The reason I smile

One word to sum up these past five weeks in Cape Town, South Africa… there isn’t one great enough so I will settle for WOW since we HAVE redefined it now.

It all started back at our own schools, walking through the student centers when something about that bright blue sign that read L.E.A.D. caught our eye. For most of us, we were immediately sold before we even knew what L.E.A.D. stood for and it was the best decisions of our lives.

To my fellow “classmates”: Somebody once told us, “Don’t just go, LEAD!” I think it is safe to say, we came and we led and now we are ready to GO home and LEAD. We each know more about ourselves than we ever thought was possible; we have been encouraged by our own strengths but each other’s as well. We left our mark everywhere we went whether it was in the cage in the Atlantic Ocean, at the green market, or at our favorite restaurant. We have laughed so hard we nearly wet our pants. We ate enough Wang Thai to keep that place running for 13 more years. We made a purchase at every single vendor at Old Biscuit Mill, every single Saturday. We became better bargainers at the green market. We got bruised rear ends from riding those elephants. We got to see EXACTLY how an Ostrich gets rid of waste. We cheered for the Stormers more than we have ever cheered for our own SEC football teams that we love so much. We have been the reason for hundreds of smiles in Sir Lowry’s pass. We have touched the Indian Ocean. We now have a vision. We have hiked Table Mountain. We have crawled from pub to pub. We have seen the best sunset in the world. We have bungyed off a bridge. We have developed a great obsession with a cab driver. We have 100 new best friends. I could go one for years but the moral of the story is, we have done it all, and done it right. Always remember: “You can’t go home again.”

To our parents: Thank ya’ll for allowing us to leave you for 5 weeks and come to this place we now adore. For some of us, without y’all’s support, we would not have had this opportunity of a lifetime. I am still trying to decide exactly how I am going to show my thankfulness and repay my sweet parents. I will go ahead and thank ya’ll in advance for the encouragement to keep leading when we return.

To the Global L.E.A.D staff: Robbie, Court, Jo Jo, Dustin, Preston and Matt, y’all are simply incredible. Y’all are clearly doing something right. You have pushed us, making the sky our limit. You have encouraged us and loved on us like you have known us our whole life. Y’all are the reason that we have become better leaders, better friends, better lovers, and better servers. My prayer is that others will notice a difference in us so that in return we can point them to Global L.E.A.D. For y’all as well, I do not know how I will ever repay y’all. Thank you for working so hard for a year to prepare for us.

To the prospective student that is unsure of where to study abroad: If you had the opportunity to not just go but LEAD, why would you consider anything other than? My best advice for you is to do it like us, don’t ask questions, and most importantly GO and LEAD. Even if you have to start saving up now, do it. Go Global L.E.A.D, or don’t go at all.

I am ecstatic and anxious to be the change I wish to see in my community back home. I cannot wait to light another candle and fill more buckets. I have seen the indescribable reward in “doing for one what you wish you could do for all”. I am thankful. I have a permanent smile on my face because of this life changing opportunity in Cape Town, South Africa.

To Cape Town: I won’t be gone too long.

-Shelby Ausband

Bringing it Back Home

As I think back on the last five weeks, I see snapshots of everything that we’ve done like they were a stack of glossy postcards. From standing on the edge of the world at The Cape of Good Hope to leaping off the edge of the world record bungy bridge spanning the Strom River Valley, it’s clear that we’ve experienced and accomplished things that we’ll talk about and remember forever. However, it doesn’t take a world record bungee jump or a dip in the freezing Atlantic with Great Whites to make those incredible memories. It can be as simple as diving in to a deep conversation with people you barely know or fitting more people in a taxi than you ever thought was physically possible (26 to be exact). Our five weeks here seems to have been short enough to force us all together, but still long enough to form great and lasting friendships. Together, we’ve been challenged with questions that demand the perspective of our entire lives, and together, we’ve waded through those deep thoughts that will hopefully produce an answer for each of us.

It’s a bitter sweet reality to know that all of our pictures, stories and experiences simply won’t do justice for the real thing. We want to tell everyone about everything that we’ve done here, but only those who really experienced it will know how truly breathtaking that sunset was or how that joke had us all doubled over in side splitting laughter. Along with hundreds of other instances, it’s these moments that make our friendships valuable and completely unique. For many of us, we might as well have been exploring a new planet for five weeks; some of us left the States for the very first time, and many of us for only the second or third time. We ventured into a place where the letters TIA (This is Africa) are the only necessary response to anything that goes wrong or doesn’t go as planned. Anything we did had the potential to be a complete adventure, and, for those of us that were able to embrace that, it made the trip that much sweeter.

