"40 More Minutes..." By: Matt Barlow

So far my experience in South Africa has been unreal from day one. Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is never boring. I could write a novel about all we have done and seen, but I will try to shorten everything into five unforgettable memories for the sake of this costly internet.
1. Adventure week. Getting the chance to bungee jump, ride an
elephant, quad bike, go dolphin viewing, go on a safari and almost get
trampled by a herd of elephants, zip line through South African gorges,
get a “kiss” from an ostrich, and crawl through the Congo Caves all in
one week.
2. The scenery. There are countless amazing views around every
corner. Pictures cannot even describe what I am getting the chance to
experience personally.
3. Table Mountain. Hiking up the rigorous terrain in order to look
over all of Cape Town.
4. Robben Island. Getting the chance to meet Nelson Mandela’s cell
mate and absorb all that he had to say along with experiencing all the
history that Robben Island displays.
5. Service. My favorite part of the trip so far hands down. Going
to Sir Lowry’s Pass and living with a family there was truly humbling.
They showed me happiness is not in the form of materials, but in the
three most important things in life: faith, family, and friends.

"Most Interesting" By: Blake Porche

Coming to South Africa, I didn't know much history or information about the country, and pretty much nothing about the people from here. After an overly exciting adventure week, I had experienced thrills I never have and some of the best hostiles/bars in the world. The first week back to the Lagoon has been informing in lectures, but the most interesting day has been the trip to Robben Island. Getting toured by Nelson Mandela's cellmate was a great experience, and I feel as though we got an inside peak which most people don't get to experience. From learning the entire history of the apartheid and also seeing how a leader in politics at the time viewed it all was the most I've learned since I've been here (no offense teachers).

"Just Another Day" By: Tyler Mobley

The day started off with what I thought to be a nice, easy stroll up Table Mountain at sunrise. I was wrong. It was a rigorous two hour hike straight up a mountain. I haven't done physical activity like that since football back in high school. The hike was well worth it. When arriving to the top absolutely exhausted we were met with one of the most beautiful views my eyes have witnessed.

The next part of my day was skydiving. Within twenty minutes of getting back to the hotel from table mountain, I was on a bus heading to the skydiving site. In the bus I was terrified. I have never been to good with heights and was absolutely regretting my decision to sign up for this. Somewhere between the bus and arriving to the site my nervous feelings turned to excitement. After talking with the people I felt completely comfortable and was eager to get in the plane and dive. It was amazing. The whole time falling I felt like a five year old on Christmas morning. It was one of the best experiences of my life and something I definitely plan on doing again.

The next part of my incredible day was a trip to a casino. Arriving at the Grand West was like arriving at disney world and I spent equally as much money. After an hour of texas hold em I was out of the money that I felt comfortable losing. Thankfully I was smart enough to cut it off then. Not everybody in the group was as lucky.

The day had to eventually come to an end. I arrived back at the hotel around 2:30 AM. I laid and bed and reflected on the day I had. Before I could begin to think back on the day my alarm was going off. It was time to begin yet another day.

"Thoughts on Capetown" By: Chelsea Biele

After being in Cape Town for only 12 days, I have already learned that taking action is the only way to truly make the most of the trip.

