Saturday, January 30, 2010

Field Trip!

Today was a good day! Although, everyday that I have been here has been amazing so it's not like it is out of the ordinary.

We went to a place called Birds of Prey where they have a bunch of rescued birds. They also do a bird show similar to something you would see at Marine World. It wasn't the best thing I've ever seen but some of the birds did look rather nifty.

After that we attempted to go to a lion place where you can drive your car through what looks like a zoo exhibit only bigger. In this one, they had 15 lions and it was probably about a few acres big. So you pay for your vehicle and then you drive it around in there for awhile and see the lions. However, after the first group went and saw them and stood like a foot away from the fence they were in, some weird stuff happened and because of it, we never got to go in :( We saw the lions from further away, but we never did see them inside the "cage" or even from the outside really. It was kind of a bummer for some people, but I didn't really care!

After that, we went to a look out of the city that we're in. It was amazing! It was one of the coolest views I have ever seen in my life! So beautiful. We took a whole bunch of group photos and what not and then we headed back to our campus.

Instead of eating dinner here though, a group of us went to a local restaurant similar to our Bj's because some of the girls wanted to get Mexican food or whatever, haha! I decided to tag along so it was 12 girls and Rob and I. We had a ton of fun there! It was probably the highlight of the day. Even though we did so much today, the laughs we had at dinner I think topped it all. On the way back, three of us road in the back of a truck and we couldn't stop laughing. It was the most fun I think possible to have in a ten minute period.

I know this probably wasn't the most exciting post ever, but I figured I would write something before I go to bed. Pray for one of the girls here named Jamie. She got pretty sick today. Some food or something didn't agree with her so it is no bueno. Other then that though, everything is A-okay! I love you all :)

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Animals!

Last night we went on a hike through the Game Reserve. Awesome. It's connected to our campus and anytime we go on a run or even just a walk, its the place to go. While we were on that little hike though, we saw zebras and either antelopes or spring bucks...I don't think they were antelopes but my other companions say that they were.


Today though, Logan found a sweet baby chameleon. It was about the size of the top half of your pinky! So legit. We also decided to play a sweet little soccer game on our campuses small soccer field and a bunch of monkeys were all around us. They look so nice...until they growl at you. Of course during that game Logan was preoccupied with the monkeys and wanted to throw rocks at them.


On a different note, school is starting to take over. People are all doing homework, all the time. Whenever I am looking for something to do, everyone is being so studious. I guess it is good that people are getting it done, but then I have nothing to do when they work on it. I guess not believing in homework isn't the best way to learn but TIA-We're in Africa.

I have my second REAL Zulu lesson tonight! I'm excited for it, the first one was really good! Except I feel like she'll expect us to know everything we did last class including the vocabulary...which I won't know. I guess I should probably work on that.

I miss you all! You're all in my prayers and I hope you are doing great!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Becoming home.

South Africa is starting to feel more like home!

After taking my first introduction to Zulu class, it seemed like it would be the hardest thing I could possibly do in Africa. Definitely seemed like it would be something I would dread every day that I have it. However, I had my second class today and it went great! I love the teacher and it was pretty enjoyable. Even though I can't speak it fluently yet, huge shocker, I am really looking forward to it. On our dinner break and after the class, all of the people that live here year-round were asking us questions and teaching us other things in Zulu. It seems like this is one of the best environments to learn because they are all around to help us practice it and encouraging us with it everyday.

I know this semester is going to be amazing and we all have so much fun whenever we're together. Just in case you are someone reading this blog and you have no idea who I am talking about, I'll give you a brief biography on a few of the amazing people I am with!

Rob - He is my roommate while we are here in Pietermaritzburg, so for the next 11 weeks. He is pretty tall, has dark hair and bright blue eyes. He is the youngest of 5 children and is also a pastor's kid. He is very easy to get along with and is full of great ideas! Oh, and he's a Social Work major.

Angie- Angie is another Social Work major and is someone that I knew before coming on this adventure. She is pretty funny and whenever we are near each other we laugh non-stop. She's always there to make fun of me, and I would hate to have both of us together in a class if I were a teacher...

Tanya- Pretty short, Blonde hair with lighter-ish brown eyes. She always, well almost always, has a huge grin on her face. Whenever she is across a room and you make eye contact with her, you can be pretty sure that she will make some sort of face at you. She's also a very funny person and from back home, she kind of reminds me of Kacie :)

Bianca- She is also short as well, but she is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet. She is someone who is very agreeable and she never makes anyone feel bad. She is there for you no matter what and definitely someone that is a great friend.

