Please forgive the tardiness. It seems as though I may have been distracted by the quest for knowledge…better known as “midterms”. South Africa is like Disney World…it has everything! My mere collection of words and display of pictures does not do such a fine nation justice; however, I do hope you find the highlights of my African adventure entertaining.
Robben Island is to Cape Town as The Sixth Floor Museum is to Dallas. I need a frequent-visitor punch card. Strolling through the photo gallery, flipping through the periodicals, and exploring the prison (including the cell where Nelson Mandela served 18 out of his 27 years behind bars) all my apartheid studies came to life. I don’t think I will ever fully comprehend how truth and reconciliation retracted such a time of hatred. I’ve become infatuated with the works of the Archbishop Desmond Tutu. If you are looking for an easy and inspirational book, check out God Has a Dream by Desmond Tutu himself!
Tori, Jewel, and I also explored Table Mountain, which is argued to be the world’s oldest mountain. The panoramic view of Cape Town from 1086m up is indescribable. The market shopping was endless, and I even came across some treasures in a vintage shop (go figure!). As for the food…where do I begin?! Naturally, the seafood was to die for, but I also ventured to try kudu, ostrich, springbok, zebra, and gazelle. Mama Afrika was my favorite restaurant. Dim lights, painted murals, paper lanterns, live Africa jazz, and good company made for a great dinner and an even better memory.
On Sunday, Tori, Kristina (from Alaska), and I went to church at Hillsong-Cape Town. God is so good. The Hillsong Church began in Australia-I’m sure you know there music too! We went to the evening service. The energy was crazy. It was one big party for God. Nothing beats contemporary worship with a British-Dutch-Australian accent! The sermon was just what I need to hear too. It was about getting off the comfortable Christian couch, stepping away from the supervisor’s work chair, and getting into the game. Being on a ship with a small Christian community and visiting places where poverty and corruption taint God’s creation, it is easy to get stuck in the “reserved seating” section of life. No more sitting on the sidelines. The world is our field. We’ve got to get our hearts in the game. No more watching and telling people about the struggle in front of us. It is time to stir things up, change the pace and ultimately change the outcome. Please pray with me that Christians (no matter where they are) will let go of the fear and hesitation of change. This game of life is a contact sport, and we’ve got the greatest coach. Let’s play!
My African experience would not have been complete without a traditional safari! Two hours outside of Johannesburg, sits the Pilanesburg Game Reserve which is centered on the ancient crater of a dormant volcano! The park is made up of predominantly hillside, savannah grasslands, and semi-woodlands. It was Planet Earth in real life. The 140,000 acre park has the highest concentration of rhino per square kilometer of any park in Africa. On our first drive, we saw zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, springbok, impala, jackal, the brown hyena, elephants, lions, and rhinos! I must clarify…by “saw” I mean visible without binoculars…these animals were only yards away. My guide was the best! Day two started with a sunrise drive on which we came across the endangered black rhino, an elephant breeding ground, and a leopard! The leopard sighting was a BIG deal. My (all girl) 4X4 was the only group to see a cat. Haley, our guide was so pumped-it was the first leopard she had seen in the last 4 months. Those stealthy cats are quick…and hard to photograph! The leopard is also one of Africa’s Big Five (lion, leopard, black rhino, elephant, and water buffalo.) After breakfast, a nap, a round of cards, lunch, and high tea, we went on a hippo search…and succeeded! On our last morning in the African bush, we came across the usual herd of giraffes, elephants, rhinos, and zebras; however, the lightening from the night before left a grass fire burning in the plains. Not to worry, the fire is a good thing- it is nature’s own method of control burning which allows for new vegetation to grow. The same morning we saw water buffalo. My perfect (and only) safari was complete. I saw all of the Big Five!
Leaving Cape Town was bittersweet. Spending a week in South Africa, reminded me of how hard it is to leave comfort and familiarity, but at the same time the curiosity of what else is out there is so enticing. I have no doubt that I will be back to South Africa…hopefully for grad school or the 2010 World Cup- feel free to join me!
Leaving South Africa was our longest, toughest stretch on the water. Rounding the Cape brought crossing currents…which means we had to “secure our cabins”. Slamming drawers, falling books, and rolling water bottles can be dangerous. Have you ever gone to school for 11 days straight? It’s difficult-especially when you throw midterms, research papers, and synchronize swimming into the mix. Yep, that’s right I said synchronize swimming. The most notable ship-wide event also occurred in between continents…drum roll, please….The Sea Olympics! Each hall( or “sea”) competes collaboratively in hot dog eating, wheelbarrow racing, the human knot, boat making, travel jeopardy, Pictionary, Sudoku, a workout relay, yadda, yadda, yadda…and synchronize swimming! I live in the Mediterranean Sea. It just so happened that our team color was tie-dye and our mascot was a “dirty” hippie…of course, I was nominated to be the mascot. My daily wardrobe made the BEST costume. During the Opening Ceremonies, the other seas were so intense with war paint, obnoxious chants, and overrated sweatbands. We casually strolled in carrying guitars and flowers, singing “All We Need is Love.” We sat in Indian-style on the floor of the auditorium and followed the MC’s every word with a “save the planet” comment. People didn’t know how to take us and our peace signs. It was so funny! Tori (who stands tall at 5’3”), our neighbor Rob (a giant at 6’ 7”), Patrick ( who’s on his university’s water polo team), and my crazy self, proudly represented the Mediterranean Sea in the synchronize swimming category. Our performance was an absolute masterpiece-complete with head bobbing, the wave, blooming flowers, beached whales, the fountain, big spinning lifts…and Speedos. We were inspired by the movie, A Night at the Roxburry, and we had the perfect song, Haddaway’s “What is Love?” We knew we had something great…but just like any Olympic event, there was a scandal…the waters of the open ocean were so rough that the captain had to close the pool. NOOOOOO! The competition was moved to the auditorium. We made some adjustments to the routine and took the floor first. The crowd erupted with laughter and applause. We had it all-the costumes, choreography, comedy, creativity, difficulty - the works. Tori and I frolicked around with leggings under our once piece swimsuits, and the boys, straight-faced, danced in matching blue Speedos. It was classic. Unfortunately, our win was not enough to take our sea to the medal podium at the Closing Ceremonies, but we will forever be remembered as the dream team who dominated synchronized swimming…without any water.
And as for that distracting quest for knowledge, my performance was impressive, and now I anxiously await the adventures of a completely foreign land…India.
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