South African Adventures

Megan Reagles

5/12/14

Day One: Travel Day

So many thoughts are running through my mind and we havent even gotten to
South Africa! I wont lie that this week leading up to today had me so grizzled. I was finishing exams,
getting ready for graduations and trying to pack. On top of that I was organizing my start days with my
new job for when I get back. All that said I made it to the airport (with one minor bump of forgetting my
contact case) and Atlanta so I am currently on the 15.5 hour flight to Joburg. I have to say its a VERY
long flight. I am only 2 hours in and Im already sick of sitting. So far this flight is going much better than
the first due to a little more room and a lot more to do. Thank goodness for in flight entertainment.
I actually just started and stopped watching the movie Lone Survivor. I had heard such good
things about it that I was really excited to start it but things got real intense real quick. I love true stories
and action movies but this was just too much not to publically react. I tried to keep my reactions to
myself but I saw a few fellow flyers looking at me funny. I think I will finish this movie at home where my
reactions will not further annoy anybody but my own family. I also prefer to cry in the comfort of my
own home which I can definitely see happening with this movie. So for the time being I am checking out
some of the music offerings the plane has and journaling.
Sidetracking aside I am very excited to get in country. I have a feeling I might shed a tear or two
once we land. I still cannot believe I am going to be able to fulfill the dream that my grandma had for
me. Its a little hard that she wont be here to experience it all with me, but I hope to accomplish enough
for the both of us. I know she was smiling somewhere when I got on the plane today. I know this
adventure will be everything and so much more than she ever could have dreamt of. My dad even got a
little chocked up about it today. We both know how excited and proud she would have been to see me
do this.
Missing my dad is something that I do worry about as well as my boyfriend. Even though we
kind of got to know each other in class I still feel nervous about feeling at home in the group these next
few weeks. I know I cant expect to feel too settled with all the moving around we will be doing but Im
hoping to find some aspects of home in each place. Being too uncomfortable with the group could really
make or break the trip. I am also still concerned about the food situationas well as bugs. I know I will
be able to sort both situations out pretty quick so it will be more about jumping right in. Other than that
I am really feeling nothing but excitement! So hopefully I can get some good sleep and be in
Johannesburg soon : )

5/14/14

Days 2 & 3: Travel and Joburg

So day 2 an 3 kind of mushed together because we actually only got a small part of day 2 in
Joburg due to travel. We basically landed, got out bags, got to the hotel, ate dinner, and went to bed. I
did have some trouble with my suitcase as well. By trouble I mean there is a big hole in the corner of the
main compartment. Luckily nothing spilled out or got taken but I will needing a new one. Its a little
frustrating because I bought it specifically for this trip and only got to use it once before this. But Delta is
willing to fix it or replace it so at least I dont have to buy a new one.
Once we got to the hotel we threw our bags in our rooms and headed down for dinner. I didnt
get too adventurous and just had chicken but some of the group members decided to try some new
things. Once we all had full stomachs we got cleaned up and headed for bed. That would be due to the
early morning today. We stated out day at 7:30am so we could get to Maboneng where we will be
staying at Curiocity Backpackers. The city is so fantastic!! ( I will be using that word a lot I have a feeling)
I love the area and how trendy it is and can see why people are excited about the rejuvenation. We walk
through the doors and were greeted by the owner Bheki who seemed excited to have us. We pretty
much set our bags down and then we were off to see Soweto.
We started the trip with a visit to the apartheid museum. It was really sad to see what people of
this country had to go through. I saw some similarities to that of the US Civil Rights movement but it still
amazes me how people were so blinded by color. I guess some still are which is even sadder. Also
realizing that it has only been 20 years since the end of apartheid makes it all the more real. It is
overwhelming to me how many people, past and present, dont understand that we are all human.
Regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, color, and the million other things people get judged for
as a human you deserve human rights and respect. By the end of the tour I was ready to see Soweto and
actually see the people of the country after apartheid. With that said our guide Tshepo got us packed up
and moving on.
The first stop in Soweto was Vilakasi Street where both Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela
once lived. We also had lunch at an authentic Soweto restaurant. The food was interesting, not exactly
my favorite but I was willing to try most of it. Peter was the bravest of us all and tried intestines. He
didnt seem too thrilled about it so I know I wasnt missing out. There was a lavender ice cream for
dessert though, and that was amazing. Once we had all finished our lunch we moved on to the actual
tour. We started at the Mandela house. We didnt go in but we took a few minutes to peak around and
see what we could. From there we went to the Hector Peterson Memorial Museum. Once again this
museum was somber as well. I think it really puts things in perspective when you see children becoming
victims of apartheid. Tshepo kept calling himself a child born into freedom and now I understand what
he means. He also grew up in Soweto which brought a very authentic view to our tour.
Once we finished up at the museum we went to explore the street vendors in the area and tried
out our bartering skills. I wasnt as willing to negotiate as I thought I would be. Everything is already so
low in cost compared to the US I didnt really feel the need to try and get a lower price. I got some really

