Waiting and more waiting...

Cape Town International Airport

Hello! I just got to my gate, now the real waiting begins! Keep your fingers crossed because there are a lot of flights cancelled tonight. Volcanic ash from Chile is clogging up the air or something. My bag was underweight still and I got through security fine. It's still over an hour before we board and we're like the only people at the airport.

Almost on my way!

I'm leaving in like 2 hours for the airport!!! I can't wait I'm so excited! But I really don't feel good : ( I have a really bad headache and my stomach is really crampy and my whole body is really achy. I have to buy some Benadryl at the airport because mine has disappeared some time in the last 5 weeks.

Dinner was good last night. I had lots of seafood. We ended up not going out because we didn't get back from dinner until almost 11. And I had to pack before I could go out because we had to have our bags ready by 10 am.
 

Robben Island wasn't really that interesting. The boat ride out there was an hour long and then we spent most of the time on a bus tour. When we were on the ground we only got to see Nelson Mandela's cell for like 20 seconds and it was locked. Maybe if it wasn't the last day I would have liked it more but I heard the story so many times and really just wanted to go to the airport all day, haha.  I can't wait it's so so so so so soooo soon! 

Nelson Mandela's Cell

Robben Island Ferry

Wine Tastings

Constantia Valley Vineyards, Cape Town, South Africa

Can you believe I'm coming home tomorrow!? Yayayayayayay!!!

We just finished the wine tastings, they were all gross. But I bought some goat cheese, havarti, and ciabatta bread for lunch. Now we're going to the market for some last minute souvenirs and we have a farewell dinner tonight. Then we're all going out for our last night on the town!

Greenmarket Square, Cape Town, South Africa

So excited to come home! Trying to pack is going to be a mess though. Luckily my professor changed the due date of our final exam to Wednesday. I was up so late trying to finish it and I didn't even get close. Our grad student said you could write a dissertation on the question, there's so much information we have to include. I'm going to try to work on it on the plane so hopefully I can just relax when I get home.

3 days!

It's rainy and yucky here, I don't think we're going to be able to go to Robben Island tomorrow because they don't run the ferry if it's raining. If not, we're going to try to go Saturday before our flight. Friday we're going to a vineyard and we are taste testing.

Robben Island

Today was boring again, but probably because I just want to come home, not much would be fun. We went to the District 6 Museum and then we went to an NGO and worked with kids. Working with kids would have been fun but we had to work on poetry and that's my least favorite topic, haha. Tonight is going to be another night of me just trying to write my final, it's really hard to focus. Right now I'm getting ready to go out to dinner with everyone.  3 more days!

District Six Museum

Inside District Six Museum

Great Gatsby!

Kirtenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa

Gatsby!

Today we went to the Botanical Garden, it was cool for maybe 10 minutes, then I was really bored at looking at plants. For lunch we went to this place that sells Gatsbys. They look like something from Man vs. Food. Its a sub with meat, fries, salad, and sauce all inside the sandwich. It was actually really good though. Me and Christina split a small and we couldn't even finish it.

In the late afternoon we went to Table Mountain and I bought more souvenirs for people.  One of these days I swear I'll get something for myself! Haha, but I really would rather buy things for everyone else, I don't need souvenirs to remember this trip.


Table Mountain

I won't get a warm shower tonight, it's not that we use up the hot water it's that there's literally no hot water in the house. So I'm guaranteed a cold shower for the next few days :-(

Cape Point (and baboons...)

Cape Point, South Africa

I can't believe I'm coming home in 5 days, I'm so excited! Today was fun, we went to Cape Point. It's the most southern tip of Africa and is supposedly where the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean mix. It was a pretty long hike to get up to the top where the lighthouse was. We also went shopping. When we were at Cape Point, a baboon climbed onto our car to get our lunch and broke off our side view mirror! Try explaining that to the insurance company haha! Then we went to a beach where there were a lot of penguins, it was fun for like 10 minutes. Then I was bored haha.

Penguins on Boulders Beach, Cape Point, South Africa



Cape Point Lighthouse 

The biggest downside to the house besides living in it with 12 girls is that there's NO HOT WATER. It sucks a lot, and tonight a girl told me it was rude that I said everyone should be able to take 15 minute showers since we have 12 girls and 2 bathrooms. I told her it was rude to take a 30 minute shower like she did today when other people still have to go. See why I can't wait to leave?  My flight lands at 3:50 on Sunday.  Practically counting down the hours!

City #8: Cape Town, South Africa (and tarantulas...)

Storms River Restcamp in Tsitsikamma

I woke up every 1/2 hour last night to make sure nothing was crawling on me because we found a tarantula in our cottage! The name on the place we stayed at was Stormriver National Park or something like that.

The 6 1/2 hour drive today turned into a 9 hour drive. People always need to pull over to pee. Then we got a flat tire and that took forever. But I'm finally in Cape Town. For this last week we are all staying in one house, which will be crazy. There are only 2 showers for all 13 of us. Luckily, me and Brooke are staying in the poolhouse so we get some privacy.


