Ups and downs

Yesterday morning, Chris and I left for Cape Town. We rented a car and drove to Mossel Bay. We made a pit stop in Port Elizabeth for a GREAT seafood lunch at Ocean Basket. We then made it to Mossel Bay around 6:30 P.M. We stayed at Santos Express Train Lodge. It's a train that's converted into a backpackers lodge now! Every room had a view of the ocean. It was very quaint and cute. Then this morning, I went skydiving! It was very exhilarating, and I would deffintely do it again! I jumped from 10,000 feet and even did summer saults. I have he video and will load poctures later. We then headed out for Cape Town. What I thought was nerves this morning before skydiving, turned into serious sickness on the four hour drive to Cape Town. It took everything in me not to get sick. We arrived to Cape Town about 4:30 and I was white as a sheet. I really just wanted to sleep. We got to the hostel I had booked, and it was everything the movies portrayed: terrible neighborhood, sketchy rooms, gave you the creeps. We decided to leave and find the closest hotel. I was doing everything I could to hold it together. We finally found a Holiday Inn Express, and decided the extra money was well worth it. I've since been cooped up for he night in the hotel room. After puking and napping, I was able to consume some bread and soup broth. I'm now rehydrating myself. The front desk lady says she has heard people say there is bad water in Mossel Bay, and to make sure I keep hydrated now. She is going to send me to a chemist if I still feel sick tomorrow. I feel much better, however, but very thankful for her help! I will no longer be drinking water that I don't know is safe! Now it is time for a much needed good night of sleep before embarking on Cape Town tomorrow! Staying at the hotel does make this feel like more of a vacation! 

Sunday Funday

We had quite the day on Sunday.  We woke up early and went to Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve.  Emily and I rode elephants from their elephant sanctuary. My elephant was 17 years old; Emily's elephant was 13 years old. We took an hour ride through part of the reserve. During the ride the guides told us tons of elephant facts. Following the elephant ride, we played with the cheetahs.  Since the cheetahs have grown up at the game reserve, they are very tame and love attention. They had three cheetahs on the reserve, and are planning on releasing them into the wild in the next year. We finished the day by returning to Mpongo Private Game Reserve. We ate from their brunch buffet and watched them feed the two hippos. Sadly, while we were at Mpongo, one of the lion cubs got caught in the electric fence. They got the cub out, but the cub was in serious shock. When we left the cub was still in the office resting. It was very sad to see; the cub was very young. Now I am busy planning the Cape Town Trip that will begin Friday!

This picture is from the elephant ride through Inkwenwezi. 

Celebrations

Thursday was a big day for the agency I am working at here.  They hosted their second Masikhanye Women's Solidarity Conference.  Once a week approximately 80 women show up to CATCH to receive training on a variety of issues (domestic violence, HIV & Aids, etc).  The women also receive a free lunch and a parcel with food and drinks.  Two women (one leader, one assistant) then take the parcel and host a training in their homes.  They train ten or more women from their home cells.  Masikhanye reaches over 400 community women.  This was the second year they invited all of the women to come to one place and celebrate and learn together.  The event was held at a local church in Gonubie.  There was plenty of singing, dancing, and celebrations.  There was were also speakers and representatives from influential places in the community including CMR (a social service agency), the police, and the Victim Empowerment Program (VEP).  Over 300 community women showed up in traditional South African clothing.  The theme this year was domestic violence and violence against children.  The program was very powerful, and the women had an amazing time celebrating what they have accomplished with each other through Masikhanye.

Friday night Emily and I went to my co-worker, Lisa's house for dinner.  She hosted a brai for us.  We had great food and met some more amazing people.  I am still grateful for all of the hospitality that has come from the people we have been blessed to meet on this journey.


This picture is a co-worker from CATCH having dots painted on her face at the solidarity conference.

Sniffles and Sushi

Surprise! I am sick. Typical cold and flu symptoms. Even escaping the Midwest winter can't keep the sickness away from me. However, I will not let this deter me from enjoying my time. I would much rather be sick here in South Africa than sick in Minnesota. Last week we went out for half off sushi and wine and John Dory's with CJ and Lisa, coworkers at CATCH. Then Lisa and her family took Emily and I out Friday night to a nice place in Beacon Bay for dinner and drinks. We met up with CJ and Jason and some other frinds of Lisa's. I stayed up Friday night until 3:30 Saturday morning on FaceTime with my mom. She is in South Carolina with family to celebrate her birthday. It was great to get to see and talk to all of them as well. Saturday was rainy and cloudy, so I caught up on sleep. Then Sunday, Emily and I spent all day at the beach. We had a nice lunch at a cafe and had some much needed beach time. Tonight we plan on eating some more delicious half off sushi and drinking half off wine at one of our favorite places, John Dory's. All of you Midwesterns can rest easy in your Netflix induced commas recovering from spring break knowing that even in South Africa I can catch the cold and flu.  