C is for conquer.
Just 2 days ago, our entire group of 100 plus students climbed all the way to the top of Table Mountain- that’s 3,563 feet or 1,086 meters in elevation! It was truly an accomplishment to look out and see just how high we had climbed.
A is for adapt.
Being over 8,100 miles away from home in the U.S., we have had to adjust to a new environment with different ideals, social norms, and ways of life. Adapting to be accepted here has been a challenge when others stereotype you as “obnoxious, un-educated, drunk Americans”. (direct quote from Jürgan the German)
P is for persevere.
Today, we visited Robben Island with special guest accompanying us-Nelson Mandela’s cellmate for 18 years. He shared his experience and demonstrated how both are truly living examples of what it means to never give up. Instead of repeating the cycle of violence that stemmed from the Apartheid, the men survived the hardship of imprisonment, rose above it, and did not seek revenge, but instead made positive change.
E is for explore.
Cape Town has so much to offer whether it is the shopping, dining, or nightlife. We have ventured to the Green Market to haggle for some trinkets as well as tested out as many restaurants and bars as possible. There is no time to waste when there is a new discovery around every corner.
T is for test.
At the core of this trip has been to do something out of your comfort zone and truly test your limits. I’ve already gotten to pet a baby cheetah and spend the night in a township, which are things I never would have foreseen myself doing. Skydiving, shark cage diving, bungee jumping, and elephant riding are on the list for next week.
O is for offer.
We spent the entire week last week learning the true meaning of giving in Sir Lowry’s Pass. I really got to know my family through storytelling, dancing, and rapping all night long. I was able to offer them my knowledge and encouragement as well as show them love.
W is for wonder.
For lunch yesterday, some of us walked to the lighthouse and ate at Maestro’s right on the water. We had a perfect view of Table Mountain and the entire city of Cape Town. It is important to stop and admire the scenery because otherwise you’ll miss out on one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
N is for navigate.
After learning the Power of Living, Giving, Wow, and Now, I have realized how important it is to figure out what I want to do in life. The only way to get there is by plotting a course to follow. Whether or not that course has it’s detours will only make the voyage that much more interesting.

“Prove Yourself Wrong” By: Helen King

“Do you think I could go on this trip and not skydive because you know me and that. ain’t. happenin.” This exact sentence was what was written in the e-mail I sent to my parents above the link to Global L.E.A.D Cape Town. My parents replied later that day, assuring me that no one would make me do anything I was not comfortable with. So, with my parents’ support and my love for great white sharks biting at my heels (literally?), I decided to sign up for the trip. To this day, I am not really sure why I did. I have always been an overly cautious person and have felt strongly about what I did not want to do: no roller coasters, no cruises, no plane rides (which never seemed to stop my parents from booking transatlantic flights for the family sans discussion), among other things I was not willing to do, but CERTAINLY I was NEVER going to skydive. Have you seen those shows were the parachute doesn’t open and people die? Well, I have so count. me. out.

Well, I did sign up for the trip and I did fly over 20 hours in a plane over the course of one (maybe two? …I lost track) days. (Side note: can’t Delta just order Domino’s for the whole flight and call it a day? )

Since I first arrived in Cape Town, my view of myself has changed drastically. I spent the night in a township on a dollar a day, danced with creepy South Africans at a club (for about 2 seconds, but it counts!), and climbed Table Mountain (the most rigorous, but rewarding hikes of my life). And none of it was that bad (okay, maybe the South African dancing part). But, most importantly, I skydived. I did the thing that I said I would never, ever do. And it was definitely one of the best moments of my life. Not only was the feeling and experience incredible, but most importantly, I proved myself wrong. I thought I could never do it and I did. So, take that, self!

"Stop at Steers" By: Scott Franzen

The experience of Cape Town thus far has been too great to sum up into a small blog. The trip has been full of highs and lows, and for my blog I have chosen to share a few of my top emotional highs with all of you reading this at home:

Top 10 Emotional Highs:
1.) Bungee jumping – one of the most peaceful, liberating experiences of my life
2.) Cage diving with great whites – getting over my biggest fear…sharks
3.) Sunset cruise – the scenic view of Table Mountain
4.) Hiking table mountain – overcoming physical barriers to reach an incredible view of the city
5.) Meeting Nelson Mandela’s cellmate – never in my life have I been so humbled by this tour of Robben Island
6.) Having our van surrounded by elephants on the safari – an overwhelming vision of the power of nature
7.) Our night spent in Sir Lowry’s Pass – I have never been so thankful for the simple luxuries of life
8.) Caving – an adventurous experience into history
9.) 6 Hour car rides on adventure week – I was able to make new friendships and share experiences
10.) Meeting Wesley at the hostel – a true symbol of South African Hospitality and a mirror to model myself after

So far, my time at Cape Town cannot possibly be written down in words, but I believe these 10 key points have been the most memorable of them all. My experiences here are far from over and I know that I have many more emotional highs to come, especially with service week in my near future. I know that when time comes for me to return to the US I will not be ready, and I can only hope that I will experience all that is key to have a true South African experience.

