About last week, I got very strange traffic in my inbox. On Sunday, I got an email from Ernst asking if the rumour that I live “[and work]” in Durban. I replied. Precisely 12 hours later, I get an email from Stuart. What do these guys have in common? They are the Durban leads for the www.sadeveloper.net site.

After getting to chat a while, I found out that Ernst was an MVP. It was like... cool! I knew that some people in South Africa got the MVP title because I do follow some stuff at www.sadeveloper.net from time to time. However, it is extremely ironic that Ernst lives more than 40+km away from me (straight line... nevermind the travel around the harbour) but he works only 3km's from where I live.

So he suggested/invited me to pop in to his place of work so we could talk about me getting involved in the local user group. (Only a few people knew what happened but this blog post is not about what was discussed). I think it was pretty cool being in presence of another guy whom was a geek. Because my school is closer to his place of work (one kilometer away), I popped in on Tuesday.

I think that moment was the most terrifying / nerve-wracking / embarrasing moments of my life into one. I went to woman who opened the door to ask “what business I had to do over there” (ok, she did not phrase it like that but the LOOK :-)). Sure, I followed her to a room like seven metres aways and she says something to Ernst. Because I was standing outside, I did not know who “Ernst” was so I walked in and I saw six or eight guys standing around in the partitioned office. I then forget his face that I saw over MSN so I thought, “what are the chances of one of them being Ernst?” So I responded “howzit, Ernst!”, only did Ernst pop up from behind the partition. I must have gone semi-tanned white to blood red.

I met quite a few guys -- I remember the name (and face) of Grant because I asked for his name twice (did not hear the “G” the first time). I think the other guy's name was Sean (or Shawn -- why they spell the same name differently, I have no clue). We went to the conference room next door and talked for about 15 minutes. (We had to make it short because he had to get a milestone out). From that, I learnt the following:

• For some strange reason, I can't talk geek-jargon in a speech that fleuntly.
• The classical -- learnt how they really pronounced “Yukon”.
• Ernst has a good idea with the fun-community get together (I am not going to say what because we have what the Capetonians don't have).
• Ernst is really keen on Yukon.

He offered a lift home... so I accepted. I think that was more embarrassing than anything -- on they way, we were still continueing our conversation that I forgot to give him directions. Eventually, I started to use hand-signals when the turns came up.

Ok, ok -- it was a cackling experience! But good to finally meet you face to face, man. Now Stuart in my gunsights now... and that is all sorted out as I will be going to the Pattern and Practices session this Saterday.

PS: I heard the comment in the background from one of you okes “whose the kid?”