Home at last

As of tomorrow I will have been home for a week now. I didn't post as soon as I got home because things were too weird, too much was going on, I was jet lagged and being home was as confusing and strange as it was exciting. I have not yet returned to a normal sleep schedule, but I am sure it is only a matter of time before I will be fully immersed in this summer and experience instead of recovering from the last one.

Here is what I wrote on June 16:

On Wednesday evening I left my beloved Cape Town.  As all 21 of us piled into the van and drove away from the K-house, all 18 of us girls were sobbing our eyes out (the three guys don’t cry).  The only moment sadder than that was when we all got to Amsterdam and had to say goodbye. Picture 21 young American students hugging and crying and crying and hugging.  Clearly we made a scene, but we didn’t care.  This experience, and the relationships we made with one another on the way were far more incredible that we had ever imagined.  But the other side of it is that leaving Cape Town, the place that has become our home, and separating from the 20 people who have become our best friends and have forever changed our lives, knowing we will never all be together in that context again, is really hard. And coming home and moving on from this experience, without those 20 people and trying to live the same life is really hard, too.

A few months ago I would have told you that I was ready to come home, and that I would be ready on June 13^th when it came time to leave.  At some point, without me knowing, that changed. Cape Town became my home, my roommates became my family, and as much as I missed everyone at home, I didn’t want or need to leave, but it was time. Over the past few months I have discovered more than ever before what incredible family and friends I have been blessed with.  They have supported me, even though it scared them to death for me to go to South Africa on my own, or even though it hurt them to be away from me for five months, or even though they didn’t completely understand. I am so blessed and lucky to have that. 

Today:

This study abroad thing does something really strange to you.  Here I am, in my beautiful house with my wonderful family, the day after my 21^st birthday and I can’t think of anything in the world that I need and don’t already have. Yet, I’m grieving the loss of my life in Cape Town and the loss of my friends surrounding me all the time. But I am forever grateful, to them for changing my life, to Cape Town for changing my perspective, and to my parents and family and friends for still loving me right now, through this weird and uncomfortable time of transition in my own home. I am grateful beyond words to have had this experience and I know soon enough I will be happy as ever, though I won’t say my old self, because I only hope that five months in SA have changed me at least the slightest. Until my next African adventure, salani kakuhle.

Enkosi

Here is my visual diary end of the semester project! It's short, but it basically sums up my time in Cape Town. Enjoy!!

One week left!!! AHHHHH

So currently I am “practice packing”…which means I neatly fold all my clothes and belongings and place them into my two giant suitcases, only to realize they will never fit. FUN! No but seriously, it is going to be such a challenge to get all this stuff home…and I have already donated nearly half of the clothes that I brought here, but I’ve just accumulated so much and I want to take so much home as souvenirs and memories! But obviously I’ll have to part with a few more things.

So I know I’ve failed to be a great blogger the last few months of my stay, but let me catch you up on the last few weeks.

Thursday (May 31) was my last day of service, so I made cookies for my students, gave them each a copy of a picture of me with them, and wrote a personal note to each on the back.  I can’t believe I won’t be going back there again…I feel like it was only a week or two ago that I first blogged and explained that I would be teaching there…and now its been nearly a week since my last day! Thursday was definitely sad, and as I tried to give my students some final words of advice, I couldn’t help but cry. I wish I knew what would happen to them when I go. I wish I could check up on them, make sure they stay on track, don’t get into any trouble. I can only hope that a volunteer will be put in my place next semester and can follow up, but who knows if it will be the same students who get the chance to work with them, who knows what will happen. I guess I just have to have some faith, but I’m really going to miss those kids.

On Friday (June 1) I had my last final exam for my Ethics class and handed in my final Theology paper, and then I hopped on a plane to Johannesburg. I had such a great weekend with the Wainwrights. Friday we went out to a lovely Italian dinner, my favorite. Saturday Ashely and I met with her friends and went to an Oyster and Wine Festival-SO much fun! Then we had even more fun back at the house that evening. On Sunday we went to the Cradle of HumanKind…which was amazing. For those who are not anthropologists, the cradle is a World Heritage Site just outside of Johannesburg where a 2.3 million year old fossilized skull of Australopithecus was found in the 1940s. Australopithecus is an ancestor of humans, and this discovery is more evidence towards the theory of evolution and to the theory that human life originated in Africa and then spread to the rest of the world. Anyway, it is a really amazing place to visit and the Maropeng museum was absolutely fascinating. It takes you through the history of humanity and our planet and how everything came to be the way we see it now, as well as what is going to happen to the planet and the life on it in the future. It definitely makes you think about your impact on the planet. One of my favorite quotes from the museum:

“If we don’t act now, the terrible irony is that our great grandchildren will only know of ancient forests through pictures in books printed on paper that contributed to their extinction.”-Graham Lester George

That was just one of many that made me stop and think. The exhibits were so interesting, and covered so many different aspects of the world and of human beings…including the nine different characteristics that all humans share, literacy rates in every country, and a “live” estimate of the world population, just under 7 billion, but changing every second.  It was pretty daunting.