"Take a Stand" By: Meagan Bourne

We had heard of Nelson Mandela, seen the movie Invictus, and learned about apartheid. The next step was to take a trip to Robben Island where he was held prisoner for 28 years. However, it wouldn’t be just any trip to the Island. We would have our tour guided by Nelson Mandela’s prison mate, Ahmed Kathrada.

The day started with a short film about Nelson Mandela followed by two guest speakers. Then around 12:00 we loaded the buses where we arrived at the V&A Waterfront for a 1:00 departure to Robben Island. When we arrived, we made our way through the prison passing by each individual cell, not much bigger than a closet. Passing by Mandela’s cell, it was hard to imagine spending so many years there and then going on to lead a country towards equality. At the end of the cells, we all gathered in a larger room and listened to Kathrada’s recollection of his time spent in the prison. As he talked about chiseling rocks during the day, going to church on Sundays, and bartering for any piece of news they could find, it was unbelievable to think of the journey he and Mandela had gone through.

Sitting on the ferry back to Cape Town, I realized that sitting right behind me was Nelson Mandela’s prison mate talking to the granddaughter of a past African National Congress president while a Pulitzer Prize winning author was standing just a few feet away from them (these were the two guest speakers from this morning). It was an incredible and privileged experience that I will remember forever. So, my three words to the world are “Take a stand.” Even when the prisoners were arrested and thought they were facing the death sentence, they never stopped fighting for what they believed and became important figures to change South Africa forever.

“Bucket List Time” By: Taylor Cardwell

South Africa is a place where one should go to complete his or her bucket list. No matter what activities that you enjoy participating in, South Africa will have it. You might be a hiker; well you could always climb Table Mountain. You might like swimming; well you could cage dive with Great White Sharks. You might be crazy; well you could jump out of a plane to skydive or off a bridge to bungee jump. There are also plenty of places to shop and tons on wine vineyards for those people who like to keep their feet more grounded. Those cat lovers out there could go to the Cheetah Outreach and pet cheetahs. If you love playing with kids and can resist making someone truly happy you can visit Sir Lowry’s Pass where “out of energy” is just some the kids do not experience. There is plenty of rugby and even the World Cup for all of those sports fans. The point is that South Africa has it all and I would like to share some of the things that I will be checking off of my bucket list on this trip.
1. Bungee Jump (off the 2nd highest bungee jump in the world.)
2. Pet a Wild Animal (the cheetahs)
3. Climb a mountain (Table Mountain)
4. Learn to surf
5. Cage Dive with Great White Sharks
6. Go on a Safari
7. Go to a World Cup match

"My Summer 2k10 Dominates all others" By: Julia Ezell

Words can truly not describe the past 13 days and all that they have entailed. Although that statement seems quite cliché, I honestly can’t think of any other way of wording it and I know most others on Global LEAD will say the same. From the initial 24+ hours of traveling to climbing up Table Mountain, the past week and a half in Cape Town, ZA has made my summer 2k10 dominate all others. As if adventure week with bungee jumping, talking elephants, and a Will Ferrell look alike tour guide wasn’t exciting enough, the instant bonds and friendships I formed with the rest of my group was even more special and exhilarating. The second part of my experience has consisted of singing and dancing to nineties’ jams in Dubliners, rave dancing in Chrome, living off a “dollar a day” in Sir Lowry’s Pass, climbing up the Table Mountain, and learning about the different aspects of leadership and life with speeches on Wow, Now, Giving, and Living. All these activities have all been equally rewarding and exciting but each with differing aspects. While I can only hope that the rest of my experience will be half as fun and rewarding as the first 13 days, but I feel as though that it will more than likely be just as amazing if not, even more awesome.

Now, for my lesson on the efficient way to ride an ostrich:
1. Do not be intimidated by this bird’s giant size; considering its brain is smaller than one of its eyeballs, it’s more than likely more scared of you than you are it.
2. In order to keep the icky feathers off of you, a pair of leggings or long pants is essential for the riding experience.
3. In order to maintain stability on the ostrich when it’s frolicking through the pin, you MUST grip its wings with as much strength as possible. Make sure not to grip just the feathers or else you will end up like Devon did and fall on your face.
4. In addition to holding onto the wings, tightly wrapping your legs around the ostrich’s body is essential for keeping composure while riding at a fast pace.
5. Lastly, when the strange men pushing the ostrich around the pin begin to yell “Let go,” take immediate action and release all force from the ostrich. This is the most important step; they get angry if you’re hesitant.
SOUTH AFRICA IS WAF!