Yesterday morning, Friday, June 17, we had our last lesson here in Cape Town, and we learned about gratitude and how important others are in our life stories. With that in mind, I’d like to finish this blog post with gratitude. Parents, supporters, friends, brothers, sisters, and the multitude of others that I’m probably leaving out, we can’t thank you enough for your love and support. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we surely wouldn’t be here without it. It has been an amazing adventure of learning and self discovery, and we owe it all to you. We love you and can’t wait to see you Stateside!

-Hamilton Bolton

Thanks, Global LEAD.

As I look back to the week of spring break, when I signed up for Global LEAD, I could have never envisioned just how incredible this experience has been. It has changed my life. It has taught me that the beauty of success and failure is that neither are final. I must constantly work to improve myself, take risks, and exist outside of my comfort zone. Complacency is the friend of mediocrity. Never be comfortable with where you are. Act, ask questions, and live life to its absolute fullest.

Just as there are moments that define a life, there have been moments on this trip where I have felt so incredibly happy, so incredibly alive. Whether standing on the jagged rocks on the top of table mountain looking out at the picturesque expanse that extends as far as the eye can see or looking a Great White Shark in the eyes as it lashes against the side of your cage or even the time where you laugh uncontrollably with a new friend, the Global LEAD experience has had such a profound effect on me. It has shaped my vision, sparked my love of adventure, and developed my passion for service. I have felt so alive.

It hard to imagine that I will soon be making the long, arduous journey back home. But I’m ready to be back home. Ready to see my family, friends, and dogs. But above all else I’m ready to go home and share my experiences with others. I’m ready to live out my bucket list every day. I’m ready to care, risk, dream and expect more than society deems normal. I’m ready to be a leader. Thanks, Global LEAD.

-Tim Rood

Stronger than Words

Since day when I stepped foot into my beautiful new apartment for five weeks, to this closing fun filled busy packed week, my journey here in Cape Town has been an experience of a lifetime, to say the least. From taking a leap of faith off the worlds highest bungy jump, to building awesome new friendships, this trip has shown me who I am as a person. The fact that I am abroad, in a new surrounding, and out of my comfort zone, I have had the opportunity to question myself about what makes me, Chris Kasuya, exactly who I am. Without my parents, core friends, or distractions from the fast paced environment back at home, I wanted to see what truly identifies me. As I seek to learn more about my identity, and myself, I couldn’t help but to giggle upon comprehending my identity. I have always heard, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” but I thought I would be that odd apple that rolled down the hill. However, that old saying contains some truth in it. Whether I was cooking spaghetti and tested the noodles if they were ready by the throwing them on the wall like my mom taught me, to introducing myself as “I am hungry, what is your name?” when someone complains about being hungry which my dad always does, I have clearly matured to be an interwoven creation of my parents. They have raised me and developed me, to who I am, instilling their values. Those values which generated my personal core values, and ultimately my identity.

Today, June 16th is national youth day. How blessed am I, to have the opportunity to blog on my transition from a youth to adult, which is only feasible due to my parents unconditional love and nurture. I am truly blessed and lucky to have such wonderful leaders and role models for parents. I thank God everyday for both of them, seeing that not everyone in this world is fortunate as I am. Going to the townships has exposed the heartbreaking reality that not every child is as lucky as I am. And for that reason, I dedicate this blog to thank Keishi and Andrea Kasuya for being the greatest impact in my life and the utmost parents I don’t appreciate enough. Words will never describe my gratitude and love for ya’ll. I love you mom and dad!

-Chris Kasuya

“He loves you too. Bye Jake.”

