So I am about finished with the website that I created for our trip to South Africa. Since I am on the documentation committee and I know how to use this Weebly thing, I offered to do the website. Now, I just have to finish a four page paper, and then another 15 pager by Friday! Yikes!
Here is the link- http://southafrica2009.weebly.com/ Wish me luck!
0 Comments
So since I'm on our groups "documentation/marketing/show the world our experience" committee I have created a flickr account so that everyone can upload some pictures so we can all easily share. 7.16.09 7-14 & 15-09 Diamond mine! Nelson's old house in Soweto. Kids and I in Soweto. Nelson Mandela's current house. Our entrance to the apartheid museum. Our evening fun.
Rose and I at signal hill at sunset. Robben Island is behind us. 7-13-09 Looking at this poster made me cry. I just can't imagine. Dr. David Worth and I on Signal Hill
7-12-09 Our group at the tip of Africa My new penguin friends.
7-11-09 Eddie Daniels and me. He was an inspiration to listen to. I can't imagine being cooped up on that island for so many years! Nelson Mandela's cell at robben island David and I getting our african face paint during our "African Luau". :) Holly, Coleen (our awesome guide) and I and our french hats. Weird.
On top of Table Mountain. 7-10-09 Since I'm very tired, all I am going to give you tonight my most interesting facts (I believe, I haven't researched them or anything, I'm just taking them from my notes) that I learned today when we heard a lot of very interesting speakers. What a day. It was full of emotion, new understandings, and lots of questions. It was a day that is going to be hard to describe in words. So today was a day of lecture- so not too much to report on when it comes to the experience front. We had some great lecturers that really gave us good information on the state of South Africa today and the issues they are dealing with. It seems as if there are some real struggles still with race and class discrimination even 15 years after apartheid, but as I thought about that, I thought how even 50 years later, the US still has some major struggles too. We learned a lot about their education system and how students start school around 6 or 7. They do NOT have a free schooling system, depending on which school you go to. For example if you go to a "previously white school" or, just a nice, upper class school, you will have some serious fees to pay. But if you go to a HDI (Historically Disadvantaged Institutions) school, then most likely you have to pay nothing. This seems to be how many things work in south Africa--- it all depends on you income. I personally don't think it's a bad idea, but then again, I am not South African so I can't say exactly how well, or bad it works. I was so excited to be here- but also disappointed that there were none of the "big five" -read below for what that means... okay- so a funny part about this game reserve was that I guess one of the first "Fear Factors" was filmed here, and these huts were actually built just for the show. Now they are cool to take pictures of. That is, until you find out that they were made for fear factor. :) (River, these zebra's are for you!!!) What a day. We got up bright and early after everyone got in last night around 10:45. We met together last night and had snacks so we didn't get to sleep till around 11:30. I woke up this am and hit the snooze twice, which I think is about 2 times more than I ever have~ I was that tired. So after breakfast we went up to the University of Cape Town campus and got some basic information, our student ID cards and a small tour. It was nice but the fun part came soon after. So this afternoon I got off the plane and almost started crying because it has been my dream for so long to come here. I'm in Africa! It was amazing feeling to be somewhere you have dreamed about being sine you were in high school watching the movie "A Far off place" over and over again. Written 7/4/09 Well, I just said goodbye to my family and my baby boy on his second birthday. Amazing to think that 2 years ago at this moment I was in my final stages of labor, and in just a few hours I was going to meet one of the most important people of my life. Time goes by way too fast. These 2 years have given me such joy that I never knew possible, and these past 2 weeks looking at France through a 2 year olds eyes has been enlightening. I am such a lucky girl. So I'm now on the bus ride going to the train station which will take us back to Paris. It's a sad moment for me because I really, truly enjoyed this trip. For any of you sorta active people out there with a family, I really hope that someday you can partake in an adventure such as this! River was such a trooper, and loved "River's bike" (the Burley). Come this last day he knew when we were all getting ready to go so he'd go find the Burley, climb in and sometimes even hand us his helmet so we would put it on. He figured out ways to sleep in it all buckled in and would have a stash of food, juice and books to look at during the ride. He totally got into it! I got a couple of pics from Paris up on our flickr website- please check them out and hopefully I'll get more up soon! Wow. This whole biking thing through Europe (or more particularly, France) has been way cooler than I ever thought. Today was my second day on a bike and we did about 23ish miles after yesterday which was only around 13. Kyle and my dad are still going (as of now) to do a total of around 49 miles. Sounded like too much for me, and it gave Kyle some time without the Burley. But really, wow! Seeing Europe this way really gives a new perspective. I have seen scenes that I only thought possible in Disney World (yes, go ahead and laugh those of you out there who know me all too well) but seriously, you see the stereotypical, incredibly gorgeous French scene of cows, a picturesque Chateau in the background, and flowers full of color with pure beauty. I know you can get this in other ways, but with the rush of the wind that surrounds you as you bike, you get a deep silence that lets you take in the countryside even better. I love it. 50 miles though, I can happily do without. So, yes, this evening we got our bags!!!! You have no idea how excited this makes me! Ok, so it has taken me way too long to get to this first post, but there is actually a good reason for this. After our fabulous family reunion in Ohio, (which I will try and get to later) we traveled to Buffalo, NY to spend fathers day (for a few hours before departure) with my mom's side of the family and my grandpa. It was so much fun seeing so many relatives in such a short time! We spent the afternoon having lunch and talking. I got to see my aunt debbie who had been in the hospital not so long ago and she is looking great! (picture below) and then we were off. What an exciting summer we have planned! |
Summer 2009
Our (Erin, Kyle and River's) blog for our fun and exciting summer across the pond! Archives |