Cape Town, South Africa

I also got my final exam today and have the rest of the week to work on it. I couldn't take pictures during the zip line because my hands were full. But John bought a DVD of all our rides and pictures and will make copies for everyone else.
6 Days!!!

No Bungee for Kelsey

Tsitsikamma National Park

I decided not to jump, the zip lining (which was in Tsitsikamma) was enough adventure for me today, haha. It's also a lot of money and I'd rather buy presents and souvenirs and things. It's hard spending a lot of money when I know I don't have a job to come home to. But I just have to remember I'll only be here once, right?

Zip Line Time!

We're on our way to a city I don't know how to spell. If you look it up online it's the city where the highest bungee jump in the world is. As of right now I'm not doing it because its $100 and you don't get your money back if you chicken out. I'm also really hungover so that doesn't help, haha, but I haven't completely decided. We're going zip lining at 11:30, I know you're so jealous!

Bloukrans Bridge Bungee Jump (Tsitsikamma, South Africa)



Tsitsikamma Falls Zip Line

Last night me and my friend Brook went out. It was fun, we got lots of free shots from the bartenders. We had Soweto toliets, french kisses, psychopaths, bushmans balls, and liquid cocaine. They were all really good, except psychopath it was 1 part Stroh rum and 2 parts Absinthe. That one put some hair on my chest, haha!


ONE WEEK UNTIL IM HOME!! YAYYYY!

City #7: Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Port Elizabeth, South Africa

I just got to my bed and breakfast in Port Elizabeth a couple hours ago. We've attempted to go to a bar and there are literally only 9 people here, definitely not wasting my money here. I'm so excited that we're finally in the single digits, I can't wait to come home!

City #6: King Williams Town, South Africa

Hogsback Mountains

A cottage on Hogsback Mountain

Steve Bikos Grave

 I just got to our cottage in Hogsback Mountain where we're staying for the night. So here's a little something about today and the next few days.

We left Umtata this morning and drove to King Williams Town. We went to Steve Bikos grave and house. He was a leader of the black consciousness movement during apartheid and was killed by police who beat and tortured him to death. However, somewhere between Umtata and King Williams Town I got really sick, so I didn't really enjoy the Steve Biko presentations as much as I should have. After that we drove another 40 minutes to Hogsback Mountain where we're staying for the night. Me and 3 of my friends have our own little cottage with a fireplace and everything. It seems so nice up here but it's raining and we're leaving really early tomorrow so I don't get to explore.  Also Erica came back and joined us yesterday. She's not 100% better yet, but she's feeling a lot better. She's on a really strict diet for the next few days to help her digestive system but that's it.

King Williams Town, South Africa

Tomorrow we're going to University of Fort Hare, a former top black university. Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, and the first presidents of Botswana and Zimbabwe all went to school here. Then we go to Port Elizabeth where I'll be for a few days.

University of Fort Hare

More Museums

June 7, 2011

Today we went to the 2 Nelson Mandela museums, one in Umtata and one in Qunu. I didn't get much out of it since I've read the autobiography already, except there was WiFi.



Nelson Mandela Museum, Qunu, South Africa



Nelson Mandela Museum, Umtata, South Africa

I have to go back to my home stay tonight, I really don't want to. The family doesn't speak English well and they don't really understand us. I've been ready to come home for awhile, but now I'm really really ready.

 

City #5: Umtata, South Africa

We made it to Umtata. I'm rooming with my friend Christina here. Our house is nice, it's completely gated in. It's not that big, but almost everything here is gated in or has barbed wire around it, kind of freaky. But I'm going to bed because I'm exhausted from traveling, goodnight!

On the Road Again

Road in South Africa

We just got on the road to Umtata. When I'm in Umtata I'll be at a homestay but I'll be with at least 1 other girl. But in not so good news, a girl on our trip, Erika, is in the hospital right now. Everyone has been getting sick and she got it worse than all of us. She was up all night throwing up and when the owner of the bed and breakfast took her to the doctors this morning they sent her to the emergency room because she's extremely dehydrated. They have her on an IV and she should be fine by late this afternoon. She's going to stay here in Kokstad tonight at the bed and breakfast and either tomorrow or wednesday Jon will drive back here to get her before we head to King Williamstown. Its scary though, I wouldn't want to be in the hospital here!

The flags are at half mast this week in all of South Africa because Albertina Sisulu has passed away. She was one of the top women freedom fighters during apartheid. Her husband was Walter Sisulu, a man who fought side by side with Nelson Mandela even though his name is not as well known internationally. Once we get to Umtata today we're going to a lecture on traditional African music at Walter Sisulu University.
  

Walter and Albertina Sisulu

Walter Sisulu University

2 Weeks Left!

Another shot of Mount Currie

I don't have much to say, we had free days yesterday and today. They would have been more useful if we weren't in the middle of nowhere right now. So I've spent them doing nothing except reading and hanging out, which is still nice. I could have gone hiking yesterday but they were driving 2 hours away and I really didn't want to do that. I feel like I live in that car, haha, we're always driving. We're having lasagna for dinner tonight, I'm not looking forward to it because I know it won't be as good as my mom's.