After adventure week, I found myself engulfed in the energy of the experience on the garden route and my mind was led astray from the eye-opening experience I had in Sir Lowry’s pass the week before. I had been away from the Township for a week and a half when it was time to go back for the final time to see my new friends. On the 45 minute bus ride to Sun City where Sir Lowry’s Pass is located, we passed dozens of townships. I couldn’t wrap my head around the number of kids just like me that go to sleep in tiny shacks every night and wake up to the smell of fecal matter and charred wood from the fire that boils their water. At first, I thought the poverty in South Africa was bad beyond return. It seemed hopeless. There seemed to be a scrappy shack for every grain of sand in this country and about 5 people living in each one. How do you recover from that? What I came to realize is that it isn’t about repairing their shacks or giving them materialistic gifts. Our job here is to give the kids hope and love. Having this mission, I felt like on my final return to the township, I would make an big impact on one kid in hopes that he remembers me forever and has a sense of purpose for the rest of his life.

On the first day in Sir Lowry’s Pass, I was overwhelmed by how many kids used me as a makeshift jungle gym or an Everlast punching bag. I could not single out one kid and I felt almost worthless because I was not serving as a loving figure for any of the kids. I was merely a playmate. On the second day I stepped off the bus and saw one boy separated from the commotion of rowdy kids. He had a shy smile and a timid way he went about reacting with the Global LEAD students. I decided to reach out to this kid because I felt he needed me more than the outgoing, mini martial artists and boxers that had bruised me black the day before. I put him on my shoulders and attempted to talk to this kid. The only things I could find out about him is that his name was Leton and he was 5 years old. I figured he didn’t understand me well because his response to all my questions was just a big smile. After hanging out with him for about 30 minutes, I left him to go play rugby with a few kids. I turned around a few minutes later and there was Leton standing behind me smiling. I have never felt more fulfilled in my life because I knew I had already made a small difference in this kid. I taught him how to swing a bat and I pitched to him. Due to my passion for baseball, I was excited to see his engagement in my favorite sport. He hit every ball I threw to him and he took note of everything I told him about how to hit. I soon realized he could comprehend everything I said. I would do anything to give him the opportunities I had growing up because seeing how quick he learned and how grateful he was to have me pitch to him, he could be a great player. The next three days he greeted me with a smile as I stepped off the bus. He would say, “Jake...shoulders please!” I would put him on my shoulders and I walked him to the “cresh” which is the after school recess area. There was one instance outside the cresh that I accidentally ran him over playing tag and sent him rolling into a fence with rusty barbed wire. I was frozen in fear as he laid on the ground still with his eyes closed. I approached him, terrified of what could be wrong with him. As I shook him, he kept his eyes closed and then smiled and laughed in my face. His toughness was inspiring and his sense of humor even at age five made me laugh with him. On my final return, I spent my entire day with him. At this point, we were constantly talking about school, baseball, and his friends. It seemed like I was talking to a 12 year old in a 5 year olds body. It started to rain hard and the wind was so strong it was shaking trees and rocking the dozens of Coca-Cola signs. It is a miracle the shacks stayed upright. Even in the severely frigid weather, Leton stood wearing sandals, sweatpants and a thin t-shirt without a single complaint. I gave him my mens XL rain jacket to wear and when he walked it seemed as if he was floating like a ghost because the bottom of the jacket was dragging on the muddy street. I felt like a father to him which was a good feeling. When we sat on the floor to watch the talent show on the last night, 9 Rand worth of coins fell out of my pocket without me knowing. He picked them up and put them back in my pocket when he could have easily pocketed them. He shattered my stereotype of the township and really made me step back and realize that these people have such huge hearts.

The picture I drew for him stayed tucked into his pants except for when he was showing it off to his friends. Towards the end of the talent show, a toothless man approached me and said “hello Jake.” The man shared the same smile with me that Leton had on the first day at Sir Lowry’s. His hair was the same thin hair that Leton had. I didn’t have to ask to know that it was Leton’s father. He took Leton off my shoulders and said “it is time for Leton to bathe and then go to bed.” He never took that contagious smile off his face despite his unfortunate dental situation. I told the man that I was honored to have made friends with Leton and that I loved him. As he walked away with Leton on his shoulders like I had done so many times, he said “He loves you too. Bye Jake.” That was the last time I will ever see my new friend. I was actually happy his leave was so abrupt because I did not want to experience an emotional departure mostly for his sake. I am confident that he will remember me forever and there is no doubt he will remain in my heart for the rest of my life. I hope he hangs on to the picture I drew for him but I especially hope he hangs on to the time we spent together. Despite the severe poverty Leton and every other child in the township lives through, I feel that they will live happily through the strong ties they hold with each other. I wish I could value friends and family to the extent that these people do. I wish that I had friends that wore such a genuine smile at all times like my friend Leton. He has taught me that in order to live a fulfilling life, you must stick to your relationships with others and never let go. He has pushed me to never take anything for granted. Money might buy me nice things but it will never buy me the feeling I experienced with Leton in the township. I feel I have accomplished my goal and I hope Leton knows how much he changed my perspective on things. Hopefully I can get a hold of his address so I can keep in touch with him in the future because I will always wonder who he is going to grow to be.