Logan- I also knew Logan before coming here, but we never really talked too often. He has Blond Blond Hair and is a total surfer. He has tan skin, and he always has a surf magazine in his hand! haha! He is also taking Zulu with me so whenever you are around him, you'll here "Yebo" and random clicks of every sort.


These are just a few of the people that I am here with, but there are also a lot more. I know these bios aren't that in depth but its a little bit more then you had before! I hope all of you guys are doing great and I love you all!

For now, Sharp Sharp!! (Pronounced, Shop shop and means everything is great!)

Monday, January 25, 2010

Classes.

Today we had our first day of classes. The day started off with chapel which was very good. Since I didn't have any of the first sessions of the day, I had a long break to relax. We have two tea times each day where they call us into the dining all if we want and they have all these teas made along with coffee, muffins and a few other drinks for us to choose. It is pretty nice because usually whatever anyone is doing they'll stop in and drink tea for awhile. There are breaks for classes during tea times as well so everyone can show up if they want!

We went for a mall run which was the first one of the semester and I guess they happen pretty frequently! When we got back from that however, my classes finally started. I had an Introduction to Zulu class and an Intercultural Communication class today. But while I am here, I am taking Zulu 1, Zulu 2, Intercultural Comm, Cultural History/Travel Study, and Principles and Practice of Community Engagement. Here is a brief description of the classes from what I understand.

Zulu 1 & 2- This is one of the popular languages spoken in South Africa. During my time here, I am taking a pretty intense class where we do both 1 and 2 of the language here. Along with it, we go on field trips and visit different people that speak Zulu and we practice it with them. It is also something that will be useful once we start our community involvement where we work with other South Africans while we are here.

Intercultural Comm.- This class seems like it is going to be my favorite! The professor is so rad and for class we did this activity outside. He seems like he integrates all kinds of teaching methods into the class so it seems like it will be easy to concentrate during it. We will focus on differences of cultures and the different ways we can better understand others and also why the we do what we do. In America, South Africa, and all different countries.

Cultural History- This class doesn't have too many lectures with it, but there are tons of field trips and things that we go see in order to learn more about the history of South Africa. I have learned so much already from just being here a few days and the different excursions that we have already done for it.

Principles and Practice of Community and Engagement- This class doesn't start for a little while and I am not really sure what this class is going to cover. However, I think they are going to teach us how we can give other people the tools they need in order to help out in areas that they need it. So instead of us going to a different country and saying, "Man, they all live in shacks I bet they would rather have house houses so we should build them for them." We can go in and ask them what they think they need and then show them how they can accomplish it. It broadens our view and helps us not push our own agendas on other people?

The one thing I really like about all of these classes is that a huge part of it is actually experiencing it. With each of them, there are many excursions and field trips we are going to go on so that we can fully understand and learn the different things we are supposed to for the classes. I feel like integrating this into them will help me to retain information and learn more then I would just sitting in a classroom. I don't really understand why schools don't do this for all of their classes. It seems stupid that they don't.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Home!

We came to the campus that we are going to be staying at for the next 12 weeks today! It is so pretty here inPietermaritzburg. Everything is so green and there are so many different trees.Also, the cliffs/hills are amazing. This is by far one of the prettiest places I have ever seen which I didn't expect. We flew on a 55 minute plane and once we got here we had lunch and a short orientation. We also got our room keys, which happen to be ghost keys, so rad! We also explored campus a little bit which has a swimming hole, waterfall and a beautiful view. Everyone is also getting to know everyone a littlebit better and it is a lot of fun being with everyone.

I don't think the whole school side of things have really set in yet, but tomorrow is the first day of classes so we'll see how that goes. Waking up at 8 a.m. almost everyday isn't going to be easy for me!

As of right now, pictures aren't really working so I'll have to figure that out later!

Random South African Fact: The most dangerous animals to hunt are the lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo,and rhino. They are referred to as the "Big Five".

Saturday, January 23, 2010

I'm in South Africa!

I'm here!

Let's just say I have been here less then a day and it has already been amazing! The plane ride was definitely not the most exciting thing in the world, it felt like it would never end. However, it was worth it.