American Friends and Good Music

This weekend Emily and I made our way back to Port Elizabeth.  We left Thursday afternoon via Greyhound bus and arrived to our hostel late that night. Friday we walked 4.5 miles down to the boardwalk. We have the blisters on our feet to prove it! We FINALLY ate some sushi! We spent two hours at John Dory's eating sushi, calamari, and mussels. We considered moving into the restaurant , but decided to walk to the beach.  We took a nap in the grass, walked through the boardwalk shops, enjoyed a couple of drinks, and headed back for our hostel. We walked to the markets to buy something I spotted earlier, and caught a taxi for the rest of the way back.  We got ready for the night and prepared to return to the boardwalk.  A young German guy joined us for the night out.  We walked around the boardwalk trying to find Sam, and decided to give up and go to Barney's.  Then, WE FOUND SAM!! She was sitting at the bar at Barney's.  We spent the night there enjoying drinks and sharing stories. It was so great to see an American friend again. We then parted ways and said we would see each other again the next night.

On Saturday, Emily an I went to the first ALGOA Live Music Festival.  We fell in love with the first artist, Stuart Reece Band. We both really hope that he comes to the United States!  The rest of the festival was good as well.  We spent the day in the sun, drinking some good South African beer, and relaxing to good music. That night we went for more sushi for dinner. We ate at a fun sushi bar close to our hostel. We then tried to head out for the festival's after party and meet up with Sam again. However, no cabs would answer our calls, the exhaustion got to us, and we fell asleep. I woke up, but no cabs would answer me still. Sam also had trouble getting to the club we planned on going. It was a frustrating evening; I stayed up past 4 in the morning trying to connect to Sam without luck.

Sunday morning we had to catch the bus after 6 am. We sat in the bus station eating our leftover sushi waiting for the bus to arrive. Definitely a good weekend when I get to experience a South African musical festival, eat tons of sushi, and see a friend from home.

Slacking and Adventuring

It's been two weeks since I've updated (OOOOOPS!). 

I've been busy at my placement during the week days. I'm here early morning to late afternoon when the children eat and head home. I enjoy it a lot and it keeps me busy. That means that the time is going by really fast now. The last two weeks have been a flash. 

Friday, February 20th: Spent the day doing office work and homework. I spent Friday night trapping mice. We've known we had some, but finally set a trap. We caught 3 in one trap within 45 minutes. We then caught another one in the same trap within another hour. We now have poison pellets in the storage room upstairs and three traps. We have seen a couple since we have placed the poison and traps, but have failed to catch anymore. 

Saturday, February 21st: Chris had to work all day Saturday. Emily and I were exhausted from staying up with the mouse traps, and I simply could not sleep as they were in and out of my room all Friday night. We decided to still partake in a hike to Bat's Cave at Nahoon Beach. We had a lot of fun. It was a cloudy day which worked best. I only had my long lens on my camera, so I did not get the best pictures, but I will post some of Emily's on my Facebook eventually.  Along the walk, I went down along the water's edge while Emily took the bags and hiked with the other group at the top of the rocks. I got SOAKED. By a couple big waves. I also held a little octopus one of the others found in one of the pools in the rock. The cave was breathtaking and worth going, even while sleep deprived. This is one picture I managed to get with my long lens of the group that was behind me, showing part of the rock. 

Sunday, February 22nd: Due to all of us being exhausted, we spent the day at Nahoon Beach. We laid out, ate fruit, drank wine, and relaxed. A much needed day of relaxation. 

Friday, February 27th: John, Chris, Emily and I left early Friday morning. We spent the day at Addo Elephant National Park. And guess what? We FINALLY saw some elephants! Tons of them! They got almost within reach a couple times. It was a great day, and we saw a lot of animals. Emily and I particularly loved all of the warthogs we saw. We were also not the only ones calling them all Pumba. Lion King has forever branded that name to warthogs. We then had a lovely evening at the Orange Elephant Backpackers. Hard to pick one picture to post, but I really enjoy these two lovey dovey elephants :)

Saturday, February 28th: We left Addo early to go to Tsitsikamma. Emily and I bungy jumped from "the worlds highest bridge bungy". 216 meters. It was an amazing adrenaline rush. We then went ziplining through the trees. We made an impromptu overnight stay in Jeffery's Bay with John's friends due to our longer than expected day. They hosted a delicious braai and we enjoyed the evening with their lovely 5 children and listened to their stories about living in China and California! It was amazing to hear their stories! Obviously I must post my bungy picture :) 

Sunday, March 1st: Being Jeffery's Bay is a surf mecca, we went to the surf shop outlets in the morning, walked along the beach, and finally headed back for home. We had a long and late lunch in Port Elizabeth. Emily, Chris, and I all enjoyed some GREAT fresh yellowtail at a pub. We then got back on the road and finally arrived back home after dark.

Monday, March 2nd: Sadly I have to report the slow, but expected death of my laptop. It's being looked at by the most highly recommended laptop technicians in East London, but they think it is the mother board which they say is not worth replacing. Most likely I will have to buy an entry level computer to last me through this trip for my studies. I dropped it off this morning, but am expected to hear the official bad news by end of the business day today. My computer issues have been a partial reason to my lack of posting, it has been immobile for about a week now, but even becoming a desktop dweller at the house didn't last. :'( I thought the old clunker would get me through until I finished the semster, looks like I will have to spend that money sooner than I thought. 

We have fun things planned for this weekend again! Stay tuned!