Last post from Cape Town

Hi All,

So it's now Thursday afternoon and everyone is getting ready for our Goodbye Dinner . . . it will definitely be a sad night.  And tomorrow is my last day with the kids so another sad day.  Oy vey, don't know if I can take all these emotions.  

Anywho, the point was that I don't have much more time here and I have to be all packed up by 8am on Saturday.  Thus, this is my last post from South Africa.  But stay tuned because I will continue with the blog with pictures and other updates on my travels (I'm just getting started).

This past week has been amazing!!!  The whole time has been amazing!!!  The three weeks just flew by, I can't wrap my head around the fact that I'm leaving in two days, too surreal.  I did finally make it to Robben Island which was a little disappointing.  I'm so happy I went but it has become so commercialized and so much a tourist attraction that I feel like a lot of it's history has been lost.  It didn't feel real, I had to keep reminding myself of where I was and the impact of the location.  Oh well.

My kids have been awesome, supposedly they are throwing the volunteers a party tomorrow so I am so excited about that.  

This entire experience has been so magically overwhelming that the words have been so hard to find but I appreciate all the support from back home and the wonderful comments.  Just wait until I start getting pictures up.  :)

Lots and lots of love and I will see/talk to you all in a few days.

Hugs,

Amanda

709 FREAKING FEET!!!!

Hi All,

Ok so I have a lot to say and 25 minutes until my computer dies and my roommates are asleep so I can't get my charger.  I'll be quick and try to get as much in because the next few days are going to be super busy.

Since my last post I have had my second week of placement.  It was still challenging, but I love it soooo much!  I've become really close to a few of the kids and it's going to be so hard to leave them.  I'm only there three weeks so there isn't much I can do; however, I had decided that if I only accomplish one thing it will be to turn Divine into a good boy.  He's this little boy that you can just tell is starved for affection and he acts out the most.  He knows that what he does is wrong, he just so badly wants someone to call out his name.  So I've started a little relationship with him and make a point to spend a little bit of each day devoted just to him.  And I already got the address of the school so that I can send him letters when I'm gone.  I just really want him to know that someone cares and that he is a good boy.  He really is a great kid, he just needs guidance and confidence and to not beat up other kids.  That's just one of the kids I've fallen in love with.  I think I've already mentioned Liam and there is Babiwa and Mandisa and so many more.  There all great kids with no guidance or really any good role models.  I'm so happy that I have this chance to meet them.  I know it sounds cheesy but I would be so happy if I could make a fraction of a difference in their lives compared to the difference they've made in mine.  So that's how my week is spent.  

The afternoons include guest speakers and educational tours of Cape Town which are all amazing.  Last week we had this guest speaker who was so emotional and had been through so much I had to leave for a few minutes to cry.  It was so intense and his words were so incredible.  I can't even explain it, I'll try to think of a better way but how far he had come was so inspiring I couldn't help but break down.  We also spent one afternoon touring a Cape Malay township and going to the Slave Lodge which is a museum devoted to South African slavery.  It was also very moving and beautiful.  Learning more about their history made me realize that it really isn't that different from American history.  It's crazy to learn that we all came from similar starts yet our lives have all gone in such different directions.  And just the more I learn about this country the more I am amazed by it.  I can't imagine another place on earth that can be so beautiful yet so ugly and crush and raise your spirits in one day.  There are so many sides to the country and there is no possible way for them all to live in harmony and that is where the problem lies.  Actually there are a lot of problems, that is only the tip of the iceberg.  Ok, so that's my lesson on South Africa.