-Jake Taylor

5,4,3,2,1 BUNGEE!

Today was our last day at Sir Lowry's pass. It's hard to believe that our days in Cape Town are coming to a close. It's sort of like when we went bungee jumping on adventure week. Everyone talked about it all week. We planned for it and wondered how we were going to feel and what it was going to be like. We knew it would be amazing but we were still a little scared. We waited and waited and waited. When the day came everything was so hustled. You pay and then you throw on a harness and the next thing you know you're standing on the side of a bridge with people yelling in your ear “5,4,3,2,1,BUNGEE!” AND IT'S GREAT but you feel strange because now it's over. You've been looking forward to this thing, letting it consume you, and now it's just OVER. What next?

We spent months looking into different study abroad programs, days applying for Global Lead, and finally weeks preparing for the trip. Although most of us were nervous but for the last 5 weeks, Cape Town has been our home. Is it really all about to be over? Do the weeks really just go 5,4,3,2,1, home? What next?

Many of us will return home to our family and friends, while some of us start jobs and go out on other adventures. What's important is that we take whatever it is that we learned back to whatever state we return to. Although we did so many of the same activities, many of us had different experiences here. We were scared or excited by different things. We were touched by different stories and spent time with different kids in Sir Lowry's Pass. Despite that, we still share something that no one at home can understand, something that is nearly impossible to explain. That's why we CAN'T forget the stories of forgiveness and courage that we heard, the sunsets that we saw, or the welcoming local people that we encountered. We shouldn't be afraid to let it change us. Although we'll miss Africa, we can always take a piece of it home with us, sharing what we loved about Cape Town (like the old biscuit mill) with those in our own towns (old athens mill anyone?) and using what we learned here to promote good in our own communities. Remembering that we don't have to travel across an ocean to have an adventure or even change a life.

Do your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world. -Desmund Tutu

-Blair Prescott

Everything We Have Done Connects

Yesterday, we talked about our vision statements in class. Personally, I have never thought about creating a single phrase that could define my actions for the rest of my life. Considering my indecisive nature, not to mention my conflicting ideas for a career, it is no surprise that this task was incredibly difficult. How could I narrow down everything I want in life into one single statement?

Apparently our teachers expected this reaction because we were given a worksheet to help guide us through the process. It forced us to go back through our journaling, making connections and spotting common themes along the way. Surprisingly, it became more and more obvious what should guide me in writing my vision statement. When looking through my core values and other assignments, I found repeating themes about how important my family and friends are and how I wished so much that they could be a part of this journey. They became the driving force for my vision statement.

It’s crazy to me how everything we have done here connects in some way or another. I have learned so much about the culture and history of South Africa. Not only that, but I have learned so much about myself. One of the things that I wanted to accomplish in coming here was become more independent. So in relation to my vision statement, this goal may be contradictive of my core value, family. So when editing my vision statement, it is more about finding a balance between the two.

This last week has made me realize just how amazing this experience has been. Not only have I been forced to think about the world in a different light, but I’ve also been given the amazing opportunity to deeply analyze myself. We read an article called “Becoming World Wise”. It talks about disconnect between our experiences here and reality back home. Coming on this trip has definitely changed each and every one of us, but not everyone at home knows what we have experienced. I’m so excited to go home and see my family but it makes sense that we might feel uncomfortable once we get back.

Being a homebody, it’s the small moments that bring me back to the level of gratitude and appreciation for being given this opportunity. For instance, yesterday I was missing my family and counting down the days until our final dinner. My roommates and I went to Camp’s Bay to eat dinner and watch the sunset. This sunset was unlike anything we have in America. The beauty in my surrounding made me stop thinking about a week from yesterday, and brought me right back into that moment right then. This brings me to my final point. If we keep thinking about the past or the future, you often forget to realize what’s happening in the present, and it is those moments that are important.

