My flight to Joburg on Saturday morning was lovely. The sun was shining and the flight was smooth, I was in such great spirits the entire way, so excited to see the Wainwrights, to be in South Africa, to have this experience. I couldn't stop smiling the entire flight; I can't remember a time in my life when I was this happy.
Of course the weekend was wonderful with the Wainwrights. I am so grateful to have been invited to Ashley's amazing 21st birthday bash, which was a blast!! Ashley looked beautiful, like a princess, and everyone was decked out in ball gowns and suits, and of course masks for the masquerade ball! The food was delicious, although I did pass on the three different meats served for dinner, instead eating everyone else's vegetables and lots of bread rolls. In fact, I have yet to meet a South African who is not completely bewildered by my choice to not eat meat. Anyway, the night was filled with beautiful speeches made by Ashley's family and friends, hilarious videos and slideshows, hours of everyone up and dancing, and being introduced to something called a torpedo, where you down your drink in one gulp, which proved to be quite dangerous. The night was truly unlike any other party or event I had ever been to!
Spending time with the Wainwrights and their friends and family was great, but on Sunday it did make me quite homesick, however, and made me miss my parents and family so much, but at the same time it was so nice to have a comfortable weekend with people I know well and to have a substitute family in South Africa! I have to say though, it was very strange leaving them, saying goodbye and returning "home" to Cape Town, instead of to the U.S. to see my parents. However, when I did finally get back to our house and to my bedroom, it was just as I had left it, and I really did feel like I was home, at least my home for now. I am definitely starting to settle in there and I don't know if it is because I live with 20 other people who are supportive and going through the same thing, but I never feel quite as homesick in the Kimberley house.
Currently I am in the library at UWC, doing some readings and preparing for my next class. At some point I will try to write about the classes I had last Friday: Leadership in Grassroots Organizations and Theology of Reconciliation and Forgiveness. Both are already proving to be wonderful classes, taught by two brilliant and talented, and also two very different, professors. I am still unsure when I will begin service at the Amy Biehl Foundation. We are still on quite a day to day schedule as many students are still figuring out their schedules, so we will wait and see!
Here are some photos from Ashley's 21st on Saturday night!!
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