LaUGhiNg aNd gIrAfFinGGgGgG!!!

yesterday I hung with some giraffes. fed them , pet them, ya know the usual. casual Friday afternoon. 

here are the pics to prove it!

couple shot with Lynn the giraffe

 Commence: Photoshoot with Lynn, my new best giraffe friend

had to

fam shot with Lynn. Me, Maeve and Vijay- cousins fo lyfe

In the end the love you take is equal to the love you make

last night was one of the saddest and most incredible milestones in my life. to say goodbye to people who have such an impact on my life is nearly impossible.

the only way i can express my love and gratitude is through these gorgeous photos so enjoy.

thank you all.

Tori and Vijay: my artists and my soulmates. 

Patrick and Tristan: the boys who changed my view of boys

Gaby: my rock, the one who gets it and me and CTM

Meredith: my southern sorority girl that I am somehow similar to.

Ellen: my idol, my jew, my Swellendam love

Tori: my selfie buddy

Table Mountain: the backdrop to my last 4 months

bye Cape Town. til next time... <3

vat da fook are dees cloods

last nights thoughts: i'm freaking out because i think everyone just figured out that they actually that like each other

this is my last day in Cape Town, South Africa. I left home on August 18th. It has been almost 4 months. 

We just spent the past 3 nights at a river resort type situation where Ellen and i shared a chalet and made some incredible memories together. It was, in a word, wonderful. One of the most picture-esque places I have ever been, looked directly out of the cover of a children's book. Mountains in the distance, rocks all around, trees of all shapes and sizes and a casual river running through this sea of green. Our first night consisted of an artist/ hippie colony taking over Tori and Vijay's cabin, we listened to The Beatles and painted each others faces and bodies. It was quite a testament to how music and art can bring people together and make them happy. After we realized it was 2012 and came back to "reality"- whatever the fuck that is, it was off to our individual mosquito netted beds for a night of sweet slumbers. The purpose of this retreat was to wrap up these past few months and evaluate "re-entry", going home. We re-brought out the 12 year old campers in all of us and wrote lists of hopes, fears and expectations- as well as things we have learned. It was a lovely, slow and pretty free day filled with multiple naps and playing hand/foot ball plus soccer IN WHICH I SCORED A TOUCHDOWN!!! AGOOO ME!!!! THe night was fun filled with watching the Parent Trap- fuck yes! and playing more campy-like, fireside games.

the dream team....not at all

Now to yesterday. woah. So the main purpose of choosing this location to host all this sappy, sad, and oh so real talk was because of the river rafting option. So yesterday morning bright and early, cause god forbid we sleep past 8, we went to the river. I have been white water rafting before and was honestly pretty stoked about it. Gaby and I decided to partner up and carried our red, blow up raft complete with ores and foor holders. We started on as with everyone else and tried not to get too wet as we had been warned that the water may contain parasites. No big deal.....I am honestly not sure which of the following 400,000 events that occured to share with you that landed me here covered in scraps and a very high percent chance of having one of this dreadful parasites.
On the first set of mini-rapids Gaby and I got stuck in between two rock structures taller than Brett and had to be dragged out on a leash to meet ip with our friends who had been waiting for us upstream for the past 20 minutes. We were then seperated from one another on the account that we "not compatable" rowers together- so mortified, so mean, so just the beginning of failing at rafting. Now we were both in seperate rafts, me and Carlos paired up as the dream team. Next up was us getting stuck on a rock. When Carlos out to push us off the boat took off and i floated down the rapids screaming alone in the boat and Carlos walked down the river to hop back in and save me. Then there was a rest, a.k.a lets wait for Brenna take 14. I was extremely dissapointed that this was not the end of this much too challenging adventure.

rest stop with candy necklaces
what more should I say?

We carried onwards and were doing quite well keeping up with the rest of the successful 12 other rafts and floating on, just as Modest Mouse tells us to do. This is where things actually hit the fan, as we entered our next set of rapids we veered quite a bit to the left and my teeth nearly got knocked out by a tree as low as our boat, but then the rapids sped up and our boat crashed directly into a fallen tree flipping over and landing us both underneath the water. So now I am just in the parasite water fully and completely with my raft floating away as I hold Olivia's waterproof camera in one hand and my oar in the other. I proceed to scream Carlos at the top of my lungs for the next 30 seconds and then just shut up and relax to enjoy the ride I am on. They told us to lay flat with our legs in the air if we fall out and that is just what I did, floated with legs flailing in the air as rocks attempted to crack my spinal cord and machete my butt. The rapids ride continued for about another minute and at that point I was just so done with this entire activity. We got home washed the 150 leeches that were stuck to my entire body off and said a prayer that I didn't get a parasite....here i am 24 hours later still praying for that. 