After the museum we ate lunch and headed to the Sterkfontein Caves, where the fossil of Australopithecus (named “Mrs. Ples”) was found. I had never been in a cave, but it was so beautiful. It was cold since we were underground, and we were actually down there for a pretty long time. I actually felt like I was either in Disney World or starring in Indiana Jones…I had to keep reminding myself that they were not manmade and that this was a real cave! Really cool and interesting though…so glad I got to visit the cradle-that was definitely on my to do list in South Africa!

On Monday I flew back to Cape Town and stayed with the other Wainwrights, the grandparents, Maureen and Ray. Maureen and I did some shopping (during which time I bought shoes that will likely not fit in my suitcase) and I had a great relaxing night at their house. Yesterday I came back to the K-house and to roommates, both which I missed very much, and I’ve been hanging out around here and in Obsz since then!

Today I am finishing up my visual diary, which is my only work left to do. It is a final project in which we must visually represent our semester and our experience. Most people are doing videos, scrapbooks or collages, though some people have gotten very creative! I have been working on a digital scrapbook, which I will make into a slideshow hopefully and upload to this page so everyone can see it! I will also upload as many pictures as possible to the Internet when I return home and include a link so they can be shared with everyone! I know I have been holding out on everyone with my pictures…sorry!

So…one week from today, at 11:35 pm, I will be leaving my beautiful Cape Town and headed to Amsterdam, then to JFK where I will finally during the afternoon the following day (hopefully!) I am excited and anxious to be home and devastated and heartbroken that I have to leave. I’ve never been so completely torn between two places. In the beginning I think I missed home more than I do now…not that I don’t miss my family and all my loved ones, but now this place feels like my home, too. These people have become my best friends and my family, and this life feels like the norm. Now I love it more than before because I don’t feel like a tourist. I’ve lived here for five months, I have gotten used to it, and I even fit in a little! Someone started speaking Afrikaans to be in the airport last Friday…proving to me that I no longer stand out like a sore thumb as an American! Pretty cool to think that I came to another country and got the hang of it, that I made it my home. It makes me feel like there are endless possibilities for me throughout the rest of my life..and I can’t wait to discover them. But for now, I will say goodbye to Cape Town and to the amazing people that I hope will be life long friends, and get back to my wonderful family and life in the states! It’s been an amazing and wild and wonderful ride, and I wouldn’t trade a moment of this for the world!

I’ll try to write once or twice more before I get back!

Peace & love!

Memorial Day Braai with my students!

Being that we are in South Africa, there is no such thing as a barbecue…it’s a braai! And being that we are in South Africa, there is no Memorial Day to celebrate here, but I would be at a Memorial Day barbecue if I were home, so I decided to have a braai yesterday for my students here! 18 of my students came to my house and we had a fantastic time!

Charlie, a roommate of mine, who has rented a car for the last month, drove me to the township to meet my students. We were so lucky to have such a beautiful day. Lately it has been chilly and rainy a lot because winter is about to begin, but today was like a summer day…sunny and almost 70 degrees…perfect!!

I have to admit I was a little nervous! Especially when Charlie and I showed up to the school and no transport was there to pick them up like he was supposed to be. Of course, TIA (This is Africa) and nothing ever really starts on time…honestly, but I was just still a little worried. Ironically enough, when the transport got there and all the kids got into the van, it was Charlie’s car that we couldn’t get to start! There are always lots of people walking around in the townships, especially on nice days, and a few who walked by offered to give the car a push because they saw we were struggling. After politely declining a few times, we eventually realized the car could use a push, and three strangers pushed the car into the road and it started up and we drove off. It was pretty funny…it was just a cool moment and we were in such high spirits. The transport followed us home and all the kids entered the K-House!

We had cheese puffs and apples waiting for the students to munch on while the meat cooked…and they devoured the snacks in minutes! Luckily the guys in the house worked the braai, so I didn’t have to worry about that, or touching the meat! When it was ready we made 18 American style hamburgers-bun and all-a rare way to eat it here, and the kids seemed to love them! I enjoyed my veggie burger and it felt almost nothing like memorial day, but it was tons of fun!

