovely young woman who saw the ad I posted on craigslist. It was a relatively painless, even pleasant, transaction. Unloading the car was the biggest hurdle I had left and I’m relieved to have crossed it.

Three weeks from now I’ll be on a plane to South Africa. Barring unforeseen circumstances, of course.

I’ve reached that point in the departure countdown when I obsess about all the bad things that could prevent me from leaving. Possibilities include: terrorist attack; death in the family; severe weather or other act of god (e.g., ash cloud); lost passport.