Tuesday rain

I have followed the pattern of when it rains. It will rain in the beginning of the week and then die out about end of the weekday- getting beautiful for the weekend. Its just amazing the beauty of God that is all around me. It is the spring/ summer season and its wet. In the winter is it dry apparently, but with water comes life and a new start. These pass few days have been hectic trying to catch up on homework and going to class, but God has been amazing and given me strength.

Today was another visit to one of the service sites to chose from to work at for a month. It was place where they hold a children's after school program, and they help the community by teaching them different life skills. Afterwards I was able to buckle down and get a good portion of work done for some classes. This week I will be able to go with 24 other students and send two days in a Zulu home, eating authentic food and spending time learning about their culture. I am a little intimated because my Zulu speaking skills are a limited. But it will be a great time to finally get out there and learn hands on.

Day at Durban

Durban is a fast pace city where people walk anywhere to get to their destination. It reminded me of a little bit of LA, but definitely a different place entirely. It was not what I really expected. They had markets on the streets and inside buildings. I went shopping in a street market called Victoria Street, which was an indoor market. It smelled of curry pounder :]. There was tons of things, and shop keepers were willing to make a bargain. I got somethings to take home and remind me of Africa and some other things. One thing I thought were these incredible paintings. They smelt like crayons!! They depicted figures with children or a village or wild game. But what was so captivating were the vibrant colors used.

After the indoor market, I was able to swim in the Indian Ocean!! Which was bizarre because I am used to the sun setting on the coast. But it was setting behind the city, so there was not sunset on the beach. Another thing were the waves when they crashed were so powerful!! I almost got knocked down a couple of times when I was out there. Tons of locals were out there swimming and playing soccer in the water. At one point there was a whole dance/clapping party in the water. It was awesome to see people who don't know each other but are communal in dancing.

When I was getting out, I was bombarded by a group of girls who were so excited to see me. I wasn't sure why, but I think they knew I was America. They said I love you and I love your costume- which is bathing suit to them. It was kinda scary because they were so excited, and they wanted to take a picture together. I was a celebrity for just a second and it was very interesting :]

Atrimus and the bus

Artie was a very friendly giraffe, and he travels alone. Driving through the game reserve for the very first time in SA was exhilarating. Just because I was seeing the vast land in front with wild animals. It was a scene from a movie. I want to find myself in those types of situations where you are somewhere that makes inevitability quiets everything- and makes you listen.

The weather was beautiful, it was a sunny cool day just after a few rainy days. God is just amazing! With the beauty and grace of the animals he made. Artie- the friendly giraffe was so much larger in real life ahah. He was gracefully eating on an Acacia tree. But he was alone. His pack kicked him out of the bunch. I can't really remember why but he is a lonely ranger which made me really sad for him.I wouldn't want to be alone for the rest of my life :[

Then we drove around the reserve and saw an assortment of animals, hippo,impala, rhinos, and zebras. It was just a cool experience to sit there and gaze at the animals. After that I had to do a survey of grasslands for my bio class which was interesting a bet meticulous. At the end of the day I was able to go swimming with some of the girls who were with me. The water was freezing but it was great :]

Another beautiful day to breathe in life. Thank you God

Sunrise

It is amazing how rain and sunshine can change rapidly in the midst of a couple of days here. Just on Sunday it was hot and then the pass few days it has been cold and wet. But today is another lovely morning with sun!! I am going on a safari for a biology practical. It is so awesome to be able to do hands on work for a class. This reserve is said to be a very personal one, where the wild life will be very close and "personal". I can't wait to see a giraffe up close. They are curious, which is great because so am I :]

What a morning

I took a run at the park near the school with some friends. It was soothing to get out and run again. This morning I saw a few zebras and impala. But today is a different day because we get to visit another site for my intercultural communications class. This is where we will be able to engage with the community rather than just driving by. I am nervous and excited for what is to come. I don't know what to expect really. I know that it will be something completely out of my comfort zone.

My Communication class has been an eye opener to how essential it is to get cultural savvy with different types of cultures. While being here in SA I have seen how apartheid has stripped the colored people of their own culture. Since they are not considered to be white enough or black enough. I am learning more and more each day, as I talk to some of the wonderful people on the campus. It was interesting on the way back from Haniville, I asked someone what their ethnicity was and they gave me a confused look. I realized that they consider their heritage but the color classification they are in. There are four distinct race groups: Whites, Blacks, Coloured, and Indian. I don't know what exactly to think of when people just classify themselves as either one.

In the first few days we were here, I was able to visit the Apartheid Museum. It was quite shocking how the blacks were basically stripped of everything. Their freedom, education, ability to prosper, or the ability to live in a suitable condition. How does someone come in a foreign land and take everything way from the people living there for centuries and prosper from their pains?

I am guilty of greed as well.

Rainy day in Haniville

I never thought that I was going to create a blog- ever. But I saw how nifty it is and helpful in keeping everyone updated. Today is the second day of week two. It was beautiful on Saturday and Sunday then suddenly it got wet and colder. But today was fascinating, I got to drive through a Township called Haniville just a few miles away from the center that I am staying at. Little tin houses made of mud and wood trying to hold together as the rain comes. I couldn't really register what I was feeling or thinking at the time. But it was hard to think that people live in these conditions day to day. We were at Haniville to visit our first service site that we could choose to work at during October and November. It was a small building that was created for a children's ministry that flourished into helping the people of the township in Haniville provide for themselves through different kinds of programs. It was so intriguing to know what God is doing with this ministry so far.