Sheesh...As I sit here typing I am completely overwhelmed. The past 10 days have been a whirlwind. It is truly hard for me to believe that, today marks ten days shy of five months of living here, 142 days. It seems like just yesterday, I was blubbering through security at DFW wandering what in the HELL I had gotten myself into. Little did I know that it was going to be the absolute best experience of my life. No question, my world has been rocked.
I’ve traveled outside of the US before, but after this adventure, I have learned that there is an extreme difference in “traveling” and “living” somewhere. I haven’t just “been” to Cape Town, I have done life here every day and I am so thankful to have had this opportunity. I remember as a freshman Courtney and Alessandra saying that if given the chance to study abroad, DO IT! and that will be the exact same advice I give to any one who asks!
Usually I’m not a super emotional person, but this week I have been a basket case. Finals ended last Thursday and on Friday six of us went on a crazy adventure to the Cederberg Mountains. We “lodged” instead of camped and had a fabulous time embracing our inner frontiersmen. The first night we stayed in a quaint little cottage and made dinner over our wood stove. We entertained ourselves with a deck of cards and other word games. Before the sun set, Fenney, Jenna and I all took driving lessons from TJ who guided us around the orange grove as he taught us the basics of driving a standard. As if that wasn’t already entertaining enough, Haley amused herself by hanging out of the window picking oranges as we drove past! Day 2, we bought groceries is Portersville and stopped for lunch in Citrusdal. Then we got the wild hair to chase down some wine! We off roaded a good 10 miles to end up at a small empty house, “museum” of a wine tasting room! It was laughable as we were greeted by sheep and a friendly old man who “had no palate for wine!” In route to our lodge for the night we were forced to turn back because the “Elephant River” had exceeded its banks and made the road impassable. We made it to our luxurious lodge by nightfall and made dinner (beer/orange chicken and roasted veg with plenty of butter) and feasted on milk tart and Chardonnay for dessert! The next day, we grabbed lunch at the cutest little antique shop and hit the road back to CPT.
Adventuring down dirt roads in the rain...favorite past time
Beaveralc/Orange Grove - Night 1
Driving lessons
Farmland
The crew! Love these people!
Beautiful reminder of God's promise!
Graskraal - Night 2
Monday night, we ditched the “frontiersmen” attitude and treated ourselves to a nice steak at a great restaurant. Unfortunately, I somehow lost my phone in between leaving my room and running in the rain from the car to the restaurant. I spent the rest of the night looking for it with no luck.
Tuesday night, we had one more round of “fake” mexican food at El Burro! ...
Wednesday, I went to small group and then to Alma to send off Alex, Tito, and Maya. Wahhh. They left on a crazy journey to Jo Burg, Vic Falls, and Namibia. Alex is coming to London during my time there so we will have the chance to catch up and reunite! CAN’T WAIT FOR JULY 2nd!!!
Thursday, Caroline, Kasey and I went to Gypsy for dinner. After, we stopped by Champs and then went to a German goodbraai!
Friday marked the last official day and night of everyone in Cape Town. Haley and I hiked Lion's Head for sunrise with some friends and yet again were blown away by the beauty of this city. For lunch the roomies and I went to Starlings for one last roomie meal! The rest of the day I laid around our flat watching old episodes of One Tree Hill while they packed. To commemorate our time together, Feneey, TJ, Haley and I went to Cafe Ganesh in Obs for dinner and then made the rounds at Arm Chair and Ponchos. We were mid bundling up in warm clothes to go reflect at the UCT dam when Schmach texted us about his big win at the Grand West Casino. We ended the night full circle as everyone in IES reconvened at the infamous Pig and Swizzle. ... I could not have asked for a better day/night with great people.
<3
Clifton will always be my main man.
We started from the bottom, now we're here.
My happy place.
OBM Saturday was hectic. Stephi and Britty were aggressive, but most every one else was in a state of weirdness. It was a surreal moment realizing that our precious time together had come to an end and I went diva status with the sunnys to hide the tears. After many “see yah soons”, Caroline and I escaped to Camps Bay for pedicures and lunch at Azure.