Tomorrow we're going to a private school then to Umtata. We're doing homestays there again but not with teachers, this time it can be with anyone. I'll be there for 2 days and again I don't know whether I will have service or not, but I'm hopeful.


St. Patrick's College
A private school in Kokstad, South Africa for ages 3-19.

I found this picture when I searched "Michigan State students in South Africa."  This is an orphanage but it may be something like Kelsey is doing while she is there.

Oh, and I've discovered I'm missing 3 pairs of shorts and 2 skirts. I don't know where they could be, hopefully somewhere in this room and I'll find them tonight. I've checked all the drawers and things whenever we leave a place. I really hope I didn't leave them somewhere, but it's hard when we're moving every couple of days. I haven't even worn them yet so I'm really sad : (
Less than 2 weeks until I'm home!

Umtata, South Africa
Kelsey, if you see this, your sister has decided what she wants you to bring her back from  South Africa :-)

City #4(?): Kokstad, South Africa

We're staying at a really nice bed and breakfast here in Kokstad called Peacehaven. They actually serve dinner too, it's the best food I've had since I've been here.

Peacehaven Bed and Breakfast

Not a bad view... (Mount Currie)



Guest rooms

Today we painted 2 buildings and a kindergarten classroom at a rural school here. We're all filthy, yuck. Tomorrow and Sunday are going to be free days, I'm excited. Our B&B is right by Mount Currie and we might try to climb it tomorrow. Besides that I don't really plan on doing anything except homework.

Rural school in South Africa

I don't have much else to say, not much has been happening here. I'm getting a cold and so is everyone else, but I bought some stuff for it so hopefully it goes away soon. After this we're going to a place called Umtata, then I don't remember where else before Capetown.

2 weeks and one day left, couldn't come any faster!

Good News!

I have a teeny tiny bit of service here in Kokstad! Yay! So I can still keep you guys updated. I'll be here until Sunday I think, but the next two weeks are crazy. We're only staying in places for a couple days each so I'll be all over the place until Cape Town. Have a good day guys! I'll update you tomorrow after our school visit!

Going Rural

I just learned I won't have service after tonight for awhile. Hopefully its a lie and I really will! We're going to a place called Kokstad and then Umtata that are supposedly REALLY REALLY rural. Yuck!  :-(



Kokstad, South Africa

Umtata, South Africa





More Safari and First Homestay

I definitely like seeing the kids more than animals. We're at another park now and the 500th giraffe you see isn't as cool as the first. We stayed at the roundhouses at the game park so it was really nice, but the cabin we're at now is gross.

Two nights ago we had our first home stay. My host family was nice, but they weren't very talkative and they went to bed not long after I got there. Yesterday I went to the school my host mom teaches at. I didn't like it that much because a lot of the kids didn't know English so I couldn't communicate with them. Even though school is supposed to be taught in English after grade 3, I sat in on a 6th grade science class that was almost all Zulu (click on the link to listen to "The Circle of Life" in Zulu: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qNSwXm-Cl4). 

After school we went to a nature reserve and went on a hike to see giraffes and zebras, it was alright but we were all really tired and didn't want to go anyway. Then we had a bonfire and dinner and everyone went to bed pretty early.

Today we had our first service project. We went to a boarding high school and scraped the paint and sanded the walls in the dorms. I'm pretty sure I'll have lead poisoning or something because we didn't have any kind of mask to stop us from breathing it all in. I would have rather been painting or something. My throat has been sore the past couple days and that didn't help at all.

We're staying at the nature reserve again tonight, but tomorrow I think we're going to a guest house, I don't know what city we're going to though. It's actually really cold in the mornings and at night here.  It's hard to say I wouldn't rather be at home, as much fun as I'm having I'd jump on the next plane out if I had the chance.

SAFARI TIME!

The safari was soo much fun! By 9:00 am today I had been within feet of a family of zebras, giraffes, rhinos, warthogs, and antelope. It was so much fun, I took millions of pictures. But it was freezing, like the "40 degrees riding around in a car with no windows" kind of freezing. Then we went on another drive at 3:00 just in our van and an elephant was within 10 feet of us! It was actually kind of scary, there's not much you can do if an elephant comes at you. We didn't see any lions or leopards though, but I didn't expect to. A teacher I was talking to at one of the schools said he's been here over 10 times and still hasn't seen the cats. Plus the grass is at its highest right now so everything is really camouflaged.


I can see why this might be scary...

There's a walking safari here where you just go out with a guy and a gun. That would have been really cool, but it was booked for the next two days. The safari was surprisingly cheap (the program paid for ours) but it was only 300 rand per person for 3 hours which is less than $50. We're having a braai for dinner, but we've had a huge breakfast and lunch today, I'm not even hungry lol.


South African braai (barbecue)

Tomorrow were going to an estuary for a boat ride at 8 am. Hopefully well see hippos and crocodiles in the water because we didn't see any today.


Estuary near Hluhluwe
I don't know if this is where she is going, but I hope she sees this many hippos!