After that it was an afternoon led by Becca our camp queen who gave us the most beautiful gift  in leading us in an excercise of sheets of paper covered in notes from one another that I will cherish forever cause people wrote some nice shit about me. Last night was almost identical to that of the last night of camp- we watched the video montage Gaby made and then finally the slideshow. A few week back I was asked to make the slideshow and have been working on it pretty obsessively for the past few days and holy mother of god is it perfect. I have no clue how iPhoto does it, but literally they arranged the photos in such a matter that I myself could not have beat if I even knew the littlest bit how to. I picked the songs and they were pretty perfect- starting with Some Nights into Semi-Charmed Life into our group song, Wagon Wheel and into the closing tear-jerker set of Float On into Awake my Soul into All these things I have done into Home- which just so ended to end just as the last photo came on. Man it was beautiful. I can already predict watching in bed alone next semester and crying myself to sleep.

We are on the bus back to Cape Town for my last less than 24 hours- HOLY SHIT I HAVE NO TIME LEFT HERE, ITS OVER AND I'M FREAKING OUT! This people I have met have really, truly changed me and although a few may suck sometimes and love them all for being a part of these experiences and whether I like it or not they are the only 23 other people on the earth who get what I just went through and that is truly awesome and kind of unbelievable. I don't really know how to deal with the truckloads of emotion that are about to drown me so I'm just gonna run away to Kenya with Vijay tomorrow. k cool? BYE! 

the worlds most casual rest stop...and the people I will miss the most

rafting ready

buh bye SIT cape town 2012...it has been so real

an ideal day

this is from Sunday

Yesterday was perfect. I know I say it all the time but yesterday really was in the top 5 Cape Town days.

It began in the hostel we have been staying at since we moved out of our house on Thursday.We planned to go to the top of Table Mountain first thing in the morning (aka 10), but after the struggle bus that was yesterday morning we were a bit behind schedule, but no problem because the cable car was closed due to weather problems- yes I took the cable car, who do you think I am. I'm not hiking that bitch. We arrived, after eating the best egg sandwiches of my life, and somehow I cut the entire line, oops, and were on the cable car in no time. It was the perfect, no clouds in the sky- except the classic "table cloth" of clouds that lies on top of Tabsies sometimes. We took the terrifying, 360 rotating cable car and arrived safely on top of the mountain I have looked at everyday for the past 4 months. It was cool and you can see the whole city, the water and the other mountain tops, but something just didn't seem right. There was a restaraunt in front of me and benches all around and somewhat of a park space. It just didn't feel like this was THE table mountain people have spoken of; so we wandered. We found a better spot that was more what I picutred and took the photoshoot you see here. It was better, but still not perfect; so we wandered some more........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tristan, Thea and I expereinced something yesterday that is unlike anything I knew existed on this earth or I have seen first hand. I was inside of a cloud, on the edge of one of the seven wonders of the world, unable to see anything in front of me, yet could hear my echo, my hair was wet from the tangible air around me, I was sitting on a rock in a field of rocks that surrounded me for what we've destermined to be about 11 football fields behind me. I am pretty sure it was the end of the earth I was on. I was more scared than ever, being that if I stepped one more foot I would have fallen to death, I assume because I couldn't see anything but cloud, yet I was so comfortable that I could have satten there forever. I wish I knew this serentiy and incredibleness existed steps from me before because I could honestly say it was the most surreal thing I have ever experienced. I was so alive and so close to death at the same time. It was truly magical. We sat for about an hour until we were just too oddly damp and freezing to stay longer, but it was a moment I will never forget. I cannot look at Table Mountain the same way ever agin knowing that that exists on top. I wondered if anyone else has ever experienced it and why novels, movies and headline news aren't written about its magesticness. We went back down the stupid cable car and took a nice lunch to digest what just happened to us to try and bridge us back to reality. I am still trying to come back to reality, but honestly I'd rather be there. 

