Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Is this real life??

This sunday I went to a different Church with Baba Phillip, his wife, and four other girls. It was called North Hills Church. I really liked it and felt like the church was a family, sharing with each other what is happening in their lives.  It was pretty small and had a higher white South African population then the previous church I went to. After church we all hung out and they gave us food (and tea, of course)! They had samosas, which are stuffed fried snacks. There are different variations- spicy meat, corn and cheese, etc.  It was delicious! We stayed after awhile and talked with some of the regular attenders that were about our age.  They seemed really cool and wanted to hang out with us and do events with us too.


That evening we had a dance part for Enoch's birthday! It was so much fun!


Then Monday came with it's delightful 95 degree whether :/ It was hot! But some people got to take a break from bio class and swim in the water fall.  I tried to stay in the shade most of the day and was able to do my homework outside on the big, beautiful lawn :) 


I had my first D-group that night with some of the girls on my team. Two of the nursing students are leading us.  It was really good and I am so excited to get to know people better on build deeper relationships!  It has been so hard because we are such a big group, so it will be nice to big in a smaller group and closer setting.


Today was a beautiful day! And really relaxing! We went to another service site today called Ethembeni.  They work mostly with HIV/AIDS patients and families affected by that.  Our students will be working at their family life center and playing with and taking care of kids that need somewhere to stay during the day.  It will be so hard to decide which service site to work at, but we still have two more to see!


When we got back I went on an adventure with Yui, Krista, and Michael! We walked through the game reserve, but no zebra sightings :(  It was still a lot of fun though! Afterwards we were really hot and decided to go over to the rock pool to cool down! I wasn't sure if I wanted to get all the way wet, as I only I have one more pair of clean clothes left, but THIS IS AFRICA! So, I got in :) We slid down the little rock slide and dipped our heads under the mini waterfall. We also headed over to the big waterfall by my chalet! It looks a lot taller standing directly under it!


I seriously don't know I will get any homework done here... But, I absolutely love it! Who gets to just randomly go jump in a waterfall before class??  Its great to finally slow down for once and enjoy every moment! It is amazing to wake up and see God's beautiful creation everyday, and be able to soak it all up :) I feel so blessed to be here! On our walk today we were talking about how beautiful the scenery was, and that we never want to come to a point where we are not in total awe of the beauty and take it for granted.  Michael said, "If I ever come to feel that way, then I don't deserve to be here".  My hope and prayer is that during the next few months I never forget that every day here is a gift from God :) 

South Africa Spring 2012

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Saturday Field Trip

We had another field trip today to the Birds of Prey exhibit and touring around Pietermaritzburg. We first stopped at the train station where Gandhi was evicted from his first class compartment for not being white. This sparked Gandhi's fight against racial segregation. It all started at this train station!  


On the drive to the birds of prey I sat up front with Baba Phillip and got to talk with him :) I asked him how he got into country music and he told me one morning he woke up at 4:30 AM and turned on the radio and they had a half-hour segment that played country music.  He said he fell in love with it and would wake up early every morning to listen to it. Now that's dedication.  Baba said on days when he wasn't able to listen to it he felt like there was something wrong/off (as he pointed to his heart).  I believe he summed up country music perfectly :) 


The birds of prey exhibit was pretty cool (considering I usually hate birds!) My favorite part was the owls. They were so cute! 


Tonight we all went out to dinner for Janet's birthday!! She is one of our CLCs (like an RA). We sat over 50 people at 2 long tables! Everyone got dressed up and it was a fun and tiring night! 



Friday, January 27, 2012

Week One Completed!

Some highlights from the past two days:

  • Bonfire! Friday night we all gathered around the huge bonfire and had s'mores :) We had to be creative and use sticks as skewers and some sort of cookie/cracker as a substitute for graham crackers. We also sang the whole soundtrack to the Lion King and some Taylor Swift and the Biebs accompanied by the ukulele! 
  • more mall runs :) And just a heads up, South Africans will think you are crazy if you try to order a coffee drink over ice. It just does not exist to have a cold coffee drink unless it is blended. Hence, their "iced coffee" is a coffee blended with ice cream. 
  • We watched Invictus! It was my first time seeing it and I loved it! And it is totally fitting for where we are right now :) Nelson Mandela is seriously my idol! 
  • Our driver Baba Phillip LOVES country music! So we play it all the time when we drive around! It's really weird to listen to country music not in America, but I am glad someone here likes it! It also made me a little homesick :( It reminds me of driving to the beach with Linnea, Abby, and Camille :) 
  • We have been on campus for a week now! It has felt much longer! I am so exhausted too! Mom, you would be so proud of me! I get up so early now! (I don't know how long that will last) 
Lastly, a big shout out to Ann Pham!!! Good luck on your MCAT tomorrow!! You are going to rock it!!! 

