Good morning from Cape Town! After blogging yesterday and getting 10 hours of sleep last night (yes, I went to bed at (9…), I’m feeling so much more like myself finally! Let’s catch you up to the now.
We left off on Friday night at Harbour House. Saturday morning was, once again, OLD BISCUIT MILL. I can’t describe how happy this place makes me feel. Everything from the incredible food to the happy people to the cash-only mom-and-pop feel is just so humbling and cheerful. Of course, I got all of my favorite foods, and I also went shopping – I bought a Polaroid camera! I have some cool Urban Outfitters photo streams for my new room at school, and I thought it would be really cool to hang up Polaroid pictures from places I’ve traveled on it. Stay tuned. (Click to view the gallery below)
We left off on Friday night at Harbour House. Saturday morning was, once again, OLD BISCUIT MILL. I can’t describe how happy this place makes me feel. Everything from the incredible food to the happy people to the cash-only mom-and-pop feel is just so humbling and cheerful. Of course, I got all of my favorite foods, and I also went shopping – I bought a Polaroid camera! I have some cool Urban Outfitters photo streams for my new room at school, and I thought it would be really cool to hang up Polaroid pictures from places I’ve traveled on it. Stay tuned. (Click to view the gallery below)
I spent the rest of my Saturday doing something I had never done – spent an afternoon at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens! These gardens were voted the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world. Walking through the gates, I felt like I was entering a dream world. The topography instantly changed and took my breath away. The first thing I noticed was the abundance of green grass. Being in a beach city, all I really see here is sand, pavement, and rocks. It was awesome to see extensive parks of grass with incredible omniscient mountains serving as a backdrop, complemented by a plethora of colorful flowers. Absolutely breathtaking. There was something especially awesome called a canopy walk where we could walk on a bridge onto of all of the trees. Coolest view ever.
Since I had never been as a student, I was really looking forward to this trip. I took a group of students who were excited to go, too, and we brought sandwiches from the Old Biscuit Mill to picnic on the grass. It was so cute! I really enjoyed it.
Since I had never been as a student, I was really looking forward to this trip. I took a group of students who were excited to go, too, and we brought sandwiches from the Old Biscuit Mill to picnic on the grass. It was so cute! I really enjoyed it.
I wrapped up my Saturday night watching the sunset on the beach with some students. I really feel like I got to better connect with students this weekend, which makes me really happy.
Sunday was far less eventful – I took a student to the doctor and hung out at home. Sometimes you just need those rest days.
Monday was the first day of service for the LEAD group. I absolutely love service, and I was excited to share my experience with this new group of people.
When we arrived, I was ecstatic to see my family: my sisters Porcia and Laetitia, their kids, and my house mom “Mama E.” I got to spend the day with them in their home, introducing them to some of our new students and holding my little baby twin nephews. My heart was so full and happy that I got to spend time with them.
Monday night we went to Nando’s – the South African fast food place I wrote about a while back. I absolutely love this place. It’s a South Africa must!
Tuesday we took the group to Robben Island in the morning before service. I was really excited when we got there because I had the same tour guide as I had last year! His name is Sparks, and he was a prisoner with Nelson Mandela. What is noteworthy about Sparks is his diction. He speaks incredibly slowly and clearly, which makes him much easier to understand. I love listening to him and his stories about the history of the island.
We boarded our kids up and took them back to the township of Sir Lowry’s Pass! It was another great day. So many kids called my name, remembered me, hugged me, and wanted to spend time with me. Every day that I spend in Sir Lowry’s Pass, I get closer and closer to the kids and to my family. I had such a full heart driving away yesterday after having such a good day.
Tuesday night was Taco Tuesday! Joanna, Dr. Teel, and I held the weekly dinner in the staff apartment for the students who want to come eat-in and hang out with us. It was fun, as always, but I was incredibly tired afterwards…which is why I have put off blogging/journaling until now!
Yesterday morning...
Aah, yes, we’re finally catching up to real-time!
…I started my day with a sunrise hike up Lion’s Head! Again, something I had never done before!
Sunday was far less eventful – I took a student to the doctor and hung out at home. Sometimes you just need those rest days.
Monday was the first day of service for the LEAD group. I absolutely love service, and I was excited to share my experience with this new group of people.