Now the fun weekend stuff.  If you've been keeping up with my blog and thought last weekend was cool wait until you hear about this past weekend.  A group of 13 of us booked a weekend tour of the Garden Route which is the GORGEOUS section of the western cape with all these crazy adventures.  We got picked up Friday after placement and drove about 5 hours to a town called Wilderness and we stayed at a fabulous hostel.  They made us delicious pizza and we all got drunk around the fire.  4 of us took a break and walked down to the beach (oh yeah, the hostel was on the beach) and laid on the sand for a while and just stared at the stars (that was for Beth).  It was amazing.  I've never seen such a beautiful night sky or felt such soft sand.  The Saturday we woke up and had quite possibly the most amazing day of my life.  First we drive to the Knysna Heads which is just a breathtaking view of the Indian Ocean.  We spent some time climbing around those rocks and taking pictures.  Then we drive to the Elephant Sanctuary where we get to walk trunk in hand and RIDE elephants.  That's right folks, I rode an elephant!!!  He was huge!!!!!!  So amazing, so perfect, so unbelievable.  Then we drove to the Monkey Sanctuary to eat lunch and hang out with monkeys.  I forgot that I had coins in my pocket and while walking around a monkey reached in my pocket and took my change.  I got pickpocket by a monkey!!!  It was freaking rad!!!!  Then most of the group went zip-lining.  Myself, plus two others, opted to sit that out and lay in the sun for the hour they were gone.  That was definitely the right choice because we need to rest up for our next and most amazing adventure yet . . . bungy jumping from the world's highest!!!!  That's right,  yet again folks . . . I jumped with nothing but a rope tied to my ankles from 709 feet in the air off a freaking bridge!!!!!  Waaaaay scarier than sky diving!!!!  Standing at the edge of a bridge to jump off is just not normal.  Don't worry, I bought my video so you can all share in my fear.  The funniest part to me is that I have the most R-rated video of anyone in our group.  I'm basically cursing the world the entire time.  There is plenty of foul language to embarrass my parents (sorry Mom and Dad, I was scared).  And that was Saturday.  Elephants and jumping to my death, such excitement.

Today, Sunday, was calmer.  We did a lot of driving today.  We did stop at the Congo Caves (a national monument) and toured that for a bit.  It was fun but we were all so tired and ready to get home.  We finally got home at about 9pm, ordered in food, showered, and am now getting ready for bed.  I can't believe this is my last week.  There is so much to fit in.  I'm excited to be coming home soon but so sad to be leaving here.  I could have definitely done 4-5 weeks instead of 3.  Live and learn, right?

That's pretty much it.  I'm not really e-mailing anyone unless they e-mail me first.  So if there is something you want to say just to me or a question you want to ask feel free to e-mail me and I'll get back to you soon.

Oh oh, picture update.  My computer is mean and takes forever to upload photos . . . but a lot of my housemates have been able to upload photos and I think about 30 pics of me have been tagged on Facebook.  So if you or someone you know has access to Facebook have them "friend request" me and I'll approve to that you can check out some pictures.  There are some really funny ones.  Beth, I know you have a lot going on but if you are at Jen's at all (maybe for yoga) can you show her the Facebook pics?  Thanks!!  She can snag them off Facebook to then show my folks.  And Nicole, Peter and I are friends of Facebook so you can look at them too.  

I think that's pretty much all I wanted to say.  Oh, except for that if you ever decide to bungy jump . . . it is not kind on the back.  My spine feels like it's been moved over a few inches.  

I love you all and can't believe I will home to see you all in a week.  

Hugs,

Amanda

Sharks and penguins all in one weekend!

Hi All,

I hope all of your weekends were wonderful . . . but let me just tell you, nothing can top mine.  Even sick, I'm pretty sure I just had one of the best weekends ever.  

Saturday morning a group of 13 of us got picked up at 5:30am (not fun at all, but oh well) and we drove two hours to the Eastern Cape.  I'm on the western side of the island so it was nice to see a different side, even though it was super early.  Then we got to Gansbaai and got on the shark diving boat.  The boat ride was a little under a half hour.  One of the really cool parts is that I have now been in the Indian and the Atlantic oceans . . . that's really cool to me. As soon as we anchored we began to see sharks around the boat, it was incredible.  They are soooo beautiful!!!  I am also so happy that other people went with me because I was so overwhelmed by what was happening I didn't think to take any pictures, but don't worry, tons of pictures were taken.  There were 20 people on the boat and we went down in groups of 4.  I was in the third group to go.  While the second group was in the water we got in our wetsuits and got ready to jump in the cage.  I'm not sure what kind of metal the cage is but I felt safe the entire time.  We saw about 3-4 different sharks who just kept swimming back around, one was super friendly (or pissed) and got up super close to the cage.  I actually think he was rubbing up against the cage.  His second time doing that I had to pull my hands back a bit because he was so close . . . I couldn't just touch him, I could have probably reached my arms across his back.  The temptation was so strong to touch the sharks, but the need of my arms was stronger.  The sharks were definitely young because they weren't that big.  I mean they were huge, but not Discovery Channel huge.  They are just such amazing creatures and I can't believe I've been so close to them.  For sure one of the coolest experiences of my life!!!  While it was amazing, jumping into freezing cold water with a bad cold . . . not my smartest move.  So after the diving I was dead.  We got back at about 3/4:00-ish and I took two Ambien and went straight to bed.  I didn't want to be awake for anyone or anything.  