"Don’t Believe It" By: Kent Cawley

Yesterday morning we hiked a portion of Table Mountain. That was an incredible experience. We hiked for over an hour on some very rough terrain, but it was definitely worth it once we reached the top. The picture I included was a picture from a look out spot on top of Table Mountain. Don’t believe what you see in this picture because this picture does not really capture what we saw up on Table Mountain. The picture can only describe a piece of the magnificence we experienced. This is one of my favorite experiences on this study abroad thus far. It was awesome to see Cape Town from the top, and I would say that this is definitely one of the must see/do things in South Africa.

"The Climb up Table" By: Jack Austin

Since entering the exciting country of South Africa, everyone in Global Lead has been going nonstop, whether its bungee jumping off Bloukrans Bridge, the highest commercial bungee jump in the world, or spending the week in the township creating lasting relationships with many of the children. Today, our focus was on the “power of wow,” and to truly experience this, our wonderful directors decided to get us up bright and early this morning at six to hike up Table Mountain. After finally gathering everyone together on the buses and driving over to the right trail (which took a few tries), we began our hike right at the crack of dawn. After a few hundred feet I could already feel the fatigue settling in. I pushed through, however, and after many stops and turning around for incredible views, I finally prevailed over the seemingly never-ending hike and reached the top. Now I was curious to see why these crazy directors woke us up so early for this exhausting hike at sunrise, so I staggered to the side of the mountain and looked over the edge. The only word that came to mind was “wow.” The view over Cape Town was breathtaking and you could see for miles. Now I understood why we attempted this treacherous hike.

"WOW...What a View!" By: Elizabeth Weaver

Today’s Global LEAD theme was The Power of WOW…and what a WOW day it was! We woke up before the sun with a mission to climb Table Mountain. After admiring it’s majesty from the ground for over a week, it was time for us to conquer it. We arrived at the base of the mountain in time to see a beautifully clear sunrise and began our ascent. All one hundred plus of us climbed single file, one step at a time, up the treacherous mount. We huffed and we puffed, cheered each other on, and kept our eyes on the prize of what we heard was an unbeatable view. Anywhere from one to two hours later, we reached our finish line: an indescribably magnificent view of what seemed to be the entire universe. We were on top of the world!...and we could do anything. Embracing this moment of inspiration, our Global LEAD assignment was to write a 50-item life bucket list. Scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef, start our own restaurant, drive a Ferrari, we wanted to do it all. We took the cable car down for what was a much faster, though less satisfying ride down the mountain. And those bucket lists? Some of us didn’t waste any time....

Immediately following our hike, 14 of my fellow mountain climbers and I hopped into a taxi and headed over to accomplish a goal we had all included in our ambitious bucket lists. We were about to skydive out of a plane at 9,000 feet (three times the height of our previous summit of Table Mountain)… as if the morning had not been thrilling enough! Legs shaking, heart racing, and brain telling me I was defying all common sense, I knew there was no turning back. The ride was incredible. We were on top of the world...for the second time today!

Incredible. Breathtaking. Unbelievable. All of these words attempt to describe our experience in Cape Town today….but really, the whole day was just one big WOW. We started the day going up into the clouds and ended it by falling out of them. My life in three words today? WHAT A VIEW!

“Open to New Experiences” By: Kate Moore

After a great adventure week to kick off our Cape Town trip, I think it is safe to say that most of us could not imagine how starting class the next Monday could possibly compare to the adventures of the previous week. As our first session came to an end, we were surprised with plans for the night that we were not expecting – we were going to be staying in the township over night. While learning that we were going to be spending the night at Sir Lowry’s Pass brought about mixed feelings, I could tell that our service week was going to be just as, if not more exciting than the week before. As our buses pulled up to Sir Lowry’s Pass, we were immediately greeted by a crowd of smiling children who were so excited to see us even though they had never met us before. The afternoon and night that I spent with my soup mother and her children proved to by far the best experience of my time here in Cape Town so far and I can’t wait to spend more time at the township next week!