cool items for friends and family as well as a few things for myself. We then packed up and went to tour
a township nearby. I wont sugar coat it, the conditions were a little overwhelming. All the garbage and
kids running around without shoes, lack of hygienic toilet faculties. You worry what kids might be
stepping on or running through. I just wanted to start picking things up but with no proper disposal
available it would do little good. Regardless of these conditions the locals were all so friendly and
constantly smiling. You get the feeling that these people really take care of each other. We just dont
have community like that back home. It makes my appreciate what I do have at home but it also makes
me wonder about my community and what Im missing out on.
We then finished out tour with a couple of tourist sites. We went to the Orlando soccer stadium
and the water cooling towers. The towers were cool because the art on them was so beautiful but they
were also cool because you can bungee jump from them. We were not able to bungee jump because
our Carroll insurance does not cover that. Leave it to Carroll to be a fun sucker. We then headed back to
Curiocity where the 11 of us students tried to figure out how we would all fit in one room. It will be a
little tight but I think we will get some quality bonding time from it :p.

5/15/14

Day 4: Joburg
Today was so jam packed of all things Joburg. Today we got both Bheki and Tshepo as our
guides. Bheki being the one who grew up in the city took the lead and Im pretty sure Tshepo was there
to make sure none of us wondered off. We started off with a formal tour of the Maboneng precinct. It is
all so hip and beautiful I cant help but feel like I dont belong. Everybody in there is working on making a
difference and it makes me wonder what Im doing for my community. You can picture every trendy
artist and musician in Milwaukee wanting to live there. All the people are so friendly and open to show
you what it is they are working on. The art is not just chic new galleries and shops it is everywhere you
look. It is urban art at its finest and I cannot get enough. The bright colors and provocative design bring
the streets alive and you feel passion everywhere you go.
Once we got a brief glimpse of the precinct we wondered two streets over to MIA MIA where
we saw the crche we will be spending our day at tomorrow. Mama Lucy is who runs the crche and she
was so excited to have us involved. They are open to help in any way possible and I just hope we can
bring something of value to the table. I cannot wait to spend the day with the children tomorrow and
get a feel for what their education experience is like. It does feel a little like voluntourism, going to play
with little children in a poor district, but I know Karla has a vision to make it into a lasting relationship. I
think the reason we dont really have a game plan for tomorrow is because we just need to see what is
the kids and their teachers really need from us.
With the introduction done we went into the city where there was way too much to see and
take in. We went into a book store where there were 8 floors of books, records, and collectable items. It
was so tightly packed I was worried I might tip something over and be buried alive. I could spend a
whole day looking at everything but we were only given a few minutes. I did find the European
collection of the Harry Potter series and was so excited. I wanted to buy all 7 books but I knew I would
not have the room in my suitcase. So I settled on the first book before we left. Apparently Lauren didnt
get the memo that we were leaving because we got in the van and drove away without her. I felt so bad.
If that were me I would be totally freaking out. She handled it really well though and once we got her in
the van Bheki enacted the buddy system so it wouldnt happen again. We then went to the Carlton
Center where the Telcom Tower is. It is the tallest commercial building in South Africa and it had
beautiful views of the city. Once we were all thoroughly mesmerized we headed to lunch.
Bheki took us to an Ethiopian restaurant in what he referred to as little Ethiopia. I was little
hesitant about it at first but the food was actually really good! Basically you get a tray with a bread that
covers the bottom with a bunch of different meats and sauces on top of it. You just tear off some bread
and use it to pinch whatever it is you want. It was so different than anything I have ever had before. We
also got these smoothie/juices made of avocado, papaya and mango that were absolutely amazing. A
few of us also opted to try out Ethiopian coffee. It was incredibly strong and Bheki compared it to

Ecstasy which was not exactly comforting. But after a long night with 11 roommates it definitely got me
enough energy to last the night.
The final part of our tour was the Ponte building. It is the tallest residential building in South
Africa. I was once a giant garbage dumb (literally the hollow middle was filled 14 stories high with trash)
that housed brothels and drug lords. It has recently become a rejuvenation project and people are
starting to return and make it their home. It was here we met Nick a local journalist who has been
working on improving the building. He and a fellow colleague have been working on programs to keep
the local youths out of trouble. He helped fund a game room where the kids can go and hang out. It is
his hope that these kids will continue growth in the community and make the rejuvenation successful. It
is great to see people wanting to be active in turning their community around. Nick said it best It does
not take massive amounts of money or amazing resources to make change. It just takes a great amount
of hope and initiative. If you can dream it and work at it you can make it happen.
Once we got done with our tour we all decided to go for pizza at a restaurant in Maboneng
called Chalkboard. The food was great and just what we needed after a long day and an adventurous
lunch. We decided to treat Bheki and Tshepo to dinner as a thank you for showing us around their city.
They truly love their city and what is happening around them. I can only hope that I find that kind of
passion in my future.

