Join Me in South Africa

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Sunday: April 17, 2016

Today is April 17th and I leave South Africa next month on May 20th. I can't believe I arrived last June! My second semester of my year about in South Africa is just a month from being over. Japie asked me to take some pictures of my room since he will start advertising soon. This is one of the pictures that I took.

On May 20th I fly to Kenya where I will take a two week trip with the company, Nomad, through Kenya and Uganda. Then I am very lucky to have the opportunity to volunteer at a school in Kenya and work with kids from kindergarten up through 8th grade. I am sad to be leaving South Africa soon. I am sure I will come back. However, I am soooo looking forward to meeting the kids in Kenya and having the adventures continue!

Studying with Karl

I have a paper to write for Public Theology. I thought I might as well do my reading outside because it was such a nice day. It wasn't long after I set my towel down that Karl made his entrance. Meowing like a maniac he let me know he wanted attention. I petted him and gave him a full massage. At first he would meow whenever I stopped petting him, but finally he fell asleep because I actually had reading to do to. He stayed out there with me for hours until it got cold and I went inside :-)

Monday, April 11, 2016

The Cockpit

Here I am in the cockpit on my flight from Cape Town to Walvis Bay, Namibia. I did not put these up originally because they were taken with my phone and not my camera. The captain and the co-pilot were both from Namibia and gave me all kinds of advice on where to go, what to do, and which local restaurants to hit up while we were in Swakopmund. They let me wear a headset so I could hear everything that was going on. After takeoff we were able to chat with each other the whole time. It was really fun and they were super nice and funny guys! :-)

Friday, April 8, 2016

Namibia and more!

Hello,

I know there are some big breaks between blogs, so I hope everyone is still reading. There are some very exciting updates!

I am still surviving classes at Stellenbosch and volunteering with the kids at the Ikhaya school every Friday. I just finished a paper for my Gender, Culture, and the State in South Africa class. I am learning how to say, "I would like tea with warm milk and sugar" in isiXhosa, I am reading some interesting articles for Public Theology, and I just finished making a bracelet for my African Jewellery Class.

Not to mention, the amazing time I had recently with my boyfriend, Michael, visiting from Germany. I was supposed to be at the airport at 4:30 to meet Michael. That morning I woke up feeling so sick I couldn't even think straight. I was fine the day before. I felt nauseous, had stomach cramps, and a headache that felt like a migraine. I almost called my friend, Joseph, who was picking me up to tell him he would have to get Michael alone because I simply could not make it. My roommate, Jonita, got home and I told her how horrible I was feeling. She called her mom to asked how much medicine she should give me and made me one piece of toast. I laid there in the living room with Jonita taking care of me until Joseph arrived.

I put the seat back in Joseph's car all the way there. Joseph dropped me off and I walked like a zombie to find Michael. I couldn't even focus on the words on the signs in the airport. When I saw Michael I gave him a hug, and my next words were, "I feel so sick." I laid with my head on Michael's lap on the way back. The next day I went to the doctor where they gave me medicine and an anti-nausea shot. Soon I thought I was kind of bouncing back. The next day Michael and I were leaving for Namibia. The nausea came back the next morning. Joseph was there to pick us up again. At the last minute I grabbed a couple things I forgot and put them in a plastic bag and I was running out the door. I felt too bad to concentrate on packing. A little more than half way to the airport I was trying to take the deepest breaths I could, look out the window, and ignore the fact that we were going fast on the highway and I felt like I was going to throw up. It didn't work. I grabbed the plastic bag, dumped its contents on the floor of the front seat, and started throwing up while Joseph was driving us to the airport. In between "I'm sorry's" I kept going and sat there, miserable.

When Michael and I arrived at the airport we found a clinic. They said if I kept feeling this bad I could not fly. They gave me a medicine and Michael waited next to me while I laid on their bed. It was time to leave. I was feeling better. As Michael and I go through security they spotted my two full bottles of shampoo and conditioner from my favourite store in my backpack. I had to throw them away. I felt terrible that morning and the 1-2 days before. I did not think while packing, and I felt the consequences when I had to throw away two perfectly good bottles of my favourite stuff.

Finally we got to our gate and a woman came up to us and said the flight is full and that they are looking for someone small to sit in the cockpit. Michael didn't want me to go because he knew how bad I was feeling, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity knowing my dad's love for anything related to planes. Thankfully there was no vomiting in the cockpit. I had a lovely chat with the pilot and co-pilot, and had tons of fun. We landed in Namibia and by the next day I was more than 100% myself again, thank goodness!!!