-Sara Snelgrove

Week 4 – Service Experience and Rugby Game

Each week we give our highs and lows of the previous week. Low: getting strep throat in a foreign country. Yuck. High: going to a braai and professional rugby game featuring the Cape Town Stormers versus the Pretoria Bulls. The game exceeded my expectations and completely made up for my less than desirable, 3+ hour clinic experience. Who knew we would have so much fun with the locals at the braai? Besides this interaction with the locals on Saturday, we also had an amazing week serving in Sir Lowry’s Pass.

Spending time in this township has allowed me to witness firsthand what true selflessness and being thankful are all about. I have seen so much love and hope in a town that at first glance appeared so broken. I spent a lot of time with my “soup mother” Ms. Fiela and her 16 year old daughter Samantha. I really connected with Samantha throughout the week because I saw a lot of myself in her. She’s an extremely ambitious girl, motivated by the support of her family and the vision of one day leaving Sir Lowry’s Pass. In what seems like such a hopeless situation, Samantha is able to work hard and trust in herself and her family to achieve her goals. Her real mom died when she was four years old, so Ms. Fiela took her in. Samanatha said a lot of her motivation lies in that—she has a commitment to work hard so as not to disappoint the woman that has shown her so much love and support. Ms. Fiela fully embodied what it means to be selfless, working everyday to provide love, support, happiness, and health to all of the children in the community. She must have said at least ten times how thankful she is for what she has. Rather than being negative, she remains optimistic and encourages others in her community to do the same. Although I had to miss two days of service week, reflecting on my experience with this two amazing people has really had an impact on me.

After having a heavy heart all week, it was great to kick back and relax on Saturday. The Bafana Bafanas and Springboks were finally reunited, and we got to celebrate this at the rugby game. We had a braai, the South African style barbecue/tailgate, and then got to go into the rugby game. Although the Cape Town Stormers lost, the whole experience was awesome. I thought it was interesting how similar American football gamedays are to South African rugby gamedays. The whole experience definitely narrowed the gap between that sense of “us” and “them.” It’s hard to believe we’re already in our last week of this five week trip. I will go home having met so many awesome people and having some of the most influential experiences thus far in my life. I really look forward to seeing what this last week holds in store for us.

-Morgan Edwards

Be a Watermelon in a Pumpkin Patch…

It’s hard to believe that this time next week I will be back in Atlanta. Where has the time gone? I’ve enjoyed every minute of every day here in Cape Town. From the new friends I’ve made to the lessons I’ve learned and the activities I’ve done, I’ve challenged myself in ways I did not think possible and hope that the personal growth I’ve gained on this trip continues to develop once I return home. This trip has made me question a lot about who I am and what I’m capable of.

A common theme I’ve thoroughly enjoyed here and learned a lot from is the power of WOW. Having that WOW factor that sets you apart from everyone else and raising the bar of expectations. It’s about doing more than what is asked because you simply want to rather than doing something for the sole purpose of recognition. WOW is excellence in anything you do. It’s about being impressive and making a difference that truly counts. Personally I think the WOW factor is what turns a good leader into a great leader.

Random story, but one of my friends from home once randomly joked with me, saying, “You are like a watermelon in a pumpkin patch.” At first I thought the statement was incredibly absurd and pointless but for someone reason when we learned about WOW last week this saying came to mind. So, my metaphorical definition of WOW is: to be a watermelon in a pumpkin patch. Seriously, if you saw a watermelon growing in a pumpkin patch wouldn’t your initial reaction be: “WOW!”? Realistically, however, having that WOW factor means standing out in some way that is different than the norm. May seem crazy, but there are too many people who are easily influenced by the people they are surrounded by. If there is anything my parents taught me over the past twenty years that reminds me to have that WOW factor is to stick to my core values. That may seem a little off topic, but for me, knowing what my core values are and making them a solid foundation to live on ultimately serve as guidance that give me the competence to make independent, confident decisions that aren’t influenced by others and remind me to do more than what is expected of me.

-Laura Dunlap

SKYDIVING!!