5/16/14

Day 5: Joburg
Everyday is such an adventure here in Joburg. We start each morning with the most amazing
breakfast on the balcony and watch Maboneng as it wakes up. Then we head off on our day long
excursions and come back to have amazing conversations. Today we started our adventure at the crche
in MIA MIA. The kids here sing and dance and you just see the passion and love. My favorite part was
when all the little girls saw Emilys long hair and started braiding it. It was so adorable and just made me
remember that all little girls, no matter where they are from in the world, love to play beauty shop. The
whole morning was just so fantastic. I really cant fully describe it because words dont do it justice. The
kids just melt your heart. I personally am not much of kid person. I just dont get as excited about small
children as a lot of my friends do but today it was just a totally different story.
After we came back we grabbed a very quick lunch and went to Constitutional Hill. This is where
South Africas current constitutional court meets but was once just a prison. Today the prison is no
longer functioning but is still standing for tours. This was my least favorite historical tour so far. The
prison is really altered from its original state so its difficult to get the full effect of what people when
through there. It also doesnt help that we had a limited time frame do to me needing to pick up a
suitcase and others wanting to complete some shopping. We still did learn a lot and their Constitutional
building is absolutely beautiful. There was so much significance in the design of the building and that
was cool to see that they wanted to integrate parts from the past but also put in elements that show
case a brighter future. I do feel that if the prisons would have been left in their original condition the
tour would have been much more effective. But once you alter with a structure like that a lot of the pain
disappears.
From there Karla, Jeanne, Peter and I went to go pick up my new suitcase. Ray (trill the R for full
effect) was our cab driver and he had no idea where we were going. In his defense he arrived thinking
he was taking students back to Maboneng but due to more people wanting to shop than expected we
ended up switching vehicles. So in our attempt to find the suitcase shop we had to pull over a few times
for directions. I had no idea where we were, if the area was safe, or if we were even in the right
direction. I was pretty nervous and really felt my heart race when Ray got out of the car and left it
running to ask directions. If you did that in Milwaukee your car would be GONE. I tightened my grip on
my purse and was looking towards Peter next to me for reassurance. Everything turned out fine in the
end. We got to the luggage place in once piece and after a little bit of back and forth with the owners I
got a suitcase that is pretty comparable to the one that was damaged. Now I just have to hope that this
one makes in back home in one piece!
Once back at Curiocity we all had some time to chill and refresh before meeting for our final
Joburg group dinner. A few of us went to wander and look in a few shops down the street. We also met
up with the rest of our group at a roof top bar called The Living Room. It is incredibly beautiful with an
open garden feel with local artists work on display. After a some catching up, those of us who didnt

want a drink headed back to our room. On the way back we bumped into Daniel who I had met the night
before. We had a conversation last night about what he does and the building he was working at next
door. He had invited the group to come see it before we left so when he suggested it again we jumped
at the opportunity. I am so glad we did because the space was unbelievable. The company Daniel works
for is called GRIND and they have locations all over the world in developing cities just like Maboneng
seeing how they tick and what is helping them rejuvenate and revive the areas. I should probably
mention that Daniel is originally from Germany so he has been working on becoming comfortable with
the city as well. Anyways the whole work space is an open concept where everybody works off of each
other and around each other. They are also welcome to work on personal projects in the workspace.
After a peak around Daniel took us up to the roof where we got a full view of Maboneng. We saw things
we never would have gotten the chance to see from ground level. There is a build just kitty corner from
Curiocity that has a recycling area on top. I had absolutely no idea it was there until now! Daniel was
also very open about his work and what he hopes to do. He has loved his time in Johannesburg but he
does miss home a lot. He hopes to experience more of the world through GRIND but he knows that one
day he will return home to Germany.
We said our goodbyes to Daniel and headed back for group dinner. We went to Pata Pata for the
second time where we were pleasantly surprised by the improvement of the service. The first time
around our orders were all messed up and they couldnt remember who got what but this time around
it was fantastic. Our waiter so on top of things. He knew the menu like the back of his hand and took all
13 orders without writing anything down. Karla even asked him if he would remember it all and he
assured her he would. Once the orders were coming out our waiter decided to mess with Karla by saying
he totally forgot her order and he would have to go put it in. After apologizing several times Karlas plate
was the next to come out. He was so funny and such a good sport we could help but love him. We did
learn that he is actually from Zimbabwe and he like Daniel misses home and wants to return. He also
does a pretty funny American accent that is a mix between a cowboy and a nerd.
To wrap up our day a majority of the group decided to grab some drinks and hangout by the
bonfire where we had met new friends the night before. What we didnt expect was that we would
meet even more amazing people. I got to talking to a local named Lucy who I spent most of my night
with. At the beginning of our conversation she has mentioned to me that she was an actress, but in
South Africa acting really isnt a reasonable way to make a living. So she also owns and runs her own
catering business that does a lot of high end and high profile jobs. It turns out that by actress Lucy didnt
mean she just did local theatre, she is actually on one of the most popular South African Soapies (Soap
Opera). In the US a Soap Opera star would not be caught dead grabbing drinks at a local Backpackers but
here stars actually lead very normal lives. Actors and actresses in South Africa dont get the attention
that they do in the states. Lucy still lives with her family and does a lot of the cooking and cleaning. She
even helps pay for groceries and her brothers school expenses. She was so humble and adamant about
wanting us to know the real South Africa and Johannesburg. She taught me so much about her culture
and current views on politics as well as the current economic and social problems. She even said to me
at one point that she feels that her country has made some good progress but right now it is going back
to the dogs. Lucy fears that too many people are grasping to the ghost of Mandela. The people need to

