thewriteplacetobe

 

South Africa is amazing! Ive been here for only one day and I have learned, experienced, and seen the diversity of this place and I love every face I see! I cannot believe I am here but its happening! The flight here was SOO LONG. I seriously felt like I skipped a few days of my life but im caught up back here now!

 

Friday the 23

 

We got into joburg at 7ish and went to our hotel for the night. I was dead tired. I took a shower for the first time in three days so that felt SOOO GOOD. Then after came back to the room and died.

 

Sat the 24

 

Little did I know this day would start off early. Woke up at 5:25 am. Jet lag may I say? Haha now I know how it feels. So I got up and got dressed and Skyped my parents and did some last min emails. Then came back into the room and found my roommate Ashley awake at 6:30 am too. So we read our book that we should have had done before I got there and went to breakfast at 7am.

            After breakfast we went on our tour to Soweto. Its an amazing place. The name Soweto actually means “South Western Township.” We actually visited some very poverty struck towns right before the main city and it was complete different world 5 miles apart. We got to walk around a community in shacks and houses with not electricity and no running water. I felt for me it was a time to “be” and look around and see the interaction of kids and adults with some of my friends on the trip. From there we went back on our tour bus and headed for the Hector Pietersen Memorial. Basically this was a memorial about apartheid, meaning separation, and how the death of this one boy started a revolution in SA. It was amazing to see the history of this place in one Museum and actually know why apartheid occurs.

Pretoria was the next place we went to and went to another memorial for a Dutch Vootrekkers. Basically, it was a memorial for the Dutch who conquered the British and the Zulu for the sake of God. It was strange to see this in the middle of SA. Dutch is a very big part of SA and its history (orgin of Afrikaans language) but it seemed so out of place. But it was an amazing building. We had to climb about 2 or 3 stories of stairs to get to the top and it was a beautiful view.

The union Buildings was our next stop, or drive by so to speak. Everyone was so tired and jet lagged our guide decided to let us just drive by it as we took notes. This place was so cool. Nelson Mandela was sworn in here and a lot of US presidents came to watch. (bush, Clinton: which btw when they stayed in the hotel, they usually rented out the whole place…if not at least 3 hotels!). I felt like I knew a lot about Mandela because of movies I watched and things ive herd. We even drove by a place where Mandela lived! Amazingness!!

Finally, after a long day of history, learning, and flat out being emerged in the politics of SA, we headed home. Def fell asleep for half the drive back on megan. Haha. Then got back and worked out at our “sister” hotel across the street. It was a great scene to see about 8 girls in a small workout room, but we made it work! Then came back and had dinner.

My status right now is beat, but I would do it everyday. Being here feels so right and I don’t miss home that much, yet! 

ok..so the dates might be off on these post..ive been having problems posting..fyi. 

:)