I don’t normally write year-end wrap-up posts. I’m usually long asleep by midnight on 31 December. I don’t make New Years resolutions or assign much importance to the end of a calendar year.

But this isn’t just the end of a year — it’s the end of a decade. And boy, was it a doozie. Perhaps that’s why I feel compelled to summarize my transition from the 20-teens into the 20-twenties.

I’ll have a lot more to say about my decade of life in South Africa as 2020 progresses. In the meantime, here are some highlights and lowlights of 2019 and thoughts looking forward to the coming year.

2019 Travel Highlights

I had a comparatively low-key travel year. But I really enjoyed every trip I took, and my South African travels inspired the idea for my upcoming #10SouthAfricanTowns project. (More on that later.)

These were my five favorite trips in 2019.

1) Maputo

In March I spent five days in Maputo, Mozambique, wandering the city on foot and exploring museums, markets, restaurants, and architecture. Maputo is a highly underrated city, as I detailed in my post.

2) The Swartland and Hermanus

In May I flew into Cape Town, headed northwest to the Swartland wine region for a few days, then southeast to Hermanus for a few days more.

Wine was the main focus of these visits, and I realized again how much I enjoy South Africa’s lesser known wine regions (although I love Franschhoek and Stellenbosch too). I was completely overwhelmed, as always, by the drop-dead gorgeousness of the Western Cape.

3) Limpopo

In July I took a long road trip through Limpopo province and had a glorious time.

4) Plettenberg Bay and Oudtshoorn

In August I took another Western Cape trip, to Plettenberg Bay and then over a steep mountain pass to Oudtshoorn.

In Oudtshoorn I experienced my wildlife-viewing highlight of the year, when I watched a family of wild meerkats emerge from their burrow on a freezing-cold desert morning.

5) New Mexico

I didn’t make it to any new countries in 2019 but I did make it to a new U.S. state: New Mexico. Visiting New Mexico had been a goal of mine forever and it exceeded my expectations.

I hope to go back to New Mexico soon for another green chile fix.

2019 Joburg Highlights

Between my travels I did a lot of fun things at home. Here are my favorites.

1) Jozi Top Fives

I revived my Jozi Top Fives series in 2019 and I’m pleased with the output, which included five secret beautiful places, five cheese shops, five cocktail bars, five Jozi walks, five fish and chip shops, and five places to shop locally.

2) The Ponte Challenge

In March I ran 54 storeys to the top of Ponte City, the tallest residential building in Africa.

I would totally do this again. Read my post to find out how you can do it too.

3) Walk the Talk

In July I walked 25 kilometers through Joburg for Walk the Talk. 50,000 people participate in this annual event. It was way more difficult than running up Ponte but totally worth the three days of excruciating pain I experienced afterward.

4) Bank of Lisbon Implosion

I got to watch a skyscraper implode.

5) Walking the Louis Botha S-bend

I just blogged about this a week ago and you all remember it. But I had to include it here anyway because it’s awesome.

Things I Wasn’t Grateful for in 2019

I want to end this post on a high note. So before I tell you all the things I was grateful for in 2019, I’ll tell you about the things I was not grateful for at all.

1) We lost Meruschka

Meruschka died in January. I’m not sure I’ve been less grateful about anything, ever.

2) Visa problems

Nearly ten years after moving to South Africa, I’m still struggling to obtain permanent residency here. In fact just staying in the country at all is a massive struggle. I cannot tell you how frustrating, agonizing, and enraging this process is and it just. never. ends.

I can’t say much more without further endangering my status. But suffice it to say I’ll be writing an epic post about South African immigration woes at some point in the future.

3) Relationship (a.k.a. Situation-ship) problems

This year I believe I set the world record for most breakups. They were all with the same person.

Eish, my love life is hilarious. Someday I’ll find a way to write about it without embarrassing myself or others but in the meantime you’ll have to use your imagination.

4) South Africa’s problems

I love this country but jeez, it has some challenges. I needn’t say more as everyone who lives here knows exactly what I’m talking about.

5) Donald Trump

I hate that man. I’m so ungrateful for him.

Things I Was Grateful for in 2019

Lastly, a gratitude list:

1) My home

In a country where so many people don’t have adequate housing, I feel sincerely grateful to have a beautiful roof over my head in Melville, Jozi’s best suburb.

2) My cats

My two cats, Smokey and Trixie, bring me joy every single day.

3) My friends and family

I can’t believe how many wonderful friends I’ve made in South Africa over the years. I never feel alone here and that’s quite a remarkable thing for me.

I’m also grateful for my dear friends and family in America, who never feel far away even though they’re geographically across the world.

4) My quirky life

Even though I spend a lot of time (waaaaay too much time) feeling anxious and uncertain about every aspect of my life, I’m also really grateful for the freedom to follow my own path. Joburg is the best place on earth to pursue the weird, bohemian life I lead.

5) South Africa

Despite the many headaches this country causes, I love it so much.

I’m grateful for South Africa, which is why I’m devoting a huge part of the next year to giving this country the love it deserves. I have big plans for my #10SouthAfricanTowns project — several town visits are already in the works — and I want all of you to join me on the journey.

If you enjoy reading this blog, please become a member on my Patreon page: www.patreon.com/2Summers. If you do, you’ll have a special newsletter and other exciting members-only content coming your way in the next two weeks.

Thanks to the following rad people who have already signed up:

• Melanie Blumentritt
• Jim Baird
• Penny Castle
• Dominic Randazzo
• David Park
• Michael Ogawa
• Frances Steyn
• Laura Dall
• Dudu Luthuli
• Fiver Löcker
• Jeanie Freeman
• Michelle Stern
• Tim Isabirye

So far I’ve raised more than R1100 per month to go toward my travel expenses and other costs for the #10SouthAfricanTowns project. My goal is to reach R2500 before the end of January. Help me get there.

I’ve got other big plans germinating for 2020 and beyond. It’s too early to tell you about them yet but please stay tuned. Happy New Year!