realize that the ANC is not what it once was and they need to move forward otherwise they will just
begin to go backwards.
Lucy also took the time to describe to me what a traditional 21st looked like for a Zulu woman.
That is the cultural background of which her family comes from. Basically the ceremony is far from the
binge drinking we do here in the states. A 21st for a Zulu woman is a coming of age celebration that
focuses on the womans virginity. It is a 3 test ceremony that is used to determine if the woman is still
a virgin. This takes place in front of the entire Zulu community and if she I found to still be a virgin they it
is celebrated, if not it was basically a public shaming. She was so interesting as well as the several other
people I met that night. There were a few who had been to the states. One guy actually studied in
Minnesota for a semester. Another guy about 22 was a music manager currently working with several
local artists. They were all so interesting I wish I would have had more time to spend with each of them.
Today was by far one of the best days in Joburg and I am so sad to have to leave tomorrow.

5/17/14

Day 6: Joburg to Cape Town

Today was a very laid back day for us. We got up to leave Joburg at 7:15 and caught a flight out
to Cape Town. After yesterday it was so hard to leave Maboneng. I really did fall in love with the city as
well as its people. I will say so far Cape Town isnt as exiting. The natural beauty is breath taking but
overall it seems a bit touristy. It could also be the face that we are staying at a nice hotel in a waterfront
district. Just like the states everything near the ocean tends to become a tourist attraction. An
interesting fact about our hotel though is that it used to be a prison. Not gonna lie I found that pretty
creepy. It didnt help that our rooms were super cramped so you got the feeling of being in a jail cell.
That and the bars on the windows didnt help either. I dont know that I would stay there again at least
not if I had to stay in the tiny rooms again.
Once the bags were dropped and we had a few seconds to freshen up we headed out on a brief
driving tour of the city. Our guide for Cape Town will be Peter who is a good friend of Karlas. He seems
incredibly knowledgeable so we should learn a lot. The tour was beautiful. There was a lot of ocean view
as well as great spots where you could see both parts of the mountains and the ocean. Once we saw a
bit of the area we would be staying in we grabbed some lunch and stopped into a pharmacy at the mall.
I had forgotten to pack some mascara so I decided to pick some up at the pharmacy. It turns out unlike
most thinks it South Africa, mascara is actually more expensive here. I tube I would pay $7 for at home I
ended up paying $12 for. That is almost double! I now know for my next visit to double check my
makeup bag before I leave!
Other than that we didnt do a whole lot. Some of us explored the mall before we met up for
dinner. I picked up a few things for people back home and we also found some cool tourist shops. I did
find a really cool toy bike for my brother. It is made out of old Coke cans and some old wire. He is really
into biking so Im sure he will think its pretty neat. We also scouted out some places to grab a drink in
the nights to come as well as places to stop and shop.
Soon after we met up for dinner and got some time to relax. Peter and I video blogged about
yesterday. We were actually really excited about doing it. We had such a great night we were excited to
share it with people back home. We did run into some problems with uploading it to the blog. The
internet here is kinda sucky so we decided to call it quits and headed for bed. We needed get rested for
our first big day in Cape Town.

2/18/14

Day 7: Cape Town

So today kind of changed my outlook on Cape Town as a whole. This city is pretty incredible.
Visually Cape Town is unbelievable! I still feel a little touristy here but the views make it all worth the
while. I am hoping once we do our community outreach the tourist feeling will fade more and I will get
to have some more great conversations. But, until then I am happy to sit back and enjoy the view.
Our day started with a ferry ride out to Robben Island. I had so much fun on that ferry ride
alone. Our family used to boat a lot so I was so excited to be out on the water. There were also great
views of Cape Town both on the way out and on the way back. We got a lot of really great pictures that I
cant wait to share. Robben Island itself is also really beautiful. The tour starts with a bus ride to see the
whole island. We got to see the homes of the locals as well as the quarry where the prisoners had to
work. Then you get dropped off at the prison where an ex-prisoner gave us a tour. We saw the
communal cells where up to 30 people would share one communal cell. We also saw the single cells
which where Mandela was held. Towards the end of the tour both Lauren and I fell back as we had
noticed a fellow tour goer taking an extra peak at the cells. It turns out he had a very large key that he
was given by a friend. He was told that this key would open Nelson Mandelas cell. He had been waiting
several years to make it to Robben Island to see if the key would really work. It was well worth the wait
because the key really did work!!We actually heard the key click and the door begin to open. It was so
cool to experience and I am glad we decided to stay back. It seems so unreal that items like that are still
floating around outside of museum walls.
From Robben Island we went to Table Mountain. It was one of the most beautiful places I have
ever been. The view from the top was so incredible I cant even begin to put words to it. I wish we could
have gotten to hike up the mountain but the cable car was still very fun. Still being able to see more of
the mountain and how the scenery changed as you climbed the sides would have been amazing. We
have done a lot of sitting the past few days so it was refreshing to be able to walk around for a day. We
all got some amazing pictures and will be able to take a little piece of the beauty home with us. We also
took a drive to District 6. This is an area where South Africans were forced to move out of their homes to
make room for white development. The people of this country have had so many struggles. Ive read
about it and weve talked about it in class but to see it, that is how you really begin to understand. Or
you at least try to better understand. It is amazing how deeply you feel when you go to these sites and
museums. I hope I continue to continue to better understand this country and its struggles with each
day we are here.
After the drive we all came back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. We split up into two groups
to explore the waterfront. My group headed to the food market and it was so fantastic. I got home
made almond butter as well as some dried fruits. I also decided on a veggie panini for dinner and a crepe
with Nutella and bananas for dessert. It was some of the best food I have had thus far. I really hope we
get the chance to go back. There are still so many things I want to try and purchase! We also went