Then Sunday I woke up and got ready to be picked up at 8am for the tour of Cape Point.  I think almost all 30 of us did that (there were 3 vans).  That was also a full day tour of the cape which was just phenomenal.  We saw some amazing sites including an ostrich farm (which also included wild baboons just hanging out all around), Cape Point (which is a great tourist attraction of the southern most tip of Africa and where the two oceans collide), and my favorite of all . . . Boulder Beach which is known for it's penguin population.  The penguins just hang out in this area like you'd see seagulls back home (except the don't fly).  The penguins aren't very friendly but they do let you get pretty close.  It was incredible!!!  They are so cute and the baby ones are all fuzzy and gray. I got down on my knees (and almost my stomach at one point) to try to get closer and a bunch of them surrounded me.  Apparently one of my housemates has video of it but I haven't seen it yet.  One penguin even started mimicking my moves, he was too precious for words.  Anywho, that was Sunday and it was such a great day.  But again, as soon as we got home I had a hot cup of tea and straight to bed.  This morning was a little rough at placement because I still have this nasty cough but I walked into town this afternoon and got more cough drops and medicated tea.  I'm starting to get better but everyone else is starting to get sick so I'm trying to last as long as possible before I catch this bug again.  Whatever it is, it's going to keep going around until we go home.  

So now it's Monday afternoon and I'm going to take a nap before dinner.  I've never craved chicken noodle soup like I am now but I think I'd be hard pressed to find it here.  I've seen everything from Chinese food to Mexican food but no deli.  :)

Love you all!!

Oh and thank you everyone for your well wishes.  It is great to hear from everyone back home.  And Henry, I can't wait to share it all with you in Hawaii!!  Hawaii is going to feel a lot different on the tail end of a trip like this but never more needed.

Lots and lots of hugs,

Amanda

First Week

Hi All,

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days.  I am happy to hear that so many people are reading this thing.  My first week has been a bit overwhelming so I just haven't taken the time to do this.  But, today is my first sick day (and I'm sure not my last) so I stayed home from placement.  The good news is I have time to do this, the bad news is I'm sick.  I just have a bad cold that began to set in about 2 days ago and this morning I couldn't pull myself out of bed.  It's been nice though to have the house to myself . . . I got my first long, hot shower which was amazing and I got to sleep in.  I'm still really stuffed up and waiting for my ears to pop, both of which might not change until I get home.  The reassuring part is that I'm not the only one, almost everyone in the house is affected.  At least 2-3 people are home sick every day for some illness.  While I'm on the topic of illness (I think this is kinda cool so I'm sharing) . . . one of the women in my room has IBS and another has Crohn's.  Cool, right?  I mean it sucks, but it's nice to know that other people are feeling the same way I am because trust me, the food in South Africa is not gut disease friendly.  We all seem to be managing just fine, with our diets consisting of a lot of toast and tea.  