Next up on this phenomenal day for the ages was my visit/ goodbye to Langa, where my first homestay was. Now we all know Linathi and I were best friends, but the rest of the fam and I didn't bond like others. They were fine and great, but not so incredible that I felt I needed to visit. Honestly I was wrong. Returning to the place I had spent so much time and become so a part of at some point was the best decision I have made. They were so overjoyed to see me and I was to see them. My host mom had her baby and she is the cutest, littlest bundle of love I have ever seen. I went to a bush party across the street- in xhosa culture a boy goes to the bush around age 18/19 to become a man and be in nature alone- he had just returned and the celebration brought so much love to my heart it was great. My grandma and her friend who loved me were there and SO happy to see me, it was the loveliest. Gaby's host mom, who was so incredible to me my entire stay there and truly took me in as her own was the most incredible. She is so a part of Gbay;s life and mine and I hadn't given that the time and love it deserved. All of her kids were so happy to see me and the whole experience was s gratifying. Upon leaving the party I was with Patrick and Sam and their host brothers who they are very close with and hang with all the time, and got to check the last thing off my South African bucket list and ride in the back of a pick up truck with them. check, check, check! On our taxi ride home, we bought potatoes and onions on the side of the road for our latka party. 

This is when things became even better, the real kicker for making this best day ever status. In the small, hot plate kitchen of the hostel Gaby, Ellen and I attempted to make latkas for the first night of Hannukah. Like Thanksgiving, we had to work with what we had to pull it off and man did we. After shredding potatoes on a small, hand held grater for upwards of an hour, Sizwe stepped up and became the jew of the century and squeezed the daylight out of them to get all that water out and seperate that yummy starch- the secret to the crispiness if ya didn't know! We attempted to cook them on the hot plate, but it kept short circuiting and we were all staring at uncooked potato shreds floating in luke warm oil. To the rescue came the hostel kitchen which we were so lucky to get to use and the three of us took over this industrial kitchen and fried up 40 of the most delcious latkas I have ever made/ had. Mom I am not kidding, they were just as good as yours and it brought chills to my entire body eating something that tasted so much like it came from you and our kitchen so far across the world. After a bit of inter religious bonding and teaching, yes there were not one but two kids on the trip who did not know what a latka was- oy fucking vey! We lit a piece of paper with another to represtn candles and sung the prayer all together in the kitchen. It was the perfect end to a perfect day. The smells I went to sleep with were the perfect representation of my time here: I had the wind in my hair from the top of Table Mountain, the smells of Langa food and Latkas on my clothes and was surrounded by the 23 fools I have shared this journey with. It was extraordinary. No words- except for this novel i just wrote you. I had the perfect balance of taking advantage of this city by having the independence to see the great Table Mountain, the access that SIT has granted me by visiting people so far from me but filled with so much love for me in Langa, where I began this crazy ride, and showing my friends so much of me through the food and tradtions of my wonderful family at home. It was ideal, very very perfect. 

I am currently on the bus to Swellendam, a town on a river that we are spending our last three nights at- ahhhhH!!!! three nights!!!! this is insane. It is one of the most gorgeous drives I have ever been on and is solidifying the amount of appreciationa nd gratitude I am currently filled with for being in such a wonderful and unique place. This past 24 hours has just made me so incredibly grateful for SIT, Cape Town and my family and life and opportunities. I am one lucky duck that is for sure. 

Off to rafting and wrapping up this thang. 

SIZWE SQUEEZING POTATOES

latka master

T-7

holy fuck. last week. one week. 7 days. one of each type of day left in South Africa! 
Oh South Africa. how you are heating up in temperature and in love in my heart. 
This morning I moved out of my frat house and am back to being homeless and a backpacking wanderer in Cape Town. My suitcase…what a situation- not sure if I told you all that I have already broken 2 and am on number three, the beauty of my life. So spacious, such legit zippers- but SO heavy! Uncarryable. Not sure what to do…
Yesterday we turned in our ISP's, yes I actually did it. 41 pages of me, me and more me. No time for sources or quotes when I got things to say! I did my version of the assignment, and think its pretty good. Not exactly what they wanted, but what I wanted with their structure.
Today and tomorrow we are doing presentations of our projects, I am making a poster board! Yeah! People on my program have done really cool things and its kinda awesome to hear about- if I wasn’t so tired right now (last Wednesday at Stones last night, oy). Everything from the police system in South African to womens studies to analyzing the national anthem to comedy, art and poetry to local NGO’s. all of it is so cool because this whole ISP is all in your control and up to you. Everything everyone did was completely inspired by whatever they wanted and organized themselves.
Up next on this whirlwind of a program is our final weekend, of course filled with a  fabulous getaway. We are going rafting somewhere 3 hours from here on a river- classic SIT giving us little to no information. Then I return to Cape Town Wednesday for my last night before Kenya!!!!
This is all so weird. I have really become comfortable here and feel so much like I am just getting started on my independent life here. But at the same time I am sooooo satisfied with my time here and have checked off everything from my bucket list- except meeting Nelson Mandela and dining at Beluga, the fanciest sushi place in Cape Town. Oh well- ya win some ya loose some.
Catch ya kids later. Officially done with work also- not that I ever wasn’t really.