We got here late last night and right when we got to our hotel, I went to bed. Today when we woke up though we ate this really nice breakfast at our hotel which was almost identical to our breakfasts at home and then we went on a tour of the city, Johannesburg. We have this huge bus thing that is super nice that our whole group of 53 students and a few other people fit on. The first stop of the trip was in one of the hugest malls here and let me just say it was AMAZING. We only had 15 minutes in it though because they just wanted us to see it but it was even nicer then the one in Roseville...didn't expect that here. They had these huge see-through ball things (almost like a hamster ball) in this pool of water and you can go inside of them and attempt to run in them for 20 rand! Which is 3 dollars U.S. money. So of course after about 5 minutes of walking in the mall, Tanya, Angie, Rob and I see them. I definitely wanted to try it out and since we are only in this city for 2 days and we aren't going to be coming back Rob and I started to hand money to the guys as the girls were complaining that we wouldn't have enough time. Of course though, we all ended up doing it and I will put pics up later! The whole rest of the group got to us as they were walking through the mall and they started taking lots of pictures and laughed at us, a lot.
After that, my legs hurt so much it was a pretty intense work out if I do say so myself. I also had trouble breathing but it wasn't asthma. It took the next 20 minutes or so to catch my breath, haha...

We then took a look at one of the biggest catholic churches here and then went off to lunch which was really fun!

Then we stopped at this restaurant that was more like the side yard of someone's house for lunch. We had certain foods to choose from and then for desert they had super good mangos and bananas! I love fruit and that seems to be something that's at every meal so I'm super stoked. Towards the end of the meal, some kids from the neighborhood came in and did a dance for us. It was one of the coolest things.

Then we went to a museum about the Apartheid and the whole Nelson Mandela Civil Rights Movement. Basically the history of South Africa. It was very interesting and pretty heavy stuff. They made us walk in separated as blacks or whites based on different cards we received when we got out tickets. It was similar to the Holocaust and also the whole slavery things that happened in the U.S. also.

It was a very good experience and I now understand a lot more of South Africa's history. I love the fact that now, Blacks and whites get along and they love one another even though everything took place within the last 50 years. They seem to be a lot more free from racism then we are in America.

We headed back to the hotel after that and we stayed up playing cards. I got to know a few more people while laughing non-stop for the night.

I love you all and I hope you are all doing well :)

Monday, January 18, 2010

It's almost here!

I can't believe I'm back in Azusa for 2 more days before I take off for South Africa! Today has been an interesting day. We had the opportunity to eat at In-N-Out, which was Amazing! Definitely going to miss it when I am gone. However, I think South Africa will be worth the no In-N-Out. Also, Jessica, Bethany, Katie, Jesse, Aaron, and my mom were there with me. We took lots of pictures which was kind of awkward but fine I guess haha!

Then, when we did make it to the airport, my flight to L.A. was delayed. Bethany and I went into the airport though and we bought smoothies and waters while we waited. Eventually, they brought in a different plane and I was able to take off at a decent time. Michael and Nicole picked me up from the airport and we were able to catch up in the car which was nice. I'm going to miss them. After that, Nicole and I skyped with Molly and the gang. I already miss Molly and I'm not even gone yet...sad day. I love her so much :)

I was able to watch the Bachelor too! Which is something that I wanted to do tonight, how sad is that? I am leaving the country in two days and I wanted to watch a T.V. show. It was nice being able to watch it with some of my friends before I leave one of my homes though!

Anyways! Tomorrow is the first day of orientation type stuff before I leave and I have to wake up at 8:30, bleh. I dislike the morning time.

A few things I am going to miss once I leave/already miss:


My best friend/blog writer Molly Ramirez


My family, obvi!


Late night food runs to In-N-Out


Target


My APU family


Television shows that are a total waste of time


And, last but definitley not least, my friends from home

As of now, that is it...I'll let you know what I really miss once I get there!

Friday, January 1, 2010

A New Year, 2010!

Well, a new year is here! Things are definitely going to be different this time around. One of the main goals that I have for this year is to keep a journal. It is something I've always wanted to do, but I have always failed when trying to do so. However, I feel like in keeping one you can really see the areas that you have changed throughout the year.

This next semester is also going to be a lot different since I won't be at the campus that I have been at this whole last year and a half. Wow, I can't believe it has already been that long. I am so excited for this year and I think that God has a lot in store for not only myself, but all of my friends as well.

I think while in South Africa I'll really be able to figure out even more of who I am and I am looking forward to that.