South Africa Day at Flint S.W. Academy

Marina arrived without any complications as planned--on Wednesday, January 4. Honestly, my first impression was how tall she was. Somehow I had imagined she, and her husband Izak, were "average" in height. Not so. She's every bit of six feet tall and I'm told her husband is slightly taller. It was sort of funny watching her contort her long legs sideways after sliding into my 1987 Oldmobile...that was after she initially, by force of habit, was drawn to the left side of the auto where the passenger side would be in a vehicle in S.Africa.

I drove from Bishop International Airport in Flint to S.W.A., circling the school while pointing out its features: pool here, cafeteria there, academic wing in the back of the building, etc. Marina was impressed by the size of the physical plant, plus the fact that it had been built on such a large piece of property. She marveled that there were no homes next to, or near, the school.

The drive continued with a path that led to some of the finest homes in Flint: along Parkside Drive. Swartz Creek Golf Course to the left, mansions to the right...look, we're approaching Mayor Don Williamson's elegant mansion, etc. A tour up Westwood Parkway and on to Miller Road took us to our home on Ramsay Boulevard, just south of Miller and two blocks from Hammerberg Road. We didn't go in...just drove by and then we continued out to Miller Road and followed that to Marshall Fields. Marina met Svetlana in the fur salon, where she is employed. We spent some time in the store with Marina commenting that it was similar to a store in a shopping mall in Johannesburg.

We had a "welcome to Flint" party at our home for Marina the next day. Many neighbors were invited and most dropped by, had some delicious food and drink, and met our "star" from South Africa. It was a fun evening and a fun way to introduce her to some wonderful, friendly neighbors!