After getting cancelled last weekend due to weather, I finally got my chance to skydive. After we were suited up I was told I would be the lucky one who got to be thrown out of the plane first. Yay! When we got to the plane it was literally the tiniest thing I’ve ever seen, it was quiet the squeeze up to 9,000 feet, which took about 20 minutes. There was no training sessions for this either. My tandem guide just told me that once the door of the plane opened, I had to wrap my feet around the edge of the plane, hold on to my harness, and lean my head back against his shoulders. When he finally pushed us out of the plane, we were in free fall for about a minute. It was so much fun! Once he opened the parachute, we just glided through the sky. The view of Cape Town and Table Mountain from up there was magnificent. Definitely want to do it again!

-Lauren Harris

Final Time in Sir Lowry’s Pass

Today was our final day in Sir Lowry’s Pass volunteering in the township. We left lagoon view around 2:00 and arrived in Sir Lowry’s Pass around 3:00. Just like everyday during service week our bus was surrounded by children who had been waiting for us to get there. We went to the mural that Global Lead painted for the local school and admired and took several pictures with it. Afterwards, we headed to a building to watch the talent show that both global lead students and Sir Lowry’s Pass children had been practicing for.

Despite the random torrential downpours we experienced while we were there, we had an amazing crowd of children and teenagers. It was amazing to see how many relationships were formed during both service weeks, and how close so many Global Leaders had gotten with so many of the Sir Lowry’s Pass children. It was clearly evident throughout the community how much our time there meant to them. It was also clearly evident how much our time in the community meant to each of us. I know I gained so much from an experience that going in I really did not know what to expect. I formed a close friendship with two ten-year old girls, and I know that this experience has truly changed me.

Watching the talent show, it was amazing to see the raw talents of all of the Sir Lowry’s Pass children who participated. The whole time I couldn’t help but think about how naturally gifted all of the children were. It was also amazing to see so many teenagers participating with the younger children and how many other women came just to watch. The people of Sir Lowry’s Pass truly display a sense of community like I have never seen.

As the talent show ended, there was much emotion as everyone spent their final moments in the community and with all of the children. I know that one little girl wouldn’t let go of me until we got to the bus and even then stood by the window and waved until it drove away. It was very difficult and sad for us to leave all of the new friends we made in the community. However, I feel that we are all leaving with a new knowledge that will be with us forever. It will be very important for us all to not forget our experience in Sir Lowry’s Pass and continue to serve others any way that we can.

-Amelia Gwaltney

Girls Day Out!

The phrase “shop ‘till you drop” took a literal meaning today when a small group of us girls headed out in the beautiful weather for some lunch and shopping! The day started around noon at Café Royale for lunch. The menu is essentially all burgers, veggie or beef, and they are all delicious! I had a veggie burger called the Googamooly…AMAZING! It was a sunflower seed and bean patty with avocado, melted cheese, and feta! Definitely food blog worthy!!!

After lunch we walked around Long Street for a bit, and made our way over to the Green Market! We spent about two hours bargaining for cool gifts and souvenirs like scarves, bottle openers, bracelets, straw bags, paintings, and masks.

Then we walked about 20 min. over to the Waterfront to grab some ice cream, go into a few more stores, and have dinner at Beluga. Beluga is an amazing sushi restaurant with a very cheap happy hour from 4-7… food and drinks are half off! We sat outside under the warm heaters and enjoyed a wonderful dinner. After an entire day of walking, shopping, and eating, we headed back to the Lagoon to relax and get some sleep! I have to say that today was one of my favorite days during our entire stay in Cape Town!

-Allie Cooper

Monday June 13, 2011

Woke up at 6:45am to meet up with my community group and another group so that we could begin our rounds of waking up some of our new friends and Global Lead staff by banging pots and pans, shoving a video camera in their faces, and screaming “ Don’ t just go… LEAD!” Very entertaining! Some people, including myself, are just NOT morning people. It was a great way to start the day off, and we got to share the video to the rest of the group for the morning WOW. Today’ s lesson was about how we can take what we have learned from our amazing

experiences here home and do “ good” in our own communities. We were given this quote by Desmond Tutu: “ Do you little bit of good where you are; it’ s those little bits of good put together

that overwhelm the world.”

Being in South Africa and seeing all the poverty and needs of communities such as Sir Lowry’ s Pass and realizing our responsibility as privileged people of the world, it can be overwhelming deciding who and where and what needs our help. Instead of getting so bogged down with trying to save the world, “ do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.” It may be difficult finding that one, and it may seem unfair, but it really is the best place to start. We were given three tips for how we should do our bits of good – 1)Do something deep, rather than wide, 2) Think long-term, not short-term, and 3) Contribute your time, not just money. We were then given some statistics from our home states and examples of where to begin helping our communities when we get back with our new sense of social responsibility.

