Yesturday & Today

You can guess by the title of this post that I have no clue what the date is!! But I can say that it is one day after I last wrote so there ya go!

Yesterday was a DELIGHTFUL day. Kerry and I shared a taxi to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden around 12:30 pm- split up as soon as we got there and decided to meet back up at 4pm. As soon as I walked in I was amazed... every single thing about this place is beautiful- and it's HUGE! There are dozens and dozens of trails, some of which are hiking trails, the longest of which takes about three hours to walk, the shortest takes only 15 minutes. Then there are brick trails that meander throughout, with paths shooting off those everywhere as well. There are about two dozen different garden themes, for example the fragrance garden or the garden with really old plants (I should have brought the brochure with me in order to write this, clearly). I didn't pay much attention to where I was going, or to the specific plant types, I just wandered and wandered, going whichever direction looked the most interesting or Secret Garden-ish. There were huge open areas of grass, where lots of people were laying out, picnicking, playing soccer, etc. There were also paths through densely wooded areas where you couldn't even see the sky. There were several ponds and streams running throughout as well, where kids were wading and playing. One of my favorite areas was a natural spring that flowed down into a waterfall- I was very tempted to drink the water (crystal clean) but all these cholera reports had me scared. Too bad. But the best part: all of this has the incredible backdrop of several mountains that the garden is right at the base of- really stunning. Every plant throughout was labeled, and there were tons of signs with interesting garden information and facts (yes even I found some of it interesting). Three things I kept thinking while I was here: (1) This would be Mom and Dad's heaven. You guys must come here- for the plants, the hikes, and Dad you would have a field day taking pictures (I think I took ~100). (2) This would have been the type of place that Kristin, Karen and I would have LOVED to play in when we were little. You two can probably imagine what I mean (think Ochsenreiter Forest/Crocodile Isle times about a million). And (3)I was so incredibly HAPPY the whole time I was there. It was just such a gorgeous day, in really one of the most beautiful places I have maybe ever been- where everything was so well done and not to mention it was cheap to be there (~$3). I just loved it all. So yeah, that is why yesterday was delightful! I will probably go back soon. (Additionally, I have decided I would like to get married there but that is just a side note).


Kirstenbosch.

When I got home I layed out on the back patio and read for a while. Around 10pm Friederike and I went to Panchos, a Mexican restaurant in Obs that was so cute and festive (actually kind of reminded me of Playa del Carmen) and really crowded- Obs is pretty hopin' apparently. Sofia met us there and we had dinner and a drink and then came home to go to bed. Nice night though- and I am liking these girls more and more.

Woke up this morning around 9 am to go to Gary's Surf School with Friederike! We took the train to Muzinberg, which is about 45 minutes from Obs (and very conveniently the train station is just a couple blocks from our house and the train only cost ~$1 round trip). Gary's Surf School is another one of AVIVA's projects, where the volunteers learn to surf and then give lessons. The plan was for me to get a lesson (Friederike has been like 5 times already), but when we got there it was really overcast and there were basically NO waves. So instead of paying for a lesson (250R, about $25) in crappy conditions, we both just rented wet suits and boards (50R for an hour- cheap!) and decided I would attempt surfing without any lessons (ha ha). In short, it was hard. The waves were very small, which makes getting up on the board harder, and you would have to wait about 5 minutes, then three decent sized waves would come all in a row, and then you would have to wait again... not great. I almost got up so many times and I think that with any type of lessons I would have, but oh well. We did this for an hour and then came in, showered off and went to get coffee at one of the surf shops with one of the AVIVA volunteers there. Caught a train home around 2pm. I am really glad we went and that I got to give surfing a shot, it was neat to see Muzinberg and all the surfers and what it's all about. Don't know that I'll have time to go back though.







Tonight we (me, Friederike and Sofia) were going to go on a sunset cruise at the Waterfront but it is still overcast so we probably won't. Plan to go out on Long Street later though. Tomorrow we are going to go to what is supposed to be a really good market and then we are going to climb Lion's Head with a picnic dinner at sunset- sounds nice huh?

I FINALLY was able to get pictures onto Facebook and email some to Mom (who is supposed to pass them on), but I still cannot get them to load onto my blog (something wrong with the sizing). I am very bummed and sorry about this, I'll have to go back later and add them in (boo).

