"Live with Passion" by Kathleen Block

My Top 10 Favorite Things We Have Done in Cape Town

• Our farewell dance party was by far our most exciting time in Sir Lowry’s Pass! We watched tons of songs and dances from both American students and African kids. Although it was so sad to leave the people we have come to know so well, the dance party was a great send of!
• Riding elephants on adventure week was one of the coolest things I have ever done.
• Eating my birthday dinner at Buena Vista—some of the best nachos I have ever had!
• Our trip to Robben Island, including a tour by Ahmed Kathrada, Nelson Mandela’s cellmate.
• I definitely underestimated climbing Table Mountain. It was no stroll in the park, but the view from the top was absolutely breath taking.
• The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens were beautiful and a great place to walk around on a nice day or to eat lunch
• Charly’s Bakery was such a treat for my birthday. The hot pink cup cake was to die for!
• The Neighbourgoods market at the Old Biscuit Mill open on Saturdays had the best fresh food I have ever seen. I am a huge junk food eater and this place actually made me want to eat healthy.
• Cape Point was such a cool experience. Especially seeing a baboon crawl into a cracked car window into the lap of a napping man.
• Mama Africa was a great atmosphere with great music. It was the perfect place to get an ostrich steak.

"Cape Town Restaurants" by Rea Hasie

Favorite Restaurants in Cape Town so far (in no order)

• Cubana’s, on Somerhurst, great quesadillas, nachos and drinks
• Manna Epicure, on Kloof Street, wonderful for a Sunday brunch
• Blues, in Camp’s Bay, it is all good and the décor is fabulous
• Charly’s Bakery, one of Opera’s top picks for Cape Town, delicious quiche
• Tank, located in Green Point, outstanding sushi and huge fish tank
• Opal Lounge, on Kloof Street, chic, hip atmosphere, unbelievable food and drinks—number one pick
• Crave, in the Green Market Square, perfect for grabbing a quick bite, love the sandwiches
• Mama Africa, on Long Street, favorite dish of the night was vegetable bake

"Africa, WHAT UP" by Meghan Deere

Having been here for almost THREE weeks already, how can I truly put my experiences into one entry? I tried coming up with clever ways to make my blog stand out (including a failed attempt today on the bus to think of a rap… I guess I’m just not reppin’ my ATL roots) but there is no other way for me to even begin to express my time here without a simple list. But hey, at least I’m trying, neh? (‘neh’ is my attempt to fit in with the locals…) So here are some trip highlights so far…

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• BEING STUCK IN AMSTERDAM. Yes, it’s as crazy as they say it is. After being delayed in Atlanta for 3 hours, a small group of us quickly realized we would be stuck in Amsterdam for the night. (Team Amsterdam for life!) Naturally, we explored for the day and saw the, ahem, interesting sights, sounds, and smells of the city. It was a good time considering that we were delayed getting to Cape Town!
• ADVENTURE WEEK. How I miss staying in amazing hostels, meeting amazing people, never really knowing when we were going to get out of that van, and driving through the beautiful Garden Route of S.A. to new adventures! I loved being able to see more of S.A. outside of Cape Town and do things- like BUNGEE JUMPING- that I probably will never get to do again! I only wish it had lasted longer!
• SIR LOWRY’S PASS. How can I put this place into words? I cannot get over how generous and happy these people were to welcome us into their homes. I have had so much fun going back this week and getting to know my host family better and being able to play with the most badass kids around! Just be sure to know all the words to Justin Bieber songs or you will be shown up by a 2 year old…
• TABLE MOUNTAIN. Curse you Table Mountain!! You were a beast to climb, but once I made it to the top (see Dad I’m exercising!) it turned out to be the best view in all of Cape Town! Definitely worth it!
• ROBBEN ISLAND: Learning about the history of this country is so important to my being here. I cannot understand anything about South Africa without knowing its history, and I am so glad we got to go to Robben Island to see it first hand! And having Mandela’s cellmate give us a first-hand tour wasn’t too shabby either.
• MAMA AFRICA. Deliciousness wrapped up in great food, great atmosphere, and a band that likes to pull as many girls up on stage at once as possible! It’s quite an experience being able to taste all the different food like Ostrich and Warthog. Feel free to try everything, just make sure to stay away from the flaming shots!!
• FRANSCHHOEK: Napa Valley, Smapa Valley. These vineyards are set in the most beautiful mountains I’ve ever seen! I loved getting able to taste the different types of wines (and possibly have purchased some different types as well…) and walk around the quaint town of Franschhoek!

