Sorry

Unfortunately, last Wednesday my computer crashed. So, I will give updates when I can, but until I have my computer back I am really at the mercy of my wonderful friends who have let me use their computers from time to time. So, I will let you all know all that has gone on as soon as I can!

Sawubona! (Hello!)

The Dinning Hall

     Two days ago, we spent our only day in Johannesburg touring on a big charter bus. We mostly found ourselves in Soweto (so-whey-too), driving through the different economical townships. The housing ranged from families who earned only 1,000 Rands per month (6.5 Rands is 1 U.S. dollar), all the way to homes that were bigger than most I have seen in the states. This included driving past the homes where Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela both lived.

Stain Glass Mandela

     The best part about all this driving around was the people. Everyone we passed, no matter their age or occupation, would wave to us and smile. The people are so friendly, and seeing each person light up when we would all wave and smile back was enough to fight the looming jet lag. While driving through Soweto, we stopped at the church where the students who were protesting apartheid fled. It’s ceiling had bullet holes in it still. We also stopped at a memorial for the first boy who was killed by these riots. Hector something. However, these two places were monumental in the eventual abolition of apartheid, since these students were the first to boycott the schools teaching Afrikaans rather than their native languages.

     Our first lunch was at a restaurant owned by our tour guide and her husband, and the food was delicious. After lunch, me and a few other girls walked across the street to where three kids were watching us with rapt attention. All of the sudden, over half of the girls (there are 44 of us in all) were surrounding the kids. Needless to say, this was overwhelming for them. After showing the kids a couple of pictures of themselves, however, the three opened up, and took to smiling and posing for each picture there on out. They blew us kisses as left and we boarded the bus.

Soccer City!

     After visiting the stadium where the world cup was played, our final stop for the afternoon was the Apartheid museum. It was very interesting to see the history, but also very sad to see the destructive path of racism it caused for decades.

     Yesterday, we all packed up our stuff again and hopped on the very short, hour flight from Johannesburg to Durban, and then made the hour and a half drive to Pietermaritzburg. This was probably one of the most beautiful drives I have ever seen! The whole area was lush with green tall grass, and many clusters of bushes and trees. The view was just unreal.

     When we finally pulled onto our street, there was a roar of excitement from the bus, since we immediately were thrown into a jungle atmosphere, where bamboo stalks and monkeys lined the road. We then got to campus and were instructed to set our stuff down by the orientation room. As we walked, however, several dozen boys in traditional garb began chanting on the lawn in front of us. Then, they did a 15-20 minute performance for us, by chanting, dancing, and singing. It was the best orientation I’ve had, and I already know any other semester will feel inadequate.

Our Chalet

     Our campus is like a movie set, and it has not set in how blessed we are to live here. Nothing feels real yet, and it didn’t help that I was woken up this morning by the soothing sound of a waterfall outside my window. Today we have church, and then I believe some time to explore the game reserve we live seconds away from. God is in this place, and I am losing my heart to it already.

We have four feral cats who have adopted campus as their home.

Travel Post Script

     I can’t help but have a child-like wonder while soaring through the sky above the whole planet. What amazed me, however, was how much the clouds looked like the earth below. We were starting our descent into Dulles International Airport, and I looked out at the blanket of clouds covering our nation’s capitol. At first they just looked like a random assortment of billowing, condensing gas molecules, but after a while, those masses began to change. Suddenly, we were flying amidst rolling hills, high mountaintops and beautiful valleys where the sun would kiss the centers just perfectly. God’s imagination is so great, and even the most cloudy of days can produce a beautiful landscape! Well, that is if you are hundreds of feet above them.

Travel

     Today was one looong 29 hours. On the 18^th, we all met at APU for a day of orientation, and learned a little more about the 55 people we would be traveling with to Africa. After the meeting was over, I made sure I was all packed and I began saying my goodbyes to the friends I was leaving behind. Since we had to meet at the trolley stop at 3:30 a.m. on the 19^th, however, my friends and I decided not to sleep. We made it to LAX around 4:30, and to our gate a little less than two hours before boarding time. I am proud to say that my first college all-nighter was spent watching Pocahontas, and going through airport security.

     Our first flight took us to Washington D.C. where we had just enough time to get to our new gate, have our tickets reprinted, and order some food to go. We then spent close to nine hours on the plane to a city in northern Africa, the name of which I cannot remember. This stop was to let off a few passengers, bring new ones on, and most importantly to fuel. Then, once all new passengers had boarded (we were not allowed to leave for the hour we were on the ground) everyone settled in for the second of our two eight and a half hour flights. Thankfully, after only about 5 hours of sleep in the last 48 hours, I slept a large majority of the second flight.

    But, after 29 hours door to door, we all made it safely to Johannesburg, as did everyone’s luggage! We have checked into the hotel we are staying in for the next two days, and most of us walked across the street for a very late dinner. As we sat and ate it began to rain; perfect fat South African drops that seemed to drop just because they had nothing better to do, not necessarily because it needed to rain. If you saw the rain you would see how lackadaisically it fell, even though it was still enough to get you sufficiently soaked in the 30-second walk across the street.

     Rain or no rain, what we have seen of Jo’burg on the bus from the airport has been beautiful, and I am looking forward to touring Soweto tomorrow! For now I will just have to battle jetlag and try to stay awake for another hour, or until my roommate gets to the room since I have the only key…

A Week Away

Today marks one week away from my trip to South Africa. I am knee high in to-do lists and laundry that has yet to be finished. The surest sign that my departure date is closing in is the amount of persistent procrastination. I would say I'm right on schedule!

Despite all the things I have to get done before I head back to California this Saturday, I am very excited to begin this journey! I know there will be things there I will never forget, and I cannot wait to enjoy the Lord's beautiful creation that is South Africa.

Adventure is Out there!

(Hand model: Dano Marr)