That is all for now!! Time for some sushi.

New Years Eve & 6 Days at Bap

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! It seems like a LONG time since I have written-- I have missed having internet access very much! My New Years Eve was quite a night. We started off hanging out at the house~ probably about 10 AVIVA people (everyone living at the house currently), several of the Germans that work at Bap, some of the German's friends, then some other people from Bap (like Allison, who oriented me my first day there). So it was a pretty good crowd. We sat out back on the patio (which I love) and drank and braaied (barbecued) until about 11pm when we all headed to Long Street. On the way there we kept stopping to pick up more people so by the time we got to Long Street I was a little nervous that we weren't going to actually BE anywhere at midnight- as in standing in the middle of the street or something. Not that this would have been too bad seeing as the street was completely PACKED with people- it was awesome. I guess they hadn't completely blocked off the street because there were still a few taxis trying to meander through, but they may as well have. It reminded me of walking through the streets in DC after seeing the fireworks on July 4th- but more festive, everyone is drunk and happy and loving life. Anyways, we were supposed to meet up with everyone else at this club Zula, but we couldn't find them and blahblahblah so I pulled Georgina and Jonas (one of the Germans) into The Dubliner (the same bar I went to on another night) with me so that we would be somewhere at midnight. We had just enough time to get a drink and then we counted down and...2009!! Very exciting. It was awesome to finally get to spend New Years in a bar, I have to say. We danced for a bit and then headed out to find Zula and the rest of our group. Everyone was there, and a really good South African band was playing there (we had actually been listening to their CD in the car on the way to Long St. and I really liked it so it was very cool that they were playing there). We danced and hung out there until around 4 am- SO much fun. When we left there the night got a little... unfortunate. Someone had the idea in their head that on New Years people would be partying on the beach, which I guess you might assume but I didn't find out until later that no one had actually been TOLD this. So after trying to organize everyone and whatnot we all get in a couple taxis and go to Camps Bay, pile out of the taxis and... hear crickets. No one is there! No one is partying! So that was a bummer. We then decided to sit on the beach anyway and watch the sun rise until we realized the sun wasn't even going to rise over the water so we finally left around 5/5:30 am. Oh well. All in all, still quite a good New Years Eve. Very different to not spend it with a single person that I know well and to not watch the ball drop, etc, but amazing nonetheless.

New Years Day I actually woke up really early (9am). No one was really planning to do anything all day but I didn't want to waste a gorgeous day (this mentallity here seams to mean that I will always feel the need to do something- everday is a nice day [knock on wood]) so I went by myself to the V&A Waterfront. I had been here briefly before but wanted to spend more time walking around- it's quite a big area with lots of neat things to see. I spent the afternoon leisurely walking around, poking into shops, taking pictures, etc. I got some lunch (a slice of BBQ chicken pizza and a slice of seafood pizza with a whole oyster -shell and all- on it. Very good!)and found a table in the shade and sat and ate and people watched and read some of my book (Eat Pray Love-- which I LOVED! I finished it on shift and it was so good, very appropriate to be reading as I travel and I may just start it over again right now. Thanks Mom!) This was such a relaxing afternoon but it's funny because at home I would never go out to lunch by myself and bring a book- I just wouldn't. But being here I guess it is different, and that is nice. I thoroughly enjoyed myself by myself.


The Waterfront.

The next six days- BAP! The first three days was my normal shift (known as Team Pink) and this time consisted of me, Georgina, Ida, Amanda, Amy, and Ellie. A full house. This is a lot of people to be there at once, but it is also kind of nice because there are more people to do the work and we took turns waking up to do bottles so we didn't have to get up early every day. I got to know and like Amy and Amanda much better, before they really kept to themselves but were much more social at Bap (I guess they didn't really have a choice). They have taken to calling us three Team America.


Siphenathi and Anita being adorable!