(actually ran) to go and watch the sunset over the water. I am so glad Peter convinced us to take the
time to go and see it. To top of the night we met up with the other group and went for drinks. It was a
great way to end such a beautiful day.

5/18/14

Day 8: Cape Town

Today was another beautiful day in Cape Town. It is by far the most gorgeous place. I know I
keep saying it but it is so true!! We took a drive down around the cape with some set stops along the
way. Not going to lie these car rides make me really sleepy. Peter has so many great things to say and is
so insightful that I dont want to miss out on any of it but I am known for falling asleep in cars. Once we
got to Cape Point I started to wake up with the help of a hike. Some of the group decided to go out to
the very tip and it was so worth it. The view was great and we got to see some fun animals along the
way. The next stop was the Cape of Good Hope which is the most Southern tip of Africa. This was
probably the most entertaining part of the day. We had been told Baboons are quite a problem for Cape
Town and very tricky and dangerous. On the way out we saw one approach a car. The little stinker
actually opened the door and got into the car! The driver was so startled but we could not stop
laughling!! I cannot even believe that it was able to just get into the car. Those guys are just so dang
smart. I guess there are enough tourists and locals around for them to figure it out but it is still amazing.
Once the show was over we drove down to Boulders Beach. This is where a colony of South
African penguins are found. Before we went to see the little guys we stopped for some lunch. I found
myself sitting at the grown up table with our guide Peter, Karla, and Jeanne. We had some really great
conversations about Cape Town and Peters life specifically. He has gone through some very traumatic
things but he is still so in love with Cape Town and is proud of his country. Im really glad I was able to
hear his stories and have some meaningful conversation like I did back in Joburg. Dont get me wrong I
love the rest of the group and enjoy their company but sometimes its just nice to get to have the more
mature conversation with a bit more learning value. The group ate quickly as we were all excited to go
and see the penguins! They were so dang cute I had to resist hopping over the pier and picking one up.
They were all just so content chilling on the beach, I wish that was me. We got our penguin fix and then
headed to some street vendors to do more shopping. There was a really talented painter named Rebel
who did some amazing work. I am kicking myself a little for not picking something up but several of my
classmates did make purchases so he made some commission that day.
We then picked up and headed for the botanical gardens. It was, once again, beautiful. That
really does seem to be the whole theme of Cape Town in general. Not a thing we have seen thus far has
been anything less that spectacular. I have no doubt that is will continue to feel that way throughout the
rest of our stay in the city. BY the end of the gardens I was pretty beat. Peter, knowing some of us had
interest in the Harley store in town, rushed us of right away. We go there with about 5 minutes to spare
before they would be closed. I cant believe how great Peter was about making the stop. He absolutely
did not have to go out of his way for a few of us to grab some t-shirts. I must have thanked him a dozen
times for the generosity of himself and his time. It is starting to restore some of the great feeling we got
from talking with locals in Joburg. After we were whisked back to the hotel where we all got ready for
yet another dinner. The food was great and it was nice to catch up with my classmates day as well. Yet

another successful day in Cape Town and with the anticipation of yet another early morning we were off
to bed.

