Do you know Obama?

Wow, I only have two days left at my placement. I really wish I had more time with the kids. It’s so crazy because I have only had like 5 days with each class because there were two days off because of a holiday called Youth Day. Youth Day is like a memorial day to commemorate the violent uprising of children in Soweto in the 70s. The students were protesting and demonstrating for better education and police open fired on the crowed killing hundreds of young people. If you’re interested in reading more, check this out: http://africanhistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa060801a.htm

This weekend was long and relaxing. Saturday consisted of a trip out to Stellenbosch area to the many many South African winelands. We went to four different wineries and the first even produced its own cheese (which was SOOO good). I tried something like 20 different wines (sips mind you) and still have concluded that I HATE red wine. The only red-ish wine that I liked was the sparkling wine called Cape Jazz of which I bought a bottle of to bring home. It’s like a celebratory drink and I think it would be really cool to save for New Years or something. Needless to say, after that day we were all a little tipsy and tired. Came back for a little nap and some dinner and then relaxed for the evening. A lot of people in the homebase went out on the garden route for “adventure weekend” full of skydiving, caving, and bungee jumping. Obviously, that isn’t my thing. It was nice to have a quiet evening with just 5 or 6 of us in the house.


Sunday, I went to Kirstenbosch gardens with Lyndsay, Glenna, ShaNika, and Jen. It was absolutely beautiful! The gardens wind up along the mountain and there is just so much natural beauty all around. It was really nice to walk around there.
Monday we attempted to go to Robben Island. We got out to the waterfront and bought tickets just for it to be cancelled an hour later. Robben Island is like a 45min ferry ride off Cape Town so if the wind is too much, the swells out in the ocean get really big and then it isn’t a good idea to be boating out there. We’re hoping to get to the island this weekend or next week. Monday night we went out to a bar called The Dubliner for some live music and adult beverages with like 25 of us volunteers. It was a really nice, casual fun time.

Tuesday was Youth Day and we planned to go on safari but the weather was too bad so that got cancelled too. Unfortunately, weather in Cape Town is even more unpredictable than Michigan! For one thing, it’s in the middle of massive mountains and the ocean, and it is the rainy season. So it might rain all morning then be sunny and 75 in the afternoon. Or, it might be windy and cold all day. Or some combination of the above. Thus, it’s hard to plan for outdoor activities that require good weather. We’re hoping for this weekend but there are a few complications with that so we’ll see. If I don’t get to go on safari, I won’t be too disappointed. I feel like I’ve experienced a lot more to South Africa than animals on a private game reserve. Now, if I were in Kruger then hell yeah, I would be determined to go on safari. There, the animals are wild. Near Cape Town, they are wild-ish but on a private game reserve. So who knows!

Today I taught quite a bit and talked a lot about home and then the students wrote a few paragraphs about what they learned about me and the US. They wanted to know all kinds of things: what my mommy and daddys names were and when their birthdays were, what kind of animals are wild in Michigan, if I have met celebrities, do I know Obama, what my favorite season is, what my favorite color is, and if my flight was scary. It was really fun  I drew a poor version of the American flag and of Michigan and drew dots where I lived. I also read them a poem by Shel Silverstein called hug-o-war and talked about who he was and what his poems are like. I hope that they might be able to go out and find them around here (though I’m not sure how big he is in SA). Friday I am doing the haiku/snowflake activity as a good bye thing for this class. It went awesome with the other class, so I hope it’ll be just as great with them.

Snowflakes:

Next week Lyndsay and I are staying in a hostel with two other girls who are staying later than the program. We’re taking it easy for now, and I’m sure we’ll just do some more exploring in the city during that time (and robben island if we still haven’t done it by then).

I can’t believe it’s almost over. In exactly one week, I will be getting on a plane to come home. Let’s hope that plane ride is better than the last. Seriously, cross your fingers. My anxiety can’t take it!
As sad as I am to leave all of the wonderful kids, I’m definitely running out of money and I’m ready to sleep in my own bed. It’s definitely not easy living with 16 females and sharing a small room with another. I’m ready for my own space and privacy back! Plus, I need a damn hamburger and some chocolate cookies. (Got that, mom & dad? Hahaha) Love you!

PS: Happy Belated Birthday Rachel!!