Day One on shift- A pretty normal day. Helped Amy and Amanda get adjusted since it was their first time there. So good to see the kids again- after three days away I missed them. I was sort of pleasantly surprised this shift because I seemed to notice different kids than last time- like I still love my "favorites" from before but I have more now. Like Ibanathi (when he laughs he sounds just like that Laughing Baby YouTube video- SO cute) and Onikwa (who took her first steps yesterday!) are two that my first shift I didn't spend that much time with but this shift I was with them a lot. Also, I realized yesterday as I looked around that I know all the kids names with maybe 3 or 4 exceptions- amazing! I hadn't even realized I was learning them.
Day Two on shift- This day was normal as well except for the fact that Amanda and I heard on the radio that there are two cases of Cholera in Khayelitsha. This is not good news because Bap is IN Khayelitsha and before I came so SA I was told that there was no cholera in the area at all and that I just shouldn't drink river water. So this was kind of weird and concerning but we don't drink the water at Bap anyway so we were just all a bit more careful to keep our mouths closed in the shower and such. And granted, with more than 2 million people living in Khayelitsha the risk is really not too serious.


Inga playing outside!

Day Three on shift- Not a great day. For everyone else, this was their last day. For me it was only hump day. Plus I poured boiling water over my hand doing bottles (ouch!!) and in the evening I started to feel sick. 100% of people here have gotten sick at least once, but Team America is trying very hard to avoid this (we are just the only ones so far that have not been ill). I felt crappy all night but better the next day (Thank God!).
Day Four on shift- My 5 shift members left and in their place came... Sofia. Fredericke was supposed to come too but her mom is visiting so she took this shift off. Going from 6 to only 2 people was very weird, quiet, and lots of work!! Sofia is really nice but we haven't had a chance to get to know each other very well until now (since she is on the other shift). With two people everything takes much longer to do, which is a pain. But we got it all done. It showed at the end of the day thought- Day 4 was the day of dirt and grime seeing as I have never been so dirty after one day at Bap. I do love the shower there.
Day Five on shift- A good day. Sofia and I were more comfortable together and the end was in sight.


Lunch time!

Day Six on shift- Two new people (Christian, 24, Norway and Kerry, 46, England) came to do their orientation at Bap, and Kerry ended up staying for the rest of the day/last night of the shift. She is really nice, doesn't at all look 46, and we had talked briefly on facebook before I left so it was cool to meet her in person. Before starting the afternoon session of playing, feeding, bathing, bottles, toothbrushing, etc she asked if we had any advice for her. I couldn't think of anything specific but just told her to follow our lead and that before she knows it everything will seem like second nature. I soon realized the advice that Kerry needed though- to put away any sort of preconcieved notions of how a childcare facility SHOULD work and to just take Bap for what it is. Immediately the questions started- "This baby smells like poop, shouldn't he be changed?" "This baby has a runny nose, aren't there tissues?" "That kid just bit that other kid, how do we discipline them?" "Shouldn't these bottle tops be kept sterile?" NOOOOO!!! The kids all get changed at once, several times a day. Unless there is poop running down the kids leg, you don't worry about it- poop is a normal smell here. Half of the kids have runny noses at one time and there is snot everywhere- get some toilet paper and wipe them off if you want but they will look the same 15 minutes later. The sisis "discipline" the kids but most offenses are overlooked, there is no possible way to keep everyone in completel order. And sterility is not something that exists at Bap- probably never has and never will. I hope I don't come off too harsh but really, let's be serious. It is just different here and you do not worry about things like this. Yes, it would be better if it was cleaner and if the kids didn't hit and fight and steal each other's toys but that just isn't how it is. Kerry got a bit annoying but hopefully she will adjust. I do give her credit though. The three other people over the age of about 35 who have come here in the past month haven't been able to stick it out at Bap or Obs house and have switched projects in order to live at the Table View house, which is apparently much nicer & has a pool. I don't know that a pool is my priority when coming to South Africa to volunteer, but whatever. I love Obs House and Bap.

Anyways, the last day went well, as did bottles this morning. And then we got picked up and brought back to Obs - yayyyy!! As much as I love the kids I am thrilled to be back here and of course to have 6 days off- wonderful feeling. I am going to get a big lunch right now and then head to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for the afternoon. I also hope to do a walking tour of Cape Town, Robben Island and the cable car up Table mountain over the next couple of days- Plus I have my Cultural Tour and Winelands Tour the last two days before I go back on shift. I hope I can get everything in. Oh! and Jonas the German (who I like very much) and I are going to go kloofing next weekend, which is a day trip consisting of jumping off cliffs and abseiling down a waterful and exciting things such as these. Fun fun!

I continue to miss everyone very much. Thanks to many of you for keeping me up to date on Facebook!!