After class and lunch, a huge group of us went to the Green Market to purchase souvenirs and gifts. I was scrambling to find the perfect gifts for friends and family back home and ended

up with some great stuff by bargaining some good deals. After the Green Market, some people walked to the V& A Waterfront to do some more shopping, and the rest of us went back to the

apartments. We had another large group pile in Ish’ s cabs for dinner at Beluga for half-price cocktails and sushi. I love sushi, so I was super excited. It was delicious – some of the best sushi

I have ever had. My mouth waters just thinking about it! We had such a fun dinner, just girls! Afterward, some of us wanted to walk to the Waterfront to walk off our dinner, but also to, of

course, get ice cream there. However, on the way we saw and sign for Gelato Mania and decided to check it out. We had the place to ourselves so we sat around and ate our delicious gelato – some of us even went back for seconds! When we finally made it to the Waterfront, we met up with other Global LEADers to hang out for a bit. A wonderful end to another wonderful day in

Cape Town!

-Betsy Klopman

One, Not Everyone

Another great weekend in Cape Town has come and gone. Saturday morning was spent at the infamous Biscuit Mill, the greatest place on Earth. This round, I enjoyed a delicious steak sandwich and a mango passion fruit smoothie that I bought from a man dressed as a wizard. Haha I’m really going to miss the eclectic atmosphere, and of course the awesome food. By nightfall, I was surrounded by die hard screaming fans at my very first rugby game! Rugby is like a religion here. These fans are intense. We cheered for the Stormers, who faced off against the Bulls. Although we were not victorious in the end, it was an exciting match and I feel that I have a much better understanding of the game. Shout out to all the locals that I was drilling with questions- Thank you, or “Dankie” in Afrikaans. Sunday, we explored the magnificent Kirstenbosch Gardens. They really lived up to their reputation of having “Dr. Suess” looking vegetation. This is a picture of me and the coolest flowers I’ve ever seen.

Monday has arrived and it’s really hard to believe that we are embarking on our final week in Cape Town. In class today, the theme was “the power of one.” Do for one what you wish you could for everyone. Not knowing how to help everyone is not an excuse for overlooking the good that you could be doing for one. Don’t underestimate the power of this. Think ONE, not everyone. This was the mindset that we explored today, and I found it very relatable to my time in the township last week. I tend to look at a situation and immediately try to find a solution. At first, I was disturbed by quality of life and overwhelmed because I felt that I could never do enough for these amazing people who deserve so much better. Throughout the week, I had to discover my role and accept that many things were out of my control. I began to understand that I was underestimating the affects of my presence. It’s not a surprise that in the end, they will have done more for me than I will have for them; however, once I accepted that I was only capable of so much, I feel that I was able to fulfill my role to the best of my ability. I was the truest and happiest version of myself, aiming to give as much love and encouragement to the children as possible. “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” This is a quote from Noble Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu that epitomizes my realization through this experience and will stay with me once I return to school. I can’t let myself get discouraged if I think that an issue is too big to tackle. There will always be some bit of good that I can do. If I can make a difference in even one person’s life, then that’s something I can be proud of. While I hope to one day make a bigger impact through philanthropic business, for now I’m embracing baby steps. They will get me going in the right direction.

-Ali Pleiman

Never Have I Ever

A popular game amongst us college kids, the game of “Never Have I Ever” proves to be an interesting way to get to know your friends and have a fun time. Before coming to South Africa, my list of “never have I evers” fell to the floor. This trip has been the experience of a lifetime where I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone, conquered fears, and made new friends. Here’s a list of some “never have I evers” that would otherwise still be true had I not come to South Africa. I can now proudly claim I HAVE accomplished these feats in the short period of time we have been in Cape Town.

