leavnig the hostel

Today, we finally are leaving our hostel in Stellenbosh, South Africa! We have been here for two weeks, but it feels like a lot longer. I am excited to get moving and see more remote  parts of Africa, I feel a little sheltered here in Stellenbosh. We've already experienced so much i can't even imagine how much more we're going to learn and experience once we leave! This afternoon, after a full day of classes we are off to stay with a host family in Cape Town. We live with this family for a week, with another classmate from the Traveling School. We're going to go to class thursday and Friady, but Saturday and Sunday we just spend time with our famlies which will be so cool! Friday we get to go to our first market! I am so excited to see all of the diferent items that will be there (and buy some :) ) After our homestay, we get onto our truck! We pretty much live out of this truck for the rest of the trip! We have plans to go backpacking, for around ficve days which i am really pumped up for. Im most excited for mid october when we get to raft down the Zambize (spelling?) And learn to scuba dive and surf later on. This trip has so much more to offer, and its already flying by. So much to do, so little time. I love the other girls on this trip and get closer to them every day, they are people ill never forget!

September 13, 2010

Africa has been an emotional roller coaster. being away from home has been harder than i expected. I miss everyone so much. And hot showers :( The things Im seeing here are unlike anything i ever expected to see in my lifetime. We have visited townships, where people are living off of so little. We have gone to museams where we have learned about the aparthied, which i wasn't educated about at all. This is a triup i will remember for different reasons than a typical vacation. I won't remember tanning on the beach and drinking diet pepsis...ill remember the face of the 16 year old boy i met, with fetal alcoholl syndrome, and HIV. I won't remember sleeping in and spening time with family, I'll remember waking up at 6 am to run, hike, or mountian bike, and the relationship i am building with all of the girls here. This is a challenge for me, phyiscally and mentally, but at the end of the day i know that this is the place i am supposed to be, and that i want to be. I am working on being present here mentally 100%, but so is everyone else. We are al facing the same challenges and its nice to be able to talk wit the other girls here, its really comforting. I miss my mom telling me the things i need to get done when i am home, i've realized how forgetful i am without her here with me. I miss my dad giving me words of wisdom and adivice, words that  I will carry with me my entire life, and pass on to my own family. I miss spending time with my sisters, wether it be laughing with them, yelling at them, or just sitting at the dinner table with them. I never realized how lucky i am until i got here. I have the most amazing family, immediate and extended, in the entire world. I live in a place where education is completely encouraged and accessable. I live in a place where disease and poverty aren't surrounding me all the time. My family can provide food, shelter, and love for me. And that is more than enough. I can't wait to see them again, but also to continue on this journey, where I'm learning so much about myself, and the world around me. I am blessed.

Tomorrow!

Saying bye to everyone has been very emotional, but I can't wait to get to DC and meet everyone, and to finally arrive in Africa. I hope I can talk to friends and family a fair amount. Im really excited to start documenting my trip through journaling and photography. I've heard a lot of good things from people who've gone to South Africa, and I know it'll be the experience of a lifetime. This will be the last post for a few weeks as I'm leaving tomorrow! Can't wait to write about more experiences as they come. <3

Leaving so soon!

Only two more days left here in Boulder, Colorado. Everything seems to be coming up so fast, time really flies. I'm getting a little nervous about the trip. mostly missing my family and friends. I know the first few weeks will be tough, but after I'm comfortable with all the girls and teachers I know I'll have the time of my life. Really looking forward to staying with a host family, and creating relationships with everyone. Packing is stressful but I finally think I have everything. I am going to miss everyone so much!