Christmas Eve, Christmas, and Dec. 26!

Hello All!!
Wow, there is SO much to tell. I have to backtrack several days, back to Wednesday, December 24 . . .
Christmas Eve! This day we had planned to go to the beach or climb Table Mountain but it was kind of overcast (which sucks, because I have realized that everything I really want to do depends on nice weather) so we went to Canal Street, which is basically a HUGE mall, like at least 4x the size of the average mall at home. It was really nice, though was very different from American malls-- lots of big furniture stores, large restaurants, and I passed at least two stores only selling meat. I wasn't really in the mood to shop, mostly because I was bummed to be indoors at all and because I'm not about to spend my money (already) on things that I could pretty much buy at home also. I spent a good amount of the time getting coffee with David (18, UK) who is done at Bap but spending ~10 days at the house until he goes on to Germany or Amsterdam or somewhere. So that was nice to get to know him. That night we (me, Georgina, David, and Kim- a former volunteer who came back to visit her last night in the country) went out in Obs to a pool bar kind of place that has two for the price of one Wednesday nights. I played one game of pool and actually did quite well. After being there for a while we went to Long St. to a bar called The Dubliner... SO much fun. It was such an awesome Christmas Eve atmosphere, really good music, and I talked to and met so many neat people. Then we went across the street to a bar/club called Jo'Burg, where we were until they closed. It is really weird here though because it gets light early- and bright too, like it was maybe 5 or 6 am and looked like it was like 9am out. Really, really fun night.

Thursday, December 25: The next day I somehow woke up without a hangover-- a Christmas miracle!! Granted, Georgina and I didn't wake up until 1, but oh well. We met Ida at Camps Bay Beach which is just on the other side of Table Mountain/Lion Head. It is such an awesome place-- a gorgeous beach, clean water (though FREEZING is no exaggeration, it is painful to go in), the beach is lined with palm trees and on the other side is lined by a street with really nice hotels, stores, and restaurants, and then the backdrop of it all is the 12 Apostles, a mountain with 12 separate peaks. So we layed out here all day- it was hot!- and got lunch at a really good cafe right there. We are about to do the same thing today. What a Christmas!! It sure wasn't traditional but I wouldn't mind spending another one that way. There were very few signs that it was a holiday except for the occasional person in a Santa hat or reindeer ears, just lots of families out picnicking. Christmas night we had sort of a Christmas dinner that Ed had bought us- 2 chickens and some veggies. We also made some mashed potatoes, it was pretty good. Just watched a movie and stayed in.



Friday, December 26: The day after Christmas Me, Ida, and David decided to climb Table Mountain. I would like to preface this by saying that I consider myself in relatively good shape, and I would think that I would be a decent hiker though granted I haven't hiked legitimately since probably the Ochsenreiter California Trip of '95. However, not one person that I had talked to about Table Mountain mentioned to me how INCREDIBLY HARD it is to climb. We started at about 1:30pm, and the first part of the trail is steep, though not even THAT steep (it gets steeper later), but this part was soooo hard. Basically you are climbing rock "stairs" (I use the word stairs incredibly loosely here), but the rocks are tall so it takes a lot of effort to take one step, and then in some areas there is no order to the rocks at all so you are just scrambling up over random rocks... it sucked. Like Ida and David have done it at least 3x before so they had no problem but I was thinking why in the world am I about to spend my day doing this?? Eventually I made it to the top of that section, and for a while you are going pretty much flat because you are basically walking the length of the mountain. David and I walked this part together (Ida was way ahead, Norwegians must be good hikers) but then he got a headache so he decided to turn around. I was fine with this because I didn't want to have to keep up with him on the uphill part and there were a good amount of other hikers going up and down so I wasn't on the mountain by myself or anything. Oh, and I forgot to mention- the reason there were so many people on the trail is because the Cable Car that is usually running up and down was closed because of high winds. This is important to keep in mind seeing as you get higher and higher it is SO windy. The upper part of the trail wasn't as hard as the beginning because it was more windy so didn't go STRAIGHT up, though at parts it did- plus, this part takes hours to get up. Like I would ask people coming down occasionally about how much farther to the top and they'd be like "Oh, an hour and a half, maybe two depending on your pace." ????? Who would enjoy that?? Anyways, it was hard, but I really wanted to get to the top. And the views were AMAZING. When I was about an hour from the top, a couple coming down told me that I shouldn't even bother, that it was freezing cold and windy at the top and that the clouds were coming in (which means I wouldn't have been able to see anything off the mountain). That was all I needed to hear- I did want to get to the top for personal achievement but if it there was really no point then I wasn't about to do it. Unfortunately, going back down the mountain was just as hard if not more so than going up. Not tiring, and it was faster, but I was a bit nervous of rolling an ankle or something, not to mention falling off the mountain. And with the wind and a backpack on my back and etc I didn't think that at least the former was quite possible. In conclusion though, I made it down alive and I am glad I did as much as I did but Ida was like "Oh we will have to do it again one day" and there is just no way. The cable car is there for a reason.