Enough sick talk . . . time for the reason why I'm here . . . my placement is insane, intense, wonderful, exhausting . . . and everything in between.  I'm volunteering in a day care (or creche, as it's called in SA) in a class of 35-40 (depending on the day) five year olds.  Yesterday, because a teacher was sick, I was in the 1-2 year old class and I am so grateful to be with the older kids.  The babies are adorable but the smell was too much for me.  The babies are definitely not kept as clean as Milo is and the smell of 30 dirty diapers was not ok.  The worst part is, I was willing to clean them up but not allowed to.  So many of the babies have diaper rash and other issues that it really isn't safe for me to be risking blood mixture.  I'm trusting that you all get why mixing blood with a South African baby is risky so I'm not getting into the details.  It's just super sad.  So that's why I'm happy to be with 5 year olds even though they are exhausting and disgusting as well (they at least are potty trained).  A few of the kids have open sores all around their mouths, and a few of them have these horrible, deep coughs.  I know it's bad of me but I can't help thinking, AIDS and TB.  Actually, it isn't that bad because it's very much a possibility.  I've never washed my hands and arms so much in my life.  All that aside, they are so flippin adorable!!!  By the end of the first day they were all calling me Teacher Samantha (now they're calling me Teacher Amanda) and all they want to do is be on me.  I've become a human jungle gym.  The first day I was sitting on the floor and this little girl, Mandisa, came up behind me, took my rubber band out and started teasing and braiding my hair.  And they all want to touch my nose and mouth.  I've since started the no touching above the neck rule because it was just too gross.  They are also really into my hands which I don't get, but a lot of the girls love examining my hands and nails.  There is also this little boy, Liam, who I may try to sneak home.  He's super small, a good deal smaller than the other kids, and always off in his own world.  The other day I found him off to the side of the room full on rapping to himself, he had the moves down and everything.  It was the cutest thing ever.  And during recess he always finds some remote corner to build a fort in.  And he loves climbing trees, but the other day he scrapped his chin and it was bleeding a little, I tried to comfort him but I hated that I had to be so careful of not getting is blood on me.  I've just never been one to care about getting anything on me, especially with kids, and I hate that I have to be so aware of it.  It just isn't right, but it is the reality here.  Those are the two kids that stand out the most but they are all adorable.  There are a few girls who I'm having a hard time with because they just give me so much attitude.  They never listen and just laugh at me when I reprimand them.  And they always talk in Afrikaans around me which is just annoying because I know they're talking about me.  I guess you'll have that group of snotty girls anywhere, attitude is universal.  Another thing that amazes me about these kids is how easily entertained they are, they have so few toys and what they do have is either super old, broken, or just so simple.  Outside is a big stack of tires and they are so happy to play with their tires.  And they have about 5 hoola-hoops that are all bent and messed up but they don't care.  Kids back home would be so pissed with a just an old tire or hoola-hoop.  The children here have so little and they are so happy, it's incredible.  So, that's my placement.  

I have to get a little bit better by tomorrow because we've booked shark-diving for tomorrow and I am so excited!!!!  It's going to be amazing!!!!!

Oh, and a picture update . . . I've uploaded pictures to my computer but everything I try to upload them here, to facebook, or e-mail them my computer won't let me.  I can't figure it out and I don't really want to waste too much juice trying to figure it out so I may not be able to get pictures to all of you until I get home.  I'm so sorry but I am talking a lot and I promise you'll all get to see them soon.

Second oh, Dr. Diep . . . if you're reading this . . . I am desperately going to need an adjustment when I get back.

I think that's it for now,  I'll post again to let you all know how swimming with sharks goes.

