I'm in AFRICA!

Hello everyone! As of yesterday at 2:30am your time, I arrived in South Africa! And there is so much to tell you already, I don't know where to start!
I suppose I'll start with the plane ride... So I was incredibly nervous getting on that plane, and quite sad saying goodbye to my family, but I took my Dramamine (thanks :-) Dan), made a friend with my seat neighbor, Eric, and held on tight as our giant plane loaded with tons of cargo took off of the ground. Very soon after we were served dinner (which I have pictures of, that I will post when I can upload them somewhere), I watched Ratatouille, watched many TV shows about wildlife, listened to Acoustic Africa, and slept on and off. It really wasn't long after that we were all awoken by scrambled eggs and told we would land in the next 2 hours. Really, it went by in a flash. And then we descended... And boy, as we cleared the cover of clouds that I had seen for the past 14 hours, did my eyes open wide as I caught my first glimpse of Africa. It was simply breathtaking, and quite unlike anything I had ever seen. Below me lay mountains and valleys dappled with tawny browns and bright greens, rivers and streams snaked through vast plains, and the sun created beautiful effects as it had just begun to rise. Then I began to see a few houses, here and there, but as I looked into the distance I saw Johannesburg on the horizon, with the sun glinting off of its buildings. We began to pass over large communities with beautiful, terracotta roofed houses all in neatly organized rows and patches. The beauty of the scene almost made me forget what I was doing... and that's when it hit me... I had arrived in Africa.
So we landed, and everyone took off in every which way, and I departed without a hitch, finding Paul, who will be a field guide at Kruger this year, waiting right at the exit for me. Then we were off! As I left the airport, I entered Joburg and we went right to a rooftop flea market where I got to see so many things all at once. We saw tons of crafts and vendors with beautiful sculptures, beaded artwork, and paintings for sale. We saw people dancing and playing music, and the atmosphere was simply incredible. Even the smell and feel of the breeze was enough to make me realize what a different place I was in, and what an exciting place too!
I am writing here now from Paul's Grandpa's house, which is positively stunning! I will have to show you soon. And today I got my first taste of wildlife... we went to a park called the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve where I got to see many of the animals that I will encounter and perhaps study at Kruger. And I even got to go down into the Wondercave (it's in the link if you want to look) where there used to be a limestone mine. It was such an incredible day!
I have to run now to dinner, but I wanted to let you all know that I was here and safe and that I am having such a wonderful time so far! This is a truly amazing place, and I can't wait to share more about it with you.
Until then...
-Bianca