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Classes...

I finally learned some Zulu yesterday! We all have to take a intro to Zulu class but we are not graded and don't get any credits, which is fine by me because Zulu is really hard! We learned the three major clicks- the c, q, and x. But then, there are a bunch of variations of those clicks and you have to flawless integrate them into your speech! But there are a few words (without clicks) that I have learned how to say! 


Sawubona! (Hello)
Unjani? (How are you?)
Ngisaphila (I am fine) 
Wena Unjani? (And how are you?) 
Nami Ngiyaphila (I am also fine) 
Hamba Kahle (Go well) 


It's also really hard because they will put a whole sentence into one word! But, I am excited to learn more and hopefully get better at it! 


This morning I got to skype with my beautiful lab group!! I got to catch up with Grace, Sammy, and Uriel!! They always make me laugh so much!! :) Wish you guys could be here! 


I had my first Luke/Acts class today, which isn't technically a class.  Its more of an independent study because there are only two people in the class! My friend Kel and I! We meet once a week with Reg and then we do everything else on our own time.  I'm really excited because Reg has such a wealth of biblical knowledge and I get to have one on one time with him every week! But it is going to be a really hard class because the semester is so short and we have to fit everything in! Lots of reading and papers!


Tomorrow is finally Friday! It has been such a long week! Can't wait for the weekend! 

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Service Site and Movie Night!

Today I got to skype with my parents bright in early in the morning :) I only had a little bit of time because we were headed off to our first service site.  Part of the program for the semester is that we do community service for one month at a service site.  There are a total of 4 service sites that we can choose from and for the next few weeks we will be visiting them to help make our decision where we want to work. 


Today we visited Walk in the Light (Hamba Ekukanyeni) which is a really cool organization run by Bruce Taylor.  They work in the township of Haniville, which has a population of 10,000 and an estimated 60% of the people are infected with HIV/AIDS. We got to hear about their plans for the community and what they have accomplished. They help feed the families, do construction work, make home visits, send people to clinics, and they are planning on building a pre-school for the kids.  It was cool to see all the plans they had and we prayed over Bruce and the ministry that God would provide to help raise money to build the school and resource center. 


Another highlight of the day was that we went to the movies!! And the best part is that they have discount Tuesdays! The tickets were only 20 Rand- which is just a little over 2 dollars! We saw 'We Bought A Zoo' and it was so good! There were only 7 of us that went and it was nice to be in a smaller group for once and have things a bit calmer :) The best part was that on the way back Leizel and I rocked out to Fergie in the back seat! She is just the cutest! 


There is always so much fun activities to do here! And I always want to say yes to everything because I don't want to miss out on anything! This makes it really hard to find time to do homework haha I feel like I have already adopted the laid back lifestyle of Africa. Usually I am so organized and plan everything ahead and never procrastinate.  But now I don't even know what I am going to be doing until the day of, and I really like the feeling :) Freedom. But the inner super organized, have-to-get-stuff-done-immediately part of me is freaking out a little... But hey, TIA. 





Monday, January 23, 2012

Zebras!!

Today I woke up really early to go on a morning walk in the game reserve next door with some girls. At 6 in the morning! But it was all worth it because 5 minutes into the walk we saw a zebra! It was so beautiful! It is a lot different than seeing one in a zoo! I was only about 15 or 20 feet away just free roaming :) We all stopped, watched it and took pictures, and then the zebra started to walk towards us! It was cool at first but then it was kind of scary! It got so close, probably 7 or so feet away. Of course, our CLC Leizel starts to run away leaving us in the dust! But as we walked away slowly it eventually stopped following us :)


We had our first classes today! Starting out with History and Culture of SA with Reg. And then I had Human Growth and Development later on in the night. 


Mall run!! Leizel and Reagan took a group to the mall for a couple of hours. It looks exactly like the malls in America, just different stores :) I stopped at the Mug and Bean (South Africa's version of Starbs) and I got an iced coffee. But, an iced coffee in SA is not just coffee and ice. It's coffee blended with ice cream!! So delicious! Most of us shopped at Mr. Price, which has cute and cheap clothes. 


My Human Growth class seems like it will be really laid back :) My professor brought his dog in today! It was so cute and likes to give lots of kisses! Reminds me of someone back home.... ;) And we get to go on a horseback riding field trip! Either in Lesotho or in the Drakensberg mountains! I can't wait! 


Tomorrow we are going to visit our first service site. We visit four total and then we will decide which one we want to work at for a month. It should be an eye-opeing experience! 


P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUSTIN!!!! I LOVE YOU!! 













Sunday, January 22, 2012

Prys Sy Naam!