The students loved to be in my house and to see where I live and sleep. They all wanted to see my room so of course I showed them. Many of my roommates were away for the weekend but the ones that were here were such a great help and the kids loved to talk and hangout with them as well. At one point Kevin was playing cards with a group of boys at the kitchen table, Christine had paper and colored pencils out and was drawing with some girls in the other room. Corinne and Lauren painted some girls nails (the best alternative we could find to them requesting we do their makeup-never a good idea without asking the parents!), another group of girls were doing Kate’s hair and nails, and I was playing ball and Frisbee outside with some boys. It was very evident that these were fifth and sixth graders, as the girls and boys separate themselves and rarely mingle, but they still had so much fun. My roommates Kate and Jessa made cookies and brownies that we also enjoyed. The kids totally loved it!

As we began to round everyone up to go home things got a little crazy. They didn’t want to leave obviously, but when I finally got them all ready at the door I went to see if the transport was up the street and even though it was 4:15 (4:00 sharp was pickup) he still wasn’t there. At some point in the next fifteen minutes the students set the security alarm off twice, and took just about every last avocado off our avo tree in the backyard! But then the transport showed up, they piled in, and headed back home…leaving the K house quiet.

It was a wonderful time, and I know they had fun, especially because so many of them wrote little thank you notes and drew cards up for me and my housemates. Clean up was easy and hopefully the security people aren’t too upset with us! When all was said and done I was exhausted, they had only been here for two and a half hours and had worn me out, but it was such a great day and I am so glad I had the opportunity to get my students out of the township for a day and show them a little more of my life. I also got to take individual pictures with each student and I will print them out and give one to each of them as a goodbye gift on my last day…Thursday!!

Happy Memorial Day everyone!! Hope your braai is as successful as mine! As much as I wish I was in Sea Isle or at Woodbine, I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world…and I’ll be home in 17 days! Gonna cherish every last second!

Getting the burgers ready!!

Kev playing cards with the guys!

Lauren, Carlyn and I painting nails and chatting!

With my grade 5 students

One with (almost) everyone!!!

Company Gardens and Bo-Kaap

Sorry this post has taken so long…it is from a while ago. I haven’t updated mostly due to internet being down and super slow all the time and also due to how busy I’ve been the past few weeks. Will continue to be for the next two and a half…and then its home! Can’t believe it.

Written May 19, 2012: 

This past Wednesday (May 16) began as a really good day! Four of us took the shared taxis (something I should have explained by now but have failed to) downtown to the station. From there we walked to the Company’s Gardens, which are basically just beautiful gardens in the middle of the city. Part of them is open all the time, which consists of just paved sidewalks with beautiful trees and grass around them, but one section is open only at certain times of the day and is filled with beautiful flowers, trees, fountains, and gorgeous buildings though I have no idea what is inside of them. The rose garden was undoubtedly the most beautiful part…offering an amazing view of Table Mountain from below.

See for yourself:

 After the gardens we headed uphill to Bo-Kaap. As I understand it, Bo-Kaap is the name of the Cape Malay Quarter of Cape Town. The community is the hub of Cape Malay culture in Cape Town, but apparently now has become more multi-cultural. It is known for its beautiful architecture, brightly colored urban homes, and cobble stone streets. There are many Mosques in the area (mostly Muslim culture) which are also very beautiful, all of which seem to be green. I have heard from others, but I think it is speculation, that all mosques in South Africa are painted green. I have no idea why that is or why that would be, but I haven’t seen a Mosque that is not green so it might be the case…and I think that’s kind of interesting.

This is what Bo-Kaap looks like. Makes me want to paint my house a bright color, or just live here one day!

After walking around and snapping pictures of the beautiful and colorful Bo-Kaap we found a place to stop for lunch. It was called the Africa Café, and it was a beautiful little place with so much character, color, and amazing art. The menu had many options including organic, gluten or wheat free, vegan, and raw, which was very interesting and still quite delicious. I really love places like that committed to health and to meeting the needs of customer’s different dietary needs, whether it be a life choice or a health restriction. I also had to restrict myself from buying all of the hand painted pottery and dishes being sold in the gift shop…I am such a sucker for those things, but I truly didn’t need them and I truly have bought way to much to take home already!

Unfortunately the rest of the day was just as eventful, but not in the best way. After visiting Green Market Square we headed home, and I began to feel pretty bad with a headache and neck pain that have been following me around for the past week and a half. Eventually it was too much and I decided to go to the hospital. Fortunately a friend went with me and one of our program advisors drove us there. They just gave me pain meds and fortunately I was able to sleep through the night. I am not feeling 100% better unfortunately, the neck pain is still lingering, but I did get a full night sleep, some medicine from the hospital, and a note for missing school and late assignments, which is helpful. Not to mention that I can now cross “going to a South African hospital” off my bucket list, though that was one I never hoped to accomplish!