That night we rented two movies and just hung out since the next day was Bap!!! ... which I will write about tomorrow for sure! Georgina, Ida and I are about to go to Camps Bay again.

*I will add pictures later!!!*
**I worked out my Kruger Safari, and will have to miss my last shift at Bap but let's face it it's worth it- I am so glad it will work out!!!**

Day 5

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Sorry I haven't been able to get on a computer, lots of places are closed because of the holiday (including the internet cafe). Now I'm using David's comp with no real r key so its very hard. I have lots to update on and have been very busy but it will have to wait until I get back from Bap, my first shift starts tomorrow and I am SO excited!! So 3 more days until I can write, sorry!! I will have lots to say!


*Happy Birthday Uncle roger!!!

First Night Out & Baps Orientation

It is amazing how much can happen in 24 hours. It's like I have a totally different mindset sitting here today compared with yesterday. I LOVE IT HERE! Yesterday (of course) I was so unsure and didn't know anyone and now I feel like I've been here for weeks, at least. It is a very, very good feeling.

So yesterday after I wrote I continued to check out Obs, mostly just Lower Main street which has several blocks of shops, restaurants, and bars but is not all that busy during the day. There are lots of cute shops I will definitely have to come back to, and apparently Wednesday nights are really good here so I will probably experience that tomorrow. I got some take-out sushi (so cheap!!) which was the first substantial thing I've eaten since Saturday morning (and still I have basically no appetite, weird). I also went to the Pick-n-Pay which is the grocery store and got a few things since we are on our own for lunch and dinner (can't get used to how inexpensive things are, I payed probably less than half of what I would have at home).

When I got back to the house the girls were planning to go to the V&A Waterfront to see the new James Bond movie and invited me along, so 6 of us (Me, the four girls I had already met, another girl who's 28 & dutch and an American kid Kyle who's 18- Kyle and I were the only Americans but he went home today- I think). Anyways, so we took a minibus, which is kind of van-like and the drivers drive around and just whistle and honk at every person they see to see if they need a ride, will pick them up and drop them off wherever, and everyone just PILES in. It is a sight to be seen. Took the minibus into Cape Town, got to see Table Mountain from the front and it is amazing, I don't think I will get used to seeing that as the backdrop of the city the entire time I'm here. The Waterfront area is really really nice, I didn't get to see all of it and will have to go back, we were in an area kind of set around the mall- lots of outdoor restaurants and an open air stage, etc. Saw James Bond, it was good and would probably never have seen it otherwise.

After the movie we decided to go to Long Street, which is the famous bar street in Cape Town. We first went to Cafe Mohito and met up with three volunteers from Gary's Surf School (another AVIVA project) who were all really nice (and convinced me to go out to Muizenberg for surfing lessons one day- HA that will be interesting) and we all sat and had appetizers and drinks for a while, then went to another bar that was having a comedy night but ended up talking to a couple British volunteers on holiday from the work they are doing in Namibia the whole time. Had my first Obama conversation which was very interesting and very exciting to hear their enthusiasm!! After this we took a cab to a club but the line was too long, so went next door to The Shack which is a big bar with lots of levels and rooms, hung out there and talked to the surf school volunteers and a couple guys from the Netherlands for a while. Left when they turned the lights on with Fredericka (German) and the surf school people to go back to the house. Ate a legitimate sausage hot dog from a vender outside the bar while waiting for our taxi- something I would NEVER do at home but it was delicious. See what an open mind I have here?!

