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