From there Michael and I spent 8 days in Namibia. We first stayed in Swakopmund where we did a quad tour through the sand dunes, sand boarding, camel riding, and skydiving. We also drove up Skeleton Coast to Cape Cross where we were surprised to see millions of seals covering the coast, in and out of the water. We took another day and went on a road trip to Brandburg Mountain where we did a hike in intense heat to see what is called, The White Lady. These are stone carvings that have been found that are over 1,000 years old. Later we left Swakopmund and drove to Etosha National Park. It was very nice and we saw beautiful animals. I think we both wish we had had a bit more time to spend there. After this we spent our lsat night in Swakopmund and then headed back for South Africa. We also enjoyed some nice local restaurants in Namibia.

We spent a few days in Stellenbosch, and then we drove to the Indalu Game Reserve which is about 40 kilometres from Mossel Bay in South Africa. I have been there with Michael last year, Jacob, Iris, and Laura in February, and again with Michael now. We did an elephant walk, a game drive, met a fun couple from London who now live in Spain, drove to Mossel Bay and swan in the ocean, and stayed in a flat at Indalu. We were so relaxed we did not want to leave.

After that we came back to Stellenbosch and then spent the last weekend in Cape Town before Michael had to go home. Our location in Cape Town was right next to the beach. With the curtains open we could see all the kite surfers, and Table Mountain right across from us. It was lovely.

Sunday morning we woke up and Joseph took us to the airport. When we arrived at the desk they asked Michael if he would be on standby to leave the following day. In the end they asked him to leave the next day and he got a free ticket! This is just too crazy! Both Michael AND Laura got free tickets!!!

I have written a lot. Now I will share some of our amazing pictures!

Baby seal.

Skeleton Coast to Cape Cross Road Trip.
At the end we found a million seals! n

Crystal Stands were everywhere along this road with a small can for money to be put into.

When you don't keep the front of the sand board lifted up the whole time you end up with LOTS of sand in your face!

Quad ride through the dunes.

Camel ride through the dunes.

This was taken a moment before I got head butted by this camel....

Michael took a picture of me running off to use the bush toilet.

On the way to Brandberg Mountain.

The White Lady.

Our hike at Brandberg Mountain. It was so hot we could barely enjoy it!

Waiting to skydive.

Suited up!

Etosha.

Hanging out with Gerhard and his wife at the Indalu Game Reserve, SA.

Elephant walk at Indalu, SA.

Last night at Indalu, SA.

Namibian beach.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Kayamandi, 'Home away from home.'

I am taking a class this semester called, Isixhosa: Language and Culture. Xhosa, or in more polite terms, Isixhosa is one of the official South African languages. Some of you might know it as one of the "click" languages. In their alphabet there are certain letters which mean you use your tongue to add clicks to words while you are speaking. There are different kinds of clicks with your tongue placed in different areas of your mouth. "X" is one letter which indicates a click. Therefore you have a strong click when saying, "Isixhosa."

In order to practice, our Isixhosa our teacher set up a day where we would be taken to a nearby township, Kayamandi, and spend a few hours there trying greet people and ask their names. I learned that Kayamandi means, "Home away from home." This is very important in their culture. The Xhosa culture is based on something called, Ubuntu. Ubuntu means, "human-ness." It is often translated as, "humanity towards others." Basically it means that the culture has a universal value of of sharing and helping each other. Everyone is a brother and sister. You greet people every time even if you do not know them. People care for each other and share as one family.

We walked around and greeted people with, "Molo" and "Molweni!" These are greetings saying, "hello" and "good morning." We would say, "Unjani?" which means, "How are you?" We would say, "What is your name?" which is, "Ungubani ikamalakho?" In response I would say, "My name is Georgia" or "Igamalam ngu Georgia."

Later an umama (an older woman and mother in the community) made lunch for all of us. Here is a list of what we had:

Spinach: Imifino
Steamed bread: Isonka samanzi (very traditional in their culture)
Beans and maize: Umngqusho (this has an intense click 'q', and it was my favourite)
Fried Chicken: Inkuku eqhotsiweyo
Spicy relish: Itshakalaka
Drink: Isiselo

Later we had to say what we tried. I said, "I tried the beans and maize. It was tasty!" This would be, "Bendizamile umngqusho. Ibe nencasa!" Or if you would like to say, "It was nice" you can say, "Ibe mnandi."

