So it has been a little over a week and I haven't updated this. Let me just say, a lot has happened.

First off, my Zulu class went away for a night to a beautiful Fairmont hotel on the beach. Definitely a nice place...however 11 people in a room not so nice. We left in the morning and went to a little market place close to the beach before checking into our hotel. A fun day filled with shopping, walking along the beach, and eating at a restaurant on the beach. After that, we went to our hotel and checked in. That was followed by a really nice Italian restaurant which was so good because we don't get it that often here in Africa. There were so many laughs and so many fun memories that day. Then, when we got back to the hotel it was dark, but we wanted to check out the pools that the hotel had. We all changed into our swimsuits and took a "15 minute" hike to a pool that was on the beach. The way down had a waterfall, many steps, and lots of eyes all around. When we finally got to our room for the night, we didn't really get to sleep but it was so fun. The next day was also a lot of fun and at the end of the day of lounging around the pool and drinking super great virgin pina coladas, we headed home. We didn't have much time to re-coupe from being away, although parts of it were very relaxing.

The next morning at 6 a.m. we left for a battlefields tour. Basically it was filled with driving for hours and hours (which was the highlight of the day) and then we got out a random spots in the middle of nowhere, where a cranky old man told us about different battles that happened on the spots we were standing. However, that night we made it to a nice little hotel where they served us this great three course meal and where we got to talk to a man named Reg who is one of the teachers here at school and he is filled with so much wisdom. He basically asked us to ask anything on our minds or whatever we wanted. He knows so much about the Bible, life and is someone I wouldn't mind being like when I get older. He is a great role-model and a cool person to get to spend time with. The next day we did the same thing, lots of driving and more battlefield tours. An interesting weekend, but still fun.

Sunday was church, it was alright this time, but after church was our Sunday FUN DAY! We had a huge slip-n-slide, relay races with teams based on the Chalet we live in and lemonade and watermelon. It was a good time! Our Chalet got 2nd place in the relay race...but next time we'll def. win. The "activities committee" set it up where each Sunday we are having chalet games and based on who wins they will get points and whoever has the most at the end of the semester wins. Fun stuff...

Mon-Wed we had classes 8+ hours each day. It was so draining, but also so good. They flew down a man named Francis from Kenya and he is here for 4 weeks to teach us one of our classes. Let's just say if you put his lectures on DVD's and sold them, he would be rich and famous. His lectures are very insightful and the information is something that I believe everyone should know, but rarely ever do!

Today we started our service sites and that too is also amazing. We got to hang out with kids during recess, visit a kindergarten class, have a tour of an old jail where Ghandi supposedly stayed, and went to a women's shelter and spent time with them and their children. It was a day filled with joy! After all of that, I had a Zulu class as well. Very eventful day!

I know this is a somewhat boring post because there are no pictures and I didn't try to make it sound interesting, I figured I would keep you posted on some of the activities I have been doing. These next couple weeks, the main things we'll be doing is working at the service sites. Besides that, I'm still in Zulu, still taking a few classes, and of course still having lots of fun! I love you guys though and I will see you guys in less then 2 months now!!

Another Post

More goals for Africa that I didn't even think of!!

#11 Go on an African SAFARI!!!!

#12 Live with a legit Zulu tribe for at least 2 nights.

#13 Canopy Tour over the indigenous rain forest -DONE-

#14 Swim with the sharks...or crocodiles.

#15 Serve people here wholeheartedly with all that I am.




We have our service sites for the next four weeks that we are here. The one that I am going to work at is called Gateway! Here is the website if you want to take a look: http://www.projectgateway.co.za/ I'm going to be working there with 6 great people and it is going to be a blast.

Angie Coupe

Hilary Hall

Kristen Capodanno

Jacob Grahm

Sean Fosset

Becca Van Gundy

The thing I am looking forward to the most is working in something called the Esther house and that is a home for women that have been abused. I think it will be a life changing experience and a place where I can practice my Zulu and play board games with people that I never thought I would.

Also, This weekend we went on a canopy tour. There were 8 zip-lines and we got to weave back and forth across a beautiful place. It was a very cool experience especially in South Africa.
This week has been so great, and I got an A on my Zulu test which I didn't expect at all. It was a good surprise. We also have this week off from class or the Zulu people do so we are going to Durban for a night! We get to go on a mini vacation for a bit!! I'm super excited for everything that we are going to be doing still and I am loving here. Thanks all for your prayers and support I miss and love you all.