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!!

The Bucket List

So! It has been some time since I have blogged, probably because I'm just so used to being here and I don't have that many new things to share. But...now we only have 38 days left! Which means its time to do all of the things that we haven't done yet! So I've made a Bucket List and as I cross things off I will likely be updating and posting pictures and stories about what I'm doing!

The first thing I crossed off the list today was the Botanical Gardens at Kirstenbosch. They are BEAUTIFUL gardens at the base of Table Mountain...just a cab ride away! Four of us went there today for a stroll and a picnic and admired the beautiful view and I took lots of pictures! It was such a peaceful place and today was the most gorgeous and perfect day in Cape Town...which is amazing because it is the beginning of rainy season and has been quite cold, but then absolutely gorgeous days creep in and it feels like summer again! It was so nice to see the sun and to lie in the grass and just soak it all in...knowing that I'll be dying to be back here in two months time, but also knowing that I am making the most of the time I have left...which is all we can ever do. 

Its hard not to get caught up in the numbers....6 weeks...38 days....its hard, for me at least, to refrain from focusing on the future and of what I am doing this summer and how wonderful it will be to see my family and my friends and how many days I have left until I do. Its hard still, even after four months, to live in the moment...but I'm hoping that this Bucket List will help me to realize that there is no better time than right now, because I am here, and I need to make the most of every second while I can. 

Here are some pictures of the gardens...and me in them!

I have plenty still left on my list....including trips to Stellenbosch vineyards and wineries (which we will hit up next weekend!) and many other destinations still to explore. I am even hoping to do a bit more traveling before it's too late! I'll be sure to share my adventures and I hope everyone at home is doing well! I love and miss you all and though I can't wait to see you, I still have some unfinished business here in Cape Town...I'll be home shortly after!!! ;)