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Introduction

Greetings from my portfolio!I sincerely hope that reading this will make you as excited as I was when I was writing it. Information about my experiences in South Africa can be found in my portfolio. You’ll view a video about my family, a photo essay, a review of a restaurant, and a travel experience. It was a truly a magical time.

Table of Contexts

1. Introduction
2. Travel essay
3. Restaurant review
4. Photo essay
5. Video

Travel Essay

Summer of 2022 changed my life. We received a call in the summer of 2022 that we never expected. Maya’s cancer had taken her life. My parents lost such a remarkable person, and they were devastated. My parents’ eyes were opened by it. We knew it was time to get back in touch because it had been 18 years too long. We were in South Africa for two weeks in the middle of November.

When my dad was a teenager, he relocated from Israel to South Africa. It’s an entirely different way of life. He never had a dull moment—he was constantly moving. Whether it was studying, working, or just hanging out with his peers.  Yossi and Maya were the closest friends of my dad. At the time, my dad was unaware that Yossi is my mom’s cousin. Yossi and Maya got married in their mid-20s, having first met at the age of 14. My mom traveled to South Africa for their wedding. That is how and when my parents met. Despite their close relationship, they were afraid of being apart. While she was living in Israel, my dad continued to live in South Africa.

In 2010, I moved to the United States with my family. As time passed, I began to establish myself and was now residing in Virginia. My parents hadn’t seen Yossi and Maya in eighteen years by the year 2022. Luckily, calls, texts, and social media allowed us to remain in touch. I developed a wonderful bond with their children. We had a unique bond over text, despite the fact that we had never met in person. It felt as though we had known one another forever. 

It is impossible to express how heart felt it was to see Yossi and his children. I have always dreamed of seeing the area and house where my father was raised. That was one of the first stops in our trip. The house is located in Johannesburg which happens to be the area Yossi lives in.  When we arrived, I was in shock. It was not what I had imagined when we drove past the house. We could only see parts of the house because it was electrically gated throughout. It was quite the small house but had a chunk amount of land. The entire house was white, but the door was a darker shade. 

We spent most of our time in Johannesburg but got to venture out to Sun City. Sun City was my favorite location that we visited. The resort is approximately a one-hour drive from Johannesburg. It was truly amazing and unlike anything I had ever encountered. There were mountains and water all around the area. We had access to all the resorts in sun city, so we were able to venture out in each area. Each area had a different pool, water slides and diverse foods. 

Once we returned back to Johannesburg, we visited several markets where each item was handmade. We bought gifts for ourselves and our friends back in the US. Most importantly we bought a heart shaped rock and engraved Maya’s name on it. Which we then placed it on her grave, for my family it was an emotional occasion. After visiting Maya, we got lunch at her favorite restaurant, Goodness Café. Both the restaurant’s interior design and beverages are served pink. It was absolutely beautiful and unique. All the dishes were served fresh on a pink platter. I ate the avocado toast which had small pink flowers decorated on the top of the dish. 

Our last destination was one the most eventful. We visited the lion park; I remember seeing pictures of my parents from years ago at the same place we went to. It was a lot different than what I had expected. The animals were very energetic but less aggressive than I expected. Their bites almost felt like cat nibbles. 

Visiting South Africa for two weeks was far too short. I can’t stop thinking about my trip and looking at the photos I took; it was an amazing experience.

Restaurant Review

The country offered a diverse range of ethic food options. The restaurants were truly inexpensive but delicious and fresh. At a fancier restaurant, the bill for eight people would come to $100. In the US, it would be much more than that. We stayed at a hotel for our two weeks in South Africa, so we ate out most of the time. 

My favorite restaurant that we went to was Goodness Café. It was more about the history of this restaurant than the cuisine. Here is where Maya and her family went to lunch after each treatment. The entire restaurant was pink. Some of the food items, the drinks, and the décor were all pink. Every chair, table, and picture frame had a pink shade. Pink is the color that raises awareness of breast cancer, which is why Maya loved this restaurant so much. She saw something unique in this restaurant, but to others, it was just another restaurant.  

The restaurant had a fantastic atmosphere. The weather was perfect, so we sat outside. It was just right—not too hot or too cold. Naturally, it’s wonderful to be with my loved ones, but the restaurant’s comfort level is important.  The dining area was unlike anything I had ever seen. There were couches in the seating area. It greatly improved the atmosphere of the restaurant. With that being said, the quality of service was exceptional. It was obvious that all of the employees were passionate about their work and wanted to give their customers the best possible experience. The owner of the restaurant even approached our table to inquire about our dining experience.

The menu had so many options that I looked at it for a long time. After all, I settled on the avocado toast with hash browns. Unfortunately, the avocado was not pink as I had hoped.  I also had a delicious pink mocktail.  It seemed foolish to pass on getting a pink drink. The entire table was silent because the food was so good. The dessert was my favorite part. I got some cheesecake and hot chocolate. The hot chocolate was pink, of course, and I adored it.

I genuinely give the restaurant and my experience a five-star rating. The restaurant had a very warm and inviting atmosphere that put everyone at ease. The staff worked really hard, and the service was provided very quickly. They served our food quickly and carefully. The manager stopped by to say hello, check on us, and make sure we were enjoying our meal. The food was beautifully presented and incredibly fresh. The little pink flower décor that was present at each meal was a lovely addition. Lastly, this experience was made a hundred times better by being with my family. Being with my loved ones at a restaurant that holds great significance for us felt truer to us than anything else. I will definitely return to Goodness Café if I ever put together a trip to South Africa again.

Photo Essay

Family background and travel Video.

https://youtu.be/WYcMjE6LdQI

MLA cites

“South Africa Map and Satellite Image.” Geology.com, geology.com/world/south-africa-satellite-image.shtml.

“Johannesburg Map.” Www.sa-Venues.com, www.sa-venues.com/maps/gauteng_johannesburg.htm.

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