Prys Sy Naam! (Praise the Lord in Zulu) 


This was one of the songs we sang today in church. I went with a group to Leizel's and Reagan's church called God's People Life Centre Community Church. Leizel and Reagan are a young married couple and they are our CLCs (community Life Coordinator).  They are both so sweet and fun :) Church was really great! It was a lot longer than a normal service in America but we got to dance and meet some of the most welcoming people! 


After lunch one of the interns here, Ryno, took us on a hike to the Forgotten Falls! I'm guessin the reason they are called that is becasue the trail has been totally overgrown! Ryno took the lead with his two machetes and help cut the path for us! The trail was really slippery and steep at points, so I slipped and fell more times than I can count! But, it was all worth it when we got to the falls! It was beautiful and it was good to cool off :) 


We came back in time for some more orientation and then tea time! I can really get use to this! And they have the best cookies to eat with your tea too! 


There used to be a little rock pool on campus where you could swim but right now there is a huge pile of mud where it was. So, when it started to rain someone had the amazing idea to have a mud fight!! We all headed down and jumped right in! The mud was so deep and it was like sinking sand! It was almost impossible to move once you got stuck in the four feet of mud! It was pretty epic :) TIA! Look on facebook for pics! 


Now we are currently watching Lion King in the South African version of the Cougar's Den. How appropriate :) 


Tomorrow morning I am going to go on a walk to the game reserve and hopefully see some zebras! Pronounced Ze-bra, not Zee-bra :) 


Africa has totally exceeded all my expectations!! I can't believe this is all real! 


P.S. We all use TIA to describe everything that would only happen in Africa:)
Or as an excuse to do whatever we want haha
P.P.S. If you want to get a better idea of the campus I live on you can click this link! I live in Festo Kivengere: http://aeinternational.org/southafrica/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34&Itemid=32 







Saturday, January 21, 2012

This is Africa.

More traveling today! We went to the airport to fly to Durban, a coastal town about an hour away from our campus in Pietermaritzburg. Unfortunately two of our guys were put on standby and had to get a later flight, but you quickly learn a phrase here: This is Africa (TIA). Meaning that everything that can go wrong will. But everything worked out great in the end. 


As the plane descended in Durban, the scenery below us was gorgeous!!! There was a beautiful coastline and the OCEAN! Not just any ocean..... the INDIAN OCEAN! 


We all piled in on the bus and popped in our Africa music mix CD :) It was awesome!


I think for the first time it finally hit me. I am in Africa. ahhhhhhh 


Just looking around the landscape as we drove was amazing! everything was so green and lush! It reminded me somewhat of pictures I have seen of Kauai. But better. Just GORGEOUS!!!!!


We finally arrived at our campus at the African Enterprise Conference Center.  Oh, which by the way, is located in a jungle!! It is the most beautiful place ever! There is no way I could have prepared myself for this! (Pictures soon!) 


We got assigned our chalets, our living area. They have 4 bedrooms and a common bathroom each floor (2 floors total). Oh yea, and I have a WATERFALL in my backyard!!!! Yes, a waterfall! It is so pretty! 


We got a tour of the whole campus and then it was tea time! We have tea time twice a day! It is delicious! And we got to be entertained by a welcoming performance of some boys doing a tribal dance! It was great! 


There is still so much exploring to do! Tomorrow we are planning to take a walk in the game reserve which is right next to campus! Some people went today and saw zebra! I am so excited! And we get to go to church tomorrow which will be fun to experience! 















Joburg and Soweto

Today we had our first field trip for our history and culture of South Africa class!!! We traveled around Joburg and Soweto. The wether was beautiful! Just like summer in San DIego :)

We started at the Apartheid museum.  We were all issued tickets that were labeled either white or non white and had to enter through different ways and go through different routes so that we could more fully understand the rigid segregation.  The museum was so cool! We only stayed there about 2 1/2 hours but I could have stayed there all day! There was so much information! There was also an exhibition for Nelson Mandela.  It was great to learn so much about the history of the apartheid and to see the reconciliation and redemption this country has recently experienced.  I loved it! One of my favorite quotes that I read while in the museum was this: 

"I quickly realized that I had to make my way on the basis of my ability, not my heritage" -Nelson Mandela

Also, "I can't help it if the ladies take note of me; I am not going to protest" haha

Basically he is one of the coolest people ever! Reg was saying how Nelson was probably the only person that cold have helped end the apartheid without initiating a civil war in South Africa.  How cool is that??  The forgiveness that he and the whole whole country demonstrated was just amazing! 