My top five moments at the township so far:
1. Walking up to the house with my soup mother and her grandchildren and being greeted by her youngest granddaughter waiting at the fence with the biggest smile, wanting to be hugged immediately.
2. Reliving my childhood by playing games all afternoon and night with the children, their cousins and their friends. My personal favorites were playing “hairdresser”, “3 Sticks” and “Simon Says”!
3. Sitting around the living room spending time with their extended family, including the grandparents, grandchildren and cousins, and enjoying conversation and dinner together. It was really refreshing to see the importance at which they held the closeness of their family and the quality of the time that they spend together regardless of their circumstances that may not seem ideal to many of us.
4. Learning several new words in Afrikaans from the girls in turn being laughed at when we attempted to say them, no matter how many times we tried!
5. As we were leaving and the kids were walking to the bus stop, the girls from a neighboring house went out of her way to yell our names so that she could say bye. It was great to see that the kids enjoyed the time that we spent with them just as much as we did, and I am even more excited to get to spend more time with everyone at the Sir Lowry’s Pass next week!

"What A View!" By: Sidney Sanders

Today, groggily, wiping the sleep out of our eyes, 104+ American students arrived at the base of Cape Town’s looming protector, Table Mountain. Equipped with sloshing water bottles and paper, we set out to overcome the ominous land form before us. With each step, we soon discovered that this relaxing sunrise hike was not what we expected, at all! Personally, I can affirmatively say I was dripping sweat by 10 minutes into our endeavor. As the sun rose higher and higher, we followed suit, making our way up the rocky slope. As we rose above the clouds, I thought for sure that we had reached Heaven and would perhaps see God himself. In fact, I would argue to say that in fact, we did. When we finally reached the summit, several thousand feet up, I finally collected my thoughts, and my breath for that matter, and embraced the opportunity to examine my surroundings. My breathing was with me only momentarily before it was taken from me again, but this time, in a more pleasurable way. The view from the top was one of the most picturesque sights I have ever seen. I was in awe of the clouds floating around us, the waves crashing ashore far below, the city—represented only by tiny colorful dots, and the large number of Global L.E.A.D.ers huddled together at the top. It was in this moment I realized that the sweat, blood, and tears (that may be a slight exaggeration, but maybe not) were worth every second. I felt a sense of triumph. I felt proud—proud of myself partially, but mostly, proud of the group as a whole. We had done it, all 104+ of us! This was no simple feat, but together, we had encouraged each other all the way up. We each traveled at our own pace, but in the end, we came together again. In this moment, the lesson for the day, “The Power of WOW!”, hit home, and hard. “Wow!” came to mind several times during this trek. Wow…are we really about to hike this mountain? Wow…this is tough! Wow…I don’t know if I can do this! Wow…I did it! Wow…what a view!

"Power of Story" By: Greta Spangenberg

The art of storytelling is endlessly instructive and has the power to launch the mind back through time during which we render order to the events of our lives, pronounce our decisions right or wrong, and ultimately explain ourselves to ourselves. The beauty of storytelling lies in its teachings and its rare ability to instigate radical change and advocate positive action.

On Tuesday, we traveled to the townships where I was forced to confront a change in my lifestyle, not just because of where I was, but also because of whom I was with and what I was doing. Most importantly, I owe my new found understanding of what it means to make something beautiful of your life to Miss Cheryl, my housemother for the evening, who is a woman that I will forever associate with the purest form of wonderful.

As I listened to her stories, I was captivated by her heart-wrenching words and deeply moved by her enduring edifice of character. In my own definition of what it means to be a woman, Miss Cheryl was exactly that, for she embodies everything that I hope to someday become. She is the glue that holds together her family and her neighborhood. Not a day goes by that she does not bring joy into the lives of others and I feel truly blessed and forever grateful to say that she has done so to mine. I learned several invaluable lessons during my time there, but my nugget to take a way from this experience is this:

An appreciation of our limited tenure on this earth is essential to understanding the self and the world we inhabit. By finding value in the wisdom bestowed upon us by others, whether it is in the form of a story or a simple conversation, we are given the most precious of gifts. Life, after all, is about giving, not receiving, and it is vital that we see ourselves on the same level as everyone else, for we all worthy of such love, trust, and respect.