5/20/14

Day 9: Cape Town

Today was our last day in Cape Town so we had a lot to fit in. The day started with visiting a local
high school. A lot of the kids in this school come from not-so-great areas and the school its self has a lot
of gang territory around it. Ironically enough the gangs are the Americans and the British. For these kids
just getting home can be a struggle. The principle told us that just the other day two students were
mugged on their way home and their school uniforms and personal belongings were taken. It breaks my
heart to hear that. These kids are literally fighting to get to school some days to better themselves and
most kids in the US are using any excuse to get out of class.
Once we had a brief orientation we split up into smaller groups based on our majors and talked
to students who were taking classes in that field. The students were so great and asked some really
good questions. They really just wanted to know that University was like in the states and what our high
school experiences were. I was with both Kaylor and Dustin so Dustin and I had a lot of the same things
to say about high school since we both went to West. Kaylor on the other hand went to a much smaller
high school. It was interesting to me as well as the students to hear about her experience. Many of the
students have hopes of going on to University and I can only hope that most of them can reach that
goal.
Shortly after we wrapped up our small groups we were taken to their hall which I would
compare to an auditorium. They put on an absolutely amazing assembly for us that showcased some of
the talents and the programs the school has to offer. They have some incredibly talented students. Their
dance team/club performed a dance that gave me chills. These kids have no formal training but some of
them are more talented than many trained dancers back home. A huge part of my life was consumed by
being in a dance company so I can relate to having that passion for dance. They currently dont have any
sponsors for next year and I am looking for a way to become one. These kids are so amazing I would
hate for them to have to stop dancing just because of a budget need. I am hoping that Karla can help me
stay in contact with the right people so I can figure out how to raise funds or get them the materials
they would need for the upcoming school year. Being involved in after school activities can make the
world of difference for any student I can only imagine that for some of the students at Groenvlei it is a
way to escape before heading home. I have made so many new friends I cant wait to follow these kids
on their journeys and keep in touch with them.
After the high school we took two township tours. The first we went to was Gugulethu where
we met Donald. He made a home all his own when no back would give him a loan. He scavenged for
brinks and got materials until he was able to build a beautiful home for his family. The story was very
inspirational but when he took us through his town I couldnt help but feel very unsettled. It was
strange to me because we had gone through the township in Soweto where I felt fine, but here it was
very different. Supposedly the people of the township are okay with us taking these tours but I couldnt
help but feel we werent exactly welcome. I totally understand why we wouldnt be. Here we are just

poking our noses into their lives, why would they welcome us with open arms? I know if I were in their
shoes I wouldnt exactly be thrilled with the situation. We were told it was okay to take pictures but I
couldnt bring myself to take more than a few. I felt like I was exploiting their poverty. It made me sad,
angry, and enlightened all at the same time. I think it was important to have that experience but I dont
know that I would go back again.
The second township was Khayelitsha and it was much larger. There we visited a woman named
Rosie who runs a soup kitchen in the township. She feeds any of the township kids (around 180 per day)
for free and allows adults to eat as long as they can contribute in some way. She ended up in the
township trying to find her husband in Cape Town. When she was unable to locate him a woman
approached her telling Rosie to come with her back to Khayelitsha. She was unemployed and had 2
children of her own to try and provide for. It was then that she started a relationship with a local church
and its soup kitchen. She was trying to get food brought in for the local children that were starving.
Eventually Rosie decided she wanted to start her own soup kitchen within the community and the
church helped her do so. Ever since she has been helping the people of her community. The people of
this country are amazing. Every day I see the pride and hope the people have for South Africa and I cant
help but smile. My love for the country grows each moment I am here and with every encounter I have
with the locals.
To wrap up our final tour we headed to the District 6 museum. How people can just be forced
out of their homes with no real notice or any form of compensation is so sick. They had no place to go
and no way to fund a new home. It is because of the government actions like this that so many people
get stuck in townships. How do you just choose to take persons home outright for no viable reason? It is
one of the many things that I just cant comprehend about putting value on certain peoples lives. Ive
said it before but how does skin, race, gender, or anything else have anything to do with the value of a
person? A person is a person pain and simple.
We ended our time in Cape Town with some shopping and a group dinner. I went back to the
craft market and bought a few things. I had a great conversation with a local artist who made some
necklaces for me. He was so talkative and it was really refreshing. I miss the conversations of Joburg and
it was great to have that feeling again. The beauty of Cape Town is undeniable but the truth is the
beautiful parts are a big tourist bubble. I think the reality of Joburg is still my favorite part of the trip.
Tomorrow we leave for Joburg at 4:30am. From there we will take a 6 hour ride to Rhino River Lodge
where we will go on Safari!! I am so excited to finish the trip this way!

5/21/14

Day 10: Rhino River!!