Last group pic
Sunday, TJ and I went to Egoli to help put a roof on the community center. Egoli is where TJ did his research project and raised money for the solar light jars. With the extra money he bought the materials needed to replace the leaky roof. We both underestimated the size of this “tiny” room and were a meter short on both the beams and the tin. The men made do with what they had though and worked like bees. We arrived at 8:45 a.m. and left at 4:45 p.m. TJ and I neither were much help with the roof, but I learned so much from the men who were putting it on. I also made friends with all the little people running around. Dwayne, Joshy, Mark, Brenda, Cindy, Georgia, Caleb... They are all little rascals! During the beginning of the semester I was not a fan of Egoli. It is hands down the worst poverty I’ve ever seen and it made me feel extremely uncomfortable. Even yesterday when we rolled up I kept thinking please don’t touch me, please don’t touch me.... All of the precious youngsters had green snotty noses. Most were barefoot. The dogs with goodness knows how many diseases were laying around everywhere. Usually when I’ve been to Egoli, it is with 20 + other Americans which really draw the crowds and everything is always chaos. Yesterday, it was just TJ and me and we got the pleasure of just observing how the people live. We learned how everyone is related and who belongs to who. I broke down and let the girls play with my hair and the game changing point was when I noticed a comb out of the corner of my eye and before I knew it, she was running it through my hair. Ha even TJ was like I can’t believe you allowed that! And my thoughts at that point were what the heck makes me too good to use their comb? ... NOTHING! They are all amazing people who are like me, made in the image of God. If I could have, I would have taken little Joshy home with me in a heartbeat. He is the MOST precious! He rolled around on the ground all day and loved on the dog but I just couldn’t tell him no! He would run and just wrap his arms around my legs! The old community center had a about a 6 1/2 foot straight ceiling and was extremely uncomfortable to be in. As the roof was torn away, so were the walls I had built in my heart. Piece by piece the roof was reassembled and with that I had a whole new attitude about the people of Egoli. Before I thought the men were lazy and were okay with the conditions in which they live. However, I was proven extremely wrong yesterday. I witnessed 5 men who gave it everything they had and were fathers who loved their kiddos. Sure, there were still plenty of worthless drunks around and about the community, but the men we were working with had hearts of gold. With the construction of the new roof the ceiling was raised about 1 1/2 feet and peaked in the middle. The minor change made the whole room feel different. TJ and I were talking about it as we stood there in amazement and the only way I could describe the new feeling was “pleasant.” It was actually pleasant to be in that room. Whew, it was such a humbling experience and I really do hope I will have the chance to visit Egoli again. It sure puts into perspective my nice apartment, warm bed and hot shower.
Santa's sleigh packed and ready
The roof before
Before
Hard at work
Afrikaans story time with Rocco
... and this was me! (Georgia, Caleb, and Cindy!)
Sweet little Joshy!
Egoli.
New roof
New roof
Thanks, Haley! They were a hit!
All of our hand me downs from the semester. What a gross amount we accumulated and left behind. The people could not have been happier!
Last night the sermon at church was over the book of Esther. The main point was that in this book never mentions God’s name, yet it is clear that he orchestrated everything. In our daily lives we may struggle to see God’s presence in our mundane routines, however he is still there and is the one who provides true satisfaction. How encouraging. I am so thankful to have had a church family at Common Ground while living here.
Today, I am the lone eagle here at WahWah. Tracy-Leigh is baffled at what I am still doing here! Ha, I told them everyone had gone so I had to come have coffee with the only friends I had left! I have a million things I “want” to do still, but I am very content with just laying low and soaking up the last few days here in this beloved city. My mind really can’t even process that on Sunday I will be in London and not here. I think it going to be a really rude awakening, but I am excited none the less!
Where did all the other Americans go?!
Hope everyone has a fabulous week!
xoxo
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