"How Do you Truly Live Before Dying?" By: Lauren Howell

“How do you truly live before you die?” I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this question. Jumping off the highest commercial bungee in the world last week prompted the answer “Face Fear” (though I was too cheap to buy the t-shirt), while living off of a dollar and sleeping in the township yesterday prompted the answer “Reach Out.” Already, I feel like I’ve found lots of ways to “truly live” here in South Africa—whether it’s been taking a not-so-wild ride on a sleepy elephant or an exhilarating zip-line over Tstisikamma Falls, in nine short days this trip has transported me far and away from my normal comfort zone. And I’m not just talking about Adventure Week, either—coming into this experience only knowing four people amidst over a hundred Georgia Bulldogs was really intimidating at first! It’s becoming increasingly clearer to me that foreign experiences like these are what really allow you to grow as a person and experience life to the fullest.

In the township last night, I had the opportunity to stay with a family where one of the daughters was my own age. We talked for a while, and actually had a lot in common—but unlike me, after high school she had to go straight to work to help support her family. While the reality is that 98% of the world doesn’t get a chance to obtain a higher education, most of us on this trip can’t imagine not having college as an option. Spending the evening with someone my own age and talking to her about her responsibilities at work, as well as her dreams for the future, was a blatant reminder of how lucky I am to feel like I have so many options for the future.

What I took away from spending the night in Lowry’s Pass last night was a profound sense of gratitude—for everything I haven’t had to think twice about growing up (food, shelter, clothing), for a solid family support system, and for the boundless opportunities I’ve been handed, no questions asked, since day one. The families living in the township are often forced to ignore these needs and possibilities and worry about mere survival—something I certainly take for granted when I claim I’m “starving” in between meals or have “nothing to wear” in my closet. The fact that the families I met were constantly laughing, playing in the street together, and sharing what little they do have not only made me appreciate my blessings, but also shed light on how prioritizing relationships with family, friends, and the occasional stranger can make life so much sweeter.

“Reality Fosters Creativity (WAF or MAF)” By: Caroline Matte

As my roommates and I head out our apartment door to meet in the lobby for adventure week, I realize that I know absolutely nothing as to what I am doing that day. I climb in the van with my roommates and I take a seat in the back. I honestly thought that the car ride was 30 minutes; however, Gareth (our Will Ferrell tour guide) reveals that we have five hours of bonding time ahead of us. In the next five hours, I learn about everyone’s past and realize that my new friends are straight up comedians. Everyone played off each other’s stories and I woke up with a sore stomach the next day. Every time we got out of the van, even for gas, it was a humorous game of tag. Most of the time we were trying to find Gareth and he was always “trying to find us.” It always took an hour, regardless of how much Gareth jokingly threatened us. Some days, when everyone was tired from the long day of adventures, someone would start busting out laughing, and it became contagious. I feel like a laugh is the most memorable trait of someone as cliché as that is. “Reality fosters creativity,” because I feel like the best things are found through the simple ways of life (sitting in a van). I guess it wasn’t necessarily the adventures that drew me closer to these people; it was the ridiculous conversations that I will keep with me when I leave. I think not knowing where I was going or what I was really doing was part of my adventure in Cape Town, South Africa.

"Africa, I love you!" By: Meghan Jackson

After just returning back to Cape Town following what was the most exciting week of my life I was worried that maybe the rest of the trip would be unable to compare. The good news is that it only took the Global LEAD staff about 5 minutes into our first lesson this morning to prove me wrong. Even if it did require me to come all the way to South Africa to start to realize the power of living, I couldn’t feel more excited about life then I do right now. I know there is more to come, but so far here are my 5 favorite things I have experienced since being here:

1. Riding in a van for 20+ hours all over South Africa. No really, I feel like you never get to know someone the way you do after riding with them, seeing the things they see, eating where they eat (which is hopefully not Steers…), listening to their stories or watching them fall asleep in the strangest positions for as long as we did.

2. Hostels. They are the most unique places I have ever been to. They have the most incredible views, the coolest people and definitely the best meals. Hotels are great, but you don’t get to have a bon fire when you stay at the Hilton.