When we arrived, I was ecstatic to see my family: my sisters Porcia and Laetitia, their kids, and my house mom “Mama E.” I got to spend the day with them in their home, introducing them to some of our new students and holding my little baby twin nephews. My heart was so full and happy that I got to spend time with them.
Monday night we went to Nando’s – the South African fast food place I wrote about a while back. I absolutely love this place. It’s a South Africa must!
Tuesday we took the group to Robben Island in the morning before service. I was really excited when we got there because I had the same tour guide as I had last year! His name is Sparks, and he was a prisoner with Nelson Mandela. What is noteworthy about Sparks is his diction. He speaks incredibly slowly and clearly, which makes him much easier to understand. I love listening to him and his stories about the history of the island.
We boarded our kids up and took them back to the township of Sir Lowry’s Pass! It was another great day. So many kids called my name, remembered me, hugged me, and wanted to spend time with me. Every day that I spend in Sir Lowry’s Pass, I get closer and closer to the kids and to my family. I had such a full heart driving away yesterday after having such a good day.
Tuesday night was Taco Tuesday! Joanna, Dr. Teel, and I held the weekly dinner in the staff apartment for the students who want to come eat-in and hang out with us. It was fun, as always, but I was incredibly tired afterwards…which is why I have put off blogging/journaling until now!
Yesterday morning...
Aah, yes, we’re finally catching up to real-time!
…I started my day with a sunrise hike up Lion’s Head! Again, something I had never done before!
Last year, the other program group got to do it while I was on Adventure Week, but my program group couldn’t do it because of weather. So, this was my first time!
Lion’s Head is the mountain with the cone-looking tip next to Table Mountain. It was a much quicker hike, maybe only 45 minutes, but it was a different challenge. The beginning of the hike was flat dirt paths at an incline, and the end of the hike was entirely rock-climbing. Table Mountain is mostly just rock stairs at an incline the entire way up. It was really cool to hike in the dark because the views of the city all lit up at night were incredible. However…I’m not going to talk about how out of shape I am and how much I struggled.
When we finally got to the top, unfortunately the sunrise was covered by clouds, so we didn’t exactly get to see it. It was an awesome way to start the morning, though! I got exercise (which I NEVER do here) and checked something I had never done off of my list, so this double whammy was a big plus for me.
I had a little break after the hike, which I NEVER have on a normal class day, so I was really excited to take some time to myself. I got to shower and write and just relax before heading off to service.
When we got to the township yesterday, we did our stations again. Something different was a game where we did a dance off with our students and the kids – it was so much fun to watch! Absolutely hilarious! We didn’t get to meet up with our families in the township which was unfortunate, but I’m excited to see them today because it’s my house sister Laetitia’s birthday.
I feel good that I’ve finally caught up on my blog! Just a reminder that I won’t be blogging at all next week because I’ll be roadtripping to the other side of South Africa for Adventure Week! I will continue to journal, actually, I will try to be better at journaling, so that I can have a good point of reference when I have time and access to catch you guys up on the blog.
A few little tidbits I’d like to share, in closing:
A quote from Pico Iyer’s “Why We Travel” that resonates with me, as it pertains to this time in my life:
“If a diploma can famously be a passport to a journey through hard realism, a passport can be a diploma for a crash course in cultural relativism.”
As I approach my senior year of college and get ready to graduate from this incredible stage in my life where I learned so much, I am realizing that travel is exactly the path that I need to pursue. There is so much to learn in and out of the classroom, and this quote represents just that.
Another quote…
“Most people come to Africa thinking that Africa needs them. The reality is that we need Africa.”
In Africa lies a humbling experience to the common American soul. The paradox of extreme poverty and skyrocketing joy shows Americans that not only should we feel grateful for the things in our lives, we should feel happy with what we have, since there are people with far less who are far happier. It’s quite a concept, really.
It’s also the way that Africa presents passion. Passion for the people, the music, the dance, the topography, the culture as a whole. The passion in Africa is unparalleled; it’s something that Americans can learn from, appreciate, and try to take back to their own homes and instill in others.
Another quote…
“Give people your love, don’t give them your like.”