Then we headed into the city of Soweto. Soweto was the biggest township in South Africa during the apartheid. They named it Soweto because it is the South Western Township.  They make a joke because a cab driver will ask you "So where to?". But in a South African accent it sounds like "So-we-to". And then the passenger says, "Soweto!" hahaha  

Anyways, as we were driving around it was interesting to see the neighborhoods and communities.  It ranges a lot and is very diverse. One minute you will see slums with houses made out of tin and then on the next street their will be nicer townhouses.  There were also a lot of BMWs driving around and our tour guide says it stands for "Black Man's WIsh" hehe 

For lunch we went to a restaurant located inside someone's house.  The food was delicious! We had mashed potatoes, fish, salad, bread, sausage, and so much more.  We also had some ice cream for dessert which was way better than any ice cream I have ever had! It was so creamy and sweet!  We also go to play with the little kids that were hanging out near the house! They were so adorable! 

Then we headed to a memorial for youth who had lost their lives while peacefully marching and pretesting.  The youngest one was 13 years old, named Hector Peterson.  Across the street we went to some markets and vendors. The people here are so nice and welcoming! And, they have the BEST handshake ever!! I will have to teach it to y'all when I get home!  We also got to see Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela's previous homes.  And on our way back to our hotel we stopped by the the FIFA 2010 World Cup Stadium!!! aahhhhh!! yes, be jealous Austin :) But it was a bummer we didn't get to go inside! 

At night some of us played an EPIC game of dictionary telephone! There were 15 of us! It was so funny! 

So far my experience here has been amazing :) I love the culture and people of South Africa! I have been meeting more people on my team and it has been great getting to know everyone! I can't wait for what God has in store for the rest of the semester!

I will get pictures up as soon as possible! The hotel we are in right now has limited internet use.  But I will be uploading them to facebook soon!  


Thursday, January 19, 2012

Travel Days

These past two days have been LONG and TIRING! 

I had to be at the bus stop at 3 in the morning! Hannah Stevenson was so nice to see me off! We loaded up on to the bus at APU around 3:45 and then headed to LAX where our flight took off at eight. The first plane ride wasnt too bad. I was so tired I fell asleep even before the plan took off! I slept almost the whole way there.

We arrived in D.C. and had lunch before our next flight. Chipotle as my last meal in America!!

Our second flight was about 15 hrs long!! We has a touch down in Senegal but we all had to stay on the plane for an hour and we got sprayed by some mystery mist (to fight against bugs or disease i think), but it smelled horrible! It was really hard to sleep too because my butt was so sore! So I tried standing up and walking around a bit but there is not much you can do because once i sat back down again the soreness would come right back :(

We finally arrived in Johanessburg!! Reg, the director of the African Enterprise Campus and some of the other staff met us at the airport and we all headed over in a bus to our hotel.  The scereny in Joburg looked pretty much like America.  You really couldn't tell the difference.

We arrived at our hotel and walked over across the street to a food place called Apple Bite. Most of us got burgers but there was a variety of things- pizza, sandwiches, spaghetti, etc.  

Now for some good nights sleep hopefully!!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Last Day Before Departure!

AHHH!! This is my last day in America for almost four months!

Today was very long! It started at 8:30 AM with a pre-departure meeting. We went over basic issues and questions about traveling and South Africa.  We also had the pleasure of hearing from a guest who works with World Vision setting up service sites around the world.  She told us about one of our professors, Francis Njoroge, who she has worked with and who will be teaching the class Principles and Practices of Community Engagement. Apparently he is a legend in Africa and around the world!! He sets up services sites all over and his projects have the most successful outcomes. He has done such great work for so many people, and I get to sit in a class with him and soak up all his wisdom! I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to learn from all the amazing professors in South Africa! During our meeting we also created a mission statement for our whole team for the semester. We have a lot to live out!

Then, in the afternoon my parents came up to APU for our commissioning service! Some friends came also to see me off! We had worship and then Matt Browning, the associate vice president for internationalization a.k.a the most amazing and motivating person at APU, spoke in the beginning.  He talked about how much this experience is going to change us and he hopes that when we come back we will be ruined for the ordinary. I love that phrase- Ruined for the Ordinary.  It excites me and scares me so much at the same time! We then prayed with our family and friends and the campus pastor Woody prayed a prayer of commission over us.

My parents took me out to dinner after! Our last dinner together :( It was great but then we had to say our goodbyes! I will miss you mom and dad!! Don't worry too much ;)

I got to go out for fro-yo with my lab group from last semester to catch up and say goodbye to them! Reunion!! I love you all!

Now I just have to stay up until 3 AM for the bus to go to the airport!! Luckily I have amazing friends who will keep me company all night long ;)

The next few days will be lots of traveling! But then I will be in AFRICA!

Thank you everyone for all your support and love!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Welcome :)

Hello! I'm Emily :) I am going to be studying abroad in South Africa this spring semester!! I am traveling with a team of almost 50 students from the wonderful Azusa Pacific University! 
I am so excited for the new experiences and challenges that I will encounter while abroad! I will try to keep everyone updated through this blog of my adventures in Africa! :) 
We are departing for South Africa on Wed. January 18th in the wee hours of the morning! Please keep us in your prayers!