1. Never have I ever eaten ostrich, springbok, or kudu.

2. Never have I ever stood with my toes hanging off 710 feet above a river and bungee jumped.

3. Never have I ever been face to face with a great white shark.

4. Never have I ever ridden an ostrich.

5. Never have I ever made such fast friends than I did with the children in Sir Lowry’s Pass.

6. Never have I ever crawled on my hands and knees inside a cave millions of years old.

7. Never have I ever toured a prison with such political and social significance.

8. Never have I ever learned words and phrases in Afrikaans.

9. Never have I ever split a taxi fare between 19 other people.

10. Never have I ever been less than a foot away from a cheetah.

It’s crazy to think we are now in our last week of the trip, but I am so grateful for the countless incredible memories made and experiences I’ve had with 101 fellow Global LEADers and friends. It will be a difficult adjustment not waking up and seeing the beautiful Table Mountain scenery outside my window every morning; however, I am looking forward to heading home and sharing my South African stories with friends and family.

Cheers,

Michael McDaris

Home Stretch

It is amazing to think that we are heading into the final week of the program. Throughout the past four weeks our students have heard from incredible speakers—an Apartheid expert, director of a major NGO, legendary SEC football coach, and a prisoner who served his sentence on Robben Island. They have visited incredible sites—the luscious vineyards of Franschoek, the breathtaking cliffs of the Cape of Good Hope, and the historic Robben Island. They have conquered many feats and faced incredible fears—hiking Table Mountain, bungee jumping, diving with Great White Sharks, exploring ancient caves, and coming face-to-face with lions, elephants, leopards, and even ostriches (those birds can be intense)! And they have given their heart and hands to the community of Sir Lowry’s Pass—recognizing that sometimes the best gift you can give is that of encouragement and love.

This past week I had the opportunity to join the Bafana Bafana’s on adventure week. Locals speak endlessly of the beauty of the Garden Route, and they are correct—it is amazing! But what I was truly in of awe was not the epic scenery, but the endless encouragement that students showered onto each other as they each pushed themselves to new limits. Adventure week is not about taking a week “off school,” it is a chance for each individual to lead themselves into new arenas of strength, to challenge themselves to preserve, and to open their eyes to their own powerful potential. When I returned to Cape Town, I was so excited to hear all the amazing stories from the Springboks and their time in Sir Lowry’s Pass. Embracing a community that is different from what you grew up in is its own adventure, and both our students and the families of Sir Lowry’s Pass did this so well. In addition, the group made huge progress on the school mural that will be ready to be revealed this Wednesday at our final day in the community!
This week we will focus on how we can take our experiences and leverage them when we get home—application is everything!
-Courtney Doran

Is Love Enough?

I woke up this morning and opened the curtains in our living room. We’re always so rushed in the morning that sometimes we forget to do this. The view is more beautiful today than ever. The sun is shining and I can hear the waves folding along the beach. I guess being moved from the first floor to the bottom floor wasn’t such a bad thing after all! It’s nice being able to just walk right out to the water front. Its little things such as this that I will miss once I am back in Athens.

Service week has seemingly gone by faster than adventure week did! It’s hard to believe that we only have one week left here in Cape Town... where has the time gone? As I sit here and reflect on what this last week has had to offer, I must admit I’m a little overwhelmed. I knew going into service week that we were there to give love, to show interest in the community, and to just give hope to those who didn’t seem to have any. Although I am confident through the relationships that I built there that I did indeed do what was intended, I can’t help but wonder… did I really even make that much of a difference?

I met a girl named Michelle, she was 14 years old. I learned in just the first conversation with her that her mother had died 4 years ago and that her father was never really around. She lived with her grandmother and 3 siblings, all of which, she looks after. She loves school, and was very honest with me in admitting that some days she goes and barely learns anything. Of course I ventured into the “whys” of the situation and she shared that many kids in the community don’t see the value in going to school. In classrooms of around 40 students, teachers get frustrated and sometimes “give up” on the lesson for the day. It was hard knowing that someone as level-headed and motivated as she was couldn’t get the education she wanted, although she assured me she was going to keep on keepin’ on and even continue into the 8^th grade; students here aren’t required to continue school after the 7^th grade. Although it’s hard knowing that many children in the community have little to no motivation, mostly because of their lack of parental support, there is some comfort in that fact that there are students like Michelle that strive for a hopeful future.

As we prepared to get back on the bus Friday afternoon, Michelle said to me, “goodbye my sister, I will see you Wednesday.” Sister? Even though I wasn’t giving this community concrete things such as fresh water, new clothes, or money… I guess I was making a bigger difference than I had thought.

Sometimes you can help by just giving a hug…

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. -Edward Everett Hale

Katie Hudson