Last night I saw Lady Gaga perform in Cape Town, South Africa

....I wish I could tell you about it.

BeST wEeK EVERRR!

The past week has been filled with such fun. Really a contestant in the old VH1 show (we all miss) Best Week Ever.
Instead of my blabbering I have decided to splurge on internet and walk you through my week with pictures, since they are worth 1000 words and all.

Last Monday night the girls from downtown came over to cook with Tori and I for a girls night, sent the boys for burgers and we made not one, but two types of risotto, before going to this jazz club I had been hearing about. The entire night was flawless, risotto delicious (pancetta and pea, and mushroom and zucchini)! A carrot cake for dessert and phenomenal jazz- like perfect and the only live music I have seen here that attracts people of all ages and races. 

 

 

girls night!!!

Then I took a spontaneous drum lesson with Tori and Gaby, so fun! I have 0 coordination and could not keep up at all, but it was so fun and these men from Ghana own the shop and are some of the nicest human beings I have ever come in contact with. So giving and wanting us to learn and understand their love of drumming. I will be going back for a mini drum and another attempt at playing.

This was probably the best part of my best week. Play time in the yard with the boys. After wasting away in front of my computer all day at the house all alone, some people came home from the library (where almost my entire class was, except me I don't really get or like libraries) to play with me. I don't know why but a shopping cart was in our yard when we moved in and I have never really questioned it. Somehow I decided to get inside of it and Sam pushed me around the yard like a child. Then Sam and Patrick decided to begin a jumping contest, which I judged from my royal chamber of the shopping cart. Soon enough they ran out of things to jump over, Sam is literally a gazelle and should be a professional jumper if that is a thing cause he can actually fly. I became the next challenge and although slightly terrified I was ok with being the target.


Watch these as if tehy were a slideshow/ movie:

Ready?!?!

Set!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOOOO!!!!

PHEWF! just cleared it....what is my life?

After a strenous Thursday, the last time you guys heard from me, where I had to do homework for the first time in a month and remembered how much I hate it, Friday we decided to treat ourselves to a reward. Cape Town is the weirdest city because it is like a full functioning city at the base of a mountain, also on the ocean! What?!?!?! So considering i havent been to the beach all month and had almost forgotten it was steps away to be honest, off we went. I returned to Kalky's fish and chips shack on the docks of Kalk Bay, about a 35 minute train ride from the house, where my parents and I ventured to for lunch. Much less stressful without Greg driving and Bess being Bess in the back seat while figuring out how to drive on the left side of the road- woah was that stressful! So after a beautiful train ride we feasted! Literally ordered half the menu and had the best time feeding seagulls, eating til we were nauseous and walking around the adorable seaside town. So fun!

lunch! yum yum

kALK.bAY.kREW

Girls at the Biscuit Mill!

Yesterday was second place for best day this week. A superb day from start to finish, started off at my fav the Old Biscuit Mill market. Heaven once again! And tfor summer, which is in full swing here a nice 85 today, they have seperated and increased the shopping, and added an oysters stand!So delicious, enjoyed my last feasting and batch of hipstermania in Cape Town. Then it was off to the beach, not bad. Beautiful afternoon at Clifton beach, tanned, slept, ya know the beach deal! It really felt like summer, so weird!

Then on a whim we decided to just go for a boat ride! It was on all of our to-do lists and because we are counting down the last days here, I don't want to talk about it, we just decided to go for it! Got to the waterfront, bargained for bottomless Champagne to be thrown in the deal and off we went. It was magnificent. One of the best things I've done here and just spectacular.

selfies on the beach...at this base of a mountain

                                                          WHAT IS THIS PLACE!!!!!

at the edge of the boat at sunset...im obviously terrified

....I HAVE NO WORDS!