Welcome to Johannesburg

After four flights and 48 hours of travel time, Logan and I finally made it to South Africa Wednesday morning. We arrived 12 hours later than we had originally planned. Even so, we arrived in high spirits.

The kink in the itinerary was in Detroit. Maintenance problems with the plane led to a five hour delay (serious problems, right?). As we were leaving Detroit, our best case scenario - according to Delta - was a connection through Atlanta that would get us to South Africa on Friday, three days later than planned, and after the opening match. Imagine our excitement when we were told that we had nothing to worry about: the World Cup was only three trips across the Atlantic away! With that in mind, we closed our eyes to pass the time on the flight to Amsterdam, both to sleep and to pray for a "World Cup miracle" connection to get us into the airport that millions of soccer fans were also trying to fly into this week. Upon arrival, we got news that our prayers were answered. In the end, we just had to spend a few extra hours in Amsterdam fly to Paris, and hop onto an AirFrance flight en route to Joburg.

Itinerary headaches aside, the travel was fun. Logan and I observed serious World Cup fever in both Amsterdam and Paris, with national team scarves and jerseys for sale all over the airports. The trip's highlight was the flight from Paris, which had the feel of a United Nations assembly. Fans from countries all over the world sat around us, all sharing our excitement for the World Cup. To sweeten the deal, the Slovakian national team joined our flight, all dressed up in matching suits for their televised arrival.

Welcome to South Africa
In the Joburg terminal we were welcomed by billboards of Nelson Mandela, President Jacob Zuma, and massive images of the stadium sites across the country. After clearing customs, we walked out into an arrival hall where hundreds stood to welcome their guests, all blowing "Vuvuzelas", long plastic horns that are becoming the symbol for the tournament here (more in another post to follow). The horns and people, along with soccer decorations as far as the eye could see, made the welcome hall feel like a stadium itself. Logan and I felt at home.

Our hosts met us and drove us to their home in a Johannesburg suburb. Cars here are all flying national team car flags, and street vendors are selling flags from all of the competing nations in addition to Vuvuzelas, jerseys, and soccer balls. Our SUV is flying a car flag on each side: one US, one South African. Most pedestrians and shopkeepers here wear South Africa's jersey almost daily; it is clear that the World Cup has completely permeated and unified the society.

When we arrived at the home of our gracious hosts, friends we knew from our time spent living in Europe during middle school, World Cup coverage was all over the TV. A parade was taking place downtown, where 180,o00 South Africans were cheering on their national team two days ahead of their opening match.

Logan and I hardly had time to take all of this in as we arrived, tired from the trip but completely thrilled to be here. Yet just as we prepared to sit down to relax and take a much needed nap, our hosts gave us some completely unexpected news. "We're going away for the weekend. And you're coming."

Translation: pack your bags -- we're taking you on a few Safaris before the World Cup kicks off. Thrilled, tired, and a bit confused, Logan and I packed a bag for the next four nights.

Destination South Africa

"One Game Changes Everything." So goes the ESPN ad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off this Thursday, June 11, in South Africa.

If the saying is true, then my younger brother Logan and I are in for a lot of change over the course of the next two weeks. As I write, sitting in the Delta Terminal in Detroit, we hold in our possession boarding passes to Amsterdam and Johannesburg, and tickets to six of the World Cup matches to be held in South Africa this month.

The decision to cough up the the coin to make the trip came a few short hours after the World Cup Final Draw last December. Watching the ESPN coverage from South Africa, where David Beckham, Charlize Theron, and others gathered to randomly select which teams will play one another in the Group Stage of the competition this summer, Logan and I decided that the chance to experience the Cup in person would be a once in a life-time opportunity for the two of us. My interest in the people, politics, and culture of Sub-Saharan Africa - sparked by my trip to Ghana last summer - provided all the more reason to make this dream-trip a reality.

We applied for tickets and were successful in our bid for six different games. Shortly after we had plane tickets in hand. Now, six months later, we're sitting in Detroit reviewing World Cup Previews produced by USA Today, ESPN, Sports Illustrated and EuroSport. It is by far the most studying I've done since exams at West Point ended almost a month ago.

The Weeks Ahead

Logan and I plan to jam-pack our two weeks in Johannesburg by taking in the great soccer matches, learning about the history and the culture of the area, and hopefully going on a safari or two. This is the first World Cup to be held on the African continent, which is sure to add to the richness of the experience.

The Cup kicks off this Thursday, when the hosts South Africa take on Mexico. For those at home -- don't miss the US-England match this Saturday on ABC; Logan and I will be taking in that game with the locals. The first game that we'll attend is next Sunday, when we'll see Ghana take on Serbia in Pretoria. Throughout the experience we'll share notes and pictures through this site... thanks for reading.

West Point Graduation

Joining the Long Gray Line
My four year stint as a cadet at West Point concluded just a few weeks ago, when my classmates and I tossed our hats, said goodbyes, and were commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the US Army.

"Class of 2010: Dismissed!"
Graduation week was a stellar end to the 48-month ride. Looking back, my time at West Point was truly incredible. The memories I was able to make and the relationships we built with roommates, classmates, and teammates will stay with me forever. I was fortunate that several people were able to make my graduation: my parents, younger brothers, girlfriend, and a great mentor attended the ceremonies, and were present for my commissioning on Saturday, May 22. It would be impossible to put all of the parades and ceremonies from grad-week into words. The pictures tell the story... enjoy.

Next up are a few summer adventures: South Africa, Tanzania, & Arizona. Yet the majority of the summer will be spent at home in Midland, prior to my departure to Oxford in mid-September. More grad week photos below.