Additionally, & not surprisingly, it takes only one night out like this one to make fast friends with an international group of people, which makes me now feel completely comfortable in the house and no longer "new" or a stranger. Yay!

This morning I woke up at 9:30, which would have been harder if I wasn't so excited to see Baps. Ed, co-director of AVIVA, came to pick us up at 10 and took me, the two girls who had been home sick, and the 28 yr old who was doing Gary's Surf School but switched to Baps & so was doing orientation with me, to the orphanage. All of this is kind of hard to explain because I can't imagine understanding it without being here & seeing it- both in terms of the extreme poverty & the kids at Baps. Kayalitcha is the township that Baps is located in about 20 min outside of Obs. The entire drive there you are passing these "informal settlements" that I mentioned before- shacks with tin roofs that are small - like the size of a shed you would put in your backyard or something. And driving past you see kids just playing by the side of the highway with nothing, in the sand or maybe with a ball. When we get off the highway we followed signs to Kayalitcha through these shacks, though I am not sure what distingueshes Kayalitcha itself from the rest of it- It all looks the same. There were a lot of people around & random herds of cows & lots of dogs. There were also a lot of signs painted onto walls about HIV/AIDS awareness, clinics, etc.

We pulled up in front of Bapumelele, which is completely enclosed with a tall wall- the area around it is not safe, and while we are there we are not supposed to leave it. So we go in through the gate and are introduced to Allison, who is from Raleigh, NC and has been here for 4 months. Within about 30 seconds of being inside I felt two little hands on the backs of my legs- I turned around to my left and didn't see anything, turned to my right and didn't see anything, back and forth back and forth (the little boy kept dodging out of sight). He was maybe 4(?), and ADORABLE. He thought his little game was very clever. The two of us having orientation went into the office to hear the rules and all that stuff from Allison. Then she brought us out for a tour, because Baps has grown a lot in the past four years- it now has the original house that older kids now live in (very crowded, like 4+ triple bunks to a room), a building that the older kids eat and hang out in, above that is the flat for AVIVA volunteers and currently there are 8 German volunteers also at Bap for a year who stay there (it's fine, very basic- pretty much my meals there will have to be microwaveable), then there is the Babie House, which is where I will be the majority of the time, then there are 7 Cluster Houses (these hold ten kids each with one caregiver with the aim of creating a family-like environment; two of the seven are brand new and will open in January). There is also a soup kitchen and a health center where people in the community can go for information about HIV/AIDS. All of this is within the walls of Baps, and except for the older kids house none of it was here four years ago- it really is amazing what they have done. It has gone from 30 kids to about 150, ages 0-18, and is a model for children's homes across South Africa (possibly even Africa I guess).

Even having said all of that though, it is still heartbreaking. Throughout the entire time we were being shown around both of my hands were being held by at least one child each. They followed us everywhere and were so friendly, always smiling and laughing and eager to see who we were, what we were wearing, checking out my nail polish & jewelry & even the stamp on my hand from last night. And each and every one is just gorgeous , like the most beautiful kids I have ever seen. And I haven't even gotten to the baby house. We walk in and there are several rooms off of the main room/kitchen area, so we walk into one of the bedrooms with two triple bunks in it and on each middle bunk there are probably 4 kids, all around 3,4 yrs old, just rolling around and laughing and climbing on the beds-- again, so happy, all smiles. The cutest things you can imagine. Next to that room is the baby room, which has probably 8-10 cribs lining the walls and at the time there were 5 babies- teeny, tiny babies, the smallest I have ever seen- in their cribs. There are more, but I think they were out getting fed at that point. And again, adorable. I am SOOO excited to go back, I wanted to stay. I am so glad that I chose this project, they definitely need the help there with so many kids and it is so sad that they don't get the individual attention that they deserve & need.