Today we hopped on a plane bright and early back to Joburg. From there a nice 6 hour ride
awaited us. It was a really long ride. I tried to sleep but my body was just not having it. Plus we were
attempting to play some car games on the there. The attempt failed when most of our group did not
want to play at all. Its understandable but its times like these where I wish the group was a bit more
outgoing. Once we arrived at Rhino River everybody snapped out of their funk real quick! We saw so
many animals just on our way into the reserve. Zebras, rhinos, impala, and giraffes are just a few of
many we saw. I was more than excited!! We really got amped for the game drive to come. We were
welcomed by Shawna and her crew as soon as we got there. Frances and Kyle were the two Rangers we
would have and then Garrick was their new intern. Everyone was so nice we were more than happy to
be spending the next few days with them.
Once we got our rooms sorted and placed our bags in our beautiful rooms we got picked up for
the first game drive. Kyle and Garrick were our rangers for the evening, they scooped us up outside our
rooms and we headed out. We hit is off right away. Both Kyle and Garrick have a great sense of humor
which I enjoyed a lot. It was great to be making connects again like Joburg. We didnt get to see a whole
lot because we started late but we did get our first look at the breath taking view of the stars. I cannot
believe all the natural beauty here. We met up with the other group and had sundowners together. We
all have a feeling these next few days will be great. We then headed our separate ways to get a little
more dive time in before dinner. Kyle showed us a lot of spiders, which I was not thrilled about. Just on
our way back in we saw some zebras and impala. It was a great way to end the drive.
We all went in for dinner where they served the most amazing food followed by a fantastic
dessert. It was probably one of the best meals I have had thus far. It was such an intimate setting having
our game drivers serve us I felt a little guilty not helping them clean up. They were all very adamant
about letting the staff do all the work. Even only being here for a brief time I can already tell these next
few days are going to be outstanding.

5/22/14

Day 11: Rhino River

Today was our first full day on safari. The first game drive started at 6:00am. At first I thought
that seemed a little early but it was definitely worth it. It is a bit chilly that early but amazing none the
less. We saw a lot of rhinos and buffalo but mostly impala. Its funny how excited we originally got to see
Impala but after awhile we just kind of ignored them. We spent a lot of time tracking lions that we
supposed to be in the area so we didnt get a very diverse drive. Once again we were with Kyle and
Garrick so while we didnt get to see a whole lot the company and conversation were still great. They
had the whole group laughing throughout the drive. Once our drive time was up we headed in for
breakfast which was just as amazing as last nights dinner.
With breakfast wrapped up we went to lounge by the pool for a little while. The sunshine felt so
great! After some time to let our food settle we headed to the Zemempilo market. All the products at
the market are back by the local women. It was so overwhelming! There were tables and tables of
jewelry, carvings, paintings, scarves, and so much more. It was all so beautiful it was hard to decide on
what to get. It was good that I only had so much money left to spend as well as a time limit or I would be
there all day. Eventually I was able to make some decisions and made my purchases. We all piled back
into our van and headed back to the lodge.
We grabbed yet another amazing meal back at the lodge and headed out for another drive.
Round two for the day with Kyle and Garrick and it was the most exciting part of our day. Within the first
20 minutes we saw a female lion! She just walked right out in front of our car. I could not believe how
close I was to a lion. It was so unreal. Once she had wandered off Kyle took us to go check out some
male lions. Once again we found ourselves so close to these amazing animals. They just gave us a quick
glance and decided that we were just not worth their time. They just sat and chilled out, eventually
deciding to take a snooze. It really pays to be the king of the jungle because you know nothing is going
to bother to mess with you. After we had all had our fill of pictures we went out in search of the female.
We didnt have any luck but we did see a Serval! Kyle told us that they were a very rare to find and this
was only his second time encountering one. They tend to hide really well in the tall grass due to their
smaller size a beige coat. So we didnt get to see the cat we were in search of but at least we did see a
cat : ). We drove around a bit more before circling back to the male lions. It was too dark to see them
very well but after awhile they began to roar! I cant even describe how amazing that moment was. We
sat in awe with goose bumps before we decided to call it a night.
Once back at the lodge we had more food. I am beginning to think Rhino River can do absolutely
no wrong when it comes to food. Once our bellies were full yet again, we sat around the fire and had
drinks with Kyle and Garrick. We got to learn more about each of their lives and also how they ended up
at Rhino River. Garrick told us a particularly haunting story about rhino poaching. So basically Rhinos are
poached for their horns, which have yet to be proved to have any sort of beneficial use. So poachers
dont just want a small part of the horn, they want it all. The horn starts at the base of the skull so

poachers will literally rip the Rhinos face off, while they are still living in some cases, and cut out the
horn. Garrick had experienced this first had and said the Rhino he found actually had tears running
down its face from the pain. You dont really think of animals crying so this just really hit me hard. All of
this brutality for a material that has no practical use what-so-ever. Kyle then informed us that the
Kruger loses about 3 Rhinos a day to poaching. Not only do the people of this country have struggles but
so do its animals. It is amazing how many things have touched my heart so closely while in South Africa.
Every day I am meeting amazing people and learning so much I cant help but fall in love with the
country. We stayed up pretty late before calling it a night. Yet another amazing day would await us in
the morning.