Third Day in South Africa

There are so many things going through my head right now that I had to write it all down before I start to forget how I'm feeling.  The flight to Cape Town was fine; I slept through most of it.  Once of the CCS volunteers on our flight lost her bags so that took some time to help her out.  Then we found our drivers and drove to our home base.  We all went around, found our rooms, ate dinner, unpacked, and just mellowed out a bit.  We got in about 6pm so there wasn't much time and we were all pretty tired.  However, the jet lag really didn't set in until today.  I'm in a room with 3 other girls; two bunk beds.  I'm on the top bunk which isn't the greatest but I'm ok with it.  That was Saturday.  Sunday we woke up a little late, had breakfast and just worked on getting to know everyone in the house used to our surroundings.  Orientation began and that was a little boring, but oh well.  After orientation we filled into vans and they drove us into town for our first town tour.  We saw the beach side communities; which are beautiful!  We went to a few touristy locations; I think my favorite was Signal Hill.  We drove up this long, windy road to a lookout point which was more like a park.  Looking down on Cape Town all I could think about was how much it looks like the Bay Area and San Francisco.  These beautiful homes nestled between a gorgeous mountain (Table Mountain) and the sea (Atlantic).  Then we went down to the beach.  I, OF COURSE, was the first one in the water.   IT WAS MY FIRST TIME IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN!!!  That's another thing, the weather has been gorgeous.  Sunny and beautiful and warm.  I hope it lasts as long as possible.  So yeah, back to the water.  I had my tennis shoes off before I hit the sand and then I just hit the sand running straight into the water.  My jeans were soaking but I didn't care, I was so happy to be in water.  It was no colder than Malibu and clearer that Hawaii.  We got to spend some time at the beach and then we went back to the home base and got ready for dinner.  Dinner was icky meatloaf so 13 of us decided to get cabs and go to the Waterfront.  The Waterfront is a lot like Fisherman's Warf, nice shops and restaurants right on the water.  We got pizza . . .  very yummy.  That was Sunday.  Monday was the complete opposite and possibly the most amazing day of my life.  Monday morning we filled into the vans again for more tours; however, today's tour was of the townships.  It was the most incredible experience of my life.  I'm still processing so it's hard for more to find the words.  I don't have many because I couldn't bring myself to bring out my camera.  I didn't want the people to feel like they were on a show or in a zoo.  Basically we just drove around to a few different neighborhoods and then got out to walk around.  The smell, the sights, everything was so overwhelming.  Once I've sorted out my feelings I'll fill you in.  Tomorrow I start my volunteering and I'm so excited and so nervous about that.  I'll let you know how it goes.  This is all so awesome but I do miss all of you at home.  This post is getting long so I'll say goodbye, but I love you all!

Hugs,

Amanda

Off to some kind of start

Hi All,

So, yesterday my journey to Africa began and let's just say it was humorous.  It was a great way to start off an adventure like this.  Actually, the start kind of sucked because nothing went as I had planned but I went with it and adjusted when necessary and am now getting ready to head back to JFK.

Here's what happened (because I just need to vent for a minute) . . . I land in Atlanta just in time for this massive storm that leaves us stuck on the runway for a good 30-45 minutes with lightening striking everywhere and the runway is flooded within minutes.  I've never seen a storm move that quickly (guess I need to get out of Los Angeles more).  The guy sitting next to me is from Atlanta and says it's very typical and that he's even been hit by lightening in an airplane before in a similar situation.  I just start laughing (he must think I'm insane) because it all just seems to fit.  Then, we finally get off the plane and I begin to realize how intense this storm is because every flight is grounded, the airport is insanely crowded and my next flight ends up being delayed 5 hours after it's original time.  So I then spend close to 8 hours in the Delta terminal concourse B in Atlanta (I have that layout memorized!!).  I finally board the plane to JFK but my plans to spend the evening with Amy are beginning to seem more and more unrealistic.  I wouldn't land until close to midnight and then after getting my bags and a cab and over to her apartment, I wouldn't get to her until 1am-ish, just to have to sleep for a few hours, wake up and do it all again.  So, I called around from JFK and found a room at the local Best Western, got to their shuttle and finally had a bed.  It's not very glamorous, but it's nice to have a quiet room and my own bathroom for a few hours.  And they had free breakfast.  So now it is 10:30 and I'm trying to relax in my room before having to catch the shuttle again at noon.  And that was my first day of travel.  Thanks for listening.  

Next step is a 20-ish hour flight straight into Cape Town and that is where the Ambien comes out.  I can't believe that tomorrow I'll be in Cape Town, South Africa.  This is all so surreal to me and I've been so focused on what was going on around me that I have stopped to think about where it is all taking me.  I also think it's hard because I have no idea where I am going or what it's going to be like, so without something to picture in my head it is hard to grasp that it is actually happening.  

I'm not sure when I'll be able to post next, my goal is once a week (maybe more if it's easy to come by internet access).  I will be checking my e-mails but for anything Africa related check back here.

I love you all very much and can't wait to see you all in a few weeks!!!

Hugs,

Amanda

I'm leaving on a jet plane . . .

. . . tomorrow!!! In 12.5 hours I will be taking off to start my journey in South Africa. While I am so looking forward to this adventure, I will miss all of you and can't wait to share all my stories and pictures with you. My goal is to update once a week (possibly Mondays) while I'm away. Check back and enjoy!

Lots and lots of hugs,
Amanda