Good God this is a long entry, I'll try to sum things up but there is so much to say!! So when we left Baps it was just me, Ed, and the other new-ish girl (I really need to learn names) and Ed needed to pick up two volunteers who were just getting in from the airport, so we were gonna go with him and get a coffee or something while we waited for their flight to get in. However, once we got there we learned that their flight had been delayed, but we had already ordered some food so Ed offered to pay & said he would just come back for the girls later. So we got to eat and hang out with Ed for a while and he is SO super nice, which is not surprising at all seeing how all the AVIVA staff are like the nicest people I've ever met. Anyways I was able to ask him about the Kruger Safari I had wanted to do--- since I have gotten here I've learned that the safari, since it's 6 days away from Cape Town, is usually done before or after one's alloted time at the orphanage since we are there every 3 days. So for me, this would mean no safari since I am leaving right after my time at Baps is up. So Ed said that he would look into me doing the safari one week, and then the next week doing 6 straight days at baps to make up the time, which would be awesome so I REALLY hope it works out. So after lunch Ed took us back to the house, and then I came here!

So it has been a very busy, fun, informative, and a little bit culture-shocked past 24 hours. I think that tomorrow I might climb Table Mountain, maybe the two new girls will want to do that. Ida, who is on my shift, told me yesturday that the other girl on our shift, Georgina (who I have not met yet, I think she comes back from Baps today, but I didn't meet her when I was there) hasn't really wanted to do/book anything to do, but that she (Ida) definitely wants to do as much as possible, which is awesome! I am trying to convince her to Sky Dive but I don't know if she will agree to that, though I'm gonna keep working on her. She already did Table Mountain but maybe will want to again tomorrow. I think Christmas day I am going to go to Camps Bay beach and just lay out... sounds like an absolutely wonderful way to spend the holiday =).

Now I am going to go back to the house and probably shower and nap. Ursula, the AVIVA staff member that picked me up from the airport, is having a holiday party tonight and invited all of us so I am guessing we will go to that!

Forgot to mention before- when I got here I got a welcome pack which included a really nice fleece, a SIM card for my phone (which I think I just figured out M&D!!- and which will be way more handy than I expected since I have already met people outside of the house that I would have no other way to get in touch with again), some kind of voucher to send postcards (? I don't know really what that is), and a bottle of wine. I do love AVIVA =)

First Day in Obs

I made it!! But it sure was a long trip. The 15 hours to Johannesburg were pretty rough though I did get to watch The Dark Knight, Mama Mia, and part of Finding Nemo. I guess I slept some but not well (though I was very thankful for the travel pillow, Karen!). I don't know if this is new or if I just never noticed on international flights before, but it was pretty cool how you can track the plane's progress, how many miles you have gone & how many left to go, your altitude, the temperature outside, how many more hours you have left, etc. Otherwise I would have had absolutely no clue of the time the whole trip. Anyways, the layover sucked, I payed someone to show me where/how to check in and all that and it was worth it because there were just lines everywhere and he brought me right up to a desk that said it was closed and checked me in in about 30 sec. Going through security took another 30 seconds, no taking off shoes and I was allowed to bring in open water bottles, etc that are not allowed in the US. (Also, I was surprised to have real silverware on the plane to Jo'burg, including a knife.) I slept most of the flight to Cape Town but woke up to see Table Mountain right at sunset- gorgeous!! and very exciting.

Ursula from AVIVA picked me up with two volunteers (one American, went to JMU, and one Capetonian). We drove to the AVIVA house in Observatory (Obs) which is right at the base of a mountain, and Cape Town is on the other side. They played me a Cape Town welcome song and kinda gave me a tour as we drove, though mostly we were driving past "unofficial settlements" which are basically shacks- it's crazy that there is such poverty right next to Cape Town.

I arrived at the house and Ursula gave me a quick tour- it's nice, there's a wall around the property so you go through one door into the front garden/mostly patio area which is nice, then you go through the front door and there are 3 bedrooms I think with three bunk beds in each, and off of my room there are three separate bathrooms that I think everyone uses (haven't figured out everything). There is a nice living room, kitchen, and backyard, and a room with big locker-type things. So when I got there two girls were there (and I can't remember their names now!) but one is Norwegian (18), has been here for 3 weeks, and will be on my shift at Baps, and one is English (22) and I think has been here for a month or so. And they were really nice! We stayed up talking for a while but all went to bed pretty early, they were kinda sick which is why they were at the house, everyone else had gone out in Cape Town. I was exhausted.

Woke up around 9 this morning and met Kim, the house Mom, who showed me around some more. Also met two other girls- Sophia (18, NYC) & Fredericka? Also nice. There are two other people that are at Baps right now, and two people left this morning. Tomorrow I have my Baps orientation, and I am sooo excited. Last night the girls were saying such good things about it & they can't wait to get back to the babies. On the 27th I will start my first shift, which means the start of 3 days there/three days in Obs.