3. Views that can take your breath away. I never thought I would be able to see mountains, ocean, farmland and an ostrich all in the same view, but here it’s possible. I’m pretty sure we’re in the most beautiful place on earth.

4. Bungee Jumping off of Bloukrins Bridge. This is kind of an obvious one, but really… it’s AMAZING. Easily the scariest thing I have ever done, but the most peaceful, out-of-body experience I have ever felt.

5. Waking up every morning thinking…my life is awesome. I can see the ocean
out my window and we are the luckiest people in the world to be here.

Cape Town, you’re the best. I can’t believe we still have 3 more weeks here. All, I can say is Wow, what’s next?

"My Blog Poem" By: Katy Zisk

My life in only 3 words.
First, I would like to say that my life is not easily defined in three words. I feel that I have so much love and energy, but if I must...I shall. Peace, Love, Codo

Le Poeme African

On the ground in Af-Rika
To everyone on the lead trip: I want to meet ya

The plane ride was great
It was super far away from my home state

From Texas I hail
I think when I came here I left a little trail

Africa was such a huge surprise
My mother thought it would be my demise

I have people here to help me along
The first week I even learned a song!

The kids in the township just loved me!
They followed me around all day...didn't you see?!

My favorite part was when we spent the night
When I had to leave I was going to put up a fight

But it wasn't that big of a deal, it all turned out cool
The lead people took me back to their school

On the day we hung out with the kids at their place
We did cool things and my friend painted a kids face

It has only been one week
More adventures to come, I think!

Riding elephants I cant wait to do
They are graceful and loving animals...no silly, they don't moo!

I feel that the lead people help me anyway they can
The director Courtney is always willing to give me a hand

On this trip I know I can succeed
WITH THE GREAT LOVE AND SUPPORT OF GLOBAL LEAD!!!

"In the Moment" By: Meg Diamond

I have been non-stop since this trip began. Between the township service project, classes, cape extreme adventure activities and all the other things I want to do with my free time, I have hardly had a chance to sleep. On Monday I had the opportunity to go sand boarding and 4 wheeling. I was with a small group of seven and Christo, one of the cape extreme leaders took us to the second smallest dessert in the world. The four wheeling was great and sand boarding came pretty natural to me but what I didn’t expect to experience that day was the most incredible part. The group of seven was split into a group of four and a group of three. I was in the group of four and we went four wheeling first. During the bumpy ride we saw beautiful rolling sand hills but the beauty of the land was taken over by the loud humming of the motor and my focus on gripping the handles. When we came to a stop and switched activities and the group of three zoomed away I finally got to hear the silence of the dessert. We climbed to the top of a steep sand hill and look out to see an amazing view of Table Mountain. Even though I was standing there with three other people I felt alone. There wasn’t a single moving object around us and the beautiful sight of the white sand against the blue sky took my breath away. After sand boarding for a while we went back to the top of the hill for a rest and noticed some eerie clouds in the distance. These clouds were coming towards us pretty fast and the four of us sat and watched the clouds roll in and suddenly consume us. Before we knew it the view we had experienced only minutes before was gone and we could hardly see the hill next to us let alone Table Mountain. My roommate immediately said, “I wish I had my camera.” And in that moment I realized how cool the moment really was. No one had a camera because of all the sand and there was no way to capture what we experienced. That moment will be shared only between the four of us and as much as I ever try to explain it in this blog or to anyone else at home or on this trip it won’t ever to that moment justice. It made me think further about no matter how much I write in my journal or how many pictures I take there is no way I could ever describe this trip and this experience in South Africa. This month will be shared with the 104 students on this trip. No matter how hard I try to make my friends and family understand what I have learned and seen, they won’t understand unless they come and do this themselves.
Obviously I don’t have a picture of this moment or any pictures from this day but since I am required to attach a picture to this blog I will try to show you another amazing moment that I have experienced in Cape Town. This picture is of the Water Front as we came back from the sunset cruise on Sunday night. Most people were inside and did not get to see how amazing the Waterfront is light up at night but luckily I got to see this and capture in this photo.
As much fun as it is to take pictures to bring home sometimes it is important to put the camera down and be where you are. So my three words are: in the moment.