Just being here soaking up the amazing culture and scenery was all I wanted out of this trip, and all of these things have just added to my experience. I’m never going home!

PS- HEY MOM AND DAD. IGNORE THAT LAST SENTENCE. XOXO

“Go Exploring” by Kiersten Williford

The scheduled events of Global Lead have been amazing, but some of my best days have come from my experiences of exploring Cape Town and everything it has to offer without any particular agenda.

One day a group of us went into the city to visit some places we had heard were interesting. We went to the District Six museum and were exposed to the history of South Africa. Charley’s Bakery provided us with a delicious treat and break before we made our way to the Castle of Good Hope. After looking at all the exhibits, we found ourselves on the roof of the structure, doing nothing but enjoying the weather and each other’s company.

Round two of exploring Cape Town came with fewer participants, but the same level of gratification. We went to the slave lodge for our historical fix of the day before we walked around the Company Gardens. The weather could not have been more perfect. Huge trees and indigenous flowers provided a beautiful foreground, while Table Mountain and the perfectly blue sky created some awesome scenery. The friendly, fat squirrels were benefiting from the people out and about the gardens. They will literally eat out of your palm and the size of them proves it. The night ended with an authentic African meal at Mama Africa, filled with many laughs and good conversation.

No official plans were made either day, but it proved that simply getting out of the hotel and taking advantage of this great city make some great memories. And of course genuine people and perfect weather are always a plus.

"My South African Experience" By: Dana Tashiro

My South African experience so far has been completely unreal and over the top amazing. When in Cape Town, we have started to frequently use the catchy acronym, T.I.A. T.I.A. is most commonly known as, “This is Africa”. So naturally, here’s my top 5 most African things or experiences:

1. Petting cheetahs at free will with a small payment of 100 Rands
2. The unyielding love for both Michael Jackson and Justin Beiber that resides in virtually all township homes
3. Mama Africa, the name says it all
4. Obsessions with anything Springbok and everything Bafana Bafana
5. The opportunity to cage dive with great white sharks, bungee jump, sky dive, surf, sand board, para-glide, go on wild safaris, and riding ostriches all while only traveling at max a few hours from home

T.I.A. is a legitimate phrase and is used to describe only true African happenings.

"Week 1 Review - in Numbers!" By: Katherine Miller

Day 6

3,900 - (American) dollars that Miss Ann, township soup mother, makes in a year.
1994 - year Nelson Mandela was elected President of South Africa in the first fully representative democratic election.
335 - pictures I've taken since arriving in South Africa.
45 - minute bus ride to Sir Lowry's Pass township.
16 - cheetahs at Spier; only a few we could pet though!
15 - soup mothers in Sir Lowry's Pass township.
12 - apostles. (the Atlantic-facing range of Table Mountain)
10 - rand (South African currency) + our unique charms/talents = a gift challenge.
9.5 - hour we eat breakfast on week days before class meetings.
9 - missing face-paint markers.
5 - members of the band that sang to us at Mama Africa's.
4 - generations of women in Miss Ann's house on Thursday.
3 - restaurants in our hotel.
2 - meals I've eaten at Kauai, a sandwich and smoothie restaurant. It's delicious!
1 - great taxi driver named Ishmael Orrie.

Readers, feel free to comment with additional numbers/statistics!

Life in three words:
Africa is immeasurable!
(uncountable waves; more kids than I could ever have imagined; exotic, spotted wildlife)