Monday, August 06, 2012

To America or Not to America


While inBetween jobs, I spent a lot of time at my sister's. They had wi-fi, don’t ask where they got it from ;) My niece and I would watch movies, apply for jobs, you know the usual stuff one does on the net. One evening, on my way home, We bumped into my sister as she arrived from work. She was so excited that her friend, called her from the US. The friend had only been in the country for 5days. My sis said the friend, let’s call her W, told her it was so easy to go to the US if my sis wants to come, she will help her out through the process. My sis asked if she can tell us, we all know her, they’ve been friends for years. Apparently, she said , sure, no problem.  I saw a ray of light! Some hope!

As soon as I got home, I added her on Facebook and asked her how things were in the US etc. We talked for a bit and it was bed time for me. As you may know, South Africa is 6 hours ahead of the US, time-zonewise.  Around my birthday, I talked to W again, I brought up that I’ve been wanting to go to the US for ever but it’s been practically impossible. I told her of all the avenues I’d visited, for her to see that I was serious about it. She told me to keep trying. For your info, I’d been at it on and off since the late nineties . I asked how she did it, she told me to keep trying. I didn’t want to be too pushy. I went to sleep feeling so bummed. I thought that W was going to offer more help than she did. The following evening, she messaged me, telling me she thought of me when she saw a whole lot of vacancies for foreigners in the US. She said maybe I should try out. I asked her for links to the job sites, she said, “ Google my dear! Google!” I said, “do you genuinely think that I don’t know about google? She said, “Actually, I am beginning to wonder if you do! Mhhhhh! *wondering.........” I bade her a good day and went to sleep with a lump in my throat. My feelings were so hurt.
I didn’t know whether to tell my sister about my experience with her friend, I didn’t want to cause any tension. I did tell my niece though, who’s my partner in crime. I dusted myself off and kept pushing. That’s all you’ve got to do when things aren’t going the way you wish. What else is there to do, right?
I decided to be serious about my diet. I had to channel all the energy I had into something positive. I did some detoxing, lost 2.5 kg  (5lbs) while detoxing, which was great motivation. A few days late, I got call from a very good friend of mine. She wanted to see me. We met up at The Campus Square Drost. She wanted me to move in with her so we can do serious dieting together. I was like I’M IN! Perfect timing because I had also started dieting seriously. That gave me something to look forward to. That was mid April. She asked what my plans were with my life, I mentioned the story of W and the US. She told me she knows someone in the US that might be able to help me. Even if with just some much needed info. I took the person’s details and contacted them immediately.
My old Street in Melville

There’s nothing that motivates me more than the word NO! If you as much as imply or tell me I can’t do something, that’s exactly what I will be doing! I remember a long time ago, way back when! I was in a relationship with this guy. My sister and I joined some acting classes in Uitenhage. I was so excited with the possibilities that would bring us. I told my then boyfriend that I was going to be on TV. He rolled his eyes and said, “yeah right!”. The acting school turned out to be a fly by night, it did what all fly by nights do, it flew. By night! With my dream of being on TV and proving to the BF that I could do it! Months later, we broke up, years later, I was on TV. First as an extra on Generations. Through a fly by night agency, which.... yep you guessed it, flew by night. But The bottom line is  I was on TV. Years flew by, hurdles and hurdles and I ended up on TV over and over and real. Boyfriend had since married, and died. No seriously, he’s dead now! Long Story for another day.

2 comments:

  1. Yes Brook! I love it! Now finish the story or is it an on going, never ending story? Either way ur an inspiration

    ReplyDelete