This is a quote from the video “Look Up” we shared in class about social media. It makes a lot of sense, considering that my generation (I am incredibly guilty of this) values “likes” waaaaay too much. I don’t even know half of the people who “like” my stuff! Why should I be so flattered?! Giving people your love is far more valuable.
And, in closing…
“The future doesn’t belong to the faint-hearted. It belongs to the brave.”
-Ronald Reagan
This is one of the quotes that stood out to me the most during our last leadership lesson, when we talked about how Ronald Reagan was such an incredible leader. Anything that I do, I go at it full speed with very little hesitation and overflowing passion. I am brave. I am excited for my future because I know that if I continue this attitude, great things will happen for me. This trip is just one of them. Well, two :) Lucky me.
Today is another day of service and I am so excited! Thanks for reading. I love and miss all of you.
The Summer Intern,
Anna
Lion’s Head is the mountain with the cone-looking tip next to Table Mountain. It was a much quicker hike, maybe only 45 minutes, but it was a different challenge. The beginning of the hike was flat dirt paths at an incline, and the end of the hike was entirely rock-climbing. Table Mountain is mostly just rock stairs at an incline the entire way up. It was really cool to hike in the dark because the views of the city all lit up at night were incredible. However…I’m not going to talk about how out of shape I am and how much I struggled.
When we finally got to the top, unfortunately the sunrise was covered by clouds, so we didn’t exactly get to see it. It was an awesome way to start the morning, though! I got exercise (which I NEVER do here) and checked something I had never done off of my list, so this double whammy was a big plus for me.
I had a little break after the hike, which I NEVER have on a normal class day, so I was really excited to take some time to myself. I got to shower and write and just relax before heading off to service.
When we got to the township yesterday, we did our stations again. Something different was a game where we did a dance off with our students and the kids – it was so much fun to watch! Absolutely hilarious! We didn’t get to meet up with our families in the township which was unfortunate, but I’m excited to see them today because it’s my house sister Laetitia’s birthday.
I feel good that I’ve finally caught up on my blog! Just a reminder that I won’t be blogging at all next week because I’ll be roadtripping to the other side of South Africa for Adventure Week! I will continue to journal, actually, I will try to be better at journaling, so that I can have a good point of reference when I have time and access to catch you guys up on the blog.
A few little tidbits I’d like to share, in closing:
A quote from Pico Iyer’s “Why We Travel” that resonates with me, as it pertains to this time in my life:
“If a diploma can famously be a passport to a journey through hard realism, a passport can be a diploma for a crash course in cultural relativism.”
As I approach my senior year of college and get ready to graduate from this incredible stage in my life where I learned so much, I am realizing that travel is exactly the path that I need to pursue. There is so much to learn in and out of the classroom, and this quote represents just that.
Another quote…
“Most people come to Africa thinking that Africa needs them. The reality is that we need Africa.”
In Africa lies a humbling experience to the common American soul. The paradox of extreme poverty and skyrocketing joy shows Americans that not only should we feel grateful for the things in our lives, we should feel happy with what we have, since there are people with far less who are far happier. It’s quite a concept, really.
It’s also the way that Africa presents passion. Passion for the people, the music, the dance, the topography, the culture as a whole. The passion in Africa is unparalleled; it’s something that Americans can learn from, appreciate, and try to take back to their own homes and instill in others.
Another quote…
“Give people your love, don’t give them your like.”
This is a quote from the video “Look Up” we shared in class about social media. It makes a lot of sense, considering that my generation (I am incredibly guilty of this) values “likes” waaaaay too much. I don’t even know half of the people who “like” my stuff! Why should I be so flattered?! Giving people your love is far more valuable.
And, in closing…
“The future doesn’t belong to the faint-hearted. It belongs to the brave.”
-Ronald Reagan
This is one of the quotes that stood out to me the most during our last leadership lesson, when we talked about how Ronald Reagan was such an incredible leader. Anything that I do, I go at it full speed with very little hesitation and overflowing passion. I am brave. I am excited for my future because I know that if I continue this attitude, great things will happen for me. This trip is just one of them. Well, two :) Lucky me.
Today is another day of service and I am so excited! Thanks for reading. I love and miss all of you.
The Summer Intern,
Anna