OBS! Lower Main Street, two blocks from the AVIVA house.

So I guess so far so good, things are kind of strange/take some getting used to right now but I have a feeling that in a week I will be completely adjusted and used to how everything works. I am probably forgetting a hundred things that I wanted to say but right now it looks like it may be clearing up so I am going to look around more and then see what the girls are up to.

I miss EVERYONE!!

Leaving on a jet plane . . . (Tomorrow)

I can't believe that tomorrow I am leaving, I don't even know that it has really sunk in yet. This was probably the longest week of my life, it was nice to finally just be able to say "I'm leaving on Saturday!" instead of in however many months or weeks, but Saturday has taken forever to get here. Today I spent the whole day packing with Mom which has gone smoothly except for the few minutes when Mom read somewhere that I DO need a Visa to go to South Africa, which I don't have because really I don't need one, but until we confirmed that it was a tense couple of minutes (i.e. I was ready to kill myself at the thought of having to postpone this trip). Anyways, I am pretty much all packed and I personally think that for being gone 6 weeks I am definitely not bringing too much though Mom begs to differ on several items. But really everything I'm bringing is incredibly necessary.

It is sad that I've only been home for one week and haven't really been able to see/spend the time I'd like with some people, but at the same time I really can't imagine being home for another 8 week winter break. It is also sad of course to be missing Christmas with the fam, but as Rholene (the AVIVA staff member I've been in contact with since last year) says, the babies need to be fed/bathed/played with on Christmas and New Years too, and somebody's gotta do it. Christmas in Africa will probably be so weird, but there is always next year & the years to come at home. New Years, on the other hand, I am EXTREMELY excited to spend in Cape Town (legal drinking age = 18). Woohoo!

So my flight leaves tomorrow at 5:40 PM from Dulles-- I fly overnight to Johannesburg, South Africa (~15 hours?), have a two hour layover and then get into Cape Town around 7PM after two more hours of flying (I think). I am kind of dreading the long flight; I suck at sleeping on planes and this will not be helped by my definite nervousness/excitement. I really would just like to be there already. Tomorrow morning Dad's making waffles, then I have to run a bunch of errands, finish packing, go say goodbye to Grandma, and get Bagel Bakery with the girls (Molly, Cody, & Marie). It's going to be a busy day.

A few interesting things to know about AVIVA/Cape Town/Africa:
-Cape Town was recently named 5th in a survey to find the top 50 "must see" places in the world.
-Beyonce Knowles, Bono, Elton John, and Manchester United have all visited & provided publicity for Baps (the orphanage I'll be working at).
-Included in my trip is a full day Cape Winelands tour, a full day Peninsula tour, and a half day cultural tour of Cape Town.
-AVIVA was recently contacted by the Discovery Channel, which is interested in doing a special that would follow several volunteers before, during, and after their time volunteering with AVIVA.
-South African currency is the Rand, R10 to $1. According to AVIVA, a good breakfast costs about R35, dinner with a bottle of wine around R80, and R12 for a beer.
-South Africa is 7 hours ahead of Olney, MD.
-It is currently summer in South Africa. Right now it 75 degrees and sunny with 0% chance of rain =).
-When not at the orphanage I will be residing at:
AVIVA House
8 Sussex Road
Observatory
7925
South Africa
-The "Big Five" apparently refers to the 5 animals that are the hardest/most dangerous to hunt & includes the elephant, leopard, lion, buffalo, and rhino. Hopefully I will see them all in Kruger National Park.
-South Africa has the highest number of people living with HIV in the world, more than five million. HIV-related deaths among young people fifteen years of age and older increased by 62% from 1997 to 2002. AIDS-related deaths account for some 30% of all deaths nationwide. The adult prevalence of HIV in South Africa soured from less than 1% in 1990 to almost 25% by 2000 with an average of 600 new infections per day. 100 children become HIV-positive every day, and in 2005 160,000 children experienced the death of a parent to HIV/AIDS. (New News Out of Africa).

I guess that is all for now-- the next time I write it will be from AFRICA!!

**HUGE thank you to all of my family that contributed to my Safari fund. It is such a big help to me and I really, really appreciate it!! Love you all.**