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from
June 6, 2016 at 3:29 pm
“Home away from home :)”
Our stay with Alan was excellent! He was a perfect host/dad to all us medical students who were visiting at the Bara and Charlotte Maxeke hospitals. We stayed for 4 weeks and had no trouble at all becoming native south africans - renting a car as parking was easy in Alan's drive and the area the house is in is very safe. Lots of shops nearby and lovely kitchen to cook in. The house has a very open vibe with everyone mingling and often having barbeque dinners together. Alan also has an excellent entertainment system with several DVDs on hand for nights in. If you end up at Swanage, do give Alan a big hug from us!
from
June 6, 2016 at 3:27 pm
“Best decision of my elective”
I undertook a 6-week trauma elective at Chris Hani Baragwanath in Summer 2014. My first visit to Johannesburg, I was understandably anxious about where I was going to live, how I'd commute to the hospital, how safe I'd be getting around the city etc. I found this accommodation through the recommendation of a friend who'd stayed the previous year. What a brilliant tip it turned out to be. Beautiful home, a friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable host, and a great mix of other visiting elective students. I felt I got a real insight into the local area, and a huge amount of advice on how best to spend my free time. (Local restaurants, bungy jumps, safari... to name a few). The house is brilliant: spacious rooms, huge social space, well-stocked kitchen and an industrial BBQ all for the use of guests. The area seemed very safe, and I didn't have any problems during my stay. Large supermarket a few minutes walk away, with a big shopping mall, butcher and off-licence a few minutes drive away. It's an easy commute on good quality roads to the hospital, and our host helped us to organise a hire-car for our stay. The price was very competitive, and I think extremely good value for what was included. If you're looking for a proper 'home' for your stay, with a friendly sociable atmosphere and somewhere to relax after a long trauma on-call shift, this is definitely the place.
from
June 3, 2016 at 3:36 pm
“Homesick after leaving Swanage - still!”
The most fortuitous part of my trauma elective at Baragwanath was staying at Swanage. Alan is amazing - felt at home from the start.....the house is in beautiful surrounds, the suburb safe for Johannesburg (I did a 8km run most days without issues). A community feel with other doctors and medical students. Beautifully stocked kitchen, shops nearby. Local ear and advice....plus safe/ supportive as all in house medical in background. Alan gave awesome advice for travel following my elective, stayed in touch since. I plan to visit soon - plus if specialty training allows, head back to work. Would I recommend? Absolutely! (as long as youre not taking the last bed when I want to go back!!)
from
June 3, 2016 at 3:31 pm
“Medical elective - April-May 2015”
Stayed in Swanage with friends on my medical elective for 8 weeks from April to May 2015. Alan has a large property with spacious rooms and 2 bathrooms. Alan is an extremely accommodating host and really goes the extra mile to make you feel completely at home. If you get a chance I would recommend going on safari with Alan to Pilanesburg!
I will definitely be returning in the future!
from
May 15, 2016 at 9:02 pm
My brother, thank you for the great time I was allowed to spend at Swanage. I've enjoyed every single day of my stay in Johannesburg because of you. You are a very special perso, Someone who approaches people without any prejudice, You are one of the most hospitable, open minded and generous person I've every met. You always see the good side of a person and Ive never heard you say anything negative about someone. Just by reading your Swanage book I recognised, that with your personality you influenced many people in a positive way and I hope that you will continue this in the future. You can't imagine how happy I am that I have chosen your place to stay while I've been in Jo'burg because you gave me a place to stay which feels like home far away from home. Even the 30 minutes drive to Bara every morning were worth it. I won't take your friendship for granted and I really hope that I'll see you soon. All the best, your middle eastern brother Farjard.
from
May 14, 2016 at 3:31 pm
Dear Alan. Words are not enough to describe my time at Johannesburg and Swanage.... So I will try and keep it simple. I wanted to thank you for everything you've done but also continue doing for us and for all the unforgettable memories i will take with me back home. The amazing trip to Pilanesberg with the leopard sighting. Bernie's pride - the best vehicle in the whole world, your overwhelming LK (local knowledge), your wise words and last but not least the home made dinners and the the time we spent together at Swanage. Until we meet again. Natalia (Lady Glibbery).
from
May 13, 2016 at 8:55 pm
Alan, thanks so much for a great time at Swanage and for making it a home away from home. I was extremely lucky to find your place and I appreciate the great lengths you went ot make us all feel comfortable. Pilanesburg was also fantastic and I'm so glad I could join! SA was an awesome experience overall and it wouldn't have been the same without Swanage. I may be sending you some Americans next year, we're severely underrepresented in the community.. Please let me know if you're ever in the US and hopefully I'll be back in SA soon! Keep up all the great work. You've made an awesome place at Swanage.
from
March 15, 2016 at 3:36 pm
Dear Alan. thank yhou for giving me a new home on the southern hemisphere. Time passed by so quickly, I feel like comaing back soon. So there is no need of saying good bye, rather see you soon. Your open heart inspires me of how to be a better person. I will never forget your delicious cooking and your close connection to nature. Having such a cosy retreat was a great balance for me, coping wit hthe rough reality in hospital. Next time I will hopefully have the chance to experience Pilanesberg together wit hyou. All the Best. Cecilia Veraar Cecilia.veraar@gmx.at
from
March 8, 2016 at 8:50 pm
Dear Alan
Listening to the sound of the miniature waterfalls - for me that pump could be running all night - sitting with the sun on my feet in the garden or in one of the big windows, Swanage is a hide away from the "wild" city of Johannesburg and Swanage is like home.
I wasn't expecting such a place when looking into the student housing of Bara. Alan you accomplish with every one of us, to make a stay here turn into a South African Experience. You teach us how to be good doctors, how to define a good relationship and how to become a family with constantly changing members under the roof of Swanage.
Thank you for opening your house and hour heart to me and to all Swans before my stay and those to come.
As you know I'm a couch surfer and that taught me that, we will not change this world in a day, but we can teach change by changing one by one and one couch at a time, and for you that will be changing the world or making it a better place - one Swan at a time!
Thanks for that patience and for the immense effort, I admire you for that0 and I will take some of this spirit home with me. Alan - I will be back 0 that's 100% for sure and I'll let you know when I come and I will want to have dinner with you and Brenda and listen to your life and safari stories! All the best wishes to you and you Swanage journey. Lots of love, yours Eva.
from
February 27, 2016 at 3:42 pm
Dear Alan. Thank you so much for opening your doors for us. The way that you let people in and use your home as their own is incredible and generous beyond what I've seen before. Like you send yourself; "Swanage is a home to a big family, it's not a hostel. We've learned a lot during our stay, and to get back from work and just chill out in your garden was a carrot on a stick after every call. What better way to experience Pilanesburg than in a convoy with yourself and Brenda. Norway acknowledges your absolute competent leadership and if the safari is as good for the next group, they are lucky. Hope to see you sooner that later!
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