I know I have some catching up to do with events from the past week but the good news is I am starting to feel better and am catching up on my schoolwork! Don’t want to worry anyone…and if you’re wondering…23 days til I come home. I am beyond cold here now that it is winter and we have no heat nor are we well equipped with warm clothes, and I am getting quite excited for the idea of summer time and home! But I have 22 amazing days left ahead of me that I am going to live to the fullest, and 20 roommates that I am going to miss like crazy once I am gone! Hopefully I’ll catch up a little more soon!

Peace and love!

Pictures of beautiful Stellenbosch!

Rhodes Memorial and Stellenbosch

Rhodes Memorial

            The second thing I managed to cross of my bucket list was walking up to Rhodes Memorial. The memorial is in honor of Cecil Rhodes…and we like to call it the “monument to the oppressor” (for more information…Google him). Anyway, regardless of its historical significance, the memorial is quite beautiful and situated at the base of Devil’s Peak (mountain), it has a gorgeous view of Cape Town, and Observatory, where we live.

            I think it was Monday afternoon when four of us walked up to the memorial from Obz, which takes about half an hour both ways. It was a really nice walk and actually a little challenging once you get further up, closer to the memorial. It sure wasn’t anything near the difficulty of climbing one of the three mountains (Table Mountain, Lions Head and Devil’s Peak) which most of my roommates had done, but for me it felt like an accomplishment, especially because it did put a lot of strain on my knees and hips on the way down. Although I would love to climb one of the mountains, it might be a little ambitious for me with my joints, especially because on a mountain like that there is no “see how far you can go and then get a ride back”. If you climb up, you have to be able to get yourself down! So we’ll see if I attempt any of those in the next four weeks…it might be better if I don’t!

            Even so, the view from Rhodes was beautiful, and looking out over the city was one of those moments that made me stop and think about the time I’ve spent here and the time I have left. It’s amazing to think that it was four months ago when I looked at Cape Town and though, “wow, look at this city, I can’t believe I’m going to live here for the next five months”. And now, here I am looking at the city and realizing that it has become my home after living in it for four months. It will certainly never take up the space that my true hometown has in my heart, but I really do know my way around Obz, and downtown Cape Town, and most of the ins and outs. After all, I’ve been living here for four months, and this incredible experience is something I’ll always have with me, and Cape Town is always going to be one of my favorite places on earth.

Stellenbosch

           

             Today was another exciting adventure to cross of my list! A group of 15 of us traveled to Stellenbosch for a full day of vineyard tours and wine tasting, all organized for us by our lovely roommate Bridget!! Earlier in the semester many of us visited Groot Constatia, a beautiful vinveyard that piqued our interest in wine and had us begging for more! Today we got to go to one of the places in the area most famous for wine, with a great history and hundreds of vineyards, Stellenbosch!

            Fortunately the weather today was beautiful and allowed for such a lovely day at the wineries. The 15 of us had such an amazing time. Honestly I would have gone to Stellenbosch no matter what, with or without the group, because I love wine tasting and wanted to see it, but being with everyone made it that much greater of an experience. Often times living with so many people and especially going out in really large groups like that can be aggravating and overwhelming. But today it was wonderful. To feel so close with people I only met four months ago and to continue to bond with them more and more every day is such a pleasure and blessing. I actually hate when anyone gets sappy or makes remarks like “aww, guys, we’re such a cute family!!” perhaps because I’m a cynic, perhaps because I think acknowledging the cuteness makes it less genuine, or perhaps just because I miss my own family so much! But regardless, the truth is that the 21 of us have formed in one way or another, a big (sometimes dysfunctional) family.             

              Especially after the second winery, when we each had already tasted ten wines minimum, everyone was excessively smiley, giggly, friendly, and all around happy to be together and to be here having this amazing experience. There are some things, like South Africa, that could honestly be enjoyed by almost anyone with almost anyone at all by their side. There’s a lot to love and enjoy. But I have to say, if I couldn’t share this experience with my family and my best friends, I couldn’t have chosen 20 people that I would have rather shared it with. Sure, waiting in line for the shower every morning is a pain; waiting for the 21st person to be ready to leave always makes us late; and 21 strong, outspoken, dominant personalities have a way of clashing at times, but I wouldn’t trade my roommates for the world, and as much as I am at peace with the fact that I’ll be home in less than five weeks, I am certainly going to miss my K-House family. And that is as sappy as I’m going to get!!

Pictures to come when there is enough internet to upload!!