After lunch umama told us about the traditional Xhosa marriage process. She says that the man brings the woman to his home. They sit down (usually on the floor) and the potential in-laws discuss. Once they agree both families together will slaughter a sheep. This symbolises that the woman now belongs to the new family. The mother and sister in-laws will spend time on picking a new name for the woman. Not only is her surname changed, but they also pick a new first name which she will carry on. In older culture, and even possibly today, there can be a penalty for calling the woman the wrong name. When you are a bride you wear very specific clothes. Now when the newlywed walks through the community everyone knows she is married, and that she is no longer a "girl." How long the woman wears these clothes depends on her in-laws. There is a sense of her "belonging" to the new family now. Women are also not allowed to wear pants. Of course, this is changing, but most women wear skirts and dresses. However, a woman being able to wear pants or not is also up to her in-laws. If they do not care she can wear them, but if they do not approve she cannot wear pants.

We ended with singing, and finally had to get back to the bus. We left saying, "enkosi" which means "thank you." We had such a lovely time. It was quite amazing.

Extra words to learn:

School: Isikolo
Library: Ilayibreri
Police station: Amapolisa
Clinic: Ikliniki
Shop: Ispaza

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Mother City Skydiving

Cape Town, also known as the, "Mother City" offered us a pretty great adventure last month. While Laura was here we went out for a beer with our friend, Max (from Zimbabwe). While sitting there I saw a poster for sky diving, and I said we should go. Max and Laura thought I was kidding. I wasn't. I thought Laura is only back here for 2 1/2 weeks and she is about to leave. So, we all decided to go for it and do something special.

None of us had ever jumped before. We were all nervous, even though Max kept insisting that he is "a man" and therefore cannot be scared haha. Sadly the small plane only takes two skydivers at a time, so Max decided to go first with someone we didn't know so Laura and I could go up together afterwards.

We drove in the truck with Max to the plane and told him goodbye. The plane takes about 25-30 minutes to get to 10,000 feet before you jump. Laura and I went back and waited to hear the man on the radio say that they had jumped. As soon as he did we looked up and saw a tiny tiny blob falling from the sky. A few seconds later we saw another one. We watched Max's tiny blob falling and we were yelling and excited. Then his parachute opened and after about 8-10 minutes total he was back on the ground. Now it was time for Laura and I to get strapped up. Laura insisted that she go first, because seeing me go first might freak her out too much.

I got into the plane first, and Laura second. We waved goodbye to Max and off we were. As the plane got higher my heart was beating faster. I was a mixture of calm and nervous. The plane ride was 25 minutes so we had time to talk and relax, but then when I looked out the window I thought..."oh my gosh, why did I suggest this???" Waldo told me to look out the window and not just in the plane. He said this would help me get used to the height instead of being shocked when the door opens.

The captain gave us a countdown, and soon the door flew open. I saw Laura put her left foot out. She reached back and gave me a squeeze, and next thing I know, she was GONE! Waldo immediately pushed us backwards into the same place where Laura was just sitting. I had put on my goggles, I was grabbing my handles, we put the left foot out, I had less than half a second to put together I was purposefully jumping out of a plane, and then we were gone.

Shortly after, Waldo touched my shoulder to tell me to open up my arms. I screamed from fear and happiness. After about 35-40 seconds he pulled the parachute. It was rather shocking. I could not believe what had just happened. I said, "we made it!" He let me control the parachute and steer. Then he asked me if I wanted to have some fun and make the parachute spin a bit. I was all in!

He pulled down hard on the right side and the parachute was almost in front of us, and we were spinning hard. Then we came back up straight and he pulled down hard on the left side and we were spinning again. It was amazing to see how fast we were going and it was fun, until we came back up straight again. At that point I knew something was wrong. I was feeling very nauseous. I was trying to breathe and then let out a few small coughs.

Waldo asked me if I was okay and I told him I felt nauseous. He told me to breathe and look at the horizon, but that was not before I threw up in mid air. Then he said, "okay, if you're going to puke I will turn the parachute to the right so you can puke that way." He did this, but I am not sure it really helped. When you are attached to another person in mid air and there is a lot of wind, there is not much control over where the puke is going. In the end I landed with vomit on my sweatshirt, goggles, and probably on Waldo. I did not want to look to see. I sat there for a moment, apologised, took off my sweatshirt, and finally went to the bathroom. As soon as I was on land again I felt 100% fine.

As I exited the bathroom I saw Waldo taking off his shirt and washing it under an outdoor shower type thing near the bathroom. He still had more people to take skydiving that afternoon. I told him I was sorry again, nut he was really nice about it. They kindly left the puking part out of my skydiving video. Even with that unfortunate even, it was an unbelievably awesome experience! Being together with Laura and Max and sharing this day was too good to be true :)