5/23/14

Day 12: Rhino River

Today was our second full day at Rhino River. We were informed by the other group that we
would be switching up divers today. I will admit I was a brat about it. Sometimes I do forget that I am
not the only person wanting to form new connections while we are here. Just because I really relate to
somebody does not mean that others dont deserve to form that connection as well. Later on I did
apologize for my immaturity in hopes for an amazing last few days. So this morning Frances was there to
pick us up and show us around. We had a lovely day but Frances is very quiet. It takes her a while to
really warm up with a group. We spent most of the morning on an Eeephant hunt! When we first got to
Rhino River we were told that it wasnt very likely that we would be seeing an elephant because they
dont have too many. But they had gotten a notice that there were some in the area today! We saw so
many traces of the Elephants in the area but didnt actually get to see one. We could tell Frances was
getting frustrated because she had all of the tracks to follow and could even smell them but she could
not locate them. We eventually admitted defeat and headed back in for breakfast.
After breakfast we all got some time to finally chill out. After going nonstop for almost 2 weeks
it was great to just relax. A majority of the group decided time by the pool was just what we needed. So
we soaked up the sun and even a few people we brave enough to take a dip. Once I was thoroughly
warmed up by the sun I decided to take an afternoon nap. I felt so refreshed once I got up and was
really awake when I got out of a cold shower. It was not an intentional cold shower I just think too many
people were trying to take one at the same time. We all met back up for lunch at 2pm and then got
ourselves together for our night drive.
Frances picked us up again but this time she was accompanied by Garrick and we were on a
mission to find some zebras! They are my favorite animal so I was more than thrilled when we were able
to get super close to them. Frances informed us that they are a very skittish animal so she was surprised
by how close they were actually letting us get. We decided that having our sundowners with the zebras
was a great idea so we had a drink and watched them graze. After we continued our drive and saw more
rhinos and giraffes. The giraffes are probably the most cooperative when it comes to taking pictures.
They are so graceful when they move and they tend to naturally pose for the camera. We also saw a
couple necking this is where two males fight each other using their necks. It was funny and violent all
at the same time. Frances seemed to open up with the group more with Garrick along so it was nice to
get her laughing a bit. The rest of the drive was pretty chill and we had a nice drive back in for dinner.
I dont know why but I am still pleasantly surprised every time we have another delicious meal.
The cooks at Rhino River deserve I huge thank you because they have to be working overtime to make
such great meals. It was a particularly great meal because it was our last meal here at Rhino River and
out last sit down meal as a group in South Africa. I cant believe that I will be heading back to the states
tomorrow. I miss my family and my boyfriend but Im just not ready to head back yet. I feel like there is
just so much more left to see and experience. We did end our night by the fire again but this time, to our

surprise, Frances joined us for drinks. Peter asked a lot of really great questions for both Frances and
Garrick. He had them discussing being they white minority in the country. Frances was really open about
how she was raised to not really notice color. She also added that her boyfriend on the other hand was
raised the opposite. She said it is always interesting going to his parents house and hearing some of the
things they had to say. Frances also told us about her travels in Europe. She and some friends had
decided to explore Europe by working at bars or restaurants. Really just getting enough money to get
them by and to experience as much of the different countries as possible. Frances really is a fascinating
women, it turns out it just takes a few beers to get her talking :p. She and Garrick also informed us about
some of the pop culture in South Africa and the music they are both into. I cant help but feel that
bonfires are just a place where people feel free to open up. That was the case in Johannesburg as well as
here at Rhino River. Maybe all Cape Town needed was a nightly bonfire. It was sad to have the night
come to an end but eventually we all headed to bed. We would be going on our last game dive in the
morning and then another 6 hour dive back to the Johannesburg airport to head home.

5/24/14

Day 13: The Last Day

So today is our final day in the South Africa :(. Nobody is ready to head home but we are
determined to make the best of our last game drive. Once again Frances and Garrick picked us up and
we went out on another adventure. Today we located the male lions again and they we got even closer
than the last time. At one point one got up and walked right along the Jeep. It is still so unreal that I am
able to see animals like this up close and personal. They are so complacent give off the illusion that you
could just walk up and pet them if you wanted to. Obviously I know that is a horrible idea and wouldnt
ever attempt it but they just seem way too chill. Once we had gotten our fill of lions we drove around
some more. We saw more rhinos and giraffes as well as a herd of buffalo. They buffalo we literally
coming right at us on the road. Frances quickly pulled over to let them pass but the silly animals decided
that they too would get off the road and go around us the long way. We even got to see little calf that
seemed very curious about us. Once we were out of the way of the buffalo we headed back to lodge to
grab our bags and settle our bills.
With everything set to go we got in the van and waved goodbye to the lodge and made our way
to the airport. Once again the drive was nice and long so it gave me a chance to reflect back my time in
South Africa. I cant believe how fast the time went and all the great people I had the chance to meet. I
also really enjoyed the time getting to know the people in our group better. I have such a hard time
putting into word how amazing it all was. It was so much more than I could have ever dreamed of and I
cant wait to plan a trip to come back. I think everybody in the group is anxious to be able to see more of
this amazing country. I also cant give Karla enough credit for planning it all. She really spent a lot of time
and effort making sure every moment was valuable to us, and she succeeded. ( I think even beyond her
expectations. ) Every day here I learned something new and every day I went to bed amazed with what I
had experienced. I know my grandma would be so excited for all that I was able to do here in South
Africa. Everywhere I went there were moments or people that reminded me of her. South Africa is by
far the greatest adventure of my life so far and I am so happy that I will be able to keeps these memories
forever.

Until we meet again South Africa ;)